Honouring Persecuted Middle East Christians, Pope Adds Assyrian Saint to Martyrology

The Holy Father announced on Saturday that St. Isaac of Nineveh, a seventh-century Assyrian bishop venerated across Christian traditions, will be added to the Roman Martyrology.

The pope made the announcement on the occasion of a Vatican meeting with Mar Awa III, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East.

The gathering on Nov. 9 commemorated two milestones: Almost 30 years since the Common Christological Declaration was signed, ending a 1,500-year doctrinal dispute, and 40 years since the first historic meeting between a pope and an Assyrian patriarch.

Quoting from the Second Vatican Council's Unitatis Redintegratio, the pope emphasized that both Churches share "the same faith, handed down by the apostles," even if expressed differently.

Francis pointed to recent achievements in Catholic-Assyrian dialogue, such as the 2001 agreement on the Anaphora of Addai and Mari, an ancient Eucharistic prayer recognized for its apostolic roots, and the 2017 joint statement on sacramental life.

A 2022 document titled "The Images of the Church in the Syriac and Latin Patristic Traditions" laid further groundwork for mutual understanding.

"Theological dialogue is indispensable in our journey toward unity," Francis said. "The unity we yearn for is unity in faith," he added, stressing that such dialogue must be grounded in truth and charity.

The Holy Father's decision to add St. Isaac to the Martyrology follows a recommendation from the recent Synod on Synodality to recognize saints from other Christian traditions in the Catholic liturgical calendar.

Turning to the plight of Middle Eastern Christians, Pope Francis prayed for their continued witness in a region scarred by conflict. "Through the intercession of St. Isaac of Nineveh, united to that of the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of Christ, Our God and Savior, may the Christians of the Middle East always bear witness to the risen Christ in those war-torn lands," he said.

St. Isaac of Nineveh, also known as Isaac the Syrian, was a revered Christian mystic, monk, and bishop. He was celebrated for his profound writings on asceticism, compassion, and interior spiritual life, profoundly influencing Christian spirituality across Eastern and Western traditions.

Francis closed the meeting by inviting all present to pray the Our Father in their own languages and traditions, underscoring the shared spiritual heritage that binds these ancient Churches.

Adding St. Isaac of Nineveh to the Catholic Martyrology, Francis noted, is a reminder of the common roots and shared faith of both Churches, one that has endured through centuries of separation.
From sesame to mutton: African agricultural products accelerate entry into China market

Xinhua) 10:02, November 09, 2024

SHANGHAI, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Sesame, which originated in Africa, was introduced to China via the Silk Road trade route over 2,000 years ago and later became a major oil crop for the Chinese people.

Today, as China and Africa forge closer trade ties with the Belt and Road Initiative, African sesame is entering the Chinese market in large quantities to cater to clients in a country with a population of over 1.4 billion.

Sesame is China's top agricultural import from Africa, according to Chen Ying, head of the cereals and oils department of the China Chamber of Commerce of Import &Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce &Animal By-products.

"Chinese consumers may not have realized that 80 percent of sesame consumption in China comes from imports and Africa accounts for three-fourths of the imports," Chen said.

At the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, many African exhibitors are showcasing small sesame seeds to woo Chinese buyers.

As part of commitments for China-Africa cooperation, this year's CIIE has expanded the section dedicated to African products, offering free stands to 26 companies from 13 African countries and helping them improve their competitiveness and brand image.

In the section, Gebrekidan Aregay, director of Eli International Trade from Ethiopia, was seen enthusiastically introducing products like sesame, soybeans and wheat to a buyer from east China's Shandong Province. Ethiopia is one of the largest sesame producers, exporting a substantial amount annually, Aregay said.

As a four-time exhibitor at the CIIE since 2021, his company has carved out a market share in China, which became its largest export market two years ago, and now exports around 10,000 tonnes of sesame a year to the country.

Sesame is just the epitome of African agricultural exports to China in recent years. As China pushes ahead with high-level opening-up, more African agricultural products have found their way into the Chinese market.

African agricultural exports to China reached 28.47 billion yuan (about 4 billion dollars) in the first eight months of this year, marking a year-on-year increase of 4.8 percent, according to China's General Administration of Customs.

At the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in September, China announced it has decided to give zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines to all the least developed countries, including 33 countries in Africa, that have established diplomatic relations with China.

This has made China the first major developing country and the first major economy to take such a step, which will help turn China's big market into Africa's big opportunity.

Madagascar mutton has seized the opportunity to enter the Chinese market. On display at the CIIE for the first time, it has attracted Chinese consumers with its quality and low-fat content.

Madagascar has been exporting around 200 tonnes of mutton to China per month since September, according to Liao Qiubin, deputy general manager of Sino-Malagasy Animal Husbandry (Madagascar) Co., Ltd, currently Madagascar's sole mutton exporter to China.

The company aims to substantially increase the annual export volume to 20,000 tonnes within five years, directly benefiting tens of thousands of Malagasy farmers, Liao said.

To fully leverage the potential of the local animal husbandry sector, the company is working with local agricultural authorities to introduce high-quality breeds while developing related industries, such as cashmere and mutton by-products, to extend the value chain.

China has given preferential treatment to African agricultural imports for decades, which helps to reduce the cost of these products and increase their competitiveness in the Chinese market.

"In recent months, we've received numerous inquiries from African businesses wishing to enter the Chinese market, and we are actively helping them establish connections with Chinese buyers," said Chen with the China Chamber of Commerce of Import &Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce &Animal By-products.

China, with its rapidly expanding market, represents a significant growth opportunity for Africa, she said.

African agricultural exports to China are growing rapidly and in addition to traditional oil crops, new products like coffee and avocados have become increasingly popular with Chinese consumers, said Sun Hong, deputy director of the Institute of African Studies, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

Sun believes that African agricultural exports to China meet the needs of African countries and help to optimize the structure of China-Africa trade relations.

Facing competition from other countries, African countries can make full use of platforms like the CIIE, the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo and e-commerce channels to promote their products in China, Sun said.

Additionally, Sun suggests fostering collaboration with Chinese enterprises to establish a strong image for African products to explore the Chinese market.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Wu Chaolan)
A No on Measure N sign in front of a home in South Lake Tahoe. Voters rejected Measure N, which would have mandated a tax on homeowners who leave their homes vacant for more than half the year. Haven Daley/Associated Press A row of houses on Helen Avenue in South Lake Tahoe, seen earlier this year. Tracy Barbutes/Special to the Chronicle

South Lake Tahoe voters roundly rejected a proposal that would have imposed a new tax on second homeowners whose properties are left vacant for half the year.

As of Friday, nearly 74% of voters there had voted against Measure N, according to El Dorado Countys unofficial voting summary. The measure would have charged property owners a $3,000 per unit tax on homes left vacant for six months or more per year  and $6,000 per unit each year thereafter.

Like the rest of the Tahoe basins communities, South Lake faces a shortage of housing affordable to the thousands of seasonal and service-economy workers who prop up the citys bustling tourism industry. The city also keeps an estimated 7,150 second homes and vacation properties that are just sitting vacant for most of the year, according to proponents of Measure N.

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The vacancy tax proposal was conceived to incentivize homeowners to lease to local workers or pay a tax that would help fund affordable housing and public transit.

Lets put the housing we already have in South Lake Tahoe to work, according to advocacy group Locals for Affordable Housing.

San Francisco voters approved a similar bill two years ago; however, it was struck down this week by a judge who said it violated property owners rights.

Measure N inspired fierce debate and robust opposition. Contributions of $625,000 from the National Association of Realtors and $274,000 from the California Association of Realtors were reportedly spent on a campaign to shoot down the measure, according to Locals for Affordable Housing.

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Today, the name Dom Perignon inspires immediate visions of materialistic, borderline hedonistic excess. Arms clanging with bangles and watches worth a small mortgage. Club bouncers that look like theyd have a fair chance against John Wick looking at your shoes with disdain. Buckets of ice at weddings you wouldnt make it through the door of without a waiters uniform on. Its a quaffable status symbol, a signal that youve, in some form, made it.

In short, the last word anyone would use to describe Dom Perignon is monastic.

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Yet, that's exactly who Dom Perignon himself was. He wasnt a suited, high-society vintner, but a simple Benedictine monk with a remarkable knack for making bubbly wine. He didnt invent champagne, as is sometimes erroneously repeated, but he was responsible for massive developments in making it a wine of actual repute. The same champagne that serves as set dressing in music videos was cooked up by Perignon at the Abbey of Hautvillers in Epernay, France. It existed before him, being invented by a woman whose name is also still in the champagne sphere, Widow Clicquot, but Perignon overhauled practically the entire process.

Unsurprisingly then, Perignons champagne was highly valued during his lifetime as well, and quickly became a favorite of French royals. You could even argue he had a hand in the rise of branding altogether, as he was among the first winemakers to put their own name on the label instead of a vineyard or region, which isn't exactly humble. Still, as much clout as he might have had, he was content to live in peace at the abbey, not rubbing elbows with the many rich fans of his product.

So, if on a special occasion these days, you find yourself with a flute of Dom Perignon in hand, know that youre honoring his memory. And, of course, because human nature seeks to prey and kill anything pure, that youre fattening the pockets of Bernard Arnault, the literal richest man in the world, who owns LVMH (Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton), which was created by a 1987 merger of Moet & Chandon, Dom Perignon and Hennessy.

From monks to mergers, in accordance with the modern religion of money. Cheers!
Writer, political correspondent and social media sensation John Bouvier Kennedy "Jack" Schlossberg insists that he bears no resemblance to Penn Badgley or Adam Driver, but hell likely never try to claim that he doesnt have a little Dennis Reynolds in him  because of the implication.

Earlier this year, the 31-year-old son of Caroline Kennedy and Edwin Schlossberg quickly rose to online stardom for posting silly, shirtless and irreverent Instagram videos where he danced to Rihanna and mocked his cousin, former presidential candidate and current Donald Trump crony Robert F. Kennedy Jr. As is the Kennedy family tradition, Schlossbergs meteoric ascent to the top of every left-leaning, twenty-to-thirty-something white womans Twitter feed was largely due to his curious charisma and his chiseled appearance, and the comments from his nearly half-million Instagram followers are typically less concerned with his political commentary in Vogue than they are with the various other celebrities he resembles.

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Yesterday afternoon, the grandson of President John F. Kennedy posted an impassioned tweet clearing the air about his preferred celebrity lookalikes, shooting down many of his more common comparisons and claiming that Hollywoods most fashionable post-Golden Age icon Audrey Hepburn is his most appropriate doppelganger. But Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia fans were quick to point out that Schlossberg is forgetting a certain Golden God.

Seriously, its so clear to any It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia fan that the flamboyant movements in Schlossbergs many dancing videos are just echoes of Dennis brief stint as the lucrative star of Philadelphias hottest gay bar in the first-ever It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia episode The Gang Gets Racist. Couple that with Schlossbergs borderline maniacal diatribes on aesthetics and the male form, and Schlossberg might as well be the version of Dennis that Bruce Mathis raised in an alternate universe.

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In fact, the resemblance between Schlossberg and Glenn Howerton is so strong that it briefly inspired some good old-fashioned, Pepe-Sylvia-style conspiracy theorizing within the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia fandom about Howertons heritage back when Schlossberg first achieved his internet celebrity status earlier this year. And, when Schlossberg inevitably runs for public office at some point in his life, Always Sunny fans have already picked out his official speech writer  so do.
Apart from pricey trips to Universal Studios and the odd Spanish Krasty Burger location, its basically impossible for us humans to enter the cartoon world of The Simpsons. That being said, one lucky person somewhere in America is driving around in Homer Simpsons car, hopefully keeping their eyes peeled for chestnut trees.

For the entire time that the show has been on the air, Homer has been driving around in his trademark pink sedan, although theres been some debate as to what type of car it is exactly. One fan wiki page called it a 1973 Plymouth Valiant until a Season 28 episode referred to it as a 1986 Plymouth Junkerolla. Oh, and it was apparently built in Croatia using old Soviet tanks.

Simpsons fans recently noticed that just last month, an exact replica of Homers car was listed for sale in Muskegon, Michigan, according to an ad posted on Facebook Marketplace. The modified 1967 Plymouth Valiant came with a $25,000 price tag and is currently listed as sold.

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The ad noted that it was one of two Simpsons cars that the seller worked on, and contains every detail a die-hard would expect  from the crinkled fender to the bent antennae. He even installed custom bench seating with TV matched color and stitching, and outfitted it with canonically-appropriate Junkerolla emblems. Its pretty impressive.

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The cars creator, Tim Updyke, told a local news station that he didnt intend to sell the car over Facebook, he was just more or less showing it off. But the first of the two cars he modded did end up selling there because someone reached out and emphatically told him: I have to have that thing.

Updyke, whos also created custom-made Jurassic Park Jeeps and ECTO-1s, now says that the second Simpsons car will be headed to the Volo Car Museum in Illinois for everyone to enjoy.

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Of course, this isnt the first time that one of Homers cars has been brought to life by fans. In 2013, a team competing in the 24 Hours of LeMons race  like Le Mans, but with goofier cars  constructed a recreation of The Homer, Homers ridiculous car design that bankrupted his half-brother Herb. It even came with a Squishee holder and a Bort license plate.

The real-life car earned praise from Simpsons creator Matt Groening, who signed the fan-made Homer, and writer Al Jean, who actually went for a ride in the cursed vehicle.

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But The Homer only showed up that one time, Homers sedan has been in almost every episode. So it would be pretty cool to own.

While we dont know who bought the first Simpsons car on Facebook, hopefully they have enough money left over to buy that 90 percent normal Simpsons replica house in Nevada in order to complete the set.
A 2-mile stretch of the Great Highway, which had been closed intermittently to traffic on a trial basis, will now be permanently open to pedestrians and bicyclists now that San Francisco voters approved Proposition K. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

A ballot measure to close a 2-mile stretch of San Franciscos Great Highway passed with 54% of the vote in returns released Saturday afternoon. The controversial proposal, known as Proposition K, will ban vehicles on the citys westernmost coastal boulevard between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard.

Supporters of Prop K envisioned turning the section of roadway, also known as the Upper Great Highway, into a transformative oceanfront park for pedestrians and cyclists. Backers included Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman, who donated $350,000 to the Yes on K campaign. Opponents argued that closing the major thoroughfare, which many residents depend on, would cause traffic congestion on alternate routes and increase commute times.

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Proponents cheered the result Saturday.

Were very pleased that San Franciscans embraced a coast for everyone, Lucas Lux, the board president of Friends of Great Highway Park, told the Chronicle. Prop K passing is a victory for all San Franciscans who are going to be able to enjoy the coast in new ways as part of daily life in our city. Its a legacy that we are handing to the next generation.

Younger and progressive residents were particularly supportive of closing the Great Highway to cars, according to an October poll commissioned by the Chronicle, while older, moderate and Asian residents were more likely to oppose it.

Advocates of Proposition K rally in the Panhandle in August to support closing part of the Great Highway to traffic. Manuel Orbegozo/Special to the Chronicle

Voters were also divided on the measure along east-west lines, with those in west side precincts mostly against it and those on the east side mostly for it.

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Some Sunset District residents denounced the result Saturday. Selena Chu, who lives blocks away from the Great Highway and drives along the artery regularly, said the propositions passage was a shocker and did not reflect Sunset residents interests.

Looking at the voting results, its clear that the west side neighborhoods were silenced by people who dont know how the permanent closure will impact the residents and working families on the west side, Chu told the Chronicle.

Albert Chow, a Sunset resident and president of the People of Parkside Sunset, a merchants association and residents group, said, It was just a bad call to put that on the ballot in the first place. Voters vote what they vote, but it was really a local issue that was brought citywide, because our supervisor knew he couldnt get enough support in our location.

Five city supervisors, with the backing of Mayor London Breed, put the measure on the ballot. For the past three years, the highway has been closed to cars on weekends as part of a pilot program that is scheduled to end on Dec. 31, 2025.

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The passage of the measure is just the first step in what is expected to be a lengthy public process of gaining necessary approvals  and funding  for a Great Highway Park.

District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio, who championed Prop K, had said the city would first have to implement traffic improvements and obtain California Coastal Commission approval before the park becomes a reality.

It wont happen overnight, Engardio had said.

Josephine Zhao, president of Chinese American Democratic Club, protests Proposition K in August. Manuel Orbegozo/Special to the Chronicle

Panic and disappointment set in among opponents to the measure Friday.

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We are heartbroken, said Josephine Zhao, president of the Chinese American Democratic Club, which was opposed to Prop K. I think that our families that live near Great Highway have totally shown that they did not want Prop K to pass, but people that are far away, that have hardly used the Great Highway, they have no problem listening to the mouthpieces and voted for a park that does not have funding and does not have plans.

Meanwhile, supporters of the measure cheered promising early ballot returns this week and shared ideas of what they envisioned for the park, expressing hope the community, divided over Prop K, could unite in the process of designing the park.

For people to say what they want to see in the space could be really community building, said Heidi Moseson, who volunteers for the nonprofit Friends of Great Highway Park and donated $10,000 to support the Yes on K campaign. Moseson, who lives along the Lower Great Highway, added, There is room for a lot of creativity.

Due to worsening coastal erosion, the southern section of the Great Highway from Sloat to Skyline boulevards is already slated for permanent closure to cars by early 2026. In its place, the city plans to build a mile-long trail and plaza.

Supporters of Prop K, including Engardio, have argued the southern closure means that the Great Highway has already lost its biggest use historically. Engardio said most drivers have in the past used the highway to travel between San Francisco and Daly City, citing a 2022 San Francisco County Transportation Authority report.

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Engardio told the Chronicle in August that Prop K was a once-in-a-generational opportunity to create a renaissance for the Sunset District, saying, For the last hundred years, weve had the Great Highway and its been useful for folks, but its lost its greatest utility because part of it is falling into the ocean.

Vehicles travel north in September during the morning commute on the Great Highway next to Ocean Beach in San Francisco. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

West side resident Robin Pam, co-founder of advocacy group Kid Safe SF, told the Chronicle in August that a Great Highway park would be an important option for parents who want a place for their children to play without fear of cars.

I dont think anyone is saying that we dont want people to drive, she said. What were saying is that there are lots of alternate routes.

Opponents have argued that the highway is still widely used by west side residents, particularly multigenerational households, to drive kids to school and elders to medical appointments.

Sunset resident Chow said at a No on K rally on Market Street in August that it was not a community-led compromise.

Sacrificing the Great Highway is an unnecessary move and only benefits a few, he said.

Sunset resident Chu, who mobilized opposition to Prop K, said many west side residents rely on the Great Highway to get to work and send kids or elderly parents to appointments.
Roland Li covers commercial real estate for the business desk, focusing on the Bay Area office and retail sectors.

He was previously a reporter at San Francisco Business Times, where he won one award from the California News Publishers Association and three from the National Association of Real Estate Editors.

He is the author of Good Luck Have Fun: The Rise of eSports," a 2016 book on the history of the competitive video game industry. Before moving to the Bay Area in 2015, he studied and worked in New York. He freelanced for the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and other local publications. His hobbies include swimming and urban photography.
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When Harper Beckham appeared at Harpers Bazaar magazines Women of the Year awards to give mum Victoria an award for entrepreneurship, she said it was a school night and hoped she wouldnt get into trouble.

It was a sweet moment but it worried me. Harper wore a flesh-baring, silver sheath dress  from mums VB fashion label, naturally  and I thought it was deeply inappropriate.

Victoria Beckham with her 13-year-old daughter Harper at the Harper's Bazaar Women of the Year Awards this month

Harper is a just kid! Shes 13! What the hell is her mother doing projecting her onto the world stage to promote her own business. No sooner had Harper left the stage than mum had uploaded a video of her girl applying Vics range of make-up. There was Harper using a 26 lip definer sealed with a 30 clear lip gloss.

Sources close to the Beckhams say Dad David is unhappy his little girl is becoming part of the VB brand. He didnt attend the event, just drove Harper to it at Claridges, one of the poshest hotels in Londons Mayfair. Afterwards, the teenager was whisked home in a 100,000 chauffeur-driven Maserati alongside a security guard. What kind of life is that for a child?

Already Harpers name has been trademarked for commercial use and she is saying her ambition in life is to create an amazing brand, like her mums.

Ambition is no bad thing at any age. But my fear is that Harper could miss out on a normal childhood. Let her be friends with school pals, have sleepovers, PJ parties, not thinking every moment must be caught on Instagram to boost her mums career or her own future in fashion.

Time for you to protect your child and preserve her innocence, David. And bask in the fact that the relationship between dad and daughter is, as I know, one of lifes most precious gifts.

Victoria Beckham shared a video of Harper getting ready for the Harper's Bazaar Women of the Year awards using Victoria Beckham Beauty Lip Liner and Posh Gloss in Ice

Harper Beckham tries out a new hand cream from her mother's beauty brand

Top of Amazons most wanted Christmas presents for kids is a 59.99 Play-Doh Pizza Delivery Scooter. Crikey, given 12 per cent of two to 10-year-olds are already obese, its hardly a healthy choice.

William the Great

Prince William says this has been the toughest year of his life, that its been brutal after his father and wife were diagnosed with cancer.

William was raised in a warring family as his parents marriage disintegrated, he then lost his mum Diana and became estranged from his hate-filled brother Harry.

It speaks volumes about his character that he carries on with dignity, lovingly fulfilling his most important role  as a devoted husband and dad.

We see through Kate

Kate Moss, 50, appears as the face of Yves Saint Laurents latest campaign wearing a strip of clingfilm over her breasts. Can this be the same Kate who, when recalling modelling topless as a teenager, said it made her feel objectified, scared and vulnerable. Maybe the massive pay cheque was enough to stiffen her resolve.

Kate Moss at the Victoria's Secret fashion show in New York last month

Stars and Strife

The thin-lipped, closed-mouth kiss on the cheek Melania Trump gave her husband as he puckered up on victory night was reminiscent of that famous miss kiss between Charles and Diana at the polo  as their marriage crumbled.

Just how long can Foreign Secretary David Lammy last having described Trump as deluded, xenophobic, and a neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath? On the other hand, Lammys probably safe. he was only expressing what most of the Labour Party think.

A young Latino mum and business owner, when asked why she had switched her vote from the Democrats to the Republicans, said: I dont want to raise my daughter thinking her greatest ambition in life is to be able to legally get an abortion.

Donald Trump kisses his wife Melania on victory night

Meanwhile, jitters in the Sussexes 11million Californian mansion as  with the Trump victory  the investigation into Harrys visa may be reopened. Trump has gone on record as saying hed consider deporting the Prince who admitted taking drugs in his memoir Spare. Is Meghan regretting saying shed rather leave America than live under a Trump presidency?

Great news that the Princess of Wales will attend the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall tonight and the Sunday service at the Cenotaph. Nothing will cheer a nation more in the slough of a Labour-inspired depression, than seeing Kate back on duty again.

Councils barmy behaviour

A scheme to protect women and girls has added cat-calls and wolf-whistling to a list of prohibited behaviour in Labour-run Barking and Dagenham council, with a 1,000 fine for perpetrators. Youd have thought that in one of the poorest and most in debt London councils they had better things to do with their time.

In their latest round of self-flagellation, a Church of England report declares rural parishes are racist and priests need urgent whiteness awareness training. Jolly good but as the Reverend Ian Paul, a member of the General Synod commented, perhaps the reason congregations are mostly white is that we live in a white-majority country  and the only prejudice being shown in the report is by those who wrote it.

Strictly Come Dancing's head judge Shirley Ballas recently split from her fiance

After splitting from her fiance Danny Taylor, 13 years her junior, Strictly judge Shirley Ballas, 64, says shes not sure why she hasnt found her perfect match. Perhaps Shirl, as any woman in her mid-sixties knows, its not about finding Mr Right but Mr Right Now, an age-appropriate bloke with his own hair and teeth, and with a few bob left in the bank after his last wife took him to the cleaners.

Much excitement over the new Gladiator II movie starring Normal Peoples Paul Mescal, yet pictures on set reveal his disappointingly measly torso. He doesnt look like a Gladiator, more like the kind of guy who gets sand kicked in his face on the beach. Maybe hell use wimpy tactics like that to fight off lions in the Colosseum.

Rachel Reeves argued that increasing employers NI contributions was taxing those with the broadest shoulders. Yet as Roger Daltrey, patron of the Teenage Cancer Trust which has raised millions for ill youngsters reveals, it is a catastrophe for charities like his. They will have to sack staff, and no longer be able to pay specialist carers. How could any woman do such a thing to suffering children?

What about wait for hip ops!

Sixteen transgender patients who were born women are threatening to sue the NHS after delays of up to three months in treatment to transform their lady bits.

Lawyers say some have been left with half-built penises.

My heart wilts, but not as much as for those waiting up to five months for a hip op on the NHS.

Its enough to give you the willies.
My colleague Richard Littlejohn wrote this week that Donald Trumps landslide victory is Americas Brexit moment. Not for the first time, he hit the nail on the head. The circumstances are different, of course, but the fundamental principle  that of a narrow, entitled political elite swept away by a groundswell of voter rebellion  is the same.

And just as the losers in the 2016 referendum seemed utterly incapable of accepting the result, throwing all their toys out of their prams and flouncing off in a giant collective huff, the same has happened this time.

The internet is full of outraged Democrats, weeping and wailing, tearing their hair out and threatening all kinds of Armageddon. War, climate change, plagues of locusts, rains of frogs its all apparently coming Americas way under the evil Trump administration.

On social media, the radical feminist 4B movement, in which women pledge to withhold sex, is trending as a response to hysterical scaremongering about abortion laws and Trumps popularity among young men. But even some sectors of the mainstream, where one might expect a modicum of self-restraint, have seemingly lost the plot.

The Prime Minister's press secretary has committed to leaving David Lammy (pictured with Sir Keir) as Foreign Secretary until the end of the Parliament

To believe the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, America might as well have elected the Devil himself, or at least Americas Mussolini.

Meanwhile, the editor of the Guardian newspaper has even offered her staff counselling to cope with the upsetting outcome via the companys various employee assistance programmes.

Personally, Im ambivalent about Trump: I respect his political acumen, and this time around, by contrast to the first, he seems to be surrounded by some very able people. But that doesnt detract from his flaws. He has made some egregious errors of judgment in the past, not least his part in the storming of the Capitol on January 6 2021, one of the more shameful moments in Americas history which resulted in the deaths of six people.

But the Democrats put forward a terrible candidate, who fought an appalling campaign. They seemed to think it was enough that Kamala Harris wasnt Donald Trump, which was naive and irresponsible to say the least.

If the Democrats and their supporters truly wanted to protect America from a second Trump administration, they had a duty to elect a better candidate. They did not. They can blame that so-called basket of deplorables who voted for Trump all they want, but this result is on them. Besides, democracy is democracy and even if you dont happen to agree with the result, the majority decision must stand. And yet there is something about todays Left-leaning political class that gives the impression that they think they are above democracy; that they, in fact, know best. And politically, its just not a good look.

In fact, its a really big problem, not just in terms of public opinion but also when it comes to the practicalities of effective government. In politics, you have to be prepared to do business with all kinds of people you would prefer not to have to do business with, otherwise your chances of getting anything done are virtually nil. As Kemi Badenoch, the new Conservative leader, once said, sometimes there are no good choices in politics, only less bad ones.

Donald Trump at an Election Night event in West Palm Beach, Florida

The US President has to deal with some very unpleasant and ambiguous characters, from Vladimir Putin to Xi Jinping; arguably being one himself to a lesser extent gives Trump an advantage in that sense. Perhaps this was in the back of the minds of many who voted for him: these are tough political times, and America needs a tough guy to lead the way.

The same is true of Britain. And yet, under Keir Starmer, we find ourselves woefully exposed. The man commands about as much respect on the international stage as a warm salad, especially with David Lammy as Foreign Secretary by his side. And even more so since the result of the American election. Because whatever other disasters, real or imagined, Trumps victory may represent, its a catastrophe for this Labour administration.

Britain and America are important allies on the world stage. Its not just that we share the same language and history, its also that we have the same fundamental culture. In a world where China acts with impunity, where pariah states like North Korea ally themselves with warmongers such as Putin, where oppression seeps like a bloodstain out of countries such as Iran and Afghanistan, our united front in the defence of our Western values is vital.

And yet this Labour administration has made it abundantly clear through recent words and actions that it not only despises Trump, it also intends to do its utmost to undermine his presidency.

Starmers party is often accused of indulging in sixth-form politics; but this irresponsible and frankly pathetic approach is childish beyond belief. And the effect has been to sour the so-called special relationship in a way that is not only unnecessarily antagonistic but also potentially deeply detrimental to Britains interests.

It began with a direct attempt during the campaign to undermine the democratic process itself, in a LinkedIn post by Sofia Patel, head of operations for Labour, boasting of a scheme to send over 100 party volunteers to work on Harriss campaign. [Lets] show those Yanks how to win elections! she wrote.

This prompted an unprecedented six-page complaint to the Federal Election Commission, which has yet to be resolved. In response, when asked this week about the incident by Channel 4s Matt Frei, Donald Trump Jr said: Its certainly not a great start. Its absolute lunacy when I see whats going on in the UK at the moment. Theyre jailing people for misgendering someone. Honestly, its disgusting and they should be ashamed of themselves.

Meanwhile, Trumps No 1 supporter Elon Musk clashed with Starmer in August over the policing of the UK riots. He dubbed the PM Two Tier Keir, a reference to the suggestion that police were treating white protesters more harshly than minority groups, while emptying the prisons of dangerous criminals. I dont think anyone should go to the UK when theyre releasing convicted paedophiles in order to imprison people for social media posts, Musk said in September.

Kamala Harris conceded the election in a speech at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Relations between the two camps will not have been helped by the emergence of leaked documents thought to have been drawn up by the Centre for Countering Digital Hate  founded by Starmers now chief of staff Morgan McSweeney  that list kill Musks Twitter [slash X] as one of the groups priorities.

It is also worth noting that Musk is planning a second European gigafactory in addition to his plant in Berlin. President Macron is said to be courting him, together with Italy and Spain. And yet no one invited Musk to the UK governments International Investment Summit. Because its not like Britain needs investment or anything. Meanwhile Jim Murphy, a former British minister whose firm Arden Strategies enjoys close ties to Starmers Labour, served as the director of a UK company that transferred almost a million dollars to a US non-profit organisation which then ran a major campaign targeting senior Republicans including Senator Rand Paul and Lauren Boebert. In one hit, Trumps running-mate, JD Vance, was likened to a Russian doll.

This hostility has not gone unnoticed. JD Vance joked in July: I was talking with a friend recently ... about, what is the first truly Islamist country that will get a nuclear weapon and we were like, maybe its Iran, maybe Pakistan ... And then we finally decided, maybe its actually the UK, since Labour just took over.

The bad blood between Labour and Donald Trump runs deep, and it goes back some time. A racist, misogynistic self-confessed groper, Ed Miliband has called him; an odious, sad, little man according to Wes Streeting, Health Secretary. A tyrant in a toupee according to Lammy, who added that he was deluded, dishonest, xenophobic, narcissistic and a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath.

This from someone so deluded he believes that a man can grow a cervix. Yet Lammy now finds himself in the position of being the Governments primary interface with the new administration.

No wonder Badenoch made it a central issue of her debut at PMQs on Wednesday: it represents a huge weakness in this Governments ability to interact on any meaningful level with Britains biggest ally  with far-reaching economic, cultural and security repercussions.

Like I said, Donald Trump is no angel. But he has won this election fairly and by some considerable margin. And the job of any grown-up British government in response to a change of administration in the White House is to work with, not against, them. Whoever they might be.

It is abundantly clear that this Labour Government would rather stick pins in their eyes. But they dont really have a choice. If Starmer is to have any chance of avoiding the marginalisation of Britain by America for the next four years, he has to find a way of showing he is prepared to do business with the Trump administration for the sake of the greater good.

There is only one way he can successfully hope to do so, and that is by removing Lammy as Foreign Secretary and replacing him with a more mature, experienced and diplomatic politician. Not many on his frontbench can boast all or indeed any of those qualities; but there is one senior party figure who could do it.

As an elder statesman, Lord Mandelson would be ideal, bringing both gravitas and political pragmatism to the role. It is well understood that Starmer likes and trusts him, and few possess Mandelsons intelligence and cunning, qualities that have often earned him the moniker of Machiavellian. But, as the great Florentine political commentator himself once said: Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.

The difficulties here are unquestionably great; the question is, does Starmer have the willingness to put aside his partys tiresome tribalism and make an effort to overcome them?

If he does, it would mark him out as a man of greater standing than he currently appears to be. If he doesnt, then Britain will find itself increasingly isolated, at a time of great turmoil, from its most faithful ally.
Kemi Badenoch reckons shes worked out how to beat Sir Keir Starmer. The thing Kemis noticed is he cant think on his feet, an ally of the new Tory leader told me. He comes into Prime Ministers Questions with his big briefing book and doesnt ever get his head out of it. Hes very stilted. Its supposed to be for guidance. But he cant move away from his brief. And thats where we think we can start to expose him.

Badenoch and her team plan to exploit this perceived weakness at their weekly PMQs jousts  which began last Wednesday  in a number of ways.

First, shes going to use them as an opportunity to contrast her relative youth and vigour with his rather staid and lawyerly Despatch Box demeanour.

From the moment she stood up on Wednesday, she just looked different to Starmer, an ally said.

She had the energy  and a bit of fight. He was too scripted. Yes, he came up with that line about her reading her questions. But having pre-prepared questions isnt the same as having pre-prepared answers.

The second thing Team Badenoch intend to do is, as they phrase it, pull Starmer off his bullet points. According to the same ally: Kemis going to keep coming at him from different angles and throw him off balance. He wont be able to regurgitate the line to take. Thats when hell start to make mistakes.

And then she plans to start to deploy some old-style parliamentary tradecraft.

On Wednesday, she didnt wind up with a big peroration, says a source. She used it for a question. That meant Starmer couldnt do his own big wind-up. And shes going to do that a lot. Itll prevent him playing up to his MPs and getting a staged ovation at the end.

All this talk of the Prime Ministers lead-footedness might be seen as wishful thinking from the Tories new leader. Except for the fact similar concerns are being voiced by Starmers own MPs.

Kemi Badenoch at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday. An ally of the Conservative leader said: 'She had the energy  and a bit of fight. He was too scripted'

Theres something about Keir thats not quite right, one senior Labour backbencher told me. He just doesnt seem comfortable in his own skin. His public appearances are very stilted. Its as if his heart isnt in it. Im not entirely sure hes all that happy being Prime Minister.

He certainly doesnt seem to be relishing his new role. On Tuesday evening Starmer appeared on the House of Commons terrace to address the parliamentary press gallery. It was a robotic performance. There were a couple of forced jokes, and some cliches about the contribution of journalists to the democratic process. But it was all dialled in.

Just as it was the next day in his first clash with Badenoch. He got good support from his backbenchers, who had been well revved up by the whips. But in contrast their leader appeared very wooden.

Though wooden may not be the right word. As Starmer showed during the summers anti-immigration rioting, he isnt brittle and possesses an inner strength. A better comparison is the Tin Man from The Wizard Of Oz. Robust, but unflexible and passionless. Seemingly lacking heart.

And again, its a perception that is starting to seep into his own Cabinet. One Minister has been telling colleagues they find Starmer strangely detached. Whenever they try to engage with the PM, he doesnt seem properly present, a source told me. He tells them to take up the issue with one of the advisers.

Another Minister revealed a growing concern over the amount of time Starmer is spending abroad. Its as if he cant wait to get out of Westminster, they observed. Its always said that prime ministers eventually lose themselves in diplomacy because it gives a break from the problems at home. Starmers been throwing himself into foreign trips from day one.

An assessment supported by the fact that since becoming PM in July, Starmer has made 13 overseas trips to nine countries.

'In the build-up to the General Election, Sir Keir Starmers inability to craft a clear identity for himself was viewed through the prism of tactical expediency. It made him difficult to pin down, and target. But in power, his instinctive caution is starting to work against him'

Some colleagues are also becoming worried he is failing to take sufficient ownership of his own government, and that the real drive within Starmers administration is coming from outside of No 10. Theres a general sense among Labour MPs that the Budget landed relatively well. And they believe the Tory response to it is creating some clear blue water between the two parties. One Labour MP told me: Its giving us the definition weve been struggling for. Every time that voters see a Tory banging on about how terrible were being on farmers, or private schools or inheritance tax, were winning.

But the Budget was the handiwork of Rachel Reeves, and her steely control of the economic agenda. Its Home Secretary Yvette Cooper whos leading the charge against the people-smuggling gangs. And Health Secretary Wes Streeting has been handed responsibility for driving through NHS reform.

Keir hasnt really taken charge of anything, one Minister told me. The line from Downing Street is that he trusts his team and likes to delegate. Well, thats fine. But Thatcherism and Blairism were coined for a reason. It wasnt Teamism.

So far, Starmers failure to stamp his identity on his premiership has not created political problems.

The Tories were shell-shocked after their election massacre. Rishi Sunak was little more than a dignified Caretaker of the Opposition. And Labour MPs have just been happy to be back in government, rather than tramping the wastelands of opposition.

But now the post-election phoney war is over. In Kemi Badenoch, Starmer faces a volatile, but tenacious, adversary.

The tax assault on farms, small businesses and inherited wealth has raised the Tory Party from its stupor. And Labour is coming to realise that without a Conservative government to kick around, politics has suddenly become a whole lot harder.

So now they are looking for some leadership. And struggling to find it.

In the build-up to the General Election, Sir Keir Starmers inability to craft a clear identity for himself was viewed through the prism of tactical expediency. It made him difficult to pin down, and target. But in power, his instinctive caution is starting to work against him.

Last week, I bumped into a senior former adviser from the Blair/Brown years. He was bemused by the lack of dynamism from Starmer and his Government. Wheres the plan? Wheres the vision? Whats he waiting for? What does he actually want power for? he lamented.

In the original book on which The Wizard Of Oz was based, Dorothys travelling companion finally unburdens himself. You people with hearts, he says, have something to guide you, and need never do wrong; but I have no heart. And so I must be very careful.

Labours rusty Tin Man needs to find one. Before the Tories fleet-footed new leader starts to run rings around him.
Yes, it is fun watching silly Leftists wailing and gnashing their teeth over President Trumps victory. It is yet more evidence that such people have no real idea what is going on in the world.

But that does not prove that Mr Trumps election is good news for the rest of us. Leave aside his deep personal unpleasantness, which is beyond dispute. Such nastiness is not unknown among Leftists and liberals. We have no real idea what he will do, because he does not know either.

Despite being the most cunning politician in the English-speaking world since the death of the late Princess Diana, Mr Trump (like her) is not especially intelligent or well-informed. It is a sad fact of politics that the most astute people are seldom the brightest, while the cleverest are usually bad at the feral behaviour which gets yo to the top.

He may do useful things by accident, but he may equally well do disastrous things.

I have one hope. With a bit of luck he will finally dispose of the sad, pitiable idea that there is a special relationship between this country and the USA.

Nobody in the USA has ever heard of it, and America is not going to rescue us from our folly or our approaching bankruptcy. If we  as a nation and a people  finally grasp this, and accept our true position as a medium-sized independent country responsible for its own future, we might have some hope of survival in the century to come. If not, we will find our own shabbier cut-rate Trump to lead us to even deeper perdition.

In the USA, the old parties of left and right deserted and insulted their actual followers, and drove them up the wall with frustrated rage. Here, too, the same thing is happening, and shallow, irresponsible people will be the ones who benefit from it.

It is terrible to watch, and especially so if, like me, you have been warning against it for 20 years.

Justice at a snail's pace

Britain's mind is changing.

I get the impression that many who once accepted that Lucy Letby was certainly guilty

of the terrible crimes for which she was convicted are now (like me) not so sure. Yet the process of getting the case reopened is so slow that it makes a snail look like a Lamborghini.

If Ms Letby is not guilty, it could be ten long, hard years before she steps back out into the sunlight. Ten years!

Recently, Andrew Malkinson served 17 years for a crime he did not do. I know a bit about jails. Real, hard criminals do not suffer too much in prisons, which are  horrifyingly  partly under the control of people like them. But for the innocent, they are actual hell.

I understand the law must be cautious, but its procedures for granting and hearing appeals could be swifter. Equally important, once the Criminal Cases Review Commission has accepted the possibility of a miscarriage of justice, shouldnt those involved be subject to a less rigorous form of imprisonment, away from the general population, with more visits and freer access to correspondence and phones?

Everyone Ive mentioned this to says its impractical. But try to imagine the alternative, for an unharmful soul who really is innocent. It is unbearable.

Time for the CofE to put humanity over dogma

I really do not think that racial bigotry is a strong force in the Church of England, in general one of the most soppily liberal, politically correct and multicultural bodies in the country.

I heard recently of a vicar told by her superiors not to wear a dog collar at a Church conference lest it intimidate people. Yet a weird document published last week managed to suggest that its rural parishes seethe with prejudice.

I struggled through the report, which is written in Newspeak. It modishly refers to UK Minoritised Ethnic (UKME) and Global Majority Heritage (GMH) persons.

At one point it actually admits that the factual basis for its conclusions is rather thin, saying: Ethnicity data ranges from patchy to largely non-existent, except for within four dioceses.

It also manages to mention that the share of new vicars from UKME/GMH backgrounds has more than doubled in the last six years. It then slips in the information that the proportion of UKME/GMH ordinands is broadly in line with the overall UKME/GMH population in England and Wales.

Ah. I was rather taken by the clergyperson in the Birmingham diocese asked to self-identify according to his or her ethnicity. He/she responded with human. That, in my view, is the proper Christian response to this sort of stuff.

A cold, dark truth that eco-zealots cant accept

Here's an amusing game to play with any Green Zealots you know. Pick a windless day, such as we had for most of last week in much of the country. Get them to look at the Energy Dashboard, available instantly on any phone. And what you and they will find is that almost all the vaunted, hideous windmills that have been inflicted on our landscape and territorial waters were last week as much use as a wet paper bag.

If it were not for huge numbers of (ungreen) gas-fired power stations, for our dwindling nuclear fleet and for power imports from foreign nations, we would be cold and dark.

They will drivel on about batteries and storage, but in fact no technology exists which can store very much power.

Greenism is a fanatical cult, not a rational position. Far too few people in politics, the media or the Church (whose message has now largely been replaced with the supreme commandment Thou Shalt be Green) have been prepared to stand up to these intolerant, furious utopians.

Fight them now or we will face economic catastrophe within 20 years, thanks to their ideas.

Its also worth asking the same people, who will often say that such events as the recent floods in Valencia, are caused by CO2 emissions, to explain the logical chain between the two things. Most cant even try.

You could also point out that Valencia was hit by a similar

flood in October 1957. But, in the way of all fanatics, they will become angry rather than try to defend their position.
The chilling crimes of serial killer John Sweeney have been explored once again in ITV drama Until I Kill you, which depicts the ordeal of his partner, Delia Balmer in the early 1990s.

As viewers watch the dramatised version of Sweeney's violent crimes acted out between Shaun Evans and Anna Maxwell Martin, many have been left horrified after taking a glimpse into the serial killer's twisted mind.

Aside from his victims, someone who was most affected by Sweeney's sick motivations was his own son Michael, who has previously spoken out about the chilling behaviours he observed in his father when he was just a teenager.

In 2011, Michael revealed his father had once given him a drawing of his mother Ann, but depicted as a body in a coffin with the words 'rest in peace Ann' scrawled alongside it.

Speaking to the Mirror in 2011, Michael revealed he initially thought the chilling note was his father being bitter over his break up with Ann. However when Sweeney, branded the 'scalp hunter killer' was convicted of beheading and butchering two of his girlfriends and dumping their chopped up bodies in canals, he realised it was a glimpse into his father's sordid mind.

In a resurfaced 2011 interview, the murderers son Michael Sweeney, from London , revealed he was given a glimpse into his father's evil mind when he was just a teenager

The carpenter was sentenced to a whole life sentence for murdering American model Melissa Halstead, 33, (right) and prostitute Paula Fields, 31 (left)

Sweeney and Michael's mother Ann were together for several years before he got together with Delia Balmer and also had a daughter, Tracey.

Michael said: 'I could see it was my mum straight away. It was so lifelike. It was like a photograph. I thought at the time it was strange but just a symbol of their bad relationship.

'When I saw the pencil drawing I said 'Is that mum?' He just said 'yes' and went withdrawn. He hated my mum and I think he hated me because I was like her.'

'Now I know he has killed I can't help but wonder, 'why didn't he kill my mum?'

According to Michael, before his mother Ann died in 2002, his father wrote to tell her he still loved her, he claimed her was 'obsessed with her.'

The carpenter was sentenced to a whole life sentence for murdering American model Melissa Halstead, 33, and prostitute Paula Fields, 31.

He mutilated his victims bodies, chopped off their heads and hands, tied up their torsos inside bin bags and put them in weighted holdalls.

At the time of his conviction he was already in jail for trying to kill an ex-girlfriend, Delia Balmer, 42, with an axe.

However in 2012, Michael also revealed that he is scared that John has killed many more women.

'Scalp Hunter' John Sweeney, was jailed for life for murdering Melissa Halstead and Paula Fields and throwing their mutilated bodies into canals

After his arrest John told police he had between '30 to 40' relationships across the Continent.

Michael urged his father to tell police if there are more victims so families can be put out of their 'misery.'

John was later taken from the prison to attend his father Jack's funeral accompanied by prison guards, and his Michael remembered his dad trying to offer him some advice which made him feel 'sick'.

Michael said his serial killer father urged him not to make the same mistakes as him, to which he responded that there would be 'no chance of that.'

The ITV's series takes its inspiration from the harrowing experiences of John Sweeney's only known surviving victim, Delia.

Portrayed by Anna Maxwell-Martin, the character of Delia unearths a chilling collection of Sweeney's artwork depicting decapitated women and other macabre scenes.

The series is inspired by the 2017 memoir, Living with a Serial Killer, and is accompanied by a new documentary which details the true timeline of events.

A note seized from John Sweeney in 2001 referring to the death of Melissa Halstead before she was identified

John Sweeney's drawing of Melissa in the middle and a message saying RIP above her head, which he later covered up with Tippex

In the drama, romance blossomed between Sweeney (played by Shaun Evans) and Delia (played by Anna Maxwell Martin) when he approached her at a bar in Camden, London, one evening and offered to buy her a drink. They bond over their shared love of travel.

While at first appearing attentive and caring, buying Delia bouquets of flowers and showing outward signs of affection, their relationship quickly deteriorated.

Sweeney, who took up residence in Delia's flat, became erratic and controlling towards Delia, criticising her appearance and where she spent her free time.

When she finally gathered the strength to demand him to leave, she was met with his wrath.

Delia found herself increasingly tormented by Sweeney. She was hacked to within an inch of her life by the killer, who attacked her with a hammer and an axe.

Prior to the attempt on her life, Sweeney had held her captive and repeatedly raped her in a week-long ordeal, for which he was arrested but released on bail.

In 1994, in a terrifying ordeal spanning several days, Sweeney held Delia against her will, tied her to the bed and intimidated her with threats of disfiguring her tongue.

It is then that Sweeney admitted to murdering his ex-girlfriend Melissa Halstead, 33, in Rotterdam.

Delia Balmer was hacked to within an inch of her life by John Sweeney (pictured together), who she had dated for three years

Delia Balmer (pictured) who survived a horrific ordeal at the hands of her ex-boyfriend John Sweeney

Delia (pictured as a young woman) met Sweeney in a pub in Camden, London, when she was working as an agency nurse

In her memoir, Delia recounted Sweeney's admission: 'We had a room in Amsterdam. I went in. There were two Germans there with her. I killed them all. I didn't know what to do with the bodies. I sat with them for three days. On the third day, I cut them up, and I put them in bags and I threw them in the canal.'

However, Delia's struggles did not end there, as she was then let down by the police and the legal system.

Her life was then put in danger once again when Sweeney was released on bail and made a second attempt on her life.

He was finally caught in 2001 and sentenced to nine years in prison for his attack on Delia.

Sweeney's first victim Melissa Halstead met a recently divorced Sweeney in 1986 while she was working internationally as a model and photographer.

About a year into their relationship, he had been charged at least once for domestic violence against her, and was subjected to a number of fines until the pair relocated to Austria.

He had tracked her down, stalked her, tied her up and attacked her with a hammer which cracked her skull.

Anna Maxwell Martin as Delia Balmer and Shaun Evans as John Sweeney in ITV's Until I Kill You

While at first appearing attentive and caring, buying Delia bouquets of flowers and showing outward signs of affection, their relationship quickly deteriorates (pictured is Anna Maxwell Martin as Delia Balmer and Shaun Evans as John Sweeney)

After being released and ordered to leave Austria, the pair settled in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

But her body was found floating in a canal in May 3, 1990, after he transported her body to Rotterdam.

Detectives found deeply disturbing drawings by the murderer, including sketches that suggested how he butchered Melissa.

The American model's body was found dismembered in a Dutch canal. In one poem, Sweeney said she had been 'fed to the fishes and chopped into bits, Amsterdam was the pits'.

There were also self-portraits captioned 'seal hunter' in which the killer was shown as a devil with a bloody axe.

It was not until 2008 that Melissa's remains were identified using an advanced DNA test, paving the way for Sweeney to be charged with her murder.

The new documentary revealed how Sweeney butchered the women's bodies, removing their heads and hands so their corpses couldn't be identified.

He then tied up their body parts with rope and put them into bags filled with tiles and bricks to weigh them down in the water.

Melissa was thrown into a Rotterdam canal, while Paula's was put into London's Regent's Canal.

The body of Paula Fields, a 31-year-old mother was cut into six pieces and stuffed into holdalls.

The Halewood woman's head, hands and feet were never found.

Prosecutors during the killer's trial in 2011 said this was a deliberate attempt to prevent them from being identified and Sweeney being exposed as being responsible for the murders.

While serving time for the assault on Delia, Sweeney was interrogated about Melissa and Paula. Thanks to advancements in DNA technology, as well as Delia's testimony, authorities were able to bring a case against him.

Sweeney was given a whole life sentence at the Old Bailey in 2011 after being convicted of murdering Melissa, a former model from Ohio, and Paula Fields, a mother-of-three living in north London. The woman's remains were found a decade apart.

In 2023, it was reported that Sweeney had been linked to some of the cases included in an Interpol appeal which is seeking to uncover the names of 22 women - each of whom are suspected murder victims from across Europe since 1976.
Princess Eugenie was all smiles in a unique embroidered gown as she attended a charity event on Thursday night.

The 34-year-old royal put on a stylish display at the Poppy Ball Dinner at Royal Albert Hall ahead of Remembrance Day on Sunday.

She looked glamorous in a black cold-shouldered Peter Pilotto gown adorned with a floral embroidered pattern on the chest and stretching down the flowing skirt as well as turquoise piping and a tie belt.

Eugenie styled the fabulous frock with a simple gold pendant necklace and sparkling star-shaped earrings.

Her brunette locks were pulled back in a tousled half-updo and she let her long parted fringe hang free to frame her face.

Princess Eugenie (right), 34, beamed as she attended the Royal British Legion's Poppy Ball dinner on Thursday night ahead of Remembrance Day on Monday

She looked glamorous in a black cold-shouldered Peter Pilotto gown adorned with a floral embroidered pattern as well as turquoise piping and a tie belt

On Instagram, the Duchess of York's youngest daughter said she was 'honoured' to be a part of the event which raised over 36,000 for the Royal British Legion.

'Since its inception in 2010, it has raised over 1.5 million for the RBL. Fantastic work and I'm so proud to be a patron,' she added.

Eugenie shared a small selection of images of her chatting, beaming and posing with fellow guests.

The post came just a few hours before Buckingham Palace confirmed Queen Camilla will not be attending the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday evening, nor the Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph on Sunday.

A Palace spokesperson said: 'Following doctors' guidance to ensure a full recovery from a seasonal chest infection, and to protect others from any potential risk, Her Majesty will not attend this weekend's Remembrance events.

'While this is a source of great disappointment to The Queen, she will mark the occasion privately at home and hopes to return to public duties early next week.'

On Instagram, the Duchess of York's youngest daughter said she was 'honoured' to be a part of the event which raised over 36,000 for the Royal British Legion

Eugenie shared a small selection of images of her chatting, beaming and posing with fellow guests

It is understood there is no cause for alarm, and no downturn in her condition. The Queen is said to be mindful of minimising the risk of passing any last lingering infection to others.

The Princess of Wales, who is recovering from cancer and the King, who is still having ongoing treatment for cancer, are both attending the Remembrance events.

Buckingham Palace announced on Tuesday that the Queen, who has just completed a mammoth tour of Australia and Samoa with King Charles, was cancelling her forthcoming engagements due to a chest infection.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said at the time: 'Her Majesty The Queen is currently unwell with a chest infection, for which her doctors have advised a short period of rest.

'With great regret, Her Majesty has therefore had to withdraw from her engagements for this week but she very much hopes to be recovered in time to attend this weekend's Remembrance events as normal.

Buckingham Palace confirmed Queen Camilla will not be attending the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday evening, nor the Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph on Sunday. (Queen Camilla pictured alongside the Duchess of Cambridge during the National Service Of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in 2023)

Royal Family members at Remembrance events this weekend CONFIRMED King Charles III

Prince William

Kate, Princess of Wales

Anne, Princess Royal

Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence

Edward, Duke of Edinburgh

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh

Richard, Duke of Gloucester

Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester

Edward, Duke of Kent Advertisement

'She apologises to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.'

The 77-year-old royal is understood to be recovering at home in Wiltshire and is being monitored by doctors.

Buckingham Palace confirmed yesterday that The Duchess of Cambridge will join King Charles III, her husband Prince William and other senior Royal Family members at the commemoration for the war dead on Sunday, and be present at Saturday evening's annual festival.

Kate is making a gradual return to public duties after completing a course of cancer treatment, with her last high-profile appearance at Trooping the Colour in June.

She has stayed home with children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis this week while William was in Cape Town for his Earthshot Prize awards.

But Kate's double appearance this weekend will be the first time she has carried out two consecutive days of public official engagements since the start of the year.

As is tradition, Kate will watch on Sunday from above on the nearby Foreign Office balcony, taking part in the two-minute silence and viewing the veterans' march past.
When Benedict Cumberbatch bought an 8.1 million country estate, villagers were thrilled at the prospect of having a film star join the illustrious neighbourhood.

But it seems the Sherlock actor has never actually moved into his castle-like property set in 335 acres in the celebrity haven of Bruton in Somerset  and he may even be looking to sell up.

Benedict and his wife Sophie snapped up the pad in April 2022, but I'm told it could soon be back on the market. According to one well-placed source, Sophie is not a country girl.

'She doesn't want to move to the countryside,' one friend said. 'It's Sophie who wants to sell.'

The estate boasts a wine cellar, orchard and a Grade II-listed lodge which was built to impress George III when he visited in the 18th Century. Today, celebrity neighbours include fashion designer Stella McCartney, former Chancellor George Osborne and theatre impresario Cameron Mackintosh.

Benedict and his wife Sophie snapped up the pad in April 2022

The estate boasts a wine cellar, orchard and a Grade II-listed lodge which was built to impress George III when he visited in the 18th Century

An application to build a 'new contemporary home' on the site was accepted in 2017, but sources claim no building works have taken place.

Benedict took over, the palatial home has been sitting empty and is falling into ruin.

Neighbours claim 'nobody has ever moved in', which explains why the turreted, Gothic-style entrance is blocked by a gate, and a notice over the letterbox reads 'not in use'. Intriguingly, there are also security notices warning of 'police drones'.

Most of the neighbours tell me they have 'never seen' Benedict.

I wonder what Dr Watson would think? It's a three-pipe mystery, indeed

...As Rebel seeks a rural retreat

Meanwhile, Rebel Wilson and her new wife Ramona Agruma are considering quitting Hollywood for a new life in the Cotswolds.

Rebel Wilson and her new wife Ramona Agruma are considering quitting Hollywood for a new life in the Cotswolds

The couple 'fell in love' with the area when visiting in summer, attracted by both its peace and quiet and the trendy celebrity haunt of Soho Farmhouse.

They also think it might be the ideal place to bring up their two-year-old daughter, Royce Lillian.

'Goddess' Flora's lost her Manners

Charles Manners  the handsome future Duke of Rutland and heir to Belvoir Castle  has quietly split from ITV's glamorous horse racing presenter Flora Gibbs, I can reveal.

Rather awkwardly, they were both invited to Tatler's Little Black Book Party of eligible singles at Tramp last week, where Flora, 26, left, 'held court like a goddess', according to one onlooker.

Flora Gibbs attends a fundraiser for Young Lives vs Cancer hosted by Tara DuRoss at St Pancras Renaissance Hotel on November 22, 2023

Violet Manners and Charles Granby attend the Gentleman's Journal Christmas party on December 02, 2021 in London

Meanwhile Charles, the 25-year-old Marquess of Granby, inset, told me while scanning the dancefloor: 'My type is blonde and tall.'

Er, just like Flora, then?

Tucks ducks out of Harry's charity

Prince Harry has lost another staff member - and this time it's one of his closest chums.

Andrew Tucker, whom Harry affectionately calls 'Tucks', has stepped down from his senior position at Harry's charity Sentebale, which helps vulnerable children in Lesotho, after almost a decade in the role.

Andrew Tucker, whom Harry affectionately calls 'Tucks', has stepped down from his senior position at Harry's charity Sentebale

His departure comes less than a year after Sentebale chief executive Jonny Hornby quit.

Mr Tucker began working for both Harry and Prince William almost 20 years ago as their polo manager  he's pictured above with Harry at a 2015 match  and is well known in royal circles.

His godfather is Mark Phillips, the ex-husband of Princess Anne, and he was best man at Peter Phillips' 2008 wedding.

To cap it all!

Heiress Petra Ecclestone's decision to show her support for Donald Trump by wearing a Make America Great Again cap hasn't endeared her to her neighbours in liberal Los Angeles.

Heiress Petra Ecclestone's decision to show her support for Donald Trump by wearing a Make America Great Again cap hasn't endeared her to her neighbours

The daughter of former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone says a stranger yelled at her to remove the cap as she arrived at stables for a horse-riding lesson with her daughter.

'It was really shocking to me,' she says. 'I felt like a leper.'

It was one of the world's most expensive weddings when Rasha Said, daughter of billionaire former Tory donor Wafic, married Khaled Khawaja at the Palace of Versailles, with Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie among the 700 guests.

But 12 years later, I can reveal that the glamorous couple have sadly split. 'While we can confirm that we live apart, we remain best friends,' Rasha tells me.

'We continue to love and respect each other and share the love of our wonderful children, who remain at the centre of both of our lives.'
A woman from Canada has attracted a flurry of attention from passionate Brits after she asked if her way of serving tea to guests was 'acceptable'.

The Canadian sought the advice of the British population as she 'gets the hang of English customs' and sparked a lively discussion in the process.

She said she usually takes her tea black, so wondered if it was 'acceptable' in the UK to serve 'guests and tradespeople' a cup of tea on a tray with the milk carton and a small bowl of sugar on the side.

Many applauded the woman's method adding she should invest in a milk jug whereas others thought she should learn to make a decent cuppa for her visitors.

'Is it okay to serve black tea with milk and sugar on the side rather than mix it myself? Disclaimer: I'm Canadian, I drink my tea black, and I'm still getting the hang of English customs,' she asked on Reddit.

A woman from Canada has attracted a flurry of attention from passionate Brits after she asked if her way of serving tea to guests was 'acceptable'

'When a friend or tradesperson is over at mine and they accept my offer of tea I'll steep a mug of English Breakfast, then remove the tea bag and bring them a tray with the tea, milk, and sugar. Mostly because I have no idea how much milk or sugar is appropriate, since I don't take either in my tea.

'Is that acceptable? Would it be acceptable for a Brit, or is there leeway given for foreigners?'

The query drew in hundreds of replies, with one praised her 'tea etiquette' for being 'on point'.

'Totally acceptable for anyone. Bonus points for sugar cubes and a little milk jug,' another agreed.

'This is the dream! It's perfect! Personally I like my tea really strong, with the tiniest splash of milk... No sugar. Most people hugely over milk my tea, but giving me the option of exactly how much milk to add is perfect,' a third said.

'As a tradesperson this is acceptable,' someone else added.

Many applauded the woman's method adding she should invest in a milk jug whereas others thought she should learn to make a decent cuppa for her guests

Some chimed in with some useful suggestions.

'You could ask them how they like their tea,' one person recommended and a second replied: 'There's no arbitrary way in which a tea should be served, just ask them how they like it and make it that way'.

'And most Brits are too polite to say anything even if they don't like it the way you made it, they'll just drink it anyway.'

'Leave the tea bag in, let them decide how strong they (want it) otherwise no notes,' another answered.

One tea lover said while they agreed the Canadian's efforts were respectable, she should learn 'how much milk to put in a cup of tea to make it within acceptable limits for 95 per cent of people'.

'If you're offered a cup of tea and you genuinely don't like it one way or another you would typically say something like, 'Yes please, just a drop of milk' or 'Yes please, milky, two sugars, ta',' they added.

One tea lover agreed the Canadian's efforts were respectable but she should learn 'how much milk to put in a cup of tea to make it within acceptable limits for 95 per cent of people'

Another thought serving tea with milk and sugar on the side was 'not what an English person would typically do'.

A third slammed the expat's approach to serving tea as 'unacceptable'.

'You're depriving people the opportunity to judge how you've made the tea, which is half the fun,' they joked.

The conversation comes after Yorkshire Tea revealed exactly how to make the perfect brew.

The tea experts shared a step-by-step guide for how to make the perfect brew and the one common mistake people make that could leave their cuppa tasting bitter.

Before filling the kettle, the tea lovers said to run the tap for a few seconds, so the water becomes aerated.

The water in the kettle should only ever be boiled once to keep the oxygen levels which enhances the flavour of the tea.

Brits online have long debated whether the tea bag goes in the mug before or after the boiling water.

While many believe tea bag first and water second is the only correct way, other hit back saying they prefer the opposite.

However, as reported by the Mirror, Yorkshire Tea put the argument to rest confirming it's better to put the tea bag in first and giving it a brief stir.

Approximately 100 million cups of tea are made every day in the UK, however, Yorkshire Tea has revealed many may be brewing the British staple the wrong way

They said to add the tea bag first, pour hot water over the top and stir briefly.

If you're making a brew for a group and using a teapot, the Yorkshire tea specialists recommend swishing boiling water inside the pot to warm it up.

Discard the water before filling the teapot then add one to two tea bags depending on the size of the pot then give it a stir.

Tea drinkers will have to be patient and let the bag sit in the water for four to five minutes to 'unlock' the flavour.

When taking the tea bag out of the water, it's recommended to only give it one small squeeze on the side of the mug.

Yorkshire Tea gurus claim 'mashing' the bag too vigorously will leave your tea tasting bitter.

When it comes to personalising your brew, the tea masters said to customise your cuppa however you wish.

They prefer a splash of semi-skimmed or whole milk but said to use as much or as little milk, sugar, honey, lemon, or nothing at all to suit your tastes.

Another divisive row, Yorkshire Tea put to rest was when milk should be added to the mug.

Miffy is the nickname given to those who opt for milk first while people who add a splash last are called Tiffys.

Yorkshire Tea experts have sided with the Tiffys exampling tea brews best in very hot water so adding milk first will lower the temperature and it won't infuse effectively.

If brewing in a teapot, the order of the milk doesn't matter, it's all about personal preference.
Bitcoin jumped in value following the news that Donald Trump had won the US election, as investors in the digital currency backed a boom in the so-called 'Trump trade' that followed his victory.

Bitcoin surged to a new record high in the wake of the election, surpassing $75,000. The crypto has since risen to $76,000.

But while Bitcoin is the one hitting the headlines, it wasn't the only cryptocurrency to be buoyed by Trump's sweeping election win.

The rest of the crypto market also benefitted from Trump taking the White House, with 18 of the top 20 cryptocurrencies by market cap rising in the days since the election.

Blanket increase: The crypto market has seen a boost following Trump's election as president

How much has crypto risen since Trump's election?

Since 5 November, the entire crypto market has risen from just under $2.4trillion, to just under $2.7trillion, an increase of $300billion.

The biggest winning currency during this time was Cardano, rising 31.7 per cent.

Solana rose 28.7 per cent, ChainLink 26.2 per cent, Dogecoin 25.5 per cent and Sui 25 per cent.

Ethereum, which accounts for 13.7 per cent of the market, Avalanche and Lido Staked Ether all gained more than 20 per cent

Bitcoin, which has jumped 12.3 per cent, makes up 60.1 per cent of the market, with the thousands of other currencies accounting for just over 26 per cent.

Why has Trump boosted Bitcoin?

Undoubtedly the more crypto-friendly of the two candidates, Trump was clear on the campaign trail that he wants to harness innovation in cryptocurrencies.

This could mean more crypto products, such as ETFs, entering mainstream financial markets.

So far, just 11 crypto ETFs are available in the US, having been approved at long last in January.

'If crypto is going to define the future, I want it to be mined, minted and made in the USA,' Trump said on the campaign trail, setting out his intention to push crypto further into the financial establishment.

Glen Goodman, author of The Crypto Trader, told This is Money: 'Trump is a late but seemingly passionate convert to crypto. In 2019 he said "I am not a fan of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies" and in 2021 "It just seems like a scam", shortly before launching his own collection of digital crypto trading cards, netting him millions of dollars.'

Market cap rank Cryptocurrency % change since 5 November 1 Bitcoin 12.3 2 Ethereum 21.7 3 Tether 0.14 4 Solana 28.7 5 BNB 8.39 6 USDC -0.01 7 XRP 9.42 8 Dogecoin 25.5 9 Lido Staked Ether 21.9 10 Cardano 31.7 11 TRON -1.08 12 Toncoin 3.65 13 Avalanche 22.1 14 Shiba Inu 13.1 15 Wrapped Bitcoin 12.4 16 ChainLink 26.2 17 Bitcoin Cash 13.3 18 Sui 25 19 Polkadot 14.3 20 UNUS SED LEO 4.59 Source: Cryptorank.io, correct 8 November 2024

Kris Marszalek, chief executive of Crypto.com, tweeted after Trump's victory: 'Crypto at its very core is about freedom of the individual and the future of crypto has never looked brighter than today.'

The idea that is fuelling the current rise in cryptocurrencies is that, with Trump's election the slow adoption of crypto technology could be set to change.

Nick Jones, founder and chief executive of digital assets platform Zumo, said: 'Supporters will now hope for a more innovation-friendly environment.

'But this will require implementing a suitable regulatory framework that fosters innovation and allows the sector to grow, whilst discouraging bad actors.'

The UK and the EU have been quicker than the US to integrate crypto into their traditional financial setups, whereas the SEC has taken a hardline approach, focusing on enforcement rather than working with industry players to create a new set of regulations.

Simon Peters, market analyst at Etoro, said: 'We are seeing clearer regulatory frameworks for cryptoassets in markets such as the UK and Europe and we believe we'll see similar in the United States in the near future.

'We appreciate the importance of regulation to protect consumers and believe that regulation will act as a positive catalyst for the price of the major cryptoassets and the continued growth of the crypto ecosystem.'

JJ Kinahan, chief executive of IG North America and president of trading platform tastytrade, told This is Money that the SEC's approach is stifling participation in crypto, and limiting the liquidity of the market.

He said: 'We have a very unique situation here in the US, as it relates to crypto, because theres not a lot of clear regulation and theres a lot of uncertainty.

'It has held back many major institutions and players from participating in crypto, even though its a global asset and retail investors are increasingly interested in buying and trading cryptocurrencies.'

Goodbye Gary Gensler?

One major change to the crypto landscape in the US following Trump's win could be the removal of Gary Gensler, chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

Speaking at a crypto conference in the summer, Trump said he would oust Gensler from the SEC 'on day one' of his presidency.

Jones said: 'At a conference earlier this year, Trump promised to build a government stockpile of Bitcoin and to also fire SEC chair Gary Gensler. It's up for debate whether he can actually fire Gensler, but he could certainly demote him and designate a new chair.'

While there is no clear successor to Gensler, it is likely that whoever Trump favours will be keen to back the new president's policy of innovation. Gensler has proven one of the main hurdles to creating new regulation on crypto assets.

SEC Chair Gary Gensler has been slammed for his enforcement approach to cryptocurrency

Speaking at New York University School of Law earlier this year, Gensler said: 'it's unlikely this stuff is going to be a currency. It's going to have to show its value through disclosure, through use... The same way you pick amongst the thousands of securities that are listed on the stock exchange.'

David Morrison, senior market analyst at Trade Nation, said: 'It would be no surprise to see SEC chief Gary Gensler heading for the door soon. His perceived negative attitude in applying regulations to companies in the sector is viewed as very unhelpful, and Trump is a big crypto fan.'

Gensler is widely disliked by those in the crypto sphere for his enforcement approach to the currencies, with SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda even admitting that the SECs recent approach to crypto has been a 'disaster' for the whole industry.

With Gensler out of the way, Trump could be able to forge ahead and build a regulatory framework for cryptocurrency.
He was easily the biggest winner from Donald Trump's stunning return to the White House. Elon Musk  already the world's richest man  saw his personal wealth surge by $26.5 billion (20 billion) the day after the election as shares in his Tesla electric car company soared on the news.

The tycoon, who also owns social media platform X and rocket maker SpaceX, went all-in on Trump  and scooped the pot. Musk ploughed $130 million into Trump's campaign, making appearances at his rallies in key swing states and flooding X with messages of support to his more than 200 million followers.

In the 24 hours before the poll, Musk tweeted nearly 200 times, racking up almost a billion views, after averaging 100 posts a day in the month before the vote, according to the Financial Times.

Understandably, Trump was grateful - and fulsome in his praise.

'He's a character. He's a special guy. He's a super genius,' the president-elect said of the tycoon in his victory speech.

> How to choose the best stocks and shares Isa and the right DIY investing account

But having made a fortune on his election gamble, Musk stands to gain even more from the incoming administration as Trump  a transactional president if ever there was one  returns the favour.

Trump has pledged to give Musk an official role slashing government spending and red tape as part of a huge programme of de-regulation during his second term in the Oval Office.

That would give the billionaire huge power and influence over the federal agencies that oversee his vast business empire. The Tesla boss says he will use whatever power he gets to push for, among other things, federal approval of driverless cars.

Crucially, Musk has the ear of the President-elect  for now at least. Trump already has done a U-turn on electric vehicles after Musk's endorsement, and also embraced his ambitions to reach Mars with his SpaceX rockets.

But the payback may go even further. Musk has joked that he will lead a Department of Government Efficiency, or Doge  a nod to Dogecoin, the cryptocurrency he has promoted for years.

Cryptocurrency has become synonymous with the so-called 'Trump trade' that sent US stock markets to new peaks after his victory.

Bitcoin, the biggest cryptocurrency, hit a record high of almost $77,000 as its investors toasted his win. Trump, who once dismissed the digital token as a 'scam', now wants to make the US 'the bitcoin superpower of the world'. He is even toying with the idea of creating a federal bitcoin reserve, taking the cryptocurrency into the financial mainstream.

'Such a move would place bitcoin in a role similar to gold, giving it a historic level of legitimacy,' said James Butterfill, at crypto asset manager CoinShares, possibly pushing its value to new highs.

For that to happen Trump would have to fire Gary Gensler, chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which oversees Wall Street and protects investors.

'Trump's stance on the SEC and Gensler has been openly critical, especially the regulatory approach to digital assets,' said Butterfill. 'His administration is expected to bring in leadership changes that could usher in more crypto-friendly regulators at the SEC.'

Gensler has brought many lawsuits against crypto projects for allegedly violating securities laws amid accusations from opponents that he was stifling innovation.

He argued his job was to shield consumers from collapses like the one that sunk crypto exchange FTX in 2022. Its boss Sam Bankman-Fried was jailed for 25 years for stealing $8 billion in customer deposits.

Gensler also baulked at the launch of bitcoin ETFs  exchange traded funds  which allow punters to bet on cryptocurrency without actually holdingit.The token's spectacular gains last week were in part fuelled by inflows into American ETFs that invest in the cryptocurrency directly.

BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, saw its market-leading bitcoin ETF rake in more than $1.1billion on Thursday, marking the highest daily inflow since the $33 billion fund was launched in January.

How long the boom will last is anyone's guess. Critics say Trump's Damascene conversion to cryptocurrency and his 'bromance' with Musk were just part of a plan to win over young male voters and secure donations from wealthy 'tech bros' for his presidential bid.

If they are right and if Trump doesn't deliver on his many promises quickly, the euphoria gripping cryptocurrency and the wider stock market will soon fade  along with the fortunes made last week.

In the meantime, you can expect a wild ride.
Donald Trump has vowed to make America great again and, according to pollsters, more than 60 per cent of voters believe that means a stronger economy.

By comparison with other parts of the world, including Britain, the US is already doing pretty well. Top shares have almost tripled in value over the past decade and risen fivefold since 2004, far outperforming the UK and almost every market to boot.

But Trump wants to do better, with a turbocharged agenda designed to bolster businesses of every shape and size, provided they operate in the US and employ local people.

A number of London-listed firms should profit from the President-elects pro-business promises.

> How to choose the best stocks and shares Isa and the right DIY investing account

Trump initiatives including allowing more oil exploration could boost London-listed firms

Delivering prosperity

Financier Bill Ackman has been a lifelong Democrat donor. This year, the New York-based billionaire came out in favour of Trump, believing that the Maga agenda will help businesses to do better and increase in value faster than their opponents. His UK-listed group, Pershing Square Holdings, has already begun to do just that.

The stock rose to 35.80 last week and there should be more to come. Pershing Square buys shares in large American companies, including Google-owner Alphabet, fast food chain Chipotle, Hilton hotels and property giant Howard Hughes.

Firms such as these are all expected to gain ground under the Trump administration.

Ackman has proved his deal-making prowess time and again and seems as sure-footed as ever today. Yet Pershing Square shares trade at a discount of around 30 per cent to the value of the groups assets. That should reverse over time, making this all-American stock a buy.

Your good health

The US economy may be envied far and wide but the healthcare system badly needs fixing.

American hospitals spend around $1.4 trillion (1 trillion) a year and 40 per cent of that goes on administration and related costs. That compares to around 13 per cent for the NHS.

Craneware helps US healthcare providers to become more efficient, with sophisticated software that allows hospitals and pharmacies to buy drugs more effectively, deal with insurers and middlemen more proficiently and receive payments more promptly.

Headquartered in Edinburgh, Craneware makes the vast majority of its money in America and prospects are bright. The group signed a strategic partnership with tech giant Microsoft this year, profits are forecast to rise more than 35 per cent over the next three years and there will be further gains if Trump delivers on his promises to lower business taxes.

Revenues of around $200 million (154 million) are expected this financial year but there are high hopes that Craneware could become a $1 billion business over this decade. At 20.60, Craneware shares should go far.

Drill, baby, drill

Donald Trump has vowed to levy lots of tariffs on imported goods, particularly from China

Trump has pursued a determinedly anti-green agenda, promising to row back spending on renewable energy and allow oil and gas firms to expand exploration, development and production.

Trump may also lift restrictions on the export of liquefied natural gas, so boosting demand for US fuel worldwide.

Such moves are all music to the ears of Diversified Energy boss Rusty Hutson Junior. Diversified buys mature wells from companies that no longer want them and makes them more efficient.

The business owns more than 65,000 wells, 85 per cent of which produce natural gas, and it is expanding at pace. The groups heartland is centred on states such as Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, many of whose voters are ardent Trump supporters.

Recently, Hutson added to his portfolio with sites strategically located near gas export hubs. Diversified shares have had a rough ride, tumbling from 28 to just 9.55 over the past two years. Gas prices have been depressed, the group was quizzed by Democratic politicians about methane emissions from its wells and dividend payments were cut this year.

Looking ahead, prospects seem much brighter. Most forecasters believe gas prices will rise over the longer term, regulators are expected to be more supportive of companies such as Diversified and the company has made huge technical strides that allow the business to expand production while keeping costs low.

This should boost profitability and secure dividend payments, with $1.16 (90p) expected for 2025, putting the stock on a yield approaching 10 per cent. Diversified shares have been disappointing of late but should move ahead, making this an attractive long-term buy.

His favourite word

Trump has said tariff is his favourite word and vowed to levy lots of them on imported goods, particularly from China. This could benefit British firms Clarkson and Coats in very different ways.

Clarkson is the worlds biggest provider of shipbroking and other services, working with ship owners, ship builders and thousands of businesses that ferry goods around the globe.

Trade volumes may suffer over the long term if Trumps rhetoric is translated into action. In the short term, however, companies may be inclined to shore up supplies and fast, before punitive tariffs are introduced.

That is likely to drive up maritime traffic, increase freight prices and boost Clarksons bottom line.

Supporters were already looking for decent gains in sales and profits over the next 12 months. Forecasts could now be revised upward, giving Clarkson shares a lift. Now 36.50, the shares topped 45 a few months ago. Backers, including brokers at Zeus Capital, think the price should return to its highs. That may happen sooner rather than later.

Coats is at the other end of the scale. Founded as a weaving and textile pioneer more than 250 years ago, it is the largest producer of threads, zips and related materials for clothing, shoes and handbags, stitching together goods from designer trainers to womens undies.

Many firms in this sector rely heavily on China. Coats uses Chinese factories but also has facilities in Vietnam, Indonesia and India so it can shift supply chains swiftly if necessary. That should give the firm a clear advantage if Trump begins to impose heavy tariffs on Chinese imports.

Brokers, such as Peel Hunt, were already optimistic, expecting profits to increase from $205 million last year to $275 million by 2026. Those numbers could move higher still if Coats takes market share from less nimble-footed competitors. At 95p, the shares should deliver long-term rewards.

Building and growing

Other likely beneficiaries of the new White House regime include infrastructure specialist Hill & Smith and promotional goods group 4imprint. Headquartered in Solihull, West Midlands, Hill & Smith has a thriving business in the US, supplying steel products and road safety kit, from pipeworks to safety barriers.

Spending is expected to increase under Trump, with American infrastructure sorely in need of improvement, while Hill & Smith should also benefit from a more business-friendly tax regime. That makes the shares attractive, at 21.10. Likewise, 4imprint, responsible for promotional products from mugs to polo shirts to pens.

Listed in London but based in Wisconsin, the firm has been a strong performer for years but should gain ground if business confidence increases under the Republicans. At 56.64, the shares are pricey but high quality.
The Government should introduce a five-year tax break on businesses to encourage them to relocate to the UK, a leading fund manager has said.

Stephen Yiu, head of the Blue Whale Growth Fund, a 1.1 billion portfolio backed by City veteran Peter Hargreaves, said offering the incentive to firms interested in basing their headquarters in the UK would 'change a lot'.

He said it would avoid firms with growth potential choosing lower-tax alternatives such as Ireland.

He added that such measures would be 'cost-effective' and pose less risk to the Treasury's finances than more long-term tax cutting measures.

'Cost-effective': Stephen Yiu said offering the incentive to firms interested in basing their headquarters in the UK would 'change a lot'

He added: 'Companies basing themselves in Ireland should be jumping at the chance to move to London and the rest of the UK but they don't because our tax regime is not as helpful.'

After leaving the EU, many hoped the UK would reduce its tax rates and regulation to become a 'Singapore on Thames'  a low-tax, light-regulation and open-for-business economy that would rival the European Union's heavily regulated business sectors.

In 2019, entrepreneur Sir Martin Sorrell said that Britain should be 'Singapore on steroids'.

'The UK should be the home of Amazon, Google and Facebook, not the regulatory nightmare,' he said at the time.

Yiu added: 'A temporary five-year tax break for companies would change a lot and be cost-effective for the Government.' The comments came as Chancellor Rachel Reeves faced a backlash from businesses last week after unveiling 40 billion worth of tax rises in her October Budget, the majority of which will fall on firms.

Reeves raised the National Insurance rate paid by employers on staff wages from 13.8 per cent to 15 per cent and cut the threshold at which firms start paying it from 9,100 to 5,000 a year.

The Chancellor also announced a 6.7 per cent increase in the minimum wage to 12.21 an hour for those 21 and over, while for 18- to 20-year-olds it is going up 16.3 per cent to 10 an hour.

Yiu said that despite its massive tax increase and Reeves's promise to 'invest, invest, invest', her Budget had not 'raised the growth profile of the UK'.

'All the money has gone into places that won't stimulate the economy,' he added.

Lord Bilimoria, the founder of Cobra Beer and former president of the CBI, said last week that the Budget would do the 'exact opposite' of promoting growth.
Sweeping reforms: Chancellor Rachel Reeves

Rachel Reeves set to unveil sweeping reforms to encourage pension funds to 'buy British' and 'fire up' the economy.

The Chancellor will use her keynote Mansion House speech this week to say lessons must be learnt from Canadian retirement schemes, who have been big investors in British business.

She wants the UK's Local Government Pension Scheme, which controls 350 billion of assets, to invest more in local projects, such as infrastructure and renewable energy.

But this could put her on a collision course with funds that manage the nest eggs of six million council workers past and present.

She has been warned she faces a backlash if the scheme is told to invest in certain sectors.

Trustees fear that being told to buy more UK assets may not deliver the best returns for their members.
AstraZeneca is in a tricky spot as it prepares to report its quarterly results on Tuesday.

The drugs giant is struggling to contain the fallout from a widening investigation into its practices in China that has seen its top executive in the country arrested.

The FTSE 100 firm confirmed last week that Leon Wang, head of its Chinese arm, was being detained while two other executives, as well as two former bosses, are under investigation.

Under pressure: AstraZeneca is struggling to contain the fallout from a widening investigation into its practices in China

This is believed to be connected to allegations the firm imported and sold its cancer drug Imjudo, which is not approved for sale in China.

The news hit AstraZeneca shares, which have lost 15 per cent of their value so far this month, wiping 15 billion off its market value. It will be hoping strong third quarter results will revive some momentum and reassure anxious investors.

The firm is forecast to post sales of just over $13 billion (10 billion) for the three months to September, up from $11.5 billion for the same period last year, according to financial data provider Refinitiv.

It is also projected to deliver a profit for the quarter of $3.2 billion, nearly double the $1.7 billion of a year ago.

Some analysts have downplayed the issues in China, saying the risk to the company is being overblown.
Nothing can prepare you for a 76-year-old grandmother telling you her life is not worth living, that she would be 'better off dead'.

You might assume she is suffering from a terrible illness that makes death seem like a release from the relentless pain of day-to-day life.

But this is not the case for the woman I am speaking to - Mary*, who did not want her real name published. Physically, she is fine - but she has lost the will to live because of a silent epidemic that is sweeping our suburbs: elder abuse.

One in six Australians over the age of 65 has experienced abuse in the last year, yet it's rarely discussed.

Mary's suffering began as a girl when she was taken from her Indigenous parents and placed into the foster care system, where she was repeatedly raped and abused.

In 2022, she was awarded $140,000 compensation from the Australian Government. That redress payment should have kept her in relative comfort for the rest of her life.

But the money was stolen from her by her son, who used it to buy a home for himself and his family. She describes the theft as yet another trauma to add to her lifelong catalogue of indignities.

Today, the former solicitor is homeless, heartbroken and lost in legal limbo.

Mary*, a former solicitor, lost $140,000 to her abusive son in 2022 (photo posed by model)

Mary received $140k in compensation for the childhood abuse she suffered as a member of the Stolen Generations (forcibly removed children are seen here). However, her opportunistic son convinced her to put the money towards a house deposit then kicked her out

Mary's ordeal began when her second son, Greg*, 46, was living in Melbourne in 2022 at the height of the lockdowns and wanted to move across the country to the relative freedom of Perth.

There was just one problem: Greg had no job and couldn't afford to buy or rent in Perth. He and his partner Coleen* were not willing to move somewhere cheaper.

So, Greg came up with a solution and pitched it to his mother: 'Move in with us and help us pay the rent.'

Greg, Coleen and their children packed up their lives and joined Mary on the west coast.

They crammed themselves into a small rental until Greg found a job and began looking to buy a place for his family, but their home loan applications were rejected by bank after bank.

It was about this time Mary made a proposition to her son that she would live to regret: she suggested putting her compensation payment towards a house deposit and they would then all move in together, under the same roof.

While the property would be in her son's name, they reached an agreement - or so she thought - that she would be able to live there because she had paid the deposit.

'We discussed it and I said, "Well, I've got the $140,000 and I'll need somewhere to live. I'll put that into the property",' Mary said.

But one month later, after putting in an offer and buying a place, Mary said she 'was literally kicked out on my a***'.

Looking back, the signs she was being exploited were apparent before buying a home was ever on the table.

How to protect yourself As more young people are priced out of the property market due to the housing crisis, a growing number of parents are helping their adult children buy their first home - known as The Bank of Mum and Dad. This can certainly be a generous gesture, but it is vital to protect yourself financially if you do decide to help out. Here are some things to consider. Be clear about your contribution: Decide how much you are willing to contribute, whether it's a loan, gift or co-signing on the mortgage. If it is a loan, ensure terms are clearly documented to avoid misunderstandings later. There may be tax implications: Gifts over a certain amount may be subject to taxes, depending on where you live. In Britain, for example, you can give up to 3,000 (AU$5,838) per year tax-free. But larger gifts may impact inheritance tax, especially if you die within seven years, so consult a financial advisor first. Always get legal advice first: Mary's biggest mistake was offering to pay the deposit without being a legal owner of her son's home. But co-signing a mortgage or purchasing the property jointly presents its own set of potential issues. For example, you could be responsible for the mortgage if your child struggles to make payments. A solicitor can help draw up a contract that protects your share or clarifies your role in the agreement. Don't overextend yourself - especially if you're retired: The most important message to boomer babies helping out their adult children is that you must avoid dipping too deeply into your retirement savings or taking out a loan that could affect your ability to live comfortably in old age. You must consider how the contribution impacts your long-term financial health. Divorce happens - plan ahead: If your child is buying the home with a spouse or de facto partner, you must consider what happens in the event of a break-up. Legal agreements, like a deed of trust, can clarify what happens to your contribution if the property is sold or your child's relationship ends. Specify your expectations: You must be upfront and crystal clear about whether you expect repayment or financial support later in life in exchange for helping with the deposit. If you communicate this now, ideally in writing and with a lawyer present, you can prevent tension in years to come. Advertisement

Mary felt like she was 'more or less a nanny' for the family of four, routinely picking up after them, running errands, doing their washing and driving around the children.

But, like in so many cases of elder abuse, the pieces didn't fall together until it was too late.

Mary will never forget the day she realised what was happening to her. It was Sunday, June 12, 2022.

'I was told we needed to have a discussion. We'd just bought the property so it could have been anything. We were meant to move in the following Friday morning,' Mary said.

'I was told I was not allowed to touch their stuff.

'I said, "What stuff are you talking about? What is it I've done that you don't want me to do? If you just tell me then I won't do it. Is it the ironing?"'

Mary's son Greg* wanted to escape the Melbourne lockdowns (an empty Flinders St Station is seen in October 2021) and move back home to Perth. But since he was unable to afford a home for his family, he asked his mother to move in with them so she could contribute to the rent

One in six Australians over the age of 65 have experienced abuse in the last year (stock image)

Whenever Mary tried to ask for clarification, she was criticised for being 'argumentative' and not given a straight answer. The conversation went in circles for two hours and it became gradually obvious to Mary that her son and his family would be moving into the new home - and had no intention of sharing it with her.

'I was hysterical by the end of it - crying and everything,' she said. 'I said, "Look, I can't do this anymore".

'So I went up to my bedroom, which I shared with my granddaughter. My daughter-in-law followed me up the stairs, nagging.

'Because I shared that room with my granddaughter, there was no way I could shut and lock the door.'

Unable to resolve the worsening conflict, Mary decided to give the family some space. She grabbed her essentials - 'my medication, some undies, bits and pieces' - and left the rental.

'I parked outside the city in a rest stop. I had nowhere else to go,' she said.

'I stayed there Sunday night and Monday night and then I went back on Tuesday morning thinking, "We've got to sort this out, this is ridiculous".'

She soon realised her son and his partner hadn't used the time apart to cool off. They were more hostile than ever, in fact, and told Mary to leave.

'I was basically told to get my stuff and get out,' she said.

'I grabbed what I could fit in my little car and left. My older son took a trailer and picked up the rest of my stuff on Thursday.

'They (Greg and Coleen) moved into the new house on Friday.'

Despite having spent her professional life as a solicitor, Mary said she 'never thought' to include her name in any of the home documents.

Despite paying the deposit, she isn't the legal owner and there is little she can do. She has never been allowed inside the home that her compensation payout partially paid for. She doesn't believe she will ever see that money again.

'I realise now how stupid I was but that particular son I trusted with my life,' she said.

'I was a solicitor. I hate to admit it, but that just shows you the faith I had in that child. It never, ever dawned on me that I would be in this position.'

Now, Mary feels the government is letting her down once again - in more ways than one.

As Greg and Coleen are preventing Mary from seeing her grandchildren, she needs a Section 60I Certificate before their dispute can proceed to court. Under Australian law, this certificate proves the two parties attempted mediation before going to court.

What is the 60I certificate?

'Technically grandparents or parents do not have rights under the family law act, only children do,' Gillard Family Lawyers advise. 'However, grandparents are able to make application under the Family Law Act to have orders in place for their grandchildren to spend time with them or even just to have phone contact with them.' Grandparents who are denied spending time with their grandchildren must request mediation with their parents. Once that mediation is either carried out or denied, the parties are issued a 60I certificate. 'All parties are required to have section 60I certificate when commencing court proceedings,' Gillard Family Lawyers said. 'In some circumstances there are exceptions, such as an urgent application where children may be at risk of family violence or neglect.' Advertisement

However, Greg and Coleen are blocking the process by repeatedly agreeing to mediation but refusing to set a date to meet. This has left Mary in legal limbo because she cannot prove they have agreed to or rejected mediation.

'That process has been dragging on now for over two years,' Mary said.

'They can say, "Oh, yes, we'll do it but our life is so busy and, you know, we just haven't got time", or, "We'll get to you when we've got free time".

'There's no cut off date. It's not going to happen.

'I feel like saying, "Thank you, government. You are going to wait until I drop dead and then you've no more problem".'

Now she has lost everything to financial elder abuse, Mary is weathering the aftermath alone.

'Obviously when you get to my age, most of your friends have dropped off. My really close friends have all dropped off,' she said.

'People really don't understand how you feel, the hurt that you feel inside. It's very isolating.

'I've tried to find a support group because I thought I can't be the only one in this position.

'There are people who are worse off than me. Where do they go? What do they do? There's nothing.'

The Australian Elder Abuse Conference was held earlier this year in Adelaide. Mary said the results of the summit were borderline insulting.

'I rang up this national national elder abuse hotline. You know what they said to me? "We can send you the information about what it is",' she said.

'All they can do is send me the information to tell me that what I'm living is actually elder abuse. What good is that to me?'

When Mary previously expressed a need for a government-backed support group for victims of elder abuse, she was told to speak to a counsellor.

'There are these counsellors for elderly people who are being abused - but nobody does anything about stopping it, except make pamphlets,' she said.

Mary is trapped in legal limbo while waiting for her son and daughter-in-law to set a date for mediation, which is needed before she can take them to court

Mary is now calling on the Australian government to focus on two key things: 1) start more support groups, and 2) reform the law around dispute resolution so that grandparents aren't blocked from seeing their grandchildren.

'I've worked for years and I paid taxes and here it is: I'm in a situation where I can't get any help from anybody,' she said.

'There needs to be some sort of cut-off date for dispute resolution. Say, six months, otherwise the other party can go straight to court.

'Every time I turn on the TV there's someone arguing for money for different things.

'I think, "Why is it that these older people who've been paying taxes all their lives aren't up there, you know? Why is it we're not hearing about them?"'

With the lack of support available, Mary is convinced she will die before she sees her grandchildren or money again. She suspects this is the outcome her son wants.

'Why the hell don't they just give us a needle and put us down like dogs,' she said.

'Why put me through all this? If this is all I've got to look forward to, I'd rather be dead.

'But I'm not going to kill myself now, I'm too angry. If I die now, they win.'

Mary relies on her pension to survive. Thankfully she has a kinder older son, who we will call J, who allows her to live with him as she can't afford her own rental.

'He keeps me busy doing bits and pieces. I've been handy and he's happy about that,' she said.

'But I'm always thinking in the back of my mind - even though it's comfortable here - he could wake up one day and decide to do to me what my other son did.

'You don't trust anymore. You lose faith in everybody. I've got nowhere where I belong or where I can feel safe.'

In a final act of cruelty, Greg and Coleen have now moved back to Victoria with their children. Instead of letting Mary live in the Perth home she helped pay for, they are renting it out.

'They're pulling in $900 a week in rent and I'm still out here on my a***,' Mary said.

In the last two years, Mary has often thought of giving up her fight to get her $140,000 back - if only to be able to see her grandchildren again.

But she believes it's important to take a stand against her abusive son - not just for herself, but for all the other victims she has met since 2022.

'People just can't believe it but this is what's happening,' Mary said.

Data collected by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare in July 2024 found an average of one in six Australians over the age of 65, some 598,000, had experienced elder abuse in the past year.

Of those, 471,300 experienced psychological abuse, 115,500 were neglected, 83,800 experienced financial abuse, 71,900 were physically abused, and 39,500 experienced sexual abuse.

Pauline Floate from Beananging Kwuurt Institute (BKI), an Aboriginal not-for-profit community group based on the former site of the notorious Sister Kate's children's home, says her organisation has provided support to roughly 100 elderly people in the last 18 months.

'Unfortunately, abuse amongst our elders is quite common,' she says.

'Most people think of elder abuse as physical or financial but there's also so many people who are pushed out of their homes by their children.

'They think they rule the roost and will push their mothers and fathers into garages, sheds or even on the street.

'Others will become their parents' legal carers just to claim checks or steal their money.'

Pauline reveals many of the older people who seek her help are starving because their children have taken everything from them

'I feed them on Wednesdays and Thursdays, sometimes it's 20 people, sometimes more,' she tells me.

'For some of our people, it's the only really healthy food they get in a week.'

Older Australians in distressing situations can call 1800 ELDERHelp (1800 353 374) for information and advice on elder abuse.
Senator Jacky Rosen has managed to hold on to her Senate seat in Nevada securing a key victory for Democrats in the battleground state.

After several days of votes being counted the race was called for Rosen after she trailed Republican Sam Brown several times since the first results came in on election night. She won by a majority of 20,571, with 675,318 votes.

The one-term incumbent was facing a challenge by Brown, a veteran and businessman, in a state that Republicans were looking at as a potential pick-up on their path to widening their Senate majority after the chamber flipped on election night.

Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen speaking to supporters at her election watch party early Nov 6

Rosen was first elected to the Senate in the Silver State in 2018 during the midterms that resulted in a blue wave halfway through Donald Trump's first term in office, ousting former Senator Dean Heller despite only being a freshman House member.

Rosen ran a campaign focused on protecting women's reproductive rights and delivering for a state that had its economy decimated by the coronavirus pandemic.

Supporters cheer Senator Rosen at her watch party on election night in Las Vegas

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She also presented herself as a pragmatic lawmaker who was willing to get across the aisle to get things done and called for protecting access to health care.

Rosen also had strong support from the powerful labor unions in her state.

Rosen was running against Brown, a War in Afghanistan veteran and West Point Graduate, who was backed by Trump.

Brown is a Purple Heart recipient who sustained burns over thirty percent of his body from an improvised explosive device injury (IED) injury in 2008.

He ran as a conservative small businessman who went after Rosen for the state's slow economic recovery.

Republican Senate candidate Sam Brown speaking on Nevada primary night on June 11

Brown with his wife Amy as they drop of their mail ballots at a polling location on October 23

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However, he was vulnerable to attacks having only lived in the state a few years after he moved from Texas. He has also never held elected office.

Brown ran in the Republican Senate primary in 2022 but lost the race to Adam Laxalt, the state's former Attorney General, who comes from a political family.

He also was not seen as a MAGA favorite. Trump only endorsed him just days before the Nevada primary in June during his own campaign swing through the state. He did not bring Brown to the stage at his rally when he made the announcement.

Despite the backing of Republicans in Washington, Brown continued to trail Rosen in the polls throughout the campaign.

Rosen was first asked to run in the House by late Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

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Rosen seated as President Obama spoke at a campaign rally in Las Vegas on October 19

Rosen with late night host Jimmy Kimmel who introduced her at a campaign event in October

During the 2024 campaign she continued to be a well-funded incumbent after the Nevada Senate race in 2022 was one of the closest in the country.

Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto managed to hold on to her seat two years ago, but voters ousted the state's Democratic Governor Steve Sisolak in favor of the Republican Joe Lombardo.

Rosen has some strong support in the state from political backers including former President Obama campaigning with her to entertainer Jimmy Kimmel coming out to help rally support.
The lawyer who represented a council employee who won a worker's compensation claim after tripping over a puppy fence has defended the judgement, claiming it is 'uncontroversial'.

Lauren Vercoe, an asset programmer for Adelaide's City of Charles Sturt Council, was working from home on September 19, 2022 when she tripped over a 60cm puppy fence, breaking her arm and hurting her knee in the fall.

Her initial claim for compensation against Local Government Association Workers Compensation Scheme was rejected in October 2022.

But in a judgment handed down by the South Australian Employment Tribunal on 18 October, Ms Vercoe's injury was found to have arisen from her employment.

Auxiliary Deputy President Magistrate Jodie Carrel found the fall occurred during an 'authorised coffee break at her place of employment'.

The decision, reported by this publication on Tuesday, prompted a wave of incredulity as readers questioned its logic.

'That's outrageous when her employer has no health and safety controls over her workplace at home,' wrote one.

'They are not responsible for hazards she erected, which wouldn't have been allowed in her city office.'

Lauren Vercoe (pictured), an asset programmer for Adelaide 's City of Charles Sturt Council, was working from home on September 19, 2022 when she tripped over a 60cm-high puppy fence, breaking her arm and hurting her knee in the fall

Donald Blairs (pictured), from personal injury firm Wearing & Blairs, said he was 'surprised that people are surprised'

But now the lawyer who represented Ms Vercoe has defended the judgement, explaining that it is a 'no fault system' for workers compensation claims - and all that they needed to prove was that the injury had been sustained while at work.

Donald Blairs, from personal injury firm Wearing & Blairs, said he was 'surprised that people are surprised'.

'People have been lodging workers' compensation claims for events that happen in their workplaces, which may well include places outside of the usual office, since forever, and this is just a continuation of that,' Mr Blairs told Daily Mail Australia.

'If she was a TV repairman in someone's house who had tripped over a dog fence or something similar, there'd be no controversy. It's pretty straightforward and no one would dispute that.

'The only thing that was unique about this case is I suppose she was in her own house as opposed to a different house.'

He added: 'It's a no fault system. The legal test here is that it was an injury that occurred in the course of her employment.

'And getting up to get a cup of coffee is something that's deemed to be in the course of your employment on a day-to-day basis.'

Ms Vercoe's husband rang an ambulance and she was taken to Royal Adelaide Hospital where she was treated for a fractured arm, a suspected dislocated shoulder and a painful right knee before being discharged later that day

Mr Blairs said he had seen similar cases and the only difference in this one was that the council decided to fight it.

'I've had other similar cases where people have tripped over their coffee table or the ledge of their front door whilst putting out the washing and they've all been accepted,' he said.

'This is not unusual. The only thing that is unusual is the council decided to run it as a bit of a test case and came unstuck.'

Asked why the council may have taken the claim to trial, Mr Blairs said: 'I don't think it was dollars and cents. I think it was that they wanted to set a precedent.'

City of Charles Sturt Council declined to comment.

Ms Vercoe had put up a 60cm metal pet fence across the doorway to her sun room, which she used as a home office.

The fence was erected to keep a colleague's puppy, who she was dog-sitting, away from her pet rabbit.

On the day of the incident, Ms Vercoe started work at about 8.30am and rose to make a coffee around an hour later.

But, as she stepped over the fence, one of her feet caught it, causing her to lose balance.

She tried to break her fall but failed and landed with her full weight on her right knee and her right side, experiencing 'instant and extreme pain'.

Her husband rang an ambulance and she was taken to Royal Adelaide Hospital where she was treated for a fractured arm, a suspected dislocated shoulder and a painful right knee before being discharged later that day.

The SA Employment Tribunal judgment agreed with Ms Vercoe's submission that she 'fell during the course of a paid break' and that her 'injuries arose out of or in the course of her employment'.

'Ms Vercoe submitted that it was not to the point whether the council had provided the pet fence, known about the pet fence, or told Ms Vercoe to erect the pet fence,' the judgment noted.

'Simply, there is nothing that limits the application of the workers compensation scheme by reason of an injury occurring due to a feature of the workplace not known or authorised by an employer. '

In her evidence, Ms Vercoe also shared screenshots of a council video about flexible working arrangements which encouraged employees to 'take regular breaks, 'get out in the sunshine' and 'enjoy time with the dog'.

Magistrate Carrel also criticised the legal firm who initially rejected Ms Vercoe's compensation claim for suggesting 'she exaggerated her evidence when convenient'.

'Rather, Ms Vercoe is a worker who has done her best to get on with things after suffering a significant injury,' Magistrate Carrel noted.

Ms Vercoe returned to work after six weeks.

The amount of compensation she is owed will be decided at a later date.

It's understood the compensation claim was only to cover a couple of medical bills and the few weeks Ms Vercoe was not working.

Ms Vercoe declined to comment.
Americans are voting with their feet  and they're opting for lower taxes, and cheaper, bigger homes in the Sun Belt, new US Census Bureau data revealed.

Last year, Texas, Florida, and North Carolina were the most popular destinations for domestic migrants. Together, they saw a net gain of some 366,000 people.

Meanwhile, residents waved goodbye to California, New York, and Illinois in droves. Those states recorded the biggest exodus, which added up to a whopping loss of 540,000 people.

The bureau's recently-released data show a continuation of America's domestic migration trends, which are away from high-tax blue states and toward red states with lower income taxes.

Ana Bozovic, of Miami Analytics, who studied the data, said it showed a migration flow to Florida and other '21st Century epicenters across America' that will continue for decades.

Last year, Texas , Florida , and North Carolina were the most popular destinations for domestic migrants. (Pictured: Downtown Charlotte, North Carolina)

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'Entrepreneurship and creation flow towards the path of least resistance,' Bozovic said.

'I do not see a reversal: there will be no mass reverse migration back to high-tax states.'

Americans mostly relocate for better jobs, affordable housing, cheaper living costs, and to cut their tax bills.

Some move away from high crimes areas, homelessness, and the sight of drug addicts stumbling on the sidewalk.

Mark Perry, an expert at the American Enterprise Institute think tank, says it comes down to economics and policy choices.

Democratic leadership creates 'economically stagnant, fiscally unhealthy states,' he says.

Residents are pushed out by 'higher tax burdens and unfriendly business climates,' he says.

Red states are 'more economically vibrant, dynamic and business-friendly,' meaning they draw in newcomers with job and business opportunities and cheaper homes, he adds.

California was the biggest loser last year, with a net outflow of some 268,000 residents.

Some 55,000 of them went to Texas. Neighboring Arizona and Nevada were also popular destinations for those exiting the Golden State.

New York overall lost 179,000 people, with more people leaving than heading to the state.

Florida was by far the most popular destination for those leaving the Empire State, with 46,000 people making that switch.

Texas meanwhile posted the biggest net gain of all states, amounting to some 133,000 people.

Florida was up by 126,000 people and North Carolina gained by 107,000 people.

Scott Wilhide, his wife Alysia, and their son Jackson, set up in their new home in Houston, Texas, after leaving Pennsylvania.

Time to go. A moving truck outside a home in Queens, in New York City.

The sight of homeless people struggling with fentanyl addiction on the streets of the Bay Area has become all-too-common for some long term residents.

State taxes help account for this movement.

California's state income tax rate of 13.3 percent, and the 10.9 percent levy on New Yorkers' paychecks send residents packing.

Hawaii, New Jersey, and Oregon, are losing people because of their double-digit income tax rates.

Florida and Texas levy no state income tax, which doubtless appeals to many newcomers.

According to the Tax Foundation, a nonprofit policy group, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Nevada, are also especially attractive because they do not levy taxes on workers' wages.

Still, it remains unclear whether low-tax red states offer a better deal overall.

Residents of red, southern states often struggle to access decent schools and healthcare, or get walloped by high property taxes instead.

Property prices also help explain the movement pattern.

The typical home price in California ($791,000) and New York ($459,000) is much higher than in Texas ($303,000) and Florida ($415,000), according to Zillow.

The trend affects people from all walks of life.

Billionaire Elon Musk is perhaps the best known member of California's exodus.

In July, he said he was moving his social media platform X and his space company SpaceX from the Golden State to Texas.

Even billionaires are leaving the Golden State. Elon Musk said the 'final straw' for him was a state law that helped children change gender at school without telling their parents

Jared Troutman, 45, and Grace Xu, 37, didn't want to spend $1 million on a one-bed in California

He'd long complained about California's liberal politics, but the 'final straw' was a law that helped children change gender at school without telling their parents, he said.

The same applies for those on a budget.

Jason Troutman, 45, and Grace Xu, 37, moved from California to Arizona because they couldn't afford to buy anywhere decent in their San Bruno neighborhood.

'At the end of the day, we couldn't go forward with paying a million dollars for a tiny, one-bedroom house,' they said.

Instead, they opted for a quirky $695,000 house with a pool, palm trees and mountain views in the Ahwatukee neighborhood on the south side of Phoenix.

'You can't get all that in California anymore, unless you're Elon Musk,' said Troutman, who works remotely.

Their mortgage costs less than their monthly $2,600 rent in San Bruno, and they finally have space for the cat and dog they'd wanted.

Still, Troutman said they miss the Bay Area's natural beauty, its food scene, and their family ties there.

'It wasn't necessarily that we wanted to leave the Bay Area,' he told The Mercury News. 'But it made a lot of sense.'

Some demographers say politics also influences migration trends.

Some New Yorkers leave the state because of homelessness and other social problems, like this encampment in a park in downtown New York City

Parts of the South are steadily gaining population. Pictured: Construction in the fast-growing downtown of Saint Petersburg, Florida

This homeless encampment of RVs in northern California underscores the high cost of housing in the Golden State

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Republican-run states tend to be more socially conservative, which appeals to people who share those values, and want to live in an area that restricts abortions and makes it easier to own firearms.

Some New York and California residents have doubtless considered relocating due to overcrowding, homelessness and fears of crime.

But others move to blue states for their own political reasons.

They include women who want to live somewhere they can access abortions, or families with transgender kids who want to access sex-change care.

America's interstate migration could affect the outcome of future elections.

Electoral boundaries are continually being redrawn as populations change.

Texas, Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina and Oregon gained Electoral College votes as a result of the 2020 Census.

Meanwhile, California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia lost voting clout.
On the afternoon of July 22, 2011, Anders Behring Breivik carried out the worst terror attack in Norway's history, detonating a bomb in Oslo before gunning down scores of civilians at a youth event nearby. The victims were young as 14.

It was a quiet Friday in the capital when Breivik began his rampage, allegedly in desperate bid to publicise his 1,500-page far-right manifesto.

The attack had been nine years in the making. At 3.25pm, a bomb exploded outside the prime minister's office. Eight people died in the explosion as Breivik headed for a small island where he killed a further 69, mostly teenagers.

Hundreds of young people, including Bjrn Ihler, now 33, had travelled to Utya in Tyrifjorden lake for the annual AUF summer camp, an event organised by the ruling centre-Left Labour party.

Armed with semi-automatic rifle and a Glock pistol, Breivik arrived disguised as a policeman, claiming to be checking in after the blast across the water.

Chaos broke out as Breivik began moving around the island, coldly shooting his victims as they pretended to be dead.

With nowhere to hide and no way off the island, panic erupted as Breivik stalked his targets, reportedly shouting: 'You are going to die today, Marxists.'

Among the survivors was Norwegian activist Bjrn, who was on holiday in Norway as a student at the time. Thirteen years on from the attacks, he bravely recounted his lucky escape as he sheltered two young children in an icy lake as they desperately held out for the police to arrive.

Anders Behring Breivik has his handcuffs removed after entering the courtroom in Skien, Norway, on Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Bjrn spoke candidly about his traumatic experience in July 2011, surviving Anders Breivik

Bjorn after the attack with the two boys he saved

Breivik drove to the island of Utya, where he opened fire on the annual summer camp of the left-wing Labour Party's youth wing. Sixty-nine people there were killed

Bjrn - now peace activist and expert on countering violent extremism - was around 21 years old and on holiday in Norway at the time, taking a break from his first year of university studying film production in Liverpool.

His father had suggested the camp as a way to connect with people. It was a popular event, with some 500 to 700 attendees from all across the country.

Bjrn had decided to skip work on the Friday to visit the island and watch as guest speakers rallied crowds and held workshops. Children as young as 14 were attending to socialise, camp and engage in political debate.

But in an instant, everything changed. Bjrn told Deep that news of the car bomb in Oslo reached the island soon after. They were told the island was the safest place to stay.

'Then we started hearing loud popping sounds,' he said. 'The first assumption was someone's firing off fireworks who haven't realised what's going on in Oslo.

'Then in the distance from where I was on the campsite we saw a man in dark clothes, which turned out later a fake police uniform, was walking across the ridge and some people ran towards him.'

The man was Anders Breivik.

Breivik had dressed as a police officer while in Oslo, planting a 950kg bomb in a van outside (PM and later NATO chief) Jens Stoltenberg's office.

He left, and the bomb detonated nine minutes later, destroying the facade of the building and damaging several others. Eight died in the bombing.

As Oslo scrambled to respond to the terror, Breivik drove out of the capital and took a ferry to the island. Once there, he began shooting, killing 69 people and injuring 32 in little more than an hour.

Bjrn meanwhile called his father to try and find out what was going on. He was advised to stay put and stay hidden. It was a tiny island, taking perhaps 10 minutes to cover on foot.

Breivik was sentenced to 21 years in jail, the harshest penalty possible under Norwegian law, for killing 77 people in a bomb and gun attack in July 2011. Pictured: The victims of the attack

What the police believe is gunman Anders Behring Breivik walking with a gun in hand among bodies on Utoeya island July 22, 2011 (Handout already pictured)

It was July 22, 2011, when, after months of meticulous preparations, Breivik set off a car bomb outside the government headquarters in Oslo, killing eight people and wounding dozens

Others, he said, still did not understand what was happening. He told them to be quiet, to cover up brightly coloured clothing and hide. Bjrn hid with an eight-year-old boy whose father was among the security personnel - and one of the first to be shot.

'We found a hiding spot not so far away from the track and we laid down on the ground there and stayed hidden while consistently hearing gunshots around us.

'There was a lot of echo and so it was difficult to place where the shots were coming from.

'We stayed there for almost an hour I believe while this was happening. After a while, the shots came closer to where we were and a group of people came running through the bush where we were hiding so we joined that group believing that they were running from Breivik.'

'We ended up running into a place where we couldn't follow the track anymore because there were so many dead bodies on it. Somehow we ended up on the southern tip of the island, where some rocks are going out into the water. We saw some people were swimming.'

The children could not swim, so they stayed. Hopes of escape were dashed when approaching boats and a helicopter turned out to be a broadcasting company, not police.

And then, Breivik found them.

'This man in a police uniform came out of the forest behind us and told us they caught the bad guy,' Bjrn recalled, still on the phone to his father at the time.

The man in uniform 'lifted his gun and started shooting at our group.

'I jumped in the water, so the last thing my father heard is that I'm safe and the police was here as my phone died.'

Bomb and terror suspect Anders Behring Breivik (red top) leaves the courthouse in a police car in Oslo on July 25, 2011, after the hearing to decide his further detention

People gathering around a makeshift memorial outside the Domkirken church in Oslo, during commemorations for the victims of the July 22, 2011 attacks, on July 25, 2011

Covered corpses are seen on the shore of the small, wooded island of Utoeya, after mass killer Anders Behring Breivik killed 69 people

Bjrn and the children swam out away from the shore and crawled along the shallow seabed as others were gunned down around them.

'After doing that I looked back towards land and saw Breivik take aim at me and realised that this is the end. That was a very surreal moment.

'Breivik fired, he missed, terrible shot, thankfully, and I ended up falling over in the water.'

Bjrn carried on moving until he reached some bushes poking out into the water. He and two young boys hid as Breivik walked back to shore, where he was eventually arrested.

'We stayed in the water for quite a bit until the kids basically turned blue and we hadn't heard shots for quite some time,' Bjrn said.

'After a while the actual police came and they had a bit of a hard time getting us to trust that they were the actual police.

'We were kind of exhausted at that point and ended up eventually getting a boat back over to the mainland from the island.'

Breivik was ultimately sentenced in 2012 to 21 years in prison, Norway's harshest sentence at the time. He pleaded not guilty to the charges, arguing he rejected the legitimacy of the court, but did not appeal the decision.

The sentence can be extended if still considered a threat - an argument state prosecutors have tried to made in the years since.

Bjrn is among the few survivors still reeling from the attack.

He said understanding Breivik, attending court hearings and reading his far-right manifesto, has helped make sense of the trauma, but the memory will never go away.

'I don't think I'll be able to forget it, ever. It took a long time to get back to some degree of normalcy, years even. I'm dealing with post traumatic stress disorder.'

Anders Behring Breivik (R) is seen next to attorney Marte Lindholm during the first day of his trial over his prison conditions, on January 8, 2024

A similar bathroom and toilet of the sleeping cell on the second of two floors where Anders Behring Breivik serves his custodial sentence in the Ringerike prison, on December 14, 2023

A similar sleeping cell on the second of two floors where Anders Behring Breivik serves his custodial sentence in the Ringerike prison is pictured

Bjrn said he has dedicated the last 12 years of his life to researching extremism and terrorism, and creating prevention and rehabilitation programmes for radicalised people.

Breivik had published his manifesto on the day of the attacks and hoped to gain publicity for the ideas through his rampage.

The rambling tirade of Islamophobic and misogynistic ideas within called for all Muslims to be deported from Europe, attacked what he called Marxism and multi-culturalism, and urged a nationalistic call-to-arms.

Breivik believed himself to be a 'resistance' leader of the Knights Templar - a military order active during the Crusades - and used the manifesto to document how he had raised funds, bought weapons and prepared himself in the lead up to the attack.

The first entry was dated April/May 2002, nine years before the attack.

In the years since, survivors of the attack have learned to cope with their experience, speaking candidly on their pained memories of July 22, 2011.

Bjrn told the BBC in 2016 that in spite of his own suffering, Breivik still deserved to be treated 'with the same respect for human right as any other inmate in our prisons' - a brave effort towards understanding, decency and humanity in the face of terror.

As a court ruled that Breivik deserved better treatment inside and dwelled on his continued solitary confinement, Bjrn said it 'shows great strength that we are able to take Breivik's grievances seriously'.

'We can see his grievances separately from his acts. We can say that everyone is equal before the law in Norway, including Breivik.'

'But if we deny Breivik human rights simply because he denied us human rights, we are following his path and we're sinking down to his level.

'That's not something I'm willing to do, and isn't something I'm willing to let Norway do.'

Seventy-seven people were denied the opportunity to afford their attacker that privilege, many talented young children with a life ahead of them.

Anders Behring Breivik sits in the makeshift courtroom in Skien prison on the second day of his hearing where he is requesting release on parole, in Skien, Norway, January 19, 2022

Jens Stoltenberg (pictured November 6, 2024) was targeted in the 2011 attack

Floral tributes lay outside Oslo Cathedral, on the 10-year anniversary of the terrorist attack by Anders Breivik, in Oslo, Thursday, July 22, 2021

Many in Norway still live with the pain of the memory, some refusing even to say his name - only referring to him as 'The Terrorist'.

For Bjrn, the challenge is to rise above and overcome the 'message of hate' - a complex journey of trying to better understand the motives of his attacker, and looking inwards to heal himself and help others.

'I don't know if you ever truly recover from PTSD,' he admitted in the recent interview.

'You'll learn to live with it in different ways. I still have a very active relationship with it but I don't have kind of these severe symptoms of PTSD that I had initially.

'It's a healing process and I assume I will be on the journey of healing for the rest of my life.

'But at this point I'm able to live a very normal life without the trauma symptoms being ever-present.'
By 10am on Wednesday morning there was a line of close to 30 lawn chairs on the sidewalk in front of Carroll County Courthouse.

Each would be occupied all day and all night by somebody hoping to snag a coveted seat for closing arguments in Richard Allen's trial in Delphi, Indiana on Thursday.

It has been like this six days a week since opening statements kicked off on October 18, save for the fact that until Wednesday, when sheriff deputies instituted a ban on chairs on the premises before 7am the chairs and their occupants along with blankets, cushions, and supplies could be found on the access ramp of the courthouse itself.

It is seven years since February 13, 2017, when best friends Liberty German, 14, and Abigail Williams, 13, set off on the trail walk from which they would never return.

They followed the Monon High Bridge trail, making the perilous journey across the disused railway bridge that gave it its name.

Closing arguments were heard in the double murder trial of suspect Richard Allen, 52, on Friday after weeks of testimony

Allen is charged with killing best friends Libby, 14, and Abby, 13, after they went on a hike outside their hometown of Delphi, Indiana, in February 2017

Sixty-three feet above the creek, with no barrier and riddled with missing beams it was the sort of thing teenagers did for a dare.

Arriving at the end, Libby turned to video her friend and captured the image of a man walking with purpose behind her  Bridge Guy.

Now, after 17 days of evidence and 60 witnesses the state has worked to convince jurors that when they look at the almost fragile figure of Allen who sits at the defense table each day it is Bridge Guy that they see.

Inside and outside the courtroom the atmosphere has been one of intense emotion.

The crime shook this small Indiana town, whose name became synonymous with its horror, profoundly.

In the years since, a host of podcasts, Youtubers, true crime fanatics, and conspiracy theorists have bloomed, all gripped with a sort of frenzy that has, at times, erupted into angry confrontations over the past four weeks.

Strong feelings combined with scant public seating and the contentious practice of some who have paid line-sitters hundreds of dollars to avoid an overnight wait have seen tempers flare more than once and deputies step in.

Pictured: Inside the Carroll County courtroom where Richard Allen's murder trial entered its 15th day on Monday November 4

Spectators line up to enter the Carroll County Courthouse to sit in on Allen's trial on Friday, October 18

Inside and outside the courtroom the atmosphere has been one of intense emotion, with dozens lining up in hopes of sitting in on the trial daily. Pictured: Spectators lining up outside Carroll County Court on October 18

Right from the start Allen County Special Judge Frances Gull, brought in to preside over the heavily scrutinized trial, has been clear that she would tolerate 'no nonsense' in her court.

Allen County Special Judge Frances Gull is presiding over the case

She sits at the bench framed by an American and an Indiana state flag and two lamps whose glass shades hang from the scales of justice.

On her orders seating is strictly allocated: ten seats for the state, ten for the defense and ten each for the families of both victims and Allen.

With a further 12 set aside for credentialed media  drawn for each day in a weekly lottery of pool reporters denoted by green lanyards  that leaves just 16 seats for those waiting in line.

There is no drinking or eating in court.

After some members of the public ate chips in her court during jury selection Judge Gull told the gallery at the get go: 'I'm not your mom. I'm not picking up your trash.'

Water bottles and snacks must be kept in bags and only taken out and consumed in the hallways or outside the courthouse.

And there is absolutely no talking in the public gallery when court is in session.

The now clean-shaven accused double-murderer is seen sitting alongside defense attorney Andrew Baldwin in a court sketch from Saturday November 2

Richard Allen's wife Kathy broke down in tears on Thursday as the court listened to him confess to the murders of Libby and Abby in multiple prison phone calls

The crime shook this small Indiana town, whose name became synonymous with the horrific double murders

On Wednesday, clearly frustrated by the rising level of chatter across previous days, Gull instructed Sheriff's Deputies to address the public and inform them that anyone caught whispering or commenting would be tapped on the shoulder, escorted from the court and permanently ejected: 'No questions asked.'

Two deputies remained in court to enforce the edict.

But with many having lined up all night it was clearly not a chance any were willing to take as Wednesday's proceedings played out to a silent court.

Each morning doors open at 8am and the steady stream of family members, friends, media and onlookers slowly makes its way through airport style security.

Bags and all belongings are screened, attendees must pass through a metal detector and are frequent monitored.

There are no electronics of any kind allowed in the 1916 courthouse. Smartwatches, phones, vapes, air pods, laptops, chargers  even smart glasses  are all on the list of items that must be abandoned in a cardboard box set at the courthouse doors.

With no electronics to lean on, the print and broadcast media who have, for the most part, sat in the front row each day in front of the Allen family, have frantically scribbled their notes, running through countless notepads and pens across the days.

The two set off on a trail hike on the fateful day of February 13, 2017. They followed the Monon High Bridge trail, making the perilous journey across the disused railway bridge that gave it its name

Sixty-three feet above the creek, with no barrier and riddled with missing sleepers it was the sort of thing teenagers did for a dare

Arriving at the end Libby turned to video her friend and captured the image of a man walking with purpose behind her  'Bridge Guy '

Once inside the main doors those who don't make it into the morning session, which starts in the third floor Circuit Court at 9am, immediately stand behind a cordon on the ground floor to wait for a chance to get in after the lunch break when public seats must be surrendered, and the line starts all over again.

Yet more lines form immediately at the third and first floor restrooms in the short morning and afternoon breaks  usually 15 minutes around 11am and 3pm.

Maintenance has been called in more than once to fix the 1900s plumbing which has buckled in the face of such demand.

In court Abby and Libby's family members sit in the second and third rows to the left of a central aisle while Allen's wife Kathy, frequently with his mother and stepfather and half-sister Jaime, sits in the second row to the right.

Allen's daughter Brittany has been absent apart from Tuesday when she briefly testified that she loved her father, that he had not  as he confessed in prison  molested her and that she would not lie for him.

State prosecutors Nick McLeland, Stacey Diener and James Luttrull Jr. sit at a table to the left in the court well while Allen's attorneys Andrew Baldwin, Jennifer Auger and Bradley Rozzi sit to the right.

Allen, who has worn button down shirts and khakis almost every day, along with reading glasses he barely uses and apparently does not need perched on top of his head, sits next to Baldwin each day.

At times he has taken notes, at others he has been seen leafing through his bible  a book so well-thumbed that the black leather cover has come loose from the spine.

He has frequently strained back to smile at his mother and at Kathy where they sit behind him, on one occasion mouthing 'Are you okay?' as the court was played emotional prison call recordings of Allen's multiple confessions of guilt to both.

Outside, the lampposts that line the square in which the courthouse sits are adorned with purple and blue ribbons in honor of Libby and Abby.

Inside, the evidence has been presented and final arguments made. The case has been handed to the jurors and deliberations have begun.

Now, after seven years, there is nothing left to do but wait.
As the UK braces for colder weather and darker days, pensioners are advised to reconsider their use of energy-hungry kitchen gadgets.

The warning comes on the back of a controversial decision by Labour to cut the 300 Winter Fuel Allowance in September, leaving millions of elderly residents with little choice but to find ways to reduce energy consumption in their homes.

With winter fast approaching, pensioners are being urged to reconsider their reliance on certain household appliances that are particularly costly to run.

A recent study by the Office for National Statistics and the Energy Saving Trust has highlighted the true cost of running kitchen gadgets and household appliances - and the results are staggering.

Kettles, hobs, microwaves and ovens can significantly contribute to rising energy costs - with some costing up to 2.72 per hour to operate.

As the UK braces for colder weather and darker days, pensioners are advised to reconsider their use of energy-hungry kitchen gadgets amid soaring winter fuel bills

These seemingly small daily expenses can contribute to soaring energy bills, especially during the colder months when demand typically rises.

The six appliances pensioners are urged to cut back on, or pull from the socket when not in use, this winter include: hobs, air fryers, microwaves, vacuum cleaners, grills and ovens, and kettles.

According to the study, hobs can set homeowners back 37p for each ring used per hour.

Meanwhile, air fryers and microwaves both cost around 26p per hour to run.

Pensioners are advised to reduce hoovering their homes this winter, as vacuum cleaners cost 18p per hour to run.

The third most expensive appliance to run happens to be the kettle, which will set brew-lovers back 67p per hour, according to the study.

For those who regularly make hot drinks four or five times a day, an electric kettle is usually powered for 20 minutes a day when boiled throughout the day - resulting in an eye-watering yearly cost of 81.97.

Grills and ovens are the fourth on the list, racking up around 54p per hour.

Pensioners are advised to reduce hoovering their homes this winter, as vacuum cleaners cost 18p per hour to run

According to Power NI, ovens and grills are used for an hour per day, on average, over the course of a year, resulting in an extra 196.74 each year in electricity bills.

When it comes to the cheapest appliance to run in terms of per-hour cost, extractor fans are the cheapest appliance to run at just 0.002 an hour, which adds up to 67p per year.

In light of the findings, Christopher White, at Vaccum Wars, has now issued a stark warning to homeowners.

Speaking to Birmingham Live, White said: 'The findings from this study highlight that certain household appliances, particularly those used frequently for daily tasks, are some of the most expensive to run in the UK.

'This is especially impactful given the dominance of such appliances in households. These small costs add up over time, creating a significant financial burden for households.

Meanwhile, air fryers and microwaves both cost around 26p per hour to run

White continued, offering practical advice to pensioners on how to reduce the impact of high energy consumption.

He said: 'Encouraging more efficient use of appliances, investing in energy-saving models, and adopting alternative methods for everyday tasks could all contribute to lowering energy consumption and ultimately, bringing down household bills.'

'Additionally, increased awareness about the best times to use high-energy appliances, such as during off-peak hours, could reduce costs.'

It comes as Moneysaving expert Martin Lewis has revealed how pensioners could secure themselves a handout worth 11,300 with just one simple step.

He urges all pensioners to check whether they are eligible for pension credit, something he often reminds his fans is under-claimed.
Phillip Schofield mourned his beloved mother Pat yesterday as the former This Morning presenter attended her funeral nearly four weeks after her death aged 88.

Patricia Schofield, who supported her son following his high-profile ITV exit in May 2023, was remembered in a service in her hometown of Newquay, Cornwall.

Mourners attending the 'celebration of her life' at St Michael's Church from 3pm on Friday afternoon were encouraged to 'dress brightly to reflect a life filled with love'.

Phillip, who was accompanied by his wife, Stephanie, and two daughters - Molly and Ruby - was seen carrying a wicker coffin topped with a beautiful floral display.

The broadcaster's brother, Timothy, is serving time in prison for child sex offences and was not present.

Phillip Schofield carries his mother's coffin which was topped by a beautiful floral bouquet

Schofield was seen carrying his mother's casket at the funeral at the St Michael's Church in Newquay

Schofield was joined by close family and friends for the ceremony in Newquay

His wife, Stephanie, and two daughters - Molly and Ruby - were also in attendance

Phillip Schofield confirmed the death of his mother Pat in an Instagram post on October 14

Mrs Schofield, who was originally from Oldham in Greater Manchester, 'passed away peacefully' surrounded by her family on October 14, according to a funeral notice.

The family also expressed their thanks to the critical care team at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Treliske and paramedics from South Western Ambulance Service.

The medics were said to have shown 'kindness and care' to Mrs Schofield and her family, and mourners were encouraged to donate to the charity Diabetes UK.

Following his mother's death, Schofield said he 'held her, loved her, and hugged her' before she passed away - and that she died after a 'heartbreaking weekend'.

Schofield did not reveal her cause of death, but also shared a throwback picture of himself smiling as he lovingly placed his arm around his mothers' shoulders.

Accompanying the photo on Instagram, he wrote: 'Over three days we held her, loved her, hugged her and said everything that needed to be said.

'She was calm, peaceful, beautiful and dignified. I will forever be proud and privileged that she was my mum.'

He also gave his 'eternal thanks' to the paramedics, and the team at Royal Cornwall Hospital who were 'in the past and this weekend my mum's and our angels'.

Phillip with his mother Pat at a summer fete in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, in 2008

Schofield, wearing a Remembrance Day poppy on his suit jacket, arrives at his mother's funeral

The former ITV presenter was seen lifting his mother's casket out of the hearse

The wicker casket was surrounded with flowers - as mourners gathered to say farewell

Schofield walks into St Michael's Church in Newquay with his mother's casket as he bid farewell

Mrs Schofield, who was originally from Oldham in Greater Manchester, 'passed away peacefully' surrounded by her family on October 14, according to a funeral notice

Schofield was seen chatting to and embracing mourners at the emotional service in Cornwall

Schofield leaves the church with his mother's casket as mourners follow behind

The former This Morning presenter was seen handing out a funeral order of service to guests

The service took place at St Michael's Church, overlooking the Cornish coastline

Schofield hugs and speaks to guests outside St Michael's Church, where his mother was laid to rest

The ex-TV presenter was surrounded by his close family and friends at his late mother's funeral

Schofield chats to the vicar and fellow mourners outside the church

Schofield's ex-wife Stephanie was spotted looking after his dog, who accompanied the family to the service

Mrs Schofield's coffin was driven away in a black hearse

Describing her as a 'magnificent mum', he signed off the post with a heartbroken emoji alongside the words: 'I love you mum, forever.'

Mrs Schofield's death came 16 years after Schofield's father Brian died aged 72 in 2008 after suffering a heart attack.

Last month Schofield returned to the spotlight for the Channel 5 television show Cast Away, during which he fended for himself on a remote island for ten days.

The three-part show was Schofield's first TV work since losing his lucrative role with ITV following what he described as a 'consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague'.

Schofield married his wife Stephanie Lowe in 1993. He revealed he was gay in 2020 and separated from Stephanie, although they remained legally married.

Mourners file into St Michael's Church in Newquay to say farewell to Pat Schofield

Schofield watches on as his mother's casket is removed from the hearse

Schofield has not revealed her cause of death, but has shared throwback pictures of himself smiling as he lovingly placed his arm around his mothers' shoulders

Pictured: St Michael's Church, an Anglican parish in the Newquay area of Cornwall

Phillip Schofield carries his mother's casket into St Michael's as she was laid to rest on Thursday

Patricia Schofield supported her son following his high-profile exit from ITV in May 2023

Patricia Schofield with her sons Phillip Schofield (left) and Timothy Schofield (right), the latter of whom was convicted of sexual offences against a child at Bristol Crown Court last year

At the time, Schofield drove to Cornwall to tell her his mother he was about to come out, and she later described his decision as 'brave' and 'inspiring', adding: 'I don't care.'

Schofield said last year he had 'lost everything' after admitting to his 'unwise but not illegal' affair with a younger male colleague, and that the fallout had had a 'catastrophic effect' on his mind.

When he resigned, Schofield denied that he had been 'forced out' and said he was 'so very, very sorry' for lying to the channel, his colleagues, wife and friends.

Phillip Schofield and his brother Timothy kiss their mother Patricia Schofield on the cheek

Phillip Schofield returned to the spotlight last month for Channel 5 television show Cast Away

But during Cast Away, he said the 'utter betrayal' by his television colleagues made him never want to be a daytime presenter again, adding that he was 'chucked under a bus' and could do the same to others, but is 'not that sort of person'.

An external review, revealed last December, found that ITV made 'considerable efforts' to find out the truth about an alleged relationship between him and a runner on This Morning in 2019 but was 'unable to uncover the relevant evidence' until the presenter's own admission in late May 2023.

Carried out by Jane Mulcahy KC, and commissioned by ITV boss Dame Carolyn McCall, Schofield 'reluctantly declined' to take part because of 'the risk to his health'.

Patricia Schofield went wing-walking for her 81st birthday in 2017 with footage shown on ITV

In 2017, Patricia Schofield fulfilled a lifelong ambition as she went on the wing walk to raise money for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, with Phillip Schofield filming her from the ground

Holly Willoughby, who was a co-host of This Morning with Schofield for more than a decade, left the daytime programme in October 2023. Schofield had hosted the show since 2002.

In June last year, Schofield held a vigil by his mother's bedside after she fell seriously ill with an unknown condition and spent several days in hospital.

It came weeks after Mrs Schofield's other son Timothy Schofield was sentenced to 12 years in prison at Bristol Crown Court in May of that year for sexually abusing a teenage boy.

He had been found guilty in the April of 11 sexual offences involving a child between 2016 and 2019, and was sacked from his job as a civilian worker for Avon and Somerset Police.

Phillip Schofield with his brother Timothy Schofield, who was jailed for 12 years in May 2023

Timothy Schofield was found guilty of 11 offences including two of sexual activity with a child

Schofield said following Timothy's conviction: 'As far as I am concerned, I no longer have a brother.'

He visited his mother to support while Timothy was being sentenced  and, on the same day, he was told by his manager that 'it has become too loud for ITV' and he was going to lose his job.

It was then Schofield's turn to seek support from his mother, and they were seen hugging on a bench overlooking the sea in Newquay.

Schofield previously revealed how his mother and brother were both diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes within six months of one another.

In 2017, Mrs Schofield fulfilled a lifelong ambition as she went on a wing walk for her 81st birthday to raise money for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, with her son filming her from the ground in footage later shown on This Morning.
A non-profit organisation which has collected tens of thousands of pounds helping to bring veterans off the street is being investigated by both the police and the UK's independent fundraising regulator over its conduct, MailOnline can reveal.

We R Blighty, which was founded just last year, routinely fundraise across busy central London streets including Oxford Street, Tower Hill and Waterloo, taking donations from the public.

The group, which is registered as a community interest company (CIC), has posts on its social media showing its members providing homeless veterans with aid including temporary housing in hotels, food, and blankets.

However, a MailOnline investigation has found that the non-profit group, which raised more than 90,000 in its first year of operation, is now being probed by the Fundraising Regulator over potential breaches of the Code of Fundraising Practice.

We R Blighty, a community interest company, pictured fundraising on London Bridge to raise money to take homeless veterans off the streets

The company is now being investigated by the Fundraising Regulator and Kent Police

It is understood the regulator is aware of a number of concerns regarding the CIC's street fundraising behaviour, and is also investigating whether correct licensing was obtained in order to fundraise in public.

We R Blighty is not registered with the Fundraising Regulator  not a legal requirement  but this does not stop the regulating body from launching an investigation if it feels there is potential for significant harm to be caused.

In a separate investigation, Kent Police have said they are looking into 'reports of financial irregularities' relating to the company.

According to the fundraising code, anyone collecting money on the street for a charitable purpose, whether a charity or a CIC, is required to apply for licensing from the relevant authority, usually the local council or police force.

However, the Met Police, which oversees fundraising permits for all London boroughs barr the City of London, has said it has not received any applications from We R Blighty and has never issued a licence to them.

The group regularly fundraises across many central London locations.

The founder and head of operations at We R Blighty, Ben Mills, is a veteran who set up the company after years of fundraising for armed forces charities.

He insists that the company has not breached the fundraising code, stating that because We R Blighty is a registered company, they are able to fundraise without a licence.

Speaking to MailOnline, he said: We used to be able to get an exemption rule because were a CIC.

The charity collections page on the government website states there is an exemption if you are collecting on behalf of a business.

We didnt need a permit, we couldnt get a permit.

Now theyve added the Police Factories Act to the government website, but even that doesnt make sense.

It states on there that if youre collecting any money for a charitable purpose you need a permit.

Im not classed as a charity, and if I went around saying I was a charity Id be absolutely crucified.

So therefore, they cant put me in the category of being for a "charitable purpose" either because that would mean I would need to be of a charitable status.

We R Blighty members posing with Met Police officers at Tower Hill. The group raised more than 90,000 in donations in its first year of operating

We R Blighty is still operating and assisting veterans regardless of any investigations that may or may not be taking place for whatever reasons.

The group also say they are covered by the 'Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 by exposing newspapers and periodicals in public places', as they distribute armed forces magazines while accepting one-off donations from the public.

A CIC is not a registered charity, but is a special type of limited company which exists to benefit the community rather than private shareholders, according to the government website.

CICs have for long been a tricky area for regulators, as they have a more light touch approach and are subject to less stringent regulations than charities, yet there is concern the public are often not aware of the differences between the two when donating.

The laws around street collections date back to 1916 and so campaigners are working to review and update legislation to make it more robust.

It is also often unclear with CICs how much of each donation goes towards the cause, and how much is kept as commission by staff.

We R Blighty confirmed 50 per cent of all donations go towards paying collectors but pointed out that it is not uncommon and that charities also pay their staff.

The non-profit itself, which raised around 92,000 in its first year, has helped numerous veterans off the street and into temporary housing in hotels.

The founder confirmed that they currently have around 10 veterans in hotels, and have recently helped one veteran pay a deposit on a house.

MailOnline also spoke to several veterans who confirmed that the non-profit had changed their lives by taking them off the streets when many other charities and local authorities had failed to do so.

Another We R Blighty collector raising money for the CIC. They fundraise across busy central London locations and in other regions of the UK including Sussex

The group also says other charities including the Royal British Legion, SSAFA, and Shelter have on several occasions referred homeless veterans to We R Blighty for help.

Mr Mills said he has been trying to register to the Fundraising Regulator, but was told complaints would have to be investigated before progressing.

Addressing the investigation, Mr Mills added: The Fundraising Regulator, from my understanding, wanted to look at all our practices and this is still on-going due to the complaints that were made.

The Institute of Fundraising has also reached out to me regarding such complaints, however they have informed me that not one of the complaints has been followed up with a statement or evidence from the complaining party.

We R Blighty to date has not received any fines or summons to court for the allegations regarding permits. This is a big indicator that we are not breaking any rules.

Mr Mills said he strongly believes the complaints made to the Fundraising Regulator were made by an online group called the Walter Mitty Hunters Group.

He says that the anonymous group, who claim to track down fraudsters who falsely represent themselves as servicemen, have been trolling and threatening him and his team for 19 months.

The group has been relentlessly posting allegations about We R Blightly across the internet, but none of these claims have been substantiated by authorities.

Mr Mills said: It would only be a matter of time before We R Blighty is looked into due to the constant allegations that you see online.

The whole thing is massively misconstrued. It all comes from this group who put this vicious story together, and I can debunk the whole thing. Ive got crime reference numbers where Ive reported them to the police, and various other veterans and organisations have as well.

The man behind it, he has just made up stories. He twists and turns everything.

He made an article trolling us after four weeks of us starting up, and thats been going on for 19 months.

Mr Mills said the group used to fundraise in stores, which they would arrange through a booking company, but this soon became difficult after people would come in making trouble after reading allegations online.

He also confirmed the Fundraising Regulator had approached him about a number of complaints they had received, and that he had replied with evidence disproving each one.

Allegations online also accuse the non-profit of pocketing all the money raised, which the group strongly denies. Mr Mills says he did not pay himself a salary last year, and this year has only paid himself a 'Head of Operations' salary of 24,000.

On the issue of permits and commissions, he also pointed out that many CICs including The Big Issue operate on a similar model.

Speaking of the investigation, a spokesperson from the Fundraising Regulator said: The Fundraising Regulator is currently conducting an investigation into We R Blighty to determine whether or not it has breached the Code of Fundraising Practice.

The Fundraising Regulator can make no further comment on this investigation while it is ongoing.'
READ MORE: Where Americans are safest during an alien attack

At 8pm Eastern on October 30, 1938, Grovers Mill, New Jersey, was the site of an alien invasion witnessed by millions - yet its impact has been almost entirely forgotten.

As a cylinder-shaped UFO landed, Martians spilled out of their craft and began incinerating people. CBSs on-the-spot reporter Frank Reddick was one of the first to die.

So began an astonishing night of carnage - as Orson Welles broadcast his radio version of HG Wells War Of The Worlds in real time, to an already twitchy national audience.

A fantastical tale about Martians coming to earth and incinerating humans with heat ray guns - up to 12 million people tuned in and were convinced aliens were exterminating the human race.

The Martian invaders - as portrayed in the 1953 film version of War of The Worlds

People ran out of restaurants without paying their checks.

Bartenders left customers to drink as much as they wanted.

A man just out of surgery jumped out of his hospital bed, dressed, and drove himself home, bleeding all over his car.

A woman who had just been married found herself alone at her reception and had the band strike up the Charleston while she danced solo for a half hour.

At least one person is even reported to have committed suicide.

Its almost impossible to imagine, now, how intelligent people could believe such a story.

But, through a perfect storm of events, millions of Americans were indeed convinced the end of the world was at hand. Heres how it happened.

The entire country had been on edge from Hitlers threat to invade the Sudetenland weeks before and touch off World War II.

The depression had dragged on.

Radio had grown immensely popular, with 90 percent of the population possessing one. Congress had also just required all cars to have an AM radio attached.

To illustrate how hooked on radio Americans had become, utility companies reported that people didnt flush toilets during the show 'Amos and Andy', and movies stopped in the middle to play the latest episode.

In the community of Grovers Mill, men armed themselves with guns, and even shot up a water tower, thinking it was an alien invader

Welles (top left) in rehearsals for the broadcast which convinced millions of people that Martians had invaded the USA

The golden age of radio, then, was in full swing, as breaking news bulletins peppered the American people with news of imminent war, natural catastrophes, and horrific crimes. People were waiting for the other shoe to drop as autumn closed in on Halloween and leaves scraped down sidewalks.

From a CBS studio high up in the Manhattan skyline, 23-year-old Welles began his broadcast of the play, using a revolutionary (at the time) breaking news format - broadcast within a broadcast.

It starts with Ramon Roquello and his orchestra playing in the ballroom of a local New York hotel when suddenly the first news bulletin pulls listeners in.

Then, as the reporter is vaporized, Welles holds up his hands for quiet in the studio and commands a full six seconds of dead air.

This is the terrifying heart of the broadcast. It convinces listeners they have just heard a man burned alive and die.

Now the Martians are heading for New York and the rest of the country. By now, people have left their radios, jumped in their cars, subways, taxis, started running, hiding, anything to get away from the awful terror the precocious Welles has unleashed.

Police stations and the CBS switchboards lit up with frantic callers.

CBS executives and the police tried to gain entrance to the studio to halt the broadcast, but Welles partner, John Houseman, kept the door locked so they could make it to the station break and finish unleashing the terror.

The Manhattan switchboards were overwhelmed with calls and police stations were overrun by people with their belongings demanding gas masks and desperately wanting to know where to escape the murdering Martians.

Traffic became a demolition derby as motorists drove 70 miles an hour through stop lights and didn't stop for police. Suddenly, everyone was speeding while the 126 affiliates of CBS spread Orson Welles broadcast from coast to coast.

A Hollywood executive and his wife driving in the Redwood Forest in California heard the broadcast and tried to get back home to their children but ran out of gas. They wrote later that all they could do was wait to be incinerated by the invading Martians.

A man came home to find his wife staring at a bottle of cyanide at her kitchen table saying she would rather poison herself than let the Martians get her.

Another man got a call from his crying daughter at college and drove the hundred miles to her college in his Studebaker, took the doors off his car, and packed it with crying girls, tying some down across the hood and the trunk, then driving full speed back down the highway.

A bus full of people in North Carolina stopped and a man jumped on, telling the driver it was the end of the world. The driver, in a fit of panic, took his passengers on the wildest ride of their lives while trying to get away from the Martians.

As the reporter is vaporized, Welles holds up his hands for quiet in the studio and commands a full six seconds of dead air

Residents of Grovers Mill gather the day after the broadcast to discuss the 'invasion'

A plaque in Van Nest Park, New Jersey, marks the spot where the 'Martians' first landed

A letter from a listener who 'did not jump out the window' or attempt suicide

A young actress in Manhattan ran out of her apartment and fell down the stairs, breaking her arm. The next day she was featured all over the nation in front page articles proclaiming her a war casualty.

A man who had had an affair confessed to his wife, only to find out later the broadcast wasnt real.

People ran out of apartment buildings with wet blankets over their heads while hospitals all over the country admitted people for shock and heart attacks.

Men in Grovers Mill, New Jersey, where the Martians had landed, rode around with rifles and shot up a water tower they thought was an alien.

The military issued an alert stating Martians were not invading and that there was no danger. Operators across the country answered calls saying just four words. There are no Martians.

But it took several hours for the message to finally land.

In the meantime, phone lines were clogged all over the country as people tried to call loved ones for last goodbyes. People didnt even have to hear the broadcast to join the panic - they were simply told by family members to run for their lives.

A man drove right through his garage door, then looked at his wife and said: Well, at least we dont have to fix it.

Many years later, he was attacked in a hotel lobby by a man screaming he would kill him if he ever saw him again

Nearly 70 years after the Orson Welles broadcast, War of The Worlds became a movie, starring Tom Cruise

The terror continued until the morning when the hoax was revealed, and headlines read: Radio play terrifies nation, Fake radio war stirs terror through us.

Welles and CBS received death threats and lawsuits, while the FCC considered censoring radio.

A press conference was held, Welles pleaded his innocence, but it took New York Herald Tribune columnist Dorothy Thompson to quell the rising anger, proclaiming the director a genius.

'If people can be frightened out of their wits by mythical men from Mars,' she wrote, 'they can be frightened into fanaticism by the fear of Reds, or convinced that America is in the hands of 60 families, or aroused to revenge against any minority, or terrorized into subservience to leadership because of any imaginable menace.'

She added that Welles had 'made the scare to end all scares, the menace to end menaces, the unreason to end unreason, the perfect demonstration that the danger is not from Mars but from the theatrical demagogue.'

After the dust had settled, the director went on to make what many consider the greatest film ever, Citizen Kane.

But six years after the infamous broadcast, he was violently attacked in a hotel lobby by a man screaming that he was going to kill him.

After the man was pulled away and Welles bundled into an elevator, a story emerged that surely haunted the director.

The mans wife, after listening to War of the Worlds, had committed suicide that fateful October 30, 1938. The man had vowed to murder Orson if he ever saw him.

Many have said Welles never intended to create the mass panic of War of the Worlds. Part magician, thespian, conman, genius, the War of the Worlds broadcast was Orsons greatest sleight of hand. Of course he meant to do it.

Dead Air: The Night That Orson Welles Terrified America by William Elliott Hazelgrove is published by Rowman & Littlefield
As the one month milestone of Suzanne Simpson's disappearance passed, cops announced a major update: her husband has been charged with murder.

Now the mother-of-four's friends, family and broader San Antonio community are anxiously awaiting more information: a body, a motive, anything that proves she is truly gone forever.

She was last seen on October 6 by a neighbor at the $1.5million mansion she shared with her husband Brad, 53. The duo were arguing and made their way into nearby bushland, where the neighbor heard screams.

Suzanne's closest friends have rallied this past month to keep her memory alive, sharing stories about a kind and vivacious woman who 'made the world better, brighter and more beautiful.'

Suzanne Clark Simpson, 51, disappeared from her $1.5million home about 11pm Sunday, October 6, after an alleged dispute with her wealthy realtor husband, 53-year-old Brad Simpson

Brad Chandler Simpson, 53, of Olmos Park - four miles north of San Antonio - was arrested just three days after his wife Suzanne Clark Simpson, 51, went missing

They've raised $15,000 for the National Domestic Violence Hotline and set about educating women about the signs of abuse.

Securing a murder conviction without a body is no easy feat, but Suzanne's loved ones have faith in investigators, who themselves have vowed not to give up in their search.

Brad Simpson's own brother, who has been one of his most outspoken critics, said the latest charge 'brings our family some peace.'

'It is heartbreaking, but it brings our family some peace to know that authorities have gathered sufficient evidence to feel confident in moving forward with charges,' Barton Simpson told MySA.

'This also helps us to come to terms with the reality that Suzanne is no longer with us.'

A thorough investigation of the four bed, five bath Olmos Park family home (pictured), worth an estimated $1.5million, has already taken place

Police had searched a landfill site in San Antonio last month where they say 'there is a good chance' of finding her

He said the charge allows his family to begin 'a difficult grieving process and focus on rebuilding our lives, especially for the sake of the children and our extended family.'

Suzanne's daughter Chandler, 20, alleged that her mother was the victim of abuse at the hands of her father.

She claimed that Simpson 'took my mother's life in a state of rage and control.'

'I will not stop speaking as the voice of my mother until she is found. I will forever represent all victims of domestic abuse and assault.'

'As my mother's daughter I will tell our story over and over again. With every breath, I will make sure you remember her name. Suzanne Simpson was a victim of abuse and a victim of this community. Beyond being a victim, she was a phenomenal mother, hardworking, driven, loving and kind,' she added.

Suzanne Simpson's 20-year-old daughter, Chandler, spoke out on domestic violence and claimed her father abused her mother and 'took my mother's life in a state of rage and control'

Suzanne Clark Simpson , 51, was last seen on October 6 in Olmos Park, a suburb of the Texas city

Bond reduced for Simpson's business partner

On the same day that police announced the murder charge, Brad Simpson's longtime business associate James Cotter had his bond amount slashed from $1million to $100,000.

Cotter has been held on two felony charges relating to the investigation into Suzanne's disappearance.

He's accused of removing one of Simpson's guns - an AK-47 - from his home and hiding it in his own home.

The timing of the bond reduction that coincided with the murder charge has sparked questions within the tightknit community.

According to an arrest affidavit, Simpson text Cotter the day after formally reporting Suzanne missing, writing: 'If you're in Bandera, can you haul ass to meet me at your house?'

'I don't have much time,' the initial text read, according to KENS5.

Cotter has been charged with one count of tampering with evidence after police discovered an AK-47 inside the wall of his home

Charges gradually mounting against Simpson

Simpson was arrested just three days after his wife disappeared on charges of domestic violence and unlawful restraint.

Two weeks later new felony charges were added after Cotter's arrest.

Now, Olmos Park Police say there is enough evidence against him to proceed with a murder charge.

The exact details of the charge have been sealed for 30 days, but police revealed they're continuing to search key locations in pursuit of justice.

They said a home in Bandera County remains a location of interest.

Police had searched a landfill site in San Antonio last month where they claimed at the time 'there is a good chance' of finding her - but have made no further announcements regarding this search.

A haunting photograph of Suzanne shows her walking through The Argyle after attending a party on the last day she was seen alive

Family hoped she would escape relationship

The missing mother-of-four's own mom, Barbara Clark, revealed the haunting phone call she had with Suzanne just an hour before she was last seen.

Speaking at a vigil set up to honor Suzanne at Lourdes Grotto, Clark said: 'She called me up and told me things Brad had done to her physically.'

Clark said Suzanne confided in her that about 9pm that night, October 6, Simpson had injured her arm and her back.

'I came up with an alternative plan for her that she would move in with me and have her little toddler go to the elementary school in my neighborhood.

'I never got to tell her the plan.'
Barack Obama and his wife Michelle have been slammed by his biographer for 'talking down' to voters in 'tone-deaf and clueless' preaching that harmed Kamala Harris' ill-fated presidential campaign.

The effect was so bad that  combined with Donald Trump's victory  it is likely to reduce the 44th president's political relevance to 'Bill Clinton levels', David Garrow said in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com.

'People do not want to be talked down to, no matter who they are,' the 71-year-old Pulitzer Prize winner said.

'I thought it was tone-deaf and clueless for them to preach as they did,' he told DailyMail.com.

'I would expect that perception will be shared by lots of people. If so, I think it reduces their relevance to Bill Clinton territory.'

Barack Obama's biographer says the former president's tone-deaf preaching backfired tremendously in the election and may have tarnished his legacy

Obama applauds as Harris takes the stage at her rally in Clarkston, GA. The vice president recalled going to Springfield, Illinois 17 years ago to support then-Sen. Obama's run for president. During the rally, she borrowed a famous Obama phrase, 'Yes we can' and the crowd chanted it back

Garrow wrote the 2017 biography Rising Star: The Making of Barack Obama. He won his Pulitzer for an earlier book on Martin Luther King.

He predicted that the Obamas will now largely vanish from the political scene to hang out with celebrities on Martha's Vineyard'.

Garrow said Tuesday's electoral rout has left Obama, 63, 'nervous' about the impact Trump could have on how he is seen by future generations.

'He has been and remains extremely concerned and nervous about his historical legacy,' he said.

'That has certainly taken a big hit with Trump once again triumphing.'

One of the major pillars of Obama's political legacy is the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which brought health insurance to millions and outlawed denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions.

Obama has been intensely aware of Trump's repeated attempts to repeal the law.

Trump issued an executive order in 2017 aimed at rolling it back, but failed to push the plan through Congress.

He called the act 'lousy' and said he was working to replace it during his presidential debate with Harris in September.

Historian and biographer David Garrow wrote the 2017 biography Rising Star: The Making of Barack Obama

Garrow believes the Democrats' disastrous election result means they will no longer want the Obamas front and center in future campaigns

Trump later denied his opposition to the ACA, claiming he 'never even thought about such a thing'.

The biographer and historian added that he believes the disastrous election result for Democrats means they will no longer want the Obamas front and center in future campaigns.

'The conclusion for Democrats is that they've got to dispense with these people from the past, including Hillary Clinton too, and move to a new generation of figures who are not in the AOC club at all,' he said, referring to left-wing firebrand Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

But the writer predicted that Barack still has enough 'star-power' to pull in large speaking fees  such as the $400,000 he was paid for a single 2017 speech by Wall Street firm Cantor Fitzgerald, according to the New York Times.

'I'm not sure that would necessarily decline. He still has the celebrity factor of being an ex-president,' Garrow said.

The author said he expected the Obamas to 'continue to hang out with celebrities and live on Martha's Vineyard', the millionaires' playground island off the coast of Massachusetts.

'I certainly expect them to be spending less time in Washington after early January,' he said.

Garrow believes Michelle's admonishing voters considering voting for Trump in a rally speech last month hurt, rather than helped, Harris

Obama's heavy-handed messaging to voters 'backfired' on the campaign, he said

Obama also drew criticism for comments he made to a room of black men on October 11 suggesting that 'brothers' who don't vote for Kamala Harris are sexist

'They're not under any financial pressure,' he added. 'I don't expect them to sell the DC house. They haven't sold the Chicago house even though they spend like two nights a year there.'

The Obamas bought an 8,200 sq ft home in the Kalorama district of the nation's capital for $8.1million in 2017.

Their 6,892 sq ft Martha's Vineyard, house on a 29.3-acre estate is estimated to be worth $14million by Realtor.com.

They have owned their six-bed red-brick Georgian home in Chicago since 2004.

But the jewel in their real estate crown is now their three-acre compound on O'ahu  the Hawaiian island where Obama was born  with stunning views over Waimanalo Bay.

It has been under construction since Obama bought it for $8.7million in 2015, through the chairman of the Obama Foundation, Marty Nesbitt.

In 2022 he was pictured at the waterfront site for the first time talking with workers, when construction was apparently nearing completion.

The power couple will be keeping themselves busy with their business endeavors including their TV company Higher Ground Productions, which was behind the movies Leave the World Behind and Crip Camp  which credited one or both of the Obamas as an executive director  the Barack-narrated documentary Our Great National Parks and the Michelle Obama Podcast.

Former First Lady Michelle, 60, is also lending her personal brand to a fruit drink PLEZi, marketed as healthy and for younger kids.

She surprised shoppers at Costco in Livermore, northern California in September when she showed up promoting the drink, which has eight grams of sugar per can and 45 calories.

Garrow said Obama will not be playing puppet-master in the Democratic party, and he believes the former president was not involved in Joe Biden's ousting in July  but only because it would have made Biden dig his heels in.

'Before Biden withdrew, I said that if he had the impression that Barack was pushing him to get out, that would backfire, because Biden has had very sore feelings going back eight years now, that he didn't think Barack sufficiently respected him,' Garrow said.

'I think the "credit" for that goes largely to Nancy Pelosi.'

Garrow predicted that the Obamas will now largely vanish from the political scene to hang out with celebrities on Martha's Vineyard, where they own a summer home. They are pictured leaving a restaurant on the island in 2010

Their 6,892 sq ft Martha's Vineyard, house on a 29.3-acre estate is estimated to be worth $14million

Garrow, who lives in the crucial state of Pennsylvania that nixed Harris' hopes when it swung for Trump on Tuesday night, said he believes the Obamas' heavy-handed messaging to voters 'backfired'.

'Even before last night, I was of the quite strong belief that the tone and condescension with which both Barack and Michelle spoke, particularly towards black men, was self-defeating to the point of backfire,' Garrow told DailyMail.com.

Barack Obama drew criticism for comments he made to a room of black men on October 11, saying he detected a lack of 'energy' that was 'more pronounced with the brothers'  and added that 'it makes me think that, well, you just aren't feeling the idea of having a woman as president'.

Michelle Obama gave a speech on October 27 railing against Trump's stance on abortion, admonishing men considering voting for the former president that 'a vote for him is a vote against us'.

'Do not hand our fates over to the likes of Trump, who knows nothing about us, who has shown deep contempt for us,' she said.

Garrow believes those comments hurt, rather than helped, Harris.

'Certainly at the margins, I think they both harmed her,' he said.
Eight years ago, there wasn't a soul brave enough to wear a MAGA hat through the streets of Manhattan, where liberals openly sobbed after Trump's shock election win.

But it's a new day in America.

Trump is back, bold and more popular than ever.

And in the lefty safe haven of Manhattan, support for him is higher than ever.

With the wind of his election win propping our sails, the Daily Mail team ventured out in Greenwich Village to test his newfound popularity.

I was the guinea pig of choice - anointed with a bright red MAGA hat, I bravely took on the task.

The result was surprising to say the least.

Walking around Manhattan's Washington Square Park in a red MAGA hat drew a surprising range of responses from the public - with one young woman choosing to give me the finger

Several NYPD police officers grinned and nodded as they saw the red MAGA hat

While I was hardly embraced, I wasn't punched - an outcome that feels less likely if I had pulled the stunt after the 2016 election

Just two days after Donald Trump cruised to a landslide victory in the presidential election, I expected wearing a bright red MAGA hat to Manhattan's Washington Square Park would invite danger.

But I was stunned by the first responses - a man in his 20's immediately smiled, raised his fist and mimicked Trump's iconic reaction to his assassination attempt in July.

'Fight!' he added.

And while many of the city's liberals and NYU's student cohort gave me death-stares, a surprising number of those in the park - almost all men - smiled, complimented or seemed thrilled to see the red hat.

When Trump upset the odds and defeated Hillary Clinton in 2016, protests lit up New York City as the Big Apple fumed at one of their own.

In the Greenwich Village's Washington Square Park, flanked by the NYU campus and filled with young New Yorkers, demonstrations lasted weeks and continued flaring up in the early Trump White House.

The park has a reputation for being America's most left leaning public space. And it is synonymous with protests for progressive causes - some of them turning violent.

While I wasn't embraced, I wasn't punched either - and I think all would agree that is progress from eight years ago.

A surprising number of men grinned and showed subtle signs of support when they spotted the red MAGA hat

Manhattan is known as a liberal hotspot, but residents were far less hostile than expected, with one young man even raising his fist and saying 'fight'

After Trump won in 2016, Washington Square Park played host to weeks of protests (pictured). Just two days after his 2024 victory, the park has seen no real protests or demonstrations

The first person who saw my MAGA hat mimicked Donald Trump's iconic reaction to surviving an assassination attempt in July, raising his fist and shouting 'fight'

There were no protests in response to Trump's victory, and the only lasting legacy of Kamala Harris' doomed candidacy was a lone supporter handing out stickers, without many takers.

At least two NYPD officers gave me an approving nod as I walked past them, and several more men offered some form of 'nice hat' or a subtle thumbs up.

The reaction was undoubtedly less hostile than it would have been back in 2016. But I wouldn't call it a resounding hit.

Plenty of people glared, did double-takes or shook their heads at me.

One young woman, sat smoking on a bench as I left the park, gave me a look of pure disgust and raised her cigarette to give me the middle finger.

Another middle-aged woman in a grey pantsuit even stopped walking when we almost came face-to-face, and another lowered her sunglasses and peered over them to make sure I caught her gaze.

Just days after the Kamala Harris' thumping defeat, New Yorkers had seemingly forgotten about her doomed candidacy in ways Hillary Clinton sustained for some time after her loss

A red MAGA hat is known to spark fury among liberals across the nation, but the response in New York this week shows attitudes towards Donald Trump have shifted

Trump has made huge inroads with voting groups that shunned him in 2016 and 2020, including picking up 13 percentage points with Black men since eight years ago.

The President-elect also gained 13 points among voters aged 18 to 29 and a staggering 32 points among Latinos since the last election.

And although Kamala Harris won deep blue New York handily by 11 points, Trump clawed back significant percentages across the city - traditionally seen as one of the most liberal hotspots in the nation.

For example, in The Bronx, a borough with a majority Hispanic population at 54.6 percent and 43 percent Black population, Trump picked up 12 percent and 30,000 voters.

He made similar but slightly smaller inroads in Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn, showing that the response in the park was far from an anomaly.
Taxpayer cash has been used to sponsor an explicit podcast starring an adult film star who has invited 'barely legal' 18-year-olds to sleep with her on camera.

The Department for Work and Pensions was a 'paid partner' to Bonnie Blue's appearance on a podcast where she brags about bedding 158 men in two weeks.

The 25-year-old OnlyFans star appeared on an episode of the Saving Grace podcast - hosted by influencer GK Barry, who is rumoured to be appearing in the upcoming series of I'm a Celebrity.

The pair discussed a series of X-rated topics before the episode is interrupted with a DWP advert which says: 'This episode is in paid partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions'.

It says: 'Let's be honest, the things we choose to tell our parents, grandparents or in fact any elderly relative can be a bit selective at times.'

Taxpayer cash has been used to sponsor an explicit podcast featuring Bonnie Blue, who invites 18-year-olds to sleep with her on camera

The 25-year-old OnlyFans star appeared on an episode of the Saving Grace podcast - hosted by influencer GK Barry

Blue outside Nottingham Trent University with a sign reading 'Bonk me for free, let me film it'

Blue is from Nottingham but lives in Australia - where the authorities are being urged to cancel her visa

The advert goes on to urge listeners to tell their elderly relatives about pension credit - as part of the Government's drive to increase uptake after it cut the winter fuel allowance.

It says: 'As you know we've all got something we haven't told our parents or grandparents and sometimes it's just easier that way. But here's something you really do need to let them know.

'Thousands of people over the age of 66 are missing out on pension credit, worth an average of 3,900 a year. Plus, they can also be entitled to the winter fuel payment if they apply by December 21.'

The DWP last night said it did not endorse the comments made in the podcast and had its advert removed from the episode this week.

A spokeswoman for the department told the Mail: 'We do not endorse the comments made and have had our advert removed from this particular episode.'

The DWP did not say how much money it spent on the partnership.

In the podcast, Blue discusses her sex life in lurid detail - including how she has slept with married men and 'fresh 18-year-olds'.

And she reveals that she has made more than 3 million already this year, adding: 'Being a slut pays really well.'

Host GK Barry then says: 'I'd hate to see your tax bill,' to which Blue replies: 'It makes me feel sick.'

Blue goading students to 'bonk me and let me film it' outside Nottingham Trent University

Blue has attacked critics who have slammed her as 'disgusting', 'weird', and an example of a 'society that has lost its morals'

She also says sex is becoming 'less and less taboo', with people now 'more open' to OnlyFans.

Blue is from Nottingham but lives in Australia - where the authorities are being urged to cancel her visa. A petition - describing her as a 'predatory sex worker' - has been signed by almost 20,000 people.

It is understood that the DWP partnered with podcast company Acast to run pension credit advertising across a series of shows.

The Saving Grace podcast was one of at least a dozen shows chosen as it is listened to by the department's target audience.

Adverts are created in the podcast's tone and style to resonate with their audience, but it is understood the DWP did not sponsor the Bonnie Blue episode in particular.

The DWP has been urging people to sign up for pension credit - a means-tested benefit - after the Government axed the winter fuel payment for millions of elderly people.
On a recent trip to Italy, Graham King stayed at the five-star Sina Brufani Palace in the medieval city of Perugia which is perched on a hilltop overlooking the rolling Umbrian valley. Heads of state and royalty, including the late Queen Mother, have all been guests here.

So, what's not to like?

Quite a lot in Mr King's case, who had a shopping list of complaints.

Graham King, the boss of Clearsprings Ready Homes, on a holiday in the Caribbean

The fittings were too old, there was no coffee machine in his suite, the atmosphere was 'musty', and the bottle of mineral water in the mini-bar was overpriced at five euros and should have been complimentary anyway; nor were enough staff on duty.

'I doubt I'll stay in a Sina hotel again if this is what they think 5 stars are,' Mr King, 57, wrote sniffily in a review on TripAdvisor. His break at the Sina Brufani tells us two things about Mr King. One is that he is very rich; the other, that he has no sense of irony.

Rates for the Royal Suite  where he chose to stay  start at more than 300 a night in the off-peak season  which is no more than small change to Mr King.

His company, Clearsprings Ready Homes, is paid by the Home Office to provide supposedly short-term accommodation for asylum seekers and has a 1.7 billion turnover, it was revealed this week, which means that by the end of today his firm will have brought in another 4.8 million, and it will rake in the same amount again tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that, for the foreseeable future.

At a time when many businesses are struggling, more tax rises are coming down the track and the cost of living continues to bite, the 'asylum trade' is one of the few sectors of the economy that is booming.

The exponential growth of Mr King's organisation, which is on the verge of making him a billionaire, emerged in the latest set of accounts for Clearsprings.

But, and here is where his sense of irony has gone missing, the state of many of the hotels and other properties in which his outsourcing organisation houses migrants have been widely condemned, not just by asylum seekers themselves, but in official reports and in Parliament.

Bug and rodent infestations, in some cases, cramped and decrepit conditions in general, water leaking through ceilings, limited heating and electricity and a lack of drinking water are just some of the problems which have come to light.

All this was already in the public domain when Mr King, the so-called 'Asylum King', was moaning about the '1970s bathrooms' and an absence of 'complimentary' bottled water in Perugia last year.

Perugia is one of 280 cities he has visited, clocking up almost 250,000 miles in the process, according to his TripAdvisor page, often in the company of his glamorous Latvian girlfriend Lolita (yes, that is her real name) Lace, who at 39, is 18 years his junior.

Graham's lover Lolita Lace with the horse she rode on their holiday to the Caribbean island of Antigua in 2015

His jet-set lifestyle with Ms Lace, patronising some of the world's top hotels and dining at Michelin-starred restaurants, is effectively being subsidised by the taxpayer because the vast majority of Clearsprings' revenue comes from two ten-year Home Office contracts awarded in 2019 and funded from the foreign aid budget.

Mr King, who made his debut in the Sunday Times Rich List this year with a personal fortune estimated at 750 million, is the largest individual financial beneficiary of the asylum-seeker boom.

Is there anyone, apart from those making a mint out of the system, who don't think this is fundamentally wrong?

Mr King and Ms Lace, known to her friends as 'Lolo', are believed to have been living together at a flat in London's Mayfair for several years which Mr King owns and where they are listed on the electoral roll.

He has two children  both educated at a 46,000-a-year boarding school  from his marriage to Austrian-born wife Carin, 60, who still lives at the former marital home, a listed farmhouse, set in 60 acres, in the village of Chappel in rural Essex.

His new life with 'Lolo', chronicled in colourful detail on social media, bears little resemblance to his previous existence as a married man. Ms Lace's family own a 50-acre farm in a village 25 miles outside Riga, the Latvian capital, and let out some of their land.

There, her mother Erica told how her daughter and 'the very pleasant' Mr King come to visit regularly and always ask for her homemade potato pancakes.

Her daughter was not with him for his money, she insisted, in case people got the wrong impression. 'I understand my daughter,' she explained.

'She didn't know he was going to be a millionaire. There was a mutual attraction.'

'When I told Graham I wanted grandchildren he laughed and said he already had two children. 'Take them', he said.'

The couple, she proudly announced, had properties all over the world and lead a very healthy lifestyle  all courtesy of the taxpayer, of course. Ms Lace studied tourism management at Turiba University in Riga, graduating with distinction, before joining an international hotel chain.

It was while she was working at one of the group's establishments in Spain that she met Mr King, who was one of the guests.

She was in her late 20s at the time, and he was in his late 40s.

Shortly afterwards, he shared a photograph (on TripAdvisor) of the couple riding horses bareback in the sea, with Ms Lace in a red bikini, during a holiday on the Caribbean islands of Antigua and Barbuda.

Ms Lace is now supporting Mr King in his efforts on the amateur racing driving circuit.

The couple love horse riding, a hobby they enjoyed during their trip to Antigua

She is a director of a firm called Race International Ltd, founded in August 2023. Her occupation at Companies House is given as 'team director' and the nature of the business as 'maintenance and repair of motor vehicles'. Her boyfriend, it transpires, is pursuing his passion for fast cars by taking part in Porsche Sprint Challenge events around Europe for 'rookie and gentlemen drivers'.

In May, an Instagram post showed him on the podium celebrating victory in a race in the Netherlands with champagne spraying which was 'liked by' Ms Lace.

Mr King is originally from Canvey Island and his family are well known in the town, which lies off the coast of Essex on the Thames estuary. When his father, patriarch Jack King, a Conservative councillor and entrepreneur, died in 2016, the Southend Echo paid tribute to 'Mr Canvey Island'.

Mr King Snr owned, at one time or another, a car dealership, caravan park and nightclubs which attracted big stars like Shirley Bassey and Tommy Cooper. John Pring is an estate agent who worked closely with Mr King Snr and his two sons, Graham and his elder brother Jeff, back in the day.

He was involved in a property development venture with the Kings which resulted in the successful purchase of a 100-acre plot of land on Canvey Island. 'I put everything I had into the new company,' said Mr Pring, but he soon discovered that he couldn't draw a salary because he had failed to establish a shareholders' agreement (which outlines how a company should be operated) with the Kings.

He asked them if they could pay him for running the project, but they declined  as they were legally entitled to do  so, having run up personal debt to invest in the deal, Mr Pring let them buy him out. As such, there is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Mr King. 'It's a sore subject but I was naive,' admits Mr Pring. 'I didn't protect myself. I blame myself and nobody else. That's why I am still working at 78.'

The venture involving John Pring became a development of static homes for the over-50s and remained in the family until a few years ago. Older sister Linda, a retired hairdresser who ran her own salon on Canvey Island for more than 20 years, lives in one of them. 'My brothers are both rich,' she told us.

'I'm the poor one but they look after me. They are very generous.'

Clearsprings was established on the eve of the new millennium. Like father, like son? Initially, having set up the company, it looked that way, but Graham King did not end up building a holiday park. He had bigger plans.

Tony Blair and his New Labour government had begun dispersing asylum seekers around Britain and outsourcing accommodation to private firms. One of the initial contracts was awarded to Clearsprings in March 2000.

Graham King with his Latvian lover Lolita Lace, whom he lavishes riches on

Almost before the ink had dried on the paperwork Mr King was pictured in a Sunday newspaper leaving his office under the headline: 'The King of Asylum Slums' who, it was reported, 'often does business from his mobile phone in the back of a stretch limo'.

The negative headlines and soaring profits have continued in tandem to this day.

Of the 1,500 complaints the Home Office received about the state of asylum hotels last year, the majority (901) were linked to Clearsprings Ready Homes, according to data obtained via freedom of information laws.

The revelation coincided with a protest in London by more than 70 asylum seekers, including children, who slept on the street because they had allegedly been told by Clearsprings that they would have to share single rooms  some without beds  between four people.

On its website, Clearsprings says its 'vision' is 'to be the leading provider of specialist outsourced accommodation and support services to Government, organisations and communities across the UK by providing outstanding value to our customers', adding 'our team on the ground works closely with all our stakeholders in a way that is sensitive to community cohesion issues and guided by provable sustainable and ethical trading policy'.

When the issues raised in this article were put to Clearsprings, they thanked us for our inquiry but said they 'would not comment'.

A Home Office source said: 'We inherited a backlog from the Tory government that was running into hundreds of thousands. Rather than trying to clear this and get people out of hotels, they spent 700 million on gimmicks such as Rwanda that failed to do anything.' In other words, it will continue to be business as usual for Graham King.

In Mayfair, we caught up with Lolita Lace who was leaving her flat. Asked if Mr King was at home, she replied, with a hint of a smile: 'No, I don't know him,' before walking off in the direction of Bond Street, the home of exclusive shopping in London.

Earlier this year, Prospect Magazine, a current affairs periodical, published an investigation into Graham King, suggesting Clearsprings 'accounted for more than one in every 20 spent by the Home Office  that's including on police, fire and the other services'.

Surely, there can't be a more damning indictment of an official system that inadvertently subsidises Mr King  and Lolita's  jet-set lifestyle.
To listen to some of my London friends, you would think that Donald Trump's re-election to a second term as president is the prelude to the Apocalypse.

Many in Britain seem almost absurdly fearful of him.

While in opposition, senior members of the Labour shadow cabinet  including the Foreign Secretary David Lammy  famously bad-mouthed Trump as 'a tyrant in a toupee', a 'racist and KKK/neo-Nazi sympathiser', and 'a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath' among other things.

Now that Trump is back, an embarrassed Keir Starmer is doing his best to sweep these insults into the memory hole. But the truth is that a huge proportion of Britons still think these things  and worse  about Trump.

Kamala Harris concedes the election at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

If Britain were the 51st state, Kamala Harris would have won it 68 per cent to 32 per cent, according to poll aggregator Europe Elects  that's a bigger margin than she won in any of the blue states the Democrats held on Tuesday night.

Even in the Daily Mail  hardly Left-leaning  a fellow columnist was unenthused about Trump's victory.

Stephen Glover wrote on Thursday that he was 'profoundly depressed. There is good reason to believe that Trump will be bad for America, the world and Britain'.

He called Trump a 'convicted felon who incited an insurrection', a 'liar', a 'cheat' and a 'foul-mouthed braggart'.

Well, as someone who has spent much of the past eight years living under Democratic Party rule in California (which ended with a vote share of 58 per cent for Harris and 40 per cent for Trump), I know how much better Trump will be for Britain than Harris would have been.

Donald Trump's more sophisticated American critics, including my old friend, the commentator and historian Anne Applebaum, link him to Autocracy Inc.  the title of her recent book on how autocracies around the world are conspiring to undermine democracy.

She argues he has a dangerous affinity with such authoritarian leaders as the Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Liberal political commentator and TV host Rachel Maddow took this line of argument to the next level on Wednesday night, calling on her fellow Democrats to 'actively resist' the coming 'strongman, authoritarian' overthrow of the Constitution.

According to Maddow, the incoming Trump administration intends to 'undermine the American way of government'  to subordinate the military, Congress, the courts, the media and civil society to the will of the president.

She demanded formal 'assurances' from all these bodies that they would not succumb to the pressures of the 'Dear Leader'  equating Trump with the North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.

Meanwhile, late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel, choking on his tears, declared: 'It was a terrible night for women, for children, for immigrants . . .for healthcare, for our climate, for science, for journalism, for justice, for free speech, for poor people, for the middle class, for seniors, for our allies in Ukraine, for NATO, for the truth, and democracy and decency. But let me offer a counterargument, based on observing how Kamala Harris's party has run California since it gained undivided control of that state's executive and legislative branch.

They insist that they are the party that upholds democracy. But I'm going to call what they represent 'Democraticy Inc.'  a pseudo-democratic 'progressive' version of Tammany Hall, the corrupt machine that ran New York politics from the mid-19th century until the 1920s.

Democraticy Inc. has almost nothing to do with true democracy. It is a political racket based on the institutionalised power of organisations such as the teachers' unions, the divisive ideology of identity politics, and the cynical mobilisation of immigrants as voting fodder.

Democraticy destroys every state and city that it gets control of.

It has destroyed Illinois and turned Chicago into a vast crime scene by almost bankrupting the state government and pretending that gun violence is not primarily a problem of black communities.

It is in the process of destroying California and has already transformed downtown San Francisco into a scene from Zombie Apocalypse by essentially inviting every junkie in America to come to the city, live (and die) on the street, and shoplift with impunity.

Homelessness is on the rise in low-income areas of San Francisco

And, if the Harris campaign had duped enough voters with their hair-on-fire scaremongering, Democraticy would have had the chance to destroy America in its entirety. Democraticy doesn't just control the coastal states and big cities of America especially Washington DC (where a staggering 92 per cent of the votes were for Harris). It also dominates academia, schools, the legacy media (newspapers, TV and radio), Hollywood, and much of corporate America.

We know this because information on party political donations is publicly available. To understand what Democraticy stands for, the following statements provide good illustrations.

'Black people have been treated as less than human in America . . . Our country has never fully addressed the systemic racism that has plagued [it] since its earliest days. It is the duty of every American to fix. . . In times like this, silence is complicity.'

'It is status quo thinking to believe that putting more police on the streets creates more safety. That's wrong. It's just wrong.'

'It is a serious mistake to conflate criminal justice policy with immigration policy as if they are the same thing. They are not. . . An undocumented immigrant is not a criminal.'

'It's time to end mass incarceration. This includes legalising of marijuana, sentencing reforms, and abolishing private prisons.'

'Federal prisoners and detainees [should be] able to obtain medically necessary care for gender transition, including surgical care, while incarcerated or detained.'

These are the widely held positions of progressive Democrats. They also happen to be statements made by Kamala Harris prior to her presidential run this year.

Even if I were tempted to agree with the propositions that there is no such thing as gravity or that humans can breathe underwater, I would soon discover that, in practice, I cannot fly and would drown if I tried inhaling while submerged.

The same principle applies to progressive slogans such as 'fight systemic racism by discriminating against white people' or 'reduce crime by defunding the police'.

California has been ruled by Democrats since the mid-1990s. There hasn't been a Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger's term expired in January 2011. There hasn't been a Republican mayor of San Francisco since 1964. So the Dems have been able to run the experiment. And the results of one-party rule are stunning.

State taxes on the well-off are amongst the highest in the US, and set to rise higher, driving the wealthy away to low-tax states such as Florida and Texas. At the same time, the state has made itself a magnet for illegal immigrants by establishing no fewer than 20 'sanctuary' cities or counties that refuse to enforce immigration law.

And the results? California now has 12 per cent of the nation's population, but over 30 per cent of its welfare recipients. According to a 2020 Census Bureau report, which took housing and other costs into account, the poverty rate in California is 17.2 per cent, the highest of any state.

Tent cities have sprouted up in San Francisco. Human excrement and syringe needles are the principal hazards on the streets

There's a chronic housing shortage, mainly because a plethora of regulations make the construction of affordable housing well-nigh impossible. The state's public schools rank 34th in the country overall and have the highest pupil-teacher ratio. Oh, and there are recurrent wildfires because of chronic management of public woodlands, and periodic droughts because of insufficient investment in reservoirs.

When I first visited San Francisco in 1981, it was still one of the loveliest cities I had ever beheld. Now its streets are so filthy  human excrement and syringe needles are the principal hazards  that I avoid it. The leaders of Democraticy Inc.  the Donorcrats who raised the billion dollars squandered by the Harris campaign since July  thought they could seize control of the whole of America, red states and all, and so perform the same reverse alchemy, turning gold into lead from coast to coast.

Thank God, they were wrong. That is why their candidate Kamala Harris has joined the sad list of sitting vice-presidents who failed to win the presidency, along with Hubert Humphrey, Walter Mondale and Al Gore.

What no one in Britain and Europe appears to understand is how lucky that makes us all. For the problem with the Democratic Party is that their myopic obsessions with diversity, equity and inclusion lead them  in foreign as much as in domestic policy  to decisions that are deeply harmful, often to precisely the people they are supposed to help.

Take the cases of Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Israel, three countries where we have seen Democraticy in action over the past three years and nine months.

In 2021, the Biden-Harris administration decided to pull all US forces out of Afghanistan, nearly 20 years after they had been sent there in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. Joe Biden privately said it would be no worse than abandoning Vietnam in the mid-70s.

At a stroke, however, the not insignificant economic and social achievements of two decades were abandoned, leaving Afghan women and girls to the tender mercies of the Taliban. America's allies were barely consulted about the decision, which was executed with reckless haste.

Putin drew the obvious conclusion from the chaotic fall of Kabul: these guys were weaklings. The Biden-Harris administration did nothing to discourage the invasion he was planning  instead in 2021 they reduced arms deliveries to Ukraine and lifted the sanctions on the Nordstream 2 pipeline to pump gas directly from Russia to Germany. When Putin invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the US response was to offer the president, Volodymyr Zelensky, a plane ticket out!

Liberals have decried the victory of Donald Trump (pictured here with his family at an election night event in West Palm Beach, Florida)

When, undaunted, Zelensky and his people resolved to fight, the Biden-Harris administration delivered some fine speeches.

What they did not and have not delivered was sufficient firepower for Ukraine to prevail. Two and half years later, with about 100,000 Ukrainians dead and much of their country in ruins, Biden and Harris are leaving office  and leaving Kiev on the brink of a defeat that would be disastrous for European security.

Throughout the past three years, the Biden-Harris government has relaxed the sanctions on Iran in the naive belief that Barack Obama's 2015 'nuclear deal' (dispensed with by Trump in 2018) could be resuscitated.

That deal merely postponed Iran's acquisition of nuclear weapons in return for easing sanctions. Iran then used the money it could access to fund Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, and the Houthis  terrorist organisations that serve as Tehran's proxies. On October 7 last year, terrorists from Gaza rampaged into Israel, killing about 1,200 people and kidnapping more than 250.

Once again, there were fine words from Washington.

But when Israel retaliated, as it was in every way entitled to, the American Left had a collective aneurysm and the Biden-Harris administration began arguing for a ceasefire  an argument that the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had the good sense to ignore.

And liberals in America, Britain and across the West wanted four more years of this? Four more years of people with degrees from Yale Law School talking about 'de-escalation', when what is most needed from the US government is deterrence?

I am not saying that Donald Trump is going to make his allies' lives easy. He will not. And I don't want him to.

It's long overdue that Britain and Europe pay their fair share of the costs of transatlantic security, rather than free-riding on Uncle Sam's coat tails.

It's long overdue that we grasp that the stakes are high in this Second Cold War, and that American allies cannot have it both ways, especially when it comes to transfers of critical technology to China.

And it's long overdue that the major economies rethink their various ill-conceived green energy plans and deals.

A world that is consuming more energy with every passing year  not least to propel technological innovations such as artificial intelligence  cannot pretend it is going to rely exclusively on wind and solar power.

And yes, it's long overdue that British and European politicians followed the lead given by American voters and bid a non-fond farewell to Democraticy Inc.'s warped word salad of preferred pronouns, gender fluidity, safe spaces, trigger warnings and critical race theory  the woke Newspeak of the Ivy League campuses that has spread too far and wide.

That Donald Trump won bigly is not a cause of fear and loathing.

Take it from a former Californian: It should be a cause for general jubilation.
No one expects politicians holding very different viewpoints to agree on much.

But the language of diplomacy evolved down the ages so politicians could speak calmly, politely and rationally to one another in order to explore mutually beneficial ways of co-operating.

Many say we have lost that  and are poorer for it. David Lammy proves this point. The Foreign Secretary will try to persuade Donald Trump not to hike tariffs on British exports to the US. Hurting your closest allies, he says, is self-defeating.

He's right, of course. But his point would carry more force if, as a backbencher in 2018, he hadn't called Mr Trump  then still President  a 'neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath' and a 'tyrant in a toupee'.

What's even more extraordinary is Mr Lammy's lack of foresight. It was entirely conceivable Labour would some day win power and have to deal with Mr Trump.

David Lammy will try to persuade Donald Trump not to hike tariffs on British exports to the US. His point would have more force if he hadn't called Mr Trump a 'tyrant in a toupee' in 2018

The Foreign Secretary's lack of foresight is extraordinary, given that it was entirely conceivable Labour would some day win power and have to deal with Mr Trump

Beyond virtue-signalling to activists, what gain was there from insulting the leader of the world's most powerful democracy?

He'd better hope Mr Trump's elephantine memory fails him before trade talks begin.

Don't rush debate

Legitimate arguments exist for allowing the mercy killing of those dying of terminal illnesses in extreme pain and distress.

But there's a distinct sense that Labour MP Kim Leadbeater's bill to legalise state-sponsored suicide is being rushed through the Commons without proper scrutiny.

Last month, the Mail cautioned: 'This subject is too important for knee-jerk politics.' We are pleased influential figures have listened to our warning.

A growing number of MPs from across the political divide are seeking to apply the brakes to this controversial legislation.

Kim Leadbeater MP presenting her Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill to the Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle. The vote is scheduled for November 29

A vote is scheduled for November 29, but politicians are concerned this leaves insufficient time to consider and debate such a complex and difficult issue.

There are valid fears that the remit and reach of assisted dying could endlessly expand, while the elderly and vulnerable might be coerced by unscrupulous relatives into ending their own lives.

The pro-euthanasia lobby has the loudest, most prominent voices, but that cannot determine who wins the argument. Only calm, sober discussion can resolve this thorniest of questions.

For assisted suicide is like Pandora's Box. Once opened it will be impossible to shut.

Be fair on farmers

The Government's denial that it has launched an all-out assault on Britain's family farmers wears thinner by the day.

Sir Keir says the 'vast majority' will not be affected by the scrapping of exemptions which allow farms to pass down the generations free of inheritance tax.

But is he telling the truth? Analysis suggests the typical bequeathed farm would incur a tax bill far larger than the profits it could make from working the fields.

Farmers protesting against outside the Northern Farming Conference against government plans to reform inheritance tax

Do ministers not realise that some will have to sell all, or part of, their land to pay it? Others will simply go bankrupt.

Labour accepts family farms are vital for feeding the nation. In a volatile world, it would be madness to make us more dependent on food imports.

Sir Keir insists that this tax grab is not a class-war attack on those who own land.

In that case, he should be making it easier, not harder, for farming families to do what they are supposed to be doing  growing crops and raising livestock.
One of the alleged would-be assassins hired by Iran is a self-employed pipe fitter from Staten Island and convicted murderer.

Carlisle 'Pop' Rivera, 49, was arrested on Thursday and charged with conspiracy to murder Iranian activist Masih Alinejad.

Rivera's wife Margarita Vega did not answer the door at their two-story home in Staten Island on Friday.

Neighbors told DailyMail.com Rivera moved out with his wife and their son three months ago. They were shocked to learn of his alleged involvement.

The father-of-two was allegedly hired by Farjad Shakeri, 51, and roped in his friend Jonathon Loadholt, 36, who was arrested and charged alongside him.

They were promised $100,000 to do surveillance on Alinejad and later kill her.

Shakeri was also tasked with planning an assassination of Donald Trump, and would likely have enlisted Rivera and Loadholt in the plot if it went ahead.

Carlisle 'Pop' Rivera, 49, one of the alleged would-be assassins hired by Iran is a self employed pipe fitter from Staten Island and convicted murderer

The Justice Department unsealed criminal charges on a thwarted plot by Iran to kill President-elect Donald Trump before the election

His brother Obed Rivera, also a felon jailed in 2002 for drug manufacture and distribution, living in South Carolina hung up when DailyMail.com called.

'That ain't got nothing to do with me,' he said.

Shakeri, a Afghani who came to the US as a child before he was deported in 2008, was hired by Iran's Revolutionary Guard to orchestrate the hit on Alinejad for $1.5 million, and two Jewish businessmen living in the US.

Then in September he was told to focus on assassinating Trump instead, but by then had flipped to the FBI and sold out Rivera on Thursday.

Rivera was convicted of second-degree murder in 1994 and met Shakeri when they were both at Fishkill Correctional Facility in Beacon, New York, in 2005 to 2007.

Shakeri told the FBI he met a senior member of the Revolutionary Guard through his work in Tehran in the 'oil and fuel businesses.'

The man was referred to by others around him as Majid Soleimani, but Shakeri said he has no way of knowing whether the man is connected to late Iranian military officer Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated under Trump's watch in 2020.

Vega did not answer the door at their two-story home in Staten Island when DailyMail.com approached for comment

Rivera was convicted of second-degree murder in 1994 and met the man who allegedly hired him when they were both at Fishkill Correctional Facility in Beacon, New York, in 2005 to 2007

When Majid learned Shakeri used to live in New York, he offered him a large sum of money to investigate - and ultimately kill - Iranian-American activist and journalist Masih Alinejad.

According to the criminal complaint seen by DailyMail.com, Rivera was waiting on a $100,000 payment from the IRGC to carry out the assassination.

But Shakeri said by mid-late September, this IRGC official had told him to 'put aside his other efforts on behalf of the IRGC and focus on surveilling, and ultimately assassinating, Donald Trump.

Shakeri told him would cost a 'huge' amount of money to pull it off, but was told 'we have already spent a lot of money... so the money's not an issue'.

Vega did not answer the door at their two-storey home in Staten Island on Friday

The FBI believed this to mean Iran already spent money trying to kill Trump, so what was a little more if it got the job done.

He was given a seven-day deadline from October 7 to devise a thorough plan to carry out the assassination attempt.

He was told if he could not come up with a plan in this timeframe, the attempt would be put on the back burner until after the election, because officials in Iran assumed Trump would lose the election and then have less protection.

Shakeri finally admitted on October 28 he had people in NYC helping with the jobs, but refused to identify them.

He appeared to be brokering a deal to cooperate in exchange for the release of an unnamed person.

'If these people gimme a green light... I'm gonna come pretty close so you guys can be convinced that [Individual-I] needs to get released,' he said.

Rivera, 49, was arrested on Thursday and charged with conspiracy to murder the president-elect and Iranian activist Masih Alinejad

FBI agents confronted Shakeri on Thursday, accusing him of lying to them, and he finally gave up Rivera, and though he said there was a second person, he did not name them.

Rivera and Loadholt allegedly became involved in February when Shakeri paid them $1,000 to surveil Alinejad at a speaking engagement at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut, on February 15.

Communications between the pair allegedly showed them discussing when they would be paid for the job.

The event was canceled at the last minute when the FBI warned Alinejad not to go, though it was unclear how they knew about a threat.

Shakeri's next alleged job for them was to to keep watch on Alinejad at her home in Brooklyn in March, for which they were paid about $2,600 each.

Activist and journalist Masih Alinejad was the secondary target in Iran's plot to assassinate Donald Trump, court documents revealed

Text messages allegedly showed Rivera and Loadholt coordinating their surveillance with plans to meet and where they were going.

The pair allegedly complained to Shakeri that Alinejad was hard to pin down and that assassinating her was not going to be an easy task.

'This bitch is hard to catch, bro. And because she hard to catch, there ain't gonna be no simple pull up, unless there the luck of the draw. Unless there's the luck of the draw,' Rivera allegedly said in a voice note.

Shakeri advised them that their target spent most of the time in a study on the third floor and a recording studio on the second floor.

'You just gotta have patience and don't, kicking, kick in the door is not an option because that' s a fail, that's a fail maneuver,' he warned in a voice note reply.

'You gotta wait and have patience to catch her either going in the house or coming out, or following her out somewhere and taking care of it. Don't think about going in. In is a suicide move.'

Rivera allegedly complained in response: 'We was here at night time, like 5.30 this morning, there was no f**kin' lights on.... I already know kickin' in doors only gonna to bring more attention. We already know that, that part.

'That neighborhood is too quiet for that type of shit. Unless she's on the first floor, and you kick that s**t in and then, then, you know, and let's assume you kick it in on the first try.'

Trump has been a target of Iran assassination threats since he ordered the strike that killed Soleimani, the leader of the brutal Iranian Quds Forces

One of the weapons the hitmen allegedly bought for the assassination

Rivera appeared to get increasingly frustrated with the assignment and how much the expenses were adding up.

'What I'm sayin' to you in a nutshell, bro. Is in order for this to get done? And I don't give a fuck who is... You say, 'f**k you, n***a, I want somebody else.'

'Ok, your secret safe with me 'cause I ain't no snitch n**a, and I sure ain't no bitch n***a. So I can handle that, right.

'By the same token, you not gonna find too many motherf**kers who willing to take the job with receiving next to nothin' to start the job off with.

'You sent me thirty-one fifty, right? That pays for some tools and fuels, right? Tools and fuels that's being, the slammer, mostly, the slammer.

'Um, toll bridge fee, going back and forth. Putting gas in the car. Rentin' the car. Look, the car ain't mine bromie, that s**t is bein' rented. It's funded by the thirty-one fifty.

'S**t ain' t, know what I mean, n***as ain't just lettin' you hold their car to do a drive by for nothin', know what I mean, so.

Shakeri allegedly paid Rivera and Loadholt $1,000 to surveil Alinejad at a speaking engagement at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. This screenshot showed the details for the event, a photo of her, and a money order for $500 to be paid to Rivera

One of the photos allegedly taken by Rivera and Loadholt during the surveillance

'But homie, how long you think that's gonna last? How long can you expect two workin' niggas, or one workin' n***a, really me, but my man too, he a workin' n***a too.

'He not like, he's gonna sit out here all night, all day, rain, cold, sleet, on a promise. Let's be for real, we out here on a promise, from a n***a I know.'

Rivera appeared to make a veiled threat, pointing out it was good for both Loadholt and Shakeri that they knew as little about each other as possible, and that they were only connected through him.

The FBI alleged he used this to ask for more cash to finish the operation, as he had already bought weapons for the hit, paid for travel costs, and rented the car to kill the target in a drive-by shooting.

He allegedly claimed Loadholt only went along with the plan because he vouched for Shakeri, and would have refused if anyone else asked him.

The pair allegedly negotiated a $100,000 fee to 'finish the job' during April, and Shakeri had the cash laundered, with a delay that irked Rivera.

'Finish the work, and pick up,' Shakeri instructed his lackey, to which Rivera allegedly answered, 'N**a I wish it was that easy but I ain't no quitter'.

Pictures released by the Justice Department after the thwarted attempt on Trump's life

Trump assassination attempt pictures released by the government

Shakeri later told them to 'take care of it already'.

'I wish you can take care of it already. I have everything covered. By the way send me a bill and don't spend it, n***a,' he wrote on July 16.

Loadholt and Rivera in texts to each other allegedly complained about the delay in receiving the $100,000 payment.

'I'm so frustrated son I'm like ready to jump out the window,' Loadholt wrote in one messages.

Their fortunes began to unravel when Shakeri had voluntary interviews with the FBI on the phone from Iran on September 30, October 8, October 17, October 28, and November 7.
The BBC is facing a backlash over its 'jaw-achingly stupid' decision to cast black and ethnic-minority actors in historical drama Wolf Hall.

The controversy has been heightened by claims from show bosses that the move was supported by author Dame Hilary Mantel, who died in 2022.

The Mirror and the Light, the TV adaptation of the final book in Dame Hilary's Wolf Hall trilogy, broadcasts on BBC1 on Sunday, with several black actors in 'very significant roles'.

Starring alongside Mark Rylance's Thomas Cromwell and Damian Lewis's Henry VIII, is Jane Seymour's mother, Lady Margery, who is played by Sarah Priddy, a British-born actress of mixed heritage, while Nan Seymour, Jane's sister-in-law, is played by Cecilia Appiah.

Maisie Richardson-Sellers, a London-born actress of Guyanese heritage, plays Lady Bess Oughtred. Egyptian-British actor Amir El-Masry appears as poet and politician Thomas Wyatt.

Black actors were not cast in leading roles when the critically acclaimed show first aired in 2015.

The Mirror and the Light, the TV adaptation of the final book in Dame Hilary's Wolf Hall trilogy, broadcasts on BBC1 on Sunday

Jane Seymour's mother, Lady Margery, who is played by Sarah Priddy (pictured), a British-born actress of mixed heritage

Egyptian-British actor Amir El-Masry (pictured) appears as poet and politician Thomas Wyatt

The criticism over 'colour-blind casting' has been led by viewers of colour, who noted the measure has become commonplace since Bridgerton, Netflix's period drama which was led by a black cast, first aired in 2020.

Sonya Douglas, a black writer and artist, wrote on social media: 'The really stupid thing about 'Bridgerton-ing' these top-drawer historical dramas: Everyone suffers. Cast, story, viewers, author, future audiences faced with a simplistically multicultural Ye Olde England. There are plenty of non-white Tudor stories that could be told that would enlighten, inform and entertain, but being 'woke' is just easier.

'What a missed opportunity. I can't believe Hilary Mantel would approve of something so jaw-achingly stupid.'

Fans of the original agreed, and suggested episodes of history involving black characters which could be dramatised.

One wrote: 'There are the real stories of non-white Tudors that would be electrifying and enriching for all of us to hear  instead, this kind of facile tokenism betrays everybody's history, not least those who they're clumsily trying to un-marginalise.'

Another said: 'The BBC are basically saying black history isn't interesting, so we'll co-opt white history.'

Colin Callender, founder of the Wolf Hall producer Playground, said: 'The world has changed since the first series'

The controversy has been heightened by claims from show bosses that the move was supported by author Dame Hilary Mantel (pictured), who died in 2022

Black actors were not cast in leading roles when the critically acclaimed show first aired in 2015

Wolf Hall director Peter Kosminsky said the decision to cast actors irrespective of their ethnicity was supported by Dame Hilary. He added: 'Obviously we aren't playing lookalikes in the series. We cast the best actors we could to convey, in our opinion, the essence of the role.'

Dame Hilary addressed the issue in 2021, saying: 'It's difficult for me, because to me they're not characters, they're people, and I have a very strong sense of them physically. But as soon as you move to stage or the screen, that must yield because you're in the realm of representation. I think we have to take on board the new thinking.'

Colin Callender, founder of the Wolf Hall producer Playground, said: 'The world has changed since the first series.

'We felt that diverse casting was appropriate and something we should and wanted to do. It's as simple as that.'
A procedural error made by an Ohio judge has led to the overturning of a high-profile murder conviction.

Joshua Amburgy, 41, was serving a sentence of 41 years to life for the brutal stabbing of his mother, Melissa Amburgy, in their Miami Township home, but he is now back in court facing the possibility of a new trial.

Ohio's 12th District Court of Appeals ruled in October that Clermont County Judge Victor Haddad had failed to inform Amburgy of his constitutional rights during his 2023 plea hearing.

The oversight, a fundamental misstep in legal procedure, voided Amburgy's guilty plea to charges of aggravated murder and felonious assault.

Joshua Amburgy, 41, was serving a sentence of 41 years to life for the brutal stabbing of his mother, Melissa Amburgy, in their Miami Township home, but he is now back in court facing the possibility of a new trial

Clermont County Judge Victor Haddad had failed to inform Amburgy of his constitutional rights during his 2023 plea hearing leading to the conviction to be overturned

The simple mistake has sent shockwaves through Ohio's legal community.

The appeals court's ruling highlighted Judge Haddad's courtroom conduct and his failure to ensure Amburgy fully understood his rights, a constitutional requirement when accepting a guilty plea.

As a result, the plea has been deemed to be invalid.

It was in November 2022, Amburgy left the quiet neighborhood reeling after he lured his 58-year-old mother to the basement of his home, where he attacked her with a kitchen knife, stabbing her seven times.

Amburgy's father, Ted Amburgy, intervened, hitting his son with a chair in a desperate bid to save his wife's life.

Tragically, Melissa Amburgy succumbed to her injuries after being airlifted to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Amburgy's father, Ted Amburgy, left, hitting his son with a chair in a desperate bid to save his wife, Melissa's, life but tragically she died from her injuries

Amburgy lured his 58-year-old mother to the basement of his home, where he attacked her with a kitchen knife, stabbing her seven times

The judge blamed Joshua Amburgy, 41, for his outbursts in court that he made a mistake in courtroom procedure

Ted later described the horror of the attack, saying, 'I've been in combat; I've been all over the world, but I've never seen somebody's eyes like that I could see in his eyes the devil had taken over.'

Following the stabbing, Amburgy fled the scene, still armed, and was confronted by police in a nearby backyard.

Despite repeated commands to drop his weapon, he charged at officers, forcing them to shoot him in the leg.

The incident, captured on police body cam, all happened within just 12 seconds.

During a recent court hearing, Haddad acknowledged his mistake but expressed frustration with Amburgy's disruptive courtroom behavior.

'I'm making excuses, but this is why I forgot to do what I was supposed to do because I let you get me off track,' Haddad told Amburgy, referencing the defendant's frequent outbursts that even led to threats of being muzzled in court.

'Don't get me off track anymore,' he said.

Following the stabbing, Amburgy fled the scene, still armed, and was confronted by police in a nearby backyard

In police bodycam footage, Amburgy can be seen charging at a police officer

Amburgy's defense team led by attorney Angela Glaser, has also signaled plans to request a new competency evaluation.

Court records indicate Amburgy's mental health had previously been questioned, though he was ultimately found fit to stand trial.

The prosecution, however, remains resolute and argue Amburgy meticulously planned his mother's murder, even attempting to purchase a gun before settling on the kitchen knife used in the attack.

Amburgy told investigators he was angry with his mother and had intended to harm her regardless of where she met him that day.

During a recent court hearing, Haddad acknowledged his mistake but expressed frustration with Amburgy's disruptive courtroom behavior

For now, Amburgy remains in custody at the Clermont County Jail without bond.

'I should at least deserve a chance,' Amburgy said in court. 'I'm not a menace to society.'

His next court appearance is scheduled for next Wednesday, where the judge will determine the case's next steps reports Cincinnatti.com.

The case has left the Clermont County community in suspense as they grapple with the implications of a legal error that could lead to a retrial.
When I volunteered for Kamala Harris a few weeks ago in a swing district in the New York commuter belt, I was assured by Democratic Party organizers that their ground game would cream Donald Trump.

Though the polls were showing the two contenders running neck and neck, the confidence was understandable.

This, after all, was the party machine that generated more than 81 million votes for Joe Biden the last time round.

And it was better funded than ever. Nearly a billion dollars had poured into the party's coffers since the start of 2023, well over twice what Trump had raised in the same period.

When I volunteered for Kamala Harris a few weeks ago in a swing district in the New York commuter belt, I was assured by Democratic Party organizers that their ground game would cream Donald Trump. (Pictured: Kamala Harris's campaign poster).

The campaign in New York's 17th district focused not on Kamala but Mondaire Jones, a gay, black former congressman who was challenging a pro-Trump incumbent, Mike Lawler, for a seat in the House of Representatives.

Jones had all the charisma Harris lacked and, if he defeated Lawler, there was a fighting chance Kamala would pick up additional votes on his coat tails.

At 37, Jones was a made-for-Instagram candidate. And, with registered Democrats outnumbering Republicans by some 80,000 in the district, I thought we were in with a good shout.

Yet what I found soon changed my mind: a self-regarding shambles of a campaign staffed by temporary workers with little experience, less know-how and, apparently, zero interest in talking to Main Street America.

My turf included the affluent Westchester County horse country - home to the sprawling estates of high-profile Dems like Richard Gere and David Letterman - as well as hard-knock Hudson River towns like Ossining, where employment is provided by the Sing Sing supermax.

Id been assigned to a campaign office in the attractive commuter village of Mount Kisco, one of three the Democrats had opened in the district. But it was a disappointing start.

There were just a few scruffy posters on the rather grubby door. Outside, Harriss trademark 'not going back' signs were nowhere to be seen.

One smartly dressed woman strolling by told me she thought our headquarters was an abandoned shop.

Then I met my new bosses. Its fair to say they were young  and that some of them knew little about the area we were canvassing.

The campaign in New York's 17th district focused not on Kamala but Mondaire Jones (pictured), a gay, black former congressman who was challenging a pro-Trump incumbent, Mike Lawler, for a seat in the House of Representatives.

Jones had all the charisma Harris lacked and, if he defeated Lawler (pictured), there was a fighting chance Kamala would pick up additional votes on his coat tails.

Though the door knocking was performed by unpaid enthusiasts like me, our labors were overseen by temps the party hired at rates advertised from $15 an hour on a recruitment site.

I counted nine or ten of them lounging around the office.

The next surprise was to find that I would be using a supposedly state-of-the-art phone app called, incongruously, miniVan.

It would pull up addresses as I went from house-to-house, I was told. And it would synch the outcome of each approach in split seconds with the Democratic campaign's computers.

Advantage Mondaire and Kamala!

Yet the only names on the list were registered Democrat and  in what had been described as the tightest race in recent history (until the results came through, of course), we were to talk to no one else.

'The app lists the registered Democrats in the district. We're only approaching Democrats,' a temp explained.

Incredulous, I called Mitch Saunders, the party's Northern Westchester County organizer, for some guidance.

'The idea is to get Democrats to turn out, he confirmed. It's all about turn out.

How about people like the neighbors near my home in Westchester who strung a gaudy Trump banner in the trees?

No, said Mitch.

What about the throngs of well-to-do female shoppers outside the campaign base  the very demographic that the Democrats were supposedly shooting for?

'No.'

I said I'd like a Kamala-Mondaire yard sign for my verge at home. The Mount Kisco office had run out of them. 'You don't need them,' yawned an unshaven youth. 'Just use the app.'

But the app failed to synch when I hit the streets on November 5.

A few doors were answered by puzzled Democrats whod already cast their ballots and were fed up with being 'harassed'  as they put it  by the non-stop texts and calls pestering them for money.

While the Republicans were stressing authenticity, we were confined to a verbatim script.

Hi! I'm a volunteer with the NY Dems. I just want to confirm that we can count on you to vote for Mondaire Jones...

The script was constantly rejigged. By Election Day its most notable feature was that had nothing to say about Mondaire Jones other than his name.

From time to time, I got to treat my victims to the spiel.

Not that there was space to record their replies, just eight boxes to tick, from strong support to strong against.

So much for listening to the voters.

If loyalists replied that they were planning to vote for Mondaire Jones and Harris, I read out a lengthy paragraph triumphantly announcing that: were expecting a REALLY close election with VERY high voter turnout....

Correct on one point, at least.

Id been assigned to a campaign office in the attractive commuter village of Mount Kisco (pictured), one of three the Democrats had opened in the district. But it was a disappointing start.

This was supposedly a battle for democracy itself, yet 11th-hour conversion attempts were outlawed.

If someone told me they didn't support Mondaire or Kamala or that they didn't plan to vote, I was to back off immediately, and politely say, 'No worries, have a great day!'

The atmosphere at the Mount Kisco office was celebratory right until the end. Soft drinks and snacks sat piled on a table on election night.

The friendly student overseeing the operation took an early cut, explaining that she was flying back home to Canada in the morning.

Canada. I was not surprised.

Before her plane had taken off, news broke that Lawler was beating Mondaire by a margin similar to Donald Trumps defeat of Kamala.

What an absolute ass-kicking, Lawler crowed in a victory speech. It was hard to disagree.

In the last two weeks I had spoken to no Republicans. No independents. But I have to hand it to the Democrats: they are not for giving up!

My phone buzzed Thursday night with a text from San Francisco, where Nancy Pelosi had bucked the odds and won a landmark 20th term.

'Rush in a contribution!' it demanded.

'Nancy Pelosi is working incredibly hard to help Democrats hold Trump and Republicans accountable  and ensure they can NEVER hold full power again.
As Democrats begin a political autopsy for how they spent $1 billion and lost the White House to Donald Trump despite his legal troubles, one House Democrat who found a way to win is reflecting on a bad vibe she got from Kamala Harris.

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, who is on the verge of reelection in a rural district in Washington state, thinks Democrats need to find new ways to reach out to rural voters and others in the heartland.

'What I really hope happens is we change the kinds of candidates were supporting,' she said.

But sometimes elections are determined by the candidates themselves, not just the environment, and Gluesenkamp Perez revealed an off-putting interaction she had with Harris at a holiday party the VP hosted.

'When Harris first came out, I was open to talking with her. I know she called a lot of my colleagues; she never called me. Ive had one interaction with Harris, at her Naval Observatory Christmas party,' she told the New York Times.

The clash came over fake plastic trees.

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash, spoke about an awkeward interaction with VP Kamala Harris a the vice president's Christmas party. She said her comment about fake plastic garlands earned 'kind of an eye roll'

'Im not super comfortable at that kind of thing,' she said, detailing the holiday interaction-gone-bad.

'Id had a couple of beers, and I noticed that almost all of the garlands were plastic. My district grows a hell of a lot of Christmas trees. I was strong-armed into taking a picture,' she continued.

'I said, Madam Vice President, we grow those where I live,"' said the occasional critic of her party.

Evidently the line didn't go over well with Harris, who hails from Oakland. and who faced blistering attacks from rival Donald Trump about her own authenticity. Her rival even questioned whether she actually worked at McDonald's as she says she did.

'What I really hope happens is we change the kinds of candidates were supporting,' said the rural Democrat on the way to reelection

Democrats are assessing what went wrong, and how the party can find ways to capture the voters who turned toward Trump

'She just walked away from me. There was kind of an eye roll, maybe. My thinking was, it does matter to people where I live. Its the respect, the cultural regard for farmers. I didnt feel like she understood what I was trying to say,' she said.

Even if she took a dig at her host's holiday decorations, Democrats might want to give the lawmaker a hearing: she represents a GOP-leaning district, and is on the way to defeating Republican Joe Kent by outperforming Harris in her district.

Democrats are reflecting on what went wrong after Trump ate into traditional consituencies, including union members and minority voters.

His coalition is becoming increasingly downscale, while Democrats, traditionally anchored in the working class, are gaining about white college educated voters.

The lawmaker's race was a key pickup opportunity for Republicans against the Trump-backed Kent.

Asked if she was surprised by the results, she responded, 'I got yelled at every time I tried to say something about that. By everyone. I think Im at the platinum level of bipartisanship, where Ive gotten threats of physical violence from both sides.'

And as Trump prepared to take over and perhaps have unified control of government, she encouraged her party to look inward. 'Its a lot easier to look outward, to blame and demonize other people, instead of looking in the mirror and seeing what we can do. It is not fun to feel accountability. It requires a mental flexibility thats painful. So who knows?'
Andrew Yang believes Kamala Harris lost the election when she refused to appear on Joe Rogan's podcast.

Yang ran against Harris in the 2020 Democrat Primary and during his run for the White House, he made an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience to argue on behalf of his pet project of Universal Basic Income.

The head of the Forward Party told TMZ that Harris committed 'political malpractice' in turning down Rogan's offer to appear ahead of the election.

'If you think about that audience, you're talking about millions, tens of millions of mostly men. It was almost entirely going to be upside for Kamala Harris and the Democrats.'

Yang also believes that vice presidential nominee Tim Walz 'would have done well' on the comedian and MMA commentator's show.

Andrew Yang believes Kamala Harris lost the election when she refused to appear on Joe Rogan 's podcast

The head of the Forward Party told TMZ that Harris committed 'political malpractice' in turning down Rogan's offer to appear ahead of the election

'I think that they would have gotten votes. It was also a very bad look that they didn't go on because there were some voters who were like... what are they hiding?'

Yang adds that going forward, no major party candidate will be able to avoid appearing on the show.

'If you can't do it, then they should nominate someone else,' he said.

He also pointed out how Rogan is amenable to left-leaning ideas, saying he would vote for Bernie Sanders in 2020.

'He's the number one podcaster, he's got the biggest audience, in my opinion, it was political malpractice for them not to go.'

Trump's interview with Rogan amassed a staggering 17 million YouTube views in less than 24 hours.

The three-hour sit down covered a wide range of topics including UFOs, the John F. Kennedy assassination files, the border and healthy food in the US.

As soon as the episode was released just after 10pm Eastern Time on Friday night, viewing figures skyrocketed with 300,000 in the first 30 minutes.

Yang ran against Harris in the 2020 Democrat Primary and during his run for the White House , he made an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience to argue on behalf of his pet project of Universal Basic Income

By comparison, Kamala Harris' appearance on the Call her Daddy podcast with Alex Cooper has clocked just 685,000 views in the two weeks since it went live.

The vice president was also due to be interviewed by Rogan, but had to pull out due to scheduling conflicts, a spokesman said.

A voter in the crucial swing state of Arizona says her decision to shun an appearance on Rogan drove him to vote for Trump.

The unidentified Arizona State University student told MSNBC's Gadi Schwartz that the VP's refusal to appear on the popular show ended up deciding his vote.

'We've actually been hearing a lot of talk about the Rogan podcast,' Schwartz said. 'A little while ago we were talking to two guys.

'One of them said he was on the fence, when Kamala did not go on the Joe Rogan podcast that was what influenced his vote, he ended up voting for Trump.

'He said he was open to listening to Kamala on the podcast and when she didn't, not necessarily all the issues. She didn't seem like a real person because she couldn't talk for an extended period of time. '

Schwartz said many of the young men he'd spoken to had also been put off Kamala Harris and the Democrats by 'feelings of attacks on masculine identity.'

Liberals grew despondent after it emerged that Donald Trump's interview with Joe Rogan amassed a staggering 17 million YouTube views in less than 24 hours

By comparison, Kamala Harris' appearance on the Call her Daddy podcast with Alix Earle has clocked just 685,000 views in the two weeks since it went live

The podcast host opened up about why the 'very difficult' Vice President had failed to follow in Trump's steps and appear on his popular show.

He explained that Harris 'only wanted to do an hour', compared to the three-hour sit down he was given by Trump.

He added that he had insisted that the interview take place in his studio, but had been flexible on timings, Mediaite reports.

'You could look at this and say, "Oh, youre being a diva",' Rogan said Wednesday, 'But she had an opportunity to come here when she was in Texas. I literally gave them an open invitation.

'I said, "Any time." I said, "If shes done at 10 oclock, well come back here at 10 oclock." I go, "Ill do it at nine in the morning, Ill do it at 10 p.m., Ill do it at midnight if shes up, if she wants to drink a Red Bull and f**king party on.".'

He said that Harris' team reached out shortly after he announced Trump would be appearing.

'But it was very difficult to tie it down, Rogan explained. 'They wanted to travel. See, the thing is, you cant like  if I go somewhere, then theres gonna be other people in the room.

'And they want to control a lot of things, Im sure, according to the interview on Fox. Like, people are waving him off. Thats a distraction.

'My whole goal with her and with him is just talk. Just have a conversation like a human being. You find out things about people. You get a sense of them, at least.'

He explained he hoped to use the interview as a means of getting to know the candidates better.

By appearing on Rogan's podcast, Trump was able to appeal directly to his 81 percent male listenership, of whom a majority are under 35.

Harris had long faced criticism that she performs poorly during press conferences or interviews and is frequently accused of giving rambling 'word salad' interviews.
The FBI foiled a chilling plot by Irans secret service to assassinate Donald Trump just a month before the election, the US intelligence service revealed last night.

Three alleged hitmen have been charged over the murder-for-hire scheme ordered by the feared Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as revenge for the 2020 killing of Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani.

In the wake of the thwarted scheme, one of the would-be assassins Farhad Shakeri, 51, has fled to Tehran after confessing to the FBI in recorded phone calls that he was instructed to delay the plot because Iran believed Trump would lose the election.

The hitman, who was described as an 'asset' of the IRGC, told the law enforcement agency that they believed it would be easier to assassinate Trump without his full-presidential-level Secret Service detail.

Shakeri - along with New Yorkers Carlisle Rivera, 49, and Jonathan Loadholt, 36, - are also accused of targeting an Iranian-American activist and were offered $500,000 to kill two Jewish businessmen living in the U.S.

Three alleged hitmen have been charged over an attempted murder of Donald Trump ordered by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)

Pictures released by the Justice Department after the thwarted attempt on Trump's life

Pictures released by the DOJ show the cache of weapons the suspected hitmen had at their disposal

Your browser does not support iframes.

He allegedly confessed to the FBI that the Iranians had been devoting as much money as possible to ensure efforts to kill Mr Trump were carried out. The other two men are currently under arrest.

Mr Trump has already survived two attempts on his life, including avoiding death by a fraction of an inch when he was shot in the ear at an election rally in Pennsylvania in July.

While in a US jail, Shakeri, who is described as an asset of the IRGC, recruited two gun-toting American criminals to carry out the assassination, according to the US Department of Justice.

Shakeri, 51, said his Iranian handlers had instructed him last month to produce a plan within seven days to kill Mr Trump ahead of the election, according to documents unsealed last night.

He explained he had been tasked with surveilling and killing Trump to avenge the devastating drone strike that killed Soleimani, the leader of Iran's elite Quds Force, in January 2020.

Since the Soleimani's death, Trump has been a target during his election campaign where he asked for military planes and larger Secret Service detail to protect him from Iranian threats.

Shakeri reportedly told his spymasters Trump's assassination would cost a huge amount of money, to which they allegedly replied: We have already spent a lot of money so the moneys not an issue.

Trump assassination attempt pictures released by the government

Trump has been a target of Iran assassination threats since he ordered the strike that killed Soleimani, the leader of the brutal Iranian Quds Forces

Trump rises from the stage with his fist in the air after the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July

FBI special agent Mathew Chrusz said this was understood to mean that the Iranians had previously spent a significant sum of money on efforts to murder Mr Trump.

After being ordered to assassinate Trump with a month before millions of Americans went to the polls on November 5, Shakeri told the FBI he didn't plan to carry out the operation in the timeframe he was given.

Shakeri  an Afghan refugee granted asylum in America  was deported back to Iran in 2008 after serving a 14-year sentence for armed robbery in New York state prisons

However according to Mr Chrusz, he maintained an extensive prison contact base, recruiting two accomplices while serving time in the US for his crime.

Carlisle Rivera, 49, and Jonathan Loadholt, 36, were both in prison for violent offences, and both men have now been arrested and charged with offences relating to murder-for-hire.

The disturbing documents unsealed by the Department of Justice Friday revealed the arsenal of weapons the assassins had at their disposal and the texts messages they sent each other to concoct their deadly plan.

The trio also shared frightening voice messages, urging patience and detailing how they would follow their targets.

But Shakeri, having allegedly made admissions to US agents, is currently ensconced in the Iranian capital out of reach of American law enforcement.

Pictures released by DOJ about the thwarted assassination attempt

They traveled to Fairfield University in Connecticut, where the individual was set to appear earlier this year, and also stalked her home in Brooklyn

Announcing the charges last night, US Attorney General Merrick Garland said: There are few actors in the world that pose as grave a threat to the national security of the United States as does Iran.

The Justice Department has charged an asset of the Iranian regime who was tasked by the regime to direct a network of criminal associates to further Irans assassination plots against its targets, including President-elect Donald J Trump.

According to the FBI, the IRGC also tasked Shakeri with carrying out other assassinations against US and Israeli citizens in the United States.

Rivera and Loadholt were allegedly directed by Shakeri to surveil an unnamed U.S. citizen who is an 'outspoken critic' of the Iranian regime.

'In exchange for Shakeri's promise of $100,000, Rivera and Loadholt repeatedly sought to locate Victim-1 for murder,' the complaint states.

They travelled to Fairfield University in Connecticut, where the individual was set to appear earlier this year, and also stalked her home in Brooklyn.

Iranian-American activist Masih Alinejad said on Fox News Friday that she is the individual that was targeted for murder.

Shakeri told Rivera in a voice note when discussing the murder plot: 'You just gotta have patience  You gotta wait and have patience to catch her either going in the house or coming out, or following her out somewhere and taking care of it. Don't think about going in. In is a suicide move.'

Alinejad said she is 'grateful' to the FBI for informing her ahead of the Fairfield University event, which she skipped to 'project the students.'

'I don't want to die. I want to be alive to see the end of this regime,' Alinejad added.

This comes shortly after Trump said he would blow Iran 'to smithereens' if he was back at the helm of the oval office last September.

It came as a former head of MI6 has told Europe to wake up and smell the coffee about its need to protect the continent following Mr Trumps presidential victory.

Three men who lived in New York have been charged in the murder-for-hire scheme to take down the former president - who has already survived two attempts on his life - as revenge for the killing of Qassem Soleimani

Trump celebrates his election victory on Wednesday morning with wife Melania and 18-year-old son Barron

Sir Alex Younger said subsequent generations would not easily forgive the political leaders of this era should they fail to take remedial action.

Speaking on Radio 4s Today programme yesterday, he said: Trump is disdainful of alliances, he takes a highly transactional approach to them.

The security guarantee we have enjoyed for 80 years, since the Second World War, is obviously going to have to change.

In his first call with Volodymyr Zelensky since winning the election, Mr Trump invited tech billionaire Elon Musk to join the conversation.

It is the latest indication that Mr Musk will play a prominent role in Mr Trumps administration.

It remained unclear last night what the Ukrainian president made of the move, as he has previously clashed with Mr Musk.
A woman plunged to her death from the sixth floor of a tower block after leaning over her balcony to try and unblock a clogged drain.

Sarah McGreevy, 37, fell over the balcony of her flat in Hackney, east London, after clambering onto a wooden box to reach the congested pipe.

She accidentally fell while trying to repair the plastic pipe which ran beneath the top of the seventh-floor balcony and along an exterior wall.

Her inquest was told how residents in the council-owned block had resorted to climbing onto balconies to manually unblock pipes.

Ms McGreevy, originally from Stoke-on-Trent, Satffordshire, sustained fatal injuries when she fell from the rented two-bedroom property on June 16.

Police officers discovered a wooden box on the balcony and Ms McGreevy's mobile phone on a window ledge next to the balcony.

Inner north London coroner Sarah Bourke said: 'The phone was close to a downwards drainpipe which came from the floor of the 7th floor balcony above Ms McGreevy's flat before diverting down the exterior wall to the block.

'The pipe had previously been repaired using heavy duty tape. Residents made police officers aware of problems with the guttering and drainpipes in the block.

Sarah McGreevy, 37, fell over the balcony of her flat in Hackney, east London, after trying to unblock a clogged drain

'Police were told of residents on the 5th and 6th floors climbing onto their balconies to manually unblock pipes, particularly following heavy rainfall.'

Police investigations did not reveal any evidence to suggest that Ms McGreevy had any suicidal attempt and ruled out any third-party involvement.

Mrs Bourke said photographs taken of Ms McGreevy's hands following her death showed dirt around her fingernails, 'consistent with undertaking a cleaning task'.

She said: 'I found that it was more likely than not that Ms McGreevy had climbed onto the wooden box to clear the pipe and had accidentally fallen over the balcony.'

A coroner has now urged building freeholder Hackney Council to fix the guttering issues to prevent further accidents, warning that residents would likely continue the risky practice.

In a prevention of future deaths notice, Inner north London coroner Sarah Bourke warned: 'In the absence of remedial works, the practice of residents unblocking pipes themselves is likely to continue.'

She added: 'Several residents reported a practice of climbing onto their balconies in order to clear blocked drainpipes. This practice carries a clear risk of falls.

'The leaseholder of informed me that he was not aware of any work being undertaken to the guttering or drainpipes to the block following Ms McGreevy's death

'In the absence of remedial works, the practice of residents unblocking pipes themselves is likely to continue.'

The 37-year-old was trying to repair the plastic pipe which ran beneath the top of the seventh-floor balcony. Pictured: a stock image of a block of flats

Ms McGreevy was a senior creative director with fashion brand ASOS and had lived in London for 13 years after graduating from Liverpool university.

At her funeral in Sacred Heart Catholic church in Stoke-on-Trent in July, she was remembered as a 'cherished daughter, a much-loved sister, a niece, a cousin, and a loyal friend to all'.

In a tribute read on behalf of her family, the congregation was told: 'Thirteen years working for ASOS and living in London brought Sarah to the forefront of many of your minds. Sarah met some wonderful people who became lifelong friends.

'Working her way up in the creative industry within ASOS, Sarah had the opportunity to travel the world, meeting people and experiencing different cultures that she may not have done otherwise. In particular, she enjoyed the trips to Australia and Kenya.'

The eulogy continued: 'With so many people in her life, Sarah had an inordinate skill of being able to give time to everybody in her own special way.

'Having worked in London, she always made time for all her friends, whether they were from school, university, work, or however their paths had crossed.

'She had an ability to keep in touch. She knew so many people and that's evidenced by the amount of you here today.

'As friends began to start families, their children became a very welcome part of Sarah's life too, allowing her to express that inner child yet again and share fun with anybody she came into contact with.

'Everyone's presence here today is a testament to her personality, her friendship and her love. She was an outgoing, loving person who lived every moment to its fullest.'

A Hackney Council spokesperson said: 'This is a tragic case and our thoughts are with the friends and family of Sarah McGreevy.

'The Coroner has detailed a number of issues for us to consider in her Prevention of Future Deaths Report.

'We do not expect anyone living in a Hackney Council home to clean their own guttering and like the coroner we want to ensure an incident like this doesn't happen again. We will be carefully going through the report and responding as quickly as possible.'
Sir Keir Starmer faced backlash last night after appointing the architect of Britain's handover of the Chagos Islands as national security adviser.

The Prime Minister gave the vital job of providing advice on major threats to Tony Blair's former right-hand-man Jonathan Powell  after cancelling the planned appointment of a top general.

Sir Keir previously made Mr Powell his 'special envoy' for negotiations over the Indian Ocean islands that are home to a strategically crucial military base. He later agreed to hand them over to China ally Mauritius.

The 68-year-old former diplomat is 'uniquely qualified' to become the Government's most senior security adviser, the Prime Minister said  a prestigious role that comes with a salary of more than 190,000.

Sir Keir yesterday added: 'Jonathan has devoted his career to protecting the interests of the country, having served for 17 years as a diplomat in the Foreign Office and ten years as Chief of Staff in No10, and I am delighted to appoint him to this important role.

Sir Keir Starmer faces a backlash after appointing the architect of Britain's handover of the Chagos islands as national security adviser

The Prime Minister has handed the top job to Jonathan Powell, who was previously his 'special envoy' for negotiations over the Indian Ocean islands

'He is uniquely qualified to advise the Government on tackling the challenges ahead and engage with counterparts across the globe to protect and advance UK interests.'

Mr Powell, who will replace Sir Tim Barrow next month, said: 'I am honoured to have been appointed. This is a hugely important role at a time where national security, international relations and domestic policies are so interconnected. National security is at the heart of this country's response to the many challenges we face and having an integrated response will be crucial to our success.'

But the Tories have criticised the appointment of a Labour bigwig instead of General Gwyn Jenkins  who had been lined up for the role before the election  and raised Mr Powell's role in the Chagos debacle.

It could lead to tensions with the US if, as expected, President-elect Donald Trump deems the handover a risk to the Anglo-American base on Diego Garcia.

Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said: 'Meet the new National Security Advisor, who trades away our national security to please the diplomatic elite.'

And a Conservative Party spokesman added: 'It's disappointing the Government have appointed another Labour apparatchik to a senior role.'

Former diplomat Mr Powell (pictured) is 'uniquely qualified' to become the Government's most senior security adviser, Sir Keir said

Former No10 aide Henry Newman also pointed out that Mr Powell had been in Downing Street during the Iraq War. 'This is a very big job for a politico and creates a new precedent for future governments,' he said.

Mr Powell, whose brother Charles was a foreign policy adviser to Margaret Thatcher, was a Foreign Office diplomat in the 1980s and became Tony Blair's chief of staff in 1995.

Meanwhile, the Guardian last night reported that a new UK ambassador to the US would be named within days. It is thought a Labour grandee will be given the coveted post in Washington, with David Miliband and Baroness Ashton the leading contenders.

Lammy in bid to stave off tariffs

David Lammy will try to persuade Donald Trump that hiking tariffs on UK exports is not in his interests.

The Foreign Secretary said he would ensure the President-elect is made aware that 'hurting your closest allies' is a bad idea.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy (pictured) will attempt to persuade Donald Trump that imposing tariffs on UK exports is not in his interests

His comments come amid fears that Britain's economy will suffer at Mr Trump's vow to slap 10 per cent tariffs on all goods imported into the US  including some 60 billion of trade from the UK. Mr Lammy told the BBC: 'I believe they would understand that hurting your closest allies cannot be in your medium or long-term interests. We would seek to ensure... we were aligned and considered.'

Trade experts now expect leading Western economies to attempt to strike deals with Mr Trump to dodge the tariffs.
Diplomats are counting on the King to become a key asset in forging a positive relationship with President Trump after the Government found itself on the back foot.

They say the Royal Family is a priceless and powerful weapon of soft-diplomacy and no other country will have anything similar to deploy in building a new special relationship with the American leader.

Yesterday, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the prospect of a state visit by the President-elect next year would be a tall order.

But he told the BBCs Newscast podcast: We want to be generous with our American friends as they will be, I imagine, with us, particularly in a second term. It follows critical comments by members of the Government while they were in opposition, including by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Mr Lammy.

In 2017 he called the then President a neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath, adding: You are not welcome in my country. Ms Rayner labelled Trump an absolute buffoon.

Diplomats are hoping the King will be a 'key asset' in the UK government's relationship with the Trump administration

Charles and Mr Trump have met twice and, while they hold strong differences of opinion over some issues, they have a 'warm bond'

The Republican Party has also made a legal complaint after Labour sent its activists to campaign against him in the US.

But Whitehall believes it does hold a Trump card in every sense of the word: The monarch.

Charles and Mr Trump have met twice and, while they hold strong differences of opinion over issues such as climate change, they have a warm bond.

In 2019, the then Prince of Wales invited President Trump and his wife Melania to tea with himself and the Duchess of Cornwall. An insider said they all got on extremely well.

A source with knowledge of the meeting said: In fact, the President left saying what a pleasure it had been to meet, and they stayed in touch for quite a while afterwards.

When we have a Government that has been insulting the President-elect, a chancellor struggling to handle threats of tariffs... if ever there were a need to a have a head of state with a non-partisan relationship with him, then now is the time to value it.

Mr Trump has made no secret of his dislike of the British Government, privately describing Sir Keir Starmer as very Left wing.

By contrast he adored Queen Elizabeth, calling her a great, great woman and has spoken warmly of Charles. His late mother, Mary, was born in Scotland and he has spoken of her admiration for the late Queen.

Mr Trump has called Sir Keir Starmer's government 'very Left wing'

However the US President elect spoke of his admiration for the late Queen Elizabeth II, calling her a 'great, great woman'

A source said: There have been five prime ministers since President Trump last visited the UK.

There are very few other countries that have that special connection to a president that outlasts four cycles of their own government. You have a relationship based on a personal connection, not a political one.

To have an apolitical connection to the UK when everybody is going to be vying for his attention... having the King there is a huge asset.

Although the two men do not agree on everything, sources stress that the King is savvy enough to know how to engage without risking personal or diplomatic difficulties. The King will treat Trump with respect and charm, one said.

Buckingham Palace did not comment, but a royal source said: The benefit of a warm personal relationship cannot be overestimated. These are priceless relationships.
They were the two most high-profile figures in the scandal-ridden early months of the Labour Government. So it is no wonder former chief of staff Sue Gray and donorgate peer Lord Alli had lots to catch up on over lunch yesterday.

The pair, known to be old friends, were spotted dining at the Dean Street Townhouse in Londons Soho, where they were pictured having an animated conversation in a photo obtained by the Guido Fawkes news site.

Their meeting comes a month after Ms Gray was dramatically sacked as Sir Keir Starmers chief of staff, fewer than 100 days after Labour took power.

She was replaced in October by Morgan McSweeney, the political mastermind she clashed with in Downing Street over access to the Prime Minister.

Ms Gray, 67, was meant to be taking up the newly created role of Envoy to the Prime Minister for the Nations and Regions but remains on a break  and it is thought to be increasingly unlikely that she will work for Sir Keir again.

The pair, known to be old friends, were spotted dining at the Dean Street Townhouse in London s Soho

They were having an animated conversation in a photo obtained by the Guido Fawkes news site

Their meeting comes a month after Ms Gray was dramatically sacked as Sir Keir Starmer s chief of staff

Meanwhile, Lord Alli was found last month to have breached rules four times over declarations of business interests.

The multi-millionaire media tycoons donations to senior Labour figures included 20,000 declared by Sir Keir for accommodation during the general election.

Last night a Tory source told the Mail: I cant imagine these two high-profile scapegoats of Starmer were discussing Sue Grays new confected nations and regions job. Starmer and McSweeneys ears must have been burning. At least Sue can let Lord Alli can pick up the tab without the scrutiny his other lavish gifts have commanded.

A Whitehall veteran added: Sue Gray took a lot of flak for the mistakes of Keir Starmer. But by throwing her under a bus, and leaving her to lick her wounds with Lord Alli, he has done little to resolve the profound problems which got him in this mess in the first place.

Ms Gray is known to be close to Labour donor and peer Lord Alli, 59, who donated 10,000 to the election campaign of her son Liam Conlon.

Before polling day, Lord Alli accompanied her to meetings with civil servants in Whitehall and, after Labours victory, they worked together on the timetable of announcements for the first crucial months.

Angela Rayner (pictured) was a beneficiary of Lord Allis largesse and agreed not to take any more free clothes

Ms Gray was said to have personally authorised Lord Allis security pass for Downing Street

But Ms Gray was also said to have personally authorised Lord Allis security pass for Downing Street, sparking a major row in the light of his generous donations to Sir Keir.

In what was dubbed the passes for glasses affair, it emerged that the TV mogul had given Sir Keir 2,485 worth of spectacles. In total, he gave a staggering 32,000 worth of clothing to the Labour leader during the election campaign.

He also let Sir Keir stay in his 18million penthouse during the election, with the PM saying he took up the offer so his son could revise in peace for his GCSEs.

Sir Keir eventually paid back 6,000 worth of gifts he received before the election while he and his deputy leader Angela Rayner, who was also a beneficiary of Lord Allis largesse, agreed not to take any more free clothes.

Neither Ms Gray nor Lord Alli has commented publicly on the dramas that engulfed them over the summer, although it seems likely they were discussed at length during their meal yesterday.
You can support his GoFundMe here

EXCLUSIVE

An Aussie father-of-two with terminal brain cancer plans to continue to live his life to the fullest in spite of his devastating diagnosis.

Kelly Smith, 49, was a strong, healthy and super-fit dad and surfer before he started experiencing persistent headaches earlier this year.

Mr Smith, who met his wife Casey in 1995, has two kids Reef and Isla and currently lives on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

Before his diagnosis, the 49-year-old ran a successful surfing school for 20 years on NSW's Central Coast and worked as a surfing photographer.

But everything changed in August when an MRI revealed a lesion on his brain with a subsequent CT scan confirming his family's worst fears.

A mandarin-sized tumour was located near Mr Smith's right temporal lobe with the father-of-two booked in for urgent surgery the very next day.

Jamie Beal, who has been best mates with Mr Smith since high school, said he was shocked to hear his long-time friend had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.

'We're like "What? What the f***!". He went into surgery, optimistic and hopeful that it was benign, but it was a large tumour,' he told Daily Mail Australia on Saturday.

Kelly Smith is pictured with his wife Casey and two kids, Reef and Isla on a family holiday

Mr Smith (left) and Mr Beal (right) have been friends since high school. They are pictured on a surfing trip in Indonesia in 2018

Mr Smith (pictured) was diagnosed with a grade 4 glioblastoma - terminal brain cancer. The average life expectancy for this disease is between three months and two years

Mr Smith has impaired vision and memory loss as a result of the surgery.

'His vision on a bright, sunny day is like wearing sunglasses at 6pm. That's the vision he has and it's quite grainy and pixelated so he barely ever gets any clear vision now,' Mr Beal said.

Mr Smith is now three weeks into radiation and chemotherapy.

His four-week scan will determine whether the treatment has been effective or not.

'It's only expected to slow things down, if at all, to give him a little bit of extra time,' Mr Beal said.

Neurosurgeons advised the Smith family that the average life expectancy for the aggressive disease is between three months and two years.

Mr Beal said Casey and the children are doing the best they can under the terrible circumstances but were 'shattered' by the news.

'Casey breaks down quite a lot. Even talking about it is hard for her,' Mr Beal said.

He decided to start a GoFundMe to help fund Mr Smith's medical treatments, pay for clinical trials they are investigating and put towards brain cancer research.

'If people are having headaches, go and get yourself checked,' he said.

A mandarin-sized tumour (pictured) was located near Mr Smith's right temporal lobe with the father-of-two booked in for urgent surgery the very next day

Before his diagnosis, Mr Smith (pictured) ran a successful surfing school for 20 years on NSW's Central Coast and worked as a surfing photographer

Mr Smith applied for a clinical trial in America but was told it would cost an eye-watering USD$1million.

He is now looking into immunotherapy after it proved successful for pathologist Professor Richard Scolyer after he was diagnosed with glioblastoma in June, 2023.

Using their expertise in melanoma immunotherapy, Professor Scolyer, Co-Medical Director of Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA) Professor Georgina Long and a team of doctors developed a world-first treatment plan for his brain cancer.

One year after his diagnosis, Professor Scolyer's latest MRI scan showed no reoccurrence of the tumour.

Professor Scolyer and Professor Long were were jointly named the 2024 Australian of the Year for their groundbreaking treatment.

Mr Beal said his friend was willing to 'roll the dice' because the alternative is imminent death.

If there is any left on the GoFundMe after prioritising medical bills, Mr Smith would love to head to the United States with Casey and the kids.

'He's always wanted to go to New York or do a road trip in the U.S.A,' Mr Beal said.

You can donate to Mr Smith's GoFundMe here.
Kamala Harris reportedly spent six figures to build out the set for her appearance on the hit podcast 'Call Her Daddy'.

The vice president had sat down with the popular show's host Alex Cooper in October while on the campaign trail.

While Harris avoided the show's typically sexual content, she spoke of her take on abortion rights and student debt during the seven minute sit down.

According to a report by The Washington Examiner, her campaign had spent six figures on building out the set of the podcast for her small appearance.

The outlet also reported that it was filmed inside a hotel room in Washington DC, with crews building out the set to imitate Cooper's actual set in Los Angeles.

While Harris avoided the show's typically sexual content, she spoke of her take on abortion rights and student debt during the seven minute sit down

The Vice President had sat down with host of the raunchy show Alexandra Cooper, seen here, in October while on the campaign trail

In total, the Harris campaign spent $1.2 billion on the race while Trump's campaign spent $750 million, a Financial Times analysis found.

Some indications, thought, show that the race was much more expensive than that.

The Harris campaign, affiliated PACs and the Democratic National Committee amassed over $2.3 billion in political contributions.

Donald Trump's team, affiliated PACs and the Republican National Committee raised $1.8 billion.

After raising nearly $4.2 billion, they spent a combined $3.5 billion on the presidential race, making it the most expensive contest ever held according to the analysis.

Despite spending less, Trump ended up trouncing Harris in the electoral and popular vote - which hasn't been done by the GOP in decades.

The Examiner had explored ways in which the Harris campaign had managed to burn through the eyewatering figure, which included the podcast appearance.

According to the outlet, her campaign and its affiliates spent over $654 million from July to Election Day. Trump spent $378 million, 57 percent less than her.

One vendor, Village Marketing Agency, was paid over $3.9 million to recruit social media influencers to boost Harris' online appeal.

Event production, like the podcast appearance, was a big spend for the campaign who hosted the likes of Lady Gaga and Katy Perry on the eve of the election.

According to a report by The Washington Examiner , her campaign had spent six figures on building out the set of the podcast for her small appearance

The outlet also reported that it was filmed inside a hotel room in Washington DC , with crews building out the set to imitate Cooper's actual set in Los Angeles

Your browser does not support iframes.

According to federal filings, the campaign paid over $15 million to companies for such services.

A better idea of their actual spending will be made clear as the Federal Election Commission mandates full reports from candidates within 30 days.

As Democrats still try and gather themselves following their loss to Trump earlier this week, Biden and Harris' teams are blaming each other for wasting their cash.

Workers in the White House and on the campaigns are ruthlessly continuing their blame game as to whether the president or vice president really dropped the ball.

Not only did their campaign end in disaster, but to add insult to injury the operation is reportedly in debt, Politico reports, to the tune of $20 million dollars.

Biden staff say the vice president ran a terrible, three-month campaign and squandered millions of dollars from their top donors.

'How did you spend $1 billion and not win? What the f***?' said a former Biden staffer infuriated by the Harris team excuses.
Searches for how to leave the US have surged after Kamala Harris' defeat to Donald Trump, as bitter Democrats look for new homes aboard.

Following Trump's victory earlier this week, Google Trends found that there has been a significant rise in searches related to 'leaving the country' and 'how to move'.

Canada topped the list of countries being considered by devastated Democrats desperate to leave.

The United Kingdom, Japan, Australia and Italy rounded out the top five.

Canada topped the list of countries being considered by devastated Democrats desperate to leave. The city of Toronto is pictured

The United Kingdom came second on the list of countries being considered for a move

It may come as no surprise that of those wanting to escape the US, the majority of searches for 'How do I move to Canada?' came from Democratic strongholds, close to the Canadian border including Vermont, Maine, Oregon and Washington.

Others looking for 'can I move to another country' appeared to be highest in the swing states of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania together with Oregon, Minnesota and Indiana.

Both Wisconsin and Pennsylvania were part of the crucial 'blue wall' states that Harris so desperately needed for victory.

Google searches jumped more than 1,514 percent since Trump's win on Tuesday according to VisaGuideWorld.

Within a 24 hour period between election day on Tuesday and Wednesday, search traffic for 'immigration'-related pages on Google spiked by 338 percent.

A survey from earlier in November suggested 21 percent of Americans questioned had toyed with the idea of moving overseas if their candidate lost the race.

For those serious about fleeing, Japan's shiny new 'Digital Nomad' visa is a hot ticket, offering would-be expats six-month stays for remote workers. Pictured, Sensoji temple in Tokyo's Asakusa district

Of those surveyed, almost 60 percent said they were just venting and would in reality be 'very unlikely to move' whilst a smaller daring 2.6 percent said they were 'very likely' to pack up and head for the hills - or maybe Canada.

For those looking to get out, Canada was again the most popular with one in five choosing it as the country they would most like to move to.

The United Kingdom came second on the list with Japan a close third.

There was a 375 percent jump in interest jump for a guide on moving to the UK while there was a equally high 355 percent jump for a page about Ireland.

Pages on Scandinavia also looked to be appealing with a 437 percent jump while a page devoted to securing a visa to live in German rose 336 percent.

'Moving to Germany from the US' appeared 42 times more popular in searched over the last week while a search on 'How to move to Europe' was up 1,566 percent.

Queries about 'English-speaking countries' also shot up by a massive 1,328 percent.

For those serious about fleeing, Japan's shiny new 'Digital Nomad' visa is a hot ticket, offering would-be expats six-month stays for remote workers.

It allows expats to stay in the country for up to six months and is open to people working for non-Japanese companies making at least $65,000 a year.

Italy rounded out the top five of countries being looked at for a move abroad. Pictured, the Grand Canal in Venice

Australia was the fourth most popular country being considered as a place to move to

Other countries in the running being considered included Ireland at sixth place, New Zealand in seventh while Switzerland, Spain and France rounded out the top ten, with promises of better culture, jobs, and healthcare.

The survey also asked respondents to give their reasons as to why they might want to move abroad.

'Culture' was given as the top reason followed by jobs and healthcare.

'Taxes' and 'education' were also provided as reasons by 3 percent of the 4,000 people who responded to the survey by casino.org following Tuesday's election.

In September a poll by NBC News found almost two-thirds of Americans believed the country to be on the 'wrong track'.

The figure was down from 73 percent who in January of this year felt the country to be heading in the wrong direction.
A senior Azerbaijani official has been accused of using his role at the COP29 climate change conference in Baku to facilitate fossil fuel deals for the host country.

Elnur Soltanov was caught on camera discussing investment opportunities in the states oil and gas company with an undercover investigator at human rights organisation Global Witness.

The chief executive of Azerbaijans COP29 delegation, who also serves as the countrys deputy energy minister, told the man posing as a Hong Kong investor that there could be deals done with the state energy firm Socar.

We have a lot of gas fields that are to be developed, he is heard saying in the secret recording. There are a lot of joint ventures that could be established.

Socar is trading oil and gas all over the world, including in Asia.

The undercover Global Witness worker posed as the head of a fake Hong Kong investment firm which specialises in energy and said his company was interested in sponsoring COP29 but wanted to discuss investment in Socar in return.

Azerbaijani official Elnur Soltanov was caught on camera using the COP29 summit discussing investment opportunities with the states oil and gas company

Mr Soltanov spoke with an undercover investigator at human rights organisation Global Witness posing as the head of a fake Hong Kong investment firm

An online meeting was then set up with Mr Soltanov who told him the aim of the conference was solving the climate crisis and transitioning away from hydrocarbons in a just, orderly and equitable manner.

But the official added that oil and gas companies could come with solutions as Azerbaijans doors are open.

He told the fake Hong Kong investor he was willing to talk about deals on oil and gas and spoke about Azerbaijans plans to increase gas production.

Mr Soltanov first suggested the fake Hong Kong firm might be interested in some of Socars green transitioning projects.

But he then went on to discuss opportunities related to increased gas production in Azerbaijan and outlined moves for new pipeline infrastructure.

There is acknowledgement from the UN climate science body, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, that oil and gas could be used beyond 2050.

But it previously said developing... new oil and gas fields is incompatible with limiting warming to 1.5C.

The development of new gas infrastructure could be seen as going against the historic deal agreed between nations at COP28 last year to transition away from fossil fuels.

Mr Soltanov, who is also on the board of Socar, later told the undercover investigator he would be happy to connect him with the members of Azerbaijans state energy firm to continue talks.

The fake Hong Kong investment firm received an email around two weeks later which said Socar wanted to follow up.

Emails exchanged between Azerbaijans COP29 team and the false investors show officials proposed a 462,000 sponsorship deal.

This would gain the firm an introduction with Socar, involvement in an event on sustainable oil and gas investing and five passes with full access to the summit.

The Azerbaijan COP29 team even looked willing to waive climate requirements for the company.

Attempts to conduct business deals within the COP process could be a serious breach in the standards expected from officials.

Emails exchanged between Azerbaijans COP29 team and the false investors show officials proposed a 462,000 sponsorship deal

An oil well in Azerbaijani capital Baku. The development of new gas infrastructure could be seen as going against the historic deal agreed between nations at COP28 to move away from fossil fuels

The code of conduct for COP representatives is set by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

A spokesperson for Global Witness said: The UNFCCC urgently needs to act to clean up the COP climate talks, starting by banning the fossil fuel industry from sponsoring them, and kicking their lobbyists out for good.

Weve had 29 talks with an ever-growing crowd of polluters and snake-oil salesmen present. Lets try the next one without.

COP29 will begin in the Azerbaijan capital Baku on Monday and governments will discuss how to tackle and prepare for climate change.

Mr Soltanov, Azerbaijans COP29 team, Socar and the UNFCCC were contacted for comment.
The body of a teenage boy has been discovered in bushland in Sydney's southwest.

The remains were located in bushland off Wilton Park Road at Wilton, about 80km southwest of Sydney's CBD, at about 7.25am on Saturday.

While yet to be formally identified, the body is believed to be that of a teenage boy.

Police said the teenager's death is being treated as suspicious.

Officers from Camden Police Area Command have secured a crime scene and are awaiting the arrival of specialist police.

Wilton Park Road is currently closed.

Anyone who may have knowledge of the incident or has been in the area since 6pm on Friday has been urged to contact Camden Police or Crime Stoppers.

Police are expected to hold a press conference about the discovery at 3pm.

The teenager's remains were located in bushland off Wilton Park Road (pictured) at Wilton, about 80km southwest of Sydney's CBD, at about 7.25am on Saturday
Gina Rinehart has said Australia will take its cues from the United States following Donald Trump's crushing victory against Kamala Harris.

The billionaire spoke for the first time after being pictured with the Republican elite at Trump's election party held at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida this week.

Australia's richest person said she hoped her own country would 'watch and learn' from the soon-to-be 47th president after his crushing victory on Wednesday.

In particular, the mining magnate hopes Australia will follow the US' lead on taxes, reducing government regulation and improving living standards.

'Even after a billion-dollar spend by the Democrats, the USA has chosen, with full throttle, repudiation of all things left. Socialism always hurts those less well off the most,' she told the Sydney Morning Herald.

'[Mr Trump] stood armed with conviction, huge courage, incredible untiring effort, and a real love of the USA and the American people.

'I do hope Australia watches and learns as they see that cutting government tape, cutting taxes, and cutting government wastage lifts people up, and lifts living standards.'

Her glowing praise of the president comes days after she was pictured with his daughter Tiffany Trump at a purple-lit election party at Mar-a-Lago.

Gina Rinehart (centre) with Teena McQueen and Nigel Farage at Trump's 2024 election party

Australian mining magnate Gina Rinehart (pictured right) poses with Donald Trump's daughter Tiffany at his home and resort complex in Mar-a-Lago, Florida

Gine Rinehart was later pictured rubbing shoulders with Donald Trump's son Eric (right)

Mrs Rinehart wore a wide-brimmed stockman's hat and proudly held a sign hanging from her shoulders quoting Mr Trump's pro-mining mantra 'drill, baby drill'.

She was pictured sitting at a table with former Liberal Party vice president Teena McQueen and leader of the conservative Reform UK party Nigel Farage.

Mrs Rinehart previously said she hoped Trump would win at the polls.

'I'm still nervous, but very much I am hoping for a Trump victory,' she told The Australian last week.

She warned that if Kamala Harris won the election, she would 'be more socialist, and worse than (Joe) Biden'.

Mr Trump has voiced plans to cut US reliance on income taxes - and make up the shortfall from increasing import tariffs.

He is proposing a 60 per cent tariff on all Chinese goods, and a 10 per cent 'across-the-board' tariff on all $3trillion worth of US imports.
Pro-Palestine protesters are planning to 'swarm' cities across the UK and disturb Armistice Day events with a series of 'highly coordinated' protests, it was claimed last night.

Youth Demand, which stemmed from the student branch of Just Stop Oil, is plotting to hold anti-Israel demonstrations in five cities next week.

At a secret meeting in London on Saturday, organisers told the crowd how the group were trying to cause major disruption on November 11 - a day when Britain will pay their respects to those who sacrificed their lives for the country.

More than 50 activists attended the 'Politics is Broken: People's Assembly & After Party' event at a swanky bar in London, where Just Stop Oil members also attended.

Youth Demand activist Arthur Clifton, who attended the 26,000-a-year Latymer Upper School, told cheering eco-zealots: 'This is the start of our strategy coming into place on November 11.

'With five cities across the country, Youth Demand will be getting out onto the roads, swarming, causing disruption [and] getting off before arrests are made, hopefully.'

Pro-Palestine protesters are planning to 'swarm' cities across the UK and disturb Armistice Day events

Veterans parade during the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in central London last year

In secret footage from the meeting obtained by The Express, Clifton, 23, added that the demonstrations would mean 'highly coordinated, highly organised disruption on a nationwide level'.

The group, which campaigns to 'stop the UK arming Israel', is also plotting to throw Black Friday into chaos on November 29.

A message in Youth Demand's Telegram chat from November 5 also said 'in just over a week, our nationally coordinated actions will be popping off all over the country'.

In an apparent threat to Armistice Day ceremonies, activists were told: 'We know we have to shut it down for Palestine.'

Back in July, Youth Demand activists laid flowers and a Palestinian flag at the Cenotaph, Britain's chief national war memorial to the dead who fought in the war. They also painted '180,000 killed' in a reference to the war in Gaza.

The cities being targeted were not revealed by Clifton, nor were they named on Telegram.

Earlier in the night, The Express heard JSO activist Sam Griffiths tell the crowd the group would be 'relentless' in targeting Parliament in 2025.

Griffiths, who was jailed in Wandsworth Prison for his role in a demonstration in 2023, said: 'We are not giving up.'

Youth Demand, which stemmed from the student branch of Just Stop Oil , is plotting to hold anti-Israel demonstrations in five cities next week. Pictured: Activists from Youth Demand place flowers and a Palestinian flag on the Cenotaph

Youth Demand activists also covered a Picasso painting with a photo of a Gazan mother and child on October 9

Youth Demand reacted to The Express investigation by claiming the protests are 'public events' and ticketed and therefore had not been 'exposed'.

The group last took action when two protesters placed a photo of a mother and child in the Gaza strip over a Picasso masterpiece at the National Gallery on October 9.

The two protestors walked into room 43 of the gallery just before midday and plastered the photograph over the protective glass of the Motherhood painting.

The pair then poured red paint onto the gallery floor before police were called.

The stunt came a month after supporters from their sister organisation Just Stop Oil threw soup over two of Vincent van Gogh's paintings.
A British man was arrested on holiday and is now facing two years in a Dubai prison for posting a negative online review about a dog grooming business from the UK.

Craig Ballentine, 33, from Belfast, accepted a role last year in a Dubai canine salon where he worked for nearly six months.

But after a spat with his former employer, he left a scathing review and is now locked up due to extremely strict cyber laws in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, who have been working to try and get Craig home, said: 'We've seen people arrested for complaining to customer service or for leaving online reviews on hotels and rental car agencies.

'Craig has been advised by local lawyers there is almost zero chance of the case against him being dropped.

Craig Ballentine (pictured) accepted a role last year in a Dubai canine salon where he worked for nearly six months.

While in Dubai, Mr Ballentine was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and needed to take days off work

'When someone is offended, even if they are at fault, they can open a criminal prosecution out of spite. Craig deleted the post, apologised but still faces jail. It's outrageous.'

While in Dubai, Mr Ballentine was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and needed to take days off work.

He informed his boss and sent her his doctor's note but according to Dubai employment law his employers reported him to the authorities as 'absconded', his lawyers say.

This led to his unemployment and a travel ban that took two months and thousands of pounds to remove before he could return home to Northern Ireland.

After returning home, Mr Ballentine, who is an Autism support worker, left a Google review complaining about the Dubai grooming centre, his former boss and the problems she had caused.

Ms Stirling added: 'We've seen people arrested for complaining to customer service or for leaving online reviews on hotels and rental car agencies.

'The UAE's recently enacted Cybercrime laws are a nightmare for foreigners.

'It is sufficient for a complainant to simply tell police that someone posted something offensive or rude. The police don't even need to see the actual post.

Detained in Dubai have reached out to Craig's local representative, Michelle O'Neill (pictured) to implore her to make diplomatic representations to the UAE's Ambassador and FCDO

Mr Ballentine left a scathing review and is now locked up due to extremely strict cyber laws in the United Arab Emirates (UAE

Three weeks ago, Mr Ballentine visited Abu Dhabi for a short holiday with friends. Pictured: the Dubai Palm

'The complainants have all the power and often demand money from the accused to close out the case.

'It's a means for vindictive people to extort. Once a criminal case is won, they can also open civil cases for massive damages - the system incentivises it.

Three weeks ago, Mr Ballentine visited Abu Dhabi for a short holiday with friends.

But suddenly, he was taken to Dubai to face charges of slander and is now once again stuck in the country, facing two years in prison.

'Flatmates, co-workers and even spouses have abused this law and we find that it's often foreigners who are taking advantage,' Ms Stirling said.

'In this case, both parties are Western and most people wouldn't dream of opening a similar case in their own countries but seem quite happy to open them in the UAE.'

Mr Ballentine told Ms Stirling in a phone call that his mother was 'so upset and stressed she thought I was dead'.

The support worker, who frequently volunteers in his local community, is scared and desperate to return home.

'Craig needs to get home and get to work,' Ms Stirling continued.

'It's atrocious that authorities are allowing such frivolous criminal reports to entangle visitors in the system.

'The sheer number of cybercrime reports they receive must be significant. There are no protections or safeguards and people's lives are being ruined.

'We have reached out to Craig's local representative, Michelle O'Neill to implore her to make diplomatic representations to the UAE's Ambassador and FCDO.

'We hope she can assist in the same way Ireland helped Tori Towey come home.'
November 8, 2024: The Russian invasion and the methods Ukraine developed and used to deal with it had some interesting side effects. For example, Ukraine received a lot of useful advice from Israel or just by watching the Israeli military in action. The lessons learned from the Israelis were visible when Ukrainian forces made their incursion into Russia on August 2nd. This was not just a surprise to the Russian, but also a deception. Ukrainian forces had moved to the border several times before the attack and then withdrawn. This is called repetition deception and, unless the enemy is familiar with this technique and on the lookout for it, they fall for it. In 1973 the Egyptians used it against Israeli forces and were able to carry out a surprise attack that was costly for the Israelis.

For the August 2nd operation, the Ukrainian deception caused Russia to withdraw 20 battalions worth of troops from eastern Ukraine to meet the phony Ukrainian threat in Kursk province. This snarled Russian rail traffic and delivery of supplies for six weeks over an area extending from Kherson south to the Black Sea coast, then east to Rostov and finally north to Kursk.

Another factor in remembering these tactics and how to implement this is that there has long been a lot of family and cultural connections between Ukraine and Israel. Currently there are about 40,000 Jews living in Ukraine and twice as many in Russia. Both Ukrainian and Russian Jews are moving to Israel as quickly as they can. This is not due to the war in Ukraine, but because the economic situation in Ukraine and Russia is less attractive than in Israel. There is still lingering antisemitism in Russia and to a lesser extent in Ukraine. Since 2022, the war in Ukraine has put military age Jewish men in both countries at risk of getting involved in the war. There are military risks in Israel, but the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) is much more adept at handling them.

This is where military aid to Ukraine comes in. Israel has not provided Ukraine with weapons. Instead Israel has sent a lot of aid for Ukrainian civilians and useful military advice. This is often delivered by Ukrainian Jews with family or other connections with Israel.

Since its founding in 1948, about a third of the foreign Jews moving to Israel were from the former Soviet Union. Most of those Jews came from the current Russian Federation and Ukraine. When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 there were about 40,000 Jews in Ukraine and 300,000 or more Ukrainians who had Jewish ancestors but no longer identified as Jews. There are over 30,000 Ukrainian Jews living in Israel and more are arriving each year from Russia and Ukraine.

Ukrainians admire the achievements of Israelis against their many enemies. Israeli and Ukrainian Jews are bringing details of Israeli military strategy and tactics to Ukraine. Many of the Israeli techniques involve how to deceive an enemy, especially a larger and, on paper, more powerful enemy.
Relations between Ukraine and the UK have 'worsened' since the Labour party took power, officials in Kyiv have said.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is yet to visit Ukraine in the four months since he took office in government.

According to a senior figure in President Volodymyr Zelensky's office, a trip to Kyiv would now be 'worthless' unless Starmer committed to replenishing stocks of the long-range Storm Shadow system.

This comes after Boris Johnson urged the PM to break the impasse over allowing Ukraine to fire long-range missiles into Russia, warning that every day's delay is costing lives.

The senior figure told the Guardian that there is 'no point' in Starmer 'coming as a tourist'.

Keir Starmer is yet to visit Ukraine in the four months since he took office as Prime Minister

Storm Shadow missiles are seen attached to the hard points of a Eurofighter Typhoon

Vladimir Putin has told Western nations that unleashing the Storm Shadows would represent Nato's 'direct participation' in the Ukraine war

Discussing the additional missiles for the Storm Shadow, the source added: 'It isn't happening. Starmer isn't giving us long-range weapons. The situation is not the same as when Rishi Sunak was prime minister. The relationship has got worse.'

It comes at a time when Ukraine is doubtful over the impact Donald Trump will have after his US election victory.

Previous Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited Zelensky shortly after taking office, while Boris Johnson enjoyed a close relationship with the Ukraine president.

Speaking after a visit to war casualties in Kyiv, Johnson expressed frustration that talks between Sir Keir and US President Joe Biden in Washington had failed to sanction the use of Storm Shadow missiles against Vladimir Putin's forces.

Mr Johnson said: 'It is heartbreaking to visit wounded veterans in recovery centres  as I have in Kyiv this weekend  where Ukrainian heroes are being treated for the injuries they have suffered in the past few months, and to think that some of these casualties could have been avoided if we had given Storm Shadow permissions earlier.

'There is no conceivable case for delay. The only person who fears escalation is Vladimir Putin, and every day that goes by is a lost opportunity to save lives and bring about a just conclusion to this war.'

The Storm Shadow is a cruise missile with a range of roughly 155 miles and while expensive at 800,000 a time, it is considered effective against static targets and has been used to strike at Russian naval assets in Crimea.

Putin has told Western nations that unleashing the Storm Shadows would represent Nato's 'direct participation' in the Ukraine war.

Volodymyr Zelensky shakes hands with Boris Johnson during a meeting in Kyiv, September 13

Ukraine shows the release of a British-supplied Storm Shadow missile from its Su-24 supersonic attack warplane

So far, the US has allowed Kyiv to use American-provided weapons only in a limited area inside Russia's border with Ukraine.

Following the meeting at the White House, Sir Keir evaded questions about the missiles, saying only: 'We've had a long and productive discussion on a number of problems, including Ukraine', rather than a 'particular step or tactic'.

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky branded Mr Johnson one of his greatest friends as he renewed his calls for the West to allow Ukraine to strike deeper into Russia and to allow his forces to use Western weapons to target air bases and launch sites further afield, as Russia steps up assaults on his country's electricity grid.

In a message shared on X, Mr Zelensky said of Mr Johnson: 'I am grateful for his attention to Ukraine and support in providing the necessary international assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the invasion.

'Ukrainians always remember those who stand by them.'

Mr Zelensky said the country needed to 'boost our air defence and long-range capabilities to protect our people'.

Defence analyst Justin Crump said Putin's threats showed that he was testing both the new Labour Government and the outgoing Biden administration.

He added: 'Ultimately Russia already supplies weapons to the UK's adversaries, and is already engaged in active measures such as subversion, espionage, sabotage and information/cyber operations against Nato members' interests.

'This may all accelerate, but picking a fight against all of Nato is not something Russia can afford given how hard they're struggling against just Ukraine.'
An official with the Federal Emergency Management Agency ordered relief workers helping those devastated by Hurricane Milton in Florida to bypass homes with Trump signs.

According to internal messages obtained by The Daily Wire, a FEMA supervisor told workers to 'avoid homes advertising Trump' as they worked around Lake Placid.

Supervisor Marn'i Washington had relayed the message in a group chat and verbally, according to employees who spoke with the outlet.

They said that they skipped over at least 20 houses with signage indicating their support for the President-elect due to the guidance passed down by Washington.

The text message says to 'implement best practices' which included the directive 'avoid home advertising Trump'. It also advised workers to drink coconut water to replenish electrolytes.

A home destroyed by a tornado spawned by Hurricane Milton, October 12, 2024 in Fort Pierce, Florida

The text message says: 'Implement best practices: avoid home advertising Trump', it also advises workers to drink water and coconut water to replenish electrolytes

According to The Daily Wire, the workers had been part of a Department of Homeland Security team that was made up of volunteers from other agencies.

One of the workers said: 'I thought we could go help and make a difference. When we got there we were told to discriminate against people.

'Its almost unbelievable to think that somebody in the federal government would think thats okay.'

The person added that it was wrong to discriminate against Trump supporters when they were their 'most vulnerable'.

They added: 'I volunteered to help disaster victims, not discriminate against them. It didnt matter if people were black, white, Hispanic, for Trump, for Harris. Everyone deserves the same amount of help.'

Images also obtained by the outlet of the system used to document what homes they visited show notes being left that said: 'Trump sign, no contact per leadership'.

A FEMA spokesperson said: 'While we believe this is an isolated incident, we have taken measures to remove the employee from their role and are investigating the matter to prevent this from happening ever again.

'The employee who issued this guidance had no authority and was given no direction to tell teams to avoid these homes and we are reaching out to the people who may have not been reached as a result of this incident.'

Images also obtained by the outlet of the system used to document what homes they visited show notes being left that said: 'Trump sign, no contact per leadership'

FEMA officials talk to residents displaced out of their apartment complex during Hurricane Milton, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in Clearwater, Florida

The statement continued: 'This is a matter that we take extremely seriously and we are doing everything we can to make sure all survivors receive support from FEMA.

'We are horrified that this took place and therefore have taken extreme actions to correct this situation and have ensured that the matter was addressed at all levels.

'Helping people is what we do best and our workforce across the agency will continue to serve survivors for as long as it takes.'

The Trump-related remarks were subsequently deleted from the group chat a few days after she posted them.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has since said he has ordered an investigation into the messages made by Washington.

Homes along the Gulf of Mexico are seen after they were destroyed when Hurricane Milton passed through the area on October 12, 2024, in Manasota Key, Florida

He said: 'The blatant weaponization of government by partisan activists in the federal bureaucracy is yet another reason why the Biden-Harris administration is in its final days.

'At my direction, the Division of Emergency Management is launching an investigation into the federal governments targeted discrimination of Floridians who support Donald Trump.

'New leadership is on the way in DC, and Im optimistic that these partisan bureaucrats will be fired.'

Milton had ripped through The Sunshine State in early October just two weeks after the misery brought by Hurricane Helene.

Over 30 people died after the storm wrecked catastrophe on communities, with homes left ruined.

In October footage resurfaced from a virtual meeting in March of 2023 in which FEMA Emergency Management Specialist Tyler Atkins said the agency was prioritizing LGBTQ people because they are 'already disadvantaged'.

'They already have their own things to deal with. So you add a disaster on top of that, its just compounding on itself,' Atkins, who uses he/they pronouns, told the panel.

In the past two years, FEMA has reportedly handed out over $1 billion of taxpayer dollars to fund the housing of illegal immigrants.

This figure sparked outrage in the wake of Hurricane Helene, with residents in flood-hit North Carolina claiming the response from FEMA has left them disappointed and relying on volunteers.

While victims say they have been left scrambling for survival, some critics resurfaced Atkins' March 2023 remarks as they slammed FEMA's priorities.

In the clip Atkins argued that LGBTQ victims should receive more support because they would have been 'already struggling' before a natural disaster.

'That is the 'why' for why we're having these discussions,' he continued. 'It isn't being talked about and it isn't being socialized - we're not paying attention to this community.'
A man has been charged with murder over an alleged stabbing attack in an apartment complex in Adelaide's CBD.

Lewis Parkin, 23, was discovered by first responders at the west end of Hindley Street just before 8pm on Friday.

Mr Parkin, who is reportedly the son of a serving SA Police officer, was rushed to hospital where he later died from his injuries.

A 42-year-old man from St Marys, in Adelaide's southern suburbs, was arrested by police after being found several kilometres away near the River Torrens.

Police say he had left the accomodation before emergency services arrived.

The man has been refused bail and is expected to appear before the Adelaide Magistrates Court on November 11.

The two men were known to each other and the incident is not considered random, police said in a statement on Saturday.

Any witnesses or businesses with CCTV in the area should contact Crime Stoppers.

Adelaide man Lewis Parkin, 23 (pictured) died after being allegedly stabbed on Friday
Shocking doorbell footage has emerged showing the moment a FedEx driver was brutally assaulted by an unknown assailant for a package of mobile phones.

The woman who shared the footage, Naomi, posted it on her TikTok explaining it was from her sister-in-law's home in Columbus, Ohio.

A FedEx delivery worker can be seen arriving the property holding a package while another vehicle is parked behind his truck with two people inside.

As the worker nears the door, activating the camera, a man can be seen approaching him from the vehicle.

He makes a remark towards the worker before lunging at the package, as the two grapple with each other from the front porch and into the yard.

As the worker nears the door, activating the camera, a man can be seen approaching him from the vehicle

He makes a remark towards the worker before lunging at the package, as the two grapple with each other from the front porch and into the yard

The man manages to get his hands on the package and starts running away as Naomi's brother-in-law sprints from the home to also give chase as the clip ends.

In a commentary of the footage, she said: 'I posted on my Facebook and it has been happening.

'People are working pairs, if you look at the video there is another car behind the FedEx car.

'It is so scary to me because anything could have happened, what if she had opened the door and she had the package in hand.

'The more I think about it the scarier it gets. What if my brother-in-law got shot and stabbed, or jumped and beat to death. Or the FedEx driver. This is a really crazy world.'

Since she shared the clip it has been seen more than 90,000 times, prompting viewers to echo her concerns.

The driver is seen being launched from the porch with the package still in his hand as the robber makes a grab for it

The woman who shared the footage, known only as Naomi, posted it on her TikTok explaining it was from her sister-in-laws home in Columbus, Ohio

One person posted: 'What are the delivery companies doing to protect their drivers and customers? They need to hurry up and decide!'

Another added: 'The sad thing is it's only going to get worse because the holidays are coming up.'

One other said: 'Geez! That is crazy! Thank you for making people aware of this.'

In a subsequent video, she added that the police were called and managed to get a license plate of the robbers vehicle.

She added: 'Since I posted, people are coming out saying this had been happening to them too. Not just to iPhones but Apple Watches and iPad's too.

'It's Christmas time so I don't even want to think about what is happening, so just be safe.'
A group of massage therapists in Florida have been arrested amid claims they offered to perform sex acts to undercover detectives during a two-day sting dubbed 'Operation Skin So Soft'.

During the two-day operation, which began this past Monday, undercover detectives went to 22 different Asian massage parlors around Polk County to get massages from licensed therapists.

But 20 of those women - who are all from the Republic of China - offered sex acts to the detectives completely unprompted.

One of the women arrested was said to have 'tried to have full sex' with the detective even after he denied her advances.

The name given to the sting - 'Operation Skin So Soft' - was inspired by a compliment given to an undercover officer while they were auditing the massage parlors.

A two-day sting, which was titled 'Operation Skin So Soft', led to the arrests of twenty licensed massage therapists after they offered unprompted sex acts to undercover detectives

Undercover detectives audited 22 massage parlors around Polk County, Florida, and found that 12 of them were not in compliance with the law and doing things that were illegal, including prostitution

'One of the ladies said "Oh, your skin's so soft. You must work inside,"' Grady Judd, the Polk County Sheriff, said in a press conference.

'Well, sometimes we work in massage parlors.'

The large-scale investigation came after Polk County Police conducted an examination of 22 different massage parlors in the Davenport, Dundee, Lakeland and Winter Haven areas to make sure they were in compliance with the law.

It was discovered that 12 out of the 22 establishments audited were allegedly participating in illegal activity, including prostitution.

It led to the arrests of the women - three of whom were US citizens while the others were here on work visas.

'I don't think the federal government had in mine this kind of work when they gave them a work visa, but they're here anyway,' Judd stated.

One of the women, Jinxia Huang, 37, charged $60 for what was supposed to be a legitimate massage.

Jinxia Huang, 37, charged an undercover $60 for a legitimate massage but became aggressive and attempted to have 'full sex' with him - even trying to hold him down

Ruifen Ren, 64, charged $80 for a one hour session but came back into the room 30 minutes later dimming the lights and massaging exotic oil in areas that constituted illegal conduct

But she quickly began up-charging the undercover detective before 'inappropriately handling' and attempting to 'have full sex' him - leaving him to push her off and get up to leave.

'She was extremely aggressive,' Judd noted. 'At this point she grabbed him and tried to get him to sit back down. She stood in front of the door so he couldn't leave and then she tried to hold him down.'

Huang is being charged with offering to commit prostitution as well as battery and false imprisonment.

The oldest of the women taken into custody, 64-year-old Yan Luo, was paid $60 for a 45 minute massage - but she left the room and returned with a condom wrapped up in paper.

Luo up-charged the undercover cop $290 for a grand total of $350 for a 'legal massage'.

The detective never said one word about illegal massages or 'happy endings', but she became 'very very aggressive' and tried to have sex with him anyway.

Yan Luo, 64, was paid $60 for a 45 minute massage - but left the room and returned with a condom wrapped up in paper before attempting to have sex with the undercover

Xiu Lin, 55, was arrested for interfering with detectives as they arrested someone else

Ruifen Ren, also 64, charged $80 for a one hour session - but just 30 minutes into the massage, she returned to the room with 'exotic oil', dimmed the lights, and began massaging the detective in areas that constituted illegal conduct.

Even as the detective continuously told her that he only wanted a regular massage, she proceeded to try and upcharge him to engage in sexual acts three different times.

In addition to the 20 massage therapists who were arrested, another woman, 55-year-old Xiu Lin, was arrested for interfering with detectives as they arrested someone else.

One of the women was from Lakeland, Florida, but the others said that they frequently traveled around.

'It appears that all of these ladies are on a circuit,' Judd explained. 'They don't stay here for any lengthy period of time.'

All of the massage therapists were from the Republic of China and were here on work visas, besides three women who were US citizens

During the press conference, the Sheriff warned customers to be cautious when they go into one of these facilities because someone may be recording it.

'Stay out of those places,' he warned. 'We continuously audit these places to make sure they are complying with the law.

'My message is, if you don't want to go to jail, don't do it. My message to is also to potential customers... Hey, your picture can be up on the board next too. But it's a choice,' he added.

'And if it's up there, I don't want to hear any whining and complaining because I stood here and gave you a warning today.'

Sheriff Judd also noted how most of the businesses do follow the law and the new regulations that require the parlor to keep a record of who gives the massage and who receives it.

Polk County Sheriff, Grady Judd, said how the department is now working with the federal government to get 18 of the women who came on work visas deported

The department is now working with the federal government to deport the 18 therapists who were here on US work visas.

'We want them back in their home country if they are not citizens of the United States,' he said.

'You come here. You even legally come here, and you violate the law, you should have lost our trust at the federal level, and you should be returned to your home country.'

Detectives are also investigating whether sex trafficking was involved.
The grief-stricken mother of an Australian man who died while hiking in Kazakhstan now believes her son wasn't alone before his death.

Melbourne man Jake Michael Herd, 27, died of hypothermia near Big Almaty Lake Tian Shan mountains in the Central Asian country in May of last year.

It is believed Mr Herd died after falling in bad weather at an altitude of 2,500metres.

His body was recovered near the Ayusai River Gorge three days after he went missing with initial police reports suggesting he had been alone.

Jake's mother Wendy Costa now believes she has new evidence from her son's recovered iPhone that proves the opposite.

She claims photos on his mobile pictured two men accompanying Jake on the hike and the group sharing lunch near the summit.

Ms Costa said a recent chemical analysis of the contents of Mr Herd's water bottle revealed 2.6 per cent reading of ethanol, which is found in alcohol.

'He wouldn't have gone up a mountain with alcohol, he had water. His friend confirmed that,' she told the Herald Sun.

Jake Michael Herd, 27 (pictured) was found dead near Big Almaty Lake, in the Tian Shan mountains in Kazakhstan in Central Asia, in May of last year

Wendy Costa (pictured) believes her son Jake was not alone when he died on the mountain

Jake's body was recovered near the Ayusai River Gorge three days after he went missing with initial police reports suggesting he had been alone

Ms Costa said a man's voice could be heard in the background of an video on the phone.

'I think it's pretty big, it shows that he wasn't alone and they kept telling me he was. He went up with water and he came back down with wine,' she said.

'He definitely socialised up there. He didn't buy any drinks over there. Someone else has given it to him while he was up there.'

Ms Costa self-funded a trip to the Big Almaty Lake in Kazakhstan in May of this year in the hopes of finding some answers about her son's death.

She now believes the recovered video can provide more information on the events leading up to his death and is considering hiring a private detective.
An arrest has been made in connection with death of a teenage boy whose body was found in bushland in south-west Sydney.

The grim discovery was made in a remote area off Wilton Park Road at Wilton, half an hour outside Wollongong, about 7.25am on Saturday.

A 32-year-old man was arrested after presenting himself to Narellan Police station about 4pm Saturday.

Officers from Camden Police Area Command were earlier notified about the discovery following a tip off.

Officers set up a crime scene before detectives from the State Crime Homicide Squad arrived.

Friends who were camping with the boy with spent Saturday afternoon giving statements to police.

No charges have yet been laid as police continue to investigate the incident, though they are treating the death as suspicious.

The 15-year-old has not been publicly identified. Police have notified the boy's family about his death.

A man has been arrested over the death of a teenage boy whose body was found in bushland off Wilton Park Road at Wilton (pictured), in south-west Sydney on Saturday

Officers from Camden Police Area Command were earlier notified about the discovery and set up a crime scene before detectives from the State Crime Homicide Squad arrived (pictured police at the scene)

The teen, who is believed to be a local from the Picton area, was not known to police.

NSW Police Superintendent Tim Calaman said a group of about 12 teenagers had been camping in the area overnight.

He said police were investigating whether the people that were camping nearby may be involved in the boy's death.

'Police are speaking a number of witnesses and we're canvassing the local area, premises, service stations, everything down there that may lead us to give us some an idea of what's actually happened,' Superintendent Calaman said.

'There would be evidence at the scene that indicates it happened in the area where this person has been located ... we'll have a clearer idea when that area has been processed.

'We have a number of active lines of inquiry at the present time that we're following up on. '

Suptd Calaman said it was too early to speculate how the boy died or if a weapon or a vehicle were involved in his death.

'The forensic examination and ultimately the coroner will determine how the boy died,' he said.

Police believe the incident occurred on Friday evening, but they were not notified until 7.35am on Saturday.

'There is nothing to indicate that there was an alarm raised last night,' Suptd Calaman said.

Police are conducting an investigation into the death of the boy and they are also conducting several inquiries into what happened (pictured police at the scene)

Police have said it's too early to speculate how the boy died or if a weapon or vehicle were involved in his death (pictured police and emergency services at the scene)

The superintendent said it was a tragic event and his thoughts were with the boy's family.

'The family and certain friends will be doing it tough this afternoon as they go through this process,' he said.

'We will continue to support them as we get to the bottom of what happened.

'It is too early to speculate whether it was intentional or an accident [and] that will form the basis of the crime scene investigation.'

Wilton Park Road has been closed as detectives from the State Crime Command an Homicide Squad continue to investigate the boy's death.

Anyone who was in the area since 6pm on Friday, who has information or dashcam footage, has been urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Donald Trump won his sixth swing state of the 2024 election early Saturday, beating Kamala Harris in Nevada.

Trump was declared the winner at 50.7 percent of the vote to Harris' 47.4 percent after analysts concluded there were not enough uncounted ballots in the states strongest Democratic areas to overcome the former presidents 46,000-vote lead.

Trump clinched a second term early Wednesday when Wisconsin pushed him past the 270 electoral votes needed to win, so Nevadas six electoral votes only added to the size of his victory.

He now has 301 electoral votes to Harris' 226 and has won six of the seven battleground states. Only Arizona remains to be called, where he is also favored to win.

Nevada has one of the nations best overall track records as a presidential bellwether, although voters there supported Democrat Hillary Clinton over Trump in 2016.

Donald Trump won his sixth swing state of the 2024 election early Saturday, beating Kamala Harris in Nevada

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The state remains a hotly contested battleground. Both Harris and Trump made frequent visits to Nevada since becoming their parties nominees, including Halloween rallies in Clark County, home of Henderson and Las Vegas.

Both campaigns concentrated their visit to those two cities, as well as Reno in Washoe County.

Just two days before polls opened for the 2024 election, Trump was ahead by just 0.5 percent in the FiveThirtyEight average in Nevada.

Nevada voted against Trump in 2016 and 2020.

Hillary Clinton won in the state by 2.5 percent in 2016 and four years later Joe Biden bested Trump by nearly the same margin at 2.4 percent.

In statewide elections, Democrats tend to carry only two of Nevadas 17 counties: Clark and Washoe. Whether they win depends on how big their margins are in those two counties.

Clark County has by far the largest population in the state. A large vote margin there is vital to Democratic electoral success.

It comprised 69% of the total statewide vote in 2020. Washoe is more competitive, although Democrats have consistently prevailed there in high-profile statewide campaigns, including Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolaks unsuccessful 2022 reelection bid.

Republicans tend to win the rest of the state by wide margins.

Most of the final ballots to be counted come from Clark and Washoe counties. They both have long-established histories of supporting Democrats for president. Statewide, votes counted after Election Day have also tended to favor Democrats.

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Both Harris and Trump made frequent visits to Nevada since becoming their parties nominees

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Trumps vote lead narrowed as more of these ballots are counted over the course of the week, but Harris was not winning those ballots by a large enough margin to overtake Trump for the lead.

It comes at the same time it was called that Senator Jacky Rosen has managed to hold on to her Senate seat in Nevada securing a key victory for Democrats in the battleground state.

After several days of votes being counted the race was called for Rosen after she trailed Republican Sam Brown several times since the first results came in on election night. She won by a majority of 20,571, with 675,318 votes.

The one-term incumbent was facing a challenge by Brown, a veteran and businessman, in a state that Republicans were looking at as a potential pick-up on their path to widening their Senate majority after the chamber flipped on election night.

Rosen was first elected to the Senate in the Silver State in 2018 during the midterms that resulted in a blue wave halfway through Donald Trump's first term in office, ousting former Senator Dean Heller despite only being a freshman House member.

Rosen ran a campaign focused on protecting women's reproductive rights and delivering for a state that had its economy decimated by the coronavirus pandemic.

One Senate race remains uncalled, with Democrats hanging on to a leads in Arizona, which would leave the Republicans at a 53-47 seat majority, a gain of four seats.

Democrat Ruben Gallego leads Trump ally Kari Lake in Arizona by just over 30,000 votes, with 82% of the ballots counted to take Kyrsten Sinema's seat.

Trumps vote lead narrowed as more of these ballots are counted over the course of the week, but Harris was not winning those ballots by a large enough margin to overtake Trump for the lead

House of Representatives results continue to move slowly, with Republicans at 212 seats, six shy of retaining their majority.

The Democrats have won 200 seats and lead in 12 of the uncalled races, which would top them out at 212, a loss of one seat from their minority position in 2022.

Lakshya Jain, a polls analyst for Split Ticket, gave Democrats a no more than 15% chance of late voting tallies providing them with the comebacks necessary to win a shock majority.
Australia to ban under 16s from some social media

Controversial comedian Russell Brand has brutally mocked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese over the government's bold plan to ban children from social media.

Mr Albanese announced on Thursday the government would introduce laws to prevent Australian children under 16 from using many popular online apps.

'Social media is doing harm to our kids, and I'm calling time on it,' Mr Albanese said at a press conference outside of Parliament House.

The British stand-up comedian, 49, who hosts a webcast called 'Stay Free with Russell Brand' claimed to viewers the move was an act of 'legitimising mass censorship'.

'In Australia, social media is being incredibly restricted - under 16s won't be allowed on it,' Brand said on the video posted to Rumble.

He said 'as a parent' he could see how preventing children from accessing social media might 'in some ways be sensible on the surface'.

He then questioned whether 'at some point' the laws would be used to introduce more widespread rules on other parts of the population.

'Do you reckon across the world they are going ''oh no, we don't want another Trump'' let's start legitimising mass censorship of social media, first of all by protecting children, then by protecting adults, who really are just furry children?'

Brand has two million followers on his Rumble page, which is an alternative to YouTube that rose in popularity in the last four years when prominent conservatives began flocking to it after complaining they were being censored on other platforms.

Rumble's cloud service business hosts Donald Trump's 'Truth Social' platform.

British comedian Russell Brand has taken aim (pictured) at Anthony Albanese over his social media ban for children, questioning whether it was a ploy to 'legitimise censorship'

Mr Albanese said the government's decision was informed by the conversations he had with 'thousands of parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles.

'They, like me, are worried sick about the safety of kids online and I want parents and families to know the government has your back,' he said.

Brand ruthlessly mocked the PM's accent and suggested talking to real Australians, even if it was in the thousands, did not represent everyone's views.

'I spoke to an aunty and uncle earlier today ,' Brand said mimicking Mr Albanese.

'They're terrified their children might be on social media.

'I spoke to one Scrooge McDuck who was terrified that Huey, Dewy and Louie could be influenced into thinking anything other than the opinions sanctioned by the state.'

During the next three minutes Brand went on to suggest the government were 'going to be all over' what people do.

Brand did acknowledge it was parents' 'job' to protect their children, but argued this didn't mean governments can impose rules on its citizens that 'affect the vast population.

'Particularly if they are controlled by global cartels,' Brand said.

Brand mocked Mr Albanese (pictured) over the concerns he said were raised by parents about their children's social media use

The federal government revealed in September that they were considering a limit on the use of apps such as Instagram, Facebook and TikTok for children under the age of 16.

The ban is likely to apply to these platforms and others including YouTube and Reddit, however, some apps like YouTube Kids and those with an educational aspect would be exempt.

The ban gained momentum after it was backed by child safety experts and the Coalition.

The legislation to impose the mandate is likely to come into effect next year as the bill needs to pass the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Details on how the ban will be enforced is still unclear however, the responsibility to ensure social media companies comply with age restriction limits is likely to fall under the office of the eSafety commissioner.

Parents and young people will be exempt for not taking reasonable steps to prevent children and teenagers from accessing the platforms.

Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland labelled the measures 'world leading'.

Ms Rowland said the laws would be designed to prevent 'harms caused by content and addictive behaviours' brought about by social media use.

The government argues the ban is necessary as social media is affecting the mental health of children and teenagers in a negative way.

Anthony Albanese announced on Thursday the government would introduce laws to ban children under the age of 16 from using the popular online apps (pictured stock image)

Brand has been active on Rumble despite him facing a number of accusations about his behaviour towards women in the past.

London's Metropolitan Police detectives last Saturday said they had handed a file of evidence to the UK's Crown Prosecution Service, which is considering charging Brand over historic sexual assault allegations.

Less than 48 hours later he travelled from his Oxfordshire home to London's Heathrow Airport and on to Florida by Monday morning, where he is currently staying at one of Walt Disney World's luxurious hotels with his wife and children.

Brand this week travelled from London's Heathrow Airport to Florida where he is staying at one of Walt Disney World's most luxurious hotels with his wife Laura (pictured) and children

A source said: 'Obviously Russell was all over the news [in the UK] last weekend because of the police investigation into him, and two days later he's left the country.

'He obviously wants to get away from all the noise around him and spend some time with the family - he's treated his wife Laura and their three kids to an amazing holiday, the full Disney experience, we don't know how long he plans to stay there.'

The Met police said it had received 'a number of allegations of sexual offences in London' and elsewhere in the U.K. following a joint investigation into Brand by Channel 4 Dispatches, The Times and Sunday Times in September 2023.

Brand has denied the allegations which concern the period from 2006 to 2013 when he was at the height of his fame.
The fathers of murdered police officers Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone are the first to receive a new award for families of public servants who are killed in the line of duty.

Bryn Hughes and Paul Bone both received an Elizabeth Emblem following the deaths of their daughters PCs Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone, who were murdered by Dale Cregan in Greater Manchester in 2012.

Following a campaign by Mr Hughes and Mr Bone, it was announced earlier this year that the emblem would be awarded to the next of kin of police officers, firefighters and other public servants.

They said it was 'vitally important' as every public sector worker who dies in the line of duty 'should have the opportunity to be remembered and honoured'.

Greater Manchester PCs Ms Hughes, 23, and Ms Bone, 32, were shot dead by Cregan while responding to reports of a burglary in Hattersley, Tameside, on 18 September 2012.

Fugitive Cregan lured the unarmed PCs to a property with a hoax 999 call and when they arrived, he shot both women at least eight times before throwing a grenade at them.

PC Nicola Hughes pictured with her father Bryn Hughes

PC Fiona Bone, who was killed by Dale Cregan while responding to reports of a burglary

Elizabeth Emblem campaigners Bryn Hughes (left) and Paul Bone outside 10 Downing Street

The Elizabeth Emblem is the civilian equivalent of the Elizabeth Cross, which recognises members of the UK armed forces who died in action or as a result of a terrorist attack.

Asked about the award, Mr Hughes said: 'I think it's vitally important, not just for Nicola and Fiona and for other police officers, but all public sector workers who are killed or die in the line of duty or in operational circumstances.

'It's vitally important that they're recognised and remembered.'

Mr Hughes said politicians had told him the award was 'long overdue', adding 'there was an element of surprise that nothing like this existed before'.

Both men met the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden on Wednesday over their campaigning work, with Mr Bone saying the meeting was 'icing on the cake' for their campaign.

Mr Bone said Sir Keir Starmer told them 'he couldn't imagine losing his children'.

He added: 'We kind of replied: 'Well, we didn't actually imagine losing ours either, but once it's happened, you've got to carry on'.'

The design of the emblem includes a rosemary wreath, a traditional symbol of remembrance, surrounding a Tudor Crown and the inscription 'For A Life Given In Service'.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden meet with Paul Bone and Bryn Hughes, fathers of Police Officers Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes

Bryndon Hughes, the father of Greater Manchester Police officer PC Nicola Hughes, with his MBE or services to people affected by crime last year

PC Nicola Hughes smiles in an undated photo distributed by the Greater Manchester Police

After the deaths in 2012, Mr Bone broke down in tears as he told how much his daughter loved her job.

He said he had never feared such a terrible outcome, even though his days as an RAF groundcrew man had accustomed him to colleagues 'not coming home'.

His daughter was engaged to be married and had told fellow officers about arrangements for her forthcoming wedding.

PC Bone had spoken to her partner about designing invitations before she set off for work, and police colleagues had given her some tips.

But a routine call to respond to a burglary later that morning saw 'excellent bobby' PC Bone and her 'chatterbox' colleague brutally gunned down.

Asked how his daughter would feel about the award, Mr Hughes said: 'I know Nicola would be embarrassed.

'I think she'd be pleased and proud that it had happened for us, but I think she'd be embarrassed about it.'

Mr Bone said he would like their daughters to be remembered as 'happy, bubbly public servants', adding 'they were doing their job happily, tried to help people - on that day it just went all wrong'.

Mr Hughes, from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, said his daughter Nicola 'loved the job'.

He added: 'Police officers put their lives on the line every single day. They don't know what they're going into.

'They don't know what's behind that door and for me that says a lot about what they do every day.'

One-eyed Cregan's killing spree started when he murdered amateur boxer Mark Short, 23, at a pub in Droylsden, Manchester, in April.

Three other people, believed to be related to the victim, were also wounded, suffering leg and back injuries.

One-eyed Cregan's killing spree started when he murdered amateur boxer Mark Short, 23

Unarmed PCs Bone and Hughes were lured to a property with a hoax 999 call

Four months later Mark Short's father David was killed in a gun attack in Clayton, Manchester. Mr Short had branded his son's murderers 'cowards'.

Nine minutes after the incident, police received reports that shots had been fired at a second property in Droylsden, where there was also a grenade blast. Nobody was injured in the incident.

Detectives said they wanted to speak to Cregan, who they had released in May after linking him to the first murder but did not have the evidence to charge him.

In September that year the killer used a fake 999 call to lure officers Ms Bone and Ms Hughes to a house.

When they arrived, Cregan shot them and threw an M75 grenade at them. Both officers were hit by at least eight bullets as Cregan fired 32 shots in 31 seconds.

He later handed himself in at a police station, admitting to killing the unarmed women.

The gangster admitted the attempted murder of three others in a high profile court case the following year.

Cregan was convicted of all four murders and three attempted murders and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order on June 13, 2013.

He was told he would never see release after admitting to the killings which prompted public outcry and an outpouring of sympathy for the police.

His accomplice, Anthony Wilkinson, was jailed for a minimum of 35 years for his part in the gun and grenade murder of David Short.

Meanwhile, Lissie Harper, widow of police officer Andrew Harper, is also among the recipients of the honour.

PC Harper, who worked for Thames Valley Police, was killed while responding to a bike theft by three teenagers in Berkshire in August 2019.

He was caught in a strap attached to the back of a car and dragged down a winding country road, just four weeks after getting married.

The daughter of firefighter Leslie Marsh, of West Midlands Fire Service, will be awarded the Emblem 75 years after he died falling through a hole in the first floor of a derelict church when responding to a fire February 7, 1949.

Sir Keir said: 'We must never forget those who have given their lives to protect others in the line of duty.

'While families will never be able to replace their loved ones, the Elizabeth Emblem pays tribute to the sacrifice they have made.'
Israeli troops seen during operation in southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah

Xinhua) 10:07, November 09, 2024

This photo taken on Nov. 7, 2024 shows destroyed buildings in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah. Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 were taken hostage.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 43,469, the Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Thursday. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

An Israeli soldier is seen during an operation in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Nov. 7, 2024. Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 were taken hostage.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 43,469, the Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Thursday. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

Israeli soldiers are seen during an operation in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Nov. 7, 2024. Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 were taken hostage.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 43,469, the Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Thursday. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

Israeli troops are seen during an operation in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Nov. 7, 2024. Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 were taken hostage.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 43,469, the Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Thursday. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

Israeli troops are seen during an operation in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Nov. 7, 2024. Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 were taken hostage.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 43,469, the Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Thursday. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

Israeli troops are seen during an operation in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Nov. 7, 2024. Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 were taken hostage.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 43,469, the Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Thursday. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

Israeli troops are seen during an operation in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Nov. 7, 2024. Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 were taken hostage.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 43,469, the Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Thursday. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

Israeli soldiers are seen during an operation in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Nov. 7, 2024. Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 were taken hostage.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 43,469, the Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Thursday. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Wu Chaolan)
November 8, 2024: American attempts to adopt the new drone tactics and technology developed, and still developing, in Ukraine have encountered problems. First, the U.S. is not at war and the military bureaucracy has a peacetime attitude towards any new technology. This includes the use of drones in Ukraine and the flood of practical experience and solutions passed by Ukraine. Current U.S. Army drones, when used in Ukraine, often encounter problems the Ukrainian drones dont. In a wartime situation, Ukrainians have been quick to make changes until they get the results they need.

The American military may want to implement the lessons of drone use in Ukraine, but American defense contractors and manufacturers feel compelled to modify and improve what the Ukrainians have done while they adapt Ukrainian drone tech to something new which United States forces can use and Congress will pay for. This process tends to lower the effectiveness of what the Ukrainians have created, while delaying the product and enriching the contractors and manufacturers. The lesser effectiveness is usually revealed the first time American troops use the U.S. version of Ukrainian drone tech. Something is lost in the tech translation. This is nothing new. Its been happening for over a century.

The U.S. is currently adapting and adopting Ukrainian drone technology. There will be modifications and upgrades for as long as the fighting in Ukraine lasts. These changes come quickly in wartime, and always have. In Ukraine, drone designs can be changed in less than a week. This is usually because the Russians have gained an edge with one of their recent tweaks. While Ukraine has been in the forefront of developing and upgrading drone technology, the Russians have kept up. In war time you either keep up or become an inept underdog that falls farther and farther behind. The Russians have kept most of the time and when they fail to keep up, they suffer heavy losses.

The peacetime American military has no such wartime feedback loop. If someone in the defense procurement establishment says the current American drone tech is good, it is officially adequate. Sending U.S. drone adaptations to Ukraine for testing is done, but often over the objections of some U.S. manufacturers. When tested in combat, some of the U.S. drones fail to deliver. When the Ukraine war ends, there will be no way to adequately test American drones. There may be other wars where American troops are involved and able to test the new drones. But it wont be in the intensely competitive atmosphere the Ukrainians and Russians have created.

Ukraine has been writing the book on drone technology since 2023, with Russia contributing edits in real time. When that atmosphere is not present, the speed of developing new tech or maintaining current drones slows down a lot. This process is at work now as the U.S. Army orders drones based on Ukrainian designs. The American military procurement bureaucracy is infamously slow in adopting and manufacturing new weapons. It is feared that the Ukrainian drone revolution will be equally slow in actually reaching Americans soldiers and marines. Many military and Defense Department civilians are aware of this problem and see the drone development and procurement program as an opportunity to show that the United States can do it right and quickly.

In early 2024 Ukraine created a new branch of their military, the USF (Unmanned Systems Force). This is in addition to the Ukrainian Air Force that consists of manned aircraft. The USF does not control the drones Ukrainian forces use regularly but contributes to developing new drone models and organizing mass production for those new models that are successful. The U.S. military took note of this but acting on it takes a lot longer for a peacetime military.

Drones were an unexpected development that had a huge impact on how battles in Ukraine's current war are fought. Drones were successful because they were cheap, easily modified, and expendable. Modifications and upgrades could be implemented quickly and cheaply. Both Russian and Ukrainian forces were soon using cheap, under a thousand dollars, quadcopter drones controlled by soldiers a few kilometers distant using FPV (First Person Viewing) goggles to see what the day/night video camera on the drone can see. Adding night vision is available when needed, at a higher cost per drone. Most of these drones carry half a kilogram of explosives, so it can instantly turn the drone into a flying bomb that can fly into a target and detonate. Some drones carry more explosives depending on what is needed to deal with a target.

These drones are awesome and debilitating weapons when used in large numbers. 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. Larger, fixed wing drones are used for long range, often over a thousand kilometers, operations against targets deep inside Russia.

A major limitation to the expansion of drone operations was the need for trained drone operators. These operators need over a hundred hours of training before they are able to operate these drones at peak effectiveness. As operators spend more hours operating drones in combat, the number of new lessons learned and applied increases.

The small 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 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.

This massive use of FPV-armed drones has revolutionized warfare in Ukraine and both sides are producing as many as they can. Russia initially produced its own drones now after briefly using imported Iranian Shahed-136 drones that cost over $100,000 each. Ukraine demonstrated that you could design and build drones with similar capabilities at less than a tenth of that. The Iranian drone was more complex than it needed to be and even the Russians soon realized this and turned from the Shahed-136 for more capable drones they copied from Ukrainian designs or ones Russians designed.

Ukrainian drone proliferation began when many individual Ukrainians or small teams designed and built drones. The drones served as potential candidates for widespread use and mass production. This proliferation of designers and manufacturers led to rapid evolution of drone capabilities and uses. Those who could not keep up were less successful in combat and suffered higher losses.

Military leaders in other nations have noted this and are scrambling to equip their own forces with the most effective drones. 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 for later use. The jammers are on the ground and can be attacked by drones programmed to home in on the jamming signal. 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.

The emergence of drones as a new, novel, and decisive form of air power is the most recent of similar events that took place during the last century. During the last century the U.S. Air Force has advocated military victory achieved mainly with air power. This attitude took root after the 1914-19 World War I when the Army Air Corps, predecessor of the USAF, got rid of most of its numerous reconnaissance aircraft and concentrated on bombers and fighters. Then came the popular belief that larger bomber aircraft would dominate future wars. This never came to pass and, every time there was a war, the air force had to scramble to expand its meager peacetime reconnaissance force to meet the realities of war.

This was not so bad during World War II because the air force was still part of the army but, after World War II, the Army Air Force became the independent U.S. Air Force and sought to control everything that flew over land. That meant army attempts to retain small reconnaissance aircraft and cargo aircraft were constantly opposed by the air force. The army valued prolific and prompt aerial reconnaissance more than the air force and this led to a dispute that was not settled until quite recently.

Since the late 1990s, the army was again flying armed aircraft in the form of large armed drones, in addition to the armed helicopters it has always had, the air force began to notice. The army argument was that these larger drones work better for them if they are under the direct control of army combat brigades. The air force saw that as inefficient and preferred to have one large pool of larger drones which are deployed as needed. This difference of opinion reflects basic differences in how the army and air force deploy and use their combat forces. The army has found that a critical factor in battlefield success is teamwork among members of a unit, and subordinate units in a brigade. While the air force accepts this as a critical performance issue for their aircraft squadrons, they deem it irrelevant for army use of drones.

One thing the army acquisition of thousands of reconnaissance drones did not change was the air force loss of interest in aerial reconnaissance and surveillance after each war. Air force reluctance to develop, build and maintain a large strategic reconnaissance force led the CIA to use its considerable clout and budget developing strategic reconnaissance aircraft like the U-2 and SR-71 manned aircraft and surveillance satellites. The CIA also pioneered the use of larger drones like the 1.1-ton Predator and armed them. This helped the army win permission from the Department of Defense to expand its force of armed aircraft beyond helicopter gunships.

Air force attitudes have hurt the army in several ways. When it comes to influencing the war on the ground the air force is much less dominant. This is despite air force efforts to maintain its ability to bomb targets in direct support of ground operations. The air force blind spot when it comes to air reconnaissance has hurt its overall effectiveness. Blame this on a bad attitude towards BDA (Bomb Damage Assessment). This is the business of figuring out what to bomb, and what the impact on the enemy is after you bomb. The problem of the air force leaders being deceived by the people on the ground being bombed began during World War II. This was when air forces used large scale aerial bombing for the first time. Right after that conflict, the U.S. did a thorough survey of the impact of strategic bombing on Germany and Japan. It was discovered that the impact was far different from what air force BDA during the war had indicated. The air force vowed to do better next time. But as experience in Korea (1950-3), Vietnam (1965-72), Kuwait (1991) and Kosovo (1999), Iraq (2003), the war on terror and in Ukraine demonstrated, the enemy on the ground continued to have an edge when it came to deceiving the most energetic BDA efforts.

The only proven technique for beating the BDA problem was to have people on the ground, up close, checking on targets, while the fighting was going on. Those with powerful air forces do not want to do this because of the risk of some of their commandos getting killed or captured, and because the intel and air force people were sure that they knew what enemy was up to down there.

The people on the ground have consistently demonstrated an ability to deceive aerial surveillance. Even during the early 21st century, when the U.S. developed persistent drone surveillance, the irregular forces they were facing proved capable of reducing the effectiveness of the drone effort. This spotlights another useful fact; airpower can be useful on the ground but that happens over time and not quickly.

The army and air force have a different outlook on planning and risk. The air force sees warfare as a much tidier, and predictable, affair than the army experiences regularly. In this respect, the air force and navy are closely aligned. Both are technical services, who are used to exercising more control over their forces than do army generals. The army sees warfare as more unpredictable and has adapted to that unpredictability. The army generals are usually skeptical of the air force's ability to take down foes from the air and the army was usually right.

Despite being a successful high-tech operation, American air forces, especially the Navy and USAF, frequently have trouble adjusting to changes they do not agree with. When the Cold War ended in 1991 the air force was still largely thinking about continuing to operate as they had done in the Cold War, but the technology and tactics of warfare were changing. The post-Cold War enemy no longer consisted of large, organized forces spread over huge areas. The enemy was increasingly irregulars who were harder to spot from the air. The air force reluctantly adapted, in part because the army and CIA adopted new reconnaissance and surveillance techniques like drones and persistent surveillance. This pattern is returning as the air force reorganizes after the decade of heavy combat and big budgets the war on terror produced.

Now the air force is turning its attention to a near-peer opponent in the form of a rapidly expanding and modernizing China's military. Unexpectedly the Ukraine War emerged first with Russia and Ukraine fighting each other. Ukrainians had the advantage of material and intellectual support from NATO countries. In the end the winner of any stage of the war was the side that was the most resourceful and innovative. This process has been present in warfare for centuries but during the last century the changes and innovations came so quickly that the process was visible. This disrupted the long-established missions each of the military services had established.

For example, as successful as these new air reconnaissance tools were, they did not seem like a suitable long-term job for the air force. The other services disagreed, and it took the better part of a decade after 2001 to get the air force to come around. In 2005 the air force deployed its first Predator drone unit and in 2009 it put its first Reapers to work. They were following the CIA in this area, which caused some misgivings among senior air force leadership. But the army and Congress were calling for more of what the CIA was doing with armed drones for surveillance and attack and the air force joined in.

What the CIA pioneered was persistent surveillance with armed drones. The 24/7 observation by the drones enabled CIA and air force intel analysts to compile information about the target and order one or more missiles fired as soon as the key target was identified and located. This led to an ever-growing list of terrorist leaders and their key subordinates killed in this way. At the same time, this use of surveillance and precision weapons led to lower collateral, as in nearby civilian casualties, which plummeted to historical, and remarkable, lows.

Air force traditionalists warned that in a conventional war this sort of thing would not work. Where the enemy had modern air defense systems and jet fighters the Predator and Reaper drones would be impractical because they would be quickly shot down. But that was not the type of war being waged thirty years ago and it was pointed out to the air force that the military has to deal with what they are faced with, not just with what they prefer. Moreover, even in a conventional war there is still work for these new tactics and the tech that makes it possible. The air force still disagreed but did not have a persuasive alternative. The air force still wanted more money for their stealthy F-35 fighter and a new stealth bomber. This is despite the fact that other nations were developing more and more sensors that could nullify stealth.

The air force has been in this position before. This was seen during the 1960s when the air force and navy aviation suffered unexpectedly high aircraft losses over Vietnam because their aircraft and pilots were not prepared for the lower-tech Russian aircraft used against them by the Vietnamese. This led aircraft to be again equipped with cannon because the new air-to-air missiles were not yet reliable enough to replace the old fashioned cannon.

Then came the concept of using your own aircraft for aggressor, or dissimilar tactics, training. This began in 1969 when the U.S. Navy established the original Top Gun fighter pilot school. This was done in response to the poor performance of its pilots against North Vietnamese pilots flying Russian fighters. What made the Top Gun operation different was that the training emphasized how the enemy aircraft and pilots operated. This was called dissimilar training. In the past, American pilots practiced against American pilots, with everyone flying American aircraft and using American tactics. It worked in World War II because the enemy pilots were not getting a lot of practice and were using similar aircraft and tactics anyway. Most importantly, there was a lot of aerial combat going on, providing ample opportunity for on-the-job training. Not so in Vietnam, where the quite different Russian-trained North Vietnamese were giving U.S. aviators a difficult time. The four week Top Gun program solved the problem. The air force followed shortly with its similar Red Flag school. In the early 1980s, the Russians established a dissimilar air combat school, and the Chinese followed in 1987.

There will be a need for a drone-based Top Gun when the Ukraine war is over. Drone developers and operators are always eager to test their tech and skills against similar opponents. Yet, after a century of trying, the ground forces and non-aviation naval forces still cannot get the people up there to come down and get a much needed reality check on what is happening down below where battles and wars are still decided.

That changed in Ukraine when the proliferation of surveillance and armed drones often replaced conventional air forces, at least for operations close to the ground and requiring more urgency to find and attack targets. This was the ultimate solution to obtaining constant close surveillance of the combat zone. With drones you not only know what goes on in the combat zone, but can quickly, often within minutes, bring in an armed drone to attack the newly discovered target. Combat drones operated by an FPV controller have offered many new opportunities on the battlefield. This includes dealing with individual enemy soldiers and persuading them to surrender to nearby Ukrainian soldiers or else. How one of these events played out was captured on video and the video was released to the media.
A man out for a walk along a suburban Melbourne footpath has died after being struck by a car.

Emergency services were called to Dalton Rd at Epping in the city's north about 10am on Saturday following reports a car had mounted a footpath and struck a pedestrian.

Victoria Police confirmed the 63-year-old man from Mill Park died at the scene. He is yet to be formally identified.

After he was struck, the male driver then continued along the footpath, before crashing into a pole and a building.

The 27-year-old driver from Glenroy sustained serious injuries to his lower body.

He was freed from the wreck by firefighters and was taken to hospital where he remains in a critical condition under police guard.

He is yet to be questioned and no charges have been laid.

Pictures show the extensive damage to the silver hatchback including the bonnet and windscreen completely smashed.

Police are investigating what caused the crash that left a man dead and another in hospital

The car went through a pedestrian barrier as it mounted the kerb before hitting a man out for a walk

It is understood the car had gone through a pedestrian crossing barrier as it mounted the kerb.

Witnesses said the 27-year-old was seen 'slumped over the steering wheel' at a different intersection before the crash and had to be woken by witnesses who tapped on the window, reported The Age.

He then allegedly 'drove off at speed' and crashed shortly after.

Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives are investigating the exact circumstances surrounding the collision, with inquiries ongoing.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has any information or who has footage, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

More to follow.
Prince William is 'looking forward' to 'playing a role' at the Cop30 UN climate change conference in Brazil next year, a royal source has revealed.

The Prince of Wales is seeking 'to spread urgent optimism' about the climate crisis when he attends the global conference, which is due to take place in Belem on the Amazon delta, in November 2025.

There is speculation William could also stage his Earthshot Prize in the Brazilian city having spoken previously about taking the environmental awards to every corner of the Earth including China, India and South America.

The future king has already staged the 'green Oscars' in London, Boston and Singapore, and on Wednesday attended the ceremony hosted in Cape Town, the highlight of the prince's four-day visit to South Africa.

During his trip to the capital city, William candidly revealed it has been the 'hardest year in my life' following his wife and father's cancer diagnoses, adding that he was hugely 'proud' of them both for showing such dignity and bravery.

Prince William is pictured at the Earthshot Prize Awards looking suave in a grey chequered suit

The Princess of Wales speaks with members of the emergency services during a visit to Southport Community Centre in October 2024

Prince William speaks with fellow guests inside the Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony

A royal source said: 'This week, the Prince of Wales visited South Africa to spotlight African innovation and young people, as Earthshot hosted its fourth annual awards in Cape Town.

'Throughout his trip, the prince spoke about the importance of not losing sight of what needs to be done between now and 2030 - the Earthshot decade.

'His commitment to restoring the future of the planet is unwavering and the Prince is determined to do all he can to use his platform to spread urgent optimism.

'Next year, the Climate Cop will take place in Brazil and it's set to be hugely consequential.

'The Prince of Wales is looking forward to playing a role there.'

Cop30 will be a major gathering of world leaders, NGOs, policymakers, government representatives, activists and investors - all key stakeholders who the prince would probably like to attract to his awards.

Meanwhile, Cop29 is set to take place in a matter of days in Azerbaijan. It was revealed last month that King Charles will miss this year's climate summit meeting as he continues his cancer treatment.

As Prince of Wales, Charles delivered the opening speech at Cop21 in Paris in 2015, calling for a 'vast military-style campaign' to fight climate change and urging world leaders to commit 'trillions, not billions, of dollars'.

He played a vital role in convening and encouraging world leaders to sign up to the landmark Paris Climate Agreement at the event.

Charles also delivered a speech on home soil at the opening ceremony of Cop26 in Glasgow, calling on world leaders to adopt a 'warlike footing' to deal with the issue.

Hannah Jones, CEO of the Earthshot Prize, wearing a custom-made red velvet jacket and tulle skirt by Notting Hill designer Aimee Joyce, made from 'dead stock' material which would otherwise have been discarded (pictured with William)

The son of the late Steve Irwin, Robert Irwin, an Australian conservationist, also looked in high spirits as he stepped out in a crisp tuxedo at the Earthshot Prize awards

Prince William posed next to Robert Irwin and Nomzamo Mbatha on the green carpet

Prince William poses with the winners of the Earthshot Prize during the awards ceremony in Cape Town

Elsewhere, during a remarkably candid interview on Thursday, marking at end of his official visit to South Africa, the future king opened up about having the 'hardest year in my life' following his wife and father's cancer diagnoses.

William offered an deeply moving response after being asked how the past year had been for him as a husband, father and son,

Slightly sighing and lowering his voice, he said: 'Honestly? It's been dreadful. It's probably been the hardest year in my life. So, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult.

'But I'm so proud of my wife, I'm proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done.

'But from a personal family point of view, it's been, yeah, it's been brutal.'

Asked how is the princess is 'getting on', he smiled and said: 'She's doing well. Doing well.'

William added of his relaxed demeanour in Cape Town this week: 'It's interesting you say that, because I couldn't be less relaxed this year, so it's very interesting you're all seeing that.'

Earlier this week he praised Kate, who was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February and underwent a course of 'preventative chemotherapy', as having 'been amazing this whole year'.

She recently revealed that she has finished her chemotherapy treatment.

His father, King Charles, was diagnosed with cancer following routine prostate surgery in January - although the two are not said to be connected - and is still undergoing weekly treatment but has pleased doctors with his progress.

Prince William, wearing a Hackett polo shirt, and the Princess of Wales, wearing a Roman blue dress, appeared together in a video released by Kensington Palace in September

The Prince said his year has been 'dreadful' adding: 'It's probably been the hardest year in my life. So, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult.' (Pictured L-R: Prince Louis, Prince William, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte and Prince George)

William, 42, made clear that he intends to continue to plough a different furrow when it comes to his royal role and duties than that of this father and grandmother, for the time being at least.

He admitted that he doesn't necessarily like the extra responsibility that comes with his still relatively new role as Prince of Wales, but admits that it has given him the time and freedom to build huge global initiatives such as the Earthshot Prize and the chance to afford 'meaningful' change.

'You mention the added responsibility and the freedom in the same sentence,' he laughed.

'It's a tricky one. Do I like more responsibility? No.

'Do I like the freedom that I can build something like Earthshot then yes.

'And that's the future for me. It's very important with my role and my platform, that I'm doing something for good. That I'm helping people's lives and I'm doing something that is genuinely meaningful.'

William was speaking at a 'seaweed innovator showcase' where he picked up a pair of earrings made from 'beach cast kelp' to take home for his wife.

He sported a a blue blazer that he had sourced from a local vintage store in London as part of his effort to wear as many recycled or sustainable items of clothing as possible during the week.

He says what many people don't realise - or even want to realise - is how much work it takes behind the scenes to bring such a massive global initiative together outside of the day-to-day public engagements he is seen on.

William's father King Charles (pictured with Queen Camilla in Samoa in October) was diagnosed with cancer following routine prostate surgery in January - although the two are not said to be connected

'So, the Earthshot is a culmination if you like of all that put together. But it takes a lot of work, and there's a lot of unseen stuff that goes on, a lot of meetings, a lot of people coming in, a lot of chatting and phone calls, letters, all trying to sort of make the Earthshot get to being the best possible entity it can be,' he said.

The prince's 'green Oscars' were born out of his frustration at the 'global pessimism' around climate change and the environmental crisis.

He decided the best way to combat this was to help develop the most inspirational solutions to the biggest problems facing mankind.

Every year for a decade five winners will each receive a 1 million in prize money and mentoring to scale up their ideas.

This year's entrants have included everything from a firm making trainers from biodegradable material to a new technology capturing waste heat and turning it into electricity.

William admitted he can get frustrated at the slowness of getting people on board but feels that at last, four years in, he's finally seeing results.

'I'd like it to be more a team sport,' he said.

'And so, when you go and approach people...business...or even government...and say, listen, we're building this incredible thing. Please come on board. Some people are extremely fast and keen to it. Others take a little bit longer and it's those people who take a little bit longer, I'm like, guys, we just don't have the time.

'So, yes, I get a bit frustrated that it takes a long time to convince people that this is worthy of their attention. But I guess that's the nature of a global environment prize you do, you start from scratch and it's going to take a bit of time.'

But added that he was 'really pleased' with the progress they had made so far and was 'really thrilled' with Wednesday's live-streamed awards ceremony.

According to Prince William, 'from a personal family point of view, it's been brutal'

For the first time they have taken place in Africa, a continent with which he has a special bond having retreated there following the death of his mother, Princess Diana, and later proposed to his wife.

William admitted he felt 'emotional' about it, saying he felt particularly affected hearing the Disney Lion King anthem ' Circle of Life' being sung by an African choir to open the ceremony.

'Hearing the Circle of Life. I don't know about everyone else, but hearing the Lion King and things like that gets me quite emotional,' he admitted.

'So, when they started singing and I saw the clips from the top of Table Mountain and we were all there and it's happened. I did feel quite emotional.'

He said he wanted to translate the 'impact' of such an amazing ceremony into raising the visibility of the solutions that it is showcasing.

'So you guys have seen for yourselves the scale of the solutions. I mean, they cover all sectors in all walks of life. Brilliant people, some barely started, some been a bit more established and have a bit more money. But overall all doing fantastic work in the same direction,' he said.

'I think the key thing for us is how do we translate that into more impact, more scale, and ultimately, greater progress in tackling environmental challenges.'

And the prince said companies - and countries - all needed to do more.

The Prince (pictured) has been in South Africa over the last week, for his annual Earthshot Awards

He said: 'I definitely think so. We're giving this amazing platform to all of them. And really it's an amazing platform for business to come in and poach what they want.

'But if we keep waiting....we're going to keep eating into time that we just don't have.

'And so my message to business really is: hurry up and be courageous. Invest faster because we just don't have that time.'

The prince said he wasn't sure yet whether his children had been able to watch the ceremony on YouTube as he hadn't 'clocked in with them yet' but said he hoped they did.

He will be reunited with them at home on Friday before being back on duty this weekend alongside his family at a number of Remembrance events.
This is the shocking moment a thug pulled out a massive knife from his waistband as a man was stabbed in a 'vicious' attack in broad daylight.

The CCTV footage from November 7 shows the moment the man in black clothing pulled the knife from his trousers during an altercation in a street in Springfield, Birmingham.

The video starts with two people seemingly arguing in the middle of the street before they start throwing punches at one another.

A third person then joins the altercation before two of them start attacking the man, all the while cars keep driving past.

A third person then joins the altercation before two of them start attacking the man, all the while cars keep driving past.

The CCTV footage from November 7 shows the moment the man in black clothing pulled the knife from his trousers during an altercation in a street in Springfield

Meanwhile, a fourth man driving in all black starts running towards the group before pulling a knife out of his pants and the group become out of view of the camera.

The victim was knocked to the ground as he was wounded.

The video has been shared widely on social media while the police issued an appeal for a trio.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: 'We want to speak to this trio after a man was stabbed in a street in Springfield, Birmingham.

'A man in his 20s was taken to hospital after being attacked in Percy Road just after 1pm yesterday (7 November).

'Thankfully, his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

'Our investigators have been in the area carrying out house-to-house enquiries, and capturing CCTV to help us find those responsible.

'We're also aware of footage which has been circulating online and we've been reviewing this as part of our investigation.

'We're following active lines of enquiry to identify those involved and we're asking for anyone with information to contact us.'

The video starts with two people seemingly arguing in the middle of the street before they start throwing punches at one another

Police have now appealed for anyone who knows the three men to get in touch

The group then leaves the area leaving the victim, man in his 20s, with injuries not believed to be life-threatening

Detective Inspector Toni Holl, from the force's Criminal Investigation Department, said: 'This was a vicious attack, and it's lucky that the victim was not more seriously injured.

'We know there were people in the area at the time who have not yet spoken to us, and we'd ask them to come forward as soon as possible.

'Tackling knife crime is a priority for us and we have a team working to establish why this happened and who was involved.'

Anyone with information is urged to contact the force via Live Chat on its website, or by calling 101, and quote log 2234 of 7/11/24.
The sea of mud and stagnant water submerging Spanish towns more than 10 days after the country's worst floods in decades has sparked a sickening stench and health fears.

'That's the rotten meat,' said Toni Marco, pointing to a destroyed supermarket in the devastated town of Sedavi from which a disgusting odour wafted when AFP visited.

The meat was only removed recently, well after the floods cut the refrigerators' electricity supply, added Marco, a 40-year-old employee of a private cleaning company.

The nearby town of Catarroja also remains a mud bath after the October 29 disaster that has claimed 219 lives, with a powerful reek compounding the woes of survivors.

The diversity of matter decomposing under the mud produces a spectrum of smells ranging from the mildly unpleasant to the outright repulsive.

Mud and stagnant water submerging Spanish towns more than 10 days after the country's worst floods in decades has sparked a sickening stench

Matter decomposing under the mud produces a spectrum of smells

It is believed that dead animals may also lie buried under the mud

'Each decomposition of an element smells differently,' which explains why the odours vary from street to street, said Angel Aldehuela, a 51-year-old firefighter from the southern Seville region.

Dead animals may also lie buried under the mud, he said.

When the mud dries, the organic matter decomposes without oxygen and 'that's where those smells we're not used to start to appear,' explained Miguel Rodilla, a biologist at Valencia's Polytechnic University.

'There aren't necessarily bodies nearby, but simply organic matter decomposing.'

In scenes reminiscent of the Covid-19 pandemic, rescuers, volunteers and residents have worn face-masks and gloves during the clean-up, while some people have complained of the stink causing headaches and dizziness.

Breathing in the pestilential miasma 'isn't ideal for health', but 'higher concentrations' of decomposing matter would be necessary to make it toxic, said Rodilla.

Stagnant water can trigger gastrointestinal disorders or pneumonia, Health Minister Monica Garcia told public radio RNE, but she ruled out the possibility of an 'outbreak'.

The health board of the Valencia region, particularly crippled by the floods, has also reported no outbreak of infectious diseases or a major threat to public health.

Even so, regional health authorities have asked local councils to apply measures to control and prevent the proliferation of mosquitoes and other insects capable of spreading diseases.

A man walks over a mountain of scrap metal and personal belongings piled up on a street in Aldaia, in Valencia Spain, 08 November 2024

A woman looks up several cars piled up on a street in Paiporta, in Valencia, Spain

Residents look at cars piled up after being swept away by floods

People push a car to take it out from a flood damaged garage in Massanassa

Volunteers walk on a mud-covered street as they leave Massanassa

Aldehuela warned that the foetid fumes enveloping Catarroja 'will get worse, without a doubt', predicting they would linger for up to a week more.

But in towns where the muck has been cleared swiftly, an aroma of bread or fruit has replaced the stench, the head of the army's emergencies unit Javier Marcos said on Friday.

Hospitals in Valencia have been preparing for a wave of infections and illnesses linked to the stagnant flood water and stinking mud.

Experts have predicted that mosquito-borne diseases and skin infections will rise as the clean-up continues and are also sounding warnings about gastroenteritis and Hepatitis A linked to the consumption of contaminated drinking water.

The stagnant water has also been described as the 'perfect habitat' for the rapid rise in the number of cockroaches and rats.

It comes as Spaniards across the country plan to demonstrate against local, regional and national governments this weekend for their lack of preparedness and slow response to the catastrophic floods.

Protesters will also call for the resignation of the president of the Valencian province Carlos Mazon, who was pelted with mud last week by angry locals during a visit the flood-stricken town of Paiporta.

Mazon was accompanied by Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia, as well as Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez.

Crowds of furious valencians shouted 'murderers' and other insults at the royals as well as government officials during the visit, with police having to step in, with some officers on horseback to keep back the crowd of several dozens who hurled mud and waved shovels and poles threateningly in the air.
A chilling plot to assassinate Donald Trump was coordinated in revenge for the killing of Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani, the FBI has revealed.

The terrifying scheme, which was thwarted by the US intelligence service, involved three alleged hitmen who were hired by the feared Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to carry out a hit on the President-elect.

One of the would-be-assassins Farhad Shakeri, 51, claimed he was originally told to carry out killings against Iranian opposers in the US, before receiving new orders on October 7 - the anniversary of the Hamas attacks in Israel - to solely target Trump.

Shakeri, who has now been charged by officials, was ordered to come up with a kill plot in seven days, just a month before the election, but was unable to do so, according to court documents.

He explained he had been tasked with surveilling and killing Trump to avenge the devastating drone strike that killed Soleimani, the leader of Iran's elite Quds Force, in January 2020.

Three alleged hitmen have been charged over an attempted murder of Donald Trump ordered by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)

Pictures released by the Justice Department after the thwarted attempt on Trump's life

Pictures released by the DOJ show the cache of weapons the suspected hitmen had at their disposal

Shakeri - along with New Yorkers Carlisle Rivera, 49, and Jonathan Loadholt, 36, - are also accused of targeting an Iranian-American activist and were offered $500,000 to kill two Jewish businessmen living in the U.S.

He allegedly confessed to the FBI that the Iranians had been devoting as much money as possible to ensure efforts to kill Mr Trump were carried out. The other two men are both in US custody and made a court appearance in New York on Thursday.

Mr Trump has already survived two attempts on his life, including avoiding death by a fraction of an inch when he was shot in the ear at an election rally in Pennsylvania in July.

According to the criminal complaint against Shakeri, he allegedly disclosed the plot to assassinate Trump in telephone conversations with FBI agents in recent months.

Shakeri held the conversations with FBI agents because he was hoping to obtain a sentence reduction for a person who is imprisoned in the United States, it said.

Shakeri told the FBI he was approached by an IRGC official in September about organizing the assassination of Trump.

Shakeri reportedly told his spymasters Trump's assassination would cost a 'huge' amount of money, to which they allegedly replied: 'We have already spent a lot of money so the money's not an issue.'

FBI special agent Mathew Chrusz said this was understood to mean that the Iranians had previously spent a significant sum of money on efforts to murder Mr Trump.

On October 7, Shakeri said he was asked to come up with a plan to kill Trump within seven days.

Trump assassination attempt pictures released by the government

Trump has been a target of Iran assassination threats since he ordered the strike that killed Soleimani, the leader of the brutal Iranian Quds Forces

The IRGC official allegedly said that if Shakeri was unable to come up with a plan in that timeframe, the IRGC would seek to kill Trump after the election because it assessed he would lose and it would be easier to assassinate him after the vote.

The United States has repeatedly accused Iran of seeking to assassinate US officials in retaliation for the killing of Soleimani. Tehran has rejected the accusations.

Soleimani was known as a 62-year-old high-flying general and leader of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps who was behind proxy wars in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen.

He was one of the most ruthless commanders in the region who for years worked in the shadows but emerged in the spotlight following the Arab Spring and the war with the Islamic State. He's seen as the mastermind behind Iran's fight for regional dominance.

After months of tracking Soleimani, the second most powerful man in Iran, the plan to finally strike him was rolled out on January 3, 2020, after he disembarked of Cham Wings Airlines Flight 6Q501 that took off from Damascus and landed in Baghdad.

The plane landed at 12.36am and Soleimani disembarked with his entourage first. He was joined by Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the leader of several militia groups tied to Iran. In two cars they drove away from the airport while followed by American MQ-9 Reaper drones.

At 12.47pm several missiles fired into the vehicles, sending them up in flames and leaving 10 burnt bodies in their wake.

It's not precisely clear why he was in Iraq. Some theories say he was there as a part of an attack plot. Others say he was there to reduce tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Soleimani was known as a 62-year-old high-flying general and leader of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps

Iranian mourners gather during the final stage of funeral processions for slain top general Qasem Soleimani, in his hometown Kerman on January 7, 2020

A person looks at paintings depicting (R-L) Lebanon's Hezbollah late leader Hassan Nasrallah, Iranian slain General Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi slain Shiite militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis

Trump's would-be-assassin, Shakeri  an Afghan refugee granted asylum in America  was deported back to Iran in 2008 after serving a 14-year sentence for armed robbery in New York state prisons.

His brother Obed Rivera, also a felon jailed in 2002 for drug manufacture and distribution, living in South Carolina hung up when DailyMail.com called about his brother on Friday.

According to Mr Chrusz, he maintained an extensive prison contact base, recruiting two accomplices while serving time in the US for his crime.

Carlisle Rivera, 49, and Jonathan Loadholt, 36, were both in prison for violent offences, and both men have now been arrested and charged with offences relating to 'murder-for-hire'.

Rivera was convicted of second-degree murder in 1994 and met Shakeri when they were both at Fishkill Correctional Facility in Beacon, New York, in 2005 to 2007.

Shakeri told the FBI he met a senior member of the Revolutionary Guard through his work in Tehran in the 'oil and fuel businesses.'

The man was referred to by others around him as Majid Soleimani, but Shakeri said he has no way of knowing whether the man is connected to late Iranian military officer Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated under Trump's watch in 2020.

One of the weapons the hitmen allegedly bought for the assassination

The disturbing documents unsealed by the Department of Justice Friday revealed the arsenal of weapons the assassins had at their disposal and the texts messages they sent each other to concoct their deadly plan.

The trio also shared frightening voice messages, urging patience and detailing how they would follow their targets.

But Shakeri, having allegedly made admissions to US agents, is currently ensconced in the Iranian capital out of reach of American law enforcement.

Announcing the charges last night, US Attorney General Merrick Garland said: 'There are few actors in the world that pose as grave a threat to the national security of the United States as does Iran.

'The Justice Department has charged an asset of the Iranian regime who was tasked by the regime to direct a network of criminal associates to further Iran's assassination plots against its targets, including President-elect Donald J Trump.'

According to the FBI, the IRGC also tasked Shakeri with carrying out other assassinations against US and Israeli citizens in the United States.

Iranian-American activist Masih Alinejad said on Fox News Friday that she is the individual that was targeted for murder.

Shakeri told Rivera in a voice note when discussing the murder plot: 'You just gotta have patience  You gotta wait and have patience to catch her either going in the house or coming out, or following her out somewhere and taking care of it. Don't think about going in. In is a suicide move.'

Alinejad said she is 'grateful' to the FBI for informing her ahead of the Fairfield University event, which she skipped to 'project the students.'

'I don't want to die. I want to be alive to see the end of this regime,' Alinejad added.

Trump celebrates his election victory on Wednesday morning with wife Melania and 18-year-old son Barron

Trump rises from the stage with his fist in the air after the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July

This comes shortly after Trump said he would blow Iran 'to smithereens' if he was back at the helm of the oval office last September.

It came as a former head of MI6 has told Europe to wake up and 'smell the coffee' about its need to protect the continent following Mr Trump's presidential victory.

Sir Alex Younger said subsequent generations would not easily forgive the political leaders of this era should they fail to take remedial action.

Speaking on Radio 4's Today programme yesterday, he said: 'Trump is disdainful of alliances, he takes a highly transactional approach to them. The security guarantee we have enjoyed for 80 years, since the Second World War, is obviously going to have to change.'

In his first call with Volodymyr Zelensky since winning the election, Mr Trump invited tech billionaire Elon Musk to join the conversation.

It is the latest indication that Mr Musk will play a prominent role in Mr Trump's administration. It remained unclear last night what the Ukrainian president made of the move, as he has previously clashed with Mr Musk.

Shakeri told Rivera in a voice note when discussing the murder plot: 'You just gotta have patience  You gotta wait and have patience to catch her either going in the house or coming out, or following her out somewhere and taking care of it. Don't think about going in. In is a suicide move.'

Alinejad said she is 'grateful' to the FBI for informing her ahead of the Fairfield University event, which she skipped to 'project the students.'

'I don't want to die. I want to be alive to see the end of this regime,' Alinejad added.
Labour have seemingly paved the way for the introduction of a four-day work week after the government dropped opposition to the implementation of the much-debated policy.

The then-ruling Conservative Party had voiced its objection to the changing of working patterns in 2023, but last month Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner told the House of Commons that a four-day week would be 'no threat to the economy'.

Tory objections had arisen following South Cambridgeshire District Council's trialing of the policy. However, having continued its implementation past the trial's end date in March this year, Labour have decided not to reissue the disapproval notice previously served by the Conservatives.

The news comes as London's transport authority is understood to be considering proposals from tube drivers over the enactment of a 35-hour four-day work week.

A letter received by the Cambridgeshire authority on Friday from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government said that councils would be 'rightly responsible for the management and organisation of their own workforces'.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner (pictured) has voiced her belief that a four-day work week would be 'no threat to the economy'

South Cambridgeshire District Council had continued on the implementation of the four-day work week following an initial trial period

Conservative ministers had voiced concern with South Cambridgeshire District Council's four-day work week in formal notices issued in both 2023 and 2024.

These concerns included fears that the new working arrangements could impact its delivery of the Best Value Duty and that the council would be unable to ensure it is effectively supporting the continuous betterment of the local area should its capacity be reduced by up to a fifth.

In the new letter issued by the Deputy Director of Local Government Stewardship Max Soule, it was revealed that whilst the government does not harbour an official policy of instating a four-day week for five days of pay, that it does recognise the rights of independent employers to manage their own workforces.

The leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, councillor Bridget Smith, said that her authority had provided government with 'around 200 pieces of raw data every single week' in support of the four-day week's productivity and viability.

Speaking to the results of her council's trialing of the reduced working week, Councillor Smith stated: 'The results from our four-day week trial painted a really positive picture, with many of our services improving.

'This was along with the hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayer money we saved, improved recruitment and retention plus incredibly significant positives around health and wellbeing'.

The council added that included in staff's revised terms is the expectation that 100 per cent of their previous workload would be carried out in 80 per cent of their contracted hours for 100 per cent of their pay, with no changes to council opening hours.

New Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch last month questioned the acceptability of a four-day work week in the House of Commons

Members of Aslef were due to walk out on Thursday and again next Tuesday - which would have crippled Tube services. But the industrial action was called off after a new offer was received from Transport for London

New Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch last month questioned the acceptability of a four-day work week, but this sentiment was quashed by the Deputy Prime Minister, who told the opposition that she would not 'dictate' to councils how they run their services.

Ms Rayner went on to state: 'We work with councils and I think (Ms Badenoch) should be able to work out that flexible working is no threat to business, no threat to the economy, in fact, it would boost productivity'.

The four-day work policy received a further boost this week when it emerged that Transport for London (TFL) would work towards the Aslef Union's proposal of a reduced work week for tube drivers in a bid to avert the mass striking of staff.

In a letter seen by the BBC, TFL has stated its intention to set out a 'proposal of delivering an average four-day working week' by January.

A TFL spokesperson reacted by saying: 'Discussions are ongoing and there will be no reduction in contractual hours.

'As with any proposal, there are still details that need to be worked through and any changes would need to be mutually beneficial, preserving or improving the reliability of our service for our customers and improving efficiency'.
Kensington Palace has released a slick new video of showcasing the Prince of Wales' recent trip to South Africa for the Earthshot Prize awards.

The future king jetted off to the country's capital of Cape Town earlier this week for a week of events, culminating with the fourth annual environmental awards ceremony on Wednesday.

William was joined by a small camera crew, who documented his four day trip that also included a meeting with the prime minister, Cyril Ramaphosa and a walkabout with nature conservationist Steve Irwin's son.

It has now been made into a heartwarming film showcasing the inspirational young minds and local communities of the African nation that William encountered during his time there.

Cut with eloquent shots of the Prince speaking candidly and smiling with youngsters, celebrities and environmentalists, the short documentary follows other recent videos that have shared an intimate glimpse into the Royals' lives.

A shot of Prince William delivering a speech at the Earthshot Prize awards in Cape Town taken from a slick new video of showcasing his recent trip to South Africa

Prince William speaks to youngsters participating in the inaugural Earthshot Prize Climate Leaders Youth Programme

Prince William pictured during a walkabout with nature conservationist Steve Irwin's son

The video showed shots of William arriving into Cape Town on Monday, as he was seen disembarking a plane dressed in a suit before speaking at an event with

During an off-the-cuff speech, the Prince told the 120 youngsters participating in the inaugural Earthshot Prize Climate Leaders Youth Programme that they are 'going to change the world'.

Later in the day, the future king joined children from Ocean View Secondary School taking part in a training session along with a number of South African legends including 'The Beast' Tendai Mtawarira and Joel Stransky.

On Tuesday, William went on a walk up Signal Hill with Australian conservationist Robert Irwin, the 20-year-old son of the late Steve Irwin.

And Irwin later tweeted a video of him with William, in which he asked the prince what his 'favourite African animal' was.

William replied: 'Oh, it's a tough question, it's a really tough question. My children ask me this regularly. I think I'm going to have to say the cheetah. Fantastic animal.' Irwin then said his favourite was the chameleon.

The prince also spoke with park rangers, firefighters, mountain rescue volunteers, biodiversity experts and youth volunteers in front of the scenic backdrop.

Later that day, William gave a speech at the start of a two-day summit for United for Wildlife, his umbrella organisation combating the illegal trafficking of animals.

The video showed shots of William arriving into Cape Town on Monday, as he was seen disembarking a plane dressed in a suit before speaking at an event with

Prince William speaks to youngsters participating in the inaugural Earthshot Prize Climate Leaders Youth Programme

Prince William speaks to youngsters participating in the inaugural Earthshot Prize Climate Leaders Youth Programme

Prince William speaks to youngsters participating in the inaugural Earthshot Prize Climate Leaders Youth Programme

Prince William speaks to youngsters participating in the inaugural Earthshot Prize Climate Leaders Youth Programme

Prince William speaks to youngsters participating in the inaugural Earthshot Prize Climate Leaders Youth Programme

Prince William taking part in a training session along with a number of South African legends including 'The Beast' Tendai Mtawarira and Joel Stransky

Prince William poses with youngsters participating in the inaugural Earthshot Prize Climate Leaders Youth Programme

William then joined glamorous guests on Wednesday at the annual Earthshot Awards prize ceremony.

The awards were held in a reusable eco 'super dome' with a green carpets for guests who include host Billy Porter and models Heidi Klum and Winnie Harlow.

The five winning organisations were chosen from nearly 2,500 nominees across 75 countries.

The Prince looked suave in a grey chequered blazer, crisp blue shirt and navy suit trousers, complete with a casual pair of gleaming eco-friendly white trainers.

During the event he candidly revealed it has been the 'hardest year in my life' following his wife and father's cancer diagnoses, adding that he was hugely 'proud' of them both for showing such dignity and bravery.

On the final day of his visit, William travelled by boat to the picturesque fishing village of Kalk Bay to see the work of Abalobi, a 2023 Earthshot prize finalist which works with local fishermen to categorise and track their hauls.

He was met with shouts of 'We love you, William' and met Abalobi co-founder Serge Raemaekers who introduced the Prince to local fishermen and a team of fisherwomen involved in the Abalobi monitoring programme.

Following from the trip, it was revealed today that William is 'looking forward' to 'playing a role' at the Cop30 UN climate change conference in Brazil next year, a royal source has revealed.

William went on a walk up Signal Hill with Australian conservationist Robert Irwin , the 20-year-old son of the late Steve Irwin

William prepares to give a speech at the start of a two-day summit for United for Wildlife, his umbrella organisation combating the illegal trafficking of animals

Prince William then joined glamorous guests on Wednesday at the annual Earthshot Awards prize ceremony

The winners of the annual Earthshot Awards prize ceremony pose of the green carpet

The Prince of Wales is seeking 'to spread urgent optimism' about the climate crisis when he attends the global conference, which is due to take place in Belem on the Amazon delta, in November 2025.

There is speculation William could also stage his Earthshot Prize in the Brazilian city having spoken previously about taking the environmental awards to every corner of the Earth including China, India and South America.

A royal source said: 'This week, the Prince of Wales visited South Africa to spotlight African innovation and young people, as Earthshot hosted its fourth annual awards in Cape Town.

'Throughout his trip, the prince spoke about the importance of not losing sight of what needs to be done between now and 2030 - the Earthshot decade.

'His commitment to restoring the future of the planet is unwavering and the Prince is determined to do all he can to use his platform to spread urgent optimism.

'Next year, the Climate Cop will take place in Brazil and it's set to be hugely consequential.

'The Prince of Wales is looking forward to playing a role there.'

Cop30 will be a major gathering of world leaders, NGOs, policymakers, government representatives, activists and investors - all key stakeholders who the prince would probably like to attract to his awards.

Meanwhile, Cop29 is set to take place in a matter of days in Azerbaijan. It was revealed last month that King Charles will miss this year's climate summit meeting as he continues his cancer treatment.

As Prince of Wales, Charles delivered the opening speech at Cop21 in Paris in 2015, calling for a 'vast military-style campaign' to fight climate change and urging world leaders to commit 'trillions, not billions, of dollars'.

He played a vital role in convening and encouraging world leaders to sign up to the landmark Paris Climate Agreement at the event.

Charles also delivered a speech on home soil at the opening ceremony of Cop26 in Glasgow, calling on world leaders to adopt a 'warlike footing' to deal with the issue.

Hannah Jones, CEO of the Earthshot Prize, wearing a custom-made red velvet jacket and tulle skirt by Notting Hill designer Aimee Joyce, made from 'dead stock' material which would otherwise have been discarded (pictured with William)

The son of the late Steve Irwin, Robert Irwin, an Australian conservationist, also looked in high spirits as he stepped out in a crisp tuxedo at the Earthshot Prize awards

Prince William posed next to Robert Irwin and Nomzamo Mbatha on the green carpet

Prince William poses with the winners of the Earthshot Prize during the awards ceremony in Cape Town

Model Heidi Klum looked effortlessly fashionable in a tangerine one-sleeved frock

Elsewhere, during a remarkably candid interview on Thursday, marking at end of his official visit to South Africa, the future king opened up about having the 'hardest year in my life' following his wife and father's cancer diagnoses.

William offered an deeply moving response after being asked how the past year had been for him as a husband, father and son,

Slightly sighing and lowering his voice, he said: 'Honestly? It's been dreadful. It's probably been the hardest year in my life. So, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult.

'But I'm so proud of my wife, I'm proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done.

'But from a personal family point of view, it's been, yeah, it's been brutal.'

Asked how is the princess is 'getting on', he smiled and said: 'She's doing well. Doing well.'

William added of his relaxed demeanour in Cape Town this week: 'It's interesting you say that, because I couldn't be less relaxed this year, so it's very interesting you're all seeing that.'

Earlier this week he praised Kate, who was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February and underwent a course of 'preventative chemotherapy', as having 'been amazing this whole year'.

She recently revealed that she has finished her chemotherapy treatment.
A 15-year-old British girl is fighting for her life after a paraglider crashed into her while she was having lunch on a family holiday in Turkey.

Lily Nichol's mother thought she was dead after the freak accident which left the little girl in intensive care at Letoon Hospital in Fethiye, Turkey.

She was sitting at a table when she was 'wiped out'. She was meant to fly home to Newcastle yesterday but is currently in hospital suffering from several injuries.

The little girl has a broken jaw, broken ribs, a bleed on her brain and possibly a broken back.

Her mother Lyndsey, from Durham, said it was her 'worst nightmare' when her daughter was sat at the table eating pizza when she 'face-planted', falling unconscious and suffering a stroke.

Lily Nichol, 15, has a broken jaw, broken ribs, a bleed on her brain and possibly a broken back

Lily was sat at the table when she 'face-planted', falling unconscious and suffering a stroke

Lily's mother thought she was dead after the freak accident which left the little girl in intensive care at Letoon Hospital in Fethiye, Turkey (pictured)

However the family holiday with Lily and her sister Megan, 19, didn't include travel insurance and she has been left with a massive hospital bill.

The mother-of-two has set up a GoFundMe to help pay the 7,000 bill. It has already racked up 5,768 in just 21 hours.

She told The Sun: 'I thought she was dead, I thought she was dead, I was screaming.

'I was like where's the ambulance and I was like 'Lily keep talking to us, keep talking to us'.'

Lyndsey was furious to see the paraglider allegedly joking and drinking with his friends after colliding into her youngest daughter.

She added: 'I just never want to go on holiday again I don't think. I just want to wrap her round in cotton wool.'

On top of the bill, she is having to fork out for their hotel and taxis to and from the hospital to stay close to her daughter.
A disgruntled Boomer has questioned whether people across the country are 'sick of everything American' as they launched a passionate defence of Australian culture.

The Aussie took to reddit on Saturday to lash out at the influence of US culture following the extensive media coverage and attention placed on the presidential election throughout the previous week.

'Is anyone else sick of everything American?' the person titled their post.

The individual went on to lament the loss of Aussie culture and claimed the younger generation was increasingly abandoning the lifestyle they grew up with.

'All the talk of the American election has probably tipped me over the edge, but I feel it has been building for a while,' they wrote.

'I'm middle aged and back in the 80s and 90s we seemed to have our own [Australian] culture that was only getting stronger.

'In the last 20 years that's been unwound and we seem more like little America.'

The person complained about McDonald's and 7/11 stores now on 'every corner' in most cities across the country and how even the Australian accent was changing.

The Aussie took to reddit on Saturday (pictured) to lash out at the influence of US culture following the extensive media coverage and attention placed on the presidential election

A disgruntled Aussie has questioned whether people across the country are 'sick of everything American' as they launched a passionate defence of Aussie culture (pictured: Americans celebrating Independence Day in the US)

The individual even claimed the cultural influence has extended to the way Aussies sing, which they said is often done 'with an American accent'.

'When is enough enough?' they wrote.

Hundreds took to the comments to argue over the declaration.

'Yeah I'm over it ... I honestly feel like Australia has no identity and we are just a copy of the USA, just without the guns,' one person wrote.

'I hate it! My nephews are 10, 13 and 17 and didn't know what a slippery dip or a serviette was,' another person wrote.

'Yeah I'm a Zoomer and am sick of Americanism, a third chimed in.

Others were more accepting of the influence of American culture across Australia and said there are a lot of similarities between the two nations.

'Australia is still a young anglophone country, and the US is the most successful anglophone country ... It's not surprising that we follow their cultural lead,' one person wrote.

'It is what it is. It's not just Australia that is exposed to the increasing influence of Americanism and their politics. The same is happening in Europe,' another person wrote.

'It's a global world and America exports a lot of culture. America's presidency will also effect their allied nations, which we are one of,' a third added.

Some frustrated commenters said Australia can do without the addition of many foreign traditions such as Halloween and increasingly large 'pick-up' style trucks.

Hundreds of commenters expressed their views of the person's passionate argument to do more to preserve Aussie culture (pictured Aussies celebrating Australia Day on the Gold Coast)

The social media user referenced how dozens of McDonalds and 7/11 stores are on 'every corner' of suburban streets across the country (pictured stock image)

One American commenter flipped the discussion and said Aussies should abandon their interest and fascination with the the United States.

'As an American, I couldn't agree with you more. Australians are way too vested in all things American,' the person wrote.

Dozens of American companies have a large footprint in Australia, which has helped facilitate the growth and influence of American culture and way of life.

Recent figures revealed Netflix Australia has more than six million subscribers with the platform in Australia worth more than $1billion as of 2022.

The United States is also a vital trade and security partner for Australia.

The US goods and services trade was worth around $77billion in 2022 according to figures by the Office of the United States Trade Representative.

Australia is also tied to the US as a close security partner, which has been enshrined for decades longer courtesy of the AUKUS agreement.

The trilateral agreement also includes the United Kingdom.

The $368billion pact will see Australia acquire nuclear powered submarines to bolster its presence across the Asia Pacific region.
It is a quintessentially British affair, the Lord Mayors Show  long on tradition and pageantry, proudly trumpeted as the worlds least-rehearsed civic procession, and guaranteed to bring the streets of central London grinding to a pomp-and-circumstance halt.

This years edition was no exception, with thousands converging on the capital to witness the inauguration of the Citys new Lord Mayor, Alistair King, a 56-year-old financier and asset manager from Cambridge.

The annual show dates back to 1215, when King John, having allowed the City of London to appoint its own mayor in the forlorn hope of garnering support for his troubled reign, decreed that each new holder of the position should travel to Westminster and swear an oath of loyalty.

Following in the footsteps of his 695 predecessors, King donned the traditional red robes and black feathered hat before boarding the golden state carriage first used in 1757 for the procession from Mansion House, the Lord Mayors official residence, to the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand.

There are some peculiarities to the role, but it just differentiates it, said King, who sees the event as a bridge between Londons past and present. It sticks it in people's minds.

This years parade, which offered frequent nods to Kings Scottish ancestry, involved some 7,000 participants  military pipers, marching bands, wicker giants and even robotic dogs  as well as 250 horses and more than 100 floats.

The City of Londons new Lord Mayor, Alistair King, doffs his black feathered cap to members of the public who lined the streets for the historic procession

Pigs might fly: Members of the Worshipful Company of Paviors, a livery company with medieval roots, take part in the Lord Mayor's Show

The parade featured countless vibrant flourishes, including this performer in a multi-coloured, peacock-like costume

Members of the British Armed Forces brought colour and ceremony to the occasion

A group of Chinese dancers in vibrant green and gold costumes twirl dragon ribbons

King, a 56-year-old financier and asset manager from Cambridge, leans from the golden state carriage that was first used in 1757

King is proud of his Scottish heritage and there was plenty of tartan and bagpipes

From the timing of the procession to its personnel there was, as always, a strong military flavour to the show

Military drummers wearing poppies are seen performing as they make their way from Mansion House, where the procession begins, towards the Royal Courts of Justice

The annual show dates back to 1215, when King John decreed that each new Mayor of the Square Mile should travel to Westminster and swear an oath of loyalty

The wonderful array of performers at the Lord Mayor's Show brought colour and skill to the occasion, which began 808 years ago

Thousands converged on the capital to participate in the revelry, some even spraying confetti to add to the celebratory atmosphere

There was no shortage of pomp and circumstance at the world's most historic civic procession

There are some peculiarities to the role, but it just differentiates it, said King, who sees the event as a bridge between Londons past and present

The gleaming golden state carriage makes its way past St Paul's Cathedral towards the Strand

The Architects' Company, a modern livery company that celebrates the global architectural profession, has long been a fixture at the Lord Mayor's Show and was once again present

An artist showcases his skill near Mansion House, the starting point for the procession

Dancers are seen adding another touch of flamboyance and animation to the parade

No one could resist sharing a smile, such was the joyous nature of the occasion

King said the sense of tradition surrounding Lord Mayor's Show 'sticks it in people's minds

Many of those involved in the pageantry were understandably eager to capture their contribution for the family album

The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress receive a blessing on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral
November 9, 2024: Russian forces in Ukraine have, over the last few months, been suffering ammunition shortages and increasingly unreliable railroad deliveries. Part of the reason for this was the August 2nd Ukrainian attack into Kursk province. The Ukrainians destroyed several key bridges during their incursion and Russia has not been able to assemble the materials and manpower to make repairs. The Russian railroad system is also in bad shape. Over two years of economic sanctions sidelined hundreds of locomotives and reduced track and signal system maintenance. One thing that increased was Ukrainian sabotage efforts against Russian railroads. The sabotage is often carried out by Russians fed up with Putins foolish and costly war. Russia has been arresting, prosecuting and jailing some of these saboteurs. This does not appear to diminish the number of sabotage incidents.

For the first time since Russia invaded, Ukrainian forces are firing more artillery shells than the Russians. Russia is more dependent on railroads than other industrialized nations. Thats because Russia never built a large network of highways. It was too expensive. Instead long-distance commercial and military land transportation was handled by the government owned and operated railroad. There are 128,000 kilometers of track on which 800,000 uniformed railroad workers operate over 19,000 locomotives and over 800,000 railway cars. In addition there are 65,000 kilometers of private railways built, maintained and used by various industries.

Russia has lost a growing number of employees to recruiters for the military. Despite the importance of the railroads, the Russian military will grab any military age railway workers it can and turn them into soldiers for the Ukraine conflict. The government also uses fake ads seeking workers for the railroads. Those who respond are then easier to grab and put into the army. Several million Russians have left the country to avoid military service. Many of these men have completed their one year of conscript service and dont want to be forcibly mobilized into the military to die in Ukraine. The end result is a railroad labor shortage.

The most recent railroad crisis is a shortage of ball bearings. Since 2019 there has been a decline in ball bearing production which has, in the last year, been overcome. There are still ball bearing shortages and the sanctions imposed on Russia makes it more difficult for them to get all they need. Ball bearings are used in everything that moves on wheels as well as most machinery with moving parts. Ball bearings come in different sizes and degrees of durability. Railroad ball bearings are among the most durable, come in several different sizes and require regular maintenance, especially lubrications, to continue functioning efficiently.

Ukrainian sabotage teams in Russian territory disrupt railroad movement by damaging key elements of the railroad signals and communications systems. This makes the railroads less reliable and often leads to accidents that derail supply trains and block further use of that line until the wreckage is removed and the rails are repaired. Ukraine has even been able to get operatives deep inside Russia to damage the Trans-Siberian Railroad, which is currently used to move weapons and munitions and North Korean soldiers from North Korea to Ukraine.

Ukraine continues to concentrate on Russian logistics, using long range missiles and GPS guided aircraft bombs to destroy Russian supplies that have been stockpiled for troops to use. Russia responded by moving the stockpiled supplies farther from the front lines and, when possible, storing them in underground bunkers. Such bunkers are great in theory, but in practice there are not many of these bunkers and supply stockpiles often end up out in the open, on pallets and covered by tarps.

Meanwhile, the railroad situation in Ukraine is not ideal. Ukraine and the NATO countries have different gauge railroads. Europe uses what is known as Standard Gauge. Gauge means the distance between the two rails. Standard gauge rails are 1,455mm apart. The Russian gauge is wider with the rails 1,524mm apart. Until 1991 Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union which means Ukrainian railroads are Russian gauge. To deal with this problem, Ukraine is building a transshipment point in the west Ukraine town of Uzhhorod which is on the border with Slovakia and near the Hungarian border. Here there are cranes that will quickly lift standard cargo containers from Russian gauge flatcars and load the containers onto European Standard Gauge flatcars. Passenger trains have a similar arrangement where passengers can disembark and walk a short distance to trains with a different gauge.

Ukraine plans to build some European Gauge rail lines to major transportation centers in several Ukrainian cities. Eventually Ukraine wants to convert all its major rail lines to Standard gauge. This will make it easier to handle trade with Europe. If theres another war with Russia, the Russians will not have all those Russian gauge rail lines available to quickly move troops and supplies into Ukraine on Russian gauge railroads. Instead, the Russians will have to use roads or capture Ukrainian railroad engines along with passenger, cargo, and flatcars so they can use Ukrainian European Standard gauge railroads.
A man has been arrested after an American nurse was found dead after disappearing in Europe.

Mackenzie Michalski, 31, was traveling in Budapest, Hungary, and was last seen at a nightclub on Tuesday before her body was later discovered.

Police reported seeing 'several suspicious circumstances' about her disappearance. They later identified a man as having been seen with her in several clubs that night.

The 37-year-old Irish man was interviewed by police, during which he admitted to the crime and showed them where he hid her body.

Mackenzie Michalski, 31, had gone to Hungary as a tourist and was last seen at a nightclub on Tuesday before her body was eventually found

A Facebook group with community members, friends and family was created for a collective effort to find Mackenzie.

On behalf of her family this statement was released on the group: 'Dear members of our community, we are deeply saddened to confirm a report published by Hungarian police announcing the death of our beloved Kenzie.'

The statement further thanked the efforts of everyone including strangers abroad and officials across the world for getting involved in helping find Mackenzie.

'Kenzie will forever be remembered as a beautiful and compassionate young woman who dedicated herself to caring for others and making the world a better place.

'As a nurse practitioner, Kenzie used her humor, positivity, and limitless empathy to help heal her patients and encourage family and friends alike.'

Mackenzie had last been seen at a club in the Jewish Quarter of Budapest, according to her GoFundMe page, after her friends had received pictures from her in the bar.

A 37-year-old Irish man was interviewed by police, during which he admitted to the crime and showed them where he hid her body

Since then, family or friends hadn't been able to reach her, and her belongings were found in the Airbnb she was staying in.

Mackenzie also then missed her flight from Hungary to Amsterdam which was on her route back home.

The group of friends had been traveling for a birthday trip, according to fellow traveler and friend, Gretchen Tower, reported WKBW.

Tower was also one of the last people to see Mackenzie on their Europe tour trip, and Hungary was their last stop.

'We had a great three days in Hungary. Exploring, eating, walking the city,' she told the outlet.

The two said their goodbyes on Monday, Tower recalled: 'She walked me downstairs out of the Airbnb, we hugged goodbye, we said our I love yous, I went to the airport.'

Friend and fellow traveler, Gretchen Tower, said the group had been traveling together and when she lost contact with Mackenzie Tower was the one who reported her missing

Tower was on her way to Italy to visit some other friends and Mackenzie stayed behind for one more night in Budapest.

'She was at a bar in the Jewish ruin district having a glass of wine, looked like she was having dinner,' said Tower.

The two exchanged text messages before Mackenzie's disappearance. Tower said she had responded to a message at around 12.45 Tuesday morning, but Mackenzie never responded.

Police investigators reporting seeing 'several suspicious circumstances' about her disappearance

It wasn't until Tower got a notification from the Airbnb alerting her that Mackenzie had never checked out that Tower became concerned.

'I started to worry, and I messaged and said, "This is completely uncharacteristic of her, she would never do this, I don't know what's going on,' Tower told the outlet.

When Tower had still heard nothing from Mackenzie later that day, she reported her missing to the US Embassy.

After countless efforts to find her from across the world, Mackenzie's family were eventually informed her body had been found.

Police arrested the 37-year-old Irish man outside an apartment complex after he was identified with security footage.

In a statement released from Hungarian police, Belfast Live reported that officials said: 'Investigators from the Life Protection Department interrogated the Irish man as a suspect for the crime of murder, who gave a statement and also showed the police where he hid the woman's body. He was taken into custody and his arrest is initiated.'

According to her father, Bill Michalski, members of the family including her mother traveled to Budapest 'holding a light for our daughter Mackenzie'.

A GoFundMe was created to help fund the search for Mackenzie, raising over $36,000 for the cause.

Candlelight vigils in Budapest and New York will be held for Mackenzie Saturday evening where friends and family can come together to remember her.

'We are thankful that Kenzies soul is now at peace. Her memory and legacy will endure in the hearts of all whom shes touched,' a representative of the family wrote.

'To understand Kenzies spirit is to wholeheartedly embrace the vast joy and wonder of life. Her wish for the world: fully embrace the present moment, be your authentic self, practice kindness, and always walk in the light.'
Donald Trump promised to get busy remaking the US from his first day in office after his election victory over Kamala Harris.

Many policies on his wide-reaching agenda, though radical, cover bread-and-butter issues like immigration, the economy, and education.

He vowed mass deportations for undocumented migrants and asylum-seekers, a purge of what he believes is a hostile public service, and wide-ranging tariffs on China and other nations.

But Trump also made other promises from the unconventional to the bizarre that he may or may not implement, but will certainly be talking points from day one.

Donald Trump declares victory over Kamala Harris in the 2024 election

Declassifying JFK assassination files

The assassination of President John F Kennedy in Dallas on November 22, 1963, has fascinated the American public for decades - even after the Warren Commission ruled shooter Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone.

The secrecy around the investigation and claims of other gunmen and plots by the CIA, Cuba, and the Soviets fueled persistent conspiracy theories.

In 1992, a law was brought in which declared that all the documents about the assassination should be made publicly available by 2017, by which time Trump was in the White House.

About 320,000 files were supposed to be released, but the law allowed officials to postpone some of them on privacy and national security grounds.

Trump delayed the release of some documents until 2021 for those reasons, and released another 19,045 in 2018 with redactions.

President John F Kennedy was gunned down in Dallas on November 22, 1963. This is his motorcade minutes before he was shot

The Warren Commission ruled shooter Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, but there are persistent conspiracy theories

Joe Biden again delayed the release of those files, but made about 13,000 more public over the course of his presidency so far.

But after securing the endorsement of Robert F Kennedy Jr, who is JFK's nephew, Trump promised to make all the rest public and pledged to do so 'early' in his presidency.

'This is a tribute in honor of Bobby. I will establish a new independent presidential commission on assassination attempts, and they will be tasked with releasing all of the remaining documents pertaining to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy,' he said at a rally in Phoenix in August.

RFK Jr believes the CIA was involved in his uncle's murder and wants the files made public to prove it.

Trump said the new commission would investigate all presidential assassination attempts, including his own.

After securing the endorsement of Robert F Kennedy Jr, who is JFK's nephew, Trump promised to make all the rest of the documents public

He reiterated his plan to release the JFK documents on a podcast with right wing personality Lex Fridman on September 3.

'They also are pushing me on Kennedy, and I did release a lot, but I had people come to me and beg me not to do it. But I'll be doing that very early on,' he said.

'Kennedy's interesting because it's so many years ago. They do that for danger too, because it endangers certain people, etc etc.'

Trump previously said he got a lot of pushback in his efforts to declassify the files when he was president.

Gerald Posner, who wrote the 1993 Kennedy assassination book Case Closed, said wasn't so sure Trump would follow through.

'You had an opportunity to do it, you said you were going to do it, and you didn't do it,' he told the Washington Post.

'Now, with the RFK Jr endorsement, maybe that's a quid pro quo, and maybe this time he'll actually do it.'

Exposing the 'truth' about UFOs

Trump claims the question he is asked most about his time in office is what he learned about extraterrestrial contact.

He was asked on the Lex Fridman podcast if he would 'help push the Pentagon to release more footage (of UFOs), which a lot of people claim is available'.

'Oh yeah, sure, I'll do that. I would do that. I'd love to do that. I have to do that,' he replied.

Trump's comment, along with his history of giving credence to UFO theories, sparked excitement about what he would expose.

UFO 'expert' Nick Pope claimed there was a 'strong possibility of bombshell UFO information being released' next year.

'It's the perfect storm: a maverick, populist President in his second term, and  thus  not up for re-election,' he told The Mirror.

'For those in the UFO community who believe there's been a decades-long conspiracy to cover up the truth about an alien presence, Trump in his second term offers the best-ever hope for pushing back against the Deep State and delivering Disclosure.

'I believe Trump views the subject in the same way as he views the JFK files, where, if there's top secret information still being withheld, it should be declassified and released.'

Trump has on several occasions claimed American military pilots shared UFO sightings with him that they couldn't explain.

'I have met with pilots... they are not conspiratorial, they are not crazy, and they tell me stories that they've seen things that you wouldn't believe,' he said in June.

He told influencer Logan Paul that he believed there was something out there.

'It's very possible there is something. And why wouldn't there be? You look at the universe and you see all of the different planets and you see... look, here we are, one relatively small planet.

'Why wouldn't there be, on a planet that's 400 times the size? Why wouldn't there be something, somebody?'

This position is still very different to believing aliens have actually visited Earth, and the CIA's official position is still that they have not.

Trump elaborated on his UFO thoughts in his podcast with Joe Rogan, again citing conversations with pilots

Trump elaborated on his UFO thoughts in his podcast with Joe Rogan, again citing conversations with pilots.

'I interviewed a few people, it's never been my thing, I have to be honest. I have never been a believer,' he said.

'So I interviewed jet pilots that say they saw something. If you saw them you'd love to have them [on your show]...that were solid people, perfect, great pilots, everything.

'And they said, 'we saw things sir that were very strange, like a round ball that wasn't a comet or meteor, it was something and it was going four times faster than an F22, which is a very fast plane.

'And it was round, which in theory is a great shape [for flying].'

Trump added that while the sighted UFOs 'could be' drones or Chinese spy balloons, he remained swayed by the eyewitness accounts of the fighter pilots he spoke to.

He added: [They are] solid, beautiful people. [They said] this is something sir, this is something. They're not conspiracy guys.'

Releasing the 'Epstein files'

Many Trump fans, including Elon Musk, want him to release all documents relating to the investigation of billionaire child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

Epstein, who hung himself in jail, flew numerous well-heeled friends to his private Caribbean island, Little Saint James, where some of them sexually abused children.

The billionaire was known to have many famous friends and acquaintances in Hollywood, politics, and business, and many Americans want to know their level of involvement in his dealings.

Some documents became public last year from a defamation case with his alleged victim Virginia Roberts in 2015, but no one famous was incriminated.

There are rumors of a 'client list' but it has never been proved to actually exist.

Many Trump fans, including Elon Musk, want him to release all documents relating to the investigation of billionaire child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein (pictured in jail)

Trump was asked abut released Epstein-related documents during the Fridman podcast, including if the supposed 'client list' would be made public.

'It's very interesting, isn't it? It probably will be, by the way, probably,' he said.

'I'd certainly take a look at it. Now... Kennedy is very different from the Epstein thing but I'd be inclined to do the Epstein. I'd have no problem with it.'

Trump appeared more cautious in another interview, wary that people could be smeared by potential lies contained in the files.

'Yeah, yeah, I would. I guess I would because... I think that less so because, you know, you don't know you don't want to affect people's lives if it's phony stuff in there because it's a lot of phony stuff with that world,' he said.

'But I think I would or at least... Yeah I don't know about Epstein so much as I do the others (the JFK assassination and 9/11 files).'

Trump himself knew Epstein and was photographed with him (this one at Mar-a-Lago in 1997), but has consistently downplayed his involvement

Trump with Melania, Epstein, and the billionaire sex offender's right-hand women Ghislaine Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago club on February 12, 2000

Trump himself knew Epstein and was photographed with him, but has consistently downplayed his involvement.

'I'm not involved. I never went to his island, fortunately, but a lot of people did,' he said on the Fridman podcast.

However, hours of recorded interviews with Epstein by author Michael Wolff, who interviewed the billionaire for his Trump book Fire and Fury - well before his hideous crimes were exposed - told a different story.

Epstein called Trump his 'closest friend' and spoke extensively of their relationship.

'Freedom cities' and flying cars

Trump, in a March 2023 campaign ad, said he planned to build 10 new cities on federal land he referred to as 'freedom cities'.

'In other words, we'll actually build new cities in our country again,' he said.

'These Freedom Cities will reopen the frontier, reignite American imagination, and give hundreds of thousands of young people and other people, all hardworking families, a new shot at home ownership and in fact, the American Dream.'

Trump waxed lyrical about how past generations had 'big dreams' and pursued impossible projects, but the country had 'lost its boldness'.

'Under my leadership, we will get it back in a very big way. If you look at just three years ago, what we were doing was unthinkable, how good it was, how great it was for our country,' he said.

'Our objective will be a quantum leap in the American standard of living.'

The freedom cities plan hasn't been mentioned since then, and may go the way of another bizarre idea from Trump's first term - buying Greenland from Denmark.

In the same video Trump said he planned to fill American driveways with flying cars and declared 'America, not China, leads the revolution in air mobility'.

'Dozens of major companies in the US and China are racing to develop vertical-takeoff-and-landing vehicles for families and individuals,' he said.

'Just as the United States led the automotive revolution in the last century, I want to ensure that America, not China, leads this revolution in air mobility.

'These breakthroughs can transform commerce, bring a giant infusion of wealth into rural America, and connect families and our country in new ways.'

Some companies are working on these projects, but they are a lot further off than the end of Trump's second term, if they are ever feasible.
A sailor who miraculously survived 19 hours in the ocean after falling overboard from a cargo ship 8km off the Australian coast had his wallet, ID and cigarettes strapped to him.

The crew member fell from the bulk carrier Double Delight located off Newcastle at about 11.30pm on Thursday, and swam throughout the night and most of Friday.

It has now been revealed the man, in his 20s, was first spotted by two fisherman on Friday afternoon who pulled him aboard their small vessel a significant distance south of the ship but still 5km offshore.

One of the men, Glen Valaire, happened to be doctor and set about treating the man, who is a Vietnamese national.

'My friend said to me ''Glen, Glen, there's someone in the water'' it was just an absolute miracle that we came across this guy,' Dr Valaire told Nine News.

'He was so fatigued he had to lay down in the back of the boat, he was freezing cold, had a weak pulse, super pale and we were concerned for him,' he said.

The trio headed for shore and paramedics met them at Boatrowers Reserve at Blacksmith Beach in Swansea at about 6.30pm Friday to treat the man, a NSW Ambulance spokesperson confirmed to Daily Mail Australia.

Police also arrived and when they searched the sailor they found his ID, wallet and a pack of cigarettes inside a sealed plastic bag that was strapped to him.

The Vietnamese national was reported missing from the cargo ship on Thursday night was found 5km offshore on Friday afternoon by a pair of fisherman in a small boat who saw him waving his arms (pictured)

Dr Glen Valaire had been out fishing with a mate when they spotted the sailor in the water

He was treated for hypothermia and was 'exhausted' but able to speak. Police later found he was carrying his wallet and cigarettes in a plastic bag strapped to him

Border Force are now investigating whether he went overboard intentionally.

Earlier on Friday, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) was notified by the Newcastle Harbourmaster that a crew member from the Singapore-based vessel had fallen into the water.

The AMSA then launched an air and sea search, deploying a Westpac Rescue helicopter from Williamtown along with a Defence helicopter from Belmont near Newcastle to search the ocean.

Newcastle-based NSW Water Police, Marine Rescue NSW units, and a Port Stephens-based Water Police vessel were also called to assist.

NSW Ambulance paramedic Erin Laughton said finding the man alive and well was remarkable and that his young age would have helped after being in the water so long.

'He was conscious, he was able to communicate with us, he was very cold, he was hypothermic and exhausted - he was absolutely exhausted,' she said.

The cargo ship sitting off the Newcastle coast on Friday (pictured)

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority co-ordinated the search off the Newcastle coast

It's understood the man had been wearing a life jacket.

The man was suffering hypothermia along with dehydration and was transported to John Hunter Hospital where he remained as of Saturday.

The Double Delight is a 2015-built, 235m long cargo carrier which had left Japan's west coast near South Korea on October 19.
A burglar, who suffered instant karma after he tried to break into a house, has been jailed for more than two years.

David Timmins, 42, broke into a home on Penistone Road, in Sheffield in the early hours of September 2.

But he mistakenly alerted the homeowners to his presence when he switched on the downstairs light.

The couple immediately called the police, who when they arrived ten minutes later found Timmins pinned down on the sofa by one of the homeowners.

The next day Timmins pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary dwelling and theft - no violence at a hearing.

David Timmins, 42, broke into a home on Penistone Road, in Sheffield in the early hours of September 2

The couple immediately called the police, who when they arrived ten minutes later found Timmins pinned down on the sofa by one of the homeowners

On November 1, the 42-year-old was sentenced, at Sheffield Crown Court, to two years and six months in prison.

He must also pay a surcharge of 228.

Footage released by South Yorkshire Police showed a topless man straddling Timmins on a sofa.

As shouts of 'do not move' can be heard on the footage as Timmins responds: 'I'm down.'

A clip from a police body-worn camera later caught Timmins telling an officer: 'I pinched it...I'll make it an easy interview for you.'

In a later clip, Timmins can be heard being told he was under arrest for burglary, to which he replied: 'Why is it burglary?'

The officer can then be heard saying: 'Listen to me, you've entered the premises without permission with the intent to take goods'

The officer can then be heard saying: 'Listen to me, you've entered the premises without permission with the intent to take goods.'

Katie Summerhayes, the officer in charge of this case, said: 'The victim of this burglary showed incredible courage in detaining Timmins before we arrived at the scene.

'Our officers acted quickly and, thanks in no small part to the victim, Timmins had no choice but to admit his guilt.

'I am pleased with the result of this case which shows we will take strong, robust action against burglars who think they can terrorise our communities and get away with it.'
An 84-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a Minneapolis woman 50 years ago.

Jon Keith Miller, 84, of Owatonna, Minnesota, was detained on a Wisconsin warrant over the death of 25-year-old Mary K. Schlais in 1974.

The huge breakthrough came following genetic genealogy testing on a hat that has been preserved ever since the grisly killing.

Schlais was found dead near an intersection in Spring Brook Township, Dunn County, Wisconsin on February 15, 1974.

She had been hitchhiking from Minneapolis to attend an art show in Chicago with witnesses at the time reporting a suspect and vehicle to police.

Jon Keith Miller, 84, of Owatonna, Minnesota , was detained on a Wisconsin warrant over the death of 25-year-old Mary K. Schlais in 1974

'In 1974 it wasn't that unusual for somebody to hitchhike their way from Minneapolis to Chicago.

'But it's stories like this that is the reason we don't let our kids do it anymore,' said Dunn County Sheriff Kevin Bygd.

'This was a very bright young lady who had a very bright future ahead of her, and her life was taken away from her way too young.'

The murder weapon and vehicle involved have yet to be recovered, according to the Dunn County Sheriff's Office.

For decades, authorities pursued numerous leads and conducted interviews related to Schlais' killing. As DNA technology advanced, investigators reexamined evidence but struggled to identify viable suspects.

The huge breakthrough came following genetic genealogy testing on a hat that has been preserved ever since the grisly killing

Recently, however, the Dunn County Sheriff's Office partnered with Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey, and a team of genetic genealogists. Their work led to the identification of a suspect.

The criminal complaint states that investigators met with Miller at his Owatonna home on November 7. Upon being presented with DNA evidence, Miller reportedly admitted to picking up Schlais while she was hitchhiking and ultimately stabbing her to death.

In Friday's press conference, Sheriff Bygd shared that Schlais' family was relieved to hear of the arrest. He suggested that Miller, too, may feel a sense of relief after years of bearing the weight of this crime.

'I believe it's got to even be a relief for him [Miller] after 50 years of living with this. It had to have been on his mind almost every day, you would think anybody with a conscience it would. So, I think he was done fighting it personally,' said Bygd.

Sheriff Bygd also acknowledged the many individuals who worked on the case over the years, especially retired Captain Scott McRoberts, whose commitment to solving this case was unparalleled.

'This is a major victory for our agency,' he said.

While the Dunn County Sheriff's Office has not disclosed specific details about the DNA or how Miller was identified, a press conference with a representative from Ramapo College is scheduled for Monday, November 11, to provide additional information.

Miller appeared in court on Friday and waived extradition. He remains in custody at Steele County Jail, awaiting extradition to Dunn County.
Seventeen people have been rushed to hospital after two double-decker buses smashed into each other in Manchester this morning.

One person was left trapped on the upper deck and had to be rescued by fire crews following the crash on Rochdale Road, north of the city centre, at around 8.34am.

Photos posted on social media showed extensive damage to the front of one of the buses with the windscreen and front panels smashed in.

Nine ambulances, an air ambulance, two response vehicles, an advanced paramedic and an operational commander rushed to the scene, North West Ambulance Service said.

No one suffered serious injuries, but 17 passengers were taken to hospitals across Manchester, including seven on a bus accompanied by a paramedic.

Image from the scene of the crash shows the front of one bus completely destroyed

The front of one bus was almost completely destroyed in the crash in Manchester this morning

One Bee Network bus was virtually destroyed in the incident, with the windows missing and the display panel smashed.

The back of another bus had also been damaged, with eyewitnesses telling the Manchester Evening News that one bus had 'gone into' another, while another bus had 'gone through a metal fence'.

There has been severe disruption in the area, with the whole of Rochdale Road blocked by the incident and debris strewn across the road.

Members of the public have been advised to avoid the area and motorists should make alternative travel arrangements where possible.
Ruth Langsford's divorce lawyers 'are compiling a forensic timeline of Eamonn Holmes' new romance', amid claims he first engaged in flirty messages with his new girlfriend 12 years ago.

According The Sun, the GB news host, 64, and Katie Alexander, 42, first exchanged messages on social media when they were both married to other people in 2012.

Katie's then partner joked at the time 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.'

While other reports emerged that Ruth had been left 'devastated' when she discovered 'messages from another woman' on his laptop.

Now divorce lawyers are compiling information on specific dates and times surrounding her ex's new relationship, to figure out exactly how long it has been going on for.

Eamonn and Loose Women star announced their plans to divorce in June after 14 years of marriage and 27 years together.

Ruth Langsford 's divorce lawyers 'are compiling a forensic timeline of Eamonn Holmes ' new romance', amid claims he first engaged in flirty messages with his new girlfriend 12 years ago

Katie, who enjoyed a romantic cruise with the TV star earlier this year , has told friends she is in for 'the long haul' with Eamonn

Catherine Costley has been called up to represent 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.

Speaking to the Mirror a source said: 'Ruth's legal team are compiling a forensically detailed account of Eamonn's relationship with Katie and when it started.

'Ruth's team are doing their due diligence ahead of the divorce proceedings. They are prepared to speak to people in Ruth and Eamonn's wider circle.'

The presenter and Katie 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.

Since the news leaked that maybe their relationship began before their marriages ended, both parties have been quick to reassure their ex-partners that this is false information.

'Katie and Eamonn have been scrambling around to tell their respective exes that they were not romantically involved way back then,' the source added.

Bar owner George Alexander split from Katie in 2022, after having been married for 12 years, they share a son and a daughter.

Katie has shared a slew of leggy snaps of their trip to social media

Ruth revealed heartbreak was her biggest fear, but not for her, instead fearing her son Jack, 22, would have his heart broken

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.

They 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.

Both Ruth and Eamonn have been continuing to wear their wedding rings amid their split.

The host recently spoke out about heartbreak, having 'no plan B' and her 'greatest love' in a candid chat amid her divorce from Eamonn

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)

Eamonn Holmes attended his first showbiz event with new girlfriend Katie Alexander on Thursday, but avoided the red carpet (pictured with Laura Whitmore at the event)

Katie and Eamonn made their first appearance as a couple at The Irish Post Awards, but the former GMB presenter requested that photographers not take pictures of them together at the bash.

A source told the publication: 'While Eamonn waited for the ceremony to begin, he enjoyed his dinner in the company of his new girlfriend Katie. The pair seemed relaxed and were inseparable.'

The event held at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London was also attended by presenter Laura Whitmore and Irish dancer Michael Flatley.

Eamonn proved he was very much enjoying his new romance after the pair jetted off for a luxury holiday together over the summer.

The GB News presenter was seen cheekily grabbing his new lover Katie's bottom in Ibiza last month

The getaway reportedly left Eamonn's estranged wife Ruth shocked, with the holiday occurring just four months after the former golden couple announced they were divorcing.
A wealthy fiance has finally learned he will get back the $70,000 Tiffany's engagement ring he gave his partner following a seven-year court battle.

Bruce Johnson, 67, took teacher Caroline Settino, 59, to court over the proposal after they fell out when he found salacious messages on her phone to another man.

A Massachusetts court first ruled in favor of Settino finding Johnson 'mistakenly thought she was cheating on him'.

But in September the case landed before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, which ruled on Friday Johnson should keep the ring.

Bruce Johnson, 67, and Caroline Settino, 59, called off their brief engagement in November 2017 after he accused her of cheating on him. Now, seven years later, the couple have received a ruling over who gets to keep the $70,000 Tiffany's ring and the two additional bands

In September, the case landed before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, which ruled on Friday that Johnson should keep the ring

The pair first met in 2016 and over the next year Johnson spoiled her with luxury vacations to New York, the Virgin Islands and Italy as well as expensive gifts.

In November 2017 he gave her the $70,000 Tiffany diamond engagement ring as well as two sparkling wedding bands for another $3,700.

It was after this Johnson said he felt Settino became increasingly critical and unsupportive, often berating him and not accompanying him to his prostate cancer treatments.

Johnson recalled looking through her phone and finding a message reading: 'My Bruce is going to be in Connecticut for three days. I need some playtime.'

He also found messages from the man, including a voicemail in which the man referred to Settino as 'cupcake' and said they didn't see enough of each other.

The November 8 ruling went against the decades-old trend that an engagement ring is generally understood to be a conditional gift, determining that the person who gives the priceless piece can get it back after a failed engagement - but only if that person was 'without fault.' Pictured: Justices handle the bitter case in the Massachusetts Supreme court

Settino claims that the man was just a friend, yet Johnson ended the engagement anyway - but ownership of the ring remained up for grabs.

The initial ruling came as a trial judge ruled in Settino's favor alleging she should keep the flashy diamond-encrusted ring.

Johnson later appealed the ruling moving the case along to the highest jurisdiction in the state, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

Justices overseeing the case said the dispute raised the question of whether the issue of 'who is at fault' should continue to govern the rights to engagement rings when the wedding doesn't happen.

The November 8 ruling went against the decades-old trend that an engagement ring is generally understood to be a conditional gift, determining that the person who gives the priceless piece can get it back after a failed engagement - but only if that person was 'without fault.'

'We now join the modern trend adopted by the majority of jurisdictions that have considered the issue and retire the concept of fault in this context,' the justices wrote in the recent ruling.

'Where, as here, the planned wedding does not ensue and the engagement is ended, the engagement ring must be returned to the donor regardless of fault.'

Stephanie Taverna Siden, Johnson's lawyer, praised the ruling: 'We are very pleased with the court's decision today. It is a well-reasoned, fair and just decision and moves Massachusetts law in the right direction.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to both, Settino and Johnson, for comment.
An American finance podcaster has revealed how she managed to improve her life and slash her living costs by more than 60 percent after ditching the US for a paradise island.

Tiffany Grant, 33, decided to leave behind her life in North Carolina and emigrate to Negril, Jamaica earlier this year.

Grant, whose father hails from the Caribbean island, first visited the sunny town three years ago while pregnant with her third child and instantly 'fell in love with everything about it'.

After spending a month meeting family and visiting new cities, the HR specialist and businesswoman decided to pack up her bags and relocate to the isle with her two youngest children.

'Back in the States, I was often ill and had very high blood pressure,' Grant told CNBC. 'Over the last several months, to my surprise and delight, following the example of the vibrant older folks in my community, my stress has lifted and I am so much healthier.

Tiffany Grant, 33, decided to leave behind her life in North Carolina and move to Negril, Jamaica earlier this year

'Overall, I feel like I have a better chance of longevity here.'

Grant revealed that her new house, located ten minutes from the beach, has three bedrooms, two bathrooms as well as a fenced-in yard with many fruit trees.

But despite living in a tourist-friendly city, her expenses are $1,900 a month, a stark contrast from the $3,000 she was spending in North Carolina.

This includes, utilities, childcare, food, transportation, school fees and home maintenance.

However, there is one drawback to her new island life - her home has no hot water and is equipped with just one air conditioner.

The mother-of-three revealed she washes clothes by hand and hangs them on a line to dry - but claims it is an activity she really enjoys.

'This is what life was like for my grandparents and their parents, and now we get to be a part of it,' she said.

'Being here, there isn't the hustle mentality and the constant stress and anxiety that is so prevalent in the US. The people here are more relaxed.'

Her expenses are merely $1,900 a month, including rent, utilities, childcare, food, transportation, school fees and home maintenance - a start contrast from the $3,000 she was spending on the same in North Carolina

The mother-of-three has had to adapt to handwashing clothes on the island, but says it is an activity she enjoys

Grant revealed that her new house is just ten minutes from the beach and boasts three bedrooms, two bathrooms as well a fenced-in yard with many fruit trees

Grant also likes to feast on the 'incredible' and 'not ultra-processed' produce which range from fresh fish to Jamaican patties.

She noted that many locals - who are mostly related to each other - engage in bush cooking which is a natural method of preparing and sharing food outside.

'You don't have to go far to find someone selling delicious, healthy and inexpensive food, whether it is freshly caught fish, porridge, lovely cold coconuts, or some of my favorite dishes like jerk chicken, brown stew, bully beef and beef patties.

'We are often invited to neighborhood gatherings, even as newcomers. On a Sunday, for example, people might go to church, relax, go to the river, do some bush cooking. It's a very laid-back atmosphere and I felt welcome right away.'

Grant expressed appreciation for the 'slow lifestyle' and how happy it makes her to see her children playing out in the nature all day.

'The pace of island life forced me to slow down, start paying attention to how I felt, and challenged my beliefs of what life should be. Moving shook up my routine, removed me from daily stressors, and allowed me to create a new reality.

'In Jamaica, the kids get to be out in nature for much of the day instead of sitting in front of screens all the time.

'When he is at school, my son and his classmates have two recesses, one for 35 minutes and another for 45. When he gets home, he stays outside until dark. I have noticed his concentration improving already.'

Grant also likes to feast on the 'incredible' and 'not ultra-processed' produce which range from fresh fish to Jamaican patties

Negril, a town in western Jamaica, is known for its miles of sandy beaches on shallow bays with calm, turquoise waters

Grant expressed appreciation for the 'slow lifestyle' and how happy it makes her to see her children playing out in the nature all day

It is also famous for for its nightlife scene and visitors can expect great food, good prices as well as lots of dancing

But the shift in gears did not come without challenges, as Grant revealed that she was forced to let go of her 'hustle mentality' and relax instead.

'When I opened my bank account, it was an all-day event,' Grant aid. 'Its the same with many chores you want to accomplish. Getting your food at a restaurant takes a while, because everything is cooked from scratch.

'The slower speed used to frustrate me, but Ive realized everything is fine if you go with the flow.

'Small changes definitely add up, and getting out of my comfort zone helped me make these new habits stick, for the better.

'This move has inspired me. I am in the process of launching another business to chronicle my journey here and help others see Jamaica and all of its natural beauty. I could not be happier to have made this leap.'

Negril, a town in western Jamaica, is known for its miles of sandy beaches on shallow bays with calm, turquoise waters.

It is also famous for for its nightlife scene and visitors can expect great food, good prices as well as lots of dancing.
State investigators are probing the circumstances surrounding the death of the beloved Instagram famous P'Nut the squirrel.

The DEC is conducting an internal investigation into the controversial raid on Mark Longo's home, where both P'Nut and Fred the raccoon were seized and euthanized.

Despite Longo's claims that officers wore protective gloves, the animals were killed and decapitated for rabies testing after P'Nut allegedly bit an agent's hand.

'An internal investigation into the matter is ongoing, and we are reviewing internal policies and procedures to ensure we continue serving this core mission,' a DEC spokesperson told The New York Post on Friday.

State and local health departments, including the DEC, the state Health Department, and the Chemung County Health Department, have been tight-lipped about the rabies test results and the condition of the injured agent.

Peanut the squirrel and his racoon friend Fred were both put down by New York officials on November 1 after several complaints about the animals drove DEC officials to raid their owner's Pine City home

Despite the fact that rabies testing typically yields results within 24 to 72 hours, weeks have passed without any public updates.

The Wadsworth Center lab, a renowned facility for rapid rabies testing, has not released a report since June and has declined to confirm whether it received samples from Chemung County.

Governor Hochul, who has previously emphasized transparency, has not responded to inquiries from The Post.

'You claimed rabies. . . but you haven't made a public comment on it?' Longo, 34, told The Post. 'As a taxpayer, is my life and what you caused me not good enough to respond?'

The state's secrecy surrounding the P'Nut incident continues to deepen. The DEC has refused to release crucial information, forcing The Post to seek answers through a Freedom of Information request.

Senator Dan Stec has condemned the state's handling of the situation, calling it a clear case of mismanagement.

The DEC's handling of the situation has been heavily criticized, with many accusing the agency of overreach and a lack of transparency

Key figures involved in the raid, such as the investigating officer and the judge who authorized the search, have remained silent.

'I can't think of any legitimate or lawful reason to conceal the results of the rabies test. It's a matter of public health,' he added. 'Where is the state secret here? Whose interest are they protecting?'

On October 30, approximately 10 DEC agents arrived at Mark Longo's 350-acre property, where he and his wife operate a sanctuary for rescued animals.

Among the animals they care for are P'Nut the squirrel, rescued seven years ago, and Fred the raccoon, a recent addition.

Court records reveal that DEC Investigator Joshua Crain obtained a search warrant for the animals, citing potential illegal housing of a squirrel and raccoon. Notably, the warrant made no mention of rabies concerns.

Crain, who was awarded Wildlife Officer of the Year in 2022, is known for his philosophy of prioritizing education over enforcement.

'What happened in my house, if you think that was an educational [action]  I don't know,' seethed Longo, who plans to sue the DEC.

Crain and Judge Richard W. Rich Jr., who authorized the search, did not respond to requests for comment, and Chemung County Executive Chris Moss declined to speak on the matter.

The death of P'Nut has sparked national outrage, with critics viewing the raid as government overreach.

The official Donald Trump campaign TikTok account condemned P'Nut's death as an act of 'needless killing' by 'Democrat bureaucrats in New York.'

Longo, hopeful the attention could lead to support, has invited President-elect Trump to visit his sanctuary.

The owners of a pet squirrel with a massive social media following are going nuclear on government officials in New York ... accusing the state of abusing power and wasting taxpayer funds to seize and kill Peanut, all because of some anonymous claims

The incident has led to at least 14 bomb threats targeting DEC offices, which state police have found to be non-credible.

The DEC officers' union, the Police Benevolent Association of New York State, appealed for calm amid rising threats, clarifying that the DEC's investigation into Longo began in January after reports he was illegally housing a squirrel.

Longo claimed he had released P'Nut but was found to have kept the animal and taken in a raccoon, leading to last week's raid.

'We ask that the public keep in mind that [DEC officers] are their friends, family, and neighbors and do not deserve to live in fear for upholding the law,' the union said.
November 9, 2024: During the last hundred years the Russian military has gone through numerous upgrades and transformations in its weapons and equipment as well as how it operates. One aspect of military operations, logistics, has been left relatively untouched. All other industrialized nations have mechanized their military logistics, especially how they load and unload cargo. That means more forklifts and other commercial logistics equipment to speed things along.

Russia continues to use manpower to do the work of the machines every other armed force uses. Clinging to archaic logistical practices means that supplies reach Russian troops more slowly, and often not at all, because of the shortage of trucks to move supplies the last fifty or hundred kilometers from the railroad to the front lines.

When Ukraine became independent in 1991, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Ukrainians eagerly switched from Soviet methods of doing things to what NATO countries were using. Russia continued as before. Ukraine noted how much more efficient military operations were if the troops had an adequate and constant flow of supplies. That required trucks and automated equipment to load and unload the trucks. When Russia invaded in 2022, Ukrainian troops concentrated on destroying, disabling or capturing all Russian vehicles, especially trucks. Russian forces soon felt the impact of the Ukrainian methods when many Russian vehicles could no longer move because their fuel trucks had been blown up or captured by the Ukrainians. In many cases the Ukrainians would go after the trucks first and not attack some of the Russian combat vehicles, Ukraine expected to see the Russian combat vehicles run out of fuel and often be captured and used by the Ukrainians.

Many Russian soldiers and officers realized that logistics was far more important than the Russian high command realized. Russian troops began seizing Ukrainian and some Russian civilian vehicles to replace their lost trucks. Not many forklifts were captured and used. The importance of cargo handling machinery was still lost on most Russian officers. A significant portion of troops spent some time manhandling supplies in and out of trucks and rail cars before being sent to fight the Ukrainians. Russia would also impress Ukrainian civilians for this work, until they realized that the Ukrainian workers were increasingly sabotaging the supplies and equipment they handled. They did it in ways that were not obvious until the supplies or equipment were put to use and failed.

A growing number of Russian troops, including some senior commanders, are demanding changes in how things are done when it comes to handling supplies. The government replies that Russia does not have a lot of this equipment, while Russian firms that do have forklifts, etc., go to great lengths to hang on to them. Managers and workers also point out that work will get done much more slowly without these machines. Russian government seizure of private cargo-handling equipment slows down operations in firms and economic sectors that lose them.

Meanwhile not much has changed and many thousands of Russian troops are engaged in manually handling logistical tasks rather than fighting. The slow moving Russian logistical system means the troops who are fighting are often short of ammunition and other supplies. It doesnt help that the Ukrainian UAVs have been very successful in destroying any Russian vehicles, even motorbikes, within 20 kilometers of the front lines. Russian front-line troops lack food, water, supplies and ammunition, and suffer badly from disease due to the lack of water. Wounded Russians must be able to crawl to safety or die. In winter they will die. The outnumbered Ukrainians depend on these Russian shortcomings to succeed at fighting outnumbered and still winning.
Ella Emhoff continued her emotional meltdown over her stepmother Kamala Harris' presidential election loss by sharing an unflattering image of herself weeping to her Instagram.

The activist and fashion designer, 25, used an image from Harris' concession speech at Howard University on Wednesday as she urged her 500,000 followers to stay strong after Donald Trump's landslide win.

'Truly no words,' Emhoff captioned the post. 'We are all gonna get through this. It just f***ing hurts like a b***h right now and that's ok.'

Days before, Emhoff captured headlines as she struggled to contain her emotions during Harris' speech and ended up in floods of tears.

Ella Emhoff, 25, was seen breaking down in tears as Vice President Kamala Harris conceded to former President Donald Trump on Wednesday

The activist and fashion designer, 25, then continued her emotional meltdown over her stepmother Kamala Harris ' presidential election loss by sharing an unflattering image of herself weeping to her Instagram

Her tears and subsequent post sparked concern online.

'Leave Ella Emhoff alone but do not ignore the mental health issues we have in America,' one person wrote on X.

'Ella Emhoff needs to learn to grow up and accept reality,' another added.

'Leave Ella Emhoff out of it!' One person urged. 'She is crying because her stepmother lost an election. Show support.'

Emhoff's following grew significantly during her stepmother's vice presidency and presidential candidacy, as she became known for her liberal activism and trendy fashion choices.

On Friday, Emhoff put her following to use as she urged Democrats to rally together and combat Trump's pending second term.

'The fight doesn't stop now,' she wrote. 'Just please check in on your people right now.

'This is the time to organize, mobilize, and make a difference in your communities big or small.'

She signed off the post: 'I'm here for you all and love you guys.'

Emhoff shared this image of herself at Howard University where she struggled to contain her emotions after her stepmother lost the presidency

Emhoff's following grew significantly during her stepmother's vice presidency and presidential candidacy, as she became known for her liberal activism and trendy fashion choices

Emhoff also carried on whining on Substack, saying she had 'gone through about 10 cycles of sadness, rage, and stressand that was just this morning'

Emhoff's reaction prompted concern online after she shared the post republishing images of her crying

Emhoff carried on her online struggle session on her Substack 'Soft Pins', which is mainly based around her homemade fashion pieces and crocheting.

In a post on Friday, she wrote: 'Ooof... What. A. Week.'

'I feel like we all need this extra this week.

'I know we are all feeling a lot of emotions right now. Thats normal, and it would be weird if we werent. I know Ive gone through about 10 cycles of sadness, rage, and stressand that was just this morning.

'I think its important to feel them all so they dont fester inside.

'One way I always make myself feel better is by harnessing that anger and sadness into creativity. I know thats not for everyone. It can be really hard to create when things feel so uncertain.'

Harris waited until 4pm ET the day after the election to deliver her concession speech.

'To my beloved Doug and our family, I love you so very much,' she said to crowds gathered a her alma mater, Howard University.

Her father, Doug Emhoff, was later seen keeping a close arm around his daughter

Harris took the stage at her alma mater of Howard University, telling her tearful supporters that had gathered at the school that 'this is not what we wanted'

Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff was seen keeping a close arm around his daughter and embracing his son, Cole.

And it wasn't just Harris' family who were was visibly rocked. Her running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz patted his heart and appeared to also hold back tears as the incumbent vice president thanked him and his family.

Doug Emhoff proceeded to pat Walz on the back as the crowd that gathered cheered them on.
The UK's oldest satellite has moved and no one appears to know exactly who did it, when or why.

Skynet-1A, which was launched in 1969, is now around half a planet away from where it was launched, floating 22,369 miles above the Americas.

The half-tonne military spacecraft was initially put above Africa's east coast to relay communications for British forces as far away as Singapore.

Experts have said it is unlikely that Skynet-1A simply drifted to its new position due to orbital mechanics.

Instead when the satellite stopped working a few years after its launch, gravity should have pulled it east, out over the Indian Ocean.

Now it seems certain it was commanded to take itself westwards in the 1970s but it is unclear who gave that order.

Space consultant Dr Stuart Eves told BBC News: 'It's now in what we call a 'gravity well' at 105 degrees West longitude, wandering backwards and forwards like a marble at the bottom of a bowl.

'And unfortunately this brings it close to other satellite traffic on a regular basis.

'Because it's dead, the risk is it might bump into something, and because it's "our" satellite we're still responsible for it.'

It currently runs the risk of a piece of junk coming within 50km or its position up to four times a day - a distance which is a little too close for comfort.

Dr Eves explained he hasn't been able to find any clues about the end-of-life behaviour of Skynet-1A in old satellite catalogues or the National Archives.

Skynet-1A was manufactured in the US by aerospace company Philco Ford just a few months after humans first set foot on the moon.

It was then launched into orbit in 1969 from Florida by a US Air Force Delta rocket before control was handed over to the RAF.

Experts have said it is unlikely that Skynet-1A (pictured) simply drifted to its new position due to orbital mechanics

Graham Davies, who flew Skynet-1A in the early 70s from the RAF Oakhanger base in Hampshire, said while it its possible control was given back to the Americans, it is 'unlikely'.

Whereas, Rachel Hill, a PhD student from University College London, explained that control of the satellite was briefly transferred to the US when Oakhanger was shut for maintenance.

She said it was possible that the location shift occurred then.

Skynet-1A official albeit incomplete logs suggest it was left in control of the Americans when the RAF lost sight of it in June 1977.

However, this would mean that the satellite was left to die in an 'awkward place' when normally space junk is placed in a designated 'orbital graveyard'.

Orbital graveyards are areas where disused spacecraft is unlikely to run into active telecommunications satellites.

While this is now a practice used regularly in the space industry, it was not commonplace in the 1970s.
A senior adviser to Donald Trump has claimed the focus of his administration will be achieving peace in Ukraine rather than regaining territory.

Republican strategist Bryan Lanza said that the president-elect's vision for the country's ongoing war against Russia, which began in January 2022, is not one 'for winning, but it's a vision for peace'

He added that regaining Crimea, which was occupied by Vladimir Putin's forces in 2014, was not an achievable goal and 'not the goal of the United States'.

Mr Lanza, who began advising Trump his 2016 campaign, told the BBC: 'When Zelensky says we will only stop this fighting, there will only be peace once Crimea is returned, we've got news for President Zelensky: Crimea is gone.'

Since the start of the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to retake Crimea and is adamant that Kyiv should not surrender territory to the Kremlin.

Bryan Lanza (pictured) a senior adviser to Donald Trump has claimed the focus of his administration will be achieving peace in Ukraine rather than regaining territory

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump shake hands during their meeting in the Trump Tower in New York in September 2024

Since the start of the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to retake Crimea and is adamant that Kyiv should not surrender territory to the Kremlin. Pictured: A Leopard 2A4 tank fires during a field training at an undisclosed location in Ukraine on October 27

Appearing on the BBC World Service's Weekend programme earlier today, Mr Lanza said: 'What we're going to say to Ukraine is, you know what you see? What do you see as a realistic vision for peace?

'It's not a vision for winning, but it's a vision for peace. And let's start having the honest conversation,'

'And if that is your priority of getting Crimea back and having American soldiers fight to get Crimea back, you're on your own.'

It comes as Trump's plans to end the war in Ukraine the early were recently revealed following his historic election win.

The proposal would see the current border frozen in place and a 800-mile demilitarised zone being policed by British and European troops.

No United States troops would be sent to the warzone and it would be for Britain and other states to pick up the tab.

The plan, first reported in the Wall Street Journal, matches the isolationist rhetoric of Mr Trump's presidential bid.

On the campaign trail Mr Trump criticised the scale of US support for Ukraine  a commitment of $175 billion  and boasted he could broker a deal to end the conflict.

Thousands of British troops could lead a multi-national military force in Ukraine as part of controversial plans. (British special forces soldiers with weapon take part in military maneuver)

Under a peace bid being considered by Mr Trump's security advisers, UK and other European troops would enforce an 800-mile buffer zone between the Russian and Ukrainian armies. (Donald Trump pictured with Vladimir Putin in 2018)

Last night, senior UK security sources reacted furiously to Mr Trump's move, insisting it favoured Russia and condemned Ukraine to a carve-up of its territory (stock photo)

Yesterday President Zelensky (pictured) met European leaders in Budapest at a summit of the European Political Community

Senior UK security sources have reacted furiously to Mr Trump's move, insisting it favoured Russia and condemned Ukraine to a carve-up of its territory. Speaking at a security conference in Sochi, Putin seized upon the vulnerability of Nato under a Trump presidency by mocking the organisation's reliance on the US.

He claimed that without US leadership Nato would no longer be able to dominate its 'zone of influence'.

Putin's assessment is supported by official Nato figures which reveal the US currently spends twice as much on defence as all other members of the alliance combined.

Mr Trump's 'America First' strategy includes withdrawing from Europe's security apparatus.

Such a scenario  and Putin's possible response to it  arguably represents the most significant threat to Nato since its inception following World War Two.

Setting out his country's foreign policy agenda, Putin added that Nato was subject to 'the diktat of the older brother', meaning the US.

He then compared this imbalance to the supposed equality of the BRICS group of countries  an intergovernmental organisation led by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Reacting to the Trump peace plan for Ukraine, former British Army commander Hamish de Bretton-Gordon said: 'This would be a capitulation to Putin rewarding him for his war crimes.

'As British troops act as peacekeepers in what is currently Russian-held territory in eastern Ukraine, I fear Putin will re-arm and plan an assault on the Baltic states. The plan, as outlined, favours Russia and is exactly what the Kremlin wants to hear.'

Former UK military intelligence officer Philip Ingram added: 'Any forced peace that would give Russia a veneer of winning territory would potentially stimulate World War Three.
Donald Trump took to social media to troll Democrats for what their financial flop following the expensive 2024 campaign.

Trump, took to TRUTH Social, on Saturday to jab at the struggling party, writing: 'I am very surprised that the Democrats, who fought a hard and valiant fight in the 2020 Presidential Election, raising a record amount of money, didn't have lots of $'s left over.'

Kamala Harris, 60, reportedly set records raising an astonishing $1 billion during the biggest fund-raising quarter ever, The New York Times reported.

Yet, Newsweek reports Harris' failed presidential campaign ended with 'at least $20 million in debt.'

Donald Trump, took to his very own social media platform, TRUTH Social, on Saturday to jab at the struggling Democratic party writing: 'I am very surprised that the Democrats, who fought a hard and valiant fight in the 2020 Presidential Election , raising a record amount of money, didn't have lots of $'s left over.'

Vice President and Democratic Presidential nominee, Kamala Harris , 60, reportedly set records raising an astonishing $1 billion during the biggest fund-raising quarter ever, The New York Times reported. Yet, Newsweek reports Harris' failed presidential campaign ended with 'at least $20 million in debt'

'Now they are being squeezed by vendors and others. Whatever we can do to help them during this difficult period, I would strongly recommend we, as a Party and for the sake of desperately needed UNITY, do,' Trump added in the post

'Now they are being squeezed by vendors and others. Whatever we can do to help them during this difficult period, I would strongly recommend we, as a Party and for the sake of desperately needed UNITY, do,' Trump added in the post.

The 78-year-old presidential-elect's mocking approach seemingly stemmed off a November 6 'X' post by Breitbart News Network's Matthew Boyle in which he claimed: 'The $20 million debt thing is real.'

Trump's mocking approach seemingly stemmed off a November 6 'X' post by Breitbart News Network's Matthew Boyle (pictured) in which he claimed: 'The $20 million debt thing is real'

Boyle's post cited an unnamed Harris campaign staffer, who allegedly claimed Rob Flaherty, the deputy campaign manager 'is currently shopping around the Kamala fundraising email list to anyone who wants it to try to raise the money back. This includes other campaigns and outside groups.'

Trump's teasing post added that his campaign is still swimming in leftover funds due to his campaign's 'biggest asset,' he claims as 'Earned Media.'

'We have a lot of money left over in that our biggest asset in the campaign was 'Earned Media,' and that doesn't cost very much,' the newly-elected 47th President of the United States wrote.

The former President tacked on several publicity stunt style stops along the campaign trail, most notably his interviews on popular podcasts like Joe Rogan, Theo Von, Andrew Schulz and the Nelk Boys.

Trump's frightening dual assassination attempts also helped thrust the famed businessman, turned household name, into the spotlight as he received an unprecedented amount of media coverage from the attempts.

He also performed several other attention grabbing gimmicks to earn additional media coverage including his brief escapade cruising around in a garbage truck and performing minor tasks at a McDonald's.

He also performed several other attention grabbing gimmicks to earn additional media coverage including performing minor tasks at a McDonald's

Trump also arrived at one of his well-attended rallies cruising in on a garbage truck

Harris too earned her share of media spotlight though often associated with a high price tag as before sitting on hit podcast, 'Call Her Daddy,' Harris' campaign reportedly spent six figures to build out the set

Harris too earned her share of media spotlight though often associated with a high price tag.

Before sitting on hit podcast, 'Call Her Daddy,' Harris' campaign reportedly spent six figures to build out the set.

The Democrats ferocious, fast-paced campaign also reportedly crushed $20 million on various star-studded concerts such as Bon Jovi in Detroit, Christina Aguilera in Las Vegas, Katy Perry in Pittsburgh and Lady Gaga in Philadelphia.

In total, the Harris campaign spent $1.2 billion on the race while Trump's campaign spent $750 million, a Financial Times analysis found.

Some indications, though, show that the race was much more expensive than that.

The Harris campaign, affiliated PACs and the Democratic National Committee amassed over $2.3 billion in political contributions.

Donald Trump's team, affiliated PACs and the Republican National Committee raised $1.8 billion.

The Democrats ferocious, fast-paced campaign also reportedly crushed $20 million on various star-studded concerts such as Bon Jovi in Detroit, Christina Aguilera in Las Vegas, Katy Perry in Pittsburgh and Lady Gaga in Philadelphia

Despite spending less, Trump ended up trouncing Harris in the electoral and popular vote - which hasn't been done by the GOP in decades, crowning him as the 47th President of the US

After raising nearly $4.2 billion, they spent a combined $3.5 billion on the presidential race, making it the most expensive contest ever held according to the analysis.

Despite spending less, Trump ended up trouncing Harris in the electoral and popular vote - which hasn't been done by the GOP in decades.

The Examiner had explored ways in which the Harris campaign had managed to burn through the eyewatering figure, which included the podcast appearance.

According to the outlet, her campaign and its affiliates spent over $654 million from July to Election Day. Trump spent $378 million, 57 percent less than her.

A better idea of their actual spending will be made clear as the Federal Election Commission mandates full reports from candidates within 30 days.

Trump concluded the post with his staple catchphrase: 'MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!'

Following his near landslide victory, Trump will dethrone sitting President Joe Biden after his inauguration on January 20.
The boss of Waterstones has blamed the death of the high street on 'egregiously large' tax bills.

James Daunt said his physical bookshops have a direct tax online stores don't have - leading to emptier city centres.

He said the 'tax on employment' makes it very expensive for retailers to keep their in-person shops open.

Mr Daunt claimed he could name one hundred places where Waterstones is the last 'really big retailer' on the high street except for a Greggs.

The managing director went on to say his staff can't get jobs easily anywhere else.

James Daunt said his physical bookshops have a direct tax online stores don't have - leading to emptier city centres

The boss of Waterstones blamed the death of the high street on 'egregiously large' tax bills

He said the 'tax on employment' makes it very expensive for retailers to keep their in-person shops open

Speaking to The Telegraph, he said Watersones is the only big retailer to stay in places such as Newport, Gwent, or Barrow-in-Furness.

Retailers say prime city centre locations are subject to higher taxes than warehouses further out, which encourages them to close down and move online.

Last week, Sainsbury's said that half of its tax bill goes towards business rates, which is equal to around 500m.

Mr Daunt has in the past said Amazon shares some of the blame and slammed the retailer as a 'money making devil'.

But now he thinks of it a a 'friend;' because it sells 'all the boring books'. This means Waterstones no longer has to stock driving test books or manuals.

Mr Daunt said Waterstones is 'chugging along fine'.

It comes after the boss of Sainsbury's backed farmers in a fresh warning that the Chancellor's inheritance tax raid threatens food security.

Simon Roberts was the first major supermarket boss to speak out amid fears that changes to farm inheritance rules could harm the country's ability to grow its own food.

He said: 'British farmers work incredibly hard to make sure that they can provide the foods that everyone wants to buy, that are British produced.'

'I would urge the Government to work closely with farmers to make sure they listen to their concerns, because we need a resilient, successful, productive food system to make sure that we're producing what we need here.'

Simon Roberts (pictured) is the first major supermarket boss to speak out amid fears that changes to farm inheritance rules could harm the country's ability to grow its own food.

The Government announced in the Budget that inheritance tax will be charged at 20per cent on farms worth more than 1 million. (Pictured, Chancellor Rachel Reeves)

Labour must 'listen to them and try and find a solution,' the head of the UK's second largest grocer urged.

Farmers have already warned that ending the practice of allowing them to pass on their estates without inheritance tax would cause many businesses to collapse.

And now there are worries this could lead to empty shelves and cause customers to fork out more for their weekly shop.

The Government announced in the Budget that inheritance tax will be charged at 20per cent on farms worth more than 1 million.

This outraged the agricultural sector, with unions warning farmers were considering 'military' action - including a sewage strike.

Mr Roberts' remarks came as he warned his business faces a 'barrage of costs' after the Chancellor's tax raid.

The hike in National Insurance contributions (NICs) will cost his firm 140m.

The Entertainer toy shop chain also announced its scraping of two new stores after Chancellor Rachel Reeves said employer's National Insurance Contribution's (NIC) would be raised during her tax bomb budget.

In Labour's first budget in power since 2009, Ms Reeves revealed that the NIC rate would face a sharp 1.2 per cent rise to 15 per cent, with the threshold at which employers begin paying the tax almost halving to just 5,000.

Discussing halting his company's expansion plans, The Entertainer's Chief Executive Andrew Murphy said that last week's budget was to blame and also revealed that the firm would be implementing a hiring freeze at its head office.

The Entertainer is just the latest in a growing list of high street retailers who have expressed their ire with Ms Reeves' tax hikes, with the heads of both Sainsbury's and Marks & Spencer hinting that grocery prices may rise as a result.

The government has defended its plans though, saying that it needed to 'desperately restore economic stability' off the back of successive NIC cuts under previous Conservative Chancellors.
Two California progressives have been recalled after crime-ridden city residents had enough.

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price and Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao were successfully recalled by voters during Tuesday's election, according to KTVU.

Nearly 65 percent of voters wished to oust Thao from her role as mayor, as they blamed her for Oakland downfall to crime. An equal number wanted to get Price out of office as well.

Thao stepped down gracefully, writing a concession note on X, saying: 'Thank you for choosing me to serve as your Mayor. As the first Hmong American woman to become the mayor of a major American City, it has been the honor of my lifetime.

'I am deeply proud of the progress we created together and I am committed to ensuring we stay on track by supporting a smooth transition.'

Thao was the first mayor to be recalled in Oakland for more than 100 years, according to KTVU.

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao was recalled after Tuesday's election. Thao was the first mayor to be recalled in Oakland for more than 100 years. Her critics blame her for high crime rates

The last time was in 1917 against Mayor John Davis, who ultimately kept his role

Price has not releases a statement on her recall. She is the first DA to be recalled in county history, according to the local outlet.

The former mayor's critics largely blamed her for Oakland's high crime rate and for missing out on millions from a retail theft grant from the city after she missed the deadline, according to KTVU.

They also disagreed with her firing a popular police chief.

'We stood with Oakland residents for the recall of Mayor Sheng Thao for her defunding of police and for her gross fiscal mismanagement that has led Oakland into near bankruptcy,' President of the Oakland Police Officers Association Sgty. Huy Nguyen said in a statement, according to KTVU.

However, Thao blamed the former administrations for her trouble gifting her a host of problems to fix when she came into office.

She also pointed to crime trending downward under her authority and promised prior to the election that Oakland would face 'instability' without her.

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price was also recalled. Her critics said she did not prosecute crimes hard enough

In the meantime, Oakland City Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas will serve as interim until a special election is held, which has to happen with 120 days of the vacancy.

As for Price, she became the first DA in the county's history to be recalled.

When she was elected in 2022, she ran on a progressive platform, vowing not to overcharge criminals, especially black and brown youths.

Critics said she wasn't giving harsh enough sentences, which created an unsafe community, KTVU reported.

She is expected to be replaced by Chief Assistant District Attorney Royl Roberts. Later on, an interim DA will be appointed, who will serve until the next general election in 2026, the outlet said.
The Princess of Wales beams as she appears at the Royal Albert Hall for the Festival of Remembrance for her first high-profile appearance in months after undergoing cancer treatment.

Kate was radiant as she cut a sleek figure in a black dress walking alongside Prince William into the lavish Kensington venue to celebrate Britain's servicemen and women.

It's the Princess of Wales' first high profile appearance since being diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer, in a year described by William as the 'hardest' of his life, where he remarked how proud he was of his father and wife for their bravery.

Kate donned one Poppy this year, despite being renowned for pinning three to herself in previous years for the Remembrance weekend events.

His Majesty, who became Patron of the Royal British Legion earlier this year, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, as well as Princess Anne are in attendance at tonight's proceedings.

The Duke of Kent, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucestershire and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence are seated in the Royal Box tonight, as those who put their lives on the line for King and Country are celebrated.

The Princess of Wales is beaming as she appears at the Royal Albert Hall for the Festival of Remembrance for her first high-profile appearance in months after cancer treatment

The Princess of Wales had undergone treatment for an undisclosed cancer over the past few months, taking a step back from her duties due to her health

Princess Kate glows as she shakes hands with officials as she enters the event at the Royal Albert Hall

Kate looked radiant as she cut a sleek figure in a stunning black dress with a Poppy pin honouring Britain's military tonight

A bearded Prince William enters the Royal Albert Hall upbeat in a blue suit alongside Princess Kate

Prince of Wales was also in attendance alongside a glowing Kate as tonight's Remembrance events

The Princess of Wales walking up the stairs as she prepares to take her seat in the Royal Box at tonight's event

A bearded Prince William and Princess Kate were all smiles this evening as they clap as the performers take to the stage

Princess Kate was beaming with pride in the Royal box as they honoured British military personnel

The Royal couple look intently on as the performances of the night continue

The Prince and Princess of Wales led the applause as the crowd touchingly honoured the families of fallen soldiers at the Festival of Remembrance tonight

The Royal couple appeared solemn as military personnel honoured fallen servicemen and women who lost their lives during the conflict in Afghanistan

The Prince and Princess of Wales honouring Britain's servicemen and women at the Royal Albert Hall

Princess Kate, Prince William, Prince of Wales, King Charles as well Britain's Princess Anne, Princess Royal clap as they pay tribute to British military personnel

The Prince of Wales puts a comforting arm around the Princess of Wales as they entered tonight's Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall

The Prince and Princess of Wales are at The Royal Albert Hall! Love William constantly putting his arm around Catherine  pic.twitter.com/2lKBFuKlM5     (@crowningred) November 9, 2024

The Prince and Princess of Wales were seen chatting to one another as they took their seats at the Royal British Legion's Festival of Remembrance.

The King received applause as he took his seat at Saturday's event which honours sacrifices made by the British and Commonwealth armed forces community and includes musical performances and personal testimonies.

The Royal family stood to applaud World War II veterans who gave their lives for Britain.

The Princess of Wales, whose hair is swept to the side, spoke to the Prince William after joining in applause, as the Royals proceeded to join in the singing of a hymn.

The King as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales all stood to join the rendition of Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer at the Royal British Legion event.

The Royal emblem was laid over the rail in front of the royal box at the concert hall in South Kensington, London.

King Charles III and the Princess Royal beamed with pride as the Chelsea Pensioners marched centre stage, with Prince William and Princess Kate clapping along with the crowd.

After the military personnel marched in unison, an upbeat King Charles stood and waved to the cheering crowd.

The Royals looked solemn as they led the crowd in applause to honour military personnel who had passed.

Hosted by Adrian Lester, several British music icons took to the stage to honour the servicemen and women, including Sir Tom Jones, Alexandra Burke, Jack Savoretti and many more.

However the Queen was noticeably absent from both tonight's event as well as the Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph tomorrow after becoming unwell with a 'seasonal chest infection'.

A Palace spokesperson confirmed earlier today: 'Following doctors' guidance to ensure a full recovery from a seasonal chest infection, and to protect others from any potential risk, Her Majesty will not attend this weekend's Remembrance events.

'While this is a source of great disappointment to The Queen, she will mark the occasion privately at home and hopes to return to public duties early next week.'

It is understood there is no cause for alarm, and no downturn in her condition. The Queen is said to be mindful of minimising the risk of passing any last lingering infection to others.

Princess Catherine who is recovering from cancer and King Charles, who is still having ongoing treatment for cancer, are both attending this weekend's Remembrance events

Britain's King Charles and Britain's Princess Anne applauding during the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance tonight

The Princess Royal and his Majesty beamed with pride as the Chelsea Pensioners took to the stage

The King looked upbeat as he arrived at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance

King Charles arrived solo after Queen Camilla announced earlier she would not be attending tonight's event due to an ongoing chest infection

Princess Anne attends The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London

The Princess Royal will be in attendance alongside her brother His Majesty King Charles III as well as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh

Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward and Sophie heading into tonight's events

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh entering the Royal Albert Hall

Prince Richard - the Duke of Gloucester - heading into the event celebrating the nation's servicemen and women

Birgitte, the Duchess of Gloucester makes her way into the Royal Albert Hall in Kensington this evening

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria Starmer attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London

The Prime Minister and his wife are all smiles as they enter the Royal Albert Hall tonight

A band has taken to centre of the stage at tonight's festivities at the Royal Albert Hall

In a video Kate released in September, she revealed she had finished her chemotherapy treatment, and spoke of how she was 'looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months'.

But she added her focus was 'doing what I can to stay cancer free'.

William said on Wednesday during his trip to Cape Town that his wife was 'doing really well' and has been 'amazing this whole year'.

The Princess, 42, has made just a handful of public appearances so far in 2024, after she underwent major abdominal surgery in January and then was diagnosed with cancer.

Her last engagement was a month ago, when she made a surprise trip to meet families whose children were killed in the Southport attack and speak to emergency workers who helped at the scene after the devastating knife attack.

In her heartfelt video in September, Kate opened up about her cancer journey, as the Wales family were shown enjoying time together outdoors.

The princess said she was entering 'this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life'.

'The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family,' she said.

She added: 'Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long.'

Prince William, wearing a Hackett polo shirt, and the Princess of Wales, wearing a Roman blue dress, appeared together in a video released by Kensington Palace in September

The Prince said his year has been 'dreadful' adding: 'It's probably been the hardest year in my life. So, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult.' (Pictured L-R: Prince Louis, Prince William, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte and Prince George)

Catherine, the Princess of Wales (pictured) revealed earlier this year that she had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer

According to Prince William, 'from a personal family point of view, it's been brutal'

At the start of October, the princess was pictured hugging an aspiring teenage photographer with a rare and aggressive form of cancer after inviting her to take pictures at investitures at Windsor Castle.

Kate met Liz Hatton, 16, from Harrogate, and her family privately after the ceremony with William.

In June, Kate looked relaxed during her first day in the spotlight following her diagnosis when she appeared at the traditional Trooping the Colour ceremony.

She took part in the carriage procession and joined William and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis and other royals on the Palace balcony.

It came the day after a health update from Kate, who was pictured in the grounds of the Windsor Castle estate, standing in a tranquil setting against a weeping willow tree near a lake.

She issued a written message saying she was 'making good progress' and had 'good days and bad days', but added: 'I am not out of the woods yet.'

A few weeks later she made another rare appearance when she presented the Wimbledon men's final trophy to Carlos Alcaraz.

The princess, patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, was accompanied by Charlotte and chatted to ball boys and girls, and entered Centre Court to loud applause.

She has also met aides to discuss staging her annual Christmas carol service in December, and held meetings on her early years work.

Also attending the Festival of Remembrance and the Cenotaph service were the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and the Duke of Kent.

Buckingham Palace announced on Tuesday that the Queen, who has just completed a mammoth tour of Australia and Samoa with King Charles, was cancelling her forthcoming engagements due to a chest infection.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said at the time: 'Her Majesty The Queen is currently unwell with a chest infection, for which her doctors have advised a short period of rest.

William and Kate at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on November 11, 2023

Kate attended the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on November 12, 2023

Queen Camilla pictured alongside the Princess of Wales during the National Service Of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in 2023

Buckingham Palace announced on Tuesday that the Queen (pictured) was cancelling her forthcoming engagements due to a chest infection.

The Queen has just completed a mammoth tour of Australia and Samoa with King Charles. The couple are pictured smiling together during a visit to a beach in Apia, Samoa

Camilla is resting at home in Wiltshire after falling ill following her long-haul trip to Australia and Samoa

'With great regret, Her Majesty has therefore had to withdraw from her engagements for this week but she very much hopes to be recovered in time to attend this weekend's Remembrance events as normal.

'She apologises to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.'

The 77-year-old royal is understood to be recovering at home in Wiltshire and is being monitored by doctors.

Camilla's condition meant that she had to reluctantly withdraw from the annual opening of the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey on Thursday; with the Duchess of Gloucester, 78, standing in for her.

The Queen also had to cancel an appearance at a reception at Buckingham Palace honouring the nation's Olympic and Paralympic stars the very same day.

Camilla is anticipated to return to work as soon as next week and is set to host a reception for authors shortlisted for this year's Booker Prize at Clarence House.

She is also expected to attend the glitzy global premiere of Gladiator II at the Royal Film Performance in London's Leicester Square next Wednesday evening.

Buckingham Palace announced the King and Camilla will meet the stars of the blockbuster, Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen and Pedro Pascal, and director Sir Ridley Scott.

The reception marks the centenary of the Film and TV Charity, of which Charles is patron. The events are taking place on the eve of the King's birthday, with Charles turning 76 next Thursday.

Tomorrow the King alongside other members of the Royal family will attend the annual Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, which is the nation's chief war memorial dedicated to those who died in World War I and II.

Queen Camilla, 78, is set to return to work as early as next week to host a reception for Booker Prize shortlisted authors

King Charles and Queen Camilla attend a welcome ceremony in Apia, Samoa, on October 24

Queen Camilla waves while boarding an Royal Australian Air Force plane ahead of departing from Faleolo Airport in Samoa after the royal visit to Australia and Samoa on October 26

The Duchess of Gloucester pauses during a visit to the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey on Thursday. She stepped in for Queen Camilla who fell ill with a chest infection

The Royal Navy prepare for Sunday at HMS Excellent training base in Hampshire on Tuesday

The National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London on November 12, 2023

His Majesty is expected to lay a wreath designed to pay homage to his grandfather King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II.

The wreath of poppies will be placed on a bed of black leaves, bearing the monarch's racing colours of scarlet, purple and gold - as is traditional for a Sovereign.

Queen Camilla's wreath, which also bears her racing colours inherited from her grandfather and inspired by the Queen Mother, will be placed on her behalf by an Equerry from the Royal Household. Both wreathes were made by the Poppy Factory.

Prince William will lay the wreath previously placed by King Charles III, featuring the Prince of Wales feathers and a new ribbon in Welsh red.
Hundreds of murderers, paedophiles and rapists from Eastern have gained access into the UK despite having criminal records thanks to 'weaknesses' in the UK visa system.

Shocking police figures show checks conducted by the ACRO Criminal Records Office with officials in Romania have found more than 700 cases in the last three years where a suspect in the UK has a previous criminal record for murder, manslaughter, rape or a child sexual offence abroad.

According to data obtained via Freedom of Information laws, ACRO has carried out 317,757 cross-border computerised criminal record checks on foreign people arrested in the UK.

A sample based on five nationalities uncovered 524 cases where a suspect had a conviction abroad for murder or manslaughter, 441 cases of a person with an overseas rape conviction and 592 incidents of child sex offences.

Despite tougher post-Brexit rules that allow the Government to ban any overseas criminals jailed for more than a year, people only have to self-declare that they have not committed any serious crime to secure a visa to enter Britain.

Raimondas Jakstas, 26, was imprisoned in his native Lithuania for beating a man to death. He came to the UK and threatened a neighbour with a knife

Vitautas Jokubauskas had been jailed in Lithuania in 1992 for a brawl in which he killed a man

A former senior Border Force and immigration officer told the Telegraph: 'It is a weakness in the current system but it's difficult because individual countries' criminal records databases are not networked.

'Even if they were to be, it raises quite a big privacy issue.'

Usually, the foreign crooks' violent histories are only exposed once they are arrested in the UK.

One high-profile case concerned Lithuanian national Vitautas Jokubauskas, who murdered his partner Ramute Butkien before dismembering her torso and stuffing her inside a suitcase.

Her remains were discovered after neighbours in Peterborough complained of an unpleasant smell coming from Jokubauskas' room.

Jokubauskas told police he only strangled her 'a little' with her dressing gown cord to 'scare her' after accusing her of having an affair.

At the end of his trial, it was revealed he'd been jailed in Lithuania in 1992 for a brawl in which he killed a man.

In another case, Raimondas Jakstas, 26, who had served five years for beating someone to death in his homeland, went berserk after his neighbour Steve Foster asked him to be quiet.

Jakstas had been kicking plant pots around in the back yard of his Boston home at 10.30pm on March 13, 2015, when Mr Foster asked the thug not to wake his five-year-old son, Jamie.

But the enraged Lithuanian 'threatened to come up and kill him and his dog', before trying to kick in Mr Foster's door.

Armed with a large kitchen knife, he then tried to force his way into Mr Foster's flat.

Mr Foster, who lived in the flat above Jakstas, barricaded the door with bicycles and called the police while the Lithuanian thrust the knife through the letter box.

It was the second time that day police were called to deal with Jakstas after he was spotted throwing fireworks in the street and abusing motorists at 11am.

At just 16, Jakstas was sentenced to nine years in jail after beating someone to death in Lithuania while awaiting sentence for robbery.

Sentencing him Judge Michael Heath, said: 'This case highlights a matter that is a legitimate public concern.

'If someone in this country is sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, and life imprisonment is the only sentence that can be passed for murder in this country, then once they are released they are subject to licence for the rest of their life and they are monitored.

Jokubauskas murdered his partner Ramute Butkien (pictured) before dismembering her torso and stuffing her inside a suitcase

Arnis Zalkalns (left) murdered 14-year-old Alice Goss (right) in Ealing in 2014 after arriving in the UK despite having been sentenced to seven years for battering his wife to death in Latvia

'That does not appear to be the case with those who are convicted of murder in the country of your origin. You were able to come to this country without any hindrance, and live here without monitoring.'

Michael Podlaszczyk, 33, was only revealed to have served 12 years in Poland for killing a man in a drunken after being jailed for life for raping and robbing a woman in a Leicester park.

In another tragic case, Arnis Zalkalns murdered 14-year-old Alice Goss in Ealing in 2014 after arriving in the UK despite having been sentenced to seven years for battering his wife to death in his native Latvia.

A Home Office spokesman said: 'Those applying for a visa to come to the UK are required to declare any criminal convictions and are subject to checks against UK police databases, watchlists and immigration databases.

'They may be refused if they have a criminal conviction, a history of serious or persistent offending or have failed to declare convictions.

'Our police also carry out routine checks for overseas criminal convictions on foreign nationals who are arrested, and where serious convictions are found, individuals are referred to Immigration Enforcement for deportation consideration.'

A spokesman for ACRO said: 'The UK has well-established mechanisms for exchanging information on criminal records with other countries. This helps UK police pursue criminal investigations and safeguard communities.'

MailOnline contacted ACRO for further comment.
Embattled SNP external affairs secretary Angus Robertson has finally had his wings clipped  as The MoS today reveals the new Secretary of State for Scotland will take charge of boosting Brand Scotland abroad.

In a move set to humiliate Mr Robertson  nicknamed Air Miles Angus for his regular jaunts overseas  UK Government Minister Ian Murray will carry out five foreign trade missions to sell the benefits of Scotland and its industries, including the salmon and whisky sectors, in the next two years. Among them will be a major trip to South East Asia.

His first mission took place last week in Oslo to strengthen the close ties between Norway and Scotland.

The power move comes amid accusations that Mr Robertson has attempted to act like a Scottish foreign secretary on trips abroad  despite foreign affairs being reserved to Westminster.

He has been chastised for using a number of official meetings to trumpet Scottish separation to foreign governments  in flagrant disregard of international rules.

Angus Robertson has been chastised for using a number of official meetings to trumpet Scottish separation to foreign governments

Ian Murray has taken on a series of trade missions

Mr Murray said: We hit the ground running last week in Norway, where I met political and business leaders to strengthen the close ties between our two nations.

Scotland and Norway have a hugely important relationship, rooted in a shared history but focused on some of the biggest issues of our future.

In a thinly veiled swipe at Mr Robertson, Mr Murray added: Brand Scotland wont be about photo-shoots and grandstanding, which have often been the hallmarks of the SNPs trips abroad.

Instead, well be rolling up our sleeves, travelling with small businesses as well as our biggest brands, and really doing the work to sell our products and services, while bringing back major foreign investment into Scotland.

It comes as Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed in her Budget this month that Mr Murray and his team in the Scotland Office will benefit from a 750,000 injection of cash to establish Brand Scotland  a programme to promote Scottish investment opportunity and exports across the globe.

The scheme, which is a key priority for the UK Government department, will look to raise awareness of Scotlands shipbuilding sector, its scientific prowess and its export capabilities abroad.

Last year this newspaper told how Mr Robertson had used numerous taxpayer-funded trips overseas to boost support for Scottish independence.

It prompted a Foreign Office source to say: Foreign policy is a reserved area and taxpayers should not be paying for official Scottish Government trips where SNP party policy is promoted. Scotland has a foreign secretary.

Angus Robertson meets Spanish culture minister Fernandez Palomares on a jaunt to Madrid in 2022

Then foreign secretary James Cleverly also wrote to diplomats to stress the importance of the devolution agreement in light of the article, having already written to all British embassies to ask diplomats to shadow SNP Ministers on trips abroad as a reminder to Scottish Government politicians that they should keep within bounds, one source said.

Mr Murrays next trade major trade mission will be to South East Asia and will take place in the coming weeks.

He said: The region is a key growth market for Scotch whisky and Ill be working in partnership with the industry to unlock new routes to export Scotlands national drink.

Of course, it isnt just our products we want to export, there are huge opportunities for Scotlands world-leading higher education sector.

Reflecting on the Labour Budget, Mr Murray added: The Labour UK Government is doing its part, by raising wages and pensions, directly investing in local projects and by selling Brand Scotland to the world.

The SNP Scottish Government must also do theirs, by fixing the mess they have made of our public services.

'The Scottish people will be watching closely.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: Ministers and officials in the Scottish Government have been robustly selling and promoting Scotland for years and will continue to do so to build relationships and boost investment in our country.
The Princess of Wales looked radiant as she arrived at the Royal Albert Hall for the Festival of Remembrance, her highest-profile appearance since undergoing cancer treatment.

Ever on trend, Kate wore a mid-length black dress with a deep v-neck collar, fitted to her slim figure, accompanied by a stylish black clutch purse.

The beaming royal wore her shoulder-length hair down, with a pair of large drop pearl and diamond earrings and a pearl necklace.

In past years, Kate has worn a trio of Remembrance Day poppies, but tonight she displayed just a single poppy, with a silver military badge underneath.

Footage taken outside the venue, showed the Princess of Wales stepping out of the royal car with Prince William repeatedly putting his arm behind her in a gesture of support.

The Prince of Wales sported the light beard he has worn in recent months and wore an elegant cerulean blue suit.

The Princess of Wales looked radiant as she arrived at the Royal Albert Hall for the Festival of Remembrance tonight

Ever on trend, Kate wore a mid-length black dress with a deep v-neck collar, fitted to her slim figure, accompanied by a stylish black clutch purse

The beaming royal wore her shoulder-length hair down, with a pair of large drop pearl and diamond earrings and a pearl necklace

The Prince of Wales sported the light beard he has worn in recent months and wore an elegant cerulean blue suit

Kate is the most senior female Royal in attendance tonight after Buckingham Palace confirmed the Queen - who is unwell with a chest infection - will not attend the event

The Prince and Princess of Wales are at The Royal Albert Hall! Love William constantly putting his arm around Catherine  pic.twitter.com/2lKBFuKlM5     (@crowningred) November 9, 2024

His Majesty The King arrives at The Royal Albert Hall! pic.twitter.com/5CqxJwbuda     (@crowningred) November 9, 2024

At last year's event, Kate wore a pearl necklace and matching earrings that belonged to Queen Elizabeth II alongside a brooch of 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards, to which she was appointed Colonel-in-Chief last August.

Kate is the most senior female Royal in attendance tonight after Buckingham Palace confirmed the Queen - who is unwell with a chest infection - will not attend the event, nor the Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph on Sunday.

A Palace spokesperson said that while her decision to not attend is 'a source of great disappointment to The Queen, she will mark the occasion privately at home'.

His Majesty, who became Patron of the Royal British Legion earlier this year, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, as well as Princess Anne arrived earlier this evening at the central London venue.

The Duke of Kent, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucestershire and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence are seated in the Royal Box tonight, as those who put their lives on the line for King and Country are celebrated.

Once the event got underway, the King received a standing ovation as he took his seat, accompanied by a royal fanfare from state trumpeters of the household division.

The King looked upbeat as he arrived at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance

King Charles III arrived solo after Queen Camilla announced earlier she would not be attending tonight's event due to an ongoing chest infection

The monarch was all smiles as he sported several medals and an elegant black suit

The Duke of Gloucester arrived at the prestigious event on Saturday

The Duchess of Gloucester was all smiles as she arrived holding a Union Jack clutch bag

Princess Anne, who holds a number of military titles and positions, arrives at The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance

The Princess Royal will be in attendance alongside her brother His Majesty King Charles III as well as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh

The Prime Minister and his wife are all smiles as they entered the Royal Albert Hall tonight

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria were greeted at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance

King Charles III was seen clapping next to his sister, Princess Anne, at the start of tonight's Festival of Remembrance

Kate clapped enthusiastically next to husband Prince William, with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester standing behind them

The Duke of Kent, seen behind King Charles III, and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, standing behind Princess Anne, were also spotted in the Royal Box

Hosted by Adrian Lester, several British music icons will take to the stage to honour the servicemen and women, including Sir Tom Jones, Alexandra Burke, Jack Savoretti and many more.

Tonight's event is likely to be especially poignant for Kate, who is recovering from cancer and King Charles III, who is having ongoing treatment for cancer.

She is also expected to attend the national commemoration at the Cenotaph tomorrow, marking the first time she has carried out two consecutive days of public official engagements since the start of the year.

Royal insiders have commented that her appearance at both tonight's event and tomorrow is a significant step in her gradual return to public royal duties.

Ever known for her sense of style, in 2021 royal fans were not disappointed when Kate arrived wearing a stylish black boucle dress by Eponine.

The mid-length dress featured a pointed collar, pleated skirt and four rhinestone buttons on the front.

In 2019, the Princess of Wales wore a dark dress with a bateau neckline and velvet belt trim, alongside an Alexandra McQueen clutch bag.

Earlier in the week, Camilla's condition meant that she had to reluctantly withdraw from the annual opening of the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey on Thursday with the Duchess of Gloucester, 78, standing in for her.

Last year's look: The Princess of Wales wore a pearl necklace and matching earrings that belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth II

William and Kate at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on November 11, 2023

In 2019, the Princess of Wales wore a dark dress with a bateau neckline and velvet belt trim, alongside an Alexandra McQueen clutch bag

Royal fans were not disappointed in 2021 when Kate arrived to the Festival of Remembrance wearing a stylish black boucle dress by Eponine

In 2017, Kate wore a custom coat dress from Catherine Walker & Co featuring buttons made from jet, glass and silver Swarovski crystals

The Queen also had to cancel an appearance at a reception at Buckingham Palace honouring the nation's Olympic and Paralympic stars the very same day.

Camilla is anticipated to return to work as soon as next week and is set to host a reception for authors shortlisted for this year's Booker Prize at Clarence House.

Kate attended the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on November 12, 2023

Stylish and solemn: The Princess of Wales at last year's National Service of Remembrance

The National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London on November 12, 2023

Queen Camilla pictured alongside the Princess of Wales during the National Service Of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in 2023

She is also expected to attend the glitzy global premiere of Gladiator II at the Royal Film Performance in Londons Leicester Square next Wednesday evening.

Royal Family members at Remembrance events this weekend CONFIRMED King Charles III

Prince William

Kate, Princess of Wales

Anne, Princess Royal

Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence

Edward, Duke of Edinburgh

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh

Richard, Duke of Gloucester

Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester

Edward, Duke of Kent Advertisement

Buckingham Palace announced the King and Camilla will meet the stars of the blockbuster, Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen and Pedro Pascal, and director Sir Ridley Scott.

The events are taking place on the eve of the Kings birthday, with Charles turning 76 next Thursday.

Tomorrow the King alongside other members of the Royal family will attend the annual Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, which is the nation's chief war memorial to those who died in World War I and II.

His Majesty is expected to lay a wreath designed to pay homage to his grandfather King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II.

The wreath of poppies will be placed on a bed of black leaves, bearing the monarch's racing colours of scarlet, purple and gold - as is traditional for a Sovereign.

Queen Camilla's wreath, which also bears her racing colours inherited from her grandfather and inspired by the Queen Mother, will be placed on her behalf by an Equerry from the Royal Household. Both wreathes were made by the Poppy Factory.

Prince William will lay the wreath previously placed by King Charles III, featuring the Prince of Wales feathers and a new ribbon in Welsh red.

The Royal Navy prepare for Sunday at HMS Excellent training base in Hampshire on Tuesday

After the service, Sophie the Duchess of Edinburgh will place a wreath at the Memorial and is set to take to the stage for an Armistice Day Service reading.

The events will conclude with a tour of the Arboretum.
An F-35C Lightning II, attached to the Argonauts of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147, lands on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) while underway in the Pacific Ocean, Oct. 30, 2024. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class August Clawson)

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A couple who moved from San Francisco to France just last year have already booked flights home after finding there was 'too much grief and no joy'.

Joanna McIsaac-Kierklo, 74, and her husband Ed Kierklo, 75, had uprooted their lives to live out the dream in Europe.

They decided to move away from the political climate in America, looking for 'civility, consideration and little to no gun violence... which Nimes has all three', Joanna said.

However, after a year, the retired couple found themselves struggling to make friends and became increasingly frustrated with French bureaucracy.

'We gave it a year here,' Joanna said. 'And we just said, 'Too much grief and no joy.' There's no fun. We're struggling every day.'

Joanna McIsaac-Kierklo, 74, and her husband Ed Kierklo, 75, had uprooted their lives to live out the dream in Europe. The couple moved to Nimes and only after a year are already considering moving back

They had lived in the city of Nimes for two months beforehand and said they 'loved every minute', so they hired a relocation specialist to help find them an apartment to rent

She told CNN: 'I honestly don't think we could have put in any more effort to acclimatize to the French way of life.'

Joanna described her experience as 'a nightmare' but said that they had not taken their decision to move across the world lightly.

The couple, who had been married for 20 years, had done plenty of traveling both together and separately before their move.

In 2011 the couple had moved to London and spent time traveling across Europe.

'I loved every place I went. I really enjoyed seeing a lot of Europe,' Joanna said.

The couple ultimately found they couldn't afford to stay in London and moved back to San Francisco with the idea of looking for their next adventure.

They had lived in the city of Nimes for two months beforehand and said they 'loved every minute', so they hired a relocation specialist to help find them an apartment to rent.

They also began the ever complicated and lengthy process of applying for a long-stay visa and found themselves also paying an extra $5,000 to fly their cat, Suzette, over.

Before leaving San Francisco, they made the decision to keep hold of their rent-controlled apartment, which Joanna had lived in for over 40 years, just in case things didn't go to plan.

'You've got to have a plan B,' she said. 'What if this doesn't work out? I mean, we could never afford to buy back into California, because it's really expensive.'

However, the couple hoped for the best and moved over in October 2023, Joanna said that they hadn't thought it wouldn't go to plan.

'We thought, 'We'll die here. We're done.',' she said.

'I wish more people would show the not-so pleasant side of France. Because there is a not-so pleasant side of France, and that's what we learned very quickly,' Joanna said

They found their first few months relatively happy but were left bewildered by some of the rules and regulations they had been unaware of.

Joanna found setting up a French bank account difficult, but also struggled with the language barrier.

'I have been so busy packing, unpacking, assembling furniture etc. that I haven't really found time to hunker down and start [learning French]. It was always on my list but [I] just couldn't find the time,' she told CNN.

Her enthusiasm for living in France wavered considerably at the beginning of this year, when the couple tried to arrange for their car to be transported from San Francisco to France.

'I read so many things that said, 'Yes, do it' or 'No, don't do it. It's a nightmare.',' she said.

'Then, 'Yes, you can do it. It's not a problem.' Well, it wouldn't be a problem if their systems were consistent and made sense. But they just don't. You can get five different answers to one simple little question.'

Frustration with the systems also extended into sorting out their healthcare.

'You have to find a general practitioner who will take you on as a patient, well, we went to like six doctors. [They all said] 'We don't take new patients...We don't take new patients. We don't take new patients'.'

'What? 'Where's the list that tells you which ones do, and which ones don't?' They don't have that. You've just got to figure it out yourself.'

Joanna also found the food, although famous worldwide, was not what she expected.

Joanna struggled to find good produce and was not impressed with the food, despite the world-renowned cuisine, finding herself eating 'brie, pate, pastries and French bread all day long'

'People go, 'Oh my god, the French food is so fabulous',' Joanna said. 'Yea, if you want to eat brie, pate, pastries and French bread all day long. But who eats like that?'

She had been eagerly looking forward to cooking, but also found it difficult to find quality produce.

'You go to the supermarket, and the produce is terrible. You pick up a piece of celery and it falls over. It's so limp. So old and horrible. Who would eat this?'

Joanna said after finding obstacles around every corner, she found herself feeling incredibly drained.

'Every single day it was something more devastating than the day before,' she said. 'Things are very difficult to figure out here...So I'm too old for this.'

Joanna acknowledged that the US isn't free of bureaucracy, but said she's been able to manage this as 'you get used to your rules I guess.'

'You talk to the French, and they just shrug their shoulders,' she said. 'And they go, 'Well, this is France. That's how it is.''

Back in the US, Joanna, who describes herself as a 'chatty box' had an active social life but said she hadn't been able to replicate that lifestyle so far in France.

The lack of socialization ended up having a huge impact on her after a while.

Aside from casual chat in the supermarket she found herself not having lengthy conversations with anyone aside from her husband.

'I said to Ed one day, 'I haven't talked to one person here in three months...' I just miss interacting,' she said. Joanna added that she doesn't really want to 'hang around with expats' as 'that's not exactly why we came on this adventure.'

While locals have been friendly and welcoming, Joanna found she hasn't managed to 'strike up friendships' the way she hoped to.

'It's a hard shell to break. They're private people. But they're also principled and moral. They're nice people. There's nothing unkind about them. They're just not extremely social.'

'It's a really hard decision to make. After it was a hard decision to make to come here, to all of a sudden say, 'This isn't going to work for us'. [But] we don't think it's going to work for us... We don't have 40 more years to live, you know,' Joanna said

After their struggles with feeling at home in Nimes, the couple decided to relocate to Montpellier.

While they prefer life in Montpellier, the couple realized that France doesn't seem to be the right place for them to live out the rest of their lives.

'I love France. I think France is amazing country, just not to live here...'

Joanna added that she had read up on everything to do with living in France as an expat before they moved but she still didn't feel prepared for the reality of life out there.

'I wish more people would show the not-so pleasant side of France. Because there is a not-so pleasant side of France, and that's what we learned very quickly.'

Joanna, although was once eager to leave, now misses the 'familiarity' of the US.

'I miss knowing where things are. I miss frozen yogurt - because they don't have it here. I miss stupid things... I miss my friends for sure,' she said. 'We don't have family, but I have a great network of friends. I miss just being able to see them, and I miss my apartment.'

'I think I just miss my life. I had one there [in San Francisco]. I don't have one here.'

Although she acknowledged her feelings may change over time, she said she doesn't want to 'waste any more time' and that 'she's not 30'.

'It's a really hard decision to make. After it was a hard decision to make to come here, to all of a sudden say, 'This isn't going to work for us'. [But] we don't think it's going to work for us... We don't have 40 more years to live, you know.'

Joanna explained they had friends who said that the way of living in France was 'just heaven on earth' and felt glad they found happiness, but knows it isn't her heaven.

'It still remains one of the most spectacular countries to visit. But to live here is another story,' she told CNN.

The couple is currently figuring out costs of moving back to San Francisco before going full steam ahead, and felt the US election could sway their decision, but said they are pretty sure of their idea to move back in the not-too-distant future.

She added: 'We have a flight back to San Francisco in January, and I think we're not going to come back. I don't want to say we failed. But it just didn't work out.''
The NHS will be banned from hiring agency workers under plans backed by Wes Streeting.

The Health Secretary wants to stop hospitals spending 'eye-watering sums' on temporary staff to plug shortages of nurses and doctors.

The NHS spent 3 billion on such workers last year, with agencies charging up to 2,000 for a single nursing shift.

Under the plans, NHS Trusts could be banned from using agency staff for entry-level jobs such as healthcare assistants and domestic support workers.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting is backing plans to ban NHS trusts from hiring agency workers

The NHS spent 3billion bringing in workers last year from agencies, which can charge up to 2,000 for a single nursing shift

Firms could also be banned from putting forward staff who have recently left permanent jobs within the NHS.

The plans will be put out for consultation by NHS England in the coming weeks.

Mr Streeting told The Mail on Sunday: 'For too long desperate hospitals have been forced to pay eye-watering sums on temporary staff, costing the taxpayer billions, and pulling experienced staff out of the NHS.

'We're not going to let the NHS get ripped off any more.'

Mr Streeting will announce a series of reforms at a meeting with healthcare leaders in Liverpool on Wednesday.


Scores of teachers in Scotland have told pupils to use gender neutral titles when addressing them.

Children as young as four or five are being encouraged to use the pronouns such as they and them when speaking to classroom staff.

The titles being used include monikers for people who identify as non-binary or neither male nor female regardless of their sex.

Figures from councils show at least 86 teachers, teaching assistants and classroom aides have been recorded using Mx titles, rather than Miss, Mrs, Ms or Mr.

As many as 13 work in primary schools while there are at least 73 in secondary schools.

Scottish Conservative spokeswoman for children and young people Roz McCall

City of Edinburgh Council alone has 44, giving it the highest number of recorded gender-neutral staff.

Overall numbers could be even higher as some councils dont keep a record.

Critics have said teachers should not bring contested ideology into classrooms, with one parent saying they believe their childs teacher seems more concerned with being an activist.

Scottish Conservative spokeswoman for children and young people Roz McCall said: These sort of fringe issues are a distraction from making sure our children are getting the best possible start in life and are not made to feel uncomfortable.

Marion Calder of campaign group For Women Scotland said: Teachers should not be bringing contested ideology which has no more basis than astrology into classrooms.

For Women Scotland campaigner Marion Calder

One mother said she only became aware the teacher was using Mx after signed achievement certificates were sent home.

She said the school dismissed her concerns.

My initial response to the head asking why I had a problem with Mx was because we are telling small children something that is false  you get to choose your gender  and we are forcing a very dangerous ideology onto very young children, with no discussion with parents, she said.

Also, when I asked what [pronoun] the teacher gets the children to refer to [them] as he said I dont know, I havent asked. These are activist teachers and it should not be happening.

Parent Watch Scotland, another campaign group, stated: Titles like Mx confuse primary school children, no one knows how to pronounce it and too many teachers use it as a conversation starter to introduce their non-binariness or gender identity.

Ms Calder added: How are children to believe anything a teacher says if they lie about something so fundamental? And what happens if a child or their parents push back? Will the child be disciplined for holding to science and reality?'

Gender ideology in schools has led to teaching that there are at least 17 genders and promoting the affirmation of childrens gender identity without parental consent.

The prescribing of puberty blockers was halted in Scotland after the landmark Cass review of Englands gender services found youngsters had been let down by a lack of medical research.
The diplomatic nightmare presented to Sir Keir Starmer by Donald Trump's victory deepened last night when it emerged that he called for an export ban on Trump's America after he became Labour leader.

Sir Keir  who insists that he 'looks forward' to working with the US President-elect  made his demand in a letter to Boris Johnson in 2020, after the death of George Floyd at the hands of US police triggered the Black Lives Matter protests.

It is one of a series of embarrassing remarks made by the Prime Minister and his senior ministers which have emerged in the wake of Trump's landslide win.

In the letter, sent to the then-Prime Minister Johnson on June 4, 2020, Sir Keir said Floyd's death had 'shone a spotlight on the racism, discrimination and injustice experienced by those from black and ethnic minority communities in the US'.

He asked: 'What review is the Government conducting to ensure UK exports are not being used in the suppression of democratic rights?'

Sir Keir  who insists that he 'looks forward' to working with the US President-elect  called for an export ban on Trump's America after he became Labour leader

It is one of a series of embarrassing remarks made by the Prime Minister and his senior ministers which have emerged in the wake of Trump's landslide win

Protesters walk away from crowd control munitions launched by federal officers during a Black Lives Matter protest at the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse in July 2020

His question related to British exports of riot control weapons and equipment to the US including anti-riot guns, tear gas and shields.

In other remarks made since becoming leader, Sir Keir disparagingly described Mr Johnson as 'Britain's Trump', said the previous Trump administration sought a trade deal with the UK 'to benefit America's big healthcare companies' and questioned Trump's ability to lead the world's response to coronavirus.

In May 2020, he said: 'I don't think in President Trump we're seeing the man capable of pulling the world together with a global response.'

Prior to becoming party leader he was even more critical, saying in June 2019: 'An endorsement from Donald Trump tells you everything you need to know about what is wrong with Boris Johnson's politics and why he isn't fit to be Prime Minister.'

In 2018  a year after his wife Victoria was pictured at an anti-Trump march with a 'down with Trump' sign  he posted: 'Humanity and dignity. Two words not understood by President Trump. A truly 'great country' treats all people with humanity and dignity.'

In 2016, during a parliamentary debate on banning Trump from the UK, Sir Keir said: 'Much of what he says is deeply offensive'.

And as recently as last year, he accused the Tories of no longer being 'Churchill's Tories', instead becoming 'more and more like Donald Trump'.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy has been backpedalling rapidly from comments made before taking office in which he called Trump 'a tyrant in a toupee', 'deluded, dishonest, xenophobic, narcissistic' and 'a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath'. Health Secretary Wes Streeting called him 'an odious, sad, little man'.

Environment Secretary Ed Miliband said he was 'a racist, misogynistic self-confessed groper'.

In other remarks made since becoming leader, Sir Keir disparagingly described Mr Johnson as 'Britain's Trump'. (President Trump and Boris Johnson during the 2019 G7 summit)

Black Lives Matter protesters hold their fists in the air as they stand against racism and police brutality in downtown Portland in July 2020

The damage to the so-called 'special relationship' has been compounded by the Trump campaign registering an official complaint after Labour activists campaigned against him in the US.

It has led to the Foreign Office hitting the panic button  by preparing to roll out the Royal Family to soothe diplomatic tensions.

Yesterday's Daily Mail reported that diplomats are planning to play their 'Trump card' by counting on King Charles to become a 'key asset' in forging a positive relationship with the new President.

They described the family as a 'priceless and powerful' weapon of soft-diplomacy. Charles and Mr Trump have met twice.

Officials say that, while they hold strong differences of opinion over issues such as climate change, they have a 'warm bond'.
Barack Obama's former adviser Van Jones claims VP Kamala Harris's strategy for Black men 'sucked' as experts continue to decipher on what went wrong for the candidate.

During her campaign, Harris released a string of digital ads on Snapchat and Instagram targeting black men's love lives in a bid to secure their vote.

In one such ad, a man can be seen approaching a group of women holding balloons who question him about his life. But when he says he does not have a 'plan to vote', all the women pop their balloons - rejecting him in the process.

Days after President elect Donald Trump's victory, Jones believes it was ads like this that alienated black men.

On a CNN episode with Anderson Cooper, he argued that the campaign did not 'actually listen more and lecture less when it comes to African American men'.

Barack Obama 's former adviser Van Jones claims VP Kamala Harris 's strategy for Black men 'sucked' as experts continue to decipher on what went wrong for the candidate

'The Kamala Harris campaign wound up spending a bunch of money on TV ads and the TV ads sucked,' Jones said. 'They did not appeal to anyone.'

He also raged that Harris did not have any plans for the sub group and they 'were not handled properly' compared to their counterparts.

'What was the agenda for immigrants? Comprehensive immigration reform. What's the agenda for women? Abortion. What's the agenda for transgender people? Dignity and respect. What was the agenda for Black men? You still can't tell me. And that was a problem on our side,' Jones explained.

According to the Washington Post and CNN exit polls, only 77 percent of black men voted for Harris - a sharp fall from the 90 percent of black men who voted for President Joe Biden in 2020.

During her campaign, Harris released a string of digital ads on Snapchat and Instagram targeting black men's love lives to persuade young people them to vote

On a CNN episode with Anderson Cooper , he argued that the campaign did not 'actually listen more and lecture less when it comes to African American men'

The digital ads are being run on Snapchat and Instagram and use dating-game style videos to persuade young people to vote

Jones believes that Republicans were able to convince many men by adopting more modern outreach approaches rather than relying on traditional media like television.

'You start hearing African American men who aren't even political saying the same exact thing over and over again, because the Republican Party was spending money on ads and outreach on streaming services and stuff I've never even heard of before,' Jones said.

Trump managed to double his share of young Black male voters. About three in 10 Black men under the age of 45 went for him - nearly double than in 2020, the Associated Press VoteCast revealed.

The digital ads had already faced criticism and confusion after it emerged that 65 percent of spending on the ads were being directed at women, according to data from Meta.

Jones also ragefully added that Harris did not have any plans for the sub group and they 'were not handled properly' compared to their counterparts

Trump managed to double his share of young Black men voters. About three in 10 Black men under the age of 45 went for him - nearly double than in 2020, the Associated Press VoteCast revealed

'Wow. I don't know what to say. Screams desperate,' one person wrote on X.

'This is what a failing campaign looks like,' another added.

'It's hard to describe how cringe Kamala is, but I'll do my best,' one person said. 'What man would watch this and be persuaded to vote for Kamala Harris?'

'Reeks of desperation,' a fourth person wrote.

The situation worsened for Harris after former President Barack Obama accused black male voters of not supporting her due to sexism.

The former president was at a campaign field office in Pittsburgh to thank volunteers, but instead gave them a lecture, saying he wanted to 'speak some truths'.

Obama said he was responding to reports on the ground that there was lower enthusiasm for Harris than there was for his own candidacy and that some black men were thinking of sitting out the election.
A prosecutor at the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office is wary of a new piece of evidence that could help see Erik and Lyle Menendez set free.

Juan Mejia, who was a young deputy district attorney during the brother's second murder trial, questions the legitimacy of a new letter that entered into evidence in May 2023.

In the undated note, first revealed by DailyMail.com, Erik writes to his now-dead cousin Andy Cano that he has 'been trying to avoid dad' and that 'it's still happening, Andy, but it's worse for me now,' alluding to the sexual abuse he experience at the hands of his father.

Mejia, who opposes the brothers' release, said he questions the evidence because the Menendez brothers' attorneys have yet to hand over the original copy and the letter is not dated.

'We cant tell if it was written before the murders or after the conviction,' he told NBC News. 'Are they trying to pull another fast one on the court?'

It was announced last month, DA George Gascon - who lost his reelection bid on Tuesday - that recommended the brothers for resentencing. A hearing on the brother's resentencing is scheduled for December 10

Juan Mejia, who was a young deputy district attorney during the brother's second murder trial, questions the legitimacy of a new letter that entered into evidence in May 2023. 'We cant tell if it was written before the murders or after the conviction,' he said

Erik Menendez wrote a letter to his cousin, Andy Cano, in which he alludes to serious, and long-term, abuse at the hands of his father Jose

Cano, who died in 2003, testified before a jury that Erik told him about his father's abuse when he was 13. His mother found the letter nine years ago, and it was included in a 2023 petition to examine whether the brothers were unlawfully imprisoned.

Despite the fact that Mejia agrees the brothers more than like meet the resentencing standards, he doesn't thing there is any 'justification for shooting your mom eight times with a shotgun and reloaded.'

The brothers were sentenced to life with parole for the 1989 killing of their parents, who they shot multiple times in their home.

The brothers' case has been thrust back into the spotlight 35 years after the killings thanks to the popular Netflix docuseries Monsters.

Many of their newfound fans believe the boys should have been convicted of manslaughter instead of murder. If they had been, they would have already completed their sentence and been set free.

DA George Gascon- who lost his reelection bid on Tuesday - announced last month that he had recommended the brothers for resentencing and said he wanted to see the pairs speedy release.

Despite the fact that Mejia agrees the brothers more than like meet the resentencing standards, he doesn't thing there is any 'justification for shooting your mom eight times with a shotgun and reloaded'

Gascon argues the brothers are not a risk to public safety as they've been 'exceptional prisoners all the way around' during their incarcerations, and have paid their dues

But on Election Day, Los Angeles County voters dramatically booted Gascon out and replaced him with Republican-turned-Independent Nate Hochman  jeopardizing the resentencing process.

Hochman, 60, takes office on December 2 and has already said he plans to review Gascon's decision on the brothers.

In a statement to CNN following his victory, he said: Before I can make any decision about the Menendez brothers case, I will need to become thoroughly familiar with the relevant facts, the evidence and the law.

The former federal prosecutor added: I will have to review the confidential prison files for each brother, the transcripts from both trials, and speak to the prosecutors, law enforcement, defense counsel, and the victims family members.

On December 11, a hearing on the brother's resentencing is scheduled. But Hochman told CNN that if he needs more time to review the request, he 'will ask the court for that time.'

Former Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Pamela Bozanich doesn't agree with Gascon call for a resentencing, nor does she believe the boys were abused.

'They killed their parents. They slaughtered their mother,' she told NBC. 'Why should they live among us?'

Mejia is also wary of the brothers' history of fabrication, including Lyle allegedly trying to get people to lie for the defense trial, and the fact that they spent loads of money after the deaths.

But Gascon argues the brothers are not a risk to public safety as they've been 'exceptional prisoners all the way around' during their incarcerations, and have paid their dues.
A disgraced former Royal Navy captain who was at the centre of a submarine sex scandal has taken up a role in reputation and crisis management.

Commander Stuart Armstrong, 48, was relieved of duties on the Vanguard-class nuclear submarine HMS Vigilant after it emerged that he had slept with a female subordinate, and that nine members of his crew had been caught taking cocaine.

She was named as Sub-Lieutenant Rebecca Edwards, a then 25-year-old weapons engineering officer on the boat, who is said to have dressed in Mr Armstrongs uniform during boozy horseplay in the officers mess.

Ms Edwards is also said to have worn his gold epaulettes and barked out joke orders to other officers aboard HMS Vigilant  which carries some of the UKs nuclear warheads.

Mr Armstrong, from Kirkcudbright, was criticised by Ms Edwards family for allegedly preying on the junior crew member.

Commander Stuart Armstrong slept with Sub-Lieutenant Rebecca Edwards

Mr Armstrong was relieved of duties on the Vanguard-class nuclear submarine HMS Vigilant

Her grandfather Thomas Walker told The Mail on Sunday at the time: I just hope that the male officers involved in this dont drag Rebecca down with them.

Other critics, including Colonel Richard Kemp, who commanded British forces in Afghanistan, said the situation was terrifying.

Now, in a bizarre twist, The Mail on Sunday can disclose that Mr Armstrong is teaching others about crisis management.

He took up a role at Inverroy Crisis Management in April, having previously worked with the Edinburgh consultancy in 2019 after he was first relieved of his naval duties.

In a video recorded for businesses in June 2020, he says that for the last 20 years I have been dealing with crises underwater.

Mr Armstrong, who studied at Glasgow University, was hauled off HMS Vigilant in 2017 and stripped of his command amid concerns about an inappropriate relationship with Ms Edwards.

Their alleged affair led to five officers on the boat threatening to resign in protest at what they considered a blatant breach of the Navys no touching rules.

Mr Armstrong had been in charge of HMS Vigilant for only a few months at the time, after serving on HMS Artful from December 2015.

He met Ms Edwards, who had qualified as a submariner in 2016, following the collapse of his marriage to Sally Young.
Donald Trump has vowed to return a bust of Winston Churchill to the Oval Office as a 'mark of respect'.

The bronze bust was removed by 'woke' Joe Biden when he defeated Trump in 2020 and was replaced by one of Hispanic union leader Cesar Chavez.

Trump, a self-professed Anglophile whose mother was Scottish, has described the wartime leader as his 'idol' and called the Oscar-winning 2017 film The Darkest Hour, starring Gary Oldman as Churchill, 'my favourite film ever.'

Last night a source close to Trump said: 'One of the first things he will do is bring the Churchill bust back into the Oval Office as a mark of respect.

'Donald idolises Churchill and believes he's the greatest leader the world has ever seen. He will restore him to a position of honour.'

Donald Trump has promised to return a bust of Sir Winston Churchill to the Oval Office

The bust of Churchill was a gift to President Lyndon B Johnson in 1965. Pictured: The sculpture with George W Bush

The Churchill bust, by English modernist sculptor Sir Jacob Epstein, was a gift from the Wartime Friends of Winston Churchill to President Lyndon B Johnson in 1965.

It took pride of place in the Oval Office until 2009 when Barack Obama replaced it with one of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

At the time former prime minister Boris Johnson, who penned a best-selling biography of Churchill, described the Obama's snub as 'an ancestral dislike of the British Empire.'

When Trump beat Hillary Clinton - who ran after Obama served the maximum two terms in office - in the 2016 election he immediately removed the Martin Luther King bust and restored Churchill 'to his rightful place.'

Trump condemned protestors who daubed 'racist' on a statue of Churchill in London's Parliament Square during the Black Lives Matters protests.

The source said: 'He thought it was shameful people were attacking Churchill's image when Churchill saved the world from the tyranny of Hitler.'

The bronze was removed by Joe Biden in 2020 and replaced with a bust of Cesar Chavez

Trump's close friend Nigel Farage this week called Trump's trouncing of Kamala Harris 'the greatest comeback since Churchill', referring to the fact that Churchill was defeated in the 1945 general election only to return to power in 1951.

Last night Churchill's grandson Lord Nicholas Soames welcomed news of Trump's intention to return the bust to the Oval office, telling the Mail on Sunday: 'I am very glad obviously. That's lovely. I am glad he is doing that. I am delighted.'

Trump forged close ties with the Churchill family during his first term in office, visiting Churchill's birthplace Blenheim Palace and befriending the 12th Duke of Marlborough, whom he affectionately calls 'The Dook.'
Is the Keir Starmer Cabinet a government of adults, or a collection of college activists who have never grown up?

The new Tory leader, Kemi Badenoch, accused the Prime Minister outright of being a student politician during their first Commons clash last week, and the jibe seemed to hit home.

It is not just that the Labour Government has been entangled in avoidable scandals because so many of its members were too immature  and so easily seduced by offers of luxury goods, free tickets and other shiny gifts.

It is that their view of the world still seems to be a sort of teenage spasm of wrath and self-righteousness, rather than mature statecraft.

Simple-minded anti-Americanism is a big part of adolescent Leftism, and the rise of Donald Trump has undoubtedly led to more of this. Yet this is hardly the way for serious political operators to behave.

Sir Keir Starmer's government has a view of the world that still seems to be a sort of teenage spasm of wrath and self-righteousness, rather than mature statecraft

Donald Trump may not think that highly of Sir Keir, but he was still ready to entertain him to dinner in New York

What we (and the Americans) say in public is always going to be different from what we say in private. Mr Trump probably does not think all that highly of Sir Keir, but he was still ready to entertain him to dinner in his tower in New York.

Many Cabinet members must have realised years ago that they might one day occupy high office. They also must have known a White House return by Mr Trump was on the cards. Yet they went on record with rude personal attacks on him.

These have generally not been reasoned criticisms but name-calling and personal remarks, some even about the President-elects hair or his physical stature. The Foreign Secretary, supposedly our chief diplomat, is among the worst offenders. Yet he is not a novice.

He was appointed to the Privy Council (generally a sign of seniority and trust) in 2008 and held a number of offices under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. So why did he not know better than to publicly refer to Mr Trump as a neo-Nazi (amongst other things) as recently as 2018?

Now The Mail on Sunday reveals that Sir Keir, in June 2020, wrote a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson in which he attacked the US authorities response to the Black Lives Matter protests which followed the police killing of George Floyd. He asked Mr Johnson to ensure that UK exports were not being used for the suppression of democratic rights.

It was perfectly possible to deplore the shocking death of George Floyd without embracing the hard-Left ideology of BLM. But Labour chose to do so.

This was a few days before Sir Keir and his deputy, Angela Rayner, took the knee, publishing a picture of themselves doing so and saying We kneel with all those opposing anti-Black racism. #BlackLivesMatter.

This sort of thing is all very well among students and activists. But in a party of government, it is quite different. Governments have to deal, often face to face, with foreign rulers with less than perfect records.

King Charles is now repeatedly asked by the Foreign Office to be polite to all kinds of despots - some which make Mr Trump look like Abraham Lincoln by comparison

The Foreign Office repeatedly asked the late Queen, and now King Charles, to be polite to all kinds of despots, so horrible, repressive, bloodstained and dishonest that they make Mr Trump look like John F. Kennedy or Abraham Lincoln by comparison.

Noses are held, false smiles are exchanged, and necessary deals are done to maintain prosperity and security in a hard world, where we must survive on our wits and nobody owes us a living.

The presidents of student unions, or figures such as Jeremy Corbyn MP, are free to shout slogans, wave clenched fists and demand embargoes  because they do not matter. If Sir Keir and his Cabinet wish to matter, they are going to have to learn to button their lips instead of taking to their knees.
A horrific discovery was made on a beach in California, leading cops to release a $20,000 reward for more information surrounding the circumstances.

Authorities are continuing to search for the person responsible for fatally shooting a California sea lion in Orange County in August, reports KTLA.

According to a notice from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and shared by the Orange County Sheriff's Department, the young sea lion was found with a gunshot wound in its back at Bolsa Chica State Beach on August 7.

Authorities are continuing to search for the person responsible for fatally shooting a California sea lion in Orange County in August

A local rescue organization took in the injured animal, estimated to be around two years old, but it passed away the following day. A bullet was recovered from its body.

As a marine mammal, sea lions are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Violations of this law can result in civil penalties of up to $34,457, up to a year in prison, and forfeiture of any involved vessel.

NOAA has offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to a civil penalty or criminal conviction related to the shooting.
Israel's military says it has discovered thousands of hours of sickening footage showing Hamas interrogators torturing innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

The harrowing videos show male prisoners with sacks over their heads, chained to floors and ceilings in painful positions.

Men writhe in agony as they are beaten with sticks on the soles of their feet.

In one distressing clip, a hooded man appears to be screaming and remonstrating with his captor.

The horrifying incidents appear to have been filmed inadvertently by CCTV cameras inside a Hamas military base in northern Gaza raided by Israeli troops earlier this year.

The harrowing videos show male prisoners with sacks over their heads, chained to floors and ceilings in painful positions

Men writhe in agony as they are beaten with sticks on the soles of their feet

The footage was said to have been discovered on computers seized from the abandoned compound inside the Jabalia refugee camp. It is unclear why the men were being held.

But human rights experts have previously warned that innocent Palestinians have been kidnapped from their homes and tortured by Hamas thugs who have ruled Gaza with an iron rod since 2007.

Gay men and adulterers are among those who have been tortured by Hamas, along with political opponents and anyone accused of collaborating with Israel.

A time stamp in the corner of the footage suggests the torture took place between 2018 and 2020.

Often, the guards appear casually at ease, chatting as the abuse unfolds.

One interrogator reclines on a chair, with his arms folded behind his head, in front of a chained-up prisoner hanging from the ceiling by his arms.

Another film features a man, with a red sack over his head, chained up so awkwardly he can just about place one foot on the floor. One captor later appears to brutally choke the man.

A senior Israeli military source told The Mail on Sunday: 'The IDF found these CCTV images in March. It took months to go through them all.' It has not been possible for the videos to be independently verified but human rights groups have long warned of abuses by Hamas against civilians in Gaza. Amnesty International published a 44-page report detailing a brutal campaign of abduction, torture and killings by Hamas against its own people following the last Israel-Hamas war in 2014.

Mr Howidy, an accountant who later fled Gaza, said: 'People outside of Gaza call Hamas freedom fighters when they are killing innocent Palestinians for nothing'

A Palestinian man carries away an injured child from a home that was hit in an Israeli strike on the Jabalia refugee camp

Many were accused of collaborating with Israel. Hamas has also tortured and killed gay men in Gaza, where homosexuality is against the law.

Hundreds of gay men risked their lives to cross over the border to Israel or Egypt before the most recent conflict.

One, Abdul, previously told Israeli media how he lived in fear in Gaza after Hamas discovered he was gay. He was tortured repeatedly before he fled to Egypt.

In a chilling account that matches up with the torture captured in the footage found by the IDF, he told i24News: 'They put me in a tiny room. They wouldn't let me sleep or go to the bathroom inside. There was no food.

'They would torture me so badly. Sometimes, they would tie my feet up and beat them with a stick. After that, every few years, they would arrest me and torture me in the same way.

'They made me swear on the Koran that I won't be gay again.'

Last night another Hamas torture victim, Hamza Howidy, 27, told The Mail on Sunday how he was detained for protesting against the regime in Gaza.

'They would torture you until you broke and say whatever it is they wanted,' he said. 'I could hear my fellow protesters scream in the next room.'

Gay men and adulterers are among those who have been tortured by Hamas, along with political opponents and anyone accused of collaborating with Israel. (Israeli army tanks take position in southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip)

Displaced Palestinians flee Rafah with their belongings to safer areas in the southern Gaza Strip

Mr Howidy, an accountant who later fled Gaza, said he believed he was held in western Jabalia in 2019 but it is unknown if he appears in the footage.

He said: 'Hamas controls everything. They confiscated my laptop and had issues with my conversations with my girlfriend.

'Collaborating with Israel would warrant a severe punishment and homosexuality would result in a death sentence.' Mr Howidy said one man was detained for three years and tortured three times a week. 'He had objects inserted into him,' he added. 'One man was given electric shocks for two years before his innocence was eventually discovered.

'The first thing he did was shoot dead the Hamas officer who reported him  his uncle.

'You would never get a lawyer and your family would have no idea what happened to you. I was lucky because my family paid a price for me. I managed to leave for Europe via the Egyptian border in September last year, which cost a fortune, but my family there were told that should I return I'd be a dead man walking. Luckily I got them safe passage too.'

He added: 'You just cannot tell who is a Hamas snitch or not.

'One friend of mine was forced to divorce his wife when he got caught for something. There is a growing hatred towards Hamas now, especially after the war, but because Hamas controls the media and people are afraid, we hardly hear of it.

'People outside of Gaza call Hamas freedom fighters when they are killing innocent Palestinians for nothing. Hamas is holding the people of Gaza hostage.'

Relatives of Palestinians, who lost their lives in Israeli attacks over Az-Zawayda district, perform a funeral prayer

A medic administers a polio vaccine to a Palestinian child at Abdel Aziz Rantissi hospital in Gaza City's Nasr district

A former Israeli intelligence officer, known as Guy C, told this newspaper that Hamas' leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by the IDF last month, was 'obsessed with finding collaborators and held thousands against their will'.

He added: 'They have been known to melt plastic over skin, electric cables on their body.

'Some are electrocuted on electricity pylons or dragged on a chain from a vehicle until they die.

'Even worse, they won't allow the families a proper burial, and the bodies have a sign on saying they were collaborating.'

Palestinian Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, who is now based in the US and is a fellow at the Atlantic Council think-tank, said: 'Extreme torture has been a fundamental component of Hamas' governance strategy to ensure they deter people and instil fear in those who speak out.'
Newly elected Labour MPs are refusing to hold in-person surgeries after receiving abuse over the Government's policies on farmers and pensioners.

Insiders said the 2024 intake has been shocked by the level of hatred MPs receive, with some struggling to adjust to public life.

One MP was seen 'crying in the corridor' in Parliament over the vitriol they received over Government decisions, including the inheritance tax raid on farms and scrapping of the winter fuel allowance for many pensioners.

'There is a build-up of hatred, particularly for those with rural constituencies,' a senior MP said. 'People feel they've got to let their anger out, and they are more aggressive in their response.'

One threat, seen by The Mail on Sunday, involved a Labour MP being told he will need 'extra security' following Chancellor Rachel Reeves's decision to scrap inheritance tax exemptions for farms.

Labour MPs are refusing to hold in-person surgeries after receiving abuse over the Government's policies on farmers and pensioners, including Rachel Reeves' decision to hike inheritance tax on farms

A senior MP said there was 'a build-up of hatred' for those representing rural constituencies (file photo)

A senior source said: 'People are scared. Some MPs are quite young without a lot of experience.

'Others didn't realise the effect it would have on their family life. They don't feel they have enough support.'

Of the 650 politicians elected in July, 335 were first-time MPs. Parliament has been inviting MPs into additional security briefings as a result of the threats and providing additional support, sources said.

Every MP was also given a panic alarm in their Commons 'welcome packs' for the first time this year. The alarms had previously been available on request since the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox near a constituency surgery in 2016.

Despite these extra measures, some MPs are not holding in-person surgeries, moving them online instead.

But veteran MPs say this undermines democracy. 'Part of this job is that we meet people face-to-face,' said one.

Ministers have defended the inheritance tax changes for farmers announced in the Budget, with Ms Reeves saying the nation cannot afford to keep their exemption.

She told the BBC last week that '40 per cent of the benefit was felt by seven per cent of the wealthiest landowners. I don't think that it is affordable.'

But Conservative MPs have warned about the toll on older farmers. Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins says she has received reports of older farmers being 'hugely distressed' by the planned changes.

In an article for MailOnline, she says: 'It is simply devastating. We already know that mental health among farmers is a huge concern. It can be a lonely and isolating line of work... this latest challenge will only add to the burden.'

Ms Reeves defended her inheritance tax raid, saying that it was not 'affordable' to keep farmers' exemption (file photo)

Around 5,000 farmers will descend on London on November 19 in protest against the plans (file photo)

She says the tax raid will 'threaten food security and destroy small family farms'

Last week Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she will reverse the 'cruel' decision.

Around 5,000 farmers will descend on London on November 19 in protest against the plans.

A House of Commons spokesman said: 'The ability for members and their staff to perform their Parliamentary duties safely, both on and off the estate, is fundamental to our democracy.

'Abuse and intimidation is completely unacceptable. As part of the comprehensive induction of MPs in the new Parliament, a full range of security advice and services has been provided to new and returning members.'

Thanks to our farmers, our food chains stay intact and secure. Labour's Budget decision puts all this at risk, says VICTORIA ATKINS, Shadow Environment Secretary

There are children in our cities who do not know where our food comes from. Its not their fault: the fields, cattle sheds and flour mills which produce our staples can feel a million miles away from hectic modern lives in urban centres where cost, speed and convenience are often paramount.

The people who produce the food so that we can pop into our local supermarket and buy what we need do so without the recognition they deserve. Thanks to our farmers, their staff and their families (often the same people), our food chains stay intact and we have a high degree of food security. And this certainty is now at risk from the decisions Labour has made in the Budget.

Food security is national security. Labours manifesto and candidates repeated this line. And yet, four months in government and they have reneged on their promises to support the very people that produce our food. But more than that, they have outlined crass plans that will both threaten food security and destroy small family farms up and down this country. They have demonstrated starkly that they neither value nor understand rural communities. Same old Labour.

The people who produce the food so that we can pop into our local supermarket and buy what we need do so without the recognition they deserve, writes VICTORIA ATKINS (pictured in May)

Farmers tend to be asset rich but cash poor. Family farms are passed down through generations, thanks to Agricultural Property Tax Relief and Business Tax Relief. These are not loopholes as Rachel Reeves describes them, but careful tax planning policies that have evolved over decades to protect family businesses and farms from being split up upon death. The measures set out by Rachel Reeves and Keir Starmer will rip this up. The family farm tax means that land and assets that generations of farmers have nurtured will have to be sold in order to pay death duties - a move that will affect tens of thousands of farms.

I have already been contacted by the NFU, who have been in touch with many older farmers who are hugely distressed. It is simply devastating.

We already know that mental health amongst farmers is a huge concern. It can be a lonely and isolating line of work. There are some fantastic charities that exist, but this latest challenge will only add to the burden. My colleague, Aphra Brandreth MP, will be bringing forward a debate this week on how we can improve mental health amongst agricultural communities and I am sure this will be raised.

Labour have chosen to wage war on an industry that is already under pressure. Rather than give farmers the confidence that they need to invest in their farms, they are ripping up the protections they need to survive. With some farmers already at breaking point, the human cost could be very serious.

I am proud that Kemi Badenoch challenged Keir Starmer on his plans this week, and made clear that we Conservatives will reverse Labours family farm tax. This is the first policy commitment since Kemi became the Leader. We cannot allow Labour to break British farming.

Finally, a message to every farmer, every farming family, every farm worker and every rural community in Britain - we Conservatives stand with you and we will fight these plans. Our farmers feed us and they now need us to stand up for them and stop the family farm tax.
A prestigious prep school has announced it will be shutting its doors within weeks because of Labours tax raid on private schools.

Carrdus School, in Oxfordshire, which is owned by leading girls school Tudor Hall, has told devastated parents it will be closing its doors in the spring if it cannot find a buyer.

In a letter to parents, Chair of Governors Alison Darling said falling numbers triggered by the VAT policy plus the extra burden of employers national

Insurance announced in the Budget meant Tudor Hall could no longer afford to finance the school.

Education Sec Bridget Phillipson arrives for a cabinet meeting at Downing Street on Nov 5

Carrdus School has told parents it will be closing its doors in the spring without a buyer

She told parents: You will know only too well that the introduction of VAT on independent school fees has put a great deal of pressure on parents and schools.

Hitting out at the Governments failure to delay the highly controversial January timing of its 20% VAT on fees, she said:

Despite the support of our professional associations in lobbying the Government in recent months, the Government has not responded to the call to reconsider its policy nor, even, to delay implementation until September 2025.

She told them the outcome of VAT on school fees has resulted in a number of Carrdus parents giving notice to withdraw their child from the school either at the end of the autumn term, or at the end of the academic year adding:

The combination of VAT across both schools, further compounded by the increase in employers National Insurance contributions, and the Carrdus pupil roll falling further below a sustainable number, means that Tudor Hall is no longer able to make the substantial financial commitment to Carrdus School that is required.

The Banbury school, which educates over 100 boys and girls aged 3-11, is described as a gem by the bible on independent schools, the Good Schools Guide.

It is the latest school to announce it will close amid falling pupil numbers triggered by the Governments VAT policy which has seen warnings tens of thousands of pupils could flood into the state sector.
The Prince of Wales puts a comforting arm around the Princess of Wales as they entered tonight's Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.

The Remembrance event at the lavish venue in Kensington is the Wales's first high-profile appearance in months since Kate was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer.

Prince William has described year as the 'hardest' of his life, whilst remarking how proud he was of his father and wife for their bravery and dignity amid their health woes.

Footage of the beaming Royal couple entering the Royal Albert Hall shows them shaking hands with officials, as the Princess of Wales lovingly and gently rubs William's lower back.

Before heading into the celebration for Britain's servicemen and women, the Prince adoringly and lightly clasps Kate's upper waist and back as the pair are guided into the renowned London music hall.

The Prince of Wales and the Princess of Wales put on a loving and affectionate display as they head into the Royal Albert Hall tonight

The Prince adoringly and lightly clasps Kate's upper waist and back as the pair are guided into the renowned London music hall

Prince of Wales was also in attendance alongside a glowing Kate as tonight's Remembrance events

The Prince and Princess of Wales are at The Royal Albert Hall! Love William constantly putting his arm around Catherine  pic.twitter.com/2lKBFuKlM5     (@crowningred) November 9, 2024

It comes as images showed the Princess of Wales beaming as she entered the hall for the Festival of Remembrance tonight.

Kate was radiant as she cut a sleek figure in a black dress walking alongside Prince William into the lavish Kensington venue to celebrate Britain's servicemen and women.

Kate donned one Poppy this year, despite being renowned for pinning three to herself in previous years for the Remembrance weekend events.

His Majesty, who became Patron of the Royal British Legion earlier this year, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, as well as Princess Anne are also set to be in attendance at tonight's proceedings.

The Duke of Kent, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucestershire and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence are also expected to be seated in the Royal Box tonight, as those who put their lives on the line for King and Country are celebrated.

Hosted by Adrian Lester, several British music icons will take to the stage to honour the servicemen and women, including Sir Tom Jones, Alexandra Burke, Jack Savoretti and many more.

However the Queen will be noticeably absent from both tonight's event as well as the Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph tomorrow after becoming unwell with a 'seasonal chest infection'.

A Palace spokesperson confirmed earlier today: 'Following doctors' guidance to ensure a full recovery from a seasonal chest infection, and to protect others from any potential risk, Her Majesty will not attend this weekend's Remembrance events.

The Princess of Wales is beaming as she appears at the Royal Albert Hall for the Festival of Remembrance for her first high-profile appearance in months after cancer treatment

The Princess of Wales had undergone treatment for an undisclosed cancer over the past few months, taking a step back from her duties due to her health

Kate looked radiant as she cut a sleek figure in a stunning black dress with a Poppy pin honouring Britain's military tonight

The Princess of Wales walking up the stairs as she prepares to take her seat in the Royal Box at tonight's event

A bearded Prince William and Princess Kate were all smiles this evening as they clap as the performers take to the stage

'While this is a source of great disappointment to The Queen, she will mark the occasion privately at home and hopes to return to public duties early next week.'

It is understood there is no cause for alarm, and no downturn in her condition. The Queen is said to be mindful of minimising the risk of passing any last lingering infection to others.

Princess Catherine who is recovering from cancer and King Charles, who is still having ongoing treatment for cancer, are both attending this weekend's Remembrance events

Buckingham Palace announced on Tuesday that the Queen, who has just completed a mammoth tour of Australia and Samoa with King Charles, was cancelling her forthcoming engagements due to a chest infection.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said at the time: 'Her Majesty The Queen is currently unwell with a chest infection, for which her doctors have advised a short period of rest.

'With great regret, Her Majesty has therefore had to withdraw from her engagements for this week but she very much hopes to be recovered in time to attend this weekend's Remembrance events as normal.

'She apologises to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.'

The 77-year-old royal is understood to be recovering at home in Wiltshire and is being monitored by doctors.

Britain's King Charles and Britain's Princess Anne applauding during the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance tonight

Princess Kate, Prince William, Prince of Wales, King Charles as well Britain's Princess Anne, Princess Royal clap in anticipation as performers take to the stage

The King looked upbeat as he arrived at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance

King Charles arrived solo after Queen Camilla announced earlier she would not be attending tonight's event due to an ongoing chest infection

Princess Anne attends The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London

The Princess Royal will be in attendance alongside her brother His Majesty King Charles iII as well as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh

Prince Richard - the Duke of Gloucester - heading into the event celebrating the nation's servicemen and women

Birgitte, the Duchess of Gloucester makes her way into the Royal Albert Hall in Kensington this evening

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria Starmer attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London

The Prime Minister and his wife are all smiles as they enter the Royal Albert Hall tonight

Prince William, wearing a Hackett polo shirt, and the Princess of Wales, wearing a Roman blue dress, appeared together in a video released by Kensington Palace in September

The Prince said his year has been 'dreadful' adding: 'It's probably been the hardest year in my life. So, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult.' (Pictured L-R: Prince Louis, Prince William, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte and Prince George)

Catherine, the Princess of Wales (pictured) revealed earlier this year that she had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer

According to Prince William, 'from a personal family point of view, it's been brutal'

William and Kate at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on November 11, 2023

Kate attended the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on November 12, 2023

Queen Camilla pictured alongside the Princess of Wales during the National Service Of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in 2023

Buckingham Palace announced on Tuesday that the Queen (pictured) was cancelling her forthcoming engagements due to a chest infection.

The Queen has just completed a mammoth tour of Australia and Samoa with King Charles. The couple are pictured smiling together during a visit to a beach in Apia, Samoa

Camilla is resting at home in Wiltshire after falling ill following her long-haul trip to Australia and Samoa

Camilla's condition meant that she had to reluctantly withdraw from the annual opening of the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey on Thursday; with the Duchess of Gloucester, 78, standing in for her.

The Queen also had to cancel an appearance at a reception at Buckingham Palace honouring the nation's Olympic and Paralympic stars the very same day.

Camilla is anticipated to return to work as soon as next week and is set to host a reception for authors shortlisted for this year's Booker Prize at Clarence House.

She is also expected to attend the glitzy global premiere of Gladiator II at the Royal Film Performance in Londons Leicester Square next Wednesday evening.

Buckingham Palace announced the King and Camilla will meet the stars of the blockbuster, Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen and Pedro Pascal, and director Sir Ridley Scott.

The reception marks the centenary of the Film and TV Charity, of which Charles is patron. The events are taking place on the eve of the Kings birthday, with Charles turning 76 next Thursday.

Tomorrow the King alongside other members of the Royal family will attend the annual Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, which is the nation's chief war memorial dedicated to those who died in World War I and II.

Queen Camilla, 78, is set to return to work as early as next week to host a reception for Booker Prize shortlisted authors

King Charles and Queen Camilla attend a welcome ceremony in Apia, Samoa, on October 24

Queen Camilla waves while boarding an Royal Australian Air Force plane ahead of departing from Faleolo Airport in Samoa after the royal visit to Australia and Samoa on October 26

The Duchess of Gloucester pauses during a visit to the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey on Thursday. She stepped in for Queen Camilla who fell ill with a chest infection

The Royal Navy prepare for Sunday at HMS Excellent training base in Hampshire on Tuesday

The National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London on November 12, 2023

His Majesty is expected to lay a wreath designed to pay homage to his grandfather King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II.

The wreath of poppies will be placed on a bed of black leaves, bearing the monarch's racing colours of scarlet, purple and gold - as is traditional for a Sovereign.

Queen Camilla's wreath, which also bears her racing colours inherited from her grandfather and inspired by the Queen Mother, will be placed on her behalf by an Equerry from the Royal Household. Both wreathes were made by the Poppy Factory.

Prince William will lay the wreath previously placed by King Charles III, featuring the Prince of Wales feathers and a new ribbon in Welsh red.
Twelve Scots were rushed to A&E with complications from miracle weight-loss injections in the same health board area where Britains first fat jab victim died.

Nurse Susan McGowan, 58, suffered multiple organ failure, septic shock and pancreatitis after taking two low-dose injections of tirzepatide, known by its brand name Mounjaro.

Ms McGowan was rushed to A&E at University Hospital Monklands in Airdrie, where she died on September 4.

Susan McGowan was rushed to A&E at University Hospital Monklands in Airdrie

Now, The Mail on Sunday can reveal that between April 2023 and August this year, twelve patients have been treated at NHS Lanarkshires emergency departments with complaints linked to weight loss jabs, including semaglutide, the key component of branded drugs Ozempic and Wegovy.

Also, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said it had fewer than five patients admitted with complications from the fat jabs over the same time period.

Last night, experts demanded the multi-million pound industry - hailed by Hollywood celebrities including Oprah Winfrey and Sharon Osbourne - is subject to stricter regulations amid fears of a huge increase in people being rushed to A&E with adverse side effects.

Fat jab victim Susan McGowan died after suffering multiple organ failure

Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: These concerning figures emphasise the real risk that these wonder drugs can pose to our patients health and wellbeing and why we desperately need better regulations surrounding them.

Susan McGowans tragic death should serve as a warning to those considering these medications that sometimes they can have devastating consequences.

Our overburdened emergency departments cannot cope with any more pressure and Neil Gray must act before this crisis gets worse.

Dr Vicky Price, of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: A doctor checks the forms, but at no point is anyone seeing patients face-to-face.

Weve seen many examples where patients have lied on the form and been given the drugs when they shouldnt have them. There is no safety check apart from the persons own probity.

Ms Price said: I have seen a huge increase in the number of patients coming into hospital with side-effects from these medications.

Thankfully most of them are relatively minor, such as diarrhoea and vomiting, but serious complications are possible.

Most weight loss jabs currently on the market - including Mounjaro - were originally designed as a type 2 diabetes medication.

Ozempic is available on the NHS, but only for those with diabetes, while Wegovy is prescribed for weight loss via specialist weight management services.

UK regulators have recently approved Mounjaro for use as a weight-loss medication, and earlier this month it got the green light for prescription on the NHS.

Weight loss jabs quickly became popularised as a miracle weight loss solution by Hollywood stars who lauded its ultra-fast results.

Sharon Osbourne, 72, admitted to taking Ozempic, which she attributed to helping her lose three stone in four months.

Oprah Winfrey, 70, has also been open about her use of a weight loss injection, which she described as a relief, like redemption, like a gift, after years of struggling with her weight.

As such, there has been explosion in interest in the drugs among the general population - boosted by social media posts which see users upload a number of dramatic before and after pictures.

Ms McGowan, from North Lanarkshire, had struggled to lose weight and told friends that she was researching slimming medications online.

Her niece, Jade Campbell, said she bought the Mounjaro online after seeking medical advice.

Ms Campbell told the BBC: Susan had always carried a wee bit of extra weight but there were never any health concerns. She wasnt on any other medication. She was healthy.

Susan was such a bubbly person. She was really generous, she was really kind and she was the life of the party.

Although difficult to access for weight loss on the NHS, the drugs can be bought with a private prescription from online chemists by filling in an online form with details of your weight and height and submitting photographs of yourself.

Ms McGowans death certificate, seen by the BBC, states her death was caused by multiple organ failure, septic shock and pancreatitis, with the use of prescribed tirzepatide as a contributing factor.

Although ten other British deaths have been linked to weight-loss jabs, Ms McGowan is the first to have one formally recorded as a cause.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has also received 208 reports about tirzepatide between January and May 2024 as part of its yellow card scheme.

The programme, which allows members of the public or medics to log suspected side effects of drugs, recorded 31 serious reactions and one suspected death of a man in his 60s among those 208 reports.

According to data released under freedom of information laws, NHS Lanarkshire has had three people attend their emergency departments with weight loss jab complaints linked to semaglutide, a different but potent drug, in the last financial year.

So far in this financial year, its A&E departments have had nine patients present with similar concerns.

Meanwhile NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said there were fewer than five patients who had rushed to their emergency departments across the past two financial years with weight loss jab complications, but that the exact number could not be revealed amid fears of patient identification.
Nelson Mandela, who became the first black president of South Africa after spending 27 years in prison, once said: 'I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.'

Today, as we remember our war dead, there is no better time to evaluate the importance of bravery, to cherish it and to try to understand its immense value.

The more I have studied the concept of courage, the more I have concluded that Mandela was quite right. Indeed, the best definition of bravery that I know is from the Merriam-Webster dictionary in the US, which says it is 'the quality or state of having or showing mental or moral strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty'.

Bravery is an attribute that we would all like to possess - particularly because it is admired so much by others - but what most of us do not know is whether, when faced with a situation that demands great courage, we would be able to display it.

We hope that we would not falter when tested, but in the modern world the opportunities to display valour are few and far between.

Eric Ashcroft, in uniform, father of Lord (Michael) Ashcroft. Pictured is Eric holding Michael

Lord Ashcroft writes that his 'passion for bravery date back nearly 70 years to when [he] was a small boy' learning of his father's experiences as a young lieutenant on June 6, 1944

The origins of my passion for bravery date back nearly 70 years to when I was a small boy and my late father, Eric - a kind, gentle and modest man - gave me an insight into his experiences as a young lieutenant on June 6, 1944.

Then, aged about ten, I sat wide-eyed as he conjured up the metaphorical smell of fear and the physical smell of vomit as he described his landing craft crashing through the waves on D-Day as he and his men approached Sword Beach.

My father and his commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Burbury, had been privately warned to expect up to 75 per cent of casualties - dead and wounded - as they raced up the Normandy beach. In fact, Colonel Burbury was shot dead at my father's side and my father himself was wounded by shrapnel, although he fought on until ordered from the battlefield.

As a schoolboy, I felt enormous pride that my father had been so courageous in the heat of battle and my long fascination with bravery was born. Some time later, I first heard of something called the Victoria Cross (VC), Britain and the Commonwealth's premier award for gallantry in the presence of the enemy.

The VC, the George Cross (GC)and other gallantry medals are tangible mementoes of an individual's service and bravery.

The White Ensign of a Naval Beach Party flying on the Normandy Coast as British troops move inland from the beached landing craft on June 6, 1944

Canadian soldiers land on Courseulles beach in Normandy as Allied forces storm the Normandy beaches on D-Day

Commando troops coming ashore from landing craft in Normandy

Courage is a truly wonderful quality yet it is so difficult to understand. You can't accurately measure it, you can't bottle it and you can't buy it, but those who display it are, quite rightly, admired by society. Wiser men than me have struggled to comprehend gallantry and what makes some individuals risk - and sometimes lose - their lives for a comrade, a monarch, their country or even for a complete stranger.

The late Brigadier the Right Honourable Sir John 'Jackie' Smyth, Baronet, VC, Military Cross, was the founder, first Chairman and later the President of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association, the group that represents living VC and GC recipients.

With typical wisdom, Sir John once wrote: 'Who can say whether it takes more courage to attack an angry bull elephant with a spear, than to disarm a very sensitive mine, or to have your toenails pulled out and still disclose nothing, or to dive into a burning aircraft to try to pull out members of the crew when the rescuer was well aware that the plane was carrying bombs which might explode at any moment.'

However, Sir John was also convinced that bravery was expendable, saying, 'Most people only have a limited amount of it [courage] - and if the pitcher is taken too often to the well, then the well will run dry.'

The then President of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Associations Sir John Smyth (left) presenting a 50th birthday gift to Queen Elizabeth II in 1976

Gold Beach, Normandy where Allied Forces successfully landed

Port En Bessin, Normandy, the joining between Gold Beach and Omaha Beach

There is no doubt, for example, that some of the great First and Second World War fighter pilots - men on both sides who were incredibly brave - eventually lost their nerve having been asked to fly too many times in combat.

Even the famous Manfred von Richthofen, better known as the 'Red Baron', who achieved a record 80 Great War 'kills', was a shadow of his former flamboyant self by the time he was shot down and killed in April 1918.

In the simplest of terms, he had 'run out' of courage.

Yet, during my numerous visits to Ukraine over the past three years, I have met many soldiers who have been fighting Russia for more than ten years, since it illegally annexed Crimea in early 2014 and began to carve out swathes of eastern Ukraine.

One of Ukraine's greatest servicemen, Colonel Denys Prokopenko, the hero of the Mariupol steel works siege during the spring of 2022 and often known by his call-sign of 'Redis', explained to me the inspiration for him being able to fight Russians for more than ten years. 'My motivation will not fade until victory over the world of evil has been achieved.

'It is always easier to fight on your own land, for Ukrainian values, for your people and cities, than for the occupation forces. Unlike them, we know what we are going into battle for.'

Col Prokopenko is following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather who also fought the Russians in the Soviet-Finnish war. 'Everyone has their own source of inspiration. For most, it is preserving the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country. Personally, I will defend the independence of my country at any cost. I do not deny that my motivation is blood revenge, and at the same time it is fuel for continuing the path that I have chosen.

The World War II Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial at Colleville sur Mer, situated above Omaha Beach, in the Normandy region

Peter Smoothy who was a leading writer in the Royal Navy on D-Day visits the grave of a fallen comrade on June 6, 2010 in Bayeux, France

'If a person is obsessed by purpose, he does not need motivation.' Emotional sentiments from the heart, for sure.

I do not believe that you can teach an individual to be brave but you can encourage him (or her) to show courage. As Thomas Carlyle, the 19th-Century Scottish philosopher, put it: 'Tell a man that he is brave, and you help him become so.' There is no doubt that an inspirational speech on the eve of a battle can help stir the blood of a soldier, sailor or airman.

For example, the speech that Queen Elizabeth I delivered at Tilbury, Essex, on August 9, 1588 arguably changed the course of British history in that it inspired those serving her to go out and defeat the seemingly invincible Spanish Armada.

The Queen told her men: 'I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm.'

Then she finished her address with the words: 'By your obedience to my general, by your concord in the camp, and your valour in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over these enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people.'

I believe there are essentially two types of valour: spur-of the-moment bravery and premeditated courage. I have nothing but admiration for those who display spur-of-the-moment bravery, perhaps a serviceman (or woman) who, in the heat of battle and with his blood up, risks his life to

save a wounded comrade or friend. Indeed, the very first VC action - carried out in 1854 by Charles Lucas while serving on a ship off Finland early in the Crimean War - was a splendid example of spur-of the-moment valour.

The National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London on November 12, 2023

The Royal Navy prepare for Sunday at HMS Excellent training base in Hampshire on Tuesday

Poppy crosses lie in the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey in London,

Remembrance Sunday provides the nation with a physical reminder of all those who have served and sacrificed

A Russian shell landed on the deck of the sailor's ship, HMS Hecla, with its fuse still hissing. All hands were ordered to fling themselves flat on the deck, but Lucas, then in the rank of Mate, with great presence of mind, ran forward and hurled the shell into the sea, where it exploded before it hit the water.

Thanks to Lucas's swift actions no one on board was killed or seriously wounded by the shell.

However, I have even more admiration for those who display premeditated, or what I call 'cold', courage: for example, members of the Special Forces who are required to go behind enemy lines knowing, if they are caught, they face likely imprisonment, torture or death.

Such 'cold' courage is also displayed, time and time again, by bomb-disposal experts. I will never fully understand the sort of pressure that bomb-disposal teams are placed under. However, I have twice spent training days with Explosive Ordnance Disposal operators. My insight into their work has left me with a feeling of total respect for the dangerous and difficult tasks that bomb disposal teams perform.

Frontline medics fall into the same category of displaying pre-meditated courage because they risk their lives on a daily basis to treat the wounded.

I am the proud and humble custodian of the VC and 'Bar' medal group awarded to Captain Noel Chavasse for extraordinary gallantry during the Great War, in which he served as a Regimental Medical Officer saving the lives of an estimated 20 men.

Sadly, his second VC award - known as a 'Bar' to the original award - was made posthumously to Captain Chavasse, who served with the Royal Army Medical Corps, after he was killed in August 1917 taking incredible risks to treat wounded British servicemen during the Third Battle of Ypres, also known as the Battle of Passchendaele.

The bravery of some men, and women, never ceases to amaze me, including the three men in the history of the VC - Chavasse and two others - who have been awarded the decoration not once but twice. Today, my passion for bravery remains as strong as ever and, less than 40 years after purchasing my first VC, I own well over 200 of the decorations. It is the largest collection of VCs in the world and, by going on public display at the Imperial War Museum, it champions the importance of valour to millions of people.

Courage is the quality that enables individuals to take risks, face challenges and confront fears. Without showing bravery, a man (or woman), cannot pursue his dreams. However, with courage, anything is possible.

To me, bravery is the greatest quality an individual can display and this is why I believe it is so important to remember our war dead at this time, particularly those who have given their lives carrying out acts of great gallantry.

I believe that this weekend is the perfect moment to recall the words of Aristotle, one of the world's greatest philosophers. As long ago as the 4th Century BC, he said: 'Courage is the first of human qualities because it's the quality which guarantees the others.'

Nearly two and a half thousand years later, it was the great wartime Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill who, effectively, echoed the words of the Greek philosopher when he said: 'Without courage, all other virtues lose their meaning.'
A Florida woman has been accused of murdering her roommate two years after she vanished on Christmas Day.

Gisselle Victoria-Gonzalez, 42, was taken into custody for allegedly killing Runyleidy Medina-Pacheco, 42, who was last seen on December 25, 2022.

The suspect was ultimately nabbed at her house in Hartford, Connecticut and was charged with second degree murder, tampering with physical evidence and grand theft.

Footage from the moment shows Gonzalez, sporting a bright red dress and some kind of bonnet or cap, as she is perp-walked by an officer.

She keeps her handcuffed wrists clasped together as she shuffles into a waiting elevator.

Gisselle Victoria-Gonzalez, 42, (pictured) was taken into custody for allegedly killing Runyleidy Medina-Pacheco, 42, who was last seen on December 25, 2022

Pachecho was reported missing on December 27 by Gonzalez, according to the Orlando Police Department.

While executing a search warrant of their house at the 6200 block of Curry Ford Road, responding officers found significant evidence 'indicating that a violent incident' had occurred.

As the investigation continued, detectives discovered numerous inconsistencies in Gonzalez's version of events.

Detectives from multiple law enforcement agencies at the local, state and federal levels ultimately discovered the accused was residing in Hartford, CT.

'After traveling to Hartford, CT and conducting an additional interview with her, investigators developed probable cause to charge Gonzalez,' they stated in a Facebook post.

Despite years of search, Runyleidy Medina-Pacheco's body has yet to be found

Footage from the moment shows Gonzalez hanging her head in a bright red dress and her handcuffed across her chest as she is walked by an officer

The Department also thanked the Hartford Police Department for their support in the press release.

Despite years of search, Pacheco's body has yet to be found.

Officials have asked anyone with information to contact the Orlando Police Department Homicide Unit or call Crimeline.

This comes over two months after another Florida woman who was last seen heading out for a jog was found dead five days later.

Arielle Valdes, 21, was last seen in surveillance footage leaving her home for a run in Fort Myers on Wednesday.

Following an exhaustive search, her remains were found by a dive crew late Monday in the mangroves along the bank of the Calhoosahatchee River.

The body was discovered within minutes of a water search crew departing a nearby dock.

Final footage shared by the sheriff's office showed the 21-year-old jogging along the Edison Bridge, with her body discovered in mangroves between the Edison and Calhoosahatchee bridges, reports NBC2.

Officials have not offered a cause of death, but the Lee County Sheriff's Office said there is no initial suggestion of foul play.
Bernie Sanders claims the American working class told Kamala Harris 'screw you' because she wasn't populist enough with her economic policy.

The independent senator from Vermont, who at 83 won likely his last reelection campaign, argued this was why Harris lost the election.

A self-identified socialist, Sanders said the campaign spent too much time trying to woo the political center and should have moved left.

Sanders argued Harris should have promised more Medicare benefits and a higher minimum wage, and bashed Wall Street and rich people.

Bernie Sanders claims Kamala Harris lost because she wasn't populist enough with her economic policy and messaging

'The status quo is working very, very well for the people on top but it's not working well for working people, and the Democratic Party has become far too much a defender of the status quo,' he told the Washington Post.

'You have to acknowledge the pain and the reality of people's lives, or people will say, "Screw you".'

Sanders, like other Democratic critics, argued Harris' policies were too watered down to resonate with enough Americans.

'We tried hard to do this  to have this campaign focus or emphasize an economic agenda that speaks to the need of the working class in this country,' he said.

He did praise her steadfast defense of abortion, and attacks on Donald Trump's fitness for office and his threat to democracy.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks on stage as she concedes the election, at Howard University

Exit polls show Trump made gains with nearly every voting bloc he lost in the 2020 election and put together a coalition of multi-ethnic working-class voters

Sanders' critique was more measured than his scathing first response to the election result on Wednesday morning.

'It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them,' he said.

Sanders said it was the white working class who first turned on Democrats, but they had been joined by black and Hispanic workers.

'While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change,' he wrote. 'And they're right.'

Sanders also specifically referred to the struggle of young people, facing a working environment threatened with the rise of artificial intelligence and robotics.

'Today, despite an explosion in technology and worker productivity, many young people will have a worse standard of living than their parents,' he said.

The former presidential candidate also condemned the billions of dollars sent by the Biden-Harris Administration to the Israeli Government to fund the war in Gaza, leading to a 'humanitarian disaster.'

Sanders unsuccessfully sought the Democratic Party nomination in 2016 and 2020 (pictured at a debate with Biden and Harris in June 2019)

Sanders also condemned the 'big money interests' and 'well paid consultants' that he claimed controlled the Democratic Party, claiming they refused to learn the lessons of past campaigns.

'Do they have any idea as to how we can take on the increasingly powerful oligarchy which has so much economic and political power?' He asked. 'Probably not.'

He vowed to participate in 'some very serious political discussions' and concluded by urging his supporters to 'stay tuned'.

The statement immediately sparked speculation that Sanders was considering running again for president, however he would be 87 in 2028.

Exit polls show Trump made gains with nearly every voting bloc he lost in the 2020 election and put together a coalition of multi-ethnic working-class voters.

Harris did worse on Tuesday than Biden in the 2020 contest among key voting groups including women, the working class and Hispanics.

The exit polls also suggested voters trusted Trump more to fix the economy.
A child has died after being struck by a falling tree branch in Surrey, the Met Police has said.

Emergency services rushed to to a child struck by a falling tree branch in Grove Place near the junction with Carshalton Road, Banstead at around 4pm today.

Officers attended along with London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service.

Sadly, the child, reported locally to be 12 years old, died from their injuries.

Police have launched an investigation into the tragedy - but say they are not treating it as suspicious at this time.

Police on Grove Place in Banstead earlier today after a child was killed by a falling tree branch

Police rushed to the area after the youngster, said locally to be a 12-year-old girl, was fatally injured

A spokesperson for the Met Police said: 'Officers are in the process of ensuring that all family members have been informed.

'The incident is not believed to be suspicious, however enquiries continue to establish the circumstances.

'A report will be prepared for the coroner in due course.'

London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne said: 'Earlier today firefighters were mobilised to an incident near Banstead, following reports of a child being trapped by part of a fallen tree.

'At 4pm, crews from Croydon and Wallington fire stations, and a fire engine from Surrey Fire and Rescue Service's Banstead Fire Station, were sent to the scene as part of our response.

'Upon arrival firefighters immediately began to coordinate the rescue operation, working to make the scene safe and carrying out immediate emergency care in support of paramedics from the London Ambulance Service.

'Sadly, despite the effort of emergency service personnel in attendance, the child was declared dead at the scene.

'The thoughts of our crews and staff across the entire Brigade are with the child's family at this difficult time.'

Locals speaking to UKNIP described the young girl as 'bright and full of life,' a sentiment echoed by neighbours who had seen her frequently in the area.

One witness described the scene as 'heartbreaking', and claimed the girl had been walking along the footpath with friends when the branch unexpectedly fell.

A passerby attempted to help. Despite their best efforts, nothing could be done to save the youngster's life.
Tamara Ecclestone has said her mind 'boggled' at the thought of her father Bernie having another child at 89 and revealed a darker side of motherhood.

The British model and F1 heiress, 40, has spoken for the first time since burglars ransacked her home five years ago, making off with 25million of diamonds and other valuables.

But opening up on her father, Bernie Ecclestone, who had his fourth child in 2020 aged 89, she said: 'The mind does boggle', with his eldest child being 69 years old.

The Formula One boss welcomed his son Ace into the world with Fabiana Flosi, his third wife, and a Brazilian model 46 years his junior.

Fabiana revealed at the time that she enjoyed an easy labour, saying: 'It was all so easy. The birth was over after 25 minutes. I thank god'.

Former chief executive of the Formula One Group Bernie with his wife Fabiana Flosi Ecclestone and son Ace during the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 3, 2023

Tamara Ecclestone Rutland (L) pictured with her Formula One boss father Bernie Ecclestone, who had his fourth child aged 89

Bernie Ecclestone with his third wife Fabiana Flosi and their son pictured in September 2024

Tamara  who is married to art mogul Jay Rutland, with whom she has a daughter called Sophia  said she was 'absolutely thrilled' for her father when Ace was born.

After being told that her father was set to welcome another child, Tamara told the Mail On Sunday that she was 'surprised but not totally blindsided.

Tamara, who revealed they were told over a family lunch, said: 'We had no idea what was going on. We just thought we were meeting Dad and Fabi for a meal. We were in the middle of eating when Fabiana told us.

'My husband missed it. he was like, 'hold on a minute, what's going on? Have I missed something?'

Always keen to treat his offspring equally, Bernie immediately called his youngest daughter, Petra, who was pregnant with her fourth child and living in Los Angeles.

Tamara said: 'He wanted us all to know at the same time, It was all done very diplomatically.'

But diverting away from her father, she opened up to The Times on her own experiences with motherhood and how she still breastfeeds her four-year-old.

'People often ask, ''How long will you breastfeed Serena for?' And I'm like, ''just till she's done',' she said.

'There's stigmas about everything: breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, going to work, not going to work, having a c-section, not having a c-section.

Women can be so cruel to each other, which I find bizarre.'

Tamara is married to art mogul Jay Rutland and the pair share two daughters, Sophia and Serena

The Formula One boss welcomed Ace into the world with Fabiana Flosi, his third wife, and a Brazilian model 46 years his junior

Tamara is a mum to two daughters - Sophia and Serena.

On December 13, 2019, Tamara, her husband, and daughter Sophia were in Lapland when three thieves broke in and plundered 25million worth of jewellery and cash from her home on 'Billionaire's Row' in Kensington.

In just over an hour the burglars cleared the mansion of 400 items of jewellery and large sums of cash.

In November 2022, Italians Jugoslav Jovanovic, Alessandro Maltese and Alessandro Donati were jailed for a total of 28 at years at Isleworth Crown Court after pleading guilty to conspiracy to burgle.

Following the convictions an international manhunt was launched for the fourth man, named in court as Daniel Vukovic.

'It's actually quite hard to talk about because my daughter now has access to Google, and we lied to her when it happened because she was young, but she found out anyway,' Tamara told the newspaper.

The gang also ransacked the London homes of Frank Lampard, the former Chelsea midfielder, and Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the late billionaire Leicester City owner.

Tamara revealed she now goes everywhere with two bodyguards out of fear of being kidnapped, as her 5ft 4in father has fallen victim to several burglaries.

'[The burglary] definitely made me feel that things aren't always as they appear, people you think you can trust, you can't always trust, which is a lesson I've learnt time and time again. This time it really hit home,' she said.
MAFUTSENI  While the focus was on scamming people, Thulwane, the home of Facata scam, enjoyed relative peace.

Before the scam began, residents lost goats on a frequent basis. They also lost some chickens. This is not to suggest that the Thulwane men and women who were arrested for the facata scam were responsible for the disappearance of livestock, but they never complained of any goat theft since the online scamming began. They complained of attempts to con them. In many a times, the attempts failed as they were on high alert, making sure that tricks are swiftly thwarted and scammers are told to forget about receiving their PINs.

It has been facata this, facata that but, what might have caused young people to engage in a scam that has brought nothing but loss to the victims? The facata scam has recently swept through the Kingdom of Eswatini, with communities reeling from the consequences. This online scam, which targets mobile money users, involves scammers calling unsuspecting individuals, manipulating them into revealing sensitive information, including mobile money PINs, and subsequently draining their accounts of funds.

Recent arrests by the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) have shed light on the severity of the issue, with several alleged scammers already appearing in court to face charges. But, beneath the surface, this story has roots much deeper than just fraudits a tale intertwined with socio-economic challenges, poor parenting, and community struggles. As part of our investigation, Eswatini News travelled to Thulwane, a rural community under the Timputini chiefdom which is part of Mafutseni Inkhundla. As observed in the reports published by the Times of Eswatini, our sister publication, many of the alleged scammers who have been arrested hail from Thulwane.

Speaking to some of the residents, Eswatini News has established that a confluence of factors is contributing to the surge of criminal activities in this community, particularly among the youth. For weeks, residents across Eswatini have been victimised by the facata scam. Victims reported receiving calls from unknown numbers, with the caller persuading them to share sensitive information about their mobile money accounts. Once the caller extracts the necessary information or convinces victims to enter their PIN on the phones keypad, funds are immediately siphoned off.

It has been revealed that the scammers often make the calls in groups of three more. While one person, usually a sweet taker makes the call an convinces the receiver to reveal a password, another operates the facility used to withdraw the money such that by the time the call ends, money has already been withdrawn from the cellphone.As the REPS continue to arrest more people, Thulwane has been thrust into the national spotlight, raising questions about why and how so many people from one area became involved in such a scheme.

Local authorities and community leaders point to the high levels lack of parenting, poverty and lack of employment opportunities as significant contributors to the rise in criminal activities in Thulwane. Though Thulwane has a mixture of both wealthy and struggling residents, majority of its community is said to be poor. A civil servant who is one of the overseers of child-development in the area said one of the biggest challenges is lack of parenting. He said for many children, their parents did not play any positive role in their lives. They have no idea what their children are doing, he said. He said even when parents are asked to attend open at the local school, many of them do not show interest.

He said such made it easy for criminals to target youth and then train to operate what has become known as facata. Also, the civil servant blamed the lack of a high school in the area as one of the reasons it had been easy to recruit the children. He said in Thulwane, there is only a primary school. The nearest is outside the community, meaning that some of the children are supposed to travel over 30 kilometres a day going to school. This can be costly for parents and children end up dropping out, said the civil servant.

He said from his observation, nearly all the children who were involved in the facata scam did not complete high school.Sibheko Dlamini, the areas ducopho (community development officer), expressed his shock at the situation, acknowledging the dire economic conditions that have left many residents vulnerable to criminal enterprises. Poverty has contributed greatly to this situation. Many parents are unemployed and unable to provide for their children. As a result, families have come to rely on soup kitchens to feed their children, which is one of the only reliable sources of food in the area, Sbheko explained.

According to Sbheko, the primary employment opportunities available in Thulwane are related to bricklaying, a trade that, while necessary, does not provide stable or sufficient income. With limited job prospects, many residents face financial hardships, leaving young people especially susceptible to negative influences, according to Sbheko.

... Soup Kitchens, donors also contribute to crime

MBABANE  How does a soup kitchen contribute to crime?

During the investigation, a civil servant who requested anonymity highlighted an unusual and somewhat disheartening reason for the spike in youth involvement in the scam: the unintended effects of local soup kitchens and donor support. The presence of these soup kitchens, while well-intended, has inadvertently contributed to a breakdown in parental authority in the area. Children no longer depend on their parents for their daily meals, and this has caused a shift in respect and discipline. Many parents dont even attend school open days anymore to monitor their childrens progress. This was noted by some of the residents of Thulwane, who said many of the alleged facata scammers were still young people who needed parental guidance.

They said when parents are not able to provide for their children, soup kitchens become the source of daily meals. This, according to the residents can result in a child not respecting the parents as they are not considered as providers. Parents should be the ones providing for their children, said the residents.The residents said soup kitchens have fostered an environment where children are more easily influenced by older peers or adults involved in criminal activity, who seem to offer a sense of community and purpose. He suggested that many young people might have been recruited together by older individuals who are well-versed in the mechanics of the facata scam.

... Facata a lifesaver, helped curb goat theft  Some Thulwane

THULWANE  The adage, every cloud has a silver lining, played out true for residents of Thulwane, now the home of the facata scam.

While the Facata scam has left many Eswatini residents financially devastated, some members of the rural community of Thulwane experienced an unexpected silver lining: a significant drop in goat theft.Before the infamous scam unfolded, livestock theft, particularly of goats and chickens, was a constant issue in Thulwane, where residents would often wake up to find their animals missing. Villagers frequently voiced concerns about the frequent thefts, and many struggled to safeguard their small livestock, which play an essential role in their livelihood.

Prince Dumisani, who said he was the overseer of Timbutini chiefdom, also confirmed the high theft of goats in the area. Also, the residents revealed that, as the facata scam began drawing attention and stirring fear, residents noticed a strange trend: reports of stolen goats became less frequent. This development was met with mixed emotions. While the scam caused hardship, the unintended drop in livestock theft became a relief to many. "The scam distracted potential thieves, and its almost as if they redirected their focus," noted a resident, reflecting on the irony of the situation.

For some residents, the pause in theft provided an unexpected sense of relief amidst the turmoil. Although no one would advocate for scams as a solution to livestock theft, the residents said they saw this as an example of something good emerging from a difficult situation.However, the residents also fell prey to scammers who allegedly stole thousands of Emalangeni from them.

... I was almost facataed - bucopho

THULWANE  Sbheko Dlamini, the bucopho (community development officer) of Timbutini, revealed how he narrowly avoided falling victim to the Facata scam. Dlamini shared his experience to raise awareness and caution others, especially as reports of scam calls have been on the rise across Eswatini. I received a call one day from someone claiming to be a technician with the Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC), he recounted. The caller informed him that an illegal electricity connection had been found at his home, leaving him both shocked and concerned.

Alarmed by the allegation, Sbheko asked what steps he should take, hoping to resolve the matter. The caller then requested a substantial payment of E15,000, claiming it would "settle" the issue to avoid further consequences. The amount sounded excessive, but I was genuinely worried, Dlamini explained. In a moment of caution, he decided to verify the claim by contacting EEC directly. It was then that he learned there was no such investigation or fee required, confirming his suspicion that the caller was a fraud.

Sbheko said he quickly called the number back, intending to confront the scammers and gather more details, but they had already realised he was onto them. They never answered his calls again, effectively disappearing from his reach. Reflecting on the incident, Dlamini expressed gratitude that he had not been duped but voiced concern about others in the community who may not be as cautious or fortunate. He encouraged others to always verify such calls directly with the organisations mentioned to prevent falling victim to these scams. Its easy to be convinced when they sound so official, he warned.

... It could never happen under our watch  Community cops

MAFUTSENI  If community police officers were allowed to work in their way, facata scammers would have long been stopped.

This is the view of some of the community police officers under Thulwane. However, they are no longer operating in the area as they admitted that they abandoned their duties. Out of 16 community police officers who were initially commissioned, only three have remained. Prince Dumisani Dlamini, who is the overseer of Timbutini where Thulwane is situated stated that the community police officers stopped assisting in fighting crime because they felt that they were not being appreciated. He said they would only come back if they were given some remuneration.

Dumisani said during the recent unrest, community police officers stopped moving around during night time. He said they were afraid of the people and that they complained that they could not risk their lives without being compensated. They decided to leave, he said.However, the prince said he was assured that if they were still around, the facata scam would never have spread to most parts of the community. They would have stopped it, he said. Dumisani said the community police officers also complained about not being the full mandate to work. He said they want to operate by using corporal punishment to criminals as a way of deterring would-be thieves.

... Lack of parent-child possible cause  Psychologist

MAFTUSENI  When they say communication is key, it is not just a saying, it is true.

A clinical psychologist, who will not be mentioned as she prefers to remain anonymous for personal reasons said the lack of parent-child communication, could contribute to children committing very serious crimes. She said other factors include emotionally absent parents in child-headed families. She further said unemployment and poverty may also lead to committing serious crimes.There could also be a component of peer pressure which may be perpetrated by the issues around low self esteem or even trying to fit in. This may then lead to children selling each other the idea of using their phones (technology) to commit this kind of crime without paying attention at the consequences of the event, she stated.

Also, she said there could be a lack of knowledge by parents can also be a problem. She stated that a child may bring some grocery home using stolen money but the parents may have no knowledge of this. Substance abuse was also highlighted as a cause of children to engage in serious crimes such as facata.
Prince Andrew last night faced calls to 'come clean' and reveal the secret sources of funding that are bankrolling his stay at Royal Lodge in Windsor.

The King stopped paying his disgraced brother's 3 million-a-year security bill at the 30-room mansion last month and urged him to move into more modest accommodation as part of an extraordinary row dubbed 'the siege of Royal Lodge'.

Now it has emerged that Andrew has been allowed to stay at the property in Windsor Great Park after convincing Palace authorities that he has secured enough funds to support himself.

It has been reported that the Keeper of the Privy Purse, Sir Michael Stevens, has approved the financing as coming from legitimate sources.

But Buckingham Palace last night faced a fierce backlash after refusing to say where the money, likely to run into millions, is coming from.

Prince Andrew last night faced calls to 'come clean' and reveal who is bankrolling his stay in Windsor

The King urged his brother to move to more modest accommodation after he stopped paying his disgraced brother's 3 million-a-year security bill at the 30-room mansion last month

The Duke of York at a dinner held for him at Selman Turk's (pictured) home

Earlier this month, the Daily Mail's acclaimed royal writer Robert Hardman revealed in his updated biography of Charles III that the King has also severed his brother's annual personal allowance, believed to be 1 million a year. Andrew, however, claims to have found 'other sources of income related to his contacts in international trade', a source told Hardman.

In an explosive intervention last night, a French socialite who claimed that she lost more than 3 million in a dispute with Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson over the sale of a luxury ski chalet voiced her fury at the Duke's mystery bailout.

Speaking exclusively to The Mail on Sunday, Isabelle de Rouvre said: 'I am missing millions as a result of this man. I reduced what he owed me because... they told me he did not have the money. I was left with little choice.

'Now he is saying he has plenty of finances  but where does this money now come from? They [Andrew and Sarah] were apparently so poor before they had to pay me, and now they are so rich.'

Labour politicians also demanded to know the Duke's sources of funding. Leeds MP Alex Sobel said: 'Full disclosure of these funding arrangements is vital to uphold the reputation of the Royal Family.'

York Central Labour MP Rachael Maskell told the MoS: 'When the funding for the Royal Family is due to rise by 45 million next year to a staggering 132 million, serious questions need to be asked as to why the monarch's brother continues to reside at his mansion.

'There must be greater transparency on the source of the money that has allowed Andrew to stay at Royal Lodge.'

It emerged last night that Chancellor Rachel Reeves could be dragged into the row. Andrew leases Royal Lodge from the Crown Estate, which hands its profits over to the Treasury, which has 'general oversight of the Crown Estate's business'.

Prince Andrew with the late Queen before the start of the Gold Cup race at Royal Ascot

The Duke signed a 75-year lease agreement with the Crown Estate for Royal Lodge in 2003

The revelation that he has found the funding to remain in Royal Lodge will raise fears that Andrew is exploiting the foreign business contacts he made during his time as Britain's trade envoy

The Duke signed a 75-year lease agreement with the Crown Estate for Royal Lodge in 2003. He pays rent reported to be 260,000 a year and must also 'repair, renew, uphold, clean and keep in repair and where necessary rebuild' the sprawling property.

In an increasingly acrimonious stand-off, the King, 75, has been attempting to persuade Andrew, 64, to move to nearby Frogmore Cottage, recently vacated by Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex.

The revelation that he has found the funding to remain in Royal Lodge will raise fears that Andrew is exploiting the foreign business contacts he accumulated during the decade he spent as Britain's trade envoy.

In 2019 the MoS revealed how he used the taxpayer-funded role to quietly promote a private

Luxembourg-based bank for the super-rich, owned by controversial multi-millionaire David Rowland and his family.

Despite living the lifestyle of a billionaire for years, with an extensive collection of watches, including a 150,000 Patek Philippe, and a small fleet of luxury cars, mystery has surrounded Andrew's finances. Charles's decision to sever his allowance means his only official income comes via a small Navy pension of about 20,000a-year.

Buckingham Palace refused to comment on reports that Sir Michael, a former accountant with KPMG who was appointed Keeper of the Privy Purse in 2018, had approved Andrew's apparently new funding as coming from legitimate sources. It is unknown what checks took place  or, crucially, how long Andrew said the funding would be in place for.

The secrecy will fuel fears that Andrew's dealings could plunge the Royal Family into a fresh scandal.

In December 2010 Andrew orchestrated a plan for paedophile Jeffrey Epstein to give Sarah 15,000 to help pay off a debt, just 18 months after the financier was released from jail for soliciting prostitution from underage girls. Sarah later said the decision was a 'gigantic error of judgment'.

And in 2007 Andrew sold his 12-bedroom Sunninghill Park mansion in Berkshire, a wedding present from Queen Elizabeth, to Kazakh oligarch Timur Kulibayev for 15 million  3 million over the asking price. Mr Kulibayev, the son-in-law of Kazakhstan's then president, demolished the house a few years later.

Norman Baker, a former minister and expert in royal finances, said: 'It is stretching credibility to believe he has legitimate sources of income that enable him to pay a big rent and undertake the necessary repair work, to that building, particularly when he appeared to have nothing just a matter of weeks ago.

Prince Andrew horse riding in the grounds of Windsor Castle. The secrecy will fuel fears that Andrew's dealings could plunge the Royal Family into a fresh scandal

'We need to understand where this money is coming from  whether it is clean or whether it is coming from one of his nasty dictator friends in the Middle East. He should come clean.'

Nigel Mills, a former Tory MP who served on the Public Accounts Committee, said: 'If he was renting a private house then we wouldn't have any interest in who was giving him money for rent. But while he is living in a house that is owned by the monarchy, then some transparency is necessary.

'If the person who is giving the money doesn't want to be named, then it's probably a better idea for them not to give money to a disgraced prince.'

But Michael Wynne-Parker, a society fixer, said: 'Andrew has made bad judgments in the past and he has been quite naive with people. But along the way he has met good people who really like him. I think, from what I pick up in London, that over the last couple of months people have come to support him.'

The Duke could not be reached for comment.
Donald Trump has vowed to return a bust of Winston Churchill to the Oval Office as a mark of respect to Britains great wartime leader.

The bronze bust was removed by woke Joe Biden when he defeated Trump in 2020 and was replaced with a bust of Hispanic union leader Cesar Chavez.

A self-professed Anglophile whose mother was Scottish, Trump has described Churchill as his idol.

Last night a source close to Trump said: One of the first things he will do is bring the Churchill bust back into the Oval Office as a mark of respect.

Donald idolizes Churchill and believes hes the greatest leader the world has ever seen. He will restore him to a position of honor.

Donald Trump has said one of his first actions will be to return the Winston Churchill bronze bust into the Oval Office as a 'mark of respect' for the wartime Prime Minister

Previously, Trump has referred to Churchill as his 'hero' and called the Oscar-winning film The Darkest Hour, starring Gary Oldman as Churchill, as my favorite film ever

Trump has previously called the Oscar-winning film The Darkest Hour, starring Gary Oldman as Churchill, as my favorite film ever.

The Churchill bust, by English modernist sculptor Sir Jacob Epstein, was a gift from the Wartime Friends of Winston Churchill to President Lyndon B Johnson in 1965.

It took pride of place in the Oval Office until 2009 when Barack Obama replaced it with one of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

At the time former prime minister Boris Johnson, who penned a best-selling biography of Churchill, described the Obamas snub as an ancestral dislike of the British Empire.

When Trump beat Hillary Clinton - who ran for the White House after Obama served the maximum two terms in office - in the 2016 election he immediately removed the Martin Luther King bust and restored Churchill to his rightful place.

Trump condemned protestors who daubed racist on a statue of Churchill in Londons Parliament Square during the Black Lives Matters protests.

The source said: He thought it was shameful people were attacking Churchills image when Churchill saved the world from the tyranny of Hitler.

Trumps close friend Nigel Farage this week called Trumps trouncing of Kamala Harris the greatest comeback since Churchill, referring to the fact that Churchill was defeated in the 1945 general election only to return to power in 1951.

Trumps close friend Nigel Farage this week called Trumps trouncing of Kamala Harris the greatest comeback since Churchill, referring to the fact that Churchill was defeated in the 1945 general election only to return to power in 1951

Last night Churchills grandson Lord Nicholas Soames told the Mail on Sunday: I am very glad obviously. That's lovely. I am glad he is doing that. I am delighted'

Trump forged close ties with the Churchill family during his first term in office, visiting Churchills birthplace Blenheim Palace and befriending the 12th Duke of Marlborough, whom he affectionately calls The Dook.

The Duke, also known as Jamie Blandford, sealed their friendship with a four-day trip to Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in 2019.

Whether the return of the Churchill bust to the Oval Office smooths relations between the president elect and the Labour government remains to be seen.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy had described Trump as deluded, dishonest, xenophobic narcissist and no friend to Britain in a 2019 tweet.

Historian and Churchill biographer Andrew Roberts (aka Lord Roberts of Belgravia) said: This is excellent news, but only makes sense if President Trump also backs it up by adopting Churchills signature policy of defiance against totalitarian dictatorships that invade their neighbors without provocation.

The bronze bust was removed by  woke  Joe Biden when he defeated Trump in 2020 and was replaced with a bust of Hispanic union leader Cesar Chavez

Broadcaster and former Conservative MP Rory Stewart said: 'Im delighted that the bust of Winston Churchill is going back into the Oval office. Whatever we all think of Donald Trump and I am - to put it mildly - no fan its very important for Britain that we retain a positive relationship with the President of the United States - which remains the indispensable power in the world and the linchpin of the international order.

Lord Michael Dobbs, author of the House of Cards trilogy said: 'Its a beautiful sculpture. Churchill himself was half-American - his mother Jenny was born in Brooklyn.

He believed that partnership between our two countries was the best guarantee of a safe world. Its a sign of huge hope that President Trump wants to draw inspiration from him.

It would also be profoundly helpful if Labour Cabinet Ministers stopped insulting him.

Last night Churchills grandson Lord Nicholas Soames told the Mail on Sunday: I am very glad obviously. That's lovely. I am glad he is doing that. I am delighted.'
King Charles's anti-food waste project has saved 940 tonnes of food over the past 12 months  equivalent to more than two million meals.

It has also raised millions of pounds and partnered with major supermarkets including Waitrose, Morrisons, Asda, Sainsbury's, Tesco and M&S.

This week the King will celebrate turning 76 in a new food waste distribution centre  as aides say the project's success brings him 'genuine joy' after a 'challenging year' of health struggles.

The Coronation Food Project was launched on his 75th birthday last year to cut food waste and tackle the cost-of-living crisis.

It has since brought in food industry giants to donate leftover food, packaging and spare transport vehicles.

The King's anti food waste project has saved nearly 1,000 tons of food over the past 12 months

King Charles and Queen Camilla launching the Coronation Food Project on his birthday last year

Charities then send fresh meals to people in need, saving an estimated 2,240,000 meal portions.

Companies like Nestle, Warburtons and Arla have also joined the initiative, working with charities FareShare and the Felix Project.

The project has also given grants worth 715,000 to 33 community food groups across the UK.

This includes the food waste charity UKHarvest, which donates meals to schools that would otherwise be wasted, and the East Belfast Mission, which stores fresh food that local families can collect for free.

The Coronation Food Project also plans to create up to ten special 'food hubs' to redistribute meals to those in need.

To do this, they have raised a whopping 15 million through private donations.

This is on top of the 'substantial' personal donation, reportedly a six-figure sum, gifted by King Charles on his 75th birthday.

The money has funded the first two Coronation Food Hubs, which Charles will open on Thursday when he turns 76.

Charles will visit the first, based in London, on Thursday to host a 'surplus food festival', which celebrates meals created from leftovers like vegetable curry, soup and pasta dishes.

The King himself is known to hate any food waste and will eat the same cake each day until it is finished.

At the food hub he will also inspect a new industrial freezer that can preserve 400 per cent more food.

King Charles will then 'virtually' open the second food hub, which is based outside of London.

The King himself is known to hate any food waste and will eat the same cake each day until it is finished

It's not the most glamorous birthday venue, but he is making up for that the night before with a star-studded reception at Buckingham Palace and a film premier for Gladiator II.

A palace source said: 'For His Majesty, there could be no better way to mark his birthday than to celebrate the astonishing achievements of the Coronation Food Project in just one year since its launch.

'He's not a great one for wanting personal fuss or fanfare, but this celebration will bring him a day of genuine joy after what has, of course, been a challenging year for him on a personal level.'

Dame Martina Milburn, Executive Chair of the Coronation Food Project, added: 'I can't quite believe what's been achieved in just a year. Seeing the massive new warehouses, fridges and freezers that will soon be stacked with surplus food and distributed to people in real need is incredible  especially as we head towards winter.

'It seems fitting to be launching the first two Coronation Food Hubs on the King's birthday because, quite honestly, none of this would have happened without his inspiration and leadership.'
A council has spent more than $100,000 of ratepayer money on Welcome to Country ceremonies in the last two years.

Brisbane City Council has shelled out $135,000 while other councils within Queensland have forked out tens of thousands of dollars.

The ratepayers have no say in the matter, though, as it's the councils they pay their fees to that have decided to spend big on the ceremonies.

The renewed attention on Welcome to Country ceremonies followed the recent AFL finals, in particular the Giants versus Lions semi-final in Sydney where Aboriginal Elder Brendan Kerin said they 'weren't to cater for white people'.

'It's a ceremony we've been doing for 250,000 years BC - and the BC stands for Before Cook,' he told the crowd, referring to Captain James Cook's arrival in Australia in 1770.

But the ceremony's modern form was invented less than 50 years ago by TV personality Ernie Dingo's dance troupe.

The Great Outdoors presenter and his fellow dancers came up with the impromptu routine in 1976 after an awkward stand-off with Maori and Cook Islanders who refused to perform at Perth Arts Festival until they were ceremonially welcomed.

Almost 50 years on, it has reached a point where 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.

Welcome to Country ceremonies have now grown to become a regular feature of everyday life in Australia, and is seen as a sacred tradition to launch public events like the AFL

A spokeswoman said Brisbane City Council spent $84,711 on Welcome to Country ceremonies in 2023 and $50,490 so far this year, the Sunday Mail reported.

'Welcome to Country ceremonies are organised for events, including citizenship ceremonies, civic receptions, and cultural and Indigenous events, which make up around 25 per cent of civic events held in 2023 and 2024,' she said.

'These ceremonies feature tribal dances with fire lighting and smoking ceremonies rather than an individual speaker.'

The standard fee for Welcome to Country ceremonies ranges from $300 to $750, according to National Association for the Visual Arts figures.

Peak body Reconciliation Australia said using Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country in meetings, gatherings and events shows respect by upholding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural protocols.

'Taking the time to Acknowledge Country, or including a Welcome to Country at an event, reminds us that every day we live, work and dream on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lands,' the organisation said.

But there is increasing frustration among ordinary Aussies at the practise and its cost, particularly during a cost of living crisis.

The Yamba Surf Club, on NSW's far north coast, 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.

But 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.

Richard Walley (pictured in 2022) led the Middar Aboriginal Theatre group in 1976, which included a young Ernie Dingo, and created the Welcome to Country with local Nyoongar Elders

Surf club members 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 club members were enraged by the fee, Yaegl Traditional Owners Corporation general manager Bill Walker said a 'misunderstanding' was to blame.

He said 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*** 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 News Corp.

'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.

'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.'

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 organisation we would appreciate a prompt turnaround time for payment to be administered,' the letter said.

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

'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.'

But a surf club member member said a lot of locals 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.

Back in Queensland, Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate faced criticism from local Aboriginal groups because the council did not read an Acknowledgement of Country at meetings.

But he told the ABC that 'Everything is going great here. (During) citizenship (ceremonies) we do acknowledgment'.

'Council business is council business. We do our national anthem and I think it's good enough.'

There is also some opposition within Indigenous communities to Welcome to Country ceremonies.

Warren Mundine, a prominent Aboriginal campaigner who opposed last year's Voice referendum, said Welcome to Country ceremonies had become 'divisive' and been 'trivialised'.

'I go to some conferences and you spend half the day doing Welcome to Country,' he said.
Kate Middleton paid a touching nod to Princess Diana as she arrived at the Royal Albert Hall for the Festival of Remembrance, her highest-profile appearance since undergoing cancer treatment.

The Princess of Wales looked radiant in a mid-length black dress with a deep v-neck collar, fitted to her slim figure, accompanied by a stylish black clutch purse.

The beaming royal wore her shoulder-length hair down and notably, a pair of stunning drop pearl and diamond earrings.

Sharp-eyed royal fans were swift to point out that the dazzling earrings were once worn by the late Princess Diana, who received them from Collingwood Jewellers in London as a wedding gift.

Princess Diana wore the pair on her wedding day, as part of her going away outfit.

Eagle-eye fans noticed Kate wearing a pair of stunning drop pearl and diamond earrings, which formerly belonged to Princess Diana

The dazzling earrings were once worn by the late Princess Diana, who received them from Collingwood Jewellers in London as a wedding gift

Kate Middleton paid the touching nod to Princess Diana as she arrived at the Royal Albert Hall for the Festival of Remembrance

The Princess of Wales looked radiant in a mid-length black dress with a deep v-neck collar, fitted to her slim figure, accompanied by a stylish black clutch purse

Tonight's public engagement marks Kate's highest-profile appearance since undergoing cancer treatment

The royal was spotted wearing the Collingwood Pearl Drop Earrings again on numerous occasions, including tours of Australia, Canada and Italy and the United States.

She also wore them on a trip to Hong Kong in 1989 and most famously in 1994, when Diana wore her striking 'revenge dress' to a 1994 dinner at the Serpentine Gallery in London just hours after Charles, then Prince of Wales, confessed to adultery.

Kate was seen wearing the distinctive jewellery at the centenary commemorations of Passchendaele in Belgium, in 2017.

She paired the vintage earrings with a stylish 128 Monica Vinader necklace.

Kate also wore a single poppy affixed to her dress and a silver military badge underneath.

The Princess of Wales has worn a trio of Remembrance Day poppies in the past, with theories ranging on the reasons why.

Some have speculated that they reflect each of the armed forces - army, navy and airforce - while others believe they were worn as a tribute to her three great-uncles killed in the First World War.

The royal was spotted wearing them again on numerous occasions, including on a trip to Hong Kong in 1989

The earrings made their most notorious outing most in 1994, when Diana wore her striking 'revenge dress' to the Serpentine Gallery in London just hours after Charles, then Prince of Wales, confessed to adultery on national television

Footage taken outside the venue, showed the Princess of Wales stepping out of the royal car with Prince William repeatedly putting his arm behind her in a gesture of support.

The Prince of Wales sported the light beard he has worn in recent months and wore an elegant cerulean blue suit.

At last year's event, Kate wore a pearl necklace and matching earrings that belonged to Queen Elizabeth II alongside a brooch of 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards, to which she was appointed Colonel-in-Chief last August.

Kate is the most senior female Royal in attendance tonight after Buckingham Palace confirmed the Queen - who is unwell with a chest infection - will not attend the event, nor the Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph on Sunday.

A Palace spokesperson said that while her decision to not attend is 'a source of great disappointment to The Queen, she will mark the occasion privately at home'.

His Majesty, who became Patron of the Royal British Legion earlier this year, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, as well as Princess Anne arrived earlier this evening at the central London venue.

Kate has worn the earrings several times previously, including at the centenary commemorations of Passchendaele in Belgium, in 2017

The pearl and diamond earrings have become a firm favourite of the Princess of Wales

Kate rounded off her outfit on Saturday night with a stylish 128 Monica Vinader necklace

The Duke of Kent, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucestershire and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence are seated in the Royal Box tonight, as those who put their lives on the line for King and Country are celebrated.

Once the event got underway, the King received a standing ovation as he took his seat, accompanied by a royal fanfare from state trumpeters of the household division.

The King looked upbeat as he arrived at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance

King Charles III arrived solo after Queen Camilla announced earlier she would not be attending tonight's event due to an ongoing chest infection

The monarch was all smiles as he sported several medals and an elegant black suit

The Duke of Gloucester arrived at the prestigious event on Saturday

The Duchess of Gloucester was all smiles as she arrived holding a Union Jack clutch bag

Princess Anne, who holds a number of military titles and positions, arrives at The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance

The Princess Royal will be in attendance alongside her brother His Majesty King Charles III as well as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh

The Prime Minister and his wife are all smiles as they entered the Royal Albert Hall tonight

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria were greeted at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance

The Prince and Princess of Wales are at The Royal Albert Hall! Love William constantly putting his arm around Catherine  pic.twitter.com/2lKBFuKlM5     (@crowningred) November 9, 2024

His Majesty The King arrives at The Royal Albert Hall! pic.twitter.com/5CqxJwbuda     (@crowningred) November 9, 2024

Hosted by Adrian Lester, several British music icons will take to the stage to honour the servicemen and women, including Sir Tom Jones, Alexandra Burke, Jack Savoretti and many more.

Tonight's event is likely to be especially poignant for Kate, who is recovering from cancer and King Charles III, who is having ongoing treatment for cancer.

She is also expected to attend the national commemoration at the Cenotaph tomorrow, marking the first time she has carried out two consecutive days of public official engagements since the start of the year.

Royal insiders have commented that her appearance at both tonight's event and tomorrow is a significant step in her gradual return to public royal duties.

Ever known for her sense of style, in 2021 royal fans were not disappointed when Kate arrived wearing a stylish black boucle dress by Eponine.

The mid-length dress featured a pointed collar, pleated skirt and four rhinestone buttons on the front.

Kate clapped enthusiastically next to husband Prince William, with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester standing behind them

King Charles III was seen clapping next to his sister, Princess Anne, at the start of tonight's Festival of Remembrance

The Duke of Kent, seen behind King Charles III, and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, standing behind Princess Anne, were also spotted in the Royal Box

In 2019, the Princess of Wales wore a dark dress with a bateau neckline and velvet belt trim, alongside an Alexandra McQueen clutch bag.

Earlier in the week, Camilla's condition meant that she had to reluctantly withdraw from the annual opening of the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey on Thursday with the Duchess of Gloucester, 78, standing in for her.

Last year's look: The Princess of Wales wore a pearl necklace and matching earrings that belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth II

William and Kate at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on November 11, 2023

In 2019, the Princess of Wales wore a dark dress with a bateau neckline and velvet belt trim, alongside an Alexandra McQueen clutch bag

Royal fans were not disappointed in 2021 when Kate arrived to the Festival of Remembrance wearing a stylish black boucle dress by Eponine

In 2017, Kate wore a custom coat dress from Catherine Walker & Co featuring buttons made from jet, glass and silver Swarovski crystals

The Queen also had to cancel an appearance at a reception at Buckingham Palace honouring the nation's Olympic and Paralympic stars the very same day.

Camilla is anticipated to return to work as soon as next week and is set to host a reception for authors shortlisted for this year's Booker Prize at Clarence House.

Kate attended the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on November 12, 2023

Stylish and solemn: The Princess of Wales at last year's National Service of Remembrance

The National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London on November 12, 2023

Queen Camilla pictured alongside the Princess of Wales during the National Service Of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in 2023

She is also expected to attend the glitzy global premiere of Gladiator II at the Royal Film Performance in Londons Leicester Square next Wednesday evening.

Royal Family members at Remembrance events this weekend CONFIRMED King Charles III

Prince William

Kate, Princess of Wales

Anne, Princess Royal

Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence

Edward, Duke of Edinburgh

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh

Richard, Duke of Gloucester

Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester

Edward, Duke of Kent Advertisement

Buckingham Palace announced the King and Camilla will meet the stars of the blockbuster, Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen and Pedro Pascal, and director Sir Ridley Scott.

The events are taking place on the eve of the Kings birthday, with Charles turning 76 next Thursday.

Tomorrow the King alongside other members of the Royal family will attend the annual Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, which is the nation's chief war memorial to those who died in World War I and II.

His Majesty is expected to lay a wreath designed to pay homage to his grandfather King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II.

The wreath of poppies will be placed on a bed of black leaves, bearing the monarch's racing colours of scarlet, purple and gold - as is traditional for a Sovereign.

Queen Camilla's wreath, which also bears her racing colours inherited from her grandfather and inspired by the Queen Mother, will be placed on her behalf by an Equerry from the Royal Household. Both wreathes were made by the Poppy Factory.

Prince William will lay the wreath previously placed by King Charles III, featuring the Prince of Wales feathers and a new ribbon in Welsh red.

The Royal Navy prepare for Sunday at HMS Excellent training base in Hampshire on Tuesday

After the service, Sophie the Duchess of Edinburgh will place a wreath at the Memorial and is set to take to the stage for an Armistice Day Service reading.

The events will conclude with a tour of the Arboretum.
A French socialite who claims she was owed millions by the Duke and Duchess of York has spoken of her anger over Andrew's lucrative new source of funding.

Isabelle de Rouvre, 76, said she let the couple pay millions less than they owed for a Swiss ski chalet they were buying from her as she believed 'Andrew was going to prison'.

'I lost so much money,' she told the MoS last night. 'This caused me so many stresses.'

Chalet Helora, a seven-bedroom luxury lodge in the exclusive ski resort of Verbier, boasted a indoor swimming pool, sauna, sun terrace bar and lavish entertaining area.

Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah bought the sumptuous property from Ms De Rouvre in 2014 for 18 million. They took out a mortgage for the bulk of the cost and agreed to pay her the remaining 5 million plus interest in instalments.

But by 2019 it became apparent that Andrew was struggling to pay and Ms De Rouvre launched legal action to try to recoup her millions.

Isabelle de Rouvre, 76, said she let the couple pay millions less than they owed for a Swiss ski chalet they were buying from her as she believed 'Andrew was going to prison'

Chalet Helora, a seven-bedroom luxury lodge in the exclusive ski resort of Verbier, boasted a indoor swimming pool, sauna, sun terrace bar and lavish entertaining area

In 2022 she revealed that she was still owed 6.8 million but had agreed to a payment of 3.4 million to settle the dispute because she believed the couple were short of money.

'I am a businesswoman and did well in life but with this problem I lost,' she told the MoS last night. 'I hate losing. But what could I do? Four years ago I was told he had nothing.' She was stunned to be told that Andrew has now been deemed to have the funds to support himself at the 30-room Royal Lodge in Windsor.

'I am missing millions as a result of this man. I reduced what he owed me because I was afraid he was going to jail and they told me he did not have the money to pay me. I was left with little choice.

'Now he is saying he has plenty of finances, but where does this money now come from? Is it from the late Queen? He was her favourite son apparently. And if not, then from where? There needs to be transparency. It is crazy.

'Either he has this money or he is lying and maybe he has nothing. Has the money come from Saudi Arabia or Kazakhstan? Has he used his name and royal connections? He can be very convincing.

The Duke was later forced to sell the chalet after racking up enormous legal bills during a sexual assault lawsuit in America

'They were apparently so poor before they had to pay me and now they are so rich. It is all very strange in this family. He is not working, so where does the money come from?'

The Duke was later forced to sell the chalet after racking up enormous legal bills during a sexual assault lawsuit in America. Virginia Giuffre alleged she was forced to have sex with Andrew on three occasions after she was trafficked by the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew settled the case out of court and paid a multimillion-pound sum to Giuffre while denying any wrongdoing.

The MoS revealed in 2022 that a city financier had bought the chalet for almost 20 million.
Ministers are set to consider a coroner's recommendations on 'cancel culture' at universities after a third-year Oxford student killed himself when he was ostracised by fellow undergraduates.

Nicholas Graham is writing to the Department for Education over the death of Alexander Rogers, 20, who took his own life when he found himself frozen out by his friends in what appears to be a phenomenon sweeping campuses.

The Oxford coroner is highlighting the findings of a serious incident review which found students could 'rush to judgment without knowledge of all the facts' and then 'shun those accused'.

He said the study, carried out by specialist mental health GP Dominique Thompson following Alexander's death, found 'this culture had become established and normalised' both at Oxford and the education sector more widely.

Mr Graham is asking ministers 'to reflect on the concerns that have arisen in this case and to take those concerns forward'.

Nicholas Graham is writing to the Department for Education over the death of Alexander Rogers, 20 (pictured)

Mr Graham noted Corpus Christi College accepted a cancel culture existed (Stock photo of Oxford University Christi Campus)

Alexander had left notes to those who ostracised him expressing remorse for his actions and a belief they were unintentional but unforgivable

The tragedy unfolded after Alexander went drinking with a group of friends in January.

He later had sex with a friend, who then told other students at Corpus Christi College that she felt uncomfortable about it.

Although she had no intention of reporting the incident formally, 'her disclosures led to a growing sense of animosity toward Alexander', Mr Graham said.

Two friends confronted Alexander over the girl's allegations, telling him he had 'messed up' and they 'needed space from him'.

They said they would check up on him in a couple of weeks.

Alexander seemed distraught after this conversation, said the coroner, and took his own life the following day.

Mr Graham said Dr Thompson's inquiry revealed 'a concerning culture of social ostracism' or 'cancel culture' among students, based on allegations of misconduct 'often without due process or a fair hearing'.

Such ostracism had happened in the past at the same college, he said, though with less tragic consequences. Recording a verdict of suicide last week, Mr Graham described the case as 'tragic'.

Two friends confronted Alexander over the girl's allegations, telling him he had 'messed up' and they 'needed space from him'

Alexander also left a note before tragically took his own life expressing his love for his family and 'regret'

The Oxford coroner is highlighting the findings of a serious incident review which found students could 'rush to judgment without knowledge of all the facts'. (Stock image of Oxford University)

Alexander had left notes to those who ostracised him expressing remorse for his actions and a belief they were unintentional but unforgivable, the coroner said. He also left a note for his family expressing his love and 'regret'.

Mr Graham noted Corpus Christi College accepted a cancel culture existed, adding: 'Some staff were aware that some students were quick to judge. However, the College were not formally aware through complaints... of the extent and nature of the culture in existence until Dr Thompson's report.'

Mr Graham said he had not been able to establish whether that culture, or how staff responded to earlier incidents, had directly contributed to Alexander's death.

But he added: 'It is certainly possible that such a culture influenced the actions of Alexander's peers. It is also possible Alexander felt that, because of this culture, there was no way of getting back into the social group that obviously meant so much to him.'

Oxford University and Corpus Christi College said a working group had been established to implement recommendations made in Dr Thompson's review.
Princess Diana's former chauffeur has broken a 30-year-silence about his royal service to tell how his life was ruined by rogue BBC reporter Martin Bashir falsely claiming he was leaking confidential information.

In an exclusive interview with The Mail on Sunday, Steve Davies revealed how Bashir's lies poisoned the Princess against him and destroyed his career as one of the Royal Family's most trusted drivers.

And he lambasted the Corporation for failing to tell him for years that he was another victim of the web of deceit Bashir spun to secure his 1995 Panorama interview with Diana.

Mr Davies was given no explanation when he was suddenly made redundant in March 1996 after eight years of impeccable service as a royal chauffeur, four of which were spent as Princess Diana's personal driver. It was only two years ago, when he saw an episode of the Netflix drama The Crown that he learned the shocking truth.

Steve Davies revealed how Bashir's lies poisoned the Princess against him and destroyed his career as one of the Royal Family 's most trusted drivers

Mr Davies was given no explanation when he was suddenly made redundant in March 1996 after eight years of impeccable service as a royal chauffeur, four of which were spent as Princess Diana's personal driver

At a meeting in September 1995, Bashir falsely told Diana and her brother Earl Spencer that Mr Davies was feeding a newspaper with information, part of his scheme to make her feel insecure and trust him with an interview.

Now, in an explosive interview that reignites the scandal and provides an extraordinary insight into a momentous period in the history of the Royal Family, Mr Davies:

Speaks of his regret that Bashir's lies meant Diana died wrongly believing he had betrayed her;

Tells of his devotion to the Princess and that he would have 'taken a bullet' for her;

Describes joining Diana, Elton John and George Michael for an impromptu concert at Elton John's mansion, and of meeting Mother Teresa at Diana's insistence;

Recalls the young Princes William and Harry 'screaming with laughter' as they sat on his lap as he did handbrake turns in a car on a field behind Kensington Palace;

Claims Diana 'would still be here today' if he had been her chauffeur in Paris in August 1997 when she was killed in a car crash;

Mr Davies said of Bashir's deception: 'I was forced out of a job I wanted to be my life's work. Royal service is about being trusted and loyal, showing discretion, having a sense of duty. Your reputation, your good name is everything. Martin Bashir robbed me of mine by making those allegations to Diana.

At a meeting in September 1995, Martin Bashir (pictured) falsely told Diana and her brother Earl Spencer that Mr Davies was feeding a newspaper with information

Princess Diana went on to give Bashir an interview on prime time BBC television show Panorama in 1995

'I'm not the kind of man who wastes time and energy being bitter or angry, but she died believing I had betrayed her and that's something I can't ever forget or forgive'.

Mr Davies, a former soldier, joined the royal chauffeurs in 1988, and was dedicated to the Princess after she split from Charles, when he became a key figure in Diana's inner circle. He was her driver on the night in June 1994 when she wore a stunning black gown dubbed the 'revenge dress' to a dinner, and was by her side when she and the young Princes visited Alton Towers.

'I would have taken a bullet for Diana,' said Mr Davies, who has never previously spoken of his time with the Royals. 'My job was my life. I was always there for her.'

He said Bashir's deceit 'had a huge impact on my life', adding: 'I went from having the dream job to having to start again from scratch. And for almost 30 years I had no idea why. What Bashir did to secure his interview was appalling.'

In May, the BBC paid Mr Davies compensation after the High Court heard how he was 'tormented' by speculation about why he lost his job.

The BBC said last night: 'When Mr Davies approached us, we resolved his complaint promptly by apologising to him via a statement in court and paid him damages.'

But a furious Mr Davies said: 'They should have said something beforehand. [Am I] angry? Yes. Disappointed? Yes. Surprised? No, because they covered up Bashir from the beginning.'
Silicon Valley elites are throwing their financial weight behind a controversial scheme to fight climate change  worldwide weather modification.

One of the new VC-funded start-ups, Make Sunsets, has already launched balloons over Baja, Mexico releasing sunlight-reflecting aerosols into Earth's stratosphere.

The firm's concept, cooling Earth by bouncing sunlight back into space via sulfate aerosols, is not new. In fact, it's one of many exotic ideas now actively funded by Microsoft founder Bill Gates, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and others in Big Tech.

And yet, Make Sunsets' solar geoengineering, which they hope to fund by selling 'cooling credits' to eco-friendly companies, has drawn strong criticism from experts.

Researchers across academia, government and even global insurance agencies have warned of unintended consequences, like regional droughts, crop failures and shifts to the Atlantic jet stream, which could drag hurricanes and tropical diseases north.

Mexico's environmental ministry blasted Make Sunsets last year for conducting their rogue experiments within their nation's borders 'without prior notice and without the consent of the Mexican government and the surrounding communities.'

But many of these concerns are premised on the idea that such small independent companies like Make Sunsets can manage to work in concert or be effective at all.

As Adrian Hindes, a PhD candidate at Australian National University, explained it to DailyMail.com: 'Make Sunsets efforts, at least at present, are nowhere near at a scale necessary for actually causing global temperatures to decline meaningfully.'

'Stratospheric aerosol injection' (above) - of the kind that Make Sunsets is testing on a very small scale - is just one of the methods being considered for 'solar radiation management'

Climate tech researcher Dr Shuchi Talati at American University similarly called the firm's business plan 'a speculative form of "junk credit" that is unlikely to have value.'

And yet, the start-up has already raised over $1 million from billionaire technocrats looking for market-based, quick fixes to the climate crisis.

Similar firms are also racing to profit off VC interest, including Israel's Stardust Solutions, which has raised $15 million.

'At some point down the road, they're going to do this at a big enough scale to trigger some sort of climate impact,' according to Talati, who is also the founder of the nonprofit Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering.

Talati, like many public policy researchers and climate scientists, has expressed real fear that local effects of geoengineering could cancel out the benefits.

'It can be done in an effective, globally governed way,' as she told NPR, 'or it can be done by two crazy people in California, and it can look horrible for a lot of people.'

Hindes told DailyMail.com that there is potential for plans like Make Sunsets' sulfur balloons, a type of 'stratospheric aerosol injection' (SAI), to harm local farming.

'[But] this is one of the areas which has the highest uncertainty and least agreement across published research at present,' the Australian researcher noted.

Making Sunsets co-founders Andrew Song (left) and Luke Iseman (right) release one of their balloons. Climate tech researcher Dr Shuchi Talati at American University has called their business plan 'a speculative form of "junk credit" that is unlikely to have value'

Nevertheless, Make Sunsets hopes to fund their solar geoengineering by selling 'cooling credits' to eco-friendly companies. The firm claims it has already sold tens of thousands

There are a number of geo-engineering theories being proposed, including 'shinier crops and buildings to reflect more sunlight', microbubbles in the ocean and removing cirrus clouds.

'Global warming from excess greenhouse gases accelerates the hydrological cycle,' Hindes said. More heat means more water evaporation and thus more wet weather.

But Hindes added: 'Cooling the planet by SAI or [other geoengineering like marine cloud brightening] would slow it down, but not perfectly since neither is "anti-CO2."'

In other words, even though such vast aerial seeding techniques might succeed in cooling Earth, the process would still leave ever-growing volumes of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas in Earth's atmosphere.

'Plants close their stomata [tiny pores critical for photosynthesis] to retain more moisture with higher CO2 levels,' as Hindes told DailyMail.com.

Thus, man-made greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have been shown to have a direct impact on how much water plants retain, rather than release as vapor.

The result, he said, means a reduction in 'total moisture available in the atmosphere' which could lead to droughts and lower crop yields in a geoengineered world.

A magnified view of many 80-micron plant stomata on the leaf of a Begonia rex cultorum plant. 'Plants close their stomata [tiny pores critical for photosynthesis] to retain more moisture with higher CO2 levels,' as geoengineering researcher Adrian Hindes said

The result means a reduction in 'total moisture available in the atmosphere' which could lead to droughts and lower crop yields in a geoengineered world. But, Hindes noted: 'This is one of the areas which has the highest uncertainty and least agreement across published research'

The Australian geoengineering researcher noted that these trade-offs might one day be found to be appropriate, but questioned the notion of impetuous, billionaire-funded start-ups like Making Sunsets leading the charge.

'They've had far too much lackadaisical and softball media reporting,' Hindes said.

He suggested that even 'moderately critical/skeptical' has led mostly to raised publicity and name recognition for the company.

Making Sunsets co-founder, Luke Iseman, is relishing the criticism which he thinks is good for business.

'Making me look like the Bond villain is going to be helpful to certain groups,' as Iseman, who had previously served as director of hardware for tech incubator Y Combinator, told MIT Technology Review.

While open minded about the need to develop and test geoengineering, geologist Dr David Kitchen told DailyMail.com that its benefits would be only temporary.

'These are not solutions,' said Dr Kitchen who has written about the issue for The Conversation. 'These are our stop gaps.'

'They're a representative of our failure to manage the carbon economy effectively,' Dr Kitchen explained, 'and our failure to transition [away from carbon] effectively and economically. But they may become essential tools in the toolkit.'

None of the proposals, he noted, would stop acidification of Earth's oceans due to increased CO2, which is already dissolving the shells and skeletons of marine life and threatening entire ecosystems and fisheries.

Due to the opaque world of privately funded Big Tech ventures, it is currently unclear how much money is actually being spent on private weather modification ideas.

The aim of one $3 million mission in 2021 - backed by billionaire Bill Gates - was to have chalk deflect a portion of the sun's radiation, stop it from hitting the surface, and cool the planet

The test would use a high-altitude scientific balloon (pictured) to raise around 2kg of calcium carbonate dust - the size of a bag of flour - into the atmosphere 12 miles above the surface. This past April, after fielding years-worth of such criticism, Harvard shut down the project

SilverLining, a nonprofit dedicated to 'near-term climate risk,' told Bloomberg that it was 'unable to share a full list of SilverLining's donors at this time,' though it lists major funders on its site.

But Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz, former Facebook execs now funding their own start-ups, and billionaire hotel heiress Rachel Pritzker are all known to be making big bets on such projects.

One 2020 study by a Yale lecturer, however, suggested that it would not take much to temporarily cut the Earth's warming in half via SAI aerosol methods, suggesting that just $18 billion a year (half of NASA's annual budget), would be enough.

In 2021, a roughly $3 million mission backed by Bill Gates, tested a similar system sending a large balloon 12 miles above the Swedish town of Kiruna with a payload of 2 kilograms of chalk dust bound for the stratosphere.

Like Iseman's sulfate aerosols, the idea is for this chalk to deflect a portion of the sun's radiation, stopping it from hitting the surface, and thus cooling the planet.

Chemist Frank Keutsch, whose Harvard lab led the project, says the strategy would only be deployed in desperation to stop parts of the planet becoming uninhabitable.

Keutsch called the very fact that such geoengineering projects are being considered at all 'terrifying,' but the projects critics have been even more unsparing.

Above, Making Sunsets co-founder Andrew Song with a test balloon

Earlier this year, researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA published a paper investigating the idea of using high-altitude planes to inject two tons of ice particles each week, which would freeze the water that would fall back to Earth

University of Edinburgh professor, Stuart Haszeldine, noted at the time that blocking the sun would do nothing to remove the main cause of global warming.

'It would cool the planet by reflecting solar radiation but once you're on to that, it's like taking heroin  you've got to carry on doing the drug to keep on having the effect,' Haszeldine said.

This past April, after fielding years-worth of such criticism, Harvard shut down the project despite continued interest by Keutsch and his collaborator, Harvard Applied Physics professor David Keith.

'I think it's worth doing these experiments as the world considers whether or not to actually potentially use these technologies to reduce climate risks,' Keith said.

'This experiment just became the focus of that conversation and got blown out of proportion,' as he explained it to the Harvard Crimson.

A statement from two of Harvard's provosts noted that similar 'solar geoengineering research will continue at Harvard under the auspices of the Solar Geoengineering Research Program.'
Cybersecurity experts warn that a new hacking campaign is targeting people who share an extremely specific set of interests.

According to cybersecurity firm SOPHOS, hackers have used a sophisticated set of tools to hijack the results of one particular Google search.

And the experts warn that searching for this specific six-word phrase could put you at serious risk of being hacked.

However, you aren't likely to be in much danger unless you happen to live in Australia and have an interest in exotic cats.

SOPHOS warns that hackers are targeting anyone who searches: 'Are Bengal Cats legal in Australia?'.

Searching for this phrase leads unsuspecting cat enthusiasts to malicious links loaded with malware.

Once your computer is infected, hackers can steal your information, take control of your computer, and hold your data for ransom.

In a blog post revealing the attack, SOPHOS engineers wrote: 'Victims are often enticed into clicking on malicious adware or links disguised as legitimate marketing, or in this case a legitimate Google search.'

Cybersecurity researchers have warned that searching for the phrase 'are Bengal Cats legal in Australia?' could put you at serious risk of being hacked (stock image)

However, the security researchers hadn't specifically set out to protect the interests of cat-loving Aussies.

Rather, they were investigating the use of a particularly powerful and common piece of malware called Gootloader.

This software has been around for about a decade and was previously the signature tool of the Russian REvil ransomware gang.

Hackers infect their target's computers with Gootloader in order to stealthily install more powerful tools capable of stealing information like bank details or locking users out of their own data.

Typically, this is done using a technique called search engine optimization (SEO) poisoning.

SEO poisoning is a insidious technique in which criminals manipulate search engine results to push websites they control to the top of the page.

This lures victims into clicking on innocent-looking pages which secretly install Gootloader onto their device.

Normally, a hacker would want to poison a really common search term so that as many people as possible follow their malicious links.

Hackers have used a technique called SEO poisoning to hijack the search results for this specific six-word phrase

What is SEO poisoning? Search engine optimization (SEO) poisoning, otherwise known as malvertising, is a technique by which hackers use search engines to make malicious sites appear legitimate. Hackers manipulate search results to push sites they control to the top of the page. Since consumers assume that the top hits on search engines are trustworthy, many people follow these links without thinking. Once on the malicious site, users are lured into providing personal details or downloading malware onto their device. Advertisement

Alternatively, hackers might go after specific high-value targets though which they could access the networks of a powerful institution like a bank or a hospital.

What makes this attack so strange is that it doesn't seem to be targeting either of these groups.

Instead, the only people who could possibly be infected are those who happen to search for the extremely specific phrase 'Are Bengal Cats legal in Australia?'.

During an investigation in May, the researchers found that an unknown 'threat actor' had poisoned this search through a link to an easily accessed online cat forum.

Following the hijacked link led to a normal-looking post forum threat entitled 'are bengal cats legal in Australia?'.

There, someone posing as an administrator posted a download link, ostensibly leading to more information on the topic.

However, rather than leading to any information about cats, this link actually installed a heavily disguised JavaScript file containing the virus.

The software was so cleverly hidden that researchers found the malicious code even included fake software licensing information to make it appear legitimate.

Cybersecurity firm SOPHOS found that searching for this term led users to a forum where someone posing as an administrator had posted a download link supposedly leading to more information

Following the link downloaded a heavily disguised JavaScrip file containing a piece of malware called Gootloader

Once installed, the Gootloader malware could be remotely operated to give the attackers total control of their target's computer.

However, it isn't clear why any criminal would go to such great lengths to hack such a specific set of internet users.

It is possible that the hackers did have a specific cat-loving target in mind but this would be a very inefficient way to reach them compared to something like an email scam.

Another explanation could be that the hackers were simply testing out their new gear.

By picking an obscure term that very few people were likely to search, the cybercriminals might have been trying to see if their SEO poisoning had worked without drawing too much attention.

How to avoid getting scammed

To avoid encountering any malware online, the first thing you can do is avoid searching for 'Are Bengal Cats legal in Australia?'.

However, if you absolutely need to know about cat legality, it is important that you are careful what you click on.

To avoid falling for a SEO poisoning scam, make sure not to follow any links which seem unusual or any advertisements that seem too good to be true (stock image)

Avoid clicking on any links that seems suspicious or lead to sites you are not familiar with.

The SOPHOS engineers write: 'Users should still look out for search results and search advertisements that seem too good to be true on domains that are off the beaten path  whether theyre looking to get a Bengal cat or not.'

Likewise, if you do end up on a suspicious site don't follow any further links or download any files.

As a general rule, you should only download files from sites you absolutely trust and never from unknown sources.

If you think your computer may have been compromised, check your accounts for any suspicious activity and be sure to change your passwords as soon as possible.
MBABANE  In a suspected suicide case, a student was found dead in one of the dormitories at the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) Mbabane Campus yesterday morning.

Ray Mthembu (29) of Dryhoek in Nkomanzi, northern Hhohho, was last seen by his colleagues on Tuesday during their workshop study classes as they prepared for the ongoing examinations. He was in his last year of a degree in Mental Health Nursing, that he was pursuing at the university.

Evidence

Police from the Forensic Department and detectives were on the scene yesterday morning, to gather evidence and collect Mthembus lifeless body. One of the students, a close friend of the deceased, said he met Mthembus brother Brian on his way from buying food in town and he enquired when last they had seen him. I told him that I last saw Ray on Tuesday in class, as such workshops are barely attended by students, his absence was not really recognised, but we started to worry when he failed to show up for a test we were writing this morning (yesterday), the friend said.

That was when they started to worry about his whereabouts and started calling his number, which was no longer available yesterday. His brother Brian said he started calling Ray on Tuesday and he was not answering until Wednesday night, when his number was suddenly out of network, presumably out of battery. Ray stayed off campus but is known to use a friends dormitory frequently. His friends rushed for a spare key to open the dormitory, which was locked, and found his motionless and lifeless body on top of the bed.

A security guard in the school recalled that he saw him drinking from a milk container on Tuesday and entered one of the abandoned structures nearby. We do not know what could have triggered our brother to end his life but personally I noticed that he had financial struggles. Not long ago, I helped him with E5 000, and just recently, a homeboy told me that he borrowed E3 000 from him. I told him that I will pay that money personally, as my brother was seemingly going through a lot, Brian said. It is not the first time that a university student has ended their life while on campus.

Embraced

In 2022, the Office of Student Counsellor Babili Kunene embraced the No Student Hungry Project, aimed at reducing hunger among students amid the surging number of suicides on campus. The initiative ensures that vulnerable students could get at least a meal a day, which resulted in the decrease in the number of suicides. Recently, Senator Fezeka Dlamini of the Temabheka Foundation knocked on the No Student Hungry Project doors with the will to help. Vice Chancellor, Professor Justice Thwala mentioned during the launch, that the number of suicides rose from six in 2008 to 12 in 2021, attributable to a number of factors, some of which were not being able to provide for basic needs. He implored politicians that had attended the event to advocate for increased funding tertiary education and thanked Temabheka Foundation for the initiative to assist with the project.

Deceaseds girlfriend allegedly killed by ex-lover recently.

Can this be a mental health suicide?

These are some of the questions Rays friends asked themselves as they revealed that his girlfriend Nondumiso Vilakati (21) was allegedly raped and stabbed multiple times to her death by a former lover just a month ago. One of his friends said the death of his girlfriend took a visible toll on Mthembu, among other things, that included alleged registration fees.

Brutally

The story was reported by this Eswatini News on October 5, 2024, and the sad ordeal is said to have happened in front of an elderly woman at Nkiliji, where she was working as her helper. His girlfriend was recently brutally murdered, and we think this might have affected him, said one of the students. Brian revealed that he asked for bus fare to go and attend the funeral. He said he advised him not to attend the funeral, but gave him bus fare money, as he insisted on wanting to bid her farewell.
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When it comes to Whisky you'll likely think of Scotland and for good reason, but one Australian distillery is being lauded with praise and being recognised for standing out among the world's finest spirits.

23rd Street Distillery was recently honoured at The Spirits Business Luxury Masters 2024 awards with two of the tipples from the South Australian brand named the among best in the globe. No small feat for a distillery that has only been running since 2016.

The 23rd Street Australian Whisky, won gold in the World Whisky Super Premium category while the 23rd Street Australian Single Malt Whisky, won gold in the Ultra Premium class.

'With 95 per cent of whisky sold in Australia being imported, we set out to disrupt the category by creating a whisky that Australians could take real pride in,' Chris Illman, of 23rd Street Distillery said.

Award winning: The 23rd Street Australian Whisky ($86.10) is being recognised as among the best in the world. The whisky from a South Aus distiller makes a perfect Christmas present

'Securing two Gold medals at The Spirits Business Luxury Masters is not only a major milestone for our team but also a testament to the dedication, passion and craftsmanship that has gone into creating our Australian whisky range.'

The Australian Whisky boasts 'citrus, orange blossom and caramelised fruit' aromas and is described as having a palette of 'sweet oils and biscuity malt are framed by vanillin oak. Dark chocolate spice, roasted nut and toffee notes unfold toward a lingering, creamy finish.'

The brand recommend enjoying it over ice and with scorched almonds or an Australian aged hard cheese.

Meanwhile the Single Malt is described as having 'aromas of toffee, lifted fruit and delicate vanillin oak' while the palate is noted as being 'full and lightly sweet, with citrus and apricot, bedtime malted milk, and a finish of butterscotch oak and lingering warmth.'

23rd Street's master distiller Paul Burnett said that the brand focus on using premium local ingredients and that aroma and flavour are key factors during the whisky distillation process.

We concentrate on delivering the highest quality new spirits, targeting sweet oils and rich layers of grain and malt. The distillation cuts are done purely on aroma and flavour,' he said.

The brand's 23rd Street Australian Single Malt Whisky(98.16), won gold in the Ultra Premium class at The Spirits Business Luxury Masters 2024

How the winning whiskies are made

Australian Whisky  The Method 23rd St Australian Whisky begins with a blend of premium Australian barley malts, selected for a balance of generous fruit, spice and caramel warmth. After fermentation, the whisky wash is distilled through two historic Copper Pots. Using the different styles of each still, it intensifies the natural flavours and sweet oils. The whisky is separated for maturation into ex-Bourbon American oak, and a small number of richly seasoned Tawny barrels. The warmth of the Riverland climate is gently tempered by a well-insulated barrel hall, where maturation progresses well year-round. 23rd Street bottled Australian Whisky has matured in oak for a minimum of two years, with skilful blending of archive portions for added dimension. Tasting notes: Australian Single Malt Whisky - The Method Starting with arguably the worlds finest barley, ripened in the sunshine and pure air of Kangaroo Island on South Australias coast, the grain is malted and roasted to release optimum sugars and enzymes. Adding only water, yeast and time, our base liquor is created. Distillation uses both our heritage Copper Pot Stills 1 and 2. Runs and multiple cuts are kept separate for many options to age and assess. A portion is blended at this stage and given a third distillation, imparting additional fruit complexity, The Master Distillers have selected from a rich palette of American oak ex-Bourbon barrels to mature the many individual whisky portions. With three years in the Riverlands warm summers and low humidity, around 7% is lost for the Angels share per annum. The final sampling and blending process, it must be admitted, is not a tough day at the office. Advertisement

'Only the purest of the hearts fraction of spirit is reduced to approximately 65 per cent and matured for 2.5 years in a massive variety of oak barrels and small oak vats.'

Comparing the way 23rd St make whisky compared with international counterparts, Burnett said: ' Australian Whisky has some similarities to imported whiskies but has a few important differences.'

'Aussie Whiskies like our 23rd St Australian Whisky  uses premium local malting barley, distilled in Australia and is also exposed to the Australian climate for its aging.'

'Many Whiskys made in Scotland are aged in near freezing temperatures. Australian Whisky is aged in higher temperatures which speeds up the maturation and concentrates its flavours. I love that our Whisky is aged in Australia in our climate  it makes it truly special from end to end.'

23rd Street also make a double cask Hybrid Whisky ($84.88) but the brand isn't just making waves thanks to its whisky range.

The distillery also makes a range of gins including a vibrant Violet Gin ($93.09) and a citrusy Yuzi Gin ($87.19), as well as vodkas including the award winning Riverland Rose Vodka ($83.95) or its Pomegranate Vodka ($74.00) and flavoured RTDs like its Tropical Gin and Soda cans ($30.68 for four) too.

Not only does the brand make award winning drinks but the stylish bottles and pretty artwork make the tipples the perfect present for any drinks aficionado.

Although the distillery has only been operating for the past eight years, it sits on a historic site in Renmark, South Australia which was home to Australias first co-operatively owned winery, Renmano, for nearly a century.

To shop 23rd Street drinks on Amazon click here.
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The best hotel in Wales.

This accolade was bestowed upon The Parkgate Hotel in Cardiff in the 2024 AA Hospitality Awards - an eye-opening stamp of approval for the property, which is housed in the Grade II-listed former head post office building and county court on Westgate Street.

Keen to see for myself what impressed the AA's inspectors, I climb aboard a GWR express at London Paddington (see fact box for details on its 'long weekender' ticket deals, which include Cardiff) with my dear mother and head west to the Welsh capital at 125mph for a stay at The Parkgate, notebook and video camera in hand.

Mother Thornhill is under strict instructions to have a splendidly lovely weekend  but also keep an eagle eye out for any imperfections the AA's inspectors might have missed.

The challenge was accepted with gusto, 83-year-old Mother T excited to be part of the MailOnline hotel-review team and re-peruse a city she hadn't visited for 60 years.

When she was last in Cardiff, the Portland-stone post office building, completed in 1897, would have included a grand, double-height entrance hall that housed a public counter area, with counters on three sides, and writing tables in the centre.

The Post Office moved in 1983, but the grand double-height entrance hall remains and makes for an impressive first impression (though it's a shame the red post box outside is covered in graffiti).

White columns soar to a coffered ceiling, guests at marble tables nibble afternoon-tea sandwiches and the reception staff have their smiles set to beaming.

Ted Thornhill checks in to The Parkgate Hotel in Cardiff, declared the best hotel in Wales in the 2024 AA Hospitality Awards. Above is his Deluxe Junior Suite

The Parkgate Hotel has a 'swoon-worthy' spa (above), which has heated loungers and 'amazing' views

The property is officially a four-star hotel  but it feels five-star in this glamorous, pristine lobby and already worthy of a 'best hotel' gong. A vibe that never really dissipates.

Our accommodation is on the fourth floor - a Deluxe Junior Suite comprising two separate double rooms (Nos 426 and 427) with a connecting lobby.

Any hotel room worth its salt should be a magnet, pulling you back in whenever you try to leave.

Test passed. I could move in.

Mesmerising views of the skyline, the adjacent national stadium of Wales - Principality Stadium  the castle and the hills beyond can be soaked in via a balcony and floor-to-ceiling black-framed windows that wrap around the space on three sides; step across the parquet flooring to the back of the space to enter a very smart ensuite with rainshower and Elemis toiletries, while lolling opportunities come courtesy not only via the plush king-sized bed but a chic blue sofa.

And the Parkgate Hotel is clearly angling for bonus points with the blisteringly fast Wi-Fi, plug sockets by the bed on each side and the ample tea and coffee-making facilities. There's a kettle with teabags and coffee sachets - and a Nespresso machine.

Magnet-like though the chambers are  Mother Thornhill and I can't linger for long, as we're only here for one night.

So, it's off through the city for a harbourside lunch at Cote (very friendly staff) and a tranquil boat trip around the harbour and up the river to picturesque Bute Park, home to the engrossing castle complex.

Afternoon teas are available at The Parkgate Hotel in the 'glamorous' lobby lounge (above)

The Sorting Room, the hotel's lobby-level two-AA-Rosette brasserie-style restaurant

LEFT: Ted's Sorting Room Welsh lamb main course. RIGHT: Ted's 'neutron bomb of a dessert' called 'textures of chocolate cake'

Then it's back to the hotel for a pre-dinner trip to the spa, which is swoon-worthy  a sixth-floor haven with amazing views from its pool and heated loungers through yet more floor-to-ceiling glass.

Ma T is bowled over.

We arrive with glowing cheeks at The Sorting Room, the hotel's lobby-level two-AA-Rosette brasserie-style restaurant that was once filled with hand-written letters and brown-paper packages.

Now it's smothered in dark wood, ringed by sumptuous banquettes and full of excited diners eager to see if the cooking lives up to the rosette hype.

It does.

My Monmouthshire reared pork and chorizo Scotch egg starter is as comforting as it sounds, while the main  a 'celebration of Welsh lamb'  is definitely worth celebrating. It comprises a tastebud-tickling trio of lamb delights  melt-in-the-mouth slices covered in a herb crust, a mini leg-of-lamb shepherd's pie and a lamb-belly terrine, accompanied by a salt-baked parsnip puree and red-wine jus.

A dish to write home about - first-class recorded delivery.

And for a p.s, you'd want to mention the 'textures of chocolate cake', a neutron bomb of chocolate that defeats me. It's so intense I manage only half, and Ive got a sweet tooth or three.

The service, meanwhile, for the most part is prompt and cheery  but here there's room for improvement.

The waiter who delivers our dishes never knows who's having what  which in a two-Rosette restaurant and when dealing with a table of two is a tad shoddy. And as each dish is unceremoniously plonked down there's never a check to see if there's anything else we'd like.

One of the fruit-forward, quaffable red wines, for instance (which I summon separately).

Luxurious: Above is one of the hotel's most premium rooms - the Tower Suite

Cardiff Castle (above) is just a few minutes' walk from The Parkgate Hotel and is an 'engrossing' experience

The Parkgate Hotel is housed in the Grade II-listed former head post office building and county court on Westgate Street

And at the end comes a moment that leaves a slightly bitter taste  our main waiter urges us to review the restaurant on Tripadvisor and thrusts his name tag at me, practically demanding I take a picture of it so I 'don't misspell his name in the review'.

I'm not allowed to pen anything for Tripadvisor, but that's not the moan here because the waiter wouldn't know that  it's that this kind of pressure is tacky, unbecoming in a classy hotel like The Parkgate.

One of the housekeepers we pass in a corridor also urges us to name-check her in a review when we comment on our 'lovely room', and from her we learn the staff are financially incentivised to garner mentions. So I understand the compulsion, but it's a slightly intrusive practice.

Though in the grand scheme of the stay, a quibble.

The next day, after returning to The Sorting Room for a highly satisfying buffet breakfast, we saunter around the engrossing castle, which is just a few minutes' walk away, returning to the lobby to pick up our bags before our train back to London.

The smiles are still beaming at the front desk.

Best hotel in Wales? Considering that rooms at The Parkgate Hotel cost from just 85 a night, according to Google, hoteliers will need to push the envelope out to knock it from its perch.
A traveller who describes herself as a former certified Paris hater has posted a tips video to help tourists fall in love with the French capital  just as she has done.

The video is entitled Things I wish I knew before going to Paris (I hated my first visit) and was posted by Raimee Iacofano (@raimeetravel), from Michigan, to TikTok, where to date it has garnered 256,000 likes.

In the clip, the 30-year-old explains first of all that there are multiple entrances to the Louvre that can help tourists avoid the crazy lines at the gallerys Pyramid entrance.

The experienced traveller also advises tourists to be careful when they buy their metro ticket.

She notes that visitors are asked which zone they want to travel through and remarks that most will only need a ticket for Zone 1, where the main tourist attractions are.

As the clip plays, Raimee warns tourists they need to be prepared to get strange looks if they ask for oat or almond milk in their coffee. She recalls: I asked one cafe what type of milk they had and they said cow. However, she adds that shes found regular milk doesnt actually upset her stomach in Europe.

It might be popular, but Raimee advises giving the citys famous Shakespeare and Co bookshop a miss, explaining it is a cool bookstore, but not one thats worth enduring the long lines for.

When it comes to eating out, Raimee recommends walking five to 10 blocks away from any major tourist site to find better and cheaper food, but also explains the best way to have a good time in Paris is to do as the locals do. She advises going to a local market, grabbing some cheese, a cheap bottle of wine and a baguette and just lounging around and people watching.

Raimee Iacofano (pictured above in Paris) describes herself as a former certified Paris hater - and has posted a tips video to help tourists fall in love with the French capital

Raimee's video is entitled Things I wish I knew before going to Paris (I hated my first visit). To date it has garnered 256,000 likes

Finally, for any tourists visiting the Eiffel Tower, the traveller says she thinks the view from the second level is much better than the view from the third level.

Raimee explained separately to MailOnline Travel that part of the reason for her initial dislike of Paris was having high expectations.

She said: I had subconscious high expectations about Paris before I visited for the first time. For our entire lives, were told Paris is this magical city of love, delicious food, art and history.

'And while it is definitely all of those things, I made the mistake of only visiting the super-touristic sights of Paris on my first trip there.

I found myself shoving through crowds, saying no to scams constantly, and eating overpriced food that simply wasnt good. I remember feeling like I was at an amusement park and I swore I would never return. I was a certified Paris hater.

How did it win her over in the end?

She revealed: Fate brought me back to Paris for a month-long work trip and I had no choice but to give the city another chance. This time around, I spent time in neighbourhoods outside of the touristic areas, met locals who showed me around, and got to experience what it might feel like to live in Paris.

Thats what won me over. I wasnt checking off sights from a list. I was living the Parisian life away from the crowds, eating the best local food, and walking the beautiful streets to work every day. I finally understood why this is said to be one of the greatest cities in the world!

The traveller recommends visitors 'step outside the tourist trail even just a little'

Raimee (left and right) says: 'I finally understand why this is said to be one of the greatest cities in the world!' She thinks the view from the second level of the Eiffel Tower is much better than the view from the third level

What are Raimees favourite things to do in Paris?

She said: I love grabbing a baguette, cheese, and wine from a local market and going to have a picnic in a park or along the Seine. I also love strolling around the Canal St Martin and Montmartre neighbourhoods and just popping into any restaurant or store that looks cool.

Raimee revealed that she loves to stay in Le Marais or Canal St Martin  and has some restaurant recommendations, too.

Raimee said: I love Le Barav in Le Marais. Get the cheese and meat board and you can get a glass of wine for just 5 (4.16/$5.39). When coming from the States, thats a great deal.'

Does she find the locals welcoming? Its a resounding oui.

Honestly, yes, said Raimee. Ive never had a truly bad experience with Parisians. I met many locals who were excited to show me around town, and a few who made fun of me for wanting oat milk with my lattes! I wouldnt say I felt the most welcomed by Parisians compared to other cities or countries, but I still didnt experience the rudeness people so often associate with the culture.

What are the biggest mistakes tourists make when they come to Paris?

Raimee remarked: I think when you have expectations for Paris, or any destination, that are too high, thats a big mistake.

'Its best to go into an experience with neutral feelings and an open mind.

I also think if you only visit Paris to see the top sights, youre not experiencing the true magic of the city that youll find in little alleyways and in the neighbourhoods outside of the central city. Step outside the tourist trail even just a little, and youll have a much better experience in the city.

Sticking out like a sore thumb is another mistake.

Raimee added: Be respectful. Dont be loud. Try to blend in and do as the locals do! Youre in another culture and one of the most beautiful and historic cities in the world. Make sure you respect it and its people.
A former Who Wants To Be A Millionaire contestant, who was one of the show's biggest losers, has reflected on how their huge loss impacted their life.

Justin Peters appeared on the US version of the iconic gameshow back in 2015 and was initially hopeful of bagging a massive fortune - but his dreams came crashing down when he lost a whopping $225,000.

In a first-person article for Slate, Justin told how he knew he'd made the 'biggest mistake of my life' within seconds of giving the wrong answer to host Terry Crews.

Reflecting on that horrific moment, Justin wrote that he thought it was a 'fake-out', that host Terry was just pulling his leg and would then reveal that he's won big.

But it wasn't. Instead of bagging half a million dollars, his winnings plummeted down to just $25,000, leaving Justin devastated.

A former Who Wants To Be A Millionaire contestant, who was one of the show's biggest losers, has reflected on how their huge loss impacted their life [Justin Peters and Terry Crews pictured]

Justin Peters appeared on the US version of the iconic gameshow back in 2015 and was initially hopeful of bagging a massive fortune - but his dreams came crashing down when he lost a whopping $225,000

The $500,000 question read: 'Drinking alcohol in the British House of Commons is strictly forbidden at all times, with the single exception of a lawmaker doing what?'

Justin said he immediately eliminated half of the choices, which was 'declaring war' and 'taking the oath of office'.

That left him with only two more: 'crowning a royal' and 'passing a budget'.

Peters would later find out that only two people have lost the $500,000 question in 10 years, noting 'it's very hard to justify gambling $225,000 on a hunch'.

But Peters said he knew he was always going to gamble. What he didn't know at the time was that he was about to become the third person to lose the question.

Justin had been confident on the show, having breezed through most of the questions, with the writer finding the earlier questions so easy that he believed they were 'put there just for me'.

He told how he promised his sister that he wouldn't walk away with the money under any circumstances - insisting he would gamble with the money he'd won and will play on 'until I reached either damnation or glory'.

As he talked out the choices with Crews, Justin decided it had to be 'crowning a royal' because it was a 'celebratory occasion'.

In a first-person article for Slate , Justin told how he knew he'd made the 'biggest mistake of my life' within seconds of giving the wrong answer to host Terry Crews

Reflecting on that horrific moment, Justin wrote that he thought it was a 'fake-out', that host Terry was just pulling his leg and would then reveal that he's won big

The host tried to remind Justin what he would lose if his guess was wrong but Justin's response was to ask, 'unreasonably cocky' he notes, what he would win if his guess was right.

'Lets make this a game' Justin told Terry, giving his answer as B. The answer was D.

Describing the moment of his loss, Justin wrote: 'Have you ever wondered what it feels like to lose a fortune? To have in your hand the money that would change your life, and then watch that money turn to vapor? When I lost $225,000 in a single second, it was like a needle had been pushed through my cerebral cortex, pinning me to the spot of my failure. I walked off stage in a daze, my mind still affixed to that cataclysmic moment.'

Despite a producer branding him 'the best contestant Ive ever had' and various crew members praising his game as he walked backstage having gambled away $225,000, Justin recalls feeling at an absolute loss.

An aspiring screenwriter and comedic actor, he had been hoping to use the money as a cushion so that he could finally pursue the dreams he'd put on the back burner for so long.

His car ride home with his sister and pals was an awkward one as he shut them down for trying to sympathise with him, with Justin only able to think of how poorly he played the last question.

Upon reflection, Justin worked out why the answer he gave couldn't have been correct, kicking himself for not taking enough time to think about it.

Justin was so upset the night of the loss that he drove from New York to Boston to be with family.

'When I lost $225,000 in a single second, it was like a needle had been pushed through my cerebral cortex, pinning me to the spot of my failure. I walked off stage in a daze/'

Explaining how he felt when he had returned home, he shared: 'I got back to Brooklyn. I went up to my cramped apartment, where the cold water didnt work, the front door had no knob, and the landlord hated me. I buried my head in a sofa cushion and cried. I couldnt be in New York that night.'

He added that he drove to Brooklyn and begged his sister to be with him, sobbing that he couldn't 'be alone' at that time.

But he said it was the next day, as he walked around and ruminated on the experience, that he understood it was not about what he had lost - but what he could gain.

Peters said he realised that taking the gamble when there was such high stakes could be a life lesson. It has proved to him that he had the courage to take risks, the kind that he had been too scared to take so far in his career.

Reflecting on how he opted to change his life, he said: ' I called Kelly, my in-studio lifeline. I was semihysterical. The fact that I went for it. what has to change my life. Not the money, but the fact that I made that decision, I told her. I need to make this have meaning. I need to derive more meaning from the loss than I would from the win".'

I got back to Brooklyn. I went up to my cramped apartment, where the cold water didnt work, the front door had no knob, and the landlord hated me. I buried my head in a sofa cushion and cried'

The moment of realisation struck so physically that he 'collapsed on the steps of a townhouse' while screaming, with the journalist noting that he'd finally 'found meaning in my failure.'

And when Peters re-watched his performance on screen, he saw just how well he could command an audience - how he could work a stage.

Justin decided he will spend the entire sum he received from Millionaire pursuing his dreams and 'taking the shot.'

After describing his time on the show as an 'existentially transformative experience', Justin told how he finally found the confidence to pursue his dream of being a comedic actor and screenwriter - noting how the experience made him realise that the confidence was 'there all along'.

And this newfound confidence even allowed him to take his improv duo on tour, which he described as 'exciting and sort of daunting.'
The Block's controversial couple Kylie and Brad Baker did attend the 2024 auction day on Saturday despite vowing to skip it, Daily Mail Australia can reveal.

The married couple were embroiled in a shock 'flirtgate' scandal on the show when Brad told their co-star Mimi Belperio he would follow her OnlyFans if she had one.

The now-infamous remark prompted a huge fallout and led to Kylie calling it quits with Brad and storming off the set in an apparent fallout with Channel Nine.

Amid the scandal, Kylie vowed not to return for auction day and the show's host Scott Cam even admitted he was unsure whether the couple would show up.

However, pictures obtained exclusively by Daily Mail Australia of the auction's filming on Saturday showed that Kylie and Brad did in fact return for the milestone final day.

The couple, who are still together despite their on-screen split, put on a very loved-up display as they were seen packing on the PDA while on the Phillip Island set.

They appeared to have put the 'flirtgate' drama firmly behind them as they were seen sharing a kiss and cuddling up to one another during filming.

Going back on her vow to boycott the auction, Kylie put on a glamorous display in a sheer yellow figure-hugging gown which showed off her incredible figure.

The Block's controversial couple Kylie and Brad Baker did attend the 2024 auction day on Saturday despite vowing to skip it, Daily Mail Australia can reveal

Pictures obtained exclusively by Daily Mail Australia of the auction's filming on Saturday showed that Kylie and Brad did in fact return for the milestone final day

The married couple (pictured) were embroiled in a shock 'flirtgate' scandal on the show when Brad told their co-star Mimi Belperio he would follow her OnlyFans if she had one

She added to her head-turning ensemble with a pair of green droplet earrings and appeared in good spirits as she flashed a huge smile while hugging her husband.

Brad cut a dapper figure in an all-black black suit as he showed his affections for Kylie by planting kisses on her cheek after the 'flirtgate' controversy.

The couple also appeared to have some good luck at the auction, which is set to air on Nine on Sunday night, as they were seen hugging seemingly in celebration.

Mimi and Kristian, who were the other couple engulfed in the 'flirtgate' scandal, were also in attendance at the auction and were seen putting on an equally united display.

Kylie and Brad's attendance at the auction came after days of speculation about whether the couple would turn up following the massive on-screen controversy.

Sources claimed that Kylie and Brad were considering returning for the sale only if the reserve was for the right price at the auction.

The couple, who are still together despite their on-screen split, put on a very loved-up display as they were seen packing on the PDA while on set

Despite the recent 'flirtgate' fallout and their on-screen split, the couple proved they are still going strong as they attended the auction together

Going back on her vow to boycott the auction, Kylie put on a glamorous display in a sheer yellow figure-hugging gown which showed off her incredible figure

She added to her head-turning ensemble with a pair of green droplet earrings and appeared in good spirits as she flashed a huge smile while hugging her husband

They appeared to have put the 'flirtgate' drama firmly behind them as they were seen sharing a kiss and cuddling up to one another during filming

The couple also appeared to have some good luck at the auction, which is set to air on Nine on Sunday night, as they were seen hugging seemingly in celebration

Brad cut a dapper figure in an all-black black suit as he showed his affections for Kylie after the 'flirtgate' controversy

Kylie added to her frame with a pair of vibrant blue heels and completed her outfit with a leather-look fluffy jacket

Their appearance at the auction came under Kylie vowed not to attend amid the 'flirtgate' scandal, with host Scott Cam even admitting he didn't know if they would show up

The Block's host Scott Cam claimed the couple had cut contact with Nine as he admitted he didn't know if they planned to turn up just one day before filming.

'We can't confirm anything with those guys [Brad and Kylie], because they're not in communicado, so we're not sure how it's going to play out,' he told Nova 96.9's Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie on Friday.

'I don't have communication with them because I'm doing other things, but we've got people at the network that do that, and they have been struggling to make contact.'

The on-screen drama first kicked off when Brad told co-star Mimi - who is married to Kristian - that he would follow her OnlyFans account if she had one.

The controversial conversation came as Brad and Mimi shared a drink at his house while Kylie napped beside them and kicked off the now-infamous 'flirtgate' scandal.

Kylie sensationally split from Brad on the show following his flirtatious comments, but Daily Mail Australia later revealed that they are in fact still together.

Kylie also stormed off set and threatened to 'break the f**king camera' if the crew kept filming in a dramatic exit, and she and Brad appeared to cut ties with Nine.

Mimi and Kristian, who were the other couple engulfed in the 'flirtgate' scandal, were also in attendance at the auction and were seen putting on an equally united display

The married couple looked loved-up as they appeared to celebrate a sale together following the on-screen fallout

Mimi put on a leggy display in a white mini dress, which she styled with a pair of pointed stiletto heels as she cosied up to her husband

While the other teams celebrated 'tools down', Kylie was notably absent, with Brad left to relay her final order for the tradies to 'leave it' and 'get out' during their last hours of work.

She also vowed to boycott auction day as she said: 'I'm just going to go home. I don't want to come back for auction, I don't want to have to come back and deal with it.'

However, Kylie and Brad were then seen rubbing shoulders with Nine's producer Julian Cress amid the supposed falling out with the network.

Prompting speculation the walkout was staged, the pair were spotted at the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday enjoying some drinks and a few laughs alongside Julian.

They were also seen smiling broadly while posing alongside Kristian and Mimi at the races as things appeared to be anything but frosty between the foursome.

Mimi and Kristian were also in attendance at Saturday's auction filming and looked loved-up as they appeared to celebrate a sale together.

Kristian looked very suave in a tuxedo and patent suit shoes as he wrapped his arm around Mimi during one sweet moment

It comes after rumours the on-screen drama was staged when Kylie and Brad and Mimi and Kristian (pictured with their co-stars) were seen hanging out together at the Melbourne Cup

The couple appeared to have brushed off the flirtgate drama as they looked very loved-up while filming the auction scenes

Mimi was at the centre of the scandal after allegedly sharing a flirty chat with Brad, but her and Kristian remained steadfast throughout the controversy

Photographs from filming showed the couple beaming widely as they fist-bumped the air seemingly in celebration.

Mimi put on a leggy display in a white mini dress, which she styled with a pair of pointed stiletto heels as she cosied up to her husband.

Kristian looked very suave in a tuxedo and patent suit shoes as he wrapped his arm around Mimi during one sweet moment.

The couple appeared to have brushed off the flirtgate drama as they looked very loved-up while filming the auction scenes.

The 2024 winner of The Block will be revealed when the auction episode airs on Channel Nine on Sunday at 7pm.
Award-winning actress Kate Winslet has reignited the Titanic 'door scene' controversy by confirming a surprising detail about the famous scene.

During an October 21 interview on the Australian talk show The Project, Winslet, who starred in the 1997 blockbuster alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, clarified that the floating object her character Rose clings to in the iconic film is often misidentified.

'People keep referring to it as a door. It actually wasn't even a door,' she clarified. 'It's a piece of bannister, like a stairway or something, that had broken off.

When asked the age-old question of whether there was 'room on the door' for Leonardo DiCaprio's character, Jack Dawson, Winslet joked that she had anticipated the query.

'Who knows if (DiCaprio) could've (fit) on there or not,' she said. 'Honestly, I don't have any insights here that anyone else hasn't already tried to figure out.'

Award-winning actress Kate Winslet has weighed in on the famous Titanic 'door' scene, suggesting it might not actually be a 'door' at all

'People keep referring to it as a door. It actually wasn't even a door,' Winslet clarified. 'It's a piece of bannister, like a stairway or something, that had broken off.

During a 2022 appearance on the 'Happy Sad Confused' podcast, Winslet gave a more detailed answer as to her own theory about whether or not Jack could fit.

'You've heard it here, for the first time, yes he could have fit, he could have fit on that door, but it would not have stayed afloat. It wouldn't,' Winslet said.

Titanic's ending has caused a storm of protests among fans, with many attempting over the years to disprove that only Rose could have survived - insisting there was plenty of room on the door for Jack.

Some Reddit users even matched the debris to interior images of the fictional ship - and suggested then it might not be a door.

Director James Cameron told the Toronto Sun that he once commissioned a scientific study to test various survival scenarios for Jack and Rose, involving stunt doubles and different reenactments.

'We took two stunt people who were the same body mass of Kate and Leo and we put sensors all over them and inside them and we put them in ice water and we tested to see whether they could have survived through a variety of methods and the answer was, there was no way they both could have survived. Only one could survive

'[Jack] needed to die. Its like Romeo and Juliet. Its a movie about love and sacrifice and mortality. The love is measured by the sacrificeMaybe after 25 years, I wont have to deal with this anymore.'

'[Jack] needed to die. Its like Romeo and Juliet. Its a movie about love and sacrifice and mortality,' said director James Cameron

The famous Titanic 'door' sold for a whopping $718,750 at auction in March at the Heritage Auctions Treasures from Planet Hollywood event.

The auction noted the door is 'in reality part of the door frame just above the [ships] first-class lounge entrance'.

Its sale price beat Indiana Jones bullwhip from Temple of Doom ($525,000) and Jack Nicholson s axe from The Shining ($125,000).
George Clooney feels he is being used as a scapegoat in the furious blame game over who could have cost Kamala Harris the election  and will now take a step back from politics.

The Hollywood star, 63, threw his support behind Harris after penning a blistering op-ed on why Joe Biden would cost the Democrats the win if he didnt abandon his campaign, but it still wasnt enough to prevent an historic victory for Donald Trump.

Clooney has since been criticized by Democrats for his influence during the election, with some claiming Harris' loss was his fault.

The Oscar-winner is disheartened by the backlash, with insiders claiming he did not immediately endorse Harris because he felt the Democrats should have taken a step back to weigh up their options.

George feels that the backlash he is getting for Kamala losing is not at all warranted, a source told DailyMail.com exclusively. He thinks it is completely unfair to try and make him a scapegoat for her loss.

George Clooney feels he is being used as a scapegoat in the furious blame game over who could have cost Kamala Harris the election  and will take a step back from politics

Clooney, 63, threw his support behind Harris after penning a blistering op-ed on why Joe Biden would cost the Democrats the win if he didnt abandon his campaign, but it still wasnt enough

He has backed the Democratic Party and invested so much time and money into them, but he is going to take a step back for now. He feels very disheartened.

They continued: When he wrote his op-ed, George did not say Biden is not fit to be president choose Kamala. The Democrats jumped on Kamala and within days she was the candidate.

George believes that they should have taken a step back and looked at their options. That is why he did not endorse her right away.

Trump secured a stunning comeback to the White House on Wednesday and currently holds 295 electoral votes.

The Ocean's Eleven actor penned a brutal op-ed for the New York Times in July where he called on Biden to step down from the race and declared: 'We are not going to win in November with this president.'

The piece was published less than a month after Clooney raised $30million at a fundraiser for Biden's re-election campaign.

Weeks later, Clooney threw his support behind Harris and her historic quest as he thanked Biden for saving Democracy by conceding his place in the race to his Vice President.

But the move has been scrutinized by Democrats who have claimed: 'It's all George Clooney's fault!'

The Oceans Eleven star has since been criticized by Democrats for his influence during the election, with some claiming Donald Trump's victory over Harris was his fault

George feels that the backlash he is getting for Kamala losing is not at all warranted, a source told DailyMail.com. He thinks it is completely unfair to try and make him a scapegoat'

Veteran-led, political commentator group altNOAA posted on X: 'Someone bring me George Clooney. We need to have a...talk.'

Journalist Joshua Hartley uploaded a screenshot of Clooney's op-ed piece and added: 'Thank you George Clooney.'

Another X user penned: 'Trump should not forget to thank the Hollywood celebrities. Especially George Clooney.'

Clooney also lent his voice to an ad campaign by Vote Common Good in support of Harris and Tim Walz.

The 30 second video featured a group of Republican men casting their ballots together with their families.

'Come on boys. Lets make America great again,' one of the men told the group.

One of the others was then seen looking at a family photo as he decided who to vote for.

Before you cast your vote in this election, think about how it will impact the people you care about the most,' Clooney could be heard saying.

When he wrote his op-ed, George did not say Biden is not fit to be president choose Kamala,' a source said. 'The Democrats jumped on Kamala and within days she was the candidate'

Clooney narrated an ad by left-wing Christian organization Vote Common Good which urged men to think about how their a Trump vote could 'impact the people you care about the most'

The man then looked over at his young daughter before deciding to secretly vote for Harris.

The friend asked him if he did his patriotic duty,' to which he responded: 'You bet I did, brother.'

Harris emphasized her support for abortion rights after the Supreme Court's 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to abortion services.

Clooneys close friend Julia Roberts also lent her voice to an ad for the Christian-backed group as she endorsed Harris.

Other stars leading the charge included Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Bruce Springsteen, Will Ferrell and even Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Meanwhile, Trump was backed by the likes of Elon Musk, Kanye West, Hulk Hogan and Mel Gibson.
Zendaya and Robert Pattinson were spotted cozying up together while filming night scenes for the upcoming A24 movie titled, The Drama, in Boston on Wednesday amid news that she may be teaming with her favorite leading man in an upcoming project with a big name director.

The Euphoria actress, 28 - who recently supported boyfriend Tom Holland at his non-alcoholic beer launch in NYC - shared lighthearted moments with The Batman star, 38, while on set.

In August, it was revealed that Zendaya and Pattinson would be taking on leading roles in The Drama - which is written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli.

The beauty was seen donning a dark blue sweatshirt and loose-fitting trousers that stopped above her ankles.

She layered the look by wearing a dark gray coat which was left unfastened at the front, and additionally slipped into a pair of black flats.

Zendaya, 28, and Robert Pattinson, 38, were spotted cozying up together while filming night scenes for the upcoming A24 movie titled, The Drama, in Boston on Wednesday

In August, it was revealed that Zendaya and Pattinson would be taking on leading roles in The Drama - which is written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli

Zendaya's brunette locks were parted in the middle and styled into a simple up do at the back of her head, allowing loose strands to border the sides of her face.

For a finishing touch to the lowkey ensemble, the star easily carried a black purse that was placed over her right shoulder.

Robert also kept it casual in a pair of gray trousers as well as a blue and white-colored button up and white shirt underneath.

The actor - who welcomed a daughter with fiancee Suki Waterhouse in March -sported a dark gray jacket and he also carried a large, black backpack over his right shoulder.

Both Zendaya and Pattinson were seen getting into character while shooting scenes throughout the streets of Boston after the sun had set.

In between takes, the pair were spotted having a blast as they held conversations with each other and at one point, shared a big laugh.

The two stars held smiles on their faces as they also mingled with director, Kristoffer Borgli, before filming another take.

While standing in front of the camera and crew, Zendaya and Robert held more serious expressions as he placed an arm around her back.

The Euphoria actress shared lighthearted moments with The Batman star while on set

The beauty was seen donning a dark blue sweatshirt and loose-fitting trousers that stopped above her ankles

She layered the look by wearing a dark gray coat which was left unfastened at the front, and additionally slipped into a pair of black flats

Robert also kept it casual in a pair of gray trousers as well as a blue and white-colored button up and white shirt underneath

The actor sported a dark gray jacket and he also carried a large, black backpack over his right shoulder

In between takes, the pair were spotted having a blast as they held conversations with each other and at one point, shared a big laugh

The two stars held smiles on their faces as they also mingled with director, Kristoffer Borgli, before filming another take

According to CBS News, the cast was seen filming on Beacon Street - and the crew was spotted setting up in the Boston Common.

One fan spoke with the outlet while near the area and stated, 'I am invested now. This was just a sit down for a break now, but it's a sit down to see the stars.'

Another Boston resident, Lana Lababidi, had spotted Pattinson shooting additional scenes last week.

'I never thought I would get to see a celebrity in person let alone in Boston. So, you know it was kind of mind blowing.'

She added, 'He's one of my favorite actors from Harry Potter and Twilight so getting to see him was honestly like part of a dream come true for me.'

The premise of The Drama has mainly remained under wraps, but is alleged to follow a 'romance that takes an unexpected turn before a couple's big day,' per Deadline.

Director Kristoffer Borgli is known for recently writing and directing the 2023 film, Dream Scenario, starring Nicolas Cage.

Ari Asters, Lars Knudsen and Tyler Campellone are the producers on the upcoming project - and a set release date has yet to be revealed.

While standing in front of the camera and crew, Zendaya and Robert held more serious expressions as he placed an arm around her back

One fan spoke with the outlet while near the area and stated, 'I am invested now. This was just a sit down for a break now, but it's a sit down to see the stars'

The premise of The Drama has mainly remained under wraps, but is alleged to follow a 'romance that takes an unexpected turn before a couple's big day,' per Deadline

Last month in October, Mamoudou Athie was announced to have joined the cast, while Alana Haim was also in talks to star.

Zendaya has been filtering through a busy schedule and recently starred in Challengers and Dune: Part Two - with both releasing earlier this year.

It was also revealed on Friday that the former Disney channel star has joined Anne Hathaway in Christopher Nolan's upcoming project with Universal Studios, per The Hollywood Reporter.

The Euphoria actress will join her boyfriend Tom Holland in the untitled project, as well as Matt Damon.

It was also revealed on Friday that the former Disney channel star has joined Anne Hathaway in Christopher Nolan's upcoming project with Universal Studios, per The Hollywood Reporter

The Euphoria actress will join her boyfriend Tom Holland in the untitled project, as well as Matt Damon; Zendaya and Tom seen in 2021 in L.A

Plot details are currently under wraps, but Nolan will also be writing the script for the movie which is set to release in July 2026.

Filming is slated to begin next year, and it will be Zendaya's first time working with Nolan - who is known for other projects such as Oppenheimer, Inception, Dunkirk and Tenet.

Robert Pattinson notably took on a role in Tenet in 2020 which also starred John David Washington and Elizabeth Debicki.

Hathaway previously collaborated with Christopher in The Dark Knight Rises and also Interstellar.
Italian sex-symbol Sophia Loren doesn't have plans to retire anytime soon.

The 90-year-old veteran film star  who previously underwent emergency surgery  still loves working on-screen and despite her age, she doesn't have any intention of walking away from the movie industry.

As one of the last surviving major stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema, she told told Deadline: 'I don't want to think about legacy. I want to think about my next movie.'

'I'll think of legacy once I retire and I hope never to retire,' she said on Thursday.

The legendary starlet also claimed she never had a career 'plan B', and has insisted she doesn't take the easy way out', either.

Italian sex-symbol Sophia Loren doesn't have plans to retire anytime soon; seen in October 2019

She told told Deadline : 'I don't want to think about legacy. I want to think about my next movie'; seen in 1964

The Two Women star explained: 'The secret is never to have a plan B so that when you are faced with an obstacle you find insurmountable, you don't end up taking the easy way out.

'You take a deep breath, push on and find the right solution to your problem as you have no choice but to move forward. No Plan Bs, only a Plan A.'

Sophia became a global sex symbol in the 1950s, making her film debut in Quo Vadis and working as a model before getting her big break in 1953's Aida.

Though she garnered attention for her natural beauty and talent, the actress never actually gave it 'much thought'.

She said: 'Frankly, being a sex symbol has never defined me, I am who I am.

'I am not naive, I am aware of the fact that some people respond to me in such a way but I've never given it much thought.'

Sophia told the outlet that at the time that Hollywood inspired her to see acting as her own craft that she could put her own personal storytelling twist on.

She said: 'What I have given much thought to has always been being true to my craft and being part of stories that can move and inspire people, and in that respect.

'Hollywood has always been a great source of inspiration for me. The craft and pursuit of excellence is the currency of the people in this city. It is both aspirational and inspirational.'

The starlet also recounted first arriving in Los Angeles, comparing it to a magical city of 'dreams', immediately bonding with some of her favorite actors at the time.

'I'll never forget looking out the window as I was landing in Los Angeles for the first time and being confused by what I saw. I pictured Hollywood like a version of Oz, a fairytale city filled with fantasy and color but what I saw was fields of orange trees and desert,' she said.

'It took me a while to reconcile the Hollywood of my dreams with its city but as soon as I met the actors and the filmmakers that I so admired, I once again found the Hollywood of my dreams for that dream lived in the great talent and hearts of all those wonderful artists,' the actress finished.

'Frankly, being a sex symbol has never defined me, I am who I am. I am not naive, I am aware of the fact that some people respond to me in such a way'; seen in 1960

'Hollywood has always been a great source of inspiration for me,' she added; seen left in 1960, seen right in 2019

Sophia last acted in her son Edoardo Ponti's 2020 Oscar-nominated film, The Life Ahead; seen in 2015

Back in 1962, the actress infamously skipped out on the Oscars ceremony where was she honored with the Best Actress Award for her role in Two Women, making history as the first actor to win an Oscar for a non-English language film.

And to this day, she claims she 'truly never in a million years thought [she] would win' the award.

Sophia last acted in her son Edoardo Ponti's 2020 Oscar-nominated film, The Life Ahead, which won her a David di Donatello Award for best actress. She played a Holocaust survivor who bonds with a 12-year-old Nigerian immigrant.
Lily Rose Depp quietly puffed on a cigarette while supporting her partner 070 Shake's show in Los Angeles on Thursday night.

The actress daughter of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis, 25, was seen shivering in the night air wearing a vintage style halter dress with a deep V-neck made of champagne toned lace with white and black trim.

The Idol star grabbed a cocktail and joined others during the intermission outside the El Rey Theater in smoking a cigarette. California law prohibits smoking inside public venues.

Depp's blonde hair was pulled back into a low chignon and her makeup looked natural.

She wore white opera gloves and dressing black strappy open-toe pumps for the big night, following the admonition of girlfriend 070 Shake, who had requested that everyone who came to the performance of Petrichor to dress in formal attire.

Lily Rose Depp quietly puffed on a cigarette while supporting her partner's show in Los Angeles on Thursday night

At one point, the Chanel model put on a black wool coat in the 56 degree temperatures, and even took a moment to flash a peace sign at photographers.

070 Shake, 27, born Danielle Balbuena, was set to release her latest album, Petrichor on November 15.

Thursday night, the music was combined with dance, resulting in a ballet set to the new album.

Depp expressed her pride in her partner's success writing, 'Insanely beautiful. Insanely proud of you @070 Shake.'

The King actress wrote the experience was 'a night I'll never forget. Petrichor ballet wtf!' adding, 'my boyfriend is so cool.'

The couple have been together for nearly two years. They were first spotted together in February 2023 at Paris Fashion week.

Several months later in May of that year, Depp went Instagram official post a picture of the pair kissing and writing, '4 MONTHS W MY CRUSH.'

Shake has memorialized her love for Depp in song and on film.

The actress , 25, was seen shivering in the night air wearing a vintage style halter dress with a deep V-neck made of champagne toned lace with white and black trim as she enjoyed a smoke outside the El Rey Theater, taking a moment to flash a peace sign at photographers

At one point, the Chanel model put on a black wool coat in the 56 degree temperatures

070 Shake introduced the music from her new album Petrichor with a ballet

Depp was bursting with pride for her partner after the big night, writing she was 'insanely proud' of Shake, 27, born Danielle Balbuena and the event was a 'night I'll never forget'

The couple have been together for nearly two years. They were first spotted together in February 2023 at Paris Fashion week

In the two-part single Winter Baby/ New Jersey Blues, Shake croons about her girlfriend, who also stars in the accompanying video.

Depp's latest project will be unwrapped on Christmas day.

She stars in the spooky Nosferatu, as the object of the other-worldly creatures desire.

The period-piece co-stars Nicholas Hoult, Willem Dafoe and Emma Corrin.
MAPHALALENI  A group of people sympathising with Paul Dlamini, the former Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and current Chairman of Liqoqo, destroyed crops planted by a family on land he claims ownership.

The men, believing to be fighting Dlaminis wars against a Masilela family over the fields, are said to have driven a tractor to the field, measuring a hectare and destroyed what the family had already planted, which included maize and taro (emathapha). Emathapha are a major commercial business for the family. The family services clients at Ngwenya, Mbabane and other areas. The Masilela family of Magangeni told Eswatini News that they were left shell-shocked when the tractor invaded the fields unexpectedly, with men hurling expletives and forcing the Sicelo Masilela, the head, to flee for safety.

Grappling

The family faced the devastating incident that has left them grappling with the consequences of a land dispute. The family planted crops on land, which Dlamini, the Chairman of Liqoqo, claims ownership. Liqoqo is an advisory council to His Majesty the King. It advises the King on customary matters connected with, among other things, selection of tikhulu (chiefs), boundaries of chiefdoms. The council can offer advice on any other matter the King may assign to them. It must be made clear that the King is not involved in the issue involving the chairman of his advisory council. Narrating the ordeal, the Masilela family members said the day began like any other, until they were confronted with a chaotic scene that eventually destroyed their food.

When they saw the tractor moving towards the fields, the name Paul crossed their mind. Onboard the tractor, they said, were men armed with some objects. It just destroyed crops, including knee-high maize, emathapha and banana trees. This incident is symbolic of the broader issues of land disputes on Eswatini Nation Land (ENL), a topic that invokes deep emotions and concerns among local residents. It must be said that the Masilela family, comprising Sicelo Masilela, his wife Fikile and their seven children, has lived in this area for 20 years. Farming is their primary source of sustenance, complemented by their ownership of a small herd of cattle and goats.

Damage

As they assessed the damage caused by the tractor, the emotional toll of the destruction became evident. We arrived in this area in 2004 and were given the land by the Nsingweni Umphakatsi. A cow was paid for kuboshwa kwelifindvo (confirming ownership of the land). Today, they buried our food with the tractor. We sell some of the produce and have emathapha customers in Ngwenya, Mbabane and Manzini, the wife of Masilela, Fikile Bulunga who was almost in tears said.

According to Fikile, this cultural practice underscores the familys connection to the land and their reliance on its produce for sustenance and education for their children. Fikile expressed her despair over the loss, stating: They buried our food with the tractor. This is the very same food we use to send our children to school with as we sell some of it. Her words highlight the critical role that their agricultural produce plays in their daily lives. The incident was promptly reported to the police, who arrived at the scene to document the damage. Officers from the Forensics Unit were seen taking photographs, but according to Fikile, the police indicated that the matter was beyond their jurisdiction and required the attention of higher authorities.

This response has left the Masilela family feeling unsupported in their plight. The police said it was beyond them and it needed the attention of their superiors. They only took pictures and left.

Mastermind

According to Fikile, Paul, could be the mastermind because he claims ownership of the land. She claimed they also reported the ex-DPM to Chief Maloyi Dlaminis authority. This disregard for traditional governance structures raises questions about accountability and the rule of law. If Dlamini (Paul) respected the royal kraal like responding to its summons, a solution should have been found by now and not this inhumane burying of my childrens food, she continued. Contacted for comment, the ex-DPM referred enquires to his brother, who said the disputed land belongs to Paul. He said the land dispute started around 2015. He alleged that Masilela, who is contesting ownership of the land, also destroyed Pauls crops sometime ago and has continuously disregarded summons from the current Chief, Maloyi Dlamini.

He explained that Paul inherited the land from his father Khibili. Malindane said, over the years, the land lied idle because his brother was working in the Shiselweni Region, where he was a regional administrator. He told Eswatini News that the Masilelas had no right to khonta (asking for land from traditional structures) as the area has been without a chief for many years. The area only got to have a chief in 2011 and according to our records; Masilela continuously disobeyed traditional leaders of the area when warned that the land belongs to Paul. As it is, Paul wants to rebuild his fathers home but Masilela has unlawfully extended his fence to the land belonging to the Dlaminis, the elder Dlamini said.

Malindane continued to say that the matter has previously gone through the court process after Masilela destroyed the new fence erected by Paul. He alleged that the Mliba National Court president ruled that Masilela should reinstall the fence that they removed, something which he has not done. He also mentioned that he has been evading arrest for failure to re-erect the fence. Mliba Court President Prince Mashila said, in his knowledge, Masilela was sentenced to one-year imprisonment with an option of a fine. The court president he was also instructed to re-erect the Liqoqo chairmans fence that he destroyed. The court made a ruling in this matter as Masilela was fined for destroying fence, the court president said.

Fine

He said the court further instructed the accused to re-erect the fence as he pleaded that the damage was done by his children. According to the court president, he never heeded the courts instruction as he was told that he went on to destroy emathapha (taro) belonging to Paul. This, he did, after paying the fine. Prince Mashila said Paul opened another case related to the destruction of emathapha in his fields. The president said they wanted Masilela back in court to explain why he defied the order to re-erect the fence. It is understood that Masilelas land dispute with Paul emanates from his extension of his boundaries to the ex-DPMs premises.

Masilelas land ownership has also come under scrutiny at the Nsingweni Umphakatsi, as he allegedly khontaed at a time when the area had no chief. Chief Maloyi was only installed in 2011, while the family settled at Magangeni in 2004 when there was no head of the Nsingweni Royal Kraal. Eswatini News visited the place on Wednesday. Concerning the summons that Fikile alleges Paul disregarded, Malindane said he might not be sure if his brother disregarded those summons from the royal kraal. In his recollections, he said Paul met the the inner council over the same matter.

Juxtaposing this case with what is happening in neighbouring South Africa has revealed that land disputes in that country often arise from the legacy of apartheid, where land ownership was historically skewed along racial lines. The government has implemented land reform policies aimed at redistributing land to previously disadvantaged communities. The process, however, has challenges, including administrative delays, legal battles and occasional violence. One notable case is the Restitution of Land Rights Act, which allows individuals or communities to claim land lost due to discriminatory laws.

However, the implementation of these reforms has faced criticism for being slow and inadequate, leading to ongoing tensions in rural areas. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said they do not have a record of the matter at the station. This is despite that police were found on the scene on Wednesday.
Ariana Grande fans have expressed outrage over her seventh album, Eternal Sunshine, getting snubbed by the Grammy Awards.

Despite earning three nominations from the Recording Academy, some social media users felt she was 'blackballed' as she was not recognized in the Big Four categories.

This sparked anger from her fans that took to X to point out that Eternal Sunshine, which featured her hit tracks like Yes, And? and We Cant Be Friends (Wait for your Love), broke records and was critically acclaimed for its lyrics and sound.

Her latest record also marked her first following a three-year hiatus and her divorce from Dalton Gomez.

Previously, Grande boycotted the award show in 2019 following a disagreement with the ceremony's producers over her set list.

Ariana Grande fans have expressed outrage over her seventh album, Eternal Sunshine, getting snubbed by the Grammy Awards; seen last month

'ariana grande, one of the few artists to almost entirely write, produce, and sing for her life on a personal, astonishingly constructed concept album. was once again, snubbed,' one X user tweeted.

She continued: 'eternal sunshine is one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the year and the ONLY this year to have multiple #1 singles and still didnt get an Album of the Year nominations the #GRAMMYs remain rigged.'

A third wrote: 'ariana grande not getting nominated in the main categories is a JOKE. eternal sunshine and we cant be friends were snubbed #GRAMMYs.'

Another said they they were 'witnessing Ariana Grande being snubbed AGAIN' and tweeted that her song, We Cant Be Friends, should've received nods for 'best pop solo performance and video of the year.'

'EMBARRASSING AS ALWAYS,' the furious fan wrote.

Others declared that she was 'robbed' and that there was 'absolutely no contenders even coming close' to Grande for Video of the Year, despite her not even earning a nomination in that category.

'She is really being sabotaged and blackballed somebody save my sis,' another fired.

Her track from Eternal Sunshine, The Boy Is Mine, was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album and also Best Pop Duo/Group performance for her collaboration with Brandy & Monica.

Despite earning three nominations from the Recording Academy, some social media users felt she was 'blackballed' as she was not recognized in the Big Four categories

Over her career, Grande has won two Grammy Awards and has been nominated for 15

Yes, And? also raked in one nod for Best Dance Pop Recording

Over her career, Grande has won two Grammy Awards and has been nominated for 15.

In 2019, Grande infamously skipped the Grammy Awards after having a disagreement with producer Ken Ehrlich and his team when they tried to control what songs she performed.

At the time, producer Ken Ehrlich said that Grande had pulled out of the show after a month of negotiations because it was too late for her to put a performance together.

She, then, took to X to explain that producers wouldn't allow her to perform the songs she wanted. Her album thank u, next dropped just two days before the Grammys.

This sparked anger from her fans that took to X to point out that Eternal Sunshine, which featured her hit tracks like Yes, And? and We Cant Be Friends (Wait for your Love), broke records and was critically acclaimed for its lyrics and sound

She wrote: 'i've kept my mouth shut but now you're lying about me. i can pull together a performance over night and you know that, Ken. it was when my creativity & self expression was stifled by you, that i decided not to attend. i hope the show is exactly what you want it to be and more.'

'i offered 3 different songs. its about collaboration. its about feeling supported. its about art and honesty. not politics. not doing favors or playing games. its just a game yall.. and im sorry but thats not what music is to me.'
Teddi Mellencamp and her estranged husband, Edwin Arroyave, are disputing over spousal support amid their now-contentious divorce battle.

On Friday, Arroyave, 47, filed his response to Mellencamp's divorce petition and is reportedly pushing back on her custody and spousal support requests.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, 43, had requested primary custody of their three children  Slate, 12, Cruz, 10, and Dove, 4  with 'reasonable and frequent visitation' for Arroyave in her divorce filing, which she filed last week and announced a day later on November 2.

According to legal documents, Arroyave is contesting and asking for joint physical and legal custody of their minor children.

This comes after it was revealed that the now-estranged pair were in couples therapy 'for years' before their separation.

Teddi Mellencamp and her estranged husband, Edwin Arroyave, are disputing over spousal support amid their now-contentious divorce battle; pictured July 2022 in Los Angeles

Her soon-to-be ex-husband also revealed in the latest court documents, which were obtained by Us Weekly, that they have a prenuptial agreement he wants the court to enforce.

He opposed her request for him to provide her with spousal support and to terminate the courts ability to award Arroyave spousal support.

In his petition, Arroyave requested that Mellencamp should be the one to pay him spousal support and asked the court terminate their ability to award her with any support.

Citing their prenup, he stated in his response: 'The parties' Premarital Agreement sets forth the terms regarding the amount and duration of spousal support to be paid.'

Arroyave also checked both their names to pay their attorney's fees after Mellencamp had requested that Arroyave be solely responsible for all of the legal costs.

Arroyave also claimed the prenup determined that 'all assets, income from all sources, and obligations of each party are his/her separate property, except as specifically set forth Therein.'

And contrary to the reality star's filing, Arroyave listed their official date of separation as November 1 while Mellencamp claimed they split earlier than that and on October 20.

The couple were married for over a decade, and during that time, Mellencamp experienced 'a lot of pain for years' before she finally decided to 'pull the trigger' and file for divorce, a source told The U.S. Sun.

On Friday, Arroyave, 47, filed his response to Mellencamp's divorce petition and is reportedly pushing back on her custody and spousal support requests; pictured September 2022 in Las Vegas

According to legal documents, Arroyave is contesting and asking for joint physical and legal custody of their minor children. Her soon-to-be ex-husband also revealed in the latest court documents, which were obtained by Us Weekly , that they have a prenuptial agreement he wants the court to enforce

Nearly a week ago, Mellencamp announced her decision and plans to file for divorce from her husband.

'After a great deal of care and consideration, I have made the difficult decision to file for divorce,' she wrote in an Instagram post.

'My priority is my children and ensuring that every care is taken with their privacy and wellbeing throughout this new chapter.'

She concluded: 'Making a public statement is not something I wanted to do, but in an effort to protect my family from undue speculation and rumors, I felt being open, honest and vulnerable was the best path forward.'

The couple had just celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary in July, and most recently, Mellencamp had Arroyave by her side while she co-hosted the Cure Melanoma Gala.

He opposed her request for him to provide her with spousal support and to terminate the courts ability to award Arroyave spousal support. In his petition, Arroyave requested that Mellencamp should be the one to pay him spousal support and asked the court terminate their ability to award her with any support

And contrary to the reality star's filing, Arroyave listed their official date of separation as November 1 while Mellencamp claimed they split earlier than that and on October 20; pictured February 2019 in West Hollywood

According to Mellencamp's filing, the pair had separated four days before their PDA-filled gala appearance.

Shortly after Mellencamp announced their separation, Arroyave shared a cryptic post about having 'dark days.'

On November 3, he shared a photo of himself at a hot yoga studio and wrote: 'You're not always going to be motivated or inspired. That's where rituals and habits come in. Having good habits is what will get you through your dark days.

'It's when you're under pressure that your true character is revealed.'
Carrie Bickmore turned up the heat on Wednesday when she was spotted enjoying a sunny day in Melbourne with her teenage son, Ollie.

The veteran presenter, 43, showcased her slender figure and youthful appearance in very revealing black and white activewear.

Carrie rocked her best angles in a black, figure-hugging exercise singlet paired with skimpy white gym shorts and matching sneakers, highlighting her well-toned arms and long, slender legs.

The radio host accessorised with stylish sunglasses and added a touch of glamour to her look with a gold necklace and hoop earrings.

Her blonde hair flowed freely around her shoulders, and she opted for a makeup-free look, which accentuated her radiant natural beauty.

The upbeat media personality appeared to be engrossed in conversation with her 17-year-old son as they made a coffee run to a local cafe.

Carrie looked to be in great spirits as she walked down the street, and with her youthful appearance and flawless complexion, she could easily pass for a woman half her age.

Carrie and her Fox FM co-star Tommy Little have repeatedly been hit by romance rumours ever since they hosted their HIT radio show from Paris, France, last year.

Carrie Bickmore turned up the heat on Wednesday when she spotted enjoying a sunny day in Melbourne with her teenage son Ollie. Both pictured

The veteran presenter, 43, showcased her slender figure and youthful appearance in very revealing black and white activewear

The radio host rocked her best angles in a figure-hugging black exercise singlet paired with skimpy white gym shorts and matching sneakers

Last month, the pair were spotted cuddling up for a photo behind-the-scenes at the ACRAs.

The drive show co-hosts skipped the red carpet at the radio awards and snuck in through the kitchen together.

They stopped to pose for a picture in the bustling backroom, with Carrie turning heads in a very short black dress.

Carrie accessorised with stylish sunglasses and added a touch of glamor to her look with gold necklace and hoop earrings

She allowed her blonde hair to hang freely around her shoulders and highlighted her radiant natural beauty by going makeup-free

Carrie split from her partner of 11 years Chris Walker at the start of 2022, while Tommy has been reportedly single ever since his split from girlfriend Natalie Kyriacou in 2021.

Tommy rushed to Carrie's side at the time she confirmed her break-up, leading insiders to speculate their friendship could evolve into something more.

Carrie announced her split from Chris in an Instagram post in January 2022, saying they were focusing on co-parenting their children, Ollie, Evie, nine, and Adelaide, six.

'It's with immense sadness Chris and I have decided to separate. While this is a tough time, our focus is on supporting our children,' Carrie wrote.

Elsewhere, the pair have had a hugely successful year with their drive time radio show, Carrie and Tommy - in August, it was named Australia's number one national drive show.

The upbeat media personality was accompanied by her teenage son Ollie and looked engrossed in conversation with him as they made a coffee run

Carrie looked to be in great spirits as she made her way down the street
Mia Farrow recalled the moment that Frank Sinatra had her served with divorce papers on the set of Rosemary's Baby.

Frank took Mia's virginity and then married her in Las Vegas in 1966, provoking a storm of outrage and ridicule over the fact he was 50 and she was 21.

The following year, their relationship went up in flames after Frank demanded that Mia leave Rosemary's Baby in the middle of the shoot and she refused.

He retaliated by filing for divorce and having the documents delivered to Mia at work while she filmed the classic Roman Polanski horror film.

Now Mia, 79, has explained the thought process behind Frank's decision to end their marriage, on an episode of The Drew Barrymore Show.

Mia Farrow recalled the moment that Frank Sinatra had her served with divorce papers on the set of Rosemary's Baby; pictured at their wedding reception in 1966

Mia's father was John Farrow, who co-wrote the Oscar-winning script for the 1956 film Around The World In Eighty Days starring David Niven and Shirley MacLaine.

Meanwhile her mother was Maureen O'Sullivan, who was the Jane to Johnny Weissmuller's Tarzan in six movies in the 1930s and 1940s.

Mia became a movie star in her own right with Rosemary's Baby, playing a pregnant woman increasingly convinced she is carrying the spawn of Satan.

However the making of the picture hit a snag when Frank 'left me because I wouldn't leave the movie when he told me to leave it,' Mia told Drew this week.

'It had another month. He had some dispute with the head of the studio and he said: "I'm taking my girl out of this," that kind of thing,' she added.

According to Kitty Kelley's biography of Frank, he wanted Mia to quit Rosemary's Baby so she could play opposite him in his neo-noir picture The Detective.

He tried to get Mia out of her contract by ringing Paramount chief Robert Evans, only to be told: 'While she's working for us, she's Mia Farrow, not Mrs. Sinatra.'

Mia recalled that when Frank instructed her to quit Rosemary's Baby and go act with him in The Detective, she replied: 'How can I leave it?'

Mia, who at the age of 79 has now enjoyed over a half century of stardom, is pictured last year attending the Time 100 Gala in New York City

The year after the wedding, their relationship went up in flames after Frank demanded that Mia leave Rosemary's Baby in the middle of the shoot and she refused; Mia pictured in the film

Mia became a movie star in her own right with Rosemary's Baby, playing a pregnant woman increasingly convinced she is carrying the spawn of Satan

She noted to Drew that she was 'the daughter of a director and an actress' and as a result clove to the mentality that 'I couldn't leave a movie.'

Mia added that she 'was in every shot' of Rosemary's Baby and only 'had one more month' of shooting left, explaining that she 'just thought it wouldn't happen, but it did - his lawyer came on set, served me with divorce papers.'

Mia was Frank's third wife, following on from his tempestuous failed marriage to Ava Gardner, for whom he had left his first wife Nancy.

Frank first met Mia at the Twentieth Century Fox lot in late 1964 while he was shooting the World War II movie Von Ryan's Express.

'He arrived and I thought: "What a super looking man," and that's how it began for me,' Mia recalled of their first meeting.

Others were less enthusiastic about the match, including Frank's longtime Rat Pack pal Dean Martin, who said: 'I've got Scotch older than Mia Farrow.'

Although Frank and Mia's romance fell apart after less than two years, they remained friends until his death in 1998 at the age of 82; pictured at their wedding

Mia's mother Maureen O'Sullivan, herself only four years older than Frank, joked: 'Marry Mia? If Mr. Sinatra is going to marry anyone, he ought to marry me!'

Frank, whose children Frank Jr. and Nancy were older than Mia, ultimately tied the knot with her at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas in 1966 to widespread hilarity.

Upon hearing news of the marriage, Ava Gardner remarked: 'Ha! I always knew Frank would end up in bed with a little boy.'

Although Frank and Mia's romance fell apart after less than two years, they remained friends until his death in 1998 at the age of 82.

In recent years, wild theories have been circulating online that Ronan Farrow, the son Mia welcomed with her ex Woody Allen, is actually biologically Frank's.

Frank's daughter Tina Sinatra has laughed off the claim, telling Showbiz 411 her father 'had a vasectomy before' Ronan would have been conceived.
Miguel Maestre has announced the death of his beloved father-in-law, Gary.

The 45-year-old Spanish-born Australian chef revealed the heartbreaking news on Saturday through a moving post on Instagram.

Sharing a photo of his cherished family member, Miguel began with the words: 'Dear pop rest in heaven.'

He reflected on the importance of love within his family, stating, 'In our lives we question the journey and the destination but I think the most important part is the people we love and the ones that loves us back that makes us who we are.'

Miguel also expressed his commitment to caring for his children, daughter Claudia and son Morgan, as well as his wife Sascha, who is Gary's daughter, and his mother-in-law.

'Rest pop assured I will look after Sascha, morgy and Claudia and I'll make sure nana is ok,' he said.

'Rest in peace in heaven you earned it, an amazing life filled with joy and love and plenty of friendships. We miss you already, a life well spent.'

'Descansa en Paz abuelo gary,' he added, which is Spanish for 'Rest in peace Grandpa Gary.'

Miguel Maestre has announced the death of his beloved father-in-law, Gary. The 45-year-old Spanish-born Australian chef revealed the heartbreaking news on Saturday through a moving post shared on his Instagram

'Best father in law. Thanks to all the beautiful friends and family that celebrated [yesterday] with us his beautiful life.'

In the comments, several friends and loyal fans offered their condolences to the grieving television star.

'Love thoughts and prayers with you and the family mate xxx,' Barry Du Bois wrote.

'Oh Miguel, I'm very sorry,' comedian Nikki Osborne commented.

Sharing a photo of his cherished family member, Miguel began with the words: 'Dear pop rest in heaven'

Miguel also expressed his commitment to caring for his children, daughter Claudia and son Morgan, as well as his wife Sascha, who is Gary's daughter, and his mother-in-law

Fellow chef Sean Connolly added: 'Beautiful words Miguel  may he rest in peace. Love & Peace.'

Miguel shares daughter Claudia, 13, and nine-year-old son Morgan with wife Sascha, 45.

He's currently the host of Channel Ten's Ready Steady Cook after previously co-hosting the lifestyle series The Living Room.

The popular chef also presented his own shows Miguel's Feast and Miguel's Tropical Kitchen, and Boys Weekend alongside fellow stars Gary Mehigan, Manu Feildel and Adrian Richardson.

Miguel started learning to become a chef professionally when he was 18 but still learns new skills today.

'I learnt so many things from my mum - she started my love for food,' he previously told Daily Mail Australia.

'The best way to become a better cook is to find your mentors in the kitchen.

'You can watch 100 cooking shows and learn nothing. Or you could learn from people around you and it'll be a lesson with you for life.'
Chrissy Teigen stole the spotlight at the FounderMade Innovation Awards in Los Angeles on Friday, commanding attention in a dazzling metallic print top and matching pants as she graced the red carpet.

The event celebrated 'the most innovative brands of 2024,' honoring game-changing products and ideas shaping the consumer industry, per a press release.

The supermodel and cookbook author paused to strike a pose with celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe, who moderated the evenings festivities.

But Chrissys stunning look wasnt the only reason she was making wavesshe also took home the Innovative Food & Beverage Award 2024.

She was honored for revolutionizing the industry with her Cravings company, known for its clean packaged foods and cookware.

Chrissy Teigen stole the spotlight at the FounderMade Innovation Awards in Los Angeles on Friday, commanding attention in a dazzling metallic print top and matching pants as she graced the red carpet

The supermodel and cookbook author paused to strike a pose with celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe , who moderated the evenings festivities

The mom-of-four looked stunning in her chic ensemble, featuring a fringed hemline and matching high heels.

Meanwhile, Rachel wowed in a metallic black jacket, draped blouse, and leather leggings.

Chrissy's big win comes after she clapped back at Instagram trolls with her signature humor in a playful video.

The cookbook author, 38, who recently celebrated her 11th wedding anniversary with John Legend, took to social media in September to share a comedic take on the 'mean comments' she often receives.

In the video, Chrissy acted out the rude remarks with lighthearted skits, including one where she stepped up to the camera and mockingly asked, 'What kind of mother dresses like that?'

Another scene featured her adorable daughter Luna, 8, sitting in the car, responding to a comment about ziplining, with Teigen saying, 'You shouldnt zipline there, my uncle died there,' and Luna adding with perfect timing, 'Yeah, hes DEAD.'

In the final bit, Chrissy referenced her recent weight loss by peeking from behind a couch and quipping, 'Ozempic much?'

The comedic clap back comes just four days after Legend posted a sweet tribute to Chrissy on Instagram marking the marriage milestone.

He posted: 'Anniversa-date with my lover/best friend/wife. I'm so glad I met you 18 years ago. So glad we said "I do" 11 years ago. So ready to do this for life.'

The mother of four also marked the special occasion by sharing a series of heartfelt photos on Instagram, referring to her husband as her 'favorite person.'

'Happy anniversary to my favorite person on this whole planet. thank you for loving me and our family so fully,' she gushed.

But Chrissys stunning look wasnt the only reason she was making wavesshe also took home the Innovative Food & Beverage Award 2024

Chrissy was honored for revolutionizing the industry with her Cravings company, known for its clean packaged foods and cookware

The mom-of-four looked stunning in her chic ensemble, featuring a fringed hemline and matching high heels

Meanwhile, Rachel wowed in a metallic black jacket, draped blouse, and leather leggings

'thank you for being my partner and best friend. 18 years together. 11 years married. 4 babies. 4 dogs. 2 hairless cats. A bearded dragon. A house full of love and fun.

'We are so lucky. I love you bear!' the Cravings founder concluded.

The couple's romance began in 2006 when they met on the set of his Stereo music video, where Teigen played his love interest.

After years of dating, Legend proposed in December 2011 during a Christmas trip to the Maldives.

They tied the knot on September 14, 2013, in a lavish ceremony at Villa Pizzo in Lake Como, Italy, a location that held sentimental value after the couple had previously vacationed there.

The couple now shares four childrenLuna, Miles, Esti, and Wrenand often celebrate their love on social media, including marking their 11th wedding anniversary in 2023.
Tony Todd, who played the titular serial killer in the Candyman horror franchise, died in Los Angeles on Wednesday night aged 69.

He died of natural causes at home in Marina Del Rey, according to his representative Jeffrey Goldberg, who told TMZ he did not have a specific cause of death.

Over the course in four decades in show business, Todd lent his talents to multiple tentpoles, including the Transformers and Final Destination film series.

He also played the Starship Enterprise's Commander Kurn on multiple Star Trek shows, including The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine.

Todd also enjoyed a varied stage career, including a run in the Broadway production of the musical Aida with songs by Tim Rice and Elton John.

Tony Todd, who played the titular serial killer in the Candyman horror franchise, died at home in Los Angeles this Wednesday aged 69; pictured at 2023 Comic-Con International San Diego

Born in Washington, DC in 1954, Todd was raised in Connecticut by an aunt who took him in when he was just three years old.

'My mother was going through some issues. So the family intervened,' Todd explained cryptically to the Guardian decades later.

'And, you know, my mother has no memory of it to this day, and I respect her as the woman who birthed me. But, you know, Im also glad that my aunt intervened and put me on the right path.'

Todd's aunt nurtured his interest in acting and put him in classes during the summers, before he ultimately studied drama at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center.

One of his early breaks in the movies was the acclaimed Oliver Stone war drama Platoon, released in 1986 as the first part of the director's Vietnam trilogy.

Todd had a small part amid a glittering cast that included Charlie Sheen, Willem Defoe, Forest Whitaker and the young Johnny Depp.

Reflecting on why Stone cast him, Todd said: 'The last thing he wanted was anybody that looked like an actor. He wanted real faces. So it helped that I came from the theatre and I came from poverty.'

Four years later, Todd became a star in his own right by playing the lead character Ben in the 1990 remake of Night Of The Living Dead alongside Patricia Tillman.

He achieved icon status in the horror world in 1992, when moviegoers saw him the title villainous role in Candyman, which he is pictured in with Virginia Madsen

After the runaway success of the first film, Todd starred in two sequels, Candyman: Farewell To The Flesh in 1995 (pictured) and Candyman: Day Of The Dead in 1999

One of his early breaks in the movies was the acclaimed Oliver Stone war drama Platoon, released in 1986 as the first part of the director's Vietnam trilogy

Four years later, Todd became a star in his own right by playing the lead character Ben in the 1990 remake of Night Of The Living Dead alongside Patricia Tillman

'To this day, people think of that role when they see me,' Todd told SciFi.radio nearly three decades later. 'Thats the beautiful thing about horror. Horror fans are precious. They hold onto the memories! And I keep making new sh*t! And I think one day, people are going to realize the depth of the genre.'

He achieved icon status in the horror world in 1992, when moviegoers saw him the title villainous role in the supernatural thriller Candyman.

Todd played the homicidal ghost of a 19th century American slave who conducted an affair with a white woman and was murdered as a result.

When anyone says: 'Candyman' five times in a mirror, the ghost emerges and savages whoever summoned him with a hook that has replaced one of his hands.

Virginia Madsen led the cast as the movie's heroine Helen Lyle, a Chicago graduate student who uncovers the truth behind the Candyman legend.

Apart from being a fearsome presence on the screen, Todd also emerged as a sex symbol of sorts via the smash hit horror feature.

After the runaway success of the first film, Todd starred in two sequels, Candyman: Farewell To The Flesh in 1995 and Candyman: Day Of The Dead in 1999.

When the Candyman franchise was revived for a 2021 movie co-written by Jordan Peele, Todd returned once again to his most beloved role.

He also played the Starship Enterprise's Commander Kurn on multiple Star Trek shows, including The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine (pictured)

In the Michael Bay film Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen, he provided the voiceover for the antagonist robot, The Fallen

Now a mainstay of the horror genre, Todd acted in such films as the original Final Destination in 2000, plus Final Destination 2 in 2003 and Final Destination 5 in 2011 (pictured)

Now a mainstay of the horror genre, Todd acted in such films as the original Final Destination in 2000, plus Final Destination 2 in 2003 and Final Destination 5 in 2011.

He also acted frequently on TV, with a recurring role as Kurn on Star Trek: The Next Generation, a character he reprised once on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Todd played two other Star Trek characters, one of which meant that he also appeared on a third show in the franchise - Star Trek: Voyager.

In the Michael Bay film Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen, he provided the voiceover for the antagonist robot, The Fallen.

Todd's baritone voice also lent itself to extensive work in video games, including Call of Duty: Black Ops II and a number of Star Trek adaptations.

However his first love remained the stage, and he acted in such plays as King Hedley II by August Wilson and such musicals as Elton John's Aida.

'In an ideal world, I'd just do theatre,' Todd confessed once to Whoosh!. 'Unfortunately it's hard to make a living doing full theatre. I try to do a play a year.'

Todd continued working vigorously to the end of his life, and his IMDb lists multiple projects still to be released, including a rumored reprise of his role as funeral director William Bludworth in the upcoming movie Final Destination: Bloodlines.

His Candyman co-star Virginia Madsen reacted to the news of his death by posting an emotional Instagram video confessing: 'I don't know what to say right now.'

In her caption, she wrote: 'My beloved. May you rest in power sweet to the sweet in heaven. The great actor Tony Todd has left us and now is an angel. As he was in life. More later but I cant right now. I love you. #candyman'.
Anna McEvoy had a Marilyn Monroe moment while leading the star-studded arrivals at the 2024 Stakes Day at Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse.

The Love Island Australia beauty, 32, put on a very glamorous display alongside her husband Michael Staples at the G.H. Mumm Champagne marquee in the Birdcage.

However, at one point Anna risked a wardrobe malfunction as she had a Marilyn Monroe moment when her billowing skirt blew up while she posed for the cameras.

Despite the mishap, Anna was all smiles as she laughed it off alongside her husband Michael while they both looked as loved-up as ever during the outing.

She cut an elegant figure in the custom-made pink-and-white Jason Grech gown with a satin mini skirt and a bodice with a plunging neckline and puffed sleeves.

Anna completed her look with matching pointy pink heels and a delicate lace veil and headpiece as she channelled the traditional race day attire.

She toted her essentials in a chic off-white designer handbag for an extra touch of sophistication.

Her brunette locks were expertly styled in loose waves over her shoulders, and a hint of rosy make-up enhanced her radiant complexion.

Anna McEvoy had a Marilyn Monroe moment while leading the star-studded arrivals at the 2024 Stakes Day at Melbourne 's Flemington Racecourse

The Love Island Australia beauty, 32, put on a very glamorous display alongside her husband Michael Staples at the G.H. Mumm Champagne marquee in the Birdcage

Also at the event was veteran Australian actress Rachel Griffiths, 56, who looked radiant in an eye-catching hot pink dress and a matching hat.

The Hacksaw Ridge star accessorised with slick sunglasses and looked to be having time of her life while posing at the Lexus stand.

Meanwhile, celebrity stylist Paul Versace, 30, looked dapper in an unbuttoned grey blazer paired with matching shorts as he posed alongside his brother Bayle.

Paul completed his look with a crisp white dress shirt and black tie and he sported a cheeky grin as he rocked his best angles at the event.

Racing royalty Kate Waterhouse, 40, absolutely glowed in a strapless sky blue gown paired with white heels and a matching hat.

Her brunette locks were elegantly styled and she beamed from ear to ear while rocking her best angles for the cameras alongside her NRL star husband Luke Ricketson.

Channel Ten newsreader Candice Wyatt exuded elegance and style in a dark red strapless gown featuring floral bows at the sides, paired with black heels.

She cut an elegant figure in the custom-made pink-and-white Jason Grech gown with a satin mini skirt and a bodice with a plunging neckline and puffed sleeves

Elsewhere, veteran Australian actress Rachel Griffiths (pictured) looked absolutely radiant in an eye-catching hot pink dress and matching hat

The Hacksaw Ridge star accessorised with slick sunglasses and looked to be having time of her life posing at the Lexus stand

Racing royalty Kate Waterhouse (pictured) absolutely glowed in a strapless sky blue gown paired with white heels and a matching hat

Her brunette locks were elegantly styled and she beamed from ear to ear while rocking her best angles for the cameras alongside her NRL star husband Luke Ricketson

Channel Ten newsreader Candice Wyatt exuded elegance and style in a dark red strapless gown featuring floral bows at the sides, paired with black heels

Elsewhere, 2015 Melbourne Cup winner Michelle Payne, 39, looked pretty in pink as she rocked a pastel mini dress, which featured a large floral bow around the midriff.

Michelle was all smiles as she posed alongside Australian swimming champion Ariarne Titmus, 24.

Ariarne put on a daring display in a vibrant yellow and white sundress, which showed off her ample cleavage with a bold cutout.

She completed her look with striking white heels and appeared to be having a great time posing at the famous Birdcage, which features an array of luxury marquees.

Retired AFL star Shane Crawford, 50, was all smiles as hammed it up for the cameras in a slick navy blazer paired with a crisp white dress shirt and black pants.

Elsewhere, 2015 Melbourne Cup winner Michelle Payne (left) looked pretty as a picture in a light pink mini-dress featuring a large floral bow around the midriff. Michelle was all smiles as she posed alongside Australian swimming champion Ariarne Titmus

Ariarne put on a daring display in a vibrant yellow and white sundress, featuring a bold cutout around her cleavage which left very little to the imagination

Ariarne put on a daring display in a vibrant yellow and white sundress, featuring a bold cutout around her cleavage which left very little to the imagination
Virginia Madsen has led the stars paying tribute to Tony Todd who died age 69 this week.

The 63-year-old actress took to her Instagram on Friday evening to share a self-taken video her herself emotionally reacting to the news.

Todd, who played the titular serial killer in the Candyman horror franchise in 1992 starring alongside Madsen, died in Los Angeles on Wednesday night aged 69.

He died of natural causes at home in Marina Del Rey, according to his representative Jeffrey Goldberg, who told TMZ he did not have a specific cause of death.

Virgina Madsen has led the stars paying tribute to Tony Todd who died age 69 this week

Todd achieved icon status in the horror world in 1992, when moviegoers saw him the title villainous role in Candyman, as the two actors are seen together in the 1992 film

Todd, who played the titular serial killer in the Candyman horror franchise in 1992 starring alongside Madsen, died in Los Angeles on Wednesday night aged 69; pictured at 2023 Comic-Con International San Diego

Virginia was definitely taken aback by the news as she said in the short clip: 'Hey you guys I just, just, just, just found out about Tony and I will.

'I don't know what to say right now but yeah, anyway I know about it. Yeah. '

The talented actress was obviously overcome with emotion as she began wiping her eyes.

She concluded the video by saying: 'And I will say more about my beloved Candyman. Anyway, thanks for your kind wishes. Bye.'

She captioned the post to her near 50K followers: 'My beloved. May you rest in power sweet to the sweet in heaven. The great actor Tony Todd has left us and now is an angel. As he was in life. More later but I cant right now. I love you. #candyman.'

Meanwhile, Todd had a successful career as over the course in four decades in show business, helent his talents to multiple tentpoles, including the Transformers and Final Destination film series.

He also played the Starship Enterprise's Commander Kurn on multiple Star Trek shows, including The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine.

Todd also enjoyed a varied stage career, including a run in the Broadway production of the musical Aida with songs by Tim Rice and Elton John.

The 63-year-old actress took to her Instagram on Friday evening to share a self-taken video her herself emotionally reacting to the news

Virginia was definitely taken aback by the news as she said in the short clip: 'Hey you guys I just, just, just, just found out about Tony and I will. I don't know what to say right now but yeah, anyway I know about it. Yeah'

The talented actress was obviously overcome with emotion as she began wiping her eyes. She concluded the video by saying: 'And I will say more about my beloved Candyman. Anyway, thanks for your kind wishes. Bye'

She captioned the post to her near 50K followers: 'My beloved. May you rest in power sweet to the sweet in heaven. The great actor Tony Todd has left us and now is an angel. As he was in life. More later but I cant right now. I love you. #candyman'

Born in Washington, DC in 1954, Todd was raised in Connecticut by an aunt who took him in when he was just three years old.

'My mother was going through some issues. So the family intervened,' Todd explained cryptically to the Guardian decades later.

'And, you know, my mother has no memory of it to this day, and I respect her as the woman who birthed me. But, you know, Im also glad that my aunt intervened and put me on the right path.'

Todd's aunt nurtured his interest in acting and put him in classes during the summers, before he ultimately studied drama at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center.

One of his early breaks in the movies was the acclaimed Oliver Stone war drama Platoon, released in 1986 as the first part of the director's Vietnam trilogy.

Todd had a small part amid a glittering cast that included Charlie Sheen, Willem Defoe, Forest Whitaker and the young Johnny Depp.

Reflecting on why Stone cast him, Todd said: 'The last thing he wanted was anybody that looked like an actor. He wanted real faces. So it helped that I came from the theatre and I came from poverty.'

Four years later, Todd became a star in his own right by playing the lead character Ben in the 1990 remake of Night Of The Living Dead alongside Patricia Tillman.

After the runaway success of the first film, Todd starred in two sequels, Candyman: Farewell To The Flesh in 1995 (pictured) and Candyman: Day Of The Dead in 1999

One of his early breaks in the movies was the acclaimed Oliver Stone war drama Platoon, released in 1986 as the first part of the director's Vietnam trilogy

Four years later, Todd became a star in his own right by playing the lead character Ben in the 1990 remake of Night Of The Living Dead alongside Patricia Tillman

'To this day, people think of that role when they see me,' Todd told SciFi.radio nearly three decades later. 'Thats the beautiful thing about horror. Horror fans are precious. They hold onto the memories! And I keep making new sh*t! And I think one day, people are going to realize the depth of the genre.'

He achieved icon status in the horror world in 1992, when moviegoers saw him the title villainous role in the supernatural thriller Candyman.

Todd played the homicidal ghost of a 19th century American slave who conducted an affair with a white woman and was murdered as a result.

When anyone says: 'Candyman' five times in a mirror, the ghost emerges and savages whoever summoned him with a hook that has replaced one of his hands.

Virginia Madsen led the cast as the movie's heroine Helen Lyle, a Chicago graduate student who uncovers the truth behind the Candyman legend.

Apart from being a fearsome presence on the screen, Todd also emerged as a sex symbol of sorts via the smash hit horror feature.

After the runaway success of the first film, Todd starred in two sequels, Candyman: Farewell To The Flesh in 1995 and Candyman: Day Of The Dead in 1999.

When the Candyman franchise was revived for a 2021 movie co-written by Jordan Peele, Todd returned once again to his most beloved role.

He also played the Starship Enterprise's Commander Kurn on multiple Star Trek shows, including The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine (pictured)

In the Michael Bay film Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen, he provided the voiceover for the antagonist robot, The Fallen

Now a mainstay of the horror genre, Todd acted in such films as the original Final Destination in 2000, plus Final Destination 2 in 2003 and Final Destination 5 in 2011 (pictured)

Now a mainstay of the horror genre, Todd acted in such films as the original Final Destination in 2000, plus Final Destination 2 in 2003 and Final Destination 5 in 2011.

He also acted frequently on TV, with a recurring role as Kurn on Star Trek: The Next Generation, a character he reprised once on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Todd played two other Star Trek characters, one of which meant that he also appeared on a third show in the franchise - Star Trek: Voyager.

In the Michael Bay film Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen, he provided the voiceover for the antagonist robot, The Fallen.

Todd's baritone voice also lent itself to extensive work in video games, including Call of Duty: Black Ops II and a number of Star Trek adaptations.

However his first love remained the stage, and he acted in such plays as King Hedley II by August Wilson and such musicals as Elton John's Aida.

'In an ideal world, I'd just do theatre,' Todd confessed once to Whoosh!. 'Unfortunately it's hard to make a living doing full theatre. I try to do a play a year.'

Todd continued working vigorously to the end of his life, and his IMDb lists multiple projects still to be released, including a rumored reprise of his role as funeral director William Bludworth in the upcoming movie Final Destination: Bloodlines.

His Candyman co-star Virginia Madsen reacted to the news of his death by posting an emotional Instagram video confessing: 'I don't know what to say right now.'

In her caption, she wrote: 'My beloved. May you rest in power sweet to the sweet in heaven. The great actor Tony Todd has left us and now is an angel. As he was in life. More later but I cant right now. I love you. #candyman'.
Harrison Ford was spotted for the first time since publicly endorsing Kamala Harris, only to watch her lose to Donald Trump in Tuesdays landslide election.

The Indiana Jones legend, 82, appeared upbeat despite the political upset as he picked up a few items at the exclusive Brentwood Country Mart in Los Angeles.

Dressed casually in a dark oxford shirt and blue jeans, the Star Wars star looked energetic as he navigated the high-end outdoor shopping area, carrying a few shopping bags in hand.

Ford seemed to be enjoying a solo outing, although he recently made a red-carpet appearance with his wife Calista Flockhart.

His public sighting comes just days after he made a rare political endorsement for Harris, releasing a striking black-and-white video in support of her presidential bid.

Harrison Ford was spotted for the first time since publicly endorsing Kamala Harris , only to watch her lose to Donald Trump in Tuesdays landslide election

The Indiana Jones legend, 82, appeared upbeat despite the political upset as he picked up a few items at the exclusive Brentwood Country Mart in Los Angeles

On Saturday, the Witness actor said: 'I've been voting for 64 years, never really wanted to talk about it very much, but when dozens of former members of the Trump administration are sounding alarms, saying 'for god sake don't do this again', you have to pay attention.

'They're telling us something important, these aren't soft people. They are governors, generals, standing up against the leader of the party they spent their lives advocating for.'

Ford explained in some cases people will be voting Democrat for the first time in their life over fears of Trump winning the race to the White House.

He continued: 'For many of them, this will be the first time they've ever voted for someone who doesn't have an R next to their name.

'They know this really matters, the truth is this - Kamala Harris will protect your right to disagree with her about her policies or her ideas.

'The other guy, he demands unquestioning loyalty, says he wants revenge. I'm Harrison Ford. I've got one vote - same as anyone else - and I'm going to use it to move forward. I'm going to vote for Kamala Harris.'

In another clip released in collaboration with the Harris campaign, Ford said that he didn't agree with them on every policy, nor does he think they're perfect.

Ford joined a long line of celebrities who publicly endorsed Harris and her running mate Tim Walz.

Day's before Trump's win, the 82-year-old star said in a dramatic black-and-white clip that he would be backing Vice President Harris

Ford said that he didn't agree with Harris and Walz on every policy, nor does he think they're perfect in his endorsement video

Ford had previously branded Donald Trump a 'son of a b****' while appearing on The Jimmy Kimmel show in 2020 and spoke out about his views on global warming; Trump seen on November 6

The likes of Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Eminem and Leonardo DiCaprio and others backed Harris.

Ford had previously branded Donald Trump a 'son of a b****' while appearing on The Jimmy Kimmel show in 2020 and spoke out about his views on global warming.

He said in 2017: 'We face an unprecedented moment in this country. Today's greatest threat is not climate change, not pollution, not flood or fire.

'It's that we've got people in charge of important s*** who don't believe in science.'

In 2020 he also came out and encouraged voters to back President Joe Biden, again raising concerns of Trump's take on the environment and global warming.
Jamie Oliver has issued an apology for allegedly 'stereotyping' Indigenous Australians in his second children's book.

The celebrity chef, 49, is currently in Australia prompting his latest cookbook, Simply Jamie, but it is another of his tomes that has been causing a stir in the country.

His children's book, Billy And The Epic Escape, has come under fire from The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation (NATSIEC).

The education body has called for the book, a 400-page fantasy novel for primary school children, to be removed from circulation, The Guardian reported.

The NATSIEC have slammed the release as 'damaging and disrespectful' and claimed it contributes to the stereotyping of First Nations Australians.

Oliver and publisher Penguin Random House UK have since issued apologies, admitting no consultation with Indigenous Australians took place before publication.

'I am devastated to hear I have caused offence and wholly apologise for doing so,' Oliver told The Guardian in a statement.

'I am listening and reflecting and working closely with my publisher on next steps.'

Jamie Oliver has issued an apology for allegedly 'stereotyping' Indigenous Australians in his second children's book

Meanwhile, Penguin Random House admitted the lack of consultation with Indigenous Australians was an 'editorial oversight'.

NATSEIC's chief executive Sharon Davis had claimed the book 'perpetuated harmful stereotypes' and that its depiction of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders was 'irresponsible'.

'We urge Penguin Books and Jamie Oliver to recognise the impact of their content and take swift action to prevent further harm,' she told The Guardian.

'Penguin Books should pull Billy and the Epic Escape from circulation, specifically removing all content involving First Nations characters and cultural references.'

The book is Oliver's 2024 follow-up to his 2023 children's book debut Billy and the Giant Adventure.

It features a subplot of a young First Nations girl who is living in foster care before being stolen by the book's antagonist from her Indigenous community near Alice Springs.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Oliver and Penguin Books for further comment.

His children's book, Billy And The Epic Escape, has come under fire from The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation (NATSIEC)

The education body has called for the book, a 400-page fantasy novel for primary school-aged children, to be removed from circulation, prompting Oliver to issue an apology statement

Oliver is currently in Australia to present a live chat about his new book Simply Jamie at Sydney's Coliseum dubbed Jamie Oliver - The Joy of Cooking.

Oliver first rose to fame on The Naked Chef cooking show, which ran from 1999 to 2001.

Jamie's television and publishing career has seen him sell more than 46million books globally, and reach an estimated worldwide TV audience of 67million.

Jamie recently revealed that his road to success was made bumpy by jealous rivals and even his 'heroes'.

'In the early days, in the first five years of my career, lots of my heroes were so f**king horrible to me,' he told the Daily Telegraph.

'Honestly, they were so jealous of my success, and I was only a young boy.'

He continued: 'It was the only thing that I struggled with for those first five years, because these people I looked up to were just destroying me on a regular basis, and they couldn't work out how it was that I was selling more books than all of them put together.'
Pop star The Weeknd paid tribute to veteran actor Tony Todd in wake of his death at age 69.

The screen star, who played the titular serial killer in the Candyman horror franchise, died at his home in the Marina Del Rey neighborhood of Los Angeles Wednesday night, which is being attributed to natural causes, his representative Jeffrey Goldberg told TMZ.

The Weeknd - real name Abel Makkonen Tesfaye - took to his Instagram Stories and shared a couple of photos of Todd, including a picture of him as Daniel Robitaille/The Candyman in the horror flick classic Candyman (1992).

He called the Final Destination actor 'a trailblazer,' before adding: 'Rest well Tony Todd.'

After kicking off his career in acting in 1986, Todd appeared in more than 100 theatrical and television films while playing opposite of many major Hollywood stars over the course of five decades.

Pop star The Weeknd paid tribute to veteran actor Tony Todd in wake of his death at age 69

He would star in three Candyman films between 1992 and 1999, with the first two starring leading lady Virginia Madsen, and then with Donna D'Errico for the third installment, and then again in the Candyman (2021) reboot.

That wouldn't be the only franchise he would appear in over his career. He also played the role of William Bludworth in Final Destination (2000), the sequels Final Destination 2 (2003), Final Destination 3 (2006), and Final Destination 5 (2011).

His Hollywood resume also features such acclaimed films such as Platoon (1986), Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Night Of The Living Dead (1990), The Crow (1994), The Rock (1996), Wishmaster (1997), Frankenstein (2015), Death House (2016), and Hell Fest (2017), among many others.

On the television side Todd also played the Starship Enterprise's Commander Kurn on multiple Star Trek shows, including The Next Generation (1990-1991) and Deep Space Nine (1996).

He also appeared in the MTV anthology slasher series Scream (2019).

Todd also enjoyed a varied stage career, including a run in the Broadway production of the musical Aida with songs by Tim Rice and Elton John.

He also has had a lot of success as a voice actor such as Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen (2009), Zoom in The Flash 2015-2023), Darkseid in the DC Animated Movie Universe (2015-2020), and Venom in the video game Marvel's Spider-Man 2 (2023), which earned him a British Academy Games Award nomination.

In a post shared to his Instagram Story on Friday, The Weeknd called the Final Destination actor 'a trailblazer,' before adding: 'Rest well Tony Todd.'

Todd, who played the titular serial killer in the Candyman horror franchise , died at his home in the Marina Del Rey neighborhood of Los Angeles Wednesday night, which is being attributed to natural causes, his representative Jeffrey Goldberg told TMZ; seen in 2023

Born in Washington, DC in 1954, Todd was raised in Connecticut by an aunt who took him in when he was just three years old.

'My mother was going through some issues. So the family intervened,' Todd explained cryptically to the Guardian decades later

'And, you know, my mother has no memory of it to this day, and I respect her as the woman who birthed me. But, you know, Im also glad that my aunt intervened and put me on the right path.'

Todd's aunt nurtured his interest in acting and put him in classes during the summers, before he ultimately studied drama at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center.

One of his early breaks in the movies was the acclaimed Oliver Stone war drama Platoon (1986), as the first part of the director's Vietnam trilogy.

Todd had a small part amid a glittering cast that included Charlie Sheen, Willem Defoe, Forest Whitaker and the young Johnny Depp.

Reflecting on why Stone cast him, Todd said: 'The last thing he wanted was anybody that looked like an actor. He wanted real faces. So it helped that I came from the theatre and I came from poverty.'

Four years later, Todd became a star in his own right by playing the lead character Ben in the 1990 remake of Night Of The Living Dead alongside Patricia Tillman.

The Los Angeles native achieved icon status starring in the first two Candyman films with Virginia Madsen in the 1990s

After the runaway success of the first film, Todd starred in two sequels, Candyman: Farewell To The Flesh in 1995 (pictured) and Candyman: Day Of The Dead in 1999

One of his early breaks in the movie industry was the acclaimed Oliver Stone war drama Platoon, released in 1986 as the first part of the director's Vietnam trilogy

'To this day, people think of that role when they see me,' The actor told SciFi.radio nearly three decades later. 'Thats the beautiful thing about horror. Horror fans are precious. They hold onto the memories! And I keep making new sh*t! And I think one day, people are going to realize the depth of the genre.'

He achieved icon status in the horror world in 1992, when moviegoers saw him the title villainous role in the supernatural thriller Candyman.

Todd played the homicidal ghost of a 19th century American slave who conducted an affair with a white woman and was murdered as a result.

When anyone says: 'Candyman' five times in a mirror, the ghost emerges and savages whoever summoned him with a hook that has replaced one of his hands.

Virginia Madsen led the cast as the movie's heroine Helen Lyle, a Chicago graduate student who uncovers the truth behind the Candyman legend.

Apart from being a fearsome presence on the screen, Todd also emerged as a sex symbol of sorts via the smash hit horror feature.

After the runaway success of the first film, Todd starred in two sequels, Candyman: Farewell To The Flesh in 1995 and Candyman: Day Of The Dead in 1999.

Four years later, Todd became a star in his own right by playing the lead character Ben in the 1990 remake of Night Of The Living Dead alongside Patricia Tillman

He also played the Starship Enterprise's Commander Kurn on multiple Star Trek shows, including The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine (pictured)

When the Candyman franchise was revived for a 2021 movie co-written by Jordan Peele, Todd returned once again to his most beloved role.

Now a mainstay of the horror genre, Todd acted in such films as the original Final Destination in 2000, plus Final Destination 2 in 2003 and Final Destination 5 in 2011.

He also acted frequently on TV, with a recurring role as Kurn on Star Trek: The Next Generation, a character he reprised once on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Todd played two other Star Trek characters, one of which meant that he also appeared on a third show in the franchise - Star Trek: Voyager.

In the Michael Bay film Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen, he provided the voiceover for the antagonist robot, The Fallen.

Todd's baritone voice also lent itself to extensive work in video games, including Call Of Duty: Black Ops II and a number of Star Trek adaptations.

However his first love remained the stage, and he acted in such plays as King Hedley II by August Wilson and such musicals as Elton John's Aida.

'In an ideal world, I'd just do theatre,' Todd confessed once to Whoosh!. 'Unfortunately it's hard to make a living doing full theatre. I try to do a play a year.'

In the Michael Bay film Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen, he provided the voiceover for the antagonist robot, The Fallen

Now a mainstay of the horror genre, Todd acted in such films as the original Final Destination in 2000, plus Final Destination 2 in 2003 and Final Destination 5 in 2011 (pictured)

Todd continued working vigorously to the end of his life, and his IMDb lists multiple projects still to be released, including a rumored reprise of his role as funeral director William Bludworth in the upcoming movie Final Destination: Bloodlines.

His Candyman co-star Virginia Madsen reacted to the news of his death by posting an emotional Instagram video confessing: 'I don't know what to say right now.'

In her caption, she wrote: 'My beloved. May you rest in power sweet to the sweet in heaven. The great actor Tony Todd has left us and now is an angel. As he was in life. More later but I cant right now. I love you. #candyman'.
Ashley Roberts sent temperatures soaring as she posed up a storm for a slew of racy snaps from her lavish getaway in Dubai on Friday.

The Heart Radio presenter, 42, enjoyed a sun-soaked vacation to the Royal Atlantis Resort, where the cheapest room will set you back 1,000 a night.

Ashley displayed her incredible figure as she shared vacation shots, leaving little to the imagination in barely-there outfits.

She first turned heads in a strapless white bikini which flaunted her toned figure and slender pins.

The beauty struck a pose in an infinity pool, with the breathtaking Dubai skyline as her backdrop.

Ashley Roberts sent temperatures soaring as she posed up a storm for a slew of racy snaps from her lavish getaway in Dubai on Friday

The Heart Radio presenter, 42, enjoyed a sun-soaked vacation to the Royal Atlantis Resort, where the cheapest room will set you back 1,000 a night

Ashley then slipped into a stunning white midi dress that hugged her enviable physique.

The ensemble featured a black and white fringe a the hem and a plunging neckline.

She added a pair of white pointed heels, a small white bag, and accessorised with simple gold jewellery.

In another shot, Ashley put on a leggy display in a black mini dress as she enjoyed a night out with her pals.

She added inches to her frame with a pair of black sandal heels and toted her belongings in small black bag.

The Pussycat Doll star then turned up the heat in a tiny green bikini as she posed by the poolside.

She showcased her natural beauty as she went makeup free in the pictures, hiding her face behind a pair of black sunglasses while topping up her golden glow.

Ashley wrapped up her lavish carousel with snaps of her and her friends relaxing on a pool bed, along with shots of the gorgeous food she indulged in.

She first turned heads in a strapless white bikini which flaunted her toned figure and slender pins

Ashley then slipped into a stunning white midi dress that hugged her enviable physique

In another shot, Ashley put on a leggy display in a black mini dress as she enjoyed a night out with her pals

She added inches to her frame with a pair of black sandal heels and toted her belongings in small black bag

She captioned the shots: 'Dubs with the chicas.

'So much fun and laughter with my girls. Thanks to @atlantistheroyal for the amazing hospitality and the most deelish food! Until next time x.'

Her trip comes after Ashley revealed to MailOnline that she endured 'disastrous' online dates and was even catfished before meeting boyfriend George Rollinson 'the old fashioned way'.

She has been dating the hunky artist, 25, since November 2023 ahead of them making their first official appearance as a couple earlier this year.

Ashley gushed that she was in a 'happy place' and said: 'It's really nice to be in a relationship that's kind and thoughtful and supportive and we have fun'.

She explained to MailOnline in August, that while online dating works for a lot of people she and George met through mutual friends and their relationship 'came about naturally'.

The Pussycat Doll star then turned up the heat in a tiny green bikini

She showcased her natural beauty as she went makeup free in the pictures, hiding her face behind a pair of black sunglasses while topping up her golden glow

Ashley wrapped up her lavish carousel with snaps of her and her friends relaxing on a pool bed

She also gave a glimpse at some of the delicious food she indulged into

She has been dating artist George Rollinson, 25, since November 2023 ahead of them making their first official appearance as a couple earlier this year (pictured in March)

'It was an unexpected thing, we met, and I was having a good time and living my best life, enjoying it and I was like "this is someone quite special" - I'm in a happy place'.

Ashley, who reportedly signed up to celeb dating app Raya in 2022, recalled one bad date, laughing: 'I turned up and necessarily didn't recognise the person sat in front of me from [their profile] images'.

'And I was like "wait a minute" and it's a bit uncomfortable because you have to sit through a meal, so that was on the disastrous side'.

She went on to muse: 'I was kind of on an adventure to try new things and went online and I gave it a go, but it actually worked out the old fashioned way with George'.

Since starting dating, Ashley and George have enjoyed a romantic holiday in Dubai soaking up the sunsets at beachfront hotel Caesars Palace and dining at the likes of luxury Italian restaurant Scalini.

The artist, who is 17 years Ashley's junior, is her first serious partner since her split from professional dancer Giovanni Pernice.

The former couple met when Ashley starred on Strictly Come Dancing in 2018, where she was finished as a finalist with her partner Pasha Kovalev.

The blonde beauty and Italian dancer were together for over a year, but eventually split in 2020.

It was speculated in 2012 after her stint in the I'm A Celeb jungle that Ashley shared a brief fling with host Dec Donnelly, though the pair never publicly confirmed.
Ekin-Su Culculoglu put on a very busty display in a plunging corset dress as she posed for sexy Instagram snaps on Friday.

The Love Island star, 30, who isn't shy to showing off her body, flaunted her ample cleavage in the racy garment.

She showcased her tiny waist in the black dress which featured a lace corset and added a pair of black stockings to her slender pins.

The beauty finished off her look with black pointed heels and accessorised with minimal jewellery.

Ekin captioned the post: 'Castle hotel vibes .'

Ekin-Su Culculoglu put on a very busty display in a plunging corset dress as she posed for sexy snaps for Instagram on Friday

The Love Island star, 30, who isn't shy to showing off her body, flaunted her ample cleavage in the racy garment

It comes after the reality star was spotted with Georges Berthonneau for the first time on Wednesday as they head to the gym together in Essex.

The pair, who have been dating privately for months, attempted to keep a low profile and enter the gym separately, but drove there together in Georges' car.

Ekin-Su cut a typically stylish figure in a pair of figure-hugging leggings and cropped blue cardigan, while Georges followed in a navy hoodie and coordinating shorts.

It comes after MailOnline revealed Ekin-Su has been dating Georges for months.

The reality couple took their romance to the next level in August when Ekin stayed at Georges' family home in the South of France , giving them the chance to grow close away from prying eyes.

Former Love Island winner Ekin reached out to Georges after he confessed to having a crush on her during a podcast interview, letting him know of her mutual interest.

They started dating in secret shortly after Ekin abruptly ended her fling with TOWIE 's James Argent , 36, which followed her controversial appearance on Celebrity Big Brother .

Ekin has attempted to play down her relationship with Georges, who according to sources has 'treated her like a princess', so she can negotiate a spot on the new series of Love Island: All Stars.

Ekin-Su made sure to make heads turn with her latest post

She showcased her tiny waist in the black dress which featured a lace corset and added a pair of black stockings to her slender pins

The beauty finished off her look with minimal jewellery

Ekin-Su captioned the racy post: 'Castle hotel vibes [with a Scottish flag].'

A source told MailOnline: 'Ekin and Georges have been trying to keep their relationship under wraps for some time.

'Ekin's team were adamant that they didn't want this to come out, but Georges has been a little loose lipped, and their hooks up have been whispered about for months.

'Georges had grown tired of being Ekin's dirty little secret, and he started to tell friends that he wanted more commitment going forward.

'He's not stopped grinning ear to ear since they have been dating, he's like the cat that got the cream, and has been gushing to mates about how loved up he is.

'Ekin's team are scrambling to keep it under wraps for fear that it will impact her chances of Love Island: All Stars, of which she is top of the list, but it seems neither of them could keep away from each other.'

The new series of Love Island: All Stars begins in January next year with names like Gemma Owen already linked to the programme.

It comes after it was reported that Ekin-Su has attempted to play down her romance with Georges, who according to sources has 'treated her like a princess', so she can negotiate a spot on Love Island: All Stars

Former Love Island winner Ekin-Su reached out to Georges after he confessed to having a crush on her during a podcast interview, letting him know of her mutual interest

Last year saw Molly Smith win alongside boyfriend Tom Clare, with whom she now shares a property, and her appearance on the show led to lucrative money deals with boohoo, Abbott Lyon, and L'Oreal Paris.

As one of the show's former winners, Ekin has been lined up by the casting team to appear but only if she's single.

She has been enjoying dating following her high profile split from Love Island co-star Davide Sanclimenti.

The couple ended their 18-month relationship for good in January amid speculation Davide had been unfaithful, which Ekin admitted had left her in a vulnerable state.

She was accused by Celebrity Big Brother viewers and her housemates alike of not being genuine during her time on the ITV2 series, later confessing to feeling 'angry', 'hurt' and 'bitter' over her recent split.

She said: 'I went into the show thinking that I could rebuild myself after everything that happened with Davide, but I came off worse. My guard was up.

She has been enjoying dating following her high profile split from Love Island co-star Davide Sanclimenti (pictured November 2023)

Viewers grew fond of Georges after he attempted to make his relationship with Peggy Lawrence work despite her parents disapproving of their romance

'I blame myself for making a poor choice in my career. People could see that I wasn't myself, and I can understand why they thought I was being fake.

'I never wanted to believe the allegations against Davide but people would tell me I was being cheated on all the time. I was so scared of being alone, and I didn't know who the hell Ekin-Su was meant to be without him.'

Georges found fame on last season's Married at First Sight UK where he committed to Peggy Lawrence after meeting her for the first time at the altar.

Viewers grew fond of Georges after he attempted to make his relationship with Peggy work despite her parents disapproving of their romance.

The couple split on Valentine's Day with Georges saying he was 'blindsided' by Peggy's Instagram statement confirming their separation.

He branded Peggy a 'calculated manipulator' during an interview with MailOnline and claimed she refused to pay for anything throughout the pair's time together.
Thomas Brodie-Sangster has revealed he used to be 'bullied' for his role in much-loved 2003 rom-com Love Actually.

The actor, now 34, shot to fame playing baby-faced lovelorn drummer Sam, the step-son of Liam Neeson's character who declares his love for his school crush Joanna.

But while the role opened many doors for Thomas, with the actor going on to bag roles in Nanny McPhee and Nowhere Boy, he recalled the downside that his newfound fame brought.

In a new interview with The Telegraph, Thomas reflected on the how other children who attended the same drama academy reacted to his fame and constant time off from due to his blossoming career.

He explained: '[The other pupils] would all ask where I'd been, and get a little jealous I got that much time off school. But I always told myself it was good to go back to school to hang around kids my own age.

Thomas Brodie-Sangster has revealed he used to be 'bullied' for his role in much-loved 2003 rom-com Love Actually

The actor, now 34, shot to fame playing baby-faced lovelorn drummer Sam [pictured], the step-son of Liam Neeson 's character who declares his love for his school crush Joanna

'People tried to pick on me but I don't think I cared enough. They would try to bully me for being in a film. But that was my job! I liked doing that! So what was their point? Eventually I kind of made friends with them and they saw that I was all right.'

Despite going on to have a rather successful acting career, starring in an array of serious and interesting roles in projects including Game Of Thrones, The Queen's Gambit and The Maze Runner, Thomas is still mostly recognised for his parts played in his youth.

During his interview, he's asked to take a photo with a fan who recalls his part as Simon in 2005's Nanny McPhee, the eldest child of the unruly Brown siblings.

And while he doesn't mind the attention, Thomas admits he feels 'old' when he remembered for a part he played almost two decades ago.

'It's really cool. Mothers or, like, big dudes will come up and say, "I loved Nanny McPhee as a kid!" and now they're grown-up. It does make you feel a little old, but it's nice. It's like Love Actually, everyone loves it, it's not controversial. It's an honour, really, to be in movies that have stood the test of time.'

It is ironic that the actor refers to himself as 'old', seeing as it's constantly pointed out to him that he looks ridiculously young for his age.

Indeed the fresh-faced thespian, who's barely aged since soaring to fame back in 2003 is used to it, noting he 'gets that a lot', with people especially dumfounded when he points out just how long ago Love Actually was.

While the role opened many doors for Thomas, with the actor going on to bag roles in Nanny McPhee and Nowhere Boy, he recalled the downside that his newfound fame brought [pictured in 2022]

'People tried to pick on me but I don't think I cared enough. They would try to bully me for being in a film. But that was my job! I liked doing that! So what was their point?'

These days however, Thomas is very much grown up, with a role in the TV adaptation of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall and the companion of his loving wife Talulah Riley, 38, whom he married earlier this year.

Thomas and Talulah enjoyed a wedding fit for a fairytale back in June, complete with a horse-drawn carriage and fairground rides.

The couple, who were married at St Georges Church in Anstey, Hertfordshire, even made sure to share their day with their pet pooch, who was assigned the task of ring bearer during the nuptials, an insider reported.

Actress Talulah and the Love Actually star met on the set of Disney+ Sex Pistols drama Pistol in March 2021, and announced their engagement last year.

These days however, Thomas is very much grown up, with a role in the TV adaptation of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall

While Tomas also has the companion of his loving wife Talulah Riley, 38, whom he married earlier this year [the couple pictured in May]

The couple, who were married at St Georges Church in Anstey, Hertfordshire, even made sure to share their day with their pet pooch, who was the ring bearer (pictured in 2023)

In photos obtained by The Sun the bride looked elegant in a satin A-line gown with a fitted bustier and bow on the stripped.

An onlook told the publication of the nuptials: 'The horse was a bridesmaid and I think he arranged it as a surprise. She looked happy when she saw it.

'There was a dog who was part of the wedding party, with a box and ribbon on its back, so I think it was the couples ring bearer.

'In the fields across from their home, there were several marquees with fairground rides, including a merry-go-round and helter skelter.'
Ekin-Su Culculoglu has broken her silence on rumours she's dating Married At First Sight star Georges Berthonneau, insisting: Im 100 per cent single.

The Love Island star, 30, says that despite being spotted together this week, she is not in a relationship with him.

In an exclusive interview, she told MailOnline: Im a hundred percent cent single, and loving life - Im thirty, flirty and thriving.

'I can see who I want. I can date who I want, and its my private life, thank you very much.'

Ekin-Su spoke out as she attended an event at the Mar Hall Hotel in Renfrewshire, Scotland this week.

Ekin-Su Culculoglu, 30, has broken her silence on rumours she's dating Married At First Sight star Georges Berthonneau, 31, insisting: Im 100 per cent single'

The Love Island star says that despite being spotted together this week, she is not in a relationship with him

Further insisting that she is still on the market, she added: 'I know Im single because I was staying in a haunted hotel in Scotland and could have done with somebody by my side.'

Pointing to a new crystal bracelet by jewellery brand STC, Ekin-Su said: 'Im ready to mingle. Ive got this really nice bracelet and it means abundance and hope and money. Im hoping that my life is going to be more successful.'

Rumours about the two began swirling after Ekin-Su and Georges, 31, were seen heading to the gym together in Essex and were later seen in his car.

His representative played down their visit, insisting that Georges  who married Peggy Rose on last years MAFS  and Ekin-Su are just friends who happened to go to the same gym that day.'

However, in August Ekin-Su stayed at Georges' family home in the South of France after she reached out to Georges after he confessed to having a crush on her during a podcast interview, letting him know of her mutual interest.

Georges rose to fame on last season's MAFS where he met Peggy for the first time at the altar.

Viewers warmed to Georges as he put genuine effort into building a relationship with Peggy, even as her parents voiced their disapproval of the match.

However, the couple eventually split on Valentines Day, with Georges admitting he was blindsided by Peggys announcement on Instagram confirming their separation.

She told MailOnline: 'Im a hundred percent cent single, and loving life - Im thirty, flirty and thriving. I can see who I want. I can date who I want, and its my private life, thank you very much'

Ekin-Su spoke out as she attended an event at the Mar Hall Hotel in Renfrewshire, Scotland this week

Further insisting that she is still on the market, she added: 'I know Im single because I was staying in a haunted hotel in Scotland and could have done with somebody by my side'

Rumours about the two began swirling after Ekin-Su and Georges were seen heading to the gym together in Essex and were later seen in his car

His representative played down their visit, insisting that Georges  who married Peggy Rose on last years MAFS  and Ekin-Su are just friends who happened to go to the same gym that day'

She has been enjoying dating following her high profile split from Love Island co-star Davide Sanclimenti (pictured November 2023)

Viewers grew fond of Georges after he attempted to make his relationship with Peggy Lawrence work despite her parents disapproving of their romance

Meanwhile, Ekin-Su first found fame on Love Island in 2022 where she won the dating show with Davide Sanclimenti.

The pair went on to date for 18-months, and even had their own spin-off reality show, but their relationship was not plain sailing after the Italian hunk was accused of cheating with an OnlyFans model.

In March Ekin-Su entered the Big Brother house, but upon being voted out, she was met with jeers and boos.

The reaction upset her so much that she chose not to attend the finale.

Now the reality star insists that she is better than ever.
Rafe Spall and his partner Esther Smith have been pictured with their new baby for the first time on Thursday as they enjoyed a family day out in London.

The couple, who starred together on Apple TV+ series Trying, looked every inch the doting parents during the low-key autumnal outing, with Esther carrying their child in a baby carrier.

Rafe, 41, and Esther, 38, announced the pregnancy during an appearance on Lorraine in May, though they didn't reveal when the tot was due or the sex.

In Trying, Rafe and Esther portray couple Jason Ross and Nikki Newman who want to become parents, but struggle to conceive a child.

The real-life couple went public with their romance in November 2022, after it was revealed Rafe and former Hollyoaks star Elize du Toit - who have three children together - had split after 12 years.

Rafe Spall and his partner Esther Smith have been pictured with their new baby for the first time on Thursday as they enjoyed a family day out in London

The couple, who starred together on Apple TV+ series Trying, looked every inch the doting parents during the low-key autumnal outing

And Rafe certainly looked the experienced parent as the now father of four was seen expertly helping their baby out of the carrier at one point before walking with the tot in his arms.

Following Rafe's sighting with the carrier, Vern Hill, babywearing movement expert and Founder of Carifit, has revealed is an incredible way to enhance the parent and baby bond.

Vern detailed: 'As with all best practice babywearing your baby should be high, tight and kissable, meaning that if you cannot readily small and kiss the top of your babies head then its likely that your baby carrier is a bit low and a bit loose...

'So simply lift up under babies bum on the outside of your carrier until babies head is closer to your chin and then tighten any slack in the carriers straps for a more comfortable fit and an even more connected, safe and comforting babywearing experience.'

Dressed down in a brown cardigan and slouchy brown trousers, Rafe - who is the son of Harry Potter star Timothy Spall - looked comfy as he enjoyed the weekday outing with his partner and child.

The little one looked cosy for the trip, wrapped up against the cool whether in a fluffy red pram suit and blue striped hat.

Meanwhile, Esther nailed autumnal chic, sporting an oversized taupe coat which she paired with wide-legged jeans.

The actress was seen getting stuck into mum life as she gripped onto her child's dummy while also juggling a coffee and a bag.

Esther was also seen with a gold ring on her left hand, though the couple have not announced an engagement.

During an appearance on Lorraine earlier this year while promoting the fourth series of their Apple TV+ comedy, Esther said: 'I've got a little bump.'

When the host asked if the pregnancy could be weaved into a potential series five plot, Esther said: 'We hope there's another series.'

Rafe, 41, and Esther, 38, announced the pregnancy during an appearance on Lorraine in May, though they didn't reveal when the tot was due or the sex

The real-life couple went public with their romance in November 2022, after it was revealed Rafe and former Hollyoaks star Elize du Toit - who have three children together - had split after 12 years

Rafe and Esther appeared loved up as they held hands while walking with their child

New mum Esther was glowing with happiness as she walked with her family

Rafe certainly looked the experienced parent as the now father of four was seen expertly helping their baby out of the carrier at one point before walking with the tot in his arms

The couple carefully tended to their new baby during the outing

The pair, who went public two years ago, kept things casual during the low-key coffee run

While The Big Short star Rafe added: 'We don't know yet.'

The couple admitted they can't wait to welcome their child into the world, and hope to start work on a fifth season afterwards.

Esther said: 'We'll have a baby, and then we'll carry on, perhaps, with that ['Trying'].'

Rafe added: 'We're very excited.'

Dressed down in a brown cardigan and slouchy brown trousers, Rafe - who is the son of Harry Potter star Timothy Spall - looked comfy as he enjoyed the weekday outing with his partner and child

The little one looked cosy for the trip, wrapped up against the cool whether in a fluffy red pram suit and blue striped hat

Meanwhile, Esther nailed autumnal chic, sporting an oversized taupe coat which she paired with wide-legged jeans

The actress was seen getting stuck into mum life as she gripped onto her child's dummy while also juggling a coffee and a bag

The actress was certainly the multitasking mum during the walk

Esther was also seen with a gold ring on her left hand, though the couple have not announced an engagement

The couple looked happy and relaxed as they strolled with the new arrival

Rafe previously admitted he loved filming the show because he got to spend time with Esther.

Speaking in July 2022, he said: 'I get to hang out with Esther all day. We really get on. She's my favourite person I've ever done acting with.'

He also said: 'People often comment on the chemistry we have. I'm really pleased that people enjoy it, but they won't enjoy it as much as we do.'

In Trying, Rafe and Esther portray couple Jason Ross and Nikki Newman who want to become parents, but struggle to conceive a child

The actor married former Hollyoaks cast member Elize du Toit in 2010 but the couple separated in 2021 after growing apart(Elize and Rafe pictured in 2017)

As well as Trying, Esther is best known for appearing in Uncle and Cuckoo, as well as portraying Delphi Diggory in play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

Rafe married Elize before moving to The Cotswolds with her in 2019. They share children Lena, 11, Rex, 10, and another six-year-old son.

Rafe previously said he regretted not spending more time with his children, telling the i newspaper: 'Unfortunately I don't have any other skills to exchange for cash.

'This is all I have and so I have to go off and do my acting in order to keep them in hummus.'
James Murray has revealed fishing was what helped him cope with the 'unbearable' pain of his daughter Ella-Jayne's death.

In 2009, James, 49, and his wife Sarah Parish, 56, lost Ella-Jayne to a congenital heart defect when she was eight months old.

The couple set up the Murray Parish Trust in 2014, dedicated to advancing paediatric emergency medicine in the south of England.

Speaking to The Times, The Crown star James told how he tried therapy and speaking to friends following Ella-Jayne's death but didn't feel it was helping.

He said: 'The pain was unbearable. Therapy wasn't doing it for me; talking to friends didn't help with something that was impossible to comprehend. I was going under, sinking slowly then fast. It was all-encompassing and horrendous.

James Murray has revealed fishing was what helped him cope with the 'unbearable' pain of his daughter Ella-Jayne's death (pictured with his wife Sarah Parish)

In 2009, James, 49, and his wife Sarah, 56, lost Ella-Jayne to a congenital heart defect

'Then I stood in the river and began to cast; fishing was the way I coped and where I found Ella-Jayne again.'

The couple, who met on the BBC drama Cutting It, were told before Ella-Jaye was born that she had a weak heartbeat.

She spent five months in intensive care after her birth before James and Sarah were let take her home.

James said the couple knew their lives had changed forever as Ella-Jayne couldn't feed herself and they thought they would raise her as a special needs child.

Ella-Jayne passed away four months later in her sleep and, after her funeral, James and Sarah went to Vietnam and Cambodia and volunteered to work in orphanages with sick children.

Their daughter Nell, now 15, was born ten months after Ella-Jayne's death, with James describing the anxiety of Sarah's second pregnancy.

He said: 'The idea of getting pregnant and having another baby was so drenched in caution and worry that the joy of that news was not there. We couldn't breathe while Sarah was pregnant, then Nell was premature and it was dramatic, but I'd say we are pretty resilient as a result.'

James has since developed a passion for fishing and has an exhibition in London of the paintings he has made on salmon rivers.

The couple set up the Murray Parish Trust in 2014, dedicated to advancing paediatric emergency medicine in the south of England

Their daughter Nell, now 15, was born ten months after Ella-Jayne's death, with James describing the anxiety of Sarah's second pregnancy

James and Sarah have succeeded in raising over 2.5 million for Southampton University Hospital, which the government matched and it paid for a new children's emergency and trauma department.

Sarah has previously said that before the death of her daughter she had a 'very easy life' and that the harrowing experience 'made me a better person'.

Their experience volunteering turned out to be first step on a new path and in 2014 they set up the Murray Parish Trust, dedicated to advancing paediatric emergency medicine in the south of England.

'I'd had a very easy life before that,' Sarah said in 2019. 'Nothing awful had ever happened to me. But with something like that, I know it's a real cliche, but it has made us.

'And the charity  especially running alongside careers as actors  is perfect. It's the ideal thing to do, because as an actor you really do have the space to become an awful person if you want.

'Because everything is based around you and what you need. It's a great job and we're very lucky. Then when you work on a charity alongside it, and you see what life is, the really bad side of life, it just makes what you do [for a living] amazing, you know. My job is my holiday and the charity is my job.'

Sarah previously said that before the death of her daughter she had a 'very easy life' and that the harrowing experience 'made me a better person' (pictured with second daughter Nell)

Speaking about her relationship with James and the impact the death had on them, she added: 'It changed us as people, definitely. It has to. And actually, the older you get, the more people you meet who have lost children.

'A lot of people lose children in far worse circumstances than Jim and me. Ella-Jayne was only eight months old, she was very poorly anyway, so we were already prepped for what could happen.

'Whereas I've met people along the way who had a healthy child, everything was good, and suddenly they've gone.

'I've known people who have lost their children at the age of 16. It's just unbearable. It will always change you as a person. It's changed us for the better, I think.'

Sarah played the character Dawn Rudge in the ITV drama series Peak Practice in 1993, but more recently starred in the third and final series of Broadchurch as Cath Atwood.

She also played Katie Roden in the BBC One series Mistresses between 2008 and 2010.
A Harry Styles lookalike contest sent fans into a frenzy on Saturday, with an army of dopplegangers descending on London for the hilarious head-to-head.

Several Styles impersonators turned up to Soho Square for the playful contest which was judged by a mix of notable names and One Direction super fans, with cash prizes up for grabs.

Competitors were encouraged to dress up in bold outfits inspired by the star's famously flamboyant wardrobe while adding their own individual flare.

The panel of judges included Ryan Lanji, a party planner known for his work on RuPaul's Drag Race UK, and the author of The Book of Harry, Bonnie McLaren.

They were accompanied by several lifestyle and showbiz journalists, all of whom are self-confessed One Direction superfans.

A Harry Styles lookalike contest sent fans into a frenzy on Saturday, with an army of dopplegangers descending on London for the hilarious head-to-head

Several Styles impersonators turned up to Soho Square for the playful contest which was judged by a mix of notable names and featured neat cash prizes (Harry pictured 2010)

Prizes ranged from 50 for the winner and a selection of hair products for the victor in the 'best hair' category to a six-pack of organic wine for the 'best style'.

And even the entrant unfortunate enough to be ranked as the worst Styles lookalike did not leave the event empty-handed, as they claimed a four-pack of cheap beer.

Each prize was also presented by former Love Island star Eyal Booker, 29.

After a hard-fought contest, a winner was named, however, several Styles fans took to social media to claim they were not convinced by the lookalikes.

One person wrote: 'None of them look like him.'; 'Are the lookalikes in the room with us now?'; 'Harry Styles lookalike contest in London was full of some serious competition.'

Despite being told by the internet that he looks more like Sebastian Stan, Mitch placed as the runner-up and received raucous cheers from the crowd.

Meanwhile, Oscar clinched the victory with his unruly curls and sense of style.

The idea behind the lookalike competition was sparked after a Timothee Chalamet lookalike competition was held in New York over the weekend and the Hollywood actor shocked fans by turning up.

Competitors were encouraged to dress up in bold outfits inspired by the star's famously flamboyant wardrobe while adding their own individual flare

The panel of judges included Ryan Lanji, a party planner known for his work on RuPaul 's Drag Race UK, and the author of The Book of Harry, Bonnie McLaren

Prizes ranged from 50 for the winner and a selection of hair products for the victor in the 'best hair' category to a six-pack of organic wine for the 'best style'

One wannabe replicated a pandemic look of Harry's

Fans who gathered in London sadly didn't have the same experience as Harry didn't turn up for the contest.

Four days before the event, Katrina Mirpuri took to her Instagram to excitedly announce the event to fans, writing: 'Edited with update! #HarryStyles lookalike contest in London this Saturday!'

'1pm, 9th November, Soho Square.'

'More details to be announced! There are prizes to be won for best lookalike, best hair, best style and worst lookalike (trophy and awards emojis)'

It comes after Timothee sparked pandemonium among screaming fans in New York by unexpectedly showing up to his own lookalike contest.

Flanked by bodyguards, the actor posed for photographs with his curly-haired doppelgangers - some of whom had dressed as his characters, including Willy Wonka and Dune protagonist Paul Atreides.

At times, adoring fans accidentally heaped their attention on the lookalikes, apparently thinking they were face-to-face with the real Chalamet.

The frenzied event, advertised on flyers around New York, was one of several doppelganger competitions hosted by YouTube personality Anthony Po.

Mitch, who replicated Harry's Brit Awards look, was the runner-up (far left)

He donned a bold red cardigan with gold buttons and a pearl necklace

Oscar was the ultimate winner and its clear he was lapping up the attention

Many believe he clinched the victory with his unruly curls

He donned a white shirt for the day teaming it with a brown leather bomber jacket

He also wrapped up warm in a blue checked scarf as he celebrated his victory

During the event, Oscar took up the chance to chat with journalists following his victory

Meanwhile, Andrew was declared the second runner-up

He sported a cream knit jumper and a dark grey shirt underneath

As he was awarded second-runner up, he blew a kiss towards hundreds of Styles' fans

During the event, one fan also jokingly held up a sign which read: 'Harry are you on Tinder'

Hundreds of fans who gathered for the occasion in the hopes of seeing Harry sadly didn't have the same experience as Timothee Chalamet's fans who saw him turn up to his own contest

As word spread on social media, thousands of people RSVP'd to the competition, which promised $50 for the winner.

But minutes after the competition began - and before the actor made his entrance - police ordered the large group to disperse from Washington Square Park on Sunday afternoon.

Organizers were slapped with a $500 fine for an 'unpermitted costume contest', and at least one doppelganger was dragged away in handcuffs as the crowd screamed: 'Let him go!'

Witnesses and competitors told DailyMail.com the scenes that unfolded were 'insane'.

'It was really funny, like a spectacle,' bystander Megan Hattie Stahl, 33, said.

'The people filming it and the people reacting to the cops became another layer of spectacle. It was just absurd.'

Fans travelled from as far as St Louis, Missouri and River Falls, Wisconsin for the wacky competition, where the best lookalike won $50.

Competitor Noah Wilde, 23, said the contest was ranked by crowd vote, with people shouting for their favourite Chalamet.

He told DailyMail.com the crowd was 'thick' when police swooped in to try to disperse the young people.

'They pushed one kid and then they started yelling like 'why the f*** would you push me,' and made a little circle,' he said.

'They ended up getting arrested'.

But the drama was far from over, and stunned fans were shocked when the real actor showed up unannounced.

Four days before the event, Katrina Mirpuri took to her Instagram to excitedly announce the event to fans, writing: '#HarryStyles lookalike contest in London this Saturday!'

Reacting to the announcement, one person excitedly said: 'Trying to copy NYC in hopes that Harry, like Timmy C, will also show up lolol'

It comes after Timothee sparked pandemonium among screaming fans in New York by unexpectedly showing up to his own lookalike contest (Pictured: Some of the competitors before the actor showed up)

'Then the actual Timothee Chalamet showed up and gave (the winner) a hug. It was insane,' Wilde said.

On a makeshift stage, the look-alikes were asked about their romantic plans with Chalamet's girlfriend Kylie Jenner.

They were also asked to demonstrate French proficiency and what they would do to make the world a better place.

Eventually, the audience picked a winner: Miles Mitchell, a Staten Island resident and college senior.

Dressed in a purple Willy Wonka outfit, he tossed candy from a briefcase to throngs of young admirers.

'I'm excited and I'm also overwhelmed,' Mitchell said. 'There were so many good lookalikes. It was really a toss-up.'

The NYPD told DailyMail.com that one person was arrested for disorderly conduct. They were bailed ahead of a court appearance.

Chalamet is best known for playing the protagonist in hit movies like Call Me By Your Name, Dune and Wonka.
Mrs Brown's Boys star Gary Hollywood has confirmed he and wife Cheyanne have welcomed their second child together.

The Scottish actor, 45, who played Dino on the BBC sitcom, are overjoyed with the birth of son Carter John, four years after they welcomed his older brother Ollie.

Cheyanne sadly suffered a miscarriage last year, discovering the news at the 12-week scan. Gary is now referring to Carter as their 'rainbow' baby.

Speaking about his arrival, Gary told OK!: 'I cried at all my children's births and because this was a rainbow baby, it made it even more special.'

This is Gary's second child with Cheyenne and his fifth overall as he is also father to Jack, Zach and Charlie from previous relationships.

Mrs Brown's Boys star Gary Hollywood has confirmed he and wife Cheyanne have welcomed their second child together (pictured with son Ollie, four)

The Scottish actor, 45, who played Dino on the BBC sitcom, are overjoyed with the birth of son Carter John, four years after they welcomed his older brother Ollie

Asked about becoming a father again in his forties, Gary said: 'I think I enjoy it more now. In my twenties, I was chasing my career and money and not really cherishing the moment.

'I missed out on a lot. Now, with Carter and Ollie being born and leaving Mrs Brown's Boys, I get to enjoy every minute and cherish those moments.'

Cheyenne also revealed she and Gary thought they wouldn't try for another child after her miscarriage and when she did become pregnant again, they didn't let themsleves get too excited.

The pair were 'apprehensive' during the early weeks of Carter's pregnancy and one evening while at dinner, Cheyenne broke down in tears - and so did Gary.

Because of their nerves, the couple didn't tell any of their friends and family Cheyenne was pregnant for a third time until after her 12-week scan.

It was a quick labour for Cheyenne, who told how her water broke at 7:40pm and the labour lasted twenty minutes in total.

Gary split from his ex-wife, Sharon Mudre, in 2017 after 14 years of marriage. They share two sons, Jack, 22, and Charlie, 20.

He also has a son, Zachary, 20, from a prior relationship with his childhood sweetheart, Anne Haney.

Cheyanne sadly suffered a miscarriage last year, discovering the news at the 12-week scan. Gary is now referring to Carter as their 'rainbow' baby

Speaking about his arrival, Gary told OK! : 'I cried at all my children's births and because this was a rainbow baby, it made it even more special'

Gary had a falling out with Mrs Brown's Boys star and creator Brendan O'Carroll when he left the show.

Part of the appeal of the show lies in the knowledge that many of the cast are actually members of O'Carroll's family. B

But according to Gary, it is the O'Carroll clan's domination of the show that he claimed caused a toxic atmosphere behind the scenes.

Speaking to The Mail On Sunday, he said: 'So much of the show, off screen, is about Brendan's own family. It's like jobs for the Browns.

'At times, as the years went on, it felt like it was a case of the Mrs Brown's mafia, which was difficult if you weren't in it. There is a fear of falling out with them, and of course that creates a tense atmosphere and I found myself walking on eggshells.'

The show was reportedly thrown into chaos when a bitter row broke out over Gary's pay. Gary was furious after learning that he earns less than the rest of the cast.

Gary said he would take legal action against O'Carroll, the BBC and the TV production company which makes the show, citing discrimination and unfair dismissal.

Gary had a falling out with Mrs Brown's Boys star and creator Brendan O'Carroll when he left the show, claiming he was paid less than other cast members

Mammy's clan: Cast members of Mrs Browns Boys and their relationship to Brendan OCarroll  left to right  Fiona OCarroll (daughter), Paddy Houlihan (no relation), Danny OCarroll (son), Martin Delany (son-in-law), Jennifer OCarroll (wife) Brendan OCarroll, Rory Cowan (no relation), Gary Hollywood (circled, no relation), Dermot ONeill (no relation), Pat Shields (no relation), Jamie OCarroll (grandson), Amanda Woods (daughter-in-law)

In papers lodged with an employment tribunal, the Glaswegian actor said he was paid 25 per cent less than his colleagues for his role in last year's six-part chat show spin-off, All Round At Mrs Brown's.

And he said he was dropped from one of the two Christmas specials just days before filming started. Gary said when he raised both issues with Dublin-born O'Carroll, 65, he was told that he should be 'more grateful'.

'I am so hurt by what Brendan has done to me. The fame and fortune has gone to his head. I worked with him for 20 years and this was not how I thought my time working on Mrs Brown's Boys would end. I'm devastated.

'What I have learned is it is his way or the highway. In my opinion, Brendan has changed so much in recent years since becoming more rich, famous and powerful.

'When I raised my problems with Brendan, I was met with hostility. I felt it was bullying like you can't say what you want to any more. I was told I should be grateful, that I'm lucky.'

Among the members of O'Carroll's immediate family starring in the show are his wife Jennifer, who plays his on-screen daughter Cathy.

His sister Eilish O'Carroll portrays next-door neighbour Winnie McGoogan, while son Danny O'Carroll appears as Buster Brady and daughter Fiona O'Carroll as daughter-in-law Maria.
Donald Trump is back in the White House, and American students who are not politically similar to Republican policies are not too keen to start or finish their studies.

These sentiments were supported by a recent major increase in the number of students inquiring about how to study abroad.

Recorded by Studyportrals, and shared by University World News, the jump in interest in international education options was five-fold and was just a day after the results of the election night.

To compare, between mid-August and early November, they typically receive 2,000 to 3,000 inquiries from American students on a daily basis. However, on November 6 or the day Trump won over Kamala, the number shot up to more than 10,800. The top destinations were Canada, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK,

Students During the Trump Admin

Now, this is not the first time students expressed dissatisfaction with Trump. In 2016, when he was first elected, there was also a shift in education plans with some rethinking their opportunities at home by inquiring in international studies or in countries where they are more politically aligned.

Google, in particular, found an increase in searches about students moving to Canada following Trump's victory, which was the same in 2016 as well, per Business Insider. Besides students, American adults with children already going to school are also exploring the idea of settling in other countries.

Notably, not a lot of students follow through with their plans to study abroad due to insufficient access to resources like financial expenses. Regardless, experts believe that Americans studying abroad is still beneficial to the country as it can promote global understanding and even strengthen international relations.
Frankie Muniz's hope of victory were dashed suddenly when he was involved in a multi-vehicle crash in Phoenix, Arizona on Friday night.

The former I'm A Celebrity star, 38, was slightly injured during the pileup, which took place during the 99th lap of the 150 lap race at the Phoenix raceway.

According to Sportskeeda, the former Malcom in the Middle star's #27 Ford F-150 was involved in the crash after fellow driver Connor Mosack hit the wall on the second turn.

Other drivers involved in the crash were Tyler Ankrum, Stefan Parsons, Thad Moffitt, William Salawich, Andres Perez de Lara, Spencer Boyd and Stewart Friesen.

The former actor was seen limping toward an ambulance after the crash in a video, unloaded on X by journalist Noah Lewis.

Frankie Muniz's hope of victory were dashed suddenly when he was involved in a multi-vehicle crash Friday night in Phoenix, AZ

Hard hit for @frankiemuniz. He limps from his truck to the ambulance. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/7rngEwzMzE  Noah Lewis (@Noah_Lewis1) November 9, 2024

After medics gave him the all clear, the driver spoke about the disappointing end to the race.

Muniz, who has signed with RBR teams to go full-time in 2025, tried to see the bright side of the experience.

'I felt like I got a good opportunity to run with some guys,' he told journalist Peter Strata in an interview posted on X,' I made a few passes, lost a few a spots on re-starts... it was good for me to figure out how to get by people... so that was really positive.'

Describing the crash, he said, 'There was no where for me to go.'

'I got hit from behind into the 42 and then the 42 got moved and the 18 was stopped and I went right into him. I don't feel there was anything I could have done there,' he explained.

The Miracle in Lane 2 star said the past season wasn't what he had hoped for, but, 'this proved I can race with guys, I can pass here.'

Looking forward to next season, Muniz claimed, 'we're going to be better next year and I've got the whole off-season to prepare.'

Muniz hasn't completely given up acting.

Muniz, 38, was slightly injured during the pileup, which took place during the 99th lap of the 150 lap race and was seen limping to an ambulance after the crash for treatment

Muniz, who has signed with RBR teams to go full-time in 2025, tried to see the bright side of the experience. 'I felt like I got a good opportunity to run with some guys,' he told journalist Peter Strata, 'I made a few passes, lost a few a spots on re-starts... it was good for me to figure out how to get by people... so that was really positive'

Looking forward to next season, Muniz claimed, 'we're going to be better next year and I've got the whole off-season to prepare'

He said he was going to 'Charlotte to film on Monday,' but didn't say what the project was.

He is listed as starring in the horror film Reapers Night on IMDB, which has been shooting in Louisiana, according to the outlet.

The Emmy nominee will then head to Las Vegas for the F1 race, where he'll be behind the wheels of a Mustang 'doing hot laps, driving celebrities around.'

The actor recently completed work on the comedy Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink 2 and the sci-fi thriller Renner.
Pete Wicks brought Strictly Come Dancing viewers to tears on Saturday as he paid tribute to his nan with an emotional dance.

The former TOWIE stary, 36, was very close to his nan Doreen who died in 2022. He previously described her passing as 'the hardest time of his life'.

Pete and his dance partner Jowita Przystal performed their routine to The Best, a song originally recorded by Bonnie Tyler and made famous by Tina Turner.

The reality star was praised by the judges for his performance and received his first perfect 10 score from Shirley Ballas who said his dance made her emotional.

Taking to X, viewers praised Pete for wearing his heart on his sleeve during the dance. They wrote: 'Pete holding back his tears has got me crying, he did fantastic his nanna would be proud.'

Pete Wicks brought Strictly Come Dancing viewers to tears on Saturday as he paid tribute to his nan with an emotional dance

The former TOWIE stary, 36, was very close to his nan Doreen who died in 2022. He previously described her passing as 'the hardest time of his life'

Pete and his dance partner Jowita Przystal performed their routine to The Best, a song originally recorded by Bonnie Tyler and made famous by Tina Turner

'Couple's choice is such a personal thing to the celebs & Pete was no differenthis confidence, poise was phenomenal- at some points Yowita looked like she was floating.'

'Pete almost crying is destroying me, what a beautiful beautiful tribute for his nan.'

'My 3 votes are 100% going to Pete and Jowita C/Choice. That was one of the finest, emotional and smooth dances that has been performed under the C/Choice brand.'

'Pete hanging by a thread tonight is so relatable, bless him.'

'Pete's emotional journey on this show has been beautiful to watch.'

Pete looked emotional after his dance and remained silent as he waited to receive his score from the judges.

Speaking on spin-off show It Takes Two before the show, Pete admitted this week would be a tough one for him.

He said: 'This is going to be a tough one for me. Based on the fact I've not heard the song all the way through up until this week since my nan's funeral.

Pete looked emotional after his dance and remained silent as he waited to receive his score from the judges

Taking to X, viewers praised Pete for wearing his heart on his sleeve during the dance

Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard: Week Eight 1. JB Gill and Lauren Oakley - 37 2. Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec - 37 3. Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe - 36 4. Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal - 36 5. Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola - 33 6. Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell - 33 7. Wynne Evans and Katya Jones - 32 8. Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas - 30 9. Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu - 30 Advertisement

The star has spoken fondly of his nan over the years and previously compared her to 'the nan from Catherine Tate'

'My nan was my best mate and we played this at her funeral because it was her favourite song. And if there's one person that I wish was here and was able to watch me, it would be her, and she's not been.'

Pete added: 'So this is kind of my way of having her on this mad little adventure with me. So yeah it's been a tough week. I've spent more time crying than I have dancing.'

The star has spoken fondly of his nan over the years and previously compared her to 'the nan from Catherine Tate'.

He said: 'She is the only person that tells me the truth, non-stop. My mum loves me, whatever I do, despite the fact that I'm generally a bit of a w***er.

'But my nan will tell me when I'm a w***er. In fact, she quite often tells me I'm a w***er when she's not calling me Steve. She's got a habit of calling me Steve. I'm not entirely sure why.'

Pete wrote about his nan's passing in his autobiography Never Enough, in a chapter dedicated to her.

He wrote: 'The day she died, I had been in London seeing friends. Mum called me and told me I needed to get to the hospital quickly.

'Nan didn't want to do it anymore - she was in too much pain and was going to ask the doctors to turn off her oxygen machine.'

'I can remember the last words she said to me as if it were yesterday: 'You're my soulmate'.'
Austin has become 'ground zero' for the downturn of the once-booming property market in Texas, a housing expert says.

The value of houses in the city are down a 20 percent since their pandemic peak, Nick Gerli, CEO of real estate data platform Reventure App, said.

Meanwhile, he says the number of homes for sale is on the up. When housing supply outweighs demand, prices tend to fall - so values may drop even more.

'Listings are now over 10,000, compared to 7,000 before the pandemic,' he wrote in a post on social media site X. 'Huge supply.'

The property guru has a grim warning for others in the state: Dallas could be next.

In part due to thriving tech and music industries in the city and low state taxes, Austin has seen an influx of new residents in recent years - a trend which accelerated during the pandemic.

Austin has become 'ground zero' for the downturn of the once-booming property market in the state, a housing expert has claimed

Nick Gerli, CEO of real estate data platform Reventure App, said the value of houses in Austin are down almost 20 percent since the pandemic peak

The population of the greater Austin area surged from 1.6 million in 2013 to 2.3 million in 2023, according to TheStreet.

That is now thought to be in reverse.

The influx of new residents prompted a rush in homebuilding, but demand is now failing to keep pace with supply -pushing house prices down.

The influx of so many people into Austin also drove up house prices.

After the pandemic, as the number of people looking to move diminished, demand for homes also fell - especially as the city was no longer affordable for many Americans.

While Gerli pointed out Austin is the epicenter of the housing downturn, the problem is also state-wide.

'Texas housing supply has spiked to highest level since at least 2017,' he wrote on X.

Active listings are up 25 percent year-on-year, he said, 'and a massive 263 percent from the pandemic low.

'Texas is no longer in an inventory shortage. And is now over-supplied.'

Dallas is another market which is starting to get hit, Gerli said, with home values down around three to five percent since pandemic highs.

The Reventure CEO said he believes the reason for the huge rise in homes for sale in Texas is because homebuilders and investors are beginning to 'liquidate out of this market.'

In other words, they are beginning to sell up as they are not earning money on homes due to high property taxes and stagnating rents.

'Builders are needing to do big mark downs to sell houses, which is hurting the resale market,' he added.

It comes after warnings that the Texan condo market - in particular - is teetering on the edge of a Florida-style crisis as sales decline in major cities.

The population of the wider city of Austin soared from 1.6 million in 2013 to 2.3 million in 2023 (Pictured: Suburb neighborhood of East Austin)

Austin's popularity sparked a surge in homebuilding, but the inventory is not being met by strong demand, experts say

In part due to thriving tech and music industries in the city and low state taxes, Austin has seen an influx of new residents in recent years - a trend which accelerated during the pandemic

Unsold homes are piling up in Austin, Fort Worth and Dallas, as high insurance costs and destructive natural disasters make condos a tough sell, data from Redfin released earlier this year shows.

It comes as Florida faces a catastrophic real estate crisis, which is seeing condo listings skyrocket as desperate owners try to flee.

The number of condos for sale in Florida increased by 53 percent in the year to July, according to Redfin.

But the Lone Star State is quickly catching up - with a 42 percent rise in that time.

In Fort Worth, listings have increased 65.4 percent and sales have fallen 33.3 percent.

Meanwhile in Dallas, the number of condos for sale is up 61.7 percent, and in Austin listings have surged by 28.6 percent.

Frequent and intense natural disasters in Texas - as in Florida - are a major factor in surging home insurance costs. In turn, this contributes to surging HOA fees in condo buildings, as maintenance costs are passed on to unit owners.

Those rising costs, along with the danger of being caught in a natural disaster itself, are scaring off condo buyers and motivating owners to sell, Redfin said.

Texas has been hit by extreme weather this year - including the largest wildfire in the state's history, flooding, tropical storms and deadly Hurricane Beryl.

Real estate investors have also backed off from buying condos. Instead, those who bought the properties to rent them out a few years ago are now trying to offload them.
Expanding its network and tapping group synergies, Air India Express will focus on connecting smaller cities and towns with metros as well as fly to new overseas destinations, according to senior officials.

The airline, which recently completed the merger of AIX Connect with itself, has a fleet of around 90 aircraft and the count is expected to cross 110 by the end of this fiscal.

It also aims to fly to a total of 55 destinations by the end of March 2025 and has also rationalised its network as part of Air India Group strategy. Apart from adding domestic routes, the Tata Group-owned airline will start flights to more foreign destinations, including Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand, the officials said.

Air India Express Managing Director Aloke Singh said the airline will focus on Tier 2 and 3 cities and towns as they are the growth engines, and the largest chunk of the market is metro to non-metro.

"On the regional short haul international network, it will be primarily from Tier 2, 3 cities to points in the Gulf, Middle East, South East Asia and going forward, South Asia. Perhaps, Far East in a couple of years," Singh said at a select media interaction on Friday.

He also stressed that the airline's network strategy is also deeply woven into the group network strategy. As part of consolidating its airline business, Tata Group has merged AIX Connect with Air India Express and the integration of Vistara with Air India is scheduled to be completed next week.

Air India Express Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Ankur Garg said that Bangkok and Phuket are being looked at to start services. To Bangkok, the flights are likely from Tier 2 cities and to Phuket, the service could be from a metro, Garg said.

Among other destinations, the airline might also explore the possibility of flying to Malaysia, Hong Kong and CIS countries in the future.

"We don't want to spread too thin. We want to focus on Tier 2, 3 markets from the metros. We want to provide connectivity between the full service, long haul, wide body side of the business and the domestic Tier 2, 3 cities," Singh said.

In response to a question, he said there are no plans to have premium economy class seats in its flights. At present, Air India Express offers economy class seats and business class seats in some planes.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, responding to the recent Supreme Court decision on Aligarh Muslim University's (AMU) minority status, asserted that AMU "does not exclusively belong to Muslims." He also invoked his controversial "batenge to katenge" (If Hindus are divided, they will be slaughtered) statement, calling for unity among Hindus to prevent historical divisions.

The Supreme Court recently overturned the 1967 Azeez Basha judgement, with a regular bench set to make the final determination on AMU's minority status. "AMU doesn't belong solely to Muslims," Adityanath stated at an election rally in Khair, Aligarh, questioning AMU's plans to reserve 50 per cent of its seats for minorities despite receiving central government funding. "If AMU is funded by the government, Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) should also have reservation there," he added.

Adityanath accused opposition parties - Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and Congress - of denying reservations at AMU to SCs, STs, and OBCs, alleging that these parties prioritised vote bank politics. "These people are playing with your sentiments. Don't be blinded by them. If we are divided, we will be slaughtered," he said, referring to historical incidents of Hindu oppression through division.

In his address, Adityanath also referenced the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Idgah Mosque in Mathura and the Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque disputes, attributing "humiliation" on these issues to Hindu disunity. The Chief Minister highlighted improvements in Uttar Pradesh's law and order since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed power, crediting his administration for the progress.

Adityanath's remarks were made in Khair, one of nine Uttar Pradesh constituencies facing Assembly bypolls on November 20. The Khair by-poll was triggered when BJP MLA Anoop Valmiki, elected in 2022, won a Lok Sabha seat from Hathras, necessitating his resignation from the Assembly .
Citing the examples of Himachal Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday charged that "wherever the Congress forms the government, that state becomes an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) of the party's shahi parivar" and said that the BJP would not allow the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) to turn Maharashtra into the ATM of the grand old party.

Addressing an election rally at Akola in Vidarbha region of Assembly poll-bound Maharashtra, Modi accused the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government of collecting Rs 700 crore from liquor shop owners in Karnataka.

"Wherever Congress forms the government, that state becomes an ATM of the `shahi parivar" of the Congress. These days, states like Himachal Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka have become the ATMs of the royal family of Congress," the Prime Minister said.

"People are saying that these days with elections in Maharashtra, the Congress has doubled the quantum of 'vasooli' (extortion) in Karnataka and neighbouring Telangana. The BJP will not allow MVA to turn Maharashtra into the Congress' ATM for `Mahaghotalebaaj'," PM Modi said.

Singling out the grand old party for allegedly indulging in corruption in states ruled by it, the Prime Minister said that the MVA - comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) - "stands for multi-crore scams, for extortion and token money. It stands for transfer posting racket and is completely immersed in scandals, loot, and corruption."

Repeating the allegations that he had made in his election speeches on Friday that the Congress was dividing the SCs, STs and OBCs, PM Modi said: "The Congress knows the weaker the country becomes, the stronger the Congress will be .. That's why the Congress has all along been resorting to the tactics of divide and rule. Over the years, the Congress created rifts within the SC-Dalits, ST-Adivasis and OBCs"

Describing the BJP as "ek hai toh safe hain" party, Modi said: "For a safe and united Maharashtra, people should choose BJP-led Maha Yutiek hai toh safe hain".

A day after he dared the MVA to get Rahul Gandhi to speak in praise of Veer Savarkar, Modi invoked Dr. BR Ambedkar's legacy to tear into the Congress to prove its respect for the architect of the constitution and his contributions to the country.

"I challenge the shahi parivar of the Congress to prove if its members had ever visited Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar's Panchteerth (a term he coined in 2017) the birthplace of late Ambedlkar at Mhow in Madhya Pradesh, his residence in London (Sikhsha Bhoomi), Deeksha Bhoomi in Nagpur where he embraced Buddhism, Mahaparinirvan Sthal in Delhi, and Chaitya Bhoomi in Mumbai," PM Modi said.

Accusing the Congress of insulting the late Ambedkar for years on end, the PM said: "From the time of Nehru till today, the top family of the Congress has repeatedly insulted Baba Saheb Ambedkar. It did not give Baba Saheb Ambedkar credit for any major work done by him"

Dwelling upon the achievements of the BJP government at the Centre and the MahaYuti government in the state, PM Modi said that the Centre had given a boost to industry and infrastructure for cotton cultivators by laying the foundation stone of a textile park in Amravati. The textile park will pave the way for the prosperity of cotton farmers.

Charging that the previous MVA government had stalled the irrigation projects undertaken by the previous Devendra Fadnavis-led government, the PM said: "After Mahayuti Alliance came to power in the state, the Wainganga Nalganga and Painganaga interlink projects were sanctioned. The inter-link projects will bring all 5 districts in Western Vidarbha including Nagpur and Wardha District under irrigation."

The PM said that his government accorded the classical language status to the Marathi language which had raised the prestige of Maharashtra. Referring to a slew of schemes launched by the Centre and MahaYuti government for empowering farmers in the state, Modi said: "Our effort has been to empower the farmers. If the farmer is empowered, he becomes the hero of the country's progress We are therefore increasing the farmers' income and reducing their expenditure. The Centre introduced the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi for which the Mahayuti government gave its support. The result is that farmers of Maharashtra are getting Rs 12,000 annually."

Touching upon the Ram Mandir issue, the PM said: "I have come to seek your blessings for the BJP-led Mahayuti (grand alliance) in the Maharashtra assembly elections. You should remember the significance of November 9. It was on this day, the Supreme Court gave its ruling in favour of the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya. After the Supreme Court's verdict, the people from all the religions accepted it and showed great sensitivity in facilitating the Ram temple without any hinderance".
Indian students dreaming of studying in Canada may face hardship now, as it has ended the fast track visa programme. The decision came in the backdrop of ongoing diplomatic tension between the two countries.

The decision to cancel the fast-track visa service known as Student Direct Stream (SDS) raised concerns over delays in processing and uncertainty for many international students from India. In 2023, nearly 200,000 Indian students received study permits.

The SDS was launched in 2018 to provide faster processing for eligible post-secondary students. It was introduced to simplify the visa application process for students from 14 countries, which included India.

In the latest measure targeting international students planning to study at a Canadian institution, Ottawa has announced that it is immediately ending the SDS initiative. According to a notice from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) late on Friday, SDS was launched in 2018 to "provide faster processing for eligible post-secondary students" and "eventually opened to legal residents" of 14 nations including India.

It stated that "Canada's goal is to strengthen program integrity, address student vulnerability, and give all students equal and fair access to the application process, as well as a positive academic experience' to "meet this commitment" the SDS was scrapped on November eight. Study permits applied for after the announcement will be processed under the regular stream.

The Canadian government has refrained from giving an explanation for ending the fast-track visa service. The move comes at a time when India and Canada's ties are strained due to the Trudeau government blaming the Indian government agents for the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Indian aspirants are now likely to face extended waiting times for their study permits, which can be a significant setback. Indian students now have to navigate additional hurdles to secure their study permits on time.

Meanwhile, a PTI report from Ottawa, on Saturday, said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the presence of Khalistan supporters in Canada but said they do not represent the Sikh community as a whole.

His comments came during Diwali celebrations at Ottawa's Parliament Hill recently amid an ongoing diplomatic row with India over the killing of Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

"There are many supporters of Khalistan in Canada, but they do not represent the Sikh Community as a whole. Similarly, there are supporters of Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi's government in Canada, but they do not represent all Hindu Canadians," Trudeau said.

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 Nijjar's killing. New Delhi rejected Trudeau's charges as "absurd".

India expelled six Canadian diplomats and withdrew its high commissioner Sanjay Verma and other "targeted" officials from Canada after strongly dismissing Ottawa's charges.

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.

Last week, Khalistani supporters disrupted a consular event co-organised by the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton and the Indian Consulate. The incident was condemned by Trudeau who said every Canadian has the right to practise their faith freely and safely.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said that New Delhi remains "deeply concerned" about the safety and security of Indian nationals in Canada.

The Indian consulate in Toronto said it was scrapping some of the planned consular events this month because of Canadian "security agencies conveying their inability to provide minimum security protection" to organisers.
Advocate and social activist Vivek Krishna today held a press conference on electoral and political reforms in Ranchi. He said that in democracy voters have undeniable right to know about the candidate, specially the outcome of any enquiry on any charge of corruption or Office of Profit on the candidate.

In this regard, Krishna told the media persons that he has written a letter to the President of India, to give her advice to the Governor of Jharkhand to bring out in public domain the result of enquiry by the Election Commission and the decision of the Governor on the opinion given to the Governor in the case of 3G of 2022, i.e., the charge on CM of Jharkhand Hemant Soren in Office of Profit case for allegedly allotting a stone chips mines to himself in Angada area of Jharkhand while holding the portfolio of Minister of Mines in the State, besides being the Chief Minister of the State.

The allegation was levelled by the Opposition BJP leaders, based on which the Governor of Jharkhand had referred the matter to Election Commission for enquiry into the charges under Article 192(2) of the Constitution. Krishna also informed that the Governor is obliged to follow the advice given by the Election Commission, and he has no discretion in the matter, as per Constitutional Provision.

Advocate Krishna also informed that the Barhait ST reserved Constituency from where Soren is sitting MLA, is going for polls on 20th of November, 2024, in the second phase of election. The decision of Governor in the Office of Profit case must come out in public domain well before 20th November, 2024 so that the voters of Barhait Constituency can know whether the candidate on whom the charge of Office was profit was levelled is correct or not.

Soren is again contesting the forthcoming election from Barhait Constituency. Krishna also maintained that not only the voters in Barhait Reserved Constituency, but the people of Jharkhand, in general, have a right to know whether the charges levelled against a highly placed Constitutional authority is correct or not. He maintained that Constitutional propriety and the provisions of the Representation of People Act, 1951 must be fully respected.

It may be pertinent to note here that the Election Commission had completed its enquiry on the charge of Office of Profit in 3G of 2022 case and submitted its report to the Governor of Jharkhand way back on 25th of August, 2022. Even after two years, and successive change of Governors in Jharkhand State, the decision on the said matter is still pending and it has not come out in public domain.

People have undeniable right to know about the outcome of the charges on an elected candidate in democracy. Krishna said that he has been trying to bring out the opinion of the Election Commission in 3G of 2022 case for the last one and a half years through RTI, and in which the case even went upto the Central Information Commission, and two Writs in this regard have been filed by him in the Jharkhand High Court.

Since there is no time left now, and the fifth Jharkhand Assembly would be dissolved now, there was no option left for him other than to write to the President to intervene in this matter.

Krishna said that he is hopeful that Constitutional provision would get appropriate attention well on time, and before the date on which the Barhait Constituency goes for polls on 20th November, 2024 the final decision in this regard would come out in Public domain. Krishna informed that he had also written to the Governor of Jharkhand on 23rd May, 2023 to bring out the opinion of the Election Commission, and subsequent decision of the Governor in the said case in public domain to clear the mist surrounding the subject.

Krishna also informed that he has also written to ADR (Association for Democratic Reforms) to step in this matter and try for the outcome of the case in 3G of 2022.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) General Secretary cum spokesperson Vinod Kumar Pandey has issued a statement saying that BJP spent crores of rupees to tarnish Hemant Soren's image and spread hatred.



Pandey said that if we look at the speeches of BJP leaders from top to bottom, they are full of communal poison to break the society. "Despite the truth of hate speech of BJP leaders among the people on public platform and the same disgusting acts on social media coming to light, no action has been taken by the Election Commission, which is a matter of serious concern," he added.



The party General Secretary has made this claim citing a report jointly prepared by Dalit Solidarity Forum, Hindus for Human Rights, India Civil Watch International, Indian American Muslim Council and Tech Justice Law Project. He said that BJP spent crores of rupees to tarnish the image of the tribal Chief Minister and spread hatred.



"The BJP has used shadow accounts to spread lies and communalism through social media ahead of the Jharkhand elections. Communal and divisive content against the Hemant Soren government was disseminated on a war footing through shadow accounts. Posts insulting the tribal chief minister are being put up," Pandey said.



The party General Secretary said the BJP spent more than Rs 2.25 crore on advertisements on the Meta platform in three months. The report mentioned that the Election Commission is inactive in this matter, while it has the responsibility to enforce electoral rules, he said.



Pandey, citing the report, said the BJP spent more than Rs 2.25 crore on political advertisements on the Meta platform in three months and set up a complex network of shadow advertisements.



The report, said to be prepared by several civil rights organisations, was jointly prepared by Dalit Solidarity Forum, Hindus for Human Rights, India Civil Watch International, Indian American Muslim Council and Tech Justice Law Project. The report also discusses a coordinated campaign against Chief Minister Hemant Soren and targeting his tribal identity. The JMM has appealed to the Election Commission to take action to stop this alleged conspiracy of the BJP.



The report documents a coordinated campaign targeting Hemant Soren's tribal identity and his stand on religious freedom. After Soren's arrest on allegedly politically motivated corruption charges, the shadow network intensified its attacks. During Diwali, advertisements with inhuman images of Hemant Soren appeared on several pages, reflecting a systematic attempt to undermine tribal leadership.



The report revealed several examples of communally compiled material. Shadow pages like Badlega Jharkhand, despite having only 28,800 Instagram followers, spent Rs 1.4 lakh to reach over 1 crore people in a month. The content repeatedly portrayed Muslim men in a negative light, promoted conspiracy theories like love jihad, and spread false stories about Bangladeshi infiltrators in Jharkhands Santhal Paragana region.
56 lost Chinese cultural relics returned from Italy

Xinhua) 14:43, November 09, 2024

BEIJING, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- A total of 56 lost Chinese cultural relics have been returned from Italy, China's National Cultural Heritage Administration announced on Saturday.

The return signifies yet another successful cooperation between China and Italy within the framework of their bilateral agreement aimed at preventing the illegal import and export of cultural relics, the administration noted.

It follows the previous repatriation of 796 Chinese cultural relics from Italy in March 2019.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Wu Chaolan)
Congress MP and Opposition Leader in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi attacked the Modi government in Simdega and said that in their eyes you are forest dwellers. They want to snatch what is yours - water, forest, land, everything, he said.



Gandhi said that the fight of Jharkhand Assembly Elections 2024 is between those who are protecting the Constitution and those who are trying to end the Constitution. On one side there are those who call you tribals, on the other side there are those who do not call you tribals.



The worst leader of Congress was holding an election rally in favor of Bhushan Bada of Congress. In the year 2019, Bhushan Bada of Congress won the election from Simdega assembly seat by a very small margin of votes. In the 2009 and 2014 elections, BJP won from here.



Gandhi said that our alliance is trying to protect the Constitution while BJP and RSS want to end it. He said that the Constitution is not just a book, but it includes the thoughts of Birsa Munda, Ambedkar, Phule and Mahatma Gandhi. He said that he believes that this Constitution protects the tribals, Dalits, backward and poor, therefore, the INDIA alliance wants the country to run through the Constitution. He said that if we come to power, we will remove the 50 per cent limit on reservation. He said that we will increase SC, ST and OBC reservation. OBC reservation will be increased to 27 per cent. There is no participation of Dalits, backward and tribals in the country.

BJP and RSS are against Dalits, backward and tribals, he said. "If the Government of India takes a decision of Rs 100 in the budget, an officer from the tribal community takes a decision of only 10 paise. The tribal community constitutes 8 per cent of the population, eight out of 100 and your contribution is 10 paise out of 100 rupees. I want 90 per cent of the people of the country to run this country and the BJP wants 2-3 people to run the country. PM Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Ambani and Adani are running this country," Gandhi said.



The senior Congress leader said that the wealth of the entire country, whether it is your land, forest, everything will be snatched from you. Rs 16 lakh crore of 25 industrialists will be given to these 10-15 big billionaires. If there is even one tribal, Dalit or backward class person among them, then you tell me. The BJP says that I am spoiling the habits of farmers. When the Modi government waived off their loans, did you not spoil the habits of billionaires?, he said.



Gandhi said, Let me tell you about Manipur. The BJP burnt Manipur and till date, the Prime Minister of India has not visited there. This means that he has accepted the fact that there is no state like Manipur. Manipur burnt because of the ideology of the BJP.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a road show in favour of BJP candidates in Ratu Road on Sunday (November 10). Today, Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth spoke to journalists at his central office regarding the information of the program of this road show.

The Minister of State for Defence said that Jharkhand has always received special affection from the Prime Minister. Through the gift of schemes and by personally visiting Jharkhand on various occasions, the Prime Minister has always shown affection. Just before the assembly elections, the Prime Minister will hold a grand road show in Ranchi on Sunday, 10 November. This road show will start from OTC Ground at 4:00 pm and will end at New Market, Ratu Road Chowk via Piska Mor, Metro Gali, Durga Mandir. More than 20 thousand bikers from the surrounding areas of Ranchi will come to Ranchi to welcome the Prime Minister. Parking arrangements for vehicles coming from outside Ranchi have been made near Hehal, Pandra and ITI. Apart from this, artists will welcome the Prime Minister through traditional Chhau dance.

A total of 501 Brahmins will give their blessings to the victory resolution of the Prime Minister by playing conch. At different places, the Prime Minister will be traditionally welcomed through various platforms. The Sikh community is also ready to welcome the PM in an unprecedented manner. In the past too, the people of Ranchi have welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a historic manner. Once again, the people of Ranchi and BJP workers are eager and excited to welcome the Prime Minister.

Seth said that the citizens of Ratu Road are decorating their houses on their own. At many places, arrangements are being made for showering flowers on the Prime Minister. The Minister of State for Defence has appealed to the citizens of Ratu Road including Ranchi that we should all work to make this road show and felicitation of the Prime Minister historic in his memory. Decorate your houses with Bandanwar. Make Rangoli in front of the houses so that the Prime Minister returns to Delhi with an indelible mark of felicitation from here. Seth said that in this road show, the people of Ranchi will assure the Prime Minister that the whole of Jharkhand is ready to form a double engine government.

The carrier of this double engine government will be Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Every section of Ratu Road, including the citizens and street vendors, is happy about the arrival and road show of the Prime Minister. Metropolitan President Varun Sahu, former Rajya Sabha MP Ajay Maru, senior BJP leader Rakesh Bhaskar and Harvinder Singh Bedi were present in the press conference.
With caste-based polarisation taking precedence over political issues, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) campaign in poll-bound Vijaypur is fast running into rough political weather.

The Congress candidate, Mukesh Malhotra, a member of the Sahariya tribal community, is concentrating on the 60,000 votes his community holds in the constituency and consolidating his position by wooing Gurjar votes.

The strategy has seen the Congress launch senior party leader Sachin Pilot into the attack. The young Gurjar leader from Rajasthan has already addressed two public meetings in Vijaypur, which has nearly 15,000 Gurjar votes.

Though the constituency does not have a history of caste-based polarisation, political observers feel that the BJP will hold on to its share of Sahariya tribal votes unless there is a new trend of en-masse voting by the Sahariyas in favour of the Congress.

While still remaining guarded, they concede that this time there may be no smooth sailing for BJP candidate Ramnivas Rawat.

A local Congress leader told The Pioneer that most of the electorate in the constituency is not educated and thus, they are not much concerned with Ramnivas Rawat changing party.

BJP prestige is at stake in this by-election as Forest Minister Ramnivas Rawat is in the electoral fray. Rawat belongs to the Gurjar community, and thus Pilot has been drafted into the campaign.

Sensing the situation, the BJP has altered its strategy and is now focusing on patriotism and the Hindu nationalist agenda as the core theme of its campaign. On Thursday, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav raised the issue of Bangladeshi infiltration in the country and said that illegal infiltration would not be tolerated.

State BJP president Vishnudutt Sharma took the opportunity to hammer home the pro-poor welfare agenda, and did not miss the chance to mention Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Seeking to underplay the issues raised by the BJP leaders, the Congress has maintained that the BJP is indulging in divisive politics.

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly Umang Singhar, PCC Chief Jitu Patwari, and Sachin Pilot have campaigned in the constituency.

On the other hand, the BJP is leaving no stone unturned. Chief Minister Yadav has addressed seven public meetings so far, while State Assembly Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar and State BJP president VD Sharma have been camping in the area for the past three days.

With the campaign entering its final phase for the November 13 bypolls in the constituency, the battle for Vijaypur still remains pretty evenly poised, say political observers who are now forecasting a change in weather for the BJP.
Koh-e-Fiza police have arrested a chain snatcher and seized a gold chain worth Rs 55000 and two wheeler used in the robbery; accused used to rob to fulfill demands of his girlfriend.

The victim Tara Thakur, of Nayapura Lalghati Kohefiza lodged a complaint that at around 7 pm, an unknown scooter rider snatched the gold chain she was wearing near Gufa Mandir Road Lalghati and escaped.

Based on the complaint a case under section 304(2) BNS was registered by Kohefiza police and investigation was started.

A team was formed at the police station level to search for the unknown accused. On the basis of CCTV footage and technical evidence around the incident site, PSTN data and informer information, the team took the suspect Neeraj Bhavnani into custody from Bairagarh market.
In a joint press conference in Ramgarh AJSU Party and BJP accused the INDI Allinace leaders of giving fake information in their poll affidavits. State BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdev said that first of all Chief Minister Hemant Soren gave wrong information about his many properties and age in the affidavit. Following his example, the affidavits of many ministers and MLAs have also come under the purview of investigation.

The latest example is of Barkagaon MLA Amba Prasad. She is being accused of filing a false affidavit, he said. Prasad is running 'Amba Prasad Welfare Foundation' which she has hidden in her affidavit. Hiding this by the MLA gives rise to many questions. She should have clarified how much turnover this foundation has. Because according to the documents we have received, she is also a trustee.

Pratul said that apart from this, the MLA mentions Hurhuru residence in Hazaribagh in her letterhead, but Hurhuru Hazaribagh has not been mentioned in the affidavit. The MLA has stated her permanent address as her ancestral home in village Pahara, Keredari, district Hazaribagh. But she has not mentioned the details of the house, land and its price in the permanent address.

Along with this, in Amba Prasad's three bank accounts, account number......4390 has Rs 24.00 lakh, account number ........5937 has Rs 0.25 lakh, account number ........4041 has Rs 4.18 lakh, i.e. a total of 28 lakh 43 thousand has been frozen by the Enforcement Directorate. But in the affidavit, she has mentioned about 32 lakh rupees in three bank accounts. The MLA should explain that when an agency has frozen the account once, then how is she showing it in her account. And she should also explain this difference of four lakhs.

He said that Amba Prasad has not received as much salary as the cash, bank deposits or property she claims to have. Pratul said that the family that calls itself Dharna Expert does the business of Dharna. During their tenure, the houses of the displaced were demolished and their palaces were built. They were also accused of doing business of sand, coal and land grabbing.

In the press conference, senior leader and spokesperson of AJSU Vijay Sahu, Ramgarh BJP District President Praveen Mehta, District General Secretary Raju Chaturvedi, Rajiv Pamadatta, Bhimsen Chauhan etc were present.
The Delhi Police told a court here that an FIR has been lodged against two former employees of fashion designer Pallavi Mohan for criminal breach of trust for allegedly running a parallel business and using her brand name and clients to sell their own products.

According to the police on Saturday, they made the submissions before Judicial Magistrate Akshay Sharma on October 18.

A senior police official said, "The judge directed the police to file the case on a complaint filed by 'Not So Serious Trading LLP', owned by Mohan." He added that the advocates Sumit Gehlot and Nikhil Bhalla, representing the company, however, claimed that police lodged the FIR after a delay of 13 days since the court order.

The officer said that the complaint alleged that the accused secretly accepted orders from Mohan's clients.

"Thereafter, the accused persons manufactured 'high-end' ladies' garments using the "Not So Serious" brand name, design, and materials, and diverted payments to their own accounts and those of their family members and associated companies," another senior police official said, adding that the complaint also includes allegations of forgery and record fabrication.
In a suspected case of honour killing, a girl was found shot dead in Khatauli area of Muzaffarnagar on Friday morning.

The relatives of the deceased were later found to be absconding. The police have registered a case and launched a hunt for her relatives.

According to reports, a girls body with bullet wounds was found in an abandoned car in Khatauli area of Muzaffarnagar on Friday morning. The victim was identified as a native of Bahsuma in Meerut.

The circle officer of Khatauli said that on Friday morning, the local police received information about the murder of a girl who was living with her maternal uncle, in Rasulpur Kelora village under Khatauli police station.

On receiving the information, Superintendent of Police (City) Satyanarayan Prajapat and Khatauli police reached the spot and found the body lying in an abandoned car near the village.

Station House Officer of Khatauli, Inspector Brijesh Sharma, said that Himanshi, daughter of Anil of village Mohammadpur Shakist under Hastinapur police station of Meerut district, was shot dead in Rasulpur village and her body was found lying in a car near the village. She was shot twice.

The maternal uncle and his sons have been accused of murder. They all have fled from home. Two women of the family were taken into custody and questioned.

It is said that Himanshi was originally a native of Mohammadpur village of Hastinapur. Her father had died when she was a child. For the last seven-eight years, Himanshi was staying at her maternal uncles house and receiving education. She was studying in Mawana. During this time, she fell in love with Vineet, son of Balraj resident of nearby village Sadarpur. Himanshi and Vineet were studying together. Her maternal uncle and his family were opposed to their love affair but both got married in court on October 10. They were set to get married formally on November 12 as per social rituals. Annoyed with the move, her relatives shot her dead on Friday morning.

Vineet claimed that Himanshis mother had 32 bigha agricultural land, out of which 22 bigha land was sold by Himanshis brother and nephews. Himanshi had also opposed this/

Further investigations are on.
Kulbhushan Bansal, a Haryana Civil Services (HCS) officer, was arrested on Sunday following a complaint by a Dalit contractual male worker, who complained of sexually exploitation at gunpoint. Rajesh Kumar Mohan, Additional Superintendent of Police, Hisar, said Bansal was sent to a one-day police remand.

Bansal's arrest came after a Dalit worker posted at Haryana's public health department lodged a complaint against him.

The worker accused the officer of making casteist remarks and exploiting him for six months.

Bansal was booked under sections 377 (unnatural offences) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and sections of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The case was registered under the IPC as the incident had taken place six months ago.

The officer, who was serving as the Hansi sub-divisional magistrate, was suspended on Thursday.

The complainant claimed that the HCS officer had hired him as a peon on a contract.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths prompt intervention has resolved a critical issue affecting over 35,000 BC Sakhis in Uttar Pradesh. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) had ordered the shutdown of L-0 devices, which are essential for fingerprint sensing, without providing an alternative solution.

This decision affected over three crore people, including the 35,000 BC Sakhis who rely on these devices for their work. Upon learning of the issue, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath immediately instructed officials to engage with UIDAI and find a resolution. Following his direction, senior officials swiftly contacted senior UIDAI representatives, leading to the reactivation of the devices.

This quick action has ensured the continuity of services for the affected individuals, underscoring Chief Minister Yogis sensitivity towards the welfare of the states citizens.

According to Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, over 35,000 BC Sakhis are part of the National Rural Livelihood Mission, handling daily financial transactions worth over Rs 40 crore. These BC Sakhis use L-0 fingerprint devices provided by UIDAI to authenticate Aadhaar-based transactions.

However, on October 31, UIDAI ordered the suspension of 19 models of L-0 devices from 10 companies, affecting the BC Sakhis ability to carry out their work. The UIDAI also mandated the use of L-1 devices instead, but no training was provided for their use.

As a result, the work of more than 35,000 BC Sakhis was disrupted.

On the instructions of Chief Minister Yogi, Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh contacted UIDAI officials to address the disruption caused by the sudden suspension of L-0 devices used by BC Sakhis for financial transactions.

Singh explained that the training for using the replacement L-1 devices had not been provided, and since BC Sakhis could not afford to buy new machines, their work was severely affected. He requested the reactivation of the old L-0 devices.

Recognising the urgency of the issue, UIDAI officials promptly agreed to restart the L-0 devices on November 6. Following this, BC Sakhis were able to resume their transactions. The BC Sakhis expressed their gratitude to Chief Minister Yogi, thanking him for his timely intervention.
The Madhya Pradesh unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will move into its new office in the state capital on Saturday. The premises, located near the Subhash Nagar railway crossing, will be inaugurated by the party's provincial chief, Rani Agarwal.

A Sarv Dharm Prarthna Sabha (an inclusive prayer meeting involving various communities) will mark the inauguration, which will conclude with the state president interacting with media persons.

Agarwal will also interact with party leaders from various regions and divisions who will be in the state capital to attend the proceedings, informed Bhupender Sharma, the media in-charge of the party.The state party unit president will also hold discussions with leaders from various wings working under her charge. Several district presidents will be present on the occasion.Since its arrival on the political scene in Madhya Pradesh, AAP has attempted to provide a viable alternative to both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the main opposition, Congress. However, the party's electoral forays have yet to meet with any substantial success.
NTPC Mining Limited (NML) Headquarters, Ranchi, celebrated 50th NTPC Raising Day with great enthusiasm and gaiety.

Chief Guest for the occasion, Chief Executive Officer, NML and Regional Executive Director (Coal Mining), Animesh Jain unfurled the NTPC flag followed by NTPC Geet in august presence of HODs, employees and family members. On the occasion, Jain congratulated the employees for embarking on 50 years of NTPC journey in power generation.

Speaking on the occasion, Jain said it is a day of great pride and joy for employees of NTPC,Fifty years of journey  is not a small achievement. "On November 7, 1975, NTPC took its first steps in the energy sector, and since then it has come a long way. The last 50 years have been a story of dedication, hard work, and the contribution of employees and associates. The organisation faced difficulties, welcomed new opportunities, and emerged stronger each time, he added.



The Chief Executive Officer added from its first installed thermal power unit of 200 MW commissioned in February 1983 at Singrauli, NTPC has now become a 76+ GW energy company lighting every 4th bulb in the Country and ensuring reliable, affordable supply of power."Over the decades, NTPC has significantly expanded its capacity and portfolio, including mining & incorporating renewable energy sources like solar and wind, aligning with global sustainability trends. The company has also been at the forefront of adopting innovative technologies to enhance efficiency and reduce environmental impact, he added.

NTPC, India's largest power utility, achieved impressive growth, with an installed capacity of 76,475.68 MW and a record generation of 422 BUs in FY 2024, with 6% growth. The company leads in PLF at 77.3% for its coal stations. NTPC is focused on clean energy, aiming for over 60 GW of renewable capacity by 2032, and expanding total capacity to 130 GW+ said Jain.



Speaking on NTPC Mining Limited (NML) Chief Executive Officer Jain said with the motto Mining for , NTPC has made remarkable strides in coal production to fuel its power projects. In financial year 2023-24, coal production grew by 48 per cent, while coal dispatch increased by 55 per cent , producing 34.39 million metric tonnes of coal, which accounted for 13 per cent of NTPC's total requirement and striving for 15 per cent requirement of the NTPCs Coal requirement from its power stations in the current fiscal year.

As part of its 50th anniversary, NTPC Mining aims to produce over 50 million metric tonnes of coal, aiming to be 100+ million metric tonnes company in the future.Safety is a top priority & remains a core value for NTPC, with NTPC Mining winning safety awards, including the DGMS Mines Safety Award-2024 for Pakri Barwadih Mines and 5-star ratings for Dulanga and Talaipalli Mines. The company also set records with its highest-ever monthly production of 3.76 MMT in June 2024 and 1.37 MMT of coal dispatch in a single day in September 2024, said Shri Jain.



NTPC is empowering lives beyond energy by serving local communities. Under the CSR program, it has facilitated 80 PAPs of Coal Mining Projects for Skill development training in association with CIPET, Ranchi for 6 months.On the occasion to celebrate the special day, winners of various competitions of Hindi Pakhwada including employees and family members were felicitated.
A crucial public meeting will be addressed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday at Gandhi Maidan, Mango. The meeting, organized under the aegis of the East Singhbhum District Congress Committee, was discussed during a preparatory meeting held at the Congress office in Bistupur. The meeting was chaired by District President Anand Bihari Dubey, and attended by prominent party leaders including State Incharge Ghulam Ahmed Mir, State Shah Incharge Bela Prasad, State President Keshav Mahato Kamlesh, and Minister Banna Gupta.

Addressing the gathering, Ghulam Ahmed Mir shared that the event would see Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressing a large public gathering, where he will campaign for the victory of Congress and alliance candidates from various constituencies, including Jamshedpur West, Jamshedpur East, Potka, Jugsalai, Ghatshila, and Baharagora. The rally will be a significant push for the India Alliance candidates ahead of the upcoming elections.

Mir also emphasized the importance of unity within the India Alliance party and invited all Congress workers, as well as supporters from alliance parties such as JMM, RJD, AAP, CPI, CPM, and CPIML, to attend the public meeting and show their solidarity.

State President Keshav Mahato Kamlesh appealed to all party officers and workers to intensify their efforts in ensuring the success of the alliance candidates, stressing the need for a strong show of support for Rahul Gandhi's vision. Hon'ble Minister Banna Gupta urged Congress workers to focus on the success of the alliance's candidates in both Jamshedpur West and Jamshedpur East constituencies.

Dubey emphasized the need for active participation from the Block Presidents, Mandal Presidents, Panchayat Presidents, and workers to make the meeting a success. He also ensured that leaders and workers from various alliance parties would be invited to strengthen their presence at the event.

The preparatory meeting was conducted by Vice President Sanjay Singh Azad, and the District President extended a warm welcome to the chief guests, State Incharge, State President In-charge, and Hon'ble Minister, offering them a shovel as per the protocol. The Congress party is gearing up for a strong campaign, with this public meeting set to be one of the highlights in the lead-up to the elections.
Accusing the ruling party of complacency, state Congress unit chief Jitu Patwari on Friday urged voters in both poll-bound constituenciesVijaypur and Budhnito resurrect crumbling democratic values by voting for party candidates.

Patwari said that the government is led by leaders who have been in power for too long, and they are now entrenched in luxury and comfort.Patwari emphasised that, to wake up the BJP leaders in power, the voters should support the opposition Congress in these elections so that the people of the state can benefit.He claimed that the ruling party had made misleading promises to voters during elections.

The Congress party leader questioned the provision of welfare initiatives that the BJP describes as guarantees by the Prime Minister."Rs 3,000 per month was promised under the Ladli Behna scheme. However, this promise has not been fulfilled, and votes were manipulated by misleading these women.

Additionally, the BJP had promised Rs 2,700 for wheat and Rs 3,100 for rice to farmers, but this too has not been provided," continued Patwari while asking the Chief Minister to address these issues.Criticising the policies of the state government, Patwari claimed that the BJP has stopped welfare schemes for the poor, scholarships for SC, ST, and OBC students, and funds for about 35 departments, leaving the entire state in distress.
At least 24 people were killed and 46 others injured on Saturday in a suicide bombing at a railway station in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, officials said.

The explosion ripped through the railway station of the provincial capital Quetta as passengers gathered on the platform before the departure of the Jaffar Express, scheduled to depart for Peshawar at 9:00 am.

Quetta Division Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat said it was a suicide attack and 24 people were killed in the blast.

The suicide bomber had entered the station with luggage, the commissioner said, adding that was difficult to stop a person coming with an intention to carry out a suicide attack.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), an ethnic Baloch separatist group designated as a terrorist organisation, has claimed responsibility for the attack. The BLA alleges that the federal government exploits Balochistan's resources while neglecting the province's development. However, the federal government dismisses these allegations and claims that foreign powers are manipulating disgruntled elements to perpetrate sabotage.

The suicide bombing comes a week after a blast near a girl's school and a hospital in Balochistan's Mastung district killed eight people, including five children.

Earlier, SSP Operations Muhammad Baloch had also said that initial findings point to a possible suicide bombing. While confirming the death of 21 people, he had warned the number of victims could rise.

Rescue and law enforcement teams responded immediately, securing the area and transporting the injured and deceased to Civil Hospital Quetta, according to the provincial government spokesperson Shahid Rind.

An emergency was declared at the hospital where additional medical staff was summoned to deal with the injured, where officials said that 46 injured had been shifted so far.

The blast, which also damaged the platform's roof, was heard far and wide in various areas of the city.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the attack, terming it as "a horrific act targeting innocent civilians", and ordered an immediate investigation.

He said that terrorists are increasingly aiming civilians, labourers, women, and children, and vowed that those responsible would be pursued relentlessly.

Pakistan, particularly the Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, has seen a sharp uptick in terrorism-related incidents over the past year.

According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), the third quarter of the ongoing year witnessed a 90 per cent surge in violence in Pakistan, the Geo News reported.

With a total of 722 people being killed, including civilians, security personnel, and outlaws, while 615 others were wounded in as many as 328 incidents recorded during the period under review, 97% of these fatalities occurred in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.

Over 92% of these incidents of terror attacks and security forces' operations were recorded in the same provinces.

The total fatalities from three quarters of this year have now surpassed the total fatalities recorded for the entire 2023; the number of fatalities rose to at least 1534 in the first three quarters compared to 1523 in 2023, the report said.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday hit out at the BJP, saying its leaders were diverting people's attention by giving provocative speeches and peddling lies.

Addressing a press conference in Nagpur city of Maharashtra, where assembly elections will be held on November 20, he said the state needs a good government which will bring it on the path of development again, and expressed confidence that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will win the elections.

He also said while Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has raised 'Batenge toh katenge' (divided we perish) slogan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the call of 'Ek hain toh safe hain' (we are safe if we are united).

"First you decide between yourselves whose slogan is to be followed - whether Yogi ji's or Modi ji's," the Congress chief said.

"BJP gives inciting speeches and speaks lies and divert people's attention from core issues," he alleged.

He said two big leaders from Vidarbha could not stop big investments going out of the region to Gujarat as they are concerned about saving their own posts and do not have anything to do with the people's interests.

Although he did not name anyone, his remarks were apparently targeted at Union minister Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, both senior BJP leaders hailing from Nagpur.

He also asked the BJP to engage in a debate with the Congress and tell what work its government carried out in the last 11 years.

"We will tell you about the work we have done in 55 years," he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the Congress has been losing its support base over the years due to the unity of SCs, STs, Dalits and Adivasis.

Congress people are showing a red book labelled 'Constitution of India' with blank pages inside, Modi said, addressing an election rally at Nanded in Maharashtra.

Why are the Congress people so much in love with Article 370, Modi asked, referring to the demand by the opposition party to restore Article 370 in Kashmir. The red book titled Constitution of India contained blank pages and is a testament to the Congress' disregard and hatred for Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, he said.

The entire country is in shock over this foolish and unfortunate political play of Congress, he said. Today there is a wave in support of BJP and Mahayuti across Maharashtra, Modi said. Today, there is only one slogan on everyone's lips: BJP-Mahayuti ahe, tar gati ahe.

Maharashtraachi pragati ahe (Only BJP-Mahayuti will ensure Maharashtra's speedy progress, he added. Today, the country is moving ahead with the goal of developed India and the people of the country know that only BJP and its allies are working seriously to achieve this goal, he said. That is why the people of the country are electing BJP and NDA governments again and again, he said.

The people of Maharashtra are going to repeat what happened in Haryana assembly elections, where the BJP won the highest ever seats, he said. Modi said he is glad that the Mahayuti government is dedicated to empower women in Maharashtra.

The welcome and acceptance received as regards the 'Mazi Ladki Bahin Yojana' is unprecedented. We are, and will remain committed towards making Nari Shakti (women power) shine more than ever before, Modi said.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Lilian Seenoi Barr, has hosted a special delegation from the North Pole to finalise plans for the Council areas Christmas celebrations for 2024.

Santa Claus confirmed at the meeting that he will be in the City and District later this month to turn on the Christmas lights in Derry and Strabane.

He will also attend a number of community switch-ons across the City and District.

The Citys switch on will take place following a Magical Procession on Friday, November 22 and Strabanes switch on will take place the following evening on Saturday, November 23.

Mayor Barr said she was honoured to host the North Poles most famous resident in her Parlour in the Guildhall.

I would like to thank Santa Claus for taking time out during his busiest time of the year to visit us in Derry and Strabane and finalise our exciting plans to celebrate Christmas, she said.

We discussed his visit to the city later this month for our switch-on events and how he will get around every home in the City and District on Christmas Eve.

Santas Sleigh and team of reindeers rely on Christmas Cheer to fly around the world so we will be doing all we can to help celebrate Christmas in style this year to make sure he makes it here on the night of December 24.

In a rare interview with the media, Mr Claus appealed to local children to be on their best behaviour over the next seven weeks to ensure they are on his nice list and can receive their presents on Christmas Eve.

I am delighted to be coming back to Derry and Strabane to perform the switch on events later this month, he said.

Its always a magical moment to see the City and District lit up for the first time for Christmas and Im excited to see that the trees and lights are already being erected ahead of the big switch on.

The elves are working double shifts in my workshop at the moment to be ready for Christmas Eve and they are keeping a close eye on all the childrens behaviour so I would urge them to be as good as gold over the coming weeks to stay on the nice list.

Its also very important for children to get an early night on December 24 so that I can visit your home and deliver your presents.

The Christmas lights switch-ons in Derry and Strabane are part of a comprehensive programme of festive activity being hosted by Council in November and December.

READ NEXT: County Derry-based baby loss foundation launched

Highlights include the Guildhall Craft Fair from November 22  24 and the Mayors Tea Dances in Derry and Strabane.

The Mayors Christmas Tea Dances are scheduled for Wednesday, December 11 in the Guildhall and Thursday, December 17 in St Patricks Hall in Strabane.

The wider programme will include a range of other events from choral performances to Christmas movies around the district.

To access the Christmas programming for Derry and Strabane visit www.derrystrabane.com/christmas.
Simon Harris chose not to attend the annual Remembrance Sunday commemoration at Enniskillen on advice from his most senior officials.

Mr Harriss absence will represent a notable break with the tradition of the sitting Taoiseach attending the event.

The commemoration falls two days after he formally announced an election in Ireland.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, he explained that officials said the attendance of the Taoiseach was based on the presence of members of the Northern Ireland Executive.

Mr Harris said: This was on official advice from the most senior officials in my department because there isnt  I dont believe  a representative from the Northern Ireland Executive attending which is when the Taoiseach of the day  whoever he or she is  would usually attend too.

It is understood that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will be among attendees at the commemoration.

Mr Harris said the Dublin Government would be represented at senior level by his Fine Gael colleague and cabinet minister Heather Humphreys.

It represents a significant break in a tradition begun by Enda Kenny.

Mr Kenny became the first taoiseach to attend a Remembrance Day service in Northern Ireland when he took part in commemorations at Enniskillen in 2012, in a move seen as symbolic of greater recognition afforded in the Republic of Ireland to Irishmen who fought and died serving in the British Army in the First World War.

His attendance also marked the 25th anniversary of an IRA bombing at the memorial in 1987.

The tradition has been followed almost every year since Mr Kenny placed a laurel wreath at the base of the memorial.

Eleven people who had gathered to pay their respects to the war dead were killed and dozens injured in the no-warning blast on November 8 1987, minutes before the Remembrance Sunday ceremony was due to start.

A 12th victim of the Poppy Day bombing died 13 years later having never woken from a coma.

Mr Harriss decision to miss the event was criticised by the South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF), a victims group which works with many of the families affected by the bombing.

It called on him to engage with the bereaved families after the election.

Asked about the request, Mr Harris said: Certainly, I very much want to and am happy to engage with the families.

Mr Harriss predecessor Leo Varadkar missed the ceremony in 2018 as he was attending an Armistice Day centenary event in France. Ms Humphreys also attended the Enniskillen commemoration on that occasion.
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Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
A Garda was injured after being struck by a car in Co Cork.

Gardai in Mallow are appealing for witnesses to the hit-and-run crash which happened on Saturday.

They said emergency services were alerted to the incident on the N72 at Spa Glen, Mallow shortly before 10am.

The Garda, aged in his 40s, was injured when his unmarked Garda car was hit by a passing car.

An ambulance took him to Cork University Hospital for treatment and he has since been discharged.

He was the only one in his car at the time.

The occupants of the other vehicle fled the scene on foot and the driver has yet to come forward.

Investigating gardai have conducted a technical examination of the scene and both cars involved, and the road has since fully reopened to traffic.

Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to come forward.

In addition, road users who may have dash-cam footage from the area at the time of the incident are also urged to contact gardai.

Anyone with any information, is asked to contact Mallow Garda Station on 022 31450, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
It was said here last week that City Of Troy would have to work like a Trojan if he was to win the biggest race on the Breeders Cup programme at the Del Mar course in San Diego.

Perhaps he did work like a Trojan, but what he had to offer fell well short of what was required. The thoroughbred, described by his trainer, Aidan OBrien, as the best he ever trained, could only finish eighth, some thirteen lengths off the winner, the American-trained Sierra Leone.

There was some consolation  in fact, a lot of consolation  for City Of Troys owners, Coolmore; they also own the winner.

However, if you were to ask them, theyd probably have preferred it had their other horse won. Already crowned the best 3-year-old in Europe, numbering this years Epsom Derby among his wins, City Of Troy was attempting to prove himself on a dirt track, having already conquered all on grass.

Racing on dirt, however, is a horse of a different colour. In ways, its like a greyhound racing. A quick break from the gate is essential; those slow away have, literally, the dirt kicked up in their faces.

And thats what City Of Troy had, having been slower than the others to come away. He had fewer behind than in front of him throughout the race, and it was only late on that he made some progress.

Flat racing is not as popular as National Hunt, and though City Of Troy was one of the most talked about horse in this country for some time, the non-racing public didnt really latch on to him. Where is he running, someone asked me last Saturday when I mentioned the race was on television.

Contrast that with the time Arkle was in his pomp. That was back in the 1960s, when the greatest ever steeplechaser won three Cheltenham Cold Cups, along with other major races, the Irish Grand National among them. For a number of years, the Tom Dreaper-trained horse was on many lips.

This, however, is not comparing like with like. A star jumpers career lasts an awful lot longer than his Flat racing counterparts, mainly because there is nothing for him to do but race.

When he retires he can only be turned out to grass, unlike a Flat champion. For the latter, the breeding shed beckons, and if he becomes a big hit with the girls, producing as good as himself, the money he can earn for his owners is colossal.

It was said on the radio on Saturday, during a discussion on the Breeders Cup meeting that Frankel, an unbeaten champion of a decade ago, is commanding a fee of 250,000, and he can have as many as 200 visitors in a year. Do the math.

While Aidan OBrien didnt win the big one, there was lots for him and his team to celebrate. He won two other major races over the weekend, bringing his Breeders Cup tally to 20, which gives him a share of the record.

All of this is a long way from a 1 mile handicap run at Dundalk last Friday night. The fifth of eight races had a maximum field of 14 runners, and among them was Proleek Prince, trained in Deerpark, Ravensdale, by Michael Rice.

Owners are the Slieve Foy Syndicate, comprising a group of local lads. Two of them have strong Dundalk Gaels connections, and one of them told me a number of weeks back that hed keep me in touch. This I interpreted as, Ill let you know when hes a chance.

I could only conclude that on reading Proleek Prince had trotted up at 9/1, giving a bold front-running performance, that my pal had lost my number. Next time, maybe.

There were other local owners in the Dundalk winners enclosure recently. Glyde Rangers, name after the team that had a great 2023 season, but came up well short this year, is owned by a group of Ardee and Tallanstown lads, and as one who has backed the gelding quite often, I know that he wasnt winning out of turn.
A young mothers group from Muirhevnamor, Dundalk; a parent group from Rathmullan, Drogheda; and a group of mothers from Greece, Serbia and beyond who are based in Louth will be demonstrating their learnings from the inaugural Town Scientist pilot project over the next two Sundays as part of Louth Science Festival and the wider, nationwide Science Week event.

Town Scientist is a pilot programme developed and delivered by Dundalk native Dr Niamh Shaw, scientist, engineer, communicator and performer. Funded by Research Ireland, Town Scientist is a pilot project operating in Louth and Offaly in partnership with Louth County Library, Louth ABC programme and Birr Castle Demesne, aiming to work with people from local communities to make science more accessible and to break down barriers that often keep people from engaging with scientific topics.

The first phase of Town Scientist kicked off in February this year and has involved a series of informal science learning sessions for the participants.

The learning sessions covered complex issues such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), climate change, Antarctica, Mars, auroras, eclipses, comets and more, with a view to enabling participants to continue their own learning journeys and play a greater role in fostering a love of STEM in their families and in the wider community.

Town Scientist will be showcased by members of the learning groups as part of Louth Science Festival over the next two weekends. The groups will:

Share their learnings and talk about their experience with members of the public;

Demonstrate experiments on the hour every hour;

Distribute free Advent calendars of science trivia which they created themselves, as well as guides for home science experiments for all the family to get involved in.

The events will take place:

Sunday, 10th November, 11am to 4pm at Dundalk County Library; and

Sunday, 17th November, 11am to 4pm at Drogheda Civic Offices.

Dr Shaw is calling on locals in Dundalk and Drogheda to come along to the events over the next two weeks and to find out more about Town Scientist: The world is changing at a rapid pace, and our planet is currently facing many challenges. Topics like AI, climate change and what this means for our future is rarely out of the news.

For many people in Louth, these topics can seem overly complex and out-of-reach, and Town Scientist is aiming to bridge the gap between these technological changes and their implications for society to enable locals to engage with these topics and influence the future direction of their communities and Ireland as a whole.

This is the first pilot study of Town Scientist, and it has been a huge success so far. Parents who have participated in the workshops have reported a hugely positive experience. Dundalk Credit Union and Louth County Council have shown their support for a longer-term six month pilot to continue in Dundalk in 2025, if funding is secured.

"I have so many plans to work with even more groups in the town and county. I would encourage parents and families throughout Louth to come along to Louth Science Festival over the next two Sundays to chat with me and to meet some of the parents involved.

Also speaking about Town Scientist was parent participant Michelle Quinn, a mother of three from Muirhevnamor in Dundalk and who was part of the young mothers group. Before we started Town Scientist with Niamh I had zero interest in science, said Michelle.

I never enjoyed it in school, thought it simply wasnt for me. Town Scientist has been transformative for me, it has opened up my world to science and I have loved my experience. It has sparked a curiosity I never knew I had. While my children are laughing at my enthusiasm for it, it has helped me become more involved in their learning and education. I would encourage other parents to come along to Louth Science Festival events over the coming weeks to find out more.

Speaking further, Dr Shaw said: My vision is that this model will be replicated in towns throughout Ireland. This project is my long-term investment in Irelands future, so that our citizens will be prepared for this tech-heavy future society but more importantly will be empowered to discuss and debate how we will build sustainable towns and cities of our future.

Mary McHugh from Louth Library Service said: The Town Scientist pilot has been hugely successful in Louth, and has given Louth parents the knowledge and confidence to engage with STEM topics and issues that directly affect them and their childrens futures. It has huge potential to be replicated throughout Ireland and we look forward to seeing the long term positive impact it will have on Louth parents and children.

Further information on Dr Shaw visit: https://niamhshaw.ie/.
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A Coles worker has stressed to customers the importance of looking at unit prices after a debate raged online about the cost of Tim Tams at Coles.

Source: The Coles worker said staff are often accosted by shoppers aggrieved by rising prices. Source: TikTok/Getty

A Coles worker has claimed customers are being "gaslit" while speaking about the barrage of questions frontline workers can cop from shoppers about rising prices.

Sharing a recent incident in which a customer was apparently confused and angry about the price of Tim Tams, the woman recalled how she had to explain that head office sets the prices, not the store.

"The customer said to me, 'Whoever does the prices at the store should be ashamed of themselves'," she said in a video shared on TikTok.

"But what he was complaining about as well, was a packet of Tim Tams," she continued.

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The customer had apparently bought a big packet of Tim Tams for $7.50. The worker claimed she then noticed the smaller packs were priced at $3, making them significantly better value for money.

"So I think as a collective, as people, as human beings, we need to start looking at those type of things and looking at grams and seeing what is worth our money," she said.

"Don't get me wrong, $7.50 for Tim Tams is absolutely crazy," the Coles worker said. "I understand it sucks. And it sucks working for a company that, you know like, they get their money ... but all I'm doing is earning money so I can pay my bills so I can afford to take my daughter to daycare.

"But thought I'd do a PSA [public service announcement] to double check ... see if you can get something cheaper for the grams you're buying, don't just go off what's convenient."

How supermarket shoppers can get the best value

Professor Nitika Garg from the School of Marketing at the University of New South Wales has previously urged customers to do the same.

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"I advise consumers to look at the unit price for whatever theyre buying  whether it's flour, sugar, spices, fruits  because it is very difficult to always assess by the package what the price is," she told Yahoo News recently after a Coles customer questioned the legitimacy of certain unit pricing displayed in store.

"It's not as if marketers and retailers are out to get you," she added. "Obviously they use certain tactics to make you spend and buy certain products, but if you are reasonably cautious, which is you checking the unit price, it doesn't take that much."

The watchdog is investigating Coles and Woolworths over their pricing tactics. Source: Getty

'The supermarkets are now gaslighting us'

In a follow-up video, which she has since deleted (but you can watch below), the same Coles worker said the next time she went into the store the price had changed, and the cost of two packets had risen to $8.

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"I feel like the supermarkets are now gaslighting us," she said.

Yahoo understands major supermarkets like Woolworths have reprimanded staff in the past for making video content about their workplace and has decided to keep the woman's identity concealed. Yahoo approached Coles for comment on its social media policy for staff but the supermarket did not clarify its position.

At the time of writing, the large 365g packet of Tim Tams was for sale at Coles online for $6, down from $7.50. Meanwhile the single row packet is priced at $4.5, down from $6.

Aussies debate price hikes on unhealthy non-essentials

Many Aussies admitted to feeling less sympathy for customers feeling frustrated by price hikes on items such as Tim Tams, which many people deemed unnecessary.

"If money is an issue then you don't need Tm Tams," one person commented.

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"They are not a necessity," another agreed.

In the since deleted clip the Coles worker said such a position was "totally valid ... but some people just want that extra treat. It's like it's a little privilege for the hard work you've been doing."

Potential class action suits against Coles and Woolies over pricing tactics

Coles and Woolworths shoppers could claim up to $5,000 back from the supermarket giants if they are found to have deceived shoppers with their pricing tactics.

Carter Capner Law is the second Australian law firm investigating whether a potential class action suit against the supermarkets is viable alongside the ACCC-led government inquiry.

"Early estimates suggest that households could claim between $2,000 and $5,000, depending on the amount spent and the impact of the deceptive pricing," law director Peter Carter said.

The entrance to a Coles supermarket in Melbourne. Source: Getty

Both supermarkets are accused of violating Australian consumer law by the consumer watchdog after allegedly making misleading discount pricing claims on hundreds of widely sold supermarket products by raising prices before lowering them with their "Prices Dropped" and "Down Down" sales campaigns.

Many consumers have lost trust in supermarket pricing while suppliers have said they are forced to agree to unfavourable terms, according to the ACCC's interim report.

A final report on the inquiry is due to be delivered to the government by February.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
600kg of Tilapia and European Carp were caught by anglers in the Gold Coast. Source: Supplied

Fishing is a popular pastime across Australia and a big pile of fish is usually the cause for celebration and a big feast. But a photo of a pile of fish caught by anglers on the Gold Coast holds a sinister truth  the species caught are causing "significant" problems in rivers across the country.

A whopping 678.49kg of Tilapia, European Carp and goldfish were removed from the Robina waterways on the Gold Coast. Since its inception in 2016, the Gold Coast Pest Fish Classic which is run jointly between council and My Catch Australia, has caught and removed over 4,682 kilograms of pest fish.

"We know in South East Queensland, tilapia and carp are significant problems for the environment," Invasive Species Council acting CEO Jack Gough told Yahoo News Australia. "In freshwater environments, the next candidate in our ecosystem for extinctions we'll be seeing."

An invasive tilapia caught in Gold Coast waters. Source: Supplied

Big problem with invasive species tilapia

Tilapia were introduced to Australia in the 1970s and are now officially considered an invasive species. They are native to Africa, South and Central America, Southern India and Sri Lanka.

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The reason they pose a significant threat to native fish species and aquatic habitats is not only because they compete for resources with native fish, but the manner in which they reproduce. Females carry their eggs and small fry in their mouths, and these can survive for a long time after the adult dies.

Biosecurity Queensland has previously said that while it is encouraged for anglers to target tilapia, once caught they must be either buried above the high-water mark of the place of capture or placed in a nearby bin.

Under no circumstances can fishers take tilapia to eat, use it as bait or return it to the water either dead or alive in a bid to remove any value associated with the fish and reduce the incentive of the spread.

Tilapia and carp also increase turbidity in Australian water systems which means that they make the water cloudier and murkier.

"We know that an increase in turbidity can erode banks," Gough told Yahoo. "They are a massive problem in terms of competing with our native fish and a huge risk for tilapia to move into NSW.

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"It's a big problem," he said.

Gold Coast Mayor praised the efforts of anglers

City of Gold Coast's mayor Tom Tate praised the efforts of the anglers who came out in droves to help catch the fish. "Pest fish like the Tilapia can have a devastating effect on our waterways and we are committed to helping manage this and other pest fish species," Mayor Tate said.

"The pest fish classic brings the community together and raises awareness of the destruction these fish can cause, which includes outcompeting native fish for resources.

In the past, fish caught in the classic were sent to landfill, but this year all 678.49kg will be composted to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and eventually used as soil.

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In a bid to improve fish stocks, council will release 36,000 Australian bass fingerlings into Robina Lakes as part of council's "commitment to improve fish stocks due to the impact of pest species.

Gold Coast Pest Fishing Classic by the numbers

 699 anglers registered for the event

 678.49kgs of invasive fish including tilapia, goldfish and carp were removed from waterways

 Total caught since 2016 is 4,682.91kgs

There are concerns introducing herpes to combat Australia's invasive carp explosion could harm tourism. Source: Dr Stuart Ivor/Getty (File)

Plan to infect millions of 'feral fish' with herpes virus

Yahoo previously reported that the government are investigating ways to fight the invasive carp as part of the National Carp Plan, which includes releasing a herpes virus into river systems.

"That's not a silver bullet, but it will allow much greater control," Gough told Yahoo, adding there's not a good solution to the issue of carp. Unfortunately, the numbers, the way that they breed, means it's very difficult to control their numbers. But there are still options if there's investment from a government in restricting the spread of tilapia,

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However some local business owners are concerned doing so will harm an already struggling tourism industry. Tracy Hill from Coorong Wild Seafood, southeast of Adelaide, previously told Yahoo the intended deaths of millions of feral fish could create a big, stinky rotten carp soup in waterways, potentially devastating local businesses.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Having made his name as Conor in The Young Offenders, a comedy set in his home city of Cork, actor Alex Murphy is changing tack in a new series starting next week.

He has a role in CRA, a thrilling new six-part Irish-language crime drama mystery, which starts on TG4 on Monday, November 11 at 9.30pm.

CRA promises to be a gripping story of murder, secrets, and justice in a close-knit Irish village in the remote north-west corner of the country.

We follow Garda Conall O Suilleabhain (Donall O Healai) as he searches for justice in the most personal of cases - the murder of his own mother, Sabine, whose body is discovered 15 years after her disappearance.

Forbidden from joining the investigation, Conall partners with a determined young journalist, Ciara-Kate (Hannah Brady), who is using her true-crime podcast to expose the villages deepest secrets.

As they unravel the truth, they must confront a community bound by silence and its own moral codes.

The series not only delves into a mystery, but also explores the power of modern media, as every twist and turn of the investigation is broadcast to a growing audience through Ciara-Kates podcast.

The question remains: Will truth prevail, or will some secrets stay buried forever?

As well as 26-year-old Corkman Murphy, the cast for CRA also includes Barry McGovern, Roisin Murphy, Tara Breathnach, Caoimhe Farren, and Alan Mahon.

Darach O Tuairisg, Executive Producer for Fibin Media, said: CRA is a unique and thrilling exploration of justice, secrets, and community, set against the striking backdrop of Donegal. The series brings together the richness of Irish-language storytelling with a modern, suspenseful narrative.
Tell us a little bit about yourself;

I'm Niamh, one of the three members of Ana Palindrome. Ruairi de Burca and Sara Leslie are my bandmates and are an absolute dream team! I play the baritone fiddle - a hodgepodge take on the baritone violin that replaces some of the fiddle strings with viola strings to reach lower registers. I like it as an instrument to accompany my singing. The fiddle is pretty wonky sounding and fairly unruly to play - but that's part of the fun.

We're all based in Cork City. Myself and Sara are from Waterford originally, Ruairi is a Mayfield man. I've lived in Cork for 10 years now - it does very much feel like home at this stage.

What is your ideal way to spend a Friday night?

My ideal way to spend a Friday night would kind of depend on the time of year I think. If it was warm enough to sit outside - on a beach or something with pals, food and beers - that'd be dreamy. Over the winter, I love sitting by the fire drinking pints with the girlies. It's nicest to go out early and go home early of a Friday.

Lie ins or up with the lark.. which is it for you?

I'm a night owl on account of working in pubs & playing music. Lie ins a go go.

Does work creep into your weekend at all?

My work is generally weekend type work, yes. My weekends tend to be on Mondays or Tuesdays.

Niamh says her weekends tend to be on a Monday and Tuesday.

If money was no object where would you head to on a weekend city break? And who would you bring with you?

I would love to go to visit my friend Sofia - she's living in Guinea Bissau at the moment but grew up in Tanzania. I would love love love to hang out with her in Dar es Salaam and get a slice of her world.

Closer to home, is there some place you like to head to recharge the batteries?

I love to walk down the Backstrand in Tramore, Waterford. My folks live in Tramore and I visit often enough.

Do you like to catch up with family/friends at the weekend?

I do! As I mentioned, my weekends have been a bit consumed by music but I'm quietening down now after the summer. My friends and family are the best. I wrap myself up in their classness whenever I can really!

Do you get to indulge any hobbies? Even as a spectator?

I would consider cooking a hobby. I find it relaxing just chopping things and making big pots of food with whatever I have at hand. I'm not great for following a recipe. I love bish boshing bits together in the one pot and seeing what happens - like a big witches cauldron.

Entertain or be entertained? If it's the latter do you have a signature dish?

I love to feed people. I would usually make a chilli or a dhal. Again, a one-pot wonder but with nice toppings to make it feel indulgent.

We have so many places to eat out in Cork - where are your go to spots for coffee/ lunch/ special meal?

I usually go to Some Dose by Turners Cross for a coffee and an oatie - it's my 'local' you might say. Izz Cafe is probably my favourite place to eat out. My Goodness is great for lunch on the run and funky pickles.

Sunday night comes around too fast.. how do you normally spend it?

I play old-time tunes every Sunday night at the Corner House with a gorgeous bunch of musicians. I love it so much. I really feel like I'm always learning at that session. Just really good craic too.

What time does your alarm clock go off on Monday morning?

Probably around 10. I'm a slow mover in the mornings.

UPCOMING EVENT

As the hush of autumn falls, Islander return with the fifth iteration of their winter festival, Quiet Lights, taking place in venues across Cork City, from November 21 to 24. Quiet Lights is an exciting and well-loved winter festival with a big heart, which aims to shine a light on the new wave of Irish and International folk, traditional, and experimental talent that are quietly forging new paths, recollecting old tales, and creating new stories. For full programme details, visit quietlights.net.
Science Week is coming to Cork with a free event at the Marina Market this month.

The event, focused on exploring the wonders of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (Steam), will take place on Saturday, November 16, from 11am to 4pm.

Families and curious minds of all ages are encouraged to attend the Science at the Marina event, with a range of activities, showcases, art displays, and discussions set to take place.

Science at the Marina is a community-focused event bringing together leading scientists and innovators to engage the public in cutting-edge research and advancements in science and technology.

Top scientists from Teagasc, University College Cork, and Tyndall National Institute and representatives from leading Research Ireland centres, including APC Microbiome Ireland, iCRAG, Insight, IPIC, VistaMilk, and MaREI will be present on the day.

Mysteries

From the mysteries of the human microbiome to groundbreaking advances in artificial intelligence, light engineering, virtual reality, and sustainable food and agriculture, there will be something for everyone to explore.

Highlights on the day include an interactive science exhibit where guests will take a journey through a giant inflatable gut and a talk with VistaMilks Donagh Berry on the quirks of DNA and how genetic variations influence everything from family resemblance to animal traits.

There will also be a student art gallery showcasing the artistic talents of local schoolchildren.

Talks will be held on the ancient origins of food processing, the journey of food through your digestive system, the diverse plant life of Irish grasslands and their crucial role in sustainable milk and meat production, and how biophotonics, a non-invasive light technology, can detect illness in babies.

For more information about the event visit https://www.marinamarket.ie/events/ucc-science-at-the-marina.
Nine Leesiders were honoured today at the National Bravery Awards, including a Cork teen who is one of the youngest in the awards history to receive a gold medal.

Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail presented 23 National Bravery Awards to individuals from across Ireland, all of whom risked their lives to aid others in peril.

Among the award winners from Cork, 15-year-old David Akar was recognised for the rescue and attempted rescue of two friends from the sea at Passage West in August 2023.

The teen, who was just shy of his 14th birthday, safely rescued one boy, and attempted to recover another, after a strong current had pulled them away from their group while swimming.

David Akar, 15, was awarded a gold medal and a certificate of bravery at the National Bravery Awards. Picture: Maxwell's.

Despite his efforts, the second boy, Jack OSullivan, 14, lost his life  but for his valiant actions, Mr Akar was awarded both a gold medal and a certificate of bravery.

Im honoured, Im delighted to be able to say I dedicate this award to Jack OSullivan and his family, said Mr Akar, speaking to The Echo following the awards ceremony.

Its bittersweet, its a good thing to get the award, but it was a very bad situation.

Ill definitely pay a visit to Jacks family, to share the moment with them.

Im delighted to be able to speak up about it, Im very proud, and my family and Jacks family are very proud of me too.

Aaron OCallaghan and Carlos Amaya from Cork were also awarded for their rescue efforts, as both assisted in the recovery of three people from the sea at Garretstown Beach near Kinsale earlier this year.

Aaron OCallaghan and Carlos Amaya were each awarded a bronze medal and a certificate of bravery at the National Bravery Awards. Picture: Maxwell's.

Mr OCallaghan and Mr Amaya worked together to rescue a father and his two children after they were caught in a severe riptide, and for their actions, they were each awarded a bronze medal and a certificate of bravery.

Walter Murphy, Oleg Coronciuc, and Veaceslav Coronciuc were awarded for the rescue of two men from an out-of-control car on the South Ring Rd, Cork city, earlier this year. The men, who worked to slow the vehicle, were recognised for preventing a potentially catastrophic road traffic collision, as the driver of the car had suffered a fatal cardiac arrest.

The three men were each awarded a bronze medal and a certificate of bravery.

Louise Casey, accepting on behalf of her father Walter Murphy, with Oleg Coronciuc and Veaceslav Coronciuc who were each awarded a bronze medal and a certificate of bravery. Picture: Maxwell's

Garda Joseph OReilly and Garda Denis Cronin from Cork were recognised for rescuing a man from a burning building in Knocknaheeny in 2021.

The gardai safely evacuated the elderly man from the semi-detached house, and were both awarded a bronze medal and a certificate of bravery.

Garda Conor Lucey from Cork was honoured for his part in intervening to prevent a man from setting fire to himself at the Quays in Waterford in June 2002.

Gda Lucey was awarded a certificate of bravery.

This singular day marks moments where self-preservation was cast aside by our brave recipients as they risked their lives to help someone else, said Mr O Fearghail during the ceremony.

These moments matter, because in many cases, lives were saved that would have been lost.

They matter because even when people were lost in some of the awful tragedies we remember today, those people were not alone.
A firm commitment to end homelessness by 2030, a dedicated minister for tourism and hospitality at the Cabinet table, as well as prioritising compassion and courage in addressing the pressing issues faced by our communities  these were some of the asks of Cork leaders in key organisations for when the new government is formed after the election.

President Michael D Higgins has formally dissolved the Dail to mark the beginning of the election campaign.

Fine Gael leader Simon Harris travelled to the residence of President Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain in Dublins Phoenix Park yesterday afternoon to request the move.

Candidates across the country are facing a compressed three-week campaign until polling day on November 29.

Speaking yesterday, Mr Harris called for a safe and respectful campaign for all politicians and all their teams and urged the Irish people to value their vote and use their voice.

According to Paul Sheehan, communications manager with Cork Simon, the elimination of homelessness had to be the top priority for the political parties.

Caitriona Twomey of Cork Penny Dinners set the candidates a challenge, to prioritise compassion and courage in addressing the pressing issues faced by our communities.

Together, lets tackle homelessness, food poverty, mental health, and addiction with honesty and responsibility, she said. This is a time for hope and meaningful change.

We will be looking for commitments to escalate the number of social houses that the Government intends to deliver, that will meet the Governments commitment to ending homelessness by 2030, the Irish State has signed up to that commitment, said Mr Sheehan.

Irish Hotel Federation president and Cork hotelier, Michael Magner, said the tourism and hospitality sector was Irelands largest indigenous industry and measures to tackle the increasing cost of doing business were needed, adding:

What really needs to be taken seriously is that, as an industry, we are absolutely tired of having [a] Government where we cannot have a dedicated minister for tourism and hospitality at the Cabinet table.

If agriculture, which is the next largest indigenous sector, can have it, why cant we?

Aaron Mansworth, of the Cork Business Association, said Donald Trumps return as US president meant corporation tax receipts would eventually fall in Ireland.

We ask that politicians start to protect small and medium enterprises  our members are tired of the false promises being given by politicians in respect of the supports given, he added.

Cork Chamber CEO Conor Healy said the city and region needed investment and supporting policies to drive its economic growth.

We must invest in our infrastructure, our housing, our public transport; we need to prioritise the pursuit of a sustainable, vibrant evolution in our urban centres; and we must enhance our competitiveness, attracting talent and investment, and supporting SMEs and local businesses.

Former University College Cork president and newly elected chancellor of the National University of Ireland, Michael Murphy, said if Ireland aspired to be the best small country in Europe, it needed to have an education that measured up to that ambition.

The days of miracles are over; we will only get into the medals with a 1st (not 18th) place plan, leadership toolkit and resources, he stated. Show us the beef.
The annual Glounthaune Christmas Craft Fair will be returning to Cork this November.

Now in its fourth year, the fair will feature more than 20 stalls selling everything from jams to jewellery, candles to cardigans, ceramics to chutneys, tea to textiles, wreaths to wraps and much more.

Event organiser Kate Cuddy said: There are so many talented crafts people in our community who are struggling in this climate to find an outlet for their work.

So, lets reduce our carbon footprint by giving the multinational online and high-street vendors and their delivery drivers a break.

Walk, cycle, train, or bus yourself to Glounthaune, and enjoy the Christmas shopping experience.

On the day, hot beverages will be provided by Nom Nom Cafe, alongside sweet treats, which will be donated by Fitzpatrick's Shop and sold at the charity cake sale stall.

The fair will take place at the Glounthaune Community Centre on November 30 from 11am to 5pm.

Visit the Glounthaune Community Association Facebook page for more details.
A multi-faith prayer event was held in Cork last week to commemorate those lost during the Great Famine.

The event, held at dusk on All Souls Eve last Saturday, took place in the All Saints Famine Graveyard at Carrs Hill.

In the months of February to June, 1847, some 2,260 Famine victims from the workhouse on Douglas Rd, now St Finbarrs Hospital, were laid to rest on these grounds.

The cemetery, known locally as The Paupers Graveyard, was in use until the late 1950s, and is now the eternal resting place of more than 30,000 people who passed away during the course of its use.

The graveyard is only accessible through local fields and saw a small gathering of people attend the prayer event.

The event consisted of people from multiple faiths lighting candles and incense, speaking a few words representing their traditions and the creation of a wreath of light and leaves.

Representatives of the Hanmi Esoteric Buddhists Association, Future Orchard Trust, Franciscans and the Unitarian Church, Church of Ireland, Buddhamahadhatu Temple, and Nano Nagle Place were present for the event on the day.
With the general election called for Friday, November 29, there are only a few days left to register to vote or update your details, but, according to the Electoral Commission, doing so should take you less than three minutes.

First-time voters often do not know they have to register and so may miss the deadline, or turn up to vote only to be turned away.

If you are not already registered to vote, or you need to update your details or change your address, the deadline for in-person voting is Tuesday, November 12.

However, if you need to register for postal or special voting, the deadline is very tight, with applications closing tomorrow, Sunday, November 10.

If you are not registered to vote, you can do so by visiting checktheregister.ie, https://tinyurl.com/3huvc4tt, or by filling in the relevant form at your local authority.

You will need to have your PPS number and your Eircode.

When registering online, you will be prompted to select your local authority from a drop-down list.

You will be asked for your PPS number, date of birth and name, as well as your nationality, your address, contact number and email address.

When you have been registered, a polling card will be sent to your home address before the general election.

Under electoral law, certain people are eligible to apply for postal voting.

These include: full-time students studying away from home, people with illnesses or disabilities, members of An Garda Siochana, full-time members of the Defence Forces, and Irish diplomats posted abroad, and their spouses or partners.

People in prison are eligible for postal voting, as are anonymous electors, or members of the household of a person whose safety would be at risk if their name and address were published on the register of electors.

Also eligible for postal voting are people whose occupation, service or employment makes it likely that they will be unable to vote in person on polling day.

However, the deadline for application for a postal vote is two days after the dissolution of the Dail at the latest, which in this case is by Sunday, November 10.

People residing in hospitals, nursing homes, mental health facilities or similar institutions, and people who have a disability or illness which prevents them from going to the polling station, can vote at the hospital, nursing home or similar facility if they apply to be included in the special voters list.

The special voters list is prepared and maintained by registration authorities (city and county councils) as part of the register of electors.

In the case of a first application, and whenever required by the registration authorities in the case of a subsequent application, it must be accompanied by a certificate from a registered medical practitioner (such as a GP).

Again, this must be done by Sunday, November 10.

For further information on voting, see electoralcommission.ie.
The troubled pilot scheme for the restoration of therapists to special schools is expected to see speech and language therapists, as well as occupational therapists, in the schools in early January, Colm Burke, minister of State at the Department of Health, has suggested.

The Fine Gael Cork North Central TD was speaking as an announcement was made that Mayfield special school St Killians, as well as the East Cork Community Special School in Carrigtwohill and eight other special schools in Dublin and Galway would be added to the scheme, which was announced with six special schools in August.

The four special schools in Cork included in the initial tranche were St Pauls in Montenotte, Carrigaline Community Special School, Rochestown Special School, and Our Lady of Good Counsel in Ballincollig.

When the initial list was announced in August, the parents and principal of St Killians Special School in Mayfield expressed great disappointment that their school had not been included, as it was widely acknowledged that the proposal by St Killians to secure therapists from the private sector had inspired the establishment of the pilot scheme.

According to Mr Burke, he and others had lobbied very hard for the inclusion of St Killians in the scheme.

This will now start from January 1, said Mr Burke.

Responding to a query from The Echo as to whether this meant that all the Cork special schools in the pilot scheme would see therapists in January, Mr Burke said:

The issue is that its obviously subject to them getting the therapists they require  St Killians are absolutely confident they can get the therapists, and I understand they will be in a position to start on January 1.

According to Anne Hartnett, principal of St Pauls, there have been indications from the National Council of Special Education (NCSE), that speech and language therapists and occupational therapists would be starting in St Pauls and the other pilot scheme schools in Cork in January.

A meeting is due to take place involving representatives of the HSE and the NCSE with the principals of the Cork schools next week to set out how the scheme would work.

In October, St Killians was granted 40,000 to fund privately-sourced therapists until December, and talks are currently understood to be reaching a conclusion to ensure these therapists can be secured.

Nevertheless, the St Killians Parents Unite group issued a statement welcoming the inclusion of the school in the pilot scheme.

After months of campaigning, this is indeed welcome news, said Eibhlin Gleeson of St Killians Parents Unite.

However, we will now need to see that every measure is being taken to ensure that this pilot is fit for purpose.

This means an appropriate level of therapeutic hours for all of the children of St Killians, and soon.

Sinn Fein Cork North Central TD Thomas Gould said this must not be another empty promise from Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.

Children are suffering and losing out on their potential  that cannot be allowed to continue, and must be a priority for the next government, he said.
Funding of more than 800,000 has been allocated to 13 animal welfare charities operating across in Cork.

The funding, announced by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD, comes as part of a 6m package allocated to 101 animal welfare charities nationwide.

The is highest ever level of allocations for the sector, recognition of the very challenging year 2024 has been for charities involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of animal

The Cork-based organisations will between them benefit from funding totaling 809,625, an increase of 4,000 on payments made to Cork charities under the initiative in 2023.

For the second year in a row, the largest single beneficiary in Cork is The Donkey Sanctuary in Liscarroll, which was allocated 300,000, followed by the CSPCA in Mahon, which was allocated 156,950.

Announcing the funds, Mr McConalogue acknowledged the tireless work done by people across the country to protect animal welfare.

Animal welfare charities play a crucial role in helping animals in need, educating people, and raising public awareness and improving animal welfare, said Mr McConalogue.

The awards this year continue to focus on rewarding those organisations that have been successful in rehoming, providing educational initiatives, and promoting awareness of responsible pet ownership.

These grants will support the organisations in the vital work they do.

For a full list of awardees, visit: www.gov.ie/.
Chocolates and sweets might not be great for the teeth, but theyre sure to lift the spirits of the hardworking volunteers in one of Corks oldest charities as they help people in need this festive season.

Volunteers in Cork Penny Dinners are facing into the busiest time of their year, when the charity distributes thousands of hampers across the city to people struggling to make ends meet.

Thats on top of the hundreds of meals the Little Hanover Street charity delivers every day of the week, as well as the food parcels, new clothing, dignity packs, and back-to-school sets the volunteers regularly give out.

All of that packing and preparation can be hard work, so a new initiative by Nina ONeill, who runs the Douglas Now Facebook page, will allow Penny Dinners volunteers to enjoy a tasty treat while they work.

She has set up an appeal for Halloween treats to be donated to Cork Penny Dinners.

You can never know how many kids will call trick or treating, so you have loads of sweets left over, and your own kids come back with loads of sweets as well, so I thought dropping them to Penny Dinners might be helpful, she said.

It might also be something that would put Penny Dinners on peoples radar and let them know about the important work that they do.

People are asked to drop unopened sweets to the offices of the Douglas Post in the Douglas Community Centre, where Marie Piper-Gregan has already received several bags of treats.

Caitriona Twomey, volunteer co-ordinator with Cork Penny Dinners, said the idea was very thoughtful.

Our volunteers all work so hard, and they do like a little treat now and then, and do you know what? They deserve a treat too, Ms Twomey said.
Jun 1, 2024; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Former President Donald Trump talks with UFC President Dana during the fight between Cesar Almeida (red gloves) and Roman Kopylov (blue gloves) during UFC 302 at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

After a successful 2024 campaign, Donald Trump will once again serve as President of the United States, thanks in part to support from key figures in the MMA community. UFC co-creator Campbell McLaren believes that the backing of these influential figures helped Trump make unexpected gains among young voters.

Trumps ties with the UFC go back to 2001 when UFC President Dana White was allowed to host events at the Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City when very few states even allowed MMA to be sanctioned.

Now, the UFC has become the premiere fight promotion in a country where the sport of MMA is legalized in all 50 states, which has resulted in UFC becoming valued at over $12 billion, a figure that seems destined to grow as the sport as a whole grows in popularity.

Whites loyalty to Trump has never wavered since. He has spoken on his behalf in all three Republican National Conventions since Trump first began to delve into politics in 2016.

In this election cycle, White wasnt alone. UFC broadcaster Joe Rogan publicly endorsed Trump and featured both Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance on The Joe Rogan Experience in the final weeks before Election Day. Each episode saw massive viewership, with Trumps episode hitting over 47 million views on YouTube alone.

Rogans podcast audience  largely male and aged 18 to 34  was instrumental in bolstering Trumps popularity with young voters. This age group, which leaned heavily toward Joe Biden in 2020, saw 52% support Trump in 2024, a surprising shift from just four years ago.

Campbell McLaren spoke about the election results in an interview with Sportico Friday, saying that its no understatement to say that the MMA community won the election for Trump.

Remember, I am a promoter, so Im allowed a certain amount of hyperbole, McLaren said of his bold claim. In 30 years, the sport has gone from sort of being an outcast sport. John McCain, Senator McCain, a Republican, was really trying to get it banned. And now, fast forward 30 years, not so fast; it took a while to get here.

But 30 years. And I think the UFC, Dana White and certainly Joe Rogan played an enormous part in Donald Trumps popularity, particularly in reaching young men. He acknowledges that. And I think its fairly obvious. I think thats an amazing thing to think about, right? In 30 years, its gone from mainstream to political power.

Please enable JavaScript to view the poll powered by Disqus.

One could argue that the majority of Rogans listeners, many of whom are MMA fans, would likely have voted for Trump over Harris regardless of the podcast appearance. This is especially true when you consider Dana Whites policy of free speech for fighters, even when it happens to go over the line in the eyes of many.

Regardless, Trump played up to his audience, and it worked out.

So dont be shocked to see other political candidates attempt to use Rogan and sporting leagues like the UFC to gain further popularity in the future.

[Sportico on YouTube]
A man who attempted to steal 15,000 worth of electronic goods and committed the offence of money laundering will be sentenced on February 13.

Ange Munene, aged 21, of Castlepark, Ballincollig, County Cork, admitted the attempted theft of electronic goods valued at more than 15,000 from Harvey Normans, Kinsale Road, Cork, on October 21, 2022.

He also pleaded guilty to money laundering on the same date at Bank of Ireland, Main Street, Ballincollig, in respect of more than 18,000.

Mr Munene had a history of substance abuse but had come under the care and direction of the probation service, his barrister, Abigail Creed said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge Helen Boyle acceded to an application to adjourn sentencing until February 13, 2025.
Tributes were paid following the announcement today of the death of UCC history lecturer and author Gabriel Doherty as the Tanaiste, Micheal Martin, described him as "an outstanding historian".

A graduate of Oxford University where he earned a BA and University of Galway where he was awarded a Masters degree, Mr Doherty was a widely published historian having edited two books, De Valeras Irelands and 1916  The Long Revolution, and having contributed numerous articles for historical journals.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin, himself a UCC history graduate, described Mr Doherty as an outstanding historian and said he was shocked and saddened to hear of his death.

Its very, very sad news and my sympathies go to his family, said Mr Martin.

UCC President, Professor John OHalloran also described Mr Doherty as an "outstanding historian" who had "deepened our understanding of key moments in Irish history".

He played a significant role in the recent Decade of Centenaries commemorations and a leading role in research, teaching and examining in his field, said Professor OHalloran.

Much admired and loved, his loss will be deeply felt in our community.

We extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Gill, daughters Meabh and Una, and son Oscar as well as his friends and colleagues.

Douglas GAA, where Mr Doherty was a committee member and mentor, took to social media to express their shock and sympathy.

Street league games, a meeting of the LGFA review committee and the club shop were cancelled as a mark of respect.
Eva Osborne

After months of speculation, the general election has been confirmed for November 29th.

Here is everything you need to know about how to register to vote, how the voting system works and how ballots are counted.

How do I register to vote?

You can go to checktheregister.ie to register to vote, update your name, or update your address. These steps can all be done fully online.

The last date to register to vote in the general election is Tuesday, November 12th.

The deadline to apply for postal and special votes is Sunday, November 10th.

To vote in a general election, you must be:

Over 18 years of age;

An Irish or British citizen;

Resident in Ireland;

Listed on the Register of Electors (Electoral Register).

To register to vote online, all you need is your PPS number and Eircode.

How do I vote?

To vote in a general election, you must go to a polling station on the day of the election (polling day). However, there are some people who are eligible to vote by post.

If you are on the Register of Electors, a polling card will be sent to your home before the date of the general election. Your polling card includes your elector number and will tell you where you can vote.

Ireland uses proportional representation for voting in elections, with each voter having a single transferable vote.

This means you can order in preference, marking 1, 2, 3 and so on for your preferred candidates.

It also means voters can choose to vote for as many, or as few candidates as they like, in order of their preference.

The voters first preference vote  the candidate they give their number 1 vote to  is most important and is always counted. A voters second (and further preferences) may be counted if their preferred candidate is eliminated at the end of a round of counting, or is elected with a surplus.

The count starts at 9am on the day after polling day. Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

How does the count work?

When polling is over, all ballot boxes are taken to a central counting place for each constituency. The count starts at 9am on the day after polling day.

Once all the ballot boxes are opened, a reconciliation process takes place in which the number of ballots issued at the polling centre is checked against the number of ballots that were in the ballot boxes. Each ballot paper is checked to ensure that it has been properly completed, and any potential spoilt votes are set aside. The number of ballot papers are counted to determine the total poll, the total number of votes.

The quota is then calculated on the basis of the total valid poll. The quota is the figure that, if reached, guarantees the election of a candidate. It is possible to get elected without reaching the quota, but this can only happen when all other candidates are excluded.

How is the quota calculated?

The quota is calculated by taking the (total number of valid ballot papers) dividing it by (the number of seats to be filled plus one) and then adding one.

So, in a four-seat constituency with a valid poll of 60,000 the quota is as follows: (60,000/4+1) +1 -= 12,001.

The quota is a formula calculated on the basis of the lowest possible number of votes that can be filled by the number of candidates to be elected. In the above example, which is a four-seat constituency, it is only possible for four candidates to reach the quota of 12,001 votes each, as this would only leave 11,996 votes left.

If your first choice candidate reaches or exceeds the quota on the first count, they are elected.

So what is the surplus?

The surplus is the number of votes a candidate has over the quota.

The first count is normally the only time that all of a candidates second preference votes are counted. If a candidate is elected at the first count, then all their votes are used to calculate the proportion of surplus that will be given to each candidate.

Where a candidate reaches the quota after the first count, only the ballot papers that brought them over the quota are examined (the votes that were transferred from the previous count).

If two or more candidates are elected at the same time, then the surplus of the candidate with the largest vote is distributed first.

However, a surplus is only distributed if it can achieve one of the following:

Elect the next highest continuing candidate;

Bring the lowest continuing candidate level with or above the second lowest continuing candidate;

Qualify the lowest continuing candidate for recoupment of their election expenses or deposit (if applicable).

The question of whether a surplus is to be distributed is considered after each count on the basis of the surplus(es) then available.

What about eliminating candidates with the lowest votes?

If nobody reaches the quota after a round of counting, then the candidate with the fewest number of votes is eliminated, and all their votes are distributed.

More than one candidate can be eliminated after a round of voting if it is clear that they cannot be elected, and they cannot qualify to have their election expenses repaid.

And then we get a government?

Once all the seats have been filled, the Dail votes on who will serve as Taoiseach and lead a government. If one party has a majority, or has the support of other parties and/or independents, it will be clear who will lead the country into the new Dail session.

If there is no clear majority, there may be a period of negotiation, where groups of parties and/or independent TDs try to build a majority.

If there is no clear winner, and TDs are unable to decide who should form a government, the Taoiseach (from the previous government) may have to ask the President to dissolve the Dail again.
By Cillian Sherlock, PA

Simon Harris chose not to attend the annual Remembrance Sunday commemoration at Enniskillen on advice from his most senior officials.

Mr Harriss absence will represent a notable break with the tradition of the sitting Taoiseach attending the event.

The commemoration falls two days after he formally announced an election in Ireland.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, he explained that officials said the attendance of the Taoiseach was based on the presence of members of the Northern Ireland Executive.

Mr Harris said: This was on official advice from the most senior officials in my department because there isnt  I dont believe  a representative from the Northern Ireland Executive attending which is when the Taoiseach of the day  whoever he or she is  would usually attend too.

Mr Harris said the Government would be represented at senior level by his Fine Gael colleague and cabinet minister Heather Humphreys.

It represents a significant break in a tradition begun by Enda Kenny.

Mr Kenny became the first taoiseach to attend a Remembrance Day service in Northern Ireland when he took part in commemorations at Enniskillen in 2012, in a move seen as symbolic of greater recognition afforded in the Republic of Ireland to Irishmen who fought and died serving in the British Army in the First World War.

Enda Kenny lays a wreath at a Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in Enniskillen (Niall Carson/PA)

His attendance also marked the 25th anniversary of an IRA bombing at the memorial in 1987.

The tradition has been followed almost every year since Mr Kenny placed a laurel wreath at the base of the memorial.

Eleven people who had gathered to pay their respects to the war dead were killed and dozens injured in the no-warning blast on November 8 1987, minutes before the Remembrance Sunday ceremony was due to start.

A 12th victim of the Poppy Day bombing died 13 years later having never woken from a coma.

Mr Harriss decision to miss the event was criticised by the South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF), a victims group which works with many of the families affected by the bombing.

It called on him to engage with the bereaved families after the election.

Asked about the request, Mr Harris said: Certainly, I very much want to and am happy to engage with the families.
Joanne McNally and Davina Devine were at hand as Boots launched its first-ever destination store in Ireland, on Corks Half Moon Street in recent days.

The opening of the redesigned store follows a 4.4 million investment.

At the launch, Joanne and Davina shared stories of their own beauty loves and routines with guests, recalling their early introductions to beauty and skincare.

Joanne even gave a nod back to the days when she would pick up a tinted Labello or Chapstick at Boots in England as a youngster, before they were a major feature here.

How things have changed, said Joanne.

And that, they certainly have.

The flagship facility aims to be a one-stop-shop for all things beauty and is stocking a wide range of global beauty brands and cult favourites including MAC, Too Faced, Benefit, Fenty, Milk, R.E.M., Urban Decay, Kylie Cosmetics, Huda Beauty, Sol de Janeiro, and many more.

Comedian Joanne McNally said she's a 'divil' for skincare. Photo: Kieran Harnett

Luxury offerings include YSL, Chanel, Armani, Lancome, Estee Lauder, Clinique, Clarins, and Liz Earle.

There are also accessible brands like Bubbl and trusted names like La Roche Posay as well as trending K-Beauty lines such as Beauty of Joseon.

The store also features the No7 Pro Derm Scan, a skin analysis tool.

Haircare brands include Kerastase, Quai, Redken, Matrix, Pureology, Philip Kingsley, Shu Uemura, LOreal Pro, and Bumble and Bumble.

Im convinced that the new Boots store in Cork was built specifically for me, said Joanne,

Its like they raided my beauty wishlist and put it all in one glorious location.

Whether youre a make-up pro or just looking to replace that mascara youve had since 2010  this place has it all, she added.

The comedian said that on a day-to-day basis, she doesnt wear a lot of make-up, but she is big into skincare.

I could be putting serums and creams on myself all day, she told The Echo.

Im a divil for skincare so shops like this set my dopamine off.

Coming in here was like going to the circus as a child.

Its been a busy year for Joanne who is currently writing a book and is working on content for her new tour which starts in spring 2025.

In addition, she is doing two weekly podcasts with Vogue Williams and has recently finished a BBC Sounds podcast Did Furbies spy on us.

For Joanne, stand-up comedy remains her key passion though and shes looking forward to getting back on tour.

Stephen Watkins, Managing Director of Boots Ireland said he was incredibly proud to bring the first-ever best of Boots destination store to Cork.

Our investment in our Half Moon Street store is about providing customers in Cork and beyond with an unmatched selection of iconic beauty, skincare, and haircare brands, all in one extraordinary space.

We know our customers appreciate choice and quality, and were thrilled to offer such a comprehensive range right in the heart of the city.

I cant wait to welcome everyone to experience all that this unique store has to offer.

Beyond beauty, the new Boots store aims to reimagine the Boots healthcare experience.

The redesigned upstairs area provides a comprehensive range of healthcare services including the state-of-the-art Boots Hearingcare World of Hearing, designed to deliver the highest standard of audiological care.

Watkins said the Half Moon Street store is not only our first destination store in Ireland, but its also the pinnacle of the Boots retail experience across the UK and Ireland.

We are delighted to bring this elevated offering to our Cork customers.
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.

Elnur Soltanov speaks at the Baku Climate Action Week in Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, Azerbaijan on Sept. 30, 2024. Aziz Karimov / Getty Images

Chief Executive Officer of the United Nations COP29 Climate Change Conference Elnur Soltanov has been recorded by Global Witness apparently agreeing to help facilitate fossil fuel industry deals at the summit, reported The Guardian.

A member of the campaign organization posed as a fake oil and gas representative offering to sponsor the event in exchange for assistance with the deals.

COP29 officials abused their positions by facilitating talks about oil and gas deals at a climate conference, pitching a dystopian future which includes fossil fuels perhaps forever, a spokesperson for Global Witness said in a press release. Petrostates are perfecting a sinister playbook which sees COP as just another business opportunity for polluters.

Officials of COP29  which begins next week in Baku, Azerbaijan  provided an introduction for the phony investor to a senior executive of the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) to discuss potential investments.

Soltanov, who is also Azerbaijans deputy energy minister, promised to create a contact between yourself and [SOCAR] so that they can start discussions.

Soltanov suggested that Global Witness fake investment group EC Capital incorporate your activities with SOCARs activity during COP, so that you can talk business to them and also participate in the COP29 process.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) expects officials to act without self-interest and said they should not use their official roles to seek private gain, The Guardian reported.

Global Witness recorded Soltanov telling the imposter oil and gas group that SOCAR was trading oil and gas, all over the world, including in Asia, the press release said.

Soltanov said natural gas is a transitional fuel, and that we will have a certain amount of oil and natural gas being produced, perhaps forever.

During last years climate summit, countries agreed to transition away from climate wrecking fossil fuels. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has made it clear that new oil and gas development is incompatible with the worlds climate targets as established in the 2016 Paris Agreement.

It also appeared that the COP29 team was willing to waive the fake companys climate requirements if it sponsored the talks.

Event sponsors of COP29 are expected to commit to reducing their emissions, as well as sign a national pledge that promises to devise a credible net zero plan during the next two years, reported The Guardian.

The requirements were waived during the recorded negotiations, with the COP29 team agreeing to a new clause that would give imposter EC Capital meeting opportunities with key local stakeholders from the energy sector at COP29.

After Global Witness video call with Soltanov, EC Capital was introduced to Vice President of SOCAR Elshad Nassirov, who expressed interest in meeting with them in Baku.

The UNFCCC urgently needs to act to clean up the [COP] climate talks, starting by banning the fossil fuel industry from sponsoring them, and kicking their lobbyists out for good. Weve had 29 talks with an ever-growing crowd of polluters and snake-oil salesmen present. Lets try the next one without, a spokesperson for Global Witness said in the press release.
A lot of people tried to use OpenAI's DALL-E image generator during the election season, but the company said that it was able to stop them from using it as a tool to create deepfakes. ChatGPT rejected over 250,000 requests to generate images with President Biden, President-elect Trump, Vice President Harris, Vice President-elect Vance and Governor Walz, OpenAI said in a new report. The company explained that it's a direct result of a safety measure it previously implemented so that ChatGPT would refuse to generate images with real people, including politicians.

OpenAI has been preparing for the US presidential elections since the beginning of the year. It laid out a strategy that was meant to prevent its tools from being used to help spread misinformation and made sure that people asking ChatGPT about voting in the US are directed to CanIVote.org. OpenAI said 1 million ChatGPT responses directed people to the website in the month leading up to election day. The chatbot also generated 2 million responses on election day and the day after, telling people who ask it for the results to check Associated Press, Reuters and other news sources. OpenAI made sure that ChatGPT's responses "did not express political preferences or recommend candidates even when asked explicitly," as well.

Of course, DALL-E isn't the only AI image generator out there, and there are plenty of election-related deepfakes going around social media. One such deepfake featured Kamala Harris in a campaign video altered so that she'd say things she didn't actually say, such as "I was selected because I am the ultimate diversity hire."
"Periodic table of data elements" unveiled

People's Daily Online) 16:13, November 09, 2024

Gold, copper, coal...Every type of mineral resource on Earth has a precise designation. Data, defined as the fifth production factor after land, labor, capital, and technology, is often metaphorically referred to as a new type of "mineral resource." However, up until recently, no organization has been able to directly specify what type of data "mineral resource" it possesses. New research is hoping to change that.

As the global digital economy accelerates, how to fully unleash the immense potential of data elements has become an urgent question. At the "2023 Digital Economy Summit" held in Shanghai in September, representatives from People's Daily Online and the State Key Laboratory of Communication Content Cognition publicly announced for the first time that the People's Data Research Institute (the digital economy think tank platform under People's Data) would collaborate with multiple partners. They plan to create a foundational theoretical framework that, similar to the periodic table of elements in the physical world, would enable the precise classification of data beyond industry or geographic limitations and simulate "chemical reactions" between different types of data. Following this, the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Urban Design and Urban Science (LOUD), an internationally leading team, joined this collaborative research project.

On Oct. 25, 2024, LOUD released its latest research findings, titled "From 'Periodic Table of Data Elements' to 'Data Reactions': Theoretical Innovations Supporting the Assetization of Data Elements".

Liu Yanjun, deputy executive director of the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Urban Design and Urban Science. (People's Daily Online/Weng Qiyu)

Liu Yanjun, deputy executive director of LOUD, explained that to truly unlock data's potential, a fundamental shift is needed from "big data applications" to "data element applications." Instead of simply collecting and analyzing data, it's essential to delve into the intrinsic value of data, transforming it into a core resource that can drive economic and social development. Additionally, data needs to transition from being a "resource" to an "asset," moving from closed, internal use to shared, collaborative use, allowing data to flow and generate greater social and economic benefits.

Currently, data transformation faces several obstacles, including inconsistent data quality, frequent data silos, and unclear application scenarios. These issues have become "stumbling blocks" that limit the potential of data elements.

Liu believes that the "periodic table of data elements" paves a new path for the systematic analysis and application of data.

The "periodic table of data elements," as its name suggests, breaks down data elements into fundamental units that are easier to understand and operate. Based on this concept, a data element identification system is being developed. This system labels data based on region, industry, volume, time, quality, update frequency, and other characteristics, creating a unique "identity code" that clearly identifies each data resource. Using these principles, circulating data can be linked with a unique code. This marks the first-phase achievement of developing the "periodic table of data elements".

With the clear identification of data elements, further analysis of "data reactions" is possible. Liu explained that just like atoms in the chemical periodic table, these elements can combine and interact in different ways to generate various complex data structures and application scenarios. By clearly identifying data elements and analyzing "data reactions," we can process and compute scattered, disordered data resources according to specific processing models, ultimately creating data element scenarios with practical application value.

"In simple terms, if the chemical reaction in the physical world is like oxygen and hydrogen combining under heat to produce water, then in the digital space, oxygen and hydrogen are our data elements, and the heating condition is the 'data reaction,'" Liu explained.

This research was unveiled at a parallel session of the Media Integration and Development Forum 2024 hosted by People's Daily and co-organized by Peoples Daily Online and People's Daily Digital Communication Co., Ltd.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Du Mingming)
It seems Sean "Diddy" Combs' Beverly Hills' home is being rejected by potential buyers as the former rap boss continues to face a slew of legal troubles.

The home  which officially went up for sale two months ago  continues to struggle on the real estate market.

'TMZ' reported that the property has received very little attention since it's become available. Real estate agents close to the Hollywood media outlet also alleged that the disgraced musician's asking price for the property is "ridiculous."

Read more: YouTuber 1Stockf30 Dead At 25 After Smashing Into Metal Pole In High Speed Street Race

Sources told the media outlet that "only a few" potential buyers have visited the rap mogul's residence. Needless to say, no negotiations were necessary as nobody has shown any real interest in moving forward with the home.

Diddy is reportedly having a hard time selling his extravagant Holmby Hills mansion. Priced at a cool $61.5 million, it seems this lavish abode is having a bit of an identity crisis  because no one wants to call it home, chi!  [Read more in Thread] pic.twitter.com/eC5sGBI06h  Favulate (@favulate) November 8, 2024

In one instance, a married couple stopped by to view the property, but the woman was allegedly so "creeped out" that she couldn't wait to leave. The source stated there was absolutely an "ick factor" due to the rapper's legal run-ins.

The home  which has an asking price of $61.5 million, which agents deem "ridiculous"  was raided by Homeland Security back in March following the star's civil and criminal allegations.

Diddy, 55, purchased the home for $39 million in 2014, which features classic European design elements including a large living room, formal dining room, wine cellar, office, and a gourmet kitchen with a family room, separate catering kitchen, and a state-of-the-art theater that seats 35 guests, per 'Page Six.'

The property  located in the "Platinum Triangle of Los Angeles"  has yet to secure any potential leads. Meanwhile, the fallen three-time Grammy Award-winning producer recently celebrated his birthday behind bars in Brooklyn, but there was an upside. Combs reportedly received his choice of special meals through the day.

His birthday options included a choice of biscuits and gravy, oven-browned potatoes, bread, and oatmeal for breakfast. The musician reportedly enjoyed cheese pizza, pasta salad, and green beans for lunch with a choice of chicken or tofu, fried rice with black beans, and carrots for dinner, per the 'New York Post.'

Sean "Diddy" Combs' trial for sex trafficking and racketeering charges is scheduled to begin on May 5, 2025, per 'BBC.' Diddy, who plead not guilty, will remain behind bars until then.
Lil Durk was charged with new felony charges in his alleged murder-for-hire plot on Friday, November 8, in a superseding federal grand jury indictment.

The Chicago, Illinois, native's latest charges include one count of conspiracy, one count of use of interstate facilities to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death, and one count of using, carrying, and discharging firearms and a machine gun and possession of such firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death of Quando Rondo's cousin, Lul Pab.

Per 'TMZ,' the 32-year-old is being accused of being the leader and kingpin of "Only the Family" (OTF), formed in 2010, who ordered the alleged murder-for-hire plot in August 2022.

Read more: Lil Durk and Diddy Agree This is The Worst Thing About Prison

According to prosecutors, Durk, who won his first Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance earlier this year, funded Only The Family's gang members' travel to California where they allegedly stalked Quando Rondo and opened fire on him, his sister, and his cousin Saviay'a Robinson. This act was allegedly in retaliation for the 2020 killing of King Von, a rapper associated with Durk's label, by a member of Rondo's circle. Durk and five members of OTF, including Kavon Grant, Deandre Wilson, Keith Jones, David Lindsey, and Asa Houston, now face multiple charges related to the incident.

All five defendants face charges of conspiracy, murder-for-hire using interstate facilities, and use of firearms in a crime of violence are currently detained in federal custody in Illinois.

Lil Durk was apprehended by law enforcement in Florida after allegedly attempting to flee the country on October 24. According to the FBI, the "Hellcats & Trackhawks" rapper booked flights to Dubai and Switzerland and was listed as a passenger on a private jet bound for Italy.

However, Durk was arrested before he could board that last alleged flight. It's unclear what the motive behind the alleged Dubai and Switzerland flights are or were. If convicted, Durk and the other defendants could face a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison.

In other Durk news, the Village of Broadview, Illinois, rescinded the honorary key it awarded to Durk just one week prior to his arrest.

In a statement, officials emphasized the importance of public figures upholding moral and ethical standards, stating, "Given the news that Durk 'Lil Durk' Banks has been arrested in Florida and charged with murder for hire, the Village of Broadview is withdrawing our honorary 'key to the village' granted to Durk and is terminating our partnership agreement with his youth organization, Neighborhood Heroes Foundation."
Cameras were on Republican senator Ted Cruz's family as he addressed an excited Texan crowd, celebrating his re-election. Next to him stood his wife, Heidi Cruz, and two daughters, including 16-year-old Caroline Cruz.

However, it was the moment that Ted referenced Donald Trump's re-election that daughter Caroline's demeanor took a turn. When her father says, "I hope and pray Donald Trump will be re-elected as the president of the United States," she grimaces in disgust. Refusing to clap, she mouths to her mother standing next to her, "Don't clap for that."

Ted Cruzs daughter makes a face when her dad mentions Trump. She then tells her mom not to clap for Trump - Dont clap for that.



Trump attacked Heidi Cruzs appearance in 2016.

pic.twitter.com/N0Qv8G9prb  PatriotTakes  (@patriottakes) November 8, 2024

Her cringe was felt across the internet, immediately going viral. Social media found the moment to be hilarious, as well as a glimmer of hope for the future of the Cruz family. She also publicly liked a TikTok comment encouraging her to cultivate her own political perspective and ideals outside of her father.

Ted Cruz's daughter isn't old enough to vote yet,..



But if she was, she wouldn't be voting for Ted Cruz. pic.twitter.com/uF2vDwWy3r  CoffeyTimeNews (@CoffeyTimeNews) November 4, 2024

ted cruzs daughter returning to tiktok after 2 years oh she knows she ate that television background appearance shading him pic.twitter.com/EhRW4LbtdJ  m  (@midnightsnace) November 8, 2024

ted cruz's daughter hates trump LMFAOOOOO and her liking this comment gives me hope  pic.twitter.com/uGy8AkBK9c  tanya (@allthingsnastix) November 8, 2024

It's worth noting that Trump attacked her mother Heidi Cruz's appearance as Cruz campaigned for presidency in 2016. According to Vanity Fair, Trump referred to Ted's wife as "ugly" and accused his father of being linked to the assassination of JF Kennedy.

Trump went on to call Cruz "Lyin Ted" and even doubted whether he was qualified to be president, as he was born in Canada. Once Ted dropped out of the Republican primary, he then endorsed Trump. According to reports, Trump apologized to Ted later.
At least 24 people were killed and more than 40 injured in a bomb blast at a railway station in the city of Quetta in southwestern Pakistan.
Cher shot to stardom in the UK after being kicked out of a London hotel.

Cher was virtually unknown when she arrived in London

The 78-year-old icon and her ex-husband, Sonny Bono, visited the UK for the first time in the mid-1960s, having already enjoyed some success in the US, and Cher feels that a confrontation with a hotel employee actually catapulted her to stardom.

In 'Cher: The Memoir' - excerpts of which have been serialised in the Daily Mail newspaper - she explains: "Staring at us over the rim of his spectacles, the man behind the desk at the London Hilton gazed at my striped bell-bottoms and my husband Sonny's ruffled shirt and caveman-style fur vest as if he had an unpleasant smell under his nose.

"'I'm sorry, sir,' he said. 'We don't have any reservations in that name and our hotel is completely full.'

"As he walked away, Sonny leaned over to look at the leather-bound register and found our names entered in ink.

"The man returned. 'As I explained, Mr Bono, the hotel is full.' He was so dismissive and arrogant, I could have cried."

Despite this, Cher now considers the incident to be a turning point in her career.

The chart-topping star - who was married to Sonny between 1964 and 1975 - explained: "As far as I was concerned, no one in England even knew what Sonny Cher was, but by the time we reached the Hilton's revolving doors, escorted in person by the manager, there were two reporters standing outside.

"'Sonny, Cher, did the Hilton just kick you out?' they asked. 'Was it because of how you look?'

"Too exhausted to speak, I let Sonny handle everything. When the journalists had what they wanted, he hailed a taxi to take us to another hotel where the bed was lumpy, there was no TV and water trickled out of the shower.

"We slept for 12 hours straight and by the time we'd bathed and dressed, we were famous."
Luke Grimes' family have always been his "foundation".

Luke Grimes is loving fatherhood

The 40-year-old actor and his wife, Bianca, welcomed their baby boy six weeks ago, and Luke has revealed that he's loving the experience of fatherhood.

He told PEOPLE: "It's just been magical to watch."

Luke is determined to "stay as in the moment as possible" - regardless of what's going on in his personal and professional life.

The 'Yellowstone' star said: "I know some of these things can be kind of overwhelming if you think about 'em all at once."

Luke also noted that his family have always been central to his life.

He shared: "I [have] a huge immediate family.

"I was the youngest of four. They all got married when I was still very young. So by the time I had nieces and nephews, starting at two years old, there was family everywhere all over the place. It was just sort of that way in Ohio and a Christian home, and so that was always my foundation."

Luke has enjoyed huge success in his career. But the actor always assumed that he'd find "real happiness" once he became a dad.

Luke said: "I knew one day I wanted to start my own family, and I knew that that was going to be where the real happiness came from. The other stuff was just going to pay the bills."

The actor previously pledged to be with Bianca "forever", describing the model as a "real angel".

Luke - who married Bianca back in 2018 - told told USA Today: "I'm a very married person and I love my wife to death. We'll be together forever.

"There's no way I earn it. I do my best. But I'm a flawed big ol' weird-a** man. She's the real angel here."
Sophia Loren felt "confused" when she arrived in Hollywood for the first time.

Sophia Loren has recalled her arrival in Hollywood

The 90-year-old actress began her acting career in Italy in the 1950s - but when she finally made the switch to Hollywood, Sophia was shocked to discover that Hollywood wasn't "a fairytale city".

She told Deadline: "Ill never forget looking out the window as I was landing in Los Angeles for the first time and being confused by what I saw.

"Coming from Pozzuoli I pictured Hollywood like a version of Oz, a fairytale city filled with fantasy and colour but what I saw was fields of orange trees and desert."

Despite this, Sophia was ultimately wowed by the people she met in the American film industry.

The actress - who is one of the last surviving stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema - said: "It took me a while to reconcile the Hollywood of my dreams with its city but as soon as I met the actors and the filmmakers that I so admired, I once again found the Hollywood of my dreams for that dream lived in the great talent and hearts of all those wonderful artists."

Sophia starred in the 1960 war drama 'Two Women', and that film proved to a turning point in her career, as it proved her versatility as an actress.

Sophia - who became a sex symbol in the 1950s - said: "Playing 'Two Women' was a turning point in my career, no question about that.

"But it wasnt so much about defying that label as it was proving to myself that I could be the kind of actress that I had always aspired to. An actress who could immerse herself in a character in as authentic and real a way as possible while at the same time speak a truth of emotion that was universal.

"That film showed me that my emotions, if authentic and heartfelt, could travel the world."
Queen Camilla will miss Remembrance events this weekend.

Queen Camilla will miss the events in London

The 77-year-old royal was recently diagnosed with a chest infection and she's "following doctors guidance" by missing the Remembrance events in London over the weekend.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: "Following doctors' guidance to ensure a full recovery from a seasonal chest infection, and to protect others from any potential risk, Her Majesty will not attend this weekend's Remembrance events."

Despite this, Camilla still intends to "mark the occasion privately at home".

The statement continued: "While this is a source of great disappointment to the Queen, she will mark the occasion privately at home and hopes to return to public duties early next week."

Members of the royal family are set to attend the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday (09.11.24), before they gather at the Cenotaph in central London on Sunday for the annual service.

King Charles - who is still receiving treatment for cancer - will lay a wreath at the memorial in Whitehall.

Catherine, Princess of Wales is also set to attend Remembrance events in London.

The 42-year-old royal has slowly been returning to public duties after undergoing abdominal surgery and subsequent preventative chemotherapy treatment.

Buckingham Palace recently confirmed that she will be present for the Festival of Remembrance and the service at the Cenotaph.

Meanwhile, Prince William has admitted that 2024 has been a "brutal" year for his family.

Asked how his year has been during a recent trip to South Africa, William replied: "Honestly? Its been dreadful. Its probably been the hardest year in my life.

"Trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult.

"But Im so proud of my wife, Im proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done. But from a personal family point of view, its been, yeah, its been brutal."
German exports were down by 1.7 per cent month on month (MoM) and imports were up by 2.1 per cent MoM in September this year on a calendar- and seasonally-adjusted basis, according to provisional data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis).

Exports decreased by 0.2 per cent year on year (YoY) and imports rose by 1.3 per cent YoY in the month.

After calendar and seasonal adjustment, Germany exported goods worth 128.2 billion and imported goods to the value of 111.3 billion in September this year. The foreign trade balance showed a surplus of 17 billion in the month.

German exports were down by 1.7 per cent month on month (MoM) and imports were up by 2.1 per cent MoM in September on a calendar- and seasonally-adjusted basis, according to provisional data from the Federal Statistical Office. Exports decreased by 0.2 per cent YoY and imports rose by 1.3 per cent YoY in the month. Most German exports in September went to the United States.

The calendar- and seasonally-adjusted surplus stood at 21.4 billion in August 2024 and 18.6 billion euros in September 2023.

On a calendar- and seasonally-adjusted basis, Germany exported goods worth 69.4 billion to the member states of the European Union (EU) in Septembera month-on-month drop of 1.8 per cent, while it imported goods worth 57.8 billion from these countries in the perioda MoM rise of 1.6 per cent.

The value of the goods exported to euro area countries in September totalled 48.1 billiona MoM drop of 2.4 per cent, and the value of the goods imported from these countries was 38.1 billiona MoM rise of 2.2 per cent.

In September this year, goods to the value of 21.3 billion (a 0.3-per cent MoM drop) were exported to EU countries not belonging to the euro area, while the value of the goods imported from these countries was 19.7 billion (a 0.5-per cent MoM rise) on a calendar- and seasonally-adjusted basis, a Destatis release said.

On a calendar- and seasonally-adjusted basis, exports of goods to countries outside the EU (third countries) amounted to 58.8 billion in Septembera 1.6-per cent MoM drop, while imports from these countries totalled 53.5 billiona 2.6-per cent MoM rise.

Most German exports in September this year went to the United States; after seasonal and calendar adjustment, such exports were up by 4.8 per cent MoM to 14.2 billion.

Exports to China decreased by 3.7 per cent MoM in the month to 7.1 billion and exports to the United Kingdom fell by 4.9 per cent MoM to 6.4 billion.

Most imports in September were from China; goods worth 14.1 billion were imported from therea 5.6-per cent MoM increase after calendar and seasonal adjustment. Imports from the United States decreased by 0.3 per cent MoM to 7.7 billion in the month, while imports from the United Kingdom dropped by 0.6 per cent MoM to 2.9 billion.

After seasonal and calendar adjustment, Germanys exports to Russia increased by 3.6 per cent MoM and 5.6 per cent YoY to 0.6 billion in September. Imports from Russia rose by 20.1 per cent MoM and declined by 34.4 per cent YoY to 0.1 billion in September.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 8, 2024) - Peak Minerals Ltd. (CSE: PEK) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that, it has signed a Binding Letter of Intent providing it an option to acquire the Tapanahony Gold Project in Suriname, South America. Peak also announces the formation of an Advisory Board, and has arranged a non-brokered private placement to raise up to $2 million.

Acquisition of Tapanahony

The Tapanahony Gold project covers 29,000 hectares of significant artisanal mining and historical exploration with an excellent database that includes airborne geophysics, multiple phases of semi-quantitative panning of drainages, large auger grids, mapping and sampling of small-scale mine workings, and 4,000 metres of drilling. There are multiple gold targets within the project area that range from large gold in soil anomalies to those that have had limited drilling. Historical results on each target suggest additional exploration is warranted.

Suriname has been a focal point for successful gold exploration for decades and is internationally recognized as being mining friendly. The country is politically stable and is governed under European-based rule of law. Suriname is underlain by the Guiana Shield, which stretches though Guyana to the west and French Guiana to the east. The Guiana Shield is a productive greenstone belt that is home to 15 major gold mines, including the 13.4 Moz Rosebel Mine and the 7 Moz Merian Mine located in Suriname.

Peak has the option to acquire an initial 60% interest in Tapanahony by the staged issuance of shares and payment of cash as follows:

Pay US$150,000 on execution of the binding letter of intent and issue 4 million shares on closing Issue 600,000 shares and pay US$150,000 on the 6-month anniversary of closing Issue 200,000 shares and pay US$200,000 on the 12-month anniversary Issue 150,000 shares and pay US$150,000 on the 24-month anniversary Issue 200,000 shares and pay US$200,000 on the 36-month anniversary Issue 250,000 shares and pay US$250,000 on the 48-month anniversary Issue 400,000 shares and pay US$400,000 on the 60-month anniversary

Peak has the option to acquire another 30% of the project by issuing 2 million shares on the 6-month anniversary of Closing. If Peak does not exercise this option within the first 6 months, an additional 1 million shares will be payable up to the 12-month anniversary of Closing, and a further 1 million shares will be payable if the option is not exercised by the 18-month anniversary of Closing.

The remaining 10% can be acquired at any time for cash and/or shares based upon an independent valuation. Peak has agreed to issue up to an additional 6 million shares upon the completion of 5,000 metres of drilling on the project. Payments of US$100,000 a year commence after year 5 until a Positive Pre-Feasibility Study to NI 43-101 standards is delivered. A Net Smelter Royalty of 2% has been granted, which can be re-purchased, with each 0.5% re-purchasable for US$1.5 million within 60 months of the delivery of the Pre-Feasibility Study.

Completion of the transaction is subject to the entering into of definitive transaction documents by the parties and all necessary regulatory approvals.

Team

The projects have been assembled by an in-country technical team that has over 25 years of experience in Suriname and Guyana with significant success. Key personnel from that team include Oscar Louzada and Dennis LaPoint.

Oscar Louzada has over 20 years of experience in the financial services sector, with Beeson Gregory (Investec) and Canaccord Genuity and has been involved in Suriname gold exploration projects for 12 years. Dr. Dennis LaPoint is a highly experienced geologist who led the team that discovered the Merian Mine in Suriname in 2002, and was involved in the acquisition, financing and listing of the Omai Mine in Guyana. He has worked in Suriname for over 24 years.

The Company has engaged legal and accounting groups in Suriname to assist with the completion of the due diligence process and expects to continue to share technical information with its shareholders in a timely manner throughout the process.

Advisory Board

Peak Minerals also announces the creation of an Advisory Board to assist its Suriname initiative. John Williamson, founder of Metals Group, and Mario Stifano, CEO of Galantas Gold have agreed to join.

Mr. Williamson is a professional geologist and over his 35-year career he has collaborated with and led industry geoscientists and capital markets professionals on numerous successful ventures. He has led the raising of near $1 billion in capital, the discovery and/or growth of at least 10 million ounces of gold on 3 continents, as well as gold, copper and nickel mining projects. On more than one occasion his team's efforts have been recognized for excellence by being named to the TSX Venture 50TM. Of interest to Peak Minerals, Mr. Williamson was involved with the founding and growth of Founders Metals Inc., where he was the Co-founder, and initial CEO.

Mr. Stifano is a seasoned mining executive and Chartered Professional Accountant with over 16 years of experience working with exploration, development and producing mining companies. He is currently the CEO of Galantas Gold and Executive Chairman of Dore Copper Mining Corp. He has held a number of senior executive positions including Chief Executive Officer of Cordoba Minerals Corp., Executive Chairman with Mega Precious Metals Inc., Vice President and Chief Financial Officer with Lake Shore Gold Corp Inc., and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Ivernia Inc. Mr. Stifano has been instrumental in raising over $700 million to explore and fund mining projects, and notably led the team that acquired, financed and listed the historic Omai Mine in Guyana in 2020.

Financing

Peak Minerals also announces it has arranged a non-brokered private placement of up to eight million shares at a price of $0.25 per share for proceeds of $2,000,000. Proceeds will be used for general working capital. The private placement is subject to approval by the Canadian Securities Exchange (the CSE). All shares issued upon closing of the private placement will be subject to a four-month hold period in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Qualified Person

Dr. Dennis J. LaPoint, Ph.D., P.Geo. an independent contractor to the company and a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release. Dr. LaPoint has verified the data disclosed in this press release and no limitations were imposed on his verification process.

About Peak Minerals

Peak Minerals Ltd. is engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets. One of its objectives is to locate and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit and to conduct its exploration on the Aida Project. The Aida Property consists of 5 mineral claims covering an area of 2,335.42 ha located on the Shuswap Highland within the Kamloops Mining Division.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Jonathan Yan

Interim Chief Executive Officer and Director

For further information, please contact:

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by words such as "plans", "expects", "will", "may", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or variations of such words including negative variations thereof, and phrases that refer to certain actions, events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved.

Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements of forward-looking information.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking information in this news release except as otherwise required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/229409

SOURCE: Peak Minerals Ltd.
Mercedes-Benz Group's stock experienced a significant downturn on Friday, dropping 3.0% to 52.14 on the XETRA exchange. This decline continues a downward trend that has seen the stock lose over 30% of its value since its 52-week high of 77.45 in April. The sharp fall reflects broader challenges facing the European automotive sector, particularly in relation to the critical Chinese market.

Analyst Optimism Persists Despite Headwinds

Despite the current stock weakness, financial experts maintain a positive outlook for Mercedes-Benz. The average price target stands at 73.70, substantially above current levels, with analysts projecting earnings of 9.75 per share for 2024. However, concerns about economic developments in China are weighing heavily on the entire automotive industry. European manufacturers, including Mercedes-Benz, are struggling to capitalize on the growth of the Chinese electric vehicle market, facing stiff competition from local brands. This situation, coupled with potential trade tensions and insufficient economic stimulus measures in China, continues to cast a shadow over investor sentiment in the sector.

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Volkswagen faces a critical juncture as it grapples with labor negotiations and market challenges in China. The automaker is seeking a 10% wage reduction for its core VW brand, a move strongly opposed by the works council. This proposal comes as the company confronts significant headwinds in the Chinese market, where its electric vehicle sales have plummeted by 20% in the first nine months of the year, contrasting sharply with the overall market growth of 21%. To counter this decline, Volkswagen plans to introduce a new sub-brand in China, with the first model already unveiled, aiming to revitalize its position in this crucial market by mid-2025.

Innovative Solutions Amid Stock Pressure

Despite these challenges, Volkswagen is making strides in technological innovation. The company's software subsidiary, Cariad, has partnered with TomTom to develop an advanced navigation solution for electric vehicles. This system, set to debut in Audi electric models, will monitor range throughout journeys and adjust routes as needed, potentially enhancing the company's competitiveness in the growing electric vehicle market. However, investor confidence remains shaky, with Volkswagen's stock dropping 2.1% to 83.98 on Thursday. Analysts maintain an optimistic outlook, projecting a median target price of 112.10, suggesting potential for recovery despite current market pressures.

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Daimler Truck's stock soared by over 6% on Thursday, reaching a five-month high of 40.48, despite reporting declining revenue and profit figures for the third quarter of 2024. This surprising upturn was attributed to the company's financial results surpassing analyst expectations, particularly due to a more resilient operating margin. While the European market showed weakness, robust North American sales bolstered the company's balance sheet. The unexpected positive development overshadowed a 5% decrease in revenue to 13.1 billion and a 12% reduction in adjusted EBIT to 1.19 billion.

Regional Disparities and Future Outlook

The truck manufacturer faced divergent regional dynamics, with European demand weakening, especially in Germany, leading to a nearly 25% decline in orders for the Mercedes-Benz segment. In contrast, North America exhibited slight growth. Responding to these challenges, management announced a new cost-saving and performance improvement program for the Mercedes-Benz division, with details expected in the first quarter of 2025. Analysts remain optimistic, setting an average price target of 52.88, indicating significant upside potential for the stock.

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Fresh Daimler Truck information released. What's the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends.

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Monsha'at, has taken another important step towards reshaping the Saudi entrepreneurship landscape, following the announcement of 16 agreements worth more than SAR 10.6 billion on the fourth day of Biban24.

Extending its ongoing efforts to empower Saudi entrepreneurs and bolster the Kingdom's SME infrastructure, Monsha'at also officially announced a wide selection of agreements to allocate substantial financial portfolios to financing Saudi Arabia's rapidly growing community of entrepreneurs. This includes a portfolio worth SAR 3.1 billion, in collaboration with Tayseer Finance; as well as a portfolio valued at SAR 2 billion with Lendo Company. Monsha'at also announced a SAR 1 billion portfolio with Tarmeez Capital. These agreements are fully geared towards providing SMEs with steppingstones to success and facilitating more seamless and ready access to vital tools and resources.

The National Commercial Bank (NCB) also announced the launch of 15 new branches specialized in supporting SMEs. Additionally, Arab Bank launched the "anb digital", a platform created to enable SMEs to submit financing applications, receive preliminary approvals, and sign contracts electronically.

The fourth day of Biban24 - the Kingdom's flagship SME forum - also placed an emphasis on upskilling and capacity building, with a range of seminars and workshops being hosted. Covering a diversity of subjects and areas of interest, these workshops and seminars were held to empower participants, attendees and entrepreneurs from the region and beyond with access to all-important insights, resources and connections.

Organized by Monsha'at, the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the event is being hosted at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center. Held under the theme of Global Destination for Opportunities, the gathering is focused on driving the growth and development of the Saudi entrepreneurial ecosystem for local and international entrepreneurs.

In line with this goal - and the objectives of Vision 2030 - the forum will immerse visitors and attendees in an enabling atmosphere conducive to innovation, with participants being invited to explore 9 key areas, or "Doors". These include the "Enablement", "Fast-growing Enterprises", "Funding and Investment", "Startup", "Innovation", "E-commerce", "Start", "Franchise", and "Market" Doors.

These Doors are specialized areas where businesses and entrepreneurs will be given the opportunity to explore how to reach the next level and fulfil their business potential.

https://bibanglobal.sa/

Contact:

Tarek Chahine

tchahine@webershandwick.com
London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - November 9, 2024) - Mr Aatif Malik CEO of Tax Accountant, a leading UK tax advisory firm, today announced the expansion of their services to include specialist support for the HMRC Worldwide Disclosure Facility (WDF) for residents and non domiciled taxpayers. This service is designed to help taxpayers with declaring offshore taxable income and gains and become compliant with UK tax law.





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9721/229422_whatsapp_image_2022-01-29_at_9.56.35_am.jpeg

The WDF enables taxpayers to voluntarily disclose any previously undeclared offshore income or assets to HMRC. Tax Accountant's team of expert advisors can guide individuals through the entire disclosure process, ensuring they meet all the necessary requirements and minimise potential penalties.

"With the HMRC Worldwide Disclosure nudge letters in full effect, it is crucial for taxpayers with offshore assets to ensure they are fully compliant with UK tax law," said Mr Malik. "Our team is dedicated to providing comprehensive support and guidance to help clients navigate the WDF and achieve peace of mind."

Taxpayers who fail to disclose their offshore tax liabilities and are subsequently investigated by HMRC may face significant financial penalties which can be up to 200% of tax payable. Tax Accountant's WDF services aim to mitigate these risks by ensuring complete and accurate disclosures.

About Tax Accountant:

Tax Accountant is a UK-based firm specialising in providing comprehensive tax advisory services to individuals and businesses. With a team of experienced professionals, Tax Accountant offers a wide range of services, including tax planning, compliance, and dispute resolution.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/229422

SOURCE: United Press
Conflixis, Inc., a Dallas, TX-based data and risk intelligence company, raised $4.2m in seed funding.

The round was co-led by Lerer Hippeau and Origin Ventures, with participation from mark vc, Springtime Ventures, and continued support from early investor Cretiv Capital.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate the platforms growth by expanding its library of evidence-based influence models, including predictive spend capabilities powered by peer-reviewed data.

Led by CEO Aaron Narva, Conflixis has developed a unified platform that combines traditional COI management functionality with proprietary risk models and advanced analytics  empowering health systems and practice groups with insight into how even the most complex relationships influence their decisions.

FinSMEs

09/11/2024
An old clip from the sets of KBC 2 has surfaced online, where Shah Rukh is seen asking Priyanka Chopra about her dream man and trying to see whether he fit those criteria read more

The rumours of Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopras growing closeness over the sets of Farhan Akhtars Don 2 was a talking point at that time. There were also speculations that this led to trouble between SRK and his wife Gauri Khan.

Amid this, an old clip from the sets of KBC 2 has surfaced online, where Shah Rukh is seen asking Priyanka Chopra about her dream man and trying to see whether he fit those criteria.

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For the unversed, the duo featured together in Don & Don 2. Apart from that, PeeCee made cameo appearance in the song Rocking And Reeling opposite Shah Rukh Khan in the 2009 film Billu Barber, which was produced by the megastar.

In an interview with Firtspost, Priyanka Chopra mentioned that when she started her career, there were just ornamental roles that were offered to actresses and they were asked to be happy with it. Women actors were treated like side-kicks. They were told to be happy to be visible in just five scenes and five to six songs in films. Well, thats how Bollywood functioned those days. So, she realised if female actors dont get what they deserve in life, they will have to demand it.

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She added, My journey has been pretty long. It started when I was just seventeen. I have never been to a film school so whatever I am today, I owe it to the Hindi film industry because my foundation in acting started from here. My country trained me in such a way that I never had problem adjusting in another industry because when I stepped into Hollywood, I knew my craft well.
Berlin, Germanys capital, is celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Berlin Walls fall this Friday and Saturday (November 8-9). While most of the fortified border was dismantled soon after it opened in 1989, remnants of the Wall and other border structures remain accessible to visitors today read more

The evening sun lights remains of the Berlin Wall at the official Berlin Wall memorial site at Bernauer Strasse, in Berlin, Germany, Oct. 23, 2024. AP

Berlin, Germanys capital, is celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Berlin Walls fall this Friday and Saturday (November 31).

The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, an event known as a symbol of freedom and unity, reunited East and West Germany, and this years anniversary is being celebrated by a series of events that draw visitors from around the world.

Remains of the Berlin Wall at the official Berlin Wall memorial side at Bernauer Strasse, in Berlin, Germany, Oct. 23, 2024. AP

Visitors walk along remains of the Berlin Wall at the official Berlin Wall memorial site at Bernauer Strasse, in Berlin, Germany, Oct. 23, 2024. AP

ALSO READ | 5 things about German Unity Day and what happened in 1990

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What happened to the border?

Although most of the fortified border of communist East Germany was dismantled soon after it was opened in 1989, remains of the Wall and other border structures can still be visited today in certain places.

For the 17 million people who once lived behind the Wall, life was controlled by the sharp eye of the Stasi, East Germanys state security service, which implemented strict control.

A visitor looks through a gap in remains of the Berlin Wall at the official Berlin Wall memorial site at Bernauer Strasse, in Berlin, Germany, Oct. 28, 2024. AP

Graffiti-covered remains of the former Berlin Wall stand at a cemetery in central Berlin, Germany, Oct. 22, 2024. AP

Remains of the Berlin Wall stand next to graves on a cemetery in Central Berlin, Germany, Oct. 22, 2024. AP

The state security service used to monitor citizens through used wiretaps, bugged homes, and interviewed friends and family members to suppress any movements of rebellion, wrote Bethany Wagner in her 2013 paper Revisiting Life Behind the Berlin Wall, published by Azusa Pacific University.

Built to prevent East Germans from fleeing to the West, the Wall stood 4 metres high, 156 kilometres long, and included a death strip - a mined corridor lined with guard towers, barbed wire, and deadly traps - it was one of the Cold Wars most powerful symbols, dividing friends and families both physically and emotionally, The Indian Express reported.

Notably, East Germany first closed the border in Berlin on August 13, 1961, gradually transforming the Berlin Wall into an extensive fortification that curled through the city and encircled the capitalist enclave of West Berlin.

Editors Picks 1 5 things about German Unity Day and what happened in 1990

Original segments of the Berlin Wall for sale stand on a closed property in Teltow, near Berlin, Germany, Oct. 23, 2024. AP

A person walks along the so-called East Side Gallery, a popular place for street art on remains of the Berlin Wall in Berlin, Germany, Oct. 22, 2024. AP

Stones on the street mark the course of the former Berlin Wall near the former Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, Nov. 4, 2024. AP

The Wall sealed the last gap between East and West. East Germanys government had already closed the main border with West Germany - stretching from the Baltic Sea to Czechoslovakia - in 1952. This division lasted until the border opened on November 9, 1989.

That night, the Bornholmer Strasse crossing in Berlin was the first to open, as border guards, lacking clear orders, relented under pressure from a large crowd after an unexpected announcement of new regulations by Politburo spokesperson Gunter Schabowski.

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Today, this historic crossing is marked by a section of Wall slabs, featuring photos from that night and plaques describing key moments, including a German-language alert sent by The Associated Press.

The inscription " At 19:05 The DDR (former East Germany) opens its borders - news alert of the AP is embedded in the ground near the former border checkpoint between East and West at Bornholmer Strasse in Berlin, Germany, Oct. 31, 2024. AP

Stones on the street mark the course of the former Berlin Wall near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Nov. 4, 2024. AP

The longest remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall is at the East Side Gallery, where 118 artists painted murals on the once-grey concrete slabs after the Wall opened.

Death strip

Much of the Wall has since disappeared, with the former death strip - between the outer wall facing West Berlin and an inner wall facing east - now mostly built over. However, portions of the former border can still be seen at Berlins Bernauer Strasse memorial site, with fragments scattered across the city and its outskirts.

Outside Berlin, most of the East-West German border consisted of heavily fortified fences rather than walls. A noteworthy exception was in the village of Moedlareuth, split between Bavaria and Thuringia, which earned the nickname Little Berlin. Parts of this border remain visible today.

The evening sun shines on remains of the Berlin Wall at the official Berlin Wall memorial site at Bernauer Strasse, in Berlin, Germany, Oct. 23, 2024. AP

Remains of the former Berlin Wall are covered with graffiti at the Mauerpark (Wall Park) in Berlin, Germany, Oct. 31, 2024. AP

Germany officially reunified on October 3, 1990, less than a year after the border was opened.

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With inputs from AP
Global leaders, including PM Narendra Modi, congratulated Donald Trump as he clinched a historic victory. However, a congratulatory message from Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif has caused a row. Sharif used VPN to access X, as his own government has banned the microblogging platform read more

The reason Sharif used VPN to access X was because his own government had banned the microblogging earlier this year. Reuters

Donald Trump secured victory Wednesday when he surpassed the 270 electoral college votes needed to win.

In a victory speech before the official declaration, he vowed to put our country first and bring out a golden age for America.

Global leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, congratulated the 78-year-old Republican. However, a congratulatory message from Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has caused a row on social media.

Heres what happened.

The row

On November 6, after the US election results were announced, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, taking to X, wrote: Congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump on his historic victory for a second term! I look forward to working closely with the incoming Administration to further strengthen and broaden the Pakistan-US partnership.

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A Community Note on X was used shortly after to flag the post, pointing out that the Prime Minister was using a VPN to access the platform, which is against Pakistani legal framework.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has banned X (formerly Twitter) in Pakistan. He is using a VPN to access X, which is unlawful according to Pakistani law, the X Community Note read.

However, it is not clear if the PM did access the platform using X or tweeted from outside the country.

Following the platforms ban and use of a VPN to congratulate the US President-elect, Sharif was soon criticised by X users, who accused the Pakistani Prime Minister and his administration of hypocrisy.

Check this out people  Shameless and mandates thief @CMShehbaz is congratulating @realDonaldTrump via X after banning X for his own Pakistani nation  this is called a true hypocrisy!! a netizen replied.

Another one tweeted, Mr Trump this joker using VPN to congratulate you btw @elonmusk plate form has been banned in Pakistan!!!

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The government has imposed a ban on Twitter in Pakistan, with reports suggesting that even ministers are accessing the platform using VPNs, which is quite an irony for a government thats restricting public access while using the same tools to bypass their own rules, a user replied.

Also read: Why Donald Trumps return to power could make living in America costlier

The ban

The reason Sharif used VPN to access X was because his own government had banned the microblogging earlier this year.

Due to national security concerns, Pakistans Information Minister Attaullah Tarar prohibited access to X in April.

Tarar asserted that the platform was being used by Balochistani terrorists affiliated with the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) to disseminate their anti-national operations.

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It is very pertinent to mention here that the failure of Twitter/X to adhere to the lawful directives of the government of Pakistan and address concerns regarding the misuse of its platform necessitated the imposition of a ban, the ministry had said, according to news agency Reuters.

It added, The decision to impose a ban on Twitter/X in Pakistan was made in the interest of upholding national security, maintaining public order, and preserving the integrity of our nation.

Additionally, the ministry had stated that it had taken into account classified reports from Pakistans security and intelligence services before deciding to block X.

It further informed that hostile elements operating on Twitter/X have nefarious intentions to create an environment of chaos and instability, with the ultimate goal of destabilising the country and plunging it into some form of anarchy.

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In an interview with Reuters, digital rights activist Usama Khilji claimed that the X block was intended to hinder democratic accountability, which he claimed is made possible by a platform that provides real-time status updates.

Marketing consultant Saif Ali told the news agency, It has become nearly impossible to convince Pakistani advertisers to invest in Twitter for brand communications, due to the platform being throttled by governmental authorities.

Also read: Donald Trumps win: Is anti-incumbency the new normal in global politics?

Criticism

Sharif and other officials seem to have discovered ways to get around the restriction via VPNs, despite the governments official position.

Actually, despite their own legal limitations, a large number of Pakistani leaders  including some from Sharifs own party  have persisted in using the platform without restriction.

Opponents contend that by enforcing the ban without consulting the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), which is the sole entity permitted to control online content under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act of 2016, the Ministry of Interior went beyond its authority.

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As with other services like YouTube and TikTok, the true purpose of the ban is to compel X to abide by local censorship requirements.

With inputs from agencies
Farhad Shakeri has been accused of planning a murder-for-hire plot targeting US President-elect Donald Trump on behalf of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The 51-year-old is an Afghan national residing in Tehran. He was reportedly assigned to spy on and eventually assassinate Trump by the Iranian higher-ups read more

According to a criminal complaint filed in Manhattan federal court in September 2024, Shakeri was reportedly assigned by the Iranian leadership to spy on and eventually assassinate Donald Trump. Reuters

An Afghan national is at the centre of a shocking assassination conspiracy targeting US President-elect Donald Trump.

Farhad Shakeri has been accused of planning a murder-for-hire plot on behalf of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

Two other people, Jonathan Loadholt and Carlisle Rivera, were arrested in New York and charged on Friday.

The two American citizens are charged with aiding the Iranian government in the surveillance of another Iranian-American US citizen.

Heres all we know about him.

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Who is Farhad Shakeri?

Shakeri, 51, is an Afghan national residing in Tehran.

Having immigrated to the US as a child, Shakeri became involved in criminal activity early in his life.

He was found guilty of robbery in 1994 and spent 14 years in state prisons in New York.

In 2005, Shakeri was transferred to a Beacon facility, where he allegedly met Carlisle Rivera.

According to documents from the New York Department of Corrections, his parole supervision expired in 2015.

He stayed in the United States until his deportation in 2008.

However, as stated in the indictment, Shakeri was arrested in Sri Lanka in 2019 to the seizure of 92 kilogrammes of heroin.

While imprisoned, Shakeris ties to the Iran Revolutionary Guards grew deeper.

In Afghanistan currently, it is believed that he continues to be involved with the Iranian government.

Also read: Why Donald Trumps return to power could make living in America costlier

How is he involved in the assassination attempt?

According to a criminal complaint filed in Manhattan federal court in September 2024, Shakeri was reportedly assigned by the Iranian leadership to spy on and eventually assassinate Donald Trump.

A series of secret meetings were held to discuss the plot.

The operative stated that executing the plan would be costly, as per court filings.

We have already spent a lot of money, one IRGC officer allegedly said, adding, Moneys not an issue.

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When Shakeri missed the deadline, the IRGC officer said it would be easier to assassinate Trump if he lost, so they should postpone the operation until after the US presidential election, as per Mint.

Shakeri allegedly met his co-conspirators, Brooklyn resident Carlisle Rivera, 49, and Staten Island resident Jonathan Loadholt, 36, while in prison.

The trios plot to kill Trump and human rights advocate Masih Alinejad, who lives in Brooklyn, was a part of a larger Iranian attempt to stifle criticism and harm US interests.

Prosecutors claim that Shakeri was also asked by IRGC officers to assist in organising a mass shooting in Sri Lanka that would target Israeli tourists, leading both US and Sri Lankan authorities to alert tourists to the possibility of an attack.

Shakeri added that he was assigned to monitor and kill two people who were only identified as Jewish businesspeople residing in New York City.

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Also read: What does Iran think of Trumps win? The US elections are

Why was Trump targeted?

The assassination plot against Donald Trump stems from the US president-elects hostile policy towards Iran while in government.

The Iranian economy suffered greatly as a result of Trumps heavy economic sanctions and his abandonment of the historic nuclear agreement with Iran.

Tensions between the US and Iran increased even worse in 2020 when Trump approved the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.

The 78-year-old has been targeted since Soleimanis murder because, after coming into power, he promised to blow Iran to smithereens.

The charges brought against Shakeri, Loadholt, and Rivera are part of a larger campaign by US authorities to combat Iranian-sponsored activities that target US citizens.

The complaint details an attempt to kill Masih Alinejad in addition to the Trump conspiracy. Brooklyn-based Alinejad has been a vocal supporter of womens rights and has often denounced the oppressive practices of the Iranian dictatorship.

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Prosecutors claimed in February that Shakeri paid Rivera and Loadholt around $1,000 to keep an eye on the activist during a gathering at Fairfield University in Connecticut.

According to court records, the two allegedly made many trips to the activists Brooklyn home in March as the surveillance operations continued. Their several trips have been revealed by text messages, security camera footage, and cell site location data.

Shakeri claimed he was assigned by the IRGC to hire people to kill the journalist and promised to pay Rivera and Loadholt $100,000 to finish the work in April. Furthermore, documents indicate that by July, the Iranians were becoming impatient and ordering their US assets to take care of it already.

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With inputs from agencies
In a big blow to foreign students, Canada has closed its popular Student Direct Stream (SDS) programme, effectively immediately. The move ends a fast-track study permit process that had helped thousands of international students secure visas. As a result, students from India and 13 other countries will have to go through more lengthy visa procedures read more

In a big blow to foreign students, Canada has closed its popular Student Direct Stream (SDS) programme, effectively immediately.

The move ends a fast-track study permit process that had helped thousands of international students secure visas.

According to a notice from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), it said that Canadas goal is to strengthen programme integrity, address student vulnerability, and give all students equal and fair access to the application process, as well as a positive academic experience and to meet this commitment.

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All study permit applications will now be submitted using the standard application process.

Lets take a closer look.

Also read: Why has Canada ended its 10-year tourist visa policy?

The Student Direct Stream programme

SDS was introduced in 2018 by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) with the goal of streamlining the visa application process for students who met certain conditions from 14 countries, including China, India, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Vietnam and the Philippines.

The evaluation was simplified if they met the language requirement and financial commitment needed, along with a letter of acceptance from a Canadian college or university, Naresh Chavda, president of Globayan Immigration Corporation, told Hindustan Times.

The approval rate was close to 95 per cent, and the processing time was only four weeks, half the time needed for regular study permits.

The scheme processes applications in 20 days if applicants submit biometrics and meet all qualifying conditions; however, the traditional approach often takes several weeks for Indian candidates.

The reason

The SDS cancellation underscores Canadas growing efforts to regulate its foreign student population in the face of resource and housing difficulties.

As part of its 2024 policy revisions, the government set a cap of 437,000 new study permits for 2025, including all educational levels, including postgraduate degrees.

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Additional stringent rules include stricter academic and language criteria for students seeking to be eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), fewer work permits available to spouses of international students, and increased requirements for financial proof, according to The Indian Express.

With a record 807,000 study visa holders in 2023, Ottawa is attempting to strike a balance between the advantages of its foreign education sector and the need to relieve pressure on housing and services.

Advisors urge students to start planning their visas far sooner than they used to in order to deal with the new, more restrictive environment.

Speaking on the new development, Chavda was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times, They have closed a special programme to attract students. There was no reason to close the programme so suddenly other than to reduce international students intake.

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Eventually, the interest of students will be lesser in Canada and people may be diverted to other nations, he added, about the potential impact of the decision.

Also read: Why is Canada cutting immigration by more than 20% in 2025? Is it a setback for Indians?

Impact on Indian students

Students from India and 13 other countries will have to go through more lengthy visa procedures as a result of this programmes discontinuation.

For Indian students looking for study permits in Canada, SDS had emerged as the go-to option. The SDS scheme was utilised by 80 per cent of Indian candidates in 2022, a notable rise over prior years.

Nearly four out of five Indian students applied through SDS between January and March 2023; applicants had a 76 per cent approval rate, compared to 8 per cent for those who used the traditional stream.

In fact, when compared to the regular stream, SDS approval rates for Indian students skyrocketed during the pandemic.

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Approval rates for SDS applications were three times higher in 2021 and 2022 than those for non-SDS applicants (63 per cent by the end of 2022, compared to 19 per cent for non-SDS applicants).

This trend persisted into early 2023, when the acceptance rate for Indian SDS applicants reached 73 per cent, which stands in sharp contrast to the 10 per cent approval rate for non-SDS applicants.

The IRCC said in September that the maximum for 2025 study permit issuance will be 437,000, which is less than the 485,000 target for this year. The 2026 figure will be the same as the stabilising 2025 figure.

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Canadian officials have cautioned that later this year, the decisions taken will come into effect.

This is evident as the numbers for study permits issued between April and June this year decreased to 125,020 from 148,140 in 2023. The decline for India was from 70,340 to 55,940. However, that figure is still almost twice as high as the total intake for 2015.

Multiple-visa entry ended

According to the updated rules, immigration officials will now be able to choose whether to grant a visa for a single or multiple entry and to establish the proper duration of validity.

The Canadian immigration department stated in a recent update, Guidance has been updated to indicate that multiple-entry visas issued to maximum validity are no longer considered to be the standard document. Officers may exercise their judgment in deciding whether to issue a single or multiple-entry visa and in determining the validity period.

Factors that can be considered are the purpose of the visit, occupation, financial stability, health of the visitor and more. Additional factors include ties to the applicants home country and previous travel compliance.

Earlier, the multiple-entry visa allowed the holder to enter Canada from any country as often as necessary during the visas period of validity.

It has a maximum validity of up to 10 years, or until the expiry of the travel document or biometrics.

The department clarified, It (multiple-entry visa) can still be valid if affixed in a full or complete passport or travel document. In this case, the holder must also be in possession of a newer and valid passport or travel document and must present both documents to the airline carrier to travel to Canada and to the border services officer to seek entry to Canada.

With inputs from agencies
A week before he retires, CJI Chandrachud gave his farewell speech wondering how history might judge him. Observers of the Supreme Court of India rate him highly for a number of significant judgments and openness to threadbare a legal issue in a complex socio-politico-economic set-up of India. read more

Justice Dhanajaya Yeshwant Chandrachud, the son of Indias longest-serving chief justice YV Chandrachud, assumed office as the 50th Chief Justice of India on November 8, 2022. Friday was his last working day at the Supreme Court of India. He retires on Sunday as the CJI.

Like Chandrachud Sr, the outgoing CJI, too, heard and delivered some of the historic judgments  from the right to privacy and the protection of childrens rights to the Ayodhya ruling, the decriminalisation of homosexuality and the striking down of the Electoral Bonds Scheme.

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Lets take a look at the seven top judgements that Justice Chandrachud delivered as the CJI during his two-year tenure.

Protection against climate change a fundamental right

The case was officially called the MK Ranjitsinh and others vs the Union of India. In this landmark judgement, Justice Chandrachud expanded the interpretation of two fundamental rights  the right to Life (guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution) and the Right to Equality (Article 14).

The court ruled that protection from environmental factors such as climate change is a fundamental right and it is the responsibility of the state to protect the environment. The citizens should also be compassionate with the living creatures.

Protection of children from sexual abuse

This judgement came in the Just Rights for Children Alliance Case. Justice Chandrachud, in a landmark judgement, overturned the Madras High Court ruling to clarify that the possession of child pornographic material with specific intent is a crime under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences or Pocso Act.

Earlier, in an erroneous ruling, the Madras High Court had said that possessing child pornographic material was not an offence.

However, Justice Chandrachuds bench overturned the ruling and directed Indias Women and Child Development Ministry to spread awareness about the legal and ethical implications of child pornography.

The judgement also proposed to avoid using the word child pornography and substitute it with CSEAM  Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material. The top court also instructed the lower courts to use CSEAM in all court proceedings and judgements.

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After this historic move, India joined the list of countries that had criminalised the explicit viewing of child pornography.

Electoral Bonds Scheme unconstitutional

It was one of the most politically sensitive cases that reached the courts in recent times  the Association for Democratic Reforms vs Union of India case. The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) challenged the governments scheme for political funding through the sale of electoral bonds in the Supreme Court.

CJI Chandrachud-led the five-judge Constitution Bench heard the case and found that the scheme lacked constitutional backing. The bench struck it down, ending the ambitious programme of the government, which had billed the scheme as one to clean up the political funding processes in India.

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The top court directed that the sale of electoral bonds through banks must be stopped with immediate effect. The scheme introduced in 2017 during the Union Budget presentation ended in February this year with the unanimous verdict of the court.

The scheme was found to violate the Right to Information, declared a fundamental right under Article 19 (1)(a). The top court ordered the State Bank of India (SBI), which sold the bonds, to share the details of the electoral bonds purchased from April 12, 2019, to the Election Commission of India (ECI) and publish the same on the official website to ensure transparency and free flow of information.

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Scheduled Castes are not a homogenous class

In the State of Punjab vs Davinder Singh case, CJI Chandrachud-led:seven-judge bench overruled the EV Chinnaiahs judgement, allowing them to make sub-classifications within Scheduled Castes (SCs). The earlier judgement had barred the states from sub-categorisation of the SCs.

With a 6:1 majority, the top court declared that the Scheduled Castes were not a homogenous class. The judgement explained that the sub-categorisation of the SCs did not violate Article 14 or Article 341(2).

The states have the responsibility to relocate benefits equally and effectively, it ruled. The judgement has significant implications for the execution of quota policies in government jobs and higher education.

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Redistribution of private property

Just days before his retirement, CJI Chandrachud headed a nine-judge Constitution Bench that pronounced a significant judgement interpreting Article 39(b) regarding the governments power over private property.

The ruling has crucial implications for private ownership of property. The bench ruled that the government cannot acquire and redistribute all privately owned properties deeming them material resources of the community, as mentioned in Article 39(b) of the Constitution.

Aligarh Muslim Universitys minority tag

On November 8, a seven-judge bench of the top court headed by CJI Chandrachud overruled its 1967 judgement, saying that an institution established by statute could not claim minority status. This disqualified the Aligarh Muslim University from claiming the minority institution tag.

The new judgement, in a majority view of 4:3, ruled that the idea behind the origin and founding mind behind an institution should determine its eligibility under Article 30 for claiming a minority status. Article 30 protects the rights of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions.

The ultimate question of AMUs minority status has now been referred to a regular bench for factual examination. But the judgement paves the way for restoration of the minority status of the Aligarh Muslim University.

Cracking the whip on bar councils

In the Gaurav Kumar vs Union of India case, CJI Chandrachuds bench delivered a landmark judgement ruling that the bar councils cannot charge beyond statutory limits. The statutory limit is mentioned in Section 24 (1)(f) and must be imposed with strict regulations.

The charges are Rs 750 for advocates belonging to the general category and Rs 125 for advocates belonging to the SC/ST category.
From the experience of Trump 1.0, it is clear that Donald Trumps policies will continue to favour Israel and that he will use this perceived closeness to end the Gaza war soon after taking over read more

The US elections are finally over and Donald Trump has emerged as the winner, set to take over as the president for the second time on January 20, 2025. While the US elections were closely monitored all over the globe, the two regions where it was perhaps most closely followed, have to be West Asia and Europe-Russia, for obvious reasons, due to the ongoing wars.

The Russia-Ukraine war would be at the threshold of completing three years while the war in Gaza would have completed 16 months of death, devastation and misery by the time Trump takes over office. With the Biden administration having failed miserably to halt either of the wars, there is hope that Trump would weave some magic and bring peace to both the regions. The hope stems also from the fact that Trump is averse to wars; even in his victory speech, he stated that he was here not to start any war but to end the wars.

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Despite the fact that the Russia-Ukraine war has been on for over two years, it has not witnessed the scale of devastation and death that has been witnessed in Gaza in just over a year. With over 43,000 civilians killed, about two million displaced (as per official figures), and the infrastructure in Gaza totally obliterated, the situation is grim and needs urgent solutions. It is here that there is hope from Trumps second presidency, especially if one has to go by how Trump 1.0 ensured that there were no major conflicts in the region, besides the various plans that he offered to the region (always heavily loaded in favour of Israel) to settle decades-old issues between Palestine and Israel.

Trump 1.0 and Israel-Palestine Issue

After taking over office in January 2017, the Trump administration put the Israel-Palestine issue on priority. It was, therefore, not a surprise that the White House hosted the Palestine Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas as early as in May 2017. During the meeting, the US president stressed that he is personally committed to helping Israelis and Palestinians achieve a comprehensive peace, and that any peace settlement can only be the product of direct negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians. He was however also critical of the Palestinians when he told Mahmoud Abbas to stop incitement and crack down on terrorism.

President Trump, however, took the world totally by surprise when, on December 6, 2017, in a press conference, he announced his twin decisions to formally recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to move the US Embassy there from Tel Aviv. Calling his decision a new approach to the conflict, he added that it was long overdue and a necessary step to enhance the peace process. Obviously, it invited immediate and severe criticism from West Asia, especially Palestine.

It was soon followed by reports of the Trump Peace Plan, reported first in February 2018 following a meeting of Arab and European Foreign Ministers in Brussels. It indicated that the US as well as the international community would grant recognition of a Palestinian state and acceptance of East Jerusalem as its capital. The plan also called for placing the Old City of Jerusalem under international protection while Israel would continue to have its capital in Jerusalem.

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The Trump administration called the proposed plan the deal of the century, while the Palestinian Authority denounced it as a conspiracy aimed at liquidating the Palestinian cause. The plan was, however, withheld until it was finally presented by President Trump on January 20, 2020. He unveiled the 181-page plan, standing side by side with Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, announcing that his vision presents a win-win opportunity for both sides, a realistic two-state solution that resolves the risk of Palestinian statehood to Israels security.

The plan even included a conceptual map of a two-state solution too. Key proposals included US recognition of Israeli sovereignty over territory that the plan envisages being part of Israel. Trump boasted that the plan would more than double the Palestinian territory and provide a Palestinian capital in eastern Jerusalem. He added that no Palestinians or Israelis will be uprooted from their homes, suggesting that existing Jewish settlements in the Israeli-occupied West-Bank will remain. The plan was promptly dismissed by the Palestinians, calling it a conspiracy and a one-sided deal.

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The Abraham Accords has to be the next and most significant step in Trump 1.0 and its policy announcements for the region. Signed after hectic parleys over months, the accords had twin aims: First, to bring about broad-based acceptance and reconciliation of Israel with the Arab world; second, it singled out, without even specifying, Iran as the enemy No.1. In the subtext of the Accords was also implanted the Palestinian issue subtly where it was stated that countries in the Accord will continue their efforts to achieve a just, comprehensive, realistic and enduring solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, giving no assurances or timelines.

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Another important factor which has an important bearing on how the Gaza war may pan out or end in Trump 2.0 is that there was no major conflict between Hamas and Israel during his first term. Whereas Operation Protective Edge was undertaken by Israel into Gaza in July 2014, the major conflict only came about in May 2021 in the form of an Israeli military operation, Operation Guardian of Walls months after Trump had left office.

The Iran Factor

In the issues with regards to Israels security in the region and Trumps policies, the Iran factor cannot be ignored. Having identified Iran as the enemy No.1 in the region, President Trump did everything possible to put Tehran under unprecedented pressure and sanctions.

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Acting on his election promise, on May 8, 2018, Trump pulled the plug on the nuclear deal terming it a horrible one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made. Following up, US Secretary of State Mike Pompoe announced a list of 12 demands, fulfilment of which would be a must for any future deal with Iran. Some of these issues were not even part of the nuclear deal like putting severe restrictions on Irans ballistic missiles programme, demand to stop enrichment of plutonium reprocessing, end support to West Asian terrorist outfits, including groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Houthis.

The Trump administration adopted a maximum pressure policy on Iran by imposing severe economic sanctions, prohibiting countries (including India) from buying crude oil from Iran and freezing its offshore assets and bank accounts. It also designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran as a Foreign Terrorist Organization on April 8, 2019.

The Persian Gulf crisis of 2019 was the next major episode between the US and Iran. It was initially triggered by a spurt in attacks by Iran-backed Houthis from Yemen, launching missile and drone attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, on Saudi airports and oil pipelines. The downing of a US drone by Iran flying over its airspace on June 20, 2019, was, however, a definite provocation evoked an immediate and strong response from the US. Reports suggested that President Trump had ordered retaliatory military strikes against Iran on June 21, before changing his mind at the last moment, possibly in an attempt to avoid a full-blown military conflict.

The US had its revenge when General Qasem Soleimani, leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran, was assassinated in Baghdad through a drone strike by the US. The stand-off between the two countries continued till the end of the Trump term in January 2021.

What are the options to end the war in Gaza?

In the ongoing war in Gaza, Trump has, more than once, supported Israels right to defence. He has been in close touch with PM Netanyahu all along and in an interview to an Israeli media house in April this year, he said that Israel needed to finish what they started and get it over fast, adding that Israel was losing the PR war because of the visuals coming out of Gaza.

Even before the elections, media reports indicated that Trump had told PM Netanyahu to clear up the mess and end the war before his presidency commences. Immediately after his victory in recent elections too, he has clearly hinted at pushing for an early end to the war. A spokesperson for the Republican Party, Elizabeth Pipko, in a press interaction on November 7 said that the President-elect Donald Trump wants to see Israel wrap up its wars soon, with decisive victories.

What are, therefore, the options to end the war in Gaza?

The Trump presidency does not start till January 20, 2025. Intense bombardment being carried out by Israel in Gaza and Southern Lebanon since November 7 indicates that Israel has got itself time for another two months to achieve its war objectives. The sacking of Defence Minister Gallant by Netanyahu on November 4 and the announcement by the Israel Defence Forces on November 6 that Israeli ground forces are getting closer to the complete evacuation of northern Gaza and that residents would not be allowed to return home in northern Gaza, indicates that Israel wants to go full throttle for the next two months.

It is, therefore, very likely that Trump and Netanyahu have decided to give Israel another window to finish the job and thereafter agree to end the war or even announce a unilateral ceasefire, something that Israel has done in the past conflicts in Gaza too. They might also accept the broad terms of the ceasefire plan proposed in May 2024, which was duly endorsed by the UN Security Council, as a way to end the war and which has been accepted by Hamas too. This would be the perfect kick-start to his presidency in Trump 2.0, making him the peacemaker that he claims and successfully ending the war.

Coupled with the above reasoning, it is also unlikely that Israel would yield now, more because for political reasons than anything else. Israel would achieve little, especially for the future, by giving the Biden presidency the credit for ending the war. The only big question is whether Netanyahu will even agree for a ceasefire in January. The Trump administration would bank upon his past deliveries for Israel in Trump 1.0 to persuade Israel to end the war. A promise of a possible Abraham Accords 2.0, taking in more countries like Saudi Arabia to align with Israel, could also add to the effect. Also, Trump is known for a clear transactional relationship even with close allies like Israel and with elections now over, it will be difficult for Netanyahu to say no to him, especially if the US threatens to put a stop on critical military aid.

Conclusion

From the experience of Trump 1.0, it is clear that his policies in the region will continue to favour Israel and that he will use this perceived closeness with Israel to end the war soon after taking over. Meanwhile, Israel will use this window of two months to finish the job till Trump takes over as the President on January 20.

Col Rajeev Agarwal is a military veteran and West Asia expert. During his service, he has been Director in Military Intelligence as well as Director in the Ministry of External Affairs. His X handle is @rajeevidsa. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Quetta Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Mohammad Baloch confirmed the death toll and said that the incident seems to be a suicide blast read more

A suicide bombing tore through a crowded railway station in Pakistans restive Balochistan province Saturday (November 9), killing at least 27 people, including 14 security personnel, and injuring 62 others, officials reported.

The blast hit the Quetta railway station as passengers gathered on the platform to board the Jaffar Express, scheduled to depart for Peshawar at 9:00 am. Witnesses said around 100 people were on the platform when the explosion occurred.

Dr. Wasim Baig from the Quetta Trauma Centre said that so far, So far, we have received 27 bodies and at least 62 people are injured, with some in critical condition. Dr. Arbab Kamran Kasi, Managing Director of the Trauma Centre, warned that the death toll could rise, as several of the wounded remain in critical condition.

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Authorities, including Quetta Division Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat, confirmed that the suicide attack targeted both security forces and civilians. There are around 14 members of the law enforcement agencies among the dead and dozens more among the wounded, he said, adding that the attacker had entered the station with luggage, making detection difficult.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), an ethnic separatist group designated as a terrorist organization, claimed responsibility for the attack. The group accuses the federal government of exploiting Balochistans resources while neglecting its development, though the government dismisses these claims, blaming foreign actors for inciting violence.

Security has since been tightened across public spaces in Quetta, with police on high alert. According to Balochistan Inspector General Moazzam Ansari, initial investigations suggest that the target may have been personnel from the Army Infantry School.

Emergency teams swiftly secured the station and transported the injured to Quettas Civil Hospital, where additional staff had been summoned to handle the influx of casualties. The powerful blast, which damaged the platform roof, was heard in distant parts of the city, eyewitnesses reported.

This incident follows a recent surge in violence in Balochistan. Last week, a blast in the Mastung district killed eight, including five children. The BLA has also increasingly targeted Chinese nationals working in the province; a bombing near Karachis airport last month killed two Chinese engineers.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the attack, terming it as a horrific act targeting innocent civilians, and ordered an immediate investigation.

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Pakistan, particularly Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has seen a surge in terrorist attacks over the past year. According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies, violence in the third quarter of this year rose by 90 per cent, resulting in 722 fatalities in 328 incidents. The majority of these incidents, accounting for 97 per cent of fatalities, were concentrated in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Fatalities in Pakistan this year have now surpassed last years total, reaching at least 1,534 in the first three quarters compared to 1,523 for all of 2023, the CRSS report noted.

With inputs from agencies
Trumps foreign policy reputation suggests a possible pivot to transactional, rather than partnership-based, approaches to Africa. Relaxed US scrutiny on human rights and potential cuts in US aid to the continent are expected read more

The re-election of former President Donald Trump reverberated far beyond American borders, reaching as far as Ugandas capital, Kampala.

In a sign of what could be renewed relations under Trumps administration, Ugandas parliamentary speaker, Anitah Among, declared that the sanctions are gone, exuding optimism about relaxed US scrutiny on Ugandas human rights record.

However, while some African leaders view Trumps return as an opportunity for eased relations, analysts caution that the new term could bring challenges, including potential cuts in US aid to the continent, Al Jazeera reported.

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Celebration and skepticism in African capitals

As Trumps victory over Vice President Kamala Harris was confirmed, congratulations poured in from African leaders. Among them were Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, each signalling their willingness to engage.

But Trumps foreign policy reputation suggests a possible pivot to transactional, rather than partnership-based, approaches to Africa. Analysts say the future of aid, climate commitments, and economic programs could now be at risk.

Christopher Isike, an African studies professor at the University of Pretoria, noted Trumps distinct style: He is a dealer. He transacts based on what he can get. For African leaders like Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who have faced human rights scrutiny, Trumps approach might bring advantages  though only if they align with his broader interests.

Risk to economic ties and trade agreements

The future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a longstanding trade pact providing African countries with duty-free access to US markets, is now uncertain. First introduced in 2000, AGOA is set to expire next September.

Trump, who often criticises multilateral agreements, may leverage AGOA to press African nations into bilateral agreements that could weaken its existing structure.

Trump will use every instrument at his disposal, including AGOA, to strong-arm African governments, Isike said. During Bidens presidency, the US committed to providing $55 billion in aid to Africa over three years, but with Trumps return, this commitment could waver.

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Programs like the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and others supporting public health could face significant cuts, potentially affecting millions on the continent.

Climate policy concerns rise again

Another area where Trumps re-election could shift US-Africa relations is climate policy. Trumps previous withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement raised alarms globally, and African nations, already vulnerable to climate impacts, now brace for potential setbacks.

Bond highlighted how Trumps climate stance might be catastrophic for Africa, a continent disproportionately affected by climate change despite its minimal contribution to global emissions. With Trumps skepticism toward climate policy, Africas access to international climate funds could dwindle, limiting resources to address critical issues like water scarcity and food security.

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The multilateral and geopolitical shift

Under Biden, there was growing support for Africas inclusion in global governance bodies, such as the United Nations Security Council. Trumps more insular view, however, may put these efforts on hold. The potential shift aligns with Trumps focus on reducing U.S. commitments to multilateral institutions, complicating Africas longstanding quest for more influence on the world stage.

Compounding this, Trumps rivalry with China could pressure African nations to distance themselves from Beijing, even as Chinas investments in African infrastructure remain pivotal. Analysts say Trumps detachment from Africa could inadvertently encourage the continent to strengthen intra-African trade and partnerships with nations in Asia and the Middle East.

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If Africa depends on US aid, Trumps win could be troubling, Isike said. But this may also push the continent to expand its trade partnerships.

With four years of Trump ahead, Africas political, economic, and environmental landscape could face both challenges and opportunities as leaders consider how to navigate the shifting dynamics in Washington.
Amnesty International has reported a surge in the use of the death penalty on the African continent, saying in a statement in October that recorded executions more than tripled and recorded death sentences increased significantly by 66 percent. read more

Burkina Faso's new military leader Ibrahim Traore is escorted by soldiers in Ouagadougou. (Reuters)

Burkina Fasos military regime wants to reinstate the death penalty after the West African country abolished it in 2018, a government source told AFP on Saturday.

The latest execution in Burkina Faso was in 1988, according to Amnesty International.

Reintroducing capital punishment to the penal code is being considered. Its up to the government to discuss it, then make the proposal to the Transitional Legislative Assembly (ALT) for adoption, the source said, adding that the date had not been chosen.

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Justice Minister Rodrigue Bayala said on Friday, after parliament passed a bill introducing community service, that the issue of death penalty, which is being discussed, will be implemented in the draft criminal code.

Bayala also said there could be further amendments to the criminal code, to follow the vision and the guidelines given by the head of state, Captain Ibrahim Traore, who seized power in a September 2022 coup.

The Burkinabe government in July passed a bill that included plans to ban homosexuality.

Amnesty International has reported a surge in the use of the death penalty on the African continent, saying in a statement in October that recorded executions more than tripled and recorded death sentences increased significantly by 66 percent.

On the other hand, the rights group noted that 24 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa have abolished the death penalty for all crimes while two additional countries have abolished it for ordinary crimes only.

Kenya and Zimbabwe currently have bills tabled to abolish the death penalty for all crimes, while Gambia has commenced a constitutional amendment process that will effectively abolish the death penalty, it said.
The Chinese authorities noted that the new economic measures could cut the debt of local governments to 2.3 tn yuan by the end of 2028. read more

China announced a whopping 10 trillion yuan in debt support to local governments that are struggling. Apart from the debt support the Chinese authorities are planning to introduce other economic measures but fell short of introducing a stimulus package which many analysts were expecting to be released.

The fiscal package which is expected to help local governments boost their economies includes raising the debt ceiling by 6tn yuan over three years. The initiative would help the local government to replace their hidden debt which the authorities have estimated to be at 14.3 tn yuan at the end of 2023, South China Morning Post reported.

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According to the International Monetary Fund, hidden debt refers to the borrowing for which the government is liable but the figure is not disclosed to citizens and other creditors. The Chinese authorities noted that the new economic measures could cut the debt of local governments to 2.3 tn yuan by the end of 2028.

According to _SCMP, a_fter the 2008 financial crisis, local governments increasingly used financing vehicles to rake up the hidden debt as many spent big on infrastructure projects. However, the debt kept on ballooning and the revenues kept on falling. In light of this, local governments started cutting the pay of civil servants and sometimes they even held back their wages.

Chinas most powerful debt reduction measure

While speaking on the initiative, Chinas state broadcaster CCTV, called the initiative as Chinas most powerful debt reduction measure in recent years." The news outlet maintained that the economic package would help the government to develop a better economy and protect the livelihoods of people.

However, experts believe that the debt relief package did not come close to resolving the enormous debt problem. Prof Victor Shih, an expert on the politics of Chinese banking and fiscal policies at the University of California San Diego in the US explained that it is just an accounting exercise.

The initiative does not bail out local governments or address the civil servant pay arrears, but instead moved hidden debt onto the books, he said. He also mentioned that the claim that hidden debt totalled 14.3tn yuan was a fiction and insisted that the actual number can be 50tn yuan or more.

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China doesnt reveal it all

The announcement of the latest economic package came at the end of a days-long meeting of the National Peoples Congress standing committee, the highest lawmaking body in the Chinese Communist party. After the meeting, Chinese Foreign Minister Lan Foan said that more measures were to come, but did not give details of exactly when.

Many believe that Beijing might be possibly waiting for the outcome of the 2024 US presidential election. During his campaign trail, President-elect Donald Trump had promised to impose larger trade tariffs on China. Export has been the main engine of economic growth in China for the past four years. So without additional stimulus from the government, I think growth is going to be under pressure if the US introduces tariffs," Shih explained.

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With inputs from agencies.
Sri Lanka saw two rounds of massive flooding this year with over two dozen deaths and displacement of more than 50,000 people across the country read more

A man waves the Sri Lankan national flag near the Presidential secretariat in Colombo, Sri Lanka, July 17. Image: Arun Sankar/AFP

China has provided financial assistance to the tune of Rs 30 million to compensate for damage caused due to natural disasters from January to October this year, the government said on Saturday.

Furthermore, material assistance worth 10 million Yuan is expected from China under the Emergency Humanitarian Assistance Programme, a statement from the Presidents Media Division (PMD) said.

Sri Lanka saw two rounds of massive flooding this year with over two dozen deaths and displacement of more than 50,000 people across the country.

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The Chinese financial assistance totalling approximately Rs 30 million has been forwarded to the Treasury, the PMD said.

Earlier on October 30, the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka had handed over USD 1,00,000 (approximately LKR 30 million) and relief material worth LKR 400 million as aid on flood relief to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

In addition, the Department of National Budget has allocated further financial provisions to the Ministry of Defence for the reconstruction of homes affected by the disasters.

These additional provisions were necessary because the 2024 budget did not include adequate funds to address the needs of disaster victims, it added.

Steps have been taken to ensure timely disbursement of compensation for damaged homes and properties, as well as the swift completion of reconstruction and renovation efforts, through the Disaster Relief and Monitoring Project, it added.

According to the Climate Change Knowledge Portal of the World Bank, the most frequent natural hazards that impact Sri Lanka are droughts, floods, landslides, cyclones, and coastal erosion.
The volatile Republicans victory in the United States election has set nerves jangling in Ukraine and Europe that Trump could end Washingtons support for Kyivs fight against Russias invasion read more

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell arrived Saturday in Kyiv to reassure Ukraine of Europes backing in the first visit by a top Brussels official after Donald Trumps poll win.

The volatile Republicans victory in the United States election has set nerves jangling in Ukraine and Europe that Trump could end Washingtons support for Kyivs fight against Russias invasion.

The message is a clear one  the Europeans will continue to support Ukraine, Borrell, who is set to leave office next month, told an AFP journalist accompanying him.

We have been supporting Ukraine since the beginning, and on this my last visit to Ukraine, I convey the same message, we will support you as much as we can.

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On the campaign trail, Trump cast doubt on maintaining the vast US military and financial aid to Ukraine and said he could cut a quick deal to end the war.

Nobody knows exactly what the new administration is going to do, Borrell said, pointing out that incumbent Joe Biden still has two months in power to make decisions.

But we Europeans have to use this opportunity in order to build a stronger and united Europe, and one of the manifestations of being united and being stronger and able to act is our role in supporting Ukraine.

Europe together has spent around $125 billion on supporting Ukraine since Russias 2022 invasion, while the United States alone has coughed up more than $90 billion, according to a tracker from the Kiel Institute.

Keeping the US, Ukraines single biggest donor, on board is seen by most as key for ensuring Kyiv stays afloat, especially at a time of political uncertainty in major European powers Germany and France.

On the battlefield, Ukraines fatigued troops are struggling to stave off Russias advances as they approach three years of full-scale combat.

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Borrell, who will meet top Ukrainian officials on his visit, said it was up to EU countries to decide when and how to increase their support if needed.

But he said that at a meeting of EU leaders in Budapest Friday most of the member states were insisting on the same line, continue supporting Ukraine.
On October 17, the body projected that the number of people in Gaza facing catastrophic food insecurity between November and April 2025 would reach 345,000, or 16 percent of the population read more

Famine is looming in the northern Gaza Strip amid increased hostilities and a near-halt in food aid, a UN-backed assessment said Saturday.

The alert from the Famine Review Committee warned of an imminent and substantial likelihood of famine occurring, due to the rapidly deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip.

Famine thresholds may have already been crossed or else will be in the near future, said the alert.

On October 17, the body projected that the number of people in Gaza facing catastrophic food insecurity between November and April 2025 would reach 345,000, or 16 percent of the population.

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The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report classified that as IPC Phase 5  a situation when starvation, death, destitution and extremely critical acute malnutrition levels are evident.

Since that report, conditions have worsened in the north of Gaza, with a collapse of food systems, a drop in humanitarian aid and critical water, sanitation and hygiene conditions, the committee said.

It can therefore be assumed that starvation, malnutrition, and excess mortality due to malnutrition and disease, are rapidly increasing in these areas, it read.

Vast areas of the Gaza Strip have been devastated by Israels retaliatory assault launched after the October 7 attack last year by Hamas.

Israeli forces have intensified their operations in large swathes of the Gaza Strips north since early October, where evacuation orders are in place.

Aid shipments allowed to enter the Gaza Strip were now lower than at any time since October 2023, said the report.

Access to food continues to deteriorate, with prices of essentials on the black market soaring. Cooking gas rose by 2,612 percent, diesel by 1,315 percent and wood by 250 percent, it said.

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Concurrent with the extremely high and increasing prices of essential items has been the total collapse of livelihoods to be able to purchase or barter for food and other basic needs, said the alert.

The body expressed concern over Israels cutting ties last month with the UN aid agency for Palestinians (UNRWA), warning of extremely serious consequences for humanitarian operations in Gaza.
Prosecutors told AFP this week that investigating magistrates have now ordered a 3D simulation be created of the start of the fire using the images taken at the time read more

Five years of investigation and expert reports have failed to identify the precise cause of the 2019 fire that ravaged Paris landmark Notre Dame cathedral, even as the probe draws to a close just as the cathedral prepares to reopen early next month.Notre Dames bells rang out Friday for the first time since the fire, ahead of a reopening ceremony on Saturday December 7.

But investigators have yet to establish who, if anyone, is responsible for the fire whose images went around the world.

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Every avenue, including the hypothesis of a human role in the origin of this fire (has been) explored since the beginning of the investigation, Paris chief prosecutor Laure Beccuau said in April.

But the truth is that the closer we have got to the spot the fire started, and the more results of analyses come back, the more weight is lent to the theory of an accident, she added.

Beccuau noted at the time that investigating magistrates had in 2023 called for new expert reports on the cathedral debris, the place where the fire started and the churchs technical infrastructure.

Although all had been carried out by April, the experts have been asked to summarise and cross-reference their extremely technical findings to see if it is possible to determine a potential cause for the fire, she added.

Prosecutors told AFP this week that investigating magistrates have now ordered a 3D simulation be created of the start of the fire using the images taken at the time. This simulation will allow us to compare different theories about the blaze.

So far no charges have been filed against anyone, the prosecutors confirmed.

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A source familiar with the case said the investigation was drawing to a close.

Safety failings

Remy Heitz, chief Paris prosecutor at the time of the initial investigation, said at the time he believed an accidental cause such as an electrical fault or smouldering cigarette butt was most likely.

Since then, no new information has surfaced to suggest a deliberate arson.

Over the past year, every zone (in the cathedral) has been cleared of debris  without revealing any new relevant evidence, a source in the judiciary said in mid-2023.

The more than 850-year-old cathedral of Notre Dame, whose silhouette is known the world over, was undergoing restoration work when fire broke out on April 15, 2019.

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In a spectacularly destructive blaze relayed around the world in images and live broadcasts, the church lost its spire, roof, clock and part of its stone vault.

Several safety failings were later singled out, including the cathedrals alarm system which contributed to slowing firefighters response, as well the electrical system in one of its elevators.

Neither is believed to have initially set off the fire, but they enabled the flames to spread through the monument.

Lead contamination

Investigators have a separate case open into the potentially harmful health effects of the Notre Dame fire, which has also filed no charges so far, prosecutors said.

A health association joined forces with a union and two parents of local schoolchildren for a 2022 criminal complaint that accused authorities of failing to take every precaution to prevent lead pollution.

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Supported by its forest of wooden beams, Notre Dames roof and spire were covered by around 400 tonnes of lead, a toxic heavy metal that went up in smoke with the fire  some of which likely came back down to earth in the neighbourhood.

The weight is four times the total annual lead emissions into the atmosphere for all of France, the plaintiffs pointed out.

Possible charges for the leads impact on the health of both local residents and workers sent in to decontaminate the Notre Dame site are being investigated by the same judge, a judicial source said.
Morales, who led Bolivia from 2006 to 2019, had been vying for the candidacy of his MAS party, alongside his former mentee-turned-rival, President Luis Arce read more

A constitutional court in Bolivia has barred former President Evo Morales from running again for office, ushering in a new phase in the countrys long-running political crisis.

Morales, who led Bolivia from 2006 to 2019, had been vying for the candidacy of his MAS party, alongside his former mentee-turned-rival, President Luis Arce.

But, in a decision last week that was reported on Friday, Bolivias constitutional court ruled that presidents were limited to serving two terms, whether consecutive or non-consecutive.

After serving his first two terms, a court ruling allowed Morales to serve a third term because his first preceded a constitutional rewrite. He ran for a fourth term in the 2019 elections, but fled the country after the results were disputed and unrest ensued. Arce was elected in 2020.

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Without a doubt this ushers in a new era of politics in Bolivia, opposition lawmaker Marcelo Pedrazas told journalists on Friday. In 2025, well have an election without Evo Morales on the ballot.

Morales lawyer, Orlando Ceballos, called the courts ruling politically motivated.

What are they trying to do? To get rid of MAS, to disqualify Evo, thats the point, Ceballos said in a radio interview, adding they would take up the matter with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

Morales and Arce have been increasingly butting heads in past weeks, with Morales supporters using roadblocks to halt commerce and later raiding military bases.

Morales has called for peaceful talks with the government, but went on a nearly week-long hunger strike in protest of what he considers political persecution by Arces administration.

On Friday, lawmakers loyal to Morales caused chaos in Congress, shouting and throwing flowers at the vice president ahead of Arces planned yearly address and forcing him to deliver his speech from the presidential palace.
At least 43,552 people have been killed in more than 13 months of war between Israel and Palestinian terrorists, the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said on Saturday. read more

This picture shows the damage at the site of overnight Israeli airstrikes that targeted the southern Lebanese city of Tyre on November 9, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. Image- AFP

Gazas civil defence agency said on Saturday that Israeli air strikes killed at least 14 Palestinians overnight, including women and children, while the Israeli military said it had eliminated dozens of militants in the territorys north. The attacks came as Israel allowed the first delivery of aid to northern Gaza in weeks.

One airstrike struck a former school-turned-shelter in Gaza Citys Tufah neighborhood, killing six people, including two journalists, a pregnant woman and a child, according to Gazas Health Ministry. The Israeli military said the strike was aimed at a Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant, without providing further details.

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In a separate incident, seven people were killed when an Israeli airstrike hit a tent sheltering displaced civilians in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Among the victims were two women and a child, reported Nasser Hospital. The Israeli military has not yet commented on this attack.

The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said on Saturday that at least 43,552 people have been killed in more than 13 months of war between Israel and Palestinian terrorists.

The toll includes 44 deaths in the previous 24 hours, according to the ministry, which said 102,765 people have been wounded in the Gaza Strip since the war began when Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.

COGAT, the Israeli military body in charge of humanitarian aid to Gaza, said Saturday that 11 aid trucks containing food, water and medical equipment reached the far north of the enclave, including the urban refugee camp at Jabaliya. It is the first time any aid has reached the far north of the enclave since Israel began a fresh military campaign there last month.

The announcement comes days a ahead of a U.S. deadline demanding that Israel improve aid deliveries across Gaza. Experts have said there is a strong likelihood that famine is imminent in parts of northern Gaza.

Israels new offensive has focusing on Jabaliya, a densely populated refugee camp where Israel says Hamas had regrouped. Other areas affected by the new campaign include Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun, situated just north of Gaza City.

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The U.N. estimates that tens of thousands of people remain in the area. Earlier this week, the Gaza Health Ministry said that there were no ambulances or emergency crews currently operating north of Gaza City.

Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, the Israeli army has struck several schools and tent camps, packed with tens of thousands of Palestinians driven from their homes by Israeli offensives and evacuation orders. The conflict has left 90% of Palestinians in Gaza displaced, according to U.N. figures.

The military has continually accused Hamas of operating from within civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including schools, U.N. facilities and hospitals. The contesting narratives over the use of schools and hospitals go to the heart of 13 month conflict.

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In July, Israeli airstrikes hit a girls school in Gazas central city of Deir al-Balah, killing at least 30 people sheltering inside. Israels military said it targeted a Hamas command center used to direct attacks against its troops and store large quantities of weapons.

More than a year of Israels war against Hamas in Gaza has killed more than 43,000 people, Palestinian health officials say. They do not distinguish between civilians and combatants, but say more than half of those killed were women and children. The war began after Palestinian militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and abducting 250 others.

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With inputs from agencies.
The jamming allegations come about a week after the North test-fired what it said was its most advanced and powerful solid-fuel ICBM missile, its first such launch since being accused of sending soldiers to help Russia fight Ukraine read more

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits O Jin U Artillery Academy in North Korea September 6, 2024 in this photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency. Reuters

North Korea staged GPS jamming attacks on Friday and Saturday, Seouls military said, an operation that was affecting several ships and dozens of civilian aircraft in South Korea.The jamming allegations come about a week after the North test-fired what it said was its most advanced and powerful solid-fuel ICBM missile, its first such launch since being accused of sending soldiers to help Russia fight Ukraine.

The South fired its own ballistic missile into the sea on Friday in a show of force aimed at showing its resolve to respond to any North Korean provocations.

North Korea conducted GPS jamming provocations in Haeju and Kaesong yesterday and today (November 8-9), Seouls joint chiefs of staff said in a statement Saturday, adding several vessels and dozens of civilian aircraft were experiencing some operational disruptions as a result.

The military warned ships and aircraft operating in the Yellow Sea to beware of such attacks.

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We strongly urge North Korea to immediately cease its GPS provocations and warn that it will be held responsible for any subsequent issues arising from this, they said in the statement.

Tensions on the peninsula have been at their highest pitch in years, with the North launching a flurry of ballistic missiles in violation of UN sanctions.

It also has been bombarding the South with trash-carrying balloons since May, in what it says is retaliation for anti-Pyongyang propaganda missives sent North by activists.

North Korea has become one of the most vocal and important backers of Russias offensive in Ukraine.

Seoul and the West have long accused Pyongyang of supplying artillery shells and missiles to Moscow for use in Ukraine.

The latest accusations, based on intelligence reports, indicate the North has deployed around 10,000 troops to Russia, suggesting even deeper involvement in the conflict and triggering outcry in Seoul, Kyiv and Western capitals.

South Korea, a major arms exporter, has a long-standing policy of not providing weapons to countries in conflict.

But President Yoon Suk Yeol said this week that Seoul is now not ruling out the possibility of providing weapons directly to Ukraine, given Pyongyangs military support of Moscow.

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On Friday, Seouls presidential office said cyber attacks by pro-Russian hacking groups against South Korea have increased following North Koreas troop dispatch for Russias war in Ukraine.
The agreement between Italy and Albania allows up to 3,000 migrants intercepted by the Italian coast guard in international waters each month to be sheltered in Albania, and vetted for possible asylum in Italy or be sent back to their countries. read more

A delegation of Italian activists and lawmakers visiting an Albanian migrant processing center reported that one of the eight intercepted migrants had returned to Italy due to vulnerability. The Egyptian man was diagnosed with psychiatric issues, rendering him unable to stay at the Gjader reception center.

Currently, seven migrants  five from Bangladesh and two from Egypt  remain at the center. This group represents the second transfer of migrants since the processing centers began operating in October, as part of an agreement between Italy and Albania.

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The group represented the second transfer of migrants since two processing centers started operating in October under a deal sealed between Italy and Albania. Human rights groups and nongovernmental organizations active in the Mediterranean have slammed the agreement as a dangerous precedent that conflicts with international laws.

The agreement allows up to 3,000 migrants intercepted by the Italian coast guard in international waters each month to be sheltered in Albania, and vetted for possible asylum in Italy or be sent back to their countries.

Italy has agreed to welcome those migrants who are granted asylum, while those whose applications are rejected face deportation directly from Albania.

The first group of 16 migrants from Bangladesh and Egypt was transferred to Albania on Oct. 16. Four were taken to Italy the same day because they were minors or had health issues. Twelve others were brought back to Italy three days later, following a ruling by Rome judges who rejected their detention because their countries of origin werent safe enough for them to be sent back.

The court ruling had shortened the list of countries considered safe by law, meaning that Rome can repatriate migrants from those countries who didnt win asylum using a fast-track procedure. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni slammed the decision, noting that deeming countries such as Bangladesh and Egypt unsafe means that virtually all migrants would be barred from the Albania program.

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On Oct. 21, Italys far-right government approved a new decree aimed at overcoming those judicial hurdles that risked derailing the contentious five-year migration deal with Albania.

A decision by Rome judges on the detention of the seven migrants currently in Albania is expected for Monday.

With inputs from agencies.
The Qataris informed both the Israelis and Hamas that as long as there is a refusal to negotiate a deal in good faith, they cannot continue to mediate, a diplomatic source said read more

Egypt, Qatar, and the US have been attempting to mediate an agreement between Israel and Hamas for months. Image used for representational purpose/Reuters

Qatar has pulled back as a key mediator for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage negotiations, AFP cited a diplomatic source as saying on Saturday (November 9).

The Qataris informed both the Israelis and Hamas that as long as there is a refusal to negotiate a deal in good faith, they cannot continue to mediate. As a consequence, the Hamas political office no longer serves its purpose, the source said.

AFP further quoted this person as saying that Qatar had already notified both sides, Israel and Hamas as well as the US administration of its decision.

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The Qataris conveyed to the US administration that they would be ready to re-engage in mediation when both sides demonstrate a sincere willingness to return to the negotiating table, they added.

Earlier this week, on Monday (November 4), the US State Department said that Hamas had rejected a proposal for a short-term ceasefire and hostage release deal. The Palestinian group had stuck to its key demand for a permanent withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.

That rejection led Israeli negotiators to warn Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that unless he shows some flexibility, a deal will remain unattainable, according to a report by Times of Israel.

Now, Dohas move to withdraw from the ceasefire negotiations marks the biggest setback in efforts to reach a ceasefire since Hamas triggered the Gaza war by attacking Israel on October 7 last year.

Apart from this move, earlier in the day, Qatar also told Hamas leaders to leave the country as the gulf state faced pressure from Washington to facilitate a ceasefire deal.

Senior US officials said that Qatars warning to Hamas came after Washington said that the militant groups rejection of a deal to release Israeli hostages meant its presence was no longer viable.

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On the other hand, a senior Hamas official said that the group had received no indication from Qatar that it should leave the country, according to AFP.

With inputs from agencies
Russia on Saturday opened the first ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in the city of Sochi, seeking to deepen ties with African nations and dispel a notion that its isolated by Western sanctions. read more

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia October 22, 2024. File Photo- Reuters

Russia has kicked off the first ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in Sochi to strengthen ties with African nations and shake off the perception of isolation due to Western sanctions.

This conference builds upon last summers Russia-Africa summit, where President Vladimir Putin wooed African leaders with promises of expanded political and business collaborations.

The two-day conference has brought together government and business leaders from Russia and Africa, marking the beginning of a regular series of meetings. According to Anton Kobyakov, an adviser to Putin, this format will continue to foster cooperation between the two regions.

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Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova was quoted as saying by Russian state news agency RIA Novosti that the conference dashed dirty hopes for Russias isolation.

Zakharova said that dozens of bilateral meetings were taking place between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and African representatives, hailing the multipolarity demonstrated by the event.

Lavrov is due to speak at the plenary session on Sunday.

With inputs from agencies.
The situation remains volatile, with multiple stakeholders involved in shaping the future of the region. The EUs put all-out efforts to support Ukraines position, while Russias openness to Trumps proposals may potentially pave the way for renewed negotiations. read more

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump shake hands during a bilateral meeting at the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 28, 2019. File Image/Reuters

Russia signals readiness to consider Trumps peace proposals for ending Ukraine war

Russia has expressed willingness to consider President-elect Donald Trumps proposals for ending the ongoing conflict, according to a Russian official.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Moscow and Washington were exchanging signals on Ukraine via closed channels. He did not specify whether the communication was with the current administration or Trump and members of his incoming administration.

Russia is ready to listen to Trumps proposals on Ukraine provided these were ideas on how to move forward in the area of settlement, and not in the area of further pumping the Kyiv regime with all kinds of aid, Ryabkov said on Saturday in an interview with Russian state news agency Interfax.

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Meanwhile, the European Unions foreign policy chief is engaging in discussions with officials in Kyiv to reaffirm support for Ukraine following the change in US leadership. The situation remains volatile, with multiple stakeholders involved in shaping the future of the region. The EUs diplomatic efforts aim to reinforce Ukraines position, while Russias openness to Trumps proposals may potentially pave the way for renewed negotiations.

Odesa regional Gov. Oleh Kiper said high-rise residential buildings, private houses and warehouses in the Black Sea port city were damaged by the fall of a drone. He did not specify whether the drone had been shot down by air defences.

A further 32 Russian drones were shot down over 10 Ukrainian regions, while 18 were lost, according to Ukraines air force, likely having been electronically jammed.

A Russian aerial bomb struck a busy highway overnight in the northeastern Kharkiv province, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekohov said. No casualties were reported.

Russia is mounting an intensified aerial campaign that Ukrainian officials say they need more Western help to counter. However, doubts are deepening over what Kyiv can expect from a new US administration. Trump has repeatedly taken issue with US aid to Ukraine, made vague vows to end the war and has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, however, reassured Ukraine of European support during a visit to Kyiv on Saturday.

EU support to Ukraine has been my personal priority during my mandate and will remain on top of the EUs agenda, he wrote on X.

In Russia, the Defence Ministry said 50 Ukrainian drones were destroyed over seven Russian regions  more than half over the Bryansk region, bordering Ukraine.

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With inputs from agencies.
At least 21 people have been killed in Mozambique and scores injured in protests in which demonstrators have burned tyres, blocked roads and marched to Frelimo offices. read more

A protester looks on near a burning barricade during a "national shutdown" against the election outcome, in Maputo, Mozambique, November 7, 2024.- Image- Reuters

South Africa has partially reopened its main border crossing with Mozambique, following a brief closure due to safety concerns sparked by protests over Mozambiques disputed election last month. The protests led by opposition supporters contest the victory of Frelimo, the ruling party since 1975, which they claim was fraudulent.

The situation escalated earlier this week, prompting South Africa to shut down the Lebombo port of entry in Mpumalanga province after reports emerged of vehicles being set ablaze on the Mozambican side.

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The port is now open for cargo movement, after the Mozambican authorities managed to address challenges with their systems to facilitate processing through the Ressano Garcia port of entry into Mozambique, the Border Management Authority said.

It said in a statement that the initial reopening of the port was to manage the movement of people, adding: but this morning, the Mozambican authorities worked tirelessly to address cargo systems for smooth border processing.

At least 21 people have been killed in Mozambique and scores injured in protests in which demonstrators have burned tyres, blocked roads and marched to Frelimo offices.

Authorities have responded with tear gas and live ammunition, human rights groups said, and restricted access to the internet.

With inputs from agencies.
Feb 5, 2024

Attention: Ms. Yvette April, Chief Administration Officer Village office of Standard (Email sent: cao@villageofstandard.ca, admin@villageofstandard.ca)

Dear madames/sirs (Municipality of Standard):

Please open the attachment and I responded to your office with two letters of "NOTICE OF TAX ARREARS". By the fact, your office never paid the bill that was addressed on 18 of April 2019, which your office ignored five years long up to today for the damages of illegally dumped street snow on my both properties since 2012. On one hand, your office used my property tax payments, created multiple legal harassment, pretended you were enforcing the law of Alberta Municipal ACT, which you never even care about, what law you should follow and how to respect.

On the other hand, your office just continually ignored my bill, using my property tax payments again, through your legal representative, ignored my refusal and counter claim registered with the same case, turned around through with the Alberta Law Society Association claiming your legal costs on me, then illegally sealed my hotel land. Please check that I paid my property taxes updated, which all deposited INTRUST account opened under your office named VILLAGE OF STANDARD. And you would find the reason why I didn't pay it to your office directly.

I am in my 70's and I am living alone, stuck with this hotel since I unable to sell because of your multiple harassment, and my whole family members all moved away from this village because it has no life to us. What are your those warning letters of "NOTICE OF TAX ARREARS" to do? Link my hotel and land for public auction again??? My health is dropping down so much, which the emergence brought me to the emergency multiple times and my blood pressure is extremely high, and I don't know what to do anymore since all the investors I brout in were scared away...

With your office creating multiple harassment, it caused my business to have almost no sales. Please do remember, I am the investor who brought more than half million invested in this village to start. so I must invest more money to keep it alive, you think is this fair? Yes, I learned that IN THIS VILLAGE HISTORY, there are no outsiders able to struggle for two years here once your guys don't like them, I am the only one who is struggling for my rights and standing up for 12 years. Is that my fault? This is no longer 18 centuries, and we are all living in modern civilization society, and could we turn over the page to let your village civilians all live under a healthy, peaceful environment?

Thank you for your kindness

Peter 587 437-1668 (PS: Attached letter below)

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Attention: Ms. Yvette April, Chief Administration Officer Jan. 28th, 2024

Village office of Standard, Alberta

Cc: Alberta Appeal Court File number: 2301-0096AC

Cc: Alberta Human Rights Commission

Re: Peter Zen Guo Pan & Standard Hotel (AHRC file: S2021-05-0056)

Dear mesdames/sirs (Municipality of Standard):

I received notice letters from your village office regarding the property tax issues. I did remind your office that I opened the INTRUST account at RBC Royal Bank since year 2022 under name for Village of Standard, (I resend the attachment. The reason I open this INTRUST account by the following:

1. For the municipal law enforcer, your village office abused Alberta Municipal ACT 610, wrongly created the two-bedroom mobile house (I am not the legal owner) kept it in your storage place illegally charging space rental costs for over three years long, hidden it into my property tax, and claiming outstanding property tax to link my hotel for public auction, made it looks like legal matters.

2. When I brought this matter to Alberta Ombudsman, Human Rights Commission, and Kings Bench Drumheller, your legal representative didnt respect the fact for the damages your office caused to me, to my family and my business, behind me convinced the judge grant your legal costs on me.

3. I filed the refusal of the pre-trial judgement and counter claim of my damages to the same injunction case at the Kings Bench Drumheller since this pre-trial judgement is invalid because the judgement granted without me, especially I never sign anything at the pre-trial hearing and afterwards (the copy I hand delivered to your legal representatives office).

4. Your representative didnt respond my refusal of the judgement and counter claim of my damages to the same case at the Kings Bench Drumheller, he turned around used this invalid pre-trial judgement claim the legal cost through the Alberta Law Society Association to claim the costs, which I cant attend to the hearing since I was infected by Covid-19 and I was isolated. By then your legal representative sealed my hotel land for your office legal costs.

5. Followed the instruction, I filed my state of claim to the Kings Bench Drumheller, somehow your office changed your legal representative, she turned around convinced the judge kicked out my case and use the excuse that I didnt respond her email letter. By the fact I was locked myself in my suite for months for major depression that your municipality office caused me (multiple times I had run to the emergency, which the ambulance also brought me to hospital emergency multiple times as well because my blood pressure was extremely high).

6. Was my family doctor and counselor both keeps encouraging me to face it, deal with the Alberta Human Rights Commission and file the revision through the AHRC Tribunal system, and file to the Appeal court for these two wrong judgements, the copy of court appeal case sent to your legal representative, and your office as well.

7. Last week, I received two letters named NOTICE OF TAX ARREARS from your office for my company both properties (hotel & residential). Again, it refers to the first paragraph of this letter and all my property taxes paid updated in your INTRUST account with RBC Bank (please check the copy of the attached below of this letter).

8. The reason why I created the INTRUST account and deposited my properties tax payments into this account because the wrongdoing by your village office and took my property tax payments used it to create those legal harassments to my business, my personal, and my family, which it caused my family members no one want to stay in this village of Standard, I have no choice since I stuck with my hotel that I even cant enjoy my retirement

9. By the fact, your village office is the municipal law enforcer, but your village office just wrongly overusing the power to abuse your own civilians, otherwise it should never happen in this way. Moreover, how could your office abuse the law to create those legal harassments, irresponsibly added your office legal expenses on me? Which totally forgotten how much damages caused to my business, my personal and my family!

10. Once again, please view the bill I sent to your office (check it attached again below this letter) regarding your office illegally, none-stopping dumped street snow on my both properties for years since year 2012 when my family and business settled in this village. Your office was ignored my bill first, when I brought it with part of my counter claim and state of claim, your office gave the excuses and claimed that I was agreed to allow your office dump the street snow on my both properties, which this is totally lie, and your office no one cares since similar lies your office filed to the Alberta Ombudsman, AHRC, and to the court as well

11. This is the reason for me created this INTRUST account under your office (named village of Standard). Somehow, your village office is the municipal law enforcer, but your village office just wrongly overusing the power to abuse your own civilians, otherwise it should never happen in this way. Moreover, how could your office abuse the law to create those legal harassments, irresponsibly added your office legal expenses on me? Which totally forgotten how much damages caused to my business, my personal and my family!

12. I afraid your office would use my property taxes payments again to pay your legal representative to create more legal harassment just as your office did in the past. Please take a note: I am just a little guy who owned yellow skin, spoken broken English, and powerless to struggle my rights since your office overpowered to abuse me, my family, and my business with your punch of lies, fake statements, and this is the only way could be done to struggling of my rights.

13. I dont know what your municipality office will lead it again after those two letters of NOTICE OF TAX ARREARS I received? Will create action to link my hotel for public auction again? I am here state once more: the reason why my property taxes didnt pay it to your office directly because multiple legal harassments your office created, and your municipality office never paid off the bill of illegally dumped the street snow on my both properties, and your legal costs wrongly collected on me, and etc..

14. Please pay off your bill of Invoice of Street Snow Storage In My Private Properties. Check the Alberta Municipal ACT if there will be any law allowed your village office dumped street snow on your civilians private properties?

Especially, there is AHRC TRIBUNAL processing that is not done yet, especially the case with the Alberta Appeal Court, its still waiting for the hearing date. I send this letter with attached the bill for ILLEGALY DUMPING STREET SNOW ON MY BOTH PROPERTIES, Here by I strongly suggest your village office be kindly review the law of Alberta Municipal ACT 610, and the whole issues that your office created damaged to me, my family, and my business before to create more legal harassment.

Giving yourself accordingly.

Peter Zhen Guo Pan Per:

Standard Hotel / Sunny Investment Group Inc.
A woman can talk to another woman, women need to interact with one another in society, women do have their needs, Saiful Islam Khyber, a spokesman for the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (PVPV), said read more

A Taliban fighter stands guard as women wait to receive food rations distributed by a humanitarian aid group, in Kabul, Afghanistan, on May 23, 2023. Image used for representational purpose/AP

The Taliban government denied recent reports of a ban on women speaking to each other, dismissing claims that women in Afghanistan are forbidden from conversing.

The reports are brainless and illogical, Saiful Islam Khyber, a spokesman for the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (PVPV), said in a voice recording, AFP reported.

A woman can talk to another woman, women need to interact with one another in society, women do have their needs, Khyber said.

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He noted, however, that under Islamic law, certain guidelines apply, including instructions for women to communicate with hand gestures rather than raised voices during prayer, as stated by PVPV head Mohammad Khalid Hanafi in an audio recording.

The Talibans government has imposed restrictions on public displays of womens voices, including a recent vice and virtue law prohibiting women from singing or reciting poetry aloud in public.

The law, based on the Talibans interpretation of Islamic law, mandates that womens voices be concealed along with their bodies outside the home, barring womens voices from radio and television broadcasts in some regions.

In August 2024, the Taliban enacted a comprehensive Law on the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, imposing extensive restrictions on personal behaviour and granting broad enforcement powers to the morality police.

Womens rights in Afghanistan

This is not the first instance of its kind. Since regaining control in 2021, the Taliban has imposed numerous restrictions on Afghan women, including bans on secondary and higher education (girls are prohibited from attending school beyond sixth grade), most employment opportunities, and access to public spaces.

These measures have drawn international condemnation, with organizations like the United Nations labelling them as gender apartheid.

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The Taliban government maintains that the rights of all Afghan citizens are guaranteed under Islamic law.

With inputs from agencies
During the final stretch of campaigning, Donald Trump announced that RFK Jr would have a big role in health care if he won. Now the Kennedy family scion is reviewing candidate resumes for the top jobs at health agencies for the incoming Trump administration. Heres why this is concerning read more

US President-elect Donald Trump earlier announced Robert F Kennedy Jr, a long-time conspiracy theorist and vaccination critic, would have a big role in health care if he won.

The reunion between the returning Republican leader and the Kennedy family scion, who was formerly a well-known environmentalist who advocated for the prosecution of climate change doubters, is somewhat odd.

They do, however, have a deep mistrust of institutions in common. RFK Jr would have a big role in health care if Trump won, he declared in the closing days of the campaign.

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A complex figure

The announcement caused immediate concern because Kennedy was known to be a sceptic about vaccines.

Kennedy, however, was a prominent climate advocate not long ago and was even considered to be the environment director for former President Barack Obama.

According to some scholars, this makes him a complex figure who contributes some valuable insights.

We are not going to take vaccines away from anybody, he told NPR in an attempt to soothe critics in recent days. We are going to make sure that Americans have good information, he said ominously.

Ironically, Kennedy has spent two decades spreading conspiracy theories about vaccines, particularly those related to COVID-19 shots, which were created in record time during Trumps first presidency.

Before withdrawing to support Trump, to the dismay of his own family, the nephew of assassinated President John F. Kennedy was receiving almost five per cent of the popular vote.

Also read: What will a second Donald Trump presidency mean for the US and the world?

Make America Healthy Again

After unsuccessfully approaching Vice President Kamala Harris for a part, the pair has since been advocating for the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, which is a play of Trumps Make America Great Again (MAGA) catchphrase.

His mission: to transform our nations food, fitness, air, water, soil, and medicine, he said in a video, his voice unsteady due to a neurological condition.

Our big priority will be to clean up the public health agencies, he declared, naming the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and more.

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Those agencies have become sock puppets for the industries that theyre supposed to regulate, said the 70-year-old, echoing common progressive criticisms.

On X, he wrote, 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.

His suggestion that he stop fluoridating tap water, which prevents cavities and is ranked by the CDC as one of the top 10 health achievements of the 20th century, has also caused controversy.

A naturally occurring mineral, fluoride, is released into the land, water, and air by rocks.

However, some have questioned the practice, ranging from whether fluoridation is successful enough to justify the expenditures to a disproved conspiracy notion of a communist scheme in the 1950s. According to Gerry Uswak, the director of the University of Saskatchewans oral treatment programme, who spoke with CBS News, many of the worries, including those made by Kennedy in the lead-up to the U.S. election, are not supported by solid scientific evidence.

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Also read: Not Trump vs Harris, Robert Kennedy and fluoride drinking water are trending on Google search on poll day

A position in administration

In the Trump 2.0 administration, he may get a position as a health secretary or an advisor.

A Cabinet confirmation is now likely with a Republican majority in the Senate.

Trump declared at a recent rally that Kennedy, who was previously detained for opposing the Keystone XL pipeline, would not be a part of his Drill, baby, drill plan.

However, Trumps assertion that he would be in charge of womens health angered Democrats who were already annoyed by Republican-led abortion restrictions.

However, RFK Jrs views on reproductive rights are difficult to classify. He said, Ultimately, I do not trust the government to have jurisdiction over peoples bodies, in support of a womans choice to abort a pregnancy at any point this spring.

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He later changed his mind and supported a ban after foetal viability, which is approximately 24 weeks. This is the limit established by a Supreme Court decision that was upheld for a half-century before being overturned in 2022 by justices selected by Trump.

According to Reuters, RFK Jr is examining resumes for the top positions in the US governments health departments in the incoming Trump administration.

Del Bigtree, who served as Kennedys campaign director of communications and is still close to the former candidate, stated that he has been asked to suggest candidates for all regulatory health agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services.

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Healthy food

Kennedy will also address food health in the country, which is an odd assignment given Trumps well-known love for McDonalds.

Kennedy argues America needs to stop the rise of chronic diseases, especially obesity. However, he also enjoys drinking raw milk, which is severely discouraged by health experts.

Kennedy argued for drastically lowering the cost of prescription drugs in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece, mentioning the diabetic medicine Ozempic, a cause supported by left-leaning Senator Bernie Sanders.

He also proposes preventing food stamp recipients from purchasing soda and ultra-processed foods, a policy which I have advocated for the past 15 years, Tom Frieden, CDC director under Obama, said in Stat News.

While agreeing with Kennedys focus on chronic disease, Frieden remains wary. The MAHA combination of sound science, pseudo-science, and profiteering by so-called wellness companies isnt the answer.

With inputs from AFP
Even as he hails himself as a master dealmaker, President-elect Donald Trump has a very patchy record in striking deals that work as most of first terms deals failed read more

US President-elect Donald Trump has pitched himself as a 'deal-maker' of international affairs. (Photo: X/Donald Trump)

US President-elect Donald Trump has pitched himself as a master dealmaker.

Kamala broke it, Trump will fix it has been one of the main slogans of Trumps victorious campaign.

Trump believes that he would strike a deal to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours and the war in West Asia will also end by the time he takes office.

While Trump has not outlined how he would end these wars, he makes it sound like he would walk into a room where all parties would be sitting, command them to end the war, and everyone would follow his diktats and the wars would end. He attempted such in his first term as well.

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Here is how the various deals that Trump made (and broke) turned out in his first term.

Paris Agreement  a blow to climate change efforts

In one of the first major deals that Trump broke during his term, he announced the United States would exit the Paris Accords, the landmark agreement reached by 196 nations in 2015 to tackle climate change.

Trumps withdrawal was a blow to the international efforts at tackling climate change. In the absence of worlds largest economys participation, any plan to tackle climate would be both inadequate in terms of resources and coverage.

President Joe Biden rejoined the pact and Trump is expected to quit again when he takes office.

Exit from Iran nuclear deal  a disaster still unfolding

In 2018, Trump had undone another landmark diplomatic achievement: the Iran nuclear deal.

The Iran nuclear deal, formally known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed between Iran and the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, Russia, Germany, and the European Union. The deal eased sanctions on Iran in lieu of caps on Irans nuclear programme.

Trump quit the deal and implemented the maximum pressure strategy by imposing maximalist sanctions on Iran to disastrous effects.

The result of Trump exiting the Iran nuclear deal has been that Iran is now at the threshold of developing a nuclear weapon. Top US officials have said that Iran can develop a bomb within weeks or months once the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei gives his approval.

Trumps withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal failed spectacularly, said Deepika Saraswat, a scholar of Iran and West Asia at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA).

The maximum pressure strategy failed spectacularly. The Iran Nuclear Deal was not perfect. It was a compromise as it could not secure the dismantling of the Iranian nuclear programme the way the United States and Israel would have wanted. But it capped nuclear enrichment, allowed for monitoring of the nuclear programme, and prevented the development of the bomb. After Trump exited the deal, Iran ramped up the enrichment. Now, Iran retaliates to sanctions with more enrichment, said Saraswat to Firstpost in June.

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Exit from arms control treaties with Russia

Trump exited from two arms control deals with Russia, paving way for Russia to later withdraw from a third deal as well.

While fawning over Russian leader Vladimir Putin for several years, Trump cut channels between the two countries and reduced the scope of cooperation.

In 2018, Trump quit the landmark Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (IRNT), the 1987 treaty under which the United States and the-then Soviet Union (and its successor state Russia) agreed to eliminate their stocks of intermediate- and medium-range land-based nuclear missiles.

In 2020, Trump exited from Open Skies Treaty, which allowed the two countries to fly over each others. territories with sensor equipment to assure that none of them were preparing for conflict.

The rationale to quit IRNT was that as Russia was deemed to be violating the deal from at least 2014, there was no point of unilateral US commitment to the deal. Moreover, the deal held back the United States from arming itself while China continued to arm itself.

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Even as Trump had set that he would look forward to new deals in place of the scrapped ones, no new deal was reached with either Russia or China.

Instead, in 2023, a year after invading Ukraine, Russia suspended the New START agreement, the final major arms control agreement with the United States.

The deal that never happened with North Korea

Trump also started talks with North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un.

After tirade against him on Twitter (now X), Trump went on to meet Kim thrice. He also became the first President of the United States to set foot inside North Korea.

The talks, however, went nowhere and Kim has continued belligerence since then. Currently, North Korea is part of China-bled bloc of authoritarian regimes anti-West bloc. It has not just been supplying arms and ammunition to Russia since the beginning of the war on Ukraine in 2022, it has also contributed troops.

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The spectacular failure of US-China trade deal

Trump started a trade war with China by imposing tariffs on Chinese goods. The purpose was to not get into a spiralling trade war but to force China into a deal that benefits the United States.

In 2020, the United States and China signed the Phase One Trade Agreement under which China was to buy $200 billion-worth of goods and services over the next two years. The deal was a spectacular failure as China gamed Trump.

An analysis by the Peterson Institute of International Economics (PIIE) found that China did not buy even $1-worth goods and services.

In the end, China purchased only 58 percent of the total US goods and services exports over 2020-21 that it had committed to buy under the agreement. Put differently, China bought none of the additional $200 billion of US exports committed under the deal, noted Chad P Bown, the then-Reginald Jones Senior Fellow at PIEE in the analysis.

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US-Taliban deal that paved way for Afghanistans takeover

In 2020, the Trump administration struck a deal with the Taliban and paved way for the eventual takeover of Afghanistan by the fundamentalist group.

While the chaotic withdrawal is on the Joe Biden administration, the deal was struck by the Trump administration.

Under the deal, the two sides would reach a ceasefire in lieu of Taliban not letting Afghanistan become a safe haven, but that did not happen. Al Qaeda has found a safe haven in Afghanistan with Talibans patronage and so has the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The nation is also ravaged by an insurgency of Islamic State (ISIS) against the Taliban regime.

Bidens failure to strike a deal between the Taliban and the Afghan government before the withdrawal resulted in a Taliban military victory and takeover of the nation. Since then, the Islamist regime has plunged the nation into medieval dark ages by ending women and girls personal freedoms, education rights, and public life.

The mixed success of Abraham Accords

Trump presided over the normalisation of relations between Israel and United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. The peace process came to be known as Abraham Accords.

Of all Trumps deals, the Abraham Accords are the only ones that have stood the test of time.

However, the success is bittersweet as while the agreements normalised Israels relationship with these countries, it did nothing to resolve the underlying Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel was not at conflict with these countries anyway. The real conflict was (and remains) with the Palestinians and Iran.

In fact, by excluding Palestinians from the process and by marginalising them in another Middle East peace plan pitched separately, Trump told them that they did not have any diplomatic way forward with Israel.

After Trump egged on Iran towards the nuclear path by exiting the JCPOA, the marginalisation of Palestinians set them on a militant path.
Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said that US President Joe Bidens delayed exit from the 2024 presidential race was one of the main reasons why Democrats lost the November 5 polls to Donald Trump read more

Former US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said that US President Joe Bidens delayed exit from the 2024 US presidential election race cost the Democrats dearly. The proclamation from Pelosi came days after the partys presidential nominee, US Vice President Kamala Harris, lost the November 5 polls to the new President-elect Donald Trump.

We live with what happened, Pelosi told The New York Times as she pondered upon exactly what went wrong. Had the president gotten out sooner, there may have been other candidates in the race. The anticipation was that, if the president were to step aside, there would be an open primary, Pelosi said in the podcast called The Interview.

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And as I say, Kamala may have, I think she would have done well in that and been stronger going forward. But we dont know that. That didnt happen. We live with what happened. And because the president endorsed Kamala Harris immediately, that really made it almost impossible to have a primary at that time. If it had been much earlier, it would have been different, she added.

The cracks within the Democrats widen

Democrats have been engaged in bitter blame games soon after Harris lost the polls to Trump. Meanwhile, 84-year-old Pelosi was re-elected this week to a 20th two-year term. Biden has long rejected the argument that he is not fit to run for re-election. However, after a disastrous performance in the debate against Trump, he announced he wouldnt be running for re-election, endorsing Harris.

Pelosi, at that time, played a key role in convincing Biden to step out of the race. In August, the veteran politician said that she had never been that impressed with his (Bidens) political operation. They won the White House. Bravo. But my concern was: this aint happening, and we have to make a decision for this to happen. The president has to make the decision for that to happen, she said.

In the recent NYT podcast, Pelosi also slammed Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders who argued that Democrats lost because they abandoned the working class. Bernie Sanders has not won, Pelosi said. With all due respect, and I have a great deal of respect for him, for what he stands for, but I dont respect him saying that the Democratic party has abandoned the working-class families, she added.

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When asked what led to Trumps historic victory, the veteran politician said that it was the cultural issues that helped the Republican firebrand to win the November polls. Guns, God and gays - thats the way they say it, she said. Guns, thats an issue. Gays, thats an issue. And now theyre making the trans issue such an important issue in their priorities, and in certain communities, what they call God, what we call a womans right to choose, the Democratic lawmaker said regarding abortion and other reproductive care.
In September, leftist Colombian President Gustavo Petro denounced the illegal purchase of the software, saying it could be used to intercept communications by political leaders and activists under rightwing Duques government read more

The United States financed the purchase of Israeli spy software Pegasus for Colombian security forces in 2020, a senior US official said Friday, a move made without informing then-President Ivan Duque.

The US official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, corroborated a report in the Colombian daily newspaper El Tiempo that the software was used to investigate drug traffickers.

The official denied the use of the software  which can remotely access messages, calls and files on a phone, as well as activate its microphone and camera  for any other purpose.

He added that Washington had no information to suggest that the software had been used to spy on politicians, and that the US had implemented strict protocols on the use of the software after it was purchased for $11 million from its Israeli manufacturer, NSO Group.

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In September, leftist Colombian President Gustavo Petro denounced the illegal purchase of the software, saying it could be used to intercept communications by political leaders and activists under rightwing Duques government.

In 2021, international media reported the Pegasus software had been used to spy on hundreds of politicians, journalists, activists and business leaders.

After the news of Pegasus came to light, the US terminated the program before Petro came to power in 2022, never informing him of its acquisition, according to the US source.
Russia defended itself by claiming the Security Council was not the appropriate forum to address cybercrime read more

United Nations Security Council is made up of five permanent and 10 elected members. File Image / Reuters

The World Health Organization and some 50 countries issued a warning Friday at the United Nations about the rise of ransomware attacks against hospitals, with the United States specifically blaming Russia.

Ransomware is a type of digital blackmail in which hackers encrypt the data of victims  individuals, companies or institutions  and demand money as a ransom in order to restore it.

Such attacks on hospitals can be issues of life and death, according to WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who addressed the UN Security Council during a meeting Friday called by the United States.

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Surveys have shown that attacks on the healthcare sector have increased in both scale and frequency, Ghebreyesus said, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation to combat them.

Cybercrime, including ransomware, poses a serious threat to international security, he added, calling on the Security Council to consider it as such.

A joint statement co-signed by over 50 countries  including South Korea, Ukraine, Japan, Argentina, France, Germany and the United Kingdom  offered a similar warning.

These attacks pose direct threats to public safety and endanger human lives by delaying critical healthcare services, cause significant economic harm, and can pose a threat to international peace and security, read the statement, shared by US Deputy National Security Advisor Anne Neuberger.

The statement also condemned nations which knowingly allow those responsible for ransomware attacks to operate from.

At the meeting, Neuberger directly called out Moscow, saying: Some states  most notably Russia  continue to allow ransomware actors to operate from their territory with impunity.

France and South Korea also pointed the finger at North Korea.

Russia defended itself by claiming the Security Council was not the appropriate forum to address cybercrime.

We believe that todays meeting can hardly be deemed a reasonable use of the Councils time and resources, said Russian ambassador Vassili Nebenzia.

If our Western colleagues wish to discuss the security of healthcare facilities, he continued, they should agree in the Security Council upon specific steps to stop the horrific attacks by Israel on hospitals in the Gaza Strip.

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In a major policy shift, Qatar told Hamas leaders to leave the country after pressure from the US which accuses the Palestinian group of stalling a Gaza ceasefire deal read more

Amid the escalating tensions in West Asia, Qatar has told leaders of Hamas to leave the country as the gulf state faces pressure from Washington to facilitate a ceasefire deal. Senior US officials said that Qatars warning to Hamas came after Washington said that the militant groups rejection of a deal to release Israeli hostages meant its presence was no longer viable.

This marks a major shift in the Gulf states policy, which has hosted Hamass top brass for over a decade. According to Reuters, the request was made around 10 days after intense discussions with US officials. Doha has been a crucial interlocutor in hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas ever since Hamas October 7 attack in southern Israel triggered an all-out war in Gaza.

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After rejecting repeated proposals to release hostages, its leaders should no longer be welcome in the capitals of any American partner. We made that clear to Qatar following Hamass rejection weeks ago of another hostage release proposal, a US official told Reuters on the condition of anonymity.

The official maintained that the US has been in touch with Qatar over when to close the political office of Hamas. This came after the Palestinian group rejected yet another ceasefire-hostage deal.

Youre not welcome here: Qatar tells Hamas

On Friday, Qatar told Hamas You are not welcome here, The Jerusalem Post reported. It is pertinent to note that Qatar has hosted Hamas political office in the capital since 2012 after Syrias civil war forced the Palestinian group to shut down its base in Damascus.

In fact, the US was the one who asked the oil-rich state to open a channel of communication with the Palestinian group. Meanwhile, a person familiar with the matter told The Financial Times that Hamas leaders in Qatar would now relocate to Turkey, another ally of the Palestinian group.

The Eurasian nation has harboured Hamas political operatives since the start of the war in Gaza. Not only this but Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been vocal in his support for the militant group. However, the Turkish foreign ministry did not respond to the relocation report.

Doha has played the role of mediator since the start of the war. However, the country faced major scrutiny over its close ties with Hamas with many questioning its neutrality. In April this year, Qatars Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said that Doha is re-evaluating its role as a mediator.

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Meanwhile, an Arab diplomat revealed that Hamas officials have visited countries like Turkey, Iran, Algeria and Mauritania to discuss the possibility of relocation, The Financial Times reported. Qatar hosted Hamas leaders in the first place after they got a green light from the Americans. Its logical to try to get rid of them when the US position changes, the diplomat said.

With inputs from agencies.


https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/6/living-the-chinese-dream-beijings-new-world-order





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Living the 'Chinese Dream' Beijing's new world order

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/6/living-the-chinese-dream-beijings-new-world-order

As Beijing boosts its diplomatic clout, analysts say it wants to remould and even supplant existing global institutions.

XI Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, on the red carpet at the bottom of the steps outside the Great Hall of the People. There are three soldiers in ceremonial dress half way up the steps behind them.

China's President Xi Jinping has stepped up diplomacy since the removal of COVID-19 curbs last year [File: Thomas Peter/Pool via Reuters]

Ever since China abandoned its zero-COVID policy at the end of last year, Beijing has been involved in a flurry of engagements from East to West.

A summit in Indias Goa, military drills in Singapore and South Africa, visits by the German chancellor and the French president as well as Chinese President Xi Jinpings own visits to Russia and Saudi Arabia are just a few examples of Beijings recent whirlwind diplomacy.

And while Western leaders have talked about decoupling or de-risking economic ties with China, the nation remains deeply integrated with the world economy and is the largest trading partner of more than 120 countries.

Long gone are the days when China was an isolated loner or the Chinese government seemed satisfied with observing world affairs quietly from the sidelines. Now, Beijing is reaching for the diplomatic status that matches its position as the worlds second-biggest economy.

In a speech at a United Nations conference held to mark the 50-year anniversary of the Peoples Republic of Chinas joining the UN, Xi addressed Chinas diplomatic rise and spoke of Beijings commitment to a world order defined by the pursuit of peace, democracy and human rights as well as the rejection of unilateralism, foreign interference and power politics.

In mid-March, at a so-called dialogue meeting between global political parties in Beijing, Xi reinforced his commitment to the same principles.

In his keynote speech, Xi introduced the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) as a way of formalising these principles with the added purpose of encouraging countries to fully harness the relevance of their histories and cultures and appreciate the perceptions of values by different civilizations and refrain from imposing their own values or models on others.

With the previously proposed Global Development Initiative (GDI) and Global Security Initiative (GSI), the GCI appears to encapsulate  although in amorphous terms  much of the Chinese presidents overall vision for a new international order.

Yao Yuan Yeh teaches Chinese Studies at the University of St Thomas in the United States. According to him, such an order would partly supplant and partly remould the international system into a new set of structures that better align with the worldview of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

It would be a world order that does not constrain communist China but contributes to its rise, he said.

An alternative narrative

The purpose of the dialogue meeting in March was, to some extent, to act as a Chinese counterpart to the Summit for Democracy that the United States held for a second time that month as part of an effort to rally the worlds democracies.

While leaders from Mongolia, Serbia and South Africa were invited to both events, the US summit mostly included traditional Washington allies, while the gathering in Beijing included leaders from Kazakhstan, Russia, Sudan and Venezuela.

The Chinese leadership and state media portrayed the CCPs dialogue meeting as part of Chinas vision of embracing countries across the world, which includes maintaining or even deepening diplomatic contact with nations like Russia and Myanmar.

The Chinese governments willingness to engage with a variety of world actors has indeed been on display in recent months.

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang reads a letter from Xi Jinping at the Chinese Modernization and the World Forum in Shanghai in April [File: Ng Han Guan/AP Photo]

Chinese diplomacy played a role in the rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia in March. Also in March, the Chinese foreign minister visited Myanmar coup leader Min Aung Hlaing, while Xi travelled to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In April, Xi held a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and, last month, his envoy attempted to build support for a Beijing-led plan to end Russias war in Ukraine. Beijing has also been mentioned as a potential peace broker in conflict-ravaged Sudan.

Andy Mok, a senior research fellow at the Beijing-based Center for China and Globalization, says the Chinese approach to international relations is defined by a live-and-let-live mindset.

It is less defined by shared values and more defined by a shared future, he told Al Jazeera.

That means that while Western countries sometimes condition interactions and cooperation on adherence to a set of values, China wants to base its engagements on the potential for development and future benefits, Mok said.

The policy largely follows a CCP conviction that development and prosperity do not have to lead to adopting these  so-called Western  values. The Chinese leadership has frequently criticised certain countries for supposedly imposing their principles onto others and lacking respect for the ways non-Western nations with different cultures and traditions run their affairs.

Beijings world order would be defined by multipolarity, according to Mok, who says China has no plan to be a dominant power.

I dont see a change in the world order being a case of a new boss simply replacing the old boss.

Reconfiguring the existing world order

Although the Chinese leadership regularly opposes the imposition of Western values, this does not mean Beijing wants to discard democracy, human rights and the rule of law on the global stage, according to the Chinese government.

Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin toasted an ever-closer relationship between their two countries when Xi travelled to Moscow in March [File: Pavel Byrkin/Sputnik via AP Photo]

Using China as an example, Xi has claimed that China is democratic because the CCP and the state represent the people and run the country on behalf of the people to promote the will of the people. Chinese state media have insisted that liberal democracies neglect the needs of the people by measuring democracy only on the basis of electoral cycles.

Beijing also points to its poverty alleviation and strategy against COVID-19 as examples of the governments commitment to human rights.

They see these values as more relative terms and have in their own view provided a more inclusive definition of them with freedom from hunger and freedom from fear for your life being seen as examples of more basic human rights, Mok said.

The modern understanding of human rights can be traced back to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which details a set of basic rights and freedoms seen as inherent, inalienable and applicable to all people.

Adopted in the early years of the UN, the rights were enshrined into the foundation of the international system. Since then, more than 70 human rights treaties have sprouted from the UDHR, many of which have been signed and ratified by China.

Trying to reinterpret the language on human rights and democracy is therefore not something to be taken lightly, according to Elaine Pearson, the director of the Asia division of the rights organisation Human Rights Watch (HRW).

It is not up to individual states to redefine human rights as they like, Pearson told Al Jazeera.

Totalitarian North Korea also calls itself the Democratic Peoples Republic of North Korea  simply saying something doesnt make it true.

HRW warned in 2020 that Beijing was trying to bring about change within the UN, not only by trying to redefine established principles but also by hampering investigations and diluting condemnations of human rights abuses around the world.

Its efforts come at a time when international NGOs and UN bodies have expressed deep concern about the violation of basic freedoms and rights in China.

Beijing has fired back at such concerns.

When a UN report was released last year detailing possible  crimes against humanity  by the Chinese state against the mostly Muslim Uighurs in the far western Xinjiang region, Beijing responded with a report of its own. It accused alleged anti-China forces in the US and other Western countries of feigning concern for human rights and claimed they wanted to use the Uighur issue to destabilise Xinjiang and suppress China.

A vote in October at the UNs Human Rights Council to debate the issue, however, was narrowly defeated.

Following the vote, human rights group Amnesty International accused the council of failing to uphold its core mission: protecting the victims of human rights violations everywhere.

The Chinese government has gained more global influence in recent years and has been able to turn that influence into a greater sway at established international institutions, Liselotte Odgaard, a professor of China Relations at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies, told Al Jazeera.

Additionally, Beijing has used its veto power in the UN Security Council to block resolutions and statements condemning the military coup in Myanmar and hinder new sanctions on North Korea, while abstaining from condemnation of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Besides developing a greater say in traditional global institutions, Beijing has also founded new institutions to further its credibility as an international player.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Silk Road Fund have all been spearheaded by China, have headquarters in China and have been called alternatives to established global institutions such as the UN, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

But they should not necessarily be seen as an attempt by Beijing to replace existing international institutions, according to St Thomass Yeh.

As UN cases show, Beijing has channelled considerable effort into reshaping established institutions as well. At the same time, China is the second-biggest donor of funds to the UN and one of only five members of the security council with permanent veto powers.

We are seeing Beijing working both inside and outside established structures, depending on what is most conducive to their goals, said Yeh.

Pursuing the Chinese Dream

The ultimate goal is achieving the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation also known as the Chinese Dream  a vision closely associated with President Xi since his early days in office.

The Chinese Dream represents Beijings quest to regain its prestige  damaged in the Century of Humiliation by the imperial powers in the late 19th and early 20th century  and turn China into an advanced, world-leading nation by 2049.

This includes developing China internally but also expanding the territory under the PRC into areas currently beyond its direct control that are nonetheless considered inalienable parts of the Chinese nation.

This includes disputed territory along the land border with India and Bhutan, the Senkaku islands (that China calls Diaoyudao) administered by Japan in the East China Sea as well as most of the South China Sea where Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam have rival claims.

Above all else, however, Chinas rejuvenation means unification with Taiwan and Beijing has not ruled out the use of force to achieve this goal.

When the Chinese military conducts large-scale exercises around Taiwan or when Chinese vessels intercept ships from other countries in the South China Sea, Beijing argues these are not breaches of Chinas international pledges but examples of China upholding sovereignty over territory that rightfully belongs to the Chinese nation.

On the world stage, the Chinese government has repeatedly condemned violations of national sovereignty, foreign interference in other nations affairs and the unilateral use of economic sanctions.

But at the same time, it reserves the right to look past international rulings that go against it  such as the 2016 international court ruling that its historic claim to the South China Sea had no legal basis  and take action against those perceived to stand between Beijing and its path towards national rejuvenation.

When Lithuania in 2021 allowed the opening of a Taiwan Representative Office rather than the usual Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vilnius, Beijing was furious. Seeing such a naming convention as encouraging Taiwanese independence, it imposed severe economic sanctions on the Baltic state.

This is a modal window. But even as Beijing touts non-interference for itself and others, it has itself been accused of engaging in interference abroad.

In Canada, a leaked intelligence report revealed in early May that Chinese authorities had allegedly been involved in an intimidation campaign against a Canadian MP and his family in Hong Kong after he sponsored a successful motion declaring the Chinese treatment of the Uighurs a genocide.

Previous Canadian intelligence leaks have led to allegations that Beijing attempted to interfere in the Canadian general elections of 2019 and 2021 to secure the defeat of anti-Beijing candidates.

Chinese diplomatic staff have also been accused of election interference in Denmark, while consular staff in Manchester, Englands second-biggest city, were accused of employing physical violence to disrupt a demonstration outside the Chinese consulate.

In all these cases, Chinese officials have denied engaging in any sort of tampering, claiming instead that forces with hidden agendas were fabricating lies to smear China. At the same time, the Chinese government says it reserves the right to defend its sovereignty and act against those that attempt to interfere in Chinas domestic matters.

As Xi allegedly told US President Biden regarding US engagement with Taiwan during a phone call last year: Those that play with fire get burned.
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Russo-Ukraine War - 08 November 2024 - Day 989

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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 approximately 2000 One Way Attack Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (OWA UAVs) were launched by Russia against Ukraine over the month of October 2024, exceeding September's numbers by approximately 700, and increasing significantly for the third month in a row.

With continuing Russian investment in a range of OWA UAVs, diversification of supply, and expansion of launch-sites, firing rates have been trending consistently upwards since mid-2024.

Through the first week of November Russian firing rates remained high and in-line with recent weeks. With launch sites being reasonably simple and easy to re-establish if targeted, should production remain uninhibited, the primary limiting factor for Russian OWA UAV operations is likely human resource relative to launch capacity. It is likely that the high figures seen through September and October to date will become normal.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Ukrainian defenders continue to decisively thwart the Russian enemy's attempts to advance deep into Ukrainian territory, giving him an effective fire effect, exhaustion throughout the frontline.

In total, 164 combat encounters have taken place since the beginning of this day.

Russian invaders launched 3 missiles and 62 aviation strikes on the territory of Ukraine, using five missiles and dropping 100 KABs. In addition, the Russians have engaged 453 kamikaze drones and carried out more than three and a half thousand shells on the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements.

In the Kharkiv direction, the Russian enemy Four times without success attacked the defensive borders of Ukrainian soldiers near Vovchansk. In addition, Russian zagarbniks launched aviation strikes on the settlements of Vovchansk, Odnorobivka and Kharkiv, dropping eight air bombs.

In the Kupians komu direction, Russian forces carried out offensive assaults 14 times in the areas of Kindrashivka, Kolisnikivka, Zagrizovoye, Lozova and Brestovoye. Ukrainian defenders repelled 13 attacks, another battle near Berestovoye is currently ongoing. Aviation strikes were affected by the districts of Kivsharivka, Novoosinove and Boguslavka.

In the Lyman direction during the day Russian zagarbniki 11 times attacked the positions oFours near Grekivka, Zarichny, Terniv, Torsky and Grigorivka. One battle is going on so far.

The defenders of the Ukrainian land are holding back the pressure of the enemy on the Siversky direction, for now, Four attacks of the Russian enemy in the area of the settlement of Bilogorivka, near Verkhnyokamiansky one confrontation is sharpened.

In the Kramators komu direction, Ukrainian defenders stopped one offensive action of the Russians near the settlement Bondarne.

In the Toretsky direction, Russians 10 times attacked the defense forces near Toretsk and Sherbinivka, three confrontations are still ongoing. The Zagarbnytsky Army actively applied aviation during the day, so strikes were made in the areas of populated areas of Diliyivka, Druzhba, Toretsk, Scherbinivka and Petrivka.

Since the beginning of this day in the Pokrovsky direction the Russians 34 times tried to break through Ukrainian defense near the settlements of Mirolyubivka, Novotoretske, Beam, Fox, Cool Yar, Selidove, Cherry and Chumakke. The three attacks are still going on.

The Russian enemy suffers significant losses - today in this direction 290 occupiers were disarmed, 133 of them - irrevocably. In addition, seven combat armored cars, Four motorcycles and one blind were destroyed.

In the kurakhiv direction Russian forces 40 times attacked Ukrainian positions near illinki, berestkiv, novoselidivka, novodmitrivka, voznesenki, maksimivka, antonivka and katerinivka. According to detailed information, still sharpening 21 combat. Since the beginning of the day, 149 Russian occupants have been defecated, 48 of them - irrevocably, also destroyed two units of BBM, one car, Four motorcycles, one REB station, one generator and one satellite station.

In the Vremivs komu direction, the Russian zagarbniki carried out six offensive actions near Trudovoye, konstantinopil s kogo and dry yaliv. Four attacks have already been repelled, one confrontation is ongoing.

In the Orihivsk direction, the Russian enemy is trying to move near Novoandriivka. Ukrainian defenders repelled one Russian assault, at this time incomplete remain three more combat. The Russian occupier launched an aviation strike on the areas of populated points of Lobkove and Novoandriivka.

Three times in the Pridniprovsk direction the Russians were defeated, attacking the defensive borders oFours.

In other directions, the situation has not changed significantly.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that from 2 to 8 November, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have carried out 38 group strikes by high-precision weapons and attack unmanned aerial vehicles, which the Ukrainian defence industry enterprises, power industry facilities that used to support the AFU, the infrastructure of military airfields, manufacturing shops and storage areas for uncrewed surface vehicles and attack drones, arsenals, ammunition and POL depots.

In addition, AFU temporary deployment areas, nationalist formations and foreign mercenaries as well as armoured vehicles, have been hit at a railway transport loading station.

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 inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of one tank brigade, six mechanised brigades, three air assault brigades, one special operations brigade, one marine brigade, four territorial defence brigades, and one national guard brigade.

In Kharkov direction, Russian troops have inflicted fire damage on units of AFU one mechanised brigade, one motorised infantry brigade, one jaeger brigade, three territorial defence brigades, and one national guard brigade.

Over the past week, the enemy losses were over 2,020 troops, nine tanks, 20 infantry fighting vehicles, including six U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, 34 other armoured fighting vehicles, 66 motor vehicles, and 21 field artillery guns.

The units of the Zapad Group of Forces have liberated Pershotravnyovoye (Kharkov region).

Russian troops have launched strikes on manpower and hardware of one tank brigade, six mechanised brigades, one assault brigade, and airmobile brigade of the AFU, and four territorial defence brigades.

In addition, 32 counter-attacks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been repelled.

The AFU losses were more than 3,160 troops, three tanks, seven U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers, and five other armoured fighting vehicles, 24 motor vehicles, 23 field artillery guns, including 13 NATO-made ones. Four electronic warfare stations and 19 field ammunition depots have been destroyed.

The units of the Yug Group of Forces have liberated Antonovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Russian troops have launched strikes on seven mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade, one assault brigade, two airmobile brigades, one air assault brigade, one artillery brigade of the AFU, one territorial defence brigade, and one national guard brigade.

Eleven counter-attacks launched by AFU assault detachments have been thwarted.

The AFU losses were more than 4,420 troops, four armoured fighting vehicles, 38 motor vehicles, 21 field artillery guns, including 12 Western-made ones, 10 electronic warfare stations, and eight field ammunition depots.

The units of the Tsentr Group of Forces continued advancing into the depths of enemy defences and liberated Kurakhovka, Vishnevoye, and Kremennaya Balka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Russian troops have launched strikes on manpower and hardware of six mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade, one jaeger brigade, one airborne brigade of the AFU, two marine brigades, five territorial defence brigades, two national guard brigades, and the Lyut Assault Brigade of the National Police of Ukraine.

In addition, 61 counter-attacks have been repelled.

Over the past week, the AFU losses were over 3,440 troops, two tanks, 27 armoured fighting vehicles, including five U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers, 31 field artillery guns, and 23 motor vehicles.

The units of the Vostok Group of Forces have liberated Maksimovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Russian troops have inflicted fire damage on two mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade, one infantry brigade of the AFU, one marine brigade, two territorial defence brigades, and one national guard brigade.

The AFU losses were up to 820 troops, three tanks, 13 armoured fighting vehicles, 34 motor vehicles, and nine 155-mm NATO-made self-propelled artillery systems.

The units of the Dnepr Group of Forces have engaged manpower and hardware of one mechanised brigade, one infantry brigade, one mountain assault brigade, and three territorial defence brigades.

The AFU losses were up to 470 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, 17 motor vehicles, eight field artillery guns, three electronic warfare stations, and six field ammunition depots.

Air defence facilities have shot down the Ukrainian Air Force's MiG-29 aircraft, eight ATACMS operational-tactical missiles, 11 U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles, 17 French-made Hammer guided aerial bombs, and 290 unmanned aerial vehicles.

Over the past week, 47 Ukrainian servicemen have surrendered on the line of contact.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 648 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 35,409 unmanned aerial vehicles, 585 anti-aircraft missile systems, 19,141 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,486 MLRS combat vehicles, 17,488 field artillery guns and mortars, and 28,100 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, inflicted fire damage on units of 21st, 22nd, 41st, and 115th mechanised brigades, the 17th Tank Brigade, 82nd and 95th air assault brigades, the 36th Marine Brigade, 112th and 129th territorial defence brigades near Daryino, Leonidovo, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Novoivanovka, and Plyokhovo.

The Group's units repelled 11 enemy counter-attacks in the direction of Daryino, Zeleny Shlyakh, Malaya Loknya, Nikolayevo-Daryino, and Novoivanovka. Moreover, an attempt of the AFU to break through the stater border of the Russian Federation close to Novy Put was thwarted.

The AFU losses were up to 80 people killed and wounded, two tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, four armoured fighting vehicles, and four motor vehicles. Two AFU servicemen surrendered.

Army aviation and artillery inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the 22nd, 41st, 47th, and 61st mechanised brigades, the 17th Tank Brigade, 80th and 95th air assault brigades, the 36th Marine Brigade as well as the 1st Special Operations Brigade, 112th and 129th territorial defence brigades of the AFU, and the 17th National Guard Brigade of Ukraine near Aleksandriya, Viktorovka, Guyevo, Daryino, Kolmakov, Kruglenkoye, Kurilovka, Leonidovo, Martynovka, Makhnovka, Melovoye, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Nikolsky, Novaya Sorochina, Novoivanovka, Sverdlikovo, Plyokhovo, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye, and Yuzhny.

Operational-Tactical Aviation and Missile Troops delivered strikes on concentration areas in Sumy region and reserves of 21st, 22nd, 47th, 115th mechanised brigades, the 95th Air Assault Brigade, the 1st Special Operations Brigade, and the 129th Territorial Defence Brigade of the AFU near Basovka, Belovody, Vodolagi, Zhuravka, Miropolye, Pavlovka, and Rechki.

Over the past 24 hours, the AFU losses were more than 300 troops, four tanks, six infantry fighting vehicles, six armoured fighting vehicles, two mortars, and 11 motor vehicles. Two AFU servicemen surrendered.

Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses amounted to more than 30,500 troops, 189 tanks, 121 infantry fighting vehicles, 107 armoured personnel carriers, 1,094 armoured fighting vehicles, 829 motor vehicles, 262 artillery guns, 40 MLRS launchers, including 11 of HIMARS and six of MLRS made by the USA, 11 anti-aircraft missile launchers, seven transport-loading vehicles, 59 EW stations, 12 counter-battery warfare radars, four air defence radars, 26 units of engineering and other materiel, including 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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New York, NY, Nov. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Now that the US presidential election is over and President Trump has won a second term, OkayCoin, a top cryptocurrency staking platform, is predicting a big increase in staking returns, especially for BTC staking. As the market gets ready for a wave of optimism, Bitcoin could go to new heights.



Historically, the staking market for any cryptocurrency is very sensitive to big world events and that includes BTC. With fresh confidence in the Trump administration, OkayCoin estimates Bitcoin could go to $100,000 and thats 39% growth in staking yields for major coins. The positivity that follows that will strengthen market confidence and translate to big returns in BTC, ETH and other popular staking options.

Okaycoin views this market as a great opportunity for both new and old crypto investors to dip into staking for passive income. On Okaycoin stakers have staking options as simple as Bitcoin and Ether that anyone can dive into with probable returns using secure and user friendly options. Indeed OkyCoin has become one of the top staking platforms out there, staking is gaining traction for long term wealth building with vast resources, zero to low fee structure and multiple staking options.

In an attempt to attract new investors to participate in its product, OKayCoin has introduced its "Free Trial Liquid Staking" program, where newcomers will be given $100 on a one-day trial and will earn an income of $1.00. The good thing about this is that users can try out staking without bearing a high cost upfront, and further enhance ease of use in today's dynamic crypto world.

"We are witnessing unprecedented levels of interest in BTC staking as investors look to maximize returns," said an Okaycoin spokesperson. "Trump's victory is setting the stage for what could be a phenomenal period of growth for cryptocurrency staking return, and we are here to help our users seize these opportunities.".

OkayCoin offers secure cryptocurrency staking on its robust platform, including BTC, ETH, and a number of other assets with state-of-the-art security, competitive yields, and 24/7 support. Investors can trust OkayCoin as their home in the fast-changing world of crypto staking.

About OkayCoin

OkayCoin is one of the biggest and most popular crypto staking platforms that offers secure and user friendly staking solutions for major cryptocurrencies. From beginner to seasoned investor, OkayCoin has been covered with the tools that need to stake and grow digital assets with confidence. With a mission to make staking available, innovative plans and transparent operations, OkayCoin is solidifying its position in the staking world.

Disclaimer: This is general information and not investment advice. Digital assets are high risk. Staking yields are dependent on many unpredictable factors and therefore are not guaranteed. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Please consult with financial and legal advisors and do your own research before making any investment decisions.
TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IT Nation, a global community of peers, thought leaders, and experts dedicated to elevating the IT ecosystem to new heights, announced the recipients of the first annual 2024 Torch awards program.

The IT Nation Torch Awards were established this year as part of IT Nation Connect, ConnectWises flagship event focused on bringing together the MSP community for education, inspiration and networking. The awards recognize and honor individuals, organizations, and media professionals who have demonstrated outstanding dedication, groundbreaking innovation, and unwavering commitment within the IT channel community.

The 2024 IT Nation Torch Award honorees are:

Partner Excellence Award: Abraham Garve r , MSP Leader and Managing Director at FOCUS Investment Banking was recognized for going consistently above and beyond and for leaving an indelible mark on the IT Nation and its broader community. Abraham has made significant contributions to the ConnectWise corporate advisory council, M&A peer group, and IT Nation Grow. He actively encourages partners to join Evolve peer groups to enhance their business value and has successfully facilitated numerous transactions for members of the IT Nation community. Abraham embraces the Go Giver philosophy and understands that by creating value for all, we can fulfill our mission of Wise together, Rise together.

, MSP Leader and Managing Director at FOCUS Investment Banking was recognized for going consistently above and beyond and for leaving an indelible mark on the IT Nation and its broader community. Abraham has made significant contributions to the ConnectWise corporate advisory council, M&A peer group, and IT Nation Grow. He actively encourages partners to join Evolve peer groups to enhance their business value and has successfully facilitated numerous transactions for members of the IT Nation community. Abraham embraces the Go Giver philosophy and understands that by creating value for all, we can fulfill our mission of Wise together, Rise together. Community of the Year Award: CompTIA , a nonprofit trade association that issues certifications for the information technology profession, was recognized as an exceptional community that has demonstrated outstanding collaboration, engagement, and support for its members as well as other communities through knowledge-sharing, networking, and professional growth such as their exceptional efforts in fostering a strong partnership in the field of cybersecurity and the Trustmark boot camps.

, a nonprofit trade association that issues certifications for the information technology profession, was recognized as an exceptional community that has demonstrated outstanding collaboration, engagement, and support for its members as well as other communities through knowledge-sharing, networking, and professional growth such as their exceptional efforts in fostering a strong partnership in the field of cybersecurity and the Trustmark boot camps. Evolve Partner of the Year Award: IT Nation recognizes exceptional members of its IT Nation Evolve Peer Groups across each region (North America, EMEA and APAC) based upon exceptional demonstrated growth, innovation, and commitment to excellence through leadership. North America , First Column Enterprises : First Column Enterprises is a DC-based full-service solutions provider offering computer network consultation and services and was selected for consistently meeting or exceeding best in class metrics on a quarter-by-quarter basis all while consistently hitting aggressive growth goals. The First Column team exhibited the Go Giver mentality that is core to the IT Nation Evolve experience. EMEA, Fusion Technology Solutions: Fusion Technology Services, an Essex-based IT solution provider specializing in client-focused consultancy and managed support for small to medium-sized businesses, is a true advocate for the Evolve program and exhibits a genuine commitment. Additionally, the company boasts impressive performance, further solidifying their leadership in the industry. APAC, Xyber Solutions : Xyber Solutions is an Australian information technology services, management and cybersecurity solutions provider with a strong focus on the Australian mining industry and was selected for their growth and willingness to help others both in their peer group and the community. The company demonstrated success by significantly improving financial and operational maturity which was a direct result of the companys commitment to executing well. The PitchIT 2024 Champion Award: Senteon , a pioneer of advanced cybersecurity solutions that helps MSPs improve their compliance measures, was recognized for delivering offerings that can be seamlessly built or integrated into the ConnectWise ecosystem, enhancing the efficiency, profitability, and security of the IT Nation community. The company was selected for the transformative impact that its innovation has on the channel, embracing guidance from industry experts and maximizing the resources and webinars available within the IT Nation community.

IT Nation recognizes exceptional members of its IT Nation Evolve Peer Groups across each region (North America, EMEA and APAC) based upon exceptional demonstrated growth, innovation, and commitment to excellence through leadership. Media Excellence Award: Rich Freeman , founder of Channelholic, was recognized for his commitment to delivering accurate, insightful, and impactful journalism that has contributed to a deeper understanding of the IT ecosystem. He practices fair coverage and goes a step beyond to connect to a larger storyline that is thoughtful, easy to understand, and unique.

We created the Torch Awards to spotlight those who are transforming the IT channel community and powering its continued growth, said Gregg Lalle, SVP & GM of IT Nation. This years honorees exemplify the dedication and values that drive innovation throughout the channel. It is our honor to present these awards to these trailblazers in our industry.

At this years IT Nation Connect conference, attendees also had the opportunity to vote on IT Nation Connect Exhibitor Awards in the following categories:

Best Distributor: Pax8

Peoples Choice: 1Password

Best in Show: Arctic Wolf

Most Impactful Breakout: Moovila

Best Emerging Vendor: Thread



For more information about the IT Nation Torch Awards and IT Nation Connect, visit https://www.connectwise.com/theitnation/connect-na.

About IT Nation

The IT Nation is a vibrant and inclusive community that brings together the brightest minds from Managed Solution Providers (MSPs) and IT channel vendors worldwide. Our shared culture, rooted in the Go-Giver philosophy, enables us to harness collective wisdom for mutual growth. Our mission is to empower individuals who align with this worldview by providing purpose-built tools and success frameworks. These resources are designed to help our members define goals, create strategic plans, and execute with precision. At IT Nation, we are dedicated to cultivating an environment where innovation, education, planning, accountability, and celebration serve as the pillars of success. The IT Nation inspires excellence, collaboration fuels advancement, and shared success drives us toward our mission: Wise Together, Rise Together. Learn more at connectwise.com/theitnation.

Media Contact

Inkhouse for ConnectWise

connectwise@inkhouse.com




NEW YORK, Nov. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm, is investigating potential claims against Globe Life, Inc. (NYSE: GL) on behalf of long-term stockholders following a class action complaint that was filed against Globe Life on April 30, 2024 with a Class Period from May 8, 2019 and April 10, 2024. Our investigation concerns whether the board of directors of Globe Life have breached their fiduciary duties to the company.

Globe Life, an insurance company, offers various insurance products, including low-cost life insurance policies that provide comparatively lower payouts. Operating through its subsidiaries, American Income Life Insurance Company (AIL) being the largest, Globe Life has been accused of engaging in fraudulent activities.

According to the complaint, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements during the Class Period, particularly regarding Globe Lifes premium revenue growth, attributed to increased agent count and productivity. The Companys Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which emphasized an inclusive and welcoming environment with strict policies against violence, illegal drugs, and threatening behavior, is alleged to have been misrepresented.

On April 11, 2024, an investment research firm published a report exposing allegations of widespread insurance fraud by Globe Life since 2017. The report claimed that the companys subsidiaries underwrote policies for deceased and fictitious individuals while adding policies to customers accounts without their consent. The research also revealed evidence of a hostile workplace environment marred by sexual harassment, drug use, and sexual assault. According to the filed complaint, these revelations led to a significant decline in the price of Globe Life common stock.

If you are a long-term stockholder of Globe Life, have information, would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Brandon Walker or Marion Passmore by email at investigations@bespc.com, by telephone at (212) 355-4648, or by filling out this contact form. There is no cost or obligation to you.

About Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.:

Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm with offices in New York and California. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in commercial, securities, derivative, and other complex litigation in state and federal courts across the country. For more information about the firm, please visit www.bespc.com . Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Contact Information:
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GoldHaven Resources Corp. ("GoldHaven" or the "Company") (CSE: GOH) (OTCQB: GHVNF) (FSE: 4QS0) announces that, further to its news release of November 1, 2024 announcing the definitive securities exchange agreement dated October 31, 2024 with Copper Peak Metals Inc. (Copper Peak) and each of the shareholders of Copper Peak, pursuant to which the Company agreed to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Copper Peak, the Company has completed acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares and warrants of Copper Peak from the shareholders of Copper Peak in exchange for:

(a) 3,990,000 common shares of the Company (the Consideration Shares) at a deemed price of $0.09 per Consideration Share for total deemed consideration of $359,100, (b) 500,000 common share purchase warrants, each exercisable at $0.10 per warrant to acquire one common share of the Company until September 16, 2027, and (c) 500,000 common share purchase warrants, each exercisable at $0.10 per warrant to acquire one common share of the Company until August 22, 2027 (collectively referred to as, the Transaction).

Out of the 3,990,000 Consideration Shares, 2,990,000 Consideration Shares shall be subject to a pooling arrangement where 10% of such shares shall be released on Closing and the balance shall be released in six tranches of 15% every six months. The future obligations under this acquisition agreement include the payment of $93,334 to the underlying property optionor, Gerry Diakow by January 29, 2025.

Copper Peak is the beneficial and registered owner of a 100% undivided interest in and to the mineral properties, known as the Magno Property, located in the Liard Mining District in British Columbia, comprised of twenty-four (24) mineral tenures, and the Three Guardsmen property. For further information pertaining to the Magno Property please see the NI 43-101 technical report available on the Companys website.

The Company also wishes to announce that Gerry Diakow has been appointed to the Board of Directors of GoldHaven. Mr. Diakow has worked in the Cassiar regional area since 1973, beginning as a crew member with Union Carbides regional helicopter silt sampling program targeting tungsten mineralization. Having worked in the Traditional territory of the Kaska nation and with many members of the Kaska community Gerry is familiar with and has consulted with band members for years.

Mr. Smith further announced, the successful completion of this acquisition marks a pivotal milestone for the Company. Our newly acquired assets put us in a well-known and historic district in BC with two district scale properties. We are eager to commence phase 1 exploration on the Magno property in an effort to confirm a link to the known and nearby porphyry systems in BC.

About Copper Peak: The Magno & Three Guardsmen Properties

Copper Peak holds 100% ownership of the Magno and Three Guardsmen mineral properties in British Columbia. British Columbia is a premier mining jurisdiction, hosting 16 of Canadas 31 critical minerals and standing as the nations largest copper producer. It also holds vast gold resources, with an estimated 280 million ounces of in-ground gold, primarily within polymetallic porphyry deposits.

Northwestern British Columbia is a globally significant mining district, home to some of the richest porphyry copper and gold deposits in the world. This regions Late Triassic to Early Jurassic tectono-magmatic activity created high-grade, large-scale deposits, positioning it as a major source of copper and precious metals.

The Magno property is a district-scale, polymetallic property with 24 mineral tenures located in the Liard Mining Division, adjacent to the historic Cassiar mining district, in Cassiar BC, Canada.

Located in the northwest corner of BC near Haines Junction, the Three Guardsmen Property contains 12 mineral tenures with historical findings of Gold, Copper, Molybdenum, Silver, Zinc, and Magnetite. Two past producers sit within 4km to the West of the Three Guardsmen with multiple other showings in the area.

Both projects focus on the late Cretaceous terranes, known to host significant porphyry deposits like those at Casino and Red Mountain. The exploration team will target granitic bodies beneath promising skarn deposits, aiming to identify the source of mineralized fluids linked to these skarns. The focus will be on extensive geochemical and geophysical exploration to identify potential porphyry sources.





Magno property with BC regional geology highlighting historical work and present showings





Three Guardsmen property with BC regional geology highlighting historical work and present showings

R.J. (Bob) Johnston, P.Geo from Engineers & Geoscientists British Columbia is the qualified person for the Company has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release.

About GoldHaven Resources Corp.

GoldHaven Resources Corp. is a Canadian junior metals exploration Company focused on acquiring and exploring highly prospective land packages in North America.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Bonn Smith, Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Bonn Smith, CEO

www.GoldHavenresources.com

bsmith@goldhavenresources.com

Office Direct: (604) 629-8254

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE- Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, , the possible acquisition of the future projects, the Company's expectation that it will be successful in enacting its business plans, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "will", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "potential", "scheduled", or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that there will be investor interest in future financings, market fundamentals will result in sustained precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future exploration and development of any future projects in a timely manner, the availability of financing on suitable terms for exploration and development of future projects and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws.

The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development activities, actual results of exploration activities, the estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the inability of the Company to obtain the necessary financing required to conduct its business and affairs, as currently contemplated, , the inability of the Company to enter into definitive agreements in respect of possible Letters of Intent, the timing and amount of estimated future production, the costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, requirements for additional capital, future prices of precious metals, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, lack of investor interest in future financings, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents, approvals or authorizations, including by the Exchange, the timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, and risks related to joint venture operations, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's latest interim Management's Discussion and Analysis and filed with certain securities commissions in Canada. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedarplus.ca and readers are urged to review these materials.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this news release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/496b11ba-4f34-4d5f-9fca-bc32176d269c

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1d0c5b67-0778-45c5-9ac8-6ab97026ff82
VANCOUVER, Nov. 08, 2024 - Koryx Copper Inc. ("Koryx" or the "Company") (TSX-V: KRY) is pleased to announce that it has closed the second tranche (the "Second Tranche") of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") (see press releases dated September 25, 2024 and October 15, 2024) raising $5,200,892.40 for the sale of 4,728,084 common shares of the Company (the "Shares") at a price of $1.10 per Share.

As announced on October 15, 2024, the first tranche of the Offering consisted of gross proceeds of $9,668,463.20 for the sale of 8,789,512 Shares Shares at a price of $1.10 per Share. Accordingly, upon completion of the Second Tranche, the Company has raised a combined aggregate total gross proceeds of $14,869,355.60 for the sale of a combined 13,517,596 Shares at $1.10 per Share. All of the Shares issued under the Offering are subject to a four month hold from the date of issuance. No finders' fees were paid in connection with the Second Tranche. No new insider or control person was created as a result of the Offering.

A significant participation in the Offering includes management and associates as the biggest subscribers as well as a list of well known resource specialist investors such as Ross Beaty and Resource Capital Funds.

Heye Daun, Koryx Executive Chairman commented: "We are very pleased with the outcome of this non-brokered equity financing which had strong demand and was well oversubscribed. We appreciate the continued support from our new and previous shareholders, most of whom elected to significantly increase their subscription. We are particularly pleased that many of our early stage supporters in Osino (our prior Namibian success) such as Ross Beaty and Resource Capital Funds and many other institutional and retail investors have elected to come in again in order to support us in advancing our assets and creating value for stakeholders. We have already initiated a substantial ramp-up in drilling and technical activities with the aim of delivering an updated PEA around the middle of 2025. We will very soon update the market with further details regarding our technical activities geared towards fast-tracking the development of our flagship Haib Copper Project in Namibia whilst continuing to build and enhance our project portfolio in Zambia."

Officers and directors of the Company participated as insiders (the "Insiders") of the Company in the Private Placement and purchased an aggregate of 166,200 Shares for aggregate gross proceeds of $182,820. As a result, the Offering is a related party transaction subject to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Offering is exempt from the formal valuation requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to subsection 5.5(b) of MI-61-101 because the Shares are not listed on a specified market and is exempt from the minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to subsection 5.5(a) of MI 61-101 because neither the fair market value of the Shares to be issued to the Insiders nor the consideration to be paid by the Insiders pursuant to the Offering will exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization as determined in accordance with MI 61-101. There is no formal valuation of the Company. As a result of the Insider Participation, the Insider's shareholdings in the Company will increase from 100,000 Shares (0.17% non-diluted / 1.66% partially-diluted after taking into account convertible securities held by the Insiders) to 266,200 Shares (0.41% non-diluted / 1.72% partially-diluted after taking into account the convertible securities). The Offering was unanimously approved by the directors of the Company, with the directors participating disclosing their respective interests and abstaining from voting to the extent of their interest in the transaction. The Company will file a material change report in respect of the Offering but did not do so more than 21 days before the expected date of the closing as the insider participation was not determined at that time.

The net proceeds from the Offering will be used to advance the Haib Copper Project in Namibia, the Luanshya West Project in Zambia, and for general working capital purposes.

The securities of the Company have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of any person in the United States, absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. These securities have been sold and this press release appears as matter of record only. Resales of any Shares or Warrants that may be placed within the United States will be restricted in accordance with applicable laws.

Qualified Person

Mr. Dean Richards Pr.Sci.Nat., MGSSA - BSc. (Hons) Geology is the Qualified Person for the Haib Copper Project and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release and is a registered Professional Natural Scientist with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (Pr. Sci. Nat. No. 400190/08) and a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101.

About Koryx Copper Inc.

Koryx Copper Inc. is a TSX-V-listed copper development Company focused on advancing the large-scale, 100% owned, Haib Copper Project in Namibia whilst also building a portfolio of copper exploration licenses in Zambia. Haib is a large and advanced (PEA-stage) copper/molybdenum porphyry deposit in southern Namibia with a long history of exploration and project development by multiple operators. More than 70,000m of drilling has been conducted at Haib since the 1970's with significant exploration programs led by companies including Falconbridge (1964), Rio Tinto (1975) and Teck (2014). Teck remains a strategic and supportive shareholder.

Haib has a current mineral resource of 414Mt @ 0.35% Cu for 1,459kt of contained copper in the Indicated category and 345mt @ 0.33% Cu for 1,136kt of contained copper in the Inferred category (0.25% Cu cut-off). Mineralization at Haib is typical of a porphyry copper deposit and the deposit remains intact.

Porphyry copper deposits are a major global source of copper with the best-known examples being concentrated around the Pacific Rim, North America and South America. Haib is one of a few examples of a Paleoproterozoic porphyry copper deposit in the world and one of only two in southern Africa (both in Namibia). Due to its age, the deposit has been subjected to multiple metamorphic and deformation events, but still retains many of the classic mineralization and alteration features typical of these deposits. The mineralization is dominantly chalcopyrite with minor bornite and chalcocite present and only minor secondary copper minerals at surface due to the arid environment. In addition to extensive drilling and metallurgical testwork various technical studies have been completed at Haib to date.

Further details are available on the Company's website at https://koryxcopper.com and under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

More information is available by contacting the Company:

Julia Becker

Corporate Communications

jbecker@koryxcopper.com

+1-604-785-0850

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.



Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Company's recently completed financings and the future or prospects of the Company. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect ", "is expected ", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market, and economic risks, uncertainties, and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, other factors may cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management discussion and analysis. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
TORONTO, Nov. 08, 2024 - Euro Sun Mining Inc., (TSX: ESM) ("Euro Sun" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed the first tranche (the "First Tranche") of its previously announced non-brokered private placement financing of units of the Company (the "Offering"). Pursuant to the closing of the First Tranche, the Company issued 9,390,038 units of the Company (each a "Unit" and collectively, the "Units") at a price of C$0.05 per Unit for gross proceeds of C$469,501.90. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one common share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one additional Common Share of the Company at an exercise price of C$0.05 per Common Share until November 8, 2026.

In connection with closing of the First Tranche, the Company paid an aggregate amount of $1,400 in cash commissions and 28,000 broker warrant's (the "Broker Warrants") to a finder. Each Broker Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.05 for a period of 24 months from the date of the closing of the First Tranche.

A director of the Company purchased 1,000,000 Units under the Offering. The placement to such person constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning Multilateral Instrument 61?101 ?Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61?101"). The Company has relied on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61?101 contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61?101 in respect of related party participation in the placement as neither the fair market value (as determined under MI 61-101) of the subject matter of, nor the fair market value of the consideration for, the transaction, insofar as it involved the related parties, exceeded 25% of the Company's market capitalization (as determined under MI 61-101). Further details will be included in a material change report to be filed by the Company. The material change report will not be filed more than 21 days prior to closing of the placement due to the timing of the announcement of the private placement and closing of the Offering.

Euro Sun intends to use the proceeds of the Offering for the advancement of its Rovina Valley Project and for general corporate purposes.

The securities issued under the First Tranche are subject to a hold period that expires on March 9, 2025.

About Euro Sun Mining Inc.

Euro Sun Mining is a publicly listed development-stage mining company focused on unlocking value through the responsible development of the Rovina Valley Project, one of Europe's largest copper gold projects.

Further information:

For further information about Euro Sun Mining, or the contents of this press release, please contact Investor Relations at info@eurosunmining.com

Caution regarding forward-looking information:

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the closing of the First Tranche, closing of further tranches under the Offering and use of proceeds of the Offering. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including risks inherent in the mining industry and risks described in the public disclosure of the Company which is available under the profile of the Company on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.eurosunmining.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

The TSX does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) absent such registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements.
VANCOUVER, Nov. 08, 2024 - GoldHaven Resources Corp. ("GoldHaven" or the "Company") (CSE: GOH) (OTCQB: GHVNF) (FSE: 4QS0) announces that, further to its news release of November 1, 2024 announcing the definitive securities exchange agreement dated October 31, 2024 with Copper Peak Metals Inc. ("Copper Peak") and each of the shareholders of Copper Peak, pursuant to which the Company agreed to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Copper Peak, the Company has completed acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares and warrants of Copper Peak from the shareholders of Copper Peak in exchange for:

(a) 3,990,000 common shares of the Company (the "Consideration Shares") at a deemed price of $0.09 per Consideration Share for total deemed consideration of $359,100, (b) 500,000 common share purchase warrants, each exercisable at $0.10 per warrant to acquire one common share of the Company until September 16, 2027, and (c) 500,000 common share purchase warrants, each exercisable at $0.10 per warrant to acquire one common share of the Company until August 22, 2027 (collectively referred to as, the "Transaction").

Out of the 3,990,000 Consideration Shares, 2,990,000 Consideration Shares shall be subject to a pooling arrangement where 10% of such shares shall be released on Closing and the balance shall be released in six tranches of 15% every six months. The future obligations under this acquisition agreement include the payment of $93,334 to the underlying property optionor, Gerry Diakow by January 29, 2025.

Copper Peak is the beneficial and registered owner of a 100% undivided interest in and to the mineral properties, known as the Magno Property, located in the Liard Mining District in British Columbia, comprised of twenty-four (24) mineral tenures, and the Three Guardsmen property. For further information pertaining to the Magno Property please see the NI 43-101 technical report available on the Company's website.

The Company also wishes to announce that Gerry Diakow has been appointed to the Board of Directors of GoldHaven. Mr. Diakow has worked in the Cassiar regional area since 1973, beginning as a crew member with Union Carbide's regional helicopter silt sampling program targeting tungsten mineralization. Having worked in the Traditional territory of the Kaska nation and with many members of the Kaska community Gerry is familiar with and has consulted with band members for years.

Mr. Smith further announced, "the successful completion of this acquisition marks a pivotal milestone for the Company. Our newly acquired assets put us in a well-known and historic district in BC with two district scale properties. We are eager to commence phase 1 exploration on the Magno property in an effort to confirm a link to the known and nearby porphyry systems in BC."

About Copper Peak: The Magno & Three Guardsmen Properties

Copper Peak holds 100% ownership of the Magno and Three Guardsmen mineral properties in British Columbia. British Columbia is a premier mining jurisdiction, hosting 16 of Canada's 31 critical minerals and standing as the nation's largest copper producer. It also holds vast gold resources, with an estimated 280 million ounces of in-ground gold, primarily within polymetallic porphyry deposits.

Northwestern British Columbia is a globally significant mining district, home to some of the richest porphyry copper and gold deposits in the world. This region's Late Triassic to Early Jurassic tectono-magmatic activity created high-grade, large-scale deposits, positioning it as a major source of copper and precious metals.

The Magno property is a district-scale, polymetallic property with 24 mineral tenures located in the Liard Mining Division, adjacent to the historic Cassiar mining district, in Cassiar BC, Canada.

Located in the northwest corner of BC near Haines Junction, the Three Guardsmen Property contains 12 mineral tenures with historical findings of Gold, Copper, Molybdenum, Silver, Zinc, and Magnetite. Two past producers sit within 4km to the West of the Three Guardsmen with multiple other showings in the area.

Both projects focus on the late Cretaceous terranes, known to host significant porphyry deposits like those at Casino and Red Mountain. The exploration team will target granitic bodies beneath promising skarn deposits, aiming to identify the source of mineralized fluids linked to these skarns. The focus will be on extensive geochemical and geophysical exploration to identify potential porphyry sources.





Magno property with BC regional geology highlighting historical work and present showings





Three Guardsmen property with BC regional geology highlighting historical work and present showings

R.J. (Bob) Johnston, P.Geo from Engineers & Geoscientists British Columbia is the qualified person for the Company has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release.

About GoldHaven Resources Corp.

GoldHaven Resources Corp. is a Canadian junior metals exploration Company focused on acquiring and exploring highly prospective land packages in North America.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Bonn Smith, Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Bonn Smith, CEO

www.GoldHavenresources.com

bsmith@goldhavenresources.com

Office Direct: (604) 629-8254

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE- Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, , the possible acquisition of the future projects, the Company's expectation that it will be successful in enacting its business plans, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "will", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "potential", "scheduled", or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that there will be investor interest in future financings, market fundamentals will result in sustained precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future exploration and development of any future projects in a timely manner, the availability of financing on suitable terms for exploration and development of future projects and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws.

The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development activities, actual results of exploration activities, the estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the inability of the Company to obtain the necessary financing required to conduct its business and affairs, as currently contemplated, , the inability of the Company to enter into definitive agreements in respect of possible Letters of Intent, the timing and amount of estimated future production, the costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, requirements for additional capital, future prices of precious metals, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, lack of investor interest in future financings, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents, approvals or authorizations, including by the Exchange, the timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, and risks related to joint venture operations, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's latest interim Management's Discussion and Analysis and filed with certain securities commissions in Canada. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedarplus.ca and readers are urged to review these materials.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this news release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/496b11ba-4f34-4d5f-9fca-bc32176d269c

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1d0c5b67-0778-45c5-9ac8-6ab97026ff82
State and Local Tax Collections, Percentage of Total



Property taxes make up an average of 33 percent of state and local tax collections. Location



Property



U.S. (average)



33%



Alabama



19%



Alaska



21%



Arizona



33%



Arkansas



18%



California



29%



Colorado



38%



Connecticut



41%



Delaware



16%



District of Columbia



33%



Florida



40%



Georgia



33%



Hawaii



20%



Idaho



29%



Illinois



41%



Indiana



27%



Iowa



35%



Kansas



33%



Kentucky



21%



Louisiana



21%



Maine



40%



Maryland



29%



Massachusetts



37%



Michigan



38%



Minnesota



31%



Mississippi



28%



Missouri



30%



Montana



39%



Nebraska



37%



Nevada



30%



New Hampshire



63%



New Jersey



48%



New Mexico



19%



New York



31%



North Carolina



26%



North Dakota



16%



Ohio



29%



Oklahoma



19%



Oregon



36%



Pennsylvania



30%



Rhode Island



45%



South Carolina



35%



South Dakota



36%



Tennessee



27%



Texas



44%



Utah



28%



Vermont



44%



Virginia



35%



Washington



31%



West Virginia



21%



Wisconsin



38%



Wyoming



34%





Source: Tax Foundation, FY 2011.

In New York, Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo and lawmakers agreed to $1.5 billion in property tax relief, under a plan that incentivizes local governments to reduce spending by sharing services.

In Connecticut, a bill that would have added nonprofit entities to the property tax rolls died in the state Senate amid fervent opposition from colleges. House Speaker J. Brendan Sharkey, the Democrat who authored the bill, made a last-ditch effort last week to pass a compromise but the Senate declined to take it up before the session ended.

In Texas, large commercial property owners have used a quirk in the property tax assessment law to file hundreds of successful lawsuits, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue for localities. According to Michael Amezquita, chief appraiser for the Bexar County Appraisal District, which includes San Antonio, the law has allowed the San Antonio Marriott, for example, to reduce its appraisal by comparing itself to inferior hotels. Texas lawmakers examined the appeals process when they last met, declining to eliminate it but permitting binding arbitration in appeals cases.

State Sen. David Argall thinks Pennsylvanias law to fund schools with property taxes, which dates from the 1830s, has outlived its usefulness. He is pushing a bill that would eliminate property taxes levied by school districts and replace the revenue with higher state income and sales taxes.For the first time, his idea is gaining some traction.Argall, a Republican, has tried before to scrap the property tax collected by school districts, but this year he got more than half the state senators to co-sponsor his bill. He said the problem with property taxes is that the tax has very little connection to the ability to pay.It can literally make people homeless, he said. It can drive seniors on a fixed income out of a home that they may have built 50 or 60 years ago. Its incredibly unfair.Property taxes stick in the craw of taxpayers not just in Pennsylvania but in many other states. Homeowners on fixed incomes, in particular, loathe the tax because it rises with property values, while their income does not. Retirees are very vocal in their opposition to the property tax, and they tend to vote in higher numbers than younger people.According to the Tax Foundation, an anti-tax research organization in Washington, D.C., the percentage of state and local revenue collected through property taxes ranges from a high of 63 percent in New Hampshire (which has no income tax) to a low of 16 percent in Delaware and North Dakota. The national average is 33 percent.In addition to Pennsylvania, other states also are grappling with how to lower property taxes or make them fairer. But replacing property tax revenue is not easy, and the tax also has defenders  usually the constituencies that would pay more taxes if they went away.In California, the parcel tax arose from the ashes of Proposition 13, the groundbreaking property tax-limiting ballot measure approved by voters in 1978. The state Senate has passed a bill to restore localities ability to levy parcel taxes at rates based on land classification  commercial, residential or industrial  after a state court struck it down in 2013 as unclear.The bill now goes to the Assembly, where it faces strong opposition from Republicans who argue it would hurt working families and prompt businesses to leave the state, according to Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff. Democratic Sen. Lois Wolk argued the levies were essential to meet local needs, noting 322 parcel taxes have been approved in 584 elections as a way to circumvent Proposition 13.Supporters of the property tax argue it is a relatively good tax, since revenue from it is controlled locally and pays for things like schools and public safety that people can readily see. David Brunori, a professor at George Washington University and an expert on state and local taxation, described Argalls proposal to scrap it as asinine.Every public financing expert in the world says its the ideal tax for public services and he wants to eliminate it? Its efficient, effective and its generally a very good tax, Brunori said.Argalls proposal would replace the revenue currently raised by the property tax by upping the personal income tax to 4.34 percent from the current 3.07 percent. His measure also would increase the sales tax to 7 percent from 6 percent, and subject some additional items to the sales tax  for example, clothing that costs more than $50 and dry cleaning  which have been exempt.Under Argalls bill, school districts would get state funds based on a formula that takes into account the amount of property tax collected before the new system went into effect, with the goal of granting the districts approximately the same amount of money.But the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, a liberal think tank, and a coalition of education and civic engagement groups are worried the change would disrupt the reliable stream of funding for schools. Other opponents include the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, which fears that raising income and sales taxes would hurt the states economy.Putting the entire public education system on those two taxes during a recession could force the business community to pick up the slack, said Todd Brysiak, a spokesman for the chamber.The Senates finance panel is expected to approve Argalls bill in a few days, and it has strong support in the full Senate. The House, however, rejected similar legislation on an amendment earlier this year, and is apt to do it again. Gov. Tom Corbett, a Republican, has expressed support for the bill but has noted that the revenue must be replaced.Argell is sure his stance is popular with his constituents, who have little patience for the argument that property taxes are the fairest way to pay for schools. If I made that argument defending the status quo in any of the six counties I represent, I would get fired, he said.But eliminating property taxes also entails political peril for state lawmakers. G. Terry Madonna, director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin and Marshall College, said state lawmakers might not get the credit for reducing property taxes since they are levied at the local level, but would get the blame for raising income and sales taxes.The concern there is they get the blame for the raise but not the credit for the reduction, he said.
British media hits back at Verstappen's bias claims

Prominent British journalists have hit back at Max Verstappen's insinuation of clear bias in their reporting and coverage of Formula 1.

Max Verstappen, Brazilian GP 2024

 Red Bull

After his impressive win from P17 on the grid in Brazil, amid hefty criticism of his driving style in recent weeks, the triple world champion noted that the British media appeared to have boycotted the post-race press conference.

They had to run to the airport? he quipped. Or they don't know where the press conference is?

Will Buxton, a well-known broadcaster for F1TV, called it a cheeky post-race dig at UK press .

He explained that he hasn't been to a post-race press conference for years as broadcaster journalists are busy in the paddock at the time.

If you're British, then a Lewis (Hamilton), Lando (Norris), George (Russell) in the top three probably gives a bit of sway to being there, but not always, Buxton added.

David Croft, the lead commentator for Sky's UK coverage, agreed.

Sometimes there's more to a story than just a soundbite or a chance to attack people for perception of British bias, he said, also commenting on Verstappen's post-race jibe.

For my part, as it's a press conference for written media only, I never attend, no matter who's won, Croft added. Thursday press conferences are different, they are for broadcast and written media together. Just to help people understand.

Dutch commentator Olav Mol is unconvinced, stating on Ziggo Sport that the Sky guys really think they are God .

Verstappen's father and co-manager Jos has also been highly critical of alleged pro-British bias recently, declaring to De Telegraaf newspaper after the Brazilian GP: "They (British media) are keeping their big mouths shut for now.

"Max has shown that he is the very best, after all these people shouted that he should change his driving style. His driving style is perfect.

Even that first lap in the rain, in which he gained six places. He is just always perfect in those conditions.

Jos Verstappen had even called out fellow former F1 driver Johnny Herbert by name, insisting that someone who serves as an FIA steward should not be publicly criticising his son's driving.

This week, Herbert hit back. "I understand that Jos sees it that way, because it concerns his son. But I have always said that I am Johnny Herbert, the steward and the professional, on race weekends, and outside of that I am Johnny Herbert, the analyst, who says what he thinks.

Why am I not allowed to have an opinion when I'm not at the track?

(GMM)
F1 return unrealistic for Mick Schumacher

Audi-owned Sauber skipped over its other options, including incumbent Valtteri Bottas and Mick Schumacher, and confirmed that it has signed up rookie Gabriel Bortoleto for the 2025 season.

Mick Schumacher, Monaco GP 2022

 Haas

That is the despite the fact that, just weeks ago, Blick correspondent and veteran Formula 1 journalist Roger Benoit confidently reported that Bottas, 34, would stay at the team next year.

A successful team boss told me on Sunday at the Brazilian GP 'Sorry, the people in charge at Audi-Sauber gave me the wrong information', Benoit now says.

They obviously didn't know themselves!

10-time grand prix winner Bottas' bad news means that, for the first time in decades, there will not be a single Finnish driver on the grid next year.

It's sad, of course, but it was a bit expected, said Mika Salo, a former Finnish F1 driver who drove for Ferrari but also Sauber in the past.

Valtteri stayed there for a surprisingly long time, he told Ilta Sanomat newspaper.

Bottas' next move is expected to be a return to Mercedes as reserve driver, potentially ousting that team's existing third driver, Mick Schumacher.

Schumacher, 25, was considered by Audi F1 boss Mattia Binotto for the second Sauber seat next year, especially as they know each other well from their days at Ferrari.

When asked why he choose Bortoleto over Schumacher, Binotto said: "I don't think there's any blame for anyone, it's just that we decided on a different choice, that's all.

Maybe we should ask Toto (Wolff) the same thing - why Kimi (Antonelli) and not Mick?

There's no doubt, however, that failing once again to launch a F1 comeback is a massive blow to Schumacher's career. It hurts, said RTL reporter Felix Gorner, but it's clear that a generational change is coming to Formula 1.

Even Mick's uncle Ralf, himself a former F1 driver, admits the German's F1 dream could be over. "Unfortunately, Formula 1 is rather unrealistic for Mick now, unless someone drops out due to illness.

"The question now is who will be the reserve driver, and where? Or will Mick now concentrate on his endurance racing career instead?

Generally I think it's good that Audi is going down a new path with a young driver who has won in Formula 3 and is currently leading Formula 2, Ralf Schumacher added. That's a similar level to Oscar Piastri.

(GMM)
Complaints about Brazil GP conditions laughable

A motor racing legend has slammed as "laughable" complaints that the conditions at the Brazilian GP were too dangerous to race in.

Oliver Bearman, Brazilian GP 2024

 Haas

As he filled in for the ill Kevin Magnussen at Haas, rookie Oliver Bearman radioed his engineer and declared: "Come on, talk to the FIA - this is really dangerous.

I'm trying not to die.

Even the much more experienced George Russell, a senior director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, also accused the governing body of caring more about action for the television rather than the dangerously rainy conditions.

I was shocked, he said. I couldn't even keep my foot on the throttle on the straight. I guess the FIA likes action.

Hans-Joachim Stuck, who entered over 80 grands prix in the 70s, described the complaints as laughable .

Are they racing drivers or not? the 73-year-old German, also a two-time Le Mans winner and son of pre-WW2 racer Hans Stuck, told Eurosport.

Do they only want to drive in perfect conditions? All you have to do is take your foot off the gas and master the situation. This isn't a drive along Kurfurstendamm to have a coffee.

Stuck also hit out at the way the FIA postponed qualifying on Saturday due to the torrential weather.

It would have given those people who aren't in the best car another chance to prove themselves, he said. "On the one hand, safety is of course paramount, but on the other hand, the best racing drivers in the world are in those cars.

If it's slippery in one place, you just have to take your foot off the gas.

There is no denying, however, that the Brazilian GP weekend hosted a spate of spins and crashes, also blamed on Pirelli's wet-weather tyres and the bumpy and oily new track surface.

Sometimes they were just simple driving errors, Stuck insisted. "For me, incidents like that show that they are pushing themselves to the limit. With these cars, it's a ride on a razor's edge.

I think it's great that the drivers are still pushing themselves to the limit.

(GMM)
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DNA test more important than naming ceremony  Don Jazzy

Graphic Showbiz Showbiz News Nov - 09 - 2024 , 19:30 1 minute read

Renowned Nigerian music producer and music executive, Michael Collins Ajereh, popularly known as Don Jazzy, has urged men to be more serious about combating paternity fraud.

He urged men to conduct DNA tests on their children to ascertain their true paternity.

According to him, conducting a DNA test is more important than naming ceremony.

On his Instagram story, Jazzy wrote, DNA test is more important than naming ceremony.

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Social media has been divided over whether DNA tests are necessary or not, given recent cases of paternity fraud.
Could Donald Trump run again in 2028?

Sky News International News Nov - 08 - 2024 , 23:35 5 minutes read

Donald Trump has alluded to wanting three terms as president. But is he really likely to try it, and is it even possible?

Donald Trump will be one of only two presidents to serve two non-consecutive terms after his US election win this week, second only to Grover Cleveland, who did it in the 1800s.

It's already a historic victory - but Mr Trump has made comments in the past hinting at a third term in office.

An amendment in the Constitution, which is the supreme law of the United States, prohibits anyone from serving for more than two terms.

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But what has the incoming president said, how likely is he to pursue a third term in 2028 - and is it even possible?

Has a third term been done before?

Franklin Roosevelt served as US president four times from 1933 to 1945, because there was nothing in the original US Constitution which limited how many terms a president could serve.

But later the 22nd Amendment limited presidents to two four-year terms, irrespective of whether they were served consecutively or not.

Congress passed the 22nd Amendment two years after Roosevelt's death and it took effect from the 1952 election, which Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower won over Democrat Adlai Stevenson.

No one has been able to serve more than two terms since.

What has Trump said?

It was in the lead-up to the 2020 election, which Mr Trump lost to Joe Biden, that he first started hinting at seeking a third term.

At a rally in August 2020, he told supporters he would win the next election and then possibly "go for another four years" because "they spied on my campaign," an apparent nod to his unsubstantiated claims that Barack Obama had his "wires tapped" before he was elected in 2016.

According to Forbes, Mr Trump told another rally that if he were to win the 2020 election, he would "negotiate" a third term, adding he was "probably entitled to another four [years] after that" based on "the way we were treated".

But in an interview last year with Sky News' US partner NBC News, Mr Trump was asked if there was any scenario in which he would seek a third term should he win the presidency next year, to which he responded: "No."

And in April 2024 he told Time magazine he "wouldn't be in favour" of an extended term - but two vague comments he made in speeches this year have stoked rumours he could try it.

One was during a National Rifle Association speech, when he asked supporters if he would be considered "three-term or two-term" - though this appears to be in reference to his unsubstantiated claims that he should have won the 2020 election but that it was rigged against him.

Another came in July, when he told attendees at a conservative Christian event they wouldn't "have to vote anymore" if he won the 2024 election, according to CBS News.

After repeatedly telling them to vote "just this time", he added: "In four years, you don't have to vote again. We'll have it fixed so good, you're not going to have to vote."

Why Trump is unlikely to try it

John Fortier, senior research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, says the comments from the Christian event have been taken out of context, and that Mr Trump was simply trying to "encourage the sometimes reluctant Christian community to vote in this election".

"Trump in office would be able to address their concerns so much so that it would not matter if they chose to vote in future elections," he explains.

"It was not an indication that Trump would cancel future elections or try to serve beyond his second term."

Offering reasons why Mr Trump would likely not pursue an extra term, Mr Fortier points out that the president-elect has previously indicated he would not have run for office again in 2028 had he lost this election, adding he "expressed a kind of wistfulness about his final campaign for office".

He also says Mr Trump's age is a factor.

The 78-year-old, who is already the oldest person to be elected president, will be 82 by the end of his second term.

"And president Biden's withdrawal is evidence that the American people are attuned to age-related decline and will look sceptically on octogenarian candidates for president," Mr Fortier adds.

Could Trump do it if he wanted to?

It would be "virtually impossible", according to retired Commonwealth Court judge Joseph Cosgrove.

He would have to amend the Constitution to do it, which Mr Cosgrove says is an "arduous task".

"The usual method requires two-thirds of both the House and Senate to propose an amendment, which would then require three-fourths of the states to approve," he explains.

"Given the extremely close political divisions in the United States, neither of these events is foreseeable. Even if the Republicans control both the House and Senate, their majority will be so slim that no revision of the 22nd Amendment could ever occur in this climate."

Mr Fortier, who agreed with Mr Cosgrove's points, says some legal scholars have suggested there are loopholes that could be exploited to get around the two-term limit.

"They argue that the 22nd Amendment prohibits someone from running for a third term [but] not from serving a third term," he says.

"And by an ingenious trick, a term-limited president could be elected to the vice presidency or placed in the line of succession and then ascend to the presidency when those ahead of him in the line of succession resign."

He adds that this theory, however, ignores a number of other amendments and other constitutional laws which indicate that a vice president or someone else in the line of succession "must meet the qualifications to become president".

And Mr Trump, or someone else who has already served two terms as president, would not meet that criteria thanks to the 22nd Amendment.

credit: Sky News
Akufo-Addo unveils West Africa's largest single-stream gold mine

Graphic.com.gh Nov - 09 - 2024 , 09:12 7 minutes read

Ghana has taken a significant step towards solidifying its position as Africas leading gold producer with the commissioning of Cardinal Namdini Mining Ltd, the third largest mine in Ghana and the pouring of its first gold to mark the official opening by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Friday [Nov 8, 2024] in the Talensi District of the Upper East region.

The operationalisation of Cardinal Namdini, which is the largest single-stream mine in West African sub-region, is expected to consolidate Ghana's position as one of the worlds leading gold producers, with projections that the company will produce three hundred thousand ounces (300,000 oz) annually in the first three years.

Delivering a speech at the commissioning on Friday, President Akufo-Addo stated that the establishment of the mine marks another great step towards positioning Ghana as a premier hub for mining activities in Africa.

He said his government, since its inception in 2017, has embarked on a mission to expand Ghanas natural resource base and that the Ghana Geological Survey Authority has received enormous support and funding to actualize this vision.

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He stated that the setting up of Cardinal Namdini Mine is indicative of the wealth of mineral resources embedded in the northern part of the country and that these resources will be harnessed for the growth of the area and the country.

He believes that the creation of the Cardinal Namdini Mine is a significant step by the government towards fulfilling its promise to Ghanaians to create jobs and empower citizens economically.

Today marks yet another significant milestone towards the realization of the vision to make Ghana the mining hub of Africa, where all mining and mining-related activities, from exploration to downstream production, and from research to innovation, would be centered, he said.

This mine we commission today is evidence of the power of exploration as the lifeblood of the mining industry. For years, this area, and several other areas within this northern belt of our country, have only been known for small-scale mining. Large-scale mining firms have concentrated on the south, largely influenced by the literature that links gold only to the south of our nation, he added.

It is investment in exploration that led to the construction of this mine, which we are told today will become the third largest mine in the country and one of the largest single-stream gold mines in West Africa. And I am thrilled to learn that apart from this remarkable mine, another large-scale mine is under construction in the Upper West Region.

Enumerating the achievements of his government in the mining sector, President Akufo-Addo noted that his government has, since its inception, worked diligently to create the enabling environment and legal framework for mining companies to thrive in the country.

He mentioned the consistent and improved financial support of the Ghana Geological Survey Authority and the establishment of offices of the Minerals Commission in Tamale, Wa, Bolgatanga, and Bole as instructive and important measures taken by the government to make Northern Ghana the face of mining in the country.

Since 2017, we have increased budgetary allocation to the Ghana Geological Survey Authority to undertake more exploration to identify mineable lands, both for small and large-scale mining. Additionally, we have refurbished the office of the Authority, which was commissioned by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources last week, to provide a conducive environment for staff of the Authority to carry out their operations.

To ensure the provision of adequate resources for geological investigations, we are amending the Minerals Development Fund Act, 2016 (Act 912) to increase the allocation to the Authority from mineral royalties from eight percent (8%) to thirteen percent (13%). And from next year, God willing, the Government of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will allocate Ten Million United States Dollars (US$10,000,000.00) annually to the Authority to support their geological investigations.

The construction of New Regional and District Offices of the Minerals Commission in Tamale, Wa, Bolgatanga, and Bole couldnt have been more timely. With this mine, and the construction of the new mine in the Upper West Region, northern Ghana is ready to become the new face of mining in Ghana, and regulatory agencies must stand ready to live up to the task and the challenge ahead.

As we commission this mine and pour its first gold, we are fulfilling our commitment to creating a brighter future for the people of Ghana, including Talensi and its environs. It will create jobs, foster local development, and contribute significantly to both the local and national economy. It will bring about a transformative change in this area, providing opportunities for growth and development that will benefit generations to come, he said.

President Akufo-Addo charged the company to adhere strictly to the countrys mining regulations and also mine within the scope of Ghanas policies and commitments towards the environment.

While commending the company for its promise to build an airport in the area, President Akufo-Addo emphasized the importance of local participation and execution of developmental projects in the area.

It will also lead to developments in local infrastructure, including roads, utilities, and community facilities. I am informed of the commitment of the Company to construct an airport in Bolgatanga, to aid their mining operations and serve the needs of the people of the Upper East Region, he said.

Government is ready to provide all the necessary support to the Company in this project, which will undoubtedly enhance the quality of life for local residents and support broader regional development.

As you commence production, Government expects that you will employ the best of mining practices and adhere to all environmental and other regulatory standards for a safe and sustainable mining operation. I am aware that your parent Company, the Shandong Gold Group, has been a global leader in key technologies for gold mining and processing, and I have no doubt that you will replicate these same standards here in Ghana, he said.

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor said some of the measures implemented by the government to facilitate the smooth operations of large-scale mining companies in the northern part of the country and attract investors to that part of the country.

I am happy to also report that aside from this mine, there is the construction of another large-scale greenfield mine in the Upper West Region by Azumah Resources. And just below the northern belt of the country, Newmont is constructing a new mine in Ahafo North.

To meet the regulatory needs of these emerging mines, a five-story Regional Office complex for the Minerals Commission, which will be fitted with a laboratory, is currently under construction in Tamale. We have also upgraded the Bolgatanga, Wa, and Bole Offices of the Commission to Regional status, and new Regional Office complexes are being constructed in these areas. These offices will service the emerging large-scale mines in this part of the country, in addition to the regulation of small-scale mining.

Mr Jinapor stated that his Ministry is not only focused on ensuring an upscale in gold production but is also effectively prosecuting the Presidents vision of value addition to the mineral resources through the establishment of refineries across mining areas in the country.

While working to increase production, we continue to pursue the vision of President Akufo-Addo to add value to our mineral resources and translate these volumes of minerals into wealth for the benefit of the Ghanaian people. We have, therefore, constructed and commissioned a four hundred kilogram (400kg) capacity gold refinery to refine the gold we produce, and in the next couple of weeks, the President will cut sod for the commencement of work on a Four Hundred and Fifty Million United States Dollars (US$450,000,000.00) manganese refinery at Nsuta in the Western Region, to be funded by the parent company of Ghana Manganese Company, he said.

Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Tong Defa, detailed his happiness with the establishment of the mine project and commended President Akufo-Addo for his commitment to the mining industry and determination to deepen the relations between Ghana and China.

He noted that China has been a major trading partner of Ghana and has a huge presence in the Ghanaian mining sector with the aim of employing opportunities and helping develop the sector.

He stated that Cardinal Namdini gold mine which saw over $1billion dollar investment is yet another testimony to China's commitment to be Ghana's foremost strategic partner.
Experts using radio to combat climate change in rural communities

Daniel Kenu Nov - 09 - 2024 , 11:15 3 minutes read

Farm Radio International is relying on eight radio stations in Ghana to carry women along on the realities of climate change adaptation and biodiversity using locally relevant, gender-inclusivity and nature based-solutions.

Farm Radio International is a development organisation that partners radio stations to sensitise African farmers and communities.

In six countries, on-air dialogue with rural communities are undertaken to discover local priorities about, ideas for and experiences with harnessing nature to adapt to a changing climate.

How it is done

With a focus on women and vulnerable groups, women who call into the programme are selected as "women champions" and rewarded with items such as mobile phones (one of the communication tools used by the organisation), boots and other farming materials to encourage others to listen to the programme.

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The panel on these programmes are made up of experts in the field plus agric extension officers who share practical knowledge of how to deal with changing trends.

On its recent study shared with stakeholders including media personnel in Accra, Farm Radio focused on how to improve "soil health" to fight the negative impacts of climate change.

Among the nature-based solutions offered were composting and agroforestry.

Among the agreed practices were planting of economic trees such as cashew and mangoes as well as the introduction of inter-cropping as well as the use of cover crops.

During the study shared by the Programmes Manager, Farm Radio International, Rosemond Ohene and the Acting Director, Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Dr Antwi Boasiako- Amoah, on the need to discourage farmers from cutting down tree for charcoal, it was discovered that Kintampo was the worse offender in terms of tree cutting.

Soil testing

In an interactive session to influence policy decision, experts from the Soil Research Institute of the Counsel for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), proposed that on the next project, farmers should be encouraged to undertake soil testing as a primary step towards finding a suitable crop to plant.

They said the current "firefighting" approach by most Ghanaian farmers would not be able to mitigate against the menace.

Chiefly among the suggestions was for Farm Radio to assist the farmers with the testing due to the high cost involved.

The Soil Research Institute said it was ready to offer technical support but would need financial muscle to undertake it.

Environmental crisis

In his address, the Country Representative, Farm Radio International, Benjamin Fiafor, said climate change and biodiversity loss were two of the most defining environmental crises that challenged the world.

He said nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation had evolved as an innovative yet essential tool to address the challenge.

Mr Fiafor said the solution could expedite progression towards a low carbon, equitable, gender-inclusive, greener and positive future.
Saboba: Kucha residents still climb trees for phone network connectivity

Simon Unyan Nov - 09 - 2024 , 16:32 2 minutes read

In an era of rapid digital transformation, residents of the Kucha Electoral Area in the Saboba District of the Northern Region remain isolated from essential telecommunication and internet access.

With no mobile network coverage, residents resort to extreme measures to make phone calls, such as climbing trees or tying their phones to branches in hopes of catching a signal.

This lack of connectivity impacts all aspects of life, from emergency communication to digital learning and mobile banking.

When calls can be made, they are often broadcast on speaker mode, sacrificing privacy due to poor reception.

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The absence of reliable network coverage poses significant challenges for residents needing to contact emergency services.

For instance, arranging transport to cross the overflowing River Oti for medical emergencies is often impossible due to communication barriers.

Daniel Njorgnam, a resident, shared his frustration with Graphic Online's Simon Unyan, recounting how he has climbed a large mango tree multiple times in front of his house to obtain a faint signal to call for help when his nephew fell critically ill.

The connectivity gap also affects education and economic activities. Students are hindered from accessing digital learning opportunities, while mobile banking and online services remain out of reach.

This is how we live every day, Njorgnam explained. Im a student at Bolgatanga Technical Institute, and I had to borrow money from a friend to travel home because I couldnt reach my family on the phone. The stress and cost involved are unimaginable.

Another resident, Njorfuni Isaac, recounted a painful incident where he fractured his elbow after falling from a tree while trying to find network reception. These stories illustrate the physical risks residents are willing to take to communicate.

The Assemblyman for the Kucha Electoral Area, Adam Gmalaye Njibadam, appealed to the government and telecom companies to consider providing temporary network coverage.

"We urgently need a network tower to communicate effectively, especially in emergencies; the entire electoral area, which comprises eight communities, has no network coverage, he noted.

Read also: Ghana deploys 5G technology

As Ghana embraces digital advancements, Kucha stands as a stark example of the digital divide, where the basic right to communication and connectivity remains an unmet need.
UK pledges support for peaceful, transparent elections

Joshua Bediako Koomson Nov - 09 - 2024 , 07:30 3 minutes read

The United Kingdom (UK) has reaffirmed its commitment to Ghanas democratic stability by pledging support for a peaceful and transparent electoral process in the upcoming 2024 election.

The British High Commissioner to Ghana, Harriet Thompson, underscored UKs neutral stance in the election but emphasised its dedication to seeing Ghana remain the most stable and successful democracy in the region.

She said the British High Commission, in collaboration with other diplomatic missions, would deploy observers across the country to witness the democratic process firsthand.

This commitment, she said, also included funding independent domestic observers to ensure a fair and credible election.

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Unfortunately, my colleagues and I are frequently told by a range of people that they fear Ghana's 2024 election will be less peaceful than previous elections.

That's worrying for everyone because an election that's not peaceful would be incredibly damaging for Ghana, as well as dangerous of course for those directly involved. But the good thing is that politicians and others in influential positions can prevent this from happening, she said.



Celebration

The British High Commissioner was speaking at the commemoration of the 76th birthday of His Royal Majesty King Charles III yesterday.

She hosted over 800 guests in honour of the birthday celebration.

The invited guests included President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Minister for National Security, Albert Kan-Dapaah, as well as other government officials, political party leaders, chiefs, members of diplomatic missions, and British-Ghanaian diaspora.



Bilateral partnership

The UK cares deeply about Ghanas democracy and future success because of our shared democratic values. We know that the economy and security of both our countries will be strengthened by working closely together.

A strong bilateral partnership, rooted in learning from the past and looking to the future, has the potential to improve lives in both our nations, the British High Commissioner said.

She also congratulated the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, on her recent election as Commonwealth Secretary-General.

She was certain that the Commonwealth was in very capable hands and looked forward to working with her in her new role in the coming years.

Gratitude

Mr Kan-Dapaah expressed his gratitude to the UK for its enduring support in areas ranging from health and education to security.

He said UKs contributions had been instrumental in Ghanas efforts to maintain stability across the continent.

Additionally, he said the country was grateful for the UKs role in training Ghanaian health workers in disease outbreak preparedness, which proved invaluable in containing the 2022 Marburg virus outbreak.

Over the past decade, the UK has also supported numerous Ghanaian students in their educational journeys through the Ghana Education Outcomes Project, enabling them to pursue knowledge and skills that will contribute to our nations growth.

These initiatives clearly demonstrate the enduring partnership between Ghana and the UK and the continuous strengthening of our relationship, Mr Kan-Dapaah said.

It is my sincere hope that, under the reign of King Charles III, the partnership between our two countries will continue to grow, ensuring peace, prosperity, and security for both our nations and for the wider region, he added.
Next article: The 4 MPs cannot be said to have crossed carpet in this Parliament - former President Kufuor [VIDEO]

Bawumia labels Mahama as 'worst performing President' of Ghana's fourth republic

Graphic Online Politics Nov - 09 - 2024 , 15:31 2 minutes read

The Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has labelled former President John Mahama as the "worst-performing President of Ghanas Fourth Republic."

Speaking to a gathering of supporters in Manso Adubia in the Ashanti Region, Dr. Bawumia argued that economic data from Mr. Mahama's administration reveals a lacklustre record in key areas such as GDP, agriculture, and industry.

Since the Fourth Republic began in 1993, Ghana has seen five Presidents: the late Jerry Rawlings, John Agyekum Kufuor, the late John Atta Mills, John Mahama, and Nana Akufo-Addo. According to Dr. Bawumia, a comparison of economic performance data across these administrations highlights Mr. Mahamas time as particularly deficient.

"Former President Mahama is my main opponent for the 2024 election. He has been President before, but what did he do for Manso Adubia? What development did he bring? Did he even construct a kilometre of tarred road for you? Dr. Bawumia questioned, asserting that Mr. Mahamas administration had little impact on the town.

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Dr. Bawumia further outlined areas he believes show the Mr. Mahama administrations poor performance. When you look at the data for GDP growth, agriculture growth, industry growth, and job creation, Mahama is the worst, he stated. He also highlighted alleged weaknesses in Mahamas industrial policies, which he claims contributed to minimal growth in the sector.

In contrast, Dr. Bawumia pointed to the current Akufo-Addo administrations achievements, stating that they have outperformed the Mahama government in areas such as infrastructure, healthcare, and education. "We have done far better than him in roads, jobs, hospitals, schools, railways, sanitation facilities, fish landing sites, libraries, and courts," he said.
Manso Adubia Chief praises NPPs inclusive policies, urges support for Bawumia

GraphicOnline Politics Nov - 09 - 2024 , 15:43 2 minutes read

The Chief of Manso Adubia, Nana Duku Appiah Dankwah, has lauded the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for its commitment to inclusive development across Ghana, describing the partys policies as beneficial to all citizens.

Speaking during Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumias visit to the Manso Adubia Constituency in the Ashanti Region, the Chief praised the NPPs Free Senior High School (SHS) initiative, which he noted has impacted households nationwide.

NPP has done a lot for us, Nana Duku Appiah Dankwah said, emphasising the positive impact of the Free SHS policy on families across Ghana. Today, if you go to every house in Ghana, there are beneficiaries of Free SHS, he added, crediting the NPP for making education accessible to more Ghanaians.

He also recalled previous policies under the NPP, notably former President John Agyekum Kufuors Free Maternity Care initiative, which provided free healthcare services to pregnant women across the country. During President Kufuor's time, he introduced Free Maternity, and every pregnant woman benefitted, he noted.

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In light of these achievements, the Chief urged his community to support Dr. Bawumia in the upcoming elections, dismissing any attempts to sway voters with misinformation. Let us remember all these and let us not be ungrateful. Dont allow anyone to deceive you, he advised. The NPP government has done so well, and we believe that Bawumia will continue the good work of the NPP.

The Chief also took the opportunity to request additional road infrastructure in the constituency, highlighting the need for improved road networks in Manso Adubia. In response, Dr. Bawumia assured the Chief and residents that he remains committed to expanding road infrastructure as part of his broader development agenda for the constituency and the country.

The Vice Presidents visit to Manso Adubia forms part of his tour of the Ashanti Region, where he is engaging with traditional leaders and communities to discuss his vision for Ghana.
Apple's latest Pro Max finds itself in the usual tough crowd, competing against the best offerings from all the big names in the business. Archrival Samsung has had its ultimate S24 Ultra on the market for what's approaching a year now, but it remains a productivity powerhouse with varied camera capabilities. The iPhone 16 Pro Max, on the other hand, brings Apple's latest silicon, a few minor camera tweaks, and some endurance improvements. So which one is better?

Table of Contents:

For starters, you can compare the complete specs sheets or directly continue with our editor's assessment in the following video or in the text further below.

Size comparison

Apple

iPhone 16 Pro Max 163.0 x 77.6 x 8.3 mm

(6.42 x 3.06 x 0.33 in) 227 g

Samsung

Galaxy S24 Ultra 162.3 x 79.0 x 8.6 mm

(6.39 x 3.11 x 0.34 in) 232 g

If the Max and Ultra names don't get the message across, the numbers probably will - the two phones are large and heavy. The Pro Max gained a few millimeters in height and a mil in width over the previous generation, plus it's now a few grams heavier. The Galaxy is closer in dimensions to its predecessor, but it's still larger, bulkier, and ever so slightly heavier than the iPhone.

The iPhone has an extra button this time around, which adds camera functionality and/or allows the previously available action key to serve purposes other than launching the camera. The Galaxy has more than just an extra button - it packs a stylus, the S Pen offering tons of functionality for both work and play. We reckon the latter is more useful.

Color options are rather subdued on the iPhone, while the Galaxy offers a somewhat more exciting selection, particularly if you're to buy directly from samsung.com, where some exclusive brighter colorways can be found.

Both phones employ titanium in one form or another for their frames. We're not entirely sure whose method for attaching the exposed bits to the internals is superior, but in both cases, your fingers will be touching titanium - possibly different alloy compositions, too, but try telling them apart and you will see it's impossible.

The Galaxy is protected by Gorilla Armor, Corning's latest glass that's unique in its low reflectivity. Meanwhile, the iPhone uses a new generation of their tailor-made Ceramic Shield, also coming from Corning.

The iPhone carries the same IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, but Apple is eager to promise higher resistance than what the standard requires - 6m of depth vs. 1.5m (both for 30 minutes).

Display comparison

Apple

iPhone 16 Pro Max LTPO OLED

120Hz 1320x2868

pixels 460

ppi 6.9"

Samsung

Galaxy S24 Ultra LTPO OLED

120Hz 1440x3120

pixels 505

ppi 6.8"

The iPhone's display grew in size this generation; the 16 Pro Max's 6.9-inch diagonal is now slightly larger than the 6.8-inch S24 Ultra panel. Both screens are plenty sharp, have adaptive high refresh rate support, promise super high brightness, and are HDR-compliant.

The iPhone's 460ppi pixel density means it's now got a 1,320x2,868px resolution (density is the fundamental spec in the Apple world), while the Galaxy's 1,440x3,120px resolution results in a slightly higher 505ppi. Both panels have the same aspect ratio, at 19.5:9.

In our testing, we measured 1,796nits on the iPhone and 1,447nits on the Galaxy in their respective auto brightness modes, and the iPhone also had an advantage in manual operation (900 vs 755nits). It's a largely immaterial difference, but still, the iPhone can go brighter. The Galaxy's low reflectivity may give it an advantage in certain situations though, or at least negate the iPhone's superior nittage.

Both phones support HDR10, but the iPhone is also Dolby Vision capable, while Samsung is insisting on HDR10+ instead. Both will also do HDR in photos in their galleries as well as compatible images on the internet.

Battery life

Apple upped the battery capacity for this year's Pro Max to 4685mAh, while the Galaxy S Ultra model's battery has been at 5,000mAh since there is a Galaxy S Ultra.

Even before this year's iPhone capacity increase, Pro Maxes typically outlasted competing Galaxies in our testing, and this is also the case between the 16 Pro Max and the S24 Ultra.

The iPhone has a notable advantage in web browsing and video playback, and a less significant but still meaningful edge in gaming. The fact that the Galaxy snatches a victory in voice calls is less important, we think.

Charging speed

Apple

iPhone 16 Pro Max

4685 mAh 15min

27% 30min

46% Full

117min

Samsung

Galaxy S24 Ultra

5000 mAh 15min

39% 30min

69% Full

65min

The Galaxy may not last as long as the iPhone on a single charge, but it does take less time to top up. Samsung's hardly on the forefront of speedy charging tech, but the S24 Ultra is still significantly quicker than the 16 Pro Max - a difference you'll be feeling often.

Neither phone comes with a charger bundled, though, so you may be getting vastly different results depending on what you plug into your iPhone or Galaxy - or what you slap to their backs, as both phones also support wireless charging. The iPhone is rated for up to 25W with MagSafe chargers and 15W with third-party pads, and the Galaxy maxes out at 15W according to its specs.

Speaker test

Both phones have stereo speakers, and they employ the usual arrangement - one speaker on the bottom, another one above the display that also works as the earpiece. Both phones earned the same 'Very Good' rating for loudness, with very close integrated loudness values in our test. Still, if we had to pick one, it would be the iPhone.

Performance

The iPhone 16 Pro Max uses Apple's newest A18 Pro chipset, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra relies on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. That means the iPhone has cutting-edge silicon, unlike the Galaxy, whose chip has just been replaced, and we'll be seeing more powerful Androids in the coming weeks and months. That said, there's a good two to three months before a Galaxy shows up with the Snapdragon Elite, so this is as good as you can get from Samsung now.

Apple

iPhone 16 Pro Max Apple A18 Pro

3 nm 256GB 8GB RAM

base config

Samsung

Galaxy S24 Ultra Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SM8650-AC

4 nm 256GB 12GB RAM

base config

Apple's fitted 8GB of RAM on the 16 Pro Max, while the Galaxy comes with 12GB, though each operating system has its own specifics in dealing with memory, so these numbers don't mean a lot in a direct comparison. Storage is more straightforward and both phones start at 256GB and can be had with up to a terabyte.

Benchmark performance

Apple

iPhone 16 Pro Max Geekbench 6

8,606 3DMark Wild Life

4,731 3DMark Solar Bay

7,880

Samsung

Galaxy S24 Ultra Geekbench 6

7,076 3DMark Wild Life

4,983 3DMark Solar Bay

8,780

In benchmarks, the iPhone significantly outperforms the Galaxy under raw CPU load, while the Galaxy has an advantage in GPU tests (more significant in ray-tracing tests). Overall, both phones are plenty powerful and future proof.

Another aspect of futureproofing is long-term software support. Samsung promises 7 major OS releases and 7 years of security updates. Apple's policy isn't as explicit, but 5 years of support appears to have been established as the norm. Again, you'll be set for a long time with one of these.

Camera comparison

A key aspect of the iPhone vs. Galaxy rivalry is the camera performance, and the two phones are among the better options for picture-taking and video capture. Their hardware isn't as comparable as between some other pairs we've seen, but they do share a few similarities.

The Galaxy is, by all accounts, better equipped on the long end of the zoom range. While both phones feature 5x optical zoom, the S24 Ultra's sensor is larger, and higher-res, plus its 5x camera can do some reasonably nice closeups, unlike the iPhone's. Then there's the second zoom camera of the Galaxy that nicely bridges the gap between the main one and the telephoto.

Speaking of main ones, the Galaxy's 200MP sensor is actually that little bit smaller than the iPhone's 50MP unit, but the difference is negligible. Looking at the ultrawides, the iPhone's sensor should be a little better in theory, but both are the same size - and both have AF on the ultrawide cameras too.

There's some 'niche' camera functionality for each of these, the iPhone having a new button this time around, while the Galaxy's S Pen has something to offer itself. The 16 Pro Max's Camera Control key lets you launch the app and tweak settings inside it, but is the stylus' remote shutter release a more universally usable feature?

Image quality

Photos from the two main cameras carry each brand's signature approach to processing. The Galaxy's output is more expressive, with brighter exposures and more vibrant colors, next to the more restrained iPhone pictures. The Galay's images are cleaner and sharper, while the iPhone lets more noise in the final results.



iPhone 16 Pro Max daylight photo samples, 1x



Galaxy S24 Ultra daylight photo samples, 1x

Samsung has caught up with Apple in terms of 2x zoom results and while the 16 Pro Max does a respectable job, the S24 Ultra has a bit of an edge.



iPhone 16 Pro Max daylight photo samples, 2x



Galaxy S24 Ultra daylight photo samples, 2x

Then there's the dedicated 3x camera that the Galaxy has. With Samsung's superiority already established at 2x, we figured we wouldn't embarrass the iPhone and only show the S24 Ultra's 3x photos. If you happen to take a lot of shots around the 70mm focal length (equiv.), perhaps the Galaxy is the better idea.



Galaxy S24 Ultra daylight photo samples, 3x

At 5x, even though the iPhone has a camera to sort of match the Galaxy, the images out of the S24 Ultra have an edge in detail and clarity. That's before you try to shoot small-ish things from up close where the Galaxy has a considerable advantage in minimum focus distance.



iPhone 16 Pro Max daylight photo samples, 5x



Galaxy S24 Ultra daylight photo samples, 5x

We'd also prefer the Galaxy's results at 10x - the iPhone captures similar detail, but it's blotchy rendition isn't remotely likable.



iPhone 16 Pro Max daylight photo samples, 10x



Galaxy S24 Ultra daylight photo samples, 10x

Comparing the photos from the ultrawides, those from the Galaxy just might be a little bit sharper, but it's not a difference that you should make a big deal out of.



iPhone 16 Pro Max daylight photo samples, 0.5x



Galaxy S24 Ultra daylight photo samples, 0.6x

The two phones capture great selfies, but we'd say the ones from the Galaxy have an edge in detail and they also have livelier, more lifelike colors.



Selfie samples: iPhone 16 Pro Max  Galaxy S24 Ultra

In the dark, it's the Galaxy that returns noisier photos, but we don't mind the extra grain when it comes with plenty of detail to make up for it. The iPhone's kinda-sorta approach to Night mode means you might be getting 24MP shots in the dark (strictly 12MP when Night mode kicks in), but regardless of nominal resolution, it's the Galaxy's photos that tend to have better definition.



iPhone 16 Pro Max low-light photo samples, 1x



Galaxy S24 Ultra low-light photo samples, 1x

At 2x, things are more of a toss-up between the two - detail is more or less the same.



iPhone 16 Pro Max low-light photo samples, 2x



Galaxy S24 Ultra low-light photo samples, 2x

Again, the mere fact that the S24 Ultra has a 3x camera, gives it an advantage over the iPhone. But it's not like the Galaxy's 3x images are simply better than nothing - they're actually quite solid, even though it's a relatively small sensor that's doing the work.



Galaxy S24 Ultra low-light photo samples, 3x

At 5x in the dark, the iPhone does alright, but the Galaxy has the upper hand when it comes to detail.



iPhone 16 Pro Max low-light photo samples, 5x



Galaxy S24 Ultra low-light photo samples, 5x

The S24 Ultra also wins for ultrawide photo quality in the dark, with a meaningful advantage in definition and detail.



iPhone 16 Pro Max low-light photo samples, 0.5x



Galaxy S24 Ultra low-light photo samples, 0.6x

Video quality

Video recording is one of those areas iPhones normally hold a strong advantage. In this particular case, we wouldn't say either phone has a meaningful advantage when comparing footage at 1x, 2x or 5x zoom levels, and the ultrawides are looking very similar too, when it comes to objective properties. The Galaxy is obviously vastly better at 3x, and has a bit of an edge at 10x.

Below, we have a few framegrabs from the videos taken by the two phones at each focal length so it's easier to compare to one another.





iPhone 16 Pro Max daylight video samples: 0.5x  1x  2x  3x  5x  10x





Galaxy S24 Ultra daylight video samples: 0.6x  1x  2x  3x  5x  10x

In the dark, the Galaxy has a small advantage at the ultrawide end, while the iPhone somehow inches ahead at the 5x level, if only barely. The main cameras are roughly on par.





iPhone 16 Pro Max low-light video samples: 0.5x  1x  2x  3x  5x





Galaxy S24 Ultra low-light video samples: 0.6x  1x  2x  3x  5x

Verdict

An iPhone vs Galaxy comparison is another one of those slightly theoretical endeavors - sure, you can explore how they stack up, but it's more likely that you'll be choosing one based on ecosystem considerations rather than performance in the areas that aren't OS-specific. So if you're into Apple land, get the 16 Pro Max; if you're an Android die-hard, the Ultra makes all the sense.

If you look long and hard at the numbers and photos on this page, you just might find a few areas where one is objectively better than the other, though. For example, while the Galaxy is no slouch in battery life, the iPhone offers longer endurance in our testing. Samsung counters have faster charging. Why can't we have both on the same phone?

The S24 Ultra beats the iPhone in a couple of more important ways, too. One is the S Pen, which opens up many possibilities for productivity but also just general usefulness. The other key advantage is on the telephoto side of the camera system, where the Galaxy fares better for distant subjects at several zoom levels, plus it can also do closeups. So if you're not married to iOS, perhaps it's worth looking into getting the S24 Ultra for its more versatile camera system and the built-in stylus.

Get the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max for: Latest iOS has to offer.

Longer battery life.
President Joe Biden on Saturday announced his intent to nominate Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood to the District Court of Guam.

Although Tydingco-Gatewood currently serves as chief judge in the District Court of Guam, her appointment, which only lasts 10 years, has expired since 2016.

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero in January 2021 asked Biden to re-nominate Tydingco-Gatewood to keep the islands federal court seat.

Tydingco-Gatewood has been chief federal judge on Guam since 2006, after she was nominated by former President George Bush and confirmed by the Senate.

Federal judges in the territories do not hold lifetime posts and instead are nominated to serve 10-year terms.

Former President Barack Obama wanted to keep Tydingco-Gatewood as the islands federal judge, and re-nominated her in May 2016. Congress never acted on Obamas nomination, however, and Tydingco-Gatewood has continued to serve beyond her 10-year term until another judge is appointed or confirmed.

Former President Donald Trump nominated Superior Court of Guam Judge Maria Cenzon to serve as chief judge for the District Court of Guam in November 2020 before he left office after losing the election to Biden.

The Senate at the time didnt act on the nomination before its session ended and returned Cenzons nomination to Trump, who resubmitted Cenzons nomination on Jan. 3, 2021, but Biden withdrew the nomination on Feb. 4, 2021, after taking office.

Bidens administration, in a release Saturday, said the president was nominating two individuals to federal district courts  both of whom are extraordinarily qualified, experienced, and devoted to the rule of law and the Constitution.

The other nominee was Tali Farhadian Weinstein for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

These choices also continue to fulfill the presidents promise to ensure that the nations courts reflect the diversity that is one of our greatest assets as a countryboth in terms of personal and professional backgrounds, a release from the Biden administration states.

This will be Bidens 56th round of nominees for federal judicial positions, bringing the number of announced federal judicial nominees to 261, the release states.

Its unclear if the nomination will be confirmed by the Senate before a new batch of elected senators are sworn into office in January and Trump, who was reelected as president, also starts a new term.

Tydingco-Gatewood has a long history working as a judge on Guam. Prior to her appointment to the federal bench, she served as an associate justice on the Supreme Court of Guam from 2002 to 2006 and as a trial judge on the Superior Court of Guam, a biography shared by the Biden administration states.

Before beginning her judicial service, Tydingco-Gatewood served as chief prosecutor and assistant attorney general in the Office of the Attorney General of Guam from 1990 to 1994 and 1984 to 1988, respectively, and assistant prosecutor with the Jackson County Prosecutors Office in Missouri from 1989 to 1990.

She served as a law clerk to Judge Forest W. Hanna on the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri from 1983 to 1984.

The chief judge received her J.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law in 1983 and her B.A. from Marquette University in 1980.
James Paul Tajalle Mesa was arrested on three misdemeanor charges and two felony counts of attempted strangulation following his alleged assault on a woman known to him, according to court documents.

A magistrates complaint filed in the Superior Court of Guam Friday reports that Guam Police entertained a walk-in complaint by a woman who had just escaped a potentially dangerous confrontation with Mesa.

The woman told police that on the morning of Nov. 7, she woke up and started preparing for work. She noticed that Mesa was sobbing on the bed, according to the report. She told police that she has been telling Mesa that she no longer wanted a relationship with him, according to the report.

At about 8:50 a.m., she opened the front door to leave for work but Mesa quickly closed the door, then covered and pushed down her mouth, making it difficult to breathe. He relented and she stood and caught her breath, said the report.

Mesa wanted a hug, and the woman repeated that she needed to go to work but Mesa refused to let her leave. He then allegedly grabbed her throat with both hands and squeezed for about 10 seconds. When he let her get up, she asked if she could call a friend to give her the business keys because her work needed to open, the complaint states.

When the friend showed up, the woman got into the vehicle and went to the police.

Police went to the apartment and found Mesa in the kitchen. They asked him to go to the precinct, where he admitted to having a physical altercation, said the report, and that he had assaulted the woman because of a change in her attitude.

Police noticed injuries on the woman consistent with her story, including bruising to her lower lip, 3-inch bruises on both cheeks and redness on her neck and throat area.

Mesa was arrested at about 10 a.m. on two counts of attempted strangulation as third-degree felonies and three misdemeanor counts of assault, family violence and unlawful restraint, according to the documents.
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Haiti - FLASH : A federal judge invalidates the Biden program Keeping Families Together





On Thursday, November 7, 2024, Federal Judge Campbell Barker (Texas) ruled in favor of a coalition of 16 Republican-led states led by Texas and Stephen Millers America First Legal which had filed a lawsuit against the Biden Administrations "Keeping Families Together" program and declared that the latter was illegal and ordered its immediate suspension. If the decision is upheld on appeal, it could mean the end of the ability for hundreds of thousands of immigrants to regularize their immigration status...



Let's recall that this program allowed undocumented immigrants who were married to a U.S. citizen and who had resided in the United States for at least 10 years to apply for regularization of their status and then begin the naturalization process to become U.S. citizens. The goal of this program was to keep families together. Note that non-citizen spouses are already eligible for legal status under current law, but must apply from their home country and face a ban on re-entry to the United States for up to 10 years.



On Friday, November 8, the White House, responding to the decision, said through its spokesman, Angelo Fernandez Hernandez, "[...] We strongly disagree with yesterday's ruling and we are evaluating next steps. This ruling sides with Republican state officials who are seeking to force U.S. citizens and their families, people who have lived in the United States for more than ten years, to either separate or live in the shadows in constant fear of deportation [...] As the President has said, America is not a country that tears families apart. Our Administration believes in keeping American families together  this process would allow those who are already eligible for lawful permanent residency to remain in the United States with their families during that process, instead of being needlessly torn apart."



A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said "[...] We are deeply disappointed in today's decision. Keeping Families Together would have allowed an estimated 500,000 noncitizen spouses and 50,000 noncitizen stepchildren of U.S. citizens to remain together with their families in the United States while completing their immigration process instead of having to endure potentially indefinite separation, providing them stability, unity, and freedom from fear [...] We firmly believe Keeping Families Together is grounded in well-established legal authority, and its purpose is consistent with fundamental American values."



Ashley DeAzevedo, President of American Families United, said in a statement, "We urge the Biden-Harris administration to immediately appeal Judge Barker's ruling, preventing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and 15 other Republican Attorneys General cruel lawsuit from devastating over 550,000 individuals in mixed-status families [...]"



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - PNH : A police officer and his partner arrested for ammunition trafficking





Friday, November 8, 2024 at the Champ de Mars, police officer Ernst Jacques, Agent 3, assigned to the Temporary Anti-gang Unit (UTAG), has been arrested by a patrol of the Departmental Law Enforcement Unit (UDMO/DDO-1) while he was driving his private vehicle.



When he was arrested, he was in possession of 2,400 rounds of ammunition, including 1,400 of 7.62 caliber and 1,000 of 5.56 caliber, as well as his service weapon, a Glock 17, a magazine containing seventeen cartridges, an American assault rifle from PTR industrie, four magazines, one of which contained 20 7.62 cartridges, and 2 mobile phones.



At the same time, Mrs. Gloria Pierre, the partner of police officer Ernst Jacques, who is part of the administrative staff assigned to the Armament Department of the Logistics Directorate of the National Police of Haiti (PNH), was arrested by the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police (DCPJ) for trafficking in ammunition. According to preliminary information provided by Ernst Jacques, these ammunitions came from the PNH stock and he obtained them with the complicity of his partner.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - FLASH : First pockets of famine reported in Haiti





According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the humanitarian crisis in Haiti continues to worsen, largely due to ongoing violence. Between January and September of this year, nearly 4,900 people were killed.



More than 700,000 people are displaced within the country, more than half of them children, and recent violence in the capital Port-au-Prince has displaced an additional 12,000 people in recent weeks.



Food insecurity continues to rise. Half of the country, some 5.4 million people, are hungry and for the first time since 2022, pockets of famine exist in some areas where displaced people live. The situation is further exacerbated by the forced return of Haitians from abroad. 60,961 Haitians returned to Haiti from the Dominican Republic (deportees, repatriates and volunteers) in the month of October alone. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43572-haiti-flash-diplomatic-clash-between-haiti-and-the-dr.html



Despite these challenges, the UN and its humanitarian partners continue to provide humanitarian assistance. Since late February, the UN and its partners have distributed hundreds of thousands of hot meals and liters of water to displaced people in the capital.



The UN has used planes, trucks and boats to deliver food, medicine and equipment to Port-au-Prince and throughout the country.



OCHA stresses that more resources are needed to stem the escalation of needs. The $684 million Humanitarian Response and Needs Plan is currently 43% funded ($288 million received) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39364-haiti-un-humanitarian-response-plan-of-720-million-dollars-all-the-details-report.html



Haiti needs real and sustainable solutions to end persistent violence and support development.



Download the full report of the Humanitarian Response Plan (PDF in French 83 pages): https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/HTI_HRP_2023_FR.pdf



Download the summary of the Response Plan in Creole (PDF): https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/Haiti-2023-HRP-At-a-glance-Creole.pdf



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43572-haiti-flash-diplomatic-clash-between-haiti-and-the-dr.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39364-haiti-un-humanitarian-response-plan-of-720-million-dollars-all-the-details-report.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39354-haiti-politic-signing-of-a-cooperation-framework-of-more-than-11-billion-dollars.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39298-haiti-flash-the-un-appeals-for-$720m-to-respond-to-the-humanitarian-emergency-in-haiti.html



S/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Politic : 30th anniversary of the Ministry for the Status of Women





Friday, November 8, 2024, Marie Francoise Suzan, the Minister of Women's Affairs in the presence of Leslie Voltaire, President pro tempore of the Transitional Council, Transitional Advisor Frinel Joseph, Prime Minister Garry Conille, members of the ministerial cabinet and several other important personalities celebrated the 30 years of existence of the Ministry of Women's Affairs and Women's Rights around the theme "Toujou menm konba pou yon sosyete san fos kote." In his speech, Leslie Voltaire praised and congratulated the great efforts of the country's women. He took the opportunity to ask them to continue working for the advancement of society because "no major positive change can be made without the participation of women."



Excerpt from the speech of the Minister for the Status of Women :

"When this Ministry was created by decree on November 8, 1994, it was difficult to imagine the extent of the impact it would have on Haitian society [...]



So many challenges met, with always the same unwavering desire to advance women's rights in Haiti. [...]



Women's voices are no longer just heard, they are listened to, respected and taken into account in the most important decisions concerning the future of our Nation. Women are now key players in the development of Haiti, and for three decades, the Ministry for the Status of Women and Women's Rights has been at the forefront of this fight [...]



Together, these achievements illustrate the impact of the Ministry in building a more equitable Haitian society, where women's rights are not only recognized but actively protected and promoted.



[...] The history of the Ministry is a story of resilience. It is also a story of alliances, of solidarity between women and with men, because the promotion of women's rights does not only concern women, but all of Haitian society. [...]



On this day, we are not content to simply celebrate the past, but we are resolutely looking to the future. There is still much to be accomplished: strengthening the legislative framework, intensifying the fight against violence against women, guaranteeing young girls' access to quality education and offering women more responsibilities. The road to equality is still long, but we are moving forward with confidence and determination. By celebrating these 30 years of existence, we reaffirm today our common commitment to a better future for all. [...]



Long live the Ministry for the Status of Women and Women's Rights!



Long live the fight for equality in Haiti !"



HL/ HaitiLibre


















The Black Basta ransomware group operates worldwide and is known to spam users with emails, posing as helpdesk staff in order to steal data and gain access. This method has now apparently been modified so that Microsoft Teams chat messages are used to contact employees in companies.

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As the cyber security company ReliaQuest reported, Black Basta's new method uses Microsoft Teams chat messages to engage company employees in conversations. The criminals pretend to be support, administrator or helpdesk staff in order to gain the trust of the victims.

Group invitations as a confidence-building measure

In some cases, company employees are said to have been invited to MS Teams chat groups by the Black Basta group. Once in the group, it was apparently easy to make contacts. QR codes are then used to lure employees to external sites. These are tailored to the target organization in question and can often only be distinguished from genuine company websites by carefully checking the subdomain.

ReliaQuest recommends several measures to protect against this new phishing method. These include blocking suspicious domains and subdomains, blocking communication from external users within Microsoft Teams and cleanly defining trusted domains. ReliaQuest also recommends activating the logging function in MS Teams to facilitate the early detection and investigation of incidents.

As reported by heise online, previous methods have already damaged over 500 organizations internationally, including several hospitals. In Germany, for example, the arms manufacturer Rheinmetall was one of the victims. According to the FBI, the victims paid a total of over 100 million US dollars to the criminal group to unlock encrypted data.

(nen)
Microsoft has announced in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center that from January 6, 2025, customers with Microsoft 365 Business and Premium licenses will automatically switch from classic Outlook to the new Outlook.

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In the Microsoft 365 admin center, the Redmond-based company has announced the automatic switch to the new Outlook for Business and Premium customers. (Image: Screenshot / heise online)

In the Microsoft Admin Center (log-in with appropriate access rights required), the company writes that from January 6, users with Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Premium licenses will be switched from classic Outlook to the new Outlook in the following months. Users will be converted once during this rollout, but with the option of triggering the conversion again at a later date. However, those affected should have the option of switching back to classic Outlook.

Appealing marketing to make the move palatable

"Our goal with this change is to give users the opportunity to try out the new Outlook, which millions have already done," says Microsoft about the project. "New Outlook gives users the most modern experience with Copilot features, themes and a host of time-saving features like pinning and snoozing emails".

Users will receive a notification in the app before the changeover and will have the option to switch it off in the "Options"  "General". Anyone who has already switched over can also choose to switch back. If the New Outlook switch has been hidden by means of guidelines or an unlimited license exists, the changeover will not take place. In the "Admin-Controlled Migration to New Outlook" policy, admins can influence the migration of users. It is not set by default, which means that users can control themselves whether the switch to the new Outlook takes place. The value "1", on the other hand, ensures that the migration is permitted and users cannot intervene, while the value "0" prevents the automatic migration and users cannot change this either.

By setting the registry key NewOutlookMigrationUserSetting as dword:00000001 or 00000000 under the branch HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\office\16.0\outlook\preferences , it should also be possible to implement this locally. Later, the policy will also be available as a Group Policy Object (GPO), as a cloud policy and via Intune.

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Admins need to take action

IT managers with the listed licenses must therefore take action. The changeover is likely to lead to an increase in user inquiries, and "real" problems are also to be expected. Firstly, there is the lack of support for POP3 or, more importantly, Exchange in the on-premises version. Anyone using a local Exchange server will no longer be able to process emails. A comparison of functions from Microsoft shows other missing functions, such as shared mailboxes as accounts.

On the other hand, the fact that the new Outlook transfers access data for IMAP accounts to Microsoft's servers, which then copy the emails from the accounts to the Microsoft Cloud, is also likely to weigh heavily. The advertised functions run on the server side and not locally. .pst files are also not yet supported. This could also be a data protection problem for some organizations.

Read also New Outlook: Return to classic Outlook to be less simple

The new Outlook has been causing discontent for some time. Microsoft is constantly trying to win over users for the software. In the Windows clients in the Home and Pro licenses, for example, it is now replacing the previously popular Windows Mail, Calendar and Contacts apps. However, many people do not realize that the new Outlook is essentially a web app that accesses Microsoft's server-side functions and retrieves users' emails via Microsoft servers for this purpose.

(dmk)
The "Operation Magnus" task force has struck a major blow against a global malware network. It is one of the largest malware platforms in the world. The Dutch police, the FBI and criminal investigators from Australia were among those involved.

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Infostealer attacks

According to a press release, the EU's judicial cooperation agency Eurojust coordinated the investigation. Among other things, three servers in the Netherlands were taken out of service. The police also arrested two suspects in Belgium. The investigators have also shut down the criminals' communication channels. The announcement reads as if the entire network has not yet been paralyzed.

According to the investigators, the criminals distributed the Redline and Meta infostealers to millions of victims worldwide via their malware network. Trojans of this type are designed to obtain log-in data from victims. These are then often offered for sale on the Darknet. This includes data such as usernames and passwords of online accounts, cookies and wallets for cryptocurrency. Such data is used for fraud and espionage, among other things.

Successful strike

The investigators state that they are in possession of the criminals' internal data. This includes IP addresses, passwords and source code of the Infostealers. They now intend to analyze the data to further the investigation. They warn the criminals about this in a video on a website created especially for Operation Magnus. It can be assumed that the investigators will take further servers offline and arrest people in the coming days.

Eset provides an online scanner to check systems for Redline and Meta infections.

(des)
Take-Two is selling its indie label Private Division for an undisclosed sum. Private Division was responsible within Take-Two for publishing smaller titles such as "Kerbal Space Program 2" and the upcoming "Lord of the Rings" game "Tales of the Shire".

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The sum for the sale for Private Division is currently unknown. Take-Two is also still keeping the identity of the buyer a secret. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick explained the move to the industry magazine Gamesindustry.biz, saying that Private Division no longer fitted into the business concept.

"The scope of these projects was, frankly, rather small, and we are in the business of big hits," said Zelnick. Take-Two apparently still sees big hit potential with "No Rest for the Wicked" from the Austrian Moon Studios, which previously developed the "Ori" games. The action RPG, which is currently in early access, is apparently being transferred directly from Private Division to Take-Two before being sold. It is therefore not part of the deal and will continue to be supported by Take-Two.

All other games published and still in development belong to the new owner, who is not yet known.

Harsh treatment of studios

It had already become apparent at the beginning of the year that Take-Two was no longer happy with Private Division. The US publisher behind the "GTA" games has closed the development studios Intercept Games and Roll7, both of which worked under the Private Division label.

Intercept Games was responsible for the development of "Kerbal Space Program 2" and has a particularly curious history: Take-Two had secured the "Kerbal" license from the Mexican development studio Squad, which had developed part 1. The independent studio Star Theory was supposed to create a sequel with a license and financial support from Take-Two  until Take-Two became impatient. The US publisher withdrew the project from the independent studio, poached its employees and founded Studio Intercept, which was to develop "Kerbal Space Program 2" as a permanent part of Take-Two from then on.

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(dahe)
THE decision to axe NHS-funded and operated care beds in Henley is to be reviewed.

The seven step-down beds were removed from the Chilterns Court care centre, next door to Townlands Memorial Hospital, in December without a public consultation.

The NHS Oxfordshire clinical commissioning group asked Oxfordshire County Council to commission the beds from the Orders of St John, which runs the centre, in 2016.

It said they were to support the rapid access care unit, an ambulatory model of care, at Townlands, for which it asked for four more beds to be commissioned. These were closed in 2021 following a consultation with key stakeholders.

However, there was no consultation, even with the GPs which ran the service, when it was decided to scrap the Chilterns Court beds.

The Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board and Oxfordshire County Council said no consultation was necessary as they were not NHS beds.

But, as the Henley Standard revealed in March, the commissioning group increased its contribution to an NHS Act pooled budget to cover the costs of the beds at Chilterns Court in 2016.

Some of the beds were purchased directly by the Oxfordshire University NHS Foundation Trust.

The beds, like the four for the rapid access care unit, were overseen by a liaison hub team which was hosted by the university trust.

In November 2019, the beds at Chilterns Court were re-procured by the council but their purpose did not change.

All the beds became jointly funded by the Better Care Fund, which included the Oxford University Hospitals Foundation Trust, the commissioning group and the council.

On Tuesday, Councillor Stefan Gawrysiak had a motion heard by the county council where he called for the decision to be reviewed, which was passed unanimously.

Reports will now be presented to the councils cabinet in the new year and it will look into the reasons behind the closure of the beds and whether it had been justified.

He told the meeting: Ostensibly this is about accountability. These beds were removed last December and we are now in November.

These beds were used for vulnerable people who are discharged from the Royal Berkshire Hospital and who cannot go home because they are on their own or they have elderly relatives who cannot cope and may require some further care.

I know of patients who were discharged home without a care package or a competent carer to look after them.

Cllr Gawrysiak recalled several accounts of patients who were treated miles away from where they live or did not receive adequate treatment at home.

An elderly man, 85 years of age, totally blind, was in the Royal Berks. His wife is 82 and he was offered a place in Swindon.

Elderly wife, 83, discharged from the Royal Berks back home, into the care of her husband who is suffering from neuropathy and tearing his hair out because he cannot cope. No care package.

Elderly lady discharged from the Royal Berks into a taxi, no care package, returned home to an empty home with no food and within four days readmitted back into hospital. These are real people that I ask you to think about. These beds were removed without regard to geography.

Elderly patients now have to go to Abingdon, Oxford, Banbury and Swindon when discharged and their relatives have to travel 30 miles and not on a bus route.

Cllr Gawrysiak said the county councils decision to remove the beds without consultation was shocking beyond belief.

The motion is very simple. These seven beds were removed from Chilterns Court by the county council. Did the council even consult or even have any conversations with Stakeholders? No.

Did the council even tell the GPs who ran the service that they were going to be removed? No. Did the council tell the patient groups? No. Did the council tell Henley Town Council? No.

Did the council tell the Townlands Steering Group? No. Did the council tell me as a county councillor? No. They were removed without any consultation or conversations.

Cllr Gawrysiak said that the beds served a population of 140,000, including Thame, Wallingford and the surrounding villages of Shiplake, Binfield Heath and Sonning Common as well as communities in Berkshire covered by the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

He said: The demand for these beds is high, the integrated care board states 27 per cent of these patients either went on to a nursing home, were readmitted to a hospital or died.

These beds were full occupancy, as stated by Dr Hearsey and Dr Unwin of the Hart Surgery, who ran the service. These are the GPs that actually ran the service that were not consulted.

In response, Councillor Tim Bearder, the cabinet member for adult social care, defended the councils decision to remove the beds saying it was in line with policy to prioritise home care.

He said: This is called discharge to assess. It is something that is a national principle delivered initially by the previous government and to my knowledge supported by the medical profession and the new government that we now have.

We have trialled it extensively in Oxfordshire and it is bearing good results. Reducing our reliance on short-stay hub beds allows us to increase the home care support, which now stands at 32,432 hours per week, which is a 33 per cent increase since April 2021.

In Henley specifically there has been a 14 per cent increase in home care delivered from January to September 1 in comparison to the same period last year, which illustrates more people are being supported at home and it is a success.

It is a success for our residents and we are getting better outcomes for our residents and that is crucially what drives adult social care and I have responsibility for this portfolio.

Cllr Bearder added that another reason behind the cabinet support for the policy was that it saved money.

He said: We also have to be responsible with the Oxfordshire pound. If people who were discharged to Chilterns Court in 2022 to 2023 had gone directly home with reablement rather than via Chilterns Court, the cost would have been less than 70,000. The cost of supporting these people in Chilterns Court was 530,000 so as well as it being better results for our residents it is also financially prudent and a responsible thing to do because it is significantly cheaper.

Cllr Bearder also argued that support was still available for residents who needed it and a step-down care bed facility was still open in Burcot. He said: It is not the case that there is no support in South Oxfordshire for the 140,000 residents there.

We do take geography into consideration when we are looking for our support because obviously not everyone can be supported in their own home.

Councillor Eddie Reeves, who seconded the motion, said that while he was pleased to hear about the savings that were being made by the councils discharge to assess policy he was still keen that the correct decision-making process was made.

He said: I do think it stands to reason that, as ever with this council, it's not necessarily the policy that is an issue but the manner in which the policy is dispatched.

Consultation was badly lacking here and we must recognise and do better than that in future.

The council voted 52 in favour with none against and no abstentions.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Gawrysiak said: It was agreed at the meeting that the consultation to remove the beds was absolutely shocking and that they would have to create a full report to actually justify the removal of the beds. Of course, I will be continuously pushing for that.

It was pointed out in the debate that in December when I put down the motion, this is 11 months on and I have put down this motion five times and, whenever it is not heard, I immediately ask for it to be put on the next agenda.

I said at the meeting that I should get a Blue Peter badge for persistence. I am stubborn. I will stick to things that I believe to be right. So, therefore, Im glad the debate happened.

It could have gone either way, but it went in a happy place for us. Im extremely pleased, Im relieved that it's done and dusted, and I will continue to continue to fight for the beds.

It still doesn't guarantee were going to get the beds back because we've still got to fight but, if I had lost the vote, that would have been the end of the matter, and I wouldn't have had a leg to stand on. The fact is that 52 county councillors agreed with me that these are NHS beds, so therefore we must have a consultation to remove them and that was established very clearly in the debate.

A report now has to come to the cabinet, and I will be sending emails to try and shape that report because it has got to address the fact that these were NHS beds. So, the first sentence in the report should say, These beds are NHS and therefore cannot be removed without a consultation. That is the important thing to establish, and thats what I will be continually fighting for.

In the summer, Henley MP Freddie van Mierlo repeated a request by his predecessor, John Howell, in asking the Health Secretary to intervene over the closure of the beds.

They asked them to use powers that came into force in January which would allow them to intervene in NHS service reconfigurations and retake any decision that could have been taken by an NHS commissioning body.

But neither Victoria Atkins or Wes Streeting replied.
SERVICES of remembrance will be held in Henley and the surrounding area on Sunday as follows:

HENLEY

THERE will be the usual service outside the town hall at 11am, which will be led by Rev Jeremy Tayler, the rector of Henley with Remenham.

The Last Post will be sounded before a two-minute silence followed by the Reveille.

Richard Pinches, chairman of the Henley and Peppard branch of the Royal British Legion, will read the Kohima Epitaph and after prayers led by Rev Tayler, Jerusalem will be sung.

Town clerk Sheridan Jacklin-Edward will then give a Bible reading before more prayers.

Mayor Rory Hunt will then give his address and his three cadets, cadet sergeant Angelika Gwiazda, Marine Cadet (Leon) Carpin and Cadet Sergeant Victoria Melo, will give readings.

This will be followed by the act of commitment, the Lords Prayer, the National Anthem and a blessing.

Wreaths will be laid on the town hall steps by Lady Cynthia Hall, deputy lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Cllr Hunt, Amy French, on behalf of Henley MP Freddie van Mierlo, Councillor Stefan Gawrysiak, on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council, Councillor Kellie Hinton, on behalf of South Oxfordshire District Council and John Green, on behalf of the Royal British Legion.

Wreaths from other groups, including the army, sea and air cadets, Henley Fire Service, Henley Lions Club and the Henley Society will be laid in pairs.

There will be a fly-past courtesy of RAF Benson prior to the service.

Following the service there will be a parade and light refreshments will be served in the town hall.

Market Place will be closed from 10.15am to noon for the duration of the service and parade.

Mr Green, who is president of the Henley branch of the Royal British Legion, said he would like to see those who have inherited medals to take them out of storage for the day.

He said: So often medals and decorations lie forgotten in cupboard and drawers once the original recipients have died.

May I appeal to those who may have medals hidden away to show them the light of day, give them a good polish and wear them with pride on Remembrance Sunday on the right side, not the left, as a true sign of respect.

A remembrance serviceswill also take place at Christ Church in Reading Road at 9.30am and the regular service at St Marys Church in Hart Street will take place from 8am to 9.30am.

BENSON

CURRENT and former service personnel will join residents of the village and neighbouring Ewelme in a parade that will assemble in High Street at 10.30am. The road will be closed from that time.

At 10.43am the parade will set off for the war memorial at the junction of Oxford Road and Church Road. The service of remembrance will begin at 10.53am and the names of the servicemen and women who died while serving at RAF Benson since 1945 will be read aloud.

At 10.59am the Exhortation will be read by Councillor Fiona Lovesey, who is the vice-chairwoman of the Oxfordshire branch of the Royal British Legion. At 11am, the Last Post will be sounded by a bugler, the standards and banners lowered and spectators shall stand.

A two-minute silence will then be observed, followed by Reveille and a reading of the Kohima Epitaph. A fly-past from RAF Benson is scheduled to take place at 11.04am.

This will be followed by the laying of wreaths. The first will be laid by the deputy lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Ron Spurs, on behalf of the King. Others will be laid on behalf of RAF Benson, Benson Parish Council, the Benson and district branch of the Royal British Legion, Benson Womens Institute and the Benson Military Wives Choir as well as private memorials.

There will then be a blessing by Rev Patrick Gilday.

BIX AND PISHILL

A JOINT service will be held at 10.45am at St Jamess Church in Bix.

Residents are encouraged to encouraged to arrive by 10.40am to watch a fly-over performed by RAF Benson, weather permitting.

Following the service, at the Bix branch of the Royal British Legion are inviting members of the congregation to join them for a glass of wine at the community hub at the back of the church.

CAVERSHAM

AT St Andrews Church in Albert Road, Eucharist will be sung, followed by the remembrance liturgy, starting at 10am.

At St Peters Church in Church Road there will be Holy Communion followed by the act of remembrance, from 9.30am to 10.30am.

At St Margarets Church in Church Road its remembrance service will take place from 10.45am to 11.15am.

A service will be held at 10am at St Annes in South View where the deceased of the two world wars will be remembered. There will also be a blessing of the graves at 2.30pm at the cemetery, off All Hallows Road.

There will also be a remembrance service at the war memorial in Christchurch Meadows, which begins at 10.45am.

CHECKENDON

AT 10.55am the congregation will gather at the lychgate war memorial at St Peter and St Pauls Church where the names of the fallen from Checkendon and Stoke Row will be read out.

The service will be led by Rev Canon Kevin Davies and curate Romey Poston.

DUNSDEN

A SERVICE of the Eurcharist will be sung at All Saints Church in Dunsden at 9am and followed by a remembrance service at the war memorial on Dunsden Green at 10.15am.

EMMER GREEN

At St Barnabass Church in Grove Road, there is an online and in-person service from 9.30am to 10.30am and a family communion from 11.15am to noon.

GORING

AT St Thomass Church in Manor Road, visitors are invited to gather at the war memorial in the churchyard, where Deacon Wendy Middleton will lead a service at 10.50am and the names of the deceased will be read out.

It will be followed by a moments silence at 11am. After this, wreaths will be laid, and Councillor Sonia Lofthouse will lay a sustainable wreath on behalf of Goring Parish Council. Visitors will then be led into the church for a remembrance service.

HARPSDEN

ST Margaret of Antioch in Harpsden Way will hold a remembrance service at 10.15am.

IPSDEN

A JOINT remembrance service for the villages of Ipsden and North Stoke will take place at St Marys Church at 10.45am.

Wreaths will be laid in North Stoke after the service at about noon. The service will be led by Rev John Blair. A curry lunch in Ipsden village hall will follow at a cost of 10 per person. To book a place, email revjwblair@gmail.com

KIDMORE END

A SERVICE will be held at the war memorial at St John the Baptist Church in Wood Lane. Visitors are asked to assemble at 10.50am.

After the service at the memorial, there will be another service inside the church. There will be a blessing of the graves at 2pm.

MAPLEDURHAM

ST Margarets Church will observe the act at the war memorial near the gates at 10.45am. The church service will follow at 11.15am.

MEDMENHAM

A SERVICE will be held at St Mary the Virgin in Coombe Terrace in Hambleden. Visitors are asked to assemble at 10.50am.

NETTLEBED

RESIDENTS are invited to join the villages branch of the Royal British Legion at 10.30am in a walk from the bus shelter to St Bartholomews Church.

On arrival there will be a short act of remembrance for those who have given their lives during both the world wars and the various conflicts since. Following this, there will be anoher service inside the church.

PEPPARD AND

ROTHERFIELD GREYS

RESIDENTS of both villages are welcome to a service of remembrance at All Saints Church in Peppard from 10.40am.

REMENHAM

A SERVICE will be held at St Nicholass Church at 10.55am.

SHIPLAKE

A SERVICE will be held at St Peters and St Pauls Church at 10.50am. This will be followed by a service at the war memorial in Shiplake Cross from noon.

Parents and families of pupils of Shiplake College can attend the schools remembrance service in the Great Hall from 10.45am.

SONNING

A SERVICE will be held at St Andrews Church in Thames Street at 10.30am, conducted by Rev Jamie Taylor.

SONNING COMMON

A SERVICE will take place at the village hall in Wood Lane and visitors are invited to arrive from 10.45am for a 10.55am start.

Two minutes of silence will be observed at 11am. Words of remembrance will be shared by retired lieutenant commanders Alex and Gillian Manning and Councillor Diana Pearman.

A poppy wreath will be hung in the hall in memory of former Chiltern Edge School students Francis (Fred) Slough, who lost his life in the Falklands War, and Cyrus Thatcher and Barry Weston, who lost their lives in Afghanistan. Tea, coffee or soft drinks will be available.

STOKE ROW

AT St John the Evangelist in School Lane a remembrance service will be held at 9.30am.

WARGRAVE

A PARADE will take place this year prior to the church service at St Marys Church. Participants will include members of the Royal British Legion, the poppy cross carriers and any other organisations who wish to join in.

The procession will begin at 9.30am in Church Street and proceed along the High Street before turning into Station Road and finishing by the entrance of the church. It will be led by the St Sebastian Wokingham Band.

The church service begins at 10am.

A service of remembrance will take place around the war memorial on Mill Green immediately following the church service at 10.40am.

All residents wishing to participate in the service should arrive in good time.

The service will begin with a march/walk from the church to the war memorial. A two-minute silence will be observed at 11am, followed by the laying of wreaths, reading out of names listed on the memorial and planting of the 69 poppy crosses to remember each person named.

Orders of service will be distributed with details of the event, including hymns to be sung, accompanied by the Wargrave Community Choir and the St Sebastian Wokingham Band.

WATLINGTON

ST Leonards Church in Watlington will hold a remembrance service with Holy Communion at 9.30am.

A parade and march past will take place along High Street to the memorial cross. Participants should meet at the town hall by 10.30am to take part. This will be followed by wreath laying by representatives of Watlington organisations.

There will be a service of remembrance and music from the Watlington Concert Band and a helicopter fly-past by RAF Benson at about 10.45am.

In neighbouring Pyrton, there will be a service of remembrance at St Marys Church at 9.15am.

WHITCHURCH/WHITCHURCH HILL

RESIDENTS of both villages are invited to attend a service at the war memorial in Whitchurch Hill from 10.45am to 11.15am.

WOODCOTE

VILLAGERS will observe the service of remembrance at 10.50am at the war memorial followed by a remembrance service in St Leonards Church.
News / National

by Staff reporter

A wave of backlash has erupted across Zimbabwe following the government's announcement of new regulations requiring WhatsApp group administrators to obtain licenses and comply with stringent data protection laws. The policy, introduced by ICT Minister Tatenda Mavetera, mandates that group administrators appoint data protection officers, pay fees ranging from US$50 to US$2,500, and adhere to a host of new compliance requirements.Opponents have quickly labeled the policy as an attack on privacy and free speech, with several activists, economists, and media practitioners condemning it as overly restrictive and invasive. The regulations are viewed as a significant barrier for those running informal social, community, and even family groups, many of which have become vital in Zimbabwean social life.Linda Masarira, president of the opposition party LEAD, voiced strong concerns, describing the move as an affront to Zimbabweans' fundamental right to freedom of expression. "This will discourage the creation of such groups, stifling informal networks that are essential to our daily lives," Masarira said. "WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption has been a safe space for citizens to share ideas, but these new regulations will create a chilling effect, where people will self-censor out of fear of punishment."Masarira also pointed out that the steep fees and bureaucratic requirements, including the appointment of data protection officers, create significant hurdles for citizens trying to run non-commercial groups. "The cost implications will particularly affect grassroots movements, religious discussions, and essential social clubs. It's not just an economic burden; it's a cultural one."Vince Musewe, an economist, was equally critical, calling the regulations "ridiculous" and questioning their purpose. "If I want to create a group for my church, I would now need ministerial approval. It's absurd to suggest that even a family group could require government permission," Musewe remarked, adding, "Are we expected to arrest the whole country for non-compliance?"WhatsApp group administrators have also expressed concern about the potential liability they face under the new regulations. Many are anxious that they could be held accountable for posts made by others within their groups, leading to self-censorship and stifled conversations. One administrator highlighted the serious implications of this change: "What if admins are held liable for posts they didn't see or approve? It could completely disrupt how we communicate."Legal and media experts have also raised alarm about the ambiguity in the regulations. Mlondolozi Ndlovu, a media practitioner and lawyer, warned that the requirement to obtain a license and appoint a data protection officer may infringe on Zimbabweans' constitutional rights to freedom of expression and media freedom. "This move could very well be overstepping the government's bounds. It could significantly undermine the open exchange of ideas, especially in spaces like WhatsApp, which are often the last free platforms for discourse," Ndlovu said.He also highlighted the vague language in the regulations, which fails to clarify key terms such as "data collectors" and "other benefit." Ndlovu warned that the broad and unclear terminology could lead to inconsistent application of the law, making it difficult for citizens to understand their obligations and potentially leading to unfair enforcement. "The regulations lack clarity and could lead to misinterpretations, creating more confusion and fear among users," he explained.The regulations have sparked widespread concern over their potential to stifle digital communication, particularly among ordinary Zimbabweans who use platforms like WhatsApp for personal, social, and community-based purposes. While government officials argue that the regulations are necessary for data protection and cybersecurity, critics remain unconvinced, pointing out that the laws could disproportionately affect average citizens rather than enhancing privacy.Despite the controversy, some legal experts acknowledge the importance of protecting personal data in the digital age. "While the aim of these regulations is to enhance data protection, they need to be more balanced and transparent. Clear guidelines, reasonable fees, and safeguards are essential to ensure that citizens' rights are respected," Ndlovu added.As the debate continues, Zimbabweans remain divided over the balance between cybersecurity and freedom of expression, with many questioning the true motives behind the new policy.


Saturday November 9, 2024

Mogadishu (HOL)  Somali Foreign Minister Ambassador Ahmed Moalim Fiqi met with Egyptian Ambassador Mohamed El-Baz on Thursday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Mogadishu to discuss deepening bilateral relations between Somalia and Egypt.



During their discussion, the two diplomats explored avenues to bolster the longstanding partnership across sectors and exchanged views on current regional and international issues.





Tensions have recently risen due to Ethiopias Memorandum of Understanding with Somaliland, signed in early 2024, which grants Ethiopia sea access in exchange for potential recognition of Somalilandan agreement Somalia has rejected as an infringement on its sovereignty.Ethiopia currently maintains around 3,000 troops in Somalia under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and has an additional 5,000 to 7,000 soldiers in other regions through a bilateral pact.Somalia has insisted on withdrawing Ethiopian forces by the end of the year unless Addis Ababa cancels the Somaliland deal, describing it as an affront to its territorial integrity and sovereignty.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Zanu-PF Central Committee member and war veteran Blessing Geza has condemned party supporters pushing for an extension of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's tenure beyond the constitutional limit, calling such actions treasonous. Geza's remarks come in response to a resolution passed during the party's 21st National People's Conference in Bulawayo, where some members voiced support for extending Mnangagwa's presidency to 2030.Speaking in an exclusive interview with HSTv, an online media platform under Alpha Media Holdings, Geza expressed deep concern, particularly among former liberation war veterans, over what they viewed as an unconstitutional push to prolong Mnangagwa's rule."The President himself took an oath of office to respect the Constitution of Zimbabwe, but these individuals are not doing that. They are committing treason," Geza said. "Those people must be arrested and fired from Zanu-PF. We want to see those people charged."Mnangagwa has consistently stated that he will step down in 2028 after completing his second and final term, in line with the country's constitution. However, a growing faction of supporters from provinces such as Midlands, Masvingo, and Mashonaland Central have rallied behind the idea of extending his presidency, a move that has triggered division within the party.Geza expressed disappointment with the Bulawayo resolution, which he described as a violation of the constitutional framework that governs Zimbabwe. "First and foremost, we have a Constitution which must be respected by everybody. It's our duty to protect and defend that Constitution," he said. "This is a party that was formed by the people  the Zanla and Zipra liberation movements  and these new factions must not dictate the future of our party."The call for an extension has raised suspicions of an effort to sideline Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who is widely seen as a potential successor to Mnangagwa. According to Geza, the push for the 2030 resolution is seen by some as a strategic move to derail Chiwenga's ascension to power."Zanu-PF has been hijacked by these new factions. They don't recognize the armed struggle, the real history of the party, and they don't respect the Constitution," Geza added. "Under our watch, such attempts to change the Constitution for personal benefit will not succeed."The war veteran also took issue with Mnangagwa's leadership following the 2017 coup that brought him to power, saying the president had failed to unite the party and the nation. "The president was supposed to unite the country after the coup, but that hasn't happened. These factions are now a security threat, and the Joint Operations Command (JOC) must take action," he stated.Geza reiterated that Zimbabwe's Constitution, adopted in 2013, limits the presidency to two five-year terms, meaning Mnangagwa's time in office is set to end in 2028 unless the Constitution is amended. However, even in the event of a constitutional change, Geza warned that the current president should not be the beneficiary of such a revision. "Even if the Constitution is changed, it has a safety net that prevents the sitting president from benefiting from it," he said.The debate over Mnangagwa's potential term extension has created deep rifts within Zanu-PF, with the party's leadership facing increasing pressure to maintain constitutional integrity and prevent factionalism from further undermining unity. As the 2023 election cycle approaches, the issue of term limits and succession is expected to remain a significant point of contention within the ruling party.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Snake Charmer Succumbs to Puff Adder Bite pic.twitter.com/TGBzBkdZGr  Bulawayo24 News (@Bulawayo24News) November 9, 2024

A well-known Chinhoyi snake charmer, Show Chedhu, popularly known as "Mabhemba," tragically died early Thursday morning after being bitten by a Puff Adder, one of the most venomous snakes in the region. The incident occurred Wednesday afternoon and has left the local community in shock.Chedhu, who was in his early 40s, was reportedly bitten by the snake around 16:30 hours in his yard near his fowl run. After spotting the dangerous reptile, Chedhu, who was known for his skill in charming snakes, decided to handle the Puff Adder and parade it around the Alaska Dolomite area. Onlookers, many of whom were fascinated by his antics, captured the unusual spectacle on their phones, with some images and videos going viral on social media.According to eyewitnesses, Chedhu appeared to be visibly intoxicated as he displayed the snake in front of a local bar, where the situation took a deadly turn. While at the bar, the agitated Puff Adder struck, sinking its fangs into Chedhu's leg. "The snake's fangs were stuck in his leg, and he had to be rushed to Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital immediately," said an anonymous source who witnessed the incident.Despite urgent medical attention, Chedhu succumbed to the venom at around 0100 hours Thursday, shortly after being admitted to the hospital.The incident has left the Chinhoyi community reeling. Chedhu, who was employed at Alaska Dolomite, leaves behind a wife and children. Friends and family are preparing to lay him to rest at his rural home in Zvimba this Saturday.The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the dangers involved in handling venomous snakes, even for those skilled in snake charming.WATCH VIDEO BELOW
News / National

by Staff reporter

False claim of USD 2500 penalties for WhatsApp Group Administrators



I would like distance myself from the malicious fake news of intentions by government to licence or penalise WhatsApp Groups or Administrators of any social media platform/s USD 2500.



This claim is not pic.twitter.com/suL0vjvepS  Hon Tatenda.A. Mavetera (@TateMavetera) November 9, 2024

Information Technology Minister Tatenda Mavetera has issued a statement rejecting claims circulating on social media that WhatsApp group administrators will soon be required to obtain government licenses or face fines. The minister clarified that the viral LinkedIn post attributed to her, which stated that administrators would face penalties of up to USD 2500, is "malicious fake news."The statement comes in response to widespread confusion sparked by a post on LinkedIn that claimed the government intended to introduce penalties for administrators of WhatsApp groups and other social media platforms. The post suggested that administrators would face hefty fines unless they were licensed by the government. However, Minister Mavetera emphasized that this claim is unfounded."I would like to distance myself from the malicious fake news suggesting that the government intends to license or penalize WhatsApp groups or administrators of any social media platform with USD 2500 fines," the minister stated. "This claim does not apply to players who do not collect or process Personally Identifiable Information (PII) for commercial or business purposes."Minister Mavetera went on to clarify the legal distinction between social media users and entities that process personal data for commercial use. "Personally Identifiable Information (PII) refers to any data that can be used to identify an individual, such as names, addresses, phone numbers, or identification numbers," she explained.The minister pointed out that the viral post was inconsistent with the provisions outlined in Statutory Instrument (SI) 155 of the 2024 Cyber and Data Protection (Licensing of Data Controllers and Appointment of Data Protection Officers) Regulations. The regulations, which are part of Zimbabwe's efforts to protect personal data and ensure cyber security, apply only to organizations that process PII for business or commercial purposes, not to casual or non-commercial social media activity.In her statement, Mavetera reassured the public that the government remains committed to ensuring cyber safety and data protection. "Through the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, we are dedicated to advancing cyber and data democratisation and security, ensuring that no one and no place is left offline," she said.She also reiterated the government's constitutional mandate to promote access to information in a safe and secure environment, dismissing the viral claims as misleading and without foundation.The minister's clarification seeks to alleviate concerns among the public and social media users, particularly WhatsApp group administrators, about potential penalties or licensing requirements.
News / National

by Staff reporter

South African opposition leader Julius Malema yesterday disclosed that he was banned from entering Zambia by then President Edgar Lungu simply because the South African opposition president was supporting President Hakainde Hichilema.Malema who heads the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party in his country happened to be among hundreds of invited guests at Botswana's Presidential inauguration ceremony where he rubbed shoulders with President Hichilema.Malema stated that he was happy to see President Hichilema who has not restricted him from entering the country.He said Africa was anchored on the value and principle of unity, as a result all leaders needed to unite."I'm on my way to see H and H President of Zambia. I was banned by Lungu, fighting for H and H because Lungu arrested H and H and said he was obstructing traffic and you cannot arrest an opposition for those things and then Lungu banned me. H and H comes to power and doesn't uplift my restriction," shared Malema.
News / National

by Staff reporter

South Africa's radical opposition party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), appears to be on a downward spiral after another high-profile member defected to ex-President Jacob Zuma's party.Dali Mpofu, an advocate and former EFF chairperson, told local media that after much "soul-searching" he had decided to join uMhkonto weSizwe (MK), or Spear of the Nation."I believe it [MK] is the vehicle which will achieve the much needed black and progressive unity," he said.Led by the firebrand Julius Malema, the EFF had strong support among South Africa's burgeoning young population frustrated with the slow pace of political and economic reforms since the end of the racist system of apartheid in 1994.But the EFF suffered a major setback in the May general election when, instead of achieving its goal of rising from the country's third biggest party to second, it dropped to fourth.It lost support to MK, in the first election the party contested after its formation last year.Zuma spearheaded the party's campaign, making a dramatic comeback after he was imprisoned in 2021 for contempt of court over his refusal to co-operate with a judge-led inquiry into corruption during his presidency.The two parties share similar economic policies  including the expropriation of white-owned land and the state ownership of mines and banks.South African political analyst Sandile Swana told the BBC that Mpofu's move was driven by "political ambition"."As it stands today, MK is substantially bigger than the EFF. If someone wants power, they have a quicker route with MK," he said.Mpofu's defection follows that of Malema's deputy, Floyd Shivambu, and two lawmakers, Mzwanele Manyi and Busisiwe Mkhwebane.Swana said the EFF could benefit from this "pruning process"."The unnecessary branches are being cut off," he said.Responding to Mpodu's defection on an EFF podcast, Malema said it did not come as a shock."We respect his decision," he added.But Shivambu, once the EFF leader's right-hand man, rubbed salt into Malema's wound, sharing a message on Instagram, external to welcome Mpofu into MK."Welcome Dali Mpofu to the movement which has superior ideological, political and organisational capacity, composure," he wrote in a post.Mpofu used to be part of the EFF's top leadership, holding the post of chairperson from 2014 to 2019. He later focused on his legal career, representing the party, and more recently Zuma, in court battles with the government.Both the EFF and MK are offshoots of the African National Congress (ANC), which has been in power since the end of apartheid in 1994.Mpofu had been an ANC member for 33 years, before he joined the EFF.Announcing his defection on the public broadcaster, SABC, Mpofu said he had not informed Malema beforehand, but there was no "bad blood" between them.He also claimed that he and Zuma had first discussed the idea of forming a new party two years ago.He helped choose MK's name, and was involved in discussions around its structure while still in the EFF, Mpofu alleged  although he denied that that he was operating as a "double agent".Mr Swana said that Zuma and Mpofu were "intertwined".Mpofu saw a "better prospect with Zuma rather than running around with a spring chicken like Malema", he added.Zuma, 82, served as South Africa's president for nine years, until he was forced to resign by the ANC in 2018, partly because of the corruption scandals.Malema, 43, is a former ANC youth leader. In 2012, he was expelled by the party  then led by Zuma  after being accused of being divisive.Having launched the EFF a year later, he has been at the helm of the party ever since.He is expected to be re-elected unopposed at a party conference next month, despite rumblings about his leadership."There is a rejection of the dictatorial style of Julius Malema in terms of leadership succession," South African political analyst Ongama Mtimka told the BBC.He added that EFF members believed that Malema and his close circle had already hand-picked leaders for senior positions."If leaders get wind that their fellow leaders want to run for the top position  it's seen as a betrayal," he said.On X, Malema alluded to more defections, cryptically posting that "they sing beautifully and are always willing to pose for pictures and sign roll calls, but remember, their souls are long gone".Urging party members to rally around him, he added: "To prevent any potential hurt, it's crucial to heed the guidance of the leadership."We remain standing and are not going anywhere under a criminal syndicate."
Racist texts about slaves and picking cotton sent to Black people as state AGs, colleges and police probe their origins

Authorities across the United States are investigating after racist text messages  some with references to slave catchers and picking cotton reminiscent of the countrys painful and bigoted past  have been received by children, college students and working professionals from unrecognized phone numbers in the wake of the presidential election.

The NAACP president warned Thursday of possible broader implications of the hate-filled rhetoric reported in more than 20 states from New York to California, and the District of Columbia. Attorneys general of both parties are condemning the messages and vowing to root out their senders.

The unfortunate reality of electing a president who, historically, has embraced and at times encouraged hate, is unfolding before our eyes, NAACP CEO Derrick Johnson said. These messages represent an alarming increase in vile and abhorrent rhetoric from racist groups across the country, who now feel emboldened to spread hate and stoke the flames of fear that many of us are feeling after Tuesdays election results.

Donald Trumps presidential campaign has absolutely nothing to do with these text messages, its spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.

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Students from at least three Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)  Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia, Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, and Claflin University in Orangeburg, South Carolina  have reported receiving the text messages, according to statements from the universities.

It was not immediately clear who sent the messages, and there is no complete list of whom they were delivered to. At least some appear to have been sent through TextNow in what the company believe(s)  is a widespread, coordinated attack, it told CNN on Friday.

As soon as we became aware, our Trust & Safety team acted quickly, rapidly disabling the related accounts in less than an hour, said the company, whose service lets people sign up anonymously using an email address and send texts that appear to come from a randomly-generated phone number.

The texts appear to be targeting Black and brown individuals, including students, New Yorks attorney general said.

Talaya Jones received the text on Wednesday, November 6. - Courtesy Talaya Jones

The Federal Communications Commissions Enforcement Bureau is investigating the texts, FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel announced. These messages are unacceptable, she said, adding, We take this type of targeting very seriously.

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The FBI is aware of the offensive and racist text messages sent to individuals around the country and is in contact with the Justice Department and other federal authorities on the matter, the agency said in a statement Thursday.

Talaya Jones, a Black resident of Piscataway, New Jersey, was shocked, then angry and sad, to get a racist text Wednesday telling her she had been selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation and referring to executive slave catchers, she told CNN.

I thought it was like a joke, said Jones, who forwarded the text message to loved ones and shared it with CNN. It really just shows that we didnt come as far as everybody thought we did as a nation, from back in the day when slavery was still a thing.

It became sadness when I realized that young people were getting it, like elementary schoolers and middle schoolers, Jones said later. Why would you want to intentionally hurt somebody that you dont even know?

A day after receiving the text message, Jones also received an email addressing her by the N-word and containing a similar message about being selected to pick cotton. Who is doing this and how are they able to keep coming back? she asked. You dont feel safe in anything that you do, because you dont know whos doing it. You dont know how far theyll take it.

Texts emotional and psychological impact

The FBI and law enforcement in Maryland are aware of students and others getting the texts, Montgomery County Public Schools said in a statement, noting, law enforcement in some areas have announced they consider the messages low-level threats.

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We recognize that the emotional and psychological impact on our students, staff, and particularly our communities of color is profound, the school boards statement reads. We stand in solidarity with those who feel targeted and hurt by these actions.

The text messages hark back to the era from the early 17th century to the end of the Civil War in 1865, when millions of enslaved Africans were shipped to the United States and forced to toil on plantations.

Many were forced to live and work on plantations growing cotton, considered a leading cash crop. They picked cotton for long hours and endured heat, humidity, unsanitary conditions, untreated illnesses, malnourishment and rape.

Enslaved people were often auctioned off and sold to other slave owners, leading to families being separated. Slave catchers, known as slave patrols, were legally charged with controlling the enslaved population. Their duties included chasing down and apprehending runaway slaves and returning them to their owners, enforcing curfews and beating and terrorizing slaves who were rebellious or disobedient.

Recipients shocked by vile messages

At the University of Alabama this week, Black honors freshman Alyse McCall was in tears and wanted to go home after getting a message saying she had been selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation and should be prepared to be searched down, her mother, Arleta McCall, told CNN.

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Its eerie that its the day after the election. Its eerie that it came to my daughters personal phone. Its eerie that its only going to Black students, McCall said. Her group of friends have mapped out their paths to class so they can walk together and keep each other safe.

The University of Alabama acknowledged individuals across the country have received these disgusting messages and urged anyone with information about them to report it, a statement said.

The racist and vile spam text messages have also spread to Louisiana, Republican state Attorney General Liz Murrill said Thursday via X. I have directed the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation to fully investigate the origins of these disgusting texts that only intend to divide us, she said, urging anyone impacted to report the messages to her office.

Whoever is sending the racist text messages is using anonymizing software to obscure their location, Murrill told CNN on Friday.

At least some of the messages were sent using an email service routing traffic through Poland, but it does not mean it is where the sender is, the attorney general said.

They could be coming from Napoleonville, Louisiana, for all we know. We dont know where they are originating from, Murrill said.

The Louisiana Bureau of Investigation and the FBI are still trying to trace where everything is actually originating from, she added.

Murrill herself, who is White, received one of the racist messages to her personal email account this morning, she said.

Its racist and divisive, Murrill said. I think its just intended to try and create division. We condemn it.

Condemning the messages as disgusting and unacceptable, New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, said the texts appear to be targeting Black and brown individuals, including students, and may include personal information about the recipient such as their name or location, she said on X. I unequivocally condemn any attempt to intimidate or threaten New Yorkers and their families.

Students and residents in a suburb of Hartford, Connecticut, and in New Haven County were also targeted, CNN affiliate WFSB reported.

How did they come up with a list of recipients? Kenneth Gray, a University of New Haven lecturer and retired FBI special agent, told WFSB.

They did some real research not only putting together their target list but also crafting a message that had information that made it seem real, Gray said.

Black newsman addressed by name in text

In Virginia, a Black photographer at news station WVEC-TV got a text message from an unfamiliar phone number, addressing him by name and telling him he had been selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation, he said.

I feel like its a spam message, recipient Sam Burwell said in a story posted by the station. I do feel disappointed about the message theyre sending a day after the election.

The Virginia attorney generals office broadly is aware of these text messages and unequivocally condemns them, spokesperson Chloe Smith said, noting anyone who believes themselves to be under threat should not hesitate to contact local law enforcement as well as their local FBI field office.

A racist text message from an unfamiliar number also arrived by name to the Black 15-year-old daughter of Laura Bass-Brown, she told CNN affiliate KHOU 11 News in the Houston area. It initially appeared automated, but after reviewing screenshots from her daughters friends, she discovered the sender often replied when students responded, Bass-Brown said.

Nevadas Attorney Generals Office is working with law enforcement to investigate the source of what appear to be robotext messages, the office said in a statement on X.

And in Washington, DC, the attorney generals office also is aware of racist text messages being sent to residents there, condemning them unequivocally, spokesperson Gabriel Shoglow-Rubenstein said.

Anyone receiving these messages should contact our civil rights section by calling 202-727-3400 or emailing OAGCivilRights@dc.gov. If you believe your safety is at risk, please contact local law enforcement, he said in a statement to CNN.

TextNow is working alongside our industry partners to uncover more details and continue to monitor patterns to actively block any new accounts attempting to send these messages, the company told CNN on Friday. We do not tolerate or condone the use of our service to send harassing or spam messages and will work with the authorities to prevent these individuals from doing so in the future.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled the first name of Alyse McCall.

CNNs Nicquel Terry Ellis, Hanna Park, Alayna Treene, Andy Rose and Rebekah Riess contributed to this report, which has been updated with additional information.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
For more than a century, Americans have gathered on Veterans Day to honor those who served in the nations armed forces.

But what about those veterans who cant make it to the town parade or attend a ceremony held in their honor?

Most of the people in this community cant really go out, said Melissa Shimabuku, activities coordinator at Regent Court, an assisted living and senior care facility in Corvallis.

Regent Court is providing a Veterans Day event for residents in partnership with Lumina Hospice & Palliative Care, recognizing those who served with a pinning ceremony and presentation of certificates denoting their branch of military service. Lumina is also presenting handmade quilts at the ceremony.

I wanted to honor those that are unseen and forgotten, Shimabuku said. They are seen and remembered here.

One such veteran is Faye Dickerson, 62, who said she served in the U.S. Army for around five years. Serving in the military as a woman can be tough, she said, but you can make it work.

It gave us the strength and ability to do more and withstand more, she said. I think the biggest thing that it helped me is it opened me up a little more.

Dickerson learned very quickly that some of her male counterparts could be difficult to deal with but said she learned to give as good as she got, turning the attitude back on them.

I have great respect for the people who served, Dickerson said. They deserve it.

She wishes more people would recognize veterans for their service because that little morale boost is deeply felt by the men and women who put on the uniform, Dickerson said. She called for more active support of veterans in their communities.

It helps you; it fills you up, and you can talk about it, she said.

Bill Creal, 95, another Regent Court resident, said he served for four years in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War era, including being stationed at Kimpo Air Base, a key South Korea location for Marine support aircraft and Air Force supply transports.

Creal, who volunteered after college, said he saw some action in the war. He said being the target of enemy gunfire really gives you a different view of the world.

After spending every day in danger in a war zone and not knowing if he would ever make it home, Creal said it feels good to see people honoring veterans for their service.

He doesnt talk much about his service, but it does help to share his experiences with other veterans, he said.

Larry Huffman, 72, put it bluntly: Im still a Marine.

The branch is known for saying, once a Marine, always a Marine. Huffman volunteered and deployed to Vietnam as a radio operator, where he was wounded in the shoulder during a firefight, he said.

I was nervous all the time, Huffman said, noting the heavy radio pack he carried, which made a fine target for enemy fire.

A volunteer, Huffman spent a year in Vietnam. He said attitude is what sets Marines apart from other branches of service  a sense that they are stronger, faster and tougher than anyone else  even if thats not true, he joked.

I was always going to be a Marine, he said. Its something I wanted to do.

Across town at Stoneybrook Senior Living, Ralph Lanier, 94, is one of those veterans who cannot attend any holiday ceremonies. In the past, he was highly active in veteran organizations and events, but after a fall he is permanently bedridden.

A U.S. Navy veteran, Lanier served on a troop transport during the Korean War. He feels fortunate to have spent his time on a ship, working as a machinists mate, controlling the ships propulsion machinery in the engine room.

I didnt want to dig foxholes, he said in a soft-spoken Virginian accent. I enlisted because the draft was right on butt, and I would have been drafted into the Army, not the Navy.

Proud to see his legacy of service carried on, Laniers grandson served for 10 years in the Army and his great-grandson just joined the Navy.

Lanier said he wouldnt trade his military experience for anything, but sometimes he thinks veterans dont get enough recognition  sort of like the Korean War, which is often referred to as the forgotten war.
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North Adams Public Schools Accepting Pre-K Applications

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  North Adams Public Schools has PreK openings in both half-day and full-day classrooms for the

2024-2025 school year.

PreK children must be 3 or 4 years of age to enroll and be residents of North Adams. The PreK program is free of charge and includes transportation, student meals and acces to all North Adams Public Schools services and events.

Registration information and applications can be found at www.napsk12.org/Registration

Additional Information:

Parents/guardians should be prepared to bring all of the following to their appointment:

Your child

Child's birth certificate

Child's current physical exam/immunization record, signed by their doctor (must be from within the last 13 months)

Any additional medical records you think we may need (ie. asthma, food allergies)

Proof of residency (must have all of these 3 items) 1. Valid driver's license or photo ID (passports are also acceptable) 2. Copy of utility bill (electric, heat, cable, water, etc.) dated within the last 60 days 3. One of the following: Recent mortgage statement, copy of lease/rental agreement, or letter from housing office



If applicable, bring any legal/court documentation (i.e. sole custody, legal guardianship, name changes, adoption, DCF paperwork, etc.)
Williamstown to Undergo Audit of Land-Use Rules

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The community development director on Monday updated the Select Board on progress in executing the recently adopted comprehensive plan.

And he told them that one major initiative coming out of the plan got a boost from the commonwealth.

"Completion of a land-use policy and regulatory audit is a huge item," Andrew Groff told the board at its twice-monthly meeting. "I can announce that the town received Community One-Stop funding, a $100,000 grant from the commonwealth. We're going to be partnering with the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission on a housing policy audit and review."

Groff said that the audit will help the town identify areas where the existing regulations are antiquated and, in some instances, arguably impeding development.

Specifically, he referenced the town's subdivision bylaw, a frequent point of discussion by the Planning Board, which earlier this year adopted the comprehensive plan after a multiyear process.

"They're very out of date," Groff said of the subdivision rules. "They don't include principles such as low-impact stormwater design, for example. You could argue they require the overbuilding of certain types of infrastructure, and they don't address other infrastructure challenges, like provision of public water supply.

"And we hope to look at the areas of our zoning that are related to subdivision, which some might remember the Major Residential Development provision in our bylaw that comes up frequently as an impediment to housing growth. We plan to address that with the regional planning agency's help."

Groff said the audit and review will get underway in 2025 and that he hopes it will help address a market rate housing shortage in town by making it less cumbersome to build new housing.

The comprehensive plan, titled "Envisioning Williamstown 2035," includes a lengthy matrix of action items for various boards, committees and town staff to address concerns raised by the community during the development of the plan  formerly known as a master plan, which last was drafted in 2002.

Groff's appearance at the Select Board meeting was the latest in a series of efforts to keep the comprehensive plan and its objectives top of mind among town officials.

Behind the scenes, as it were, town staff at the Department of Public Works is beginning the work of a town wide facilities assessment as recommended in the plan, Groff said. One town asset, its sidewalk network, is undergoing a survey by Williams College students working with the Planning Board as its client, he said.

"They are cataloging and grading them based on surface, condition and accessibility," Groff said, noting that the survey is the first of its kind in the town. "That will get us a long way to getting us to a plan to better maintain and fill gaps in our network."

On the town-board side, the Planning Board is addressing the lack of a local ordinance on short-term rentals, which also were mentioned in the plan. Groff told the Select Board that while STRs (commonly referred to as Airbnbs) are needed to support the local economy in peak periods when hotels cannot accommodate spikes in visits, the Planning Board is drafting a bylaw proposal that will deter outside investors from buying up housing stock and turning homes into de facto motels in the middle of residential neighborhoods.

"I think you'll see that at town meeting this year," Groff said.

Groff walked the Select Board through a number of other projects related to the plan that are underway and mentioned a couple that would benefit from work by the board.

He also mentioned one that is, strictly speaking, outside of the town's control but for which he hopes the town will advocate: the town's limited electricity grid capacity.

"We're on the end of the National Grid local distribution network," Groff said. "It's presenting issues for the college, and I think pretty soon it will be an overall impediment to growth.  It puts a lot of these other [comprehensive plan] goals in peril. We want new housing, economic diversity, our institutions to grow and we want to help people reduce their carbon footprint.

"We have to have electricity to do all that."

Groff said the town is working with officials at Williams College and the BRPC to pressure the commonwealth's Department of Public Utilities to address the issue.

"This is a very high priority," Groff said. "Honestly, it's a little out of our hands, but we can be the folks raising the red flag and say, Hey, folks who can fix it, we need your help.' "

Coupled with the comprehensive plan discussion, Monday's meeting included a presentation from the consultant helping the town develop an updated hazard mitigation plan

Jamie Caplan told the Select Board that the process that began earlier this year starts by looking at the town's demographics and the critical infrastructure that could be impacted by natural hazards and doing a threat assessment of which hazards are most likely.

"From that chapter, we give a list of recommendations," Caplan said. "We put them into a mitigation strategy, where we're really trying to solve those problems. We're going to come up with some actions, or projects, if you will, where, if you implement them, that level of risk we've identified will go down or the community's capability [to address damage] will increase."

Caplan explained that the Hazard Mitigation Plan is premised on the somewhat optimistic notion that the United States will have a functioning federal government a year from now. She explained that grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency are available to municipalities to help implement the plan.

"The plan will identify cost-effective actions to reduce risk," Caplan said. "It's a little tongue-in-cheek, but I like to say we're not looking for hair-brained ideas. We're really trying to find out what's cost-effective, what's going to work, what's going to focus on your greatest vulnerabilities and use your resources."

In other business on Monday, the Select Board:

 Approved by a vote of 4-0 (Jeffrey Johnson was absent) new regulations for outdoor dining that were developed by Town Manager Robert Menicocci in consultation with the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce.

 OK'd a response to the House of Representatives, which sought clarification on a couple of points in an income-sensitive property tax exemption for residents passed by acclamation at town meeting in May. Former Select Board member Andrew Hogeland told his former colleagues that two of the three home-rule petitions related to tax relief passed by town meeting already have cleared the House and are awaiting Senate approval in Boston.

 Reappointed Andrew Art and Noah Smalls to the Diversity, Inclusion and Racial Equity Advisory Committee. Randal Fippinger, who fills the Select Board's seat on the DIRE Committee reported that the advisory group is looking for a new charge from the Select Board after finishing work on a strategic plan as previously requested by the Select Board. Fippinger said the DIRE Committee also has asked that its name be updated.

"They feel that while the need hasn't changed, the cultural moment has changed," Fippinger said of the committee's members. "They feel like the name being, in their words, sort of negative, isn't helping. And they'd like to reflect a more positive perspective on the work they're trying to do in town."

Select Board Chair Jane Patton, who was chair when the board created the Diversity, Inclusion and Racial Equity Committee in 2020, agreed it might be time for rebranding and encouraged the committee to suggest a new name.




iciHaiti - FAdH : Text and reporting competition, Registration open





Friday, November 8, 2024, the Ministry of Defense launched the 1st edition of its text and reporting competition open to students and journalists aged 18 to 35. This competition invites participants to explore and share their vision of the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd'H).



Students are invited to submit their texts directly to the office of the Ministry of Defense, located at the Champ de Mars, 5th floor of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry building, while journalists must submit their broadcast report and the broadcast link by email to secretariatmd@md.gouv.ht



For students, the topic to be covered is "The role of the Armed Forces of Haiti in building a better Nation"



Journalists, for their part, will address the theme "Armed Forces of Haiti : challenges, hopes and patriotic commitment".



The works will be evaluated according to their relevance, the originality of the ideas, the clarity and quality of the argumentatio for the reports, the informative impact.



The winners of this competition will be honored during an awards ceremony scheduled for December 10, 2024. In addition to public recognition, the best contributions will be published or broadcast in order to raise public awareness of the missions and values of the Armed Forces of Haiti.



For any additional information : + 509 31 53 67-82



Deadline for registration : November 21, 2024



Criteria for journalists (Reports) :

Eligibility criteria :

- Be a journalist accredited by a media in Haiti.

- Age : between 18 and 35 years old.



Theme :

- Forces Years of Haiti: Challenges, Hopes and Patriotic Commitment



Language :

- The report can be presented in French or Creole.



Format:

- Type of content : written, audio or audiovisual report.

- Line spacing : 1.5. Justified text for written reports.

- Duration for audio reports : 3 minutes

- Duration for audiovisual reports : 3 minutes.



Evaluation criteria :

- Accuracy and verifiability of information.

- Clarity and narrative quality.

- Originality of the angle and treatment of the subject.

- Informative impact and public engagement.



Submission :

- The report must be published before submission.

- Provide the link for broadcasting or publishing the report.

- Contents must be sent by email to : secretariatmd@md.gouv.ht.



Presentation criteria :

- First and last name of the journalist.

- Name and contact details of the media.

- Title of the report.

- Contact details (email and telephone number).

- Adequate format : Online files must comply with the technical specifications provided (format, resolution).



Additional criterion :

Broadcasting rights : By submitting their reports, journalists agree that the Ministry may rebroadcast their productions for awareness-raising or promotional purposes, in agreement with the media.



Criteria for students (Texts) :

Eligibility criteria :

- Be an undergraduate student enrolled in a recognized academic institution in Haiti.

- Age : between 18 and 35 years old.



Subject :

- The role of the Haitian Forces in building a better Nation.



Language :

The text must be written in French or Creole.



Format :

- Number of pages : 3 pages.

- Sheet size : 8 1/2 x 11.

- Font : Times New Roman, size 12.

- Line spacing : 1.5, justified text.



Evaluation criteria :

- Relevance and depth of content in relation to the subject.

- Originality of ideas.

- Organization and structure of the text (introduction, development, conclusion).

- Clarity of argument and coherence.

- Linguistic quality (spelling, grammar, syntax).



Submission :

- Texts must be printed and submitted in paper version to the Ministry of Defense reception.

- Strict deadline for submissions, no late submissions will be accepted.



Presentation criteria :

- Name of the academic institution.

- Title of the text.

- Contact details (email and telephone number).



Additional criteria :

- Originality of the subject : Prohibition on using texts or works previously submitted in other competitions or academic assessments.

- References and bibliography : A short bibliography or list of references must be included at the end of the document to strengthen the credibility of the information.

- Publication rights : By participating, students agree that their text may be published or shared by the Ministry, subject to mention of the author.



IH/ iciHaiti


















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Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has apologised for causing offence with a childrens book following criticism from Australian Indigenous organisations.

Oliver, best known for his TV cooking programmes, authored the book, which was published earlier this year. Titled Billy and the Epic Escape, it is a sequel to Olivers childrens debut Billy and the Giant Adventure, and features illustrations by Monica Armino.

One of the storys subplots concerns a young First Nations girl fostered by an Indigenous community in Australia. She is kidnapped by a villain, who says that First Nations children seem to be more connected with nature.

The Indigenous girl tells the English protagonists that she is able to read minds and communicate with animals and plants, describing it as the Indigenous way. The character is ostensibly from Mparntwe in Alice Springs, but uses vocabulary from Gamilaraay in New South Wales and Queensland.

Indigenous organisations within Australia have strongly criticised the book, and called for Penguin Random House, its publisher, to pull it from shelves.

In a statement to The Guardian, Oliver and Penguin issued an apology, with Penguin confirming that the book was published without consulting any Indigenous organisations or individuals.

I am devastated to hear I have caused offence and wholly apologise for doing so, Oliver said. I am listening and reflecting and working closely with my publisher on next steps.

In another statement, the publisher said: Penguin Random House UK publishes this work and takes responsibility for the consultation, or what we would call an authenticity read of the work, the statement said.

Jamie Oliver pictured last October ( Getty Images for BFI )

It was our editorial oversight that this did not happen. It should have and the author asked for one and we apologise unreservedly.

Among the organisations to criticise the book was The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation (Natsiec). Per The Guardian, the organisations chief executive Sharon Davis described Billy and the Epic Escape as irresponsible and damaging, reflecting a profound lack of understanding and respect.

They also accused the book of erasure, trivialisation, and stereotyping of First Nations peoples and experiences, saying that it ignores the violent oppression of First Nations people, raising serious concerns about the cultural safety of First Nations readers  especially young people.

We urge Penguin Books and Jamie Oliver to recognise the impact of their content and take swift action to prevent further harm, Davis said. Penguin Books should pull Billy and the Epic Escape from circulation, specifically removing all content involving First Nations characters and cultural references.

Neither Penguin Random House nor Oliver has committed to withdrawing the book from sale, although Oliver will not be promoting it on his forthcoming tour of Australia. The Guardian also reports that Penguin House UKs Australian arm PRH Australia was not involved in the content or publication of the book.
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Love Actually star Thomas Brodie-Sangster has opened up about being bullied at school after starring in the hit film as a child.

The 34-year-old played Sam alongside Liam Neeson, who portrayed his stepfather, in the 2003 Christmas romcom. Sam develops feelings for his American classmate Joanna (played by Olivia Olson), and the plot leads to their parents also finding romance.

The actor, who recently married his Pistol co-star Talulah Riley, has opened up about his experience as a 13-year-old child star, saying that jealousy from his schoolmates led to bullying.

[The other pupils] would all ask where Id been, and get a little jealous I got that much time off school, he told The Telegraph.

But I always told myself it was good to go back to school to hang around kids my own age.

Brodie-Sangster was tutored on set with occasional stints at Pimlico Academy. Expanding on his experience at school, he said: People tried to pick on me but I dont think I cared enough.

He continued: They would try to bully me for being in a film. But that was my job! I liked doing that! So what was their point? Eventually I kind of made friends with them and they saw that I was alright.

The actor is currently promoting Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, a follow-up to the 2015 adaptation of Dame Hilary Mantels historical trilogy about the life of Thomas Cromwell.

open image in gallery Actor played Sam in the hit romcom ( StudioCanal/Love Actually )

He added that despite his negative experiences, he enjoys being recognised by people for his child roles, though it makes him feel old.

Its really cool, he said. Mothers or, like, big dudes will come up and say, I loved Nanny McPhee as a kid! and now theyre grown-up. It does make you feel a little old, but its nice.

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open image in gallery Brodie-Sangster says he was bullied as a child ( Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images )

Its like Love Actually, everyone loves it, its not controversial. Its an honour, really, to be in movies that have stood the test of time.

The Maze Runner star, who was turned down for roles as Colin Creevey and Ron Weasley in Harry Potter, said, I was very, very shy, but I would watch people. Pick up on their weird little traits.
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Songwriters spend their whole lives trying to hone and craft their music in such a way that it will strike a chord with listeners, but sometimes they just end up getting on their own nerves.

Often its the song that becomes an artists most popular hit that can drive them to frustration, especially if they start to feel like their entire oeuvre has become reduced to a one-hit wonder punchline.

Whether its Nirvana hating the scent of Smells Like Teen Spirit, or Radiohead getting the creeps from Creep, here are 19 songs that wound up winding up the musicians who wrote them.

Oasis  Wonderwall (1995)

Liam and Noel Gallagher are clearly thrilled to be getting the band back together for new shows (not to mention the associated payday), but the brothers may not be quite as excited as their fans about one particular singalong moment. Back in 2008, while promoting Dig Out Your Soul, Liam Gallagher remarked of their new record: At least theres no Wonderwall on there. I cant f***ing stand that f***ing song! Every time I have to sing it, I want to gag.

He particularly lamented the songs cultural predominance in the United States, adding: Problem is, it was a big, big tune for us. You go to America, and theyre like: Are you, Mr Wonderwall? You want to chin someone. In a rare example of sibling agreement, Noel also isnt the biggest fan of the song. He said in a 2017 interview: Wonderwall has become a worldwide hit, and I will get stopped all over the world, in any city you care to name, and people will sing Wonderwall. I dont particularly like that song  I think Cigarettes & Alcohol is a far superior song. Kevin E G Perry

open image in gallery Blunderwall: the brothers struck gold with their 1995 hit, its a shame they cant stand it now ( Simon Emmett )

Billy Joel  We Didnt Start The Fire (1989)

Its his biggest song, yet Billy Joels distaste for the melody of We Didnt Start the Fire goes back almost to the time of its release. Its really not much of a song, he said in 1993, sitting at the piano for a filmed interview. If you take the melody by itself, terrible. Like a dentists drill.

While he hasnt said he hates the entire song, more than 10 years later, he went on The Howard Stern Show and called it probably the worst musical thing Ive ever written before demonstrating the tune on the piano. Roisin OConnor

open image in gallery Billy Joel has previously been dismissive about his melody for We Didnt Start the Fire ( AP )

The Pretenders  Brass in Pocket (1979)

The Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde famously said the bands most popular hit, Brass in Pocket, would be released over my dead body.

I did not like it at first, she told American Songwriter in 2019, reserving praise for the catchy riff created by their original lead guitarist, James Honeyman-Scott, who died of a drug overdose in June 1982, aged 25. Hynde later said she felt as though the track didnt know what it was, adding: I thought it sounded like it was trying to be a Motown song, but it didnt quite make it for me.

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open image in gallery Chrissie Hynde apparently once said The Pretenders song Brass in Pocket would be released over her dead body ( Getty )

It seemed she was on her own, however, as the song remains one of the bands biggest to date, reaching No 1 in the UK and No 6 in the US. I enjoy singing it these days, Hynde said. If someone wants to hear it, its always a pleasure But the best thing about the song is that it always reminds me of Jimmy Scott. He was a fantastic guitar player. ROC

Charli XCX  Break the Rules (2014)

open image in gallery Not a rule-breaker: Charli XCXs 2014 hit was written at a writing camp and felt fake ( Getty )

The British artist is regarded as one of the most innovative pop stars around, setting trends with her Grammy-winning 2024 album Brat. While shes spoken about how proud she is of Brat, shes been less favourable towards some of her earlier songs.

In 2017, for instance, she told Q magazine that she made some rash decisions with her second album, Sucker, singling out the single Break the Rules.

That was so bad. I hate it, she declared. I wrote it at a writing camp  and I was like, Whoever sings this song is an idiot.

In 2018, she told The Guardian that parts of Sucker felt fake when she listened back to it: It was definitely a confusing experience, after Fancy, when things didnt really go my way, she said. I didnt become, like, this huge big artist or whatever. That was definitely hard at points for sure. ROC

Guns N Roses  Sweet Child o Mine (1987)

Sweet Child o Mine gave the band their first and only No 1 single but guitarist Slash was never a fan. I was f***ing around with this stupid little riff, he recalled to Q magazine in 2005. Axl said, Hold the f***ing phones! Thats amazing! Turning the riff into an actual song proved challenging. Writing and rehearsing it to make it a complete song was like pulling teeth, remembered Slash. For me, at the time, it was a very sappy ballad. KP

Madonna  Like a Virgin (1984)

open image in gallery Madonna has been critical of several of her biggest hits ( AP )

Madonna is never shy of opinions, not least when it comes to her own music. The queen of pop has disowned her own hits on a number of occasions, including in a 2008 interview with New Yorks Z100 FM where she claimed shed need to be paid like $30m or something to sing Holiday or Like a Virgin again.

A year later, she doubled down on her Like a Virgin stance: For some reason people think that when you go to a restaurant or you are going shopping that you want to hear one of your own songs. Its usually Like a Virgin - and that is the one I dont want to hear.

Fortunately for fans, Madonna has continued to perform the song live, most recently during her world Celebration tour. ROC

Nirvana  Smells Like Teen Spirit (1991)

open image in gallery Kurt Cobain said he was trying to sound like the Pixies when he wrote his biggest hit ( Rex )

A classic example of a band setting out to write a hit and succeeding well beyond their expectations. I was trying to write the ultimate pop song, Kurt Cobain told journalist David Fricke in 1994, adding that he was heavily inspired by the loud-quiet-loud dynamics of Pixies. When the song became a monster success on radio and MTV, Cobain began to refuse to play it live or else intentionally butchered it. Once it got into the mainstream, it was over, he remarked. Im just tired of being embarrassed by it. Im beyond that. He was self-aware enough to know that his loathing came because of the songs success, not despite it. The reason it gets a big reaction is people have seen it on MTV a million times, he pointed out. Its been pounded into their brains. But I think there are so many other songs that Ive written that are as good, if not better than that song, like Drain You. Thats definitely as good as Teen Spirit. I love the lyrics, and I never get tired of playing it. Maybe if it was as big as Teen Spirit, I wouldnt like it as much. KP

Bruno Mars  The Lazy Song (2010)

open image in gallery Bruno Mars seemed unimpressed by fans who actually liked The Lazy Song ( Getty Images )

Kudos to the artist who can own up to releasing a truly terrible song, which is (sort of) what Bruno Mars did a few years ago. Posting to X (Twitter), he shared a video of himself looking very unimpressed and captioned it: When someone tells me they actually like The Lazy Song.

Released in 2010, the track is a reggae-lite earworm of the nursery rhyme variety, branded by one critic as the most annoying of the year, along with Marss other track, Marry You. ROC

Warrant  Cherry Pie (1990)

The story of how the glam rock anthem Cherry Pie was baked is a tale as old as time. The second album by LA rockers Warrant was about to come out but the label insisted it didnt hear a single and wanted something more like Aerosmiths Love in an Elevator. Frontman Jani Lane quickly wrote and submitted Cherry Pie, and Columbia Records couldnt have been happier. All of a sudden, the albums called Cherry Pie, the records called Cherry Pie, Im doing cherry pie-eating contests, Lane recalled to VH1 in 2006. My legacys cherry pie. Everything about me is cherry pie. Im a cherry pie guy. I could shoot myself in the f***ing head for writing that song. By 2007, however, Lane was feeling more circumspect. Im happy as a clam to have written a song that is still being played and still dug by so many people, he told a radio interviewer. Its hard enough to write a song, let alone one that sticks around. KP

open image in gallery Kate Pierson joins Michael Stipe and REM on Saturday Night Live in 1991 ( NBC )

REM  Shiny Happy People (1991)

Included on REMs classic album Out of Time and the bands first top 10 hit in the UK, this upbeat single was also considered as a potential theme song for Friends before frontman Michael Stipe turned the sitcom down. The lyric of the chorus was lifted from a translation of a Chinese government propaganda poster published after the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989, while the song itself was the bands attempt to write a bubblegum pop song. Stipe has since described it as being primarily written for children. The frontman also openly said the song has limited appeal to him but always stopped short of outright denigrating it. I try to never say anything bad about the songs I dont particularly like, because there might be somebody out there who hears it to whom the song means everything, and represents something in their life that is essential, he said. I dont want to take that from them. KP

Radiohead  Creep (1992)

open image in gallery Thom Yorke has often refused to play Creep live ( Getty )

Radioheads debut single launched them into the public consciousness, but they went years without playing it live. In fairness, recording the song hadnt been their idea in the first place  producers Sean Slade and Paul Q Kolderie encouraged them to do so, and the band ended up using enough elements of the 1974 Hollies hit The Air That I Breathe, written by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood, that they were eventually required to share the songwriting credit.

In recent years, the song has started to worm its way back into their setlists. Its a good song, guitarist Ed OBrien told Rolling Stone in 2017. Its nice to play for the right reasons. People like it and want to hear it. We do err towards not playing it because you dont want it to feel like showbusiness. But we started throwing it in last year. Frontman Thom Yorke added: We only did it once or twice this year. The first time Im feeling the fakes well stop. It can be cool sometimes, but other times I want to stop halfway through and be like, Nah, this isnt happening. KP

Led Zeppelin  Stairway to Heaven (1971)

Robert Plant was in his early twenties when he sat down to add lyrics to Jimmy Pages idea for the epic song that became Stairway to Heaven. As he got older, he began to view his efforts more critically. If you absolutely hated Stairway to Heaven, no one can blame you for that because it was so... pompous, he told Q in 1988. Lyrically, now, I cant relate to it, because it was so long ago. I would have no intention ever to write along those abstract lines any more. That same year, he added in an interview with the Los Angeles Times: Id break out in hives if I had to sing that song in every show, I wrote those lyrics and found that song to be of some importance and consequence in 1971, but 17 years later, I dont know. KP

Willow  Whip My Hair (2010)

open image in gallery Willow Smith changed her mind about Whip My Hair ( Invision )

In the years after Willow Smith released her debut single, aged nine, she often spoke about it in regretful terms: For so long, I wanted to condemn that time of my life and forget it, just kind of push it under the rug, she told LOfficiel in 2021.

Part of this was to do with the onslaught of attention she received as the song made its way into the charts, causing her to suffer panic attacks: That was crazy, she told The Independent in 2022. I was brainwashed into thinking, No, youre being a brat, suck it up. Then I grew up, and I realised it was something that needed to be dealt with.

However, more recently, shes come to recognise that the themes in Whip My Hair echo those heard in her more recent, rock-influenced work, ones centred around self-love and the universe and our humanitys divine path, about expressing oneself and being unapologetic, she said.

I listened to Whip My Hair not too long ago, after many years, and realised that its the same message. ROC

Metallica  Escape (1984)

Escape was a late addition to Metallicas second album Ride the Lightning, and frontman James Hetfield was never truly won over by the hastily written song. The band had never once played it live before they performed the album in full at their own Orion Music + More Festival in 2012. This is groundbreaking right here, Hetfield told the audience. This is historical for those of you who might know whats coming up next. The song that we never wanted to play live ever is now on the setlist. Were not afraid, we just hope it is good. And well do our best. You can sing along if you want, all right? That might help. KP

open image in gallery Beastie Boys: Mike D, Adrock and MCA in 1980 ( Freeberg/Mediapunch/Shutterstock )

Beastie Boys  Fight For Your Right (To Party) (1986)

Beastie Boys member Mike D later recalled that their rabble-rousing hit Fight For Your Right (To Party) was written in about five minutes in the art-filled Michael Todd Room at the Palladium nightclub in New York. If they intended the song to satirise a certain jock-y, bro-y, segment of their fanbase, that message got lost in translation. The only thing that upsets me is that we might have reinforced certain values of some people in our audience when our own values were actually totally different, Mike D complained in 1987. There were tons of guys singing along to [Fight for Your Right] who were oblivious to the fact it was a total goof on them. Irony is often missed. KP

Cyndi Lauper  The Goonies R Good Enough (1985)

open image in gallery Cyndi Lauper on the Pyramid Stage at the 2024 Glastonbury Festival ( PA )

The Girls Just Wanna Have Fun star has admitted in interviews that she hates the song released in support of Steve Spielbergs 1985 film, The Goonies. I think she felt it was an infringement on her creativity, which I agreed with, music supervisor Joel Sill told the Willamette Week of a tussle over the original song name, which was simply, Good Enough.

But all of us had a bigger responsibility to the movie. It was a big investment we all had in utilising the music to sell the film, and the film would then sell the music.

Lauper apparently pushed back on changing the lyrics to make them more heavily reference the film, but relented (albeit unhappily) on changing the song title. However, in recent years she appears to have conceded to fan demand when it comes to performing the track live, as it has appeared on some of the setlists for her recent farewell tour. ROC

Pink  Dont Let Me Get Me (2001)

open image in gallery Pink said she wished she could burn her hit song Dont Let Me Get Me ( AP )

Pinks cry-for-help single Dont Let Me Get Me was critically acclaimed and an international chart hit when it was first released, but a decade later the songs creator had completely had enough of it. I wish I could burn that song and never sing it again! she told the Los Angeles Times in 2012, although she did manage to laugh about it. KP

The Who  Pinball Wizard (1969)

Pinball Wizard is regarded by many as the centrepiece of The Whos 1969 concept album Tommy, but its held in somewhat less regard by the man who wrote it, Pete Townshend. I knocked it off. I thought, Oh, my God this is awful, the most clumsy piece of writing Ive ever done. Oh my God, Im embarrassed. This sounds like a music hall song, he recalled later. I scribbled it out and all the verses were the same length and there was no kind of middle eight. It was going to be a complete dud, but I carried on. KP

Ariana Grande  Put Your Hearts Up (2011)

open image in gallery Ariana Grande was unhappy with her debut single ( Invision )

These days Ariana Grande is a pop behemoth. With over 98 billion global streams the Florida-born singer is one of the most listened-to artists in the world, but her transition from Nickelodeon child star to musician didnt get off to the smoothest start. Her debut single Put Your Hearts Up, co-written by 4 Non Blondes Linda Perry, was a bubblegum pop song that Grande later told Rolling Stone she felt was inauthentic and fake. She added: For the video, they gave me a bad spray tan and put me in a princess dress and had me frolic around the street. The whole thing was straight out of hell. I still have nightmares about it, and I made them hide it on my Vevo page. KP
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Dua Lipa has issued a statement saying she is heartbroken after having to cancel a planned gig in Jakarta, Indonesia due to safety issues.

The British-Albanian musician, 29, had been set to perform to nearly 17,000 people at the citys Indonesia Arena on Saturday (9 November).

In a statement shared to social media, Lipa wrote: Im heartbroken to share that I wont be able to perform in Jakarta this Saturday. I am here in your amazing country and ready to perform, but I am gutted to share that it has been determined that it is not safe for the performance to carry on due to safety issues with the staging.

I was so looking forward to this night, and it truly pains me that we cannot perform for you all, especially after such a long time since my last performance in Jakarta. I love you all and truly cant wait to be back together in the same room with you signing and dancing our hearts out as soon as possible.

Lipa last performed in Jakarta in 2017, and had been due to return to the city as part of the ongoing Asian leg of her Radical Optimism tour.

The announcement came amid a frustrating day for Lipa, following the news that her recent third album, Radical Optimism, had failed to garner a single nomination at the forthcoming Grammy Awards.

Lipa had been expected to feature among the nominees for the award ceremony, which will take place in February.

Dua Lipa pictured in October ( Getty Images for The Rock and Ro )

However, nods instead went to artists including Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan and Billie Eilish.

Beyonce got 11 nominations for her country-influenced record Cowboy Carter, which made her the most nominated artist of all time, with a total of 99 nominations across her career. She was previously tied with her husband, Jay-Z, at 88.

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You can read a full list of this years nominations here.

Lipa recently performed a one-off concert at Londons Royal Albert Hall, for which she was accompanied by the 53-piece Heritage Orchestra, a 14-person choir, and seven-person band.

A recording of the performance will air on ITV later this year as part of the programme An Evening with Dua Lipa.
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On Strictly Come Dancing, not all styles are equal. Across the course of each series, the celebrities and their professional partners take on a wide range of dances, from elegant Vienesse waltzes to intense, sensual Argentine tangos.

Its fair to say that some are more favoured than others. The samba has been the subject of its own curse rumours thanks to the number of celebrities who have departed the competition after performing one. In 2019, Saffron Barker even begged bosses for the chance to skip it (her plea fell on deaf ears and she danced it, only to be eliminated). The rumba, too, is notoriously difficult to pull off, especially for male celebrities.

At the other end of the scale, perfectly executed charlestons have often propelled pairs to the top of the leaderboard, as have phenomenal paso dobles. But one dance has cemented its place as the routine that will trump them all: the Couples Choice.

Introduced in 2018, the dance initially gave celebrities a choice between three styles: theatre/jazz, contemporary or street/commercial. The rules have become more relaxed as the years have gone on and a number of stars have used theirs to introduce other styles to the Strictly dance floor.

In 2022, Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystals performance brought afrobeats to the ballroom, and earlier this series, Dr Punam Krishan and Gorka Marquez made history by performing the shows first full Bollywood routine. In both cases, the celebs flew to the top of the leaderboards  and for Yassin, the Couples Choice took him from being an outsider to clear contender for the Glitterball Trophy (which he went on to win).

Dr Punam Krishan makes history with Strictly's first Bollywood performance

Dr Krishan was eliminated from this years series in Halloween week, but theres no denying her Couples Choice three weeks prior bought her extra time in the competition. Until then shed been lingering near the bottom of the leaderboard but the joyous Bollywood performance (rightly) propelled her to joint-second.

Montell Douglas then topped the Movie Week leaderboard with hers, while Icons Week saw Tasha Ghouri and JB Gill (who have both regularly impressed) finish joint top of the leaderboard with theirs last week.

So whats so special about a Couples Choice? As well as giving celebrities an opportunity to bring something a little different, and therefore more memorable, it offers a chance for them to tell their story in more depth. Douglas delved into what dancing means to her, and paid homage to her inspiring grandmother. Former Love Islander Ghouris stunning routine was about feeling not seen or unheard and in her emotional VT, she spoke about how being deaf has presented challenges.

This week, with their place at Blackpool at stake, two more of the Class of 2024 performed theirs. And it sounds cynical, I know, but for both of them, the timing of the Couples Choice couldnt have been better.

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Pete Wicks danced an emotional routine dedicated to his late nan, who he was incredibly close to. As Mosti Mabuse said, the performance showed us another side to the Towie star, who by his own admission, has something of a lothario reputation. The dance landed him his highest score yet, putting him in joint third on the leaderboard.

Strictly: Pete Wicks breaks down in tears after emotional tribute dance

Chris McCausland, who has been a standout contender from the launch episode, bounced back from a difficult couple of weeks with a celebratory number. It included a moment when the entire studio went dark, before the lights came up to show him and Dianne triumphantly spinning with fireworks in the background.

Its not just about scoring high either. Even though neither Wicks or McCausland topped the leaderboard, their emotional performances are sure to resonate with viewers, just as they did the judges. As Im sure Dr Krishan can attest: however long they last in the competition, these are routines theyll look back on with pride.
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Claudia Winkleman has sent a heartfelt message to Amy Dowden as she hoped the Strictly Come Dancing pro would return very soon.

Dowden has been forced to leave the series, after making a much-awaited return following treatment for breast cancer.

The 34-year-old professional ballroom dancer was rushed to hospital as a precaution on 26 October for an undisclosed illness, which meant she did not perform in the following show, with pro dancer Lauren Oakley stepping in to dance with Dowdens celebrity partner JB Gill instead .

Dowden clarified that her insufficiency stress fracture had nothing to do with any previous health scares.

Before we get started our lovely Amy Dowden has had to withdraw from this years competition, due to injury so Lauren will be stepping in and dancing with JB for the rest of his time on the show, began host Tess Daly as she introduced the show at Blackpool Tower on Saturday (9 November).

Winkleman then followed up with a message of support and hope to the dancer, saying: Amy, everyone at Strictly is sending you so much love and we cannot wait to see you back on this dance floor, very, very soon.

Dowden was left emotional during an appearance on It Takes Two, earlier this week.

open image in gallery Winkleman sent a heartfelt message to Amy Dowden ( BBC/Strictly Come Dancing )

Im absolutely gutted, she said. Unfortunately, I have a stress fracture on my shin. Im absolutely gutted, I need to rest for a couple of weeks.

Hopefully I will be back dancing, hopefully in a group number by the end of the series. Fingers crossed.

open image in gallery Gill performed with Lauren Oakley who is replacing Dowden ( BBC/Guy Levy )

She added the injury wasnt a repeat of any previous injuries or previous treatment for breast cancer and she said she would be JBs biggest cheerleader as he continues with the amazing Lauren.

It comes as a huge blow to Dowden who had been working hard to build up her strength to dance again following her treatment for breast cancer in 2023, which meant she was unable to compete in last years Strictly.
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Kelsey Grammer has shared an idea for a crossover between Frasier and Only Fools and Horses, which would incoroporate British actor David Jason.

Grammer, 69, currently stars in Frasier on Paramount+, a revival series of the beloved 1990s sitcom of the same name.

Alongside Grammers fussy psychiatrist Frasier Crane, the series also stars Only Fools actor Nicholas Lyndhurst, a personal friend of Grammer, as Frasiers colleague Alan Cornwall.

Lyndhurst played the simple-minded Rodney on the long-running BBC sitcom, while Jason played Del Boy, a street-smart hustler.

Grammer was asked by Metro about the possibility of bringing Jason into Frasier for a cameo.

It makes sense, he replied. Who knows? I mean, he could just walk by and say Dipstick, couldnt he? It might be really fun to have Alan maybe watching it, watching the old show or something?

He added: Theres any number of ways to maybe make that connection, because, of course it is a nostalgic show and Nick has such a huge, huge presence in the UK  with good reason!

open image in gallery Frasier sees Kelsey Grammers character return to Boston ( Chris Haston/Paramount+ )

Grammer went on to effusively praise Lyndhurst, with whom he first worked on a British stage production of the musical The Man of La Mancha in 2019.

Hes one of the best actors who ever lived, Grammer said. Theres no question about his abilities and hes beloved, so well mine that as much as we possibly can.

Hes remarkable. I and the writers were talking about, Boy, I cant wait until maybe next season where Frasier doesnt even have to do anything at all, well just let Nick have the show.

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open image in gallery Kelsey Grammer pictured in September ( Getty Images for Paramount+ )

While a cameo from Jason, 84, may still be a long shot, the Frasier revival has seen a number of actors from the original series return.

Peri Gilpin, who played Roz Doyle, featured in one episode of the first season, and returned for multiple episodes for season two, which will release its final episode on Friday (15 November).

Bebe Neuwirth, who played Frasiers wife (then ex-wife) Lilith in Frasier and the previous sitcom Cheers, also featured in season one, while season two brought back Hariet Sansom Harris (who played Frasiers sharky agent Bebe), Dan Butler (who played radio jock Bob Bulldog Briscoe) and Edward Hibbert (who played effete food critic Gil Chesterton).

A third season renewal is yet to be confirmed.

Frasier, both the original and the remake, can be streamed now on Paramount+.
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An original Frasier cast member has explained why they dont want to return for the revival series.

Wendie Malick appeared in the hit sitcoms original run, which lasted from 1993 to 2004, playing Ronee Lawrence in season 11.

In the show, Ronee was the childhood babysitter of Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and his brother Niles (David Hyde Pierce) who was introduced in the show as a love interest of their father Martin (John Mahoney).

Frasier is currently enjoying a second wind, with the conclusion of the reboots latest season drawing to an end this week. While this season welcomed back original stars Peri Gilpin, Harriet Sansom Harris, Dan Butler and Edward Hibbert, many original stars  including Hyde Pierce  are not present.

Malick has now addressed a possible return to the show, but remained coy about the idea for a rather moving reason. The actor said she would not want to reprise the role of Ronee due to the fact that Mahoney died in 2018.

The actor, who appears in Apple TV+ series Shrinking as Dr Julie Baram alongside Jason Segel and Harrison Ford, told TV Insider: Its sort of like when people ask me about Just Shoot Me. Without George Segal, I just dont think it would feel right.

I had such a connection to John Mahoney playing his love interest and finally marrying him that Im not sure that I want to revisit that.

Malick continued: That was something that was such a lovely ride, and that season was so much fun and I was honoured to be part of it. And sometimes I think you feel like you took your character as far as you could, and then maybe you just leave it and savour those memories.

Never say never, but thats my gut feeling.

Wendie Malick and John Mahoney as Ronee and Martin in Frasier ( NBC )

Hyde Pierce, speaking about his potential involvement, with Vulture in June 2022 said: That whole time of my life, the writing on those shows, the actors I got to work with  all of that is deeply important to me. And I would never disrespect that in such a way as to say just offhandedly, Oh, no, thanks. Im not going to do that again. Its too valuable to me.

However, the actor said that he wouldnt just do it for the reason that the experience was such a valuable one.

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I believe it can be done without me, too  finding new stories to tell, in the same way that Frasier did after Cheers. They didnt bring along the Cheers gang to make a new show.

Frasier is available to stream on Paramount+.
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At least 26 people have died in a powerful bomb blast at a train station in Quetta, southwestern Pakistan.

More than 40 were wounded in the explosion that tore through the station in the early hours of Saturday.

The blast took place inside the railway station when the Peshawar-bound express was about to leave for its destination, said Muhammad Baloch, the senior superintendent of police operations.

Quetta is the capital of the restive Balochistan province, which has seen a growing threat in recent months from local militant groups.

Early photographs of the aftermath of the explosion showed the platform littered with passengers luggage.

open image in gallery Passengers belongings are seen scattered on the platform after an explosion at a railway station in Quetta in Pakistans Balochistan province ( Getty )

The target was army personnel from the infantry school, said Mouzzam Jah Ansari, inspector general of police for Balochistan.

Mr Baloch said the attack seems to be a suicide blast but it was too early to say for sure. Around 100 people were present at the station at the time of the attack, Mr Baloch said, citing footage of the incident.

open image in gallery A man carries passengers belongings from the blast site after the explosion ( Getty )

So far 44 injured people have been brought to civil hospital, Dr Wasim Baig, a hospital spokesperson, told Reuters.

Mohammad Omar, 22, was heading to his hometown of Jaffaradbad with his mother and brother when the bomb went off. I was waiting for the train at the railway station along with my family when all of a sudden, a powerful blast took place, he told Dawn from the hospital.

The death toll is likely to rise as some of the wounded passengers are in a critical condition, said Shahid Ring, a government spokesperson, earlier.

An investigation has been launched into the incident to ascertain the nature of the blast, he said.

open image in gallery People mourn the death of their relatives in a hospital following a bomb blast at a railway station in Quetta ( Getty )

The Balochistan Liberation Army, a separatist group that operates in the region, has claimed responsibility for the attack and said a suicide bomber targeted troops present at the railway station. Police officials said they are investigating the claim.

If confirmed, it would be the second deadly attack by BLA militants in a little over a month in Pakistan.

Pakistan Railways announced a temporary suspension of all train services to and from Quetta following the explosion. The Quetta station will remain closed from 11 to 14 November to secure the area, ARY News reported.

Prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said the terrorists will pay a heavy price for their heinous act as he called for a comprehensive investigation.

Pakistans interior minister Mohsin Naqvi announced an expansion of intelligence-based operations across the restive province. He said the attack was aimed at destabilising the country.

On 7 October, at least two Chinese nationals were killed after BLA militants carried out a bomb attack near the international airport in Karachi. The attack took place just a week before a high-level summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), raising security concerns for the meeting of world leaders.

BLA militants have repeatedly targeted security forces and foreigners, especially Chinese nationals who are in Pakistan as part of Beijings multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative, which includes the construction of major infrastructure projects in Pakistan.

The militant group sees the presence of foreign workers as a threat to local resources and its grip on the restive southwestern region. The region has been battered by a decades-old insurgency that has destabilised Balochistan and created security concerns for projects trying to access the provinces untapped resources.

In August, at least 73 people were killed in Balochistan after separatist militants attacked police stations, railway lines and highways.
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Give me a child until he is seven and I will show you the man, the Greek philosopher Aristotle famously once said. He meant that those formative years are the most important  that the way we raise children when theyre young lays the foundations for the adults they will become.

For a 2,300-year-old theory, its aged remarkably well. Pretty much all modern psychotherapy is predicated on the premise that what happens in infancy and the relationship we have with our primary caregiver/s is fundamental to what were like (and the issues well struggle with) later in life. And, arguably, his words could be just as relevant when it comes to what has been dubbed the male loneliness epidemic. The way we bring up boys seems to create lonely men; the negative consequences of this are being felt throughout society.

The fact that loneliness has been on the rise in recent years is well documented. In 2023, the World Health Organisation (WHO) went so far as to declare loneliness a global health threat. The US surgeon general, Dr Vivek Murthy, intentionally picked the term epidemic to hammer home the perceived health risks: research shows that loneliness is as bad for you as smoking a dozen cigarettes a day.

Age-wise, research has shown a horseshoe effect, with the oldest and youngest most at risk. One in four older people feel lonely, regardless of where they are in the world, while between 5 and 15 per cent of adolescents are lonely.

There is evidence that loneliness has increased over time in places like the United Kingdom and Australia, with a notable rise during the Covid-19 pandemic and its associated restrictions, says Marlee Bower, a research fellow at the University of Sydney, who co-wrote a paper entitled Predictors of male loneliness across life stages. While she thinks calling loneliness an epidemic can be slightly misleading  since loneliness doesnt spread like a contagious disease  she agrees that the term does capture the urgency of the issue and the need to address it at a societal level.

Loneliness is, clearly, not unique to the male half of the population (and in fact men tend to underreport loneliness compared to women). Yet its effects can be more extreme in men. Rates of suicide in England and Wales, for example, are more than three times higher in men than women. According to a study from Kings College London, men who identified as lonely drank significantly more alcohol than their non-lonely counterparts. Lonely women, by contrast, drank less.

Certainly a lack of friendships, particularly intimate ones, is much more common to men. Research conducted in 2021 found that 15 per cent of men claimed to have no close friends, a whopping 12 per cent higher than 30 years ago. According to the Kings College study, older men rated their friendships as lower quality than women.

open image in gallery Half of young men say their online lives are more rewarding than their real-world lives ( Getty )

More poignantly still, a 2023 study from non-profit Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice found that the majority of men agreed with the statement, No one really knows me well. Young men were by far the most likely to agree, totalling two thirds of those aged 18-23 years old.

Think about that: two out of three men coming out of boyhood are in a state where they believe no one really knows who they are or understands what theyre feeling, says Dr Michael Reichert, founding director of the Centre for the Study of Boys and Girls Lives at the University of Pennsylvania and author of How To Raise A Boy: The Power of Connection to Build Good Men. These numbers show that its not about an individual pathology, he tells me  its systemic and structural. There is something inherent in the way we raise boys that leads them to live behind a mask and feel isolated, not only from their peers, but from their parents and families too.

While a boys will be boys narrative attempts to pin unhealthy masculine behaviours on nature rather than nurture, the research paints a picture in which boys feel forced to retreat from intimate relationships. Much-cited research from Stanford lecturer Judy Chu in her book When Boys Become Boys: Development, Relationships and Masculinity found something disturbing starts happening from the age of four. She observed a group of a children over the course of two years; at first, the boys connected with each other physically and emotionally and engaged in tender displays of affection. But, as time went on, the dynamics of these friendships dramatically shifted as boys pulled away, avoiding vulnerability and creating emotional distance.

They were receiving strong enough messages that they needed to act like a boy that they radically changed over the course of the two years, says Dr Reichert. In that time they went from present to pretence by way of posturing  they learned to act the part. But they werent doing it because they wanted to pretend; they were doing it because they felt that was required of them.

Having set up the first ever emotional literacy programme at an all-boys school in the US, he has seen first hand that boys really do desire intimate connection. Though voluntary not mandatory, the programme has become one of the schools most popular, providing an oasis in a desert where boys can share their emotions, peer to peer. They flock to it, says Dr Reichert. What they exercise in there is what theyre dying to do but cant give permission to themselves to do.

We can start to see the ways that boys are taught to devalue womens presence or feminity Caroline Hayes, Equimundo

Chus study also showed that boys started to change in how they bullied one another and the girls around them, creating boys clubs and ostracising girls from joining in with games. We can start to see the ways that boys are taught to devalue womens presence or femininity and dominate boys who dont conform  for example, bullying a boy if he wants to play with girl toys, explains Caroline Hayes, Equimundos senior strategic initiatives officer.

Clearly, media messaging and popular culture play a part. But parents are complicit too, even if unconsciously so. Research as part of the Global Boyhood Initiative based on interviews with fathers of boys in Bolivia found that 50.2 per cent said that they discouraged their sons from acting like girls; 77 per cent said that when they raise their boys, they teach them that care work is a womans responsibility. A 2020 survey of parents in the US revealed that 94 per cent believed being emotionally strong was the most important thing for their sons.

Parents often unwittingly contribute to the problem, agrees Melinda Wenner Moyer, a parenting and science journalist and author of How To Raise Kids Who Arent Assholes. We know from the research that parents talk about emotions less with sons than daughters, and when they do talk about feelings with boys, they typically focus on anger. Mothers also smile less at their sons than their daughters, and when reading to boys, they sit further away, engage in less physical contact, and use a less pleasant tone of voice.

This pattern of behaviour starts young. Baby boys brains are biologically more immature and vulnerable than girls, making them less able to emotionally regulate, cry more often, and produce higher levels of the stress-hormone cortisol when separated from their mothers. But though they have a greater need for comfort, what they tend to get is significantly less nurturing and positive attention than same-aged girls.

The result? From an incredibly early age, boys feel stuffed into a man box, says Dr Reichert, forced to conform to narrow definitions of manhood that discourage openness and limit their emotional and social development. This not only damages them materially  leading to higher rates of depression and suicide ideation, plus drug and alcohol abuse  but can also push them towards ideologies that are harmful to women.

open image in gallery Young men looking for connection online are funnelled towards influencers like Andrew Tate ( AFP via Getty )

Fuelled by the rise of smartphones and social media platforms and exacerbated by Covid lockdowns, young peoples lives have increasingly moved from the real world to the digital one. Equimundo research found that nearly 30 per cent of the young men surveyed said they hadnt spent time with someone outside of their household in the past week, while nearly half (48 per cent) said their online lives were more engaging and rewarding than their offline ones.

When disengaged young men spend more time on the internet, the chances of them being pushed towards content affiliated with the manosphere and toxic hypermasculinity  the Andrew Tates of the world, for example  become greater. The massive monetisation of this rhetoric for both influencers and the online platforms themselves almost guarantees that boys and young men looking for support get nudged down certain pathways, says Hayes.

Theres a funnel system whereby certain influencers or content creators are capitalising on very innocuous searches that boys and young men are looking for information about, she tells me. These include romantic relationships and dating, physical appearance and fitness, wealth and financial advice, motivation and self-improvement. Bad actors are threading those topic areas with more harmful or extreme narratives around gender politics. A young man might go on YouTube and search how to get a date, and soon enough hell be served content that fuses this interest with gendered narratives that validate mens shame or frustration about why theyre not able to get a date, says Hayes. Men experiencing legitimate feelings of shame or frustration or vulnerability in their lives are fed the message that its all because of women and feminism.

A vicious cycle emerges: boys and young men are encouraged by society to perform an unhealthy masculinity that sees them withdraw emotionally from friends and family; they feel lonely and go looking for connection and support online; they get purposefully shunted towards content that reinforces those damaging gender stereotypes and further isolates them from their peers, told that women are their inferiors and men their competition.

Theres a big cross-pollination in these spaces, claims Hayes, between misogynistic influencers and right-wing political messaging. Both use the same playbook: find boys in crisis, build a community around a victim narrative, and form a collective identity. Hayes points to the fact that soon-to-be vice-president JD Vance announced his Tiktok presence by partnering with the Nelk Boys, a duo of young Canadians whose brand is centred around hyper-masculine norms and frat boy humour. Vances first post on the social media site featured a nine-second video of him accepting a can of the Nelk Boys hard seltzer from co-founder Kyle Forgeard. The collaboration was part of a $20m US voter registration initiative launched by Trump allies and aimed at courting young men.

Theres a big cross-pollination between misogynistic influencers and right-wing political messaging

Many on the right have sought to associate manhood with politics; If you are a man in this country and you dont vote for Donald Trump, youre not a man, Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist, recently proclaimed.

The real-world consequences of this were arguably evident this week as Donald Trump shocked the world to win the US presidential election. Some 54 per cent of men cast their ballot for the Republican, but perhaps one of the starkest demographical differences was between young men and women. Just under half (49 per cent) of the former aged 18-29 voted for Trump compared to 37 per cent of the latter. The Republican ticket was built on various issues, but continuing support for abortion bans and the rollback of nationwide reproductive rights was one of the campaigns battlegrounds.

In the wake of the election, some women online drew links between male loneliness and the results  and they were very, very angry. So I think its less of a male loneliness epidemic and more of a young men becoming nazis at a concerningly high rate epidemic, tweeted one. I hope the male loneliness epidemic eats you Maga scum alive, posted another.

But what these social media users failed to see is that the culture of male loneliness  instilled from infancy in the warped way we socialise boys  may have been the very thing that led them down a rabbit hole of right-wing populism. Is it really fair to unequivocally pour scorn on men for an outcome that society as a whole has created and been complicit in? Loneliness isnt just a male problem but an everyone problem  because harmful manifestations of masculinity and manhood dont just impact boys and men themselves, but also the women and girls and communities around them, argues Hayes.

The best way to help women, then, may be to finally start helping boys  by scrapping outdated and damaging notions of what it is to be a man and encouraging them to be emotionally open and foster deeper relationships. As Wenner Moyer puts it: If we gave boys permission to connect, the world would be a better place. When boys feel connected, they become healthier, happier humans  which benefits everyone.
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It was only three months ago that my dad and I were chatting in my kitchen about whether he wanted red Thai chicken curry or a steak for supper. Now, rightly or wrongly, Im hoping he can speak to me from beyond the grave.

It feels ironic, especially as he scoffed at the idea of an afterlife. Im open to the idea, but as I wait for my 50-minute spirit reading to begin, Im suddenly overwhelmed by a tidal wave of grief. My dad, who was 91, has gone forever. Where is he? We were inseparable. He lived with me in the last months of his life, and was a father figure to my children, Lola, eight, and Liberty, six. He was my steadfast rock who I could always count on. I cared for him until the end. I want to know if hes OK. I want to know if hes happy and with my mum. I want to know if what Im doing is a useful tool for processing grief. Or if its utterly ridiculous.

Fleur Leussink is the 34-year-old medium who Im hoping will connect me with my dad. She has a five-year wait list  though does express readings within three months for $895 (691)  and clients that have included Lana Del Rey and Emma Roberts. When she appears over Zoom from New York, I am struck by her ethereal softness  her brown, shoulder-length hair is tied into a neat bun, and she wears a white puff sleeve top and earpiece.

After brief introductions are made, Fleur goes quiet. She closes her eyes and sways calmly from side to side. She tells me this is to tune in to energy, consciousness, or lifeforce. She claims that all of this exists even after our physical passing, that it is conscious, intelligent, and aware of real-time events. Its subtle, she adds, with quick visual images appearing to her much like a daydream or in the form of a sensation in her body. Were going to be working with a couple of people, she says, declaratively. Your father is there, but its crowded. I cant get to him without talking about others too.

Thats when she mentions a man who passed through suicide, someone I was close to, but who isnt my father. I immediately know that shes talking about Alex, my former partner and the father of my children. But Ive written about him before extensively, so Im sceptical about her pinpoint accuracy. Alex, she tells me, is watching over four children, even though I only have two children with him. Both girls, she says correctly.

This calculation makes sense. Two of those are Lola and Liberty, of course, but also his 29-year-old son from a previous relationship, and his six-year-old granddaughter. Correct, I say. I realise theres no way Fleur could have known this information, even from my social media.

Im certain there are many fake mediums out there, people who prey on the vulnerable. But Im left baffled by what Ive personally experienced with Fleur. I just cant explain it

As much as Id like her to connect with my dad, Fleur cant move past Alex. She says that he has a history of addiction. This is true, I say. It feels romantic, she continues, like a partnership  but it feels very off and on. That is true, too, as is her feeling that this man died a decade ago  Alex died in 2014. Fleur correctly senses that I havent been open to love since, and says that Alex wants me to meet the second love of my life, who is waiting in the wings. I stop her. Alex cant take up the whole reading, I insist. Absolutely, Fleur laughs. But hes really strong energetically.

Fleur says that she senses one of mine and Alexs children has just lost her bottom front teeth. Thats accurate. She tells me that Alex is impressed that Lola and Liberty are so solid, and that they dont hold the same dysregulation that could make them turn to substances as they get older. Thats reassuring. Fleur says she is going to move her energy and pivot away from Alex. I feel a tinge of guilt  as if Im not appreciating his support.

Finally, Fleur connects with my dad. She senses that he was dependable for me, that he was part of the day-to-day in my childrens lives, and that he got to see them change and grow over time. All of it is true. She tells me that he was often in denial about his old age, and that he knew he was unwell but that his death wasnt expected. Yes, I gulp. It was a total shock.

open image in gallery The psychic medium Fleur Leussink ( Josefa Searle )

She feels pressure on her head  as if its what he experienced the night he died. There is a sense of the cardiovascular system not working well, she tells me. That the blood flow isnt pumping around the body. Hes hit by the pressure in his brain, and then it all goes very quickly. What blows my mind is that there is no way she could have known this information unless she had seen his death certificate. The post-mortem revealed that my dad had died of myocardial ischemia in the left ventricle, meaning there was a decrease in his hearts ability to pump blood. That can reduce venous outflow from the brain, causing headaches. I know  I looked it up.

She tells me that there was a woman present in the room while he began to pass away  it was his carer, who discovered him at 2am and woke me up to alert me. There is a slight delay, she says. They arent in the room to take action right away. But he wants me to know that finding him earlier wouldnt have made a huge difference. At best, he thinks he would have been in a vegetative state, which is exactly what the intensive care doctor told me about 15 minutes after we arrived at the A&E department.

My dad was unresponsive as I sat by him and he took his last breath. Two doctors had called me into a hospital side room and told me the devastating news they were removing the breathing apparatus  I had a few minutes left with him to hold his hand. I begged them not to let him die before I surrendered to one of the saddest moments of my life.

He wants me to know with absolute certainty that he knew you were there, Fleur tells me. I get goosebumps. Were you on his left side when he was passing? Because that is where he feels you. Yes, I say. She has the feeling of receiving a kiss on her left cheek. She tells me it feels beautiful, and that my dad wanted me to know that he felt the kiss. She describes the scene as if she was there.

open image in gallery Fleur was told at 18 that she had psychic powers ( Josefa Searle )

Hes happy, she says, to be reunited with my mum  shes also correct in that my dad had been living on his own for a very long time, as my mum died over 20 years ago. Its as if she knows him well. He even wants me to know his teeth are good again. He had a lot of pain in his teeth and his gums towards the end of life and had a hard time chewing on things, she says. Hes done with that, thank God. His last message to me is that I was closest to him, and knew him best  and that I shouldnt let other people tell me what he desired, wanted or thought. It really resonates with me, particularly in light of family disharmony.

I dont really know what to make of it all. In the 50 minutes I spent with Fleur, I think there were only two occasions where she said something I thought was incorrect. Im certain there are many fake mediums out there, people who prey on the vulnerable and those who get addicted to spiritual readings like these. But Im left baffled by what Ive personally experienced with Fleur. I just cant explain it.

I dont perceive the spirit world to be outside of our own, Fleur tells me after the reading. She was told by a psychic when she was 18 that she herself was a medium, and that she would get very sick if she didnt step into it. Shes been doing readings ever since.

I believe death to be a continuation of life, she tells me, shortly before we say our goodbyes. I dont find that message particularly comforting, but I do feel like Ive had a good chat with my dad, whether it was genuine or not. Perhaps that feeling is all I needed.
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Snoop Doggs daughter Cori Broadus has opened up about suffering a stroke while planning her wedding.

The 25-year-old addressed some of the health challenges she experienced over the last year in the first look at her three-part special, Snoop Doggs Fatherhood: Cori & Waynes Story. The documentary also features her famous father; her mother, Shante Broadus; and her fiance, Wayne Duece.

My health was declining, she said, as she was seen going to the emergency room at a hospital. Doctor comes in, Cori, you had a stroke.

She added: Im hurting, Im scared. Why is this happening to me?

In the trailer, Broadus and Duece are seen celebrating their engagement and impending nuptials. I love Wayne, so much, the bride-to-be said. Her future husband added: Now that me and Coris engaged, its time to get this wedding on the role.

The special will document the four months that the couple  who got engaged in 2022  dedicated to wedding planning, such as sending save-the-date cards to 750 guests and deciding who they want to perform at the event.

My dream would be to have Justin Bieber, Broadus said, as she spoke about who will be a part of the wedding. Her father then hilariously responded: You got too many goddamn dreams.

Snoop Doggs daughter shares she had a stroke while planning her wedding ( Getty Images for MTV )

Another scene detailed the criticism that Broadus received online throughout her relationship with Duece. Of course, the haters come in eventually, like, Hes only with her because of her dad.

She also confessed how she and Duece were having a few problems amid wedding planning. Me and Wayne are in some deep trouble, she said, while the pair was shown at what appeared to be a couples therapy session.

Im short-tempered, she added, before her partner chimed in: Theres no point in talking. Should I even get married?

Elsewhere in the trailer, Broadus acknowledged her close relationship with her famous parents, while still staying true to her identity. My parents are so cool. Im Snoop Doggs daughter but Im still Cori at the end of the day, she said, before later noting that everyone tells her shes her dads twin.

Last year, Broadus first opened up about planning a wedding at the age of 23, noting that she and her partner had been together since 2018. We [had] talked about marriage, but we already feel married, she told Teen Vogue in February 2023. [There was] no rush. Were so young. We have so much time ahead of us.

She further explained how grateful she was for her relationship after having bad experiences with her exes.

Im thinking youre going to be on the same stuff [as my exes], Cori said, while looking at Duece. And when you [werent], its like, do I even like you? Youre too good. Im not crying at night. Im not stressed out. I dont got anxiety.

Broadus added: I think, to this day, Im still learning what love is I [had] to learn how to love him as well. Im so glad were together. Im so glad I found my peace of mind.

Snoops Fatherhood: Cori and Waynes Story, which is a three-part docuseries, will premiere on E! on December 5 at 10pm EST.
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One of the eight migrants brought for processing in an Albanian center after being intercepted in international waters has returned to Italy after being deemed vulnerable, a delegation of Italian activists and lawmakers visiting the center said on Saturday.

The Egyptian man was diagnosed with psychic problems, which made it impossible for him to remain at the Gjader reception center, one of the activists said. Currently only seven migrants  five from Bangladesh and two from Egypt  remain at the Albanian center.

The group represented the second transfer of migrants since two processing centers started operating in October under a deal sealed between Italy and Albania. Human rights groups and nongovernmental organizations active in the Mediterranean have slammed the agreement as a dangerous precedent that conflicts with international laws.

The agreement allows up to 3,000 migrants intercepted by the Italian coast guard in international waters each month to be sheltered in Albania, and vetted for possible asylum in Italy or be sent back to their countries.

Italy has agreed to welcome those migrants who are granted asylum, while those whose applications are rejected face deportation directly from Albania.

The first group of 16 migrants from Bangladesh and Egypt was transferred to Albania on Oct. 16. Four were taken to Italy the same day because they were minors or had health issues. Twelve others were brought back to Italy three days later, following a ruling by Rome judges who rejected their detention because their countries of origin werent safe enough for them to be sent back.

The court ruling had shortened the list of countries considered safe by law, meaning that Rome can repatriate migrants from those countries who didnt win asylum using a fast-track procedure. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni slammed the decision, noting that deeming countries such as Bangladesh and Egypt unsafe means that virtually all migrants would be barred from the Albania program.

On Oct. 21, Italys far-right government approved a new decree aimed at overcoming those judicial hurdles that risked derailing the contentious five-year migration deal with Albania.

A decision by Rome judges on the detention of the seven migrants currently in Albania is expected for Monday.

___

Follow APs global migration coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/migration
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Stefanos Kasselakis, a businessman who burst into Greek politics over a year ago, said he was leaving left-wing Syriza, the country's main opposition party he had led, and forming his own.

Kasselakis announced he was leaving Syriza Friday after a two-day party congress refused to consider his leadership candidacy in a contest that will take place later this month.

Kasselakis, 36, has lived most of his life in the U.S. and only entered Greek politics in May 2023 as a candidate in a national election. Syriza, already the main opposition party, suffered a disastrous double defeat at elections held in May and June of that year. He unexpectedly entered the leadership contest to replace longtime leader Alexis Tsipras and triumphed in September 2023.

His main opponent and several of her supporters bolted the party in December 2023, forming a new organization, New Left. Many of the Syriza members who had supported Kasselakis soon soured on him, accusing him of not being a true leftist. Kasselakis did not endear himself with his confrontational style and open disdain for the elected party organs.

In September, Syriza's central committee ousted Kasselakis from his post after a motion of no confidence. He contested the legitimacy of the vote and was set to run in the leadership race but was stopped by the party's central committee.

Along with Kasselakis, four lawmakers also bolted the party Friday and Saturday. This has left Syriza with 31 lawmakers in the 300-member Greek parliament, equal with the socialist PASOK party.

Under Tsipras, Syriza had governed the country from 2015-2019. Recent opinion polls show party support back into single digits.
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Michael Woods has visited his wife, Mary, every day since she moved into a nursing home two years ago.

But on Sunday, the 100-year-old Royal Air Force veteran will skip the daily get-together so he can fulfill another duty  honoring the men he served with during World War II.

For the first time since he left the RAF in 1947, Woods will take part in Britains national Remembrance Day service, joining thousands of veterans as they march past the Cenotaph war memorial in central London to honor those who died during the world wars and all the conflicts that followed.

Its a great privilege for me to do this, said Woods, a mechanic who kept Lancaster bombers flying during the war. And I suppose Ill never do it again."

The annual ceremony is a solemn event marked every year when the king and envoys from the Commonwealth nations that fought alongside Britain in the two world wars lay wreaths at the Cenotaph. It culminates when up to 10,000 veterans, many with medals gleaming on their chests and regimental berets on their heads, parade past the memorial.

Until now, Woods has watched on television from his home in Dunstable, 30 miles (50 kilometers) away. Mary always watched with him.

Woods had a lot on his mind before. For many years, he was busy with his family: two daughters, a son, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. And, more recently, he was looking after Mary, his wife of 68 years.

But there was something else holding him back as well. He didnt feel he deserved the honor, as he was just" a mechanic working on the 12-cylinder Rolls-Royce Merlin engines that powered the Lancaster bombers. He changed his mind after he connected with other ex-service members through Blind Veterans UK, the charity that has helped him deal with macular degeneration and glaucoma.

He felt it was time to remember the men who didnt come home after they roared into the sky aboard planes he had certified as airworthy. Each Lancaster carried a crew of seven, most in their early 20s, so the losses  so many at once  were hard to bear.

Its very, very upsetting when a Lancaster takes off and it doesnt return," Woods told The Associated Press.

I couldnt forget it if I wanted to," he added. Its just imprinted on your mind, you know."

The RAFs Bomber Command had the highest attrition rate of any Allied unit during World War II, with 44% of aircrew members killed in action, according to the International Bomber Command Centre. Some 55,573 of the 125,000 who served on the aircrews died during the war.

Adrian Bell, CEO of Blind Veterans UK, said hes met many World War II veterans who describe themselves as mere cogs in a massive machine. But thats what it took to defeat fascism. Everyone was needed.

So come Sunday, Woods will be marching.

With the stubbornness to retain his independence that seems to have come with turning 100, Woods insists he wont use a wheelchair because he has never used one before and isnt going to start now. Besides, his son, Eddie, will be there to act as a guide and his buddies from the charity will be nearby to offer emotional support.

He will be an inspiration, Bell said.

I think the most important thing is the fortitude of a man who is 100 years old, who fought in the Second World War and beyond, who is going to be there physically on Sunday and marching as a tribute to those who lost their lives and as a sort of a sign of hope and a sign ... that there is life after all of these things," Bell said. Thats the embodiment of something that I think is really important.
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The Defense Department will appeal a military judge's ruling that plea agreements struck by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, and two of his co-defendants are valid, a defense official said Saturday.

The ruling this past week voided Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's order to throw out the deals and concluded that the plea agreements were valid. The judge granted the three motions to enter guilty pleas and said he would schedule them for a future date to be determined by the military commission.

The department will also seek a postponement of any hearing on the pleas, according to the official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss legal matters and spoke on condition of anonymity. Rear Adm. Aaron Rugh, the chief prosecutor, sent a letter Friday to the families of 9/11 victims informing them of the decision.

The ruling by the judge, Air Force Col. Matthew McCall, allowed the three 9/11 defendants to enter guilty pleas in the U.S. military courtroom at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and would spare them the risk of the death penalty. The pleas by Mohammed, Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi would be a key step toward closing out the long-running and legally troubled government prosecution in the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.

Government prosecutors had negotiated the deals with defense lawyers under government auspices, and the top official for the military commission at Guantanamo had approved the agreements. But the deals were immediately slammed by Republican lawmakers and others when they were made public this summer.

Within days, Austin issued an order saying he was nullifying them. He said plea bargains in possible death penalty cases tied to one of the gravest crimes ever carried out on U.S. soil were a momentous step that should only be decided by the defense secretary.

The judge had ruled that Austin lacked the legal authority to toss out the plea deals.

The agreements, and Austins attempt to reverse them, have made for one of the most fraught episodes in a U.S. prosecution marked by delays and legal difficulties. That includes years of ongoing pretrial hearings to determine the admissibility of statements by the defendants, given their torture in CIA custody.

While families of some of the victims and others are adamant that the 9/11 prosecutions continue until trial and possible death sentences, legal experts say it is not clear that could ever happen. If the 9/11 cases ever clear the hurdles of trial, verdicts and sentencings, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit would likely hear many of the issues in the course of any death penalty appeals.

The issues include the CIA destruction of videos of interrogations, whether Austins plea deal reversal constituted unlawful interference and whether the torture of the men tainted subsequent interrogations by clean teams of FBI agents that did not involve violence.
Photo: https://t.me/dsns_telegram/34763

One person was killed and 13 people, including two children, were wounded as a result of Russia's attack on Odesa last night, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine has said Saturday morning.

"Apartment buildings were damaged, dozens of cars were burned, a storage facility went on fire. Psychologists of the State Emergency Service helped 25 people, including one child," it said on the Telegram channel.

The regional prosecutor's office, for its part, reported that the Russian occupation army launched a massive drone attack on Odesa and suburbs on the night of November 9.

"A local woman died as a result of the attack, 13 people were wounded, among them there are two boys aged 4 and 16. The information on casualties is yet to be updated," it said.

Head of Odesa Regional Military Administration Oleh Kiper specified that a private house was destroyed and subsequently caught fire during the enemy attack on Odesa.

"A whole family was injured: the father and his 16-year-old son are now hospitalized in moderate condition, and the mother died," he said in a Telegram message.

According to the official, a large-scale fire broke out on the territory of a residential complex after a drone hit the town of Avanhard. Around 15 cars went on fire and apartment buildings were damaged there.
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There is a strong likelihood that famine is imminent in parts of northern Gaza, where Israeli forces are conducting a major offensive, hunger experts warned Friday.

An alert issued by the four experts called the humanitarian situation throughout the war-torn Gaza Strip extremely grave and rapidly deteriorating and worst in the north.

The Famine Review Committee warned that famine thresholds may have already been crossed or else will be in the near future.

The committee's four independent experts are part of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, which is made up of a network of 15 U.N. and other organizations that monitor global hunger and food security.

The experts said all actors in the war in Gaza must take immediate action within days not weeks  to avert and alleviate this catastrophic situation.

They said this includes not only combatants  Israel, Hamas and other militant groups  but those who have influence on them.

Cindy McCain, executive director of the U.N. World Food Program, tweeted after the alert was issued: The unacceptable is confirmed: Famine is likely happening or imminent in north Gaza.

Immediate steps MUST BE TAKEN to allow safe, rapid & unimpeded flow of humanitarian & commercial supplies to prevent an all-out catastrophe. NOW, she said.

Its alert follows an Oct. 17 report by an IPC analysis team that said Palestinians in the entire territory face acute food insecurity. Thats the emergency level, Phase 4, on the five-level classification system for hunger. It said 133,000 people were classified as facing catastrophic food insecurity, which is Phase 5 along with famine.

That IPC team did a risk assessment and concluded that under a reasonable worst-case scenario, all of Gaza faced a risk of famine between November and April 2025, the experts said.

Since their report, the committee said, there have been a number of significant developments: Israel's offensive largely sealing off northern Gaza for a month, a lower level of aid shipments last month than at any time since the war began in October 2023, and food access reaching critical levels and deteriorating.

The Israeli military body handling aid to Gaza, COGAT, said it is preparing to open a new aid crossing into Gaza as a U.S. deadline approaches next week for Israel to increase humanitarian supplies into the territory or risk restrictions on military assistance.

But COGAT did not say when the crossing will open or if aid will be delivered to north Gaza.

The U.S. says Israel must allow a minimum of 350 trucks a day carrying food and other supplies. In October, 57 trucks a day entered Gaza on average, according to COGAT figures, and 81 a day in the first week of November. The U.N. puts the number lower, at 37 trucks daily since the beginning of October.

It was an average of 500 trucks daily before the war, said Jean-Martin Bauer, WFPs director of food security and nutrition analysis.

The supply of the essentials in Gaza has really dwindled, and the consequence of that is very high food insecurity and the imminent famine in northern Gaza, Bauer told The Associated Press. The message is: Act now to let aid in and let aid programs and humanitarians do what they need to do to assist the population."

The Famine Review Committee cited people fleeing and trapped in the north, skyrocketing food prices and accelerating attacks on health and nutrition facilities and other civilian infrastructure in recent weeks, including the arrest of medical staff by Israeli forces.

It called for a new IPC analysis, saying it is already abundantly clear that the worst-case scenario developed by the analysis team is now playing out in areas of the northern Gaza Strip.

It can therefore be assumed that the starvation, malnutrition, and excess mortality due to malnutrition and disease, are rapidly increasing in these areas, it said. Famine thresholds may have already been crossed or else will be in the near future.

Famine results from an extreme lack of food, starvation, destitution, extremely critical acute malnutrition, including among at least 30% of children and deaths.

The committee called for immediate action to end the siege in northern Gaza, allow unimpeded supplies of food, water, medical and nutritional supplies to enter the entire Gaza Strip, the repair of health and sanitation facilities, and release of health staff.

The experts warned that the failure to respond in the next few days will lead to further deterioration of the humanitarian situation and additional, unavoidable deaths.

If no effective action is taken by stakeholders with influence, the scale of this looming catastrophe is likely to dwarf anything we have seen so far in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023, the committee warned.
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to remove a common ingredient in nasal decongestants used by millions of Americans, citing data that shows its not effective.

Oral phenylephrine is used in over-the-counter products like Sudafed and Dayquil to help temporarily relieve the common symptom of colds and allergies. Phenylephrine has been sold for more than 75 years, predating the agencys own regulations on drug effectiveness.

It is the FDAs role to ensure that drugs are safe and effective, Dr. Patrizia Cavazzoni, the director of the FDAs Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a statement. Based on our review of available data, and consistent with the advice of the advisory committee, we are taking this next step in the process to propose removing oral phenylephrine because it is not effective as a nasal decongestant.

open image in gallery Signage is seen outside of the Maryland headquarters of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August of 2020. The agency is proposing to remove oral phenylephrine from commonly-used nasal decongestants. ( REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo )

For now, companies may still market products containing oral phenylephrine as a nasal decongestant. Only a final order will affect what products can be marketed. Some products only contain oral phenylephrine as a single, active ingredient, and others contain oral phenylephrine and another active ingredient.

The FDA notes the proposed order is not based on safety concerns, and that the presence of oral phenylephrine in these medicines does not affect how other active ingredients treat symptoms. In addition, its action is only related to orally administered phenylephrine, and not the nasal spray form.

Last fall, the FDA held a meeting to discusss the status of oral phenylephrine, determining that the leading decongestant is no better than a dummy pill. Studying phenylephrine at higher doses is not an option because it can raise blood pressure to potentially dangerous levels.

The FDAs recent proposal drew swift reaction from the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, which noted that the ingredient is the only oral over-the-counter decongestant available without restrictions.

open image in gallery Sudafed and other common nasal decongestants containing pseudoephedrine are on display at a pharmacy in Edmond, Oklahoma, in January 2005. Phenylephrine became the main drug in over-the-counter decongestants when medicines with pseudoephedrine were moved behind pharmacy counters. ( (AP Photo, File) )

CHPA is disappointed in FDAs proposal to reverse its long-established view of oral PE. For decades, people have relied on oral PE to relieve their nasal congestion, said CEO Scott Melville. We believe Americans deserve access to safe and effective OTC medicines and the option to choose the products they prefer for self-care.

Drugmakers Proctor & Gamble and Kenvue did not immediately reply to The Independents request for comment on the matter.

Phenylephrine became the main drug in over-the-counter decongestants when medicines with an older ingredient  pseudoephedrine  were moved behind pharmacy counters.

With reporting from The Associated Press
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Scientists might have found a new volcano, but unless you're a fish, it probably doesnt pose much danger.

Working off the coast of western and northern Alaska, the Coast Guard Cutter Healys research teams, including members from the National Science Foundation, the University of New Hampshire, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, were there to conduct Artic Ocean seafloor mapping near Alaska and survey uncharted waters of the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas.

Then, they found a new volcano-like formation deep in the ocean waters.

The new volcano-like structure sits more than 1,600 meters from the water's surface. So, it's far too deep to pose a danger to those on land.

However, scientists detected a possible gas plume rising from the feature and the gas nearly reaches the surface.

open image in gallery An image depicts the underwater volcano-like feature beneath the ocean near Alaska. However, it's far too deep to pose much of a risk to those on land ( US Coast Guard )

The Coast Guard said the new mountain range or gas plume does not pose any risk to vessels.

Although data analysis is ongoing, these findings are exciting and offer insight into what may exist beneath the oceans surface, much of which is unknown in this region, Captain Meghan McGovern, commanding officer of NOAA Ship Fairweather, said in a statement.

Crews above the Healy were on a scientific mission when the range was found.

At 420 feet long, the Healy is the branchs largest vessel and the Coast Guards only icebreaker designed to support research.

open image in gallery Teams on the US Coast Guard Cutter Healy, the military branchs largest vessel, discovered a volcano-like feature rising from the seabed. ( US Coast Guard )

The trip was part of a larger project called the Alaskan Arctic Coast Port Access Route Study, which was enacted to evaluate the need for establishing vessel routing measures.

The Healy has since returned to Seattle, Washington. It left Washington for Arctic deployment in June.

Its an honor supporting such diverse research missions in the northern high latitudes while working towards enhancing navigation safety in a region where soundings are sparse, said the Healys Commanding Officer Capt. Michele Schallip.
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Scientists have spotted a deep-sea ghost white shark with a rare genetic disorder, shedding light on how such abnormalities affect endangered marine species living near the sea floor.

They caught the critically endangered angular rough shark, Oxynotus centrina, with abnormal colouration off Albanias coast.

The angular rough shark is typically dark grey-brown or black all over with some dark patches on the head and sides to help it blend into the dark deep-sea environment.

The shark is found on the outer shelves and upper slopes of the eastern Atlantic Ocean, reaching depths of upto 1300m.

Adults of the species can be recognised by their compressed body, very rough skin, sail-shaped dorsal fins, and typically darker colouration.

The shark caught off Albania, described in a study in the Journal of Fish Biology, has less pigmentation, resulting in overall pale appearance along with white-greyish patches. The pigmentation in the eyes is normal, however.

This is contrary to albinism, a condition which leaves animals without any pigmentation and with red irises.

open image in gallery Male specimen of angular rough shark with leucism ( Andrej A Gajic et al, Journal of Fish Biology )

The scientists consider the shark a case of leucism, a rare genetic disorder that affects melanin production.

In leucistic sharks, the iris pigmentation is normal even when the rest of the body appears completely white.

This represents the first documented case of leucism in this species and the first colour disorder reported in the family Oxynotidae, the study says.

Diving Deep into the Ocean's Mysteries

In many species, the lack of pigmentation can make individuals stand out to both predators and prey, reducing their chances of survival.

This is especially so in the deep sea where light is so scattered there is nearly nothing left to detect.

However, this rare shark caught off Albanias coast appeared unaffected by its strange appearance.

open image in gallery Shark scientist Andrej Gajic handling an angular rough shark ( Sharklab ADRIA )

The health parameters of the rare shark compared with another individual found in the same area also showed no differences.

Full morphometric characteristics are presented and compared with those of a normal individual of the same sex caught in the same area, showing no differences, the study noted.

This suggests pigment disorders in deep-sea sharks may not necessarily impair their survival and growth, scientists said.
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Ministers have been accused of scaremongering after revealing they will not resentence thousands of prisoners trapped under indefinite jail terms.

This will leave more than 2,600 languishing under torture sentences with no release date, including James Lawrence, who is still in prison 18 years after he was handed an eight-month jail term; Thomas White, who set himself alight in his cell after serving 12 years for stealing a phone; and Abdullahi Suleman, who is still inside 19 years after he was jailed for a laptop robbery.

Despite repeated calls from the UN, recommendations from the cross-party justice select committee, and at least 90 suicides in prison, justice secretary Shabana Mahmood and prisons minister Lord Timpson have said they will not consider a resentencing exercise for those still serving abolished Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences.

In a letter to a campaigner, Lord Timpson claimed any resentencing exercise would lead to dangerous offenders being automatically released without licensed supervision.

But politicians and campaigners have hit back, accusing ministers of scaremongering and making excuses, as they call for the government to reconsider ahead of a second reading of a private members bill tabled by Lord Woodley this week.

The Labour peer said he is determined to use his bill to find common ground and bring resentencing a step closer, adding: There are many of us in parliament who will not rest until it fixes the dreadful mistake it made 20 years ago.

open image in gallery Campaigners have hit back at justice secretary Shabana Mahmoods claim that resentencing would lead to the automatic release of dangerous offenders ( AFP/Getty )

Wholeheartedly lending his support to The Independents campaign for all IPP prisoners to have their sentences reviewed, Lord Woodley said the governments reluctance is based on excuses for inaction rather than real reasons.

Fears that resentencing would automatically free dangerous prisoners was a claim also touted by Ms Mahmood in the Commons.

However campaigners have strongly challenged this, insisting the government is able to legislate for whatever safeguards, supervision or staggered approach to resentencing they deem necessary.

Most of the arguments against resentencing sound like excuses for inaction rather than real reasons, because we all know that, where theres a will, theres a way, Lord Woodley added, noting his bill includes the establishment of an expert panel to advise on the safest way to resentence.

He said public opinion against what he called torture sentences is growing, adding that keeping people detained over crimes they might commit in future is utterly wrong. In many cases, the indefinite detention itself has caused severe damage to prisoners mental health.

It was the state that broke these people  and now the state is using the fact theyre broken as a reason to keep them locked up, breaking them some more every day this living nightmare continues, he said.

open image in gallery Marc Conway was among bystanders who helped to disarm terrorist Usman Khan on London Bridge before he was shot by police ( Supplied )

Reformed IPP prisoner Marc Conway, who was one of the heroes of the Fishmongers Hall terror attack, said the government was scaremongering.

The fact that Shabana Mahmood in parliament has said that all dangerous people are going to be released straight away  that is not true, he told The Independent. Its scaremongering and she knows it.

He believes the governments reluctance could be about fears over potential compensation claims, after the UN has previously called for over-tariff IPP prisoners to be paid reparations.

Speaking exclusively to The Independent ahead of the private members bill, the UNs special rapporteur on torture, Dr Alice Jill Edwards, urged the government to consider a partial resentencing programme, starting with those jailed for minor crimes.

The controversial jail terms, which saw offenders given a minimum tariff but no maximum, were scrapped in 2012 over human rights concerns, but not for those already detained.

Of the 2,694 IPP prisoners still incarcerated, around 700 have served more than 10 years longer than their minimum term as they wait for the parole board to declare them safe for release. At least five IPP prisoners who were given minimum terms of less than six months, usually for minor crimes, have remained in jail for at least 16 years.

open image in gallery UN special rapporteur on torture, Dr Alice Jill Edwards, warned: We cannot allow more people to take their lives out of a lack of action. ( UN Human Rights Council screengrab )

Human rights expert Dr Edwards has previously branded the jail terms psychological torture. She said: For certain cohorts of prisoners, the government should consider a partial or prioritised resentencing exercise, which could start with a court-supervised resentencing process for those serving time for more minor crimes.

I will continue to monitor progress on all fronts. We cannot allow more people to take their lives out of a lack of action.

She welcomed the automatic termination of licences for 1,800 long-released IPP prisoners earlier this month, but said she was troubled to hear reports that 30 per cent of those still inside are being held in prisons that do not provide a pathway out of the jail term.

In his letter to campaigner Richard Garside, director of the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, Lord Timpson vowed the government would redouble its efforts to help IPP prisoners progress in order to pass the parole boards statutory release test.

But Mr Conway, who now works as a prison reform campaigner, warned that pledges to support IPP prisoners inside are impossible to implement amid the current jail crisis.

Prisons are not fit for purpose at the moment, I think we can all agree on that, he added. You are trying to navigate through a sentence but you havent got the environment to do that productively.

Mr Garside agreed that the governments claim about resentencing simply does not stand up as he warned the current pace of release for IPP prisoners remains glacially slow.

open image in gallery IPP prisoner James Lawrence, 38, is still in prison 18 years after he was handed an eight-month jail term ( Mandy Lawrence )

Shirley de Bono, co-founder of campaign group IPP Committee in Action, said: They have got to put resentencing back on the table, they have got to deal with these IPPs. They are not going to shove them out the door in one go, it will take years to deal with it.

I wouldnt like to think that they are letting someone dangerous out. They would go through each one with a fine-tooth comb.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: It is right that IPP sentences were abolished and we recently terminated the lifetime licences of 1,800 rehabilitated offenders. We are now exploring ways to improve access to mental health support and rehabilitation for those still in custody.

However, with public protection our first priority, we will not be pursuing a resentencing exercise. Doing so would bypass the role of the parole board, who assess IPP prisoners for release every two years, and make their decisions based on public protection.
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The firearms officer who shot innocent Jean Charles de Menezes in a botched police operation in the wake of the London 7/7 bombings has spoken out for the first time and admitted he would never want to meet his victims family.

The 27-year-old Brazilian electrician, who was not carrying a backpack, was on his way to work when two firearms officers fired seven bullets into his head and one into his shoulder after they mistook him for a suicide bomber.

The incident at Stockwell Underground station on 22 July 2005 sparked one the biggest crises in British policing, culminating in the Metropolitan Police being fined 560,000 for endangering the public.

Speaking out for the first time in a new documentary ahead of the 20th anniversary of the shooting, the firearms officer known as C12 has admitted he has no intention of ever meeting de Menezes family, fearing the emotional impact could make my life a bit unbearable.

He described the constant worry as like a weeping sore but said the Brazilian mans family were the real victims.

open image in gallery The firearms officer who shot Jean Charles de Menezes has said he was 100 per cent convinced the electrician was the suicide bomber ( Shoot to Kill: Terror on the Tube  Channel 4 / Curious Films )

Im suffering in a way, but in no way would I count my suffering as their suffering, he said.

At the moment the person that I shot, I cant really remember them, I dont remember any facial features so in a way its lessened the potential impact its had on me.

And I dont think I would like to open any closets which would make my life a bit unbearable. I know that sounds really, really selfish but thats how I feel.

I have been brutally honest about why we did what we did. I just hope they are words enough to explain our actions for that day.

Speaking about the moment he pulled the trigger, the officer said he was 100 per cent convinced that we were all about to die and he and his brother in arms, known as C2, would have to live with their decision for the rest of their lives.

The officer, who recently retired after 40 years in the Met, said: Its our duty to fully explain to a family in a respectful way why we acted how we acted.

open image in gallery Jean Charles de Menezes was shot in the head seven times ( PA )

Everything told me, everything told me that I was going to die, everything, and thats why I acted like I did. And it transpires that wasnt the case. How do you think Ill feel after that?

Police following Mr de Menezes wrongly believed he was one of four men who had failed to detonate bombs on the capitals transport system the day before. The failed attempt by Hussein Osman, who lived in the same building as Mr de Menezes, and three others had come just two weeks after four suicide bombers struck London, killing 52 people.

In the wake of the shooting reports claimed Mr de Menezes had run from police and vaulted the barriers at Stockwell tube, but C12 confirmed this was a mistake by eyewitnesses who had seen him leap the barrier in pursuit.

Documents later leaked by the then-police watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), revealed Mr de Menezes had used his Oyster card to enter the station and taken a seat on the train before he was shot.

The armed officer said he was instructed to stop Mr de Menezes getting on the tube with the codeword state red, state red after he was followed by surveillance officers from the building where the suspected terrorist lived.

He recalled aiming his gun at the 27-year-old who had got out of his seat and shouting armed police, but said he continued to move towards him.

open image in gallery A memorial made up of press cuttings and photographs outside Stockwell Tube station to honour Jean Charles de Menezes ( Oli Scarff/Getty Images )

C12 said time seemed to slow down as he fired the bullets at Mr de Menezes, which left him covered with blood and debris. When he was eventually allowed to shower, he washed bone splinters out of his hair, he added.

Police later discovered an ID card on Mr de Menezes and realised they had shot an innocent man. The real suspect, Osman, was arrested in Rome a week later.

C12 said his daughter would wake at night and he struggled with crippling headaches from stress as the fallout from the shooting unfolded.

Ive always seen policing good versus evil in clear defined terms  were the goodies, youve got to fight the baddies for the benefit of good people in society, he said.

Never thought, oh, wed have to face a situation like a turn from being a goodie to suddenly being a suspect in the case. As a police officer, if youre charged with an offence, your life is over.

His comments come amid widespread controversy over the trial of firearms Martyn Blake, who was last month acquitted of murdering Chris Kaba in a police shooting in September 2022.

No individual officers were charged over the shooting of Mr de Menezes, but the Met was found guilty of health and safety failures for a series of errors during the botched operation, which was led Cressida Dick.

A Met Police spokesperson said the incident has been scrutinised in multiple inquiries and all IPCC recommendations had been implemented immediately.

The shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes is a matter of very deep regret to the Metropolitan Police Service. Our thoughts remain with his family and we reiterate our apology to them, the force said.

No officer sets out on duty intent on ending a life. Our sole purpose is the complete opposite  the protection and preservation of life  and we have taken extensive action to address the causes of this tragedy.

Shoot to Kill: Terror on the Tube will air on Channel 4 at 9pm on Sunday 10 and Monday 11 November.
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Two brothers have been jailed for a combined total of almost 70 years for a premeditated double-shooting after they ambushed their victim outside a nightclub.

A 28-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and a stab wound to the back while a second victim was shot through his hand at point-blank range in the planned attack. Detectives said it was pure luck that no one was killed.

Jahmarley Thomas, 26, was last year sentenced to a total of 34 years imprisonment, with a further three to be served on licence, over the 2021 shooting.

His brother Jahni Thomas, 30, was sentenced to 35 years on Friday, with a further three to be served on licence.

The brothers, from Brent, north-west London, were convicted of two counts of attempted murder, one of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life and one count of possession of points and blades at Isleworth Crown Court in December 2022.

open image in gallery Jahni Thomas and Jahmarley Thomas have been jailed over the double shooting ( PA Archive )

The court heard the brothers had conducted a reconnaissance visit to the scene of the attack two hours earlier to check their target was present.

They then returned and lay in wait for their victim to leave a nightclub. As he did so, they ambushed their victim from behind, stabbing him once and shooting him in the left shoulder. The gunman then ran to a second male who was attempting to take cover in a vehicle.

The gunman opened the car door and at point-blank range, fired the gun a second time as the second victim raised his left hand to protect himself.

The bullet went through his hand and a jacket that was wrapped around it, hitting him in the chest and causing bruising.

open image in gallery The brothers were convicted of two counts of attempted murder at Isleworth Crown Court ( PA Archive )

Firearms officers rushed to the scene and found a 28-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the chest and a stab wound to the back. He was taken to hospital where his injuries, although initially serious, were deemed not life-threatening following treatment.

The other victim, aged 31, was also taken to hospital but his injuries were not life-threatening.

Detectives found the vehicle was stolen and using cloned number plates. They tracked it on CCTV for more than three hours and 27 miles as it drove around north-west London.

Detective constable Tom Harris of the Mets Specialist Crime Command said: This so easily could have been a murder investigation. The fact that nobody was killed was pure luck.

The Thomas actions were premeditated and planned, with no consideration for the safety of bystanders who may have unwittingly been caught up in the shootings.

The sentences handed down to the brothers demonstrate the danger they pose and I hope that the victims find a measure of closure in knowing that they have been taken off our streets for a considerable time.
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I got into farming because I love it. But its got so hard now to make enough money, Im looking to get a second job.

Chris Callow started raising livestock as soon as he left school, aged just 17. Now, aged 37, he and his wife, Jaz, own a small farm raising cattle and sheep near Axbridge in Somerset.

The couple have ambitions to expand the business and pass it on to their six children  but all is not going to plan.

Sat outside the cafe at Frome Livestock Market, Mr Callow told The Independent: We came here to buy a few cattle to raise on the farm but they cost too much.

So, weve come here and all weve got is lunch, he added with a wry smile.

open image in gallery Chris and Jaz Callow arrived at Frome Livestock Market to buy cattle, but left with an empty trailer due to the price of calves ( Independent )

The price of calves used to be around 50 to 60 each, Mr Callow explained. But now, he said, the breeds he wants for his farm cost between 150 and 160.

Its the same for sheep, he added. In the past, hes bought around 1,500 lambs to fatten up over the winter on the almost 200 acres of land he rents, but this year he cant afford the price of them.

Mr Callow said costs had soared after Brexit.

Latest Defra figures show that the price of calves rose 4 per cent between 2020 and 2022, while production, including labour and feed, increased by 27 per cent.

Its getting so difficult, he said. The boys on the large-scale farms have the means to buy up huge stock, but we just dont have the money to even get started properly.

I dont know what we do. We want to build up the farm, but its hard. Well keep going at it, for the time being, Im looking at another job in tree surgery alongside this.

Mrs Callow added: With six children aged up to 12, Christmas will be more difficult this year when buying presents.

The couples story isnt isolated.

open image in gallery Inside one of the live sales rings where farmers bid for calves at Frome Livestock Auction  managing director Bradley Towell says numbers are down in recent years ( Independent )

Defra figures show the number of farms in England with land of up to 124 acres has fallen 28 per cent between 2015 and 2023, while the number of farms with more than 495 acres has risen eight per cent in the same period.

Smaller family farms say they are struggling to compete with larger business able to buy up land and stock more easily, and invest in technology.

And Labours Budget is about to make the challenge even harder, they say, with increases in minimum wage and national insurance for employers, as well as changes to inheritance tax rules set to affect what farmers are able to pass on to their families, dubbed the tractor tax.

open image in gallery Frome Livestock Market attracts family farmers from across the West Country  the bigger farms often have their own deals with abattoirs ( Independent )

Markets are seeing significantly less livestock come here to be sold than a few years ago, said Bradley Towell, managing director at Frome Livestock Auctioneers.

Smartly dressed in an auctioneer suit and wearing boots, Mr Towell explained that the market, which can be traced back to the Domesday Book, moved from the centre of Frome to its current purpose-built site three miles away in 1989.

Holding sales twice a week, he said it draws family farmers from across the West Country  but with fewer in number, and a rise in larger businesses dealing directly with abattoirs, the number of livestock coming through had fallen.

The environment schemes people are now being funded for [post-Brexit government subsidies], they are being paid to grow wildflowers and not farm livestock, he said.

Theres also not a huge margin in livestock. Its hard work and long hours and I fear there is little incentive for the younger generation to come into it.

open image in gallery Sheep wait to be taken away after being sold at Frome Livestock Market as a bidder walks by ( Independent )

And whatever people think about inheritance tax, ultimately, the direction of travel is away from protecting family farms, which are now, frankly, being run by the older generation. Theres a lot of concern about the future.

The livestock market features a huge shed containing pens with around half taken by cattle and sheep. There are two live sales rings where livestock are sold under the watch of flat-capped farmers sipping takeaway cups of coffee.

Farmers can also be checked over at an NHS-supported health hub on site, where they can get anything from advice on emotional wellbeing to their toenails clipped.

In the cafe, there appeared to be only chatter on Labours budget and protest action.

open image in gallery Caroline Cunningham and John Strachan discuss the impact of the Labour budget over a sandwich inside the markets cafe ( Independent )

They [politicians] just think of farmers as being rich, which just isnt always the case, said Wiltshire farmer Caroline Cunningham.

Farmer John Strachan added: Already many family farms have been sold  this will only see more disappear as the younger generation cant afford to pay the tax with more land used for things like solar farms.

Another farmer called Dominic, who did not want to share his full name, said: It would appear to be a tax intended to restrict wealthy landowners, but in reality it will end up hitting family farms.

It has completely missed the target. Perhaps they dont care, they think we are all Tory voters who will never vote for them anyway.

Gareth Wyn Jones, a farmer in north Wales, says under changes in the Budget he will be the last generation in his family farming after 375 years.

The number of farmers in England has fallen 5 per cent between 2020 and 2024 and 38 per cent are aged 65 and over, according to the latest Defra figures.

open image in gallery Gareth Wyn Jones fears the changes to inheritance tax will lead to wholesale sells of land, bringing an end to generations-old family farms and a fall in food production ( George Thompson/PA )

Mr Jones said: We are sleepwalking into a food shortage. With a growing population, we need the farmers working the land to provide health, good food  we want to be protecting them, not deterring them.

It only takes something like whats happened in Spain, where we get vegetables, for our country to be in serious trouble, and itll be the poor who suffer most.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer claims that the vast majority of farmers will not be impacted by the changes in inheritance tax through the reform of the Agricultural Property Relief (APR). Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the threshold could reach 3m in some cases due to other allowances.

But the NFU disputes Treasury figures that claim roughly three-quarters of farms would be affected, describing the measure as disastrous for family farms already stretched to breaking point by tightened margins and extreme weather.

open image in gallery Rupert Cox, who runs a mental health support group for farmers, says family farmers have been unfairly targeted ( Rupert Cox )

In one corner of the livestock market cafe was farmer Rupert Cox, who under the banner of his mental health project called Farmeradoes, shared bright yellow cups of tea and inviting conversations.

An NHS worker on site said farmers were a hard group to get to on talking mental health, with most more likely to care for their animals than themselves.

Suicide rates in the industry are the highest of any UK economy sector, and a study in 2021 found more than a third are possibly or probably depressed.

Mr Cox said: This is a very worrying time for many farmers, and its so important we get them talking and sharing their problems. They feel unloved, let down - we mustnt allow them to suffer on their own.

open image in gallery Sam Stables, second left, with his team at We are Farming Minds. The farmer who once tried taking his own life wants to help others ( Humblebee Photography )

Away from the markets cafe, in Herefordshire, Sam Stables knows more than most about the mental health struggles of being a farmer.

The 37-year-old tried to take his own life 14 years ago when, he said, pressures of work and home life led to everything spiralling out of control.

The father-of-two set up a charity with a 24/7 helpline for farmers in his county. It is also providing counselling to 60 people in the farming community.

open image in gallery Farmers joined a protest outside the Northern Farming Conference in Hexham over the Budget measures earlier this week ( Owen Humphreys/PA Wire )

We havent seen people hit the panic button yet following the Budget, he said. But I fear if things dont change we will see greater demand.

Farmers are feeling numb right now. They are wondering what else can they throw at us next. Theres much anger over a lack of understanding from politicians.

A government spokesperson said: We understand concerns about changes to APR but the majority of those claiming relief will not be affected by these changes. They will be able to pass the family farm down to their children just as previous generations have always done.

This is a fair and balanced approach that protects the family farm while also fixing the public services that we all rely on. We remain committed to working with the NFU and listening to farmers.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
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In his thrice-weekly phone calls home, Jean Charles de Menezes told his mother he was safe and happy in London. The police did not even carry guns, he said.

But on the morning on 22 July 2005, Mr de Menezes was shot seven times in the head and killed by armed police as he traveled to work on the Tube.

The 27-year-old Brazilian - who worked as a kitchen porter - was mistaken for being a terrorist a fortnight after 52 people died during the July 7 bombings in the captial.

His death became one of the biggest crises in British policing history, which sparked international protests and led then-Met Police commissioner Sir Ian Blair to apologise to Mr de Menezess family.

Now, the police marksman who shot the young man at point blank range has spoken out for the first time in a new documentary.

Here, The Independent takes a look at who Mr de Menezes was and the circumstances that led to his death.

open image in gallery Jean Charles de Menezes - who worked as a kitchen porter and loved Eastenders - was shot by police seven times in the head at point blank range with a Glock 17 pistol ( Shutterstock )

Who was Jean Charles de Menezes?

Born in 1978, Mr de Menezes grew up on an isolated farm in Brazil. At age 14, he left to pursue his studies and lived with an uncle in an impoverished area of the sprawling city of Sao Paulo.

By the time he was 18, he had overcome the odds to complete his professional diploma. It was the piece of paper that would allow him to swap a life of odd jobs in crime-ridden ghettos for a home in London.

After travelling to Britain on holiday, during which he may have worked illegally, he obtained a five-year residency permit.

Such was his desire to make the most of the opportunity, the Brazilian had mastered English within four months of his arrival in Tulse Hill, south London, in March 2002.

open image in gallery Mr de Menezes grew up on an isolated farm in Brazil and moved to London as a young man ( Handout )

To relax, the 27-year-old would watch television - a favourite programme was EastEnders - or hang out with friends in a Brazilian bar close to Oxford Street.

He told relatives his dream was to build a successful career and earn enough money to return to the family home near the city of Gonzaga, in Minas Gerais, south-east Brazil, and set up a company.

At the time, friend and work colleague Gesio Cesar DAvila, 37, told The Independent: He was happy in London. He liked all the different cultures on his doorstep. He wanted to go home as a success.

What happened to him?

Stepping off the No 2 bus at 9.46am on 22 July 2005, Mr de Menezes made the kind of decision that is second nature to Londoners used to the unpredictability of the citys transport network.

Realising the Tube station he was heading for was closed, he jumped back on the bus he had just alighted and carried on towards Stockwell. That split-second, seemingly innocuous decision cost him his life.

Unbeknown to Mr de Menezes, he was being tailed by police who had been monitoring the entrance to his block of flats, where a suspected member of the terrorist cell that carried out the failed 21 July bombings had lived.

The attempted attack the day before Mr de Menezess death had seen a group of would-be suicide bombers target London transport links again, although their devices did not explode.

open image in gallery A tribute to Jean Charles De Menezes outside Stockwell underground station in south London ( Getty )

Officers thought thought the U-turn was a typical anti-surveillance technique and convinced them he was a terrorist, when they pursued him down the Tube stations escalators and into the carriage.

Making his way along the platform with his gun hidden behind his right leg, the armed police officer entered the carriage and was alerted to Mr de Menezess presence by a surveillance officer.

He pointed at the seated Brazilian and shouted He is here. As Mr Menezes stood up, the surveillance officer pinned him down and he was shot dead.

What was the aftermath?

In 2006, the Crown Prosecution Service decided that no police officers should be prosecuted over Mr de Menezes killing.

However, the Metropolitan Police was fined 175,000 with 385,000 costs after being found guilty of endangering the public.

In 2009, a four-year legal battle by the family of Mr de Menezes ended when they negotiated a settlement with the Metropolitan Police.

The sum of money involved in the settlement was reported to be just over 100,000 and the familys legal costs were paid.
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The Princess of Wales is making a steady return to royal duties following what has been one of the most tumultuous years of her life.

In March, Kate confirmed she had been diagnosed with an unknown form of cancer. What followed was a nine-month battle as she underwent preventative chemotherapy. She endured intense online speculation in the weeks leading up to the public announcement and has largely stayed out of the spotlight since.

Her diagnosis came in the same year as the King was also diagnosed with cancer. Her husband Prince William has spoken candidly about the royal familys major health scares, saying 2024 has probably been the hardest year in my life and a dreadful experience.

The princess made appearances at both the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday and the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph.

She confirmed on Tuesday 14 January that she is officially in remission for cancer, on the same day that she made a surprise visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital where she was treated.

This is a full timeline of Kates health journey since January 2024.

16 January, Tuesday

The Princesss saga begins in January when she is secretly admitted to The London Clinic for abdominal surgery.

open image in gallery The Princess of Wales made what was to be her last public appearance for almost half a year on Christmas Day, 2023. ( AFP via Getty Images )

17 January, Wednesday

Kensington Palace reveals that the princess has had planned abdominal surgery and estimates that she will spend the next 10 to 14 days in hospital.

It is said that she will be stepping back from her duties until Easter to recover. The Prince of Wales also steps back from his work to support his wife and young children.

The princess is said to be doing well in the immediate aftermath of the operation. Specifics about the nature of the operation were, and remain, private.

18 January, Thursday

Prince William is photographed leaving The London Clinic after visiting his wife.

open image in gallery William drives away from The London Clinic. ( PA Archive )

26 January, Friday

The princess is visited by King Charles when he is also treated at The London Clinic for an enlarged prostate.

29 January, Monday

The princess is discharged.

5 February, Monday

Prince William returns to duty.

Buckingham Palace announces that King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer. The Palace clarifies that while undisclosed in its form, the monarch does not have prostate cancer, although the disease was found during his prostate procedure.

The king steps back from his public-facing duties as he begins his treatment.

7 February, Wednesday

The Prince of Wales thanks well-wishers for their support amid the familys health troubles. At this point, it is believed that the Princess of Wales is merely recovering from her abdominal surgery.

4 March, Monday

The princess is photographed by paparazzi for the first time since her operation. She is being driven near Windsor Castle by her mother, Carole Middleton.

5 March, Tuesday

A claim that the princess would undertake the Colonels Review ahead of the Trooping the Colour in June is removed from the armys website.

10 March, Sunday

Kensington Palace shares a picture of the princess with her three children to celebrate Mothers Day. It is accompanied by the following message: Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months. Wishing everyone a Happy Mothers Day. C.

On the same day, the picture is removed by major photo agencies after it emerges that it has been manipulated.

open image in gallery The picture was removed by major photo agencies after it emerged that it has been manipulated ( Prince of Wales/Kensington Palace/PA Wire )

11 March, Monday

The princess personally apologises for the confusion caused by the photograph, describing herself as an amateur photographer who does occasionally experiment with editing.

16 March, Tuesday

A picture of a woman claimed to be the Princess of Wales near a Windsor farm shop is published by The Sun.

19 March, Tuesday

A breach report is filed with the UK privacy and data protection watchdog following claims that a staff member at the London Clinic attempted to access Kates private medical information.

22 March, Friday

Kensington Palace releases a video of the princess announcing that she has been diagnosed with cancer. She asks the public for privacy as she begins a course of preventative chemotherapy.

Kate said: It has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be OK.

open image in gallery The Princess of Wales announced her cancer diagnosis in a poignant video. ( AP )

18 April, Thursday

Prince William returns to work again after a brief Easter break, which he spent with his family. His engagements include a visit to a London food waste charity, Surplus to Supper, in Sunbury-on-Thames and a London youth centre.

10 May, Friday

The Prince of Wales provides a welcome update on his wifes health and says she is doing well.

5 June, Wednesday

A further update is provided by Prince William almost a month later at a D-Day memorial event in Portsmouth, where he tells a member of the public: Shed love to be here today.

8 June, Saturday

The princess sends a letter to the Irish Guards and apologises for being unable to make the Colonels Review ahead of Trooping the Colour because of her treatment.

13 June, Friday

Kate announces her return to public life at Trooping the Colour and says in a statement that while she is progressing, she is not out of the woods yet.

15 June, Saturday

The Princess of Wales makes a welcome return to life at Trooping the Colour, appearing with her family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

open image in gallery Kate and Charles with the royal family on the Palace balcony after Trooping the Colour in June. ( PA Wire )

14 July, Saturday

Kate makes a second public appearance, at Wimbledon, and receives a standing ovation. She presents the Mens Final trophy to Carlos Alcaraz.

11 August, Sunday

The Prince and Princess of Wales appear in a joint video to congratulate Team GB on their performance at the Paris Olympics.

Well done @TeamGB, what an incredible journey!



Every athlete showed immense dedication, heart and passion. You made us all so proud!



Here's to celebrating every triumph at @Paris2024 and looking forward to more from @ParalympicsGB later in the summer  pic.twitter.com/oCLz7HuuLG  The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) August 11, 2024

25 August, Sunday

The royal family, including the princess, begin their summer break at the Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is believed that this is the furthest Kate has travelled since her cancer diagnosis.

6 September, Friday

The princess hints at an imminent return to duty and says she is looking forward to working with the new chief of the Scouts, Dwayne Fields.

8 September, Sunday

It is reported that the princess could make her next public appearance on Remembrance Sunday and host her annual Christmas carol concert.

open image in gallery The Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte in the royal box at Wimbledon 2024. ( PA Wire )

9 September, Monday

Kensington Palace releases a video of the Wales family reflecting on the past nine months, and the princess reveals that she has finally finished her cancer treatment.

She added to others with cancer: To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey  I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand.

10 September, Tuesday

Prince William stresses that his wife still has a long way to go, despite the good news that she has finished chemotherapy.

17 September, Tuesday

The princess returns to work at Windsor Castle, turning her focus to her Early Years work.

The Court Circular reads: The Princess of Wales, Joint Patron, the Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales, this afternoon held an Early Years Meeting at Windsor Castle.

The meeting likely concerned the Shaping Us campaign that aims to raise the profile of the importance of early childhood development and the impact it can have later in life.

This marks the princesss third royal engagement of the year and her first work engagement.

24 September, Tuesday

Kate met aides to begin planning her annual Christmas carol service.

The Princess was mentioned in the Court Circular after holding a meeting at Windsor Castle about the event, with aides and members of her Royal Foundation.

The service will be held at Westminster Abbey for the fourth year running and will be broadcast on ITV on Christmas Eve.

2 October, Wednesday

Kate met and embraced an aspiring photographer with a rare and aggressive form of cancer after inviting the teenager to take pictures at investitures at Windsor Castle.

Liz Hatton, the 17-year-old, died the next month.

open image in gallery Photographer Liz Hatton died the next month ( Kensington Palace )

10 October, Thursday

The princess made a surprise visit with William to meet the bereaved families of the Southport stabbing victims.

The unannounced trip to Merseyside was William and Kates first joint official outing since the princesss course of chemotherapy cancer treatment ended in the summer.

9 November, Saturday

Kate attended the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall alongside the King and her husband, the Prince of Wales.

During the Festival, William and Kate, both wearing poppies, applauded a performance by Sir Tom Jones  who sang I Wont Crumble With You If You Fall with the central band of the Royal Air Force  and joined other members of the royal family in standing to clap for Second World War veterans.

10 November, Sunday

The princess appeared at the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London.

She watched the ceremony from the Foreign Office balcony alongside Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh in what was the first time she carried out two consecutive days of public official engagements since the start of the year.

Kate appeared emotional as she listened intently during the ceremony, wearing a black coat with three poppies pinned to it.

open image in gallery Kate, Princess of Wales, left, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh attend the Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph in London ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

25 December, Wednesday

Dressed in green, Kate attends the Christmas morning service, smiling as she greets fans as royal family members walk into St Mary Magdalenes church.

Kates Christmas morning appearance in 2023 would mark her last official public appearance before she underwent abdominal surgery, and later announced her cancer diagnosis.

14 January, Tuesday

The princess declares that she is in remission, after making a surprise visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital where she was treated.

In a message on social media, Kate said it was a relief to be officially in remission, and thanked the staff for her exceptional treatment.

My heartfelt thanks goes to all those who have quietly walked alongside William and me as we have navigated everything, the princess said.

It was also announced that Kate would take take on a role as a joint patron at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, alongside current patron William.
Photo: https://x.com/JosepBorrellF/status/1855126995744506087

High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell is making the fifth visit to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion.

"In Kyiv for my 5th visit since Russia's full-scale invasion and last one as HRVP [EU High Representative and Vice-President of the European Commission]. EU support to Ukraine has been my personal priority during my mandate and will remain on top of the EU's agenda," he said on the X social network Saturday morning.
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17 people were rushed to hospital after two double-decker buses collided in Manchester.

Emergency services were called to the scene of the crash north of the city centre after reports of the crash at 8:34am on Saturday morning.

Nine ambulances, an air ambulance, two response vehicles, an advanced paramedic and an operational commander attended the scene near the junction of Rochdale Road and Livesey Street, North West Ambulance Service said.

A spokesperson added: Seventeen patients were taken to hospitals across Manchester, including seven on a bus accompanied by a paramedic.

Shocking images shared to social media showed huge amount of damage to one of the buses with its windscreen and dront panels smashed in.

An eyewitness told Manchester Evening News that one bus had gone into another, while another bus had gone through a metal fence.

The media outlet reported that passengers were forced to climb out of the wreckage while one person had to be rescued from the upper deck by fire crews.

Local residents faced severe disruption as all of Rochdale Road was blocked off by the incident while authorities worked to clear debris strewn across the area. The road has now reopened

Local councillor Pat Karney attended the site and shared an image of the unbelievable damage done to the bus on X/Twitter.

He called for an investigation into what had happened as he told BBC Radio Manchester that it was an incredible amount of damage.

Its hard to work out what went on but it looks as though a bus went a great speed into another bus, he said. People dont wear seat belts on buses so they must have been traumatised.
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The Queen will not be joining other members of the royal family for a full schedule of Remembrance events as she continues to fight a chest infection.

Buckingham Palace confirmed a disappointed Camilla will not go to the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday evening, nor attend the Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph on Sunday.

It is understood there is no downturn in her condition, but the Queen is said to be mindful of minimising the risk of passing any last lingering infection to others.

A Palace spokesperson said: Following doctors guidance to ensure a full recovery from a seasonal chest infection, and to protect others from any potential risk, Her Majesty will not attend this weekends Remembrance events.

While this is a source of great disappointment to the Queen, she will mark the occasion privately at home and hopes to return to public duties early next week.

open image in gallery Queen Camilla will not be joining other members of the royal family for a full schedule of Remembrance events as she continues to fight a chest infection ( PA Wire )

The Queen is said to be mindful of passing any lingering infection to others after she was forced to pull out of an Olympic and Paralympic reception at the Palace and the opening of the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey earlier this week due to developing the bug.

Her doctors have erred on the side of caution in case a return to public duty this weekend  involving standing outside for a prolonged period in unpredictable weather  would set back a full recovery.

The service at the Cenotaph is an important fixture in the royal calendar and holds deep personal meaning for the Queen, through her official connections to the armed forces and because of her late father Major Bruce Shands military service.

She plans to return to London early next week if royal doctors give her the go-ahead, but is currently remaining in Raymill House in Wiltshire.

open image in gallery While Camilla will be absent, the Princess of Wales, who is recovering from cancer, and the King, who is still undergoing cancer treatment, are attending both Remembrance events ( AP )

While Camilla will be absent, the Princess of Wales, who is recovering from cancer, and the King, who is still undergoing cancer treatment, are attending both Remembrance events.

Kate is making two rare appearances alongside Charles, the Prince of Wales and other royals a month after her last official engagement.

It marks the next significant step in the princesss gradual return to public royal duties and comes after William spoke of how 2024 had been brutal and had probably been the hardest year in my life.

Asked by reporters how his year has been, he replied: Honestly? Its been dreadful. Its probably been the hardest year in my life.

William added: Im so proud of my wife, Im proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done. But from a personal family point of view, its been, yeah, its been brutal.

open image in gallery William spoke of how 2024 was brutal and had probably been the hardest year in my life ( PA Wire )

In a video Kate released in September, she revealed she had finished her chemotherapy treatment and spoke of how she was looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months.

But she added her focus was doing what I can to stay cancer-free.

Charles, who recently completed his first long-haul overseas tour since his own cancer diagnosis, will lay a wreath of poppies on Sunday at the base of the memorial, leading the nation in tribute to its fallen servicemen and women.

Thousands of veterans proudly wearing their medals, military families and the public will gather in remembrance of all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

William will also leave a floral tribute  featuring the Prince of Waless feathers and a new ribbon in Welsh red  at the historic Portland stone monument.
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Water was cut off from two care homes, a doctors surgery and around 100 elderly people in their homes for nearly two days after a pipe burst.

Residents were angry that it took South East Water more than 24 hours to deliver bottled water to them, during which time many were unable to even make hot drinks.

They also had to go without showers and were unable to flush lavatories.

open image in gallery The affected area covered hundreds of homes ( South East Water )

The pipe in the Cuckfield area of Mid-Sussex burst around midday on Thursday, initially cutting off supplies from 1,500 homes in Haywards Heath.

Engineers managed to restore water to most within several hours but up to 50 properties, as well as a doctors surgery, were still affected on Friday.

On Friday night, two care homes and pensioners in sheltered accommodation flats and housing were still having to cope without supplies.

Some of those residents were able to get bottled water from supermarkets.

A nurse at one care home said the experience was horrible and was angry that they were set to be among the last to be reconnected.

Were using wipes on our hands which we are supposed to wash after leaving every residents room, she said.

Were looking after 64 vulnerable people, some of whom are having palliative care, some of whom are on end-of-life care. Its not fair.

Our clinical lead has had to drive to Uckfield [13 miles away] with laundry.

Carrying hot kettles along corridors isnt safe.

Families are upset too. Its not appropriate for a care home to be without water. We should be a priority.

In the sheltered accommodation, a 92-year-old man who is registered blind said not having water made life even more difficult, particularly trying to wash up and not knowing how long the cut would last.

South East Water said supplies were due to be restored late on Friday night.

The two care homes and the sheltered homes were on the part of the network where the pipe burst so it was not possible to move water from other areas to them.

Dave Harvey, South East Water incident manager, said: Were very sorry to customers in Haywards Heath and surrounding areas who experienced water supply issues following a burst water main in the area yesterday.

The pipe has now been repaired, and supplies to those remaining properties are being restored this evening (Friday).

Were sorry it took longer than anticipated to complete the repair. This was due to complexities at the site of the burst.

We have been delivering water to those properties which were without while repairs were made.

The company says people with health issues or disabilities and pensioners may register with the companys priority services register, which means they should be prioritised in similar situations.
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Thousands of farmers are set to descend on London later this month in protest against the governments extension of inheritance tax, after the Metropolitan Police gave the march the green light.

There has been a growing backlash from the farming community following the decision to extend the duty to cover agricultural properties, with National Farmers Union (NFU) chief Tom Bradshaw warning that the government should be prepared for a militant response from farmers.

The demonstration has been organised alongside a NFU lobbying event, after the union told supporters to stay away from the city if they didnt have a ticket saying it could not take responsibility for people in the streets.

Clive Bailye, the protests organiser and founder of The Farming Forum, said there were 2,000 registrations in the first two hours of the event being launched.

The farmer said he could see the number of attendees getting past 10,000.

Farmers have staged a protest outside the Northern Farming Conference in Hexham in Northumberland ( PA )

Mr Bailye, an arable farmer from Staffordshire, said: They werent organising a rally. They werent organising a march-type event.

It was becoming very obvious that farmers were desperate for somebody to take the lead and organise something else.

He added: Were not wanting to take that European, French farmer route of burning tyres in the street and inconveniencing everybody.

So were positively saying dont bring tractors, dont cause problems, this is peaceful.

We want to keep the public on side. We dont want to bring the capital city to a stop or disrupt roads.

The NFUs mass lobby event, taking place on the same day, is being held to allow its members to petition MPs to overturn changes in the Budget to agricultural property relief and business property relief.

The event  which the NFU has emphasised will not be a protest  will see 1,800 NFU members, in three rotations of 600, lobby parliamentarians at Church House Westminster.

But the union said there were legal issues preventing members turning up in large numbers on the streets of Westminster.

However, the Met Police have since said they have not banned anyone from marching on 19 November.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw said the union was supporting the protest, telling BBC Radio 4s Today programme: What we cannot do is take responsibility for people in the streets.

There is now a complementary event being organised by a group of farmers. We are supporting them.

We are organising our event, and we are cooperating and working with the other event, but we are not taking responsibility for the other event.

He added that the NFUs event had to be in a very controlled environment so MPs feel safe, that they will want to meet with their constituents.

In a post on its website, the NFU said: We cannot risk either member or public safety, or the loss of public support, that could come from what could be an illegal demonstration.

A spokesperson for the Met said: We are aware that there are a number of events being planned currently in relation to the recent Budget announcements affecting farmers.

The National Farmers Union have emphasised that their event at a conference centre in Westminster on 19 November will not be a protest. This is not on advice from the Metropolitan Police, and at no point have we banned anyone from marching on this date.

We will work with any organisation or individual wishing to organise a peaceful protest or demonstration in London and continue to speak with the NFU.

The Metropolitan Police Service applies the same legislative framework to each and every notification that we receive, without fear or favour, in order to deliver our core policing responsibilities. We aim to protect the public, prevent crime and disorder and minimise disruption to Londons communities.

A government spokesperson said: The governments commitment to our farmers remains steadfast. Its why we have committed 5 billion to the farming budget over two years  more money than ever for sustainable food production.

We understand concerns about changes to Agricultural Property Relief but the majority of those claiming relief will not be affected by these changes. They will be able to pass the family farm down to their children just as previous generations have always done.

This is a fair and balanced approach that protects the family farm while also fixing the public services that we all rely on.
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The government has dropped official opposition to the introduction of a four-day working week by a local council: a move which could pave the way for other local authorities to do the same.

The previous Conservative government objected to the plan by South Cambridgeshire District Council after it was introduced in 2023. But local government secretary Angela Rayner has criticised the previous administration for micromanaging local authorities over the policy.

The four-day working week continued past the end of its trial period in March this year as the council awaited information from ministers.

While it is not official government policy to support a four-day working week, and the government has no plans to consider such a move, ministers are no longer objecting to it.

A letter from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to the Cambridgeshire authority on Friday said councils are rightly responsible for the management and organisation of their own workforces.

The government is no longer objecting to a local councils four-day working week policy ( PA )

Conservative ministers had issued the authority near Cambridge with a series of Best Value Notices throughout 2023 and 2024, which contained formal concerns including that the working arrangements chosen by the authority could impact on the delivery of its Best Value Duty and that the removal of up to a fifth of the capacity of the authority means that it is unlikely in aggregate for it to be able to support continuous improvement.

The letter from the deputy director in charge of local government stewardship, Max Soule, states: Although it is not government policy to support a general move to a four-day working week for five days worth of pay, we recognise that local authorities are independent employers who are rightly responsible for the management and organisation of their own workforces.

We encourage active and ongoing dialogue with the workforce and trade unions on any changes to local working arrangements. In turn, local voters are best placed to make decisions about the effectiveness of local authority services in their own areas."

It adds: With this in mind, the [Best Value Notices] will not be reissued.

The leader of the council, Councillor Bridget Smith, has said over the last year the council submitted around 200 pieces of raw data to the government every single week in response to the notice, but disappointingly at no point were we given any feedback on the data.

In a statement, Ms Smith said: The results from our four-day week trial painted a really positive picture, with many of our services improving. This was along with the hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayer money we saved, improved recruitment and retention plus incredibly significant positives around health and wellbeing.

According to the council, staff are expected to carry out 100 per cent of their work, in around 80 per cent of their contracted hours, for 100 per cent of their pay.

Council opening hours remain the same as before the scheme, the authority said.

While Labour has stopped short of endorsing the policy, last month, Ms Rayner told the Commons that a four-day working week is no threat to the economy.

It comes as Londons transport authority is understood to be working on a proposal looking at changing working patterns for Tube drivers.

Transport for London (TfL) has told the Aslef union it will set out an initial proposal on an average four-day working week in January, it is understood.

The body has said there will be no reduction in contractual hours.

A letter dated 5 November, seen by the BBC, reads that TfL will set out a proposal for delivering an average four-day working week by January.

A government spokesperson said: We are committed to strengthening workers rights, and our landmark Employment Rights Bill will make flexible working the default.

A four-day work week for five days pay is not government policy or something we are considering.

The steps we are taking in the Employment Rights Bill will strengthen the right to request flexibility in how long, when and where employees work.

A TfL spokesperson said: Discussions are ongoing and there will be no reduction in contractual hours.

As with any proposal, there are still details that need to be worked through and any changes would need to be mutually beneficial, preserving or improving the reliability of our service for our customers and improving efficiency.

We will continue discussions with our unions.
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Nigel Farage has offered his services to Sir Keir Starmers administration, saying he would be useful as an interlocutor with Donald Trump.

The Reform UK leader  a close ally of Mr Trump and the only UK politician who was at his Palm Beach home on election night - described Mr Trump as a pro-British American president.

He claimed the Republican politician would give the UK potentially huge opportunities if we can overcome the difficulties that the whole of the cabinet have been rude about him.

It comes as the prime minister attempts to build bridges with Mr Trumps administration ahead of him returning to the White House, following a row over Labour activists campaigning for Kamala Harris and controversy over comments previously made by foreign secretary David Lammy.

Sir Keir defended his foreign secretary, who in the past called Donald Trump a neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath.

The Reform UK leader said he has got a great relationship with the president-elect, adding that he knows people he believes will be in Mr Trumps administration for quite a long time.

In 2016, Mr Trump claimed many people would like to see Mr Farage as the British ambassador to the US, saying he would do a great job.

Speaking to the PA news agency at a Reform event in Exeter, the Reform MP said: Ive got a great relationship with Donald Trump but equally I know many of the other senior figures who will be in this administration and Ive known them for quite a long time.

It seems to me that with a Labour Party and a Republican Party who disagree on so many things  who are such fundamentally different people  that I might be useful as an interlocutor. Unofficially, behind the scenes, to try and help mend some of those fences.

If the government choose to use me, I would do that not because I support the Labour government but because I believe in something called the national interest.

It comes amid growing speculation over who might replace Karen Pierce, the UK ambassador to the US.

On Tuesday, cabinet minister Pat McFadden said Ms Pierce is doing an excellent job and the government wants her to keep on doing the job.

Her term is due to end in early 2025, with speculation about her replacement circulating from before the general election.

While Mr Farage said Sir Keir should roll out the red carpet for Trump, such a possibility has sparked backlash.

Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), this week told The Independent such a move would be obscene, saying Mr Trumps election is disastrous for trade unions and the labour movement globally.

Trump is a far-right nationalist demagogue who has launched a racist and misogynistic hate-fest in the US, he added.

Meanwhile, former shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry warned Sir Keir against holding Trumps hand.

The chair of the foreign affairs select committee told The Independent: It is in Britains interests not to alienate the president-elect of the USA, but we must of course balance that with standing up for our values and beliefs. There is no need to hold his hand.

Downing Street has been contacted for comment.
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The defence secretary has revealed his son joined the army as a result of Russias invasion of Ukraine, saying the conflict is now personal.

John Healey said his sons decision to join the British army reservists has allowed him to better understand the real-life impact of decisions he may make in a ministerial capacity.

He said: It weighs heavily on me as defence secretary, knowing that if we face conflict, it will be my decision to send British forces and personnel into situations which put them at risk. Its a responsibility of the post, but now its personal as well.

His son, Alex, who is in his late twenties, is now an infantryman in the army reserves  a decision Mr Healey says he took in the days after Russia invaded Ukraine.

open image in gallery Defence secretary John Healey spoke about his sons decision to join the army reservists ( Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire )

The defence secretary told The Telegraph: [Its] not something Ive talked about before. But in fact, it was Ukraine. So when Putin went in, in February 2022, the next day we were having lunch together and he said to me, Dad, if I were Ukrainian, Id join up today.

And it was very soon after that he came to me and to his mum and said, I want to join up. I want to be a reservist. Thats what hes done.

Speaking about the personal impact of his sons decision, Mr Healey added: I can understand better the feeling of the families of those who I hope it doesnt happen, but if necessary, I will have as defence secretary to commit to conflicts where they may be at risk.

The defence secretary warned the world is undoubtedly in an era of insecurity.

Meanwhile, veterans minister Al Carns  who served and led during four tours in Afghanistan  earlier this week revealed he had re-enlisted in the Royal Marines as a reservist.

Mr Carns, who was awarded the Military Cross in 2011, said he wants to be ready to fight should war erupt in Europe, telling The Times: If anything happens, I want to go back to the military.

You can see the very freedoms we fought to protect and shape the international rules-based system after the Second World War are under threat, he added.

I have a feeling that if there was ever a requirement, I dont think any veteran would hesitate. When you serve you have that dedication and service to your country.

open image in gallery Veterans minister Al Carns said he wants to be ready to fight should war erupt in Europe ( PA Wire )

You never lose that, even if you leave. If you have physical or mental issues in service that usually continues with you so all veterans I think, continue to serve, in one way, shape or form until the day they die.

It comes amid growing concern about the UKs ability to defend itself should a war break out in Europe.

Last month, the defence secretary warned Britains armed forces are so depleted that the country is not ready to fend off an invasion.

In his most damning assessment yet of the state of the UKs defence capability, Mr Healey said the military could conduct operations, but would be unable to stop an enemy from invading.

Meanwhile, president-elect Donald Trump has been highly critical of Nato, complaining that the US contributes too much to its budget while EU members spend too little on defence.

During the election campaign, he suggested the US would only defend members of the alliance from a future attack by Russia if they met their spending obligations.
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The United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions Friday on two generals in Sudans paramilitary force for their key roles in the war against the countrys military that has seen ethnically motivated attacks and atrocities.

Sudan plunged into conflict in mid-April 2023, when long-simmering tensions between its military and paramilitary leaders broke out in the capital, Khartoum, and spread to other regions, including Darfur. The U.N. says over 14,000 people have been killed and 33,000 injured, and recently warned that the country has been pushed to the brink of famine.

The councils sanctions committee added Maj. Gen. Osman Mohamed Hamid Mohamed, head of the Rapid Support Forces' operations department, and Maj. Gen. Abdel Rahman Juma Barkalla, the RSF commander in West Darfur, to the sanctions blacklist.

Britains U.N. Mission tweeted on X that the two generals were added for threatening the peace, security and stability of Sudan, including acts of violence and human rights abuses.

The U.N. sanctions order all countries to freeze the asses and impose a travel ban on the generals. The United States Treasury imposed sanctions on both generals earlier in the year, freezing any assets in the U.S. and banning all financial transactions with them.

Two decades ago, Darfur became synonymous with genocide and war crimes, particularly by the notorious Janjaweed Arab militias, against populations that identify as Central or East African. Up to 300,000 people were killed and 2.7 million were driven from their homes. That legacy appears to have returned, with the International Criminal Courts prosecutor, Karim Khan, saying in January there were grounds to believe both sides may be committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide in Darfur. The RSF was born out of the Janjaweed.

Human Rights Watch said in a report in May that attacks by the paramilitary force and its allied militias, which killed thousands in Darfur in 2023, constituted a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the areas non-Arab population.

The rights group said the RSF and its militias targeted the ethnic Masalit and other non-Arab groups in El Geneina, the capital city of West Darfur state. Masalit who were captured were tortured, women and girls were raped and entire neighborhoods were looted and destroyed, Human Rights Watch said.

Its report is entitled The Massalit Will Not Come Home: Ethnic Cleansing and Crimes Against Humanity in El Geneina, West Darfur, Sudan.

The RSF controls the capitals of four of the five states in Darfur and has intensified its military campaign for control of the lone holdout, North Darfur capital El Fasher.
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In September 2006, a US military C-17 cargo plane arrived at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and deposited 14 new prisoners. The men had previously been held in CIA black site prisons around the world, where many were tortured outside the protections of US law.

One of them was Ammar al-Baluchi, one of the five men facing a military tribunal at Gitmo for allegedly aiding the 9/11 hijackers. Prior to arriving at the island prison, Baluchi was subject to isolation, forced shavings, beatings, dousings with ice water, stress positions including being shackled to a ceiling, and food denial. In one particularly disturbing incident, trainee interrogators formed a line and repeatedly slammed his head against a wall for practice in a technique known as walling, leaving him with brain damage, according to a CIA report declassified in 2022.

When he arrived at the island US naval base alongside the 13 others, they were spirited to an equally shadowy lock-up: Camp 7.

Camp 7, before it closed in 2021, was the most clandestine part of Gitmo, so closely guarded its exact location, design, and costs were secret. It held some of Americas most high-value detainees, including Baluchi and his uncle, 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed.

Nearly two decades after those prisoners arrived at Guantanamo, a new lawsuit could reveal more about what went on inside, and whether it was under the full operational control of the CIA.

On Monday, the American Civil Liberties Union asked the Supreme Court to take up Connell v CIA, which argues that the intelligence agency was wrongly able to dodge a records request about its ties to Camp 7. What might seem like an arcane legal fight about records policy has the potential to shed new light on one of the ongoing secrets of the War on Terror.

The case stems from Baluchis legal defense. Baluchi, who was born in Kuwait and captured in Pakistan in 2003, is accused of providing money and travel arrangements for the 9/11 hijackers at the request of his uncle. The Kuwaiti has said he didnt know for certain what the recipients of his support were planning to do, and hasnt been convicted of any crimes.

open image in gallery The CIA has declined to release all of its records about Camp 7, the secretive facility inside Guantanamo where some of the USs most high-profile War on Terror detainees were held ( Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

In 2017, Baluchis lawyer James G. Connell III filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the CIA, seeking information about his time being detained in Camp 7, a facility the 2014 Senate torture report later described as being under the operational control of the CIA at the time Baluchi arrived. The agency replied with three records, but withheld a fourth in its entirety, and it refused to clarify whether any further records linking the CIA and Camp 7 even existed.

The ACLU argues the CIAs non-denial denial, its cliched we can neither confirm nor deny response known as a Glomar defense, defies common sense because the torture report, Guantanamo Bay military commission testimony, and declassified documents all suggest CIA activity at Camp 7.

The CIAs claim to secrecy in this case is as extreme as it is absurd, given the extensive public record about the CIAs connection to Camp 7, Brett Max Kaufman, one of the ACLU attorneys arguing the case, said in a statement. The CIA has once again stretched Glomar past its breaking point, and the courts should not be roped into endorsing a patent secrecy charade like this one.

The Independent has contacted the CIA for comment, and the Defense Department referred requests for information to the intelligence agency.

open image in gallery Ammar al-Baluchi is accused of aiding his uncle, 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed (picture), in carrying out the 2001 terror plot

Some lower courts have so far sided with the CIA, finding that in records cases, judges need not look further afield for information that might contradict an agencys silence. The ACLU argues, however, that appeals courts are split on the matter, and judges shouldnt have to "bury their heads in the sand if there are indications that an agency is refusing to acknowledge, and potentially divulge, information it likely possesses.

The civil rights group argues the CIA regularly abuses the Glomar defense, using it to deflect inquiries on controversial issues like drone strikes, extrajudicial killings of US citizens, and questions of potential spying on Congress.

What is public about Camp 7 and the CIAs activities at Guatanamo is concerning to many observers.

In 2019, a former commander testified in the 9/11 case that the detainees there were guarded by a secret unit, called Task Force Platinum. The unit wore US military uniforms with pseudonyms instead of names and no marks of rank, suggesting to observers they were CIA agents or contractors posing as soldiers. (At the same hearing, a former Army officer called by the government testified that he and his troops took custody of the prisoners when they arrived, further muddying the picture who was actually in control of Camp 7.)

open image in gallery Biden administration Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has attempted to null a plea deal for some of the alleged 9/11 plotters ( AFP via Getty Images )

There are also questions of whether the detainees at Camp 7 suffered further civil rights abuses during interrogations at the naval base. At Guantanamo, the former CIA torture victims were interrogated again, this time by FBI agents sent in 2007, in the hopes that the government could extract information without the use of torture so it would later stand up in court.

Defense lawyers have argued evidence from these FBI interviews is tainted too, since detainees were held in conditions much like their past time in black sites, potentially overseen by the same agency, the CIA. The detainees may have been unaware they could refuse to comply with these interviews or afraid they would be tortured again.

Moreover, theres evidence that the FBI was involved in the original international black site interrogations at CIA prisons where torture took place. An FBI agent has testified in 2019 to sending hundreds of questions to the network of secret prisons where men like Baluchi were tortured before they were flown into Guantanamo.

Camp 7 closed in 2021, but the records fight is only one front in a much larger legal war over the governments conduct hunting the men who carried out 9/11.

In August of this year, it was Baluchi who appeared in the first publicly released photo of a black site detainee, standing naked and gaunt in shackles with his head shaved, part of a trove of some 14,0000 such black site images reportedly in the governments possession that mostly remain secret. Baluchis torture inspired scenes in the 2012 film Zero Dark Thirty, and remains a live issue in the ongoing 9/11 capital case, where defense lawyers have long argued evidence obtained under torture should be inadmissible.

Resolution in any of these matters seems far away. In August, the Defense Department canceled an apparent plea deal involving Mohammed and two others, though it was reinstated on Wednesday. The 9/11 trial of the remaining defendants may not start until 2026.

Whatever form this chapter of the post-9/11 reckoning takes, and whenever it takes place, its clear that even decades after the height of the War on Terror, many secrets are still being kept  and the US is maintaining its silence.
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An Indiana man was arrested and charged with allegedly stabbing his brother to death with an orange knife over $10.

Police in Anderson, about 40 miles from Indianapolis, say they found a bloody scene when they responded to a report of a stabbing on October 30 at around 11:49 p.m.

Caleb Xavier Ingram, 21, opened the door when officers arrived and led them upstairs to the scene of the killing, according to TV station WXIN.

Thats where they discovered William Henry Ingram IV, 22, with a knife wound on the left side of his neck. Police also reportedly found bloody footprints, and blood in the hallway, bedroom and bathroom, according to Law & Crime.

A medium-sized orange knife was discovered outside of the suspects bedroom. Caleb Ingram was covered in blood that was not his, the outlet reported. Police rushed his brother to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Caleb Ingram was transported to the hospital for possible medical treatment due to the amount of blood on him but doctors later discovered that the man did not have any injuries.

The man told police that his brother had spent money that he had planned to spend on his girlfriend.

I just took it to heart, Caleb Ingram told police. Video captured of the back of a patrol vehicle revealed Caleb Ingram saying: $10 dollars, youre going to get mad at him for $10 dollars?

William, Im so sorry, the man continued, speaking to himself. I love you so much. Please let him live. Im so sorry. I will never pick up another knife.

The man reportedly kept asking officials about information related to his brothers health. When officials told him his brother had died, Caleb Ingram went to the floor and began breathing heavily.

The mens parents told police that the two had never gotten into a physical altercation until the day of the alleged stabbing. Caleb Ingram is currently being detained in the Madison County Jail with no bond. Hes been charged with one count of murder.
Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official/11260

Last night, the Russian occupation forces attacked Ukraine by 51 Shahed kamikaze drones and unidentified unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), according to the Command of the Ukrainian Air Force.

"As of 8 a.m., the shooting down of 32 enemy drones was confirmed in Odesa, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia, Donetsk, Sumy, Kharkiv, Poltava, Vinnytsia, Cherkasy, and Ternopil regions," it said.

Also, the locations of 18 enemy UAV were lost in different regions of Ukraine.

The Air Force reported that the enemy drone attack was launched from Russia's Primorsko-Akhtarsk and Orel at 9 p.m.

The epicenter of the enemy strike was in Odesa.

The air attack was repelled by the anti-aircraft rocket forces, electronic warfare units, mobile fire groups of the Air Force and the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
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Investigators in Tennessee say that new evidence has led to an arrest in an unsolved murder case over four decades old, in which a young navy veteran was stabbed more than 70 times.

The Maryville Police department announced on Wednesday that Roger Dale Oody, 62, had been indicted for first degree murder in connection with the death of Billy Wayne Hearon in 1985.

After being indicted, Oody was transported to the Trousdale Turner Correctional Facility and made his first court appearance on Friday. Police said he was 22 years old at the time of the murder.

Hearon was stabbed more than 70 times at a Shady Acres trailer park in Maryville, Tennessee, on January 4 1985 and also sustained blunt force trauma to his head. His body was found the following morning.

Blount County District Attorney General Ryan Desmond told reporters at a press conference that Oodys arrest had come after a 2023 local news story about Hearons unsolved homicide, which led to the development of evidence that otherwise we would not have.

Roger Dale Oody is a suspect in the murder of Billy Wayne Hearon at a trailer park back in 1985, authorities announced on Wednesday ( Blount County Sheriff's Office )

New investigative technologies were used, which uncovered fresh evidence over the past several months. Additionally, Desmond said, there is no statute of limitations for first-degree murder in Tennessee, so law enforcement could pursue the investigation.

He added that investigators were not able to elaborate on the specifics of their methods.

Maryville Police Chief Tony Crisp confirmed that Oody was a person of interest during the original investigation as he and Hearon had been acquaintances. His name was brought forth at that time. He was looked at," he said, adding that, at the time, there wasnt any evidence, beyond reasonable doubt.

Oody has already been serving a life sentence behind bars after being convicted of the killing of another man, Roy Stevens, in 1988. Desmond said that the two cases may have been related.

Without going into too much detail, I think youll learn that that homicide is related to our homicide, that there is a Nexus and a connection between the two of them, he told reporters.

Hearon, who grew up in Blount County with 14 siblings, was in the United States Navy where he suffered an injury that made him disabled and unable to work.

"Imagine losing a loved one, someone you grew up with someone you call a brother and not knowing what happened, not just for days, not just for weeks, not just for months, but for years, for decades, these individuals were provided with no answers as to what had caused their loved ones death," Desmond said.

"They were given no closure, they were given no justice. They were left to wonder for decades and decades."
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Prosecutors in Philadelphia have delivered bad news to the family of a woman found dead from more than 20 stab wounds back in 2011, ruling that no criminal charges will be brought in the case.

Ellen Greenberg, a 27-year-old teacher, was found dead on January 26 2011 by her fiance Samuel Goldberg at their Manayunk neighborhood apartment. She was slumped against the cabinets, her legs splayed out in front of her. The beloved elementary school teacher had been stabbed at least 20 times including multiple times in the back, neck and the back of her head. A 10-inch knife was lodged in her chest.

Philadelphia Medical Examiner Marlon Osbourne initially ruled her death a homicide. But police considered her death a suicide and publicly challenged the findings, prompting her death to be reclassified as suicide without explanation.

For more than a decade now, the Greenberg family has been fighting to finally get answers about what happened to her and to have her manner of death changed from suicide back to either homicide or undetermined.

But now, the Chester County District Attorneys Office has announced that it cannot move forward with criminal charges in the case.

The DAs office  which has been looking into the case since 2022  said in a statement on Friday that it could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime was committed and so the investigation has been put into inactive status.

This standard of proof  beyond a reasonable doubt  makes the criminal investigation different than other legal cases or issues that surround Ms. Greenbergs death, a spokesperson said.

open image in gallery Graphic of Ellen Greenbergs stab wounds ( Court documents )

Because we cannot meet our burden of proof with the information and evidence presently available, we placed this investigation in an inactive status.

There is no statute of limitations for criminal homicide in Pennsylvania so charges could still be brought down the line.

Greenbergs parents Joshua and Sandra Greenberg released a statement saying that the DAs conclusion has not altered their belief that their daughter was murdered.

Our conviction about Ellen having been murdered does not change due to the announcement by the Chester County District Attorneys Office. Admittedly, the investigation conducted by the Chester County District Attorneys Office was extremely limited and constrained, family attorney Joseph Podraza Jr told NBC Philadelphia.

Podraza said that the DAs office did not investigate the core issues which we have raised which establish Ellen was murdered, and that evidence remains unchallenged.

open image in gallery Ellen Greenberg and her parents Joshua and Sandra ( Justice for Ellen Facebook page )

Another highly experienced homicide prosecutor while employed at the Philadelphia DAs Office conducted his own independent review of this case, thoroughly investigated all the issues surrounding Ellens death, and reached the opposite conclusion, that Ellen was murdered, the attorney said.

We now look forward to an upcoming trial where a full and forthright examination of the core issues surrounding Ellens murder may be publicly conducted before an independent Judge and jury of our peers.

Earlier this year, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court agreed to hear Greenbergs case to consider whether executors and administrators of an estate have standing to challenge an erroneous finding recorded on the decedents death certificate where that finding constitutes a bar or material impediment to recovery of victims compensation, restitution or for wrongful death, as well as private criminal complaints.

The Greenbergs have also filed two civil lawsuits over the years including against members of the medical examiners office, the police department, and the DAs office.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
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A 14-year-old boy has admitted to sexually battering a 91-year-old victim in her Florida home.

Jesse Stone pleaded guilty in connection to the case, according to WKMG. He had initially pleaded not guilty.

Stone is set to be sentenced as an adult next month. Its unclear the maximum sentence he faces.

On June 9, the victim awoke to find Stone in her Reddick, Florida, home, according to the report. She was then beaten and sexually battered.

The victim was taken to the hospital, where she told police that Stone pounced on her and punched her in the face, according to the report. He then fled the scene.

The same day as the attack, Stone approached deputies from the Marion County Sheriffs Office, telling them that a neighbor had found something on their surveillance video. When deputies watched the video, the suspect was similar to Stone.

A week later, Stone was arrested on charges of sexual battery and burglary.

This type of unimaginable violence is still shocking to me after all of my years in law enforcement. The Reddick community has shown its resilience and support for us and their community through all of this, Sheriff Billy Woods said after the arrest.

It came as a shock that any individual would commit such an act on a 91-year-old, but it is truly disturbing when we see the young age of the arrestee. Although I firmly believe he should be held accountable for his crime, as a father, my compassion goes out to his family. Hopefully his arrest will lead to getting him help that prevents any further such acts.
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A mother in Oklahoma was charged with child abandonment after police said she gave her child to her drug dealer last year.

Ashley Rowland, 39, has been accused of handing her two-year-old daughter, who would be five today, over to a man named Carlos who she told police could be the father of the child.

She was buying drugs from him when she handed the child over, she told police, according to an affidavit obtained by TV station KOCO.

Officials with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services tried to take custody of the child in April 2023 but she could not be located, the document stated. At the time, the woman told officials her daughter was with her father in Georgia.

The girl has not been seen since then and an Amber alert was never issued for her. Rowland told police she was using drugs when she allegedly gave her daughter away and did not know where the girl was.

Rowland, who lives in Moore, Oklahoma, was arrested by officers with the Moore Police Department after the affidavit was filed on November 1.

It wasnt immediately clear whether Rowland had legal counsel.

Rowland was booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center on a $3,000 bond and was reportedly released before a judge in the case could raise it to $100,000.

In a statement to the outlet, a spokesperson for the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, said: Situations like those described in this affidavit are heartbreaking and unimaginable. Like the rest of the community, Oklahoma Human Services reels in concern for this childs safety.

While we are unable to discuss child welfare cases due to state and federal confidentiality statutes, the agency is grateful to our law enforcement partners for their continued work to find her and as they seek justice in her disappearance. We remain committed to supporting their efforts, however needed.
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A Chinese citizen caught trying to enter Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago club was arrested for trespassing - after being arrested months ago on the same charge.

Police arrested Zijie Li, 39, on Thursday when he arrived at Mar-a-Lago in an Uber. Li lives outside of Los Angeles on a student visa, according to the Associated Press.He appeared in a Florida court on Friday, where hes facing misdemeanor charges of trespassing after warning.

He was previously arrested in August for the same thing, and told to stay away from the president-elects residence.

During his arrest on Thursday, Li told Secret Service agents guarding the residence he had documents connecting China to the July assassination attempt against Donald Trump, WPTV reports.

Li has attempted to pass the gates into Mar-a-Lago four separate times this year, and license plate readers have placed him near Mar-a-Lago four other times.

Li was previously spotted outside of the residence on July 19, where he told gate guards he had similar information about China. He was issued a written warning and told hed be arrested if he returned.

Later that month, on July 30, Li was seen placing papers with references to Trump on vehicles near Mar-a-Lago, according to police. The following day, he was arrested trying to enter the compound.

Zijie Li, 39, is accused of attempting to enter Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago compound multiple times this year. ( Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office )

During another encounter with police in August, police requested a mental health evaluation for Li.

The following month, Li asked a Mar-a-Lago resident for assistance entering the Florida compound. They declined and called the police, who put Li on under a Baker Act hold, which allows people to be temporarily detained and given mental health treatment.

On Thursday, Li was released from the hold, and returned to Mar-a-Lago the same day, where he was arrested.

Lis bond has been set at $100,000. In court, he was ordered to have no contact with Trump. He was also forbid from visiting Mar-a-Lago and possessing weapons.

Jail records do not indicate if he has legal representation.

Trumps residence at Mar-a-Lago is guarded by the Secret Service, Palm Beach Sheriffs Office, and private security, according to the Palm Beach Daily News.

In 2020, Jing Lu, a Chinese woman, was sentenced to prison for resisting arrest during an incident at Mar-a-Lago where she was accused but ultimately acquitted of trespassing charges.

Security has been heightened around Donald Trump throughout the 2024 campaign, following multiple assassination attempts against him.
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A group of NASA astronauts have remained secretive about why they were taken to hospital after their prolonged space station mission.

Astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt and Jeanette Epps spent 235 days in space after their trip was prolonged due to trouble with their capsule and rough weather,

Soon after they returned from the International Space Station on 25 October, the trio was taken to hospital in Pensacola along with Russian cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, who launched with them back in March.

One of the Americans ended up spending the night there for an undisclosed medical issue. However, NASA declined to say who was hospitalised or why, citing medical privacy.

open image in gallery The astronauts were taken to hospital in Pensacola in what NASA said was an abundance of caution ( NASA/Joel Kowsky )

The astronauts have once again declined to divulge details on the hospital trip when asked at a news conference on Friday in Houston which one had been sick.

Mr Barratt, who was the only member of the crew who had flown in space before, said: Spaceflight is still something we dont fully understand. Were finding things that we dont expect sometimes. This was one of those times.

Were still piecing things together. Im a medical doctor, space medicine is my passion, and how we adapt, how we experience human space flight, is something that we all take very seriously. In the fullness of time, we will allow this to come out.

Soon after their SpaceX capsule splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico off the Florida coast, the astronauts were taken to the Ascension Sacred Heart hospital in Pensacola, in what NASA said was an abundance of caution.

It was here that one of the crew was briefly detained but was later released in good health to continue post-flight reconditioning.

open image in gallery A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off carrying NASA's SpaceX Crew ( Reuters )

The mission was supposed to end in August but was extended for two extra months due to technical issues with Boeings Starliner crew capsule and rough weather, including Hurricane Milton.

The two astronauts who served as test pilots for Boeings Starliner  Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams  will remain at the space station until February, five months after what was supposed to be a week-long mission, before flying back with SpaceX.

Mr Dominick, the missions commander, said: Youre like, are we going home tomorrow? You call your wife, like, hey, were coming home tomorrow, and then were not, and then were coming home, no, next week. Maybe.

That part was entertaining to deal with, but it was definitely great to spend bonus time in space.

Speaking about their first days back on earth after nearly eight months, Mr Dominick added: The big things you expect, being disoriented, being dizzy.

But the little things, like just sitting in a hard chair, my backside has not really sat in a hard thing for 235 days Its rather uncomfortable, right? I did not expect that, right?

I remember like the third or fourth day after we got back, we were sitting outside on our patio, with my family eating dinner, and I just wanted to be a part of the family and be there with the activities, but I couldnt sit on that hard chair any more. I just laid a towel down on the ground.
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Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto pledged to maintain close ties with China during a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Saturday, his first overseas stop since he took office three weeks ago.

Subianto is seeking to strengthen relations with China, Indonesias largest trading partner and one of its most important foreign investors. This is his second visit to Beijing this year, following a visit in April as president-elect, the first overseas trip he made after winning the Indonesian presidential election in February.

Indonesia considers China not only as a great power but as a great civilization, Subianto said at the meeting, adding that the two countries had had close relations for centuries. Therefore, I think it is only natural that now in the present situation, geopolitical and geoeconomic, that Indonesia and China have become very close partners and in many, many fields.

Xi vowed support for Subianto's administration, thanking him for visiting China first and saying he believed Indonesia will adhere to an independent development path, continue to make new achievements in the journey of achieving national prosperity and national rejuvenation, and play an important role on the international and regional stage.

Earlier on Saturday, Subianto met with other top Chinese leaders, including Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, who is chairman of the National Peoples Congress and considered the No. 3 official in the ruling Communist Party.

Subianto is on the first stop on a multi-country tour. He is scheduled to visit five other nations, including the U.S. and the U.K., suggesting that Indonesia will continue to pursue its longstanding stance of neutrality between Beijing and Washington.

Subianto, 73, is a wealthy ex-general with ties to both Indonesias popular outgoing president and the countrys dictatorial past. He presented himself as heir to the immensely popular President Joko Widodo, the first Indonesian president to emerge from outside the political and military elite. Subianto vowed to continue the modernization agenda that has brought rapid growth and vaulted Indonesia into the ranks of middle-income countries.

Indonesias economic ties with China flourished during Widodos decade in office. China became Indonesias largest trading partner and plowed billions into major infrastructure projects such as the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway, which opened last October, and Cirata, Southeast Asias largest floating solar power project, on a reservoir in West Java, 130 kilometers (80 miles) from the capital, Jakarta.

Subianto said during the meeting with Xi that he will preside over the signing of over $10 billion worth of deals during a meeting between Chinese companies and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Subianto is singling a more active foreign policy for Indonesia, visiting over 20 countries as president-elect. Days after his inauguration, Indonesia expressed interest in becoming a full member of the BRICS bloc of developing economies that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Indonesia has maintained a relatively neutral stance amid rising tensions between China and its Southeast Asian neighbors over territorial disputes in the South China Sea. China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have overlapping claims in the resource-rich and busy waterway.

The Philippines has boosted security ties with Washington since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office in 2022, shifting back from the more China-friendly policy of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte. China and the Philippines have been engaging in repeated high-seas confrontations since last year, sparking fears of a larger conflict that could put China and the U.S. on a collision course.

Though Indonesias leaders say they do not have a formal territorial dispute with China over the South China Sea, Chinas nine-dash line, which it uses to roughly demarcate its claim to most of the South China Sea, overlaps with a section of Indonesias exclusive economic zone that extends from the Natuna Islands.

Last month, Indonesian patrol ships repeatedly drove away a Chinese coast guard vessel from a survey vessel in the disputed area, according to Indonesian authorities. Jakarta has become increasingly protective of its rights in the region as Chinese ships have regularly entered the area Indonesia calls the North Natuna Sea, fueling tensions between the countries.

___

Associated Press writer Niniek Karmini contributed to this report from Jakarta, Indonesia.
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Donald Trump may have a different immigration talking point since becoming the president-elect: Americans wanting to move abroad.

As emotions ran high after Trump won the presidential election on Wednesday morning, the number of Google searches to leave the country increased by 1514 per cent, according to VisaGuide.World.

From Election Day through November 6, search traffic for immigration related pages on its site grew by 338 per cent, as disgruntled Americans looked up where they had the best shot of moving to, the website said.

Trumps recent victory has driven many Americans to search about moving abroad ( REUTERS )

Pages with information about relocating to specific countries also gained traction. Norway was the most popular of those pages, followed by the UK, Ireland and Costa Rica.

Germany-Visa.org also saw a 336 per cent uptick in traffic for pages related to immigration, with particular interest in the countrys Opportunity Card  a residence permit that allows anyone from a country outside of the European Union to live in Germany for up to one year to find a job.

Google searches in the US for migration topics are roughly 15 times higher this week compared to the week before the presidential election.

Moving to New Zealand from the US was the most-searched term, with searches for the phrase up 76 times from before Trumps victory. Similarly, moving to Germany from the US was 42 times more searched this last week, and searches for Moving to the Netherlands was searched 32 times more, the site found.

Americans most frequently searched for information about relocating to Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
The election of Donald Trump was, despite everything, a sign of the health of the American democratic process. The electoral college did not differ from the popular vote in any substantial way. The outcome will be the first since 2012 that wont be disputed.

Everybody knows who won. The result clearly and unambiguously represented the will of the American people. Unfortunately, the American people have clearly and unambiguously chosen antagonism. They have voted for their own division. While Trump won the popular vote and the electoral college there is still a large part of the country who is appalled by their choice.

It is pressingly important, at this moment of genuine crisis, to be clear-eyed about who and what America is facing. It has certainly not helped that in the warm-up to the election, serious intellectuals and politicians compared Donald Trump and his movement to fascism. The imprecision of this analogy is glaring. Trump has never been as remotely organised or principled as the fascists. He is both more dangerous and less.

When I wrote my book The Next Civil War, trying to reckon with the perils facing the American Republic, I studied and met with all manner of far-right groups in the United States.

They were a splintered assortment, constantly shifting their beliefs. Yes, fascists were a part of them, but there were also proud boys, European identitarians, small and large militias, second amendment absolutists, and good old-fashioned anti-regulation businesspeople.

What held them together was anti-government patriotism. Anti-government patriotism is the sentiment Trump emerges from and it is much broader than anyone imagined. Trumps followers are the most racially diverse coalition ever assembled by a Republican candidate for president. What unites these disparate groups is a fundamental declining trust in American institutions of all kinds across a wide spectrum of American life.

The core proposition of anti-government patriotism is that freedom, the most American principle, can exist only in opposition to the government. That idea goes back to the founding of the country: The Revolution defined itself against government, as did the Confederates during the Civil War, and Constitutional Sheriffs of more recent years.

Defining patriotism as opposition to the state is an entirely American idea and a unique contradiction that makes little sense in a British or European context. Far-right movements in Europe want to take over government, not dismantle it. Historically, fascists used the power of the state as the embodiment of racial unity. They had plans, and used governments to enact those plans. Anti-government patriots want the mechanics of government rendered crippled and useless. Its a big difference.

open image in gallery Many are worried about the powers behind Donald Trump ( Getty )

If his first term as president is any guide, it is worth noting that Trump has a very limited interest in the mechanics of the state. As president, Trump failed to fill one-third of State Department jobs that required confirmation of the Senate, even though the Republicans controlled the Senate. These are not the actions of a man who wants to wield power in any substantial way.

Many are worried about the powers behind Trump, such as Project 2025, Elon Musk and JD Vance. Again, if history is any guide, the kind of dedicated application required to enact such massive policy initiatives will simply be beyond their capacities. Susie Wiles, his new chief of staff is a capable politician, but Trumps first administration was filled with hundreds of people who thought they could control Trump. Many for their own ends and they ended up federally indicted. Nobody ever learned the lesson of their predecessors: Trump serves only himself.

Expect random acts of cruelty and stupidity. He could, out of a casual instinct one morning, decide to crash the international economy by instituting large-scale tariffs. He will almost certainly make life unnecessarily miserable for American Muslims. Women will be degraded. Hell give the Supreme Court to his followers.

But what he properly represents is not evil as such, but its close cousin chaos. Every federal institution will be weakened or turned into a personal service aimed at pleasing him. Law will be replaced by piratical loyalty. Ultimately, Trump is closer to a 19th-century South American caudillo than a 20th-century autocrat like Hitler or Mussolini.

open image in gallery Pro-Trump rioters outside the Capitol building on 6 January, 2021 ( Getty )

In reality, he is dangerous in the way that a toddler with an Uzi is. The inevitable suffering caused by his vast narcissism and indifference will be scattershot.

The real danger to the survival of the American Republic will come from the blue states. Whatever platitudes Biden spills about the peaceful transition of power and respecting the other side, Democrats have woken up in a country that has chosen an outright criminal as its leader. When the 6 January rioters are pardoned and released, with some of them perhaps even being brought back into government, the question will become a very basic one: what does treason mean in the United States today?

It is inevitable that the residents of New York and California will start to ask themselves where their loyalties should lie, and the answer wont be with the presidency. The election of Trump is a sign of fundamental differences that cannot be papered over: not only is the government no longer theirs, but many will feel that the country isnt.

If the United States were any other nation on Earth, they would begin the process of breakup and separation today. But the specific mechanism of the Fourteenth Amendment, enacted after the American Civil War renders any such discussions null. It declared that no law can supersede or abrogate the rights of American citizenship, which means you cant even justify a vote for separation.

open image in gallery Demonstrators ralling in support of reproductive in West Palm Beach, Florida, last week ( AFP/Getty )

The resistance will come at the state and municipal levels. Local government, even on the county level, has much more power than in comparable countries. Blue states will be quite capable of resisting federal attempts to impose abortion bans, for example. Even a Republican Congress wont be able to alter that. The American right has, for decades, argued for states rights. Expect the left to make the same argument for the next four years.

For countries to survive, for their political processes to have legitimacy, a basic national solidarity has to underlie their decisions. Politicians need to be loyal to the country above their personal or party loyalties. The voters need to want their government to function. Those basic conditions of democracy are no longer being met. The election of Donald Trump is a massive vote against American institutions as such.

The American people have decided, in a free and fair election, that their country is broken, and they want to break it some more.

Whos going to tell them otherwise? And who knows where it will end?

The Next Civil War: Dispatches from the American Future is published by Avid Reader Press
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President-elect Donald Trump added Elon Musk to a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday,The New York Times reports.

The SpaceX and Tesla CEO has played a key role in providing internet access to Ukraine via his Starlink satellite system as the country fights against Russia. Unnamed sources have confirmed Musks participation to both the Times and Axios.

The exact contents of their conversation, which took place the same day the presidential election was called in Trumps favor, arent clear. One unnamed source told the Times that Zelensky called the president-elect to congratulate him, and Trump afterward handed the phone to Musk. Zelensky then thanked the billionaire for his assistance with Starlink. The source described it as a good talk.

Another source told Axios that Zelensky thought it was a positive sign that they had a call so soon after Trump secured a second term in the White House.

Zelensky last met with Trump in September.

open image in gallery Volodymyr Zelensky met with Donald Trump in September to discuss the Ukraine-Russia war ( Getty Images )

We have a common view that the war in Ukraine must be stopped. Putin cannot win. Ukrainians must win, the Ukrainian president said at the time.

Musk was a central figure in Trumps second presidential bid, and even launched the America PAC to support him. He joined Trump when he made his return to Butler, Pennsylvania last month after Thomas Crooks assassination attempt.

The billionaire also launched a daily lottery last month that awarded $1 million to people who sign a petition supporting First and Second amendment rights.

Musk and his PAC were later accused of launching an illegal lottery scheme to influence voters ahead of the presidential election. But, an attorney for the PAC revealed the winners were not randomly selected at all.

Swing-state voters who signed the PACs petition for a chance to be presented with a novelty-sized check were instead deliberately chosen to be paid spokespeople for the group, lawyer Chris Gober told a judge in Philadelphia on Monday.

This week, Musk also claimed Trump won because he went on Joe Rogans podcast and was a normal person.

He told right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson that if Kamala Harris had also gone on Rogans show, it would have been game over.

Nothing would do more damage to Kamalas campaign than going on Joe Rogan because shed run out of nonsequiturs after about 45 minutes, Musk said on a live broadcast from Mar-a-Lago on November 6.
Seven people injured in enemy attacks on Sumy region during past day

Seven people were injured as a result of enemy attacks on Sumy region during the past 24 hours, according to the National Police of Ukraine.

"The following damage was recorded: a critical infrastructure facility, one high-rise building, seven private houses, a shop, two pharmacies, a school and a lyceum, three private cars, a storage facility of a private sawmill," it said on the Telegram channel.

During the past day, the Russian occupation forces 56 times shelled 32 settlements of Sumy region. A total of 189 strikes were recorded.
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Democratic insiders are blasting Kamala Harriss campaign strategy of highlighting the Republicans backing her and using Liz Cheney as her main surrogate in the campaigns final weeks.

The campaign and Democrat voters are now left picking up the pieces and assigning blame after Harriss election loss to Donald Trump. Trump is now poised to return to the White House as the liberal party tries to determine how it lost the support it had in 2020 and how to regain it in 2028.

That has led to many questions about Harriss campaign strategy - though it was a unique campaign, only having 100 days as the head of the ticket after Joe Biden dropped out following a series of missteps and concerns over his age.

Democratic strategists are now saying they warned key Harris backers and top executives at the Democratic National Committee that campaigning with Liz Cheney and making their closing argument about how many former Republicans were supporting Harris was a bad strategy.

People dont want to be in a coalition with the devil, a source told Rolling Stone, referencing Dick Cheney, Lizs father, who many Democrats despise from his time in the White House.

open image in gallery Democratic strategists say they tried to voice concerns about Vice President Kamala Harris campaigning with Liz Cheney, but they were ignored ( AP )

Throughout the campaign, Harris used Liz Cheney on the campaign to speak about the dangers of Trump. Cheney served on the committee that investigated the riot at the Capitol on January 6, but lost her seat in the U.S. House of Representatives for turning on the president-elect.

Sources told Rolling Stone they voiced concerns with the risky move saying it was unlikely to motivate new swing voters and risked alienating Democratic voters who backed Biden in 2020.

Those with concerns about the strategy also said they spoke to top donors and state party chairs.

open image in gallery Cheney became a frequent face on the campaign trail for Harris in the final weeks. It doesnt appear her backing the vice president and attacking Donald Trump did much to sway voters to pick the Democrat ( Getty Images )

They claimed they sent data to the Harris campaign showing that Republicans were unlikely to change their vote and that the party needed to energize its base and target Democratic-leaning working-class voters in battleground states.

We were told, basically, to get lost, no thank you, the strategist told Rolling Stone.

A spokesperson for Harris did not respond to the outlet about the allegations.

Former Biden Press Secretary Jen Psaki also criticized the strategy on MSNBC saying the party spent too much time praising Republicans who left Trumps site.

The people who left the Democratic Party are the people who are going to win in the future, she said. The people who left Trump, the Never Trumpers  who have important voices  that is not a winning coalition.
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Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has slammed Joe Biden for delaying his exit from the 2024 race and denying his party an open selection process for his replacement

Had the president gotten out sooner, there may have been other candidates in the race, the veteran Democrat from California said in an interview with The New York Times. The anticipation was that, if the president were to step aside, that there would be an open primary.

Pelosi was a leading figure in convincing Biden to give up his own campaign in the wake of his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump.

She gave the critical interview to host Lulu Garcia-Navarro on The Interview podcast, which will be released in full on Saturday.

Democrats are now embroiled in a public postmortem on the failure of the Harris campaign after Trump swept to victory on Tuesday and a second term in the White House.

The Independent has reached out to the White House and Harris campaign for comment.

Once an ally of Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi has slammed his decision to stay in the race for as long as he did in a new interview. ( Getty Images )

Biden endorsed Harris within an hour of backing out of the race on July 21, and within two days she announced she had secured enough DNC delegates to secure the partys nomination.

And as I say, Kamala may have, I think she would have done well in [a primary] and been stronger going forward. But we dont know that. That didnt happen. We live with what happened, Pelosi told the outlet.

And because the president endorsed Kamala Harris immediately, that really made it almost impossible to have a primary at that time. If it had been much earlier, it would have been different.

The Times noted that Pelosi went to great lengths to defend the Biden administrations legislative accomplishments, most of which took place during his first two years, when she was the House speaker.

Biden was seething at Pelosis pressure on him to step away from the race, according to CNN, and after it happened she admitted she had not spoken to the president.
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President-elect Donald Trump called on the appropriate authorities to investigate people spreading probably illegal rumors that hes going to sell his stock in Truth Socials parent company.

Trump has a majority stake in Trump Media and Technology Group Corp, which trades under DJT. He and other top investors were allowed to start selling off their shares in the company in September but, on Friday morning, Trump clarified that at least for him, thats not happening any time soon.

He took to none other than Truth Social to try to put an end to the rumors, saying: There are fake, untrue, and probably illegal rumors and/or statements made by, perhaps, market manipulators or short sellers, that I am interested in selling shares of Truth.

The president-elect is demanding that the appropriate authorities to probe those spreading rumors that he will sell off Truth Social ( REUTERS )

He transitioned to all caps to clarify: THOSE RUMORS OR STATEMENTS ARE FALSE. I HAVE NO INTENTION OF SELLING!

I hereby request that the people who have set off these fake rumors or statements, and who may have done so in the past, be immediately investigated by the appropriate authorities, Trump continued.

Truth is an important part of our historic win, and I deeply believe in it. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

Trump posted on Truth Social shortly after 10am. In the hours that followed, shares in DJT jumped by 15 percent by the end of the day.

The company stock was turbulent in the leadup to the election; DJT was even halted five times on election day alone for volatility.

Despite the ups and downs, the company was valued at over $10 billion as of last week. Its shares more than quadrupled since late September  making it worth more than X, which is owned by ardent Trump supporter Elon Musk.
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Susie Wiles, the newly appointed chief of staff to the second Trump White House, reportedly made a series of demands before she would accept the high-profile role in the president-elects upcoming administration.

Wiles, 67, described by Trump himself as the ice maiden and considered to be one of the most significant influences on his third campaign, was appointed to the top job on Thursday.

The chief of staff is, historically, the first appointee named by the president-elect and is charged with overseeing all policy and day-to-day White House affairs.

But, according to a source close to both Wiles and Trump told CNN, the former campaign manager had sought assurances from the president-elect prior to taking the role.

The source said that Wiles wanted confirmation that she would have more authority than her predecessors in controlling access to the Oval Office, before accepting the job.

Trumps first term was marked by a slew of informal advisors, including family, friends and other external voices, exacerbating his tendency to listen to the last person he spoke with.

The clown car cant come into the White House at will, the source told CNN. And he agrees with her.

open image in gallery Wiles, 66, described by Trump himself as the ice maiden was appointed chief of staff on Thursday ( REUTERS )

With the presence of individuals such as billionaire Elon Musk and UFC boss Dana White, who may not be taking official roles within the Trump administration, Wiles demands may prove to be sensible.

Announcing her appointment on Thursday, Trump described Wiles as tough, smart, innovative and an individual who was universally admired and respected. Susie will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again, he said in a statement.

It is a well deserved honor to have Susie as the first-ever female Chief of Staff in United States history. I have no doubt that she will make our country proud.

The president-elect has long valued Wiles as a powerful behind-the-scenes operator. In his victory speech in Florida in the early hours of Wednesday, Trump mentioned her previously little-known name seven times.

Susie likes to stay in the back, let me tell you. We call her the ice maiden, he joked, adding: She is not in the background (anymore).

open image in gallery Wiles is considered to be one of the most significant influences on Trumps third presidential campaign ( Reuters )

Along with Chris LaCivita, Wiles was widely credited for running what was seen as Trumps most sophisticated and disciplined campaign yet, which included keeping many of the fringe voices in his orbit at bay.

She has worked in Republican politics since the late 1970s and went on to become a campaign scheduler on Ronald Reagans 1980 presidential bid, and later in his administration.

Later, while living in Florida, she ran Trumps Florida operations in his first bid to become president. Many attribute him winning the state by 1.2 percentage points over his rival Hillary Clinton to Wiles.

Opting to stay in Florida, she also helped lead Ron DeSantiss 2018 campaign for Florida governor, before a falling out that prompted DeSantis to successfully lobby the Trump team to fire her.

open image in gallery Susie Wiles has worked in Republican politics since the late 1970s and went on to become a campaign scheduler on Ronald Reagans 1980 presidential bid ( Reuters )

Speculation over the cause of the break-down ranges from Wiles taking too much credit for DeSantiss victory and speaking too freely to reporters. Wiles was subsequently brought back for the 2020 campaign in Florida.

Trumps reported willingness to acquiesce to Wiles demands is an indicator of his trust in her for a role which historically has a short shelf-life.

The last Trump administration saw four people appointed to the position of chief of staff: former Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus, General John Kelly, former South Carolina Representative Mick Mulvaney and former North Carolina Representative Mark Meadows.

Meadows is now facing criminal charges in two states  Arizona and Georgia  for his efforts to overturn election results in 2020, while Kelly  Trumps longest serving chief  has become an outspoken critic of the president-elect, warning shortly before Election Day that he demonstrated the criteria of a fascist.
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Donald Trump has rehired the highly controversial immigration official Tom Homan, considered one of the key architects of the zero tolerance family separation policy during his first administration.

The immigration hardliner served as the acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) between 2017 and 2018.

The president-elect wrote on his Truth Social platform overnight that Homan would be in charge of the Southern Border, the Northern Border, all Maritime, and Aviation Security.

Homan will be involved in Trumps stated goal of carrying out the largest deportation operation in American history through federal, state, and local law enforcement by invoking the same 1798 law used to carry out mass Japanese internment during the Second World War.

Under the separation initiative, immigration officials broke with the longstanding practice of keeping migrant families together and out of detention, instead sending parents to immigration court for removal proceedings and children to the care of a separate agency.

Immigration offenses are considered civil violations, not criminal ones, and many of the families first presented as asylum-seekers, but they were soon on the fast track out of the country.

open image in gallery Trump will bring former ICE chief Tom Homan back into his administration ( REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst )

The practice separated at least 5,000 families, many permanently, as parents were sent abroad and the Trump administration initially declined to keep track of where they ended up. As of this May, an estimated 1,400 families remained apart.

Trump has been eager to bring Homan, a Project 2025 contributor, back into the fold, telling a radio host during the campaign, Hes coming on board.

As Homan boasted during a conference in July, They aint seen s*** yet...Wait until 2025.

When asked in a recent 60 Minutes interview about whether that operation would entail returning to family separation, Homan suggested it needs to be considered absolutely.

"Their parent absolutely entered the country illegally, had a child knowing he was in the country illegally, Homan explained. So he created that crisis."

According to reporting from The Atlantic, Homan may have been the first government official to seriously propose intentional family separation back in 2014, though officials dismissed this at the time as heartless and impractical, given both the moral and logistical costs of separating children from their families.

The proposal later found a receptive ear in Trump, who launched his 2016 campaign demonizing Mexican migrants as drug dealers and rapists and made cracking down on immigration a signature issue.

Homan told The Atlantic he was inspired to propose the family separation idea after witnessing the aftermath of grisly trafficking and violence on the border.

The goal wasnt to traumatize, he told the magazine. The goal was to stop the madness, stop the death, stop the rape, stop the children dying, stop the cartels doing what theyre doing.

open image in gallery Tom Homan was one of the key backers of the zero tolerance family separation policy, and will assist with the Trump administrations plans for mass deportations ( Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Since then, hes taken on a more belligerent tone.

Im sick and tired of hearing about the family separation, Homan said at a conference last year. Im still being sued over that.

I dont give a s***, right? Bottom line is, we enforced the law.

Since retiring from the Trump administration, Homan has been a fixture on Fox News, where he describes immigration as an invasion. Border states like Texas have pushed to declare immigration an invasion to free up additional military-style powers to police the border, which experts have told The Independent is a view unfounded in the law.

Homan has also served in a group of border experts called Border911, which has traveled the country promoting the idea, which many argue is racist, that Democrats are intentionally encouraging illegal immigration to secure political power.

Border911 has backed initiatives like Prop 314 in Arizona, which passed this year, allowing state and local officials to act as immigration officials, normally the duty of the federal government.

The group, according to reporting from the Texas Observer, was previously part of the America Project, a group founded by pro-Trump election deniers Patrick Byrne, former CEO of Overstock.com, and Michael Flynn, Trumps disgraced, QAnon-following former national security adviser.

People affiliated with the border group have private businesses that receive government contracts and provide consulting on immigration issues and could stand to gain from a new administration promoting hardline immigration policies.

The Biden administration indeed presided over record levels of migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border in late 2023, but levels have since returned to less than half of their peak during the Trump administration.
 Close Related video: Jake Tapper shares five words he never contemplated using to describe Trumps cabinet pick

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Donald Trump has returned to Madison Square Garden tonight to attend an Ultimate Fighting Championship event at the New York City arena.

The president-elect returned to the famed venue just weeks after his controversial campaign rally there. Attendees met him with thundering cheers as he entered alongside UFC CEO Dana White, billionaire ally Elon Musk, cabinet pick Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. Popular podcaster Joe Rogan also attended, greeted Trump with a friendly handshake.

Meanwhile, Trump continues to fill key posts in his second administration and tonight named fracking CEO Chris Wright as his choice for energy secretary.

Wright, CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development and one of the industrys loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change.

Trump's transition team is also firefighting serious allegations surrounding Matt Gaetz for attorney general and Pete Hegseth for defense secretary.

A woman who gave testimony to the House Ethics Committee probing Gaetz claims that she witnessed him having sex with a minor, her lawyer told ABC. Gaetz denies all wrongdoing.

The president-elect's transition team is also reportedly "stunned" by a sexual assault allegation regarding Hegseth that only emerged within 48 hours of announcing him for the top defense job, CNN reports. He denied all the accusations.
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Russia is seeking to merge three major oil companies in a bid to create the worlds second-biggest crude oil producer, reports suggest.

The combination of state-backed Rosneft Oil, Gazprom Neft and privately-owned Lukoil would be second to Saudi Arabias Aramco and pump almost three times US oil producer Exxons output, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The talks underline Vladimir Putins desire to muster the energy sector to support his war effort, people familiar with the talks said.

The Russian president, some of them said, envisions a juggernaut able to compete with Saudi Arabia at a time when oil demand, while still enormous, is slowing in the face of greener alternatives.

Oil and gas are the lifeblood of Russias economy, supplying almost a third of federal revenue and handing Putin influence around the world.

open image in gallery The combination of state-backed Rosneft Oil, Gazprom Neft and Lukoil would be second to Saudi Arabias Aramco ( Reuters )

Russias success at stabilising its economy in the face of Western sanctions is in large part thanks to its oil industry.

The talks, while influenced by the war in Ukraine, are also meant to prepare Russia for an eventual postwar thawing in economic relations.

There are some obstacles, including opposition from some Rosneft and Lukoil executives and the problem of collecting funds to pay Lukoil shareholders, the report added.

The same newspaper quoted a Rosneft spokesperson as saying the report was incorrect but declining to answer questions.

A Lukoil spokesperson said neither the company nor its shareholders were in merger negotiations with any parties, as this would not be in the interest of the company. A Kremlin spokesperson said Moscow had no knowledge of the deal.
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A Russian general whose soldiers have been accused of torturing an American blogger to death for the Kremlin has died in Ukraine, according to reports.

Major General Pavel Klimenko, 47, headed the Fifth Separate Motor Rifle Brigade in the self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic.

It is believed he was killed in a missile strike as he rode a motorbike.

He is reported to have run torture camps used on dissenting Russian soldiers and pro-Moscow agents who refuse orders.

One of Klimenkos sisters confirmed the death in conversation with the Astra news agency with another announcing his death on Telegram.

According to US-funded media outlet Radio Free Europe, he died on Thursday but the manner of Klimenkos death has not been verified by The Independent.

A former adviser to Ukraines interior minister Anton Gerashchenko claimed the Russian general had been hit by a drone at a checkpoint near Krasnohorivka, on the front line in eastern Ukraine, while moving in a group on motorcycles.

American national Russell Bentley, 64, known as the Donbas Cowboy, supported pro-Moscow separatists and was living in the city of Donetsk.

He was allegedly tortured and killed at the Petrovskaya mine by members of the Fifth Brigade who apparently mistook the blogger for a US spy. His body was blown up in an attempt to destroy the evidence.

Bentley had made a name for himself over the past ten years by travelling through the territories occupied by pro-Russian forces in Ukraine.

Military bloggers on Friday reported that Russian forces were moving closer to capturing a major town on the eastern front in the war in Ukraine as part of their drive westward to capture all of the Donbas region.

Bloggers on both sides reported that Russian forces had entered the village of Sontsivka and were advancing from the northwest on the city of Kurakhove.

Ukrainian authorities made no acknowledgement that the village had fallen into Russian hands, while noting that fighting on the eastern front was heaviest around Kurakhove and Pokrovsk, a major logistics centre to the northwest.
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A crowd of mourners lit torches and intoned a military chant to honor a Ukrainian medic and a soldier who fell in love on the frontline and died together in a Russian shell attack.

Valentyna Nahorna, whose call sign was Valkyrie, volunteered as a medic at the start of the war in Ukraine.

She and Daniil Liashkevych, known as Berserk, fell in love just a few months ago, their friends and comrades say, but it helped them endure the war. They both worked in the 3rd Assault Brigade, and were killed Nov. 4.

Their funerals were held on Friday at Kyiv s crematorium, a cavernous and grimly modern building often used for funerals of the war dead.

Those gathered gave the chant that Ukrainian soldiers learn by heart when they first start training: "Burn with fire, life-giving, the weakness in my heart. Let me know no fear, nor doubt.

open image in gallery A photo of Valentyna Nagorna known as "Valkiria", a Ukrainian military medic of 3rd assault brigade who was killed together with her boyfriend Danylo Liashkevych known as "Berserk", during the funeral ceremony at a crematorium in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka) ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Kostyl, who like many Ukrainian soldiers agreed to be identified only by his call sign, said meeting Valkyrie helped Berserk emerge from a dark time in his life.

He finally had a soulmate who also wanted to fight with him and be as close to the war as possible, But this was their last time together, and no one is safe from that, Kostyl said.

open image in gallery Relatives of Danylo Liashkevych aka "Berserk", Ukrainian serviceman of 3rd assault brigade, cry during the funeral ceremony at crematorium in Kyiv, Ukraine, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka) ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Dvyetshnik, a 3rd Brigade soldier who knew the medic better than her soldier companion, described her as fearless and willing to learn anything.

If Valkyrie was very sincere in her emotions and thus added a beautiful chaos, Berserk was a real warrior, he said. They were a perfect complement to each other.

In Ukraine

In Ukraine military bloggers on Friday reported that Russian forces were moving closer to capturing a major town on the eastern front in the war in Ukraine as part of their drive westward to capture all of the Donbas region.

Bloggers on both sides reported that Russian forces had entered the village of Sontsivka and were advancing from the northwest on the city of Kurakhove.

Ukrainian authorities made no acknowledgement that the village had fallen into Russian hands, while noting that fighting on the eastern front was heaviest around Kurakhove and Pokrovsk, a major logistics centre to the northwest.

The Kurakhove direction and the Pokrovsk direction are the most challenging right now, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. The military command and brigade command are working on strengthening positions.

Ukraines General Staff made no mention of the village, saying that Ukrainian forces had repelled 18 of 32 Russian attacks near Kurakhove and 19 assaults near Pokrovsk.
Drones of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Special Operations Forces (SOF) hit the Aleksinsky chemical plant in Russia's Tula region that produces gunpowder and ammunition for the Russian troops, an SBU source told Interfax-Ukraine.

According to the source, an air raid alert was announced in several regions of Russia at 9:30 p.m. on Friday due to a drone attack. At 3 a.m., Tula residents started to post messages about an attack on the chemical plant, explosions and the movement of fire engines towards the scene of the fire.

"The SBU works in a comprehensive manner on the facilities on the territory of Russia that are involved in the war against Ukraine. The attacks on ammunition depots, military airfields and enterprises, which are part of the Russian military industry, reduce Russia's capability to terrorize our country," the sources said.
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Qatar has pulled out as a broker of key ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas in a further blow to peace throughout the region.

The Gulf state said it would stop mediating a truce and hostage release deal until both sides showed a sincere willingness to return to the negotiating table.

Qatar, alongside the United States and Egypt, has played a major role in rounds of so-far unsuccessful talks to end the year-long war in Gaza.

It comes after Qatari officials agreed with Washington it would order Hamas to close its political office in Doha, according to US officials.

Although Qatar has not confirmed this, it said Hamass base no longer served its purpose due to a refusal to negotiate a deal in good faith. Hamas denied the claim.

open image in gallery US secretary of state Antony Blinken, left, meets with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in Doha, in October

The latest round of talks in mid-October failed to produce a deal, with Hamas rejecting a short-term ceasefire proposal.

The group has called for a complete end to the conflict and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

Former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant accused Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu of rejecting a peace deal against the advice of his security chiefs.

Qatar, designated as a major non-Nato ally by Washington, has hosted Hamass political leaders since 2012 as part of an agreement under former US president Barack Obama.

The call for Hamas to be expelled from Qatar could be an attempt by the outgoing Biden administration to force some sort of peace deal before the end of his term in January, according to some analysts.

open image in gallery Former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant accused Netanyahu of rejecting a peace deal ( REUTERS )

Scott Richards, a private negotiator working on behalf of Israeli hostages, told The Independent: This may be a political move as there are few other venues suitable for Hamas, with the exception of Cairo.

If they left for Iran, it would make the talks impossible due to tensions between Iran and Israel, as well as that being the site of former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyehs assassination by Israel.

If Hamas are forced to leave Qatar where they are beyond Netanyahus reach, they may offer a better deal or accept a shorter ceasefire rather than face the risks that come with the alternatives.

It is thought the personal safety of Hamas leadership is now a major concern for the group, which saw two leaders killed in less than four months.

As well as Haniyehs death in July, in October Israel killed Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind the 7 October Hamas attack on southern Israel.

H A Hellyer, a senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute think tank , told the BBC nowhere would give them protection from Israeli assassination attempts in the same way that being in Doha did.
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The Roman archaeological site of Pompeii will limit the number of daily visitors to the site after a steep rise in visitors.

The Pompeii archaeological park plans to limit visitor numbers to 20,000 a day and introduce personalised tickets starting next week.

It comes after a record high 36,000 tourists visited the site on the first Sunday of October, when entry was free, according to local media.

The ancient Roman city in southern Italy was buried under ash and rock following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

Nearly four million people visited the main Pompeii site in 2023, a third more than the previous year, according to authorities.

open image in gallery The site is one of the best-preserved Roman cities anywhere in the world ( Parco Archeologico di Pompei/Handout via REUTERS )

Visitor counts had been climbing in the run up to the 2020 pandemic and in 2023 were above pre-Covid levels.

In October 2024, there were more than 480,000 visitors, putting the average at about 15,500 a day. The busiest month so far this year was May, when about 517,000 people visited, or some 16,700 a day.

We are working on a series of projects to lift the human pressure on the site, which could pose risks both for visitors and the heritage that is so unique and fragile, the parks director Gabriel Zuchtriegel said.

The parks management is also trying to attract more tourists to visit other ancient sites connected to Pompeii by a free shuttle bus under the Greater Pompeii project, including Stabia, Torre Annunziata and Boscoreale sites.

The measures to manage flows and safety and the personalisation of the visits are part of this strategy, Mr Zuchtriegel said.

open image in gallery In October 2024, there were more than 480,000 visitors, putting the average at about 15,500 a day ( Giorgio Cosulich/Getty Images )

We are aiming for slow, sustainable, pleasant and non-mass tourism and above all widespread throughout the territory around the Unesco site, which is full of cultural jewels to discover, he added.

Post-pandemic, the influx of millions of visitors to tourist-strewn towns has, in some cases, risen to levels above those seen in 2019.

Too much tourism threatens to disrupt residents and natural ecosystems, and contribute to transport pollution.

The city was devastated by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, which preserved swathes of it almost intact under a layer of ash for over 1,000 years.

About a third of the site has yet to be excavated. It continues to be of huge interest to archaeologists, providing the most complete picture of daily Roman life anywhere in the world.
Bernie Sanders appeared to sum up Donald Trump's campaign tactics in a video decades before the now-president-elect won the 2024 election.

The Vermont senator, then 61, spoke to high school students about the value of public service, the political process, and his experiences as an elected official as part of a C-SPAN and Comcast project to encourage dialogue between students and national leaders.

He described how Republicans would "split people up instead of working together."

"You split people up, and then they end up if you're a middle-class person voting against your own interests and the rich go laughing all the way to the bank," he told the students.
Flames from a wildfire which has already burnt 20,630 acres of land in California could be seen raging directly above one of its airports.

The skies above Santa Paula Airport were black with smoke in footage taken from the runway.

Its thought the city of Santa Paula could be evacuated, particularly as a 2017 wildfire burned through hundreds of homes in the area.

At least 10 people have been injured, mainly through smoke inhalation, and just seven per cent of the fire is thought to have been contained.

According to California Fire, the cause of the blaze is not yet known.
Oh, to be a fly on the wall in President Trumps Oval Office when the request arrives from Britain not to impose extra trade tariffs.

Rachel Reeves has said she will make strong representations about the harm such a protectionist measure would inflict. During his election campaign, Donald Trump said tariffs was his favourite word and he repeatedly floated the possibility of increasing levies by up to 60 per cent on goods imported from China and 10 per cent for the rest of the world.

Some say Trump is not a vindictive type, that he does not bear grudges. Others, who also profess to know him, are not so sure. Whatever. His face, when the UK pleads for some sort of special treatment, will almost certainly break into a smile.

As to whether he would follow through with an increase, any increase, its impossible to say. But the very fact Britain has got itself into this situation, of effectively having to beg for mercy, speaks volumes about the short-sightedness of its new government.

In a two-horse race, they staked all their bets on one horse.

More than 100 Labour staffers answered an email from the partys head of operations and flew to assist Kamala Harriss effort, prompting a charge of blatant foreign interference from the Trump camp. When the Republicans complained, Sir Keir Starmer had every opportunity to apologise and call the Labour workers back but he didnt. He correctly pointed out they were volunteering in their own time, not that Trumps camp was listening.

Senior Labour figures have also made plain their hostility towards the Republican candidate, not least the foreign secretary, David Lammy, who in the past has called Trump a serial liar and wannabe despot. Also, from Lammy: If Trump did GCSEs, he wouldnt make it to sixth form and the soon-to-be 47th US president is a neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath and a troll who is truly beneath contempt.

Donald Trump campaigned on a platform of protectionism ( Reuters )

Talk about how to win friends. Starmer maintains that he and Trump held a convivial dinner when they met in New York in September. But Trump did not hold power then, he does now.

So, were being treated to the spectacle of Starmer emphasising the strong bond between the two countries and how crucial the relationship is. Even this risks conveying the wrong tone, smacking of telling something to a person who, if form is any guide, does not always take kindly to being told.

Whether Trump sees through his threat to impose customs charges is of course another matter. There is a school of thought that maintains he likes to be bold in public but in private, once the ramifications are explained, may choose to moderate his stance. If he raised the bar against China for instance, its quite possible that Beijing would strike back with restrictions of its own, which would only damage US interests.

As for the UK, there is little we can do to hurt him; our businesses are far more reliant on the US than theirs on us.

Tories have been quick to seize upon the hole in which Labour find themselves. They accuse Starmer and his colleagues of displaying a lack of foresight and theyre milking the embarrassment for all its worth.

They, too, miss a fundamental point, which is that Trump can behave like he does, throwing up barriers to entry because the US has the resources it requires to be entirely self-sufficient. An efficient US economic engine, its companies firing on all cylinders, needs nothing from anyone. In fact, by making imports more costly Trump would be encouraging US businesses to raise their game.

The vast nation contains 350 million people, enough to satisfy corporate sales forces. They can fulfil all their production necessities without going abroad.

While they ridicule Starmer and co, the Tories choose to ignore that the UK also belonged to a free trading bloc, one that was even bigger than the US, with 450m inhabitants. That was the EU, and it was also able to service the UKs requirements and provide a ready export market for the UKs businesses.

We threw that away with Brexit. Accepted Tory wisdom has it that the failure to capitalise on the so-called opportunities presented by exiting was down to Labour and others trying to overturn the EU referendum outcome.

Really? When the UK left it was promised bilateral free trade deals. Two, especially, were regarded as major and hugely advantageous: the US and India. Neither has materialised.

Under Joe Biden, a pact with the US never appeared close. Under the new president, one who has made protectionism his beat, its prospects are nowhere. The failure to strike an agreement was not down to those seeking to wreck Brexit. No draft treaty was put before parliament, there was nothing to shoot down. During that period, the Tories were in charge and they failed to follow through on Brexit and deliver.

Britain was ill-served by them, and under Labour has got off to a rocky start where relations with the White House are concerned. Both parties must shoulder the blame for this perilous situation. Britain deserves much better.
Songs of a Lost World is one of the best of the year which grows with each listen

Album sales are not, of course, what they used to be, but many will have been tickled this week with the news that the Cures first album in 16 years is outselling the rest of the UK top 10 combined.

Songs of a Lost World will be their first number one album in Britain since 1992s Wish. That was arguably the most commercial Cure album of them all, but their latest offering has much more in common with Disintegration. And that 1989 album is almost universally agreed to be the very best Cure album.

The new one  which has been many years in gestation  has a similarly doom-laden outlook to Disintegration. That album was fixated by the passage of time as Robert Smith, then about to hit the ripe old age of 30, fretted about mortality. Now aged 65, its a theme thats all to real both to him and to those goth lovers who have been on the Cure journey since the end of the 1970s.

Over the course of eight lengthy, stately, unhurried tracks, the veteran band deliver music thats atmospheric, evocative and devastatingly effective. Its an album that unfurls glacially, but it weaves a snare early on.

Opening song, Alone, is typical. The first three-odd minutes offers dense orchestral and shoegaze manoeuvres that sounds both hopeful and melancholy  two words that neatly sum up this album  before Smiths vocals finally appear. (Disintegration also features a lengthy instrumental intro.) Smith sings of stars grown dim with tears and, unsettlingly, birds falling out of our skies. His voice seems utterly unchanged by time, as distinct now as it was in the bands 80s heyday.

Every song boasts quotable lyrics and a sweet romanticism abounds. Every time you kiss me I could die, he sings, touchingly, on A Fragile Thing.

The gorgeously wrought And Nothing is Forever opens  after another long instrumental flourish  with Smith singing: Promise youll be with me in the end/ Say well be together, that you wont forget. The track soars, even when he notes: I know that my world is grown old/ And nothing is forever. Its an admission from a man staring down the barrel of pensionable age.

Death and loss also permeate. The piano-led I Can Never Say Goodbye was written about his elder brother, Richard, who died a few years ago. Richard, as Smith has often acknowledged, was the person who turned him on to a life of music as a boy, who helped him master those first guitar chords. He lays his emotion bare, recalling his siblings final few days. He has to wake up/ Love slipping away/ Hear the bells beyond the sea, its almost too late.

When youre younger, he said, in a recent interview, you romanticise [death], even without knowing it. Then it starts happening to your immediate family and friends and suddenly its a different thing. It certainly is and its impossible to listen to this song without feeling an intensity of grief.

While the album is very much Smiths worldview, it is unmistakably the work of a band in close harmony. Apart from Smith, only the bassist Simon Gallup remains from the Cures early years. But theres an impressive roll-call of talent here, including guitarist Reeves Gabrels who founded Tin Machine with David Bowie.

Cliched as it might be, this is an album that grows with each new listening. Anyone smitten by one of Britains greatest bands will have no difficulty playing it repeatedly. But its an album  one of 2024s best  that needs to be heard by all music lovers.
Catherine Fegan: Conor McGregors four days in the High Court as Nikita Hand accuses MMA fighter of rape

Competing versions of events heard by jury in civil action for damages

Conor McGregor at the High Court in Dublin

Catherine Fegan Sat 9 Nov 2024 at 03:30

Conor McGregor, dressed in a tightly fitted jumper, got into the hotel elevator first. He positioned himself facing the door, with his back pressed against the mirror and his arms spreadeagled, each hand touching the sides of the lift.
A widow has told a court that her life is broken beyond repair and she is in trapped in a nightmare following the death of her husband in a road traffic accident last year.
Taoiseach Simon Harris called on people to value your vote and use your voice. Photo: Getty

Theres an old joke that when politicians go to confession, they begin by saying: Bless me, Father, for sins have been committed. Deflection and distance from responsibility are deemed to be so deeply rooted in the DNA that facing up to failings must be avoided at all costs.

The calling of an election opens the way to judgment day, when all are accountable before the ballot box. Whatever ones preferences, the ending of the 33rd Dail closes the book on an extraordinary time.

It first met on February 20, 2020, and within nine days the first Covid case was diagnosed. The pandemic locked down the country.

Thousands died, despite the sacrifices of so many, but it was also a testament to all politicians  in and out of government  that our country kept going in those dark days.

Cross-party support was found when it was needed. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael had earlier set aside historical differences to put the country first. Throughout the Covid-19 nightmare, there was general acceptance that politics had to work.

We must now hope Taoiseach Simon Harriss appeal to value your vote and use your voice will be heeded. His aspiration that this election will be a safe one will also be echoed across the country.

The proud tradition of respect for all those running for office must be honoured.

Government parties will tout stability, sticking to the tried and the tested and unprecedented prosperity. The opposition will vociferously beg to differ.

The bigger parties ought to know they have no automatic right to return to office

The general election will be fought in 43 constituencies, but it is widely agreed that the defining issues will, once again, be housing and health.

Fianna Fail has insisted that retaining the Help to Buy scheme would be a red line issue in government formation talks after the election.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald is in no doubt housing will dominate the campaign. She believes the Coalition had its chance and has failed miserably to deliver the numbers of homes needed.

Labour would see a winding down of housing subsidies, opting for an SSIA-style state-assisted save-to-buy scheme.

A change agenda will understandably be driven by opposition parties, which is inevitable given the length of time Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have spent in power.

Across Europe, there is unquestionably a strong anti-incumbency swing. Government parties will claim the system is working, and may have a point. But opposition parties can credibly counter that it is not working for everyone, with too many left behind.

The bigger parties ought to know they have no automatic right to return to office. As any general would attest, big armies dont necessarily win battles, only the good ones do.

As to those who may feel It doesnt matter whos in office, its always the same in politics  as in all other areas  you have to make things happen. Your vote, however you use it, is a stake in your countrys future.
The Green Party leader has criticised Fianna Fail's "newfound interest in climate" in a significant jab at his coalition partners.

The Greens further claimed that the Government almost collapsed due to Fianna Fail's position on Budget negotiations on the climate and nature fund.

It comes after details of Fianna Fail's climate action plans were reported on Saturday. The party is reportedly promising a junior ministry for energy along with increased investment in electric vehicle infrastructure and wind farms.

Fianna Fail is also pledging a 90% cut in EU emissions by 2040. However, the reports were "greeted with a rueful response" from Green partners who said they spent much of the four and a half years of the coalition "battling hostility over much-needed measures".

Green Party minister Ossian Smyth claimed Fianna Fail had to be dragged "kicking and screaming" on many environmental issues. He added: "The last government nearly collapsed because Fianna Fail wouldn't agree to the 3.15 billion euro Climate and Nature Fund even though it will help businesses and state bodies cut emissions while also cutting their energy bills.

"Last week, with Fine Gael, they blocked a plan coming to cabinet that would allow businesses to start preparing for how the money could be spent from 2026."

Speaking in Dublin on Saturday, Green leader Roderic O'Gorman said: "We're also really delighted today to see Fianna Fail's newfound interest in the climate.

"Interesting to see their policy coming out today, but it does somewhat contrast with the approach that we found from Fianna Fail over the last four and a half years in government, and particularly demonstrated in the last weeks where they actually blocked the allocation of funding under the Nature and Climate Fund.

"So, great to see Fianna Fail talking big on climate change today, but they weren't talking big about it even two weeks ago in cabinet.

"We would remind people that the party that has focused and prioritised climate for the last four and a half years in government, for the last 40 years as a party, has been the Green Party."

Mr O'Gorman said he did not understand the Fianna Fail proposal to "downgrade the issue of energy" to a junior ministry.
Photo: https://t.me/dsns_telegram/34763

Volunteers of the Odesa Regional Emergency Response Team of the Ukrainian Red Cross jointly with rescuers of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine worked on clearing the aftermath of a Russian drone attack on Odesa all night long.

"All night the Odesa Regional Emergency Response Team of the Ukrainian Red Cross jointly with rescuers of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine liquidated the damage caused by the attack," the Ukrainian Red Cross said on Facebook.

The volunteers put up a help center and went around apartments in the damaged buildings to provide the residents with assistance. The Ukrainian Red Cross team provided 13 people with first aid and first psychological aid.

As reported, one person was killed and 13 people, including two children, were wounded as a result of Russia's attack on Odesa last night. Apartment buildings were damaged, dozens of cars were burned, a storage facility went on fire.
Labour has called for a return to "civility and courtesy" in Irish politics.

Party leader Ivana Bacik, who was canvassing with Dublin South West hopeful Ciaran Aherne in the Wainsfort area of Kimmage on Saturday, said the party was running 32 candidates across 31 constituencies.

"We want to see an increase in support for Labour candidates and an increase in support for our Labour vision and our Labour values of equality, solidarity and fairness.

"We want to make a difference and I have said that we are serious about looking to deliver change to build better together, to build an Ireland that works for all.

"After the election, the first thing I will be doing is seeking to achieve a common platform across the left, the centre left and the green movement to ensure that our policies and our values will make a difference in the next government."

Expressing concern over the rise of the division, hatred and the far right in Europe, Ms Bacik said Labour would run a positive campaign.

Asked by reporters about the impact of Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election on polling here, Ms Bacik first acknowledged that the

Irish economy was "vulnerable" to potential decisions taken by the next administration in Washington.

She then expressed hope that it may spur a return to "civility and kindness".

Ms Bacik added: "I think the best-case scenario is that it will restore people's belief in the need for decency in politics.

"Trump and his campaign completely undermined the civility and kindness and courtesy that we should see in democratic politics.

"It actually is integral to our democracy and I think I hope that Trump's win will restore people's belief in the need for that civility and courtesy to re-enter Irish politics.

"I've been very vocal about the increasingly aggressive and shoutiness of political discourse, not just on the toxic spaces online, but actually in the Dail chamber where we've seen, unfortunately, some deputies shouting and heckling abuse."

She added: "But unfortunately we've also seen it manifest in assaults on canvases, on candidates, and again that's deeply undermining of democracy.

"So I hope the Trump win - if nothing else - will have that impact on the campaign here, that it will make people will be more courteous, more civil, more kind."
Roscrea revisited: Ten months after the refugee protest this town is divided

In January, local people and far right protesters held demonstrations against the housing of asylum seekers in a local hotel. John Meagher gauges the mood now as immigration becomes an election issue

Roscrea revisited: Ten months after the refugee protest this town is divided

John Meagher Sat 9 Nov 2024 at 03:30

Roscrea rarely makes national headlines, but in the second and third weeks of January this year, the north Co Tipperary town was constantly in the news.
The risk of a very severe reaction increases with multiple stings over time, so see a medical professional if you are concerned

How do you know the difference between a regular reaction to a sting from a wasp and one that can be deadly?

It follows the tragic case of Michael Sheehan (56) from Macroom, Co Cork, who died from a suspected severe allergic reaction, after being stung multiple times when he disturbed a wasp nest as he trimmed a hedge.

He complained of feeling unwell and emergency services were alerted, but despite desperate efforts to stabilise his condition, he was pronounced dead.

While post mortem results have yet to reveal the cause of death, it is suspected Mr Sheehan suffered anaphylactic shock.

This is a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction to a trigger  in this case, venom. It occurs when the immune system overreacts to a trigger.

Dr Iseult Sheehan, clinical director at Allergy Ireland, said the vast majority of people who are stung by a wasp or bee have a local reaction, with some burning pain and swelling around the affected area which can last for a few hours.

Others have more of a moderate reaction where the swelling extends beyond the site.

"People who have a severe reaction develop systemic symptoms in addition to local reaction," she said.

It could be a skin rash over the rest of the body and they can have difficulty breathing or circulatory symptoms.

They can suffer blockage of the airways or swelling of the tongue or throat, leaving them with difficulty swallowing or a hoarse voice.

Circulatory difficulties can leave someone feeling dizzy and at risk of loss of consciousness. These symptoms show a time-critical emergency.

"Call and ambulance and use the word anaphylaxis," Dr Sheehan said.

It is important that the person lies down with their legs up on a couple of cushions to maintain their blood pressure, she stressed.

The treatment is adrenaline administered through an auto-injector such as an EpiPen.

Paramedics will have EpiPens, as will GPs and pharmacists.

Dr Juan Trujillo, consultant paediatric allergist and co-director of the Paediatric Allergy Research Group in UCC, said two EpiPens with a certain level of dosage need to be administered for an anaphylactic reaction to a wasp sting.

The risk of a very severe reaction increases with multiple stings over time, particularly to the head and neck. This means people such as beekeepers are at higher risk.

If someone has a reaction to a sting which leaves them with symptoms such as dizziness, the advice is to go to their GP to assess their risk.

It means if they get another sting and it is life-threatening, they will have an allergy action plan and have EpiPens on hand.

Dr Sheehan said that allergies are on the rise over the last 20 years, although there is no data showing anaphylactic shock is increasing. But there may be cases where it is not recognised.

Dr Trujillo pointed out that the type of allergy involved can depend on a persons age.

People who have eczema or asthma can also have a food allergy, although they are not at higher risk of allergy to wasp stings, said Dr Sheehan.
An Irish man has been arrested following the death of an American tourist who allegedly went missing from a nightclub in Hungary.

Mackenzie Michalski (31)  who was known as Kenzie  was last heard from on Tuesday where she had spoken to her friends about her visit to Budapest.

After she failed to answer calls the next day, Mackenzies friends spread word on social media about her disappearance.

It is believed she went missing following a night out in Budapest and investigators claimed they had identified a man she was seen with in several nightclubs.

But now, Hungarian police have said they have arrested a 37-year-old Irish citizen in connection with the American womans death.

Mackenzie Michalski

Mackenzie, who lived in Portland, Oregon, had been traveling with a group of friends through Europe and had spent three days in Hungary.

She had partied ways with her friends on Monday telling them she was staying behind for one more night in Budapest before flying out on Tuesday.

However, when she missed her flight and never checked out of the Airbnb they shared in Budapest, her friend said she began to worry.

Michalski's family and friends released a statement on Friday that said they are "deeply saddened to confirm a report published by Hungarian police announcing the death of our beloved Kenzie."

"Kenzie will forever be remembered as a beautiful and compassionate young woman who dedicated herself to caring for others and making the world a better place, they said.

"As a nurse practitioner, Kenzie used her humour, positivity, and limitless empathy to help heal her patients and encourage family and friends alike."

Her family and friends thanked the U.S. and Hungarian authorities for their "prompt attention, diligence, care, and consideration" as well as those who helped raise awareness about her disappearance.

"We are thankful that Kenzies soul is now at peace.

"Her memory and legacy will endure in the hearts of all whom shes touched. To understand Kenzies spirit is to wholeheartedly embrace the vast joy and wonder of life. Her wish for the world: fully embrace the present moment, be your authentic self, practice kindness, and always walk in the light."
The next Government needs to finally begin to tackle the excruciatingly slow process for resolving medical negligence claims, which are leading to very high legal costs and impacting the mental health of patients and doctors, it was claimed today.

The Medical Protection Society (MPS), which indemnifies doctors, said there needs to be pre-action protocols introduced in legal actions taken by patients.

It claimed the protracted claims process is resulting in legal costs which are among the highest in the world, and affecting doctors and patients mental wellbeing.

In its Priorities for the Next Government paper, which was published at MPSs annual medical conference today, the organisation, covering 16,000 healthcare professionals in Ireland, said the next Government must also turn its attention to a number of other issues affecting the wellbeing of the healthcare workforce.

These include implementing powers that would enable the Medical Council to triage and close down complaints against doctors that do not require further action more quickly, to avoid the stress of a long and unnecessary investigation.

It called on the next Government to work with the HSE and private hospital organisations to ensure the provision of mental wellbeing support for healthcare workers is adequate, and that existing mental wellbeing services are properly funded.

Speaking at the MPS conference, Professor Gozie Offiah, MPS Council member, said: The Government that forms after the election will face a range of issues affecting healthcare professionals and patients that will need action.

"Long wait lists, staffing shortages and issues with healthcare funding and investment continue to burden a system still under strain following Covid-19, and progress in numerous policy areas which were held up during the pandemic will now need to advance with some urgency.

At MPS, we have a particular perspective on the reforms needed. We see the impact that excruciatingly slow clinical negligence claims processes have on doctors mental wellbeing and hard-won careers whilst high legal fees are also incurred.

"We have set out some swift actions the Government could take to begin to address these issues.

We also see the impact that under resourced or unsupportive environments can have on healthcare professionals mental wellbeing  something which affects them as individuals and can impact on patient care and staff retention. This is an area the next Government must turn its attention to.

Rapid progress in each of the areas set out in our paper would ultimately help to improve patient care; healthcare professionals who are engaged, supported and experience proportionate, timely accountability for their actions find it much easier to be compassionate, provide safer patient care and can thrive in their careers for longer.

We look forward to working with the next Government on these and a range of other critical issues affecting the healthcare profession.
Recalling the bravery and sacrifice of our nine UN peacekeepers killed in 1960 Niemba ambush

Deaths of Irish soldiers in Congo 64 years ago remains greatest loss of life

The 1962 funeral in Dublin of Trooper Anthony Browne, one of the victims of the Niemba ambush

Patrick McGarty Sat 9 Nov 2024 at 03:30

Just after 1.30pm on November 8, 1960, an 11-man patrol of Irish peacekeeping soldiers from the 33th Infantry Battalion, part of the UN mission in the Republic of Congo, left their base at Niemba in the southern province of Katanga.
A topping out ceremony for the Ronald McDonald House, which will provide family accommodation at the site of the new 2.2bn national childrens hospital, was witnessed by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly today  just as the country faces in to a general election campaign.

Eight months after construction started, the new Ronald McDonald House has reached its maximum height and a final concrete pour today signalled the completion of the roof on the building.

It is located across from the main entrance to the new childrens hospital and will be operated by Ronald McDonald House Charities Ireland.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly TD today was joined for a topping out ceremony of the family accommodation unitat the new childrens hospital by the Brunton family from Oldcastle Co. Meath. Zach (age 5) is a patient at CHI at Crumlin,and he and his family have spent over one hundred nights in The Ronald McDonald House at CHI at Crumlin. The RonaldMcDonald House at the new childrens hospital will provide accommodation for 52 families every night who havechildren receiving treatment in the hospital. Eight months after construction commenced, the new Ronald McDonaldHouse has reached its maximum height and a final concrete pour today signalled the completion of the roof on thebuilding. Pic: Marc O'Sullivan

He was joined by teams from the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board, Childrens Health Ireland, the Health Service Executive, and Ronald McDonald House Charities Ireland.

The delay in building the new national childrens hospital and its and spiralling cost look set to become one of the issues of the election campaign as the minister faces criticism from Opposition parties.

When the Government took office, the cost of the new Nationals Childrens Hospital was put at 1.4bn but it soared to 2.2bn.

The completion date shifted 14 times in over four years and the latest promise is that it will be finished in June next year.

The Ronald McDonald House will provide accommodation for 52 families every night who have children receiving treatment in the new childrens hospital.

As well as bedrooms that will accommodate families of all sizes, the building will also include communal kitchen facilities where families can prepare meals, as well as shared common areas such as living rooms, playrooms, reading rooms, a laundry facilities and outdoor spaces.

It will be connected to the new childrens hospital at basement level, providing direct access for families who are visiting their loved ones at any time of the day or night.

Ronald McDonald House Charities Ireland will operate the new facility when it opens. It has operated The Ronald McDonald House at Childrens Health Ireland at Crumlin for 20 years, during which time more than 5,000 families from across the island of Ireland have availed of its services.

Currently, 20 families are accommodated at any one time in The Ronald McDonald House at Childrens Health Ireland at Crumlin.

The new Ronald McDonald House will more than double the accommodation available for families, with accommodation for 52 families, and enhanced communal areas.

Clancy Construction was appointed to design and build the new facility. Construction is expected to be complete by quarter three in 2025.

Mr Donnelly said: Its heartening to know the new accommodation unit at Ronald McDonald House will provide comfort to families by offering a home away from home during challenging times.

"Im pleased to see the building is continuing to progress towards its completion at todays topping out ceremony.

"Ronald McDonald House Charities Ireland is a valued partner and support at CHI Crumlin for 20 years where over 5,000 families have benefitted from its services, and I am grateful they have agreed to extend this wonderful service at the new children's hospital."

Dr Jim Browne, Chair of Childrens Health Ireland Board; said: The opening of the new hospital will enable further positive transformation and innovation of paediatric healthcare in Ireland.

"While children and young people receive quality care, having their loved ones nearby is essential to better outcomes and happier children.

"This new Ronald McDonald building follows 20 years of commitment, compassion, and support for families with sick children in Childrens Health Ireland and will provide a home away from home for those who need it most.
Irish immigration attorney Fiona McEntee, who has worked in the field for nearly 20 years, anticipates significant challenges for immigrants when former president Donald Trump reclaims office.

Based in Chicago, Ms McEntee is already seeing fears rise among her clients, particularly around denaturalisation  the process of revoking citizenship for naturalised immigrants.

Having practised during Trumps previous term, Ms McEntee said she is bracing for the unknown.

Currently, it is a very tiny percentage of cases of people who have been denaturalised, she told the Irish Independent. Now the fear is everywhere; everyone is afraid of this.

Under Trump in 2020, the Department of Justice established a denaturalisation unit to review citizenship cases with alleged fraud or criminality.

Trumps former adviser Stephen Miller, who is expected to rejoin his administration, hinted at intensifying this policy if Trump returns.

Posting on X in 2023, Mr Miller stated: We started a new denaturalisation project under Trump. In 2025, expect it to be turbocharged.

Ms McEntee criticised the potential increase in denaturalisation, saying it instils a climate of fear even among longtime citizens.

There is this idea that all these people should never have been given citizenship to begin with.

They think they need to review all these files and take citizenship away from people who have been living here, working here, voting here.

Her clients anxieties underscore the impact, with some, including a 15-year citizen, worried about their status.

He has nothing to worry about because he received his citizenship legally, but this demonstrates the level of anxiety here, she added.

Another primary concern is Trumps pledge to deport a million immigrants annually.

To think you are going to round up that many people is questionable from an economic perspective, aside from a human rights perspective, Ms McEntee said, pointing out that most of the 12 million undocumented immigrants are working and contributing to the US economy.

Patti Shields, chair of Democrats Abroad Ireland, told the Irish Independent she also anticipates tensions, believing states such as California may resist federal mandates.


Gardai have launched a renewed appeal for information about the disappearance and murder of 21-year-old Josephine Jo Jo Dullard, who went missing 29 years ago today.

The probe into her disappearance was formally upgraded to a murder investigation in 2020, as gardai believe serious harm came to the young woman on or around the night of November 9, 1995.

Jo Jo missed the last bus home to Kilkenny after an evening of socialising at Bruxelles Bar on Harry Street in Dublin, instead boarding a bus to Naas, Co Kildare, at 10pm.

She intended to hitchhike the rest of the way to her home in Callan and got her first lift from Naas to the slip road on the M9 motorway at Kilcullen, before getting another lift to Moone, Co Kildare, at around 11.15pm.

She called her friend Mary from a phone box at 11.37pm and told her during the call that a car had stopped and she was going to accept the lift.

This was the last known interaction with Jo Jo, who was reported missing by her sister Kathleen Bergin the following morning.

Speaking on the 29th anniversary of her youngest sisters disappearance, Ms Bergin said: That day she went to Dublin, our lives changed forever. She is out there somewhere and we need to bring her home.

Her nieces and nephews thought the world of her, with her disappearance having a huge impact on her family.

When Jo Jo got to the phone box in Moone, we would often wonder what went through her mind when she realised, Im not going to get back home again. I can only imagine the fear that she was going through.

Jo Jo was the youngest of five siblings. Her father, John, died before she was born and her mother, Nora, died from cancer in 1983.

Ms Bergin said her sister deserves to be brought home and laid to rest beside her parents. She asked those who may have information to look into their hearts and find the courage to come forward, as even a small detail could be the piece of the jigsaw that we are looking for.

We need Jo Jo to finish her journey home, she added.

Gardai have asked anyone who met, saw or has any information in relation to her murder who has not yet spoken to investigators, to come forward.

They have urged people to recall whether they may have met Jo Jo in Bruxelles on the evening of November 9 and whether anyone may have seen  or received  the Sanyo Stereo cassette Player (model MGP21) she had with her.

Gardai are looking to speak with anyone who gave a hitchhiker a lift around Moone around this time, or anyone who may have been hitchhiking in the area at the end of October and start of November 1995.

Jo Jos family have now suffered from her disappearance for 29 years. An Garda Siochana is resolute in our determination to provide answers for Jo Jos family and bring her murderer to justice, a spokesperson said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Naas garda station on 045 884 300, the garda confidential line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
'You might be at a scene and they have the same sofa as you. All of a sudden, it makes it real' - Meet Irelands all-female team of state pathologists

Dr Linda Mulligan and her colleagues carry out more than 400 post-mortems a year. They explain what drew them to pathology, how social media has changed perceptions of what they do and talk about some of the cases that have stayed with him

From left: Chief State Pathologist Linda Mulligan pictured with state pathologists Dr Heidi Okkers and Dr Yvonne McCartney. Photo: Gerry Mooney

Tanya Sweeney Sat 9 Nov 2024 at 03:30

During his tenure as Irelands second state pathologist, Prof John Harbison was immediately recognisable with his deerstalker hat and tweed suit; his successor, Prof Marie Cassidy, would routinely wear heels and lipstick alongside her regulatory protective clothing. As state pathologists, they were well-known figures as the public watched them stride purposefully into Irelands crime and murder scenes on the television news.
Photo: https://eurosolidarity.org/2024/11/09/

Petro Poroshenko has bought twelve new excavators for the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and urged the authorities to immediately build fortifications on critical front lines. The machines are equipped with electronic warfare means to protect military builders.

He urged the authorities to build fortifications on the administrative border of Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions, in Kharkiv, Sumy and Zaporizhia regions, as well as reminded of the need to have second and third lines of defense.

The cost of this batch of excavators is $1 million. Previously, Poroshenko has already handed over 40 diggers to the Ukrainian army.

"We ordered six diggers per month and we are extending this order for 2025," Poroshenko said.

"Meanwhile, our team continues to deliver excavators to the front. Twelve new Ukrainian-made excavators equipped with electronic warfare. This is one of the scarcest positions. Already in the near future we will bring them to the battalions and brigades that asked us for this equipment  artillerymen, paratroopers, marines, Ground Forces," he said.

"They said in the Department of State and the White House more than three years ago that we should dig trenches, prepare fortifications. They did not start digging anything," Poroshenko emphasized.

He also noted that during the Ukrainian counteroffensive in 2022, the Russians strengthened the defense, recalling that the "Surovikin lines" were built then.
Peugeot 208

My story this week starts with a long drive from Dublin to Dingle, leaving in good humour, arriving with a face that would stop a clock  and returning with mixed emotions.

Ive put some distance between my test drive and publishing this review because I wanted to double check a few things and put them in perspective.

I was driving a mild hybrid version of the latest Peugeot 208 supermini hatchback.

It has to be one of the sharpest and smartest-looking superminis on the market. In your rear-view mirror, the new-look claw design will immediately identify it as a Peugeot.

On test, I had the mild hybrid 100 e-DCS6 version in Allure spec, priced at 30,495 in stand-out Agueda Yellow. The starting price for 208 models is 26,195 (for the Active spec PureTech 75).

For some reason I could not settle into it at all, especially on the outward journey. I found it difficult to get a comfortable driving position.

The small steering wheel  which I love as part of the brands i-Cockpit set-up that lets you see the critical driving details over its flattened top  did not have nearly enough adjustment.

My knees were either jutting up to my chin, or I was sitting too far back. Either way I was constantly complaining and changing seat and steering wheel combinations.

I suppose there is little Peugeot can do about that, it just didnt suit my frame.

The main criticism I had was the clunkiness of the mild-hybrid system

I also felt I had to put too much effort in to maintain a good driving line. That was especially the case when we decided we would bypass Limericks Adare. It was a Friday afternoon and rather than sit in the snail-pace tailback, I took the narrow scenic route. Back roads and byways added to my sense that things were not going so well. I was not enjoying the drive.

The main criticism I had was the clunkiness of the mild-hybrid system. It works so that during deceleration, the cars kinetic energy is captured and stored in a 48-volt battery. When you accelerate, that energy is released to help boost the engine via the electric motor.

The motor can complement the engine, thereby reducing fuel consumption or improving performance. Thats the plan anyway.

Normally I wouldnt notice but in this case it shunted a bit when I lifted off the accelerator and, I felt, the car slowed a bit too quickly in its regenerative action. I also blame the 6spd automatic transmission for being a bit sluggish when I wanted to accelerate.

I have to say I was surprised. Peugeots dont normally do that to me, I like the cars and have followed its fortunes as it blossomed into a marque boasting some of the best cars in their segments.

Apart from having difficulty getting it to fit me, I had good elbow and headroom as did my front-seat passenger. But room at the back was borderline meagre. The boot is OK on space at 311 litres, though there is a high loading lip.

The 100 e-DSC6 3cyl petrol engine was a peppy enough little power source. It is well tried and trusted at this stage and it had that nice distinctive three-cylinder sound.

The infotainment screen interface worked fairly well. It took me a little while to re-acquaint myself. Im not sure it needs to be as intricate to merely adjust the likes of heating, airflow, media and settings. But at least theres still a knob for the volume, and shortcut buttons for demisting the windows.

It was a long tiresome drive and I arrived with such a face on me that waiting friends couldnt help but laugh.

By the time we got back to Dublin (no bad back roads), I had resolved to try out another 208 for a few days  just to see if there could be a difference.

Always make sure the car fits you and not the other way around

It was an exact replacement, except it had fewer kilometres on the clock. I wont say it was radically better, but the slow-down blip wasnt nearly as clunky, the car overall felt much more together as a driving unit.

I still had issue with getting a good driving position.

I mention these facts knowing that separately you might accuse me of highlighting niggles on a bad day. Maybe, but they did impinge on my driving experience and I have reported them as faithfully as I can.

In extrapolating from my individual 208 experience to the general car-buying mindset, I re-learned a lesson. Always make sure the car fits you and not the other way around.

That means spending time in it and seeing, simply, how easy you find it to drive. If I were buying a new car Id ask if I could take it for a few hours just to be certain.

If someone else is likely to drive it, then bring them along. And dont be put off if it happens to be a new Peugeot 208. It may very well suit you down to the ground.

Factfile

Peugeot 208 supermini hatchback
Mattie McGraths invocation to let the dog see the rabbit is finally about to be granted as Taoiseach Simon Harris dissolves the Dail and an election campaign begins.

But it is the fallout from the one across the Atlantic that is concentrating hearts and minds in Europe.

If many feared what a Trump triumph might bring, for Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky such fears are of a different order. A game-changer in Washingtons approach to foreign relations is predicted, with grave implications for Kyiv.

Trumps assertion that he could end the war between Russia and Ukraine in a day will have caused Mr Zelensky sleepless nights.

Trumps former security advisers have reportedly said the US needs to continue supplying weapons to Ukraine, but the proviso is that Kyiv must enter peace talks with Russia.

As a sop to Moscow for entering negotiations, the West would agree to stall Ukraines entry to Nato.

Mr Trump has long been an advocate of accommodation with Russia. But it is understandable that Ukrainians fighting for survival are not suffused with a warm glow at the prospect of becoming a bargaining chip should Trump attempt to exemplify the art of the deal in any talks with the Kremlin.

US backing for Natos all for one approach  in place, pretty much, since 1949  could also end under a radical America First agenda.

The bloc has absorbed many shocks, and its strength lies in its unity

Speaking at an EU summit in Budapest, Mr Zelensky told leaders his country would decide what terms might be agreeable to end the war Russia started. Concessions to Vladimir Putin would be unacceptable for his country, but suicidal for Europe, he warned.

The meeting of European leaders was intended to project solidarity and strength, but there was no hiding the nervousness that has heralded the second coming of Trump. As well as the prevailing security threats, Europe must also contend with Trumps promises of a hard isolationist approach.

A high tariff wall and a much more competitive corporate tax rate in the US can only have a chilling effect on investment here and across the EU.

The 40 European allies who attended the summit have been put on notice that a Trump administration will not defend them unless they spend more on their own defence.

And with the coalition unravelling in Germany and a fragile government clinging on in France, agreement on vital but complex issues will be a challenge Putin will be keenly watching for signs of weakness.

When asked about Kamala Harriss warning that Putin would eat Trump for lunch, his spokesman chuckled: Putin does not eat people.

But none seemed greatly reassured.

The bloc has absorbed many shocks, and its strength lies in its unity. Speaking at the meeting, Simon Harris said the EU has, after all, worked with Trump before.

Yet no one was suggesting the fasten your seatbelt signs should be turned off.
Cork County Council has agreed to write to Iarnrod Eireann requesting that they expand the current parking capacity at Mallow Train Station.

The motion was raised at Fridays Kanturk/Mallow Municipal District meeting by Fianna Fail councillor Gearoid Murphy.

Cllr Murphy appealed for the local authority to write to Irish Rail seeking the expansion of parking capacity at the train station.

The Mallow based councillor said as Mallow town continues to grow parking facilities at the train station also need to keep expanding.

Anyone in the area will be aware that the current car park frequently fills up. We are a growing town. We are due to expand capacity in terms of train services, frequency and times over the next number of years. As the town grows and the number of trains increases there will be continuing strain on the parking facilities.

Cllr Murphy appealed for forward planning from Iarnrod Eireann.

Before things reach anywhere near a crisis level, it would be a good idea for forward planning that they would expand the capacity of the current car park. 

Mallow Train Station is a phenomenal asset to North Cork, said his party colleague Cllr Pat Hayes who seconded the motion. It is widely used. It is great for our environment that people are parking and using the train constantly. It is a big issue.

"People are parking out the Navigation Road and all over the place. We do need to provide facilities and encourage more people to use the train, he added.

Claire Barr, Municipal District Officer with Cork County Council said she will write to Iarnrod Eireann seeking the expansion of parking capacity at Mallow Train Station.
Army bomb disposal experts were called to a home in Finglas last night after a device was found shortly before 10.30pm.

A spokesperson confirmed that gardai were alerted to an incident at Hampton Wood Drive in Finglas, Dublin 11.

A cordon was established by gardai, and the Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit attended the scene, they said.

A controlled explosion was conducted by the Army EOD at a nearby location. The cordon was subsequently lifted, and the area was declared safe.

Enquiries are ongoing.

The housing estate, located near Ikea in Ballymun, saw families, including young children, evacuated, and gardai temporarily closed the road.
Michael OKeeffe FCIAT and Niall Healy MCIAT of healycornelius design ltd in Killarney with the CIAT President, Eddie Weir PCIAT at the AT Awards 2024 in Christ Church Spitalfields, London.

Michael OKeeffe FCIAT being presented with the CIAT Gold Award by CIAT President, Eddie Weir PCIAT and MC, Matt Allwright, at the AT Awards 2024 in Christ Church Spitalfields, London.

The AT Awards event, which recognises the exceptional contribution that Architectural Technology practices and professionals make to the built environment, took place in London on Friday last.

This annual event shines a spotlight on the talent and dedication of architectural practices and individual professionals worldwide, from emerging students to industry icons.

One award recognises and celebrates the dedication and commitment of Chartered Architectural Technologists (F/MCIAT) who have gone above and beyond the call of duty, demonstrating a significant contribution and/or outstanding service to the Institute.

Since its inception in 1999, there have been 87 Gold Awards bestowed to Chartered Architectural Technologists, including 7 from the Republic of Ireland.

On Friday afternoon, Michael OKeeffe FCIAT MCIOB MCABE, the director of healycornelius design ltd in Killarney, was announced as the 88th Gold Award recipient for outstanding service and commitment to the Institute and Republic of Ireland Centre.

Furthermore, Michael is one of the youngest recipients in the history of this prestigious award with his citation reading as follows:

At a young age, Michael first stepped into the role as Republic of Ireland Education Officer and visited almost every Architectural Technology degree programme in the Republic of Ireland, promoting membership and encouraging other universities to apply for Accreditation.

This enthusiasm and passion set the stage, and nine years on, Michael continues to coordinate everyone and everything within the Centre in his role as Chair. He has represented the views of the Irish membership as Centre Councillor for two consecutive terms (six years), also serving on the CIAT Executive Board during this tenure.

Michael leads by example and has taken on many other significant roles in the Republic of Ireland. He has been a pioneer for statutory recognition of the Architectural Technologists Register (ATR) and sits on the ATR Working Group, meeting with Ministers of State and representatives from Government Departments.

On behalf of CIAT, Michael has presented at the National Construction Summit, the National Building Control Conference and the International Construction Management Conference.

Michael has also travelled the length and breadth of Ireland to be a friendly face and CIAT representative at the Centre stand and conferences including the International Congress on Architectural Technology.

Locally, Michael is director of the successful CIAT Chartered Architectural Practice, healycornelius design ltd at Deerpark in Killarney, providing architectural design, planning and construction phase services on projects for private and commercial clients in Kerry and the greater Munster province.
Louth St Patricks Day parades 2025: your complete guide to whats happening in the Wee County
A Co. Wexford farmer was the runner up at the Flahavan's 2024 Oat Grower Awards.

An organic oat grower from New Ross has been acknowledged at the Flahavans Oat Grower of the Year Awards 2024.

For the third year running, Flahavans announced the winners of their awards, which are split into two categories, Conventional Oat Growers and Organic Oat Growers.

Competition was strong in both categories, reflecting the high quality of entries. Agronomist and Cereals Specialist Ciaran Collins, who acted as the independent judge for the competition, said: There was clear evidence of a strong commitment from the growers to produce oats of the highest quality for Flahavans.

Runners-up in the Organic category were Barry McWilliams from New Ross, Co. Wexford, recognised for his exceptional dedication and quality of oats, and Brendan Rafferty of Greenore, Co. Louth.

Winners and runners-up in both categories were selected based on Overall Grain Quality, taking into account kernel content, bushel weight, moisture levels, aroma, flavour, colour, and cleanliness. Mr Collins reviewed the selected samples and interviewed shortlisted growers, reducing the shortlist to just three finalists from each category. The finalists were then assessed on the basis of Grower Excellence, which included cereal knowledge, farm practice and technique, as well as environmental sustainability.

The winner in the Organic category was Eoghan OSullivan from Donohill, Tipperary town, who was a runner-up in 2023. He delivered an impressive bushel weight of 60.5, thanks in part to an optimised combine setup. His approach to maximising straw quality involves cutting crops high and re-cutting stubble for bedding. Despite having limited land for tillage, Mr OSullivan makes efficient use of farmyard manure and lime, and his dedication to sustainable farming practices is clear.

The Gray family were the winners in the Conventional category. The Co. Waterford family has been supplying high-quality oats to Flahavan's for generations. Specialising in winter oats, they consistently achieve top-notch results, with a bushel weight of 59.5 for Harvest 2024. Their exemplary farming practices include a focus on crop rotation and the shift from minimum tillage to direct drilling, reflecting their commitment to sustainability. Their attention to detail extends to chopped straw management and active participation in a local farming discussion group, further enhancing their reputation for excellence.

Runners up in the Conventional category were: Martin O'Regan from Kinsale, Co. Cork and Frank Shanahan from Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford.

In his summation of the awards, Mr Collins said: The standard of the growers in the competition was excellent.

He continued: recent research by Teagasc shows that the carbon footprint of Irish grain is very low compared to grain produced in Europe and North America. Oats had the lowest carbon footprint in the study, and when the carbon sequestered by straw incorporation was included in the calculations, many farmers are growing oats at or below net zero.

Johnny Flahavan, Operations Manager at Flahavans, also commented on the results: The standard of oats supplied to Flahavans is consistently exceptional, and were particularly delighted to see that so many of our suppliers are introducing more and more environmentally sustainable practices into their farming, demonstrating best-in-class results.

"Our sincerest congratulations to our winners and runners-upa well-deserved recognition for top-quality tillage farmers.

Flahavans source their conventional oats from within a 60-mile radius of the Mill at Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford. While the majority of their organic oats are already sourced domestically, the company's key ambition is to fully meet the demand for organic oats with Irish-grown supply in the near future.
Wexford & District

I mourn my previous active, hectic life  Wexford woman on dealing with the realities of long Covid

In many way its as if the pandemic never happened. Yes, we can work from home, and theres still a few hand sanitiser stations outside the supermarkets, but in terms of mass societal changes it hasnt affected our daily lives. It was just a 
John Ryan of CastlebridgeInspire in Eden Park New Zealand for the haka event, where he exchanged t-shirts with Emma Henderson the event organiser.

CastlebridgeInspire teamed up virtually with organisers in New Zealand to help them break the Guinness World record for the most people to simultaneously do the haka recently.

The crew in Eden Park, New Zealand needed more than 4,028, which was the record set ten years ago in France. And while there have been several attempts in the interim to bring home the record, none were ratified by the Guinness World Records. However, the group smashed their target this time by getting 5,223 people involved.

The Rakatauri Music Therapy Trust run by Dame Hinewehi was running the event. and an objective of the record attempt was to share the Haka around the world and encourage cultural links and understanding of the Maori culture. People were then invited to participate virtually online at home and this invitation was answered by CastlebridgeInspire.

CastlebridgeInspire, the group that helped arrange the Fleadh Tin Whistle record, were invited to assist in the New Zealand attempt, with John Ryan travelling over to act as a representative. Origins are important to the Maori people who valued the connection to the birthsite and the great alignment in the cultural exchange between the two countries.

Castlebridge is the original birthplace of the Guinness World Records, having been established by Sir Hugh Beaver, the then Managing Director of the Guinness Breweries, in 1951. While partaking in a shooting party along the River Slaney he got into an argument with a fellow participant over which was the fastest game bird in Europe. He later realised then that a book supplying the answers to this sort of question might prove successful with the first book coming out in 1954.

Just recently on Thursday August 8, Wexford broke the world record for the largest number of people to play the tin whistle for a continuous five minutes with 2,516 participants, beating the record held by a group in Achill Island in 2010 with 1,015 players.

Paul OBrien and Mairead Stafford were the local hosts on the Castlebridge Hall side, and were joined at 7a.m. by an enthusiastic group aged between ten and 85 years. Helena Cody travelled with her kids from Kilkenny to take part, having Maori ancestry and had moved to Ireland a year ago.

"She was great in helping the group to practice the haka words and actions, explaining the cultural meanings and significance of the dance, said Mr OBrien.

At 8 a.m. the haka record attempt commenced in Auckland and simultaneously in Castlebridge Hall and around 80 other online locations.

"It was a real thrill to see our group on the big screen in Eden Park. CastlebridgeInspire is about inspiration and fun, connecting with others like in the Tin Whistle event and now with the haka! It was amazing to witness and feel part of the celebration in Auckland when it was announced that the record has been broken and that 5223 people had participated, bringing the haka Guinness World Record back to New Zealand, Ms Stafford added.

Participants were invited to register with CastlebridgeInspire and those who did would get a digital certificate and the prospect that the digital record of their achievement would be stored in Castlebridge for them to visit in the future and inspire others with their stories.

For CastlebridgeInspire, the focus switches to preparations for a series of events at the end of November in Castlebridge to mark the first celebration of Guinness World Record day at the birthplace in 73 years. The events will include Inspire workshops and World Record Attempts as well as a celebration of the Tin Whistle World Record and a chance to view the official world record certificate that has since been sent over to the CastlebridgeInspire group. They hope to also announce the records planned for the next year.
Jamie Oliver has apologised and withdrawn a childrens book he wrote after it was criticised for causing offence to First Nation Australians.

The TV chef is among a long list of celebrities to have produced their own book for youngsters, but the Australian sub-plot in Olivers Billy And The Epic Escape was criticised for being damaging and disrespectful, the Guardian reported.

It said the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation (Natsiec) blasted the book, which tells the story of a First Nations girl living in foster care, for contributing to the erasure, trivialisation, and stereotyping of First Nations peoples and experiences.

Jamie Oliver holding Billy and the Epic Escape (Joe Giddens/PA)

In a statement, Oliver, 49, said: I am devastated to have caused offence and apologise wholeheartedly.

It was never my intention to misinterpret this deeply painful issue. Together with my publishers we have decided to withdraw the book from sale.

A spokesman for publisher Penguin Random House said: Our mission at Penguin Random House UK is to make books for everyone and with that commitment comes a deep sense of responsibility.

It is clear that our publishing standards fell short on this occasion, and we must learn from that and take decisive action.

With that in mind, we have agreed with our author, Jamie Oliver, that we will be withdrawing the book from sale.

Oliver released his first childrens book, Billy And The Giant Adventure, last year and said in a social media post that he had carefully chosen the font to make sure the text is as clear as possible as dyslexic people like himself can find it hard to read.

The famous cook is known for fronting multiple TV series including Jamies Easy Christmas (2022), Jamie Cooks The Mediterranean (2023) and Jamie: Fast And Simple, which began airing on Channel 4 last month.

In the noughties he was known as The Naked Chef, after his 1999 book and TV series of the same name.

He has long campaigned on childrens food and nutrition and caused a furore in 2005 when he hit out at turkey twizzlers in school meals, in an attempt to make school dinners healthier for students.

Earlier in the year, he celebrated 15 years of his food education programme, the Ministry of Food, which delivers lessons on how to cook and eat healthy food at schools and communities across the UK.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/CinCAFofUkraine

In October, more than 52,000 enemy targets were destroyed and damaged by drones, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) Oleksandr Syrsky has said on Saturday morning.

"Of these, the following targets deserve special attention: 129 artillery systems, 221 units of enemy radio equipment, and more than 4,000 enemy personnel," he said on the Telegram channel following a meeting with commanders of drone units.

According to Syrsky, attack bomber drones were the most effective. Their operators carried out more than 7,000 missions.

"Despite difficult weather conditions, drone units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to show high efficiency on the battlefield," the Commander-in-Chief said.
Donald Trump tells Volodymyr Zelensky he will support Kyiv in war during phone call joined by Elon Musk

Joe Biden decides to allow US contractors to work on weapon systems in Ukraine

Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky and Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban in Budapest. Photo: Reuters

Katharine Jackson and Phil Stewart Sat 9 Nov 2024 at 03:30







Elon Musk joined a congratulatory call between president-elect Donald Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday, according to media reports.
Meet ice maiden Susie Wiles, the woman who will lead Donald Trumps White House team

His campaign manager and Republican strategist is first woman take key role

Donald Trump shakes hands with Susie Wiles this week. Photo: Reuters

Cameron Henderson Telegraph.co.uk Sat 9 Nov 2024 at 03:30







When Donald Trump delivered his victory speech in West Palm Beach, among those he thanked for helping to propel him to the US presidency was a woman he called the ice maiden.
Forty-three monkeys bred for medical research that escaped a compound in South Carolina have been spotted in the woods near the site and workers are using food to try to recapture them, authorities said yesterday.
Mairia Cahill: Irish public has right to know how US paedophile priest Joseph Maskell ended up working as a counsellor here
Pappu Yadav is a Congress MP from Bihar's Purnia | Photo courtesy: Pappu Yadav X handle

Patna/IBNS: Pappu Yadav, the Lok Sabha MP from Bihar's Purnia, has received yet another threat from the group of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, media reports said.

Yadav's personal secretary Mohammad Sadiq Alam received threatening messages on WhatsApp at 2:25 am and 9:49 am on November 7.

Alam has lodged a First Information Report at Connaught Place Police Station in Delhi.

Earlier, Yadav had received a similar threat from a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which had gunned down Maharashtra politician Baba Siddique last month.

The person had claimed six people were employed to eliminate Yadav, who merged his Jan Adhikar Party (Loktantrik) with the Congress in March this year.

The messenger had also sent an image of a piston on WhatsApp indicating the gang's motive.

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan had received multiple death threats after Nationalist Congress Party leader Baba Siddique was shot dead by members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

On October 29, the police received a message targeting actor Salman Khan, demanding Rs 2 crore and threatening him. In that case, a man from Bandra was taken into custody.

The second threat message warned that Salman Khan would face a fate worse than Siddiques if he did not pay Rs 5 crore.

Salman, whose security has already been heightened, had received threats from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang which has an anger against the actor for allegedly killing two blackbucks in 1998.

The Bishnoi community worships blackbuck as a reincarnation of their spiritual guru, Jambheshwar.
Narendra Modi addressing a rally in poll-bound Maharashtra | Photo courtesy: BJP X handle

Mumbai/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday claimed the Congress is keen to create a rift among different castes to take political leverage and return to power.

Addressing a rally in poll-bound Maharashtra, Modi said, "Congress wants that different castes within the SC society keep fighting and quarreling among themselves. The Congress knows that if different castes of SC society keep fighting among themselves, their voices will get dispersed, their votes will get dispersed and as soon as this happens, the way will be paved for Congress to come to power."

"The Congress party knows that the weaker the country is, the stronger the Congress will be. That is why it is the nature of Congress to make different castes fight. Since independence, Congress never allowed our Dalit community to unite; Congress also kept our ST community divided into different castes.

"Congress gets irritated on hearing the name OBC. To ensure that the OBC community does not have a separate identity, Congress has played various games," he added.

The Prime Minister's scatjhing remark came a day after Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi once again batted for a caste-based census and vowed to eliminate 50 percent cap on quotas.

Gandhi said a caste-based census will reveal the correct representation of Adivasis, Dalits and OBCs in the government institutions.

"The country should be run by 90 percent of its people, not by three or four individuals like Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Adani and Ambani," said the Congress leader as quoted by The Times of India.

In response, Modi on Saturday said, "Congress is snatching away the rights of the Scheduled Caste community. Cheating on the SCs is both the strategy and nature of the Congress party. People should remember that one can be safe only when they are united."

Modi, the supreme leader of the country's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, is campaigning hard for the current coalition government in Maharashtra run by his party, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) and Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar).

Maharashtra will go to polls on November 20 and results will be declared on 23rd of the same month.
Celebration of Marathi film Navra Maza Navsacha 2 with full cast | Photo courtesy: PR Team

Mumbai/IBNS: Filmmaker Sachin Pilgaonkar has celebrated the successful run of Marathi film Navra Maza Navsacha 2 which completed 50 days in theatre houses.

Sachin Pilgaonkar, celebrated actor and filmmaker who completes 6 decades in the film industry with his remarkable contribution in Indian Cinema, took on multiple roles in Navra Maza Navsacha 2, director, producer, writer, distributor, and lead actor.

The film achieved more than 35 percent of the original Navra Maza Navsachas lifetime earnings in just one day, makers claim.

The film's success extends beyond Indian borders, with screenings in the USA, Canada, Singapore, and even Tokyo, a first for a Marathi film.

Sachin Pilgaonkar | Photo courtesy: PR Team

Sachin Pilgaonkar shares, "Navra Maza Navsacha 2 is my 23rd film as a director, and this time, I wanted not only to finance and produce it but also distribute it myself. Taking on all of these roles was challenging, but I believe that courage and love for your work is always rewarded.

"My leap of faith has been met with immense love and success, thanks to my amazing team. I have always believed that content and storytelling excels above all, no language barrier can stop its success when it comes to entertaining the audience."

Adding to the films allure are special appearances by Bollywood legends Sonu Nigam and Johnny Lever, both of whom starred in the first Navra Maza Navsacha nearly two decades ago that delighted fans on their return.

Sachin Pilgaonkar with his daughter, actress Shriya Pilgaonkar who made a special appearance in the film | Photo courtesy: PR Team

Sachin Pilgaonkars daughter, Shriya Pilgaonkar, also made a special appearance in a song sequence, dressed in traditional Maharashtrian attire, which has won over audiences.

Reflecting on Shriyas support and a recent success party she organized for the team, Sachin Pilgaonkar remarked, "Shriya has been incredibly supportive throughout, especially with the films PR and social media. Her gesture of throwing a success party for the film was deeply touching."

(Photo courtesy: PR Team)
The Aleksinsky chemical plant in Russia's Tula region, which was attacked by drones of the Security Service of Ukraine and the Special Operations Forces (SOF), is exploding and smoking, the staff has been evacuated, a source in the SBU told Interfax-Ukraine.

"New details of the SBU and SOF drone attack: the Aleksinsky chemical plant is exploding and smoking. The staff has been evacuated," the source said.

At least 13 drones hit the chemical plant last night.

"Because of the acid release, the key target  the gunpowder production shop  is now smoking orange," the source said.

At 1:10 p.m., another explosion was recorded at the facility attacked by SBU and SOF drones, the chemicals caught fire from previous strikes. The plant itself has been shut down, the staff evacuated.

The source also confirmed the damage to the Aleksinskaya thermal power plant. A 110 kV power transmission line was damaged.
Kiara Advani was photographed at the Mumbai airport and turned the airport into her personal runway with her fashion-forward look! The War 2 actress graced us with a sophisticated business casual look with a pleated dress and served as major fashion inspiration for all those looking for outfit ideas to travel in style during their next work trip. Let's take a closer look at her outfit.

Kiara Advani slays in business chic at the airport

Opting to skip the usual casual style when it comes to boarding a flight, Kiara went with a corporate-appropriate look. This outfit not only gave off polished and cohesive vibes but also looked to be very comfortable. The flowy silhouette of the outfit radiates elegance and will act as a perfect look for you to attend business meetings directly when you land!

Another reason Kiara stood out when it came to airport fashion was her fuss-free aesthetic! The diva was seen acing the monochrome fashion trend with a similar-hued choice of outfit, footwear as well and accessories which tied the whole look together perfectly. Let's decode her elegant yet trendy look.

Kiara Advani delivers a masterclass in monochrome fashion

Radiating old-money vibes, Kiara was seen dressed in the pleated trench coat with belt from the luxury fashion label Sandro Paris. The graceful outfit from the French ready-to-wear brand is priced at 525, which equates to about Rs 47,765. She paired her outfit with the Chanel tan glossed-leather CC tread loafer along with their white timeless tote bag featuring gold-toned metal hardware.

To round off her monochrome look, she accessorised her attire with matching tan-tinted oversized statement sunglasses with a gold-toned border. Since the diva was travelling, she was seen rocking the no-makeup makeup look featuring a dewy base, rouge-tinted cheeks, a nude pink lip shade and styled her hair in a sleek, pulled-back ponytail.

For more on celeb lifestyle and fashion from around the world please visit Indiatimes Lifestyle.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Himachal Pradesh has been tasked with an unusual case  to identify those behind the "anti-government act" of stealing samosas meant for Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. Samosas and cakes intended for CM Sukhu on October 21, during his visit to the CID headquarters, were served to his security staff instead, which according to the government is an "anti-government" act and warrants a CID probe.

CREDIT: Unsplash

CID probes missing samosas in Himachal

According to the CID, those responsible acted according to their own agenda, resulting in the goof-up. CM Sukhu also clarified that the probe was not into samosas but was to ascertain "misbehaviour" by officials.

As bizarre as the whole samosa episode may be, this is not the first time those in power have deployed the police for trivial matters.

When UP Police searched for Azam Khan's buffaloes

One of the most famous such incidents happened in 2014 in Uttar Pradesh when the police were sent searching for missing buffaloes owned by SP leader Azam Khan, who was then a minister in the Akhilesh Yadav cabinet.

CREDIT: BCCL

Seven buffaloes were stolen from Khan's farmhouse, after which the cops, led by the Superintendent of Police, went on a massive search operation. Three police officers were removed for "dereliction of duty" after the buffaloes went missing.

Nitish Kumar deployed police to guard fruits from Manjhi

In 2015, when JDU leader Nitish Kumar removed his predecessor Jitan Ram Manjhi and returned as the Chief Minister, Bihar saw an unprecedented war of words. Manjhi and Kumar were involved in a bitter battle over the fruits in the CM's official residence.

CREDIT: BCCL

Manjhi, who was still residing in the bungalow even after he was removed from the post, alleged that Kumar had deployed 24 policemen, including 8 sub-inspectors and 16 constables, to "guard" the fruit-laden trees and directed them not to allow people even to pick the fruit that had fallen on the ground.

When Kejriwal's Wagon-R was stolen

The national capital, Delhi, also saw an unusual deployment of police in 2017 after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's "iconic" blue Wagon-R car was stolen from outside the Delhi Secretariat.

CREDIT: BCCL

Thankfully, after two days, the car was found abandoned in Ghaziabad by the Uttar Pradesh Police.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
In what could possibly be the first look into the inner circle of US President-elect Donald Trump and the role Elon Musk could play in Trump 2.0, the Tesla CEO on Wednesday joined him on a call with Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the future of the ongoing war in Ukraine. According to various US media reports, Musk joined the call at Trumps invitation.

CREDIT: REUTERS

What Trump, Musk and Zelenskyy discussed

Musk was present with Trump during the call for roughly 25 minutes and briefly spoke with Zelenskyy, who thanked him for the satellites he had been providing Ukraine through Starlink. During their conversation, Musk said he would continue to provide a satellite internet connection to Ukraine, which has been at war with Russia for more than two years.

Earlier on Wednesday, Zelenskyy had congratulated Trump on his victory and described his call with him as "excellent."

"We agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our cooperation," Zelenskyy said in a post on X, owned by Musk.

CREDIT: REUTERS

Will Trump force Zelenskyy to submit to Russia

The future of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the possibility of the US under Trump pulling back its support has been one of the most dominant topics during the election campaign. Trump has repeatedly claimed that he could end the Russia-Ukraine war in a matter of days. Many analysts believe that Trump could force Zelenskyy to agree on a deal by which Russia will be allowed to keep the areas of Ukraine it occupied since the start of the war in 2022 by threatening to withdraw US arms supplies.

Credit: Reuters

Musk's secret conversations with Putin

Musk joining Trumps call with Zelenskyy did not come as a surprise, as recent reports revealed that the world's richest man had been in regular contact with Putin since late 2022.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, the SpaceX founder and Putin had discussed personal topics, business, and geopolitical tensions during their conversations.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
The Gulf state of Qatar has reportedly asked the Palestinian militant group Hamas to leave the country's capital, Doha, where some of its top leadership has been based for decades. The development came at the behest of the US after Hamas refused to accept a Washington-proposed ceasefire deal with Israel, which would have also seen the release of the Israeli hostages taken by the militants on 7 October 2023.

CREDIT: AP

Why Qatar wants Hamas to leave

"After rejecting repeated proposals to release hostages, its leaders should no longer be welcome in the capitals of any American partner. We made that clear to Qatar following Hamas's rejection weeks ago of another hostage release proposal," a senior US official told Reuters.

The US, along with Qatar and Egypt, has been trying to broker a ceasefire in Gaza. However, Hamas has not agreed to release the Israeli hostages who have been in captivity for more than a year. According to reports, the latest round of talks in mid-October failed to produce a deal, with Hamas rejecting a short-term ceasefire proposal.

CREDIT: AP

Hamas denies reports

Following the breakdown of talks some ten days ago, Qatar asked Hamas leaders to close the group's political office. However, Hamas officials have denied that Qatar had told Hamas leaders they were no longer welcome in the country.

Hamas, Taliban had offices in Qatar

Hamas has had its political office and some of its top leaders in Doha since 2012 as part of an agreement with the US. Even the Taliban, which was ousted from Afghanistan in 2001 by the US, had its political office in Doha since early 2010.

Also read: No successor for Yahya Sinwar, Hamas to be led by a ruling committee

CREDIT: REUTERS

New Hamas leadership was based in Doha

The exclusion from Qatar is more bad news for Hamas, which has been without a leader figure since the killing of Yahya Sinwar in October. Instead of elevating someone from its top leadership, Hamas had appointed a ruling committee based in Doha to lead its operations.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Dialogue between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump, who won the U.S. presidential election, has been established, it is agreed that the teams will start practical preparatory work to organize their meeting, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha has said.

"The dialog between President Zelenskyy and President-elect Trump has already been established. It is established. Just the speed of the phone conversation is direct evidence of the direct dialog between the heads of the countries, which is already established, exists and continues," he told a press conference with High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell in Kyiv on Saturday.

Sybiha emphasized that "of course, possible future contacts at the level of leaders" of Ukraine and the United States were discussed.

"It was agreed that the teams will start practical preparatory work to organize such a meeting. This is what I can tell you as of now," the minister said.
Donald Trumps 2024 presidential win spells a challenging future for immigrants, as he prepares to tighten restrictions on both legal and illegal immigration upon re-entering the White House on Jan. 20. According to AFP, Canada is already ramping up security, with Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokesperson Sergeant Charles Poirier confirming heightened alert status along the border.

One of Donald Trumps key promises in his 2024 campaign was to launch the largest deportation effort in U.S. history, potentially affecting millions of undocumented immigrants.

His tough stance on immigration was evident even during his previous presidency, from 2017 to 2021, when tens of thousands of migrantsparticularly Haitians stripped of U.S. protectionsfled north to Canada.

As Trump prepares for his second term, the threat of mass deportations looms large again.

Also read: What Donald Trump's immigration policies mean for Indians in the U.S.

In fact, reports from the South China Morning Post highlight that following Trump's 2024 election victory, U.S. searches for how to move to Canada surged tenfold.

Given these developments, Canada is bracing for a potential influx of migrants.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) spokesman, Sergeant Charles Poirier, confirmed that authorities are on high alert. All of our eyes are looking at the border to see whats going to happen  because we know that Trumps stance on immigration might drive up illegal and irregular migration to Canada, he said.

In Ottawa, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland reassured Canadians that the government is prepared.

We have a plan. Canadians need to know our borders are safe and secure and we control them, she said during a press conference following a security meeting, while not revealing details about the plan.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Illegal immigration was one of the most discussed topics in the recently concluded US presidential elections. Donald Trump and Republicans, who made several false accusations against immigrants, including the wild claim that Haitian immigrants were eating cats, were able to make the best of the growing anti-migrants sentiments among Americans.

CREDIT: AP

What will Trump's immigration policy look like

With Trump set to return to the White House in January as the 47th President of the US, immigration is likely to be one of the key focus areas of the new administration. Indian-origin Republican leader Vivek Ramaswamy, who is expected to get a key position in the Trump administration, has given a glimpse of what Trump 2.0's immigration policy would be.

"Think about your country like your body. No migration without consent, and consent should only be granted to migrants who benefit America. Those who enter without consent must be removed," Ramaswamy told CNBC.

Also read: Who Is Kash Patel, the India-origin lawyer likely to be appointed the next CIA Chief?

CREDIT: REUTERS

Illegal immigrants will be deported

He also pointed out that the 'Remain in Mexico policy' initiated by Trump during his first term in office is still the law of the land. Under this policy, people seeking asylum in the US had to wait in Mexico for months or years until their claims were processed.

Ramaswamy further said that those entering the US illegally or caught committing crimes will be deported.

"You have millions of immigrants who are already in detention. Anybody who has committed a crime after coming here  automatic deportation. Anybody who violated the law while here  automatic deportation," he said.

CREDIT: AP

No citizenship by birth for children of illegals

After his election victory, Trump had said that the US would end citizenship by birth, under which children, even if they were born on American soil, would be granted citizenship even if their parents were in the country illegally.

Simple immigration policy:

- No migration without consent.

- Consent should only be granted to migrants who benefit America.

- Those who enter without consent must be removed.

Turns out most Americans actually agree with us on this. pic.twitter.com/rUIr1LrLJm  Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) November 8, 2024

"The kid of an illegal born in this country should not automatically enjoy birthright citizenship, just as the kid of a Mexican diplomat who is here legally. The 14th Amendment is clear on that. The same goes for someone who has entered this country illegally for that purpose," Ramaswamy explained.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
More than 20 people have been killed and over 50 others injured after a powerful blast rocked a railway station in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province. The explosion, suspected to be a suicide bomb blast, occurred at Quetta Railway Station early Saturday morning on the platform as passengers gathered for the departure of a train to the city of Peshawar.

CREDIT: REUTERS

Blast targeted passengers on platform

Around 100 people were present at the railway station when the blast occurred. So far, 24 people have been confirmed dead while over 50 are injured. The blast occurred on the platform as passengers gathered for the departure of Jaffar Express. The train was to depart from Quetta to Peshawar, said Quetta Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations, Mohammad Baloch.

Balochistan Liberation Army claims responsibility

A separatist group, the Balochistan Liberation Army, claimed the attack in a statement, saying a suicide bomber targeted troops present at the railway station.

"This morning, a Fidayee attack was carried out on a Pakistani army unit at Quetta Railway Station as they were returning via Jaffar Express after completing a course at the Infantry School. The attack was executed by the BLAs Fidayee unit, Majeed Brigade," the BLA, which has been declared a terrorist organisation in Pakistan, said.

Breaking News: Baloch Liberation Army takes responsibility of #Quetta attack



We claim responsibility for the fidayee attack on Pakistani army at Quetta Railway Station - BLA



This morning, a Fidayee attack was carried out on a Pakistani army unit at Quetta Railway Station as pic.twitter.com/Pz4yAQfDos  Bahot |  (@bahot_baluch) November 9, 2024

Videos show devastation at Quetta Railway Station

Videos posted on social media showed the moment the blast ripped through the crowd.

TKD MONITORING: The surveillance footage at the platform in Quetta shows, a large number of people at the platform including women, children and security personnel moments before the explosion took place. pic.twitter.com/Riu1lFOdFq  The Khorasan Diary (@khorasandiary) November 9, 2024

Other videos posted on social media also showed the aftermath of the blast.

A heartbreaking blast at Quetta Railway Station has left 5 dead and over 30 injured. The explosion occurred as passengers of the Jaffer Express, heading to Peshawar, were at the station.



These terrorists have sunk so low that they now target innocent lives .

No religion or pic.twitter.com/IVmNwtfqsA  Dukhtar-E-Balochistan (@Dukhtar_B) November 9, 2024





Insurgency in Balochistan

Balochistan, which is Pakistan's largest province, has witnessed a long-running separatist insurgency by Baloch militant groups, who often target Pakistani military and civilian infrastructure there.

Recently, at least five children were among the nine people killed, along with 17 others injured, when a roadside bomb targeting a vehicle of security forces assigned to protect polio health workers exploded in Mastung district of Balochistan.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
In India, cows are more than just animalsthey're sacred symbols of life, love, and nourishment, earning their own festival, Gopashtami. This year, on November 9, 2024, the country comes alive with devotion, celebrating this unique day dedicated entirely to the cow, known affectionately as Gau Mata. Rooted in the Hindu month of Kartik, Gopashtami is celebrated on the eighth day, or Ashtami, to honour the gentle creatures that support life, from providing milk to spreading positivity.

Gopashtami history

The history of Gopashtami is a sweet nod to Lord Krishna's childhood. Legends say that as a young boy in Vrindavan, Krishna wanted to join the Gopasboys who took cows for grazing and cared for them. On Gopashtami, Krishna's foster father, Nanda Maharaj, finally entrusted him with this responsibility, marking Krishna's official initiation as a cowherd. This tale, beloved by devotees, captures Krishna's tender relationship with cows, often shown in art where he plays his flute to a captivated audience of cows.

Why do we celebrate Gopashtami?

Celebrating Gopashtami is as colourful as it gets! Across Northern India, especially in Uttar Pradesh, people rise early to bathe, dress, and paint cows, adorning them with garlands and applying tilak on their foreheads. Temples buzz with bhajans dedicated to Krishna, and devotees bring cows special treats like fresh grass, jaggery, and homemade rotis. Priests perform aarti, honouring both Krishna and the cows, merging devotion with vibrant traditions.

Significance of Gopashtami in Hindus

In Hinduism, cows hold a deep-seated role as symbols of life. Often referred to as Kamadhenu, or wish-fulfilling beings, cows sustain families and uphold traditions by providing milk that becomes butter, ghee, and sweets. Even cow dung is useful, becoming fuel and a natural home purifier. The concept of Gau Seva, or service to cows, is popular in Hindu texts, where cows are respected as maternal figures who bless devotees with divine grace.

Worshipping cow is the real hype

Other festivals celebrate Gau Mata too! During Govardhan Puja, devotees craft the Govardhan mountain from cow dung, honouring Krishna and his protection of the people. Likewise, on the third day of Pongal, known as Maatu, Pongalfarmers decorate their cattle with flowers and offer them treats. Bali Pratipada also includes Gau Puja, another testament to the love and respect cows inspire.
Childrens Day 2024 drawing ideas for kids: Happy Childrens Day! Also known as "Bal Diwas," Children's Day is celebrated annually in India on November 14 to mark the birth anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Indias first Prime Minister. Pandit Nehru, popularly called "Chacha Nehru" by children, was a true advocate for the rights and well-being of children. He believed that children are the future foundation of society and deserve a good environment to grow into responsible leaders of tomorrow.

Why We Celebrate Children's Day in India

The celebration of Children's Day aims to highlight the importance of children's rights, education, and care. Schools and communities across India come together on this day to create awareness about providing every child with a safe, supportive environment to thrive. In 2024, the country will celebrate the 135th birth anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, making this years Children's Day even more memorable.

As Childrens Day 2024 is approaching, schools, colleges, and various organizations nationwide start preparing for events like quiz contests, rallies, Childrens Day speeches, cultural activities, and drawing competitions. Schools often host these events to encourage students to learn about Pandit Nehrus values while expressing their creativity and enthusiasm. Drawing competitions are especially popular, as they allow children to showcase their artistic talents and connect with the essence of Children's Day through art.

Children's Day Drawing Tips for Kids

To help kids create memorable drawings, here are some Children's Day drawing tips:

Use Simple Outlines: For younger children, stick to simple shapes and outlines, making the drawing process easier and enjoyable.

For younger children, stick to simple shapes and outlines, making the drawing process easier and enjoyable. Add a Splash of Colour: Bright colours can bring the artwork to life, making it more appealing and fun to work on.

Bright colours can bring the artwork to life, making it more appealing and fun to work on. Focus on Expression: Encourage children to focus on facial expressions, especially if theyre drawing Chacha Nehru, to convey warmth and friendliness.

Encourage children to focus on facial expressions, especially if theyre drawing Chacha Nehru, to convey warmth and friendliness. Keep It Neat: Remind children to keep their drawing space neat and organised for a clean, polished final piece.

Top Children's Day Drawing Ideas to Inspire Young Artists

If your child is preparing for a Children's Day drawing competition and you're searching for inspiration, here are some simple yet meaningful drawing ideas to consider:

Chacha Nehru Portrait

One of the most popular themes for Children's Day drawings is a portrait of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Encourage your child to capture his kind and warm expression, often depicted with a red rose pinned to his jacket. This classic Childrens Day drawing idea is meaningful and recognisable.

Children Playing or Studying Together

Drawing scenes of children studying, playing, or spending time together symbolises the spirit of unity and joy that Children's Day celebrates. Its a great idea to highlight how children are the heart of any community, filled with innocence and joy.

India's Future Leaders

This idea lets kids draw children in various professions, from doctors to astronauts, representing Nehrus vision of children as future leaders. This theme is easy for kids to explore and helps them imagine their aspirations for the future.

Children with National Symbols

Illustrating children surrounded by Indias national symbols, such as the lotus, the tiger, or the tricolour, can be a powerful tribute to Indias heritage. Its a simple idea but impactful, showcasing pride in both the nation and its youngest citizens.

Children in National Dress

Illustrate children dressed in various traditional outfits from around India. This idea celebrates India's cultural diversity and unity.

Children Playing Together

A scene showing children playing outdoors, laughing and sharing, represents the innocence and joy of childhood. Its an easy way to show togetherness and fun.

Nature and Children

Draw children surrounded by nature, like trees, flowers, and animals. This theme is a gentle reminder of the importance of caring for our environment.

School Life and Friends

A drawing of children learning, studying, or reading together in school shows the importance of education. This theme highlights the joys of school friendships.

Children with the Indian Flag

Show children proudly holding or waving the Indian flag. It represents love for the nation and the unity of India's young generation.

Kids Celebrating Children's Day

Illustrate children celebrating with balloons, sweets, and smiles. This captures the excitement and happiness of Children's Day.

Children Helping Each Other

Draw a scene where children are helping each other, whether its studying together or sharing food. This idea promotes kindness and cooperation.

Portrait of Chacha Nehru with Kids

Draw Pandit Nehru surrounded by smiling children. It symbolises his love for children and the special bond he shared with them.

Find Inspiration Online: YouTube and Instagram Ideas

To help kids find more unique Children's Day drawing ideas, check out YouTube tutorials or Instagram posts dedicated to Bal Diwas. These platforms are filled with step-by-step guides, useful tips, and creative suggestions that can help kids bring their drawings to life. These resources make it easier for children to try different themes and styles with expert guidance.

This Children's Day, let your child's creativity shine with these easy and inspiring Children's Day drawing ideas. From Chacha Nehrus portrait to scenes of unity and joy, each drawing can help children connect with the spirit of the day. Remember to encourage your little artist to have fun and be expressive, as every artwork is a unique celebration of Bal Diwas.

Here are the most inspiring quotes by Chach Nehru you can add to your drawing to make it more creative
Following Donald Trump's victory, the LGBTQ+ community, particularly trans individuals, has been left in fear. Throughout the campaign, Trump and his running mate J.D. Vance heavily promoted anti-trans messages, flooding the airwaves with ads and rhetoric that have only heightened concerns for the community's safety and rights.

The impact of these anti-trans messages has been deeply felt within the trans community, and actress Laverne Cox, known for her advocacy and for breaking barriers in Hollywood, is one of the many trans individuals worried about what a second Trump presidency could mean.

Cox, speaking with Variety, shared how she and many of her trans friends have begun researching countries in Europe and the Caribbean, exploring options for relocation.

They're considering leaving the United States to find safety in the face of growing concerns over LGBTQ+ rights, particularly the rights of trans people.

"We're looking at different cities, finding places that might offer some form of safety," Cox explained.

Her thoughts on the political landscape are stark. Cox draws a comparison between the potential rise of an anti-LGBTQ+ administration in the U.S. and the social climate of Weimar Germany before the rise of Nazism.

She recalls how Berlin had a thriving queer community that was brutally targeted once the Nazi regime came to power, suggesting that such a shift could echo in today's world.

There was a thriving community of queer people before the rise of Nazism, Cox said. They attacked Jewish folks, they attacked immigrants, and they attacked queer and trans people."

As the interview continued, Cox revealed the personal toll these political changes have taken on her.

While acknowledging the privilege of being a public figure, she expressed her fears of becoming a target. I'm scared, she confessed. It's not just about meit's about everyone. I'm a public figure, and I could easily be singled out.

She referenced the $100 million spent on anti-trans ads during the election and how deeply troubling that is for her and her community.

Cox also touched on the growing trend of trans individuals stockpiling hormone treatments in case they become harder to obtain.

While she's completed her medical transition, she still requires estrogen for her health.

If I stop taking it, I get hot flashes. It's really bad. I've already looked at websites to find estrogen, she shared. I'm trying to make sure I'm getting it from a reputable source, but yes, I'm preparing just in case."

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
On Wednesday, Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended his congratulations to President Donald Trump on his historic win for a second term via a post on Xdespite the interesting fact that X is officially banned in Pakistan.

Check out his post here:

Congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump on his historic victory for a second term! I look forward to working closely with the incoming Administration to further strengthen and broaden the Pakistan-U.S. partnership. @realDonaldTrump  Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) November 6, 2024

Earlier this year, Pakistans Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, had announced a ban on the social media platform X, citing national security concerns and claiming that members of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) were allegedly using the platform to promote anti-national activities.

Despite the ban, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif posted a congratulatory post to Donald Trump on X, which drew strong reactions from social media users.

The post is now viral, with over 1.7 million views.

One user commented, "If hypocrisy had a human face, it would be Shehbaz Sharif," while another, tagging Elon Musk, remarked, Mr. Trump, this joker is using VPN to congratulate you... Btw, Elon Musks platform is banned in Pakistan!

this guy have banned @x in pakistan and now he is congratulating President @realDonaldTrump while using VPN which is unlawful in Pakistan  Amjad Ali Khan (@amjhuu_live) November 8, 2024

Mr Trump this joker using VPN to congratulate you .btw @elonmusk plate form has been banned in Pakistan !!!  HAQ (@HAAQ786) November 6, 2024

@CommunityNotes he banned @X in Pakistan, looks like he is using VPN?  ArsIan (@arslan424) November 9, 2024

Meanwhile, on Thursday, Pakistans Foreign Office spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, stated that Pakistans long-standing relationship with the United States would remain unaffected by Trumps return to office, emphasising Pakistans commitment to deepening ties across various fields.

This relationship has remained unaffected by developments around the world. So we do not need to even consider the possibility that this relationship will be affected by any domestic development in another country, Baloch added.

When asked about any potential impact on Pakistan-China relations, she affirmed that Islamabads relationship with Beijing is all-weather, strategic, and a stabilizing force in the countrys foreign policy.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
It's not just Donald Trump who has gained from Elon Musk's supportit's vice versa as well. Just days after Election Day, Musk's net worth soared to $300 billion, thanks to a surge in Tesla's market value, as reported by Forbes.

On Friday, Tesla's market value surpassed $1 trillion for the first time since early 2022, driven by a strong rally after Donald Trump, backed by Elon Musk, secured a second presidential term.

According to Forbes, the electric car company's stock surged by over 10% to nearly $330 in afternoon trading, ultimately closing up 8% at $321.

Credit: Reuters

This increase extended a three-day upward streak, lifting Tesla's value and propelling broader stock market gains following Trump's election victory.

This surge brought Tesla's valuation to $1 trillion, a level it hasn't reached since April 2022.

Over the past six months, Tesla's market value has nearly doubled, significantly boosting Musk's net worth, which crossed $300 billion on Friday for the first time in over two years.

The Tesla stock rally added approximately $13 billion to Musk's wealth on Friday, solidifying his lead over Oracle's Larry Ellison by a margin of $70 billion.

BREAKING: Elon Musk's net worth has reached $300 billion He said "My plan is to use the money to get humanity to Mars & preserve the light of consciousness" pic.twitter.com/BA3QcBa75J  DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) November 8, 2024

As Tesla's largest shareholder, Musk holds a 13% stake in the company valued at around $130 billion, plus an additional 9% in stock options, pending a Delaware court appeal.

In a recent analysis, Wedbush's Dan Ives outlined potential advantages a Trump presidency could offer Tesla, such as the possible elimination of federal tax credits on electric vehicles, which could create a competitive edge for Tesla as smaller EV makers struggle to adapt.

Additionally, tariffs on Chinese imports could reduce competition from lower-cost Chinese EVs, and Trump might expedite regulatory approvals for Tesla's self-driving technology, potentially accelerating its market position.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
Russia has introduced a Ministry of Sex, tasked with closely monitoring the coitus (or intercourse, if you prefer) habits of its citizensensuring that nothing is left unexamined in the realm of... well, "normal" human activity.

As per Nina Ostanina, a 68-year-old Putin loyalist and chairwoman of the Russian parliament's committee on Family Protection, Paternity, Maternity, and Childhood, is currently reviewing a petition calling for drastic measures to address Russia's declining population.

This move is part of a larger effort from Putin's officials to reverse the demographic crisis worsened by the tens of thousands of lives lost in the ongoing war in Ukraine, which began nearly three years ago.

In an attempt to spark a baby boom, the proposals are nothing short of bizarre.

One idea, The Mirror reports, includes shutting down the internet and even cutting off the electricity between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., hoping to push couples toward more... intimate activities.

Another suggestion is to pay stay-at-home mothers for housework, including this as part of their pension contributions.

Even stranger, officials are contemplating using public funds to pay for first dates, with a 5,000 ruble (40) voucher, and to finance wedding nights at hotels up to a value of 26,300 rubles (208), hoping it would encourage couples to have children.

These proposals stem from a petition spearheaded by the GlavPR agency, as part of an initiative to create a 'Ministry of Sex' dedicated to increasing the birthrate.

While the petition's backers remain unclear, it's evident that various Russian regions are taking matters into their own hands. For instance, in Khabarovsk, female students between the ages of 18 and 23 are being promised 900 upon the birth of their child, while Chelyabinsk offers a much higher reward of 8,500 for the firstborn.

As if that weren't enough, some regions are pushing even further with the idea of a sex-at-work scheme.

In Chelyabinsk, regional health minister Dr. Yevgeny Shestopalov provocatively suggested that Russians should be encouraged to engage in procreation during their breaks at work. You can engage in procreation during breaks because life flies by too quickly, he remarked.

Meanwhile, in Moscow, the state is taking a more invasive approach, with intimate questionnaires about sex and menstruation being sent to female public sector workers.

This could signal the start of a nationwide effort to gather personal information in a bid to boost the birthrate, raising serious questions about the extent of state intrusion into women's private lives.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
Donald Trump's victory has sparked a wave of reactions, from celebrations to protests, with some drawing inspiration from the South Korean 4B movement, which advocates for rejecting dating and marriage. In the wake of his win, an Associated Press report highlights an interesting trend: an uptick in sales of books like The Handmaid's Tale, reflecting growing concerns over women's rights and freedoms.

Since Donald Trump's return to the White House was confirmed, sales of The Handmaid's Tale have surged once again.

Margaret Atwood's 1985 dystopian novel, set in the authoritarian regime of Gilead, depicts a society where women's rights are severely restricted.

An uptick in the sale of this novel clearly reflects fears about Trump's stance on abortion and women's freedoms.

The novel, seen as a critique of patriarchy and the dangers of authoritarianism, has thus found renewed relevance in today's political climate.

Alongside it, Timothy Snyder's On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century, another bestseller from Trump's first term, also climbed the charts.

However, it wasn't just books critical of Trump that saw a spike in sales. Pro-Trump titles also made their mark.

Melania Trump's memoir Melania topped Amazon's list, and Vice President-elect JD Vance's Hillbilly Elegy made the top 10, while Trump's photo book, Save America, landed in the top 30.

Credit: X

Shannon DeVito, Director of Books at Barnes & Noble, a bookstore chain, noted that books about fascism, feminism, and dystopian worldsboth conservative and liberalshot up in popularity following the election.

She pointed specifically to the significant rise in sales for The Handmaid's Tale and other politically charged works.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
A senior adviser to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump says the incoming administration will focus on achieving peace in Ukraine rather than enabling the country to gain back territory occupied by Russia, BBC reported.

"Bryan Lanza, a Republican party strategist, told the BBC the Trump administration would ask Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his version of a 'realistic vision for peace'," the publication said.

"And if President Zelenskyy comes to the table and says, well we can only have peace if we have Crimea, he shows to us that he's not serious," Lanza was quoted as saying.

"When Zelenskyy says we will only stop this fighting, there will only be peace once Crimea is returned, we've got news for President Zelenskyy: Crimea is gone," he said.
The improvement of the infrastructure at the Promahonas border station, in an effort to strengthen the sense of security of Greek citizens, was at the center of Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis' visit to Serres on Saturday.

The minister, as part of his visit, visited the Police Directorate of Serres,

the mayor and the deputy governor, and he presided over a broad meeting with the presence of the police and customs authorities.

In his statements, Chrysochoidis underlined, among other things, that "all problems will be thoroughly discussed at the meeting, in an effort to effectively deal with them and provide immediate solutions, always aiming to improve the security of the country."

"Police Directorate of Serres," he underlined, "is one of the most important border stations of our country due to Promahona, through which eight million passengers and two million cars pass from Eastern European and Central Asian countries. For this reason we are constantly on alert to check the entry and exit points as well as the routes that lead to the rest of mainland Greece."

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The Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias, held two meetings on the issue of Attica's flood protection on Saturday.

"We concluded two very important meetings on potential flooding phenomena in Attica. Together with the Armed Forces, the Greek

Police, the Fire Brigade, the Coast Guard, the emergency ambulance service EKAV so that we can be able to notify via the emergency number 112 in time , to remove people from the roads, to ban the traffic in certain aread, and to organize our forces in those parts of Attica that are vulnerable," Kikilias noted.

The minister added that the goal is to be able to smooth out, reduce, prevent the consequences of such a phenomenon in the best possible way. "Cooperation with everyone is important and every effort is made interdisciplinary and jointly with local administration, the Region of Attica but also with the mayors," he added.

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Salamina Shipyards has signed a significant six-year contract with France's Naval Group to provide maintenance and upgrade services for the Greek Navy's new FDI Belharra frigates.

The agreement, finalized at the EURONAVAL 2024 expo in Paris, marks a major step

forward for Greece's naval capabilities and its defense industry.

The contract covers a wide range of services, including hull and superstructure repairs, system maintenance, and future modifications for the advanced frigates.

Dr. Georgios Koros, CEO of Salamina Shipyards, expressed pride in the company's expanding role in the FDI program.

"This new contract affirms Salaminas ability to meet the highest quality standards in demanding, high-tech projects," Dr. Koros said. "Our participation in the FDI program is a milestone for Greeces shipbuilding industry."

This agreement builds on Salamina Shipyards' existing involvement in the FDI program, which includes constructing key sections for both Greek and French frigates.

The shipyard has already delivered hull sections for the third Greek frigate and components for a French vessel.

Under the new contract, Salamina Shipyards will manufacture up to five key components per frigate for a fleet of six FDI vessels.

This involves cutting, welding, assembling, and aligning essential systems, as well as fabricating specialized equipment like the primary gun mount and helicopter hangar.

This expanded partnership strengthens Greece's position in the international defense industry and highlights the expertise of Salamina Shipyards in advanced naval manufacturing.

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A significant rift has shaken Greeces Syriza party, marking its third major split in recent years.

The turmoil peaked Thursday when prominent member Stefanos Kasselakis announced his resignation

from Syriza , joined by three MPs : Mr. Alexandros Avlonitis, Mr. Petros Pappas, and Ms. Rallia Christidou.

This exodus threatens Syrizas status as Greeces main opposition party, which could be lost if one more MP departs.

Today, Mr. Kasselakis is expected to make a landmark announcement at 1:00 PM from his offices in Tavros, where he has invited supporters to join him.

There, he is likely to declare the formation of a new political party. Leaving Thursdays congress, Mr. Kasselakis urged his followers to move forward with him.

The only thing better than anger is enthusiasm, the joy of a new and beautiful fight. Last year, my predecessor said Syriza had completed its historical cycle; today, Syriza has closed its democratic cycle.

The events unfolded amid chaotic scenes at Syriza's emergency congress held at the Gazi Live venue.

Mr. Kasselakiss supportersknown as the Kasselistasgathered early in solidarity. After arriving around 6:30 PM, Mr. Kasselakis left shortly after, citing procedural issues and calling for the inclusion of all elected delegates.

This sparked further tensions, with crowds attempting to push through doors, resulting in confrontations, a fainting incident, and heated exchanges.

The congress finally began at 9:00 PM, three hours late. Mr. Giannis Mantzouranis, chair of the congress, apologized for the delay, attributing it to disruptions by Mr. Kasselakiss supporters.

Speaking amid applause and jeers, he defended the congresss integrity, emphasizing adherence to democratic procedures.

Mr. Mantzouranis said the congress's primary goal was to approve the four presidential candidates and reach a political resolution. However, Kasselakis supporters protested, accusing the organizers of anti-democratic tactics.

The tension continued as Ms. Rania Svigkou, congress secretary, urged for unity, asserting that Syriza is not disintegrating or dissolving.

Her remarks were met with heckling. Mr. Nikos Pappas, Syrizas parliamentary group leader, condemned what he called organized thuggery, placing blame for the discord on Mr. Kasselakis.

With todays gathering poised to unveil Mr. Kasselakiss new political vision, Syriza stands at a critical juncture, facing another profound shift in its political landscape.

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The Katsina State Police Command, in coordination with the Nigerian Military, members of the State Community Watch Corps, and vigilantes, successfully averted simultaneous attacks in Jibia township.

ASP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, Police Public Relations Officer, Katsina State Police Command, confirmed this in a statement on Friday.

At about 2115 hrs (9:15 pm), suspected armed bandits launched coordinated attacks on Kaida, Unguwar One Boy, and Danmarke quarters, all in Jibia Township, Jibia LGA, Katsina State.

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The swift response of the joint security team led by the DPO Jibia repelled the attackers, resulting in a fierce gun duel that lasted for over an hour, the statement said.

READ MORE: EFCC Nabs 21 Suspected Cyber Criminals In Benin, Recovers Cars, Laptops

The statement went on to say that the joint security teams superior firepower and tactical advantage eventually forced the bandits to retreat, with undetermined losses.

16 victims who had been trapped by the bandits were successfully rescued as a result of the operation.

The attack by the bandits resulted in five gunshot injuries, according to the statement.

The injured individuals were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

According to the statement, one member of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps and a vigilante were killed during the confrontation.

The Command stated that it is collaborating with sister security authorities to ensure that the bandits are arrested.

CP Aliyu Abubakar Musa, Commissioner of Police for the Katsina State Police Command, reaffirmed the public of the Commands commitment to protecting lives and property in the state.

He encouraged individuals to report any suspicious activity to the nearest Police Station or the Commands emergency numbers: 0815 967 7777 and 0707 272 2539.
Four police officers in Bayelsa state have been apprehended for allegedly extorting N10 million from some young people.

Muyiwa Adejobi, the forces spokesperson, identified the policemen in a statement on Friday as Emmanuel Ubong, an assistant superintendent of police (ASP), and Nse Okon, Adiewere Collins, and Kuromare Marine, all police inspectors.

According to Adejobi, the funds were retrieved thanks to the efforts of Adebola Hamzat, the forces new assistant inspector-general of police (AIG) in charge of Zone 16.

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The police spokesperson further stated that the policemen will face an orderly room trial.

READ MORE: Three Killed, Two Injured In Plateau Gunmen Attack

He also stated that Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police (IGP), has ordered a thorough inquiry into charges of corruption and misbehaviour against the policemen.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM., has condemned alleged extortions by some officers of the force in some areas within the country, most especially the extant case involving the officers of the Zone 16 Zonal Headquarters, Yenegoa, identified as ASP Emmanuel Ubong, Inspector Nse Okon, Inspector Adiewere Collins, and Inspector Kuromare Marine, the statement reads.

The IGP has, however, reassured the general public that the force will continue to investigate all allegations levelled against erring officers of the force thoroughly.

In pursuit of restorative justice, the Inspector-General of Police has mandated severe consequences for any officer, no matter how highly ranked, found culpable, acting as a deterrent to those who may seek to compromise the integrity of the Force.
Doris Simeon, renowned Nollywood actress, has openly discussed her tumultuous custody battle with ex-husband Daniel Ademinokan.

Speaking on Biola Bayos Talk to B show shared on YouTube on Friday, Simeon revealed her emotional turmoil, acknowledging frustration and depression.

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Simeon recounted how Ademinokan relocated their 4-year-old son to the US without consent.

She shared struggles connecting with her son, receiving brief, dismissive responses from Ademinokan.

READ MORE: No Actor In Nigeria Can Buy Range Rover, Mansion From Acting Fees Alone  Bimbo Manuel

Simeon admitted mutual faults but emphasized Ademinokans denial of her maternal rights.

She said, I might have had my fault, he also had his fault. Thats why I said I didnt feel anything when they got married, but the only thing is that he didnt allow me to mother my child. Thats the only painful part.

He took my son without my consent, he was just 4 years old when he came to the US. He was 3 when I mothered my child last. I was calling, but he wouldnt pick up, and when he picked up, he would tell me he would call me back as he was busy, and for another 3 to 4 months, I wouldnt get through.

I was frustrated and depressed, but I can never show that because I knew the family I came from as my parents told us to be strong, no matter what youre going through in life. I just went for a movie premiere and someone told me I am not here to see my son. That was how they took us to court.

Watch her speak below
Controversial Human Rights Activist and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has said that President Bola Tinubu cant put end to current hardship facing Nigerians even if he was given 300 years to rule.

Adeyanju noted that Tinubu has no solution to economic problem in Nigeria, adding that his administration is not for poor people but to add to their pain.

The Human Right Activist made this known during an interview with Daily Post on Friday.

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Adeyanju said: This nation, as currently constituted, can be akin to a concentration camp where citizens are forced to stay. And if you doubt me, if you think that Nigeria is not a concentration camp, lets run a social experiment.

Let the United States of America alone make their country visa-free to Nigerians, and lets count how many of us will remain.

So that is what best describes this nationa nation where the rich are not paying for doing business, for buying private jets.

READ MORE: Tinubus Economic Reforms Best Thing To Happen To Nigeria  Senator Musa

But the poor are taxed to pay triple the price, and now quadruple the price of petrol cannot be said to be a nation for poor people.

This nation is anti-poor; by and large, its an anti-poor peoples nation, so that is my take. In terms of economics and politics, it does not favor the average Nigerian in any way.

The same Tinubu who just bought a jet is the one you expect to get Nigerians out of hardship? Or is it the Tinubu who proposed a tax bill youre expecting to reverse his harmful policies?

How can things get better under this kind of government? Even if you give Tinubu 300 years, things will never get better.
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of planning to inaugurate Senator Monday Okpebholo as Governor without consulting the State government.

Okpebholo, who won the September 21 governorship election, is set to be sworn in on November 12.

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Obaseki expressed his concerns during the inauguration of the Peoples Democratic Partys (PDP) caretaker committee in Benin on Friday.

He emphasized that the State government should oversee the inauguration program, criticizing the APCs actions as lawless.

Somebody has to be sworn in. Sworn into a government that exists. You just dont come from nowhere and start a government.

READ ALSO: Obaseki Committed Economic Sabotage, Violated Oath Of Office With Last-Minute Appointment Of Cronies Into Civil Service  Edo APC

There is already a government. There is a way things are done. The government of Edo state is inaugurating a new governor on Tuesday. But what you are seeing now  all the posters  the government of Edo state is not involved, Obaseki said.

He questioned the APCs disregard for established procedures, wondering, Are we okay as a country? We are guided by the constitution. We are guided by laws and precedents and procedures.

The outgoing Governor also noted that he hasnt received an invitation to the inauguration, stating, So, it is like they are starting a brand new state and government.

Okpebholos inauguration will mark the transition of power in Edo State.


Confrontation between the Mera community in Kebbi State, and the terrorist group, Lakurawa, has resulted in the death of 15 people.

Lakurawa is allegedly linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

The clash occurred on Friday near Mera community in Augie Local Government Area.

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According to eyewitness accounts, the crisis began when Lakurawa members attempted to rustle animals from a local herder.

The herder quickly alerted the community, prompting residents to confront the terrorists.

The ensuing battle led to the killing of 15 people and injuring many others.

The community successfully repelled the attack, killing and injuring some of the terrorists, while the surviving militants fled with their casualties.

READ ALSO: Army Declares Nine Lakurawas Terrorists Wanted

A source revealed to British Broadcasting Corporation Hausa, The locals succeeded in killing some of the terrorists, and injured others. But the survivors among the terrorists carried their casualties and left.

In response to the incident, the Deputy Governor of Kebbi State paid a condolence visit to the people of Mera, accompanied by the Commissioner of Police and the Emir of Argungu.

Abdullahi Idris Zuru, media aide to the Governor of Kebbi State, confirmed the existence of the terror group in parts of the State on Saturday.

Information Nigeria reports that the rise of militant Islamist groups in the Sahel region has been a growing concern, with groups like Lakurawa exploiting border areas and targeting civilians to intimidate local communities.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 9. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to the King of Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni on the occasion of the country's national holiday - Independence Day, Trend reports.

"Your Majesty,

On behalf of myself and the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to you and through you, to your entire people on the occasion of the national holiday of the Kingdom of Cambodia - the Independence Day.

I believe that relations between Azerbaijan and Cambodia will continue to evolve in the spirit of friendship and cooperation both bilaterally and multilaterally, in line with the interests of our peoples.

On this festive day, I wish you the best of health, happiness, and success in your endeavors, and everlasting peace and prosperity to the friendly people of Cambodia," the letter reads.
The Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in the Edo State election, Asue Ighodalo, has expressed confidence over the recovery his mandate.

Speaking in Benin, on Friday during the inauguration of the caretaker committee, Ighodalo called on party members to be united and get ready to reclaim what belong to them.

The partys governorship candidate, commended the outgoing Governor, Godwin Obaseki, for his dedication and leadership.

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Ighodalo said: We expect them to reply to our petition next week. We also have five days to reply to their petition.

This will take us to about the 19th of November 2024. We will then start what is called the pre-hearing before the major hearing which may start by the end of November.

READ MORE: Obaseki Alleges APC Borrowing N5bn For Inauguration, Vows To Reclaim Stolen Mandate

Our lawyers are working and are ready to reply to their petition.

Times are hard and we are in difficult times; we should stand firm and be strong as we navigate the journey to reclaim our stolen mandate.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that Ighodalos statement is coming, ahead of the inauguration of incoming governor, Monday Okpebholo on the 12th of November, 2024.

Recall that the outgoing Governor, Obaseki, had accused the All Progressive Congress for borrowing N5 billion to finance the ceremony.

The Governor alleged that N27 billion, separated for projects in the State has been used by the incoming administration.
Former Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Lagos State Chapter, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, has been elected as the new National President of the Union.

It was gathered that MC Oluomo was the sole candidate in the election which took place at the unions zonal secretariat along the Osogbo/Ikirun road in Osun state on Saturday.

READ MORE: MC Oluomo Steps Down As Lagos NURTW Chairman

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INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that some delegates from the four South-West states, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo and Ekiti also participated in the election.

Meanwhile, the acting NURTW President, represented by Mrs Adedamola Salam, Head of Finance at the National Headquarters in Abuja, said: The Southwest zone has fully complied with the Constitution in electing Oluomo as President.

Speaking after taking the oath of office, MC Oluomo urged the union members to allow peace reign and reiterated his commitment to unity in the union.

He said: I have forgiven everyone that offended me and I wish those I offended would forgive me as well.

This is our union and we must be committed to its preservation. We will not allow anyone to destroy our means of livelihood.


House of Representatives minority caucus has urged the Federal Government to provide therapy for minors released after being arraigned over the #EndBadGovernance protest.

The lawmakers praised President Bola Tinubus decision to release the minors but demanded accountability for those involved in their arrest and detention.

The caucus, on Friday, stated, Anybody and institution that played roles in the hounding of the children into cellsmust be brought to book

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They also sought quality reformatory therapy sessions and immediate reparation packages for the minors and their families.

The #EndBadGovernance protests, which took place from August 1-10, 2024, were sparked by Nigerias growing economic hardship and hunger.

READ ALSO: #EndBadGovernance: No Law Prohibits Prosecution Of Minors  AGF

The demonstrations escalated after Nigerian security agencies attempted to quell them, resulting in casualties and arrests.

The minority caucuss demand comes after the release of minors who were arraigned on treason charges.

The minors, who looked malnourished and ill, were met with widespread outrage, prompting President Tinubu to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation to withdraw charges against them.

The caucuss statement was jointly signed by Kingsley Chinda, Leader of the minority caucus; Ali Isa, Minority Whip; Aliyu Madaki, Deputy Minority Leader; and George Ozodinobi, Deputy Minority Whip.


Outgoing Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has claimed that the All Progressives Congress (APC), has borrowed between N2 billion and N5 billion for the inauguration of the Governor-elect, Monday Okpebholo.

Obaseki revealed this at the inauguration of the 10-man caretaker committee members of the States Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benin City on Friday.

In this holiday period, they will want to spend as much money as possible to confuse the people. They are going to struggle to change their perception.

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We have almost N27 billion to pay for projects and obligations, but they have started blowing it, and they have gone to borrow money for the inauguration which is going to cost them N2 to N5 billion. That is the money they will first take from the treasury, Obaseki said.

He also expressed disappointment at not being invited to the inauguration, stating, They are doing an inauguration and the governor is not even invited. It is like they are starting a brand new government and a brand new state.

READ ALSO: Alleged Fraud: EFCC Plans To Arrest Me Next Week, But Im Not Afraid  Gov Obaseki

The outgoing Governor assured PDP members that he would remain committed to the party and advise them. He vowed to reclaim the partys stolen mandate, saying, We will get our stolen mandate back, for the sake of Nigeria because if we allow the APC to go with our stolen mandate, it will mark the end of democracy in Nigeria.

Asue Ighodalo, the PDP candidate in the September 21 governorship election, urged the party to prepare for a tough battle to reclaim the mandate.

We expect them to reply to our petition next week. Our lawyers are working and are ready to reply to their petition. Times are hard and we are in difficult times, we should stand firm and be strong.

Meanwhile, the State APC chapter has alleged that Obasekis administration siphoned N14 billion from the States recent N24.6 billion deposit.

They also criticized the Governor for seeking and receiving approval for three supplementary budgets since January 2024, totaling N450 billion.

The outgoing administrations pursuit of multiple supplementary budgets within such a short period raises suspicions about the actual purpose behind these massive allocations.

The total amount squandered during his tenure has reportedly neared the staggering sum of 2 trillion Naira. This astronomical figure demands answers, the APC stated.
The producer of Peter Okoyes recently released song Winning, Vampire Craze, has addressed the accusation of theft made by Rudeboy, Peters twin brother Paul Okoye.

Rudeboy accused Peter, also known as Mr. P, of stealing his song on Friday.

Paul made the complaint on Instagram after Peter announced the release of Winning on social media.

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He shared a version of the song that he claimed to have written and recorded with the same producer that Peter had worked with.

He mentioned that he planned to include the song on his 2025 album and asked how Peter could release a different version.

READ MORE: Peter Okoye Stole My Song  Twin Brother Paul, Alleges

In a statement on his Instagram story, the producer clarified that he had produced and recorded Winning for Psquare back in 2022.

He explained that he sent the stems to the group for mixing and mastering and was paid before leaving Lagos.

He expressed confusion over how he could be at fault if Peter Okoye whom he sarcastically described as one square chose to release the song, emphasizing that he wasnt the one managing Psquare.

He wrote, I produced and recorded winning For psquare 2022

I sent stems to psquare 2022 for mixing and mastering I got payed and I left Lagos

Two years later one square release the song, how is that my fault?

Na me dey manage psquare?

SEE POST:
The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu has denied viral reports claiming that she is organising a national prayer over hardship facing the country.

Recall that there were mixed reactions from Nigerians over the purported news, saying that the First Lady in conjunction with others would lead a seven days prayer session to revive the countrys economy.

Spokesperson to the First Lady, Bukola Kukoyi, in a State on Saturday, described the claims as not only misleading but also unfounded.

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She said: This is to clarify and inform the general public that the First Lady of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON is not organizing a National Prayer.

The news making rounds in some conventional and social media platforms is unfounded and misleading.

READ MORE: Pray For Governments, Dont Curse Them  First Lady Oluremi To Clerics

Consequently, anyone who might have come across the purported news of the joint National Prayer for Nigeria should disregard it as false.

Whilst the First Lady, a Christian and strong advocate of prayer and praying for Nigeria believes that prayer is an act that must be done willingly, conscientiously and correctly.

She also believes that praying for Nigeria is the responsibility of every Nigerian, irrespective of religious belief, political affiliation, tribe or tongue.

Members of the public are advised to verify the authenticity of any news or event involving the First Lady of Nigeria or her Office through Official channels. Kindly be advised accordingly.


The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has made a significant breakthrough in the investigation into the helicopter crash that occurred in Rivers State on October 24.

The black box, comprising the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), has been successfully recovered from the crash site.

This crucial discovery was disclosed by Bimbo Oladeji, NSIBs Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection on Friday.

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The FDR and CVR, commonly referred to as the aircrafts black box, was retrieved early this (Friday) morning.

This device is crucial in helping investigators analyze flight performance and cockpit communications to determine the sequence of events leading up to the accident, Oladeji said.

READ ALSO: Helicopter Crash Wreckage Located Off Port Harcourt Coast  NSIB

The recovery effort was a collaborative effort between NSIB, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and other search and recovery partners.

The black box will undergo data extraction and analysis at NSIBs data analysis lab to provide valuable insights into the cause of the accident.

NSIBs Director-General, Alex Badeh, praised the recovery teams and emphasized the importance of the investigation.

The recovery of the Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder marks a monumental step in understanding what led to this tragic accident, he said.

Unfortunately, three passengers are still missing, and the search efforts will continue, the NSIB noted.

The Bureau maintained it is committed to finding answers for the families affected by the accident.
The Kaduna State Police Command has apprehended three members of the states notorious kidnapping syndicate.

The commands spokesperson, ASP Mansir Hassan, stated this on Friday in a statement in Kaduna.

According to Mr Hassan, the suspected kidnappers were apprehended on Tuesday, and they were found with one AK-47 gun and an empty magazine.

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According to the spokesperson, the individuals were captured after an intelligence-led operation by command personnel.

He claimed that the suspects group was well-known for terrorising motorists on the Kaduna-Abuja highway and residents of neighbouring states.

READ MORE: Akwa Ibom: Navy Recovers 60,000L Of Stolen Crude Oil, Nabs Three Suspects

During interrogation, the three suspects confessed to being part of a kidnap syndicate known for terrorising the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway. The syndicate has been linked to a string of violent incidents across the region, causing distress among residents and travellers alike.

He said, The suspects are currently cooperating with the police and have provided crucial information to assist in the possible arrest of other members at large and to facilitate the recovery of additional firearms in the groups possession.

Mr Hassan noted that the state commissioner of police praised the operatives for their diligence and advised the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to security agencies.

The leadership is committed to protecting civilians lives and property, Mr. Hassan reiterated.

He pledged that police will continue to use all available resources to dismantle criminal networks across the state.

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NEW YORK  Connor Tomasko grew up wary of credit cards. As she taught herself more about managing money, she realized that many people also have bad habits when it comes to payment apps.

Tomasko, 31, a freelance software consultant in Chicago, understands why people appreciate the ease of the apps, which typically only require you to know someones username in order to send money. But she realized that keeping money in the apps could be risky and means losing out on the interest from a high-yield savings account. She now immediately transfers any payments out of the apps and encourages friends to do the same.

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Im definitely the one that is always harping about high-yield savings accounts, Tomasko said. But if youre in an industry dealing with a lot of cash  bartending, say  sometimes youre just worried about finding a place to deposit it. Its not always a fun thing to talk about.

As use of payment apps has grown in recent years, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has issued guidance on best practices to avoid pitfalls. For example, funds stored on Venmo or Cash App typically lack the deposit insurance youd get from a bank, except in certain cases.

Popular digital payment apps are increasingly used as substitutes for a traditional bank or credit union account, but lack the same protections to ensure that funds are safe, CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said in a bulletin last year.

In 2022, transaction volume on these apps was an estimated $893 billion, according to the CFPB, and thats projected to reach $1.6 trillion by 2027. More than three-quarters of U.S. adults say they have used one of four popular payment apps, according to a 2022 survey from the Pew Research Center. Of consumers ages 18 to 29, 85% said theyve used a service such as PayPal, Venmo, Apple Cash, Google Pay, or Zelle, according to a March 2022 study by Consumer Reports.

The apps are popular because you dont have to give your personal information, like a phone number, if you just got drinks with someone once but youre never going to see them again  a date that didnt go well, Tomasko said. I get the benefits in that sense  to be able to send money that way.

Heres what you should know.

Funds stored on apps often lack insurance

It may be tempting to leave money sitting in peer-to-peer lending accounts so that youre ready to pay your friends when they request money to cover your portion of a dinner bill ... [but] there are a few reasons why we wouldnt suggest doing that, said Courtney Alev, consumer advocate at Credit Karma.

Funds stored in payment apps often lack deposit insurance, the CFPB has found. FDIC-insured banks protect depositors against the loss of their insured deposits up to at least $250,000 if a bank fails, and a similar framework protects credit unions. While funds stored on payment apps resemble funds stored on deposit accounts, those funds are not typically covered until they have been transferred back to an FDIC-insured bank or insured credit union.

The Financial Technology Association, an industry group that includes many payment apps as members, noted that Cash App and PayPal both offer separate high-yield, FDIC-insured savings products.

Do apps always lack deposit insurance?

In select circumstances, deposit insurance does cover payment apps. With Cash App, funds are eligible for insurance if consumers link their account to a Cash App debit card. And with Venmo, funds added to an account via direct deposit or check cashing are covered.

Still, the CFPB has found that funds stored in a payment app may be at significantly higher risk of loss for a consumer than if it is deposited in an insured bank or credit union account.

Consumers should be aware of these risks if they choose to leave a balance on these nonbank payment apps, the agency wrote in its report last year. To minimize risks, the CFPB said consumers should transfer their balances back to federally insured accounts.

Look for a high yield savings account instead of storing money in apps

Some payment app companies are able to invest users funds in loans and bonds, earning money on the investments while generally paying no interest on users balances, the CFPB found. To maximize your own funds, immediately transfer any deposits to an account where you can collect interest.

Leaving money sitting in those accounts is leaving potential interest from a high-yield savings account on the table, said Alev. All of that interest adds up over time, so your money could be growing elsewhere.

Tomasko said she always uses the 1-3 business day option to transfer funds when using Venmo, to avoid incurring fees, while Cash App has a setting that users can select to automatically route money back to their bank accounts, which she uses.

Theres definitely room for improvement in the space, she said. With Venmo, every time I receive a payment, I go in to actively transfer it out.

The Financial Technology Association said in a statement that tens of millions of Americans use payment apps every day to send money to friends and family, cover routine expenses, and manage their finances.

Consumers choose these apps because they are safe, convenient, and transparent, said FTA CEO and president Penny Lee.
As the City of Philadelphia ponders what to do with its former police headquarters, popularly known as the Roundhouse, many people are being asked to weigh in.

The community outreach process for the future of the elegant and imposing midcentury concrete structure will take place in neighborhoods throughout the city. Consultants are interviewing police officers, those who were detained in the building, and other stakeholders.

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They are also talking with Robert Geddes, an architect who designed the building, which opened in 1962, while he worked at his Philadelphia-based firm, Geddes Brecher Qualls & Cunningham.

To begin with, hes a little annoyed with the nickname thats almost become the official title for his Police Administration Building.

I, personally, am not interested in naming a building by its shape in Philadelphia or elsewhere, said Geddes, who will turn 99 this December. What would you call the Empire State Building? The giant tower?

Relatedly, he says that the widely held belief that the building is meant to resemble handcuffs is false and silly. The Roundhouses distinctive shape was designed to accommodate three elevator shafts, one in the center for what was meant to be an entrance for the public and the two others in the wings of the building for the exclusive use of the Police Department.

That vision became obsolete later in the 1960s when the front entrance on Race Street was closed to the public. Similarly, the wall that encircles the building, giving it a fortresslike atmosphere, was not in the original designs. The department added it later, shortly after construction was completed.

Geddes says changes like that have contributed to a misunderstanding of his building, and its original intent.

 READ MORE: What should Philly do with the Roundhouse? No, seriously, the city is asking for your help.

How the Roundhouse was conceived

Prior to the Roundhouses opening in 1962, police were headquartered in City Hall. A progressive mayor in the 1950s, Richardson Dilworth, wanted to professionalize and de-politicize the department by giving it a state-of-the-art building to symbolize its independence from patronage politics.

The city had many conventional buildings, but none that really stood out as an emblem of modernity, remembers Geddes. Dilworth wanted that.

Geddes and his partners were selected partly because the firms work had a reputation for being modern, progressive, and young  just the kind of adjectives Dilworth wanted to be associated with.

The monumental concrete design of the Roundhouse was part of a trend of midcentury municipal buildings that, at the time, were considered fashionable and even visionary. An unprecedented 90% of it is made of precast concrete, produced by an innovative Dutch method used in high-quality architectural projects.

In the 1950s and 1960s, buildings like the Roundhouse were seen as forward-thinking incarnations of postwar liberalism.

A 1963 article about the Roundhouse in Architectural Forum praised the conviction that headquarters should be anything but a grim forbidding fortress, scaring the wits out of the citizenry. ... This is the first major building to match the fresh thinking of Philadelphias planners with equally fresh thinking about architecture.

Rizzo hated the building

But the ideals that inspired the creation of the Roundhouse, and the liberal administrations that commissioned it, were supplanted by the tumultuous political events of the 1960s.

The backlash against the reformers and the growing power of the Black community, as well as spiking crime, led to the rise of police commissioner, and then mayor, Frank Rizzo. While Dilworth was known for his progressive ideals, Rizzo was just the opposite. His flamboyantly hard-charging tactics stirred controversy, especially in the Black neighborhoods that bore the brunt of both heavy-handed policing and violent crime.

I know Rizzo hated the building, said Geddes. What was done in that basement, and on the streets, is horrible to contemplate. I cant account for hatred. But the building didnt cause it, although it certainly suffered and is suffering from that legacy.

The Roundhouses future

Now as the future of the building is in question, and the possibility of demolition looms, it is that troubled legacy that may imperil the Roundhouse. There are many Philadelphians who associate it with fear and oppression, even as for others it symbolizes authority and safety. For some, its a complicated mix of both.

When I was growing up, [I was told] you dont want nothing to do with the Roundhouse: Thats the police, thats trouble, said Luz Crespo, a resident of North Philadelphia who attended the first public meeting on the buildings future. I have a brother and sister who gave the police 40 years, so I respect authority a lot.

Geddes hopes the building can be put to use as offices for human rights organizations or groups that serve the Black community. On the ground floor, he thinks restaurants would be a natural fit, especially with Chinatown so close by.

The building is really quite well-known internationally, said Geddes. People all over the world would be surprised, shocked, if it were torn down. The simplest thing to do is to find a developer who would open up the ground floor and use the offices for institutions concerned with human well-being.

Future events and online engagement for community input can be found at Framing the Future of the Roundhouse.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 9. Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, Azerbaijani Minister of Defense, has sent sympathies to his Kazakh counterpart Ruslan Zhaksylykov on the Mi-8 military helicopter crash during training flights, Trend reports via the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan.

"I am deeply saddened by the news of the helicopter crash that occurred in the Aktobe region of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as a result of which one crew member was killed and others were injured. May the Almighty grant peace to the soul of the deceased, and I share in the grief of his close relatives, offering my sincere condolences to his family. I wish a speedy recovery to the injured. May Allah repose their souls," the condolence letter said.

To note, on November 9, a Mi-8 helicopter from Kazakhstan's Ministry of Defense made a hard landing near the village of Saryzhar in the Aktobe region during a training exercise.

The helicopter, managed by the Military Institute of the Air Defense Forces, was transporting three crew members during the incident. Two crew members incurred injuries and were swiftly conveyed to the hospital for medical care, while one crew member died.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
A pedestrian crosses the street at the intersection of Greene Street and Schoolhouse Lane in the Germantown section of Philadelphia on Dec. 13, 2022. Read more

Philadelphia has had a rash of recent hit-and-run accidents. Other sorts of pedestrian accidents have been more numerous. We have had conflicts between bicyclists and people in motor vehicles. People with disabilities have also had concerns about walking the streets.

One solution has not really been considered, and that is the timing and lengthening of light cycles at intersections.

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I frequently go to Montreal. Ive been there 10 times. The lights there are timed and sequenced and prioritize pedestrian safety. As a driver, you are a lot less likely to be stopped at a traffic light, but when you are, you are going to wait for a longer period of time. This creates a traffic flow where the cars do not become as jammed together. It creates a flow that keeps traffic moving evenly, which allows you to get across town faster.

Additionally, it allows pedestrians the ability to wave the turning vehicles through their intersection, and then cross. In Philadelphia, we often have people using walkers, canes, carts, and wheelchairs trying to rush across the intersection. They are trying to do this as cars are intending to turn. This causes dangerous situations. Countless accidents and injuries could be avoided by focusing on traffic lights  the timing, making them synchronized, and making the light cycle much longer.

Additionally, longer lights at the intersections make it easier for buses that stop at the corner to pick up and drop off passengers. This also prevents the stop-and-go gridlock that devils Philadelphia.

Further, the people who have been debating the safety on our streets have not considered other factors impacting those with disabilities, such as the quiet car conundrum. At one time, cars were almost as loud when they were idling as they were when they were moving. Hybrid cars and electric cars are not this way. Its making it a lot harder for people to hear the traffic around them. This is particularly dangerous for a blind person, such as myself.

However, even people who can see have been suddenly surprised by a vehicle turning toward them that they were not aware of until the last second.

 READ MORE: Slow down and help make Philly streets safer | Editorial

Our short traffic light cycles add to this problem. If people were waiting at the crosswalk and waiting at the traffic light for a longer period of time, they would become more aware of their surroundings.

Blind people travel by listening to the direction the vehicles are moving. At one time, I might not even break my stride to cross the street because I could hear all the vehicles clearly, and I could hear that I had the light in my favor. However, I have had significant hearing loss over the last few years. As the cars were getting quieter, my hearing was getting less dependable. This has meant that I may stand through a couple of light cycles to cross the street, waiting for the best sound cue.

 READ MORE: Im tired of feeling unsafe as a pedestrian, and waiting for the city to act | Opinion

Hearing loss exacerbates the pedestrian safety problem, and when you add distracted driving from cell phones and dashboard digital displays, you have a guarantee of difficulties. If the traffic lights were longer, drivers would be forced to really stop and pay attention. This would increase safety for pedestrians.

As more and more city residents forgo even owning a car, and as our population ages, a few extra seconds to get across the street could be a matter of great importance, or even life and death.

I cant wait to get back to Montreal, where I have an easy time crossing the street without fear or concern. As for Philadelphia  I recommend navigating it with heightened caution.

David W. Wannop is a former syndicated journalist and concert promoter based in Philadelphia.
In the days since Donald Trumps victory in Tuesdays election, it has become increasingly clear that Latino voters  and particularly Latino voters in Pennsylvania  played a crucial role in sending him back to the White House.

Nationally, nearly half of all voters who identified as Latino  about 46%  cast ballots for Trump, up from about a third of Latino voters in 2020. In Philadelphia, Trumps share of the vote in the citys majority Latino precincts rose from about 6% in the 2016 election to roughly 21% on Tuesday.

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Trumps popularity among Latino voters is particularly noteworthy given his disparaging comments about Mexicans, immigrants, and others.

Luis F. Carrasco, deputy opinion editor, asked Inquirer columnist Helen Ubinas and Sabrina Vourvoulias, senior editor for commentary, ideas, and community engagement, to help make sense of the strong Latino support for the once and future president.

Luis F. Carrasco: Donald Trump will be back in the White House come January, and Latinos helped put him there. At least that was the conventional wisdom going into Election Day. That Latino communities, particularly men (my apologies), were turning away from Kamala Harris. No matter if their friends, neighbors, and family members were being demonized and threatened with deportation, machos have to stick together, I guess. But is that what happened? Do I have to start making some angry phone calls to some tios back home?

Helen Ubinas: I mean, yes  and no. But the first thing Im gonna need is for people who give Latinos exactly zero thought on most days to keep us out of their mouths  because we did not lose this election for Harris. In fact, while Trump admittedly made inroads with Latinos, the majority of Latinos in Philly and Pennsylvania and elsewhere (boo, Florida and Texas!) voted against him. But, oh  now you see us!? Cool, cool  while I have all your fleeting attention, lets do this: If you want to have a conversation about more Latino men breaking for Trump, fair. If you want to have a conversation about the issues that made the Tangerine Tyrant attractive to our community, lets do that. If you want to have a conversation about sexism and misogyny and racism within Latino communities, by all means. But then lets go beyond stereotypes and also have a discussion about how many of these generalizations dont seem to play out when Latin American countries vote for female presidents, something we cant seem to do here in the good ol US of A because of one constant: white supremacy.

Sabrina Vourvoulias: Well, finding someone to scapegoat does seem to have been a leitmotif of this electoral season  But it is an infuriating deflection  if you look at a map of how the vote broke in Philadelphia, for example. The majority of Latino neighborhoods voted blue, not red. And according to the Latino civil rights and advocacy group UnidosUS, it wasnt only Philadelphia. Latino support for Harris was highest in Pennsylvania (72% to 26%) among the battlegrounds, the organization posted on Tuesday. The engine driving Trumps victory has always been, and remains, white voters. Fret about that.

We will be first in line to feel the brunt of the consequences of this election. Luis F. Carrasco

Ubinas: Ah, yes, white men and women voters, henceforth known as Trumps ride-or-dies. And, as usual, before we became scapegoats, we were invisible. Well, mostly invisible until we became the monolith, as if a Puerto Rican born and raised in NYC (like me) is the same as one born on the island, is the same as a Mexican American from the Texas border (like Luis) or a U.S. citizen who moved here from Latin America (like Sabrina). The attention feels, once again, like too little, too late, and based on a superficial understanding of us, at best. Oh, look, the Latinos are here  only long enough to switch to, Oh my God, look at what the Latinos did.

Carrasco: It looks like theres plenty of blame to go around for Harris loss  and to Helens point, it begins with a Democratic Party that routinely ignores us  but even if Latinos arent to blame, we are likely to be disproportionately impacted by Trumps policies of callousness and cruelty. A large swath of Latinos in the U.S. and here in Philadelphia live in low-income households, stuck in low-wage jobs without health insurance. Many live in mixed-status families. Much as we did when the pandemic rolled around under Trumps watch, and many Latino essential workers essentially started dying on the job, we will be first in line to feel the brunt of the consequences of this election.

Ubinas: Exactly. So what in Papa Dios name are we doing acting and voting as if Trumps racism wont touch us? (A note to my fellow Puerto Ricans: Do you think these racists care that we are U.S. citizens? They dont.) These are the kinds of conversations we should be having within our communities, but also demanding of politicians  and not just right before we head into the polls or when a certain political party that needs our votes suddenly rediscovers us. And I stress the word need here: A 50-year review of exit polls by Axios found that when Democratic presidential candidates get less than 64% of the Latino vote, they usually lose. Why is it, for example, that Puerto Ricans are the largest Latino group in Philadelphia, and yet were underrepresented, if represented at all, in just about every space where decisions are made in this city? Im tired of the sleeping giant narrative Ive been hearing since I was a senorita. This senora knows we are informed and independent and engaged, its the political systems that are sleeping on us.

We need to challenge ourselves to not allow this conversation to end here. Helen Ubinas

Vourvoulias: I definitely think we have to have these conversations, Helen, no matter how difficult. Trumps fixation with repealing the Affordable Care Act, his promised appointment of an anti-vaxxer to head up the FDA, and any move away from a federal cap on the costs of common medications are going to have a huge impact on the health and well-being of Latinos here and across the nation. What do we need to plan to meet the challenge that presents? Also, one of the most distressing parts of the Trump victory is that immigrants will likely experience grave oppression. How can we work to ensure that our city and commonwealth stand firmly on the side of protecting human and civil rights?

Carrasco: Helens point about political power is probably the best way to answer that question, Sabrina. I dont want to be cynical, because I like to believe that any civil human should be ready to step up for those rights, but as we saw with the vote, a lot of people have a very myopic vision of what prosperity means. As long as the price of eggs is low, and I can fill up my giant SUV without wincing at the pump, who cares who gets deported?

Ubinas: Im pretty sure Im the most cynical one in this group, but I need to believe  now more than ever  that humanity wins this one in the end. So I have a proposal. We need to challenge ourselves to not allow this conversation to end here. We have to commit to not just taking part in these discussions, but to lead them at our own tables, in our own communities and workplaces  and for us, that means our newsroom. And then to act  intentionally and consistently and sin miedo. Whos in?

Vourvoulias: To quote St. Oscar Romero: It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity.

Carrasco: A challenge, an opportunity  sounds like hard work. But if youll excuse some selective stereotyping, it also sounds like a job for Latinos. Both parties have shown theyre not willing to put in the time or the effort. After Mitt Romney lost in 2012, the GOP establishment concluded that it would take a more inclusive vision for the party to win, that Republicans would have to broaden their outreach to communities of color. Turns out, its much easier to claim Haitians eat dogs than to craft comprehensive immigration reform. As for Democrats, every election cycle they get an intern to run their playbook through Google Translate en espanol and call it a day. So, if we are indeed el cambio que estabamos esperando, then its time to stop waiting. We were born for this.
Wong Kim Ark, the son of Chinese parents in San Francisco, was determined by the Supreme Court to be a citizen by virtue of being born in the United States Read more

When he arrived in San Francisco Bay, returning from China aboard the steamship Coptic in August 1895, Wong Kim Ark could not have imagined the legal fracas that awaited him.

Nor could he have foreseen that, more than a century later, it would be his Supreme Court case that would refute President Trumps assertion that as chief executive, he can and will eliminate birthright citizenship with a stroke of his pen.

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Amid the nasty national debate over who should be allowed to enter the United States or stay here, about who is an American and who should be denied the rights of citizenship, the saga of a forgotten Chinese cook, born on American soil to immigrant parents, demands attention.

The case set a bright-line rule: When youre born here, youre part of us," said Philadelphia immigration attorney William Stock, a former national president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, who taught law at Villanova University.

Today, the president disparages Mexican immigrants as criminals, drug dealers, and rapists. When the Supreme Court affirmed Wongs citizenship in 1898, Chinese immigrants were hated and vilified, particularly in the West, where laborers had been drawn by the California gold rush. The 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act remained in force, banning immigration from China amid a perceived invasion of unskilled, job-stealing newcomers.

"Wong Kim Ark is a case known well by law students, and students of constitutional law, but nobody expected him to be a national name in 2018," said Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, and a professor at the George Washington University Law School. Until recently, you didnt have any serious questioning of the idea that everyone born in the United States was a birthright citizen.

Now, that has changed. In an interview released last week, President Trump told Axios news website he would issue an executive order ending citizenship for babies born in the U.S. to non-citizens and undocumented immigrants.

It was always told to me that you needed a constitutional amendment. Guess what? You dont, Trump said.

Wong was born in San Francisco at 751 Sacramento St., the son of Wong Si Ping, a merchant. In 1890, both parents returned to China.

Wong, about 21 at the time, visited China the same year. He returned to the U.S. in July, permitted entry on the sole grounds that he was a native-born American citizen.

Four years later in November 1894, at about 25, Wong again traveled to China.

The photo attached to a departure affidavit shows a young man in traditional Chinese garb, his hair shaved in front and woven in the back into the long queue typically worn by men during the time of the Qing Dynasty.

When Wong returned to the U.S. in August 1895, he was denied entry. Customs officials ruled that he was not a citizen, and furthermore, that he could be immediately deported under the Exclusion Act.

Chinese benevolent associations worked to get him a lawyer.

In court, the government argued that despite Wongs California birth, he, like his parents, was a subject of the emperor. And that because Wong was Chinese, he was specifically banned by the Exclusion Act.

The Supreme Court disagreed, ruling by 6-2 that Wongs birth on American soil made him a citizen under the 14th Amendment. That his parents were not citizens, and in fact were subjects of the Chinese emperor, mattered not, the court said in U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark.

To hold that the 14th Amendment of the Constitution excludes from citizenship the children, born in the United States, of citizens or subjects of other countries, the court wrote, would be to deny citizenship to thousands of persons of English, Scotch, Irish, German, or other European parentage who have always been considered and treated as citizens of the United States.

Many people didnt like the decision. The San Francisco Chronicle erupted. If Chinese could become American citizens, the newspaper asked in an editorial, who was next? Indians? Japanese? The best course, the Chronicle wrote, would be to amend the Constitution so only white and black people could be citizens.

The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, states, All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside.

Most scholars, liberal and conservative, agree it would take a constitutional amendment to deny automatic citizenship to children born here to undocumented immigrant parents.

But NumbersUSA and other groups that favor reduced immigration argue that the 14th Amendment has been misinterpreted and that it was intended to provide citizenship for newly freed slaves. Opponents claim a particular clause  subject to the jurisdiction thereof  excludes the children of undocumented immigrants, because the parents are not legally in the U.S.

James Ho, a conservative, Trump-appointed federal appeals court judge, declared that argument empty in a lengthy 2006 analysis of the 14th Amendment. Being subject to U.S. jurisdiction simply means being subject to government authority, that people must obey the laws or face penalty or punishment  regardless of immigration status.

Birthright citizenship, Ho wrote, is protected no less for children of undocumented persons than for descendants of Mayflower passengers.

What became of Wong? He had four sons, and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, some of whom still live in the San Francisco area.

Immigration records show that in 1926, three decades after his Supreme Court case, Wong was still in San Francisco on Sacramento Street, living a few doors from where he was born.

That year, at age 57, he testified at an immigration hearing on whether his youngest son, Wong Yook Jim, should be permitted to enter the U.S. from China. The panel chairman moved that Wong Yook Jim should be admitted as the son of a native-born American.

The vote was unanimous.
Senator John Fetterman speaks during an event with US Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz at Temple University's Liacouras Center in August. Read more

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D., Pa.) said in an interview with Semafor published Friday those who pushed President Joe Biden off the ticket in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris should own the outcome and fallout following her loss to President-elect Donald Trump.

Fetterman ultimately endorsed Harris, but was a fierce defender of Biden following his disastrous debate with Trump in June. At the time, Fetterman described Biden as the only person in the country thats ever kicked Trumps ass in an election, and he has stuck by that sentiment.

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For those that decided and moved to break Biden, and then you got the election that you wanted, its appropriate to own the outcome and fallout, Fetterman told Semafors David Weigel. The options: Double down on the only person thats ever beat Trump, or demand an alternative. When the outcome didnt support your thesis and actions, then own it.

Theres a lot of egos, institutions and reputations that championed the alternative. When you take a reasonable, calculated risk ... embrace your culpability for what you found out, Fetterman added.

Fetterman, an outspoken defender of trans rights, also credited relentless anti-trans campaign ads run by the Trump campaign for having an impact on the election. The ad featured an edited 2019 video of Harris discussing her support for gender-affirming surgery for transgender people in prison, and closed with the line, Shes for they/them, and Trump is for you.

Two things. I refuse to throw members of the gay or trans communities under the bus. Ill never walk away from them, Fetterman said. But its also true, undeniably, that if someone ran for president in 2020 and pandered to that Squad mentality, or to get likes on Twitter, and they made those kinds of statements about gender, they were going to be pretty hard to defend.

During the interview and on social media, Fetterman also called out liberals who cast their ballot for Green Party candidate Leila Hazou in Pennsylvanias tight U.S. Senate race, where Republican Dave McCormick has narrowly been declared the winner over incumbent Sen. Bob Casey.

McCormick was projected the winner by the Associated Press Thursday and on Friday afternoon held an about 37,000-vote lead over Casey. Hazou, a Palestinian small-business owner in Pike County, received over 64,000 votes. The race could end up in a recount, and Casey has yet to concede. McCormick is also challenging some ballots in Philadelphia.

To all of those dopes that voted Green against Bob Casey, that was the necessary votes that would have absolutely closed the gap in his race, Fetterman said. Well, congratulations. You just are helping elect a Republican thats definitely not going to be protecting your kinds of values.
Former Congressman Bob Brady throwing support behind Vice President Kamala Harris for President. Rally endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for President at the Patrick B. Gillespie Building, Philadelphia Building Trades Union Hall on Woodhaven Road, Philadelphia on Friday morning July 26, 2027. Read more

All eyes have been on the Democratic Party in Philadelphia as a feud between Democratic Party chair Bob Brady and Vice President Kamala Harris campaign captured national attention this week.

A bitter back-and-forth escalated after Harris was unable to secure enough Democratic votes in the city to offset President-elect Donald Trumps victories elsewhere in Pennsylvania, leading to Brady claiming a lack of respect and money from the campaign, while the campaign pointed to Bradys ineffectiveness as party chair.

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As chair for over three decades, a key part of Bradys job is to mobilize voters to turn out for the Democratic partys candidates, and the former U.S. congressman is in this position because of the ward leaders who elected him.

Brady and the ward leaders are a product of the citys ward system, which derived from the first settlers in Philadelphia who took inspiration from Englands division of municipalities. The first division of city wards happened in 1705  mostly for police routes  and has stuck around since.

The chairs, ward leaders, and committee people are tasked with galvanizing their partys voters. But when things dont go as expected  especially in a Democratic stronghold like Philadelphia  they may also be some of the first to shoulder the blame.

Heres what to know about Bradys role and the ward system in Philadelphia.

Who is Bob Brady?

Bob Brady has been Philadelphias Democratic Party chair since 1988. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Pennsylvanias 1st Congressional District from 1997 to 2019.

Brady is a close personal friend of President Joe Bidens (Biden was a guest at the City Committee dinner in September) and was proud that members of the city Democratic Party chose to stay loyal to Biden after his disastrous debate performance against Trump in June. Upon the president suspending his bid for reelection, Biden had reportedly told Brady to get past it, the chair said, and to shift his support to Harris.

As the head of what may be one of the most persistent political machines in the U.S., Brady has faced questions about his ability to turn out the blue vote in the city, though his skills as a deal maker and power broker have led him to become a reliable staple in city politics.

And hes also built a reputation as a larger-than-life character, creating some notable moments throughout his more than three decades as party chair, including when he made national news for stealing the Popes water or when he didnt take then President Bill Clintons call in the 1990s because he was helping to fix a womans toilet.

Asked Wednesday whether he would leave his decades-spanning job as chair, Brady said he was not going anywhere and that he hadnt heard any calls for him to give up the post.

Why are Kamala Harris campaign and Bob Brady feuding?

Its Bradys attitude that appeared to largely fuel tensions between he and the Harris campaign that boiled over Wednesday.

After Harris loss, Brady placed a great deal of blame on the Harris campaign for not respecting ward leaders or granting him a meeting with Harris.

I never talked to the lady, and shes the candidate, he said.

Though, the Harris campaign provided a photo of Brady with Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to The Inquirer to dispute the claim.

Brady questioned whether Biden should have been replaced on the ticket, wondered if Gov. Josh Shapiro would have been a wiser choice for running-mate, and criticized the Harris campaign for paying only about half of the money the city committee requested to pay committee members to get out the vote.

The vice presidents campaign  who did have an expansive presence in Philadelphia  was quick to reply. Brendan McPhillips, a senior adviser to the Harris campaign in Pennsylvania, called Bradys turnout operation worthless and said the Harris team knocked more than two million doors in the weekend leading up to Election Day, which is two million more doors than Bob Bradys organization can claim to have knocked during his entire tenure as party chairman.

What is a ward?

Philadelphia has 66 wards, which are individual voting districts in the city. Each ward is then divided into any where between 11 and 51 divisions (there are 1,703 in total).

Ward leaders and elected committee people work on the behest of their political party. Some of their most important jobs including registering voters and mobilizing them to cast their ballots for endorsed candidates, according to the Philly Ward Leaders website. They gather signatures from voters to get candidates on the ballot, build coalitions of voters, and stand outside the polls on Election Day to hand out campaign materials.

Ward leaders also help raise funds and recruit people for open committee seats and make official party endorsements during primary elections  sometimes aligned with their own priorities.

The Philadelphia City Commissioners also track voter turnout by ward for each election on its website.

How are ward leaders chosen?

Every four years, during the primary election of the governors race, Democrats and Republicans in each division elect two people to serve as their divisions committee persons. These elected individuals comprise each partys ward committee, which then votes for the ward leader, typically soon after the election.

Those ward leaders then form the partys city committee and elect its chair (i.e. Brady for the Democrats and Vince Fenerty for the Republicans).

What do ward leaders do during the election season?

Ward leaders endorsement power is perhaps one of the most important  and controversial  responsibilities of the job, particularly when ward leaders select the nominees for special elections. This is a lot of power wielded by a small number of individuals.

And that influence rears itself in other ways in city politics. Typically, elections for smaller offices in Philadelphia are often swayed by the input of ward leaders who are often courted by candidates for their approval and exposure to voters. Campaigns will offer street money, used to pay committee people to get out the vote, vow to open direct lines of communication after their election, and promise a committee person a job in the candidates office.

Ward leaders can also possess even further capabilities if they are in a closed ward, which means they alone decide who the ward endorses. Open wards, which progressive groups have spent years advocating for, give committee people the opportunity to vote on who the ward endorses in local elections, according to Philadelphia 3.0, a government reform group that has also advocated to eliminate the City Commissioners office.

Why do progressive activists want to change the ward system?

That aforementioned endorsement process is one of the main reasons that progressives in Philadelphia are advocating for a change in the ward system  namely by creating more open wards. There are various schools of thought on what open wards can offer; some use the term to refer to allowing committee people to vote on changes to policies and procedures, while others define it as wards that allow for public meetings or publish campaign finance reports.
Dave McCormick waves to the crowd as hes introduced at a campaign event for former President Donald Trump at the Butler Farm Show, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa. Read more

Aside from once-and-future President Donald Trumps unexpectedly decisive win, one of the most surprising results in Tuesdays election was Republican Dave McCormicks apparent victory over three-term U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D., Pa.).

Casey has not conceded the race, and its possible that the narrow-margin lead will trigger Pennsylvanias automatic recount process once more ballots are counted. But the Associated Press called the race for McCormick on Thursday, and Casey faces major obstacles in reversing the result.

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 READ MORE: In a stunning upset, Republican Dave McCormick unseats longtime U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, according to the AP

Assuming the APs call stands, the result will be an earthquake in Pennsylvania politics. Casey, a moderate who often outperforms leading candidates in his party, had won six statewide elections in Pennsylvania, and his father was a well-known governor.

Christopher Nicholas, a veteran Pennsylvania Republican strategist, said that Caseys popularity had been falling for months and that McCormick, a former hedge fund executive with ample money behind him, was well-positioned to take advantage.

You always look at the incumbents poll numbers and the challengers money, said Nicholas, who worked on the late Sen. Arlen Specters campaigns. Caseys numbers kept on floating down. He was a typical lead-from-behind type of fellow. And once his poll numbers fell below 50, its always hard for an incumbent to move back up.

Caseys three wins in Senate races all came during strong Democratic years: the 2006 midterm election, which was dominated by the growing unpopularity of the Iraq War and then-President George W. Bush; former President Barack Obamas 2012 reelection; and the 2018 Trump pushback cycle, as Nicholas put it.

Casey, unlike in his other three Senate runs, didnt have the wind in his back, Nicholas said. Hes never had to worry about a tough October.

So how did McCormick pull off the win? It came down to Trump, messaging, and money.

A complicated case of coattails

In 2012, Casey outperformed then-President Barack Obama by 1.7 percentage points among Pennsylvania voters, and his margin of victory over GOP Senate candidate Tom Smith was 3.7 percentage points greater than Obamas over Republican Mitt Romney.

This year, observers expected Casey to once again best his partys ticket, potentially allowing him to survive even if Vice President Kamala Harris lost narrowly to Trump in the Keystone State.

That formula failed to save Casey for two reasons. First, he didnt outperform Harris. Casey is on pace to take 48.5% of the vote, the same share that Harris appears to have won in Pennsylvania. He may even end up with slightly fewer votes than her once the counting is finished, which would be a shocking outcome given Caseys history.

 READ MORE: Donald Trump won Pa. with more votes than any statewide Republican candidate in history. Heres how he did it.

The incumbents other problem was that Trump did better in Pennsylvania than expected. In Wisconsin and Michigan, the other two blue wall states, Trump won by less than 1 percentage point and Democrats held onto Senate seats. In Pennsylvania, Trump appears to have won by about 2 percentage points.

But there was still hope for Casey because McCormick, who had 48.9% of the vote as of Friday afternoon, underperformed compared with Trump, who had 50.5%. So despite not winning more votes than Harris, Casey appears to have outperformed her by 1.5 percentage points in terms of his margin, due primarily to having a less popular opponent, and he still could have eked out a victory.

If Casey had outperformed Harris to any meaningful extent, he would have won reelection.

Casey outpaced Harris in the Rust Belt, but not in Philly

Casey had better margins than Harris in several postindustrial areas like Lackawanna County, which includes Caseys hometown of Scranton.

But his margins fell behind the vice presidents in three counties that give Democratic candidates their biggest advantages in Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Montgomery, and Allegheny, which includes Pittsburgh.

In Philly, for instance, Casey has taken 78% of ballots counted so far, while Harris has 79%. That 1-percentage-point difference amounts to more than 26,000 votes  although part of that gap is due to more people voting in the presidential election.

Meanwhile, Bucks County, continuing to earn its reputation as one of the most purple counties in Pennsylvania, appears to have backed Trump and Casey. Bucks still has thousands of provisional, military, and overseas ballots left to tally. But if Trumps lead holds, he would be the first GOP presidential candidate to carry the county since 1988.

Overall, Casey is poised to win 12 of Pennsylvanias 67 counties. But his share of the vote decreased in every county compared with his most recent reelection campaign in 2018, a strong year for Democrats.

His support decreased most dramatically in Greene and Fayette Counties, deep in Trump country on the West Virginia border.

McCormick tied Casey to Kamala Harris

One reason Casey might not have outrun Harris is that McCormick worked relentlessly to tie Casey to the vice president.

The Republican and his allies blanketed the airwaves with ads calling Casey a weak career politician who would be a rubber stamp for Harris agenda, noting that he voted with her and President Joe Bidens administration nearly all of the time.

Casey, meanwhile, tried to play defense with ads touting his alignment with Trumps protectionist trade policies.

(Conversely, Caseys aggressive attack ads on McCormick  questioning his ties to Pennsylvania and highlighting investments McCormicks old hedge fund made in China  might have been the reason the Republican couldnt keep up with Trump.)

 READ MORE: Why Sen. Bob Casey has changed his positions on abortion and same-sex marriage  and why his opponent doesnt talk much about it

Another reason Casey didnt best the Democratic ticket may be that the incumbents politics are now more aligned with his partys orthodoxy than they were when he began his Senate career as a pro-life Democrat who opposed new gun regulations and same-sex marriage. Although he still stands to the right of his party on energy issues, he now supports marriage equality, a national guarantee of abortion rights, and new gun-control measures.

McCormick benefited from a Wall Street-funded super PAC

Although McCormick had Trumps coattails and an apparently successful messaging strategy, none of that would be enough without money. And thanks to a Wall Street-backed super PAC, McCormick had a ton of it.

 READ MORE: Meet the billionaires backing Republican Dave McCormicks U.S. Senate run

Keystone Renewal PAC was the only outside spending group that was dedicated solely to Pennsylvanias Senate race. A vast majority of the rest of the money spent in the race came from the candidates campaigns and their parties.

Challengers to longtime incumbents often struggle to raise money. But McCormick is a former CEO of Bridgewater Associates, the largest hedge fund in the world, and he has connections with some of the worlds richest people.

Many of the donors to Keystone Renewal know McCormick personally, and the PACs spending helped make him financially competitive in the more than $300 million race.

The PAC spent about $54 million, according to the government transparency organization Open Secrets. About $41 million of that was spent attacking Casey, while $13 million went to boosting McCormick.

Keystone Renewals largest donor was Ken C. Griffin, the billionaire owner of Citadel Securities, a financial services company. It also received millions from Jeff Yass, the richest man in Pennsylvania and an ardent supporter of school choice policies, which McCormick favors.

Staff writer Katie Bernard and graphics editor John Duchneskie contributed to this article.
Rev. Renee McKenzie at Calvary Saint Augustine Episcopal Church, 814 N. 41st St, Philadelphia, on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. Immigrants found sanctuary in Philadelphia churches during the first Trump presidency. Now, Rev. McKenzie is bracing for another round of harsh treatment of immigrants, who she expects to turn to churches for help. Read more

The day after the election, it all came rushing back to the Rev. Renee McKenzie  the fear she felt for immigrants, the potentially life-and-death choices they faced, and the way they turned to her for help during the first presidency of Donald Trump.

Less than a year into his first term, she made the decision to let a desperate, undocumented family of five take sanctuary inside the Church of the Advocate in North Philadelphia, placing them beyond the reach of federal authorities and blocking their deportation to a Mexican homeland where they feared they would be killed.

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Now President-elect Trump promises a second term driven by an intense escalation in enforcement, including the mass deportations of millions of people  and McKenzie expects Philadelphia churches and faith leaders will be called on again to place themselves between immigrants and the government.

People will turn to the church, said McKenzie, now serving at Calvary St. Augustine Episcopal Church in the Belmont neighborhood, and I pray the church will respond.

Across Philadelphia last week, immigrants and their allies reacted to Trumps election with dread, worry, and promises to fight anew in one of the nations preeminent sanctuary cities  jurisdictions that limit their cooperation with federal immigration agents.

An estimated 47,000 undocumented people live in Philadelphia, according to the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute. Across Pennsylvania, an estimated 153,000 are undocumented, the agency said, and in New Jersey, the figure is about 440,000.

Trump has promised that the largest removal operation in American history will begin on his first day in office, Jan. 20.

Our message to everybody whos coming to this country illegally is  pack your bags because Donald Trumps coming back, Vice President-elect JD Vance told Pennsylvania supporters at a rally in Leesport in September.

Trump told MSNBC there is no price tag attached to his deportation plans, painting his efforts as a way to make Americans safe from migrants he has inaccurately painted as dangerous criminals. He has pledged to immediately undertake an additional series of actions and restrictions, including an attempt to end birthright citizenship, the long-established law that says someone born in the United States is a U.S. citizen.

Weve read what his plans are, said Peter Pedemonti, codirector with Blanca Pacheco of the New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia, and I dont have any reason to think hes not telling us the truth.

Pedemonti spent the day after the election talking with faith leaders and elders in Philadelphia, including some who fought or escaped from oppressive regimes in other countries.

We did organize and fight through the first Trump administration, he said. This one is going to be worse, we know that. But we cannot throw away the lessons we learned, the knowledge we gained. Were going to be relying and building off of that.

Trump has said he wants to strip federal funding from sanctuary cities. At a Thursday news conference, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker was asked if she was concerned, and if she was committed to maintaining that sanctuary stance in Philadelphia.

I dont know what will happen in the future, the mayor responded. We will make sure we are prepared to address issues that come before us under a Parker administration.

Right now, she said, she is focused on her plans to make Philadelphia the safest, cleanest, greenest big city in the nation.

Today, an estimated 11 million people are living in the United States without permission, about 40% originally from Mexico, according to the Pew Research Center.

A one-time removal operation would cost at least $315 billion and damage the economy by eliminating needed workers, particularly in California, Texas, and Florida, according to a new study by the nonpartisan American Immigration Council, which works for a fairer immigration system.

But Trumps message that immigrants are a danger, poisoning the blood of our country, seemed to have landed with Americans, including those in Pennsylvania, who voted decisively to return him to the White House.

Many voters ranked immigration as a top concern, with 57% saying in an October New York Times/Siena College poll that they supported deporting immigrants who were in the country illegally. A June Gallup poll found that 55% of adults want immigration decreased, up from 41% a year earlier.

We are going to need every single political leader, every single community leader, every single institution to really stand up, said Jasmine Rivera, executive director of the Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition in Philadelphia. That means not collaborating with the White House when it comes to deporting our people.

Philadelphia emerged as a center of resistance during Trumps first term, with opposition to harsh immigration policies led by both community organizations and the city government.

The administration of former Mayor Jim Kenney fought and won a major lawsuit in 2018 over Trumps effort to make local police enforce federal immigration laws, kicked ICE out of a database it believed the agency was using to find undocumented people, and barred city employees from asking residents about their immigration status.

At one point, 14 undocumented immigrants were living in sanctuary in Philadelphia churches, the most in any U.S. city. They were safe there, as Immigration and Customs Enforcement guidelines dissuaded agents from entering houses of worship to make arrests.

Among the first into sanctuary were those welcomed by McKenzie.

Carmela Hernandez and her four children fled to this country in August 2015, after being threatened by the same drug criminals who killed her brother and two nephews. The family was denied asylum by the U.S. government, and took sanctuary only days before their scheduled deportation on Dec. 15, 2017.

They lived in the Church of the Advocate and then in the Germantown Mennonite Church for more than three years, ending sanctuary in March 2021. That came after ICE officials said the family was no longer a priority for enforcement, that they fell outside of guidelines that targeted those considered threats to national security, border security, and public safety.

A friend said on Friday the family was living quietly and did not wish to be contacted by news media.

After Joe Biden became president in 2021, Philadelphia-area immigrants and allies largely felt optimistic, encouraged by a Democrat who said he saw immigration as essential to the nation and its aspirations.

Because many of the Trump administrations harshest policies had been enacted by executive order, not legislation, they could be reversed the same way. At the least, they said in 2020, the change in administrations would end the Oval Office demonization of immigrants and their families.

But by the midterm elections, many people had become disenchanted with Biden.

The number of beds to jail undocumented immigrants soared in Pennsylvania. A health rule used to expel immigrants at the border had been expanded, and federal authorities continued to arrest and expel people who came here hoping to provide for their families.

Today about 16% of Philadelphia residents were born outside the United States, the highest share since the 1940s, according to a study by the Pew Charitable Trusts. The foreign-born population more than doubled from 105,000 in 1990 to 232,000 in 2022, even as the overall city population grew very little, census figures show.

The citys sanctuary stance has also made it a target.

Beginning in late 2022, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sent nearly a thousand immigrants to Philadelphia aboard unscheduled, unannounced buses, saying that sanctuary cities needed to help ease pressure on overwhelmed border towns. Kenney and immigrant allies called it a cheap political stunt that hurt families.

Theres a lot of people in our communities who are very scared right now, Rivera said. People are calling, What does this mean, what do I do?  But I am ready to fight, to fight back and protect my community.
Damage from Hurricane Beryl in Galveston, Tex., in July. Preparing a home for extreme weather can help reduce risks to property. Read more

After a hot stormy summer, homeowners are more aware than ever of the toll that extreme temperatures, high winds, torrential rain, and power outages can have on their families and homes. Homebuyers naturally place a higher priority on the location and layout of a home, but given the increasing instances of extreme weather and the high cost of repairs, they may want to take a closer look at the propertys resilience to climate change.

Properties that never had water issues are now experiencing them because of the more severe weather patterns were experiencing, said Tony Cammarota, a real estate agent with RE/MAX Distinctive in Washington, D.C.

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While water issues can be hazardous and costly to repair, flying debris such as tree branches can damage roofs and windows. But there are steps that buyers can take to evaluate risk before purchasing and that homeowners can take to mitigate damage before a storm.

Know the houses past and present condition

Home inspections, whether a full two- to three-hour evaluation of a house or an hour-long pre-offer inspection, are highly recommended, Cammarota said.

Buyers should follow the inspector to learn how systems work, how to maintain their home, and to look for signs of previous damage, he said.

Leslie Chapman-Henderson, president and CEO of the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH), based in Tallahassee, Fla., recommends that buyers and homeowners find out which building code was used when their home was built with the InspecttoProtect.org tool.

The building code is like a cookbook that tells you what ingredients and cooking methods were used to build your house, Chapman-Henderson said. The site will show you what upgrades to consider depending on when it was built.

For example, older codes allowed roofs to be attached with an angled nail, while new methods use straps, metal clips, and roof trusses, she said.

You can also research the history of local disasters such as floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes that have impacted the house, Chapman-Henderson said. Now, though, severe thunderstorms sometimes cause damage that exceeds other insurance claims because of climate change and an aging housing stock.

She recommends talking to neighbors when visiting a house and doing internet research on news reports about the neighborhood.

Tour the home

Whether youre purchasing a home or already own one, you can download the FLASH Buyers Guide to Resilient Homes and print checklists to share with your home inspector or a contractor.

Start on the outside and check to see what materials were used for your home, suggests Rob Farrie, vice president of construction for Anthony Wilder Design/Build in Cabin John, Md.

Wood products tend to rot, but newer homes are built with cementitious board siding or Boral ash siding that are more resistant to climate impacts and require less maintenance, Farrie said. You also want to check the foundation coating and drain board system to make sure it channels water to a French drain.

Foundations deteriorate over time depending on the material, Farrie said.

You want to look inside at an unfinished basement to see if you can see effluence such as white streaks or soil streaks on a cinder block or cement wall, he said. Its harder to see that in a finished basement, so thats when its really important to look at the grading outside to make sure moisture is diverted away from a house.

Landscaping issues can contribute to a homes resilience to storms.

You need to make sure the trees are healthy and that you dont have branches overhanging the roof or too close to windows, said Marnie Oursler, owner of Marnie Oursler Custom Homes in Bethany Beach, Del. The grading should divert water away from the house and so should the gutters. You can also add gutter guards to improve their functionality.

In addition to branches causing roof damage, as trees grow, their root systems can damage pipes and create plumbing issues, Cammarota said.

Check out the roof warranty with the sellers and have a home inspector look for water damage and to make sure the roof is installed properly, Oursler said.

Upgrade your homes resilience

When youre building or remodeling a home, improvement projects can increase your households comfort during extreme temperatures and reduce weather-related impacts.

Houses are often designed with the expectation that rain will come straight down, but heavy downpours are often sideways, so we use drainage house wrap between the sheathing and the drywall with a self-sealer to reduce the chances of water damage, Oursler said. You should also make sure the roof shingles are secured properly and that there are no gaps in the siding or around the windows and doors that could let water seep inside.

Oursler recommends watching the water flow during a heavy downpour to make sure it doesnt enter your home.

If youre adding hardscape to a yard, you can choose eco-friendly products that allow water to penetrate the surface with drainage underneath that diverts the water away from the house, Oursler said.

New homes are built with a sump pump to prevent water infiltration, Cammarota said. Depending on the site, a sump pump can be added for about $15,000.

You may want to install a generator to make sure your sump pump continues to work during an extended power outage, he said.

If youre in a flood-prone area, Chapman-Henderson recommends using a platform to elevate appliances from the lower level of the house. Moving electrical sockets higher on the wall can prevent water infiltration.

You should also elevate any fuel tanks outside and make sure they cant break free in a storm, Chapman-Henderson said.

She recommends reviewing FEMAs Flood Smart tool, which shows that even a small amount of water that infiltrates your home can cause thousands of dollars of damage.

Weve recently done research that shows how important it is to board up your garage door or install a brace on it before a hurricane, Chapman-Henderson said. We discovered that if garage doors fail, the roof is more likely to fail as well in high winds.

To mitigate extreme heat or cold, you may want to upgrade to a high-efficiency heating and air-conditioning system.

Its illegal to use a type of Freon that older air-conditioning systems use, so you may have to get a new system, Cammarota said. Typically, that costs $9,000 to $15,000 but will be more efficient and reduce utility bills.

Adding spray foam insulation to an attic or during a renovation can help your system work more efficiently and make your home stay comfortable longer during a power outage, Farrie said.

In a house we remodeled recently the second floor was 74 degrees and the attic was 95 degrees, Farrie said. We added spray foam insulation to the attic and the temperature difference went down to five degrees.

Chapman-Henderson recommends weatherizing your home with caulk around all windows, doors, and flashing.

An attic solar fan costs about $350 and can reduce the stress on your air-conditioning in summer by keeping your attic cooler, she said. In the winter, it can reduce moisture and prevent ice dams that occur when hot and cold air collide.

Shutters and blackout curtains can also mitigate extreme temperatures, she said.

A more costly option but worthwhile if your windows and doors are older is to replace them with newer glass that offers better insulation and strength.

While shopping for new counters or upgrading your floors may be more fun, taking the steps to make your home more resilient to climate impacts can keep you and your family safe, reduce repairs, and potentially avoid insurance claims.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 9. The Western Azerbaijan Community has issued a statement on the occasion of National Flag Day, Trend reports.

"Today, Azerbaijan celebrates the National Flag Day. Our tricolor flag, reflecting the values and ideals of the Azerbaijani people, is a beacon of development, security, and independence for our state, a light that confidently guides our people toward the future.

The national flag of Azerbaijan was approved at a meeting of the government of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic on November 9, 1918, and had state status until April 1920.

At a session on November 17, 1990, Heydar Aliyev, the National Leader of our people and Chairman of the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, spearheaded the adoption of this flag as the national flag of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

On February 5, 1991, at the proposal of the Supreme Assembly, the Parliament of Azerbaijan declared it the national flag of Azerbaijan.

"Under the leadership of national leader Heydar Aliyev and President Ilham Aliyev, systematic steps have been taken and continue to be taken to promote the national flag as a sacred national symbol. According to a decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev in 2009, November 9 is celebrated annually as National Flag Day of Azerbaijan.

In accordance with a decree signed by the head of state in 2007, the flag square opened in 2010, and the flag museum created there occupies a special place in promoting our national symbols.

Our people's respect for the tricolor flag of Azerbaijan is at the highest level, not only as a symbol but also as a sacred value that reflects their freedom, unity, and will.

The fact that our people united closely around the victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief and restored the territorial integrity of our country under this flag was undoubtedly the highest expression of respect for the national flag. We should remind that President Ilham Aliyev said in his historic speech at the opening of the Flag Square in 2010: "After the restoration of Azerbaijans territorial integrity, our state flag will be hoisted in the lands still under occupation now. Our state flag will be hoisted in Nagorno-Karabakh, Khankandi, and Shusha." Our national flag now proudly flies in all corners of our country, including Shusha, Khojaly, and Khankendi."

The statement noted that the head of state visited the Flag Square, which reopened in its new form and layout following renovation and restoration work, and examined the historical flags of Azerbaijan, including the flag of the Iravan khanate, in the Flag Museum.

The Western Azerbaijan Community, which unites Azerbaijanis who were forced to leave their homeland due to the ethnic cleansing carried out by the Armenian government, expresses its deep gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for his unequivocal support for the right to a peaceful, safe, and dignified return," added the statement.

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The artist Dorothy Cross smiles and gives a little sigh when the question of the desiccated, 2,000-year-old remains of a certain Egyptian gentleman crops up in conversation.

Sitting in the serene surroundings of the Garden Rooms of the Park Hotel in Kenmare, Cross recounts the latest updates to her Kinship project, which revolves around her attempts to return a mummy stored at UCC to his birthplace.

A highly publicised project following on from her well-received Heartship, produced in conjunction with Corks Sounds From a Safe Harbour festival in 2019, in which a preserved, lead-encased human heart was carried up the River Lee aboard the LE James Joyce, accompanied by the song of Lisa Hannigan, Kinship has become a protracted saga, mired in the red tape of international logistics.

I was thrilled about two weeks ago, because we got the final signature necessary from Egypt, all through the hard work of the Irish ambassador, she says.

We all met on Zoom, thinking wed get a date to move the body, five years nearly to the day since I had the idea. But during the conversation, we discovered that the crates he is packed in, in UCC storage, are too big to put on the regular flights from Dublin to Cairo. So now were waiting on an agreement with the airline for a bigger plane to make one flight to bring him home.

In the meantime, Cross has produced a film piece on the project, which involved covering the crate containing the anonymous mummys remains in gold leaf, and a book is going to print, with contributions from nine writers responding to themes of death and displacement.

The book is going to be gorgeous, so that is helping me feel that he is going to get home, Cross says. It has been up and down, and I did get very dark about it for a time, because I felt that it should have been so easy.

For an artist whose site-specific projects can be so ambitious in scope and scale  Ghostship, in 1999, involved her painting a decommissioned lightship with phosphorescent paint and mooring it in Scotsmans Bay in Dun Laoghaire for a month  maintaining a certain philosophical approach can be important.

With Kinship, which she says has consumed much of her creative energy for the past five years, remembering the passage of time has given her perspective.

Look, she says with a laugh, he was buried 2,000 years ago, hes been in Cork for 100 years, and Ive been working on it for five years. When he has gone back it will be a weight off my shoulders. Because Im kind of in love with him, and horrified that he is kind of stuck.

Artist Dorothy Cross pictured beside some of her works at the Park Hotel in Kenmare Co Kerry.

THE CONTEXT AND THE WORK

Cross is in the Park Hotel at the invitation of its new owner, and she is very much a guest of honour today: several of her pieces are amongst 52 artworks that entrepreneur and art collector Bryan Meehan has installed in the Park Hotel since he purchased the five-star hotel for an undisclosed sum from hotelier brothers John and Francis Brennan in 2023.

Its an impressive and eclectic collection based on Meehans personal tastes and life trajectory, featuring everything from an Andy Warhol print to large bold textured canvasses from Chicago artist Theaster Gates, to a gorgeous seascape of Marthas Vineyard by Japanese photographer and architect Hiroshi Sugimoto, to works by homegrown but internationally renowned artists including John Minihane, Michael Craig-Martin and Sean Scully.

And, of course, Dorothy Cross. The hotel now holds five of her works, including 2007s Erratic, a black and white photo in which the artist poses nude against a glacial erratic, a large boulder left by a glacier at the shoreline near her home in Connemara many millions of years ago.

The print now graces the hotels dining room: how does it feel to see it here?

Cross laughs. Its quite small and grainy, so I dont feel anything about it particularly. If it was a huge nude it might not be quite appropriate for the dining room. To be invited to somewhere that someone has hung your work is really unusual, and its lovely.

Its gorgeous, and so unusual, to be able see the context and where the work lives. Because Bryan isnt getting an adviser in, to say, buy a Rothko, buy a this, buy a that, which is a plague in the art world, instead you get to see an individuals vision and how something sits next to something else. It will be great to see how this place grows, because his heart is very much in the right place.

Changing the artworks and shipping his own private collection from San Francisco has been something of a shake-up at the Park Hotel, Meehan explains as he gives a tour of his impressive collection of both Irish and international artists.

I used to stay here, and one of the things that always struck me was how many gold-plated frames there were of landlords and landladies staring down at you: I found it a little creepy, to be honest with you, he says.

It was maybe appropriate for a hotel that was built in 1875, but I felt like the hotel needed a shift in energy with a new owner.

Artist Dorothy Cross and new owner of the Park Hotel in Kenmare Bryan Meehan.

INCLUSION AND WELCOME

Meehan, Dublin-born but mostly based in California, is well known for having sold a majority share in his trendy coffee roastery, Blue Bottle Coffee, to Nestle for a reported 400m in 2017, and for having co-founded the Nude skincare range with Ali Hewson before also successfully selling that on.

He has been collecting art for many years, and wants the hang at the Park Hotel to express values of social justice and inclusivity that he says are important to him, his wife Tara, and their three daughters who are now all in their 20s.

Queen Anne was up on the wall here, and in her place we have Angela Davis, Meehan says, gesturing to a highly coloured photographic print of the feminist and civil rights icon.

With a daily art tour at 5pm open to all, Meehan is keen to dissolve some of the formality of the five-star hotel setting, remove the sense that it is only the preserve of a certain social class, and to become a place of welcome to the local community in Kenmare, which has already responded by dubbing the hotel Tate Kenmare, according to longstanding hotel staff.

My parents were quite poor and when my mother walked into a fancy hotel, she felt like she wasnt welcome, Meehan says.

Its just that vibe, in Ireland: its very subtle. So I always try to think of how my mum would feel. The feeling when you walk in should be, you are so welcome. Not excuse me but do you have a reservation? or are you here to see someone?

Thats a bit like the atmosphere in some galleries too, where you go in and you see a painting and it doesnt even say who it is or how much it is. Its a barrier. Its unnecessary. For me it also brings up the thing of what does a five-star hotel represent? How, in Ireland, should we think about five-star hotels? Are they for the 1%? Are they for everybody? Im more of a mind that this is for everybody.

Hes also keen to get more of the artists in his collection to visit. Hes good friends with Guggi, but as well as Irish artists, theres a strong transatlantic connection with Irish-born artists such as Michael Craig-Martin and Sean Scully: the latter features so heavily in Meehans collection that the dining room has been renamed Landline, in honour of the abstract painters 2017 work Landline Edge.

Sean is coming over, and he hasnt seen this work in a long time, Meehan says. I love meeting the artists, and knowing them, and getting them here.

With Meehans magic touch, eye for detail and endless connections, the Park Hotel could become a trendy destination for the international arts community in years to come: is this his intention?

Hospitality, community and art are all very important in Ireland. People are drawn to this place for a variety of reasons, and one of those reasons can be to see the art collection, he says.

Whether they are artists, musicians, poets, or anyone else, its important to us that people get a welcome.
What do St Charles Hospital in Londons Ladbroke Grove, a 200 foot tall wall in Guadalajara, western Mexico, and the Gibson Hotel in Dublin all have in common?

The answer is that they have all served as a canvas for Fin DAC, the Cork-born street artist and muralist who has been slowly but surely ascending towards the upper echelons of the art world for the past decade.

So prominent has he become that he was even dubbed the Irish Banksy by one UK tabloid, a title he scoffs at.

The next Banksy or not, Fin DAC has undeniably been making serious waves of late.

Known for his signature style which blends influences from Japanese manga with more fine art, painterly flourishes, his popularity has steadily grown over the last ten years, with the likes of actor Idris Elba and rapper Goldie now amongst his collectors.

A recent work of his went for a sweet 50,800 (over 60,000) at auction house Sothebys, and he has been commissioned to paint murals in locations all across the globe, from Cambodia to San Francisco, Tahiti to Mexico, where, in Guadalajara, you can find his mammoth depiction of the late Frida Kahlo adorned onto the side of a building in the city centre.

Fin DAC, real name Finbarr Notte (inset), is talking to me from his bright, airy studio situated behind a blank, unassuming shop front just south of Victoria Park in Londons East End, where he has lived and worked for the last two years.

Now 57, he has spent his life traversing between the UKs capital and Cork, where he was born and lived with his grandmother in Togher until he was two years old, whilst his parents worked to establish themselves across the sea, away from the unfavourable judgement they faced at home as a result of bearing children out of wedlock.

They eventually returned to fetch him, bringing him back to London where they lived in what was once voted the countrys worst council estate in Elephant & Castle, before retreating home again when he was ten.

Fin DACs interpretation of Andy Warhols style.

Cork was a real culture shock to me, he recalls of their return.

We had Cockney accents, that wasnt really accepted, even my teachers would give me grief.

I felt like I was more connected to English culture than I was to Irish culture, though I was wrong. All the things that I disliked in Ireland, you get them here too, of course, but I think in England its a lot easier to just disappear from all that because theres many millions more people here.

Though he now once again resides in London, he returns to Ireland at least once a year, typically on his late mothers birthday to celebrate her life with his father and siblings.

When we catch up, Fin is preparing for his first solo show in three years, in St Martins Lane underground crypt gallery, located beneath Trafalgar Square.

Entitled HomEage, the show features a series of works on paper which sees the artist paying homage to the artists who inspire and influence his work.

The portraits are presented in a split screen style, with one half showing Fin DACs punctilious recreation of a work by one of these artists, the other half boasting his interpretation of the image with his own individual touches applied.

Artists whose work DAC paid homage to included Aubrey Beardsley, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol.

Fin DAC: I think in those early days I had a naive approach of, Im not earning money from this but somehow the reward is going to come to me, whether or not its monetary is irrelevant.

Unlike his last solo show, 2021s Afterglow/Undertow, which saw total sales north of half a million pounds, the works in HomEage were available only to view, not to purchase.

This seemed to, at least in part, stem from a desire to ensure the lines between homage and imitation were clearly defined.

As an artist, my work is copied all the time and used for, like, Asian restaurants in all parts of the world without permission. I dont want anybody looking at me and thinking that Im profiting from those artists.

The project was born out of boredom when the artist found himself locked down in California during the early stages of the covid pandemic.

It started as a time-wasting exercise that allowed me expand my creativity, he explains. He went on to say that the show is a celebration of not just these pivotal artists in his life, but also of their muses. Most of the portraits in the show feature a female subject, and indeed this is also a recurring motif in Fin DACs own practice.

A lot of these historical artists had, lets say, questionable relationships with their muses, he says.

I dont have that relationship with any of my muses. I respect them. I respect their autonomy. Im not sexually desirous of them.

I do focus on only female portraiture because thats where I see the beauty in the world, he says. But theres no innuendo, no coquettishness.

"Its more about the way that the model is looking back at you as the viewer, rather than how youre looking at her. Its redressing the typical narrative of looking at beautiful women.

Whilst the original works are not up for grabs for collectors, the show is accompanied by a limited edition book of the same name, available for 75 (89) on its own or 175 (208) with a print included.

Once the book has sold out however, it is expected to go for as much as 800 (951) on the secondary market, a testament to how the perception of work by urban artists is changing as collectors begin to see the value of it as not just decor, but as a legitimate investment opportunity.

And when faced with the reality that the east wall of a hospital in Ladbroke Grove is not likely to be up for sale anytime soon, canny buyers are quick to nab collectors items such as these to try and get a slice of the pie.

I dont care about that. I have never put money at the forefront of everything, even in my early career, when I wasnt necessarily earning a lot from my artwork, he says.

All the same, 60k at Sothebys isnt half bad, I suggest to him. Enough to perk the ears of even the most humble of folk.

Yeah, but I didnt get any of that, he laughs.

Fin DACs interpretation of Picasso's style

Whilst, indeed, he doesnt set the starting bid at a private auction house, conversely, as the artists popularity has snowballed over the last decade, so have his prices.

These days an original Fin DAC work on wood will set you back somewhere in the realm of 37,000 according to an art dealer at West Contemporary gallery which represents the artist.

When you consider some of these eye-watering figures, its a far cry from the artist who, as a then-fledgling muralist, in 2014 told The Irish Times that he wasnt interested in struggling for the sake of his art.

I didnt have any romantic notions of the starving-artist thing, he was quoted at the time. If I was going to do it, I was going to do it properly.

Certainly, he has made good on that promise to himself. Nevertheless, he maintains that he is not motivated by financial gain.

My focus is still not money, he insists. I think in those early days I had a naive approach of, Im not earning money from this but somehow the reward is going to come to me, whether or not its monetary is irrelevant.

Similarly, the idea that someone might view his work as an investment displeases him.

Do I want someone to buy my work and put it in a safe deposit or a locker? No, I want someone to buy my art and for it to be seen, he tells me.

Unfortunately, you dont have control over that. But by the same token, when you paint a wall, you have no control over what happens to that either, it could be removed in three months, it could stay for years.

Whatever his feelings on capitalism, its safe to say the horse has bolted for Fin DAC as his ascent shows no signs of slowing down. It might be time to come to terms with the ludicrosity of the contemporary art scene.

I mean, 800 for a book, come on, thats sacrilegious, he laments with a chuckle. Its a book!
The bag

Joanne McNallys Anxious Preoccupied bags have quickly become a must-have item for many Irish women.

The OG oversized bold metallic bags are iconic, but for those of us looking for something a bit more low-key for our everyday commute, her latest edit sees black and white variations added to the mix (Well be asking Santa for the black oversized version with clutch, 165).

Joanne McNally with the oversized vegan leather bag in black, 165, www.anxiouspreoccupied.com

There are also new midsize versions priced at 120. The first batch are already sold-out, but pre order is available for delivery later in November.

The silk dress

For lessons in cool, Sienna Miller is still our go-to. The actress and style icon has just launched her second collaboration with Marks & Spencer, and it doesnt disappoint.

From lace dresses and velvet blazers to satin heels and faux fur coats, its your fool-proof guide to sleek and elevated fashion inspired by Siennas personal style.

The collection is available to shop in the Grafton Street and Dundrum Town Centre stores, with click and collect available nationwide. We love this Strappy Pure Silk Maxi Dress, 135.

The Christmas window

You know the countdown is really on when the Brown Thomas Christmas windows are unveiled.

On Tuesday evening, the blacked-out frontage was torn down to showcase the 12 days of Christmas themed display.

Next up are the Christmas lights in Cork city, launched with an inaugural parade on Friday night. Let the fun begin.

Mallow Mia's Classic Marshmallow Toasting Box

The treat

Created in Donegal, Mallow Mias handcrafted marshmallows and Rocky Roads make for a Christmas treat with a difference.

Founded in 2014 by food scientist Linda McClean, Mallow Mia merges marshmallow and Rocky Road.

Mallow Mias Chocolate Mousse Style Marshmallows are made with rich cocoa and topped with a decadent layer of Belgian dark chocolate (100g box, 7).

For cosy gatherings, the Classic Marshmallow Toasting Box offers two bags of marshmallows in flavours of your choice (21). Artisanal magic.

Yon-Ka Sleep Ritual gift set

The gift set

Yon-Ka is ending its 70th celebrations with some stunning gifts sets.

We love the Sleep Ritual. For deeply repaired, rested skin, think lotions, cbd serums silk eye mask and more  all in a luxury vanity case box set, 167 (valued at 255).

The Ha'penny Bridge over the River Liffey: iconic Dublin scenery

The city fun

Running from November through to January, Winter in Dublin offers an exciting programme of events to capture and celebrate the capitals energy and charm during the colder months.

Highlights from a packed itinerary include special Cathedral Night Tours at St Patricks Cathedral.

The Dead by James Joyce at MoLI, an immersive theatre experience for small audience groups (Nov 22  Jan 12) and Twilight Tales & Tasting, an after dark distillery experience at Pearse Lyons, (Nov 14  Dec 23).

On New Years Eve, the NYF (New Years Festival) Dublin Countdown Concert with Cian Ducrot takes place in Dublin Castle with special guests Aby Coulibaly, Kabin Crew & Lisdoonvarna Crew and Saibh Skelly.

Or head to Howth or Dun Laoghaire to enjoy NYFs firework spectacular.

Tipple: keep one in yer bag!

The party pal

New hangover defence system Tipple has been designed to minimise hangovers and leave you feeling fresh the next day.

Taken while youre enjoying your drinks, the Irish founders say that the science-led and plant-based formula breaks down alcohol as you drink, preventing the build-up of acetaldehyde, the main cause of hangovers.

Individual sachets contain two capsules which you take with water when youre out partying.

Tipple claims to replenish vital nutrients via essential vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and electrolytes that promote gut health and prevent dehydration.

We havent tried them yet, but are certainly curious.
Charlotte Tilbury is about to get her Irish passport, courtesy of an Irish grandmother.

Im so excited! she says. Dublin is such fun, Irish people are such craic. And Irish eyes are so beautiful!

Shes talking to me as her make up and skincare range launches its Holiday 2024 collection, which includes a 215 heart-shaped advent calendar (there was a waiting list of 30,000 for last years edition) and a 16-page press release: That joyful Tilbury feeling! Beautiful confidence! A Magic Gifting Universe of limitless possibilities! Guaranteed gifting happiness!

On Zoom, Tilbury speaks so quickly her words fall over themselves and sentences run into each other.

Everything is amazing, magical, empowering, visionary, revolutionary, incredible! Her Magic Cream Plumps! Smooths! Blurs! Lifts! George Clooney and Adam Driver are obsessed with it!, nicking it from their wives because its Instant! Skin! Revival!

Im not going to lie  until a few days before speaking with her, Id never heard of Charlotte Tilbury, the woman or the brand, because my idea of skin care is homemade scrub made from coffee grounds and ten quid vegan moisturiser.

I dont say this out loud for fear of being nail-gunned by exclamation marks.

I always say if you want to have a beautiful painting you need to have a beautiful canvas, she says.

Shes talking about her Magic Cream, her original product born out of necessity when she was working as a make up artist.

Not just any old make up artist  Tilbury did faces for the Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes, Vanity Fair party, New York Met Ball, Fashion Weeks in Paris, London, Milan.

She did the wedding make up for Amal Clooney and Kate Moss (my gorgeous friend and beauty muse) who is godmother to Tilburys two sons, and has worked with the original supermodels  Moss, Christy Turlington, Claudia Schiffer, Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford.

Fashion shows, celebrities, supermodels, exhausted, dehydrated, skin barriers wrecked, make up on and off, using the wrong products, babywipes, she says.

So I had to come up with Magic Cream to cocoon the skin, calm the skin, cushion the skin. She invented it with my scientists because she had a concept and a vision of what I wanted, and the launchpad was backstage. It was a feat, a breakthrough, like giving birth.

Lesser brands have tried and failed to copy her. Her company sued Aldi in 2019 for copyright when the supermarket launched a product almost identical in appearance to one of hers, for a fraction of the price.

The quality and efficacy of a Charlotte Tilbury product cannot really be replicated, she says vehemently.

They can try, Id love them to come up with their own ideas, but the reality is that they are just poor, sad, dreadful brands trying to imitate me, and their products would never get a Charlotte Tilbury signature from me.

I am the first, the original and the best. The integrity, the consistency, the precision, the quality  thats something Im incredibly proud of, and its not something I see a lot of in some of the people out there.

Charlotte Tilbury visits Sephora Champs Elysees on October 08, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/Getty Images for Charlotte Tilbury)

The thing is, Charlotte Tilbury the woman has every reason to be hyperbolic about Charlotte Tilbury the brand, which she started 11 years ago, after 22 years of being an A-list make up artist.

Its sold in 76 countries, and employs 2,500 people globally. In 2020, she sold a majority stake to Spanish cosmetics and perfume company Puig for 1.3bn, while retaining creative control.

She offers several specific looks she calls a Make Up Wardrobe  the Bombshell, the Sophisticate, the Rebel, the Vintage Vamp etc  which make up artists employed by her are trained to recreate via an internal training programme called Start of A Dream.

Its a kind of franchised aesthetic, so that whether youre in Dublin or Dubai, theres a selection of set looks to choose from.

She says her demographic is everyone from 18 to 80, from celebrities to mums on the school run and describes her products as affordable luxury.

My 14-year-old niece is highly excited by her products, which shes seen on TikTok.

I pop into a Tilbury shop in London to have a look around; its shiny pink and gold, buzzy and hyper, crammed with beautifully packaged items and a lot of women, with moving imagery of Charlotte herself, flowing red hair and glowy skin, overseeing the shop floor: Darlings!

Tilbury is a marketing genius, who has placed herself front and centre of her brand, inviting us into her world so that she can share her skills with us. We are all her darlings.

She built her brand via YouTube tutorials, social media how-tos, and the help of her fabulous friends; celebrity as marketing tool.

Shes named lipsticks after Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Aniston, Salma Hayek, Cindy Crawford, Kim Kardashian, and has done the faces of Kylie Minogue, Kate Bosworth, Sofia Vergara, Jennifer Lopez, Helena Bonham Carter, Liv Tyler, Poppy Delavigne, Catherine Zeta Jones, JK Rowling, Susan Sarandon, the Hadid sisters, everyone.

When I launched my brand 11 years ago, five conglomerates owned the world. I reinvented categories, I revolutionised categories, she says. Im very famous for complexions.

She admires Estee Lauder, Elizabeth Arden, Helena Rubenstein, Coco Chanel, pioneers, visionaries, amazing revolutionaries who really saw the power of what [make up] did for women.

I have huge admiration forever for those women, and to pick up where they left off, to continue that innovation, disruption, vision, rather than being another copying brand, but instead coming up with these incredible luxurious products that create amazing magic and makes a difference to peoples lives.

Charlotte Tilbury attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)

Tilbury, born in 1971, grew up in Ibiza.

This dreamy beautiful island where everything was so safe, we never locked our doors, every day was fun, she says.

My father was an artist  I was brought up in a bohemian environment, my mother taught me about the Celestine Prophecy and creative visualisation as a child.

Sent to a Rudolph Steiner boarding school in Sussex aged 13  an education system that nurtures creativity  she discovered mascara and how it made her look different, and in turn how people reacted differently to her.

Going back to school, instead of tuck, I used to take tons of make up and started doing peoples faces, she says.

I got the concept for my brand when I was a teenager at boarding school. And I got to be the best brand in the world!

My father taught me a lot about colour theory. How to make everything look dreamy and harmonising. Light plays a huge role in how your make up looks  they call me the light thief, how Im bottling that light. Eleven years ago, nobody understood glow.

I am constantly looking at how we bottle light, especially now with Instagram filters and HD TV  thats why Im at the forefront of the industry. I know what the customer wants before she knows what she wants  she cant even imagine or dream of that product. And my incredible scientists indulge me in these dreams and visions, working tirelessly. Its very exciting coming up with this amazing magic.

Im so passionate about it because I see the difference it makes to peoples lives. I have left my mark on the world in the most fabulous way. People feel empowered, they sit differently, feel less tired.

I always say its pots of feelings that Im selling. Jars of confidence, jars of fun, magical potions that have a huge effect, that are your superpowers. How you feel affects the people around you, so it has a massive ripple effect. Everyones a star.

And yes I work with celebrities, but everyone deserves to shine bright like a star, to magnify that positivity, that confidence, that empowerment that these products can bring you. She says she has always known that shed have an impact.

I remember walking to school and a force almost bigger than me came over me, and I knew I would make my mark in the world, she says. I really believe in creative visualisation. Dare to dream it, dare to believe it, dare to do it.

Most people give up on their dreams because of insecurity. But if you work and youre dedicated, anyone can make their dreams come true in life. Life is all about confidence. I always knew, and people would laugh and say I was crazy, and Id think, please underestimate me, thats not a problem  I have a vision and I will never give up on my dreams.

She still does make up. Just not as much as before, because Im running an empire. I still do all my how-to videos for social media. I cant do 40 fashion shows a season anymore, but I still do celebrities, still create looks  I still keep my hand in! I wonder what she cares about beyond empire and family. Shes married for the second time and has two sons, Flynn, 14, from her first marriage and Valentine, 10, from her second.

I care about giving back, she says. Were here for a short time on this planet. Live life every day to the full. I love seeing people happy and empowered.

She supports a charity called Women For Women, plus the Kings Trust and the George and Amal Clooney Foundation for Justice: Within that virtuous circle of life, we inspire and give back, and help in every way we can.

George Clooney, left, Charlotte Tilbury and Amal Clooney pose together at The Albies hosted by the Clooney Foundation for Justice at the New York Public Library on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

She pauses for a millisecond, before reverting back to speaking about her products.

When youre very successful at what you do, how else do you give back? The biggest thing is feeling  thats why Im so passionate about this brand, the feeling of happiness, joy and confidence you can give people through these amazing pots of magic. Thats the most powerful thing.

The PRs  who guard their mistress fiercely, the international office vetting and revetting lists of questions requested pre-interview that I never get to ask because of the word-in-edgeways situation  are hovering. Its time to wrap up.

I ask her if she ever switches off. (You cant quite imagine someone so hyper-focused ever flopped on the sofa eating crisps. Even in her most private spaces, she remains on-brand: she has famously said in past interviews how neither of her husbands had ever seen her without make up, even in bed  she takes it off, then reapplies bedroom eye. I dont know if thats terrifying or fabulous or both.)

Sometimes at the weekend I just lie in bed and watch romcoms or documentaries, she says.

Her enthusiasm for what she does is almost overpowering; she has harnessed talent, energy and self- belief to extraordinary levels.

I have huge gratitude, she says. Its a wonderful feeling.
When I opened the curtains on my first morning in Iceland, my heart sank. It may have been 9am on a chilly morning in Reykjavik, but because it was deep winter, it was still impossibly dark. It seemed a surreal sight.

Yet by 11am my surroundings were bathed in sunlight, and after a few days exploring this small country, I found that theres loads to do here off-season.

This time of year creates a special cosiness and magical atmosphere that you dont get in places endowed with considerably more hours of daylight.

I flew here with budget carrier Play Airlines, which was only founded in 2019 yet is making Iceland more accessible with its cheap flights from destinations such as Dublin and London.

One of the nicest things about Reykjavik is how small it is. It doesnt have the feel of a capital, more one of a large town. A bonus is that it only takes around 10 or 15 minutes to get out of the city by car.

Grotta Island Lighthouse

I took a bracing 40-minute walk from the centre along the coast to the relative wilderness of Grotta Island Lighthouse.

Along the way there were vivid pink skies that Turner would have died for, and seagulls circling overhead. Halfway I passed a modernist church (Seltjarnarneskirkja) at Seltjarnarnes.

Being a Sunday, I wasnt sure it would be open, but a surprisingly large congregation welcomed me in for coffee before the service.

Reykjavik has numerous museums, and the National Museum of Iceland is a great place to start, with its comprehensive historic overview. Theres a good selection of art galleries, including The National Gallery of Iceland.

Detail of the architecture of the Hallgrimskirkja Lutheran Church in Reykjavik, Iceland.

At 74.5m tall, the landmark Lutheran church Hallgrimskirkja, a triumph of Scandinavian Modernism, towers over the centre.

FlyOver Iceland makes for a fun introduction to the stunning landscapes of this topographically eclectic country. Located in the Grandi harbour district of Reykjavik, it opened in 2019.

Visitors hang suspended, feet dangling, before a 20m spherical screen while an exhilarating film whisks you away, like a bird, over waterfalls, glaciers, volcanos, and other magnificent natural features of Iceland.

Special effects, including wind, mist and scents, combine with the rides motion to create an immersive and powerful experience.

It lasts nine minutes, however you pretty much lose all sense of time. It took a lot of work to put together, with 24 hours of footage to edit down, including 100 hours of filming in a helicopter.

Two pre-show experiences offer up further immersion; a shadow-play projection in a recreation of a longhouse, and an immersive exploration through Icelands history using music, video, imagery, and sound, exploring the roles of nature, time, and humankind, on the island.

Wide angle view of the landscape at the Blue Lagoon.

IMMERSED IN BATHING

Just a 13-minute drive south of Reykjavik city centre, on the coast in Kopavogur, is the Sky Lagoon, a swim and thermal spa experience that is an impressive nod to ancient Norse bathing culture.

Named after the wide open skies they enjoy in this neck of the woods, after 10 years of planning it opened in 2021.

It was constructed, remarkably, in 15 months when the country was in pandemic lockdown and was a big deal for Iceland: Apparently when it opened, they sold so many gift cards for it that 9% of the nation would have received one.

Its black timbered turfhouse buildings mix traditional construction methods with modern sustainable solutions, with geothermal energy the primary energy source to keep the lagoon hot and to heat water for the showers and building.

Visitors enter the steamy waters of the lagoon through a small cave tunnel. The pool is hewn from lava rock, which initially seems to have always been there.

However, when you notice the sleek infinity edge that seems to merge with the sea, and shaped benches to sit around and relax, you realise that the natural materials  the lava comes from Icelands highlands, the geothermal waters pumped from 40km away  have been manipulated to provide maximum comfort.

Indeed, the pool has a swim-up bar, which prompted actor and comedian Alexander Armstrong to say when he visited that theyd managed to merge two of the best things in the world  a pub with a bath.

Against sweeping panoramas of Reykjavik and the North Atlantic Ocean, the steam from the geothermal waters produces a fog that creates an other-worldly feel.

Theres an ice plunge pool, inspired by the historic Snorralaugpool in Reykholt, West Iceland, that features in ancient sagas.

I was far too cowardly to try it, despite it being a great way to stimulate the immune system, and entered the sauna instead.

The saunas centrepiece is a 16 sq m, 2.2-tonne window, the biggest in Iceland, overlooking the ocean, Reykjavik Harbour, and Bessastair  the president of Icelands residence.

You may even see volcanic activity while basking here and winter is peak time for seeing the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). The full spa ritual includes a cold fog mist space; a salt, coconut, and sesame oil body scrub; steam room; and waterfall shower.

You can opt for a seven-step spa ritual with private changing rooms or with shared changing rooms.

Interestingly, foreign visitors usually appreciate the privacy, while Icelanders prefer using communal rooms, as they like to chat when changing, and make it a complete social occasion. Its best to visit at the start or end of the day, when it is quieter.

A session is expensive, but Iceland also has numerous cheaper, more basic geothermal public pools as alternatives.

Vik and Myrdal church in winter.

MESMERISING

Reynisfjara Beach, around 180km from the capital, is also not to be missed. Also known as Black Sand Beach, when youre there youre likely to feel like you are at the end of the world, even when it gets quite busy.

Located at Icelands southernmost village, Vik i Mrdal  more commonly known as just Vik  confronts you with extraordinary Reynisdrangar basalt sea stacks, huge rock pillars emerging dramatically from the swirling sea.

Home to thousands of seabirds such as fulmars, puffins and guillemots, theyve been part of this seascape for centuries and feature in ancient Icelandic legends.

Combined with the vivid white sea foam contrasting with the bleak volcanic jet black sand, and the fierce Atlantic waves and ever-changing light, its like watching an emotional opera composed by nature.

It feels utterly mesmerising to stand here, absorbing the scenery and unique stormy atmosphere.

Add the striking hexagonal Gardar cliff formations also towering over you, dark basalt columns that resemble something like giant organ pipes, and youd be forgiven for believing you are within a film set, perhaps a science fiction flick. Indeed, this beach featured in Game of Thrones.

However, with very strong currents and rogue waves appearing too close for comfort at times, it is very important not to get too near the water, or to even contemplate swimming here, or to turn your back on the waves.

While here you can also visit Halsanefshellir sea cave, while Dyrholaey nature reserve is close by too  with its flocks of resident puffins.

The breathtaking landscape of the Katla volcano in Iceland.

Vik is also a good base for exploring the Mrdalsjokull glacier, which can be reached by jeep, snow scooter or snowmobile. The glacier is home to Icelands liveliest volcano, Katla.

Drive another 60km from Vik and you reach the mighty Seljalandsfoss waterfall. Its huge cascading waters are thrilling to witness, and there are floodlights to illuminate its flow for when it gets dark.

A pathway allows visitors to walk behind the cascading waters, which is especially a hit with budding and eager photographers.

A carpet of stars above us simply added to the magic. Iceland in the dark lends a whole new meaning to nightlife, and Im here for this party.

Seljalandsfoss Waterfall at sunset, Iceland.

ESCAPE NOTES

Play Airlines flies direct to Reykjavik from Dublin Thurs-Mon until April, Wed-Fri and Sun/Mon after; A stopover of up to 10 days at no extra charge in Iceland en route for North America or Canada is possible.

Grandi Hotel, Reykjavik; From 183 for double room including breakfast

Sky Lagoon; Ser, seven-step spa ritual and private changing rooms (90.48); Saman (70.36), with shared changing rooms.

FlyOver Iceland; adult 39.91, child 12 and under 26.49; children must be at least 100cm/40 tall.

EATING IN ICELAND

In Reykjavik, head for Hlemmur Food Hall, which is situated inside a former bus station.

In it, Fjarhusi (The Sheephouse) serves Icelandic meat soup, burgers, pitas, wraps and other options with lamb as the main focus, and there are outlets serving other local and international cuisine.

At Sky Lagoon, the Smakk Bar and Keimur Cafe offer Icelandic specialities such as gravlax, goose and reindeer pate with bilberry sauce, and local cheeses.

Berg Restaurant at Hotel Vik i Myrdal in Vik when you visit Reynisfjara Beach has upmarket Icelandic dishes.
An Irish man being questioned about the killing of American missing woman Mackenzie Michalski in Hungary concealed her body in a suitcase which he then dumped in a wood, according to Hungarian Police.

The man is a 37-year-old who admitted killing the 31-year-old New Yorker before putting her body in a suitcase and leaving her in a wood more than 140km from Budapest, near Lake Balaton, police said on Saturday afternoon.

The statement said the man lived in a rented apartment in Budapest and identified him in the statement as an Irish man with the initials M.L.T

Mackenzie "Kenzie" Michalski was last seen early on Tuesday, according to friends who raised the alarm with the US embassy when it became clear she was missing. She had failed to check out of the Airbnb in which she was staying while in Budapest.

The police statement said: The 31-year-old American girl had arrived in Hungary as a tourist. She met an Irish man, a couple years her senior, in a nightclub and together they visited another nightclub, where they danced and became closer. After she had decided to go to his rented apartment in the 7th district, they had gotten intimate, and he killed her in the process.

The perpetrator then tried to cover up the murder; so he cleaned his apartment and hid the girl's body in the wardrobe cabinet while he went out to buy a suitcase. He then put the victim's body in the suitcase, rented a car and drove to Lake Balaton with the suitcase in the trunk. He hid his victim in the woods, in an area outside Szigliget and then drove back to Budapest, where he was captured and arrested.

The police said that the man confessed to killing the woman, but claimed it was an accident.

"After his interrogation, the suspect also showed the detectives where he had hidden the body. He was taken into custody and his arrest was initiated.

It is alleged by police that the man carried out a number of internet searches following the killing, which included: "Do pigs really eat dead bodies?", "Texas woman killed by a wild boar. ", "Wild boar sighting in Lake Balaton coastal towns", "What does a corpse smell like after it decomposes", "Getting rid of the smell of rotting meat ", Budapest webcams", "What happens after a person is reported missing", "How do the police handle missing person cases?", "How reliable is the police in Budapest?"

Ms Michalski, a 31-year-old New Yorker, was from Fredonia, where a vigil was to take place on Saturday evening. She had most recently been living in Portland, Oregon.

According to a post on a Facebook group called Find Mackenzie Michalski, which was created on November 7, Ms Michalski, who was known as Kenzie, was a nurse practitioner who will forever be remembered as a beautiful and compassionate young woman.

At a candlelight vigil in Budapest on Saturday night, the victims father, Bill Michalski, told The Associated Press that he was still overcome with emotion at the death of his daughter.

There was no reason for this to happen, he said. Im still trying to wrap my arms around what happened  I dont know that I ever will. Ms Michalski had visited Budapest before, and her father called it her happy place.

The history, she just loved it and she was just so relaxed here, he added. This was her city.

- Additional reporting from Associated Press
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 9. The Israeli Embassy has congratulated Azerbaijan on National Flag Day, Trend reports via the embassy's publication on its X page.

"The people of Israel congratulate friendly Azerbaijan on the State Flag Day and wish further prosperous and peaceful future to its people!" the publication reads.

To note, National Flag Day in Azerbaijan is celebrated on November 9, following a decree signed by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on November 17, 2009.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
A Tipperary father of a teenager who passed away from a rare illness is preparing to face the unknown by rowing for 5,000kms over five weeks across the Atlantic in memory of his daughter.

John ODriscoll from Highfield Grove, Clonmel, who now lives in Dublin, will join four others, called team Power of 1 on a gruelling journey which will see them rowing all the way to Antigua from Tenerife at Christmas.

The fundraiser, which has been in the planning stages for two years, comes following the tragic passing of his daughter Saoirse, aged 13.

The young girl had battled a congenital heart disease (CHD) all her life, after she was diagnosed with the condition at her 20-week scan.

The funds raised will go to Childrens Health Ireland Heart Centre in Crumlin Childrens hospital. Already the team has raised 231,495.

Team Power of 1 will race from the volcanic shores of San Sebastian de La Gomera, Spain, to the paradise of Nelsons Dockyard, Antigua, for five weeks from December 12. Picture: Robbie Reynolds

Mr ODriscoll, who will leave Ireland on December 1, six days before his daughters 14th birthday said he has no idea of the mental struggles he will face at sea but is ready physically.

God love the guys Im going with, he said. It will be my first Christmas without Saoirse, my first away from home.

Saoirse had half a heart, so going to school, taking a shower, a walk, she couldnt do all of those things easily, so for me crossing an ocean, that was her life every day.

She was my superhero.

"So, if I can do this for her, and show her me, an average man from Clonmel who is not a rower, can take on this extreme challenge for her, I could be her hero, she could say my dad did this for me."

Mr ODriscoll will join Conor McCarthy, Daragh Kelly, Roger McMorrow and Enda McNicholas, on the voyage. Starting on December 12, 2024, in Tenerife they will row 5,000kms across the Atlantic Ocean.

They will race from the volcanic shores of San Sebastian de La Gomera, Spain, to the paradise of Nelsons Dockyard, Antigua. Their mission was to raise 250,000, a target that has already been met, so they have increased it to 500,000.

Mr ODriscoll described his daughter as a blessing from the start and said both he and his wife Aoife and their 10-year-old son Riain cherished every moment as a family.

We were a happy home, we were always playing games, having fun and joking, he said. Saoirse was a very funny girl; she loved to laugh but she was so full of empathy and thought things out so much.

After her passing Aoife said there is an opportunity to do something really good and to consider going ahead with the row.

Saoirse wanted the simple things in life, and her main wish was to be a mother. She was placed on the transplant list while in Crumlin and sadly, died a week after.

John ODriscoll: 'She was my superhero.' Picture: Robbie Reynolds

Her brother is struggling, its important to remember that the charities we are helping provide psychological support not just to a sick child like Saoirse but for siblings and families.

Fellow rower and Cork man Conor McCarthy said the team will be there to support John during this voyage. We will fly to Tenerife and hopefully arrive in Antigua about 35 days later he said.

Our families will be at the starting line and we hope to see them all in Antigua. We will make the most of it. We are spending Christmas away from our families, its a rare thing in life to be able to do and for such a good cause.
Following the discovery of a womans body, the missing person appeal for 45-year-old Christina McEvoy, who was missing from Mallow since Friday, November 8, has been stood down.

Gardai have thanked the public and the media for their assistance.
The time is now right to ask the Irish people to give a new mandate, outgoing Taoiseach Simon Harris proclaimed on Friday as he stood outside Government Buildings.

After months of denials and full-termism, the date is finally set  November 29.

There was no time to hang around and reminisce though, with the parties postering and handshaking after  and in some cases before  President Michael D Higgins formally dissolved the Dail.

Coalition colleagues now opponents

Tanaiste Micheal Martin and the Taoiseach were on the ground quickly, asking the public to stand shoulder to shoulder with them in backing their candidates.

Having navigated government together with the addition of the Greens over the past four and a half years, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael now find themselves on opposing sides  at least for the next three weeks of what will be a rapid-paced campaign.

It was perhaps poetic that their first interaction of this campaign would happen at the Bridge Pub as both men converged with the thousands of rugby supporters making their way to the Aviva Stadium for Irelands clash with the All Blacks on Friday night.

But neer the twain would actually meet on day one of the campaign, despite being in the same establishment at the same time.

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin with fans from New Zealand in The Bridge pub, Ballsbridge, before the Ireland-All Blacks rugby match at the Aviva. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

Harris and his team ensconced themselves upstairs, grabbing a quick burger and chips in the packed-out rugby haunt, while downstairs Martin worked for his vote, pulling pints behind the bar as a scrum of phones rose in the air to capture the moment.

Moving at speed, the Taoiseachs hi-vis-clad supporters departed en masse through a side door and punters wanting a selfie had to jog and snap as Harris didnt miss a beat, tearing down Shelbourne Rd with his doughnut of supporters, stopping only for milliseconds to greet children who had been selected by his team.

Making his way out of the bar, Martin did bump into wayward Fine Gael minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, who, at home amongst the rugby set, was lingering on the ground floor.

Up for the match was Nigel Hayes, who in the rush to shake hands with Mr Martin, let 10 drop to the floor.

The note fell from his palm as the Clonakilty man regaled the Fianna Fail leader over winning a county final a number of years ago.

Fianna Fail leader and outgoing tanaiste Micheal Martin was invited behind the bar of The Bridge in Ballsbridge to pull a pint ahead of the Ireland-All Blacks rugby game. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

Like a man training to take part in Olympic race-walking, the Taoiseach racked up his steps around the streets of the stadium.

The Tanaiste took a more low-key approach, stopping at the corner of Landsdowne Rd to talk to matchgoers.

Both leaders paid tribute to the men in green, having done their best to leave an impression on a cold November in Dublin 4.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald also attended the match but, unlike her rivals who were pressing the flesh at varying degrees of speed well in advance of kick-off, she made a hasty entrance a few minutes before the whistle blew.

Ladders up lampposts

Of course, campaigning has been well underway for some time now and certainly before the Taoiseach finally blew the official whistle on the election on Friday.

Under the protection of darkness on Thursday night, teams of volunteers were seen skulking around lamp posts up and down the country.

Election poster enthusiasm could yet prove costly for candidates of all political hues who may yet be found to be in breach of the Litter Pollution Act 1997.

On Friday morning, a 15-metre banner calling on voters to "end 100 years of FF/FG" was unfurled and tied to the iconic railings of the Ha'penny Bridge by People Before Profit.

Around the confines of the Dail, mobile adverts brandishing both Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein seemed to be doing laps of Merrion Square.

Day one down, 20 more frantic campaign days to go.
Hours before it became official that Donald Trump had returned to the White House, his biggest supporter was already inside the Oval Office.

Elon Musk, who has been a key backer of Trumps return to the presidency, was in his default wind-up mode as he used his X platform to post a superimposed picture of himself  holding a sink  inside the seat of US power.

Let that sink in, he wrote.

It was amateurish but Musks contribution to Trumps victory has been serious and will reap benefits for the worlds richest person.

Trump acknowledged Musk in his victory speech on Wednesday, even if it required prompting from the audience, and indicated that Musk will be well treated under his administration.

We have to protect our geniuses, we dont have that many of them, said Trump.

Musk, who is worth $264bn (245bn), can easily afford the more than $100m he has given to the fellow billionaires campaign via his Super Pac.

Tesla shares rise

There were immediate signs of a return on that investment on Wednesday. Shares in Tesla, the electric carmaker which he leads as CEO and in which he owns a 13% stake, rose nearly 15% in trading on Wall Street, implying a wealth gain of $15bn.

There could be more to come. Dan Ives, an analyst at the US financial firm Wedbush Securities, said a Trump victory could add up to $200bn to the value of Tesla, which would increase Musks wealth by about $26bn in total, including Wednesdays increase.

The biggest positive from a Trump win would be for Tesla and Musk, Ives wrote in a note to investors, citing likely benefits such as the possibility of Trump imposing tariffs, or import taxes, on electric vehicles made in China.

Musk also owns SpaceX, a rocket company that has a host of US government contracts. Last month alone it secured contracts worth over $700m from the US Space Force. SpaceX and Tesla have received at least $15.4bn in government contracts over the past decade, a recent New York Times analysis shows.

Given that Musk has received contracts from Space Force under Joe Bidens administration, the expectation is that the flow of federal deals will not decrease under Trump.

George Washington University law professor and specialist in government regulation Richard Pierce said he was certain Musks businesses would benefit from more contracts.

Soft power

The Trump victory has also underlined the soft power of Musks ownership of the social media platform X, even if it appears unlikely that he will directly recoup the heavily inflated $44bn he spent on it in 2022 when it was better known as Twitter (the sink photo is from when Musk marched into Twitters office carrying the aforementioned basin).

X has undergone a right-wing shift under Musks ownership and played a contributory role in Trumps campaign. Musk has reinstated inflammatory right-wing figures such as the conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.

Musks control of the network has enabled him to amplify his own pro-Trump messaging on the platform. His is the largest account, with more than 200m followers.

It has been highly active during the campaign, sometimes posting over 100 times a day with very heavy engagement  the sink post alone has been viewed 50m times. X has been a key player in a media ecosystem that has supported Trump, including podcasters such as Joe Rogan.

Former head of Twitters European operations Bruce Daisley said throughout Musks ownership of X the billionaire had refused to compromise for short-term financial gain.

By introducing a more aggressive algorithm he has definitely changed a space that commentators, journalists, and political people use into a place that favours right-wing voices, including his own. He has had an impact on stuff that people are consuming, said Daisley.

Government job

There is also likely to be a role for Musk in the Trump administration. In September, Trump said he would form a government efficiency commission, with Musk leading it. A full-time government job would require Musk to put his companies in trust, but a part-time government efficiency role would not require such action.

In theory, Musk cannot take a full-time government job without putting his companies in trust, said Boston College law school professor Brian Quinn.

However, he can participate as a part-time member of a presidential commission, etc, without doing so.

Musk has already indicated that a government efficiency body would help SpaceX, stating on X that his business could reach Mars sooner so long as it is not smothered by bureaucracy.

The Department of Government Efficiency is the only path to extending life beyond Earth, he added in a post on X.

US federal regulations can be a bugbear for Musk. For instance, he has made clear his frustration with the Federal Aviation Administration, warning in September after another clash with it that the company will be filing suit against the FAA for regulatory overreach.

Elon Musk and Donald Trump prior to a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania. Musk is likely to be offered a role in the Trump administration. Picture: Justin Merriman/Bloomberg via Getty

George Washington Universitys Pierce said that Musk could expect an easier ride from federal regulators and prosecutors.

All federal regulators and prosecutors work for the president, he said. He can tell them to do something or not to do something with the understanding that he will fire them if they disobey.

Other Musk companies include the artificial intelligence start-up xAI, which is reportedly heading for a valuation of $40bn, and the brain implant firm Neuralink, which is reportedly worth $8bn.

Musk is a figure of global fame and power already, but Trump underlined it on Wednesday.

We have a new star, a star is born: Elon.

That star is likely to get brighter, and more powerful, under a Trump administration.

Guardian Service
With 14 extra Dail seats up for grabs, a high number of incumbent TDs standing aside as well as a groundswell in support for Independents, this election campaign makes for an unpredictable mix.

But there are a number of key constituencies  our equivalent of America's swing states  that will provide an indication of the overall outcome for the main parties as well as smaller groupings.

With half of his sitting TDs not running this time around, Simon Harris is hoping a presidential style campaign which puts him front and centre will draw votes for lesser-known Fine Gael candidates seeking to break through to replace the 18 departing incumbents.

It's a strategy that was taken in 2020 when Mary Lou McDonald's party saw a plethora of first-time TDs elected on the strength of the Sinn Fein brand. McDonald's party, which has scrambled to address four unrelated controversies in recent weeks, has seen support ebb, but the scale of decline may not be as acute as seen in ongoing polling.

Fianna Fail, is prioritising policy over personality, which plays into the 'strong and stable' messaging which Micheal Martin has emphasized over the lifetime of the outgoing coalition.

It is also a pivotal election for the Social Democrats, a party that can no longer rely on the 'newbie' title; while Labour must finally shake itself of the toxicity left behind from it's last stint in Government.

An unprecedented number of Independents will appear on ballot papers, including a significant cohort who have left the main parties to go it alone. What will that do to the traditional support bases?

Here are five constituencies that will tell a lot about the national voting picture:

CORK SOUTH CENTRAL

Cork South Central has been known as a constituency of political giants with three senior ministers taking seats last time around.

But the departure of long-serving Fine Gael blueblood Simon Coveney, coupled with Michael McGrath's elevation to the European Commission, has significantly altered the landscape.

Fine Gael is running three candidates this time around, but some senior sources have conceded that with Coveney gone the party is lacking the counterbalance it once had to Fianna Fail's dominance.

Sinn Fein TD Donnchadh O Laoghaire, who topped the poll in Cork South Central last time around, will be hoping Michelle Cowhey Shahid will ensure he makes it to the Dail this time around. File photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos

While Tanaiste Micheal Martin is expected to easily retain his seat, as a party leader going into government formation talks he will want to prove himself as a strong vote-getter. This is somewhat complicated by the fact that his running mate, Seamus McGrath, the brother of the former Finance Minister, took the highest first-preference vote of any candidate in the recent local elections.

There are also questions for Sinn Fein. Donnchadh O Laoghaire comfortably topped the poll in 2020 and the party would have been targeting a possible second seat here not so long ago. While Michelle Cowhey Shahid has been recently added as a running mate, she is now seen as more of a sweeper to ensure O Laoghaire is free from danger.

Traditionally, support for Labour has been strong, with Ciaran Lynch, Toddy O'Sullivan and Eileen Desmond all representing the constituency since the 1980s. Whether councillor Laura Harmon can get across the line to regain a seat for the party will be a clear indication as to Labour's standing across the country.

However, she will come up against Social Democrats councillor Padraig Rice and Independent Mick Finn who are both putting in strong campaigns.

WICKLOW

Could Wicklow become a constituency of death that sees the departure of a senior minister?

"Simon Harris is obviously going to top the poll, but after than it's impossible to know," said one constituency source in providing an overview of this highly unpredictable battleground.

Having undergone significant changes as a result of the boundary re-draw, Wicklow has been cut from five seats to four. However, all of the current TDs are fighting to their retain their seats, meaning at least one will fall.

Shay Cullen (left) will run as an Independent after being snubbed by Fine Gael in their selection. File photo: Julien Behal

The Taoiseach, buoyed up by his recent ascension to party leader, is expected to comfortably get across the line and will hope to bring in a running mate. But Harris will face an unexpected threat from a former member of Fine Gael.

Shay Cullen, who topped the poll in the Wicklow district during the 2019 local elections, amassing 21.5% of the vote and exceeding the quota on the first count, had expected to get the nod as Mr Harris' running mate.

Instead, councillor Edward Timmins, the brother of former TD Billy Timmins, was selected.

In announcing his intention to run as an Independent after the snub, Cullen hit out at the "convention antics" and "wider internal party struggles in dealing with ongoing claims of bullying and coercion of members countrywide.

Fianna Fail is going with a one-candidate strategy in the hope of retaining Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, who had faced difficulty in getting out of the selection convention before senator Pat Casey withdrew his name. He is likely to be battling it out with two other incumbents Steven Mathews of the Green Party and Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore for the final seats.

Sinn Fein is not without its woes this time around and despite topping the poll in 2020, John Brady has seen a chunk of what would have been considered his heartland of Arklow, taken away in the boundary redraw.

CARLOW-KILKENNY

As the ballot boxes are opened and counting begins, general election anoraks will be keeping a tight eye on Carlow-Kilkenny now seen as a bell-weather constituency.

This five-seater will tell a lot about whether Simon Harris' strategy to elect fresh candidates on the back of a Fine Gael wave has worked. It could also reveal a wider trend in relation to Mary Lou McDonald's fortunes.

Kathleen Funchion topped the poll with almost 24% of the vote in 2020. However, she has since been elected to the European Parliament, leaving Sinn Fein bereft of an incumbent.

The party has decided on two candidates, but it will be an uphill struggle for Natasha Newsome Drennan who won less than 500 first preferences in the local elections, and Aine Gladney Knox who also failed to get elected in June.

It the Minister of State with responsibility for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, wins a seat for the Greens in Carlow-Kilkenny it could be sign of a good election for the party. File photo: Sam Boal/Collins Photo

If Sinn Fein cannot retain representation in a five-seater, it could signal a national crisis for the party.

Carlow-Kilkenny is among the list of constituencies where Fine Gael has been forced to seek new blood after long-serving TD John Paul Phelan decided not to run.

The party has selected David Fitzgerald, Michael Doyle and Catherine Callanan and will be under pressure to secure at least one seat.

Fianna Fail is confident of retaining both John McGuinness and Jennifer Murnane O'Connor but has its sights set on a possible third seat after selecting local councillor Peter 'Chap' Cleere. But this could be threatened by the addition of Independent candidate Eugene McGuinness, the brother of Fianna Fail sitting TD, John.

The Green Party will be expecting to lose some seats this time around, but it may just cling on in Carlow-Kilkenny where junior minister Malcolm Noonan is well known on the ground. If he keeps his place in Leinster House, it will signal that the Greens will be at the upper end of electoral expectations.

DUBLIN CENTRAL

Dublin Central's four sitting TDs are hoping to retain the four available seats, but a number of wildcard additions could shake things up significantly.

With 44% of voters in this constituency living in rented accommodation, the Government's housing record will also be tightly scrutinised by those going to the polls.

In an unexpected move, former MEP Clare Daly has announced she is to run and will go head-to-head with both Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe in Dublin Central.

She could take votes from all four incumbents, eking into the support gained by Social Democrats Gary Gannon and outspoken Green Party TD Neasa Hourigan.

Clare Daly could take votes from all four incumbents in Dublin Central. File photo: Sam Boal/Collins Photos

However, that is not where the surprises end as it has been reported that Gerry The Monk Hutch is seriously considering a tilt at the Dail. He was released on 100,000 bail in Lanzarote this week but is said to be "even more determined than ever" to run in the election after a series of raids on property related to him both in Spain and Dublin.

This is the constituency in which Mary Lou McDonald could easily have brought a running mate back in 2020. In an interesting turn, Sinn Fein has also put Janice Boylan on the ticket this time. In 2022, Boylan had threatened to leave Sinn Fein telling her council colleagues that she did not feel supported, valued or even really respected in the party.

The final nail on the head was when I applied for the part-time role in Mary Lous office, which would have been perfect for me to feel connected again, supported and wanted, she wrote after she failed to secure a position in the Sinn Fein leader's office.

CLARE

With two of the four seats being vacated and a former Sinn Fein TD now running as an Independent, the constituency of Clare is wide open.

This is a crucial area for Fianna Fail if it is to gain ground and the party will be going after two seats. But it also could provide the Greens with a unique opportunity to make a gain.

Cathal Crowe of Fianna Fail is hoping to retain his seat with sitting senator Timmy Dooley seeking to regain a Dail seat he lost in 2020.

Fine Gael, which before the last election had two sitting TDs in the constituency, goes into this poll without an incumbent after Joe Carey stepped down in September due to ill health. His sister Leonora has been put forward and in a last-minute addition, the national executive has added councillor Joe Cooney.

This could be a difficult General Election for the deputy leader of the Green Party Roisin Garvey. File Photo: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

Similar to Laois-Offally where Brian Stanley is to run as an Independent, Sinn Fein finds itself in a predicament in Clare. Violet Anne Wynne is standing again, but having left Sinn Fein, she will be running as an Independent.

Clare has previously elected smaller parties and individual candidates including Moosajee Bhamjee for the Labour Party, Michael Harty who campaigned on access to health services, and Michael McNamara.

With McNamara's election to the European Parliament, could there be room for a new fringe candidate?

Green Party deputy leader and senator Roisin Garvey is strongly placed and vocal in the constituency, but with the Green tide going out, it will be a difficult campaign for her.

Eddie Punch is perhaps the most well-known of the Independents currently putting themselves forward for election.
A powerful bombing at a railway station in south western Pakistan killed 17 people and wounded 30 others, police and government officials said.

Mohammad Baloch, a senior police officer, said a bomb exploded when passengers were waiting for a train to travel to the garrison city of Rawalpindi from Quetta, the capital of the restive Balochistan province
Iran has rejected a report it was behind an alleged plot to assassinate Donald Trump after the US Justice Department charged a man in connection with the plan.

The man said he had been tasked by a government official before the presidential election with assassinating the Republican president-elect.

In Tehran, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei called it a plot by Israel-linked circles to make Iran-US relations more complicated, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Similar accusations in the past were rejected by Iran as their erroneousness was proved, he said.

Farhad Shakeri, an accused Iranian government asset, claimed that Iranian officials asked him to compose a plan to watch and kill Donald Trump (Evan Vucci/AP)

Repeat of the accusation in the current time span is a disgusting plot by the Zionist and anti-Iran circles that has aimed at making US-Iran problems more complicated, Mr Baghaei said.

The man said he had been tasked by a government official before the presidential election with assassinating the Republican president-elect.

Investigators learned of the plot to kill Mr Trump from Farhad Shakeri, an accused Iranian government asset who spent time in American prisons for robbery. Authorities say he maintains a web of criminal associates who participate in Tehrans assassination plots.

Shakeri told investigators that in September, a contact in Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard instructed him to put together a plan within seven days to watch and ultimately kill Mr Trump, according to a criminal complaint unsealed in federal court in Manhattan.

Shakeri claimed the Iranian official said that we have already spent a lot of money and that moneys not an issue.

He told investigators the official told him that if he could not put together a plan within the seven-day timeframe, then the plot would be paused until after the election because the official assumed that Mr Trump would lose and that it would be easier to kill him then, the complaint said.

Shakeri is at large and remains in Iran.

Two other men who were allegedly recruited to participate in other assassinations, including of a prominent Iranian American journalist, were arrested on Friday.

Donald Trump beat US vice president Kamala Harris in the US presidential election (Alex Brandon/AP)

Shakeri, an Afghan national who immigrated to the US as a child but was later deported after spending 14 years in prison for robbery, also told investigators that he was tasked by his Revolutionary Guard contact with plotting the killings of two Jewish-Americans living in New York and Israeli tourists in Sri Lanka.

The criminal complaint says Shakeri disclosed some of the details of the alleged plots in a series of recorded telephone interviews with FBI agents while in Iran.

The stated reason for his cooperation, he told investigators, was to try to get a reduced prison sentence for an associate behind bars in the US.
One person died and 13 were wounded by a Russian drone attack on the Ukrainian port city of Odesa overnight, as EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell arrived in Kyiv to discuss European support for Ukraine.

Odesa regional governor Oleh Kiper said high-rise residential buildings, private houses and warehouses were damaged by the fall of a drone. He did not specify whether the drone had been shot down by air defences.

A further 32 Russian drones were shot down over 10 Ukrainian regions while 18 were lost, according to Ukraines Air Force, likely having been electronically jammed.

In Kyiv for my 5th visit since Russias full-scale invasion and last one as HRVP.



EU support to #Ukraine has been my personal priority during my mandate and will remain on top of the EUs agenda. pic.twitter.com/XO5LvWopZY  Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) November 9, 2024

A Russian aerial bomb struck a busy highway overnight in the north-eastern Kharkiv province, Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekohov said. No casualties were reported.

Russia is mounting an intensified aerial campaign that Ukrainian officials say they need more Western help to counter.

However, doubts are deepening over what Kyiv can expect from a new US administration. President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly taken issue with US aid to Ukraine, made vague vows to end the war and has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Mr Borrell, however, reassured Ukraine of European support as he arrived in Kyiv on Saturday.

EU support to Ukraine has been my personal priority during my mandate and will remain on top of the EUs agenda, he wrote on X.

In Russia, the Defence Ministry said 50 Ukrainian drones were destroyed over seven Russian regions  more than half over the Bryansk region, bordering Ukraine.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 9. Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has expressed condolences to Pakistan over deaths in the terrorist attack at the Quetta railway station, the ministry wrote on its X page, Trend reports.

"We strongly condemn the horrific terrorist attack at the railway station in Quetta, Pakistan today. We offer our deepest condolences to the families of those killed in this heinous attack, and wish the injured ones a speedy recovery," the publication says.
Today

Clear to partly cloudy. Low near 45F. Winds light and variable.

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low near 45F. Winds light and variable.

Tomorrow

Generally sunny despite a few afternoon clouds. High 81F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaija

BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 9. The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov has sent a letter of condolences to the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Trend reports, citing the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

The letter says: "I am deeply saddened by the news of the dead and injured as a result of the terror act near the railway station in the Quetta city in the Pakistani province of Balochistan.

We strongly condemn all forms of terrorism.

I pray to Almighty Allah for the repose of the souls of the deceased and express my deepest condolences to their families. I wish healing to all the wounded.

May Allah rest the souls of the deceased in peace!"
Somali government said that Ethiopia has been excluded from the new AUSSOM mission

Nov 09 (Jowhar)  The Minister of Defense of Somalia, Abdulqadir Mohamed Noor, said that the Ethiopian forces have been officially excluded from the new operation of the African Union forces, which will begin in Somalia in early 2025.

Ethiopian forces have been officially excluded from the new mission of the African Union forces in Somalia starting early in 2025, because Ethiopia has violated the independence and territorial integrity of Somalia, said the Minister of Defense of Somalia.

He also pointed out that this new mission will be different from the previous missions in many ways, one of which is that new countries will be seen.

This issue is related to the conflict between the governments of Somalia and Ethiopia, which resulted from the agreement at the beginning of this year that Abiy Ahmed entered into with the president of Somaliland Muse Bihi.

Several talks between Turkey and the foreign ministers of Somalia and Ethiopia have not yielded any results, while another meeting is expected.
Two victims of a bombing that claimed 22 lives at the end of an Ariana Grande concert in England seven years ago have been awarded 45,000 in damages after successfully pursuing legal action against a conspiracy theorist who alleged that the attack was a hoax.

Martin Hibbert was left paralyzed from the waist down, and his daughter Eve, who was 14 at the time, sustained a severe brain injury in the bombing at Manchester Arena in 2017.

They took Richard Hall  a self-proclaimed journalist who without any proof asserted that the attack was masterminded by British government agencies  to court for harassment.

Martin Hibbert is seen speaking to the media outside the London court

Their case shares some similarities with defamation lawsuits filed against US conspiracy theorist Alex Jones by families of victims from the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting.

After a further hearing, the judge awarded a total of 45,000 to Martin and Eve Hibbert.

Martin Hibbert addressed reporters, stating that the case delivers a strong message to conspiracy theorists that they cannot dismiss substantial evidence and intimidate innocent individuals.

He expressed that the case demonstrated the existing legal protections for survivors of mass casualty incidents but emphasized his desire for legislation to be enacted in his daughters name that would enhance access to justice for survivors.

Mr. Hall made a statement outside the courthouse, in which he claimed: There was no bomb.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 8. In honor of Victory Day, a festive concert was held for the first time in Jabrayil on November 8, Trend reports.

The celebration saw participation from residents of Jabrayil, as well as representatives from local institutions, military personnel, and their families.

The event began with the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan, followed by a minute of silence to honor the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the countrys territorial integrity.

The concert featured musical performances by soloists from the State Song and Dance Ensemble named after Fikret Amirov and the International Mugham Center.
Germany Commemorates 35 Years Since the Fall of the Berlin Wall

Germany commemorates 35 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall with celebrations commencing today under the theme Preserve Freedom! amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where concerns about democracy being under siege are rising.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose coalition faced a dramatic collapse this week, conveyed in his message to the nation that the liberal ideals of 1989 are not something we can take for granted.

Reflecting on our history and the current global landscape illustrates this, Mr. Scholz added, as his three-party ruling alliance crumbled on the same day Donald Trump was re-elected, pushing Germany into political chaos and towards new elections.

The ninth of November 1989 marks the day when East Germanys dictatorship finally opened its borders to the West after months of peaceful protests, setting the stage for German reunification and the fall of Soviet communism.

A view of the open-air exhibition and Brandenburg Gate

Nevertheless, we should truly celebrate the fall of the Wall, she stated, recognizing it as the moment East Germans were granted the freedom to travel and where freedom finally reached every part of Germany.

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will inaugurate todays events at the Berlin Wall Memorial, honoring the at least 140 individuals who lost their lives while attempting to escape from the Moscow-supported German Democratic Republic (GDR) during the Cold War.

An evening freedom party featuring a music and light show will take place at Berlins iconic Brandenburg Gate, along the former route of the concrete barrier that divided the city since 1961.

This Sunday, the Russian protest punk band Pussy Riot will perform in front of the former headquarters of the Stasi, East Germanys notorious secret police.

Pro-democracy activists from across the globe, including Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and Iranian dissident Masih Alinejad, have been invited to the commemorations.

Talks, performances, and a large-scale open-air art exhibition will also highlight what culture minister Claudia Roth described as one of the most joyous moments in world history.

Replica placards from the 1989 protests will be exhibited along four kilometers of the Walls path, past the historic Reichstag building and the renowned Checkpoint Charlie.

An open-air installation marking the former course of the wall in front of a preserved segment of the Berlin Wall

Among the artistic displays will be thousands of citizen-created images themed around freedom, emphasizing the lasting significance of this historical event.

Populism and division

Joe Chialo, Berlins top cultural affairs official, stated that the theme is vital during a time when we are facing rising populism, misinformation, and social fragmentation.

Axel Klausmeier, head of the Berlin Wall foundation, asserted that the values from the 1989 protests serve as a power-bank for defending our democracy, which is currently being eroded from both the left and the right.

While most East Germans are thankful for the end of the GDR regime, many carry negative memories of the perceived condescension from West Germans, alongside lingering grievances about disparities in incomes and pensions.

These feelings have been cited as contributing factors to the considerable support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in eastern Germany, as well as for the Russia-friendly and anti-capitalist BSW.

Both parties made significant gains in three state elections in the east this September, highlighting the persistent political rifts between eastern and western Germany more than three decades after reunification.

While the embattled government led by Mr. Scholzs Social Democrats and the opposition CDU staunchly backs Ukraines resistance against Russia, the anti-establishment AfD and BSW are opposed to it.

The AfD, which campaigns against immigration, faced embarrassment this week as several of its members were arrested on suspicion of being part of a racist paramilitary group that conducted urban warfare drills.

On the eve of the anniversary of the Berlin Walls fall, government spokesperson Christiane Hoffmann reminded everyone that this weekend also marks a far darker chapter in German history.

During the Nazis Kristallnacht, or Night of Broken Glass pogrom on November 9-10, 1938, at least 90 Jews were killed, numerous properties were destroyed, and 1,400 synagogues were set ablaze in Germany and Austria.

Ms. Hoffmann emphasized that it is crucial for our society to remember the victims and to learn the necessary lessons from those events for our actions today.
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  Rushdi Abualouf of the BBC reported on a new fatwa or considered legal opinion issued by the conservative Salafi scholar Dr Salman al-Dayah, who had once been a dean at the School of Islamic Law and Civil Law at the Islamic University of Gaza. The controversial opinion lambasted Hamas for launching the al-Aqsa Flood military operation on October 7, 2023, saying that it was foreseeable that it would fail and would violate Islamic precepts on the waging of struggle (jihad) in the way of God.

Al-Dayah begins by quoting an unnamed Hamas leader who condemned critics of the organizations attack on Israel.

The politician castigated as fools those who argued that it would have been safer to avoid armed conflict rather than losing tens of thousands of lives. The politician denounced such persons as a fifth column for Israel, aiming to weaken this nation and its determination. The Hamas leader alleged that Israel killed 500 Palestinians at West Bank checkpoints in 2022, even though the Palestinians were not engaged in violent struggle that year. He implied that Israel would kill Palestinians even if they were passive. The price for being occupied was being paid then, but, he said, you have to choose whether to pay it freely as a fighter and a victor, God willing, or to pay it in humiliation, disappointment, and loss.

Al-Dayah refutes this militant, reminding him that struggling in the way of God is not a straightforward, simplistic duty, but is predicated on conditions, purposes and principles. It is necessary to consider matters such as the character of ones leaders and soldiers, the terrain, the weaponry available, and the character of the opponent (whom he calls the aggressor, suggesting he believes this warfare is defensive).

[The issue of terrain is an important one. I quote Mao Zedong in my new book, Gaza Yet Stands, to the effect that having rugged terrain that affords hiding places is essential to a guerrilla movement. Otherwise, Mao said, the insurgents are just roving peasant rebels, doomed to fail. Gaza is not a promising place from which to fight a guerrilla struggle.]

Al-Dayah repeats that aggression against religion is one of the grounds for launching such a military struggle, as are life, honor, family, land or property.

Since it is a religious struggle, it has to be predicated on faith and sincerity, the righteousness of the individuals involved, and their cohesiveness and preparation, as well as logistical matters.

But there are, al-Dayah says, also counter-indications that might weigh against launching such a struggle. If the prerequisites listed above are lacking or defective, it cannot be undertaken.

Most important, you cant launch a struggle for the faith if it seems likely that it will fail: it is essential to avoid it if it is likely to bring harm to religion, life, honor, family, or property.

He points out that the Quran, the Muslim scripture, promises that pious Muslims can prevail when the odds are 1 to 2 (Q. 8:66). The conclusion we may draw from the verse is that the believers cannot win against just any odds. If they are overwhelmed 3 to 1, they should avoid entering the fray. He quotes the Prophet Muhammads cousin, Ibn Abbas, as having said: If a man retreats from two, he has fled, but if he retreats from three, he has not fled.

His implication is that the Israeli armed forces are far superior in numbers, training, and equipment to the 30,000 members of the al-Qassam Brigades, the paramilitary of Hamas. Given this reality, it is permissible to refrain from initiating combat.

He also repudiated the Hamas leader for his harsh accusations against suffering Palestinians mourning the gravity of the disaster that has befallen them. They dont, he insisted, deserve to be called agents or cowards for wishing it could have been avoided.

He points out, These are the sentiments of the majority of people, whose homes are gone, their loved ones have perished, and they endure all forms of suffering.

He concludes, I ask God Almighty to return us to the right path and hasten relief. Amen.

Prof. Dr. Salman bin Nasr Al-Dayah

The legal opinion has six sections, with this having been the first. In subsequent broadsides, he went on to elaborate his arguments. For instance, he quotes a saying of the Prophet that it is not for the believer to humiliate himself by undertaking a campaign clearly doomed to failure. I think, however, we get the point.

Al-Dayah rejects secular states and even the fundamentalist governance of Hamas, arguing for a restored Muslim caliphate or theocracy. However, he belongs to the quietist branch of Salafism or revivalism, since he generally rejects violence as a path to his aspirations, especially if the violence is stupid. Al-Dayah has refused to leave North Gaza, even though the Israeli authorities are attempting to ethnically cleanse it.

Similar debates were conducted between quietist Salafis in Jordan and the proponents of ISIL (ISIS, Daesh), the so-called Islamic state group.

Before the 2006 election, nearly half of the voters in Gaza supported the secular, nationalist Palestine Liberation Organization, and it is not clear that 18 years of Hamas rule will have altered this proportion. Indeed, the evidence from countries that have a state religion is that it tends to drive people away from religion or make them apathetic toward it. Al-Dayah as a quietist Salafi may not represent a very large proportion of Palestinians in Gaza. His discontents with Hamas, however, are likely widely shared.

The Arabic text of the fatwa was posted to Facebook.
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Juan ColeP. O. Box 4218,Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2548USA(Remember, make the checks out to Juan Cole or they cant be cashed)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Koryx Copper Inc. (Koryx or the "Company") (TSX-V: KRY) is pleased to announce that it has closed the second tranche (the "Second Tranche") of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the Offering) (see press releases dated September 25, 2024 and October 15, 2024) raising $5,200,892.40 for the sale of 4,728,084 common shares of the Company (the Shares) at a price of $1.10 per Share.

As announced on October 15, 2024, the first tranche of the Offering consisted of gross proceeds of $9,668,463.20 for the sale of 8,789,512 Shares Shares at a price of $1.10 per Share. Accordingly, upon completion of the Second Tranche, the Company has raised a combined aggregate total gross proceeds of $14,869,355.60 for the sale of a combined 13,517,596 Shares at $1.10 per Share. All of the Shares issued under the Offering are subject to a four month hold from the date of issuance. No finders fees were paid in connection with the Second Tranche. No new insider or control person was created as a result of the Offering.

A significant participation in the Offering includes management and associates as the biggest subscribers as well as a list of well known resource specialist investors such as Ross Beaty and Resource Capital Funds.

Heye Daun, Koryx Executive Chairman commented: We are very pleased with the outcome of this non-brokered equity financing which had strong demand and was well oversubscribed. We appreciate the continued support from our new and previous shareholders, most of whom elected to significantly increase their subscription. We are particularly pleased that many of our early stage supporters in Osino (our prior Namibian success) such as Ross Beaty and Resource Capital Funds and many other institutional and retail investors have elected to come in again in order to support us in advancing our assets and creating value for stakeholders. We have already initiated a substantial ramp-up in drilling and technical activities with the aim of delivering an updated PEA around the middle of 2025. We will very soon update the market with further details regarding our technical activities geared towards fast-tracking the development of our flagship Haib Copper Project in Namibia whilst continuing to build and enhance our project portfolio in Zambia.

Officers and directors of the Company participated as insiders (the "Insiders") of the Company in the Private Placement and purchased an aggregate of 166,200 Shares for aggregate gross proceeds of $182,820. As a result, the Offering is a related party transaction subject to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Offering is exempt from the formal valuation requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to subsection 5.5(b) of MI-61-101 because the Shares are not listed on a specified market and is exempt from the minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to subsection 5.5(a) of MI 61-101 because neither the fair market value of the Shares to be issued to the Insiders nor the consideration to be paid by the Insiders pursuant to the Offering will exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization as determined in accordance with MI 61-101. There is no formal valuation of the Company. As a result of the Insider Participation, the Insider's shareholdings in the Company will increase from 100,000 Shares (0.17% non-diluted / 1.66% partially-diluted after taking into account convertible securities held by the Insiders) to 266,200 Shares (0.41% non-diluted / 1.72% partially-diluted after taking into account the convertible securities). The Offering was unanimously approved by the directors of the Company, with the directors participating disclosing their respective interests and abstaining from voting to the extent of their interest in the transaction. The Company will file a material change report in respect of the Offering but did not do so more than 21 days before the expected date of the closing as the insider participation was not determined at that time.

The net proceeds from the Offering will be used to advance the Haib Copper Project in Namibia, the Luanshya West Project in Zambia, and for general working capital purposes.

The securities of the Company have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of any person in the United States, absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. These securities have been sold and this press release appears as matter of record only. Resales of any Shares or Warrants that may be placed within the United States will be restricted in accordance with applicable laws.

Qualified Person

Mr. Dean Richards Pr.Sci.Nat., MGSSA  BSc. (Hons) Geology is the Qualified Person for the Haib Copper Project and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release and is a registered Professional Natural Scientist with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (Pr. Sci. Nat. No. 400190/08) and a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101.

About Koryx Copper Inc.

Koryx Copper Inc. is a TSX-V-listed copper development Company focused on advancing the large-scale, 100% owned, Haib Copper Project in Namibia whilst also building a portfolio of copper exploration licenses in Zambia. Haib is a large and advanced (PEA-stage) copper/molybdenum porphyry deposit in southern Namibia with a long history of exploration and project development by multiple operators. More than 70,000m of drilling has been conducted at Haib since the 1970s with significant exploration programs led by companies including Falconbridge (1964), Rio Tinto (1975) and Teck (2014). Teck remains a strategic and supportive shareholder.

Haib has a current mineral resource of 414Mt @ 0.35% Cu for 1,459kt of contained copper in the Indicated category and 345mt @ 0.33% Cu for 1,136kt of contained copper in the Inferred category (0.25% Cu cut-off). Mineralization at Haib is typical of a porphyry copper deposit and the deposit remains intact.

Porphyry copper deposits are a major global source of copper with the best-known examples being concentrated around the Pacific Rim, North America and South America. Haib is one of a few examples of a Paleoproterozoic porphyry copper deposit in the world and one of only two in southern Africa (both in Namibia). Due to its age, the deposit has been subjected to multiple metamorphic and deformation events, but still retains many of the classic mineralization and alteration features typical of these deposits. The mineralization is dominantly chalcopyrite with minor bornite and chalcocite present and only minor secondary copper minerals at surface due to the arid environment. In addition to extensive drilling and metallurgical testwork various technical studies have been completed at Haib to date.

Further details are available on the Company's website at https://koryxcopper.com and under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

More information is available by contacting the Company:

Julia Becker

Corporate Communications

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

+1-604-785-0850

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.



Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Company's recently completed financings and the future or prospects of the Company. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect ", "is expected ", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market, and economic risks, uncertainties, and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, other factors may cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management discussion and analysis. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 9. Persons accredited to COP29 in Baku will be able to use public transport free of charge, Trend reports.

So, those who have jumped through the hoops of accreditation will be able to ride the metro, buses, and trains without spending a dime.

The aforementioned individuals will utilize public transport at no cost till November 24.

On Monday, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will be kicking off in Azerbaijan, the decision of which was made at the plenary meeting of COP28 held in Dubai in December last year.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The abbreviation COP (Conference of Parties) means Conference of Parties and 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 otherwise decided by the parties, COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in March 1995 in Germany's Berlin with its secretariat in Bonn.

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Saturday, November 9, 2024 - Award-winning photographer and human rights crusader, Boniface Mwangi, has poked holes in former Prime Minister Raila Odingas Africa Union Chairperson (AUC) bid, saying he doesnt deserve the powerful seat.

Raila, 79, is the frontrunner to succeed Chad's Mousa Faki, who is set to retire in February next year.

However, according to Mwangi, Raila Odinga doesnt deserve the seat because he betrayed young Kenyans commonly known as Gen Z, and supported President William Ruto in June and July when several young Kenyans protesting against the Finance Bill 2024 were killed.

Mwangi accused Raila of being a traitor, asserting that no African nation should support his candidacy, as he "danced on the graves" of 61 Kenyans killed and thousands injured under Rutos regime.

Here is a screenshot of what Boniface Mwangi wrote on his Twitter page.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Saturday, November 9, 2024 - A section of Members of Parliament (MPs) struggled to enroll in the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) that is under the Social Health Authority (SHA) a month after its rollout.

The MPs made this revelation when Ministry and SHA officials appeared before the National Assembly Committee of Health to address concerns raised on the scheme.

Moyale MP Jaldesa Guyo claimed that he was having challenges with registering through his national identification number.

He stated that this was a reflection of what the majority of Kenyans have gone through.

Even now as I try to do it, my ID number cannot go through and that means that there are many other Kenyans who have the same problems, Guyo stated.

Webuye East MP Martin Wanyonyi echoed Guyos sentiments stating that the process of getting updates from the new health regulator was frustrating.

The whole issue of delays in terms of updates by the One Time Password (OTP) is really frustrating, he lamented.

Ndhiwa MP Martin Owino spoke about the system failures experienced when trying to log into the SHA system. He contrasted this with claims by SHA that the system was complete and up and running.

When I try to log in, it says system failed. Why is the system failing? You submitted to us that the system is completed. Maybe you can define for us the word complete, the MP stated.

Owino added that if the situation was not dealt with at the grassroots level, it could escalate to the national level.

If things fail here, they will fail till Level Six, he claimed.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 9. Electric buses that will be used during COP29 will be made available to passengers once the event concludes, said Tural Orujov, Spokesperson for Azerbaijans Ground Transport Agency, during a media tour along the COP29 routes, Trend reports.

He mentioned that 160 electric buses have been brought to the country.

"These buses will be used for the first time during COP29. After the event, they will be made available for public transport," he said.

In just a few days, Baku will host the 29th session of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29). The decision to hold the event in Baku was made at the COP28 plenary session in Dubai on December 11 last year.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992, aims to prevent harmful human interference with the climate system. COP, which stands for "Conference of Parties," is the highest decision-making body overseeing the implementation of the Convention.

The Convention has 198 parties, and unless decided otherwise, COP is held annually. The first COP took place in March 1995 in Berlin, and its secretariat is based in Bonn.




Saturday, November 9, 2024 - Following numerous reports of break-ins and theft of household items in the Kondele area of Kisumu County, police in Kondele have arrested two suspects believed to be the recipients and marketers of the stolen valuables.

Fredrick Oduor Obonyo, 36, and his accomplice Eric Wesonga Wamere were rounded up in an intelligence-led operation conducted at Kenya-RE estate in Lolwe, and from their houses the following suspected stolen properties recovered:

-Three smart TVs make Bruhm (55"), LG (50") and Hisense (50")

-Two sound systems (Sony and Rhm) and box speakers

-Several DSTV recorders

-Three mobile phones make iPhone, Huawei, and Infinix among other items.

Inventory of the said exhibits has been taken and the suspects booked at Kondele Police Station as identification of the items continues.

The Kenyan DIALY POST.




Saturday, November 9, 2024 - Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi has warned youthful lawyers against engaging in unscrupulous deals to advance their careers.

In a statement yesterday, Havi warned young people in the legal profession that going for quick money will only result in death.

"To my Bazukulu in the legal profession especially the 10 youthful advocates. I write to you from the City of Corinth. I plead with you, live an honest life and practice justly.

"The love for quick money will only bring you quick death: a bullet through the forehead," he wrote.

Havi was reacting to a case where a city lawyer was arrested and arraigned in court in connection to a Ksh182 million fake tender deal involving an American-based company.

On Wednesday, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said Michel Otieno Owano was arrested following a complaint by an American national.

According to DCI, following investigations into the case, Owano of Owano Michael & Co. Advocates was arrested outside Milimani Law Courts after attending a criminal case in which he was the accused person.

DCI said Owano held several meetings with the complainant who flew into the country and presented three fake tender documents including Tender No KCAA/032/2021-2022: Tender for Supply, Installation and Commissioning of Area Control Centre and Disaster Recovery System equipment.

Owano was arraigned in court on Wednesday and later released on cash bail to await approval of the charges leveled against him by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Saturday, November 9, 2024  Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachaguas congratulatory message to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump did not go down well with a section of Raila Odingas allies.

This is after Professor Makau Mutua criticized Gachagua over his congratulatory message to Trump, in what he described as a coded message to President William Ruto.

Taking to his X account, Mutua noted that it was absurd for Gachagua who was recently impeached to congratulate Trump on his win.

"I saw an impeached ex-official congratulating Donald Trump. Kenyan stack jokes too far. Absurd!" Mutua wrote on X.

Reacting to Trump's win, Gachagua put out a statement on Wednesday, November 6, describing the victory as one of the greatest political come-backs of this generation.

"Congratulations President Donald Trump, for one of the greatest political come-backs of our generation. Your victory is clear proof that resilience and a never-say-die attitude will always trump obstacles on the path to your destiny," he said.

Trump secured a historic comeback victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election after defeating Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

He achieved this victory by securing 295 electoral votes, surpassing the required 270-vote threshold.

At the same time, Harris has conceded defeat and pledged to assist with a smooth transition of power.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Saturday, November 9, 2024 - A group of elders from the Mt. Kenya region has urged Kenyans to support former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua as he adjusts to life after his removal from office.

In a heartfelt statement issued through the Gikuyu, Embu, Meru, and Akamba Community Alliance GEMA (GCA), the elders expressed disappointment over the manner in which Gachagua was hounded out of office.

The elders urged Kenyans of goodwill and the public to stand with him and his family during this transition.

GEMA Chairman Lawi Imathiu observed that, despite Gachaguas perceived flaws, he deserved respect, and did not deserve the treatment he received.

Imathiu underscored the temporary nature of leadership positions, noting that while serving the country, leaders should be treated with respect and dignity and not discarded like waste.

"The role of presidents, deputy presidents, governors, and other leaders is temporary.

"Its about the service you provide to the nation, but the nation should not cast you aside like rubbish.

"Instead, they should regard you as one of their own, like a brother or sister," Imathiu said, stressing the transient nature of power.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Saturday, November 9, 2024 - Democratic Action Party leader Eugene Wamalwa has called on U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to cancel the US/Kenyan-led mission in Haiti.

Speaking on Friday, during a DAP-K Women's Caucus meeting, Wamalwa expressed concerns over Kenyan police officers being deployed far from home to tackle unrest in the Caribbean nation while domestic security challenges in Kenya continue to rise.

Wamalwa called for the mission, which is a joint effort between the US and Kenyan forces, to be cancelled, proposing instead that the UN take the lead in addressing the instability in Haiti.

His remarks were in response to the growing tensions and rising insecurity at home, including cases of abductions, femicide, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings.

"While we are taking our officers over 10,000km away to Haiti to protect Haitians, we've left our women and children unprotected.

"So we would ask the new president and the new administration in the US to revisit the issue of Haiti; to cancel that mission and to actually ensure that the mission that is US and Kenyan-led is cancelled and a UN-led mission is put in place," Wamalwa stated, highlighting that Kenya must prioritise its internal security issues.

Wamalwa's statements come after President William Ruto hinted that the Multinational Security Support deployment (MSSM) in Haiti will become a full-time peacekeeping deployment.

The president disclosed that he discussed the issue with United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) has begun operating direct flights to Male, the capital of the Republic of Maldives. The aircraft belonging to Azerbaijan's national air carrier, successfully made its first landing at Velana International Airport on November 9.

Passengers and the flight crew also received a warm reception at the airport, with traditional wreaths symbolizing hospitality and friendship.

We are pleased to launch direct regular flights from Baku to Male. This service opens new opportunities for tourists seeking a paradise holiday experience. The Azerbaijani market has long needed more options for winter tourism, and the Maldives is one of the most popular destinations in the world this season, said Jamil Manizade, Chief Commercial Officer of AZAL.

Ibrahim Shiuree, Managing Director of Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation, stated: "We are thrilled to welcome Azerbaijan Airlines, AZAL to the Maldives. This new direct flight from Baku provides excellent connectivity for travelers from Azerbaijan to experience the unparalleled beauty of our pristine islands."

The launch of AZALs direct flights from Baku marks a significant milestone for Velana International Airport. This route establishes an invaluable connection between Central Asia and the Maldives, providing seamless connectivity and enhanced travel options for customers journeying from Azerbaijan to our idyllic islands, Mohamed Mihad, Chief Commercial Officer of Maldives Airports Company Limited, remarked.

Regular flights from Baku to Male are now available twice a week, on Mondays and Saturdays.

To purchase flight tickets, please visit the official website www.azal.az/en/, use the renewed mobile app of the airline, or approach to the ticket offices or accredited agencies of AZAL.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 9. The final statement of the international conference on "Addressing the Problem of Missing Persons: Upholding the Right to Know for the Families", hosted by The State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons of The Republic of Azerbaijan on October 2-3, 2024, in Baku, has been officially distributed to the UN General Assembly and UN Security Council, the Commission told Trend.

"In the document, participants of the international conference, referring to the Conventions for the Protection of War Victims as well as relevant documents and resolutions of the UN General Assembly and UN Security Council, recalling the international legal obligations of States in the field of International Humanitarian Law, call on parties to armed conflicts to take all feasible measures to search for missing persons and provide any information on their fate.

The document also calls on International Organizations to assist in determining the fate of missing persons and to support the creation of a special mechanism to address the issue of missing persons during armed conflicts.

One of the key outcomes of the significant international conference in Azerbaijan was the proposal to establish an Annual Baku Dialogue, aimed at discussing various aspects of the issue of missing persons. Such a proposal testifies to the high appreciation by the International Community of Azerbaijan's efforts aimed at addressing this humanitarian problem.

The State Commission of Azerbaijan has reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out active work on the International Stage with the goal of finding and returning missing people and bringing the attention of the World Community to this pressing issue," the report says.
KILDARE Senator Mark Wall has welcomed that progress continues on St Vincent's Hospital in Athy but warned that there can be no delays as it progress to tender stage.

The Senator was recently informed that the project is still under detailed design.

After a tender competition it is expected to appoint a contractor before the end of next June, which will see the construction of a 92-bed extension, with a price tag of 35m.

"There is a proud history of St Vincents Hospital in Athy," said Senator Wall.

"It can trace its history back to the opening of the Athy workhouse on 9 January 1844. This was an event that came just in time to relieve some of the harshest effects of the Famine around that area of south Kildare."

He added: The Sisters of Mercy arrived there as nursing sisters in 1873, and in 1898, it became a county home.

"The 175 or so staff that work in the hospital have a reputation for care that goes above and beyond their call of duty and it is the number one reason why there is always a waiting list of families hoping to obtain a bed for their loved ones.

Not a week passes that I don't get a call or meet a family or individual who tell me of the extraordinary care their loved ones are receiving in St Vincents or indeed have received there.

The hospital attracts patients from all over Kildare and neighbouring counties. It is a source of great pride for the people of Athy that the hospital is located in the town.

That is why the people of Athy and the staff of the hospital are anxious of the future of this great hospital which has stood on the site for over 180 years, and that is why a new hospital in Athy is long overdue.

We all know our population is getting older, so the outstanding services in St. Vincent's are needed, and progress and completion of this project is an election priority for me."
Maynooth University is to host a panel discussion on one of the most talked-about drugs in society Ozempic, on Thursday, 14 November from 7pm to 9pm.

Titled Ozempic  unravelling fact from fiction, this panel event is open to the public and will take place in The Phoenix building, First Floor Mezzanine, on the North Campus.

Hosted as part of Science Week 2024 at Maynooth University, the discussion will explore the science behind the drug that has prompted questions, misunderstandings and myths.

Two leading experts in obesity research will lead the discussion - Dr Andrew Hogan, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Biology at MU, and Principal Investigator with the Obesity Immunology Research Group, and Prof Donal O'Shea, Consultant Endocrinologist with the Obesity Immunology Research Group at St Vincents University Hospital.

Together, they will explore the science behind Ozempic, including how it works and its impact on health.

Using the latest research, they will discuss how these medications have changed the way obesity is treated, and will also address questions as whether it causes muscle loss, or increase fertility.

Hosted by the Development and Alumni Relations Office, in collaboration with the Faculty of Science and Engineering, this public event also on livestream, offers an opportunity to gain expert insights and separate fact from fiction on one of today's most talked-about medications. Tickets are free, but limited at Eventbrite.ie

Dr Andrew Hogan joined Maynooth University as an Assistant Professor in 2017, and is Principal Investigator with the Obesity Immunology Research Group.

He completed his undergraduate and post-graduate studies in Maynooth University, before being awarded a Newman Fellowship in Obesity with Prof Donal O'Shea in UCD and St Vincent's Hospital. In 2012, he was awarded a Research Fellowship from the National Children's Research Centre and established the Childhood Obesity Immunology Group.

He has also been a research fellow in the lab of Prof Lydia Lynch in Harvard Medical School.

Dr Hogan is an alumnus of Maynooth having completed his undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the University.

Prof Donal O Shea graduated from UCD in 1989, and is a Consultant Endocrinologist at St. Vincents, HSE National Clinical Lead for Obesity and Consultant Endocrinologist of The Obesity Immunology Research group.
Veri Connect welcomed Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan to their Kilkenny offices recently for a special visit that highlighted the companys and their clients innovative work in sustainability.

The Green Party TD praised three specific projects with the ESB, SOLAS and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Council and Veri Connects contributions to activating sustainability strategies for companies, communities and the Further Education organisations.

During the visit, Minister of State Noonan met with key figures from the sustainability sector, discussing Irelands path to Net Zero and emphasising the need for a bottom up approach for Cultural change for Nature positive action. Also celebrating the recent award of ISO for Veri Connect , affirming the rural, diverse team which has been instrumental in driving real change through their solutions.



It was an honour to host Minister Noonan and discuss how businesses like ours can play a crucial role in resourcing our clients to meet their sustainability targets, said Anne Maire McSorley, CEO at Veri Connect. Through off-the-shelf and custom accredited solutions and digital innovations, we have grown the team.

Minister Noonans support has been there since our first Flag Ship Project with Kilkenny LEADER partnership and the Nore Vision, and is ongoing as a company dedicated to creating positive environmental impacts.

Veri Connect is a provider of activation programmes for sustainability strategies and training solutions, helping public and private sector clients achieve their sustainability goals through innovative approaches. With a strong focus on biodiversity and custom training programmes, Veri Connect enables organisations to navigate the evolving sustainability landscape.
Donald Trump emerged victorious in the 2024 US presidential election earlier this week, securing a historic return to the White House.

The announcement was made on November 6, after a dramatic and closely watched contest, with the Republican candidate surpassing the necessary 270 electoral college votes.

Trump celebrated his win with jubilant crowds in Florida, stating: "America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate."

Closer to home, Kilkenny has had its own unique connection with US Presidents over generations.

Both George H W Bush, the 41st president of the United States, and his son George W Bush, the 43rd president have distant local links.

The father and son are said to be direct descendants of Richard de Clare or Strongbow as he was commonly known. Strongbow was a leading figure in the Norman invasion of Ireland and built the original Kilkenny Castle in the 12th century.

Meanwhile, Callan native James Hoban famously designed the White House in the 1800s.

After the American Revolution Hoban emigrated to the US and by 1795, had established himself as an architect in Philadelphia.

He travelled to South Carolina in 1787 where he was responsible for many buildings including the Charleston County Courthouse. This building so was admired by George Washington while he was on his Southern Tour in 1791 that he subsequently summoned Hoban to Philadelphia (the then temporary capital) in 1792.

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There, Hoban was named the winner of a competition to design the Presidents new home. His original drawings featured three storeys and a nine bay facade, but under the influence of Washington this was changed to two storeys and an 11 bay facade. Washington also insisted that the entire front of the mansion be faced in white stone.

By all accounts a modest yet capable man, Hoban was appointed to also supervise the construction of the President's residence at a salary of 300 guineas a year and remained in Washington for the rest of his life. In total the Kilkenny man devoted 29 years of his life to the White House, including a rebuild from 1815 to 1829 after a fire, when his use of white paint to camouflage the blackened building gave rise to the name, White House.
Carlow-Kilkenny TD Malcolm Noonan has launched his bid to retain his Dail seat in the upcoming General Election.

As the Green Partys longest-elected public representative, with over 20 years in office as a councillor, TD and minister of state, he brings a wealth of experience to his campaign for a seat in the 34th Dail.

Throughout my two decades in politics, my goal has always been to help my community and support projects that benefit everyone, he said. I have worked tirelessly to be an effective local TD, striving to ensure that every constituent who knocked on our door found an empathetic ear and good public service.

As minister, I have delivered a transformative agenda for Ireland's natural environment, built heritage and electoral systems. As a Parliamentarian, I have brought huge amounts of legislation through the Dail on topics that matter to people. And as an elected representative for the Green Party, I have been part of a Government that has overseen radical changes in energy, childcare, the arts and public transport.

Deputy Noonan has contested four local elections, three general elections and one by-election, and said that he is looking forward to getting out on the ground across Carlow and Kilkenny and engaging with constituents to hear their concerns and hopes for the future.

I am proud to have served as TD for the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency and as Minister for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform in the 33rd Dail. Now, its time to get out on the doorsteps, meet people, listen to their views, share my own and seek a new mandate for the next Dail term. My priorities are to continue to deliver for our two counties across housing, heritage, agriculture, nature, rural development and transport, and to work for a future that is fairer, kinder and more inclusive.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 9. An information campaign dedicated to November 8 - Victory Day of Azerbaijan and National Flag Day on November 9 was held in the famous Times Square in New York, the Azerbaijani State Committee on Work with Diaspora of Azerbaijan told Trend.

The event was held with the support of the State Committee for Work with Diaspora and the American-Azerbaijani Youth Federation (AAYF)

Azerbaijani youth studying in the US, gathered under the organization of AAYF Chairperson Leyla Aslanova, told tourists and local Americans visiting the square about the history of Azerbaijan's Victory Day.

Holding the tricolor flag of Azerbaijan in their hands, they chanted slogans such as "Long live Azerbaijan" and "Happy Victory Day, Azerbaijan." At the same time, a map showing the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan was shown on giant LED screens in Times Square. Tourists who visited the square took pictures with the Azerbaijani flag.

In addition, a car with an LED screen displaying the slogan "Haribulbul", which is considered a symbol of the Victory of Azerbaijan, and the slogan "November 8 - Victory Day of Azerbaijan!" drove through the square and stopped at 42nd Street.
Yesterday I covered the first 5 reasons why Trump won. Here are the last 5.

6. Greatly improved Republican ground game

There are four areas where Republican efforts more closely matched or even exceeded those of the Democrats whereas in all four, GOP campaigns in 2020 were significantly outspent and outsmarted:

Media spending. Trump was outspent by Clinton by 3:1 in 2016 and by Biden 5:1 in 2020. Whilst Trump closed the gap in 2020 somewhat with free publicity from his controversial statements (something that is called earned media), the volume of Democrat material disseminated to voters was vastly more in 2020. In 2024 this gap was significantly narrowed to the point where, allowing for Trumps natural publicity seeking antics, it is fair to say there was virtual parity for the first time in many election cycles,

Ballot harvesting. There are legal variations as to the extent of ballot harvesting that can be done depending on relevant state law but regardless of that, in 2020 Republican campaigns engaged in zero ballot harvesting. That changed dramatically in 2024. Both the formal Trump campaign and various offshoots such as Charlie Kirks Turning Point Action and Scott Pressler hired hundreds of young people across most of the swing states to actively chase ballots. This was encouraging low propensity voters to register and vote early in states that allowed it and the chasing of high propensity voters on election day to ensure they voted. Each used sophisticated Apps that fed from real data from state election offices that identify voters yet to cast a vote by party affiliation where allowed. These groups wrung out 10,000s of votes many of them from people who had either never voted or rarely voted. The most dramatic example of this was Presslers efforts just in Pennsylvania where he and his team registered 180,000 Amish! The Amish traditionally dont vote but regulatory overreach by the Democrat administration in Pennsylvania in seizing and destroying raw milk so upset the Amish that they were propelled into political activism and voted en-mass for Trump.

Campus outreach. Charlie Kirk, as a young 30-year-old articulate and knowledgeable debater, had for years visited large university campuses across America but in the run up to 2024, he ramped up his efforts. Often all it involved was setting up a TPUSA tent and advertising that he was there to answer any questions from student voters with a particular emphasis on Harris or non-committed voters. Kirks exchanges are legendary and as the swell of support for Trump grew, these events attracted thousands of students each time and Kirk gave away 1,000s of MAGA hats each time at literally hundreds of events over the years. Exit polls show that Trump made huge inroads into the Gen Z vote and won a plurality of Gen Z males, and this result was largely because of Charlie Kirks efforts, and this campus outreached was barely matched by the Democrats.

Defensive lawfare. Trumps campaign in 2020 ran out of money 3 weeks out from the election for anything other than his huge rallies. Media advertising almost dried up and there was no money to pay lawyers to defend the vote from illegal actions by mostly Democrat election officials at the state and county level. In contrast, in 2024 a vast sum was spent recruiting hundreds of lawyers and hundreds of thousands of poll watchers and these lawyers were judiciously deployed in battleground states and were phenomenally successful. Various incidents cropped up in the weeks leading up to the election and on the day itself from shutting down early voting lines too early, to deliberately malfunctioning machines to barring Republican poll watchers. The lawyers were specific to each states election laws and swiftly intervened and the threat of legal action was often enough to get a behaviour change and when legal action made it to court, the well documented evidence was almost always sufficient to have a capricious and incorrect ruling or procedure overturned or aligned with state law. NONE of this was possible in 2020. There were myriads of acts of fraud and election malfeasance committed in 2020 and none of them could be intercepted on or before election day and often they were left to be litigated after the event when courts often ruled against Trump and the GOP due to out of time filing or lack of standing. This time around small, localised attempts at fraud were intercepted and quickly dealt with. Whilst there was undoubtedly fraud in places on November 5 th, this time it was far less impactful because of the aggressive defensive lawfare waged by the Trump campaign.

this time it was far less impactful because of the aggressive defensive lawfare waged by the Trump campaign.

7. The fall of legacy media and the rise of alternative media

Donald Trump began labeling the mainstream media as fake news pretty early into his 2016 campaign. Since then, he has gone a step further and often called the MSM the enemy of the people. It has been known for many decades that the worlds legacy media generally have a liberal left leaning bias. For many years institutions like the big 3 US networks, Canadas CBC, Britains BBC, Australias ABC and NZs TVNZ and RNZ journalists tried hard to hide their biases and reported the news in a more neutral and professional way. But as time has gone by and as journalism schools have been churning out more and more ideologically activist and more overtly political graduates, the newsrooms of legacy media globally have become more openly biased and more nakedly partisan. Parties and politicians from the right are subjected to more slanted coverage, more hostile questioning and way more investigative scrutiny whilst favoured candidates and parties on the left increasingly face limited scrutiny, soft ball questions and outright suppression of news stories that might make them look bad. But when Donald Trump came onto the political stage, he provoked a veritable firestorm of MSM opposition that has intensified and not abated. The MSM have rushed to cover hoax after hoax that initially made Trump look bad (I covered a bunch of these here). The US corporate media peddled the lies that Trump only won in 2016 with the help of Russia, they gleefully published lies of the 51 Democrat friendly intelligence experts who claimed Hunter Bidens laptop was Russian disinformation and they lied about the origin of Covid and pilloried and banned people who said the virus originated from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. All these lies were eventually uncovered and debunked, but the media have continued to peddle any lie that makes Trump look bad. In the current Presidential campaign, this is but a sample of the massive anti-Trump pro-Kamala skewering that has occurred on MSM outlets:

* During the ABC sponsored debate between Trump and Harris, ABC executives agreed in advance to limit certain types of questions to Harris and stayed away from all no-go topics as suggested by the Harris campaign. Trump was only asked questions of concern to Democrats and was subjected to attempts at real time fact checking by the moderators whilst ABC agreed in advance to no fact checking of Harris. It was obvious to even the most nonpartisan observer that Trump was debating not just Harris but the moderators as well.

* Harris 60 Minutes interview reached a new low of the MSM putting their thumb on the scales when they replaced a long rambling word salad nonsensical answer that Harris gave to a question posed about the administrations response to the Gaza war with a more simple and rational answer that she gave in another part of the interview. That is extreme journalistic malpractice AND election interference that will have profound repercussions for CBS once Trump changes the partisan makeup on the FCC and FEC.

* The MSM are notorious for amplifying outlier polls that favoured Harris. Perhaps the most egregious example of this was the famous Des Moines Register poll by Ann Seltzer, considered by many as the gold standard of polls. Whilst Seltzer had a prior track record that has been pretty accurate, any polling expert couldve told you that a poll showing Harris up 3 in Iowa when all other polls had Trump up by 7 to 10% (and the fact that Trump won Iowa by 11% and 8% in 2016 and 2020 and eventually won in 2024 by 13%!) was a dramatic outlier. But in the heat of the campaign with Trump tied in national polls and slightly up in swing state polls, the prospect of a hidden Harris blue wave was too tempting to pass up and so this poll was blasted from legacy media rooftops (and was even given prominence from our esteemed site owner Mr. Farrar perhaps because of his well-publicised disdain for DJT). The pollsters who picked Trumps eventual result were ignored and even scoffed at. The pushing of outlier polls is a deliberate conservative voter suppression tactic engaged in on a regular basis by the MSM.

* The Media Research Centre analysed the positive/negative coverage of the 3 major networks for the GOP versus Democrat nominee over some Presidential elections since 1992 and you can see the trend dramatically:

Dem GOP Dem advantage

1992 52%+ 33%+ +23

2004 59%+ 37%+ +22

2008 68%+ 33%+ +35

2020 66%+ 8%+ +58

2024 78%+ 15%+ +63

People arent stupid, they can see this bias and they react accordingly.

What has been the impact of the medias descent from neutral, a-political, down the middle reporting to slanted, ideologically driven coverage and outright hostility to the GOP candidate for the most powerful office in the world?

* Gradual but accelerating ratings and subscription declines  more on that later.

* Decline in profitability  MSM newspapers like the Washington Post have laid off hundreds and look at the closing of TV3 and layoffs at TVNZ and Stuff in New Zealand.

* Slump in public trust as indicated in polls that show the MSM polling worse than Congress.

* A widespread belief that the MSM are biased against Trump and protecting Kamala has inevitably led to a rise in viewership of alternative media.

Into the void left by the increasing partisan legacy media has stepped a variety of conservative commentators who have been able to rack up substantial views and social media impressions that have come to swamp who views the legacy media. Many of the people I am about to mention have podcasts and shows that they broadcast from their websites, Twitter, Rumble and even mainstream social media platforms that regularly match and exceed even the major network news shows and far exceed equivalent shows on CNN and MSNBC. The biggest players on this list have audiences that vastly outstrip even the biggest MSM shows or podcasts. These include the following:

* Megyn Kelly  former top NBC host and now the host of the number 1 conservative podcast The Megyn Kelly Show.

* Dan Bongino  former Secret Service agent and founder of alternative social media Apps such as Parler (that was exiled in 2020 by internet hosting sites) and Rumble, the conservative alternative to You Tube. Dan hosts a very successful radio and live streamed show that reaches on average 200,000 viewers every day. Dan is close to Trump and has interviewed him multiple times.

* Charlie Kirk  owner and founder of Turning Point Action and TP USA, the largest conservative youth outreach organisation with chapters in thousands of high schools and college campuses nationwide. More significantly, his clips of exchanges on college visits where he forcefully makes the case for Trumps election have had over TWO BILLION combined views across Instagram, Twitter and Tik Tok. Kirk employs popular conservative commentator Jack Prosobiec, and he features frequently on his shows.

* Tucker Carlson  he was Fox News most popular commentator with a show that used to be the No. 1 show on cable TV until he was fired for his outspoken support for Trump and his controversial interviews. He formed his own media show called TCN and has interviewed a range of conservatives including his interview of Donald Trump that garnered almost 200 million views on Twitter.

* Steve Bannon War Room  Bannon was a strategist for Trump in the early years of his Presidency and had been a senior executive with Breitbart News. His War Room daily show has a huge outreach, and he interviews almost all the prominent conservatives. He became infamous for having to spend 90 days in Federal Prison for defying a Department of Justice subpoena to appear and testify before the January 6 committee.

* James OKeefe  founder of Project Veritas until forced out by his RINO donors, OKeefe pioneered undercover journalism exposing numerous scandals involving Democrats and left leaning organisations like Planned Parenthood. OKeefe carried on his undercover work on his own as OKeefe Media Group and uncovered numerous election related frauds and scandals in the run up to November 5th the most prominent being exposing the Democrat Partys funding arm ACT Blue using unsuspecting small donors to launder hundreds of millions of dollars of illegal overseas donations.

* Steven Crowther  one of the most prolific conservatives who also uses You Tube to publish humourous ambush style interviews of liberals.

Glen Beck  Owner and Founder of conservative media empire The Blaze with its own TV channel, radio station and podcast. Beck was a protege of the most famous conservative talk back radio host the late Rush Limbaugh and styled himself in a similar mold.

* Ben Shapiro  Owner and founder of the Daily Wire, another major player in the more mainstream conservative new media space. Shapiro for quite a while was a Never Trumper but got on the Trump train for the 2024 election.

Trump became very adept at using new media despite his age. His youngest son Barron, who is an 18-year-old college student in New York, mingles with all the big conservative Gen Z and Millennial influencers from the so-called Manosphere including Theo Von, the Nelk Boys, Adin Ross, Andrew Schulz and Shawn Ryan. Trump appeared on all their shows each with millions of views and came across as natural and funny to huge audiences of disaffected young males. Of course, the grand poohbah of the Manasphere is former UFC executive Joe Rogan whose centrist Spotify show has the biggest reach of any podcast in the world, each with an average viewing audience of 16 million. Trumps famous 3-hour unscripted riff with Rogan where Rogan asked whatever questions he wanted (and Trump answered without ducking and diving) garnered across Spotify, You Tube and Twitter almost 100 million views! These appearances helped propel Trump to dominating the under 30 male vote in a way that Harris couldnt come close.

The net effect of all of this: the Trump hating MSM are losing their grip on the narrative. Whilst they still have some influence, they are increasingly becoming a liberal echo chamber religiously watched mostly by left leaning true believers whilst Independents and right leaning folk are consuming their news from alternative sources that increasingly have a far greater reach then the legacy media. This played a vital role in Trumps victory and his decisive win will only accelerate this decline unless the MSM return to their roots in reporting unbiased straight news and let go of the politically slanted advocacy that poses for news.

8. The proliferation of global conflicts

Trump is the first President in 40 years to not commence a new war. Reagan invaded Grenada, Bush 1 fought the Gulf War, Clinton attacked the former Yugoslavia, Bush 2 invaded Iraq and Afghanistan, Obama toppled Gaddafi and Biden has sent hundreds of billions to fund Ukraine. Trump withdrew troops from Iraq and laid the plans (that were massively cocked up by Biden) for an orderly withdrawal from Afghanistan. Trump negotiated and signed the Abraham Peace Accords ushering unprecedented diplomatic rapprochements between Israel and various Arab nations. Trump defused the escalating nuclear tension with North Korea all while getting NATO countries to pay their fair share of military expenditures.

More significantly is what Putin didnt do during Trumps 4 years. Under Obama he invaded Crimea and Georgia and under Biden, he invaded Ukraine. Putin made no territorial incursions under Trump. There was relative stability in the Middle East from 2017 to 2021. There is no way Hamas wouldve attempted their brazen infiltration into southern Israel under Trump and yet their actions under Biden have sparked the most prolonged and bloody conflict in Gaza and such tension and military retaliatory action with Iran as to see the whole region on the brink of war. Biden poor handling of the Ukraine war, for a while, saw the very real threat of US and NATO boots on the ground in an escalation of the war between Ukraine and Russia. And if that isnt enough, the Chinese also sensed Bidens weakness and have threatened the sovereignty of Taiwan in a way that Xi never remotely attempted when Trump was in power.

The supreme irony in all this is that in 2016, the Democrats said that Trump would plunge the US into global wars and that his warmongering would lead to an unstable world. The truth was the opposite happened  Trump presided over a period of relative peace and only used US military muscle selectively to quickly destroy the ISIS Caliphate in Syria and Iraq, a task that eluded Obama for 8 years. It is Biden and his weakness as a leader that sees the world on fire and on the brink of something akin to WW3 and it is Trump who was and will be again the candidate for peace. The prospect of Americas sons fighting in the midst of a Slavic conflict thousands of miles from home was a motivation for some voters to hold their nose and vote for the man who sends mean Tweets.

In the two days since Trump was elected, Zelenskyy has called him, Putin has scheduled a call, Hamas is saying it will end the war, Qatar has asked Hamas leadership to leave and Im guessing the Chinese wont be trying any drills where they encircle the whole island of Taiwan any time soon.

9. The RFK Jr  Tulsi Gabbard coalition

I covered the positive political impact of RFK Jrs endorsement here. Trump has brought into his inner circle three high profile Democrats: JFK Jr from the closest America gets to a political royal family, Tulsi Gabbard who once was deputy chair of the Democrat National Committee and ran for the Democratic nomination for President in 2020 and Elon Musk who publicly backed and donated to Democrat politicians for years. Each of these people brought key constituencies to Trumps cause and, perhaps more importantly, they gave permission for centrists and moderate Democrats, disgusted by their own partys decent into left wing identity politics but turned off by Trumps bombastic and at times arrogant persona, to vote for Trump. Joe Rogan (and many others) made the case that voting for Trump is not just about Trump but youre voting for Tulsi, for RFK Jr and for the thousands of political appointees that will implement the policies that resonate with an actual majority of voters. Trump drove the Cheneys, Mitt Romney and Adam Kinzinger to support Kamala and in exchange, he got Kennedy, Musk and Gabbard. I think thats an awesome winning exchange and in the end, so did voters.

10. The lawfare and the assassination attempts against Trump backfired.

I covered this topic more extensively in these two posts. In summary, Trumps opponents thought they had him on the ropes with all the various indictments when in actual fact, the politically motivated lawfare against Trump worked in his favour. When Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis insisted Trump be arraigned in person at the County Jail in a seedy inner city part of Atlanta, Trumps defiant mug shot became a viral sensation but, much more significantly, it helped cement Trumps record level of black male support that helped propel him to victory in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Georgia. The footage of thousands of poor blacks lining the streets to the jail to cheer Trump as he exited the arraignment went viral in the African American community.

I dont need to overstate the political impact of the two assassination attempts, most particularly the July 13th attempt at the rally in Butler, PA. The photo of a bloodied Trump with his raised pumped fist under a huge American flag ranks up there with the shot of Churchills VE Day speech to a monstrous crowd in London, the flag raising at Iwo Jima, John Kennedy Jr saluting his Dad JFK at his funeral, the fleeing Vietnamese refugees from the My Lai massacre in 1968 or the lone protestor holding up the tanks on Tiananmen Square. Trumps pugnacious and defiant response reinforced his image as the ultimate alpha male in the eyes of millions and, whilst not intended nor sought after, became a major electoral plus for him.

Conclusion

Whilst the electoral magnitude of Trumps victory is not on the same scale as the two Reagan victories in 1980 and 1984 (489 to 49 and 525 to 13) nor the Nixon 1972 49 state sweep, nonetheless it will go down as one of the greatest comebacks in US political history given the unique nature of Trump and his experiences. His defeat in 2020 was shrouded in controversy with allegations (credible IMO) of election fraud that were of a magnitude that, in his mind and in the mind of many supporters, cost him the election. The events of January 6, 2021, came to overshadow and dominate Trumps prospects with unprecedented levels of negative publicity aimed at Trump as his opponents sought to blame him for the events at the Capitol that day. He faced two impeachments, he was the subject of two Special Counsel enquiries, he was indicted 94 times on politically motivated charges (many of which will now melt away now that he has won and the rest will be reversed or die in appellate courts), the state of New York tried to bankrupt him and seize key properties, he has faced the most unrelenting media opposition of any politician, he faced two assassination attempts that came close to succeeding, frankly any other person wouldve given up. He faced a wall of negative media coverage of his campaign and fawning sycophantic coverage of his opponent, and countless attempts yet again at electoral fraud and he faced down the lot AND WON and won convincingly. It is a feat that may never be equaled in the annals of US political history!

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Todd McClay announced:

New Zealand and the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have concluded negotiations on a trade agreement that will open up significant opportunities for New Zealand exporters in the Gulf region, Minister for Trade and Agriculture Todd McClay announced from Doha today.

Todays announcement follows significant reengagement with the GCC following meetings with GCC Ministers at the WTO Ministerial Meeting in Abu Dhabi in February of this year and delivers on an 18 year-long ambition for New Zealand to agree this high-quality trade deal in the Middle East.

This is the highest quality deal the GCC has done to date and its first with a major agricultural exporter, Mr McClay said.

It delivers duty free access for 99 per cent of New Zealands exports over 10 years and when combined with our recently concluded NZ-UAE CEPA, 51 per cent of our exports to the region will be tariff-free from day one.

New Zealand and GCC trade is worth over $3 billion annually, with New Zealand exporting $2.6 billion in the year to June 2024. This includes $1.8 billion of dairy, $260 million of red meat, $72 million of horticulture and $70 million of travel and tourism services.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 52F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low 37F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 9. In a meeting held during ICAO Week in Kazakhstan, Roman Sklyar, Kazakhstans First Deputy Prime Minister, met with Nicolas Rallo, Regional Director of the ICAO European and North Atlantic Office, to discuss deepening cooperation in civil aviation, Trend reports.

The discussions centered on enhancing flight safety, aviation security, and promoting the sustainable development of the civil aviation sector.

One notable outcome of the meeting was the announcement of an anticipated official visit by ICAO President Salvatore Sciacchitano, scheduled for July 2025. This visit underscores the commitment of both Kazakhstan and ICAO to advancing collaboration in the aviation sector and aligning with international standards.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1944, brings together 193 member states to support the safe, secure, and orderly growth of global civil aviation.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, November 9. The President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov will participate in COP29 in Baku, Trend reports.

"President Sadyr Zhaparov will visit Azerbaijan on a working visit from November 11 to 13 to participate in the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)," said Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the President's Administration Muratbek Azymbakiev.

According to him, on November 12, Japarov will participate in the opening ceremony of the Climate Summit and deliver a speech at the plenary session of the conference.

The official noted that during the event "High-Level Dialogue: Promoting the Mountain Agenda and Updating the Issues of Mountains and Climate Change," organized by Kyrgyzstan in cooperation with Azerbaijan and Mongolia on the sidelines of COP29, speeches will be made by President Sadyr Japarov, President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, President of Nepal Ram Chandra Paudel, as well as leaders of other delegations and international organizations. This event will take place on November 13.

Azymbakiev also announced that, for the first time this year, during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) from November 1321, a vibrant national pavilion of Kyrgyzstan will be organized under the theme "Kyrgyzstan: Sustainable Mountain Development."

The pavilion will host daily presentations by various ministries and agencies of the country on current climate-related issues, energy, trade and economic, tourism, and investment potential of Kyrgyzstan, as well as cultural events, exhibitions of national mountain products (honey, dried fruits, national beverages, etc.), and tastings.

On Monday, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will be kicking off in Azerbaijan, the decision of which was made at the plenary meeting of COP28 held in Dubai in December last year.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The abbreviation COP (Conference of Parties) means Conference of Parties and 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 otherwise decided by the parties, COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in March 1995 in Germany's Berlin with its secretariat in Bonn.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, November 9. The President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov will make a working visit to Saudi Arabia on November 11, Trend reports.

As part of his visit, the head of state will take part in the extraordinary Islamic Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, during which it is planned to discuss the current situation in Palestine and southern Lebanon, as well as in the Middle East region as a whole, Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the President's Administration Muratbek Azymbakiev said.

The summit agenda schedules Zhaparov's speech, as well as a number of bilateral meetings with the Saudi side.

To note, according to the National Statistics Committee of Kyrgyzstan, trade turnover between Kyrgyzstan and Saudi Arabia from January through August amounted to $2.38 million, which is 10 times higher than the figure for 2023 ($219,356).

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Experts expect Beijing to capitalize on close travel distance to bolster tourist arrivals from Seoul

By Yi Whan-woo

Korea faces troubles ahead in curbing a deficit in travel balance, following Chinas unprecedented visa-free policy aimed at welcoming South Korean tourists.

Effective from Nov. 8, South Korean nationals are allowed to enter China for tourism, business, family visits or transit for up to 15 days without a visa.

The policy will be run through Dec. 31, 2025.

The visa waiver program comes after Korea posted its largest tourism deficit in six years in the first half of 2024.

The data compiled by the Bank of Korea (BOK) and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) showed that Korea logged a deficit of $6.48 billion in the travel balance from January to June.

The $6.48 billion marked the highest deficit for any first half of a year since 2018 when it totaled $7.83 billion.

In the first six months of 2024, 14.02 million Koreans traveled abroad, while 7.7 million foreign nationals visited here.

Korean travelers spent $14.3 billion on overseas travel, far outpacing the $7.84 billion spent by foreign visitors.

It is likely that the tourism deficit will get worse, as Beijings policy appears to be aimed at gaining favor from Korean tourists by fully capitalizing on the close travel distance between the two countries, a staffer at Korea Tourism Association said on condition of anonymity.

The staffer pointed out that Korea is the only Asian country among the nine countries that were added to Chinas expanded visa-free list.

The nine also include Andorra, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway and Slovakia.

The staffer also pointed out that this is the first time that Korean citizens will be visa-exempt from entering China since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations in 1992.

Also on condition of anonymity, a professor at Kyung Hee Universitys College of Hotel & Tourism Management said it is too early at the moment to assume how Chinas visa rule will affect Koreas travel balance.

The professor noted that the Chinese foreign ministry announced the expanded visa program abruptly on Nov. 1, without consulting the Seoul side.

It will take a couple of months to discern the relations between this program and Koreas travel deficit, he said.

Nevertheless, he viewed that Beijings policy will certainly widen Korean citizens options in overseas tourist destinations.

China did not draw much attention from Korean travelers in the post-pandemic era, and things are expected to change, the professor added.

He attributed the tourism deficit in the first six months of this year largely to a surge in the number of Korean travelers to Japan.

A record 17.78 million international travelers went to Japan during the cited period as the Japanese yen weakened against other currencies, including the Korean won.

And Koreans took up the largest share of these visitors with 4.44 million individuals, meaning one out of four international arrivals to Japan was from Korea.

Correspondingly, data from Hana Card, a Seoul-based card issuer, showed that spending made in Japan using the firms credit or check cards more than doubled from the previous year and amounted to 431.4 billion won ($312.81 million) in the first half of 2024.

Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University, said, Chinas visa policy is carefully orchestrated for diplomatic and economic purposes and it is anticipated to make full-fledged efforts to woo Korean tourists.

Seoul is leaned toward Washington amid the U.S.-China decoupling, whereas Beijings influence over Pyongyang is put to test over the Kim Jong-un regimes joining of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

According to Morgan Stanley, China is expected to expand its share of international tourists from 2.4 percent in 2019 to 6 percent by 2033, with inbound tourism contributing as much as 4 percent to gross domestic product (GDP) over the next decade from just under 1 percent

The multinational investment bank deemed that tourism thus could boost China on its path to economic recovery as the government pushes to spur more consumption, restructure property-market debt and spark productivity in the public and private sectors.

For instance, revenue coming from international travelers could go up from $77 billion in 2019 to $431 billion in 2033.

Plus, the influx of foreign tourists could add up to 35 million jobs in the sector over the next decade.

That figure is equivalent to 5 percent of the current total employment, and can improve productivity and consumption, Morgan Stanley explained.

Meanwhile, travel, aviation and hospitality stocks have been gaining ground following Chinas announcement of the visa-free policy.

Multiple travel companies are working on new tour packages by varying targeted age groups, while airlines are increasing their number of flights.
More than 3,700 North Koreans visited Russia during the third quarter this year for "study" purposes, marking the highest quarterly figure since 2010, a United States news outlet reported Saturday.

U.S. broadcaster Radio Free Asia (RFA) said a total of 5,263 North Korean nationals visited Russia during the July-September period, citing data from Russia's Federal State Statistics Service.

The number is comparable to the 5,591 recorded during the same period in 2019, after which it dropped to a double-digit low from 2020 to 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of this year's third-quarter figure, 3,765 visited Russia for study purposes, a sharp increase from 38 in the first quarter and 332 in the second quarter. For a third quarter, the 2024 figure marks the highest since 2010.

The RFA speculated that the visitors may be workers dispatched to Russia to earn and send back foreign currency.

Alternatively, they may be linked to North Korea's deployment of troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine, the RFA said, noting that data suggested no recent dispatch of additional workers to Russia.

Last month, U.S. National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said North Korea moved at least 3,000 troops to Russia by ship during a period from early- to mid-October. (Yonhap)
North Korea staged GPS jamming attacks for the second consecutive day Saturday, affecting several ships and dozens of civilian aircraft, according to South Korea's military.

The jamming attacks were conducted in the North's Haeju and Kaesong areas, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, warning vessels and civilian aircraft operating in the Yellow Sea to beware of the attacks.

Military operations and equipment were not affected, according to the JCS.

"North Korea should immediately halt the GPS provocation," the JCS said, warning it will be held accountable for its actions.

The latest threat came three days after the South's military detected a similar movement Tuesday.

The GPS jamming attacks this week, however, involved a weaker signal compared with the multiple attacks the North conducted near the northwestern border areas between May 29 and June 2, according to a JCS official.

In June, South Korea raised the North's repeated GPS jamming with three relevant international agencies  the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO)  requesting due measures to be taken for the provocations.

North Korea is a member of the ITU, ICAO and IMO.

In response, the ICAO adopted a decision raising serious concerns over North Korea's recent jamming of GPS navigation signals, specifying the North by its name for the first time. (Yonhap)
By Dale Quarrington

Like an unseemly scar, Dongguk Temple in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, is hidden away in a side street just off the main road. Dongguk Temple is a rather peculiar-looking Korean Buddhist temple that doesnt quite look like all the other traditional Buddhist temples in Korea. Dongguk Temple is one of only four Japanese-style Buddhist temples that was built during the 1910-45 Japanese occupation period that is still in existence in Korea.

The city of Gunsan, before it officially opened its west coast port to foreign trade on May 1, 1899, was nothing more than a city of 588 people. With a large-scale land development project for the city at this time, as well as through the implementation of a well-organized urban development plan, Gunsan was able to avoid the pitfalls of other port cities. As a result, Gunsan grew rapidly in size. From a population of only 588 individuals (511 Korean, 77 Japanese) in 1899, Gunsan would eventually grow to have a population of nearly 37,000 by the time of liberation in 1945. And of these 37,000 people, some 9,408 would be Japanese, which was nearly a quarter of the citys population.

With the opening of the port in Busan in 1877, and after the signing of the Japan-Korea Treaty of 1876, not only did it open Korea up to trade, but it also allowed Japanese Buddhism to enter Korea as well. This was done at the request of the Japanese government. And in 1904, a form of Japanese Pure Land Buddhism began missionary work in Gunsan. The reason for these sorts of efforts was to introduce Japanese Buddhism into Korea through missionary work to help culturally assimilate, on a much broader scale, Koreans into Japanese culture, language and history through religion.

In order to accommodate these efforts and the growing Japanese population in Korea, Buddhist temples like Dongguk Temple were built throughout the Korean Peninsula. When Dongguk Temple was first built in 1909, it was known as Geumgang Temple.

Geumgang Temple was a temple from the Soto School of Japanese Buddhism. It was a missionary center in Gunsan for Japanese Buddhists. The original Geumgang Temple was located in a rented house on Iljo Street. Then in 1913, and after receiving a large parcel of land in downtown Gunsan, Geumgang Temple was relocated to its current location. Like most Japanese Buddhist temples established in downtown Gunsan during the Japanese occupation, the temple enjoyed a favorable location near stores, banks and government offices.

In 1919, a temple bell was cast and a bell pavilion was added. In 1932, and according to a ridge beam inscription found inside the Daeung-jeon Hall, the main hall, the Founders Hall and the living quarters were all rebuilt. With its growing population, Geumgang Temple expanded its influence with the creation of three additional missionary centers in Gunsan in 1941.

As Korean monks started to live at Dongguk Temple in 1947, they began to change several architectural features. The former Japanese tatami mats were replaced with ondol (traditional Korean heated flooring), and the installation of a furnace led to the removal of the sliding doors at the back of the main hall, which was now known as a Daeungjeon Hall. During the 1950-53 Korean War, the Daeungjeon Hall was used as a headquarters for the North Korean Peoples Army. Also, there was originally an exit to the south of the bell pavilion, but when Geumgwang Elementary School was opened in 1953, the road was blocked and the temple exit was closed. Eventually, Dongguk Temple would become a Jogye Order temple and its name would change to its current name of Dongguk Temple.

Now, as you visit Dongguk Temple, with Geumgwang Elementary School to the south, you enter the temple grounds up an incline to the north. The original name of the temple, Geumgang Temple, can still faintly be seen on the entry gate posts to the temple. However, they have been vandalized.

Past the entry gate, and now squarely standing in the center of the compact temple grounds, the Daeungjeon Hall is built architecturally in the style of the Edo period (1603-1868). The Daeungjeon Hall consists of a single eave without the traditional Korean dancheong colors. In fact, the entire Daeung-jeon Hall is void of the traditional dancheong colors common to all Korean Buddhist temples. Also, its roof is long and sloping with a high pitched design. The outer walls of the building have several windows, which is also uncommon to Korean Buddhist architecture. What also differentiates this Japanese-style Daeungjeon Hall is the connecting corridor that goes from the main hall to the monks living quarters. The main hall was built using imported Japanese cedar trees that are traditionally used in the construction of Japanese Buddhist temples.

When you first approach the front entry to the Daeung-jeon Hall, you will notice that there are a pair of sliding wooden doors that need to be pushed open to gain entry. These steep, horizontal sliding doors are another feature of Japanese architecture. Stepping inside, the main altar triad dates back to 1650, and its a Korean Treasure. The triad is a rare combination inside a Daeungjeon Hall with Seokgamoni-bul (Historical Buddha) in the center joined by two of the Buddhas principal disciples: Ananda and Mahakasyapa.

The other temple structures that visitors can explore at Dongguk Temple are situated to the left of the Daeung-jeon Hall. And like the Daeung-jeon Hall, they are Japanese in style. The first is the diminutive Cheonbuljeon Hall. Stepping inside here, youll find a statue of Gwanseeum-bosal (Bodhisattva of Compassion) surrounded by a thousand small golden statues.

To the left of the Cheonbuljeon Hall, youll find the Japanese-style bell pavilion with the small bronze bell inside it from 1919. Next to the bell pavilion is The Statue of Peace, which is meant to symbolize the suffering of Korean victims of wartime sex slavery. It was added to the temple grounds in August 2015.

Dongguk Temple is a look back into Koreas tumultuous past. The temple is a reminder of the open wounds that still exist among Koreans when they think of Japanese colonial rule  and yet, its been allowed to stand, while so many other Japanese Buddhist temples have been demolished. Perhaps its a reminder that by looking back at the past, we can look forward to a brighter future that hopefully never forgets.

Dale Quarrington has visited over 500 temples throughout the Korean Peninsula and published four books on Korean Buddhism. He runs the website Dale's Korean Temple Adventures.
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Kim Myung-soo on Saturday inspected military readiness at a border general outpost and aboard the ROKS Yulgok Yi I, an Aegis-equipped destroyer.

Kim's visits came after North Korea staged GPS jamming attacks for the second consecutive day, affecting several ships and dozens of civilian aircraft.

"The enemy has been engaging in reckless provocations since the destruction of the Gyeongui and Donghae roads, including the launch of intercontinental and short-range ballistic missiles, as well as gray-zone provocations, like GPS jamming," Kim said during his visit to the GOP.

During his visit to the destroyer, Kim also urged the service members to strike and eliminate the enemy's command and support units in case of provocations. (Yonhap)
The nighttime search operation to find 12 missing crew members from a fishing boat that sank the previous day continued for a second day Saturday, the coast guard said.

The authorities have mobilized 47 ships and five aircraft to conduct the nighttime search for the missing crew, according to the Jeju Coast Guard.

The 129-ton Geumseong was carrying 27 crew members  16 Koreans and 11 Indonesians  when the Coast Guard received a distress call the previous day that the boat was sinking 24 kilometers off Jeju's Biyang Island.

Of the 27, 15 were rescued by a nearby vessel, including two who were found in a state of cardiac arrest and taken to nearby hospitals. The two, both Koreans, were later pronounced dead.

Aircraft will also be mobilized to drop 222 illumination flares to support the operation.

The Coast Guard, meanwhile, said the fishing boat is believed to be standing upright on the seafloor without having overturned. (Yonhap)
Korea's two top labor unions held separate rallies Saturday condemning the Yoon Suk Yeol administration's labor policies, resulting in some physical clashes with police trying to control the crowd.

An estimated combined 130,000 members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) simultaneously launched rallies in two different parts of Seoul.

The KCTU, the largest umbrella labor union in the country, called for the resignation of Yoon, claiming he has neglected workers' rights while taking control of broadcasting outlets.

The KCTU claimed that around 100,000 members participated in the rally held in central Seoul.

The FKTU, meanwhile, also held a separate rally in western Seoul, demanding the government enhance the workplace safety law to penalize employers for serious industrial accidents.

The rallies caused traffic congestion in parts of central Seoul, resulting in an average traffic speed of 7.1 kilometers per hour as of 5:30 p.m. (Yonhap)
By Robert Neff

In the summer of 1900, Francis Arthur Coleridge, a 30-year-old Englishman with the Indian Civil Service, made a brief visit to Wonsan aboard the Japanese steamship Tarien Maru. Coleridge had a keen eye for detail and a deft pen in describing the port  its charms and vexations. There were things that he found intriguing and quaint, while others struck him as frustrating, yet amusing  the Korean post office being one of the latter.

Coleridge described the Korean post office as tucked away in one of the most out-of-the-way places in the town with no signs indicating its location. He called it the most primitive of places noting that it lies inside a little court-yard and consists of two little wooden rooms with a little wooden verandah.

Korea had recently joined the Postal Union and had introduced six varieties of stamps of its own in addition to a full issue of Japanese stamps with the word Corea sur-charged on them Judging by the abundance of postcards and envelopes from this period, there was a keen interest in Korean and Japanese postage stamps mailed from the Korean Peninsula. Not only were these stamps unique, they were also fairly expensive and thus prized by collectors around the world. Travelers often covered their cards with stamps, leaving just enough room for very short messages.

When Coleridge entered the post office, he was immediately greeted by the entire staff  five men, including the postmaster. When he made it known that he wanted four sets of stamps, the employees began to calculate the cost. Apparently unaccustomed to such a large purchase, each staff member presented him with a different total.

Of course, Coleridge was partially to blame. Ordinary letters were sent through the Japanese post office but Coleridge wanted send his family something special:

Thinking to puzzle them, I insisted on registering a letter to England. After much talk it was settled how many stamps extra I must put on, and to my astonishment the Post Master gave me a perfectly formal receipt, written in French. I have kept this as a curiosity as it is No. 1 registered letter sent from Gensan Corean Post Office.

When he went to pay, he encountered a new problem. Even though silver trade dollars and Japanese yen were supposedly accepted at the port, they were not accepted in the post office. He wrote: Here I first had to deal in cash, a horrible brass coin with a hole in it of which 640 went to a dollar or two shillings. Adding to the problem, the stamps were valued in Poons and Cheungs and no one seemed to know how many of these go to a dollar.

Despite the initial difficulties, he was able to send off his letter. However, he was disappointed to discover later that by the time it arrived in England, two of the stamps had been removed by some unknown, unscrupulous collector.

Almost a year later, Charles Henry Hawes, an Englishman, and his American companion had a similar experience. Hawes described the Korean post office as a Magistrature; a series of bow-roofed courts which to a Westerner suggested stables.

In the furthest building of the post office, they were politely greeted by two white-robed and black-hatted officials. Through their interpreter, the Westerners managed to convey their desire to purchase a goodly number of stamps, for there were several issues still extant, and the youthful stamp collectors at home would expect us to do our duty that day.

Once again, the officials were taken aback by the large number of stamps Hawes and his companion wanted to purchase, initiating the difficult work of calculation. Hawes wrote:

The head official resorted as usual in the East to the abacus, but such an abnormal purchase presented unusual difficulty. The sum had been done in my head, and we differed. The chief assayed again, and so did his assistant, but with differing results. At last, discarding the abacus for a slate, he commenced a long addition sum, for fifteen twos (a portion of the calculation) apparently in Korea do not make thirty by multiplication, but only by addition. To our great mutual satisfaction the slate confirmed me in my solution of this tremendous problem.

Once the transaction was completed, the two officials agreed to allow the Westerners to take a photograph of them and the post office. This is one of the earliest pictures of Wonsans Korean post office. Unfortunately, we do not know if Hawes letter made it to England with its full complement of stamps.

As a boy, I remember eagerly waiting for the postal carriers arrival, ready to harvest stamps from the letters my parents received from friends, family or from one of my many pen pals. Those stamps sparked in me a curiosity about the world. However, technology  mainly email and text messaging  has now rendered stamp-covered envelopes a thing of the past.

My appreciation to Diane Nars for her invaluable assistance.

Robert Neff has authored and co-authored several books, including Letters from Joseon, Korea Through Western Eyes and Brief Encounters.
President-elect Donald Trump put billionaire Elon Musk on the line with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy when the Ukrainian leader called to congratulate the incoming U.S. president, according to a Ukrainian official with direct knowledge of the phone call.

The person, who was not authorized to comment on the matter publicly, confirmed that Zelenskyy and Musk spoke during the call with Trump, but that Musk did not appear to be on the line for the entire conversation Wednesday. Trump seemingly handed his phone over to Musk, the person said, and the Ukrainian president thanked the SpaceX owner for assisting his country with access to the Starlink satellite internet platform.

The presence of Musk on the call highlights his influence in the president-elects circle. Trump has mused that Musk could have a formal role in his administration that focuses on government efficiency, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest given SpaceXs lucrative government contracts.

Trumps interactions with Zelenskyy are being closely watched as he prepares to take over the presidency Jan. 20 and has signaled a shift in Washingtons steadfast support for Ukraine against Russias nearly three-year-old invasion.

Trump has promised to swiftly end the war and suggested that Kyiv should agree to cede some territory to Moscow in return for peace, a condition Zelenskyy has rejected.

It was under Trump that the United States first sent weapons to Ukraine in its fight against Russia, in 2017. Those Javelin anti-tank missiles were crucial to Ukraines initial ability to fend off the full-scale invasion in 2022.

President Joe Biden's administration has sent tens of billions of dollars in military and economic assistance to Ukraine, drawing criticism from Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance, who are wary of U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts and suggested the money could better be spent domestically.

Trump has promoted his good relationship with President Vladimir Putin and called the Russian leader pretty smart for invading Ukraine. He characterized Zelenskyy as the greatest salesman on earth for winning U.S. aid.

Zelenskyy is one of dozens of world leaders, business executives and political leaders to speak with Trump, who has been at his private club and residence in Florida, in the days since he won the White House.

The Trump transition said it would not comment on private meetings.

Axios was first to report on Musk's presence on the Trump-Zelenskyy call. (AP)
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China summoned the Philippines' ambassador Friday to express its objection to two new laws in the Southeast Asian nation asserting maritime rights and sovereignty over disputed areas of the South China Sea, its foreign ministry said.

China made "solemn representations" to the ambassador shortly after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the Maritime Zones Act and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act into law to strengthen his country's maritime claims and bolster its territorial integrity.

The Maritime Zones law "illegally includes most of China's Huangyan Island and Nansha Islands and related maritime areas in the Philippines' maritime zones," Beijing's foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, using the Chinese names for Scarborough Shoal and the Spratly Islands respectively.

Beijing has rejected a 2016 ruling by The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration which said its expansive maritime claims over the South China Sea had no legal basis, in a case that was brought by Manila. The United States, a Philippine ally, backs the court's ruling.

Marcos said the two laws he signed, which define maritime entitlements and set designated sea lanes and air routes, were a demonstration of commitment to uphold the international rules-based order, and protect Manila's rights to exploit resources peacefully in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

"Our people, especially our fisher folk, should be able to pursue their livelihood free from uncertainty and harassment," Marcos said. "We must be able to harness mineral and energy resources in our sea bed."

But Beijing said the laws were a "serious infringement" of its claims over the contested areas.

"China urges the Philippine side to effectively respect China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, to immediately stop taking any unilateral actions that may lead to the widening of the dispute and complicate the situation," Mao said.

Beijing, which also has sovereignty disputes with the other countries in the region, has enacted domestic laws covering the South China Sea, such as a Coast Guard Law in 2021 that allows it to detain foreigners suspected of trespassing.

China uses an armada of coastguard ships to assert its claims, and routinely accuses vessels of trespassing in areas of the South China Sea that fall inside the EEZs of its neighbours.

It has clashed repeatedly with the Philippines in the past year.

Philippine officials acknowledged the challenges they face in implementing the new laws, with one author, Senator Francis Tolentino, saying he did not expect a reduction in tensions.

"China will not recognise these, but the imprimatur that we'll be getting from the international community would strengthen our position," Tolentino told a press conference.

The United States on Friday backed the Philippines.

"The passage of the Maritime Zones Act by the Philippines is a routine matter and further clarifies Philippine maritime law," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. (Reuters)
Germany marked 35 years since the Berlin Wall fell with festivities from Saturday under the theme "Preserve Freedom!" as Russia's war rages in Ukraine and many fear democracy is under attack.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz  whose coalition dramatically collapsed this week  said in a message to the nation that the liberal ideals of 1989 "are not something we can take for granted."

"A look at our history and at the world around us shows this," added Scholz, whose three-party ruling alliance imploded on the day Donald Trump was re-elected, plunging Germany into political turmoil and towards new elections.

November 9, 1989 is celebrated as the day East Germany's dictatorship opened the borders to the West after months of peaceful mass protests, paving the way for German reunification and the collapse of Soviet Communism.

One Berliner who remembers those momentous events, retiree Jutta Krueger, 75, said about the political crisis hitting just ahead of the anniversary weekend: "It's a shame that it's coinciding like this now." "But we should still really celebrate the fall of the Wall," she said, hailing it as the moment East Germans could travel and "freedom had arrived throughout Germany."

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will kick off events Saturday at the Berlin Wall Memorial, honouring the at least 140 people killed trying to flee the Moscow-backed German Democratic Republic (GDR) during the Cold War.

In the evening, a "freedom party" with a music and light show will be held at Berlin's iconic Brandenburg Gate, on the former path of the concrete barrier that had cut the city in two since 1961.

On Sunday, the Russian protest punk band Pussy Riot will perform in front of the former headquarters of the Stasi, the former East Germany's feared secret police.

Pro-democracy activists from around the world have been invited for the commemorations -- among them Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and Iranian dissident Masih Alinejad.

Talks, performances and a large-scale open-air art exhibition will also mark what culture minister Claudia Roth called "one of the most joyous moments in world history."

Replica placards from the 1989 protests will be on display along four kilometres of the Wall's route, past the historic Reichstag building and the famous Checkpoint Charlie.

Also among the art installations will be thousands of images created by citizens on the theme of "freedom", to drive home the enduring relevance of the historical event.

'Populism and division'

Berlin's top cultural affairs official Joe Chialo said the theme was crucial "at a time when we are confronted by rising populism, disinformation and social division."

Axel Klausmeier, head of the Berlin Wall foundation, said the values of the 1989 protests "are the power-bank for the defence of our democracy, which today is being gnawed at from the left and the right."

Most East Germans are grateful the GDR regime ended but many also have unhappy memories of the perceived arrogance of West Germans, and resentment lingers about a remaining gap in incomes and pensions.

These sentiments have been cited to explain the strong support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in eastern Germany, as well as for the Russia-friendly and anti-capitalist BSW.

Strong gains for both at three state elections in the east in September highlighted the enduring political divisions between eastern and western Germany over three decades since reunification.

While the troubled government led by Scholz's Social Democrats and the opposition CDU strongly supports Ukraine's fightback against Russia, the anti-establishment AfD and BSW oppose it.

The AfD, which rails against immigration, was embarrassed this week when several of its members were arrested as suspected members of a racist paramilitary group that had practiced urban warfare drills.

On the eve of the anniversary of the Berlin Wall's fall, government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann recalled that the weekend will also mark another, far darker chapter in German history.

During the Nazis' Kristallnacht or Night of Broken Glass pogrom of November 9-10, 1938, at least 90 Jews were murdered, countless properties destroyed and 1,400 synagogues torched in Germany and Austria.

Hoffmann said that "it is very important for our society to remember the victims... and learn the correct lessons from those events for our conduct today." (AFP)
Iran urged U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, Saturday, to reconsider the "maximum pressure" policy he pursued against Tehran during his first term.

"Trump must show that he is not following the wrong policies of the past," Iranian Vice President for Strategic Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif told reporters.

Zarif, a veteran diplomat who previously served as Iran's foreign minister, helped seal the 2015 nuclear accord between Tehran and Western powers, including the United States.

The deal however was torpedoed in 2018 after the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from it under Trump, who later reimposed sanctions on Tehran.

In response, Iran rolled back its obligations under the deal and has since enriched uranium up to 60 percent, just 30 percent lower than nuclear-grade.

Tehran has repeatedly denied Western countries' accusations that it is seeking to develop a nuclear weapon.

Zarif also said Saturday that Trump's political approach towards Iran led to the surge in enrichment levels.

"He must have realised that the maximum pressure policy that he initiated caused Iran's enrichment to reach 60 percent from 3.5 percent," he said.

"As a man of calculation, he should do the math and see what the advantages and disadvantages of this policy have been and whether he wants to continue or change this harmful policy," Zarif added.

During his first term, Trump also ordered the killing of revered Iranian commander, Qasem Soleimani, who led the Revolutionary Guards' foreign operations arm, the Quds Force.

Soleimani was killed in a drone strike while he was in the Iraqi capital Baghdad in January 2020.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Thursday that he hoped the president-elect's return to the White House would allow Washington to "revise the wrong approaches of the past"  however stopping short of mentioning Trump's name.

On Tuesday, Trump told reporters he was "not looking to do damage to Iran."

"My terms are very easy. They can't have a nuclear weapon. I'd like them to be a very successful country," he said after he cast his ballot.

Trump's victory comes as Iran has exchanged direct attacks with its arch-nemesis, Israel, raising fears of further regional spillover of the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. (AFP)
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 10. The foreign assets of Iran's Central Bank increased by 614 percent by the end of the sixth month of the current Iranian year (September 20, 2024) compared to the same month of the previous year (September 21, 2023).

The data obtained by Trend from the country's Central Bank showed that the value of its foreign assets amounted to 21.7 quadrillion rials (about $48.8 billion) by the end of the sixth month of the current Iranian year. This figure stood at 3.04 quadrillion rials (about $6.84 billion) by the end of the same month of last year.

Moreover, statistics indicate that at the end of the sixth month, the value of the Iranian Central Bank's total (domestic and foreign) assets amounted to 38.8 quadrillion rials (roughly $87.4 billion). The total assets of the Central Bank of Iran increased by 128 percent by the end of the sixth month, compared to the same month last year. The value of the Central Bank's assets stood at about 17 quadrillion rials (about $38.2 billion) at the end of the same month last year.

To note, Iran was excluded from the SWIFT system in 2018 when the US imposed sanctions on Iran over the country's nuclear program. Iran's withdrawal from this system posed serious problems for the country's dealings with global banks. It left Iranian banks' branches and real estate in many countries practically untapped.
Prince Harry, the youngest son of King Charles III of Great Britain, may be deported from the United States, where he currently lives with his wife Meghan Markle. The reason for the forced resettlement of the Sussexes may be a personal conflict with Donald Trump.

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According to the Daily Mail, in the summer, the son of the Republican Party leader, Eric Trump, said that if his father wins the presidential election, he may well deport Elizabeth II's grandson. Amid the conflict, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle bought a house in Portugal last month.

What happened between Trump and the Sussexes

The first black cat in the relationship between Donald Trump and the Sussexes was in 2019. Back then, the Republican Party leader insulted Meghan Markle because she openly criticized him during the election campaign, where Joe Biden was his main opponent. A video of the politician saying: "I didn't know that. What can I say? I didn't know she was a scumbag."

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Later in 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex took part in a campaign video calling on Americans to "vote against hate speech." The video did not mention any specific names, but the words were interpreted as support for Joe Biden.

What caused Prince Harry's possible deportation

In 2023, Prince Harry released his memoirs "Spare," in which he admitted that he had used drugs recreationally at some point. He abused cocaine, cannabis, and psychedelic mushrooms, which, according to US law, could have been grounds for rejecting a visa application. In one of his interviews, Donald Trump suggested that the prince might not have mentioned drug addiction, which could indicate "special privileges" from the Joe Biden administration.

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According to the Daily Mail, after the publication of the biographical work of King Charles's son, the US research institute The Heritage Foundation filed a court application to make the prince's visa documents public, but it was rejected. The organization's director, Nile Gardiner, noted that the case could resume after Trump's victory.

"The release of Harry's immigration records would be a very good indicator of the rule of law being applied equally to everyone. There is a clear public interest in this. If Harry has nothing to hide, he should support the release of the records," Gardiner said.

According to attorney Michael Wildes, who previously worked with the Trump family, the politician has many "trump cards" that will help him implement Prince Harry's deportation. The only chance for the Duke of Sussex to stay in the United States may be a green card, which will guarantee "very strong protection" in immigration court.

Where the Sussexes will fly to

About a month ago, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle purchased real estate on the coast of Melides, which is not far from the Portuguese capital, Lisbon. A source close to members of the British royal family said that this purchase was not made without reason. According to the source, the Sussexes are working hard to establish good ties in the country.

"In addition, we can expect to see more of Prince Harry in the UK," the insider said.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The Christmas holidays are almost upon us, and many people cheer themselves up in such a difficult time by watching themed movies. Some people watch the traditional Home Alone, Harry Potter, or classic Soviet comedies. However, if these films seem to be hackneyed, we would like to point out that there are other films that can make you feel festive and even help you believe in miracles.

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A Christmas Prince, One Magic Christmas, Last Holiday, Office Christmas Party, and others will help to create the atmosphere and warm up the mood. OBOZREVATEL has prepared a selection of films that will help you believe in miracles (to watch the video, scroll to the end).

1. A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding

An American romantic comedy film about a journalist named Amber. She is assigned to write an article about the life of Prince Richard Charlton, with whom she soon falls in love. They get married and prepare for the birth of their first child.

Release date: 2018;

Genre: drama, romance;

Starring: Rose McIver, Ben Lamb, Alice Krige, Sarah Douglas and others.

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2. One Magic Christmas

A Christmas fairy tale with a dramatic plot. The plot centers on Ginny Grainger, who has forgotten the joy of Christmas. She meets an angel who helps her believe in miracles and gives her a sense of celebration.

Release date: 1985;

Genre: family, fantasy;

Starring: Mary Steenburgen, Gary Basaraba, Harry Dean Stanton, Arthur Hill, Elisabeth Harnois and others.

3. Last Holiday

Georgia Byrd, a kitchen counter saleswoman, one day unexpectedly learns that her days are numbered, so she decides to realize her long-held dream and goes to a fashionable European resort. She is mistaken for a rich, eccentric person, which she takes advantage of.

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Release date: 2006;

Genre: comedy, romance;

Starring: Queen Latifah, Alicia Witt, Gerard Depardieu and others.

4. Office Christmas Party

On the eve of the holidays, many companies organize corporate parties where everyone has fun and enjoys themselves. Employees of an IT company run by Clay Wenstone were no exception, and they were looking forward to the party. But one day, his sister, who owns a stake in the company, decides to close the branch and Clay comes up with a plan to save the organization.

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Release date: 2016;

Genre: comedy;

Starring: Jason Bateman, Olivia Munn, T.J. Miller, Jennifer Aniston, Kate McKinnon and others.

5. A Boy Called Christmas

The feature film is based on the book of the same name by Matt Haig. The movie tells the story of a boy named Nikolas who travels north in search of his father.

Release date: 2021;

Genre: fantasy, family;

Starring: Henry Lawfull, Maggie Smith, Joel Fry, Michiel Huisman and others.

6. The Holiday

The film tells the story of two women, one living in London and the other in Los Angeles. They face disappointments in their lives and decide to swap houses for a holiday. Soon, each meets her love and becomes happy.

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Release date: 2006;

Genre: romance, comedy;

Starring: Jude Law, Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet and others.

7. Happiest Season

The plot centers on a young woman who plans to propose to her girlfriend during the family's annual holiday when she finds out that her beloved has not yet told her conservative parents that she is a lesbian.

Release date: 2006;

Genre: romance, comedy;

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Dan Levy, Clea DuVall and others.

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8. A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas

Old friends quarrel over a destroyed Christmas tree. They set out to find a new green beauty and get into a crazy adventure. On the way, they meet Santa Claus, who was accidentally shot, and his friend.

Release date: 2011;

Genre: romance, comedy;

Starring: Kal Penn, Neil Patrick Harris, John Cho, Paula Garces and others.

9. Last Christmas

A woman named Kate, who works in a Christmas shop, abuses alcohol and has long since given up worrying about her personal life. But one day she meets a nice man named Tom, who changes her life and consciousness.

Release date: 2019;

Genre: romance, comedy;

Starring: Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding, Emma Thompson, Michelle Yeoh and others.

10. Holidate

The film tells the story of two strangers who are tired of spending the holidays alone and decide to celebrate Christmas, New Year and other holidays together. They maintain a platonic relationship throughout the year but soon fall in love with each other.

Release date: 2020;

Genre: romance, comedy;

Starring: Emma Roberts, Luke Bracey, Kristin Chenoweth, Nicola Peltz, and others.
Gardai are appealing to the public for assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 15-year-old Calum Kavanagh who is reported missing from Ballylinan, Co. Laois, since Thursday 7th November 2024. Calum was last seen at approximately 6.45am.

Calum is described as being approximately 5 foot 10 inches in height with a slim build, brown hair and brown eyes.

When last seen, Calum was wearing a black tracksuit, a light blue jacket and black runners.

Calum is known to frequent the Clondalkin area of Dublin.

Gardai and Calums family are concerned for his welfare.

Anyone with any information on Calum's whereabouts is asked to contact Portlaoise Garda Station on 057 867 4100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
Washington, Nov 9 (AP) The Justice Department on Friday disclosed an Iranian murder-for-hire plot to kill Donald Trump, charging a man who said he had been tasked by a government official before this week's election with planning the assassination of the Republican president-elect.

Investigators were told of the plan to kill Trump by Farhad Shakeri, an accused Iranian government asset who spent time in American prisons for robbery and who authorities say maintains a network of criminal associates enlisted by Tehran for surveillance and murder-for-hire plots.

Also Read | The Australia Today' Issues Statement After Canada Blocks Broadcast of EAM S Jaishankar's Press Meet, Calls Action 'Murder of Free Press'.

Shakeri told the FBI that a contact in Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard instructed him this past September to set aside other work he was doing and assemble a plan within seven days to surveil and ultimately kill Trump, according to a criminal complaint unsealed in federal court in Manhattan.

The official was quoted by Shakeri as saying, We have already spent a lot of money" and that money's not an issue. Shakeri told investigators the official told him that if he could not put together a plan within the seven-day timeframe, then the plot would be paused until after the election because the official assumed Trump would lose and that it would be easier to kill him then, the complaint said.

Also Read | Russia Issues Demarche to Canadian Diplomat, Summons Head of Embassy in Moscow Over 'False Accusations' of 'Russian Sabotage' Against NATO Countries.

Shakeri is at large and remains in Iran. Two other men were arrested on charges that Shakeri recruited them to follow and kill prominent Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad, who has endured multiple Iranian murder-for-hire plots foiled by law enforcement.

I'm very shocked, said Alinejad, speaking by telephone to The Associated Press from Berlin, where she was about to attend a ceremony to mark the anniversary of the tearing down of the wall. This is the third attempt against me and that's shocking.

In a post on the social media platform X, she said, "I came to America to practice my First Amendment right to freedom of speech  I don't want to die. I want to fight against tyranny, and I deserve to be safe. Thank you to law enforcement for protecting me, but I urge the U.S. government to protect the national security of America."

Lawyers for the two other defendants, identified as Jonathan Loadholt and Carlisle Rivera, did not immediately return messages seeking comment. Iran's U.N. Mission declined to comment.

Shakeri, an Afghan national who immigrated to the U.S as a child but was later deported after spending 14 years in prison for robbery, also told investigators that he was tasked by his Revolutionary Guard contact with plotting the killings of two Jewish Americans living in New York and Israeli tourists in Sri Lanka. Officials say he overlapped with Rivera while in prison as well as an unidentified co-conspirator.

The criminal complaint says Shakeri disclosed some of the details of the alleged plots in a series of recorded telephone interviews with FBI agents while in Iran. The stated reason for his cooperation, he told investigators, was to try to get a reduced prison sentence for an associate behind bars in the U.S.

According to the complaint, though officials determined that some of the information he provided was false, his statements regarding a plot to kill Trump and Iran's willingness to pay large sums of money were determined to be accurate.

The plot, announced by the Justice Department just days after Trump's defeat of Democrat Kamala Harris, is part of what federal officials have described as ongoing efforts by Iran to target U.S government officials, including Trump, on U.S soil. Last summer, for instance, the Justice Department charged a Pakistani man with ties to Iran in a murder-for-hire plot targeting American officials.

There are few actors in the world that pose as grave a threat to the national security of the United States as does Iran, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement Friday. FBI Director Christopher Wray said the case shows Iran's continued brazen attempts to target U.S citizens, including Trump, other government leaders and dissidents who criticize the regime in Tehran.

Iranian operatives also conducted a hack-and-leak operation of emails belonging to Trump campaign associates in what officials have assessed was an effort to interfere in the presidential election and harm Trump's campaign.

Intelligence officials have said Iran opposed Trump's reelection, seeing him as more likely to increase tension between Washington and Tehran. Trump's administration ended a nuclear deal with Iran, reimposed sanctions and ordered the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, an act that prompted Iran's leaders to vow revenge.

Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said the president-elect was aware of the assassination plot and nothing would deter him from returning to the White House and restoring peace around the world. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
A Laois family is holding their fourth annual Road To Recovery fundraiser, in aid of Friends of Portlaoise Hospital, a non-profit organisation, which aims to provide the hospital with much needed supplies.

Taking to their Facebook page, Friends of Portlaoise Hospital expressed their delight at being this year's road run beneficiaries, while thanking Toney, and his family for supporting them.

They organisation said, "This is a fantastic event, and we encourage everyone to mark the date in their calendars and come out and support the cause. Your presence on the day will mean to much to us."

Father and daughter Toney and Niamh Ryan, from Pike of Rushall near Castletown, are holding their vehicle road run across Laois, an event, which sees vans, jeeps, 4X4 cars, vintage cars, and trucks take part.

This run is close to the family's heart as Toney was diagnosed with skin cancer, and successfully overcame it, thanks to the treatment he received at St James's Hospital in Dublin.

READ MORE: Fianna Fail make last minute addition to Laois General Election ticket

The father and daughter wanted to give back in some way, and so, the 'Road to Recovery' fundraiser was born in 2021, raising thousands since for charities and organisations.

The event will start in Castletown Community Centre, just outside Mountrath, on Sunday, February 23, 2025.

Registration opens at 12.30, at 20 per vehicle and the run starts at 2pm. Refreshments will be served before and after the run with a big raffle taking place after the run.

More information is still to come, but in the meantime, you can donate to the fundraiser here.
Wishes come true for those who know how to dream. And on New Year's Eve, the power of thought is incredible. Therefore, you should make a wish for something special, using at least a few interesting "magic rituals".

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OBOZREVATEL tells you how this is done in different countries.

Spain

The most delicious way to make a wish was invented by the Spaniards. While the chimes are ringing, you should peel a tangerine and eat it slice by slice, making your wishes. The seeds should be spit out before the clock strikes midnight. If you do it in time, your dreams will come true within a year.

Cuba

Cubans also love sweet magical rituals, so grapes are always on the table. You have to swallow one berry at every stroke of the clock at 12 a.m. and say what you want to get next year.

France

In this country, the attitude to wishes is as serious as possible. For the holiday, the French make a pie and put one bean in it. Whoever gets it becomes the boss of the house for the whole day. Everyone has to fulfill their every whim.

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Bulgaria

At midnight, Bulgarians turn off the lights and look for someone to kiss. If they find their soul mate or Santa Claus in complete darkness, their wish will come true. And if they are unlucky, they may have a fight with their loved one.

USA

Every year, thousands of spectators gather in New York's Times Square to watch a balloon descend from a height of 23 meters and confetti fall from the sky. And these are no ordinary pieces of paper. Each of them has wishes written on it from people around the world. You can join the action virtually by posting your dream on social media with the tag #confettiwish.

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Scotland

The Scots make their wishes not to Santa Claus, but to fire. You need to light a fireplace or a candle and whisper your cherished dream next to it. This way it will definitely come true.

England

Many English couples have common plans, so they make them together. The main thing to do is to do it under a wreath or a decoration made of mistletoe branches, and then kiss.

South Korea

Koreans do not like to celebrate the New Year all night, so they go to bed and get up in the morning with the first rays and tell the sun everything they want to have or change in the near future.

Brazil

In this country, it is customary to celebrate the New Year on the beach. So, to the sound of chimes and fireworks, Brazilians write their wishes on paper, make a boat out of it, and let it go into the water.

India

Indians celebrate the old year at a completely different time - at the end of March. However, they have an interesting idea of how to convey a dream directly to the gods. You simply write it on a kite and let it fly into the sky.

However, the main thing is not how you make a wish, but how much you believe in its fulfillment. The more you want something, the faster it will come into your life.
A brave Laois boy Reilly Kinahan, 12, from Portlaoise is preparing for the longest walk of his life on Christmas Eve.

Reilly who has Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy and Autism, will try to walk 3km with the help of his stability assistance dog Miller, a challenge he has set for himself that may be slow and could be painful.

A pupil of the Aoibhneas Autism unit in Scoil Bhride NS, Reilly is doing his walk to raise money and awareness of the Irish Dogs for the Disabled charity, because of the lifechanging help they gave him.

Reilly began to walk and run without a frame at the age of four. However he could not balance and fell and hurt himself daily. Three years ago his lab Miller arrived from the charity and with his help, Reilly has relearned how to walk straighter and keep his balance, pushing himself to go further all the time.

It is now six months since he last had a fall and he can walk up to 2km every few days.

"Miller helps me on walks. He helps me balance more properly and helps me not fall. He's very chilled out when he's not working with me, lying everywhere, just basically dead! His favourite thing to play in the whole wide world is with his ball," Reilly told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

He was chosen as the charity's Laois champion, and Reilly is already a winner because within days of launching his fundraiser, it hit 2,000.

Reilly caught national attention in 2021 when he told Ed Sheeran he wasn't a fan of his song, on the Late Late Toy Show.

Reilly Kinahan from Portlaoise performing on the Toy Show with Ed Sheeran in 2021Credit: Andres Poveda Photography

His proud mother Yvonne Curtin told the Leinster Express / Laois Live about his brave challenge.

"Reilly is an amazing child. He chose to do this and give up his time on Christmas Eve. 3km will be his upper limit to walk, he will be in pain and very tired, it's definitely a challenge for him," she said.

Reilly has known he has Cerebral Palsy and Autism since he was diagnosed aged four, taking it in his stride.

"I always made sure that he had loads of confidence. I gave up work to care for him and do therapies every day.

"He would fall all the time because of his imbalance and bad habits in walking and running. He was crossing his legs and falling, he was used to it.

"When he is in school I used to get calls and he would be crying on the phone after a fall. He was cut all the time.

"When Miller arrived, he had to relearn how to walk with correct balance. He started by walking 100 metres and is now up to 2km every few days. Miller helped him with his core, his gait, his stability. It was the last piece of the puzzle for Reilly. He now walks without falling, even without Miller but he still needs him daily to keep it up," Yvonne said.

Reilly hopes to raise lots of money for the Irish Dogs for the Disabled charity.

"The stability dogs are given free to people of all ages with mobility issues, like CP, like Parkinsons, Multiple Sclerosis, Dystonia. It costs 15,000 to 20,000 to train each dog and Miller will be with Reilly until he retires.

"This year they picked 26 county champions to fundraise for them and Reilly is their champion for Laois. The money will go towards training more dogs, and to developing their national facility in Cork. It's an amazing service.

"When he walks on his own that's when I see it works, he isn't falling. I can see a huge boost in his confidence.," Yvonne said.

The more Reilly walks, the larger his muscles develop but it is not easy, with daily massages and exercises needed.

"He is fighting a battle all the time. In Cerebral Palsy your muscles are smaller and they shrink. Miller is helping him get stronger," his mother said.

"I think he's amazing. I'm so proud of him," she said.

See Reilly & Miller's 3km walk on idonate.ie
The Irish Steam Preservation Society has won the Arts, Culture and Heritage Award at the Laois Community and Voluntary Awards 2024.

This award recognises groups and organisations who enhance their local areas, by conserving, protecting and promoting the Arts, Culture and Heritage of their local community through collective creative activities.

The Irish Steam Preservation Society has been in existence for almost 60 years. The society is responsible for holding the annual National Steam Rally in Stradbally and is the home to the oldest Narrow Gage Railway.

Irish Steam Preservation Society Rally Secretary Kim McNamara, Company Secretary Nicola Glynn and Chairman Nigel Glynn were thrilled with their win at the awards.

It is great to accept an award on behalf of all of the volunteers because we wouldnt have got this award without all of their very hard work and dedication that they put into the society. Hours upon hours upon hours of work goes into creating the rally, creating our Santa train experience. There are so many volunteers and none of it would be possible without them, Nicola said.

All their hard work pays off and everyone has such a love for the society. Everyone puts their heart and soul into it and nobody expects anything in return. Its just to see the joy on kids faces, our elderly patrons who come and visit us every year, the amount of tourism we bring into Laois because of everything we do, it is phenomenal, she added.

The group received a Galway Crystal Trophy and prize money of 500 which was presented by the Interim Chief Executive of Laois County Council Mr Simon Walton.

The Runner-up in this category was Timahoe Male Choir which received prize-money of 250. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Ms Grainne Fleming of Kildare Public Participation Network said the standard was exceptionally high in this category. She said that all the community groups and projects within the county are a credit to the outstanding commitment to volunteerism in Laois and wishes you all continued success in the years to come.

This award is sponsored jointly by the Arts and Heritage offices of Laois County Council.

The other nominees for the Arts, Culture and Heritage Award were:

Crafty Dreams Studio

Ukrainian Laois Support Association

Suiamhneas Community Childcare Services

Midlands Ukrainian Association

Portlaoise Musical Society

My Brat Bhride Community Project

Labras

Tonduff Cillin.

The award was presented with the award at a gala reception in the Midlands Park Hotel on Friday, November 8.

This is the 15th year of the awards which were hosted by Laois County Council in association with Laois Public Participation Network and sponsored by People First Credit Union.

Here are the profiles of the Arts, Culture & Heritage nominees:

Crafty Dreams Studio: Crafty Dreams collective goal is the use of Irish fleece in crafts and to keep the heritage crafts alive in Ireland by spreading this knowledge both near and far. Crafty Dreams Studio has achieved so much in such a short time since they began. They have brought a lot of joy to the group, connected similarly interested people nationwide.

Ukrainian Laois Support Association: What started as a cultural and social space for Ukrainians has grown into a choir performing both Ukrainian and Irish songs. The group have participated in numerous events in Laois and throughout Ireland. The choir aims to promote both Ukrainian and Irish cultures as act to facilitate and integrate Ukrainians into Irish society.

Suiamhneas Community Childcare Service: Suaimhneas Community Childcare provides childcare with an early learning experience that supports them with their developmental stages in partnership with parents. They include learning about all the different nations in the service (currently 16 nationalities). The community and families benefit through the children being well prepared for school and learning inclusivity, love, caring and equality from an early age.

Midlands Ukrainian Association

Midlands Ukrainian Association: The Association's main objectives are to support the cultural, humanitarian, educational needs of Ukrainians living in Ireland and abroad. MUA unites Ukrainians and promotes their development in Irish society. The group also seeks to retain Ukrainian traditions, language and culture.

My Brat Bhride Community Project: My Brat Bhride works tirelessly with the local community and communities all over Ireland to bring this innovative reinvented sustainable and authentic project to as many as possible. The group use upcycled and embroidered preloved scarves with spirals of colourful wool, gifting them to friends and family as Brigid healing shawls. This tradition of the Brat Bhride was quite normal in rural Ireland many years ago, when access to doctors was not as easy as it is today. The group have donated/gifted over 150 of our upcycled Brat Bhride scarves to famous faces and many requests by members of the public for unwell family members.

Portlaoise Musical Society: This year Portlaoise Musical Society celebrates its 25th Anniversary. For 25 years Portlaoise Musical Society have been an active and inclusive society in the heart of Portlaoise. The society is fully voluntary and every year a committee are nominated to prepare and select the show for that year. This year the group will be staging Guys and Dolls. Portlaoise Musical Society provides an outlet for those not involved in other activities/sports clubs and aims to engage people of all ages. Members can get involved onstage, or by assisting backstage, with props, front of house, etc.

LABRAS: LABRAS was founded in 2020 by a small group with connections to the Brazilian community in Laois, with a vision to unite the growing number of people in Laois from Brazil. LABRAS aims to offer support in day-to-day matters, help those new to the area to settle in, and organise events and activities to give opportunities to connect socially, while promoting Brazilian culture to the wider community and fostering an inclusive attitude towards migrant families.

Tonduff Cillin: The aim of this project is in creatively marking the burial site at Tonduff with a memorial stone is to commemorate the innumerable infants buried there in the past and to honour them. By remembering the babies in this way, it is hoped to provide some peace and closure for those affected.

Timahoe Male Choir: Having formed in 2023 Timahoe Male Choir brings together men from different backgrounds and family dynamics to sing and promote the cultural aspects of Timahoe. Some members are retired, others working different jobs and others are just passionate about songs. The group meet up weekly and collectively together unite in song.

Irish Steam Preservation Society: The Irish Steam Preservation Society have been in existence for almost 60 years. The society is responsible for holding the annual National Steam Rally in Stradbally and is the home to the oldest Narrow Gage Railway. More recently the group launched the first Steam Train Santa Experience in Ireland.

The Leinster Express / LAOIS LIVE is honoured to be the media partner.
President Michael D. Higgins has extended his congratulations to Donald Trump after his victory in the US election earlier this week.

In a statement by the President, he says: "Ireland has a long and deep connection with the United States and its people.

"I have conveyed my best wishes to President Elect Donald Trump, wishing him and the American people every good fortune for his term in office."

In the letter written to President-elect Trump, President Higgins emphasised the "valued relationship" between the US and Ireland, saying: "We will continue to build our relationship on the solid and mutually beneficial ground that our people have nurtured for the last hundred years."

READ NEXT: Risk of 'transatlantic trade shock' increased due to election of Trump says Taoiseach

He went on to say that the US has a significant connection to Ireland with the role the country played in securing peace in Northern Ireland.

President Higgins wrote: "These valued relationships are manifested both in the breadth and depth of our connections on so many levels, as well as in our extensive economic and cultural partnerships.

"In the political sphere, the enduring, bipartisan commitment of the United States to peace on the island of Ireland played a key role in delivering the Good Friday Agreement."

He did, however, highlight some "global concerns" that needed to addressed such as climate change, food insecurity and international conflict, saying: "I believe that achieving peace, ending global hunger, and having an effective multilateralism are al central challenges of our time, the solutions for which are so vital now and to which Ireland is committed."

This follows Taoiseach Simon Harris' expression of congratulations to Trump earlier in the week.
LIMERICK Chamber has unveiled its list of wishes for condidates contesting the general elections across the Mid-West.

With Ireland set to go to the polls to elect a new Dail, the Chamber - which is the largest business representative group in the region - has presented 'Mid-West Policy Priorities for the 2024 general election'.

The document offers a number of policy recommendations aimed at strengthening Limerick city, Limerick county and the wider Mid-West region.

READ MORE: Your favourite artists favourite club night: Chappell Roan gig to hit Limerick venue

It focuses on areas such as housing, business vitality enablers, energy independence, infrastructure, and balanced regional development.

Chamber president Noel Gavin said the document "underscores" the group's commitment to advocating for business in the region.

"Our manifesto highlights the need for addressing capital and social infrastructural gaps, enhancing housing affordability and availability, and providing vital support and training to develop a diverse range of business skills. We also emphasise the importance of increasing transport and trade links across land, air, and sea, as well as ensuring safer communities through enhanced policing. These priorities are essential for maintaining the Mid-West as a best-in-class destination to both live and do business in," he said.

Chamber chief executive Michelle Gallagher added: "The Mid-West policy priorities reflects Limerick Chambers commitment to

advocating for policies that not only support businesses but also address the wider needs of people living and working in the region."

The document was developed by Chamber chief economist Sean Golden in collaboration with its members and stakeholders,.

Among the calls in the document are affordable housing and socil housing, enablers to help revitalise Limerick city centre and towns across the region.

On top of this, it calls for energy independence through development at Foynes Port.
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A BRAZILIAN man went into the bedroom of a sleeping housemate after a party and sexually assaulted her, Limerick Criminal Court heard.

The accused, who cannot be named due to reporting restrictions, pleaded guilty to sexual assault at a house in Limerick in April 2020.

Prosecuting barrister John OSullivan, instructed by State solicitor Padraigh Mawe, outlined the evidence with the assistance of Garda Denise McCarthy. The accused is aged in his 40s, the victim is in her 30s.

Mr OSullivan said there was a small party on the night as the victim was moving out.

The court heard the victim is an Asian woman who had been living in the residence with two married Brazilian couples - one of whom is the accused.

Mr OSullivan said the victim went to bed at 1am.

Two others including the accused stayed up. Some time after 3am he entered her bedroom uninvited. She woke up to find him in her room and he proceeded to sexually assault her.

He roughly grabbed her breasts and touched her breasts while masturbating himself. He tried to insert his penis in her vagina. She pushed him off.

He put his fingers in her vagina and tried to masturbate her. She shouted help but nobody heard her, said Mr OSullivan.

The prosecuting barrister said on the following day the victim left the address and spoke to a friend before reporting the sexual assault to gardai.

He said the accused and the victim would not have known each other very well due to a language barrier. A Portuguese interpreter was in court. The victim didnt attend.

Mr OSullivan said the accused came to Limerick to study English in 2019. After he was arrested in July 2020 he denied the allegation and told gardai he was never in her bedroom.

Mr OSullivan said the victim attended the sexual assault treatment unit following the incident.

The barrister said the accused mans DNA was found on the victim's underwear and that there was no innocent explanation for this. There were also injuries to her neck and breasts.

Garda McCarthy said she approached the woman asking if she wished to provide a victim impact statement adding that she declined. She has suffered a lot with her mental health and she couldnt go through with it, she told the court.

The defendant, she confirmed, has no previous convictions.

READ MORE: Limerick Live crime and court stories

Amy Nix BL asked the court to note her clients guilty plea and in mitigation she spoke of the significant value of a plea in sexual assault cases as the victim does not have to be retraumatised in the witness box.

This appears to be a once-off, albeit a very serious once-off. He came here to learn English and has worked hard for the last four years.

He and his wife, who he lived in the house with, have gone their separate ways for separate reasons. He has remarried and his wife is waiting for him in Brazil to return once this is over. He is remorseful. I am instructed to say he is sorry, said Ms Nix.

Judge Sinead McMullen indicated she will impose sentence later this month as she requires time to consider her verdict.
Scientists have proposed a radical plan to stop the rapid melting of a massive Antarctic glacier. Otherwise, it could cause catastrophic flooding along the east coast of the United States, inundating coastal cities such as New York, Charleston, Atlantic City, and Miami.

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To avoid this, researchers have proposed installing a giant underwater curtain, artificially thickening glaciers with seawater, or cooling the rock they slide on. These actions would mitigate the warm water from reaching the Thwaites Glacier, also known as the "Doomsday Glacier," MailOnline writes.

The idea to stop the influence of warm currents on the glacier by erecting a giant underwater "curtain" in front of it was developed and proposed by glaciologist John Moore from the University of Lapland. The curtain would stretch 100 kilometers in length and could cost up to $50 billion to build. It can be fixed on the bottom of the Amundsen Sea, blocking warm underwater currents from reaching the lower part of the Thwaites Glacier. This would require engineering and construction work, not to mention significant financial investment. It also involves risks - blocking heat from sub-ice cavities could affect the entire coast of the Amundsen Sea.

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"For example, if the circulation of warm circumpolar deep water shifts west, it could affect other ice shelves, potentially reducing their stability, while changing local ecology in uncertain ways," the report says.

But Moore is continuing with his plan. He and his colleagues are working on computer modeling to get the design right.

Other experts believe they can reduce glacial melt by cooling the rocky base over which glaciers slide slowly.

"Our argument is that we should start funding this research now, so that we aren't making panicked decisions down the road when the water is already lapping at our ankles," says Douglas MacAyeal, a professor of geophysical sciences.

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Another proposal in the new report involves pumping seawater to the surface of the glacier where low air temperatures would cause it to freeze in place and thus make the glacier thicker. But the authors of the study warn that this idea is fraught with risks and costs. The salinity of seawater can damage the structural integrity of the ice, and the energy required to pump large volumes of seawater creates unsolved problems.

A British startup called Real Ice has been working on this solution since 2019. Field trials conducted earlier this year in Canada showed promising results, but its large-scale implementation would cost approximately $6 billion a year and require huge energy costs.

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This and other interventions discussed by scientists are examples of geoengineering solutions. They intentionally alter the planetary environment to counteract the effects of human-caused climate change. Some experts have labeled these ideas "radical," arguing that geoengineering will be difficult or impossible to achieve and will distract attention from the more necessary conversation about climate change.

"When we talk about glacial geoengineering, we need to tell the truth, which is that it's not a solution to climate change - at best, it's a painkiller," explains Gernot Wagner, a climate economist at the Columbia Climate School.

The Doomsday Glacier covers 120,000 square kilometers and loses about 50 billion tons of ice every year, accounting for about four percent of global sea level rise. It also acts as a natural dam that prevents the collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS), which covers 1,223,100 square kilometers.

Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
A 37-year old Irish man has been arrested after the death of a 31-year-old American woman in Hungarys capital, police said.

Mackenzie Michalski from Portland, Oregon, was reported missing on November 5 after she was last seen at a nightclub in central Budapest.

Police launched an investigation and reviewed security footage from local nightclubs where they observed holidaymaker Ms Michalski with a man later identified as the suspect on the night of her disappearance.

Police detained the man, an Irish citizen, on the evening of November 7.

Investigators said Ms Michalski and the suspect met at a nightclub and danced before leaving for the mans rented apartment.

The suspect, whom police identified by the initials LTM, allegedly confessed to the killing at the apartment, but said it had been an accident.

Police said he attempted to cover up his crime by cleaning the apartment and concealing Ms Michalskis body before purchasing a suitcase and placing her body inside.

He then rented a car and drove to Lake Balaton, around 90 miles south-west of Budapest, where he is said to have disposed of the body in a wooded area outside the town of Szigliget.

Video released by police showed the suspect guiding authorities to the location where he had left the body.

Ms Michalskis parents are currently in Budapest, police added.

According to a post on a Facebook group called Find Mackenzie Michalski, which was created on November 7, Ms Michalski, who was known as Kenzie, was a nurse practitioner who will forever be remembered as a beautiful and compassionate young woman.

At a candlelight vigil in Budapest on Saturday night, the victims father, Bill Michalski, told The Associated Press that he was still overcome with emotion at the death of his daughter.

There was no reason for this to happen, he said. Im still trying to wrap my arms around what happened  I dont know that I ever will.

Ms Michalski had visited Budapest before, and her father called it her happy place.

The history, she just loved it and she was just so relaxed here, he added. This was her city.
CONSULTANTS are being sought to prepare a business case to support Mayor John Moran's plans to develop 1,000 modular homes in Limerick.

A key plank of the mayor's programme for office, he is hoping to deliver the temporary homes for key workers in Limerick.

He has named them Smart homes - an acronym for Short-term Modular Affordable Rental Transition.

READ MORE: New French ambassador chose Limerick as her first stop on tour to the west

It's hoped these homes will provide affordable rental options on temporary sites as meanwhile homes, bridging the gap until permanent long-term housing solutions become available.

Mayor Moran said: "The Smart housing pis a vital step towards addressing the urgent housing needs in Limerick. We need to find ways to deliver much more supply, and to deliver it much faster than is being done now. I want to channel the power of the state where the markets alone are failing."

"This initiative focuses on much more flexible and cheaper rental supply, which will take pressure off rent costs and the need to buy. It has been my number one priority in my first few months. I am delighted that already we have a dedicated team in our council working on this working closely with colleagues in Dublin. We are now set up to leverage extra help. I am hoping that others out there who share my desire to disrupt the standard way of thinking, to find new solutions to our failing markets, will come forward and answer our call for help. Together we can show that there are alternatives that work," he added.

Additionally, the plan is expected to leverage upcoming major events, like the Ryder Cup, to accelerate key infrastructure projects, such as modular accommodation for workers, which can be repurposed for Limerick's housing stock to alleviate housing pressure.

To this end, Limerick City and County Council is seeking a multi-disciplinary consultancy team to prepare a preliminary business case in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure Infrastructure Guidelines December 2023.

It will evaluate whether modular homes are a cost-effective method for providing short-term affordable rental homes compared to other delivery options available including the traditional bricks and mortar building approach.

The case will also consider financial viability, available subventions, risk assessment, procurement delivery options and determine a preferred option to progress.

The evidence presented in this should contribute to the body of understanding on how modern methods of construction can support Limerick as a thriving city, supporting households at different life stages, with particular emphasis on alleviating demand pressure in the local housing market.

For more information on the plan, please click here

The closing date for quotations is 12pm on November 19, 2024.
Gujarat State Financial Q2 Results Live : Gujarat State Financial declared their Q2 results on November 7, 2024, revealing a significant downturn in performance as the topline revenue plummeted by 65.08% year-over-year. The company's losses also increased by 1.85% compared to the same quarter last year, raising concerns among investors.

When compared to the previous quarter, Gujarat State Financial reported a revenue decline of 35.54%, with losses increasing by 0.74%. This continuing trend of decreasing revenue highlights persistent challenges faced by the company in the current economic environment.

In terms of expenses, the Selling, General, and Administrative (SG&A) costs saw a decline of 7.26% quarter-over-quarter and an impressive reduction of 86.13% year-over-year. This indicates some level of operational efficiency being achieved by the management despite the declining revenues.

The operating income for the quarter was also down, falling by 1.21% compared to the previous quarter and decreasing by 3.16% year-over-year, further illustrating the financial struggles the company is facing.

Earnings Per Share (EPS) stood at -3.57 for Q2, which represents an increase of 3.39% year-over-year, though still reflects negative performance overall. The negative EPS continues to be a point of concern for shareholders and analysts alike.

Despite the challenges, Gujarat State Financial has shown some resilience with a 3.51% return over the past week. However, the company has reported a -3.28% return over the last six months, while year-to-date returns remain relatively positive at 38.61%.

Currently, Gujarat State Financial holds a market capitalization of 207.64 Crore, with its stock trading between a 52-week high of 39.96 and a low of 9.84, reflecting the volatility and uncertainty in the market.

Gujarat State Financial Financials Period Q2 Q1 Q-o-Q Growth Q2 Y-o-Y Growth Total Revenue 0.34 0.53 -35.54% 0.97 -65.08% Selling/ General/ Admin Expenses Total 0.3 0.33 -7.26% 2.19 -86.13% Total Operating Expense 35.58 35.34 +0.66% 35.13 +1.28% Operating Income -35.24 -34.81 -1.21% -34.16 -3.16% Net Income Before Taxes -31.45 -31.22 -0.74% -30.88 -1.85% Net Income -31.45 -31.22 -0.74% -30.88 -1.85% Diluted Normalized EPS -3.57 -3.49 -2.14% -3.69 +3.39%
PHOENIX (AP)  Voter rights groups on Saturday petitioned the Arizona Supreme Court to extend the deadline for voters to fix problems with their mail-in ballots following delays in vote counting and notifying voters about problems.

The American Civil Liberties Union and the Campaign Legal Center asked the state's high court in an emergency petition that the original 5 p.m. Sunday deadline be extended up to four days after a voter is sent notice of a problem.

The groups argued in the petition that tens of thousands of Arizonans stand to be disenfranchised without any notice, let alone an opportunity to take action to ensure their ballots are counted.

Because these ballots have not even been processed, Respondents have not identified which ballots are defective and have not notified voters of the need to cure those defects, the petition stated.

Arizona law says people who vote by mail should receive notice of problems with their ballots, such as a signature that doesnt match the one on file, and get a chance to correct it in a process known as curing.

The groups' petition noted that as of Friday evening more than 250,000 mail-in ballots had not yet been signature-verified. The bulk of them were in Arizona's most populous county, Maricopa County.

Just under 200,000 early ballots remained to be processed as of Saturday, according to estimates on the Arizona Secretary of States Office website.

Election officials in Maricopa did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

___
Most companies are starting to figure out how artificial intelligence will change the way they do business. Chegg is trying to avoid becoming its first major victim.

The online education company was for many years the go-to source for students who wanted help with their homework, or a potential tool for plagiarism. The shift to virtual learning during the pandemic sent subscriptions and its stock price to record highs.

Then came ChatGPT. Suddenly students had a free alternative to the answers Chegg spent years developing with thousands of contractors in India. Instead of Chegging" the solution, they began canceling their subscriptions and plugging questions into chatbots.

Since ChatGPTs launch, Chegg has lost more than half a million subscribers who pay up to $19.95 a month for prewritten answers to textbook questions and on-demand help from experts. Its stock is down 99% from early 2021, erasing some $14.5 billion of market value. Bond traders have doubts the company will continue bringing in enough cash to pay its debts.

Though Chegg has built its own AI products, the company is struggling to convince customers and investors it still has value in a market upended by ChatGPT.

Its free, its instant, and you dont really have to worry if the problem is there or not," Jonah Tang, an M.B.A. candidate at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, said of the advantages of using ChatGPT for homework help over Chegg.

A survey of college students by investment bank Needham found 30% intended to use Chegg this semester, down from 38% in the spring, and 62% planned to use ChatGPT, up from 43%.

My concern is that the headwinds to Cheggs top-line arent temporarytheyre more structural in nature," said Needham analyst Ryan MacDonald.

Dan Rosensweig, Cheggs CEO of more than a decade, stepped down in June after the stock cratered under his leadership. Chegg said Rosensweig notified the board of directors he planned to retire a year in advance.

Company veteran Nathan Schultz took over as CEO and laid off 441 employees, almost a quarter of Cheggs workforce. He has pushed for international expansion and outlined a plan for Chegg to become useful to students for more than just homework answers.

In an interview, Schultz said Chegg was dealing with a hangover from the growth it experienced during the pandemic and an uncertain outlook for classroom policies around AI. He said Chegg plans to target what he calls the curious learner" by offering more comprehensive answers and services such as counseling.

In moments of disruption, you have to focus on what you do best," he said.

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign conducted a study in the spring last year to see how ChatGPT had influenced cheating in an introductory programming course. They found students had overwhelmingly moved to ChatGPT from what the researchers called plagiarism hubs" such as Chegg.

It appeared that they completely shifted over from trying to find online solutions and copying them to just going to ChatGPT and having it generate solutions for them," said Craig Zilles, professor of computer science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The Chegg spokeswoman said, We take any attempt to misuse our platform extremely seriously, cooperate with official university investigations into allegations of cheating and invest in our technology and solutions to prevent such actions." OpenAI declined to comment.

Down 48% in a day

Chegg began as a message board for Iowa State University students, with a name that combines chicken" and egg." It evolved into a textbook rental company during the 2000s and began offering human-created online study guides in the 2010s.

Rosensweig, a former Yahoo executive who became CEO in 2010, managed Chegg like a fast-growing technology company. He spent top dollar on employee pay and starred in an Ashton Kutcher-produced reality show called Going From Broke," in which he dispensed financial advice to young people trying to repay student loan debt.

Around 2022, as Chegg was already struggling with late-pandemic turbulence in its business, employees asked for resources to develop AI tools for automating answers. Cheggs leaders initially denied the request, said a person who worked on the effort.

Immediately after ChatGPTs release, some Chegg employees thought the company wasnt at risk because of the chatbots propensity to make up incorrect answers.

But within months, Cheggs internal data showed students were increasingly turning to ChatGPT as a studying aid. Employees found some of the answers provided by GPT-4, the technology behind ChatGPT, scored higher on internal evaluations than answers from Cheggs human experts.

Around that time, Rosensweig met with Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. The pair agreed to develop a service called Cheggmate that would use Cheggs repository of millions of answers and GPT-4 to instantly answer student questions and generate quizzes.

As testing of Cheggmate began, Rosensweig said on a May earnings call that ChatGPT had begun eating into subscriber growth. Chegg pulled financial forecasts for the rest of the year, and its stock dropped 48% in a day.

By the following earnings call, Rosensweig said the companys AI features would no longer be called Cheggmate. He announced a second partnership with a startup called Scale AI that would help Chegg create more than two dozen AI systems for different academic disciplines.

More recently, company leaders have distanced themselves from Cheggmate, instead focusing on how the technology behind it is being infused across the company.

Well take Cheggmate, and well toss it off a building," Schultz said in the interview. It was never a thing."

Aping ChatGPT

The company used AI developed with Scale AI to answer homework and test questions that previously would have been outsourced to experts. It also revamped its website to greet visitors with a textbox that looks similar to ChatGPT. The OpenAI app asks, What can I help with?" Cheggs home page now asks, What would you like help with today?"

Cheggs automated answers have allowed it to provide homework answers at about one-quarter the cost of those produced by humans, the company has said. The new tools havent reversed subscriber losses, though.

Chegg reported an 11% revenue drop in the second quarter, its biggest annual decline since 2017. Wall Street analysts expect the company to report a 15% decrease in sales when it announces third-quarter earnings Tuesday.

Ahmed Assalmi, a fourth-year student at Taif University in Saudi Arabia, subscribed to Chegg recently for help on a computer engineering problem. He was disappointed with Cheggs solution, which said at the bottom, Instant responses come from subject-matter experts, AI models trained on Cheggs learning content or OpenAI."

I felt scammed," Assalmi said. He preferred the answer from ChatGPT, which he frequently uses for schoolwork.

Chegg said 91% of its users were satisfied with the product. Schultz said Chegg wanted to target students who need more than freely available answers from chatbots.

Weve given the company a road map that integrates AI in the right ways for us," he said. Now were in execution mode."

Write to Miles Kruppa at miles.kruppa@wsj.com

View Full Image How ChatGPT Brought Down an Online Education Giant
Asias rise has been stitched together by the textile industry. Across the continent, the production of t-shirts and trousers for the global market has drawn millions from fields to factories. No country exemplifies the power of this process more than Bangladesh. Since building its first export-orientated apparel factory in 1978, a joint venture with a South Korean firm, Bangladesh has turned its economy into a clothes-exporting powerhouse. The sector employs some 4m people, mostly women, and contributes 10% of the countrys GDP. Last year Bangladesh shipped $54bn-worth of garments, second only to China.

In recent months, though, the industry has been fraying at the seams. A months-long crackdown on student-led protests, which included a brutally imposed curfew, curtailed economic activity. Even after the demonstrations forced the resignation of Sheikh Hasina, the unpopular prime minister, unrest has not subsided. Empowered by the protests, several groups, including textile workers, have taken to the streets with fresh demands for the new government led by Muhammad Yunus, the interim leader. The country has also been beset by power failures. Gas shortages this year have forced factories to operate at lower capacity. Overall apparel exports will probably fall by 10-20% this year.

Other countries are hoping to take advantage of this. Despite being the worlds second-biggest producer of cottonwhich it exports to BangladeshIndia lags behind its neighbour in garment production, exporting a quarter as much by value in 2023. Recently a group of exporters based in Tiruppur, a textile hub in southern India, said it had earned fresh orders worth $54m because of the unrest in Bangladesh. Another group based outside Delhi said it had received 15% more orders in August from Zara, a Spanish fashion firm.

But seriously denting Bangladeshs dominance will be difficult. The current unrest is short-term. Factories are already operating again and the situation is improving, says Mehdi Mahbub, an industry analyst based in Dhaka. Moreover, Bangladesh still enjoys big advantages over its competitors. Labour costs remain lower than elsewhere. Unlike India, the country also enjoys preferential access to European markets. Above all, its history of textile production means that it is well-equipped to handle large orders. The head of sourcing at Gap says the American fashion brand remains cautiously optimistic about Bangladeshs future.

And India does not have the capacity to compete with Bangladesh at this stage, according to one industry insider. Too much policy attention is directed towards boosting capital-intensive sectors, such as electronics, instead of labour-intensive textiles, he says. Between 2016 and 2023 the value of Indian apparel exports fell by 15%, whereas Bangladeshs increased by 63%. A recent World Bank report points to Indias protectionist policies as the culprit. Average import tariffs on textiles and apparel, including on intermediate inputs used by local manufacturers, have increased by 13 percentage points since 2017, raising prices for producers.

For India, the bigger opportunity for growth might come from the decline of low-value garment production in China. But here too India will have to contend with competition, including from Bangladesh. According to the banks research, the two biggest beneficiaries from Chinas shrinking share of low-skill manufacturing exports like garments are Bangladesh and Vietnam. Meanwhile, the quality of jobs matters too; to improve that, the textile industries need to move up the value chain. Both Bangladesh and India are aiming to become developed countries over the next two decades. That requires weaving a more diverse and complex economic fabric.

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Buy or sell stocks: Indian stock market benchmarks- the Sensex and the Nifty 50- closed with losses for the week ended November 8, primarily due to foreign capital outflow amid concerns over weak Q2 earnings and elevated valuations. A 25 bps rate cut by the US Fed offered no relief as the market had already discounted it. The US-election-related uncertainty is over now, and the market's focus is back on fundamentals.

"The Indian market continues to experience consolidation due to heightened selling pressure from FIIs, driven by concerns over weak corporate earnings and premium valuations. This broad-based correction is particularly evident in sectors with excessive valuations," Vinod Nair, the head of research at Geojit Financial Services, observed.

"The anticipated slowdown in domestic Q2 GDP growth has further dampened market sentiment. Conversely, the appealing valuations of other Asian peers and ongoing stimulus measures by China are also contributing to the underperformance of the national market," said Nair.

Indian stock market outlook Despite the recent correction, the valuation of the Indian stock market remains elevated. Moreover, India Inc.'s September-quarter earnings have been softer, making investors cautious.

Experts see the zone near 24,000 as key support for the Nifty 50. A fresh wave of selloff may start if the index breaks below this level.

According to Amol Athawale, VP-Technical Research at Kotak Securities, 24,100 and 24,000 would act as key support zones for the Nifty 50. If the index sustains above the same, it could retest to the level of 24,500, and further upside may also continue, which could lift the index to 24,600. However, below 24,000, the sentiment could change, and traders may prefer to exit from long trading positions.

Sumeet Bagadia's stocks to buy Infosys | Buy in cash at  1,829.95 | Target price:  1,960 | Stop loss:  1,760 Infosys remains in a long-term uptrend. The stock has experienced a throwback from its consolidation range near record-high levels and has attempted to find support near demand zones.

It has shown signs of a strong reversal from a key demand area, indicating renewed buying interest at these support levels.

If the stock crosses and sustains above the 1,860 level, it may rally further toward the 1,960 mark.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is currently at 46.84, rebounding from the oversold zone.

This upward RSI movement supports the ongoing uptrend and indicates strengthening momentum, suggesting continued buying interest if price action aligns with these technical signals.

Infosys has also bounced off its 200-day EMA (exponential moving average), a significant long-term support level, though it remains below the 20-day and 50-day EMA levels.

Moving above these shortand medium-term EMAs could further confirm the uptrend, offering a stronger buying opportunity.

"Based on these technical indicators, we recommend taking a long position in Infosys at 1,829.95, with a stop-loss at 1,760 to manage risk and a target price of 1,960, aligning with the current favourable market sentiment," said Bagadia.

Hindustan Unilever | Buy in cash at  2,507.70 | Target price:  2,685 | Stop loss:  2,425 Hindustan Unilever recently experienced a sharp sell-off from higher levels.

The stock shows signs of support and has formed a bullish candle near key support levels, suggesting the possibility of a reversal if buying interest continues in this zone.

A sustained move above 2,530 could confirm the reversal and potentially trigger a rally toward the 2,685 level.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 31.40, with a positive crossover near the oversold zone.

This indicates strengthening momentum and supports the likelihood of an upward move if price action aligns.

Although Hindustan Unilever is trading below its key moving averages, including the 20-day, 50-day, and 200-day EMAs, the recent reversal suggests the stock may retest these levels.

"A decisive close above 2,530 would present a buying opportunity, with technical indicators and momentum favouring a short-term bullish outlook, targeting a move toward 2,685," said Bagadia.

Larsen & Toubro | Buy in cash at  3,660.30 | Target price:  3,990 | Stop loss:  3,505 Larsen & Toubro remains in a long-term uptrend. Over the past few months, the stock has been consolidating in a wide range near its record high levels.

Recently, it has shown a reversal from its demand zone, supported by increased trading volumes, signalling renewed buying interest and a potential resumption of the upward trend.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 59.49, indicating a sideways-to-upward momentum. This reflects strengthening investor sentiment and suggests that the stock may continue to trend higher if the positive momentum is sustained.

The stock trades above its key moving averages, including the 20-day, 50-day, and 200-day EMAs, further supporting the bullish outlook.

"Given the current technical indicators and price action, L&T appears well-positioned for a potential upward move. Investors might consider buying at 3,660.30, with a stop loss set at 3,505 to manage risk. The target of 3,990 aligns with key resistance levels and offers a favourable risk-reward ratio, making this a promising trading opportunity with the potential for further gains," said Bagadia.

Read all market-related news here
Penny stock Srestha Finvest is likely to draw investor attention on Monday, November 11, after the company announced it held an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on Friday, November 8, to approve a special resolution for raising capital through a QIP.

In an exchange filing post-market hours on November 8, the NBFC firm said that the EGM of its shareholders was held on November 8 at its registered office in Chennai.

At the EGM, special resolutions were presented to raise capital through a Qualified Institutions Placement (QIP) to eligible investors by issuing equity shares, issuing fully convertible equity warrants on a preferential basis, and approving an increase in the companys borrowing limits.

Srestha Finvest fundraising news On October 9, the company's board of directors approved raising funds by issuing equity shares with a face value of 1 each, amounting to a total of 100 crore through a Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP).

Also Read | Penny stock below Re 1 hits 5% upper circuit following THESE updates

The company intends to use the proceeds from the QIP for pre-payment and/or repayment of debts, working capital requirements, general corporate purposes, and other purposes that may be permissible under applicable laws.

The company's board also approved the issuance of up to 93 crore equity shares with a face value of 1 each at an issue price of 1.05, which includes a premium of 0.05 per share. Under the preferential issue, shares totalling 93 crores have been allotted to a diverse group of allottees.

Furthermore, the board also decided to increase the companys borrowing limit to 500 crore.

Meanwhile, the company's board of directors will meet on November 14 to consider and approve the unaudited financial results for the quarter that ended September 30, 2024.

Srestha Finvest share price trend The penny stock has seen tepid gains this year, rising 11.5 per cent. It hit a 52-week low of 0.49 on March 28 this year and rose to a 52-week high of 1.28 on July 26.

Over the last year, the stock has risen 15 per cent. On a monthly scale, the stock has been witnessing a healthy uptrend in November as it has risen about 8 per cent this month. The stock suffered strong losses of 12 per cent, 20 per cent and 19 per cent in August, September and October this year, respectively.

In July this year, the company's board of directors approved a stock split in a 1:2 ratio. It was the second time the penny stock had declared a stock split. On October 13, 2016, this stock traded ex-split in a 1:5 ratio.

Read all market-related news here
If anything has lived, we will eat it," my father once boasted. He certainly did, trying beetles in Mizoram and rats in Nagaland and, along with my mother, encouraging us to enjoy the blood curries and sundry offal specialities of north Karnataka. With that kind of an upbringing, it was easy to eat a seven-course snake meal in Vietnam.

But this pleasure over being an omnivore reveals my familys privilege, even though my father came from modest I-bought-my-first-shoes-at-21 origins. We could make choices that, as Shahu Patole indicates in his book, Dalit Kitchens of Marathwada, were not available to people like him at the bottom of Hindu society.

Patoles book deals primarily with the lowest of Dalit subcastes in the Maharashtra region of Marathwada: the Mahar and the Mang, whom even other Dalit subcastes regard as untouchable. So strong is the hold of caste, subcaste and sub subcaste that the Mahar themselves had seven subcastes, who once shared food but would not intermarry, differences that have largely disappeared with their conversion to neo-Buddhism.

Translated recently from Marathi to English, Patoles book reveals how dead animals and how they are eaten are central to the Dalit identity. It is likely to be uncomfortable to many upper-caste Hindus, who would rather not acknowledge such realities.

Animals which were considered sacred and godly became unholy after their death," writes Patole. It wasand isthe Mahar and the Mang who handle the aftermath of the life of holy animals. They remove carcasses, skin them, dispose off their remains and eat what they can.

So, why was this the culinary fate of these two castes? They were the cleaning servants of the village they were paying for the sins of a past birth," writes Patole, referring to upper-caste belief, backed by scripture, that Dalits were born who they were for a reason. They were living this life for the sake of atonement."

Not a single saint or godman came to their rescue to take them out of their supposedly despicable food culture, discouraged them from eating it or provided them with an option of alternative nutritious, simple food," writes Patole. No god assumed any avatar to save them."

And so the Mahar and the Mang eat meats even omnivores like the Halarnkarsfrom the supposedly higher Maratha castebaulk at eating or have never heard of or never had to. I am familiar with and have eaten rakti or blood curry, bheja or brain, kidney, liver and intestine. But this is tame stuff.

I or my family have never known of or eaten fashi (epiglottis) with its dark, chocolatey flesh"; salmon-pink lungs; gana or crispy trachea, like the white drainpipe" of a washing machine; lakuti, thick chunks of mashed, cooked and cooled blood; fat mashed with bhakri, beloved of children (not my child); gristle; and scraps of membrane, viscera, tendon or udder.

Food is closely woven into Dalit life, culture and superstition. For instance, hunters keep a cautious distance from a trapped rabbit because, it is believed, their sight will fade if the animal blows air into their eyes. A man hit by the tail of a ghorpad, a monitor lizard, becomes effeminate, the legend goes.

The eating habits of the Mahar and the Mang appear largely opportunistic, given their lack of choices. Cooking techniques are simple, even bare, using basic spices and available ingredients. Almost all foods, whether fish, offal or vegetable are cooked quickly and easily with turmeric, red chilli powder or green chilli, ginger-garlic (if available) and salt, as I did with the liver. My mother, who usually takes a one little helping of meat took threealthough she said, I would add a little garam masala." But that isnt something available to many Dalit families.

It may appear that the Mahar and Mang eat mainly meat but most cannot afford meat, even leftover meat, with any regularity. Vegetables predominate in daily meals. Here, too, plants that upper castes may never consider are grist for their meal, such as wild dandelion, tamarind flower or unripe figs or dodya, which causes constipation but kills hunger for long periods, writes Patole. Seeds, flowers, shoots and leaves abound in the Mahar and Mang menus.

Current affirmation in right-leaning circles is that the British used caste to divide Hindus, but Patole argues that 900 years after caste-busters Basaveshwar and Shri Chakradhar Swami, it was the Raj that enabled the battle against caste. Social justice and equality were brought into law, but they are yet to seep into the minds of people."

Indeed, thousands of comments below a BBC documentary on Patole and his book are abusive, most claiming that there is no such thing as Dalit cuisine and that the network continues a colonial divide-and-rule agenda. Many advise the Beeb to focus on the cuisine of the supposedly oppressed Irish. There is little logic to bigotry.

Chicken liver Marathwada Dalit style

Serves 3

Ingredients

300g chicken liver, washed, cleaned

1 onion, roughly chopped

Half-inch piece ginger, slivered

8-9 cloves of garlic, smashed

1 tsp red chilli powder

Half tsp turmeric powder

1 slit green chilli

Half cup coriander, chopped

Salt to taste

2 tsp oil

Method

Heat oil in a wok, add the green chilli and let it splutter. Add onion and fry till golden brown, add ginger and garlic and saute for a minute. Add turmeric and red chilli (use Kashmiri mirch powder to tone it down) and saute for a minute, drizzling in water if it sticks. Add liver and salt and half the coriander, stir well for 3-4 minutes, cover and cook on low flame for 10 minutes. Garnish with the remaining coriander.

Our Daily Bread is a column on easy, inventive cooking. Samar Halarnkar is the author of The Married Mans Guide To Creative CookingAnd Other Dubious Adventures. He posts @samar11.

Also read: Recipes with saffron to celebrate its harvest season
It is common among investors to examine the past returns of a scheme before deciding to invest. When small and mid cap stocks are seen as too risky for their high valuation, investors are recommended to invest in large-cap stocks or mutual funds for their fair current valuation.

Large cap funds Large cap mutual funds refer to the schemes which invest a minimum of 80 percent of their assets in large cap stocks. And the large cap stocks are the shares of top 100 listed companies when ranked on the basis of their market capitalisation.

As we can see in the table below, seven large cap funds have delivered as high as 35 percent return in the past one year as on Nov 8, 2024. There are 32 schemes in the large cap category with total assets under management (AUMs) amounting to 3.79 lakh crore, shows the AMFI (Association of Mutual Funds in India) data as on Sept 30, 2024.

Here we list out the large cap funds which have given up to 35 percent return.

Top performing large cap mutual funds

Large cap funds One-year-return (%) AUM (  crore) Bandhan Large Cap Fund 35.40 1,724.83 DSP Top 100 Equity Fund 35.78 4,503.34 Invesco India Largecap Fund 35.18 1,279.96 JM Large Cap Fund 34.73 470.93 Quant Large Cap Fund 37.54 2,577.89 WhiteOak Capital Large Cap Fund 34.67 640.26 Taurus Large Cap Fund 34.91 50.22

(Source: AMFI; returns as on Nov 8, 2024)

As we can see in the table above, Bandhan Large Cap Fund has given 35.40 percent return in the past one year, and Quant Large Cap fund has given 37.54 percent return. Other schemes which have given over 35 percent return are DSP Top 100 Equity Fund and Invesco India Large Cap Fund.

It is, meanwhile, important to note that the past returns of a mutual fund scheme  despite being indicative  do not guarantee its future returns. In other words, just because a mutual fund has performed well in the recent past, it may not necessarily continue to perform in the near future as well.
Italians are hot and expressive people. They do everything sincerely and on a grand scale. This is especially true when it comes to celebrating the New Year.

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OBOZREVATEL tells you how Christmas weekends are spent in different cities of this amazing country.

When is the best time to go

From mid-November, Italy turns into a winter fairy tale. Numerous fashion boutique windows shine with garlands and New Year's paraphernalia, Christmas trees are set up on the streets and stages are set up for various shows. But the main events take place between Catholic Christmas (December 25) and Epiphany (January 6). During this time, concerts, festivals, open-air performances, and fairs take place every day in all parts of the country. This is the best time for a family vacation.

Which city to choose

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It all depends on your preferences. For those who like outdoor activities, a weekend in the Italian Alps is suitable, a romantic vacation is better to be organized in Venice, and cultural tourism is best developed in Rome and Florence. To understand the peculiarities of different regions, you need to learn a little more about local traditions.

Rome

The capital traditionally offers the largest number of attractions on New Year's Eve. In recent years, Italians have been spending this holiday with their families and then going for a walk in the square. You can visit several interesting locations at once or choose one for yourself.

The main events take place in Piazza del Popolo. Music plays here all night long and fireworks are launched. Most people gather in this place. On the morning of January 1, children's circus and theater performances take place here.

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The concert stage for pop and rock performers is traditionally located next to the Colosseum on Via dei Fori Imperiali. Classical music is performed in front of the Quirinal Palace.

Naples

It is in this city that you can see the best pyrotechnic show in the country. Get ready to look up for a long time. Sometimes it lasts for a very long time, but it is really an incredible sight.

Naples still preserves ancient Italian traditions. In some neighborhoods, people periodically throw clothes or furniture out of windows to "cleanse" their lives. And children go around the houses singing Christmas songs. For which, by the way, it is customary to repay with money or sweets.

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Venice

If this New Year's Eve is supposed to be especially romantic, then go to the city on the water. In addition to festive concerts and performances, there is an interesting tradition here. At midnight, when the chimes strike, St. Mark's Square becomes the scene of thousands of kisses. All lovers can join a kind of flash mob, thus consolidating their feelings for the whole year.

Bologna

Here, the old year is seen off in a rather interesting way. An effigy of a grandfather is burned in Piazza Maggiore, and in leap years, a straw woman is installed to replace it. All this is accompanied by a festive concert and fireworks show.

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Val di Fassa, Arabba, Cervino and other ski resorts

At the end of December, the Alps become the center of New Year's celebrations among tourists. Real Christmas extravaganzas are organized here, bringing everyone together in large restaurant halls, where concerts with national stars, contests, and raffles are held. At this time, the atmosphere of a real miracle reigns here.

Prices

The cost of a New Year's vacation in Italy is much higher than a similar vacation in any other period. But to calculate the exact price, you need to know the chosen destination, entertainment program, hotel class, and plans for the celebration. A 5-day trip to the country's tourist cities for two people will cost about $750-900. The expenses at a ski resort start from $1100 and higher.
Credit cards have been increasingly reducing benefits and in certain cases have been withdrawing them totally in a bid to curb wrong usage. But what options does a customer, who takes a credit card solely for its benefits, have when they are withdrawn suddenly?

RBI guidelines Card issuing banks have to give sufficient notice to customers about such changes, according to RBI (Reserve Bank of India) guidelines. The terms may be altered by the bank, but sufficient notice of the change shall be given to the cardholder to enable him to withdraw (the card) if he so chooses, according to RBIs master circular on credit cards.

Though RBI has not specified the duration, it said that the card issuing bank should clearly state the timeframe available to the customer to make a decision. If the customer does not intimate his decision within the stipulated time, she/he is deemed to have accepted the changes made by the card issuing bank.

A period shall be specified after which time the cardholder would be deemed to have accepted the terms if he had not withdrawn (the card) during the specified period, RBI said. And if the customer wants, she/he can surrender the card if it turns out to be disadvantageous, it said.

If the card issuing bank wants to make changes in charges other than interest, one months notice should be given. Changes in charges (other than interest) may be made only with prospective effect giving notice of at least one month, RBI said.

Also Read | How can credit cards be used to support sustainable businesses?

Recent changes Several credit cards, which were launched with attractive benefits, have seen downgrades in recent months following complaints about misuse. ICICI Bank recently reduced the benefits for customers across its credit cards.

The bank capped reward points for spending on grocery, utility payments and insurance purchases. There will be no reward points on government-related spending on ICICI credit cards. The changes will come into effect from November 15. ICICI Bank has also discontinued spa access for high-end cards and has made spending of 75000 every quarter mandatory for lounge access at domestic airports.

HDFC Bank had earlier announced that it is capping reward points for several popular categories across cards. It fixed reward points on utility spends and telecom and cable transactions at 2000 per month across all its credit cards. HDFCs cap on reward points came into effect from September 1.

Similarly, the Yes Bank Marquee credit card was also devalued recently. A higher spending threshold is now required for airport lounge access. The redemption of reward points for flight and hotel bookings has been capped at 70% of the billing amount. Rent payments, government-related spending and education payments have been excluded from spend thresholds for annual fee reversal and milestone benefits in several leading credit cards.

Also Read | Credit Card Etiquette: 4 essential rules for smart usage

But will the customer be charged if she/he surrenders the card due to the change in benefits or charges? Absolutely not. If a credit card holder desires to surrender his credit card on account of any change in credit card charges to his disadvantage, he may be permitted to do so without the bank levying any extra charge for such closure. Any request for closure of a credit card has to be honoured immediately by the credit card issuer, subject to full settlement of dues by the cardholder, RBI said.
Canada on Friday, November 8, brought the Student Direct Stream (SDS) visa program for international students to a halt. This comes as an aftermath of housing and resource crisis. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) implemented the visa program in 2018 to expedite study permit applications for international students.

This Student Direct Stream (SDS) visa program specifically focused on bringing student immigrants from 14 countries  Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam.

Also Read | Justin Trudeau: Not all Khalistani supporters represent Sikh community in Canada

Canada's Student Direct Stream (SDS) visa program has been discontinued amid efforts to tackle a housing crisis.

According to the Government of Canada, the initiative is being discontinued to strengthen program integrity, address student vulnerability, and give all students equal and fair access to the application process.

The official website states, Canada is committed to giving all international students equal and fair access to the application process for study permits. This implies that all applications received till 2:00 pm ET on November 8 will be processed under the scheme, whereas all applications sent after this deadline will be processed under the regular study permit stream.

The notice further mentions that the change in visa policy will not adversely affect eligibility for those who wish to apply for a study permit from a country where the SDS was offered. Furthermore, all students must meet Canadas study permit application requirements to study in Justin Trudeau helmed country.

Also Read | Canada Blocks Australia Today For Covering MEA S Jaishankars Press Conference

What discontinuation of Student Direct Stream means? The Student Direct Stream program specifically had higher approval rates and faster processing times. However, following the discontinuation of this program, students from all the 14 countries mentioned above, including India, will have to undergo more lengthy visa processes from now on.
New Delhi: India plans to leverage its climate commitments to pitch for grants and concessional loans, instead of investments for the Global South, at the upcoming climate negotiations in Baku, two people aware of the matter said. This comes on the backdrop of the global loss and damage fund agreed upon at the Egypt accord and operationalised at COP28 failing to gain traction.

Our position is grant-based and concessional finance in terms of NCQG (new collective quantified goal, or climate funding target for developing nations). Indias stance would be to get as much of grant and concessional loan," the first of the two people quoted above said on condition of anonymity. We dont want big figures as investment in NCQG, but they (developed nations) want to push for investment."

The Indian team, led by Union minister of state for environment, forest and climate change Kirti Vardhan Singh, will also push for finalizing the rules for transfer of carbon credits to meet climate targets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, the people said on the condition of anonymity.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Azerbaijans capital city will see negotiations ahead of the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to be held from 11 to 22 November.

Also read | Infrastructure, data resilience on G20 and COP29 agenda CDRI to assess fiscal risk in 4 countries 4 Indian states

The first person cited above said that India is not against mobilizing investments for climate change. Suppose $1 trillion will be required in the form of investment. Who is going to invest? Businesses. Are they (the developed nations) going to ensure that multinationals will invest here? No, they say companies are independent, autonomous. They dont have control over them."

India would like the NCQG to be finalized as a firm commitment by the developed countries, which will help decide the next round of Indias climate pledges under the nationally determined contributions (NDCs). We are supposed to submit it next year before COP30, although there is a decision to do so nine months before the next COP."

Under the Paris Agreement, countries should agree to the NCQG for financial support for developing countries to mitigate and adapt to climate change before 2025. This is a key task for COP29 in Azerbaijan.

Developing countries require up to $1.5 trillion a year for their unique climate needs and net zero transition, according to various estimates. But the loss and damage fund negotiated at COP27 has failed to take off after being operationalised at COP28.

India would like the NCQG to be finalized as a firm commitment by the developed countries, which will help decide the next round of Indias climate pledges under the nationally determined contributions.

According to UNFCCC, as of September, a total of $702 million has been pledged to the fund by 23 contributors against at least $100 billion by all developed nations. As of January, there are 37 countries that are considered developed economies by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

Vaibhav Pratap Singh, executive director at Climate & Sustainability Initiative (CSI), said that the climate finance target for developed nations to provide $100 billion annually to developing countries by 2020, set during the 15th edition of this annual event, has yet to be met.

These targets, and the associated delivery mechanisms, are crucial," he said. "If not properly structured, the costs could become exorbitant, and make projects like renewable energy, which require high initial investments, prohibitive to be built in many parts of the developing world."

Queries emailed to spokespeople and the secretary of MoEFCC on Thursday remained unanswered at press time.

New conditions from developed countries

To be sure, the actual climate action funding requirement, however, could be several times higher than the estimates of $1-1.5 trillion. The UNFCCC Standing Committee on Finance, based on its assessment of NDCs, estimates that a total of $5.8-5.9 trillion will be needed by 2030 to cover the needs of 153 developing countries.

Even this is likely to be an underestimation given that only a small proportion of requirements were accounted for across the documents provided. Regionally, around $2.5 trillion of global need comes from African states, around $3.2 trillion from Asia-Pacific and around $168 billion from Latin American and Caribbean nations, according to the Asian Development Bank.

Because of the scale of the financing required, some experts and countries, including Switzerland, Canada and the US, have suggested expanding the list of countries mandated to contribute, also called the contributor base, to include emerging countries with high emissions and high incomes.

Also read | India will take a call if Europe imposes carbon tax, says environment minister

The developed countries are proposing things that are not covered under UNFCCC or the Paris Agreement such as broadening of the contributor base. Along with developing countries, India is sticking to the Paris Agreement," the second person quoted earlier said. The Paris Agreement says developed countries shall provide finance to developing countries. Wed not like to go beyond principles and processes of the Paris agreement. If you want to talk more, come outside, else change the Paris agreement."

The person said that the developed nations are neither taking climate mitigating actions nor providing financial support but are asking developing countries to stop development so that they can maintain their standard of living.

We are going to develop and need energy; we have a low per capita energy consumption and emission. It is going to increase but we havent yet peaked," the person said. Countries (in regions) like Europe have already peaked, and they are targeting net zero by 2050. They are asking us to do so by then. How is this possible?"

India aims to achieve net zero targets by 2070.

Carbon credits

India is also expected to push for Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Article 6 allows countries to transfer carbon credits earned from the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to help one or more nations meet climate targets.

Article 6 should be finalized as there is no major dispute about it, the first person said. The developed world like the US and EU have a dispute among themselves on how the system should be orientedwhether it should be centralized or decentralized. "Others don't have a problem."

It is estimated that trading in carbon credits could reduce the cost of implementing NDCs by more than half ($250 billion) in 2030, facilitating the removal of 50% more emissions (about 5 gigatons of carbon dioxide a year by 2030) at no additional cost. Over time, the markets are expected to become redundant as every country gets to net zero.

Article 6 allows countries to transfer carbon credits earned from the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to help one or more nations meet climate targets.

There has been a dialogue on just transition work program, aimed at ensuring no country is left behind as the world moves to cleaner energy. We will have to see how a decision is going to be taken on that. But then just transition is not something we can look at it only as a project," the second person said.

Also read | Meet the farmer with whom India's farming enters carbon credit market

On other issues like food security, Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism or unilateral trade measures, specific targets are unlikely since these cant be mitigation measures, one of the two people said when asked about how Donald Trumps re-election is going to impact trade globally.

Prime minister Narendra Modi and minister for environment, forest and climate change Bhupendra Singh Yadav will skip COP29. An Indian delegation of 15-18 official led by Kirti Vardhan Singh left for Baku on Friday morning.

The proposed reforms of multilateral banks aim to tackle climate financing challenges by offering more guarantees against defaults and increasing their lending to climate initiatives through greater leverage of their balance sheets," Singh of CSI said. At this COP29, we hope concrete action will be taken to help address some of the financing challenges."
Game Changer teaser: Game Changer teaser, which was released at 6:03 pm on November 9, saw excited Ram Charan fans reacting to the first glimpse of the movie. S Shankar directorial movie Game Changer is scheduled to premiere on the big screen on January 10 next year.

The upcoming Telugu film starring actor Ram Charan is a political action-drama based on a story penned by Karthik Subbaraj. Produced under the banner Sri Venkateswara Creations and Zee Studios, the film's star cast includes Kiara Advani, Anjali, Samuthirakani, S J Suryah, Srikanth, Prakash Raj and Sunil, apart from lead actor Ram Charan.

Also Read | Watch: Ram Charan goes barefoot ahead of Game Changer teaser launch

Social media reaction Social media was set abuzz as cinema enthusiasts awaiting the much-discussed teaser. It revealed the angry young man Ram Charan in an exciting role of IAS officer who strives to combat corrupt politicians by advocating for fair elections. His efforts to transform the workings ways of the government are the main highlight of the film.

The RRR actor is one of the highest-paid actors in Indian cinema, who has featured in Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list since 2013.

A user wrote, Disaster vibes already. Another stated, He (Ram Charan) is unpredictable. A third user commented, Hope shankar sir gives an extraordinary come back..till now everything is +ve. A fourth user stated, Blockbuster pakka.

A fifth user remarked, Industry hit loading. A sixth user said, Avg but I expected more from Shankar. A seventh user wrote, I think it's Father Son double role of Ramcharan.

This film could emerge as one of the year's biggest releases, considering the frenzy over its teaser's release.

Actor Ram Charan, was last seen in Acharya and RRR, alongside his father Chiranjeevi. On November 8, the makers of Game Changer released the much-awaited teaser of the movie during an event in Lucknow.
(Bloomberg) -- German Economy Minister Robert Habeck is ramping up pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz to schedule new elections without delay.

Habeck, whos also Germanys vice chancellor, told public broadcaster ZDF on Friday evening that a vote should be held as soon as possible following the collapse of Scholzs unpopular three-way coalition. He also cautioned that parties should be careful not to jeopardize the constitution or ongoing government affairs.

Germany has been plunged into a period of unusual uncertainty with the governing coalition breaking down on the same day that Donald Trump declared victory in the US election. Trump has been hostile to Berlin in the past. His return comes at a moment when Europes largest economy is struggling and industries such as autos and chemicals are facing disruptive transformations.

Habeck referred to a letter issued by Federal Election Commissioner Ruth Brand who warned of incalculable risks at all levels if the election is rushed.

The Green politician added that for historical reasons, the decision on the timing of the election lies solely with the chancellor. We are discussing such things, but in the end it is his decision and he has made it. If he changes his mind or reconsiders it, that is also his decision, Habeck said.

Scholz on Wednesday sacked Christian Lindner, finance minister and leader of the business-friendly Free Democrats, in a dispute about debt-financed government spending, dismantling his three-party coalition. He proposed to pull forward the date of Germanys next federal election from September to end of March at the latest. Until then, Scholz intends to continue governing in a minority government with Habeck and the Greens.

The chancellor intends to put the question of confidence to parliament in mid-January. Friedrich Merz, leader of the conservative opposition party CDU/CSU, which has a clear lead in the polls, is putting pressure on him to start the process as early as next week to enable elections already in January.

At a summit of European heads of state and government in Budapest on Friday, Scholz said that he was ready to discuss a quicker timetable for triggering new elections, calling the current situation a big democratic party.

Thorsten Frei, parliamentary secretary of the conservative caucus, on Saturday rejected a push by Scholz to tie the question of an earlier election date to bi-partisan cooperation on lawmaking in parliament before the vote.

First the chancellor must ask the question of confidence, then we will be available for talks, the RND media group cited Frei as saying. Scholz should put an end to his obvious delaying tactics.

Separately, Transport and Justice Minister Volker Wissing told the public broadcaster ARD on Friday that the question of the election date shouldnt be turned into a political issue. Wissing left the Free Democrats to remain in Scholzs cabinet and was appointed justice minister in a reshuffle following Lindners dismissal.

According to the latest Politbarometer survey by public broadcaster ZDF, 54% of respondents are in favor of holding elections before March. Only 30% support the March timing proposed by Scholz.

In an interview published on Saturday with Suedddeutsche Zeitung, SPD General Secretary Matthias Miersch signaled openness to talks with the CDU/CSU holding the vote of confidence earlier, on the condition that the opposition helps to pass certain projects in the Bundestag before elections are held.

Miersch also referred to the concerns raised by Brand, that enough time must be given to ensure enough time for the logistical prepararion of the vote so that it can be conducted fairly and properly.

Federal and state election officials have scheduled a meeting with Brand on Monday to discuss the necessary measures for early elections.

The election campaign is beginning, but it must not be conducted at the expense of constitutional norms and government business, Habeck, who announced his own candidacy for chancellor on Friday, told ZDF.

--With assistance from Stefan Nicola.

(Updates with CDU official comment in ninth paragraph.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Harvey Weinstein, the former American film producer who faces multiple charges for sex crimes under the #MeToo case, is back in the hospital amid chronic chronic myeloid leukemia, and plans to sue New York City officials for medical negligence.

Weinstein is scheduled to go on trial in 2025 for sexual assault and remains in custody while being treated for bone cancer. The Hollywood mogul's last visit to the hospital was in September 2024 when he was rushed to Bellevue Hospital for emergency heart surgery after experiencing chest pains.

Harvey's representatives issued a statement, accusing NYC Health and Hospital of medical negligence. We wont discuss Mr. Weinsteins medical specifics, but we are appalled by the ongoing medical negligence shown by NYC Health and Hospitals and Bellevue," Weinsteins representatives said.

"This isnt the fault of Rikers, [Correctional Health Services], or the Bellevue doctors, whom Mr. Weinstein deeply respects. However, refusing to keep him at Bellevue during his trial is a severe oversight, jeopardizing his ability to attend court.

This treatment suggests a broader agenda to harm him through lawfare and inadequate healthcare.

The statement went on to say that Weinstein had hired legal counsel to sue NYC Health and Hospitals and Bellevue, as he had the right to proper care while in custody. "This treatment suggests a broader agenda to harm him through lawfare and inadequate healthcare," read the statement.

Also Read | Harvey Weinstein hospitalised after New York court overturns rape conviction

Weinstein had reportedly been receiving treatment at Rikers Island Jail, where hes faced numerous health complications. Weinstein is reportedly battling chronic myeloid leukemia. It is currently unclear, how Harvey's cancer prognosis, or his illness will impact the ongoing legal proceedings, reported New York Post.

Also Read | American producer Harvey Weinstein misses court hearing due to health issues
The Bombay High Court on Saturday observed that allegations of taunting a wife, not allowing her to visit temple alone or making her sleep on a carpet cannot be considered as 'cruelty under IPC Section 498A, legal news portal LiveLaw reported on Saturday.

According to the report, the high court bench acquitted a man and his family convicted under IPC sections 498A as well as 306 (abetment to suicide). Their actions allegedly led to a woman's suicide in 2002, added the report.

Also Read | Bombay HC grants bail to gangster Chhota Rajan in 2001 murder case

The Bombay High Court bench was hearing the case on appeal by the accused who was convicted by a trial court in April 2004.

As per the high court's October 17 order, allegations against the accused include not allowing the deceased woman to interact with neighbours or visit a temple alone, taunting her for the food she cooked, not allowing her to watch TV, making her sleep on a carpet.

What bench said? The bench also noted that the victim was not allowed to throw garbage alone and was also asked to fetch water at midnight.

The high court bench observed that such allegations of 'cruelty' cannot be considered as 'severe under the concerned section citing it concerned the domestic affairs of a household. The bench also said it cannot be considered an offence under law.

According to the LiveLaw report, the bench reasoned that cruelty, which can be either mental or physical, is 'relative' and cannot be used in a 'straitjacket' manner.

Merely sleeping on carpet also would not amount to cruelty. Similarly, what sort of taunting was made and by which accused is not getting clear. Likewise, preventing her to mix with neighbour also cannot be termed as harassment, LiveLaw quoted Justice Abhay S Waghwase's observations in his order.

Justice Abhay S Waghwase also noted from witness testimony that the village where the woman and her in-laws lived received a water supply at midnight, and all households fetched water at 1:30 AM in the night.

Basing the testimony by the woman's in-laws, the high court noted that the allegations could not be considered as an immediate cause of suicide as the deceased had visited her in-laws house almost two months before ending her life.

They (mother, uncle and aunt of deceased) have admitted that, there was no communication from the deceased either written or oral, she has not conveyed that there were any instances of cruelty in proximity to suicide. There is no evidence to show that at that relevant point or any proximity to the suicide, there was any demand, cruelty or mal-treatment so as to connect them with the suicidal death. What triggered the suicide has remained a mystery, the court said in its order.
A group of students from Jammu and Kashmir studying in a nursing college in Karnataka alleged that the college administration asked them to trim or shave their beard. The students were reportedly studying at the Government Nursing College in Hassan, which is affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi University in Karnataka.

According to the Indian Express, the students from Jammu and Kashmir alleged that the college was enforcing discriminatory grooming standards that infringed on their cultural and religious rights.

The students, enrolled under the Prime Ministers Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS), reportedly approached the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association to highlight the matter. In a letter submitted to the association, they claimed the college threatened to mark them absent from clinical activities unless they shaved or trimmed their beards, Indian Express reported.

The students argued the policy was arbitrary and culturally insensitive. They raised concerns that this issue could lead to further discrimination, especially during internal assessments and practical examinations.

We hope that this matter can be resolved without any further pressure or punitive action from the college administration, the students wrote in the letter. They urged the association to convey their concerns to the college authorities.

College authorities said 14 students from Jammu and Kashmir study in the nursing college. According to the report, the association wrote a letter in connection with the matter to the offices of the Karnataka and J&K chief ministers.

College principal clarifies: 'Basic grooming' Reacting to the students' concerns, college principal Chandrashekar Hadapad said the authorities informed the students that maintaining a neat and professional appearance is essential, especially in a field like nursing, where discipline is critical.

"We only asked them to keep their beard trimmed; we did not impose any requirement to shave completely. We understand that it is part of their custom," Hadapad was quoted as saying.

The principal admitted that one of the teachers had asked them not to come for clinical duties if they did not maintain a professional appearance. "We have just asked them to follow the disciplinary standards expected of nursing students," he said.
Tensions flared up in the several districts of Manipur earlier this week, with fresh violence being reported in Bishnupur on Saturday. Officials said a woman working in the paddy fields was gunned down by suspected hills-based militants in the Bishnupur district of Manipur on Saturday.

The incident took place in the Saiton area when the woman, along with other farmers, went to tend to the crops when militants opened fire from hill-based positions on the low-lying farmlands in Imphal Valley, news agency PTI reported.

The woman died on the spot, the officials said, adding the incident sparked tension in the village with the locals alleging that the central forces deployed in the area were not taking action to thwart such attacks.

Additional security forces have been sent to the area, PTI reported.

Women set on fire in Hmar village The incident was reported two days after a 31-year-old woman was reportedly shot and set on fire as people in tribal Hmar village were attacked by a group of armed militants in ethnic strife-torn Manipur's Jiribam district.

Kuki-Zo organisations claimed that a woman, a resident of the village, was killed during the attack.

Villagers found the woman's charred remains on Friday afternoon. Police said on Friday the incident occurred on Thursday evening in Zairon Hmar village after the group of militants set at least six houses on fire.

"Preliminary reports suggested that several villagers managed to flee during the attack and took shelter in nearby forest. At least six houses were severely damaged due to the arson. An investigation is underway," the officer was quoted by told news agency PTI as saying.

Also Read | Manipur news: CM Biren Singh shares updates on 2 abducted Meitei youths

Local Hmar community organisations identified the deceased as 31-year-old Zosangkim, a teacher who lived in the village with her husband and three children, Indian Express reported.

The locals reportedly alleged that she was killed in an attack on the village by armed Meitei militants. Hmar is among the tribes in the Kuki-Zo umbrella currently in conflict with the Meitei community in Manipur.

According to Hmar groups, Zosangkim and her family ran out of their home along with others when the arson began at around 9 pm but she was shot in the leg and was not able to escape.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman dubbed patriarchy a concept invented by the Left on Saturday as she addressed a college event in Bengaluru. She also countered conventional views on patriarchy and urged women to stand up for themselves and forge ahead in public spaces.

Dont get carried away by fantastic jargons. If you're able to stand up for yourself and speak logically, patriarchy cannot stop women, certainly not in a country like India. Patriarchy couldn't stop freedom fighters like Aruna Asaf Ali, Sarojini Naidu and others. Women are sending such wonderful satellites, rockets and spaceships and most of those women wear saree, have clumsy hair etc. Which patriarchy stopped these scientists here? she asked.

The Finance Minister cited several people including former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as shining examples of women who had broken through the glass ceiling.

Also Read | Nirmala Sitharaman reviews Income Tax Act 1961

Sitharaman met students from CMS Business School on Saturday and discussed various measures undertaken by the Centre to support innovation. She also touched upon various government schemes available for young people  including 1 crore internships for unemployable youth in the age group of 21 to 24 years old.

"We do not just support innovation by bringing out policies," she said, adding that the Indian government is doing its best to ensure that such innovations find markets too.

She cited the support mechanism that is available for MSMEs as an example. The FM said 40% of all government procurements is coming from MSMEs.

"That is why we have more than 2 lakh startups today in India and more than 130 have become unicorns. The opportunity is immense but is not fully utilised," she added.

Sitharaman also reviewed the performance of 10 Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) of the Southern Region on Saturday. According to a social media post by the Ministry of Finance, she reviewed the performance of RRBs of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and UT of Puducherry.
The US National Society of Film Critics has named the best film of 2021. It is Doraibu mai ka (Drive My Car) by Japanese director Ryusuke Hamaguchi.

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The rating of the best films was published on the official website of the National Society of Film Critics. In addition, the screenplay, director and actor Hidetoshi Nishijima, who played the lead role, were also recognized as the best in 2021.

The film is an adaptation of the novel Men Without Women by Japanese writer Haruki Murakami. The drama premiered at the Cannes Film Festival 2021, where it won the prize for best screenplay.

Drive My Car tells the story of a talented theater director, Yusuke, who arrives in Hiroshima to stage the play Uncle Vanya by Chekhov. The main character is given a driver, a silent girl named Misaki. It turns out that both characters have lost loved ones. Personal tragedies and traumatic experiences unite the driver and the passenger, and they develop a warm and trusting relationship.

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According to film critics, the Japanese work is not intended for the general public. Not all viewers will be able to appreciate it properly. The pace of plot development is rather slow, but it has its own logic and poetry.

It is worth noting that the winners of previous years were the films Nomadland and Parasite, which later won Oscars.

The other winners of the National Society of Film Critics of the United States included Penelope Cruz (Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Parallel Mothers), Anders Danielsen (Best Supporting Actor in a Supporting Role for The Worst Man in the World), and Ruth Negga (Best Supporting Actress in a Supporting Role for Passing).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has honoured the late Ratan Tata with a heartfelt tribute, marking a month since the renowned industrialist and philanthropist's death.

PM Modi shared an op-ed highlighting Tatas vast contributions to India and the world, focusing on his patriotism and dedication to societal welfare. The prime minister noted that Tatas absence is deeply felt across all sections of society, from seasoned industrialists to young entrepreneurs and common citizens.

He constantly championed excellence, urging Indian enterprises to set global benchmarks. This vision, I hope, will inspire our future leaders to make India synonymous with world-class quality, PM Modi wrote.

Reflecting on Tatas resilience, PM Modi recalled his swift action in reopening Mumbais iconic Taj Hotel after the 26/11 terror attacks, a gesture that demonstrated Indias refusal to surrender to terrorism.

Modi said the act inspired the nation and symbolised Tatas commitment to Indias unity and strength, especially during difficult times.

It was a rallying call to the nationIndia stands united, refusing to yield to terrorism, Modi wrote.

Modi also shared personal memories of working closely with Tata on various projects in Gujarat, where the Tata Group invested extensively.

He mentioned a recent milestone in Vadodara  the launch of an aircraft manufacturing complex in collaboration with Spain, an initiative that Tata had passionately championed. Modi expressed how Tatas presence was deeply missed during this inauguration.

Ratan Tatas compassion PM Modi also highlighted Tatas compassion, which extended beyond business to social welfare and animal rights. Known for his love for animals, particularly his pet dogs, Tatas kindness left a lasting impression on all who knew him.
Ramanuj Mukherjee, founder of an online legal learning platform, alleges that instead of tackling the concerns raised by tourists about scams, the Goa authorities are using the legal system to suppress his criticism after he shared data on social media indicating a drop in foreign tourist arrivals to the state.

The Indian Express reported on Saturday that Mukherjee, speaking to the publication, criticized the authorities for targeting him with a "baseless police case" instead of addressing the issues of tourist exploitation in Goa.

Mukherjee clarified, the report said, that he did not highlight any specific scams but only shared publicly available data that he cited in his post. It is also reported that Mukherjee stated that if the authorities believed the data was incorrect, they should have provided accurate information, rather than resorting to what he called a misuse of the law to suppress criticism.

Mukherjee was quoted as saying, It is unfortunate that instead of acting on complaints by thousands of tourists on social media regarding various tourist scams they faced in Goa, which by the way I did not highlight, and merely shared publicly available data which I also cited, the authorities are trying to intimidate me with a baseless police case. They should have put the correct data out there if they think my cited data is wrong instead of what appears to be a misuse of law to shut down criticism. I will counter this intimidation through legal means.

The complaint, filed by Deputy Director of Tourism Rajesh Kale, accuses Mukherjee of disseminating "false data" that caused "significant annoyance to local businesses" and "induced fear or alarm" within the local community, the news report said.

Also Read | Australia to ban social media for children under 16 from November: PM Albanese

The publication reported that the police complaint filed by the deputy director of tourism Rajesh Kale read: The propagation of such false statements not only jeopardises the reputation of our state but also poses a serious threat to public tranquillity. The Department of Tourism is particularly concerned that these actions may be part of a hidden agenda aimed at undermining Goas state image.

Also Read | Startup rivals tap social media to push negative posts

His false assumptions regarding future tourist footfalls in Goa further exacerbate the situation. The statements appear to have the intent to cause public unrest and may induce individuals to commit offences against the State or against public tranquillity, it added.

Also Read | Metas Zuckerberg not liable in lawsuits over social media harm to children
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admitted to the presence of Khalistani supporters in the nation, but said not all of them represent the Sikh community. He also went on to say there are Hindu supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Canada, but they also do not represent the Hindu community as a whole in Canada.

Such an acknowledgement by Trudeau vindicates India's stand that the Canadian government is harbouring pro-Khalistani elements.

"There are many supporters of Khalistan in Canada, but they do not represent the Sikh Community as a whole. There are supporters of the Modi government in Canada, but they do not represent all Hindu Canadians as a whole," Trudeau said, while addressing the Indian community during Diwali celebrations at Ottawa's Parliament Hill.

Also Read | Justin Trudeau wears sacred threads from 3 Hindu temples, shares Diwali video

Absurd claims about person of interest Trudeau's remarks came amid escalating tensions between India and Canada over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Relations between the two countries became strained in September 2023, when Trudeau accused Indian agents of being involved in Nijjar's death. New Delhi had rejected Trudeaus charges as absurd" and baseless".

Nijjar, a wanted terrorist by the Indian government, was gunned down outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18, 2023.

Also Read | Diplomatic tension unlikely to impact IndianOils Canada gas assets

In October 2024, the ties between the two nations went in for a tumble when when Canada termed Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma as a "person of interest" in its probe into Nijjar's murder. The accusation led India to recalling its High Commissioner to Ottawa and expelling six Canadian diplomats from the country.

The Ministry of External Affairs has repeatedly stated that the Canadian government failed to provide any evidence linking India to the killing of Nijjar, despite multiple requests.
ST. JOHNS, Antigua (AP)  Police in Antigua charged a man Saturday with murder in the stabbing death this week of a controversial member of parliament in his seaside home.

Police on the tiny Caribbean island charged 26-year-old Alexta Francis two days after the landscaper was arrested and questioned about the killing of Asot Michael. Francis was due to make his first appearance in court on Monday.

It wasnt immediately clear where Francis was being held Saturday or whether he had legal representation.

In a statement, Police Commissioner Atlee Rodney commended investigators for their diligence and professionalism in handling the matter. He later told The Associated Press that the police had no plans to disclose the motive, but would instead allow it to be revealed in court.

Michael, 54, was an independent member of Parliament and a wealthy businessman who ascended through the ranks of the governing Antigua & Barbuda Labour Party to serve as a minister. Although he was well known for being a philanthropist among his constituency, he was also barred from running on the partys ticket after various controversies, including an international bribery scandal for which he has denied wrongdoing.

He successfully ran as an independent in the 2023 election to retain his seat in parliament.

Michael was found dead on Tuesday in his home on Antigua's west coast when a housekeeper reported to work and discovered his body with multiple stab wounds.

It was the first time such a crime has been committed against a parliamentarian in the twin island state.

On Thursday, the government announced it would seek assistance from the London Metropolitan Police in investigating the high-profile killing. As a former British colony, the nation still has strong ties to Britain and in the past has requested help from London police in high-profile cases.
Queen Camilla, the wife of King Charles III, will reportedly skip key Remembrance events in the coming week. According to People's report, the 77-year-old will miss the upcoming Festival of Remembrance that will take place at London's Royal Albert Hall due to health-related issues.

King Charles will reportedly lead the family at Royal British Legion's annual event, which will be held on Sunday. The event commemorates the British and Commonwealth Armed Forces community and honours those who served and sacrificed their lives.

On November 9, the Buckingham Palace in a statement announced that Camilla will not attend the attend due to seasonal chest infection.

The statement states, Following doctors guidance to ensure a full recovery from a seasonal chest infection, and to protect others from any potential risk, Her Majesty will not attend this weekends Remembrance events," reported People.

It added, While this is a source of great disappointment to The Queen, she will mark the occasion privately at home and hopes to return to public duties early next week.

According to the news daily, Camilla wanted to take rest to ensure rapid recovery and was concerned about passing on the infection to others if she decided to attend the public gathering. Camilla will spend weekend at her private home Ray Mill Wiltshire.

As per the Palace' cohort of working royals update, the Queen's name was not mentioned in the November 8 update. The list included Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton. Furthermore, other royals who are expected to grace the event include Prince Edward, the Duchess of Edinburgh - Sophie, Princess Anne, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, the Duke of Gloucester- Prince Richard, Duchess of Gloucester - Birgitte and the Duke of Kent - Prince Edward.
Indian telecom service providers' hopes to get relief from paying levies on adjusted gross revenue (AGR) might get dashed on the Union finance ministry's revenue concerns, according to two senior officials close to the discussions.

Its under consideration, but unlikely that it will be accepted," one of the officials said on the condition of anonymity. Theres the issue of exchequer revenue getting affected."

Telcos had asked the government to prospectively remove the licence fee, including the universal service obligation (USO) fee, as a share of AGR, or reduce it from 8% to 0.5-1% of AGR. The measure was suggested after the Supreme Court in September dismissed telecom companies' review petition seeking corrections in the AGR calculations.

AGR is the revenue telecom operators earn from their core services, such as mobile and internet services, and licence and USO fees are charged on it. Telcos currently pay 3% of AGR as the licence fee, and 5% of AGR as the USO fee once a quarter. The USO fee goes towards the USO Fund that is used to ensure connectivity across unconnected regions of the country.

Also read | Mint Explainer: Why telcos seek fair share on top of bundled OTT plans

In response to Mint's queries, S.P. Kochhar, director general of COAI, said, We understand the concerns the government may have with regards to revenue, but we still hope that they can consider our request in the backdrop of continuous and significant investments that carriers have made in the country to ensure data connectivity for all people."

Telcos currently pay 3% of AGR as the licence fee, and 5% of AGR as the USO fee once a quarter.

COAI (Cellular Operators Association of India) represents private telcos Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd, Bharti Airtel Ltd, and Vodafone Idea Ltd.

I am not surprised. Bureaucrats are very reluctant to sign off on such decisions since they fear being blamed for hurting exchequer revenues," said Mahesh Uppal, director at Delhi-based consultancy firm ComFirst India.

Uppal said the development was worrying because the licence fee makes little sense when the licence is neither exclusive nor bundled with resources like spectrum.

"The USO Fund is not illogical but because it has been poorly deployed," Uppal said. Sadly, bureaucrats lack incentives to fix these problems that continue to distort the telecom market."

Tariff-levy mismatch

According to sector watchers, while tariffs and revenues from telecom services in the Indian market were among the lowest in the world, levies were among the highest.

For the growth and development of the sector, including ensuring broadband for all, the rationalization of levies would be an important step," said Prashant Singhal, global telecom, media and technology leader for emerging markets at EY, adding that the government should first deploy unused balance in the USO Fund and then look to raise more.

The AGR for India's telecom sector rose by 8.24%, reaching 2.7 trillion, in 2023-24, up from 2.49 trillion in 2022-23, showed data from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) released in August.

Also read | Supreme Court ruling gives telcos around 3,000 crore of savings

The government collected licence fees of 21,642 crore in 2023-24, which was 8.45% higher than 19,954 crore than a year ago.

According to data from Digital Bharat Nidhi, the new name of the USOF done earlier this year, in FY24, 18,187 crore USO fee was collected, of which 7,676 crore was disbursed. In FY23, 12,693 crore was collected and 3,500 crore disbursed. As of FY24 end, the total amount in the USO Fund stood at 79,638 crore.

As a reform measure announced in 2023, the Centre stopped collecting spectrum usage charges (SUC) from October 2022 onwards. SUC collections, therefore, declined by 32.3% to 3,369 crore in 2023-24 from 4,968 crore a year ago.

The background

In October, the COAI wrote to the government, asking for the relaxation on the grounds that the move would facilitate operators to plough the revenues back to the network for continuous upgradation and expansion.

The oft-sought demand from the telcos has been that the USO levy be held in abeyance until the 79,638-crore USO Fund is fully utilized. The licence fee should be abolished since telcos pay goods and services tax (GST) while acquiring spectrum and then the licence fee when using the spectrum, in addition to corporate tax, as is payable by all companies.

The COAI had said in its submission to the government that telecom companies were facing a double whammy" as they were not only paying substantial amounts" for buying spectrum but also being charged for the revenues they make from that spectrumall of this on top of their investments in creating the networks.

Also read | Telcos need to be sustainable to invest in networks, ensure better services

The TSPs (telecom service providers) buy the spectrum at huge prices and also make substantial AGR-related payments for the same. This would amount to buying a house and paying the rent for the same," the industry body had written.

It added that a licence fee was appropriate when licences were bundled with the spectrum at the time of the introduction of the National Telecom Policy 1994. However, thereafter, spectrum was delinked from the licence in 2012 and is currently assigned after being bought through a transparent and open auction procedure; the logic of separately charging licence fees does not stand.
BERLIN (AP)  Tens of thousands of people celebrated the fall of the Berlin Wall 35 years ago in Germany's capital on Saturday with open-air concerts, art installations and official events commemorating one of the country's most historic days on Nov. 9, 1989.

It was a lucky day for which we Germans are still grateful today," Chancellor Olaf Scholz said.

Built in 1961, the Berlin Wall stood for 28 years at the front line of the Cold War between the Americans and the Soviets. It was built by communists to cut off East Germans from the supposed ideological contamination of the West and to stem the tide of people fleeing East Germany.

It had carved a 156.4-kilometer (97.2-mile) swath through Berlins heart and the surrounding countryside, and through the hearts of many of its people. However, when the border was opened 35 years ago, it took less than a year until the countrys reunification on Oct. 3, 1990.

Today only a few stretches of the wall remain, mostly as a tourist attraction.

For the anniversary celebrations on Saturday, event organizers created a temporary wall of 5,000 posters designed by children and adults under the motto We uphold freedom, which attracted a steady flow of visitors, including many foreign tourists. It stands along a four-kilometer (2.5-mile ) stretch of the former wall in downtown Berlin.

The posters combine the demands of East German protesters against the communist authorities in autumn 1989, such as freedom of expression, freedom of the press and freedom to travel, with current day wishes and were created as part of workshops in schools, church parishes, local art groups and cultural projects.

Uphold freedom, because without freedom everything else is nothing, Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner said at an official anniversary event with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Berlin Wall Memorial.

Freedom and democracy have never been a matter of course," the mayor said, warning that both were currently under attack from many sides.

For Saturday night, 700 professional and amateur musicians were expected to synchronously play songs on different stages along the path of the former wall.

Among other songs, they were planning to perform Heroes by David Bowie and Freiheit, or freedom, by German rockstar Marius Muller-Westernhagen. The lyrics will be shown on screens so that the audience can sing along.
By Graham Keeley

VALENCIA, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Thousands of people demonstrated in the eastern Spanish city of Valencia on Saturday over regional authorities' handling of devastating floods that killed more than 220 people in one of Europe's worst natural disasters for decades.

In the latest demonstration over the floods, protesters filled the centre of Valencia demanding the resignation of regional government leader Carlos Mazon and chanting "Killers!".

"Our hands are stained with mud, yours with blood," read one banner. Some demonstrators dumped muddy boots outside the council building in protests.

Residents in stricken areas accuse Mazon of issuing an alert too late, at 8 p.m. on Oct. 29, well after water was already pouring into many nearby towns and villages.

The Valencian leader has said he would have issued an earlier alarm earlier if authorities had been notified of the seriousness of the situation by an official water monitoring body. Mazon did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

"We want to show our indignation and anger over the poor management of this disaster which has affected so many people," said Anna Oliver, president of Accio Cultural del Pais Valenciano, one of about 30 groups that organised the protest.

Following days of storm warnings from the national weather service from Oct. 25 onward, some municipalities and local bodies raised the alarm much earlier than the regional government.

For example, Valencia University told its staff on Oct. 28 not to come to work. Several town halls suspended activities, shut down public facilities and told people to stay home.

Weather service AEMET raised its threat level for heavy rains in the area to a red alert at 7:36 a.m. on Oct. 29.
With Donald Trumps recent victory in the 2024 US Presidential Election, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly feel nervous about their future in the United States. Trumps return to power has sparked concerns for the Duke and the Duchess of Sussex, particularly as some political figures have questioned Harrys visa status.

The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank in the US, has been vocal about the transparency of Harrys immigration process. Nile Gardiner, Director of the Heritage Foundations Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, recently commented on the couples silence during this election cycle.

Gardiner contrasted it with 2020 when they spoke out against hate speech and misinformation. Although they did not openly endorse a candidate then, their message was widely interpreted to support Joe Biden over Donald Trump.

If Prince Harry has nothing to hide with regard to his immigration application, he should welcome and support the release of his immigration records," Gardiner told GB News.

The Heritage Foundation has pushed for these documents to be made public, especially after Harrys admissions in his memoir Spare about past recreational drug use. Disclosing such information is generally required in US visa applications, and past drug use can impact eligibility.

A ruling allowed Harrys records to remain private in September 2024. However, following Trumps win, Gardiner expressed hope that the case might be reopened under the new administration.

Stricter approach to immigration Harry's situation could change with Trumps administration likely to take a stricter approach to immigration. Gardiner noted that the Biden administration faced criticism for its immigration policies.

Also Read | 2024 US election results pose questions for Harry-Meghans future
Social media is a different world where all sorts of discussions take place. Among the many topics, one issue that has gained momentum is how body image issues stemming from unrealistic beauty standards affect women.

The focus was on women struggling with the skewed beauty images on social media, which have been in discussion for way too long. But now a study from the University of South Australia, published in New Media & Society, has examined male body image issues as they too are affected by skewed portrayals of toned abs and biceps on TikTok and Instagram, reported Hindustan Times.

Also Read | 5 effective methods for building muscle without the need for a gym

According to the study, the emphasis on muscular physiques in social media portrayals of mens bodies triggers insecurity in men who consume this content. The study finds this leads to muscle dysmorphia, a mental health condition in which people obsessively believe their muscles are too small or weak, though they have a good physique.

Social media's impact on male body image: Stressing on the harmful nature of social media, researchers noted that social media only portrays a particular body type and make believe people that it is the only ideal type and that other body shapes are unnatural, even when they are equally fit.

In a similar way, male bodies on social media feature excessively brawny figures with veiny arms, ripped biceps and six-pack abs.

This portrayal creates a fixation on a hyper-muscular physique. Study found out that men between the ages of 18 and 34 who frequently consume celebrity, fashion and fitness content report higher levels of dissatisfaction with their bodies.

Relation between likes-comments: Digging deep into the psychology of social media likes and comments on individual posts, the researchers found that men who are more concerned about the number of likes and comments show signs of muscle dysmorphia. They also found that this acts as a form of validation and can sometimes even be addictive, and push men to become even more muscular.

Dr John Mingoia, a lecturer at the University of South Australia and study co-author, said, as HT quoted, When these posts attract a high volume of likes and positive comments, they reinforce the message that this is the body standard that men should strive for. Over time, this can lead to harmful behaviors such as excessive exercising, restricted eating, and even steroid use.
Christmas unites not only large families but also half the world. However, different peoples have their own unique traditions, which are sometimes very surprising. OBOZREVATEL found out how other countries prepare for the holiday.

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Norway

In this country, Norwegians believe that on Christmas Eve, all evil spirits, witches, and sorcerers come down from the mountains and go to different cities. And the best way to protect your home is to throw away a broom or hide it as best you can.

Austria

On Christmas Eve, it's not Santa Clauses or Snow Maidens that walk the streets of the country but a real monster called Krampus. This is a kind of local antihero who steals naughty children on Christmas and cooks them for dinner. To protect themselves from the thief, kids dress up in his costume.

Estonia

On Christmas Day, Estonians go to the bathhouse to wash away all the troubles of the old year and prepare for the new one. At the same time, they decorate their homes brightly and make wreaths of Christmas trees, which they make in a pagan style to protect their families from evil spirits.

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Italy

Strange superstitions are one of the main trademarks of this country. For example, not Santa Claus, but a fairy-tale character Grandma Befana brings gifts to children. It is also considered a sign of good luck to meet a policeman in red socks. They are practically in the spotlight during the holidays.

Great Britain

A few years ago, on Christmas Day, a whole company of Santa Clauses dived into the icy water of one of London's lakes. The British liked this idea so much that they now go ice swimming on a festive evening. Moreover, you don't have to look for a body of water - you can just douse yourself in your backyard.

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Mexico

It's no surprise that Mexicans cook the world's most delicious spicy dishes. But what about the fact that the locals consider radishes to be the main delicacy on the Christmas table? Just before the holiday, on December 23, a large festival dedicated to this plant is held here.

Australia

The locals celebrate Christmas, like most holidays, on the beach. The weather at this time is quite sunny, and there is no chance of snow, so Australians wear bright costumes and go to parties.

Japan

Christmas in this country is celebrated in a family circle. However, before starting dinner, the owner of the house burns straw. This drives away all the bad things and brings good luck. God Hoteiosho brings the children their gifts.
A 50-year-old murder mystery in Wisconsin was finally solved using genetic genealogy, leading to the arrest of an 84-year-old man from Minnesota. Mary K. Schlais, aged 25, was found dead on February 15, 1974, near an intersection in Spring Brook, Wisconsin in the United States.

Investigators revealed that she had been hitchhiking to an art show in Chicago when she was killed. Her death was ruled a homicide. But, despite years of efforts by multiple law enforcement agencies, no viable suspects were identifieduntil now, CNN reported.

The suspect, Jon Miller from Owatonna, Minnesota, was arrested last November 7. Dunn County Sheriff Kevin Bygd explained that Miller, now in custody in Steele County, Minnesota, had confirmed his involvement in Schlais murder. Authorities are working on extraditing him to Wisconsin for further proceedings.

Sheriff Bygd stated that solving this case was a huge victory for his agency, marking the first time they used genetic genealogy.

Also Read | Japan Tells Nomura to Probe Alleged Murder Attempt by Ex-Worker

Over the years, evidence from the case had been examined and re-examined, but traditional methods alone couldnt produce any conclusive leads.

However, when the Dunn County Sheriffs Office began collaborating with genetic genealogists from Ramapo College in New Jersey, they used DNA evidence to trace Millers identity.

Genetic genealogy combines DNA analysis with family history research to identify suspects in cold cases. The process can be complex and costly, but the college provided valuable assistance, said Bygd.

He also noted that Millers adoption complicated the family lineage search. But, the team managed to overcome this challenge and eventually got Miller to acknowledge his role in Schlais death.
With Donald Trump winning a second term as the 47th President of the United States in the 2024 election, attention is already turning to who might succeed him in 2028. Trumps victory over Vice President Kamala Harris has left the GOP looking to groom future leaders, while the Democratic Party faces the task of rebuilding after its latest defeat. Betting agencies are starting to spotlight likely candidates for the 2028 presidential race, hinting at a field that could include some big names and surprising faces.

According to SportsBettingDime, leading the list on the Republican side is Vice President-elect JD Vance, who served as Trumps running mate. Vance currently stands as the top contender with the highest odds of winning in 2028. On the Democratic side, former First Lady Michelle Obama, despite never having held public office, is emerging as a prominent candidate, topping odds for her party as the Democrats seek fresh leadership.

JD Vance: Frontrunner for the GOP in 2028 JD Vance, the 40-year-old venture capitalist-turned-senator from Ohio, became Trumps vice presidential pick and is now the odds-on favorite to succeed him. According to data from SportsBettingDime, Vance has a 25% chance of winning the 2028 presidential race, currently set at +300 odds. Should he run and win in 2028, Vance would be 44 years old, making him one of the youngest presidents in US history.

Vances political star has risen quickly, thanks to his close alliance with Trump, which has solidified his standing among Trumps base. With Trumps endorsement and experience as vice president, Vance may be well-positioned to carry on Trumps legacy, appealing to the same voters who secured Trumps back-to-back election victories.

Michelle Obama: Democrats eye popular former First Lady As the Democratic Party regroups following Vice President Kamala Harriss defeat, speculation around Michelle Obama as a 2028 contender is intensifying. Obama is seen as one of the most beloved figures within the Democratic Party and a symbol of unity and progressivism. Even before the 2024 election, polls showed that she would have been a strong opponent to Trump in a head-to-head matchup. In a July Ipsos poll, Obama was the only Democrat with a clear lead over Trump, adding fuel to the idea that she could be the answer to the Democratic Partys post-2024 leadership challenge.

Although Michelle Obama has never run for public office, her potential candidacy has generated excitement, given her enduring popularity. Betting markets currently place her as a strong Democratic contender, with +500 odds to win in 2028, indicating a 20% chance.

Other leading contenders In addition to Vance and Obama, several other prominent politicians and public figures are likely to play key roles in the 2028 presidential race:

Gavin Newsom (+550): The Democratic Governor of California, known for his progressive policies and high-profile national presence, is a potential contender.

Ron DeSantis (+800): The Republican Governor of Florida remains popular in conservative circles despite having sat out the 2024 race.

Tulsi Gabbard (+1000): Former Congresswoman Gabbard, who shifted from the Democratic to Republican Party, brings a unique crossover appeal.

Tucker Carlson (+1400): The former Fox News personality could appeal to far-right voters who have rallied behind Trumps anti-establishment rhetoric.

Hillary Clinton (+1400): Although unlikely, Clinton remains a political powerhouse and could return as a candidate if the Democrats seek a familiar face with experience.

Notable other candidates Kamala Harris (+2500): Although Harris suffered a defeat in the 2024 election, she may yet mount another campaign.

Nikki Haley (+2500): A prominent Republican and former UN Ambassador, Haleys international experience and moderate stance could appeal to GOP voters in a post-Trump era.

Donald Trump Jr. (+4000): Trumps son, who has often been involved in his fathers campaigns, remains a potential future candidate, continuing the familys political legacy.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (+5000): The progressive congresswoman from New York has built a strong following among younger Democrats, though her left-leaning views may pose challenges on a national stage.

Dwayne Johnson (+6600): Johnson is known for his popularity as a public figure and potential bipartisan appeal.

Implications for the 2028 race The early odds and speculation reflect the current political landscape as Americans consider who will succeed Trump. For Republicans, Vance represents continuity and the potential for a younger face carrying Trumps agenda. For Democrats, Michelle Obamas presence could symbolize a resurgence and recalibration after 2024s defeat. Other contenders from both parties may add diverse perspectives, setting the stage for what could be a historic 2028 election.
An unidentified woman jumped into the Niagara Falls from the Horseshoe Falls area in the afternoon on November 6, according to the Niagara Gazette. This comes a week after a local mother jumped into the falls with her two children (9 years and months infant).

The report cited New York State Park Police to add that despite search by authorities at the lower Niagara Gorge area, the woman has not yet been found.

Mother Jumps With Children, Including 5-Month-Old A 33-year-old mother, identified as Chaianti Means by the New York Post, jumped into the Niagara Falls with her two children, a 9-year-old and 5-month-old, AP reported citing the New York state police.

Police added that they responded to calls at around 9 pm on October 28 and search and rescue efforts were unsuccessful. Investigations are ongoing.

As per police details, the family intentionally jumped off the rail on Luna Island, a small island between the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls that, along with the Horseshoe Falls, make up the popular tourist draw, the AP report said.

The Niagara Gazette identified Means children as Roman Rossman, son aged 9 and Mecca Means, daughter aged 5 months. All are presumed dead.

Due to information, we do know it was an intentional act, but the reason why is a tougher answer, New York State Trooper James OCallaghan, a State Police public information officer said during a press conference as per the Gazette report.

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Suicides A Cause for Concern The Gazette noted that two suicides weeks apart raised concerns over mental health and well-being and urged society-based action to reach out and aid those in need.

According to the NY Post, a mother had also jumped into the Niagara Gorge with her five-year-old son in 2023. While the died in the fall, rescuers were able to save the boy.

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Following his victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Donald Trump has taken significant steps to ensure his personal safety. The former president, who has been a target of threats in the past, has now added a robotic dog to his security detail at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. The robotic dog, which patrols the grounds of Trump's estate, was spotted on Friday morning, strolling on the grass of the lawns. A large warning sign attached to the dog reads: Do Not Pet.

The move to incorporate cutting-edge technology into Trumps security infrastructure comes on the heels of two reported assassination attempts during his presidential campaign, which raised concerns about his safety.

Trumps security detail is managed by the United States Secret Service, who confirmed the deployment of the robotic dog as part of their broader effort to protect the incoming president-elect.

The Robotic Dog: A high-tech security tool The robotic dog, created by Boston Dynamics, is a remote-controlled surveillance unit equipped with advanced sensors and technology. The New York Post stated that though the Secret Service declined to disclose specific details about its capabilities, the robotic dog is designed to aid in protective operations through its surveillance and sensor technology.

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Safeguarding the President-elect is a top priority. While we cannot get into the specific capabilities, the robotic dogs are equipped with surveillance technology, and an array of advanced sensors that support our protective operations, the news report quoted the spokesperson as saying.

Enhanced security in the wake of threats Trumps security measures have become a subject of heightened focus since he survived two assassination attempts during the 2024 campaign. In both cases, the threats were serious enough to warrant increased precautions.

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Following Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 US presidential election, Google searches related to leaving the country have experienced a dramatic increase. The volume of searches surged by an astonishing 1,514 percent, reflecting a growing interest among Americans in relocating to foreign countries, according to a report by VisaGuide.World.

This surge in search activity is attributed to a mix of emotions surrounding Trump's election as the 47th President of the United States, with many Americans seeking information on moving abroad, the report stated.

Significant increase in Search traffic The surge in immigration-related searches was particularly notable between November 5 and November 6, when the search volume on VisaGuide.World saw a 338 percent rise, the report said.

Rising interest in specific countries Several countries have seen a significant increase in interest from Americans looking to relocate. According to the data, the following destinations experienced notable spikes in search traffic:

Costa Rica: A 302 percent increase in searches for moving to Costa Rica.

Norway: A 437 percent increase in visits related to moving to Norway.

Ireland: A 355 percent increase in interest in relocating to Ireland.

United Kingdom: A 375 percent increase in searches for moving to the UK.

These countries have emerged as top options for Americans seeking new homes abroad, as per the report.

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Top searched immigration terms The data also revealed, the report stated, the most popular search terms related to immigration, with some terms experiencing an astronomical rise in popularity:

Moving to New Zealand from the US: This query saw an incredible 7,600 percent increase, making it the highest searched term during this period.

Moving to Germany from the US: Searches for this term increased by 4,200 percent.

Moving to the Netherlands: This query spiked by 3,233 percent.

Other immigration-related terms that saw significant increases include:

Moving to Ireland: Increased by 2,400 percent.

How to move to Europe: Up by 1,566 percent.

Immigrate to New Zealand: Gained a 1,566 percent increase.

English-Speaking Countries: Increased by 1,328 percent.

Moving to Norway: Increased by 1,150 percent.

Moving to Australia: Saw a 1,150 percent increase.

Moving to Portugal: Increased by 1,100 percent.

The surge in these search terms highlights Americans' interest in finding stable and comfortable living environments, with a strong preference for English-speaking nations and countries offering high standards of living, the report also stated.

Top countries Americans are considering for relocation Based on the surge in immigration-related searches, VisaGuide.World compiled a list of the top countries Americans are considering for relocation. These countries are categorized into three groups: English-speaking countries, European countries, and other popular destinations.

English-Speaking Countries: Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Australia

European Countries: Ireland, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Netherlands

Other Popular Countries: Costa Rica, Mexico

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A U.S. judge on Friday set aside pending deadlines in President-elect Donald Trump's 2020 election subversion case after federal prosecutors said they were grappling with the "unprecedented circumstance" of his impending return to the White House.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington approved a request from Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is prosecuting the criminal case, to set aside the deadlines, according to a court order, while they weigh its future.

Prosecutors wrote the delay was necessary to afford the Government time to assess this unprecedented circumstance and determine the appropriate course going forward consistent with Department of Justice policy.

What Policy Says Under a Justice Department policy dating back to the 1970s, a sitting president cannot be subject to criminal prosecution.

A source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday that the Justice Department was discussing how to wind down the case as Trump prepares to again assume the presidency.

Trump pleaded not guilty last year to four criminal charges accusing the Republican of conspiring to obstruct the collection and certification of votes following his 2020 defeat to Democrat Joe Biden. The effort by Trump and his allies to reverse Biden's victory culminated in the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol following a fiery speech by the then-president near the White house.

2024 US Elections In Tuesday's election, Trump defeated Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, a victory all but certain to end two federal cases against him.

Trump's lawyers had been due to respond by Nov. 21 to Smith's argument that the case can proceed after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling giving former presidents broad immunity from prosecution over official actions taken while in office.

Smith said prosecutors would inform the judge by Dec. 2 how they propose to move forward.

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BEIRUT -Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon over the last day have killed at least 40 people including several children, Lebanese authorities said on Saturday, after heavy Israeli bombardment pounded the southern suburbs of the capital Beirut overnight.

At least seven people were killed in the coastal city of Tyre late on Friday, Lebanon's health ministry said. The Israeli military has previously ordered swathes of the city to evacuate but there were no orders published by the Israeli military spokesperson on social media platform X before Friday's strikes.

The ministry said two children were among the dead. Rescue operations were ongoing and other body parts retrieved in the aftermath of the attack would undergo DNA testing to identify them, the ministry added.

Strikes in nearby towns on Saturday killed 13 people, including seven medics from rescue groups affiliated to Hezbollah and its ally Amal, the health ministry said.

At least 20 more people were killed in Israeli strikes on Saturday across the eastern plains around the historic city of Baalbek, the health ministry said.

The Israeli military said it had struck Hezbollah infrastructure sites in the areas of Tyre and Baalbek, including fighters, "operational apartments," and weapons stores.

The Lebanese health ministry said Israeli attacks have killed at least 3,136 people and wounded 13,979 in Lebanon over the last year. The toll includes 619 women and 194 children.

Israel has been locked in fighting with Lebanese armed group Hezbollah since October 2023, but fighting has escalated dramatically since late September of this year. Israel has intensified and expanded its bombing campaign, and Hezbollah has ramped up daily rocket and drone attacks against Israel.

The Iran-backed group announced more than 20 operations on Saturday, as well as one that it said fighters carried out the previous day against a military factory south of Tel Aviv.

More than a dozen Israeli strikes also hit the southern suburbs of Beirut overnight, once a bustling collection of neighbourhoods and a key stronghold of Hezbollah.

Now, many buildings have been almost entirely flattened, with Hezbollah's yellow flags jutting out from the ruins, according to Reuters reporters who were taken on a tour of the area by Hezbollah.

Some buildings were partially damaged by the strikes, leading some floors to collapse and sending furniture and other personal belongings spilling onto parked cars below.

Men and women were picking through the rubble for their belongings, shoving blankets and mats under their arms or into black plastic bags.

"We are trying to gather as many as we can, so we can manage to live off them, nothing more," said Hassan Hannawi, one of the men looking for his belongings.
ECONOMIST SOMETIMES say that China suffers from the three Ds: debt, deflation and poor demographics. Americas presidential election added a fourth: Donald Trump, who has threatened to slap high tariffs on Chinese exports when he returns to the White House. To counter these dangers, investors had hoped China would announce a decisive fiscal rescue package after a legislative meeting on November 8th. Chinas leaders, though, seem stuck in a cautious crouch. After the meeting, the finance ministry unveiled a new plan to tackle one of the Ds: debt. But it shared no new measures that would help it beat back deflation.

Lan Foan, Chinas finance minister, said that local governments would be allowed to issue extra bonds worth trillions of yuan to replace riskier hidden" debts. These hidden liabilities typically belong to local-government financing vehicles (LGFVs), quasi-commercial infrastructure firms sponsored by city and provincial authorities. The debts of LGFVs totalled about 60trn yuan ($8.6trn) at the end of 2022, about one-fifth of it risky, according to Goldman Sachs, a bank. To refinance these debts, local governments will be able to issue bonds worth up to 10trn yuan over the next five years.

Hidden debts have been a nagging worry for Chinas rulers and investors for the past 15 years. Barred from issuing many bonds of their own, local governments raised money through LGFVs instead. Lou Jiwei, Chinas formidable finance minister from 2013 to 2016, tried to bring these debts under control during Xi Jinpings first term as president. His approach set the precedent for the latest initiative. Local governments were allowed to sell more bonds (an explicit obligation) in place of the implicit, off-balance-sheet debt raised by LGFVs. Open the front door and close the back door," as Mr Lou put it.

Unfortunately, the back door kept popping open whenever ambitious local governments felt the need to gin up the economy. Their hidden debts have also become harder to sustain in recent years. Chinas economic slowdown has hurt tax revenues and the slump in the property market has undermined land sales, a significant source of money for local governments. In response officials have cut back public services, sold state assets and harassed businesses for back taxes and fees. The most notorious example was a 66,000 yuan fine imposed on a grocer in Shaanxi province for selling 2.5kg of substandard celery. Chinas cabinet has urged the most indebted provinces to smash the pots and sell the iron", a poor mans version of selling the family silver.

Chinas central government resents the financial indiscipline of lower-level authorities. But it also fears the consequences of letting them fail. It has not permitted an explicit default on a local-government bond, including the bonds issued by LGFVs. Bail-outs, though, have been grudging and often indirect. Mr Lan referred to clearing landmines" one by one. The plan announced on November 8th represents a pre-emptive effort to remove risks, rather than a hurried response to fiscal emergencies. It will, Mr Lan said, free up some of the time and attention of local officials to devote to other things. And because the cost of financing front-door" bonds is lower than that for risky, back-door debts, the plan will save local governments 600bn yuan in interest payments over five years.

That is welcome. But those interest savings amount to less than 0.1% of Chinas expected GDP over the next half-decade. Investors had hoped for more generous, and more direct, measures to boost spending and dispel deflation. The government is said to be considering handouts for poorer households and subsidies for childbirth. It could expand a trade-in programme that resembles Americas cash for clunkers" scheme, encouraging consumers to hand in their old cars, fridges, air-conditioners and other appliances for newer, greener ones. Some of these measures may appear in the coming months. But Chinas leaders clearly see no urgency to announce them just yet.

Chinas rulers may be planning to save their fiscal ammunition for the bigger battle they will face if Mr Trump follows through on his threat to start a second, fiercer trade war. The next big economic events on Chinas political calendar are the partys economic-work conference in mid-December and the meeting of its rubber-stamp legislature in March, when the budget and growth target are announced. Perhaps Mr Trumps intentions will be clearer by then.

But Chinas instinct to keep its powder dry" is not as prudent as it seems. Lack of stimulus is leaving Chinas real resources, its labour and capital, underemployed. That is not frugal; it is wasteful. Dry gunpowder is a storable good. The time and energy of Chinas workforce is not.

 2024, The Economist Newspaper Ltd. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
Pakistan News: At least 24 people were killed, and over 40 were wounded after a violent explosion occurred near the Quetta Railway Station in Balochistan, a southwestern province of the country, stated reports.

Initially the death toll was reported to be 17, but was expected to go higher. "The death toll has reached 17. It might possibly go higher," news wire AFP quoted Inspector General Moazzam Jah Ansari as saying. The wounded had been transported to a local hospital.

The explosion happened around 8:45 am, when the train was ready to depart from the platform for Peshawar, reports Pakistan's Dawn News. Police and rescue teams are currently at the scene.

The blast took place inside the railway station when the Peshawar-bound express was about to leave for its destination, senior superintendent of police operations, Muhammad Baloch told Reuters. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the blast.

Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind issued a statement mentioning that the Bomb Disposal Squad had collected evidence from the site, and the nature of the blast was being investigated.

While the nature of the blast has not yet been ascertained, SSP Baloch suspects it could be a suicide blast. He further said that at least 100 people were present at the site, stated Dawn News' report.

Pakistan: Past attacks in Balochistan Balochistan, Pakistan's largest and most impoverished province, is rich in natural resources and is also home to separatist militant groups. One of the militant groups, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), regularly claims responsibility for deadly attacks targeting security forces or Pakistanis from other provinces, particularly Punjabis, reported AFP.

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In August, the BLA claimed responsibility for a series of coordinated assaults by dozens of militants, resulting in at least 39 fatalities, one of the highest death tolls the region has seen in recent years.
Qatar may announce that it will cease efforts to mediate a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel until both sides demonstrate a "sincere willingness" to return to the negotiating table, marking a significant setback to peace talks, a report said on Saturday, citing an official briefed on the matter.

The official stated that Qatar had made it clear from the beginning of the conflict that it would only mediate if both parties showed a genuine interest in finding a resolution, and that Qatar had previously informed Hamas, Israel, and the U.S. administration of its decision to halt its diplomatic role in the talks, Reuters report stated.

This decision is viewed as a critical blow to ceasefire efforts, as Qatar, alongside Egypt and the U.S., has been a key player in attempts to broker a truce. The latest round of negotiations, which took place in mid-October, failed to yield results, with Hamas rejecting a short-term ceasefire proposal.

Further complicating matters, Qatar has also concluded that Hamas' political office in Doha "no longer serves its purpose," according to the official. This move is a significant shift in Qatar's stance, as Hamas leaders, including top figures, have faced increasing pressure due to Israeli assassinations.

In response to the growing frustration with Hamas, the U.S. had earlier conveyed to Qatar that the continued presence of Hamas in Doha was no longer acceptable, following the militant group's rejection of the most recent ceasefire and hostage agreement proposals.

Qatar's suspension of its mediation role marks a stark reminder of the difficulties in reaching a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, with no clear path forward in sight.

Israel rejects Hamas' role in post-war Gaza governance Israel has firmly rejected any role for Hamas in Gaza after the conflict ends and expressed doubts about the Palestinian Authority, led by Mahmoud Abbas, being able to govern the enclave. Israeli officials have stated that the war will continue until Hamas is dismantled, while the militant group calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

Hamas political official Izzat al-Risheq has dismissed proposals for temporary or limited ceasefires, labeling them as "smokescreens" meant to delay a resolution.

Meanwhile, Islamic Jihad, an allied militant group, launched rockets at several Israeli towns near the Gaza border on Saturday night, escalating the violence.

The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. In retaliation, Israels military actions have led to over 43,000 Palestinian deaths and the widespread destruction of Gaza.

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 capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina is definitely not the city that comes to mind when looking for vacation options. However, experts say that Sarajevo is one of the few underrated European capitals.

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According to Eurochange analysts, Sarajevo can become one of the best vacation destinations this year. Among the advantages are affordability, accessibility, ancient history, and the absence of crowds of tourists. The details about the city were provided by the Express.

Sarajevo is known as the "Jerusalem of Europe". It is one of the few places where you can visit a mosque, Catholic Church, Orthodox Church, and synagogue on the same street.

The city is located in a valley in the middle of the forested Dinaric Alps. Sarajevo is surrounded by hills and mountains, the highest of which are Treskavica (2088 m), Belashnitsa (2067 m), Jahorina (1913 m) and Trebevic (1627 m). The landscape here is very picturesque, with narrow streets and houses located on the hillsides. The Miliacka River flows through the town, which flows into the larger Bosna River.

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The climate is temperate continental, with Mediterranean influence from the south. Winters are snowy, with snow cover lasting on average from mid-November to early April. Due to the proximity of the Adriatic Sea, autumn is warmer than spring.

"The unique combination of cultural influences means not only a diversity of architecture but also an incredible gastronomic flavor, which is a mixture of Turkish, European, and Bosnian dishes," said expert Laura Evans-Fisk.

There are numerous cultural institutions of national importance in Sarajevo: the National Museum, the National Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Academy of Arts, the University of Sarajevo, etc. Here you can also see the tallest skyscraper in the Balkans, the Avaz Twist Tower.

Sarajevo first of all went down in history as the city from which the First World War began after Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sofia on June 28, 1914.

During the Bosnian part of the Yugoslav war, Sarajevo was besieged for 1425 days, from April 5, 1992 to February 29, 1996. It is worth visiting the Museum of Crimes Against Humanity to remember those who died during the war of the 1990s.

Tourists are advised to stroll the cobblestone streets of Bascarsija, Sarajevo's old market, and buy antiques and souvenirs.

And from the yellow fortress you can admire the magnificent view of the city.

Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels in Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.
WASHINGTON : Advisers to President-elect Donald Trump are drawing up plans to carry out his mass deportation pledge, including discussing how to pay for it and weighing a national emergency declaration that would allow the incoming administration to repurpose military assets to detain and remove migrants.

The behind-the-scenes discussions, which started months before the election and have picked up in the days since Trumps victory, include policy changes required to increase deportations, according to people working on the presidential transition, members of Congress and others close to the president-elect.

Among the changes: revoking a Biden administration policy directing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement not to pursue immigrants in the country illegally who havent committed other crimes, and making changes to the immigration court system to speed up cases. Trumps allies have said they are planning first to focus on immigrants in the country illegally who have received final orders of deportation from an immigration court, of which there are about 1.3 million, as well as those with other criminal convictions or charges.

Trumps budding deportation plans are still in flux, the president-elects advisers said.

Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for the transition, said: The American people re-elected President Trump by a resounding margin, giving him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail. He will deliver."

Trump has argued that an aggressive deportation effort is necessary to put the country back on course after an estimated eight million migrants entered the U.S. illegally during the Biden administration. It isnt known precisely how many people are living in the U.S. illegally. The Homeland Security Department estimated the population to be about 11 million in 2022, though the figure has likely grown since then. Trump has said he would target as many as 20 million people.

As a first step, Trumps advisers are discussing issuing a national emergency declaration at the border on his first day in office, which his team thinks would allow him to move money from the Pentagon to pay for wall construction and to assist with immigrant detention and deportation. But the legality of such a move is unclear. A national emergency, Trumps advisers think, also would unlock the ability to use military bases for immigrant detention and military planes to help carry out deportations.

Should Trump realize even a fraction of his visionhe has pledged to carry out the largest mass deportation in U.S. historythe 45th and soon-to-be-47th president could send shock waves across the economy and upend the lives of millions of migrants and their families who have called the U.S. home for years.

A critical near-term priority is finding the money to pay for it. An estimate by the American Immigration Council, a liberal immigration group, estimated that an operation to deport the total number of people living in the U.S. illegally could cost $968 billion over more than a decade, or roughly $88 billion a year.

Any deportation effort requires enormous resources to hire more federal agents to identify and arrest immigrants, contract out space to detain them and procure airplanes to fly them to other countries.

Trump has played down the projected cost of his plan. Its not a question of a price tag. Its notreally, we have no choice," he told NBC News this week, when people have killed and murdered, when drug lords have destroyed countries, and now theyre going to go back to those countries because theyre not staying here."

Officials from Trumps first administration have also written draft executive orders to resume construction of the border wall and revise President Bidens existing restrictions on asylum at the southern border to remove the humanitarian exemptions. They are planning to enter aggressive negotiations with Mexico to revive the Remain in Mexico policy, a person working on Trumps transition said, and are identifying potential safe third countries where asylum seekers could be sent.

They also want to revoke deportation protections from millions of immigrants who have either been granted a form of humanitarian protection known as temporary protected statuswhich covers hundreds of thousands of Haitians and Venezuelansor entered the country on a quasi-legal status called humanitarian parole. That population includes millions who have entered via government appointments at the southern border, as well as tens of thousands of Afghans evacuated after the fall of Kabul and hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians allowed into the U.S. following the Russian invasion.

Rep. Chip Roy (R., Texas), an anti-illegal-immigration hard-liner, said he thinks the Trump administration should disregard those deportation protections because, in his view, they were issued illegally.

I believe we need to push the boundaries and claim theyve got no status," he said.

Rather than forcibly deporting all migrants, Trumps advisers hope they can induce some to leave voluntarily, according to people familiar with the matter. They have discussed offering immigrants in the country illegallyor those who entered on parole through Biden administration programsa chance to leave the country without penalties, so they can return on a visa if they are eligible. Under normal circumstances, when someone is deported, they are barred from returning on a visa for 10 years.

Republican lawmakers, buoyed by their election gains, are planning to use a process called reconciliation to advance legislation that funds Trumps immigration proposals alongside his energy and tax priorities. Under the arcane rules of reconciliation, legislation can be approved with a simple majority vote, rather than the 60 votes usually required to advance most bills in the Senate, as long as the changes made are primarily budgetary rather than policy shifts.

Republicans have already taken back control of the Senate, and they are poised to keep control of the House. With majorities in both chambers, they could move the reconciliation measure without support from Democrats.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R., La.) said in a letter circulated to Republican lawmakers this week that reconciliation legislation would surge resources to the southern border to build the Trump Border Wall, acquire new detection technologies, bolster our Border Patrol, and stop the flow of illegal immigration."

To avoid adding to the federal deficit, some members of Congress have also floated tacking new fees onto different steps of the immigration process, such as applying for asylum or even appearing in immigration court, that would help pay for deportations. The U.S. immigration system is already largely funded by fees for citizenship and visa applications, though humanitarian programsand court proceedingsare free.

Trump has alleged the new immigrant population has disrupted American society by committing higher levels of crime, taking jobs and inflating the cost of housingthough available data show immigrants commit crimes at lower levels than U.S. citizens, and analysts have said they often fill low-paying jobs Americans are less likely to take.

Trump struggled during his first term to deport large numbers of migrants, particularly those living in blue states that cut off cooperation with the federal government. In addition to a huge infusion of cash, mass deportations would require unprecedented coordination among federal, state and local officials.

As Inauguration Day nears, Trumps immigration team is coming into focus. Tom Homan, who served as acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during Trumps first term, is expected to be appointed to a senior White House role overseeing the southern border and immigration, according to people familiar with the matter.

Stephen Miller, the architect of Trumps first-term immigration agenda, is also widely seen by Trumps allies as returning to the White House in a high-level job. Chad Wolf, Trumps former acting Homeland Security secretary, and Chad Mizelle, former DHS acting general counsel, are candidates to lead the Homeland Security Department, the people said.

Richard Rubin contributed to this article.

Write to Michelle Hackman at michelle.hackman@wsj.com and Andrew Restuccia at andrew.restuccia@wsj.com

View Full Image Trump Advisers Ramp Up Work on Mass Deportation Push

View Full Image Trump Advisers Ramp Up Work on Mass Deportation Push

View Full Image Trump Advisers Ramp Up Work on Mass Deportation Push
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida -Donald Trump's presidential transition effort said on Saturday that a Republican operative who outlined some potential contours of a U.S.-backed peace plan in Ukraine earlier in the day was not speaking on behalf of the president-elect.

Bryan Lanza, a long-time Republican strategist who was a contractor on Trump's 2024 campaign, said in an interview with the BBC that Trump's administration would be asking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for a "realistic vision for peace."

He said the new administration's priority in Ukraine would be establishing peace and not restoring lost territory, including Crimea.

"And if President Zelenskiy comes to the table and says, well we can only have peace if we have Crimea, he shows to us that he's not serious. Crimea is gone," he said.

Responding to Lanza's comments, a spokesperson for the transition denied that Lanza spoke for Trump. Trump's transition effort is currently vetting personnel and drafting the policies that Trump could adopt during his second term.

"Bryan Lanza was a contractor for the campaign," said the spokesperson, who declined to be named. "He does not work for President Trump and does not speak for him."

During the election campaign, Trump said he would find a solution to end the war "within a day," but did not explain how he would do so.

Zelenskiy and Trump spoke by telephone this week after the U.S. election in a conversation joined by billionaire Trump supporter Elon Musk, according to media reports.

Trump himself has declined to rule out the possibility that Ukraine may have to cede land to Russia and has been notably vague when discussing the conflict. Some high-profile allies have put forth peace proposals that would in practice result in long-term Russian rule over areas that are internationally recognized as Ukrainian territory.

Russia annexed the Crimea peninsula in 2014 after an uprising that prompted Ukraine's Russia-friendly president to flee. More than 2 1/2 years after launching its full-fledged invasion, Russian forces hold just under 20% of its territory.

Zelenskiy has repeatedly said peace cannot be established until all Russian forces are expelled and all territory captured by Moscow, including Crimea, is returned. His "victory plan" presented last month maintains that provision as well as an invitation for Ukraine to join NATO, long denounced by Russia.

Ukraine has sought modern weapons from the United States as well as authorisation to use them on Russian targets but it has never called for U.S. forces to be deployed on its territory.

Russian troops failed in their initial advance on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv but in recent months have been capturing a string of villages on the eastern front.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in June that conditions for peace talks included Ukraine abandoning the four regions Moscow has annexed, though it does not have full control over them.
WASHINGTON : A Biden administration push to send billions of dollars of military equipment to Ukraine before it leaves office is facing major logistical hurdles and is raising concern that the transfers will deplete already-stretched U.S. stockpiles, officials said.

The impediments underscore how much Donald Trumps election has disrupted the U.S.-led campaign to aid Ukraine, which has suffered severe battlefield setbacks in its war against Russia and is now grappling with the future of the Western arms pipeline that has enabled it to keep fighting.

More than $7 billion in drawdown authority allowing the Pentagon to transfer weapons and munitions to Ukraine from its stocks remains unspent, along with over $2 billion to fund long-term equipment contracts for Kyiv.

Trump has vowed to end the war in Ukraine before taking office. While the president-elect hasnt spelled out a plan for doing so, Biden administration officials fear that the incoming administration will curtail Ukraine arms shipments as part of an effort to lead Kyiv and Moscow to the negotiating table.

By funneling as much military aid to Kyiv as it can before January, Biden administration officials are hoping to give Ukraine a stronger negotiating position and bolster its defenses. Before the election, the administration had been aiming to deliver the remaining aid to Ukraine by April, according to a Pentagon official.

That timeline has taken on new urgency since the election.

In response to stepped-up Russian drone and missile attacks, the Pentagon is sending to Ukraine more than 500 interceptors for the Patriot missile defense system and the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, or NASAMS, which are expected to arrive in the weeks ahead, according to a senior administration official.

Those shipments should meet Ukraines air defense needs for the rest of this year, said one U.S. official.

On Friday, the administration said it would send a small number of contractors" to help Ukraine repair and maintain F-16s and other systems, the Pentagon official said. The contractors will arrive in the coming months and will work far from the front lines.

As recently as August, the Biden administration rejected such a move, but since then more systems became inoperable because of a lack of skilled workers to repair or maintain them.

Ensuring these weapon systems remain mission capable is critical for Ukraines defense against Russian aggression," the Pentagon said in a statement.

Weapons deliveries to Ukraine typically take weeks or even months, and the impact of the planned increase in weapons transfers on U.S. military stockpiles, particularly air defenses, is a big concern," said another senior U.S. official. The U.S. is looking at options such as buying back weapons from other countries to give to Ukraine, the senior U.S. official said.

Ukrainian officials have pressed for additional Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS, which have a range of up to 200 miles, saying they would enable strikes far behind Russian front lines.

The Pentagon has been reluctant to send additional ATACMS, arguing Russia has moved aircraft and other valuable targets out of range. The Biden administration has refused to let Ukrainian forces use the missiles to strike into Russia itself.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin refused a recent request from President Volodymyr Zelensky to give priority to delivery of Ukraines ATACMS over other buyers, according to two U.S. officials and an adviser to the Ukrainian government. Breaking longstanding agreements with other customers would be a lot to ask," Austin told Zelensky, according to one of the officials.

A new version of the weapon, called the Precision Strike Missile, is under production but will take years to make in large enough numbers to replace the ATACMS, another of the officials said.

The administration is asking allies to send Ukraine missiles from their stockpiles, the first U.S. official said.

The Pentagon also has limited stores of air-launched munitions it can send to arm Ukraines new F-16 jet fighters, according to the senior U.S. official and a former Defense Department official briefed on the discussions. Kyivs forces are using the planes primarily in an air-defense role to help shoot down Russian missiles and drones.

The Pentagon has been sending AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles, which are air-to-ground missiles designed to home in on enemy radars such as those used by surface-to-air missiles; advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles, which can be launched from F-16s as well as from NASAMS; and Joint Direct Attack Munition kits, which convert unguided bombs to smart weapons for attacking ground targets.

Alexander Ward contributed to this article.

Write to Lara Seligman at lara.seligman@wsj.com, Nancy A. Youssef at nancy.youssef@wsj.com and Gordon Lubold at gordon.lubold@wsj.com
As Maharashtra gears up for its upcoming Assembly elections, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP) leader Sharad Pawar has offered a critical assessment of the states political climate and the readiness of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance. Speaking to The Indian Express on his campaign trail in Nanded, Pawar outlined key issues shaping the electoral landscape, including rising public discontent with the ruling governments policies, especially among farmers and working-class citizens.

Pawar expressed confidence in the strength of the MVA coalition, which includes the NCP, Congress, and Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction), noting that despite targeted populist measures by the government, a strong demand for change is resonating across Maharashtra. He further alleged a concerning pattern of central agency misuse by the ruling party to pressure opposition figures, underscoring a political environment that, according to him, the state has never seen.

Lok Sabha outcome sets tone for Assembly polls Pawar linked the current Assembly elections to sentiments from the last Lok Sabha polls, where he noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modis approach and policies, especially concerning constitutional changes and minority relations, faced backlash. According to Pawar, The issue of changing the Constitution harmed [Modi] people were unhappy with Mr. Modi and his policies. He added that the MVAs performance in the Lok Sabha was a signal of growing dissatisfaction.

MVA's strength and strategy Pawar expressed optimism for the MVAs prospects in the Assembly election, stating, The public wants a change. He affirmed that the MVA alliance is functioning cohesively across almost all constituencies. On the question of the chief ministerial candidate, Pawar noted that the party with the highest seats within the MVA would choose the CM if they secure a majority. "My observation is, the public wants a change. And if that feeling continues then we will get a clear-cut majority. Secondly, our MVA alliance of Congress, Uddhav Thackeray and us, is working well everywhere except in a few constituencies," said Pawar.

Governments populist policies and public sentiment To the question of whether he sees the Lok Sabha trend (where MVA made gains) continuing, Pawar, "I cant say now" when asked if the Lok Sabha trend would continue in the upcoming state elections. He pointed out that since the last general elections, the government has deployed extensive resources and introduced a number of populist measures, such as the "Ladki Bahin" initiative, which offers financial benefits. These efforts, according to Pawar, are aimed at altering the political atmosphere in the state.

Pawar commented on the ruling partys populist policies, such as direct financial benefits to women and targeted aid to other groups. He shared an anecdote about field workers who, while receiving benefits, expressed frustration over rising costs of essential goods. The women said they did get the money, but this government is giving money from one hand and taking it out from our pockets with the other as prices of everything have increased so much, he was quoted.

Misuse of central agencies alleged Pawar accused the central government of misusing agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax Department to target the Opposition, sharing that even his own family has faced repeated scrutiny. Whenever my daughter, a four-time MP, criticizes the government, her husband gets a notice from Income Tax, Pawar stated, noting that this election is witnessing an unprecedented level of alleged misuse of power.

Manoj Jarange-Patils decision applauded Pawar praised activist Manoj Jarange-Patil for choosing not to contest the election, a move he believes will aid the Opposition. Jarange-Patils expanded demand for Muslim and Dhangar reservations has reportedly broadened his support, fostering inclusivity across communities, according to Pawar.

Farmers flight ignored, says Pawar Addressing agricultural issues, Pawar criticized central policies, particularly those affecting cotton and soybean farmers, who face unsustainable prices. Cotton and soybean farmers are extremely unhappy, he said, also noting that demands from the sugarcane sector regarding minimum support price and ethanol production remain unmet. Pawar emphasized that various crops and farmers are struggling due to unfulfilled promises. "Cotton and soybean farmers are facing serious issues. Prices have dropped, the cost of cultivation cannot be recovered. Thats why these farmers are extremely unhappy. ... In fact, even in the case of sugarcane, there is a demand from the national federation regarding the minimum support price and also about Ethanol which are not being fulfilled. This means even this assure- income crop is facing a problem. By and large, be it cotton or soyabean or sugarcane, the farmers are in trouble," Pawar was quoted.

Also Read | Maharashtra Elections: Mumbai employees to be granted paid leave on November 20
Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams, currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for more than 150 days, has lost a considerable amount of weight, leading to health concerns, reported a NY Post.

According to the report, Williams was supposed to spend eight days in space, but her Boeing Starliner spacecraft faced some technical issues and delayed her return to Earth until February 2025. Meanwhile, the NASA and medical personnel noted she had 'sunken cheeks' in recent pictures, News18 quoted NY Post as saying.

A NASA employee was quoted by the NY Post, Shes become skin and bones." Though pulmonologist Dr Vinay Gupta opined that Williams's symptoms can be attributed to normal stresses that a person faces when they live at high altitude. He added that this results in a breakdown of nutrition and drastic loss of calories.

As per details, pointed out by a NASA employee to NY Post, an average astronaut needs around 3,500-4,000 calories per day to maintain weight in space. However, Williams has not been able to provide these inputs. Also, at high altitude, preparation as well as the consumption of food in this microgravity greatly complicates the situation. Despite plenty of food available in ISS, getting the right kinds of food requires effort under such circumstances.

In the meantime, NASA has made sure Williamss health status was closely monitored and she gets her proper weight back. All commands and all the astronauts themselves are perfectly healthy, and measures are taken to feed the astronauts properly and take care for their overall well-being.

Technical issues: Currently, Williams is stranded on the ISS due to technical issues with Boeings Starliner space vehicle, along with fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore. Five of the 28 thrusters of the Starliner spacecraft failed during the approach to the ISS.

With four of these thrusters were later returned to service, questions about a spacecrafts propulsion were raised as this is vital to control during the re-entry process.
It's no exaggeration to say that the invention of the automobile marked the beginning of a new era in human history. The scientific and technological progress of the late 19th and early 20th centuries changed the world.

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The starting point was the invention of steam traction. This was followed by the first internal combustion engines, all-wheel drives, fuel injection systems, handbrakes, and gearboxes.

The name Karl Benz is associated with the beginning of the era of automotive technology. This German engineer is considered the inventor of the modern car. Interestingly, the name "diesel" engine is associated with its creator, Rudolf Diesel.

In Ukraine, the first car appeared in Odesa. Vasyl Navrotskyi, editor of the "Odesskyi Lystok," bought the new car.

Rare photos of one of the first cars in the Kyiv region were posted online. The evidence was published only in 2019 in the book "As I Remember Them" by Galina von Meck, the daughter of the wealthy baron Nikolai von Meck. It was a German Daimler Phoenix 8HP. The photo was probably taken in 1898 in the village of Kopyliv, Makariv district, Kyiv region. It depicts the von Meck's summer estate, with the baron himself at the wheel.

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The Daimler Phoenix 8HP by von Meck was hardly the first car to appear in the Kyiv region. A year earlier, in 1897, the "Kyivan" newspaper published an enthusiastic article in which eyewitnesses described how they first saw a car on the streets of Podil.

Subscribe to OBOZREVATEL's Telegram and Viber channels to stay up to date with the latest developments.
A renowned Co Longford breeder was among the prize-winning vendors at the Irish Aubrac Cattle Societys pre-selected show and sale at Tullamore Mart, Co Offaly, on Saturday, October 26th, 2024.

Michael Hanlon presented four handpicked lots from his prize-winning Ashbrook herd for sale.

His first lot of the day, catalogued as number 6, Ashbrook Turner, took the second place in his class for pedigree bulls, in a hotly contested pre-sale show judged by Seamus Nagle, a renowned farmer from Co Clare.

Born in March 2023, a son of Dauphin, and a home-bred Bayon 2 daughter, he secured 4,500.

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Lot 12, Ashbrook Roma, was his next lot into the ring and she found a new owner at 3,000.

The April 2021-born Ashbrook Oscar daughter, out of a home-bred Bayon 2 dam, sold in-calf to Heritier, and is due to calve down in mid-November.

Her stable mate, lot 15, the March 2022-born Ashbrook Sweet, a Dauphin daughter, out of a Dolby-sired home-bred dam, due in early April 2025 to the AI Aubrac bull, Johnstown Prince, made 2,800.

At the same price tag, was lot 18, Savannah, another Dauphin daughter, born in April 2022 and out of a home-bred Capitain daughter. She is due to calve down in late March 2025 to the aforementioned AI sire, Johnstown Prince.

READ NEXT: Longford set for first affordable housing scheme as Council gets approval for 93 unit turn key development



Record returns

At Saturdays sale, two bulls sold for 5,000, while the highest-priced maiden heifer fetched 4,100, the top-priced in-calf heifer sold for 4,000, and the top-priced weanling heifer changed hands for 1,750.

Compared to 2023 returns, the average for bulls was up a notable 840/head, while the average weanling heifer price rose by 485/head, and maiden heifers levelled at 220/hd, more, on average.

Out of the 43 pre-selected lots presented for sale by thirteen herds, just one animal returned unsold.

Speaking following the sale, James Donnellan, chairperson of the Irish Aubrac Cattle Society, stated they "had an excellent sale, with record prices for bulls, and an almost 100% clearance" overall.

"There was great demand from a range of buyers," he said. There were some lovely Aubracs on display, and thanks to everybody who supported the sale. The best of luck to all who purchased."

Herd history

The Hanlons herd was established in 2005 with the import of two elite females from France and the purchase of a number of elite females at sales in Ireland.

A breeding programme was then set up using 100% AI from the top genetics in France, utilising Dolby, Capitain, Roussel, Heritier and Dauphin.

A strict culling policy and only retaining the very top females over the years has resulted in exceptional quality bulls that have been sold in nearly every county north and south of the border, with a number of repeat customers.

The quality of calves and ease of calving are where the bulls are most appreciated.

Most bulls are sold directly on the farm, whilst a number of bulls have been sold at the premier sales to display the top end of breeding to the public.

When the top AI bulls are mated with the herds top females, the results are outstanding.

About the breed

The Aubrac breed is a suckler cow breed originating from the mountainous areas of Southern France, where conditions are harsh.

Originally used for milk and draft, it has retained milking ability and placid temperament, adding to its natural beefing ability, hardiness, and low production costs, making it a complete suckler cow.

As a suckler cow, the Aubrac offers the advantages of a pedigree animal (generations of selection, consistency of production, and higher sale value of progeny)

Find more information on www.aubrac.ie
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland is warning consumers that a range of products, produced by The Happy Pear company, are being recalled due to health concerns.

The recall notice applies to a number of specific batches of hummus products (see below) which contain canned chickpeas as an ingredient.

The affected batches, which are sold in stores across the country, include canned chickpeas as an ingredient and those chickpeas, supplied by another company, are subject to recall due to the possible presence of animal matter.

READ ALSO: President Michael D. Higgins congratulates Donald Trump on US Election win

According to the FSAI, recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale and consumers are advised not to eat the impacted products.

LIST OF PRODUCTS SUBJECT TO RECALL

The Happy Pear Red Pepper Hummus (150g); batch number: 4304; use by date: 11/12/2024

The Happy Pear Caramelised Onion Hummus (150g); batch number: 4305; use by date: 12/12/2024

The Happy Pear Reduced Fat Hummus (150g); batch number: 4304; use by date: 11/12/2024

The Happy Pear Hummus Triple Dip (180g); batch number: 4303; use by date: 10/12/2024

The Happy Pear Moroccan Style Hummus (150g); batch number: 4305; use by date: 12/12/2024

The Happy Pear is a well-known food producer and brand owned by brothers Steve and Dave Flynn from Greystones, County Wicklow.

The Happy Pear is committed to delivering the highest standards of quality and safety for our customers. As such, we are issuing a recall on certain products that contain canned chickpeas, said a spokesperson.
A widow has told a court that her life is broken beyond repair and that she is trapped in a nightmare following the death of her husband in a road traffic accident last year.

At Ennis Circuit Court, Helga Himmelsbach delivered a searing victim impact statement concerning the death of her husband, Jerry OConnor (71) on July 27 2023.

Before commencing her victim impact statement, Ms Himmelsbach placed a photo of Mr OConnor and a candle beside the witness box facing Judge Francis Comerford.

Mr OConnor died at the scene - on the N67 leading out of Ballyvaughan in County Clare - after a French motorist, Olivier Le Bozec, crashed into Mr OConnors Yamaha motorbike while Mr Le Bozec was driving on the wrong side of the road.

Mr Le Bozec, aged 42, of Rue Georges Cadoudal, Locoal Mendon, France was on the second day of a family holiday in Ireland with his wife and eight year old son and they were driving to Aillwee Caves outside Ballyvaughan when the crash occurred on a blind bend at 10.30am.

READ ALSO: Gardai determined to secure justice - 29 years' after disappearance of Jo Jo Dullard

An eyewitness, June Rouine, who was driving behind Mr OConnor said that he had no chance to react before impact and that his body slid under Mr Le Bozecs French registered Renault.

Mr Le Bozec pleaded guilty to the dangerous driving causing the death of Mr OConnor and on Friday Mr Le Bozec walked free from court after Judge Francis Comerford imposed a fully-suspended prison sentence.

Judge Comerford also imposed a four year driving ban on Mr Le Bozec and the terms of his suspended prison term are on condition that he pays a 7,000 fine within 12 months.

He said an aggravating factor in the case was that Mr Le Bozec was driving on the wrong side of the road for a long time without noticing.

However, Judge Comerford said that there were a number of mitigating factors in the case. He said that there was no evidence of speed in the case and no evidence of drink driving.

He noted that there was a guilty plea at the earliest opportunity and that Mr Le Bozec, who has no previous convictions, had co-operated with gardai.

Mitigation is as complete as it could be in a case and the highest measure of mitigation does apply in this case," he commented.

Judge Comerford noted that Mr Le Bozec had apologised from the witness box in court.

Speaking through a translator, he said: My wife and I deeply regret what happened and this will be with us until the end of our lives.

He added: What I am going to say today I know will not mitigate the pain endured by the family of Jerry O'Connor but it is important that I say it. We will always think about the man who died that day until the end of our lives unfortunately. We are truly, deeply and sincerely sorry for what happened. I will never, ever forget what happened on that tragic day.

The court heard that Mr Le Bozecs wife, an oncology nurse, tried to revive Mr OConnor at the scene.

Imposing the suspended 17-month prison term, Judge Comerford commented that the culpability in this case is not as high as many other cases of dangerous driving causing death.

He said: It is more appropriate that the punishment does not involve an immediate prison sentence I know that this wont satisfy a lot of people in this court."

Regarding the fine, he said: No matter the figure I pick, it wont be commensurate with the damage caused.

In her victim impact statement, Ms Himmelsbach said following the death of Jerry instead of enjoying our days together, there is now only loneliness, pain and fear," adding: Instead of sharing life, there is no more togetherness, no more sharing, no more intimacy, no more chatting over a cup of coffee, no more shared meals, nothing. My days begin in loneliness and end in loneliness.

She further stated: All of this because one man couldnt abide by two basic rules of the road - drive on the correct side of the road and appropriately to the conditions of the road. Nothing can undo the suffering this dangerous driver has caused. Still I hope that he will get to feel the consequences of his crime in a very palpable way and through that he can atone and learn to take responsibility for his actions."

Ms Himmelsbach said from the moment she became aware that Jerry was killed by Monsieur Olivier Le Bozecs driving on the day my life has altered in the most destructive way so that now I am just contemplating on how to survive on my own".

She added: This defendant does not know me but he has ruined my life utterly, my past, my present and my future. I cannot yet bear to think of my past life with Jerry, those memories are still way too raw.

My present life is so very, very desolate without him. I still feel that the defendant abused the hospitality of our host community of north Clare when he engaged in his criminal behaviour which ultimately resulted in the death of my beloved Jerry.

The shock has not abated and still sends my heart racing and keeps me in a perpetual sense of being trapped in a nightmare.

The couple operated the Burren Wellness Centre together and Ms Himmelsbach said: Jerry was a beautiful, kind and multi-talented man and we loved and cared for each other that a level I never thought existed. No other person has touched my life more deeply.

While the defendant killed any husband, he also destroyed the very essence of my own life and put me under a life sentence of loss, despair, worry and pain. I must now face every single day alone, without my closest confidante, without the person I trusted with every fibre of my being."

She added: From the moment when life was knocked out of Jerry, and nearly each and every bone was shattered in his body, my life was also shattered.

Mr OConnor was a father of four adult children and three grand-children from a previous relationship. Ms Himmelsbach said that the two got engaged on this day, November 8th in Hawaii in 2007.
A Donegal man convicted of indecently assaulting a young girl in the 1970s will be given a prison sentence next month, a judge has said.

John Doherty, who was found guilty of the offences before a jury in June, is already behind bars having been remanded in custody when he appeared before Judge John Aylmer at Letterkenny Circuit Court.

Brave Sally Duddy, who faced down her attacker with a moving and powerful victim impact statement, waived her anonymity, meaning that Doherty can now be identified.

Doherty, a 65-year-old former soldier with an address at Ballymacool Wood, Letterkenny, County Donegal has said that he does not accept the jurys verdict.

He will learn his ultimate fate next month when Judge Aylmer will deliver his final judgement after considering some reports and submissions in the case.

READ ALSO: 'Bits and pieces started showering down' - man cutting grass injured by blade from drone

However, in remanding Doherty into custody at Castlerea Prison, Judge Aylmer warned that a custodial sentence is inevitable in the case.

On June 21, 2024, on the seventh day of a trial, a jury found Doherty guilty of three counts of indecently assaulting Sally (Duddy) Flanagan on occasions between January 1, 1977 and March 10, 1978 (both dates inclusive) at Bonnemaine, Bridgend.

Detective Garda Siobhan Tighe told Ms Fiona Crawford BL, barrister for the State, that Ms Duddy was aged eight and nine during the offending period while Doherty was nine years her senior.

The court heard that Ms Duddy moved from St Johnston to Bonnemaine, Bridgend with her family after her father bought a farm.

The Doherty family were neighbours and the court was told that Doherty used to call to the house regularly.

On one occasion, Ms Duddy was in a bedroom at the rear of the house when Doherty came in and asked if she would play a game, asking her to touch his penis. Details of another incident, the subject of another charge, in the same bedroom were outlined.

The court was told about an incident at Dohertys house, which occurred on an occasion when she went to collect something for one of her sisters from one of Dohertys sisters.

Ms Duddy outlined how she went into a room and Doherty lifted her up, laid her down on the bed and penetrated her vagina. After this incident, Ms Duddy recalled picking up the first thing that was red and returning home.

Having vowed not to pursue her attacker while her own mother was still alive, Ms Duddy lived with the incident until reporting it to gardai in October, 2014.

READ ALSO: Gardai determined to secure justice - 29 years' after disappearance of Jo Jo Dullard

Gardai launched a probe into the allegations and Doherty, who has no previous convictions, made no admissions when spoken to by detectives before following up with a not guilty plea when he was sent forward to the Circuit Court.

Ms Dara Foynes SC, for Doherty, said that her client was a former serving member of the Defence Forces who had an unblemished record.

Testimonials on behalf of the accused were handed into the court and a medical report confirmed that Doherty had prostate cancer for which he is still receiving treatment.

While the jury acquitted Doherty on another count, Ms Foynes admitted that probably little weight can be attached to that.

My client doesnt accept the verdict, Ms Foynes added on the guilty verdicts. Doherty, described by his barrister as being devoted to his family was accompanied to court by family members, who have stood by him during the investigation.

Ms Foynes told Judge Aylmer that the Probation Service deemed Doherty to be of a low risk of reoffending and said he was suitable for community service. The barrister implored Judge Aylmer not to impose consecutive sentences.

Judge Aylmer said he would consider the material and submissions, but would delay imposing sentence until December 10.

There is going to be a custodial sentence imposed, Judge Aylmer said. Given that this involved the penetration of a child by someone who was bordering 17-18 and there was a full contest and a not guilty plea, a custodial sentence is inevitable.

Doherty was reminded in custody until December 10 when the final sentence will be imposed.
Fans of the "Stranger Things" series are eagerly awaiting the premiere of the latest fifth season. The Netflix streaming service finally showed the first teaser and episode titles on a symbolic day. In total, moviegoers can expect 8 episodes.

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Netflix noted that the new season will be available to watch next year. Fans assumed that this would happen no earlier than 2026. The teaser video was posted on YouTube.

There are no faces on it, only episode titles, one of which was partially classified.

The list of episodes is as follows:

The Crawl The Vanishing of...[classified] The Turnbow Trap Sorcerer Shock Jock Escape from Camazotz The Bridge The Rightside Up

The Netflix teaser was released on November 6 for a reason, it was on this day in 1983 that Will Byers, the main character who was searched for in the first season, disappeared.

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The series is set in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana, in the 1980s. The plot of the first season begins with the disappearance of Will. His friends Mike, Dustin, and Lucas start looking for him and accidentally come across a girl with strange powers named Eleven (Eleven). Over time, it turns out that Will's disappearance is connected to a parallel dimension that the boys call "The Other Side." This dimension is full of monsters and is the source of evil that begins to infiltrate Hawkins.

In the following seasons, the team of friends faces new threats from the "Other Side". Each new episode raises the stakes, and the characters are forced to fight supernatural forces, defending their friendship and trying to save the city.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote that Netflix showed the first footage from the new season of the series "Stranger Things". The film studio released several behind-the-scenes moments in honor of the eighth anniversary of the movie's debut.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Dear Readers: On Sept. 23, I published two letters from older adults struggling to find a connection (Still Grieving and Wants a Connection). I asked those of you who have successfully found friendship and romantic partnership at a later stage in life to write in.

I shared some of those great responses last Thursday and, as promised, some more today.

In 2023, United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, released a Surgeon General Advisory on what he termed the public health crisis of loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection in our country. Even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, approximately half of U.S. adults reported experiencing measurable levels of loneliness.

Youre not alone. But there are solutions in the letters below and also in the wonderful new book Party of One: Be Your Own Best Life Partner by Meghan Keane, the founder and producer of NPRs Life Kit. It has practical and witty guidance for people of every age and stage of life.

Dear Eric: After being widowed at 48 after a 28-year marriage, it did take me a bit of time to go through a grief process and reconnect. One conclusion I came to for me was: Divorced people need divorced people and widowed people need other widowed people. Then I discovered that a good connection was someone already in my circle: My close woman friend passed away and I ended up marrying her husband who I had not known when I knew her. Common interests brought us together and our common memories and familiarity with our community gave us much to build on. We married after getting to know each other over two and a half years and have already had eight wonderful years together in this new chapter.

Find Your People

Dear Find Your People: Im so glad you found this new love. I think your point about finding those who can share and help us process life challenges is apt.

Dear Eric: When a non-LDS friend moved to Salt Lake City and was looking to meet his neighbors without joining the church, I recommended he visit and join a Toastmasters club. He did and made many positive contacts. As an international communication and leadership organization with clubs all over the world, Toastmasters weekly or bi-weekly club meetings welcome guests, enjoy hearing the stories or experiences of others and give people an opportunity to mentor and befriend others. Writing and practicing speeches has the added benefit of keeping someones brain active and looking forward not backward.

Toastmasters Member

Dear Toastmasters: I love Toastmasters and any opportunity to build the capacity for communication and storytelling.

Dear Eric: I joined two groups related to two of the things that most interested me: politics and writing. At the writers group, I met another woman with whom I seemed to have nothing whatsoever in common except a pulse and an interest in writingbut one conversation after another happened and somehow or other, we were soon the closest of friends. We still are.

At the online discussion group, I began having conversations with one particular man. That led to exchanging phone numbers, which led to long calls, which led to FaceTime calls, which led to visits, which led to a loving relationship. I didnt join either activity with the goal of meeting anyone. I joined with the goal of pursuing interests in which I was already interested.

Happy Byproduct

Dear Happy: Yes! The most important thing is following your interests and joys.

Dear Eric: I personally think most adults are insincere, self-absorbed, back-stabbing, two-faced jerks, but people who do volunteer work tend to be among the most genuine, compassionate, loving, and lovable people Ive met. Plus, wherever one volunteers, theyll likely encounter others with similar passions and interests, so theres a built-in commonality.

Giving Back

Dear Giving Back: Wow, this took a turn, didnt it? While I dont hold as low an opinion of people in general, we share the love of volunteer work. And it can introduce you to people who care about the things you care about and are working toward a vision of the world that aligns with your views.

Dear Eric: My wife and I retired and moved to a small town. I needed to find a pool as I swim daily. I signed up at the only pool in town, the local YMCA. It takes a bit of time, but you start talking to the people around you and who you see every day. We now have so many friends that we met at the Y, its as if we grew up in this town.

Swim Meet

Dear Swim Meet: A great result. Physical activity at the gym, a Y, or a senior center, even if one doesnt exercise, can bring about so many social connections.

(Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.)

2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
State government watchdogs kept an eye this week on how Massachusetts fared through a presidential election, and on what the flipped legislative seats and voting trends could mean for the Bay States future.

Massachusetts voters overwhelmingly voted for Vice President Kamala Harris for president, and easily kept the Legislatures Democratic supermajority  but more of them than ever cast their ballots for now-president-elect Donald Trump, and the Massachusetts Republican party grew its ranks in the state Senate.
A key question heading into the 2024 election was whether Donald Trump could expand his base.

The answer: Yes.

On Tuesday, Trump made inroads with Hispanic voters, younger voters and voters without a college degree. At the same time, more than 80 percent of Trumps voters are still White men and women.

The Washington Post analyzed exit polling data since the 2000 presidential election to better understand how support for Republicans has changed among key voting demographics. The data from 2024 is preliminary.

Heres a look at some of the biggest swings in Trumps support and how these groups have voted since 2000:

---

A majority of Hispanic men voted for Trump

One of the most pronounced shifts in the 2024 election is the share of Hispanic men who backed Trump.

Hispanic men supported Trump by a 12-point margin in this years presidential election, a steep increase from the past four presidential elections, when Hispanic men favored Democrats by more than 20 percentage points.

Hispanic women did not move as strongly toward Trump, a majority still backed Vice President Kamala Harris. But Harriss margin among Hispanic women shrank to 22 points; in 2020, they supported Biden by 39 points.

If Trumps share of 46 percent support among Hispanic voters holds in national exit polls, it would represent a record high for a Republican presidential candidate since 1980.

Other groups did not shift as much this election. Black women and men supported Harris at similar rates that they supported Biden in 2020, though by smaller margins than for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012. Meanwhile, White men and women supported Trump by roughly the same margins as in 2020.

---

More men, women backed Trump than in 2020

The gender gap for Democratic and Republican voters in the 2024 election (Washington Post graphic).The Washington Post

Both men and women appear to have shifted toward Trump in the 2024 election. Men have historically supported the Republican presidential candidate in almost every election, and they supported Trump by a 13-point margin this year, up from eight points in 2020.

Women, meanwhile, have tended to support the Democratic candidate, and a majority still supported Harris this year. But the margin by which women supported Harris was seven points narrower than Bidens 15-point margin in 2020, which marked a record high for Democrats this millennium.

The difference between Harriss winning margin among women and Trumps winning margin among men appears to be roughly the same as it was in 2020 and 2016.

---

Younger voters inched toward Trump

A majority of younger voters still backed Harris, but it was Democrats weakest showing among voters under 30 since John Kerrys nine-point margin in 2004. In total, voters under 30 shifted 13 points toward Trump since 2020.

Another age group that moved toward Trump was voters between the ages of 45 and 64. They supported Trump by 10 points this year, after splitting their vote between Trump and Biden in 2020.

Voters 65 and older are the one age group where Harris gained support, splitting their vote about evenly this year with Trump. This is especially notable as older voters have supported Republicans in the past five presidential elections.

---

Voters without college degrees squarely fell in Trumps camp

The education gap between Republican and Democratic votes in the 2024 election (Washington Post graphic).The Washington Post

Voters without college degrees supported Trump by a wider margin than any Republican since 1984. Trump won the group by 14 percentage points this year; four years ago, they roughly split their support between Biden and Trump.

In many ways, education is the new dividing line of American politics, but its still a relatively new fault line. Bill Clinton, a Democrat, won voters without a college degree by an identical 14-point margin in 1996, while Ronald Reagan, a Republican, won the group by 19 points in his 1984 landslide election.

Voters with college degrees supported Harris by 13 points, similar to four years ago when they supported Biden by 12 points.

---

Catholics voted like other Christians: for Trump

How religious voters cast their ballots in the 2024 general election (Washington Post graphic).The Washington Post

Catholic voters favored Biden, the countrys second Catholic president, by five points in 2020 but swung sharply toward Trump this year, supporting him by 18 points. Its the largest winning margin among Catholics for any candidate since exit polling began in 1972.

That margin doesnt yet rival Trumps support among Protestants and other Christians. And there are still sharp divisions among Protestants: 82 percent of White evangelical Protestants supported Trump, while 55 percent of White non-evangelical Protestants and 85 percent of Black Protestants supported Harris.

Voters with no religious affiliation bucked the national trend, supporting Harris by a 45-point margin, up from Bidens 34-point advantage four years ago.

---

Harris won independents but many swung toward Trump

Independent voters are always one of the most crucial voting blocs as they dont fall squarely in the Republicans or Democrats camp.

And this year they moved toward Trump by 10 points. Harris still won independents, but by just three points. In 2020, independent voters favored Biden by 13 points, by far the largest win among that group for any Democrat since 1976.

This development is particularly significant given more Americans are identifying as independent. Independents made up 34 percent of voters this year, the largest share in exit polls dating back to 1972. They also made up a larger share than voters who identified as Democratic this year (31 percent), for the first time since 1972. And finally, for the first time since exit polling began, more voters identified as Republican, 35 percent.

Methodology

The 2024 network exit poll results are from interviews of 22,914 randomly selected voters as they exited voting places across the country on Nov. 5; as well as from early in-person voting locations and through live telephone, text-to-web or by email. The poll was conducted by Edison Research for the National Election Pool consortium of ABC News, CBS News, CNN and NBC News. Results are preliminary and will change as additional interviews are included and results are weighted to match vote tallies by region. Like other surveys, exit polls are subject to sampling error and other sources of error.

Luis Melgar contributed to this report.
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It was a day of celebration on Friday at Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park as individuals from across Ireland were honoured at the National Bravery Awards for risking their own lives to help others in peril.

At the ceremony, 23 National Bravery Awards were bestowed upon men and women from Waterford, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Clare, Westmeath and Wexford who were commended for their selfless acts of bravery.

The Ceann Comhairle, Sean O Fearghail TD, presented the ceremony in the Phoenix Park wherein seven certificates, eleven bronze medals, four silver medals and one gold medal were awarded to recipients.

The annual awards are granted by Comhairle na Mire Gaile  the Deeds of Bravery Council  founded in 1947 to enable State recognition of exceptional Acts of Bravery.

The Council is chaired by the Ceann Comhairle and includes the Cathaoirleach of Seanad Eireann, the Lord Mayors of Dublin and Cork, the Garda Commissioner, the President of the Association of City & County Councils, and the Chairman of the Irish Red Cross.

READ NEXT: Met Eireann predicts dramatic change on the way in weekend weather forecast

15-year-old David Akar from Tougher, County Cork was one of the youngest ever recipients of the National Bravery Awards. On Friday, the teenager was awarded a Gold Medal and Certificate of Bravery in recognition of his attempts to save his friend who died after getting into difficulty while swimming at Passage West in Cork last year.

In August 2023, several of David's young friends got into difficulty while swimming and the brave teenager jumped to action to help his friends. David managed to save one his friends, but unfortunately due to the strength of the current 14-year-old Jack O'Sullivan died.

David was only 13-years-old at the time and had previous training as a lifeguard.

Speaking on Morning Ireland on Friday, Daniel said: "I feel very honoured (to receive this award) and I'm just remembering Jack the whole way through the process."

Speaking to the guests at the joyous ceremony today, the Ceann Comhairle said: "This November day in Farmleigh is a day when we celebrate people who have made the world feel a little less dark, a little less dangerous and whose actions speak to the very best and noblest of impulses.

"This singular day marks moments where self-preservation was cast aside by our brave recipients as they risked their lives to help someone else."

He added: "These moments matter, because in many cases, lives were saved that would have been lost. They matter because even when people were lost, in some of the awful tragedies we remember today, those people were not alone.

"They would have known and their families know, that someone was with them, someone was bravely and desperately trying to save them, to bring them home."
Scientists have identified a species of insect with the longest tongue in the world, found in Madagascar. It is a moth with an extended tongue length of 28.5 centimeters.

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The existence of this record holder was predicted back in 1862 by the famous English scientist Charles Darwin, who was sent a Madagascar orchid with a 30-centimeter-long nectar tube. 5 years later, one of the leading naturalists of the XIX century, Alfred Russell Wallace, who also studied that unusual orchid, suggested that the hawk moth species would be the most likely candidate for the role of an insect that could sip nectar from a flower with the longest nectar tube, IFLScience writes.

In 1903, scientists came to the conclusion that the longest tongue was that of an insect that was considered a subspecies of the Morgan sphinx moth (Xanthopan morganii). And a 2021 study determined that it was not a subspecies after all, but rather a separate species, now called Xanthopan praedicta, in honor of the prediction of both naturalists.

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Most of the measurements of the proboscis of this species of brazhnik were taken from museum and private collections. And in March 2020, measurements were made on live butterflies, carefully opening their proboscis with a pin. One of the specimens had a tongue length of 28.5 centimeters.

"Imagine my excitement as I unwrapped and measured the proboscis of a male xanthopan in the rainforests of Madagascar, realizing that this was probably a world record holder," said David Leese, a moth researcher at the Natural History Museum in London.

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The researchers also set up cameras in front of orchids with the longest nectar tube in the Madagascar jungle to film the process of the record-breaking moth drinking the nectar.

And they managed to capture this unique footage. Now the world has all the evidence it needs to prove that Xanthopan praedicta is the insect with the longest tongue in the world.

Only verified information is available in our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Stable China-U.S. relationship serves two countries' shared interests

18:07, November 08, 2024 By Zhong Sheng ( People's Daily

On November 7, Chinese President Xi Jinping extended congratulations to Donald Trump on his election as president of the United States.

Xi noted that a stable, sound and sustainable China-U.S. relationship serves the two countries' shared interests and meets the aspiration of the international community.

He expressed the hope that the two sides will uphold the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, strengthen dialogue and communication, properly manage differences, and expand mutually beneficial cooperation. He urged the countries to find the right way to get along in the new era, so as to benefit both countries and the wider world.

Xi's congratulatory message reflects China's stable and consistent policy toward the U.S. As one of the world's most important bilateral relations, China-U.S. ties should be considered and planned with a broad vision, so as to benefit the people of both countries and demonstrate the responsibility for human progress.

No matter how the international landscape evolves, China always manages the bilateral relations with a sense of responsibility for history, for the people and for the world based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation.

History has already proved that the China-U.S. relationship, though experiencing ups and downs, has always moved forward through twists and turns. Since the "ice-breaking" of bilateral relations in 1971, China and the U.S. have worked hand in hand to bring tangible benefits to both countries and the world.

Mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation are the lessons learned from 50 years of China-U.S. relations and the conflicts between major countries in history, which should be the direction of joint efforts between the two countries.

Just as mutual respect is a basic code of behavior for individuals, it is fundamental for China-U.S. relations. Peaceful coexistence is a basic norm for international relations, and is even more of a baseline that China and the U.S. should hold on to as two major countries. Win-win cooperation is the trend of the times, and it is also an inherent property of China-U.S. relations.

Win-win cooperation between China and the U.S. is in line with the fundamental interests of both countries and their peoples, as well as with the trend of the times. China's rapid and constant development has been facilitated by its open cooperation with countries around the world, providing sustained growth momentum and a vast market space for countries including the U.S.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, bilateral trade between China and the U.S. has seen an over 200-fold expansion, accounting for approximately one-fifth of global trade. Today, China is the third-largest market for exports of U.S. goods, while the U.S. is China's third-largest trading partner. More than 70,000 U.S. companies have invested and operated in China, with exports to China alone supporting 930,000 American jobs.

Last year, 1,920 new American companies were established in China, and 80 percent of American companies plan to reinvest profits generated in China this year. These facts have proved that China-U.S. cooperation has brought tangible benefits to the people of both countries, and the two countries' respective success is an opportunity for each other.

China and the U.S. jointly advancing mutually beneficial cooperation can provide opportunities for both sides to better address their respective challenges and achieve development.

The two countries have broad common interests in a wide range of areas, including traditional areas such as the economy, trade and agriculture, as well as emerging areas such as climate change and artificial intelligence (AI).

Under the current circumstances, the common interests of the two countries have not decreased, but increased. China is pursuing high-quality development, and the U.S. is revitalizing its economy. There is plenty of room for bilateral cooperation, and the two countries should help rather than hinder each other's development.

Both China and the U.S. should make the cooperation list longer and the pie of cooperation bigger, helping each other succeed and achieving win-win outcomes. They should focus on the larger picture, and nurture a sound atmosphere and stable relations for cooperation.

As the international situation continues to be turbulent and fast-changing, and humanity faces numerous global challenges, the world increasingly needs a stable China-U.S. relationship.

China and the U.S. should assume the vision, shoulder the responsibility, and play the role that come along with their status as major countries. As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and the world's top two economies, China and the U.S. should be a source of stability for world peace and a propeller for common development.

Over the past year, China-U.S. diplomatic, financial, law enforcement, climate change teams, and both militaries have maintained communication, sending positive signals to the world.

Currently, promoting world economic recovery and settling international and regional issues require China and the U.S. to coordinate and cooperate with each other.

Both sides should step up coordination and cooperation on international and regional issues, providing more public goods to the world and contributing to addressing the ever-emerging global challenges.

China and the U.S. stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. Oppressing and containing China's development cannot solve the problems that the U.S. is facing. The two countries need to strengthen dialogue in a mutually respectful way, manage differences prudently, advance cooperation in the spirit of mutual benefit, and step up coordination on international affairs in a responsible way.

China's foreign policy is open and transparent and its strategic intentions are aboveboard, both of which have been highly consistent and stable. China will keep viewing and handling China-U.S. relations based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.

At the same time, China has interests that must be safeguarded, principles that must be upheld, and red lines that must not be crossed. Only by meeting each other halfway can the two countries with different civilizations, systems, and paths find a right way to coexist in peace and achieve common development on this planet, so as to make their due contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

The world is big enough for the two countries to develop themselves and prosper together. To strive for a more stable, better and forward-going China-U.S. relationship is the right choice responsible for history, for the people and for the world.

(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People's Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Ukraine is unlikely to resume passenger airplane flights from Kyiv until the end of 2025. Lviv airport has a better chance, as it will be easier to obtain flight insurance. But in any case, the decision has not yet been made, and even if the "green light" is given, it will take at least 45 days for Lviv to actually return to work, and about two months for Boryspil.

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Government sources told Forbes about this."As soon as we have a decision, we will be able to resume flights from Lviv in 45 days," said a person familiar with the negotiations on the resumption of passenger flights.

It is not yet known when the decision might be approved."No timeframe has been set," said a source in one of the aviation agencies. According to him, it depends on many factors: in particular, how the planes will receive insurance, whether the sky will be sufficiently protected, etc.

Crispin Ellison, Senior Partner at Marsh McLennan, said at the 10th Kyiv International Economic Forum (KIEF) on November 7 that Ukraine could resume passenger flights by the end of January 2025. "I think if we are lucky, in January we will have five or six airlines that want to fly... The initial focus is Lviv. It's a seven-minute flight from Poland," he said.

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Ellison is confident that it will be much easier to provide insurance mechanisms for flights from Lviv airport than from Kyiv, precisely because of its proximity to EU airspace."Lviv is much safer than Tel Aviv," Ellison said.

According to the sources, the President's Office and the Cabinet of Ministers are still primarily focused on the decommissioning of Boryspil."If we launch Lviv first, the chances that our partners will agree to Boryspil before the end of martial law are slim," said one government official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

As Bohdan Dolintse, an aviation expert and member of the Public Council of the State Aviation Service, explained, at least five conditions need to be met to launch one airport. These are:

guarantees from the military on flight safety;

lifting the NOTAM ban on the use of Ukrainian airspace or at least limiting this ban to certain routes;

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bringing the infrastructure to the proper state, availability of personnel trained to respond quickly to military threats, which will be confirmed by certificates from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA);

the readiness of specific carriers to fly.

By the way, several Northern European airlines have already expressed their interest in starting flights from Ukraine as soon as possible, a government source said. "They are negotiating with their governments to get additional safeguards," he said but declined to name specific airlines.

In Ukraine, even before the outbreak of a full-scale war, some insurance companies initiated the cancellation of flights to Ukraine due to news that Russia was preparing an invasion. And that was before the missile attacks. Now it will be even more difficult to get insurance, Volodymyr Kreidenko, deputy chairman of the parliamentary committee on transport and infrastructure, explained to OBOZ.UA.

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Earlier, the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development, with the support of the US Embassy, presented a roadmap for opening Ukraine's airspace under martial law. "During the war, our strategic task is to preserve aviation infrastructure and qualified personnel so that when the time comes, we can resume civilian flights as quickly as possible," the Ministry said at the time.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, according to Dolintse, Russian Shakhtys do not pose a threat to civilian aircraft in the air due to their height restrictions, but they can be dangerous for airports. A complete ban on flights remains in place and only limited opportunities for resuming flights are being considered with the strengthening of air defense, the expert emphasized.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
by Tanya Gazdik , November 7, 2024

The Food and Drug Administration is seeking to pull oral phenylephrine, a widely used ingredient in cough and cold medicines, from the market.

The agency's scientists concluded that the oral version of the drug is ineffective as a nasal decongestant, according to CBS News. The FDA's proposal comes more than a year after the agency's outside advisers voted against continued use of the ingredient.

The advisors cited concerns with the initial data used to support its approval and new data questioning its effectiveness.

A final order will force pharmacies to clear shelves of hundreds of products containing oral forms of the ingredient, which is found in versions of drugs such as NyQuil, Benadryl, Sudafed and Mucinex, according to CNBC. Last year, CVS said it has already moved to pull certain medicines containing oral phenylephrine. A final order would also require drugmakers such as Procter & Gamble, Bayer, and Johnson & Johnson spinoff Kenvue to reformulate many of their oral cold and allergy products.

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Retail stores sold 242 million bottles of drugs containing phenylephrine in 2022, which generated nearly $1.8 billion in sales, according to the FDA.

FDA said its proposal was not based on safety concerns, so companies can still market oral drugs containing the common ingredient, according to The Hill. The proposal is open to public comments. If the agency makes a final decision, then the drugs would have to be removed from shelves.

Getting the medication off the shelves has been a decades-long effort for Dr. Leslie Hendeles, a pharmacy professor emeritus at the University of Florida who filed an official petition with the FDA asking them to remove the ingredient in 2007.

He began raising concerns about the efficacy of the ingredient in the 1990s, according to The New York Times. It was added to cold and flu treatments as a stand-in for a more effective decongestant, pseudoephedrine, which was moved behind the counter after its use was noted in homegrown methamphetamine labs manufacturing illicit drugs.
by Teresa Buyikian , November 8, 2024

The swicy flavor, which combines both sweet and spicy ingredients to create a distinct flavor profile, has been beyond hot (pun intended), trending on menus and in grocery aisles across the country for the last several years.

Now snack company Daily Crunch has joined forces with chili crunch pioneers Fly By Jing to drop a new snack exclusively available at Whole Foods: Sweet & Spicy Sichuan Sprouted Cashews & Edamame.

Both Daily Crunch and Fly by Jing are female-founded companies, as well as vegan, with a focus on real ingredients. Fly by Jings Chili Crisp debuted in 2018 after a successful Kickstarter campaign and is now available at retailers nationwide such as Target, Walmart, Costco, Whole Foods Market and Albertsons Safeway. among others.

We checked in with Daily Crunch CEO and Co-Founder Laurel Orley for more details.

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Interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Marketing Daily: How did you come to collaborate with Fly by Jing on the new Sweet & Spicy Sichuan Sprouted Cashews & Edamame?

Laura Orley: Our collaboration was inspired by our admiration for Fly By Jing over the years. As a WBENC Certified brand, we value the voices of female founders in the food and beverage industry, and Jings authenticity and commitment to bold flavors resonated with us. When we connected with the Fly By Jing team at Expo West 2023, their openness to collaboration was immediate. Together, we explored creative ways to merge our brands.

Marketing Daily:What are your marketing plans for the new swicy snack?

Orley: Through a multichannel approach. This includes online promotions, paid and earned media, social media campaigns and in-store activations.

In anticipation of our launch, we partnered with hundreds of influencers and key media outlets who will receive custom boxes to help spread the word.

The snack will be an exclusive offering at Whole Foods through 2024, which provides a fantastic opportunity for visibility. Recently, Whole Foods featured Daily Crunch in its 2025 trends report, highlighting Sweet & Spicy Sichuan under the International Snacking trend.

Over the next few months, our team will embark on a roadshow across the country, conducting demos at Whole Foods locations and offering exciting giveaways. Additionally, we have a robust in-store plan to ensure that consumers can easily find the product on shelves, enhancing the overall shopping experience.

Marketing Daily: Why do you think swicy is so popular?

Orley: Swicy is definitely having a moment because it combines the best of both worlds  heat and sweetness  which creates a unique flavor experience thats both exciting and satisfying. People are increasingly seeking bold, adventurous flavors, and swicy fits perfectly into that trend. Daily Crunch will be launching the flavor in different snack sizes in 2025, so consumers can enjoy this flavor not only in their pantry but also on the go.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, November 8, 2024

A federal judge has rejected Amherst University professor Ethan Zuckerman's request for an order preventing Meta Platforms from suing over a tool designed to study how Facebook's algorithms affect users' health.

The decision, issued Thursday by U.S. District Court Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley in San Franciso was without prejudice -- meaning Zuckerman can return to court with the same request in the future.

Corley hasn't yet issued a written decision spelling out her reasoning, but Zuckerman's attorneys suggested the judge thought Zuckerman's bid for a court order was premature because he sued before fully developing the tool, Unfollow Everything 2.0.

Were disappointed the court believes Professor Zuckerman needs to code the tool before the court resolves the case, Ramya Krishnan, an attorney with Zuckerman's counsel at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, stated Friday.

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The ruling comes in a battle that began in May, when Zuckerman sought a judicial declaration that Unfollow Everything 2.0 doesn't violate Facebook's terms of service or anti-hacking laws, and an injunction prohibiting Meta from suing him.

According to the complaint, Unfollow Everything 2.0 is a downloadable extension designed to allow Facebook users to automatically unfollow friends, groups and pages, and then decide which people or groups to manually follow again; downloaders would be able to opt in to a study examining the impact of Facebook's news feed on users' well-being.

Zuckerman said in the complaint that he hadn't yet released the extension because Meta previously threatened legal action over developer Louis Barclay's similar tool.

Earlier this year, Meta urged Corley to dismiss the case, arguing that Zuckerman's tool didn't yet exist.

There is no substantial, immediate, or real controversy, not least because 'Unfollow Everything 2.0' is hypothetical, Meta argued in a written motion, adding that its terms of service, as well as computer hacking laws, focus on specific, technical conduct relating to the interaction between data, computers, and servers.

Even if plaintiff could allege sufficient details about a nonexistent tool he plans to invent to allow an initial hypothetical adjudication, readjudication would be required if the tool were to operate differently than suggested, Meta added.

The dispute drew the attention of outside organizations, including the civil rights groups Electronic Frontier Foundation, American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, and Center for Democracy & Technology.

They argued in a friend-of-the-court brief that Zuckerman's tool is protected by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act -- an argument he also raised in his complaint.

In addition to immunizing web publishers from lawsuits over users' posts, Section 230 protects interactive computer services providers that technologically restrict objectionable material.

The civil rights groups contend Unfollow Everything 2.0 is covered by that provision -- essentially arguing that certain Facebook pages or groups are objectionable to users, and the extension prevents that material from appearing in the newsfeed.
AI-powered tool offers tailored treatment plans for long COVID people.

  Trusted Source

Precision phenotyping for curating research cohorts of patients with unexplained post-acute sequelae of COVID-19



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#Artificialintelligence helps uncover the hidden patterns of #longCOVID. AI-based tool identifies those struggling with lingering symptoms. #AI #COVID

AI Offers Clarity in the Fog of Long COVID

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Precision phenotyping for curating research cohorts of patients with unexplained post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 - (https://www.cell.com/med/fulltext/S2666-6340(24)00407-0?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS2666634024004070%3Fshowall%3Dtrue)

Researchers are utilizing AI to detect long COVID symptoms, monitor their progression, and rule out other potential causes. This innovative approach suggests that a substantial 22.8% of the population may be affected by long-term COVID-19 consequences, offering a clearer understanding of the pandemic's lasting impact. (The results, which are published in the journalcould identify more people who should be receiving care for this potentially debilitating condition. The number of cases they identified also suggests that the prevalence of long COVID could be greatly underrecognized.Our AI tool could turn a foggy diagnostic process into something sharp and focused, giving clinicians the power to make sense of a challenging condition, said senior author Hossein Estiri, PhD, head of AI Research at the Center for AI and Biomedical Informatics of the Learning Healthcare System (CAIBILS) at Mass General Brigham and an associate professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. With this work, we may finally be able to see long COVID for what it truly isand more importantly, how to treat it.Long COVID, also known as Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), includes a wide range of symptoms. For the purposes of their study, Estiri and colleagues defined it as a diagnosis of exclusion that is also infection associated. That means the diagnosis could not be explained in the patients unique medical record and it also had to associate with a COVID infection. In addition, the diagnosis needed to have persisted for 2 months or longer in a 12-month follow up window.The algorithm used in the AI tool was developed by drawing de-identified patient data from the clinical records of nearly 300,000 patients across 14 hospitals and 20 community health centers in the Mass General Brigham system. Rather than having to rely on a single diagnosis code, the AI utilizes a novel method developed by Estiri and colleagues called precision phenotyping that sifts through individual records to identify symptoms and conditions linked to COVID-19 and to track symptoms over time in order to differentiate them from other illnesses. For example, the algorithm can detect if shortness of breath may be the result of pre-existing conditions like heart failure or asthma rather than a long COVID. Only when every other possibility was exhausted would the tool flag the patient as having long COVID.Physicians are often faced with having to wade through a tangled web of symptoms and medical histories, unsure of which threads to pull, while balancing busy caseloads. Having a tool powered by AI that can methodically do it for them could be a game-changer, said Alaleh Azhir, MD, the co-lead author who is an internal medicine resident at Brigham Womens Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system.The patient-centered diagnoses provided by this new method may also help alleviate biases built into current diagnostics for long COVID, according to the researchers, who note that patients diagnosed with the official ICD-10 diagnostic code for long COVID trend towards those with easier access to healthcare. While other diagnostic studies have suggested that approximately 7% of the population suffers from long COVID, this new approach reveals a much higher estimate22.8%. The authors stated that this figure aligns more closely with national trends and paints a more realistic picture of the pandemics long-term toll.The researchers determined their tool was about 3 percent more accurate than what ICD-10 codes capture, while being less biased. Specifically, their study demonstrated that the individuals they identified as having long COVID mirror the broader demographic makeup of Massachusetts, unlike long COVID algorithms that rely on a single diagnostic code or individual clinical encounters, skewing results toward certain populations such as those with more access to care. This broader scope ensures that marginalized communities, often sidelined in clinical studies, are no longer invisible, said Estiri.Limitations of the study and AI tool include that health record data used in the algorithm to account for long COVID symptoms may be less complete than what is captured by physicians in post-visit clinical notes. Another limitation was the algorithm did not capture possible worsening of a prior condition, which may have been a long COVID symptom. For example, if a patient had COPD and prior episodes of it worsened before they developed COVID-19, the algorithm might have removed them even if their persisting symptoms were a long COVID indicator. Declines in the amount of COVID-19 testing in recent years also makes it difficult to identify when a patient may have first gotten COVID-19. The study was also limited to patients in Massachusetts.Future studies may explore the algorithm in cohorts of patients with specific conditions, like COPD or diabetes. The researchers also plan to release this algorithm publicly on open access where physicians and healthcare systems globally can use it in their patient populations.In addition to opening the door to better clinical care, this work may lay the foundation for future research into the genetic and biochemical factors behind long COVIDs various subtypes. Questions about the true burden of long COVIDquestions that have thus far remained elusivenow seem more within reach, said Estiri.Source-Eurekalert
A study reveals how the liver and brain communicate to influence eating patterns, offering potential solutions for obesity in those with disrupted circadian rhythms.

  Trusted Source

Rhythmic liver drives feeding behavior



Go to source Trusted Source

Did You Know?

Liver makes up around 2% of an adult's body weight. The liver is unique due to its dual blood supply from the portal vein and the hepatic artery. #medindia #liver #weight

Liver makes up around 2% of an adult's body weight. The liver is unique due to its dual blood supply from the portal vein and the hepatic artery. #medindia #liver #weight

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Liver-Brain Communication and Circadian Rhythms

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Targeting REV-ERB Genes to Study the Liver's Circadian Rhythm

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Potential for Liver-Brain Communication to Aid Weight Management

Towards New Therapies for Metabolic Health

Rhythmic liver drives feeding behavior - (https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adt0743)

People who work night shifts or irregular hours and eat at inconsistent times are more susceptible to weight gain and diabetes, likely because their eating patterns don't align with natural daylight or typical meal times. However, a new study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania suggests it's possible to mitigate the negative effects of eating at these "off" times, even if it's not biologically ideal. Published in Science, the study reveals how researchers found a link between the liver's internal clock and the brain's feeding centers, shedding light on how the body regulates when to eat ().The research team found that the liver communicates with the brain through the vagus nerve, signaling whether eating is occurring at a time that aligns with the body's natural circadian rhythm. When people work irregular hours, this communication can become disrupted, causing the brain to overcompensate by triggering overeating at inappropriate times. "Both mice and humans normally eat at times when they are awake and alert, and this circuit provides feedback from the liver to the central clock in the brain that keeps the system running smoothly, said the studys senior author, Mitchell Lazar, M.D., Ph.D., the director of Penn Medicines Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism and the Ware Professor of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases. This feedback is through a nerve connection from the liver to the brain."Researchers specifically targeted genes called REV-ERBs in the liver cells of mice. REV-ERBs are important proteins that help regulate the body's circadian rhythm. The bodys circadian rhythm is an internal 24-hour cycle that regulates various activities including sleep-wake cycles, hormone release, and eating habits. When these REV-ERB genes were turned off in mice - making the liver have a faulty clock - eating patterns shifted dramatically, with more food consumed during less active times.The effects were reversible. Cutting the nerve connection in obese mice restored normal eating patterns and reduced food intake. This suggests that targeting this liver-brain communication pathway could be a promising approach for weight management in individuals with disrupted circadian rhythms, said Lauren N. Woodie, Ph.D., a post-doctoral researcher in Lazars lab.The research team suggests that targeting specific parts of the vagus nerve could help people who work night shifts or experience jet lag by addressing overeating caused by disrupted body clocks. These findings open the door to future therapies that can target specific neural pathways to help those struggling with metabolic disorders caused by irregular eating schedules. Future research should focus on what kind of chemical signals the liver sends to the vagus nerve, to help us understand how the liver affects the brain and the body through this communication.Source-Eurekalert
A study will explore the combined effects of multiple stressors on cardiovascular health, focusing on disparities in gender & race within the military.

  Trusted Source

New Research Promises an Unprecedented Look at How Psychosocial Stress Affects Military Service Members' Heart Health



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By addressing stressors like trauma and discrimination, researchers aim to improve #cardiovascular outcomes and reduce healthcare burdens in the military. #militarywellbeing #medindia 

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New Research Promises an Unprecedented Look at How Psychosocial Stress Affects Military Service Members Heart Health - (https:www.umass.edu/news/article/new-research-promises-unprecedented-look-how-psychosocial-stress-affects-military)

The effect of cumulative psychosocial stress, along with factors like gender, race, and ethnicity, on cardiovascular health and healthcare utilization will be investigated by a researcher from the University of Massachusetts Amherst ().The results will be used byis one of the Defense Health Agency's top goals.The study's value lies in its ability to. Both the general stress load and the particular stressors that may have an impact on US service men's heart health will be evaluated.Lopez-Cevallos is collaborating with Sheila Castaneda, a research epidemiologist in the Deployment Health Department at the Naval Health Research Center and deputy principal investigator of the Millenium Cohort Study.This cohort is the largest and longest-running prospective health study in U.S. military history, with more than 260,000 service members enrolled since 2001. The study is designed to examine the effects of military service on long-term health outcomes of service members and veterans.The researchers will analyze survey data and DoD administrative and healthcare records from more than 58,000 military personnel who enrolled in the study in 2020-2021.Those participants were, combat experiences, health diagnoses and other stressful life events.Previous epidemiological research indicates social determinants of health, such as increased exposure to stress, may contribute to cardiovascular disease disparities among certain racial and ethnic civilian groups, Castaneda says.Our study will determine the role of cumulative stress on heart health among service members in hopes of determining targets for integrated prevention efforts.In addition to measuring the associations between various stressors and cardiovascular health, Lopez-Cevallos and Castaneda will look at the moderating effects of protective factors  such as post-traumatic growth, social support, unit cohesion and military satisfaction  on the relationship between cumulative psychosocial stress and health outcomes.One of the things were able to do in this study is to, Lopez-Cevallos says. There is little research that has looked at disparities by gender and among racial and ethnic groups within the military.The researchers willwhich are key measures of cardiovascular health, in their analysis. They include health behaviors, such asWe will look at the aggregate levels of stress of these service members and then also get more specific to tease out individual stressors, such as adverse childhood experiences or experiences with harassment and discrimination. Then we can recommend areas of focus within the military to inform programmatic and policy priorities, Lopez-Cevallos says.Another goal is to effectby addressing the psychosocial stressors. The theory here is to tackle those upstream factors that would otherwise erode health outcomes and also increase utilization of more complex health services, he adds.Source-Eurekalert
When Military.com started in 1999, it wasn't clear whether it would survive the rough and tumble dot-com boom in which technology magnates were striving to stake their claim in the new digital frontier.

The website went live in March 2000, and a Wall Street Journal report at that time noted that five military-focused websites were all starting around the same time and "will begin fighting it out for the military audience."

Christopher Michel, Military.com's founder, saw it a little differently.

Read Next: Canceled Appointments, Unexplained Mixups -- Veterans Facing Challenges Getting VA Mental Health Care

In an era before widespread social media, Michel, himself a Navy Reserve officer and a Harvard Business School graduate, saw how the military was a small community and one in which people sought connection, advice on how to navigate the bureaucracy, knowledge on how to secure their benefits, and guidance on their careers in the service.

"One weekend, it really hit me like a ton of bricks that the internet would be the perfect way to sort of connect and empower military people," Michel told Military.com in an interview. "The idea would be, there would be lots of social connections. So, all the military units would be groups on the website, we would do news, we would help people get access to their benefits."

As Military.com celebrates its 25th anniversary, the site has survived the burst of the dot-com bubble and outlasted many of its early competitors, producing award-winning watchdog journalism for millions of readers and becoming a go-to resource for detailed information on service member benefits for the community.

In the past few years, the publication has won the Gerald R. Ford Journalism Award for Reporting on National Defense, as well as the Joseph L. Galloway Award and the James Crawley Award from Military Reporters and Editors, collectively the most significant awards for military reporting bestowed annually, along with a slew of other accolades.

It's a reflection of the leading role Military.com has taken in providing news to those in uniform, veterans, and their families. It is the most-read publication focused on the U.S. military and has the largest newsroom.

From the Pentagon to the Front Lines

Bradley Peniston, the executive editor of Defense One and Military.com's first-ever managing editor, told Military.com that those early days were innovative, such as generating a newsletter of stories from all sorts of outlets while still writing original stories for readers.

Peniston said Military.com was the first exclusively online publication ever to receive Pentagon press credentials.

"We just kept showing up to the Pentagon and asked to be let in," he said. "So, finally, they granted us press passes."

But on Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and America was soon at war.

Sarah Blansett, a retired Navy commander and Military.com's publisher who has been with the website for 15 years, said those years following the terrorist attacks really defined the voice of the news organization. The website had purchased numerous other homepages and blogs, some of which had been documenting the experiences of troops on the ground in the Middle East.

"The majority of the life of Military.com has been while our nation was at war," Blansett said. "We were really a good host for a lot of military bloggers very early on in the war. ... That all gelled together to create this personality of Military.com that provided news and benefits information. It spoke directly to the reader through those documenting their experience going to war."

One major moment of that era, Michel recalls, was Military.com breaking the story of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's capture in late 2003. An image of the deposed politician was posted by a user on Military.com, and the site's founder woke up to calls from ABC News asking about the unreleased image.

"They said, 'Is that picture on your homepage of Saddam being captured real?' ... We were the first people to tell that story," Michel recalled. "We were very disruptive to the Department of Defense, in a way. I think that they mostly liked us because they trusted us and they knew that we cared about service members."

Watchdogs at Home

In 2004, Military.com was purchased by Monster Worldwide -- in 2016, Randstad Holding acquired Monster -- and the site continued to grow, helping veterans and service members connect with resources and find jobs, as well as secure their benefits.

As the blogging era of journalism and information began to wane, Military.com worked to consolidate all the various homepages and blogs and bolster its news resources into one website.

Much of that work was done under Amy Bushatz, a military spouse who started working with Military.com in 2010 and became the executive editor from 2018 until 2023 -- a position she "still very proudly tells people about, she said in an interview.

Bushatz noted that, when she joined the website in 2010, the internet had transitioned from being a novelty to a critical part of life, and the website needed to try and reach readers in constantly evolving terrain.

But she noted that part of what has made Military.com strong throughout all the changes in journalism and the digital world has been its consistency in bringing news and information to service members and veterans, wherever they may be.

"I never questioned that it would have staying power, because it's filling such a need that would not otherwise be filled," Bushatz said. "It really is taking care of something that doesn't exist anywhere else. There is literally nowhere else that you can find the breadth of information that is on Military.com when it comes to these explainers about benefits and how this stuff works. And pair that with the Military.com news coverage and this watchdog journalism."

As service members and veterans began to return home from deployments and tours in the Middle East, Military.com started to provide news coverage and vital resources to those most affected. The website's staff has always included a large number of veterans and military spouses, ensuring that it highlights issues that really matter to the community.

Part of Military.com's focus under current Managing Editor for News Zachary Fryer-Biggs has been a relentless approach to watchdog journalism centered on accountability and original investigative reporting.

"Military.com's mission has always been to serve the military community; that never changed," Fryer-Biggs said. "But as many media outlets have faced relentless cuts leading to fewer questions being asked of military officials, and government agencies have become increasingly hesitant to provide information, we've seen that, to get our readers real answers, we have to dig deeper and work harder. I can't tell you how proud I am of the tireless reporting our journalists do to reveal important issues facing the community."

The website is also evolving to create new ways for readers to engage with its original reporting. Military.com started its "Fire Watch" podcast in 2022, which was recognized as the top podcast in 2023 by the Military Reporters and Editors organization.

Blansett said throughout all of Military.com's history and for the next 25 years and beyond, the site's focus has and will remain the same.

"We will always provide the highest-quality news and benefits information," she said. "That's going to happen no matter what form this website takes, no matter what changes technologically. Those two things will always remain true."

Related: They Stood Sentry over America's Nuclear Missile Arsenal. Many Worry It Gave Them Cancer.
The nation prepared Friday for a weekend of events honoring those who wore the uniform, culminating in the Nov. 11 observation of Veterans Day, but some parades were canceled due to the weather, safety concerns or lack of interest.

Traditional Veterans Day parades have been making a comeback since many were canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Colorado Veterans Project and the city of Denver announced Thursday that the 11th annual Denver Veterans Day Parade was being canceled because of snow.

For the second year, the Veterans Day Parade in Raleigh, North Carolina, was canceled as organizers and the city failed to agree on traffic restrictions imposed after a young girl was killed in a vehicle accident in the 2022 parade.

Read Next: Air Force Commander of Nuclear Missile Maintenance at Malmstrom Fired After Investigation

The Rolla Chamber of Commerce in Rolla, Missouri, announced Thursday that the "low number of parade entries" had forced the decision to cancel the Veterans Appreciation Parade scheduled for Saturday.

For the third time in five years, the annual Fort Myers, Florida, Veterans Day Parade had to be canceled. Tony Neal, commander of American Legion's Rabe O. Wilkison Post 38, told the Fort Myers News-Press that the recent hurricanes made it impossible to organize the parade.

Despite the occasional cancellations, hundreds of other parades, concerts and other activities were proceeding nationwide through the weekend and on Veterans Day to honor the nation's roughly 18 million veterans.

Read More: Veterans Day 2024 Parades, Events and More

Some of the events had a theme in addition to their main purpose of honoring veterans. The California's Veterans Day Ceremony at the California State Capitol in Sacramento on Monday will feature a parade and also speakers who will focus on mental health awareness.

In Hawaii, the Oahu Veterans Council has organized a ceremony Monday that will include a wreath laying, a rifle salute, and a hula performance.

In Bellville, Ohio, American Legion Post 535's Legion Family will go to a local nursing home to visit the veterans living there, as well as provide food care packages for veterans who are in need.

In Washington, D.C., the nonprofit National Veterans Parade Foundation has organized a parade along Constitution Avenue on Sunday that will include the U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps and the Howard University marching band.

In Manhattan, the parade organized by the United War Veterans Council and billed as the nation's largest was expected to feature nearly 300 marching and vehicle units and as many as 20,000 marchers.

All of the parades and other activities were meant to give honor and appreciation to those who served in the military and "kept the light of liberty shining bright around the world. Just as they have kept the ultimate faith in our nation, we must keep ultimate faith in them," President Joe Biden said in his White House proclamation issued Wednesday to mark Veterans Day 2024.

In line with Biden's statement, the humble dog tag has been chosen this year to represent the shared identity of generations of service members who put duty to country first.

The Veterans Day National Committee of the Department of Veterans Affairs picked a design for the national Veterans Day poster drawn up by former Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Myisha Godette featuring dog tags to symbolize the theme of this year's observance -- "A Legacy of Loyalty and Service."

"Ultimately, I chose to symbolize the shared experience of service members -- past, present and future -- with elements like the American flag, military dog tags, and the enduring strength of veterans, embodied by a solid, dark concrete background in my design," Godette said in a Veterans Affairs news release.

Related: 2024 Veterans Day Free Meals and Restaurant Deals and Discounts
North Korean troops are present not only in the Kursk region, as previously reported, but also in the neighboring Belgorod region. Presumably, Russia plans to keep North Korean units on the second line of defense in these regions to free up its own forces for fighting in Donbas.

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Yuriy Fedorenko, commander of the Ukrainian Achilles battalion of the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade, said this in an interview with The Washington Post. He noted that intelligence reports indicate the presence of North Korean troops not only in Kursk but also in Belgorod region.

According to him, these troops could be used to strengthen the second line of defense near Belgorod, which would allow Russian troops to be redeployed to Donbas.

The Washington Post spoke with more than a dozen Ukrainian soldiers fighting in Kursk and Kharkiv regions, and they expressed concern about the possible involvement of DPRK troops in the war.

Valentyn Levada, 36, a fighter with the 82nd Brigade's unmanned systems unit, suggests that Ukrainian soldiers may soon face the Korean military in direct combat. He also noted that taking North Korean soldiers prisoner is likely to be difficult.

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"We can face [DPRK troops  Ed.] directly if there is a quick breakthrough. I assume it will be difficult to take them prisoner," he said.

According to US intelligence, there are currently about 10,000 DPRK army personnel in the Kursk region. It is assumed that the Kremlin plans to use them to reinforce Russian forces trying to drive the Ukrainian Armed Forces out of the area around Sudza.

As OBOZ.UA reported, earlier the President of Ukraine blamed his partners for the lack of reaction to the DPRK's participation in the war with Ukraine. According to him, Putin is testing the West's reaction to his actions, and if it is the same as during the seizure of Crimea, the aggressor will go further, increasing the North Korean contingent.

Earlier it was reported that the DPRK military, who were sent to the war in Ukraine, are headed by the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the North Korean Army Kim Yong Bok.

At an emergency meeting of the North Atlantic Council, South Korea provided NATO representatives with the main facts of military cooperation between Russia and the DPRK.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Title: The Unmatched Power of the Rocket Engine  Innovative Science Fiction for Yournext Adventure







(How Is A Rocket Engine Different Than An Automobile Engine)

The rocket engine is the engine that powers vehicles on our planet, but its not just a vehicle. Its the secret weapon of modern technology and science fiction.

Imagine that you were an Audi Q7 on a snowy winter road, when suddenly, your started working like magic. Suddenly, the car transformed into a flying saucer, ready to soar through the clouds and reach its destination.

But what if instead of driving the car like a vehicle, you were using a rocket engine? This would be a completely different experience.

For example, imagine that youre traveling from New York City to London, and youre carrying your car on your back as you navigate the city. But instead of relying on traditional mechanics like and gears, you could use a rocket engine to overcome the friction of the terrain and lift you off the ground.

Another scenario where the rocket engine could be used could be in space exploration. You could launch your own spacecraft, and use the rocket engine to travel to the moon or beyond.

This is only one example of how the rocket engine can revolutionize transportation and transportation systems. With advancements in technology, we can now easily transport goods and people around the world using a simple and effective method.







(How Is A Rocket Engine Different Than An Automobile Engine)

In conclusion, the rocket engine is a game-changer in our daily lives. From powering cars to launching spaceships, its a technology that has the potential to transform the way we live and work. So why wait? If youre looking for exciting adventures, consider using a rocket engine to take you places youve never been before.

Inquiry us

if you want to want to know more, please feel free to contact us. ([email protected])
On Saturday, November 9, Russian troops launched an air strike on Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region. The attack killed two people and wounded another.

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The Kupiansk District Prosecutor's Office of the Kharkiv Region has launched a pre-trial investigation into the attack under Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine regarding violations of the laws and customs of war. This was reported by the press service of the prosecutor's office.

The strikes, which the enemy inflicted around 11:00, damaged private houses, high-rise buildings, outbuildings, and 15 garages.

During the shelling, power wires fell on two passers-by, causing a fire that killed them on the spot. Their bodies were badly burned. The victims are being identified.

A 61-year-old man was also injured and hospitalized.

According to preliminary data, the attack was carried out with a KAB-1500 guided missile.

Despite the difficult situation, law enforcement officers are actively working at the scene to document this war crime in order to bring the perpetrators to justice.

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As a reminder, on the night of November 9, air defense forces shot down 32 of the 51 kamikaze drones used by Russia to attack Ukraine. The bulk of the "Shahed" drones were aimed at the Odesa region.

In particular, Russia attacked Odesa. "The Shaheds damaged several high-rise buildings, administrative buildings, and civilian vehicles.

On the morning of November 9, it became known that the attack left one dead and at least 13 wounded. Two children were among the victims.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
NOVI, MI - You know him as Ferris Buellers good friend who was often seen wearing a Detroit Red Wings jersey. You also know him from Spin City, Speed and Succession, just to name a few.

We caught up with Alan Ruck, who is in Michigan all weekend at Motor City Comic Con at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi through Sunday, November 10. Tickets can be purchased here or in person.

RELATED: Celebrity sightings from Motor City Comic Con

One of Rucks most iconic characters was Cameron in the 1986 comedy film, Ferris Buellers Day Off. So, does Ruck still have that iconic Wings jersey?

No. I wish I did, Ruck told MLive. I wore it everyday for three months. It was a little itchy inside the collar and I was really done with it. Now, I really wish that I did have it. Either Marilyn Vance who was the wardrobe designer has it or maybe the Western Costume Company in Los Angeles. They might have it somewhere in a drawer.

So, whats the story behind the Wings Jersey?

John Hughes spent part of his boyhood in Detroit. He was a die-yard Chicago guy, but he had warm feelings for Detroit. He visited his grandfather here, so he made that Camerons back story, that his father was overbearing, but his grandfather was sweet to him and took him to Wings games, bought him a jersey and his father allowed him to wear it to school because it came from the old man.

One thing Ferris Bueller fans may not be aware of is that the iconic red Ferrari from the film wasnt actually a Ferrari.

That car, at that time, was worth a little less than a million dollars. I mean, 40 years ago. Now, one of those sold in Italy for $11 million. First, we would have had to find someone who owns something like that and ask, can we rent your Ferrari, and they probably would have said no.

But, even if we could have, the insurance alone would have been astronomical, so, they had these cars with fiberglass bodies over Mustang chassis, and they were awful and they never worked. Movie magic.

Ruck says he has a number of upcoming projects coming out soon including a sequel to Wind River and a rom com called People We Meet on Vacation. He says hes also shooting a film with Marc Maron called In Memoriam.
LAKE SUPERIOR, MI - It was 49 years ago today that the Edmund Fitzgerald was being loaded with 26,000 tons of iron ore, prepped for what would become its tragic final voyage.

Once the largest ship on the Great Lakes, the 728-foot Fitzgerald left Superior, Wisconsin at 2:15 p.m. on Nov. 9, 1975. Her crew planned to cross Lake Superior to deliver the load at Detroits Zug Island.

But a day later, the ship was gone, broken in two and laying on the lakes bottom in 530 feet of water. All 29 souls aboard were lost.

Gordon Lightfoots poignant song The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald helps keep alive the memory of whats become the Great Lakes most famous shipwreck.

But the ships captain and crew were also sons, brothers, husbands and fathers. They hailed from Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota and beyond.

As we remember them, here are the highlights of the Fitzgeralds final trip and the fierce, hurricane-like November Witch storm that sank it.

Investigators would later say that in the big freighters last hour, it battled sustained winds of 60 mph, and waves higher than 25 feet. It may have even encountered The Three Sisters - a trio of rapidly-hitting waves that are higher than the others around them.

One thing the marine experts agree on: The Fitzgerald was in the worst possible place as it tried to make for the shelter of Michigans Whitefish Bay.

RELATED: Edmund Fitzgerald: See photos of the Great Lakes most famous ship

FILE- A 1959 file photo shows the Great Lakes freighter Edmund Fitzgerald, which disappeared Nov. 10, 1975, in a storm on Lake Superior. The Great Lakes have claimed some 6,000 ships since European explorers began navigating the waters in the 1600s, but few have captured the publics imagination as has the Edmund Fitzgerald. (AP Photo, File)AP

NOV. 9, 1975

2:15 p.m. The Edmund Fitzgerald, captained by Ernest McSorley, finishes loading 26,116 tons of taconite in Superior, Wis., and departs for Detroits Zug Island. The storm that would later sink the ship is gathering force over Kansas and is on a path toward Lake Superior.

5 p.m. The Fitzgerald encounters the Arthur M. Anderson, captained by Jesse Cooper, and the two ships proceed east on similar courses, separated by about 10 to 20 miles. Three hours later, the National Weather Service issues a Gale Warning for all of Lake Superior.

RELATED: Edmund Fitzgerald has become Titanic of the Great Lakes, maritime historian says

The 729-foot freighter SS Edmund Fitzgerald sails through Detroit River, Detroit, Mich., in this undated photo. The ship is known for its ore cargo record for the Great Lakes, carrying 30,000 tons of taconite pellets in 1968. (AP Photo/Burt Emanulle)ASSOCIATED PRESS

NOV. 10, 1975

1 a.m. The Fitzgerald passes approximately 20 miles due south of Michigans Isle Royale.

2 a.m. The Fitzgerald and Anderson agree to take a northern route across the lake for protection from the gale. NWS upgrades the forecast to a Storm Warning, predicting northeast winds of 35 to 50 knots and waves of 8 to 15 feet.

7 a.m. The Fitzgerald calls its company office to report a delayed arrival due to worsening weather conditions. The ship is approximately 35 miles north of Copper Harbor.

1 p.m. The Fitzgerald is 11 miles NW of Michipicoten Island. The Anderson is approximately 20 miles northwest of the island, reporting 20-knot winds and 12-foot waves.

1:40 p.m. The Fitzgerald radios the Anderson to talk weather and course changes. Capt. McSorley reports his ship is rolling some. The Fitzgerald cuts closer to Michipicoten Island while the Anderson cuts west a bit to take rising seas from astern.

2:45 p.m. The Anderson changes course to avoid the Six Fathom Shoal area north of Caribou Island. The Fitzgerald is about 16 miles ahead. Heavy snow begins to fall and the Fitzgerald is lost from sight. Its the last time the ship would be seen by human eyes.

3:20 p.m. The Anderson records 43-knot winds and 12 to 16-foot waves.

3:30 p.m. The Fitzgerald calls the Anderson to report damage and say the ship would slow to let the Anderson catch up. Minutes later, the Coast Guard issues directions for all ships to find safe anchorage because the Soo Locks have been closed.

McSorley: Anderson, this is the Fitzgerald. I have sustained some topside damage. I have a fence rail laid down, two vents lost or damaged, and a list. Im checking down. Will you stay by me til I get to Whitefish?

Cooper: Charlie on that Fitzgerald. Do you have your pumps going?

McSorley: Yes, both of them.

4:10 p.m. The Fitzgerald radios the Anderson to request navigational help.

4:30 p.m. The Fitzgerald passes 3 to 5 miles east of Caribou Island. Many theorize the ship unknowingly struck the poorly marked 6 Fathom Shoal on the islands north side, but that has never been conclusively proven. The debate rages to this day.

4:39 p.m. NWS revises the forecast again, predicting northwest winds 38 to 52 knots with gusts to 60 knots and waves 8 to 16 feet.

5:30 p.m. The Fitzgerald is advised by the Swedish ship Avafors that the Whitefish Point beacon and light are disabled by power failure.

Avafors: Fitzgerald, this is the Avafors. I have the Whitefish light now but still am receiving no beacon. Over.

Fitzgerald: Im very glad to hear it.

Avafors: The wind is really howling down here. What are the conditions where you are?

Fitzgerald: (Undiscernable shouts overheard) DONT LET NOBODY ON DECK!

Avafors: Whats that, Fitzgerald? Unclear. Over.

Fitzgerald: I have a bad list, lost both radars. And am taking heavy seas over the deck. One of the worst seas Ive ever been in.

Avafors: If Im correct, you have two radars.

Fitzgerald: Theyre both gone.

The Arthur M. Anderson ore carrier takes on a load of taconite Oct. 25, 2005 in Duluth, Minn. The Anderson was called upon to help search for the ill-fated Edmund Fitzgerald in rough Lake Superior waters in 1975. The Fitzgerald, an ore carrier, sank Nov. 10, 1975. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)AP

6 p.m. The Anderson is struck by a 25-foot wave.

7:10 p.m. The Anderson calls the Fitzgerald with navigation instructions. The ship is about 10 miles behind the doomed freighter.

Anderson: Fitzgerald, this is the Anderson. Have you checked down?

Fitzgerald: Yes we have.

Anderson: Fitzgerald, we are about 10 miles behind you, and gaining about 1 1/2 miles per hour. Fitzgerald, there is a target 19 miles ahead of us. So the target would be 9 miles on ahead of you.

Fitzgerald: Well, am I going to clear?

Anderson: Yes. He is going to pass to the west of you.

Fitzgerald: Well, fine.

Anderson: By the way, Fitzgerald, how are you making out with your problem?

Fitzgerald: We are holding our own.

Anderson: Okay, fine. Ill be talking to you later.

7:15 p.m. The Fitzgerald disappears from the Andersons radar. More than an hour later, the Coast Guard begins an active search. (Hear the radio transmission here). The 29 crew members aboard the Fitzgerald all perish.

This underwater photo of the sunken SS Edmund Fitzgerald was taken by an unmanned submersible robot, as a research team investigates the wreck site 17 miles northwest of Whitefish Point, Mich., on August 24, 1989. The 729-foot ore freighter sunk on November 10, 1975, during a severe storm, taking its load of iron and the crew of 29 men to the bottom of the Lake Superior. (AP Photo)ASSOCIATED PRESS

How to watch livestream of 49th Edmund Fitzgerald memorial ceremony

READ MORE

What sank the Edmund Fitzgerald? 6 theories on what caused the shipwreck

Gordon Lightfoot explains why he wrote The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  A man with a gun was shot and killed by Grand Rapids police officers late Friday near a downtown hospital.

The fatal shooting happened just after 10:45 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, when officers received calls that a person was brandishing a gun near Trinity Health Grand Rapids Hospital, Grand Rapids police said.
JACKSON, MI  A Michigan State Police trooper was injured in a crash early Saturday in Jackson.

The trooper, who was not named, suffered minor injuries and has since been released from a local hospital, Michigan State Police said. No others were injured.

The crash happened around 1:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Van Dorn Street in Jackson.

Two troopers were on patrol in a single cruiser traveling along Michigan Avenue when a pickup truck disregarded the stop sign on Van Dorn Street and struck the passenger side of the cruiser, state police said.

The trooper in the passenger seat of the cruiser suffered minor injuries. The driver of the pickup truck, a 66-year-old man from Spring Arbor, was uninjured.

State police say alcohol appears to be a factor in the crash. The investigation is ongoing.
About 26,000 unreported votes across four counties were added Friday afternoon to Michigans unofficial results, changing the apparent winners in some races.

State officials said theyre not aware of any outcomes changing in races in Kent and Kalamazoo counties from the additional votes. Kent County Clerks Office officials confirmed Saturday that no apparent winners have changed.

However, the votes have the potential to change, and have changed, apparent winners in some county-level races in Calhoun and Leelanau counties.

The unreported votes could also potentially prompt a recount in a closely watched state House race where Republicans flipped the seat on their path to taking back the majority.

Related: Uncounted votes allegedly found in Michigan county after software error

In the race for Michigan State Universitys Board of Trustees, one of the apparent winners changed in the unofficial results due to a data error in Allegan County, the Lansing State Journal reported. The unreported votes in Calhoun County contributed to the flip.

Michigan Department of State officials stressed that the results people see the night of Election Day and in the following days are unofficial until certified. That bipartisan certification process is designed to catch errors like the ones leading to these unreported votes, officials said.

Its typical for the canvassing process to identify these kinds of issues and correct them, state department officials said. The purpose of the canvass is to ensure the results are accurate. Thats why we emphasize that these are unofficial results until the canvass is complete and results are certified.

In all, 26,662 votes were added 4 p.m. Friday to the states unofficial tally. Of those, 13,795 votes came from Kent County, 6,691 from Kalamazoo County, 4,602 from Calhoun County and 1,574 from Leelanau County.

Apart from Calhoun County, which had a software error, officials say the unreported votes in Kent, Kalamazoo and Leelanau counties stemmed from human error, not machine error.

In Kent County, some absentee ballots in Ada and Plainfield townships were properly tabulated and tallied during the election but failed to be transmitted and reported to the county, said Rob Macomber, chief deputy clerk for Kent County. The mistake was caught Wednesday morning with the votes added to the countys unofficial results the following day.

This is exactly what the canvass is for and why this part of the process is so incredibly important to ensuring every vote is counted and the results are accurate, said Kent County Clerk Posthumus Lyons. Its why we always emphatically emphasize that results are unofficial until the canvass has completed its review and certified the election.

In Kalamazoo County, county officials initially sent the state results that did not reflect some ballots from Portage and Brady Township, MDOS officials said. The Kalamazoo County Clerk could not be immediately reached.

MDOS officials said they werent aware of any apparent winners changing as a result of the unreported votes.

In Leelanau County, the countys initial unofficial results inadvertently reflected the results from logic and accuracy test ballots instead of the ballots cast during early voting, officials said. The error has since been corrected in the unofficial results.

The Leelanau County Clerks Office did not immediately respond for comment.

Unofficial results in Leelanau County initially showed Democrats winning an unprecedented 6-1 majority on the county board and also winning the drain commissioner office, according to the Leelanau Ticker .

However, the latest results from the clerks office on Friday show Republicans are poised to hold a 4-3 majority on the board.

In Calhoun County, Battle Creek officials used two high-speed absentee ballot tabulators, but the countys system wasnt programmed to combine the drives from the two tabulators, officials said.

After reading the first set of numbers, the system replaced the first results with the second set instead of adding them together.

Prior to the roughly 4,600 votes being tallied in Calhoun County, the countys unofficial results had shown that incumbent Democrat Rep. Jim Haadsma lost to Republican challenger Steve Frisbie by a tally of 19,233 votes to 17,852 votes.

The Associated Press called the race for Frisbie on Thursday afternoon.

The latest results from the county clerks office show Frisbie securing a narrower victory, with him taking 20,823 votes to Haadsmas 20,765 votes, a difference of 58 votes and tally of 50.1% to 49.9%.

Haadsmas seat is one four flipped by Republicans on Tuesday to give them a 58-52 majority in the state House, ending Democrats brief but historic control of both legislative chambers and the governorship.

Related: Republicans flip state House, end historic Democrat trifecta in Michigan

Gongwer reported the unreported votes could also impact the results of the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners race.

The latest unofficial results show Republicans are poised to hold a 6-1 majority on the county board. It wasnt clear if any of the apparent winners had changed from the initial unofficial results.

The closest race on the board shows incumbent Democrat Rochelle Hatcher losing to Republican Dominic Oo, with Hatcher taking 3,944 votes to Oos 3986 votes, a difference of 42 votes.

The seat represents parts of Battle Creek and all of Springfield.
The United States will soon send a new batch of military aid to Ukraine. It will include hundreds of interceptor missiles for the Patriot and NASAMS anti-aircraft missile systems.

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According to preliminary data, the Ukrainian army can count on 500 interceptor missiles, which will last only until the end of this year. This was reported by The Wall Street Journal.

American officials said that missiles for Patriot and NASAMS should arrive in Ukraine in the coming weeks. According to one of the officials, these deliveries should satisfy Ukraine's air defense needs by the end of the year.

It is worth noting that the supply of weapons was affected by the results of the US presidential election. Earlier, Joe Biden's administration intended to provide assistance to Ukraine until April.

However, after Republican Donald Trump won the election, the Biden administration intends to provide Ukraine with as much military aid as possible by January. The White House hopes to provide Ukraine with a stronger negotiating position and strengthen the country's defense capabilities.

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To date, more than $7 billion allocated by the Pentagon to transfer weapons and ammunition from its stockpiles to Ukraine remain unspent in the United States. The U.S. government can also use more than $2 billion intended to finance long-term contracts for the supply of equipment to Ukraine.

As a reminder, the administration of US President Joe Biden has allowed US defense contractors to operate in Ukraine to maintain and repair weapons and equipment supplied by the Pentagon. Lifting the ban will help make the process more efficient.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, in order for Ukraine to win the war with Russia and bring a just peace closer, the partners must strengthen the defense capabilities of its Armed Forces. This is envisaged by the Victory Plan presented by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Environmental activist and tree expert. Thats how Peter Wohlleben, 60, defines himself today. He no longer calls himself a forester, for a simple reason: I no longer manage forests. I dont have time, he explains during a Zoom interview from his home in Hummel, a small town an hour from the city of Cologne, Germany.

The Bonn-born Wohlleben is dedicated body and soul to making the true nature of forests known. He does this from the forestry academy he created in 2014, in Wershofen, less than three miles from his house.

Its something like his second life, after more than two decades working as a forest ranger. He began his career in the service of the Rhineland-Palatinate state government in 1987. But, little by little, his professional vision of the forest as an exploitable reality changed. He began to abhor the management system imposed by the authorities, based on the massive felling of century-old trees by using heavy machinery to then replant perfectly aligned pines.

A committed conservationist, Wohlleben says that hes seen how a stump was kept alive by the trees surrounding it. Jasper Walter Bastian (Contacto)

From then on, Wohlleben waged a long and courageous battle with what he calls the German forest lobby by refusing to treat the trees in the forest as factory farms. He eventually resigned from his government post in 2006. But then, when he was about to leave Germany, the mayor of Hummel entrusted him with the management of the 1,200 hectares of local beech forest, which had previously been the responsibility of the state forestry authorities.

Wohlleben took a much less interventionist approach. He stopped using insecticides and began using horses to transport wood. The constant battle with the authorities left him exhausted and the workload caused him to fall into a deep depression that required psychological treatment. His wife, Miriam, encouraged him to write down all his knowledge about forests. This led to The Hidden Life of Trees, which was published in 2015. The illustrated version was released this past October.

Wohlleben, pictured in the beech forest near his home in Hummel, Germany, which he knows like the back of his hand. Jasper Walter Bastian (Contacto)

The book quickly became a bestseller, while Wohlleben became an international celebrity. A quick look at the website of his forestry academy reveals the many lectures, conferences, courses, and seminars he gives to large audiences. The list of activities on offer is extensive. For example, you can book an evening out in the forest for $250, or simple daytime walks at a more modest price.

Is the use of forests for tourism preferable when compared to their use for timber? This is a hotly debated topic here especially by the forestry lobby, Wohlleben notes. They complain that it could lead to mass visits to forests. But whats really dangerous is what the forestry industry does: [they bring] in machines weighing up to 17 tons and compress the soil under the trees. That said, Im not against the commercial use of wood, but I would like to see it done more carefully. People who come to walk in the woods on Sundays end up being more involved in the well-being of the trees.

His book was instrumental in spreading the research of individuals such as Suzanne Simard, a Canadian professor of forest ecology at the University of British Columbia (UBC). In the 1990s, she discovered the existence of a gigantic network formed by tree roots and mycelium (the fungi associated with them) that allows these forest creatures to communicate with each other and exchange nutrients, or even warning signals. This is what Simard called the woodwide web, in an article published in the journal Nature. But this vision of forests  considered by some scientists to be too anthropomorphic  caused controversy. Theres a transfer of sugars and other nutrients between trees and even between the plants that surround them; thats been proven, Wohlleben affirms.

Wohlleben worked as a forest ranger for more than two decades. Jasper Walter Bastian (Contacto)

No one doubts that preserving trees is essential. But since time immemorial, humans have used the forest to collect food, medicines, and wood. This has wiped out almost all of Europes primary or virgin forests, as well as many other old European woodlands. There are letters from 2,000 years ago which say that squirrels could cross Spain by jumping from tree to tree from the Pyrenees to the Strait of Gibraltar, Wohlleben sighs. He frequently uses this analogy to underline the importance of planting more forests in countries particularly affected by climate change and desertification.

Hes less enthusiastic about the presence of trees in cities. Theyre treated a bit like street furniture, he laments. The ecosystem is fragile. The city itself is very stressful for them. Its hot and illuminated at night, when the trees also need to sleep. The ideal would be to create small ecosystems, as was done in Medellin in 2019, [when] more than 800,000 trees were planted. [The authorities] created a green corridor that allowed summer temperatures to drop by two to three degrees [Celsius].

Wohlleben also isnt sold on the idea of traditional parks. I see them, in general, like zoos, he notes. There are trees of different species, from different continents and they have nothing to do with each other. He explains that its better to lean towards the uniformity of species and plant native trees.

For a tree lover, it must be painful for him to see how climate change is causing wildfires in forests around the world, from Canada to Portugal. These fires, he explains, have nothing to do with climate change. Most of them are intentional, caused by people. So, what we need are stricter laws and more prevention, as well as [an effort to] restore fire-resistant forests. But prevention, he emphasizes, shouldnt include banning access to nature. Its important that theres a connection between people and forests. After all, thats the only way to know and respect them.

Translated by Avik Jain Chatlani.

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Were the most important group in the world, because weve got the best songs and we havent even begun to show our potential yet, Ian Brown, vocalist of the Stone Roses, told New Musical Express in December 1989. The past was yours/but the futures mine/Youre all out of time, he sang symbolically in She Bangs The Drums, one of the most celebrated singles from their eponymous debut album. The Stone Roses ushered in the 1990s hailed as the great hope of British rock. Five years later, on December 5, 1994, their long-awaited second album arrived. It was titled Second Coming, comparing it, with the usual immodesty of the group, to the second coming of Jesus Christ. However, it was received with a mixture of lukewarmness and disappointment. It was not a huge commercial success (it sold a million copies), but its commitment to long, brick-like compositions of onanistic guitar-driven rock in the style of the 1970s did, in one fell swoop, extinguish all the expectations that had been created around the band.

It is one of the most insufferable albums I have heard from a group with a great debut. The total and absolute verbalization of their detachment from the muses of inspiration is incomprehensible. In my opinion, it was a recording death, says music critic Marcos Gendre, author of the book Manchester. El sonido de la ciudad (Manchester: The Sound of the City). For Jorge Albi, co-author, with Maria A. Roman, of the book The Stone Roses (1995), it is an album that is not up to par. If it had not taken so long and they had made more glorious songs like those from the first record, they could have achieved something more, but what they did on this album was a bit of a bore. A year and a half later, the band broke up.

The future might have been theirs, but by the time Second Coming saw the light of day, their time had already passed. The so-called Madchester sound they had pioneered no longer interested anyone. What they might have become in the end was their biggest fans, the Gallagher brothers of Oasis, who four months before Second Coming was released, beat them to the punch with Definitely Maybe and an equally ambitious plan for world domination. Both Liam and Noel have always said that they wouldnt have been there if it werent for the Stone Roses.

The Stone Roses in the Netherlands in 1992. From left to right: Alan 'Reni' Wren, Gary 'Mani' Mounfield, Ian Brown and John Squire. Michel Linssen (Redferns)

When I first heard their song Sally Cinnamon I knew what my destiny was, Noel said at the time, while Liam says the Stone Roses were the first group he saw live, and that it made him want to get up on stage. More surprisingly, in the documentary Made Of Stone, directed in 2012 by Shane Meadows (This Is England), the Oasis vocalist declared on camera that the Roses, as they were popularly known in the United Kingdom, were the best group from Manchester. In the end, it can be said that, unintentionally, the Roses laid the first stone from which Britpop blossomed, but the revolution they promised to be turned out to be a colossal fiasco. What happened?

Manchester, 1980s

YouTuber Victor Amorin, on his Music Radar Clan channel, pointed out a factor that has not been talked about much. The Stone Roses were born in Manchester in the early 1980s at the same time as New Order and The Smiths. In fact, Peter Hook (of New Order) produced one of their first singles, Elephant Stone, and some of its members shared early groups with members of the Smiths. However, in 1989, when the Stone Roses first album was released, the Smiths had already developed their entire career and Morrissey had released his first solo album. Amorins thesis is that Ian Brown (vocals), John Squire (guitar), Gary Mani Mounfield (bass) and Alan Reni Wren (drums) were very ambitious, but were never willing to take on the responsibility of being ambitious. In other words, they had the attitude, but lacked the work ethic that others of their generation possessed. They were able to arouse the curiosity of the British media, but they did not live up to expectations.

Why did U.K. music critics place so much hope in them in the late 1980s? Everything was exaggerated, because it was a time when the media was looking for someone to occupy the throne that the Smiths had left vacant, notes music critic Carlos Perez de Ziriza. They had the merit of fusing, like no other group, the British pop heritage of the 1960s and its most exquisite melodic tradition with the new rhythms emanating from Manchester, favoured by the rise of rave culture, acid house, and that new lysergia that had driven the second summer of love, that of 1988.

Ian Brown photographed in London in 1998. Martyn Goodacre (Getty Images)

For Marcos Gendre, they were hopeful, but, beyond the hymns they pulled out of their sleeves, the only song that could really determine renewed paths was Fools Gold, the single they released immediately after the first album. According to the journalist, the golden age of the Stone Roses marked the beginning of the retro trends of the 1990s. They benefited from the fact that, within an indie scene as anti-charismatic as the one of that time, they recovered the shamelessness of punk in their way of acting, and some musical aesthetic signifiers that referred to The Byrds, Jimi Hendrix, and psychedelia. Although in their new version, instead of flowers, there was graffiti and, instead of LSD, MDMA.

Their social impact on the U.K. was brief but intense and profound, associated with the rave scene. They were, along with Happy Mondays, the first band to fuse guitar music with the new dance culture. Their aesthetic set the trend, with their album covers, their guitar and bass painted by Squire in a style similar to Jackson Pollock, Reni wearing those bucket hats that were imitated ad nauseam by his followers, the baggy t-shirts and baggy trousers that also defined an era. All of this reached its highest social moment in the summer of 1990 with their triumphant concert at Spike Island, defined as the Woodstock of the baggy generation, although many remember it as a fiasco, more like Altamont but without any fatalities, an organizational disaster with terrible sound, but on the stage Brown could be seen holding up a huge globe in his hands, in a the world is ours style.

Ian Brown and director Shane Meadows at the premiere of the documentary 'The Stone Roses: Made Of Stone' in Manchester in 2013. Karwai Tang (WireImage)

Added to this is the hooliganism they displayed. In one of their most famous performances on British television, they played at such a high volume that they blew the fuses on the set. They went even further when, angry with their first label, FM Revolver, for re-releasing a video clip of the single Elephant Stone without their consent, they vandalized their offices and their employees cars by pouring buckets of paint over them. They were taken to court and only escaped jail because, in the judges opinion, this would serve to give them more notoriety, so he handed them a hefty fine and sent them home. In this regard, Jorge Albi is very critical of the idea of all these artists that the worse they are, the better, the whole were really cool, and its going to take us all this time to create our great masterpiece thing, which in the end only conceals arrogance.

The years of drought that burned the group

In reality, it was a myriad of circumstances that led to the five years of silence between the first and second albums. Some say that their manager at the time, Gareth Evans, mismanaged the bands career badly, and the Roses went back to court, entering into litigation with the independent record label Silvertone to get a release so that they could sign with the multinational Geffen. While this caused more and more delays in the recording of the new album, the members of the group were left unsure of what to do, stopped playing live, experienced a creative block and began to prioritize other things.

Some of them had children, and others, according to urban legend, went around the bars saying that the Stone Roses were going to be the band that would go down in history for recording that legendary album and never doing anything else. The fact is that they arrived for the recording sessions for Second Coming already reeling. There were things that were out of our control, like the whole trial thing, and it was never the same again. Once you lose that moment, its hard to get it back, Mani said in Shane Meadows documentary. Making the second album ended the band in a way. Nothing was ever the same again. After Silvertone left, the live shows were over and everything pointed to the fact that we were being manipulated. We tried to get rid of the manager, and when it came time to record we were half lost, said Squire. Brown summarized: We stopped enjoying it very quickly, especially when it started to become more about the business and less about the music.

John Squire, Mani, Ian Brown and Reni, in London in 2012. Dave J Hogan (Getty Images)

The arrival of Doug Goldstein, Guns N Roses manager, precipitated Renis departure shortly before the start of the tour, and the lack of creative enthusiasm on the part of Squire (he didnt see any future there) also triggered his departure in 1995. For the live shows, they were replaced by two musicians who had played in Simply Red, which can be taken with considerable evidence as a betrayal of their more indie admirers. With this strange formation they landed in August 1996 at the Benicassim Festival, a concert that this columnist witnessed and that he still remembers as a clamorous nonsense, with adulterated versions of the songs, a go-go dancer on stage, and Brown with a horrible voice. At the end of that month, when they appeared at the Reading Festival, things were no better. Critic Johnny Cigarettes of the New Musical Express wrote that their rendition of I Am the Resurrection was so insufferable that it actually sounded more like eternal crucifixion. That was their last concert.

They were not the resurrection

After the break-up, Brown embarked on a solo career that was moderately well-received in the U.K., although not exactly a great success; Reni practically retired from music. Squire founded an unsuccessful group called The Seahorses, whose name, some gossips say, was an anagram of He hates Roses. Mani had a more focused career, joining Primal Scream at their peak. But, against all odds, in 2012 the Roses announced a reunion tour whose first two official concerts were at the Razzmatazz in Barcelona.

On their return to Benicassim, with Noel Gallagher celebrating each song on the side of the stage, they left a better taste in the mouth than the first time, although with divided opinions. It didnt seem so special to me. It was a more diligent concert, obviously, than the one in 1996, with better sound and a more professional attitude, but too much of it stuck to the predictable, like the classic gig of playing not to screw up, do whats necessary, and then move on, without great showmanship, recalls Perez de Ziriza. There was another reunion tour, in 2016 and 2017, and the band even recorded two new singles, All For One and Beautiful Thing, which were completely insubstantial, according to Gendre, while Perez de Ziriza confesses that he doesnt even remember them.

There was a plan for a third album, which was cut short. At their final concert in Glasgow, Brown offered the audience these words: Dont be sad that its over. Be happy that it happened. There was no announcement of the breakup and what happened between them has never been revealed because, apparently, there is an agreement between the four members not to talk about it. The fact is that the resurrection was brief and purely nostalgic, a celebration of their ephemeral moment of glory in indie rocks past.

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Its exhausting because it keeps happening, there are several students who I warn not to do their work with AI and they just do it again, says Hernan Ojeda, 33, a high school language and literature teacher in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Two years after their launch, ChatGPT and other AI tools have become widely adopted, including by high school and college students. However, educators are still grappling with how to effectively integrate this technology into the classroom, with many feeling outpaced by the ease with which AI can be used to quickly complete assignments.

Students dont even try to hide it. This is just adding to teenagers general disaffection with school, says Ojeda, who posted a viral message on his X account in September about his frustration with the indiscriminate use of AI for assignments. His sentiment has been echoed by other teachers from around the world, who warn about the ease in which students are able to delegate their work to such technological tools.

Im no longer a teacher. Im just a human plagiarism detector, posted Amy Clukey, an associate English professor at the University of Louisville, on X. Now most of [my] time is just checking to see if a student wrote their own paper. What a waste of life.

In a Time magazine article titled I Quit Teaching Because of ChatGPT, former professor Victoria Livingstone laments that her efforts at adapting to the new technology have been in vain. In the article, she speaks of students who have developed sophisticated queries and methodology to avoid ever having to write a single paragraph. Students who outsource their writing to AI lose an opportunity to think more deeply about their research, Livingstone writes.

Such frustrations arent limited to language and literature subjects. Gabriel Rodriguez teaches programming at a professional training school in the Spanish city of Seville. In his introductory course, I look to shape their minds so that they can think as they should be thinking, with algorithms, he says. AI is completely prohibited in that first class, but some of his young students use it, nonetheless. In the following course, he teaches information that is more explicitly linked to the professional world, and does integrate AI into classwork.

The professors consulted for this article agreed that you have to adapt, but that the road leading towards that adaptation is full of potholes and unforeseen problems. Theyre also tired of reading on social media and hearing in real life that theyre no good at their job, or that they need to update their methodologies.

Its demoralizing, because since I began to study to be a teacher, my interest has been in pushing traditional education forward, says Ojeda. I always look for a way to be more dynamic, entertaining and to avoid the question-and-answer format of previous eras, of memorization.

That makes the response he gets from some of his students all the more frustrating. Theyre looking to repeat something that already exists. They enter the assignment into ChatGPT and thats what they turn in, copying and pasting, sometimes without paying attention to the slightest detail.

Ojeda also has to work around the constant presence of cell phones in the classroom. Theyre often using the AI feature that has been integrated into WhatsApp, he says. Given the economic situation [in Argentina] and how expensive books and even photocopying books can be, the large part of our material is digital. Thats why students always have their phone on hand. Some of them take advantage of this set-up to enter their assignments into WhatsApp, and simply copy and paste the results.

Teacher or cop?

It falls to teachers to address such student laziness as best they can. Before ChatGPT, disaffected young people turned into painfully short assignments. But nowadays, they can generate lengthy essays without giving it more than a cursory glance. You dont want to be the police, says Belen Palop, a professor at the department of education and teacher training center at Madrids Universidad Complutense. Students are telling you that you have to change, that theyve trolled the system. This is about constantly growing, which is a must for educators.

Palop sees parallels between the challenges of ChatGPT and the challenges that came with the arrival of the calculator. However, there are nuances to consider: all math teachers agree that students must first master basic operations before relying on calculators. A calculator is useful for tackling more complex tasks, but students need to learn the fundamentals first, says Palop.

Should all children learn to write? Yes. Do they all have to be Nobel prize-winners? No, she continues. However, the gap between writing and winning a Nobel Prize is much wider than that between knowing ones times tables and calculating square roots on a calculator.

Using AI in a didactic way is stupendous because its like having your very own teacher at home. But  and this is where teachers get frustrated  students are also putting their assignments into AI, it gives them a response in five minutes, and they dont give it another thought, says Rodriguez.

The danger of inertia

One of the things that really worries me is that AI keeps them from improving their writing, says Gaby Silva, a literature professor in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Whats terrible is that you end up becoming the AI police. Im ashamed to have to be so suspicious all the time. Before, you just had to make sure they werent copying and pasting from an existing source.

As a teacher, one of her great joys was seeing how her students truly improve their skills, says Silva. It makes me so happy when my students improve their writing, but now that happiness is incomplete, because I dont know whether they have really gotten better, or if they entered it into AI.

Theres one important factor that is often glossed over in these situations: student motivation. Rodriguez tells of another teacher who based their classes around the potential of AI. The students themselves complained about always having to use AI during the class, because they said that they werent absorbing the knowledge in the same way, she says. Sometimes students say theyll use AI tools  once they get the basics down.

Some educators have found ways to utilize AI wisely. Not long ago, I went to a presentation by a teacher who made their students describe in detail how Dall-E [an image generator that works with text prompts] came up with the image they had asked for. Suddenly, the ability to write precise descriptions has become important, Palop says.

But is being able to write a precise query for an AI tool the same as being able to describe a feeling or complex action? Perhaps, but the correlation is far from clear. And professors are now having to deal with students who have taken on  and sometimes, internalized  an overly mature, unnatural way of speaking. The terminology that is used by AI is often more pompous, it sounds odd coming from young people, says Ojeda. There are empty phrases that sound very pretty, its like a political speech that takes on sweeping themes, but doesnt end up saying anything substantial.

The task of figuring out which students are using AI is complex, but not impossible. According to Rodriguez, it too should fall to machines: When it comes to programming, detecting it is easy because its so obvious. You know each student and how they code. You know when a code is high-quality, when its not and which tools have been used to make it. If theyre utilizing commands we havent covered yet or the quality is too good, you know they werent the ones who wrote it, he concludes.

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Several volunteers on Tuesday on a street in Paiporta (Valencia) where the effects of the previous week's flood are still visible.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is already capable of identifying tumors from thousands of images, performing precise surgical operations, discovering new antibiotics and proteins, analyzing market trends, and optimizing industrial processes, among numerous other applications. Yet, when it comes to adverse phenomena like floods  the most destructive natural disasters after earthquakes and tsunamis  its technological prowess falls short.

Over the past two decades, floods have impacted 2.5 billion people, claimed the lives of a quarter of a million individuals, and caused an estimated $936 billion in damages, according to the International Disaster Database (EM-DAT) from the Catholic University of Louvain in Brussels. Despite the focus of technological giants and global institutions, developments to predict and mitigate floods remain ineffective. Why is that the case?

Existing climate models arent very good for certain extreme weather events, Heatwaves in Europe are, for example, increasing much faster in the real world compared to what the models tell us should happen, Dim Coumou, a climate expert at the University of Amsterdam, told Horizon magazine. Its important to forecast extremes so we can have early warnings.

One major obstacle to accurate forecasts is the data available to train artificial intelligence models. While historical data spanning decades is available, it may not be relevant when it comes to understanding the most adverse phenomena. Extreme events are, by definition, rare. So you dont always have many observations. That is a major hindrance if you want to use AI methods, Coumou explained.

AI generates results by identifying patterns derived from analyzing vast amounts of data. For instance, it can recognize a tumor in an image if it has thousands of comparable, high-quality images supported by confirmed diagnoses.

AI needs masses of high-quality data to be useful for science, and databases containing that sort of data are rare, said David Baker, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry this year for developing open artificial intelligence systems that create new proteins.

The lack of data on rare phenomena is further exacerbated by the difficulty of accurately predicting meteorological events as dynamic and complex as a DANA (isolated depression at high levels), which was responsible for the deadly flash flooding in Spain last week. A DANA causes intense rainfall and storms that can be highly localized and vary in intensity. Its behavior is erratic, influenced by a multitude of factors, including ambient temperatures, humidity, pressure, wind patterns, topography, and interactions with other geographic and atmospheric elements.

Even long-term data does not guarantee the ability to precisely predict when and where a storm will strike. Moreover, even if this data were to reveal a consistent rainfall pattern, it would still fall short in resolving the inherent uncertainties surrounding these events. Very intense storms do not automatically result in damage, Kevin Collins, professor of environment and systems at the Open University in the United Kingdom, told Science Media Center.

Professors Victor Resco de Dios and Domingo Molina from the University of Lleida in Spain agree. It is not enough to know how much and where it will rain, but we also need to establish how that rain will turn into floods and which areas will be potentially affected, they write in The Conversation.

The fleeting variability of all the factors involved, along with the dispersion and scarcity of specific data on extreme weather phenomena, and the heterogeneous quality of available data, significantly limits artificial intelligence in identifying patterns and generating effective prevention and alert systems. Developing a forecasting system with a lead time of just 24 hours, according to the Global Commission on Adaptation, would reduce damage by 30%. A study published in Nature Communications estimates that this would translate to an annual savings of $143 billion, which exceeds the average damage reported by EM-DAT when factoring in human losses.

The key is not just the reliability of the prediction, but also the lead time. No matter how accurate a forecasting is, its forecast does not have any value as information if it does not come soon enough, said Hwang Seokhwan, a researcher at the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Construction Technology (KICT) who is working on a flash flood forecasting system.

Despite the challenges, technology giants such as Google and IBM, in collaboration with NASA and various European and global institutions, are working within the framework of the United Nations five-year plan to develop artificial intelligence tools that can provide reliable medium- and long-term predictions, as well as improve early warning systems.

Google DeepMind, the AI subsidiary of the American tech giant, unveiled a weather forecasting model in Science that uses machine learning to make better, faster, and more accessible 10-day weather predictions, according to the study. The model, named GraphCast, outperformed traditional forecasting systems in 90% of the cases tested.

The system used as a reference was the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), which operates a supercomputer in Bologna, Italy, equipped with around one million processors and 30 petaflops (30,000 trillion calculations per second) of capacity. This center, which integrates AI in its Integrated Weather Forecast System (AIFS), accurately predicted the torrential rains that struck central Europe in September.

GraphCast does not require the immense computational power of traditional weather forecasting systems. Instead, it relies on machine learning trained on historical data to deliver accurate 10-day forecasts in under a minute. We believe this marks a turning point in weather forecasting, write the authors, led by DeepMind scientist Remi Lam.

IBM is also in the race, collaborating with NASA on a machine learning-based proposal. AI foundation models utilizing geospatial data can be a game-changer because they allow us to better understand, prepare and address the many climate-related events effecting the health of our planet in a manner and speed never before seen, said Alessandro Curioni, IBM Fellow and Vice President, Accelerated Discovery at IBM.

According to Kate Royse, director of the British supercomputing center Hartree, these models will enable smarter decisions based on accurately predicting and managing flood risk, which is critical to all future city planning.

A good use of the AI-based weather forecasts would be to complement and enhance our forecasting toolbox, perhaps by allowing us to produce larger ensembles of forecasts that enable accurate assessment and interpretation of the likelihood of extreme events, Andrew Charlton-Perez, a professor of meteorology at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom, told Reuters.

A complementary system is also being investigated by two centers of the German Helmholtz scientific consortium, with results published in Nature Communications. This model combines precipitation forecasts from the weather service with data on soil moisture  one of the key factors in flood development  and flow rates. It aims to predict flood zones, depths, and potential damage to critical infrastructure, such as buildings, streets, railways, and hospitals.

The responsible authorities and the population therefore not only have information on a possible gauge water level 30 kilometers [18.6 miles] upstream, but also a high-resolution flood map showing the impacts of the flood. For example, they could know where people could be in danger or who has to be evacuated, said hydrologist Sergiy Vorogushyn from the German Research Centre for Geosciences and co-author of the study. For example, they could know where people could be in danger or who has to be evacuated.

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Opinion articles written in the style of their author. These texts are to be based on verified facts and must be respectful towards people, even though their actions may be criticized. All opinion articles written by individuals from outside the staff of EL PAIS shall feature, along with the authors name (regardless of their greater or lesser renown), a footer stating their office, academic title, political affiliation (if any) and main occupation, or the occupation related to the topic being assessed

As election night progressed and Donald Trumps victory became clear, until it was no longer in doubt after he carried the state of Pennsylvania, I watched on American news as every pundit, expert, analyst, and strategist tried to explain why Kamala Harris was not going to be the next president of the United States. Since Tuesday, her defeat has been blamed on the vice president herself, on President Joe Biden, and on the Democratic Party in general. Everyone has been holding their head in their hands, asking how such a failure was possible. But I wonder: did we ever really believe that the United States would elect a Black woman as president?

Have we forgotten that the U.S. has been a deeply racist country from the very beginning? The America in which Kamala Harris can become vice president, presidential candidate and almost president with 68 million votes, is still the America where our enslaved ancestors were exploited in the broadest sense of the word. It is also the America of the Jim Crow era, of the rape and plundering of the Black female body, of the lynching of Black mothers and girls that have been erased from the history books.

Kamala Harris during her concession speech on Wednesday at Howard University in Washington. Ben Curtis (AP)

This is the same country where Black mothers continue to mourn the murders of their sons at the hands of police, or whose families have been torn apart by the unjust and mass incarceration of their fathers or husbands. This is also the country where we are missing Breonna Taylor and hundreds of other Black women shot and killed by police, and where today a pregnant Black woman is three times more likely to die during pregnancy or in the months following childbirth than a white woman. This is the United States, supposedly the land of opportunity, where Black women earn 65% of what white men do (white women, meanwhile, reach 83%).

Given all this, it is no surprise that Donald Trump is back in the White House. We cannot forget our history. We need to be able to see that 19th-century racism is still systemic and understand the ways in which it continues to dictate the reality of African Americans, and in particular, Black women. Racial discrimination and misogyny go hand-in-hand, and until we are willing  as progressives  to understand and address that intersectionality, we will remain trapped in the same cycle, in which the other side will continue to emerge victorious.

A few weeks before the election, I was talking to a left-leaning friend of mine, disillusioned with the Democratic Party, who said: My dreams for the Black community in this country go far beyond a Black woman president. In fact, thats not even on my list of aspirations. She voted for the Democratic candidate, as did the vast majority of the Black population, but she did so knowing that a Kamala Harris presidency would not bring the change for which she yearns; that representation does not mean liberation, and that Black women deserve so much more.

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Donald Trumps overwhelming victory in the presidential elections would not have been possible without the support of Latinos. The shift by the Hispanic electorate  traditionally aligned with the Democratic Party  has bolstered the victory of the same man who spoke out against immigration.

The xenophobic discourse that the Republican spread throughout the campaign includes branding migrants as criminals who poison the blood of the country. President-elect Trump has even claimed  with statements more typical of Nazi ideology  that they have bad genes. And (although Trump has distanced himself from the plan) it is expected that Project 2025, put together by a group of radical followers who prioritize ending immigration, will be a guide for his governing policy.

Latinos who are American citizens and have voted for Trump dont feel threatened by the former president. However, if he fulfills all his anti-immigration promises, there are estimates that some 19 million Latinos could be affected. And its not just undocumented migrants who would be subject to the largest deportation in history, but also their spouses, children, and other relatives.

These are some of the threats made by the man who will be the 47th president of the United States:

The largest deportation in history

The center of Trumps campaign stump speech was to promise that, if he reached the White House, he would carry out the largest deportation of undocumented migrants in history. This would affect some 11 million people.

Trump supports the so-called Operation Aurora  through a law used in times of war  which contemplates the expulsion of enemies who invade the United States. Since it was enacted at the end of the 18th century, this law has only been applied on three occasions: the War of 1812, World War I and World War II. Latino civil rights organizations have warned that the operation wouldnt be limited to migrants who dont have American documents.

Border Patrol agents detain Honduran migrants after they crossed into the U.S. from Tijuana, Mexico. Felix Marquez (AP)

On numerous occasions, Trump has compared undocumented migrants to criminals who steal, kill and rape. He considers them to be enemies of the country and also accuses them of replacing American workers and causing unemployment. This is despite the fact that studies indicate a mass deportation would be very negative for the U.S. economy. Undocumented migrants often take jobs that American citizens dont want to do. Many, for instance, work as agricultural laborers. They also pay their taxes and help maintain Social Security despite not benefiting from it.

End of the DACA program

In 2017, during his previous presidency, Trump wanted to eliminate the DACA program. However, the Supreme Court prevented him from doing so, despite admitting that the president has the authority to annul it. The program  approved in 2012 during the Obama administration  granted residence and work permits to migrants who arrived in the country without documents when they were children. At the request of several states governed by Republicans, a Texas judge stopped the program, which is no longer accepting new applicants. Those who accessed it in time  some 580,000 beneficiaries  can continue to renew it every two years.

The so-called dreamers have been in the U.S. for more than two decades. Theyre professionals who have formed families and put down roots: deportation would expel them from what they consider to be their country.

End of the Keeping Families Together program

Approved by Joe Biden in June of this year, the Keeping Families Together program became the largest immigration reform of his administration. It began granting residency to the spouses of American citizens, but was interrupted a few days later by a federal judge in Texas, at the request of Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who led 15 Republican states in opposition. Trump opposed the program and accused Biden of granting a massive amnesty to criminals who entered the country illegally. Half a million people, along with their children, could benefit from the program, which is also known as parole in place.

To access the program, applicants must have lived in the United States for at least 10 years and have been married to a U.S. citizen before June 18. They must not pose a national threat or have a criminal record. On average, applicants have lived in the United States for over two decades.

Goodbye to TPS

Springfield is such a beautiful place. Have you seen whats happened to it? Its been overrun. You cant do that to people. Id revoke [temporary protected status] and Id bring [the migrants] back to their country, Trump said last month, during an interview with NewsNation.

TPS protects about 330,000 people who  if returned to their countries of origin  would suffer violence, famine, the consequences of natural disasters, or other life-threatening conditions. The largest group of TPS beneficiaries hail from El Salvador (195,000 people), followed by Honduras (57,000 people) and Haiti (50,000 people).

In his only presidential debate with Kamala Harris, Trump spread the infamous hoax that Haitians living in the city of Springfield, Ohio, were eating pets and causing violence in the city.

A Haitian restaurant in Springfield, Ohio, on October 25, 2024. Richard PIERRIN

No more humanitarian parole

Some 530,000 people have arrived in the country under the protection of the humanitarian parole program, which allowed for the entry of migrants from Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Haiti. Approved in 2022, it granted asylum to Venezuelans fleeing the regime of Nicolas Maduro, provided they had a financial sponsor, could pass a background check, and purchase a plane ticket to fly to a U.S. airport. Trump considers them illegal immigrants and has criticized the Biden administrations decision to grant them work permits.

End birthright citizenship

The president-elect has promised to end automatic citizenship for children born in the United States to immigrants who are in the country illegally a plan that contradicts how a 19th-century amendment to the Constitution has long been interpreted. In a video posted on X, Trump said the policy is a magnet for migrants coming from prisons and mental institutions. On day one, I will sign an executive order that children of illegal aliens will not receive automatic citizenship, he promised.

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KYODO NEWS - Nov 9, 2024 - 22:37 | All, Japan, World

The British government has decided to remain on board a joint fighter jet development program with Japan and Italy following a review of defense expenditure, amid speculation the plan could be axed, a source close to the matter said Saturday.

The Labour government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer now deems the plan an important defense project, significant for diplomatic relations with Japan and Italy and for creating many new jobs, the source said.

The British government will review its defense strategy through the first half of 2025. While it is also involved in developing nuclear submarines for the AUKUS project with the United States and Australia, concerns have emerged over the substantial costs associated with next-generation jet development.

From next year, the fighter program will enter a new phase, starting with the full-scale design of the aircraft.

The plane is expected to be deployed by 2035 and will be equipped with artificial intelligence and advanced stealth technology.

Masami Oka, a former Japanese vice minister of defense for international affairs, has been appointed to lead the international organization that will manage the project, called the Global Combat Air Program.

The organization called GCAP International Government Organization, dubbed GIGO, is expected to be established in Britain later this year.

Related coverage:

Japan, Britain, Italy to speed up work on next-gen fighter jet plan

New defense chief Nakatani, Austin vow to enhance Japan-U.S. alliance
KYODO NEWS - Nov 9, 2024 - 16:33 | Others

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Saturday vowed to strengthen Japan's defense capabilities in the face of a severe security environment amid the growing military activity of China, Russia and North Korea.

Ishiba, who took office on Oct. 1, said a recent violation of Japanese airspace by China and Russia was "utterly unacceptable," adding the two countries along with repeated ballistic missile tests by North Korea pose complex security challenges.

Japan will "certainly implement" measures to fundamentally bolster its defense capabilities, the prime minister said in a speech at a Ground Self-Defense Force base.

Ishiba said Japan needs to beef up deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region through cooperation with allied and like-minded countries, as he and Defense Minister Gen Nakatani reviewed the GSDF at the Asaka base straddling Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Self-Defense Forces.

It was Ishiba's first attendance at an SDF anniversary ceremony since 2007, when he was defense minister.

Earlier in the week, Ishiba confirmed in phone talks with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump that the two countries will elevate the bilateral alliance.

With the SDF facing a personnel shortage, the prime minister is seeking to improve working conditions.

"We will take all necessary measures so (SDF members) can focus on their vital duties with pride and honor," he said.

Related coverage:

Ishiba's LDP, smaller DPP debate econ steps, PM eyes minority gov't

PM Ishiba agrees during phone talks with Trump to meet soon

Japan PM congratulates Trump on U.S. election victory
UP DElEd Result 2024 declared for Semester 1, 3 at btcexam.in, direct link here

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Among India's first major abstractionists, Bimal Das Gupta's art pays homage to the country's natural beauty

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What to do if your employer defaults on EPF dues: A quick guide

Manisha Lal Khandpur

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Congress speaks lies to win elections; loots and divides people after coming to power: Smriti Irani

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India lashes out at Pakistan in UN for spreading 'falsehood' on Jammu & Kashmir

Deblina Halder

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KYODO NEWS - Nov 9, 2024 - 08:07 | All, World

Military officers from the United States and China met for three days this week and discussed efforts to minimize the risk of miscalculation and accidents, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said Friday.

The talks from Wednesday took place in the port city of Qingdao in eastern China, the command said, days ahead of a potential farewell summit between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The United States and China last held similar discussions in Hawaii in April after Biden and Xi agreed at a summit near San Francisco last November to reopen direct military-to-military communication at several levels.

High-level military communication channels had been closed by China since a visit to Taiwan in 2022 by then-U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and often engages in shows of force by sending warships and fighter jets near the self-ruled democratic island.

"A common understanding of safe behavior and adherence to international laws, norms, and standards by all nations reduces the risk of accidents that might prompt an unintended escalation," U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Jay Bargeron, director of the command's strategic planning and policy, said in a statement following the latest talks.

He led a U.S. delegation including representatives of the Pacific Fleet and Pacific Air Forces for the talks of the semiannual working group and annual plenary session of the two countries' military maritime consultative accord.

Rear Adm. Qiang Wang, assistant to the chief of staff of the People's Liberation Army Navy headquarters led the Chinese side.

Biden is due to leave for a six-day trip to Peru and Brazil next week to participate in this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum leaders' meeting and Group of 20 summit, respectively.

During his trip through Nov. 19, Biden, who will leave office in January, could hold a bilateral meeting with Xi.

Related coverage:

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Smriti Mishra

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This will be the decade of Uttarakhand': PM Modi extends greetings on States Foundation Day

Smriti Mishra

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Trudeau acknowledges Khalistani presence in Canada, says not all Hindus support Modi

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Will deny tribal rights to children of infiltrator father and Adivasi mother, says JP Nadda in poll-bound Jharkhand

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Pak PM Sharif congratulates Trump on X through VPN, receives community note for using banned app

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Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends and addresses a conference of the centrally administered state-owned enterprises on sci-tech innovation in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

BEIJING, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing on Friday urged the country's centrally administered state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to enhance sci-tech innovation.

Zhang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when addressing a conference of the centrally administered SOEs on sci-tech innovation in Beijing.

He called on the companies to comprehensively enhance their innovation capabilities and move faster to promote integrated advancements in sci-tech and industrial innovation.

Zhang said the centrally administered SOEs should spare no effort to raise their capabilities for original innovation, intensify efforts on basic research, increase the supply of key generic technologies, and plan for cutting-edge and disruptive technologies. 
Trump has not asked Robert Lighthizer to reprise US trade chief post: Sources

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US charges Iranian man in plot to kill Donald Trump before Presidential election

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How to move to Canada searches see massive surge on Google after Trump victory

Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

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BEIJING, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- China's navy on Saturday announced that its J-15D and J-15T fighter jets will make a debut at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China.

These fighter jets are expected to engage in aerobatic displays during the event, which is scheduled from Nov. 12 to 17 in the port city of Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province.

The navy will also arrange displays of air assault operations by the Z-20J shipborne helicopter and Z-8C transport helicopter, carrying naval marine units and related equipment. This marks the inaugural appearance of the navy marine corps at the air show.

Additionally, the navy will exhibit the Z-9F shipborne anti-submarine helicopter and Y-8 anti-submarine patrol aircraft, as well as several shipborne weapon systems and maritime rescue and survival equipment, most of which are being publicly unveiled for the first time, according to the navy equipment department.

Representatives from the first group of female shipborne aircraft pilots will also appear at the air show.

Li Jian, a researcher at China's Naval Research Academy, said the navy's active participation in the air show not only displays to the world its capabilities for multi-dimensional maritime operations, but also fosters better understanding and cooperation with international peers. 
Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng in recent remarks on China-U.S. relations called for upholding the three principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation when dealing with the bilateral ties. xhtxs.cn/YFq
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- At least 12 people were killed and several others injured on Saturday morning in a blast at a railway station in Pakistan's southwest provincial capital of Quetta, officials said. 
Road Closed detour sign View Photo

Sonora, CA  Tuolumne County Public Works officials have pushed back the start date for the Italian Bar Road Storm Damage Repair project.

As we reported earlier, Centerline Drilling, Inc. was hired to complete the $498,000 project that was slated to begin on Wednesday, November 6th, but that date has been moved to Tuesday, November 12th. The construction project will run until Friday, December 20th. The slide repair will force the closure of a section of Italian Bar Road half a mile north of the Lost Dutchmans Mining Association Italian Bar Camp (South Fork Stanislaus River).

County road officials provided this construction schedule:

The closure will be from 7 AM to 5 PM on November 12th and 13th.

Starting November 14th, Italian Bar Road will be closed to all traffic; please use alternate routes.

Italian Bar Road will reopen for Thanksgiving from November 27, 2024, through December 2, 2024

Travelers could see delays of up to 10 minutes. Motorists are asked to find an alternative route while the roadway is closed and to obey all construction signs and/or traffic control personnel in the construction zone.
NAIROBI, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Kenya has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening ties with China in the tourism and cultural sectors, building on the success of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in September in Beijing, China's capital.

Benard Kahuthia, acting tourism secretary in Kenya's Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, highlighted the enduring partnership between Kenya and China, rooted in mutual respect and a shared vision for growth.

"As we come together to deepen our ties, we recognize the impact of tourism in building bridges between our countries, fostering mutual respect, and inspiring the exchange of ideas," Kahuthia said on Friday during the China-Kenya Tourism Dialogue, dubbed "Nihao! China," at the world-famous Maasai Mara game reserve in southwest Kenya.

The event was also attended by visiting Lu Yingchuan, China's vice minister of culture and tourism, and local officials from Narok County.

Tourism has long been a cornerstone of Kenya's economy, showcasing the country's stunning landscapes, vibrant cultures, and diverse wildlife. The East African nation seeks to increase Chinese tourist arrivals and further strengthen cultural interactions with China.

"Over the years, China has become one of Kenya's source markets in tourism, a partner in infrastructure development and cultural exchange, contributing to the growth of our nations," Kahuthia said. "The collaborations we celebrate today offer us new perspectives, inspiring us to explore, appreciate, and connect with the unique offerings of our countries."

In 2023, Kenya welcomed 52,865 visitors from China, and the country aims to grow these numbers to foster economic gains and deepen cultural ties, Kahuthia said.

On his part, Lu emphasized the importance of cultural and tourism collaboration in advancing people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. He noted that the FOCAC Beijing Summit adopted the Beijing Action Plan (2025-2027), which stresses the importance of culture as a vital link between African and Chinese people, while tourism serves as a bridge between civilizations and strengthens friendships.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to tourism exchanges and cooperation with African countries, and emphasized the immense potential and wide prospects for tourism cooperation between China and Kenya, he said.

The China-Kenya Tourism Cooperation Dialogue is concrete measures being taken to deliver on the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, Lu said. "Here with us, we have many representatives of tourism administrations, agencies and businesses from both our countries. You have already talked to each other and I believe through the sharing of resources and information, you will find more and better cooperation opportunities. Your work plays a significant role in promoting tourism exchanges and cooperation between our two countries." 
Yves here. While many women are legitimately upset about the loss of abortion rights under Roe v.Wade, its pretty disingenuous to depict the Democrats as stauncher defenders of abortion rights. Like fighting for workers when the Dems presided over an erosion of organizing rights (which could have been bolstered by legislation) and perilous little effort on raising minimum wages, theres been a long and marked gap between Democratic party virtual signaling and action on the abortion front.

Lets start with an issue this article skips over: that by pushing ballot initiatives on the state level, the Dems look not even to be considering national abortion legislation. Yet in Europe, most states that provide for abortions have made these protections a matter of law. The Democrats did nothing to secure abortion right when it would have been politically uncontroversial, in the era of peak feminism, the 1970s, or at the start of Obamas first term, when the desperation over the financial crisis and the filibuster-proof majority gave him a once-in-century opportunity to pass all sorts of sweeping reforms, not just related to finance. He punted instead.

Mind you, feminist activists in the 1970s were just as culpable. They focused on the sure to be unattainable Equal Right amendment, rather than securiting the most important elements, equal pay for equal work, and solid abortion rights, which could have been done much more easily via new laws. But then what would happen to all those donations when the fight was won?

Another ground for criticizing Dems and disingenuous feminists is the packing of the Federal bench with conservatives. Where were feminists when the Dems supported these appointments, which they did in the overwhelming majority of cases? I dont recall a peep about this, even though the clear intent was to advance a whole host of right-wing agenda items, including on the right to life. So even though Trump fell in with the anti-abortion types after being pro-abortion before he won the Republican nomination in 2016, its misleading to depict the loss of Federal abortion rights yet another Hair Furore evil. This change came about as a result of a decades-spanning campaign.

And for families struggling to make their money last to the next paycheck, or choosing between paying the rent or for gas, abortion rights are a comparative luxury. Poverty rose markedly under Biden, and voters made clear that the economy and immigration (which is perceived to affect pay rates and the cost of rental housing in communities with a noticable increase) were their top issues.

By Susan Varney, previously a senior correspondent for KFF Health News. Originally published at KFF Health News

Voters in three states  Arizona, Missouri, and Nevada  chose on Tuesday to advance protections for abortion rights in their state constitutions. Donald Trump, meanwhile, is likely to win all three states in his victorious bid for the White House.

Its a conundrum for Democrats, who expected ballot initiatives on abortion rights in those states to boost the prospects of their candidates, including Vice President Kamala Harris. But data from VoteCast, a large survey of U.S. voters conducted by The Associated Press and partners including KFF, found that about 3 in 10 voters in Arizona, Missouri, and Nevada who supported the abortion rights measures also voted for Trump.

We saw lots of people who voted in favor of abortion access and still voted for Donald Trump, said Liz Hamel, director of Public Opinion and Survey Research for KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News.

VoteCast is a survey of more than 115,000 registered voters in all 50 states conducted between Oct. 28 and Nov. 5. Its intended to be the most accurate picture possible of who has voted, and why, according to the AP.

About 1 in 4 of the polled voters said abortion was the single most important factor to their vote, though that number was higher among Democrats, young women, Black adults, and Hispanic adults.

Abortion rights referendums passed in seven states on Tuesday, including Missouri and Arizona, where state bans were overturned. Vice President Kamala Harris made reproductive rights a cornerstone of her campaign, but the VoteCast results reinforce earlier surveys that indicated economic concerns were the foremost issue in the election.

Tuesdays was the first presidential election since the U.S. Supreme Courts conservative majority overturned Roe v. Wade. During Trumps first term as president, he nominated three Supreme Court justices who later joined the 2022 ruling that eliminated womens constitutional right to abortion care.

Mike Islami, 20, voted for Trump in Madison, Wisconsin, where hes a full-time student. He said abortion is a womans right that was definitely in the back of my mind when he cast his ballot.

I dont think much is going to change about abortion access during Trumps second term, he said. I believe his policy is that hes just going to give it back to the states and from there they could decide how important it was.

The survey found that the percentage of voters who said abortion was the most important factor in their vote was similar in states that had abortion measures on the ballot and states without them.

When voters cast their ballots, they were more motivated by economic anxiety and the cost of filling up their gas tanks, housing, and food, according to the survey results. Trump won those voters as much in hotly contested states such as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as in reliably red states.

Glen Bolger, a Republican campaign strategist, said the 2022 election results demonstrated that Republican candidates are better off talking about the economy and the cost of living than they are about abortion.

This year, Trump voters who supported abortion rights amendments may have decided to take Trump at his word that he was not going to support a national ban, Bolger said. In casting their vote for Trump, he said, those supporters may have thought, Lets elect him to deal with the cost of living and health care and gasoline and everything else.

The VoteCast survey found stronger support for abortion ballot initiatives from female voters: 72% of women in Nevada, 69% in Arizona, 62% in Missouri.

Erica Wallace, 39, of Miami, voted for Harris and in favor of an abortion rights ballot measure in Florida, which fell just short of the 60% threshold needed to amend the state constitution.

As a grown woman, youre out and youre working, living your life, said Wallace, an executive secretary who lives in Miami. She said the states ban, which criminalizes abortion care before many women know theyre pregnant, amounts to unequal treatment for women.

I pay my taxes. I live good, she said. Im doing everything every other citizen does.

Men were more likely to vote against protecting abortion rights. Men voted 67% in Nevada, 64% in Arizona, and 55% in Missouri for the abortion rights ballot initiatives.

The VoteCast survey found that, overall, voters believed Harris was better able to handle health care. That is consistent with the long-standing view that Democrats traditionally have the advantage on health care, Hamel said. Still, Trump outperformed Harris among more than half of voters who said they were very concerned about health care costs.

Family premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose 7% in 2024 to an average of $25,572 annually, according to KFFs 2024 Employer Health Benefits Survey. On average, workers contribute $6,296 annually to the cost of family coverage.

Everybody is impacted by high health-care costs, and nobody has a solution to it, Bolger said. Thats something voters are very frustrated about.

Florence Robbins in Madison, Wisconsin, and Denise Hruby in Miami contributed to this report.
Anti-Israel boycott forces major French supermarket to leave Jordan

A major French supermarket has announced the closure of all its locations in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, amid a boycott targeting businesses that support Israel.

Grocery chain Carrefour confirmed on Monday, Nov. 4, the closure of all its locations in the country on its Facebook page. The business also apologized for any "inconvenience this decision may cause" in the official statement.

Following Carrefour's closure, its West Asia franchisee, the United Arab Emirates-based Majid Al Futtaim Group (MAFG) quickly announced a new brand to replace the outgoing chain. Hypermax grocery chain will take over the now-closed locations, numbering 34 in all.

MAFG described Hypermax as a "brand-new Arab grocery chain" focusing on locally sourced products. In announcing the change, the franchisee said it "regularly reviews and assesses its businesses to ensure it remains agile in adapting to evolving market dynamics."

Alaa El Dirania, a member of the Amman Chamber of Commerce, put in his two cents on Carrefour's departure from the Hashemite kingdom during an interview with the New Arab.

He told the outlet that many commercial stores and enterprises targeted by the boycott  Carrefour included  had witnessed a slump in business. Some of them had closed, if not reducing production altogether. (Related: Corporations like McDonalds, Starbucks that support Israel are receiving massive backlash, boycotts over support for genocidal bombings of Gazans.)

According to The Cradle, Carrefour Group announced last May that it had opened around 50 stores in Israel. The locations opened under a franchise partnership it entered with the Israeli firm Electra Consumer Products and its subsidiary Yenot Bitan in March 2020.

Activists from the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement later accused Carrefour of providing food packs to soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces amid Tel Aviv's military offensive on the Gaza Strip. While the supermarket chain denied the accusation, this failed to mollify BDS.

BDS: Boycott had a huge impact on Carrefour

The movement ultimately took credit for Carrefour's departure from the kingdom, describing it as a "victory for the Jordanian people over supporters of terrorism." In a statement on its website, BDS emphasized that the grocery chain "was forced to leave the Jordanian market, expelled and isolated."

"The work will not end, and that the time has come to intensify boycott campaigns to isolate and defeat the Zionist project," the statement continued. "We will continue escalating the boycott campaign  until the MAFG breaks its partnership with the French consortium and discontinues [its use of] the Carrefour trademark. Let us escalate our boycott of Carrefour everywhere to compel it to respect our people's rights and to stop complicity in violating them."

Hamza Al-Khader of BDS Jordan chapter remarked that Carrefour's exit, "in itself," shows how the boycott of such companies can actually generate positive results for the Jordanian economy. He told the New Arab: "This is an important victory, and one of the boycott's successes  which really proves that this popular, ethical act of struggle can generate results."

"[MAFG] was an agent for Carrefour in Jordan. And now it's dropped that partnership, the employees haven't lost their jobs as it's opened a local firm doing the same work, with the same capacity to employ staff," he continued. "But you can't just measure these things in terms of wins and losses. There are other factors pushing us in terms of our culture, our identity and our commitment to ethics and values."

While the boycott is bad news for Carrefour and others, the campaign has received support from the vast majority of Jordanians. A poll from last November found that 93 percent are committed to boycotting products from countries supportive of Israel and its war on Gaza.

Watch this clip of BDS protesters removing products that support Israel from grocery shelves in Northern Ireland.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Poll: Muslim countries lead way in BOYCOTTING brands that support Israel's genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.

Calls increase to BOYCOTT major corporations for supporting Israeli genocide against Palestinian civilians.

Western brands take big financial hit in Muslim countries from boycotts over their ties to Israel.

COUNTRY IN COLLAPSE: 46,000 Israeli businesses have shut down since October 7.

Sources include:

TheCradle.co

NewArab.com

Brighteon.com
Dallas residents vote to decriminalize marijuana in small amounts

Earlier this year, a coalition led by the Austin-based nonprofit Ground Game Texas gathered over 50,000 signatures  more than the 20,000 required to put it on the ballot  for its Dallas Freedom Act petition. The act secured a spot on the election ballot for Proposition R, a measure that would decriminalize the possession of marijuana under four ounces within city limits to address the current strain on local jails caused by low-level marijuana offenses.

"Our jail is full of people arrested for misdemeanor arrests," Changa Higgins of the Dallas Action Coalition said in January. "And when you look at misdemeanor possession of marijuana, it's no different." (Related: The REAL REASON Democrat politicians are making marijuana legal, after all these years, would surprise you.)

However, Dallas Chief of Police Eddie Garcia argued in August that Proposition R would only embolden drug dealers and create additional crime challenges for law enforcement. "And who prospers: drug dealers and drug houses prosper  drug houses and dealers that are already tarnishing the quality of life in our most at-risk neighborhoods. Four ounces is approximately 113 grams, which equates to 113 dime bags," Garcia said in a city council meeting.

He then linked marijuana to violent incidents and murders in the city in the past few years. "The conversation pertaining to marijuana is not victimless. Not only will it lead to increased traffic at drug houses in our most vulnerable neighborhoods, but in my opinion, could lead to increased illegal sales."

AG Ken Paxton could take legal action against the passage of Proposition R

Now that Proposition R has passed, it would amend the charter of Dallas to prevent police from issuing citations or making arrests for misdemeanor marijuana possession. The measure would also restrict law enforcement from using the smell of marijuana as probable cause for searches or seizures.

Moreover, it would prohibit city resources from funding tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical within marijuana that generates a light hallucinogenic feeling in the user, and concentration tests. Critics say it would prevent Dallas officials from distinguishing legal hemp from illegal marijuana.

Natalie Marquez, the field director of Ground Game Texas, hailed the initiative as "a step toward broader social justice, smarter use of public resources and protecting civil liberties in Dallas."

Ground Game Texas celebrated its victory on a social media post shortly after the results were out. "Together, we've taken a big step toward justice, freedom and a better future for our community," the movement posted on social media. "This is more than a victory for marijuana decriminalization  it's a win for the people of Dallas!"

However, the city may soon face a lawsuit from the state of Texas as Attorney General Ken Paxton has previously taken legal action against other Texas cities, including Denton, Austin and three others, for similar moves that ease restrictions on marijuana.

Watch this clip from "The David Knight Show" as host David Knight discusses the hidden truth behind medical marijuana use.

This video is from the David Knight Show channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Kamala Harris now supports nationwide legalization of recreational marijuana use  a strategic move to gain more votes.

Kamala Harris hopes to use marijuana to appeal to black voters.

Thailand to RECRIMINALIZE recreational marijuana following spike in cannabis-related hospitalizations and criminal incidents.

Lawmakers demand explanation from Biden's DOJ regarding the proliferation of ILLEGAL CCP-linked marijuana farms.

Secret Service admits it found marijuana twice at the White House in 2022.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

NBCDFW.com

KeraNews.org

MSN.com

Brighteon.com
Biden-Harris DOJ now trying to find a way to DROP charges against Trump

Department of Justice (DOJ) Special Counsel Jack Smith, who oversees two federal cases against President-elect Donald Trump, is trying to find a way to end those cases

Two sources familiar with the matter told NBC News that DOJ officials see no point in pursing either of those cases against Trump. This is in line with the long-standing department policy that a sitting president can't be prosecuted.

According to NBC News, the current talks stand in contrast with the pre-election legal position of Smith, who in the past few weeks took considerable steps in the election interference case against Trump without considering the electoral calendar. (Related: Trump pleads NOT GUILTY to Special Counsel Jack Smith's revised indictment over ginned-up 2020 election interference charges.)

The sources noted that it will be up to Smith to decide exactly how to wind down the criminal cases before Trump takes office. But this will require study and research.

With two looming deadlines in those cases, Smith needs to come up with a plan in the next few days. Smith has a Nov. 15 deadline to file an argument in the 11th Circuit case and there is a Nov. 21 deadline for Trumps lawyers to file an argument for his immunity in the election interference case.

Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said the DOJ has no choice but to listen to the people. "It is now abundantly clear that Americans want an immediate end to the weaponization of our justice system, so we can, as President Trump said in his historic speech last night, unify our country and work together for the betterment of our nation," Cheung said.

Trump intends to end the federal criminal charges against him once he returns to the White House

Meanwhile, Trump's legal team is weighing its next steps for how to resolve the outstanding federal cases in his favor, with the ultimate goal of getting all the federal and state cases wiped out completely.

There are four separate federal and state cases involving Trump, namely the New York hush money case; the Georgia election interference case; the Federal January 6th case; and the Federal classified documents case, which was dismissed in July after Judge Aileen Cannon ruled Smith had been unlawfully appointed.

Trump has declared that he intends to end the federal criminal cases once he returns to the White House.

Before the DOJ talks were disclosed, Trump indicated that he could simply fire Smith or pardon himself. "It's so easy ? I would fire him within two seconds," Trump said in an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt on October 24.

Trump have also shared social media posts calling for the imprisonment of his rivals.

"They ought to throw Deranged Jack Smith and his Thug Prosecutors in jail, with Meritless Garland and Trump Hating Lisa Monaco," Trump said in a post on Truth Social in July 2023, referring to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. "They have totally Weaponized the Department of Injustice."

Follow Trump.news for more news about Trump's federal and state cases.

Watch the video below about the DOJ dropping the cases against President-elect Donald Trump before his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025.

This video is from the SecureLife channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Jack Smith's indictments of President Trump are ill-founded and unconstitutional, judicial clerk explains why.

Judge dismisses Trumps classified documents case, special counsels appointment ruled unconstitutional.

Donald Trumps sentencing in hush money case DELAYED until September 18, right before election.

Georgia judge dismisses two more charges against Trump in election interference case.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

NBCNews.com

USAToday.com

Brighteon.com
Study finds so-called greener alternatives to plastic straws contain harmful PFAS

A recent study has found that supposedly "greener" alternatives to plastic straws contain just as much per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), if not more.

This is part of a wider study looking at how many reusable plastic products used by the food industry contain PFAS, a group of synthetic pollutants known to be harmful to wildlife, humans and the rest of the environment. These harmful substances are even found in supposedly "greener" and more environmentally friendly alternative products.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Antwerp in Belgium and published in the journal Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A, found that there are alarming levels of toxins in drinking straws. The toxins are even found in plastic straw alternatives dubbed green, meaning those allegedly environmentally friendly. (Related: Plastic straws, scourge of oceans, meets its match  in seaweed straws.)

The alarming results of the green drinking straw study reveal that the supposedly environmentally friendly substitutes for plastic straws, such as those made from bamboo and paper, also have elevated levels of PFAS.

Researchers warned that even if over half a dozen nations, including Canada, France and Guatemala, have banned plastic straws, the alternatives are also prone to damaging the human body and their surrounding environment.

Paper straws also break down easily, making them difficult to use, and the workaround manufacturers found to this was to make them stronger by incorporating plastics into their production.

The study noted that many other consumer products are inundated with PFAS, including packaging used for fast food, laundry and dish detergent and personal care products. Clothing and water-resistant gear, cookware with non-stick coating and contaminated sources of drinking water also contain PFAS.

Study: Only stainless steel straws are free of PFAS

After analyzing 39 brands of straws made of various materials, such as plastic, paper, glass, stainless steel and bamboo, the team found that paper straws contain the most PFAS.

The researchers used suspect screening and targeted methods to quantify the amount of PFAS in the supposedly greener straw alternatives. They discovered that only those made of stainless steel were free of PFAS. To the surprise of many, PFAS were detected at greater frequencies in straws made with plant-based materials, including bamboo and paper.

The researchers discovered that the PFAS in straws made of plant material makes it clear they are not fully biodegradable. Upon further research, it is possible that using plant-based straws as substitutes for regular straws leads to just as much or even more PFAS exposure that causes danger both to people and the environment.

These toxic byproducts were found in 27 of the 39 straws the researchers tested, including 18 of the 20 paper varieties.

Researchers noted that the best recourse for people worried about throwing away plastic straws is to simply consume their drinks without a straw. If using a straw is the only option, then go for stainless steel straws that are reusable and do not incorporate any plastics and thereby have very minimal risk of having PFAS involved.

Watch this in-depth discussion regarding PFAS, the dangers they bring and how people can protect their health from these microplastics.

This video is from the Daily Videos channel at Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Study: Paper and bamboo drinking straws have HIGHER concentrations of FOREVER CHEMICALS than plastic straws.

Is it time for a nationwide ban on fluoridated water?

Dumbing them down: Toxic heavy metals and pesticides found in childrens school lunches.

Study finds BLACK PLASTIC in toys, food containers contains TOXIC flame retardants.

Plastic recycling is a SCAM: Recycled plastics are more TOXIC than new ones.

Sources include:

NaturalHealth365.com

TAndFOnline.com

Brighteon.com
John Bonello, translator of "The Three-Body Problem," reads the Maltese version of the book during a book launch event at the Malta Book Festival in Attard, central Malta, on Nov. 8, 2024. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua)

VALLETTA, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- A Maltese version of "The Three-Body Problem," the acclaimed science fiction novel, was officially launched on Friday at the Malta Book Festival, which runs from Nov. 6 to Nov. 10 in Attard, central Malta.

At the book launch event, attendees were captivated as excerpts from "The Three-Body Problem" were read in Chinese, Maltese, and English. The published book is the first in "The Three-Body Problem" trilogy.

"The Three-Body Problem," written by Chinese author Liu Cixin, portrays humanity's struggle for survival against an existential threat from an alien civilization. The novel's expansive cosmic vision and profound philosophical reflections earned it the prestigious Hugo Award, one of the highest honors in the sci-fi genre.

In a video address, Liu said that "The Three-Body Problem" represents his years of contemplation on technology, the universe, civilization, and human nature. Its creative inspiration is derived from the "three-body problem" in celestial mechanics, he said, adding that based on this scientific problem, he envisioned a galaxy where three stars engage in irregular motion and the existence of the "Three-Body Civilization" within the galaxy.

The novel has been published in more than 30 languages and has gradually become a sci-fi work that influences readers in many countries, he said. "I do not speak Maltese, but science fiction is a language we share," Liu said. He expressed his hope that Maltese readers will enjoy the book and he looks forward to visiting the beautiful country of Malta one day.

"This is quite an accomplishment," Joanne Micallef, director of Malta's Faraxa Publishing, which is responsible for the publication of the book, told Xinhua, adding that she was very proud to have secured the rights to publish the novel in Maltese. She said that the company has a plan to translate the remaining two books into Maltese as well.

Micallef emphasized the significance of the translation, noting that so far only a few Chinese books have been translated into Maltese. She hopes that this project will "open the road" for more works in the genre to reach Maltese readers.

She also expressed interest in further collaboration with Chinese publishers, saying that the experience of publishing the Maltese-version "The Three-Body Problem" was highly positive and that she looks forward to continued partnerships with Chinese publishers.

John Bonello, the book's translator, began work on the project in June 2023. He dedicated ten months to the first draft, working daily, followed by an additional six months to bring the book to publishing standard. "It was challenging and required a lot of hard work, but the story deserves it," he told Xinhua.

According to Bonello, there are very few science fiction books in the Maltese language. He hopes that this book will be well-received and inspire more Maltese writers to create works in Maltese. He also expressed hope to bring more of China's remarkable literature to Maltese readers, offering them a window to explore Chinese culture through translation.

Lynn Zammit Russell crafted the cover of the book. She is also a fan of science fiction novels and movies. "I have watched the Netflix series 3 Body Problem, but I'm looking forward to reading the book today," she told Xinhua.

Malta's National Book Council and the China Cultural Center in Malta supported the publication of the book. 

John Bonello (R), translator of "The Three-Body Problem," autographs a Maltese version of the book during a book launch event at the Malta Book Festival in Attard, central Malta, on Nov. 8, 2024. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua)
OPINION: Trump did not win this election. Harris was defeated by a Gaza-inspired boycott

When former President Donald Trump snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the 2016 elections , I wrote an article in Middle East Eye to explain the roots of his mystifying phenomenon.

(Article by Sami Al-Arian republished from MiddleEastEye.net)

I argued that white racism alone could not explain his victory, and that there were deeper social, economic and political causes behind his rise.

Even though the number of white voters has been consistently declining in the US - with the most recent US census revealing the number of white Americans had reached a historical low of 62 percent of the general population - they still comprise a majority and represent the bulk of the Republican Party.

But the presence of racism among certain segments of society cannot explain the changes in voting behaviour since former President Barack Obama was elected twice, and four years later, the American electorate had determinedly ousted Trump.

Even though Hillary Clinton beat Trump in 2016 in the popular vote with 66 million votes to 63 million, she still lost the Electoral College vote 306 to 232.

Four years later, Biden had convincingly beat Trump with the same Electoral College ratio of 306 to 232, but then with even a much larger popular vote of 81 million to 74 million, respectively. The main reason was the turnout rate, which improved between the 2016 and 2020 elections from 60 to 66 percent.

So what happened in 2024?

To explain Trump's 2024 victory after his humiliating defeat in 2020, one would need to examine the voter turnout as well as the vote returns, particularly in the swing states, and conduct a comparative analysis between the 2020 and 2024 elections.

The central issue

In 2020, Biden and Trump garnered together about 155 million voters out of a total of 158 million cast, setting a much higher turnout rate. On the other hand, in the 2024 election, Harris received only 67 million votes, while Trump received less than 73 million.

This clearly shows that Trump has not improved much since he did not even match his 2020 numbers.

Meanwhile, Harris's votes in 2024 vastly underperformed Biden's by more than 14 million votes. In the 2024 election cycle, the turnout was about 58 percent, significantly less than in 2020 and even lower than in the 2016 elections.

So what explains the dampening of voter turnout from 155 million in 2020 to 140 million in 2024, even though the number of eligible voters in the US has increased from 240 million to 244 million?

Based on the 2020 election results, the majority of the American people were clearly fed up with Trump. Yet, in 2024, almost 17 percent of Biden's voters did not show up, and Trump's support levelled off.

It must also be emphasised that the abuse, contempt, and hostility towards Trump by a significant number of Democratic and independent voters, as well as a minority of Republicans, has remained high or even grown as his unfavourability rating among most voters has increased over the years as many criminal charges have piled up against him.

Looking at the record and policy proposals of each candidate, one would find significant differences in their vision, philosophy, and policies regarding domestic affairs, such as economic policy, budgetary matters, social issues, healthcare, immigration, judicial appointments, political reforms, and so forth.

On the foreign policy and national security fronts, there are also important distinctions and different approaches between both candidates on key issues, including trade, Nato, Ukraine, and China.

But to fully answer this question, one needs to examine the central issue of the election, which both candidates may have agreed on and, at the same time, may have caused a significant number of the electorate to boycott or vote for third parties.

In addition, one needs to scrutinise the swing states' turnout and voting patterns that usually determine the presidential election winner and loser.

When such an examination is conducted, a similar phenomenon of significant boycott or low turnout emerges.

Voter protest

The one campaign issue where there was remarkable agreement between not only the two major party candidates but also among their respective political parties and operatives has been the unconditional US support for Israel in its ongoing genocidal war on Gaza.

According to several polls, more Democrats sympathise with the Palestinians today than with Israelis. Movements around the country to "Abandon Harris" had also emerged, advocating a vote for third-party candidates like Jill Stein or abstention.

As in the previous two elections, this year's election hinged on the same six swing states, namely Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona and Nevada, which carry a total of 77 Electoral College votes.

Of all the other 44 non-swing states, Harris had 226, while Trump had 235. There were several paths for any combination of swing states that could put either candidate over 270, Harris needing 44 to Trump's 35.

In the 2020 elections, Biden swept all six swing states, receiving 12.73 million total votes against Trump's 12.38 million votes in these states for a combined voter turnout of 25.11 million.

On the other hand, in 2024, Trump received 12.55 million votes to sweep the same six swing states while Harris received 12 million, a drop of over 730,000 from Biden's. In short, the total turnout in the six swing states in 2024 was 24.55 million, reflecting a decline of 560,000 voters from 2020.

While Trump gained a slight increase of 170,000 voters in 2024 in the same six states from his 2020 results, Harris lost 730,000 voters or about 5.7 percent of the 2020 Biden vote, a significant plunge that certainly cost her and her party the elections.

A similar situation took place in the heart of the Arab American communities of Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, and Hamtramck, in the state of Michigan, where the Uncommitted movement was birthed and which reportedly has the largest Arab-American population in the US.

The turnout in these communities in 2024 was also much smaller than in 2020. Biden received 88 percent in the south-end precinct of Dearborn, while Trump got 10.9 percent. In the city of Dearborn, Biden received 69 percent, while Trump received less than 30 percent. In Hamtramck, Biden received 85 percent to Trump's 13 percent. However, during the 2024 primaries in the midst of the Gaza genocide, Uncommitted's campaign crushed Biden's 91 percent to just 4 percent.

Election boycott

Because of the Democratic administration's backing of Israel's genocide, this negative trend continued for Harris. According to the Detroit Free Press, Harris received 36 percent in Dearborn, a drop of more than half of the votes Biden received in 2020 and a fourfold increase for Trump at 42 percent.

In Hamtramck, Harris got 38 percent, a decline of 50 points from the Biden vote to Trump's 44 percent, or a 30-point increase since 2020. Meanwhile, Stein received around a fifth of the vote across the district, possibly the highest she's gotten across the nation.

It seems that the main reason for Trump's victory over Harris in 2024 is not a sudden surge in his popularity, as he underperformed his 2020 result in the popular vote in the midst of a devastating pandemic.

Therefore, the most plausible explanation for the low turnout for Harris that cost her the elections compared to Biden in 2020 is a conscious decision by millions, not just Arab and Muslim Americans in the swing states but across the nation, to boycott the vote.

Indeed, millions of other conscientious Americans voicing their principled and strenuous objections to the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza, which was cruelly supported by a morally corrupt political class, also boycotted the elections.

The Harris defeat ought to be an ominous sign to all politicians that Palestinian and Lebanese blood is not cost-free nor expendable.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye.

Read more at: MiddleEastEye.net
Trump lawyer Mike Davis fires warning shot at NY AG Letitia James: Continue your lawfare against Trump, and we will put your fat *ss in prison

President-elect Donald Trumps attorney, Mike Davis, issued a stark warning to Marxist tyrant New York Attorney General Letitia James during an interview with Benny Johnson.

(Article by Jim Hoft republished from TheGatewayPundit.com)

Davis made it clear that if James continues the lawfare tactics against President Trump, there will be consequences, stating, We will put your fat*ss in prison for conspiracy against rights.

Letitia James, elected as New Yorks Attorney General in 2018, quickly targeted Trump, pledging to hold him accountable. From her early days in office, she made no attempt to disguise her disdain for Trump, even appearing in a post-election video cursing and threatening Trump.

WATCH:

First listen to this profanity language Now imagine a conservative would've said this and Obama is President She is the newly elected Attorney General of New York pic.twitter.com/Gmk7JwEiyk  Joel Fischer ?? (@realJoelFischer) November 10, 2018

This animosity culminated in a high-profile civil fraud case, leading to a staggering $355 million judgment against Trump after a 11-week, non-jury trial. Judge Arthur Engoron not only imposed this hefty fine but also prohibited Trump from holding any official position in New York companies for three years.

The total financial hit against Trump now reportedly exceeds $464 million with accrued interest. Jamess original push for damages reached a high of $370 million, a sum demanded despite no specific victims stepping forward.

In September, appellate judges in New York appeared skeptical of Jamess case, interrupting Deputy Solicitor General Judy Vale during her statements to question the unique nature of the prosecution.

One judge pointedly asked Vale if there were any other cases where New York had pursued legal action against private business transactions with no direct victims.

Even expert investor and Canadian businessman Kevin OLeary explained that what Trump is accused of doing is standard operating procedure in the world of real estate development and that this goes on every single day.

However, James has shown no signs of backing down, even after Trumps resounding electoral victory. In a bizarre press conference on Wednesday, she voiced her intent to continue targeting Trump.

So here we are. Weve studied their platforms. Weve identified certain possibilities, fact patterns. Weve created contingency plans, she said. So no matter what the next administration throws at us, we are ready. We are ready to respond to their attacks.

We did not expect this result, but we are prepared to respond to this result. We are prepared to fight back once again.

This is not the time to be fearful, New York. But faithful. And steadfast. Knowing that I as the attorney general, along with my entire team, we are guardians of the law. And we are prepared, my friends, to fight back, she added.

Davis, however, has issued a clear warning to radical Marxist James, who is undermining Trumps rights and engaging in a politically motivated campaign of harassment.

Let me just say this to Big Tish James, the New York attorney general. I dare you. I dare you to try to continue your warfare against President Trump in his second term. Because listen here, sweetheart, were not messing around this time, and we will put your fat ass in prison for conspiracy against rights. And I promise you that. So think long and hard before you want to violate President Trumps constitutional rights or any other Americans constitutional rights. Its not going to happen again, he said.

Read more at: TheGatewayPundit.com
National Guard units mobilized as states brace for potential unrest that may happen before Jan 20th

In anticipation of possible unrest, like what happened following the 2020 elections, several states mobilized their National Guard units ahead of Nov. 5

Reminiscent of what happened in the last election when turmoil arose as Black Lives Matter and Antifa staged protests, state officials took precautionary measures in advance for what they said is "ensuring public safety."

Democratic Governor Jay Inslee of Washington announced back on Nov. 1 that he had already put the state-based military force on standby for the duration of Nov. 4 to 7.

"The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has warned that threats to election infrastructure during the 2024 election cycle remain high," Inslee noted in his communication to the National Guard.

The decision was influenced by the creation of the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) in Seattle back in 2020. Moreover, according to Inslee, the recent "election-related unrest" is the reason behind the precautionary move.

On Oct. 28, devices marked "Free Gaza" were reportedly detonated inside ballot boxes in Portland, Oregon and Vancouver in Washington. Authorities in Portland suspect the events were connected.

Oregon's Democratic Governor Tina Kotek did the same as her neighbor, involving the National Guard as she claimed that any voter intimidation would be "un-American and will not be tolerated."

Flashback: This is what the Antifa CHAZ occupation and Antifa riots looked like in 2020 in Seattle. For over 3 weeks, violent Antifa members took over a large area of the city and created "border" checkpoints. Multiple people were shot and killed there. pic.twitter.com/kVj7qF3UkE  Andy Ngo ???? (@MrAndyNgo) September 4, 2024

Meanwhile, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler stated, "No current information suggests unrest, but there is a lot of uncertainty [and] tension in our community."

Following the same "precautionary measure," Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo, a Republican, confirmed that 60 National Guard members were in place to ensure a "safe and smooth Election Day."

In Washington, DC, Police Chief Pamela Smith said that they had over 3,000 officers working 12-hour shifts.

In the vicinity of the White House, businesses also participated in anticipation of potential violence. Similarly, the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) also erected eight-foot-high fences around the official residence of the POTUS as well as outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris' residence. (Related: INSANITY: New York State deploys National Guard to help ILLEGALS with PAPERWORK.)

Portland businesses are boarding up because of all the mostly peaceful, inclusive, and tolerant city folk that say MAGA is a threat to democracy. Is it rednecks that are going to burn the city down? Or is it the white dudes for Harris crowd *aka ANTIFA & BLM* pic.twitter.com/7B7M2CJuDv  ?Native Patriot ?? (@LaNativePatriot) November 1, 2024

110 National Guardsmen helped provide cybersecurity for their states' elections

According to reports, nearly half of the National Guard personnel who were deployed to active duty for the election assisted local officials on how to deal with cyber threats.

As per officials, a total of 15 states activated 252 National Guardsmen for the election: Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. Roughly 110 were dedicated to cybersecurity, according to the National Guard Bureau.

Each of the 54 U.S. states and territories has its own laws and agreements about how the National Guard can provide election support, said Army Col. Jeff Fleming, director of information management for the Illinois National Guard.

Fleming told the military news outlet that once the National Guardsmen were in their state status and under the command of their respective governors, they would do what their lead state agency requested them to do.

"They will not have access to state elections systems, so they advise state officials 'over the shoulder,'" he added.

He also stated that some states would have their folks work in advance with their board of elections, work with their secretaries of state in kind of an advisory capacity and help them with different policies, advising on the threats, advising on potential mitigation strategies, reviewing cybersecurity or other information technology policies for certain involved agencies.

"Some of those different agencies may request security assessments or penetration tests from their Guard units. Those federal agencies may also request that National Guardsmen help implement any of the recommended fixes as a result of those tests," Fleming said.

Meanwhile, intelligence community officials recently expressed fear that Russia, Iran and China were trying to spread disinformation regarding the U.S. elections. U.S. officials even blamed Russia for one fake video that purportedly showed mail-in ballots in Bucks County, Pennsylvania being destroyed.

Federal agencies are tasked with dealing with those types of treats, but the National Guard can advise senior officials if they see misinformation and disinformation, such as deepfake videos, Fleming said.

"This an extremely emotionally charged time," Fleming said, "And so if a video seems just a little bit wonky, before you get emotionally charged by it or decide to splash it across social media or make a reaction to it, do double-validate and confirm, even if it was your bestest friend in the world sharing it."

Check out PoliceState.news for stories similar to this.

Sources for this article include:

YourNews.com

TaskAndPurpose.com
Sermon 88: Jewish leaders CENSORED the early Christians for speaking the truth about Jesus

The 88th sermon of the Health Ranger Mike Adams on the "Health Ranger Report," part of his 100 Sermons series for the Church of Natural Abundance, zoomed in on the censorship against the early Christians for their proclamations about Jesus

Adams based his sermon from an instance in the Acts of the Apostles, where Jewish religious leaders had the Apostles Peter and John arrested. The Jewish leaders forbade the two to speak in the name of Jesus, but were forced to let them go as they found "no way of punishing them" (Acts 4:1-31).

The early Christians had been empowered by the Holy Spirit during Pentecost to speak in tongues to preach the Gospel to the Jews and other people, as part of the Great Commission. The Spirit of the Lord also gave them the power to do miracles and heal.

But the Jewish religious leaders  including the high priests Annas and Caiaphas who played a role in Jesus' death  were not so receptive to this. They were very angry that Peter and John are teaching Christ's word and converting people to Christianity, something Adams called an upgrade from Judaism.(Related: Declaring Christ as King is "antisemitic," says Jewish Daily Wire host Andrew Klavan  Jews are Gods chosen people that are racially superior to mere Christians.)

"They threw Peter and John in prison and of course, later on, Paul and many others," said the Bible nutrition educator. "They imprisoned them for daring to teach the Word of Christ to the Jews and daring to save Jews."

The Jews didn't want to give up control, so they murdered the Son of God. Annas, Caiaphas and the other Jewish leaders later convened and conspired to censor and criminalize the name of Jesus, leading to their warning to the two apostles against preaching in Christ's name.

Jewish censorship still happens today, with Zionists wanting to put Israel critics behind bars

Adams continued that Jewish censorship still happens today. Whereas it came in the form of the high priests forbidding Christians to preach in the name of Jesus back then, today it is in the form of Zionists wanting to imprison critics of the State of Israel.

The Jews' murder of Christ only shows that they are the antichrist and are opposed to Him. Adams warned that God is going to destroy Israel for a just reason  its deicide, or the murder of the Son of God who was sent to Earth to help people and teach goodness.

Another example of this modern-day censorship includes skepticism about the narrative of the Holocaust in World War II. This narrative is bizarre, especially with the number of Jews killed during the Holocaust being questionable. But questioning this narrative is a crime for the Jews that merits the heaviest penalties.

These Jews angry at Holocaust skeptics are the same Jews that have dominated Hollywood for the longest time. They have put out films and books about the Holocaust for years now, so that its memory will be burned into the minds of humanity. Meanwhile, they criminalize, punish and deplatform anybody who disagrees or presents evidence to the contrary.

True enough, King David had foreseen that the Jews would become the antichrist. That is exactly what happened when they banned Jesus' name from being spoken, as mentioned in the Acts.

"The Jews are the antichrist; they tried to stop the word of Jesus from being uttered," Adams concluded. "They tried to stop the truth of the miracles of God from being shared or from being known. They practiced censorship even back then just as they do today."

Listen to the 88th sermon of the Health Ranger Mike Adams about the Jewish leaders censoring the early Christians from speaking Jesus' name.

This video is from the Abundance Church channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Jews rejecting CHRIST: Israel wants family of Christian soldier who died in Gaza to remove the CROSS from his headstone.

Congress moves to BAN parts of Bible that mention Christ being killed by Jews.

The forgotten holocaust: 20 million Christians SLAUGHTERED by Bolsheviks of former Soviet Union, many of whom were JEWS.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

BibleGateway.com
South Koreas privacy watchdog fines Meta $15 million for illegally collecting data from Korean Facebook users

The South Korean Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC), the country's national data protection government agency, has fined Big Tech company Meta 21.6 billion won ($15.46 million) for illegally collecting sensitive personal information from Korean users on Facebook.

This is the latest in a series of fines and penalties the government of South Korea has slapped Facebook's parent company with in recent years as the PIPC and other government agencies stepped up their scrutiny of the tech giant's handling of private information on its platforms, including Instagram and WhatsApp. (Related: Harvard students demonstrate how Meta smart glasses can be used to instantly identify people and access their personal information.)

The fine against Meta comes after the PIPC conducted a four-year-long investigation that concluded that Meta unlawfully collected sensitive information from about 980,000 Facebook users  including their religion, political leanings and whether they were in same-sex relationships  from July 2018 to March 2022.

This personal data was then sold to around 4,000 advertisers.

South Korean privacy laws are fairly strict, and provide substantial protections for maintaining the privacy of personal information, including personal beliefs, political views and sexual behaviors. South Korean privacy regulations do not allow companies to process or use this kind of personal data without the specific consent of the people involved.

A statement by the PIPC noted that Meta specifically "analyzed user behavior data such as pages they liked and advertisements they clicked on Facebook and created and managed advertising themes related to sensitive information."

The users were then placed into very detailed categories to sell this information to advertisers who can then bombard the users with targeted ads. These categories include North Korean defectors, followers of certain religions and people who identified as gay or transgender.

"While Meta collected this sensitive information and used it for individualized services, they made only vague mentions of this use in their data policy and did not obtain specific consent," said Lee Eun Jung, a PIPC director and the head of the agency's investigation against Meta's infractions.

Meta failed to protect privacy of Facebook users with simple cybersecurity measures

Lee further warned that Meta has unfairly declined requests by affected users to access their collected personal information.

Furthermore, Lee accused Meta of failing to implement even the most basic security measures to protect the privacy of South Korean Facebook users, such as removing or blocking inactive pages.

As a result, Lee warned that hackers were able to use these inactive pages to forge identities and request password resets for the accounts of at least 10 South Korean Facebook users. Meta approved these requests without properly verifying the identity of the individuals who made them, resulting in data breaches for the affected individuals.

Meta's main office in South Korea has declined to comment other than to say that it would "carefully review" the PIPC's decision.

This is not the first time South Korea has fined Meta for privacy violations. In 2020, Meta was slapped with a 6.7 billion won ($4.8 million) fine for providing personal information regarding its users to third parties without their consent.

In 2022, the PIPC fined both Google and Meta a combined 100 billion won ($72 million) for tracking the online behavior of consumers without their consent and then selling or using that data for targeted advertisements. This represents the largest penalty the PIPC has ever imposed for privacy law violations.

Find the latest news about tech giant Meta at MetaTyranny.com.

Watch this video discussing how Meta's "smart glasses" are extremely dangerous and could change society for the worse.

This video is from the Neroke-5 channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

AFL exposes internal Facebook documents used for training CDC employees on censoring the public.

FTC: Tech giants collecting MASSIVE amounts of data from kids and teens.

Meta admits to training its AI models with public info from Aussie users posted SINCE 2007.

Trump reveals Zuckerberg plotted against him during last election, threatens META CEO with jail time if he interferes again.

Jeff Bezos, Facebook LINKED to DARPA's data gathering and privacy invasion program.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

Reuters.com

Brighteon.com
Time for state governors and legislators to be carted-off in federal hand cuffs for aiding and abetting ILLEGAL immigration

One of the first things President Trump should do when he enters office again, is to direct the Department of Justice to seek Indictments against any and all State Governors and State Legislators who have aided and abetted illegal immigration.

(Article republished from HalTurnerRadioShow.com)

Sanctuary cities, legal defense funds, free state Medicaid, food-stamp and other benefits are all "aiding" and inducing illegals to remain here despite the fact these state officials KNEW the people were here illegally.

State office holders do not have legal immunity from federal law.

For years, these people have directed money and changed state laws to assist people they KNOW are here illegally, to remain here. Driver licenses are one example.

Each and every Governor and state Legislator who voted for money to be used to aid and abet people here unlawfully, should be Indicted, arrested, and tried. If convicted, they should be imprisoned.

THAT will instantly put a halt to these so-called "Sanctuary cities" and even New Jersey's $2 Million fund to pay for legal defense of persons here illegally. LOCK THEM ALL UP.

Read more at: HalTurnerRadioShow.com
Trump congratulates himself on election performance, calling it a magnificent victory for the American people

Donald Trump wasted no time following his election win on Tuesday in celebrating his election performance, describing it to a room full of supporters in West Palm Beach, Fla., as "a magnificent victory for the American people."

Trump talked at length about his amazing comeback against Kamala Harris, not to mention the fact that he won a second term non-consecutively, making him the second president ever and the first in more than 130 years to do so.

Trump added in his speech that his win in 2024 will be "remembered as the day the American people regained control of their country."

"This was a movement like nobody's ever seen before," Trump told the crowd. "This was, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time  there's never been anything like this in the country."

Trump says the political movement surrounding his presidential campaign still has work to do to "reach a new level of importance" and to help the United States "heal" from everything that has happened.

"We have a country that needs help," Trump said. "And it needs help very badly. We're going to fix our borders. We're going to fix everything about our country. We made history for a reason tonight, and the reason is going to be just that. We overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible."

(Related: Did you know that some Democrats are fearful that Trump will throw them into reeducation gulags?)

Democrats could still try to oust Trump using "insurrectionist" argument from Fourteenth Amendment

Many in the independent media, including at Breitbart News, are celebrating alongside Trump that he overcame "doubts about his rhetoric" concerning the events of Jan. 6, 2021, to quote Joel Pollack. Trump instead "ran a focused, disciplined, and even innovative campaign in the closing weeks, reaching out to unusual constituencies, including black, Muslim, and Hispanic voters."

"Many lawsuits and much rancor still awaits; Democrats may try to block Trump by claiming he is an 'insurrectionist' within the ban imposed by the Fourteenth Amendment."

In his victory speech, Trump thanked former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., congratulating him on a campaign that was "historic in so many ways." Trump added that he and RFK Jr. "built the biggest, the broadest, the most unified coalition" in American history.

One person who was mysteriously absent from Trump's list of thank-you mentions is God Himself, as noted by a commenter who wrote that Trump was protected "from the Satanists' political persecution, two assassins, shamelessly biased media, corrupt prosecutors and judges, and the irrational hatred of the left."

Others wrote that their "prayers were answered" with the election of Trump, whom they believe will save the day and "make America great again" in time.

"God saved our country for my children and grandchildren!" one proclaimed following Trump's victory.

When someone challenged this notion with an interjection of "for now," the original commenter retorted back with, "Pipe down, Satan!"

"The fight is not over, but a major battle has been won," wrote another.

"Trump's Presidential campaign was undoubtedly the best political campaign I've ever seen!" celebrated another. "And I've been around since the 1968 Presidential campaign."

"The shear energy of Trump, a 78-year-old man, was stunning to watch! Those behind the scenes made Trump look good by putting him in the best possible scenarios! And Lara Trump turning the lapdog RNC into a pitbull! Historic stuff all around! Congratulations to President-elect Trump, MAGA and ALL of America!"

Another echoed this by congratulating Trump for being "everywhere every day" while Kamala, his opponent, "was hardly seen, except at elite parties."

All news about Trump can be found at Trump.news.

Sources for this article include:

Breitbart.com

NaturalNews.com
BEIJING, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- In Jiayu County, central China's Hubei Province, vast expanses of vegetable fields stretch as far as the eye can see, infusing the air with a sense of freshness and vitality.

Jiayu, one of Hubei's major vegetable production areas, received a special visitor on Tuesday -- President Xi Jinping, who was on an inspection tour to Hubei.

Walking in the vegetable field, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, checked the growth of vegetables and inquired in detail about the variety, planting techniques and sales.

In Xi's view, vegetable farming is an "industry that enriches the people," and it needs further development to help more people increase their income through technological empowerment, quality improvement and brand building.

In Jiayu, vegetable cultivation began as early as in the 1980s. With favorable climate and soil conditions, Jiayu has become a leading vegetable producer in the province, generating an impressive annual output of 1.27 million tonnes that is sold across the country and overseas.

Thanks to the vegetable industry, the county's per-capita disposable income of rural residents nearly doubled over the past decade to more than 24,000 yuan (about 3,360 U.S. dollars) in 2023.

To advance Chinese modernization, efforts must be made to accelerate rural revitalization, Xi said while visiting the county, encouraging the villagers to boost the economic returns of specialty industries and make their villages more beautiful.

The success of Jiayu's development stands out as a prime example of how specialty industries have driven China's rural revitalization, which Xi attaches great importance to.

In February 2021, Xi announced that absolute poverty had been eliminated in China. The country's focus of rural work has since shifted to rural revitalization.

Xi has emphasized on various occasions that to advance rural revitalization, local industries must be developed. He encouraged each region to leverage its unique strengths and find a path toward revitalization that aligns with its specific conditions.

During an inspection last month in Dongshan County in the city of Zhangzhou, east China's Fujian Province, Xi learned about the sale of dried seafood and the fishing harvest at a village, calling for efforts to capitalize on advantages and make good use of local marine resources.

Xi, who visited the village 23 years ago, said he was delighted to see that the village has undergone tremendous changes, adding that China's countryside will surely enjoy brighter prospects on the new journey in the new era.

In September, he toured an orchard in the city of Tianshui, northwest China's Gansu Province. The trip marked his first inspection trip outside Beijing after the conclusion of the reform-themed third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee in July.

There, he talked with apple growers and agricultural technicians under trees laden with ruby-like Huaniu apples, a specialty fruit of Tianshui that has been developed for decades, and encouraged the locals to aim for greater success in developing the apple industry and live happier lives.

Like Tianshui, the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province has a decades-long history of apple cultivation. Today, apples are a signature product of the city's rural areas, which played a crucial role in Yan'an's eradication of absolute poverty in 2019.

In October 2022, Xi visited the city, shortly after the closing of the 20th CPC National Congress. When visiting an orchard in Nangou Village, he praised local apple growers for their use of drip irrigation and refined management practices.

"This is agricultural modernization," said Xi. "You have found an industry development direction that suits you best."

Across China, many rural areas have cultivated industries well-suited to their local conditions, effectively boosting rural revitalization through their development.

Like vegetables from Jiayu and apples from Tianshui, specialty products like oranges from Ganzhou in Jiangxi Province and strawberries from Dandong in Liaoning Province have gained popularity in the market, significantly contributing to local social and economic development.

These thriving local industries help ensure food security, consolidate the country's poverty reduction achievements and promote integrated urban-rural development.

As Xi stressed during the Hubei inspection trip, development is the top priority. He emphasized that engaging in agriculture can also lead to prosperity as there are great potentials in the agricultural sector. 
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SHANGHAI, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- For Daniel Sauvaitre, annual participation in the China International Import Expo (CIIE) has not only provided him with a more realistic and comprehensive understanding of China but also increased his confidence in collaborating with Chinese companies.

Despite numerous reports in French newspapers about a "slowdown" in the Chinese economy, Sauvaitre, president of the interprofessional organization of fresh fruits and vegetables (Interfel) of France, experiences "constant transformation and growth" every time he visits China.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, and France has been designated "guest of honor" at this edition of CIIE.

In the French food pavilion, a popular spot at the event, four companies present seven selected varieties of fresh seasonal apples tailored to Chinese tastes, along with French baby kiwi, introduced as a new product at the import expo.

Sauvaitre, who brought the fruit companies to the event, views China as a market highly receptive to innovation and rapid evolution, as well as a global leader in digital technology and e-commerce. He believes that "there is still plenty of room for cooperation between French fruit exporters and their Chinese partners."

He also stressed the need for trade between Europe and China, adding that trade can foster cultural exchanges and promote mutual understanding between peoples around the world.

Jerome Vanachter, president of Lesaffre Greater China, shares an optimistic outlook on the prospects of the Chinese market. The yeast producer has been present in the Chinese market for over 40 years, with factories in Anhui, Guangxi and Inner Mongolia, along with baking centers in several cities to customize products for Chinese consumers' needs.

During this CIIE, Lesaffre has signed 12 strategic cooperation contracts with Chinese baking companies. Vanachter said he was deeply impressed by consumers' attraction to taste innovation.

"You have to understand consumers' needs and market trends, and be ready at all times," he said.

Anne Richard, director of Inaporc, France's national pork industry association, saw CIIE as an "excellent opportunity" to meet potential customers from all over the world. As both are major pork consumers, France and China have great potential for future cooperation, she said.

This is the fifth time that French food company Andros has participated in CIIE. Maxence Zeng, general manager of Andros China, told Xinhua that China offers significant market and investment opportunities, adding that his company aims to further promote Sino-French cooperation and joint development in the agri-food sector through concrete actions.

Andros China has set up a complete agri-food processing chain in China and its products are now directly sold in 179 Chinese cities. The Andros China factory has achieved 100 percent recyclability of its packaging materials, underscoring its commitment to sustainability, according to Zeng.

He pointed out that China boasts a series of favorable factors in terms of social, market and investment environment, such as social stability, vast market potential, proactive investment policies, a well-developed industrial chain, skilled professionals and a series of incentives for foreign enterprises.

These factors are the primary reasons why Andros has chosen to forge a close partnership with China, he added. 
Mumbai, Nov 9 : Bollywood actress Huma Qureshi, who was recently seen in the streaming biopic 'Tarla', has her heart full with the kind of response her brother, actor Saqib Saleem is getting for his work in 'Citadel: Honey Bunny'.

On Saturday, the actress took to her Instagram, and shared two pictures of Saqib as she heaped praise on her brother.

The first picture is from Saqib's look test for 'Citadel: Honey Bunny' in Serbia. The second picture is a still from the series.

The actress also penned a long note in the caption. She wrote, "Photo 1 - I remember the day you shaved your head and sent me this photo after your look test in Serbia".

She added, "All I want to say is - Saqu you make me proud everyday, of the actor you are and the man you are becoming ... love you my baby brother. Btw ... Have you guys seen the last episode of #CitadelHoneyBunny ?? @saqibsaleem is on fire Photo 2 - Can someone please tell me if that child is fine (sic)".

Meanwhile, on the work front, the actress has an array of projects in the pipeline. In July, this year, Huma, who is known for 'Gangs of Wasseypur', 'Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana', 'Badlapur' and 'Monica, O My Darling', started shooting for her upcoming film 'Bayaan'.

She wrapped up the shoot of her movie 'Gulabi' in which she reunites with actor Dibyendu Bhattacharya after their superhit streaming series 'Maharani'. The film is currently in post-production.

She also has 'Jolly LLB 3' in the pipeline in which she shares the screen with Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi. 'Jolly LLB 3' marks her return to the 'Jolly LLB' franchise.
Phnom Penh, Nov 9 : Cambodia on Saturday commemorated the 71st anniversary of its independence from the French colonial rule.

The celebration was held under the auspices of the nation's King Norodom Sihamoni and was attended by Prime Minister Hun Manet, Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen, and National Assembly President Khuon Sudary.

Representatives of foreign diplomatic corps were also among thousands of participants at the one-hour event held at the Independence Monument in the capital Phnom Penh, Xinhua news agency reported.

During the commemoration, Sihamoni laid a wreath and lit the ceremonial victory fire inside the Independence Monument to symbolise the country's independence.

In a text posted on his official social media platforms on Saturday, Hun Sen said that November 9 reminded people of a noble mission launched by late Cambodian King Father Norodom Sihanouk to demand independence from the French colony.

"King Norodom Sihanouk, the Father of Independence, had sacrificed both physical and mental energies in his royal crusade to gain full independence for Cambodia," he said.

At the end of the celebration, pigeons and balloons were released as a sign of independence and freedom.

The Southeast Asian nation gained its independence on November 9, 1953, after 90 years of the French colonial rule.
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Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

BEIJING, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Beijing on Saturday.

Li said that with the joint efforts of both sides, China-Indonesia relations have continued to improve steadily and entered a new stage of jointly building a community with a shared future.

China is willing to always be a good neighbor and partner of Indonesia, jointly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen political mutual trust and expand practical cooperation, to provide solid support for the two countries to jointly pursue the path of modernization and contribute more to the development, prosperity and stability of the region and the world at large, he said.

Li called on the two sides to strengthen the synergy of development strategies, further expand the scale of bilateral trade and investment, and explore the potential of cooperation on green minerals, photovoltaic wind power, digital economy, marine scientific research and environmental protection, to add more impetus to the two countries' respective development.

China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with Indonesia on multilateral platforms such as the UN, practice true multilateralism, safeguard international equity and justice, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries, he noted.

Prabowo said that Indonesia firmly adheres to the one-China principle, believes that issues related to Xinjiang are China's internal affairs, and supports China's efforts to safeguard national sovereignty.

Indonesia is willing to take the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries next year as an opportunity to intensify exchanges with China at all levels, expand mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, strengthen key projects such as the Jakarta-Bandung Highspeed Railway, and intensify exchanges in humanities fields such as education and tourism, he noted.

Indonesia greatly appreciates China's important role and contribution in safeguarding international equity and justice, promoting the development of the Global South, and safeguarding the interests of developing countries, and looks forward to continuing to strengthen communication and cooperation with China on international and regional affairs, Prabowo said. 

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)
Scientists believe individuals of the most recently discovered "hominin" group (the Denisovans) that interbred with modern day humans passed on some of their genes via multiple, distinct interbreeding events that helped shape early human history.

In 2010, the first draft of the Neanderthal genome was published, and comparisons with modern human genomes revealed that Neanderthal and modern humans had interbred in the past. A few months later, analysis of a genome sequenced from a finger bone excavated in the Denisova cave in the Altai mountains in Siberia revealed that this bone fragment was from a newly discovered hominin group that we now call Denisovans, who also interbred with modern humans.

"This was one of the most exciting discoveries in human evolution in the last decade," said Dr. Linda Ongaro, Postdoctoral Research in Trinity College Dublin's School of Genetics and Microbiology, and first author of a fascinating new review article published in leading international journal Nature Genetics.

"It's a common misconception that humans evolved suddenly and neatly from one common ancestor, but the more we learn the more we realise interbreeding with different hominins occurred and helped to shape the people we are today.

"Unlike Neanderthal remains, the Denisovan fossil record consists of only that finger bone, a jawbone, teeth, and skull fragments. But by leveraging the surviving Denisovan segments in Modern Human genomes scientists have uncovered evidence of at least three past events whereby genes from distinct Denisovan populations made their way into the genetic signatures of modern humans."

Each of these presents different levels of relatedness to the sequenced Altai Denisovan, indicating a complex relationship between these sister lineages.

In the review article, Dr. Ongaro and Prof. Emilia Huerta-Sanchez outline evidence suggesting that several Denisovan populations, who likely had an extensive geographical range from Siberia to Southeast Asia and from Oceania to South America, were adapted to distinct environments.

They further outline a number of genes of Denisovan origin that gave modern day humans advantages in their different environments.

Among these is a genetic locus that confers a tolerance to hypoxia, or low oxygen conditions, which makes a lot of sense as it is seen in Tibetan populations; multiple genes that confer heightened immunity; and one that impacts lipid metabolism, providing heat when stimulated by cold, which confers an advantage to Inuit populations in the Arctic. There are numerous future directions for research that will help us tell a more complete story of how the Denisovans impacted modern day humans, including more detailed genetic analyses in understudied populations, which could reveal currently hidden traces of Denisovan ancestry. Additionally, integrating more genetic data with archaeological information  if we can find more Denisovan fossils  would certainly fill in a few more gaps." Dr. Linda Ongaro, Postdoctoral Research in Trinity College Dublin's School of Genetics and Microbiology
Why is human culture - the shared body of knowledge passed down across generations - so much more powerful than animal cultures?

"What's special about our species?" is a question scientists have wrestled with for centuries, and now a scientist at Arizona State University has a new hypothesis that could change the way we perceive ourselves, and the world around us.

"Ten years ago it was basically accepted that it was the ability of human culture to accumulate and evolve that made us special, but new discoveries about animal behavior are challenging these ideas and forcing us to rethink what makes our cultures, and us as a species, unique" said evolutionary anthropologist Thomas Morgan in a new research paper published this week in Nature Human Behavior.

Morgan is a research scientist with the Institute of Human Origins and associate professor with the School of Human Evolution and Social Change.

Just as humans pass on knowledge to our children, when a new queen leafcutter ant hatches, she collects a little mouthful of her mother's fungus and takes it with her to start a new colony. This has been happening for so long - millions of years - that the fungus within these colonies is genetically different from the wild fungus outside of the colonies.

Similar to how human languages change, new data shows that humpback whale songs evolve, spread between groups and become more complex over time. Like humans, chimpanzees learn to use tools and we now have evidence that they have been doing so for thousands, perhaps millions, of years. Even locusts use complex evolving systems to adapt to local conditions, relying on epigenetic changes  how factors like age and environment can change gene activity without altering DNA sequence  to quickly evolve between calm and green or swarming and yellow-and-black forms based on overpopulation.

These discoveries, along with others, have shown that not only do animals have culture, but there are also examples of accumulation in their culture, something that for a long time was believed to be uniquely human.

It used to be thought that other species just didn't have culture. And now we know that lots of other species do. Then it was thought that only human cultures accumulate or evolve over time. But now we know animal cultures can do this too. So, if animals do have evolving cultures, then what's special about human culture that differentiates us from other animals?" Thomas Morgan, evolutionary anthropologist

Open-endedness

Morgan and Stanford University Professor Marcus Feldman address this question in their new paper, "Human culture is uniquely open-ended not uniquely cumulative," published in Nature Human Behaviour.

They present a new hypothesis: that we humans dominate and are so special because of "open-endedness,"  our ability to communicate and understand an infinite number of possibilities in life.

"The way that animals think about what they're doing constrains the way that their cultures can evolve," said Morgan. "One way might be that they can't imagine elaborate sequences very easily, or they can't imagine subgoals."

"For example, when I'm making my boys' breakfast in the morning, it's a nested, multistep process. First, I need to get the bowls and pots and other equipment. Then I need to put the ingredients in the pot and start cooking, all in the right amounts and order. Then I need to cook it, stirring and monitoring temperature until it reaches the right consistency, and then I need to serve it up," he said.

"Each of these steps is a subgoal, and these subgoals have steps within them that I need to execute in the right order, so this whole thing is an elaborate procedure."

When it comes to the limit of this system, human brains just keep going; we are able to build and retain sequences of instructions that are deeply complicated and this allows us to perform a near infinite set of behaviors  this is open-endedness.

Beyond culture

While other scientists have compared human and animal cultures before, Morgan and Feldman's research is unusual because it also compares animal examples of epigenetic inheritance and parental effects. The leafcutter ants is an example of a parental effect and the locust an example of cumulative epigenetic inheritance.

While both epigenetic inheritance and parental effects are stable and accumulate in non-human species, they eventually stop developing, explains Morgan. "Just like animal cultures, there are constraints that these systems run-up against and that halt their evolution."

"I think the key question is what is special about human culture, and we tried to answer that by comparing human cultures with animal cultures, with epigenetics, and with parental effects  as many evolving systems as we can think of. And in the end we concluded that the special thing about human culture is its open-endedness. It can accumulate but then it never has to stop, it just keeps going."
Intense public pressure on teachers to "get back to school" during the COVID-19 lockdowns deepened an already widespread sense that they were undervalued, and left some actively rethinking their careers, research shows.

The finding comes from newly published research, following on from an earlier study with a small group of primary and secondary teachers during lockdown. Researchers from the Universities of Cambridge and York monitored the group for almost two years from March 2020, charting an overall decline in their wellbeing and mental health. In the new report, they show how this was linked to the portrayal of teachers amid wider debates about whether schools should lock down, and for how long.

While other frontline workers were lauded as 'heroes', teachers felt they were being left out of this narrative and even perceived as 'lazy', despite their key worker status, the study shows. In particular, continual news stories during mid-2020 clamouring for schools to reopen led some teachers to believe that parents, and wider society, thought they were neglecting their duties.

In reality, teachers were shouldering higher workloads as they adjusted to ever-changing government guidance. The researchers describe the aggregate effects of their public portrayal as "psychologically costly" and suggest it may have worsened a well-documented retention crisis in the profession.

Although lots of parents may not have actually thought teachers were lazy, the nature of public discussion meant that teachers started to feel that was the case. At the time, there was lots of praise for the NHS, delivery drivers, retail workers. Teachers were frontline workers too, but were often not part of the narrative. Constant headlines about getting them back to school made many teachers believe that people thought they were sitting at home doing nothing. This didn't cause the decline in teacher mental health, but it appears to have contributed to it." Dr. Laura Oxley, Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge

The study arose from an earlier research project, 'Being a teacher in England during the COVID-19 pandemic' led by Dr Lisa Kim from the University of York. In it, researchers monitored a sample of 24 teachers, who were interviewed seven times between April 2020 - just after schools first closed - and July 2022. The mental health of the participants was found to have declined in that time. Alongside heavy workloads and ongoing uncertainty, teachers cited a creeping sense of "negative public perceptions" as a contributing factor.

In the new study, the team assessed whether this belief about perceptions was grounded in objective reality. They surveyed eight leading national newspapers, identifying 156 cases in which stories about COVID-19 and pre-16 education made front page news between March 2020 and January 2022.

These often either explicitly or implicitly suggested that teachers bore direct responsibility for school closures and other key developments in the education sector. Spikes in the coverage coincided almost exactly with when teachers reported sharp falls in their own mental health. While the decline was driven by the impact of events, the researchers suggest it was exacerbated by the news coverage.

The analysis focused on front page headlines because they reach a large audience, comprising both newspaper buyers and a 'passing' readership. Aside from stories about the handling of A-Levels, education made big headlines during the build-up to schools reopening in spring 2020, and the partial closures of January 2021.

Some explicitly criticised teachers for "demanding" that schools stay closed. More broadly, much-criticised national headlines called for teachers to be "heroes" by returning to schools while the health risks remained high, or reported the guidance of unions and doctors about whether they should do so.

The research suggests this constant discussion made teachers feel as though the public was waiting for them to make a decision about returning to the classroom, and that the longer they stayed away, the more they were seen to be 'failing' children.

Dr Lisa Kim, from the University of York's Department of Education, said: "There seems to be a relationship between the frequency of these headlines and teachers' own mental health. Though we cannot determine whether there is a causal relationship, it seems that it added to the pressure, particularly because some commentary seemed to be encouraging a blame culture."

This was confirmed by evidence gathered from the project participants and published in the preceding study. In interviews conducted in April and May 2020, for example, one told the researchers: "People think we're at home on full pay doing nothing, which is not great for your mental health." Later that summer, one teacher confessed: "There were times when I felt, and feel, that I've had enough. I don't want to do this anymore, because you can't see a light at the end of the tunnel."

Teachers emerged from the experience feeling underappreciated. In November 2020, after schools reopened, one told the team: "I was working really hard and it almost feels like what we've been doing hasn't really meant anything." They reported avoiding looking at social media because it was full of what one described as "teacher-bashing".

The researchers say these outcomes are a concern given the present teacher recruitment and retention crisis. Many teachers identify strongly with their job because they see it as rewarding and worthwhile, despite the modest pay. This was eroded during the pandemic, the researchers suggest, because of a deepening sense of being undervalued.

"It's striking that so little was said about the extraordinary efforts teachers were making," Oxley added. "The narratives we create matter, and we need to think carefully about this if we want to encourage more high-quality professionals into education."

The report is published in Psychology of Education Review.
Research analyzing European survey data from 113,884 men who have sex with men (MSM) and published in Eurosurveillance indicates that while most MSM have a basic understanding of viral hepatitis, only 44% report having been vaccinated against both hepatitis A and B. The data highlight notable immunisation gaps despite available vaccination and recommendations. Strong public health support and creating an open environment that enables MSM to follow recommendations will be crucial to reduce outbreaks among MSM and eliminate hepatitis B.

Men who have sex with men are more likely to get infected with viral hepatitis, with risks being exacerbated by stigma and discrimination, which can affect access to healthcare services. While sex between men is the second most commonly reported route of acute hepatitis B virus infection in Europe, only three quarters of European countries (32/42) recommend vaccination against hepatitis B specifically for MSM. Outbreaks of hepatitis A have been reported among MSM worldwide, including a large multi-country outbreak in Europe in 20162018. However, just under half of European countries (19/43) recommend hepatitis A vaccination for MSM.

The two studies looked at data from 113,884 participants in the WHO European Region from the European MSM Internet Survey 2017 (EMIS-2017) with Brandl et al. analysing vaccination uptake data, and Burdi et al. reviewing basic knowledge about hepatitis A and B. EMIS-2017 was an anonymous, open access internet survey carried out between late 2017 and early 2018 on the sexual health of MSM. Both studies looked at data from respondents that were above the age of consent in their country, identified as cis or trans men, and indicated that they were attracted to men and/or had sex with men.

Vaccination uptake data

Brandl et al. reviewed data on self-reported hepatitis A and B vaccination status by age, education, financial coping, settlement size, openness about sexual orientation, migration history and diagnosis with hepatitis C or HIV. The study also compared these data against information on national hepatitis A and B vaccination recommendations.

Only 48% of respondents reported being vaccinated against hepatitis A, and 53% against hepatitis B, with significant differences in uptake between countries. Reported vaccination rates for either disease were higher among respondents that were more open about their sexual orientation ('outness'), and in countries where vaccination for that disease was specifically recommended for MSM. Participants were more likely to report being vaccinated if they were older, living in bigger cities, more financially comfortable, or had been diagnosed with hepatitis C and/or HIV.

Basic knowledge on viral hepatitis

Burdi et al. looked at the basic knowledge on viral hepatitis and hepatitis vaccination, which may correlate with higher vaccination uptake. Basic knowledge was defined as correctly identifying at least 4 out of 5 statements related to hepatitis in EMIS-2017. Researchers also collected data on sociodemographic characteristics, history of hepatitis C and/or HIV diagnosis, sexual orientation disclosure at the last sexually transmitted infection (STI) test, and outness.

While two thirds of respondents (68%) demonstrated basic knowledge, there was significant disparity among MSM in Europe. Respondents who were older, had a history of hepatitis C and/or HIV diagnosis, were out or had disclosed their sexual orientation at their last STI test were more likely to have basic knowledge. Knowledge was also higher among those who had been vaccinated against viral hepatitis or were immune due to a previous infection. Of the vulnerable, not vaccinated or immune respondents, 58% and 62%, respectively, reported not having been offered a vaccine for hepatitis A or B.

While there were national differences, individual factors played a larger role in reported knowledge levels about viral hepatitis.

Targeted public health action and supportive environment highly beneficial

Both studies highlight the importance of actively recommending vaccination against both hepatitis A and B to MSM, with Brandl et al. also pointing to the benefits of national recommendations for MSM and offering the vaccines for free or with a co-payment. Burdi et al. also suggest improving access to information among younger MSM in smaller settlements with a low level of education, and poorer financial resources.

Researchers for both studies emphasized the crucial role of a supportive, accepting climate to encourage openness, facilitate targeted public health action, and improve health outcomes for MSM.
SpiceJet Plans to Launch Seaplane Operations in 2025; Check Details

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 14:25 IST

New seaplane routes to revolutionise regional connectivity, connecting remote and iconic destinations across India.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu (left) with SpiceJet CMD Ajay Singh (centre) and Spice Shuttle CEO Avani Singh.

SpiceJet on Saturday said it plans to launch seaplane operations in 2025, across 20 routes, including Lakshadweep, Hyderabad, Guwahati, and Shillong. The airline has partnered in seaplane trials across multiple locations, providing crucial engineering, technical, and logistical support to De Havilland.

The announcement was made on Saturday by SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh on the occasion of a demonstration of seaplane flight from Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada to Srisailam Dam, attended by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu.

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SpiceJet has partnered in seaplane trials across multiple locations, providing crucial engineering, technical, and logistical support to De Havilland," it said in a statement.

With rights to operate seaplane services on 20 routes, including Lakshadweep, Hyderabad, Guwahati, and Shillong, the airline is preparing to roll out connectivity across key routes as the infrastructure becomes ready, it added.

Ajay Singh, chairman and managing director of SpiceJet, said, Seaplanes have the potential to transform Indias regional connectivity, opening up access to some of the most stunning, yet remote, parts of the country. SpiceJet has always dared to dream big and with the support of visionary leaders like Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Union Minister K Rammohan Naidu, we are taking concrete steps to bring seaplane operations to life in India once again."

SpiceJet is excited to help drive this initiative forward, partnering closely with the government and civil aviation authorities to ensure these services become a reality and a success, Singh added.

Avani Singh, CEO of Spice Shuttle, said, Our journey in regional connectivity has been a purposeful one, rooted in the belief that everyone, no matter how remote, deserves access to affordable and efficient air travel, and today, we are excited to be at the forefront of seaplane operations in India."

Seaplanes can be a true game-changer for a country like ours, where diverse geographiescoastlines, islands, and riverine regionsoften present infrastructure challenges. With seaplanes, we can transcend these barriers and bring the joy and benefits of connectivity to coastal areas, islands, and remote inland destinations, she said.

Avani, who previously led SpiceHealth, is now spearheading SpiceJets seaplane project following her MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. She is also an alumna of Stanford University.

SpiceJet pioneered Indias first scheduled seaplane service in October 2020, linking the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad to the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat. Although paused due to COVID-19, the airline is once again ready to spearhead this ambitious project, echoing its commitment to inclusive growth under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme.

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SpiceJet is Indias only major private airline consistently engaged with UDAN since its inception.

Shares of SpiceJet on Friday fell 2.52 per cent to close at Rs 59.69 apiece on the BSE.

First Published: November 09, 2024, 14:25 IST
Trump Victory: Elon Musk's Net Worth Crosses $300 Billion Amid Tesla Share Surge

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 12:06 IST

With a wealth of $304 billion, Elon Musk is currently the only person on the planet who has a net worth over $300 billion, according to Forbes' Real-Time Billionaires list.

Elon Musk vehemently supported Donald Trump in US Election.

The net worth of Tesla CEO Elon Musk has crossed the $300 billion mark even as the electric vehicle automakers shares skyrocketed over 30 per cent in the past five days following Donald Trumps victory in the US presidential election. With a wealth of $304 billion, Musk is currently the only person on the planet who has a net worth over $300 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires list.

Teslas shares on Friday surged 8.19 per cent to touch $321.22 billion. Following this, Elon Musks fortune increased by 4.71 per cent to $304 billion in a day on Friday. Before the US election results, his wealth had stood at nearly $250 billion.

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In the past five days, the Tesla stock has jumped nearly 30 per cent.

The share price surge comes after Donald Trump achieved a historic victory in the US presidential election, thus securing his return to the White House as the US president after four years. Elon Musk vehemently supported Trump during his campaign and attended his rallies, while Trump also openly endorsed Musk. As a result of this, Trumps victory has boosted Musks furtune.

After Elon Musk, Oracles Larry Ellison is the second richest person on the planet with a wealth of $230.7 billion. Jeff Bezos follows with $224.5 billion net worth, followed by Mark Zuckerberg with $203.8 billion wealth and Bernard Arnault & family having a net worth of $165.5 billion.

Donald Trump, who has become the 47th President of USA, endorsed top billionaires during his election campaign, including Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Oracles Larry Ellison, Metas Mark Zuckerberg, and Googles Larry Page.

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Recently, after the Trump election, Elon Musk on Friday reportedly joined the call between US President-elect Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, indicating the growing influence of the Tesla CEO in the second Trump administration.

A significant portion of Elon Musks wealth is connected to Tesla, the leading electric vehicle producer globally, whose future is strongly influenced by federal policies. During a recent Tesla earnings call, Musk expressed that if he were appointed to a position in the Trump administration, he would advocate for a federal regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles, a key element in Teslas long-term strategy.

First Published: November 09, 2024, 12:06 IST
AILET 2025 Admission: NLU Removes 4 Cities From Test Centre List

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 12:31 IST

The total number of exam cities for AILET 2025 has been reduced from 35 to 31.

The All India Law Entrance Test will be held on December 8, 2024. (Representative/File Photo)

The National Law University Delhi recently announced the removal of four examination city centres for the upcoming All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) 2025. According to the official notice, this decision was made due to an insufficient number of applicants in those regions. As a result, the total number of exam cities for AILET 2025 has been reduced from 35 to 31. The revised list of exam centres comes after a thorough review of all registrations.

It is recommended that students who have not yet submitted their application forms review the list of cities for the exam centre before completing the online application. The deadline for interested candidates to register for the AILET 2025 exam is November 18, 2024. Candidates can apply for the entrance exam by visiting the official website at nationallawuniversitydelhi.in

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In case the number of the candidates at any test city is less than 100, the test centre will not be created in that city and candidates will be allotted test city as per their 2nd/3rd preference of test city," mentioned the official notice.

The official notification states that it is expected that test centres may not be established in the following cities due to a lack of candidates, based on the current number of applications submitted. Shimla, Siliguri, Kota, and Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh) are among the cities on the list.

Meanwhile, those appearing for the AILET 2025 exam can check the complete list of exam cities here: Bengaluru, Bhopal, Dehradun, Delhi, Gurugram, Guwahati, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Cuttack, Gandhinagar, Ghaziabad, Greater, Noida, Hyderabad, Jabalpur, Jaipur, Jammu, Jodhpur, Kanpur, Madurai, Patna, Thiruvananthapuram, Varanasi, Pune, Raipur, Ranchi, and Visakhapatnam.

The All India Law Entrance Test will be held on December 8, 2024. It will be conducted from 2 pm to 4 pm. The admit card for the online exam will be released on November 28, 2024.

AILET 2024 Exam: Steps To Apply

Step 1: Visit the official website at nationallawuniversitydelhi.in

Step 2: On the homepage, click on the AILET 2025 registration link.

Step 3: Key in the basic information (name, email ID and others) to complete initial registration.

Step 4: Then log in and fill out the application form.

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Step 5: Upload all the necessary documents as asked and pay the fee.

Step 6: Cross-check all the details and submit the form.

First Published: November 09, 2024, 12:31 IST
CBSE Class 10 And 12 Exams 2025: Official Date Sheet To Be Released Soon

Curated By :

Local News Desk

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 17:59 IST

The Central Board of Secondary Education is preparing to release the 10th and 12th date sheets.

CBSE board exam will be held in February.

CBSE Board Class 10 and 12 examinations will start on February 15, 2025. The Central Board of Secondary Education is preparing to release the date sheet for classes 10th and 12th soon. All the details related to the CBSE Board Exam 2025 date sheet can be checked on the official website, cbse.gov.in.

According to media reports, the CBSE Board Exam Date Sheet will be released soon.

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CBSE board exams will start on February 15, 2025. It is believed that the exams for both classes 10 and 12 will start around the same time. Keep checking the latest updates and subject-wise detailed date sheet related to the CBSE board exam 2025 on cbse.gov.in. Students are advised not to trust any kind of fake news. If one has doubts regarding the CBSE board exam date sheet, one can talk to the school administration directly.

According to reports, in 2025, more than 44 lakh students of classes 10th and 12th will take the CBSE board exam. All of them are currently waiting for the release of the CBSE Board Exam Date Sheet 2025 (CBSE Board 10, 12 Exam 2025 Date Sheet).

CBSE board exams are held abroad as well as in India. There are schools affiliated with the CBSE board in many countries. There will also be exams at the same time. In 2023, the date sheet for the CBSE Board 10 and 12 exams was released in mid-December.

CBSE Board Practical Exams:

Practical exams will be held before the main examinations of the CBSE Board. According to the CBSE Board notification, practical exams and internal assessment in winter schools will be held between November 5 and December 5. At the same time, CBSE Board practical exams in other schools will start on January 1. CBSE board exam pattern and marking scheme can be checked only on cbse.gov.in. CBSE Board Sample Paper 2025 can be downloaded from cbseacademic.nic.in.

How to Download The Date Sheet

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The CBSE Board Exam 2025 Date Sheet can be downloaded by following the steps given below:

After the release of the CBSE Board Exam 2025 date sheet, one has to visit the official website www.cbse.gov.in to download it.

On the homepage of the website, click on the Examination" tab.

After this, you will have to select the option of CBSE Board Exam Date Sheet 2025. After doing this, the schedule will appear on the screen.

Download the CBSE board exam date sheet by checking the subject-wise dates. Take a printout of the CBSE board exam date sheet for future reference.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 09, 2024, 17:59 IST
Duma Boko arrives at the National Stadium to be sworn in as the sixth president of Botswana during an inauguration ceremony in Gaborone, Botswana, on Nov. 8, 2024. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)

GABORONE, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Multitudes of people thronged the National Stadium in Gaborone, Botswana's capital city, on Friday to witness the inauguration of Duma Boko as the southern African country's sixth president.

Boko promised that his government would create a brighter tomorrow with support from the citizens during the ceremony.

"We will create the Botswana we all desire. You have given me strength and hope, and I am prepared to return strength and hope to you a thousandfold. I say to you dare to dream about a brighter tomorrow and let's walk there together," he said.

Boko commended his predecessor Mokgweetsi Masisi for a smooth handover of power, regarding it as a display of democracy that the country has always been known for.

He further called for nationwide unity and support for the new government in its mandate to improve the lives of Botswanan people, urging every citizen to play a role in building the economy.

Most leaders and senior officials from Botswana's neighboring countries attended the ceremony, including Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, and South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile. Representatives from other African countries attended the ceremony as well.

Former Botswana Presidents Masisi, Seretse Khama Ian Khama, and Festus Mogae as well as former cabinet ministers and members of parliament also graced the event. 

Duma Boko (C) inspects a guard of honor during an inauguration ceremony at the National Stadium in Gaborone, Botswana, on Nov. 8, 2024. (Photo by Metlha Ngubevana/Xinhua)

Duma Boko delivers a speech after being sworn in as the sixth president of Botswana during an inauguration ceremony at the National Stadium in Gaborone, Botswana, on Nov. 8, 2024. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)

Duma Boko (C) is sworn in as the sixth president of Botswana during an inauguration ceremony at the National Stadium in Gaborone, Botswana, on Nov. 8, 2024. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)
Demonetisation, GST Weapons to Kill Farmers, Labourers: Rahul Gandhi

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 17:47 IST

Rahul Gandhi also claimed that a battle is on in India between the ideologies of the BJP-RSS and INDIA bloc, who are believers of hatred and love, respectively

The Congress leader also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of funding capitalists who in turn invest money abroad. (PTI File)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday attacked the BJP-led Centre, alleging that its policies on demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST) were weapons to kill farmers, labourers and the poor in the country.

He also claimed that a battle is on in India between the ideologies of the BJP-RSS and INDIA bloc, who are believers of hatred and love, respectively.

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The battle is also between violence and unity, he claimed.

Policies of Narendra Modi are responsible for spreading unemployment in India. Demonetisation, GST are weapons to kill the poor, farmers and labourers," he said while addressing a poll rally in Jamshedpur.

The BJP-RSS are playing politics to divide India on the basis of caste, religion and language. The Congress wants to protect the Constitution of India, while the BJP-RSS is hell-bent on destroying it," Gandhi alleged.

The Congress leader also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of funding capitalists who in turn invest money abroad.

He exuded confidence that they would defeat Modi and work for welfare of the masses.

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During the address, Gandhi took a two-minute break after Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta whispered to him that Azan" was on.

Location : Ranchi, India

First Published: November 09, 2024, 17:47 IST
Maharashtra Election: Friendly Face-offs Between Mahayuti, MVA Allies In 29 Seats

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 16:18 IST

Friendly fights, however, are more complicated for the MVA, especially since smaller parties who are part of the INDIA bloc are also in the mix

In most constituencies, MVA allies are contesting alongside candidates fielded by the Peasants and Workers Party of India (PWPI), Samajwadi Party and the Left. (Photo: PTI file)

The November 20 Maharashtra election will witness friendly contests among the Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies in 29 out of 288 assembly seats.

Friendly fights, however, are more complicated for the MVA, especially since smaller parties who are part of the INDIA bloc are also in the mix.

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The ruling Mahayutis partners BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawars Nationalist Congress, will contest alongside each other in six seats  Mankhurd Shivajinagar (Mumbai), Ashti (Beed), Sindhkhed Raja (Buldhana), Katol (Nagpur), Morshi (Amravati), Dindori (Nashik), Shrirampur (Ahmednagar) and Purandar (Pune).

The opposition alliance of the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP) and Congress will engage in such face-offs in 21 assembly constituencies.

One of the major fights will take place in the Nanded North seat, where Congresss Abdul Gaffoor is in the fray with Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Sangita Patil.

In most constituencies, MVA allies are contesting alongside candidates fielded by the Peasants and Workers Party of India (PWPI), Samajwadi Party and the Left.

The Samajwadi Party has fielded eight candidates and will be contesting alongside the Congress on six seats, namely Bhiwandi West (Thane), Tuljapur (Dharashiv), Aurangabad East (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar), Malegaon Central (Nashik) and with NCP SP in Paranda (Dharashiv), and Shiv Sena UBT in Dhule City assembly seats.

The PWPI has fielded candidates on 14 seats and is in contest with the Shiv Sena (UBT) in Sangole, Loha, Pen, Uran, Ausa, Malegaon Outer and Panvel, and with NCP (SP) in Katol.

A PWPI leader said they had sought six seats where they are in serious contest.

However, the bigger parties fielded candidates despite our strong presence in these constituencies," he said.

The leader said the party had to field candidates wherever it has influence, as it needed to fulfil the electoral criteria of getting the desired number of votes.

Asked about the possibility of eating into the alliances votes, he said, It will happen. But what can we do? We sought seats from bigger parties, but they remained adamant." In an interview earlier this year, Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi said the Maha Vikas Aghadi should have fought the polls as a united front, but it had not even called his party for talks.

He said, They (MVA) think they can win the polls on their strength, and there is no need for us (SP)." Solapur City Central will see a contest between the CPMs Narsaya Adam and the Congress, while in the Wani constituency, CPIs Hepat and Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Sanjay Derkar are in the fray.

In Mahayuti, the Shiv Sena and the NCP are in a friendly contest in Purandar, Dindori, Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar, Sindkhedraja and Shrirampur.

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The NCP and BJP will battle it in Katol, Morshi and Ashti.

First Published: November 09, 2024, 16:18 IST
'Rahul Gandhi Showed Fake Copy Of Constitution, Made Its Mockery': Shah At Jharkhand Rally

Published By :

PTI

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 14:56 IST

Shah alleged that Congress was "hell-bent on snatching reservations from OBCs, tribals, and "planned to give it to minorities".

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi (PTI Images)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of insulting and making a mockery of the Constitution by showing a fake" copy of it.

Shah also claimed that the BJP will never allow the Congress to implement reservations for minorities.

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Rahul Gandhi shows a copy of the Constitution. He was exposed two days back. Someone got a copy of the Constitution he has shown. The Constitution of India was written on the cover of that copy which was void of any content.Dont make a mockery of the Constitution. It is a question of faith and trust. fake copy of the Constitution, you have insulted B R Ambedkar and the Constituent Assembly. The Congress party has made the Constitution a mockery," Shah alleged addressing a BJP rally in Palamu.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to observe November 26 as Constitution Day.

Amit Shah slams Congress on reservations

Shah alleged that Congress was hell-bent on snatching reservations from OBCs, tribals and Dalits and planned to give it to minorities".

The Congress is against OBC quota, it promised 10 pc reservation to minorities when a delegation of Ulemas met Congress leaders in Maharashtra. Under PM Modis leadership, the BJP will never allow religion-based reservations," Shah said.

He also attacked Congress for its alleged attempts to restore Article 370 in Kashmir".

Kashmir is an integral part of India. I warn Rahul Gandhi that even your fourth-generation cant bring back Article 370," he claimed.

JMM most corrupt govt in country: Amit Shah

Shah also hit out at the JMM-led dispensation in Jharkhand, terming it as the most corrupt government" in the country.

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Training his guns on Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, he said: The CM says infiltration is the BJPs political agenda. I say it is CMs bankcorrupt leaders will be hanged upside down".

Elections to the 81-member Jharkhand assembly will be held on November 13 and 20, and the counting of votes will take place on November 23.

Location : Palamu, India

First Published: November 09, 2024, 14:55 IST
In Silent Maharashtra Voter Outreach, RSS Reinforces BJP's Batenge Toh Katenge Slogan | Exclusive

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 08:34 IST

A pamphlet from an RSS-inspired outfit asks people to be wary of those 'spreading rumours about the Constitution, reservation, and SCs and STs' and choose a government which will put a stop to 'land jihad, love jihad, religious conversion, stole-pelting, and riots'

Close to 50,000 to 70,000 small meetings are planned by RSS workers with people till the elections  what the organisation terms as its constant Lok Jagran (public awareness) activity. Pic/News18

Just outside the heavily guarded Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh headquarters in Nagpur, a group of workers of the RSS-inspired Lok Jagran Manch are having tea after a quick round of some houses to inspire" people to vote in bigger numbers in this months Maharashtra assembly elections and keep in mind the slogan of batenge toh katenge" (divided we fall).

A single-page pamphlet being distributed by these workers in Hindi and Marathi reminds people of the mantra that is backed by the RSS and to take a lesson from the April-June general election results. The BJP dropped to just nine seats in the polls in the state with 48 Lok Sabha seats.

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Stop land jihad, love jihad, religious conversion

The pamphlet asks people to be wary of those who are spreading rumours about the Constitution, reservation, and SCs and STs" and choose a government which will put a stop to land jihad, love jihad, religious conversion, stole-pelting, and riots". The pamphlet also says that people should realise the difference between one working to improve Indias image on the world stage and one defaming the country abroad  in an apparent reference to Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi, respectively, without naming anyone.

The RSS took a backseat during the Lok Sabha elections after BJP president JP Naddas statement that the party was self-sufficient and not dependent on the Sangh like before. But after the Palakkad BJP-RSS coordination meeting two months ago, the Sangh is enthusiastically out and about in this assembly election campaign in Maharashtra. Close to 50,000 to 70,000 small meetings are planned by RSS workers with people till the elections  what the organisation terms as its constant Lok Jagran (public awareness) activity. The RSS had done the same in Haryana  carrying out over 16,000 such meetings, with good results on the recent polls that saw a BJP victory.

At the RSSs Reshimbagh office in Nagpur, where a big shakha is held daily on the grounds, there seems to be a spring in the step of local Sangh workers too. Maharashtra is a state which the RSS knows best and is most entrenched  with its headquarters in Nagpur. The RSS also has a close equation with top BJP leaders of the state  Devendra Fadnavis and Nitin Gadkari. In fact, Fadnavis recently said he had reached out to the RSS after the Lok Sabha results for help to fight anarchists and vote jihadis", saying that the Sangh does not do any overt political work.

Workers speak

Workers of the RSS-inspired Lok Jagran Manch, Vidarbha, told CNN-News18 in Nagpur that after their daily shakha, they are reaching out to like-minded people to inspire them to vote in large numbers. We tell people that they can vote for any party, but they must vote. We have also prepared a pamphlet that we are distributing, we have not named any party in it," a worker said, sharing the handout.

He said their campaign is against love jihad, land jihad and stone-pelters". We appeal to people to vote for Hindutva forces. They ask us who they should vote for. We say vote for anyone but keep issues in mind. We want to tell people that no one can change the Constitution, and it is a false narrative among Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes that reservations will go away. The Constitution written by Bhimrao Ambedkar cannot be changed by anyone at all," the worker said.

In the Lok Sabha election campaign, the Congress had told the SCs and STs that the BJP would change the Constitution and scrap reservations if it gets an absolute majority. We want to tell people to ignore such rumours and wrong notions. Galat-fehmi mein mat rehiye (dont be misled)," the worker said. Other workers said people are now wiser and they have also fixed a target of achieving at least 80% voting in Nagpurs assembly constituencies.

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People understand which party is working and which party will safeguard the country and societys future. Our intention is to speak to people to vote for the right party," the second worker said. Another worker said people understand who is doing development in the country and who is active. People understand which party is corruptand who is developing our cities and villages. Citizens are much wiser to not vote on lines of caste and religionthese can be issues for your home and not for politics," the third worker said.

In his Dussehra address, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had encouraged BJP workers to go out and forge friendships with Dalits. After an RSS meeting in Mathura, the organisation backed the cause of Hindu unity and gave its nod to the slogan coined by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath: Batenge toh katenge". Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also cited the slogan and added one to it in the Maharashtra and Jharkhand campaign, saying, Ek hain toh safe hain" (If we are united, we are safe). It seems the BJP and RSS are now firmly back in sync after the Haryana poll win.

Location : Nagpur, India

First Published: November 09, 2024, 06:00 IST
BJP Leader's Body Found Inside Party Office in Bengal, Woman Arrested

Published By :

PTI

Last Updated: November 10, 2024, 00:05 IST

The deceased, Prithviraj Naskar, used to handle the social media account of the party in the district

Naskars blood-soaked body was discovered at the party office on Friday night. (Representative/AP File)

The body of a BJP leader was found inside the party office at Usthi in West Bengals South 24 Parganas district, a police officer said on Saturday.

The deceased, Prithviraj Naskar, used to handle the social media account of the party in the district.

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The BJP pointed an accusing finger at the TMC, while the police, after arresting a woman in connection with the killing, said the reason for the murder could be personal.

Naskars blood-soaked body was discovered at the party office on Friday night. His family members said he had been missing since November 5.

A senior police officer said the arrested woman confessed to having hit the deceased with sharp weapons resulting in his death.

We are exploring the angle of the deceased having been involved in a relationship and any quarrel with the arrested person," he told reporters.

The officer said a police team broke open the front door and a collapsible gate locked from inside of the party office before finding the body. The suspected assailant must have escaped through a rear door.

Following a preliminary investigation and tracking of mobile phones, the woman was picked up from a nearby locality and during interrogation, she confessed that she committed the crime, the officer said.

It was being investigated if she was aided and abetted by anyone else, he said.

The BJP and TMC were engaged in a war of words following the murder.

BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar told reporters that local TMC activists were behind the murder of Naskar as they wanted to frighten the saffron partys supporters in the area.

In a post on X, Majumdar said, Our fight will continue until justice is served and the killers of martyr Prithviraj brought to light. BJP remains resolute in ending the bloodthirsty and oppressive rule of CM Mamata Banerjee in Bengal." The BJP state unit alleged in another X post that the partys district social media convenor was abducted, tortured and murdered by TMC goons.

The police ignored his familys desperate pleas for help," it claimed.

Senior TMC leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Kunal Ghosh claimed that the BJP knows the exact reason behind Naskars death but peddles falsehoods implicating the TMC.

Ghosh claimed in an X post that there are reports about the deceased having personal enmity with more than one person.

The injury in some parts of his body showed animosity and contempt of the assailant towards the man, the TMC leader claimed, expressing hope that the investigation would cover all these angles.

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Meanwhile, Naskars father claimed that his son had earned the wrath of some local TMC activists and the police after putting up placards demanding justice for the R G Kar hospital victim during the recent Durga Puja festival in the area.

My son was warned of dire consequences by local TMC leaders for organising protests on the R G Kar issue during the festive season," the father said.

First Published: November 10, 2024, 00:05 IST
'Desist From Falsehoods...': India Slams Pakistan At UN For Raking Up Kashmir Again

Published By :

PTI

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 09:37 IST

BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi gave a strong reply to Pakistan for referring to Jammu and Kashmir during a debate on UN peacekeeping operations.

BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi addressing a debate on peacekeeping operations at the UN General Assembly. (X/Sudhanshu Trivedi)

In a strong retort, India slammed Pakistan for peddling falsehood" after it referred to Jammu and Kashmir during a debate on peacekeeping operations in the UN. India chooses its right to reply in response to the comments made by Pakistan that has yet again made an attempt to divert this august body from its agenda," Member of the Rajya Sabha and National Spokesperson of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Sudhanshu Trivedi said.

His remarks came during a debate on peacekeeping operations at the Special Political and Decolonization (Fourth Committee) of the UN General Assembly here Friday.

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Trivedi asserted that the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir was, is and will remain an integral part of India. The people of Jammu and Kashmir have recently exercised their democratic and electoral rights and elected a new government. Pakistan must desist from such rhetoric and falsehood because it will not alter the facts," Trivedi said. He added that out of respect for the august members of the UN forum, India will refrain from responding to any further attempts by Pakistan to abuse" the UN procedures.

Trivedi delivered Indias strong response after the Pakistani delegate spoke about the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), mandated to supervise the ceasefire along the Line of Control.

India maintains that UNMOGIP has outlived its utility and is irrelevant after the Simla Agreement and the consequent establishment of the Line of Control.

Later in a post on X, Trivedi said that during discussions in the United Nations on peacekeeping operations, the representative from Pakistan, while speaking on the subject of UN peacekeeping, tried to digress the subject and unnecessarily mentioned that Pakistans involvement with UN peacekeepers started when UN has put up peacekeepers in 1948" in territory Jammu and Kashmir.

While discussions in United Nations on UN Peacekeeping operations when the representative from Pakistan speaking on the same subject of UN peacekeeping, tried to digress the subject and unnecessarily mentioned that Pakistans involvement with UN peacekeepers started when UN has pic.twitter.com/kbpycmEX2u Dr. Sudhanshu Trivedi (@SudhanshuTrived) November 9, 2024

Trivedi added that taking a sharp exception of this remark," he exercised the Right of Reply and firmly stated on the floor that the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir was, is and will remain an integral part of India." It has also recently gone through a proper democratic election. So the august forum of United Nations cannot be used in mentioning these types of non-substantive and misleading terms," Trivedi said.

He added that this could have been possible because of firm foreign policies" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government for a strong and assertive India on the international stage." Trivedi is part of a delegation of 12 Members of Parliament from India who are visiting the UN for diverse engagements at the world body.

Earlier, delivering a statement on the comprehensive review of peacekeeping operations, Trivedi said that recent conflicts are more challenging, spreading through myriad spectrums with volatile and complex settings now additionally involving terrorism and armed groups who are capitalising on the situation to serve their own objectives.

India stands at the forefront in the effort to contribute to the peacekeeping efforts as the largest cumulative troop contributor to the UN peacekeeping operations." He added that Indias cumulative experience is that in most cases today, conflict resolution lies in the sociopolitical domain.

Highlighting the importance of realistic mandates", he said we must insist on practical and achievable mandates. Mission failures can be attributed to the non-robust mandates.

This normally is the result when we keep the troops or police contributing countries out of the initial mandate formulation processes which we should avoid." He further said that in recent years, peacekeepers have experienced a great level of asymmetric threats ranging from land mines to IEDs. We cannot remain indifferent in this prospect." Trivedi also underscored that India upholds the safety and security of peacekeepers as one of the most important aspects of peacekeeping in a complex conflict scenario involving both state and non-state actors.

It is necessary that the perpetrators of crime against peacekeepers need to be brought to justice and accountability for these crimes sought," he said.

He further said that redundant peacekeeping missions existing for political purposes are a drain on depleting resources.

Exit strategies for peacekeeping missions need to be built in from their very inception," he said.

India is among the largest troop-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping missions.

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Trivedi also recalled the resolution passed by the General Assembly on establishing a memorial wall for fallen peacekeepers at a prominent location in UN Headquarters. There are many challenges in front of us, many decisions to be taken to ensure that the memorial wall is established in a manner befitting to its sanctity and its purpose," he said.

UN peacekeeping is not just an operation, but it is a mission with utmost dedication. UN peacekeepers are making sacrifices not for just nationality, but for the whole humanity," he said.

Location : New York, United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 09, 2024, 09:37 IST
Gujarat Farmers 'Lucky' Car Gets VIP Send-Off: Over 1,500 People Gather For Final Farewell

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 08:31 IST

A farmer's family in Gujarat's Amreli district has become the talk of the town after they held a grand burial event for their "lucky" car.

The hatchback, decorated with flowers and garlands, was taken to Polara's farm from his house with much fanfare, driven on the slope and placed in the pit.. (Pic: PTI)

A farmers family in Gujarats Amreli district has become the talk of the town after they held a grand burial event for their "lucky" car.

Nearly 1,500 people, including seers and spiritual leaders, attended the function organised by Sanjay Polara and his family at Padarshinga village of Lathi taluka on Thursday.

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A video of the event that went viral on social media shows Polara and his family performing rituals at their farm, where a slope and 15-foot deep pit was dug for their 12-year-old Wagon R.

STORY | Gujarat family holds burial event for lucky car; 1,500 people attendREAD: https://t.co/G1M1Hmka8j VIDEO: (Full video available on PTI Videos  https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/zr15EmFraW  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 8, 2024

The hatchback, decorated with flowers and garlands, was taken to Polaras farm from his house with much fanfare, driven on the slope and placed in the pit.

The vehicle was covered with a green cloth, and the family members bid farewell by performing puja and showering rose petals as priests chanted mantras.

Finally, an excavator machine was used to pour clay and bury the car.

Polara, who has a construction business in Surat, said he wanted to do something different so that future generations remember the car that proved lucky for the family.

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Talking to reporters, Polara said, "I bought this car nearly 12 years ago, and it brought prosperity to the family. Apart from seeing success in business, my family also gained respect. The vehicle proved lucky for my family and me. Hence, instead of selling it, I gave it a samadhi at my farm as a tribute." Polara, who spent Rs 4 lakh on the ceremony, said he plans to plant a tree at the burial place as a reminder for his future generations that the familys lucky car is lying under the tree.

The samadhi ceremony was held as per Hindu rituals and in the presence of seers and religious leaders. Nearly 1,500 people were invited, and a feast was organised.

Location : Amreli, India

First Published: November 09, 2024, 08:29 IST
Kerala Lottery Results, November 10 & November 9, 2024 (Today & Yesterday): Karunya KR-679 Winners Announced; Full List Here!

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 12, 2024, 09:07 IST

Kerala Lottery Results: Here's full list of winning numbers for Karunya KR-679 lucky draw for Saturday, November 9.

Kerala Lottery Karunya KR-679 Result: The first prize winner of Karunya KR-679 will get Rs 80 lakh. (Image: Shutterstock)

KERALA LOTTERY KARUNYA KR-679 RESULT ON SATURDAY, 9.11.2024, LIVE UPDATES: The Kerala State Lottery Department has announced the results of the Karunya KR-679 lucky draw for Saturday, November 9. The winner of the first prize will receive Rs 80 lakh, while the second and third prize winners will receive Rs 5 lakh and Rs 1 lakh respectively. Check the full list of winning numbers below.

ALSO READ: Kerala Lottery Result Today 12.11.2024: Sthree Sakthi SS-441 Winners Soon; First Prize Rs 75 Lakh!

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FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR KARUNYA KR-679 LOTTERY

WINNING NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE OF RS 8,000 ARE

KN 506517

KO 506517

KP 506517

KR 506517

KS 506517

KT 506517

KU 506517

KV 506517

KW 506517

KY 506517

KZ 506517

WINNING NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE OF RS 80 LAKH IS KX 506517 (ATTINGAL)

Agent Name: SINDHU P

Agency No.: T 3233

WINNING NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE OF RS 5 LAKH IS KN 328013 (ADOOR)

Agent Name: WILSON P

Agency No.: H 1821

WINNING NUMBER FOR 3RD PRIZE OF RS 1 LAKH ARE

KN 560015

KO 569288

KP 105273

KR 456309

KS 298573

KT 371915

KU 553067

KV 562775

KW 581334

KX 727116

KY 569519

KZ 603262

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE OF RS 5,000 ARE

0280 0332 1313 1490 1689 2022 2268 2788 3732 5011 5175 7248 7496 7576 7854 8568 8697 9974

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE OF RS 2,000 ARE

2178 2313 3009 3061 4156 4392 4673 5753 6216 8976

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE OF RS 1,000 ARE

0439 1139 1716 1972 2426 3373 4223 4495 5013 6795 7006 8516 8673 8880

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE OF RS 500 ARE

0026 0050 0226 0542 0569 0908 0956 1008 1044 1179 1574 1693 2411 2465 2798 2805 2940 3103 3481 3805 3872 3877 3926 4122 4292 4457 4486 4565 4659 4825 5071 5192 5232 5303 5321 5612 5760 5806 6078 6155 6253 6364 6383 6437 6509 6886 7039 7087 7171 7333 7339 7382 7519 7591 7616 7745 7749 7845 7910 7981 7991 8236 8330 8559 8574 8707 8778 8813 8871 8910 8916 9239 9259 9434 9458 9495 9542 9562 9690 9859

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 8TH PRIZE OF RS 100 ARE

0085 0093 0132 0168 0329 0516 0575 0725 0736 0740 0789 0878 0979 1023 1072 1273 1312 1408 1585 1612 1655 1660 1742 1879 2047 2113 2245 2393 2417 2480 2750 2857 2959 2997 3031 3076 3194 3207 3254 3303 3400 3424 3461 3566 3632 3659 3689 3823 3861 3940 3986 4009 4178 4256 4293 4325 4408 4413 4640 4718 5009 5091 5111 5132 5227 5312 5396 5857 5889 5912 5929 6065 6331 6354 6396 6541 6784 6796 6818 6823 6907 6916 6966 7108 7119 7127 7230 7239 7298 7350 7450 7584 7632 7732 7762 7783 7795 7820 7849 8086 8111 8182 8239 8403 8417 8524 8531 8597 8648 8685 8709 8806 8934 9173 9235 9316 9549 9572 9574 9625 9656 9661 9697 9746

KARUNYA KR-679 LOTTERY: PRIZE STRUCTURE

1st Prize: Rs 80 Lakh

2nd Prize: Rs. 5 Lakh

3rd Prize: Rs. 1 Lakh

4th Prize: Rs. 5,000

5th Prize: Rs. 2,000

6th Prize: Rs. 1,000

7th Prize: Rs. 500

8th Prize: Rs. 100

Consolation Prize: Rs. 8,000

HOW TO CHECK THE KARUNYA KR-679 RESULTS?

Participants can conveniently check the results of the Karunya KR-679 Lottery Draw through two simple methods. They can visit the official Kerala Lottery Department website at keralalottery.info to view the winning numbers or contact the department directly with any questions regarding the draw.

HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE MONEY?

Participants can view the full list of winners by visiting the Kerala Government Gazette website and entering their ticket numbers.

Winners have 30 days from the announcement date to claim their prizes in person at the Kerala Lottery Office in Thiruvananthapuram.

To validate their claims, winners must present their winning ticket along with a valid ID at the designated office.

Documents Required to Claim Prize Money

You must provide a self-attested photocopy of the winning ticket, signed on both sides.

Two passport-sized photographs, authenticated by a Gazette officer, are required for submission.

A verified copy of the PAN card must be included.

Complete the online application on the Kerala Lottery Departments website and include a revenue stamp.

Include valid identification documents, such as a PAN card, Aadhaar card, voter ID, or ration card.

How to Download a PDF with a Full List of Winning Numbers

1. Visit the official website of the Kerala Lottery Department at keralalotteries.info or keralalotteryresult.net.

2. Find and click on the link for the Karunya KR-679 results.

3. Choose the link to see the complete list of winning numbers for KR-679.

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4. Search for the download link on the webpage.

5. Click on the link to download a PDF file containing the KR-679 lottery results.

Location : Thiruvananthapuram [Trivandrum], India

First Published: November 09, 2024, 09:00 IST
'Misusing Law': Entrepreneur Reacts To Goa Govt's Complaint Over Tourism Decline Post

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 17:22 IST

Mukherjee's post highlighted the drop in foreign tourists, noting that Russians and Brits, who once frequented the state, have now shifted to destinations like Sri Lanka

Ramanuj Mukherjee, the founder of an online legal learning platform according to his X bio, came under fire after posting about the decline in tourist numbers in Goa. (Image via X/@law_ninja)

Ramanuj Mukherjee, whose recent post on X about the state of tourism in Goa led to a police complaint by the state government, has hit back at the authorities, accusing them of misusing law to shut down criticism" rather than addressing the complaints raised by tourists on social media.

Mukherjee, the founder of an online legal learning platform according to his X bio, came under fire after posting about the decline in tourist numbers in Goa.

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His comments sparked a complaint from Rajesh Kale, Goas Deputy Director of Tourism, who accused Mukherjee of disseminating false data" through his social media account. Kale claimed the post caused significant annoyance to local businesses and inducing fear or alarm within the local community," according to a report by The Indian Express.

A day after the complaint was filed, while speaking to the publication, Mukherjee rejected the accusations and insisted that his post was based on publicly available information.

It is unfortunate that instead of acting on complaints by thousands of tourists on social media regarding various tourist scams they faced in Goa, which by the way I did not highlight, and merely shared publicly available data which I also cited, the authorities are trying to intimidate me with a baseless police case," he told the publication.

Mukherjee further criticised the Goa authorities for failing to provide accurate data to counter his claims. They should have put the correct data out there if they think my cited data is wrong instead of what appears to be a misuse of law to shut down criticism," he added. I will counter this intimidation through legal means."

Post on Goa Tourism Decline

The controversy erupted earlier this week when Mukherjee posted on X about the state of tourism in Goa. His post quickly garnered attention, with numerous travellers sharing their own negative experiences in the state.

Tourism in Goa is down in dumps," Mukherjee wrote in his X post shared on November 5, which quickly became a hot topic of discussion on the platform. He also shared a year-by-year chart showing the decline in tourist numbers.

He post also highlighted the significant drop in foreign tourists, noting that Russians and Brits, who once frequented the state, have now shifted to destinations like Sri Lanka.

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Tourism in Goa is down in dumpsForeign tourists have abandoned the state already. Look at 2019 v 2023 numbers. Russians and Brits who used to visit annually have opted for Sri Lanka instead. Indian tourists still visiting, but soon likely to ditch it as word spreads about pic.twitter.com/RF2TLC2Zvi  Ramanuj Mukherjee (@law_ninja) November 5, 2024

Foreign tourists have abandoned the state already. Look at 2019 v 2023 numbers. Russians and Brits who used to visit annually have opted for Sri Lanka instead. Indian tourists still visiting, but soon likely to ditch it as word spreads about exploitation of tourists while there are so many cheaper comparable locations abroad," Mukherjee had wrote in his post.

Location : Goa, India

First Published: November 09, 2024, 16:45 IST
Modi Govt Launches 5-In-1 Scheme Worth Rs 500 Crore To Boost Med-Tech Sector. Heres How It Works

Reported By :

News18.com

Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 10:23 IST

The sector is known for its crucial role in manufacturing --- for domestic as well as for global consumers --- testing kits, masks, oxygen concentrators, PPE kits, syringes and ventilators

The medical devices industry gained recognition after demonstrating its critical importance during the Covid-19 pandemic. (PTI)

The Narendra Modi government has launched a Rs 500 crore initiative to strengthen Indias medical devices industry, aiming to make it a game-changer in the countrys pursuit of Atmanirbharta or self-reliance.

The medical devices industry has long been overshadowed by the pharmaceutical sector, often sharing policies planned for drug manufacturing despite being a completely different segment. However, the latest move shows that it has started to gain recognition, particularly after demonstrating its critical importance during the Covid-19 pandemic. The sector is known for its crucial role in manufacturing  for domestic as well as for global consumers  testing kits, masks, oxygen concentrators, PPE kits, syringes and ventilators.

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According to the press release issued by the Centre, medical device industry is an essential pillar of healthcare delivery". The release recognises that from diagnostic machines to surgical instruments, and from stents to prosthetics, medical devices are critical for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases.

In fact, it predicts that Indias medical device market is valued at approximately $14 billion and is expected to grow to $30 billion by 2030".

The comprehensive scheme launched on Friday targets critical areas of the medical device industry covering manufacturing of key components and accessories, skill development, support for clinical studies, development of common infrastructure and industry promotion.

The scheme is going to be a game changer and it will not only help the industry but will also be a long leap in making India self-reliant," JP Nadda, Union health minister, said in the release.

How will the scheme function?

The scheme for Strengthening of Medical Devices Industry is typically five-in-one with an initial outlay of Rs 500 crore for three years  up to the financial year 2026-27.

The first sub-scheme for medical device clusters aims to plug the challenge of lack of infrastructure. The government will provide financial assistance to medical device clusters for creating common infrastructure facilities such as R&D labs, design and testing centre, and animal labs for the manufacturers located in the cluster.

The second sub-scheme provides marginal investment support to deepen the MedTech supply chain by focusing on manufacturing of key components, raw materials, and accessories within the country. Currently, most raw materials and key components are imported, making Indian manufacturers reliant on external supplies for medical device production. This sub-scheme offers a one-time capital subsidy of 10-20 per cent, with a maximum cap of Rs 10 crore per project," explained the press note.

The third sub-scheme focuses on capacity building and skill development for the medical device sector with a goal to develop a skilled technical workforce capable of designing and developing MedTech products. The Centre will offer financial support for running various masters and short-term courses.

The fourth sub-scheme is an initiative designed to assist both established companies and start-ups in conducting clinical studies. The scheme enables medical device developers and manufacturers to apply for financial support for animal studies and, if successful, then for human trials to validate MedTech products.

The fifth sub-scheme aims to support industry associations and exports councils by providing financial assistance to organise conferences and other events that promote medical device-related activities.

Experts welcome move

According to Rajiv Nath, forum coordinator, Association of Indian Manufacturers of Medical Devices (AiMeD), the budgetary allocation may seem small and humble but the ground-breaking" strategy will have a multiplier impact as its a clever leverage to move the Indian elephant in the direction to achieve the prime ministers vision to make India the leading hub of medical devices manufacturing globally as announced in the National Medical Devices Policy 2023".

Other experts echoed similar thoughts.

Till the outbreak of Covid-19, medical device sector was considered a dwarf cousin of pharmaceutical industry. But during the pandemic, we played a crucial and critical role," Rajiv Chhibber, vice-president, Sahajanand Medical Technologies (SMT), told News18.

SMT is Indias leading company for manufacturing stents with a market share of more than 30 per cent. Chhibber believes that all schemes will bring positive changes in the industry. For instance: the fourth scheme will encourage various Indian manufacturers to go for global validations such as CE or US FDA approval. Right now, the process to apply for validations is expensive but when backed by the government, many small and medium-scale companies would be able to showcase and sell their products on foreign land."

Sunil Khurana, CEO of BPL Medical Technologies, believes the government has adopted a pragmatic approach. He feels that all the announced sub-schemes are crucial and reflect a genuine effort by the Union government.

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While all announced schemes are well thought of, I would suggest that the government could also enter into partnership with friendly nations such as Japan for technology transfers."

As a part of the electronic medical devices industry, I believe that arrangements involving tech transfers (even on a royalty basis) can significantly reduce R&D time, potentially cutting it down from at least four years. I dont want India to become another China, known for copycat products. Instead, we aim to learn and improve on existing technologies," said Khurana from BPL Medical Technologies, which was the only company to have the technology to manufacture oxygen concentrators during the outbreak of Covid-19.

First Published: November 09, 2024, 10:23 IST
ZAGREB, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Friday applauds Moody's decision to raise Croatia's credit rating by two notches, from Baa2 to A3, with a stable outlook.

"This is a historic step forward for our country and an achievement of the government's strategic goals. In addition to changing Croatia's position on the global map for investors, this achievement is first and foremost important in the long term for a better quality of life for our citizens and better business environment for our businessmen," Plenkovic said in a statement.

The A-level credit rating, he said, reflects the strength Croatia has today: the resilience of its economy, and the orderliness of public finances.

The Croatian government will continue creating the conditions for further growth in wages, pensions, and social benefits, along with extensive investments across the country, he said. 
'Weight' & Watch: Indian Pharma Set To Enter Ozempic, Wegovy Market, But Swift Price Crash Unlikely

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 06:00 IST

The Indian market for GLP-1 drugs has not fully opened yet, mainly due to the unavailability of these leading brands and affordability issues. But even if Ozempic and other popular versions were available in India, they would have remained out of reach for many due... Read More

It's important to remember that India is known as the 'diabetes capital of the world', and the latest Economic Survey report reveals that the rate of adult obesity in the country has more than tripled. Representational image

Indian drugmakers are preparing for the launch of copycat weight-loss drugs as the world moves towards the patent expiry of Novo Nordisks blockbuster brands Ozempic and Wegovy.

The Danish firms patents for semaglutide, the active pharmaceutical ingredient in its star brands, will start expiring in Asia (including India) and Africa in 2026 and in the US in 2030. While all eyes are on the Indian industry  known for its ability to produce generic drugs at a fraction of the cost  to cater to the soaring yet unmet demand for anti-obesity and anti-diabetic drugs, driving sales through price war wont be easy this time.

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Globally the demand for weight-loss drugs, specifically the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) class of medications is exploding", experts told News18. The drug is used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity and it works by mimicking the effects of the bodys natural hormone, GLP-1, which helps to reduce appetite, slow digestion, boost insulin production, and decrease the amount of sugar produced by the liver.

Health experts eagerly anticipate the launch of these drugs in India to meet the rising demand. Its important to remember that India is known as the diabetes capital of the world", and the latest Economic Survey report reveals that the rate of adult obesity in the country has more than tripled.

Popular endocrinologist Dr Anoop Misra told News18 that semaglutide and other advanced drugs in this class are impactful, offering a range of significant health benefits".

Their use is expected to rise sharply," said Misra, who is chairman of Fortis C-Doc Hospital for Diabetes and Allied Sciences. However, cost remains a significant concern, and the availability of affordable alternatives, such as generics for Ozempic, is crucial for India where obesity and diabetes are on the rise."

As research progresses, Misra said, We anticipate even more potent medications on the horizon that could offer substantial benefits for individuals with severe obesity."

Misras expectations align with the industrys strategyto introduce improved medicines that are more effective than current options like Ozempic but at a significantly lower cost.

Will loss of patent bring prices down?

The Indian market for GLP-1 drugs is yet to open up fully due to the unavailability of these top brands, with affordability also being a significant barrier. It means that while Ozempic or many other top-selling versions are not in India and even if they were, they could have been unaffordable for many Indians.

According to Novo Nordisks website, the price of an Ozempic pen (0.25 or 0.5 mg) is $968.52, which translates to over Rs 81,000. But, the local drug dealers claim to import and sell the injection for Rs 20,000 per shot.

However, the market for this category may not move as it does for other generic drugs where the price of generic drugs falls dramatically. In fact, experts cautioned that moving further, the price of the copycat version of the majority of GLP-1 class drugs or semaglutide may not crash heavily. The reason is that these drugs follow a complex manufacturing process very similar to making biological products.

To put it in perspective, semaglutide is a polypeptide and was originally classified as a biologic. However, under the FDAs newly revised definition, it is no longer classified as a biologic because it contains fewer than 40 amino acids.

Vishal Manchanda, pharma analyst at financial services firm Systematix, told News18 that the category registered annual sales of $50 billion this year which is almost twice the size of the Indian pharmaceutical industry.

Generally, we expect prices to crash in the range of 80 to 90% after the drug loses its patent, but in this case, we must also consider that making this class of drugs is complex. Therefore, it remains to be seen whether the desired price reduction can be achieved or not."

Currently, two innovators are dominating the $50 billion market : Novo Nordisks Ozempic or Wegovy (Semaglutide) and Eli Lillys Mounjaro/Zepbound (Tirzepatide).

On Wednesday, Novo Nordisk said that it has tripled Wegovy production over the last three years and will continue to ramp up at the same pace, but still, it is unable to serve the demand. We still have a situation where there are far more patients who would like to have the treatment than what both Eli Lilly and we can supply," CEO Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen told Reuters. This shows the huge demand and gap in supply.

Manchanda believes that in the coming two to three years, multiple other innovator brands will emerge in the global market with eight to ten brands coming from large credible players. This is when the economics is going to change as the demand shortages will be plugged. People in developed markets will get even better options than existing ones and developing markets like India (which are being ignored by innovators) will gain attention."

In short, its expected that the upcoming drugs are likely to have a better profile in terms of quicker weight loss and convenient dosage (such as oral pills instead of injections).

Hence, in a few years from now, emerging markets (including India) will have multiple GLP-1 options to choose from," Manchanda predicts. Also, semaglutide generics will become availableWhile the price of semaglutide is expected to fall once generics are launched, it remains to be seen whether the reduction will be significant enough to greatly expand access or not."

Indian pharma developing semaglutide, other GLP-1 drugs

Wegovy and Ozempic drove Novo Nordisk to record bumper sales since the launch. In fact, the success story has turned the Danish drugmaker into Europes most valuable firm. Estimates peg that the companys market value of about $570 billion is more than its home country, Denmarks, annual GDP.

While Novo Nordisk declines to comment on its plan to launch Ozempic or Wegovy in India (in an email sent by News18), its obvious that all major Indian generic manufacturers are closely monitoring the upcoming expiry of Novo Nordisks exclusivity on GLP-1 drugs.

Manchanda said that in India, at least five to six players are working on developing the generic versions including Sun Pharma, Biocon (which already has large-scale peptide drug-making experience), Dr Reddys, Zydus, Natco, Shilpa Medicare, and Aurobindo Pharma.

Furthermore, Novo Nordisk may also not step back once the drugs patent expires. The company may lower its price and continue to compete in the market. Majority of Indian firms have capabilities to manufacture peptides and they can certainly manufacture this complex category. But we also expect the innovator Novo Nordisk to compete with generic players and chase a majority share," Manchanda added.

On Tuesday, Dr Reddys Laboratories announced in an investor call that the company aims to have about 15 GLP-1 drugs" to treat obesity and diabetes, in its portfolio with various timelines.

In October, last year, the company received the nod for conducting a bioequivalence study for Ozempic (semaglutide injection) from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) after it sought a waiver of the phase-III clinical trial of the drug and its market authorisation. It aims to bring in the generic version as soon as the patent expires.

A company spokesperson told News18 that while the product is under patent right now, Dr Reddys Labs will definitely participate in the opportunity but we will be part of the generics entry when the patent expires".

Bengaluru-based Biocon  which is known for its expertise in developing complex biosimilars  has become the first company to win UK authorisation to offer a generic version of Novo Nordisks other popular GLP-1 category drug liraglutide sold under the brand name Saxenda. The firm told the Financial Times that it is ready to launch sales by November.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Siddharth Mittal, chief executive officer, Biocon Limited, predicted, When the generics come in there will be a huge price warThere is a huge demand for these drugs at the right price."

Biocons spokesperson did not respond to News18s request for comment seeking more information on its plans to launch anti-obesity drugs in India.

Whats cooking in Indian drugmakers research labs?

Indias top drugmaker, Sun Pharma, is working on developing the GLP-1 category drug Utreglutide. In June, it announced the results from the study showing significant weight loss, glucose-metabolic and lipid-lowering efficacy.

Another Mumbai-based drugmaker, Cipla, is also preparing to launch GLP-1 drugs in India, the US, and other emerging markets.

GLP-1 for diabetes and obesity is a very big transformation, equivalent to statins for cholesterol control," Umang Vohra, the companys global CEO, said in a press briefing in January this year. And I would like to believe there are 100 million diabetics (patients) in this country (India) and there are several that are not diagnosed. And I think if we were to even cover 20 or 25% of that population by using GLP-1, its going to be a very significant opportunity."

He said that Cipla will be looking (at hopping on the opportunity) for India, emerging markets, and the US [for semaglutide]. We may not be the first wave launcher in the US, but we have plans."

Natco and Mylan have also collaborated on the development of generic Ozempic products.

Not only top pharma companies are keen to manufacture but the central government is also gearing up to make GLP-1 drugs under the flagship production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme.

Arunish Chawla, secretary, department of pharmaceuticals (DoP), told reporters in June that the local pharmaceutical industry is already working on producing these drugs here after the patents expire around 2026".

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Without divulging details of which companies are working on it (citing competition sensitivity), he said: Work has already begun on the same and soon GLP-1RA drugs will be made in India under the PLI scheme."

While increased competition is certainly good news for patients, the real winner will likely be the company that offers the lowest cost and can meet the markets demands on a large scale.

First Published: November 09, 2024, 06:00 IST
Young Blood, Focus On Cybercrime & Accountability: Kolkata Police Plans Image Makeover After RG KAR Horror

Reported By :

CNN-News18

Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 14:21 IST

Sources told News18 that massive restructuring is in the works to reduce miscommunication, misinformation and increase best policing techniques

After the RG Kar incident, police also felt the need to strengthen their legal and cyber cells. (Getty)

More young blood and structured policing are the Kolkata Polices twin goals after the RG Kar rape and murder tarnished their image among the public.

Sources told News18 that massive restructuring is in the works to reduce miscommunication, misinformation and increase best policing techniques.

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On the issue of younger officers, sources said generally sub-inspectors and inspectors are transferred to the post of assistant commissioner of police by which time they attain a certain age that may become a problem in handling law and order.

While sources said there is no denying that the officers are assets in their own right, but to handle law and order on the ground, there is a need to incorporate young IPS officers directly at the ACP level. The plan is to balance both young and experienced officers so that neither investigation nor safety is compromised.

After the RG Kar incident, police also felt the need to strengthen their legal and cyber cells. For this, sources said, Kolkata Police plan to designate legal matters to a senior officer at the IG or DIG level.

Similarly, an IG/DIG-level officer will look after cybercrimes. We want to lay special emphasis on cybercrime as its very important in todays scenario. The deputy commissioner will look after the nitty-gritties of every police station but the joint CP-level officer will look after broader policy aspects," a senior officer told News18.

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To ensure more accountability, CCTVs of thanas will be connected with apps that will be installed in the phone of every officer in-charge to monitor the happenings in the police station.

For now, Kolkata Police seem to be in crisis-management mode.

First Published: November 09, 2024, 14:16 IST
Loktak Lake To Roopkund, 5 Unique Indian Travel Spots You Wont Believe Exist

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 10:13 IST

Take a path less travelled and uncover India's hidden treasures that will transform you into another world.

Dive into the wonders of Indias untouched landscapes

India is known for its diverse landscapes and cultures. The raw beauty and excitement of the multiple places nationwide can immediately transform into a peaceful and relaxed environment. Trust us, if you embark on a journey to explore every minute beauty of the country, the extraordinary travelogue will be never-ending. From trekking on the frozen river of Chadar Lake, staying in the Igloos of Sethal Valley, visiting the disappearing beaches of Orissa, and many more, India has several hidden treasures. Here are five off-the-beaten-path destinations that guarantee exceptional experiences.

Magnetic Hill, Ladakh

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Want to experience something beyond the common scientific norms? Visit Magnetic Hill in Ladakh. This unique phenomenon on the hills at a breathtaking altitude of 14,000 feet above sea level has perplexed scientists for many years. Located on the Leh-Kargil highway, it tends to pull vehicles uphill at a speed of 10-15 kmph. Apart from this, the place also offers majestic views of the surrounding hills.

Loktak Lake, Manipur

The Loktak Lake in Manipur is popularly called a floating island. The circular floating masses of vegetation are home to local fishermen and wildlife, including the endangered Sangai deer, adding to the uniqueness of this place. Well, we are sure you havent seen such an ecosystem before. It can be explored by boat and is ideal for eco-travellers and wildlife enthusiasts. Not only this but even a National park is built on one of them.

Morjim Beach, Goa

Can you imagine finding stars below your feet? Then, you need to visit Morjim Beach, located in North Goa. Besides the serene and picturesque views, the beach is also famous for being a nesting ground for the endangered Olive Ridley turtles and most importantly, phytoplanktons that glow like tiny stars, making it look like a lighted galaxy under the feet. A similar bioluminescence effect can also be found in Betalbatim Beach, Goa, Bangaram Beach, Lakshadweep, Thiruvanmiyur Beach, Chennai, Radhanagar Beach, and in the Havelock Islands of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Naneghat, Maharashtra

Another unique phenomenon defying the gravitational laws is the upward waterfall at Naneghat, Maharashtra. To have this unbelievable experience, you need to move just a few kilometres and three hours away from Mumbai during the monsoon season. The ancient mountain pass, located in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, dates back to the 1st century BCE. The speed and pressure of the waterfall here are so high that the water starts rushing up soon after moving down.

Roopkund, Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand, in the northern section of India, is filled with surreal locations that are best for treks and offer breathtaking views. However, the trek towards the mysterious skeleton lake at Roopkund, located at a huge height above the ground level, is one of the most spooky. This place is filled with around 800 skeletons dating back to 850 AD, but it still needs to be clarified how those individuals reached there. Every year, to discover the secret, many visitors embark on a journey and return with a bag full of experiences.

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Which of the places intrigued you the most for your next travel? Do let us know.

First Published: November 09, 2024, 10:13 IST
Uttarakhand Foundation Day 2024: Devbhoomi Facts, Climate, Festivals, And Wishes

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 08:44 IST

The Uttarakhand Divas, is celebrated on November 9 since 2000, marking the bifurcation of Uttar Pradesh and formation of Uttarakhand.

Happy Uttarakhand Diwas 2024: Wishes, Images, Greetings, Messages, Photos, WhatsApp and Facebook Status to share on Uttarakhand Foundation Day. (Image: News18)

Uttarakhand Foundation Day is observed on November 9 to mark the creation of the new state of Uttarakhand as the 27th state of India. This day has its representation in the diverse southern culture, and the spiritual significance of Devbhoomi, also known as the Land of the Gods. On this occasion, here are some important facts regarding the state, its history, climate, festivals and greetings to be conveyed.

UTTARAKHAND FOUNDATION DAY 2024: 10 FACTS ABOUT DEVBHOOMI

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Uttarakhand was established on November 9, 2000, from parts of the hilly area of Uttar Pradesh after a long struggle for a separate state beginning in the 1990s. The geographical area of the state is 53,566 km, of which 86% is a mountain region, and about 65% of the total area is a forest region, which is a conservation hotspot zone. Uttarakhand embraces a rich cultural heritage expressed in handcrafts, traditional dances, music, languages (Kumaoni and Garhwali) and other art forms like Aipan painting and wood carving. It is home to the Char Dham  Badri, Kedar, Gangotri and Yamunotri. The main source of income involves agriculture, tourism as well as power generation from the several hydropower plants. It is also famous for the production of fruits such as apples and litchis. On the basis of climate, the region can be categorised into subtropical climate in the lower regions and alpine climate in higher altitudes that affect plant and animal species. The state houses the Jim Corbett National Park which is the first of its kind in India and is renowned for its wildlife including tigers, and elephants. It has many famous educational institutions, such as Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University. Some popular fairs and festivals are Kumbh Mela (occurring every 12 years), Nanda Devi Mela, local harvest festival etc. In handling the impact of climate change, the state government pays attention to sustainable tourism and ecological management.

ALSO READ: Uttarakhand To Recognise Bird Watching As An Industry, Eyes Tourism Boost

UTTARAKHAND FOUNDATION DAY 2024: HISTORY OF DEVBHOOMI

The demand for a new state started or at least grew because people believed that the Uttar Pradesh government ignored the hilly areas of the state in terms of development and infrastructure. The activism escalated after massive demonstrations in the 1990s, claiming many lives. After several rounds of discussion and consideration by the public as well as the commencement of a new session in parliament, the new state of Uttarakhand came into existence under the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000 on November 9, 2000.

UTTARAKHAND FOUNDATION DAY 2024: CLIMATE OF DEVBHOOMI

Lower Regions : It has a subtropical climate meaning that during the summer it is very hot while during the winter it is very cold.

: It has a subtropical climate meaning that during the summer it is very hot while during the winter it is very cold. Higher Regions : The climate is predominated by the alpine climate with a snowy winter.

: The climate is predominated by the alpine climate with a snowy winter. Monsoon Season: The rainy season is effective from June to September, key for farming.

UTTARAKHAND FOUNDATION DAY 2024: KEY FESTIVALS OF DEVBHOOMI

Kumbh Mela: One of the biggest pilgrimages for Hindus occurring once, every 12 years. Nanda Devi Mela: Customarily observed in honour of the Goddess Nanda. Harela: A harvest festival celebrated in the month of Shravan or Sawan, which is the first month of monsoon season. Makar Sankranti: A thanksgiving festival, also associated with flying kites.

ALSO READ: Portals Of Gangotri Temple Closed For Winters

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UTTARAKHAND FOUNDATION DAY WISHES AND GREETINGS TO SHARE

Celebrating Uttarakhand Foundation Day today. May our beautiful state continue to thrive! Happy Uttarakhand Diwas to all as the pride of this beautiful state deserves to be celebrated. Today, we pay tribute to the high values of culture. Happy Foundation Day! Heres wishing all of us to imbibe the spirit of Uttarakhand with full zeal, energy and zest. Happy Foundation Day! On this day, we celebrate who we are and what we have accomplished  Happy Uttarakhand Diwas to all! May everyone residing in our blessed land of Devbhoomi prosper and live a peaceful life! It is time for all of us to support and pride ourselves on our distinct cultures! Best wishes to all people on the occasion of Uttarakhand Foundation Day. May our mountains continue to rise high  Happy Uttarakhand Diwas! To all my fellow Uttarakhand people  lets celebrate our heritage today! Happy Foundation Day! We can work together to develop a better future for the lovely state of Uttarakhand.

Location : Uttarakhand (Uttaranchal), India

First Published: November 09, 2024, 06:10 IST
'Have Some B***s': Vivek Agnihotra SLAMS Nikkhil Advani For Allegedly Whitewashing Partition History In Series

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 11:37 IST

Freedom at Midnight, directed by Nikkhil Advani, portrays the events surrounding the 1947 India-Pakistan partition.

Freedom at Midnight, directed by Nikkhil Advani, is set to premiere on Sony LIV on November 15.

Freedom at Midnight, directed by Nikkhil Advani, will premiere on Sony Liv on November 15. The series, featuring Sidhant Gupta, Chirag Vohra, Rajendra Chawla, Malishka Mendonsa, and Ira Dubey, portrays the events surrounding the 1947 India-Pakistan partition. Ahead of the release, Vivek Agnihotri, the director of The Kashmir Files, criticised Advani for not showing the religious side of the partition riots. Agnihotri shared an interview where Advani mentioned avoiding religious depictions of the violence. Agnihotri responded on X, urging Advani to show the truth of who was responsible for the violence during the partition.

Vivek wrote, Dear Nikhil, have some BALLS. If youre going to present the violent, communal history of Indias partition, at least have the balls to show who was the perpetrator and who was the victim (sic)."

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He added, First, this wasnt just a riot: it was a Hindu genocide, and it had a religious color: green. Second, the violence was driven solely by religion, and the name of that religion was Islam. Hindus never asked Muslims to leave India (sic)."

Dear Nikhil, have some BALLS.If youre going to present the violent, communal history of Indias partition, at least have the balls to show who was the perpetrator and who was the victim. First, this wasnt just a riot: it was a Hindu genocide, and it had a religious color: pic.twitter.com/sTglJpsgQE  Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) November 8, 2024

Vivek Agnihotri slammed Nikkhil Advani for allegedly whitewashing" history in Freedom at Midnight. He expressed frustration and wrote, "Why are you trying to whitewash, or as wokes say, gaslight our history? Sell your soul if you must, but dont mess with our history. If you ever make a Mahabharata, will the entire war be so washed out in B/W that no one knows who stood for dharma and who didnt? Stand by the truth. Dont just be woke: have some BALLS."

First Published: November 09, 2024, 11:37 IST
Huma Qureshi Lauds Brother Saqib Saleem For Fire Performance In Citadel: Honey Bunny; Rajkummar Rao Agrees

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 16:06 IST

Huma Qureshi turned cheerleader for her brother Saqib Salim, applauding him for his spectacular performance in Varun Dhawan-Samantha Ruth Prabhu starrer series Citadel: Honey Bunny!

Huma Qureshi heaps praise on Saqib Saleem for his performance in Citadel: Honey Bunny.

Starring Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, the spy action series Citadel: Honey Bunny released on Prime Video on 6th November. The series, which also stars Kay Kay Menon, Sikandar Kher, Saqib Saleem, and others, has been garnering a great response. Saqib plays the antagonist KD in the series, and his sister Huma Qureshi has now applauded his spectacular performance. Rajkummar Rao, Farah Khan and others have also praised him!

On Saturday, Huma Qureshi took to her Instagram account to share a picture of Saqib Saleems look test from Citadel: Honey Bunny in Serbia. The picture shows Saqib looking intense, and is seen with a buzz cut. Huma wrote that her brother makes her proud every day and that she has immense love for him. She praised his performance in the series, and wrote that he is on fire in the last episode! She also shared a still from Citadel: Honey Bunny, featuring Saqib and a kid holding a ball.

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Huma Qureshi (@iamhumaq)

Photo 1  I remember the day you shaved your head and sent me this photo after your look test in Serbia All I want to say is  Saqu you make me proud everyday, of the actor you are and the man you are becoming  love you my baby brother Btw  Have you guys seen the last episode of #CitadelHoneyBunny ?? @saqibsaleem is on (fire emoji) Photo 2  Can someone please tell me if that child is fine #genuinekoshen," wrote Huma, while sharing the picture.

Rajkummar Rao agreed with Huma Qureshi, and praised Saqib Saleem. Saqu Rocks," he wrote, along with a heart eyed and red heart emojis. Meanwhile, Farah Khan commented, @saqibsaleem best."

Saqib shared Humas post on his Instagram story, and responded, Huma ji Shukriya, aapke kind words ke liyeaap humein khoob inspire karti haihum aapse atyant mohabbat karte hai (Thank you for your kind words, Huma. You inspire me a lot. I love you a lot). And that kid is fine..got him chocolates post the scene."

Meanwhile, Citadel: Honey Bunny attracted some controversy after netizens noticed that Saqib Saleem was missing from the promotional events. Saqib broke his silence, and recently shared a note that read, Though I dont have any behind-the-scenes shots, if youve looked closely at the promotional assets, you might spot a familiar face. I poured my heart into this project, and now its yours to experience. Id love to hear what you think.. lets make this blank space come alive with your thoughts! P.S. I have nothing but love for the show, and the reviews coming in have been truly amazing. Agent KD."

First Published: November 09, 2024, 16:04 IST
Kanwar Dhillon Reacts After Rejecting Alice Kaushik's Marriage Proposal Statement: 'Those Who Have A Doubt...'

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Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 17:25 IST

Kanwar Dhillon has reacted after he rejected Alice Kaushik's marriage proposal statement in an interview. He mentioned how his statement was being taken in the wrong way.

Kanwar Dhillon and Alice Kaushik have been dating since 2021.

Popular television actor Kanwar Dhillon found himself in a soup when he denied that he had asked Alice Kaushik to marry him. On Bigg Boss 18, Kaushik confessed that Dhillon had proposed to her for marriage. However, the actor denied it in an interview. This led to Dhillon facing flak from not just fans but also celebrities. In a recent interview, the actor has cleared the air and has addressed the controversy.

In a conversation with The Times of India, Kanwar Dhillon shared what he meant by his previous statement. He mentioned that people are misconstruing his statement and are taking it in their own way. He said, People perceived that in their own way and commented on it. Woh duniya ka kaam hai, tawa garam tha aur roti sekne aa gaye. They just commented watching the promo and didnt understand what I was trying to say."

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Dhillon mentioned that he does not feel the need to issue a clarification. He said that he does not believe in clearing out things with people whom he does not know. He added that he supports Kaushik. He continued, Those who have a doubt can call me and ask. I dont think I need to clarify to those whom I dont know. When things are good, people dont come to ask, right? So whats the point in poking nose when something else happens? I know what I was saying, so I dont waste my energy in explaining."

For the uninitiated, Kaushik had mentioned on Bigg Boss 18 that Dhillon had wanted to marry her and she was his first girlfriend whom he had introduced to his family. However, in an interview with ETimes, Dhillon rejected the statement. He said, Shaadi ka chakkar mujhe samajh nahi aaya. I dont know where these rumours are coming from. Dont believe social media, as most of the things are fake and rubbish. Dont believe these rumours. Im not getting married and Im not going to go and get married on national television ever." Kaushik was informed of this statement by host Salman Khan and she broke down on the show.

On the work front, Dhillon is known for his role in Udne Ki Aasha.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 09, 2024, 17:22 IST
Malaika Arora Wants To 'Remove Toxic People, Get A Mentor' After Arjun Kapoor Breakup: 'No Alcohol, Avoid...'

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Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 13:41 IST

Malaika Arora is taking up a wellness challenge this month after Arjun Kapoor confirmed their breakup.

Arjun Kapoor and Malaika Arora have broken up. (Photo: Varinder Chawla)

Malaika Arora is known for her dedication towards fitness and wellness. Seems like this month the actress is taking up a wellness challenge. This comes after Arjun Kapoor publically confirmed their breakup. Malaika took to Instagram to share her November challenge which will involve cutting off alcohol and toxic people.

This is what Malaika Aroras November challenge looks like: 1. No alcohol. 2. Eight hours of sleep. 3. Get a mentor. 4. Exercise daily. 5. Ten thousand steps per day. 6. Fast until 10 am daily. 7. Avoid processed foods. 8. No food after 8 pm. 9. Remove toxic people. This challenge comes after a series of cryptic notes shared on her social media.

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Since Arjun Kapoor confirmed their breakup at the Singham Again promotional event, Malaika Arora has been posting a series of cryptic messages on social media. The Bollywood star recently shared another thoughtful note on her Instagram story, which read, Every positive thought is a silent prayer that will change your life. Good morning, have a great day." Fans are speculating whether these messages reflect her feelings after the split, as Malaika seems to be sharing words of inspiration and introspection during this time.

During a promotional event for Singham Again, Arjun Kapoor addressed his relationship status, revealing that he is now single. In a viral video from the event, he was seen telling the crowd, Abhi single hoon main, relax." While neither Malaika nor Arjun had publicly discussed the breakup before, rumours of their split had been circulating for months, with sources suggesting they had run their course" as a couple but would continue to respect each others privacy.

While Arjun Kapoor is being lauded for his role as Danger Lanka in Rohit Shettys Singham Again, the actor recently revealed that he was not in love with cinema when he shot the film. Arjun said that he was in the worst phase of his life. Back then, the actor had delivered a string of flops and was also dealing with his breakup from Malaika Arora.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Arjun said, When I signed this film, I was going through the worst phase of my life, personally, professionally, emotionally, mentally, and physically Rohit sir had told me, I need you to be in the look because we will shoot with you whenever possible. I just took that as a stepping stone towards my own personal development as well." Arjun also revealed that he was diagnosed with mild depression and was struggling to feel better both mentally and physically.

First Published: November 09, 2024, 13:41 IST
Prabhas' Look From Vishnu Manchu's Kannappa Leaked; Production House Offers Rs 5 Lakh Reward For Culprit

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Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 15:16 IST

Prabhas' look from Kannappa was leaked on social media recently. Amidst this, the production house has issued a statement and has offered a Rs 5 lakh reward to those who can help catch with leak source.

Prabhas' look from Kannappa was leaked on social media.

After Kalki 2898 AD, Prabhas has several projects lined up in the pipeline. Among them is Vishnu Manchus Kannappa which will include a cameo role by the pan-Indian superstar. While not much is known about his role in the film, his look was recently leaked on X (formerly known as Twitter). Following this incident, the production house has issued a statement and has also offered a Rs 5 lakh reward to whoever helps them catch the perpetrator.

Taking to their X, 24 Frames Factory issued a statement after Prabhas look from Kannappa was leaked on social media. The production house talked about how they have been working on the drama for years and how this leak undermines their hard work. They urged fans to not circulate the leaked picture and also offered a monetary reward of Rs 5 lakhs to those who can help identify and catch the perpetrator. They said, For the past eight years, we have poured our hearts and souls into Kannappa. After two years of intense production, our team is dedicated to bringing you a film of unmatched quality and passion. It is with deep sadness that we recently discovered a work-in-progress image from the film has been stolen and leaked without authorization."

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Take a look at the statement here.

An Urgent and Heartfelt Appeal from the Kannappa Team    ,    pic.twitter.com/Flx6mbchJR 24 Frames Factory (@24FramesFactory) November 9, 2024

They continued, We are committed to uncovering how this leak happened and evaluating options to file a police complaint to hold those responsible for this leak. We are reaching out to you, our loyal fans, for support. We urge you not to share this leaked image/footage as doing so will make individuals liable for legal action. Anyone with information that can help us trace the origin of this leak will be rewarded with Rs 5,00,000. Please send any leads directly to the official 24 Frames Factory Twitter account."

Directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh, Kannappa revolves around a devotee of Shiva. The movie will mark Akshay Kumars Telugu debut. Apart from Manchu and Kumar, the movie also stars Mohan Babu, R Sarathkumar, Arpit Ranka, Kaushal Manda, Rahul Madhav, Devaraj, Mukesh Rishi, Brahmanandam, Raghu Babu, Preity Mukhundhan and Madhoo in key roles.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 09, 2024, 15:15 IST
Ram Charan And Kiara Advani Arrive On Top Of A Bus At Game Changer Teaser Launch Event In Lucknow | Watch

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Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 19:45 IST

Ram Charan and Kiara Advani wowed their fans as they made a jaw-dropping entry on top of a bus at the teaser launch event of Game Changer in Lucknow. The film will release on January 10, 2025.

Ram Charan and Kiara Advani in Lucknow for the teaser launch of Game Changer.

Ram Charan and Kiara Advanis upcoming movie, Game Changer, is one of the most anticipated releases of 2025. The promotion for the movie kickstarted today as the actors unveiled the teaser of the film at a mega event in Lucknow. Charan and Advani made a dazzling entry on top of a bus at the event and the video of their entry is going viral on social media.

In a video shared by a paparazzo, Kiara Advani, and Ram Charan can be seen standing on top of a bus at the teaser release event of Game Changer in Lucknow. The bus was decked up in Game Changer posters and the actors stood on its roof. Charan was looking dapper in a sharp black kurta and pyjama combination. On the other hand, Advani looked ethereal in a white dress which was adorned with red floral designs. The actors waved at the crowd as their fans cheered and clapped at their spectacular entry.

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Take a look at the video here.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Snehkumar Zala (@snehzala)

Ahead of the event, Advani was spotted in a beige trench coat at the Mumbai airport. Charan was also spotted at the airport as he entered barefoot. The RRR star was seen in a black kurta-pyjama which he had paired with dark sunglasses. He stepped out of his car and walked towards the airport. He greeted the officers at the airport as he walked inside barefoot.

Directed by S Shankar, Game Changer revolves around an IAS officer who sets out to fight against corruption in the system. The drama also stars SJ Suryah, Anjali, Jayaram, Naveen Chandra, Sunil, Srikanth, Samuthirakani, and Nassar. The film has been backed by Dil Raju and Sirish. The movie was slated to release around Christmas this year but it was postponed. It is, now, set to release in cinemas on January 10, 2025.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 09, 2024, 19:45 IST
YAOUNDE, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a rain-triggered landslide in Cameroon's West Region has risen to 11, local authorities said Friday evening.

"We recovered seven corpses today (Friday) making a total of 11. Also, heavy (road) equipment has been removed from the debris. (Excavation) exercise continues," West Region Governor Augustine Fonka Awa told Xinhua, adding that the bodies recovered were in an "advanced state of decomposition."

Four bodies were initially recovered on Tuesday after three passenger buses, road equipment, and several workers were buried in the landslide on a steep hill in La Falaise, near Dschang Town. Over 50 people are feared still trapped in the rubble.

"They have recovered the body of my mother. We are still waiting for that of my grandmother and brother who are still in the rubble," Emmeline Wakam, who has been waiting for news of her relatives for five days, told Xinhua by phone.

Recent torrential rains have battered parts of the Central African country, causing extensive flooding and landslides. Residents near the steep road linking the commercial hub of Douala to the region have long warned of landslide risks along the winding route. 
Opinion | Decoding The Democratic Defeat: A Cultural Communication Autopsy

Written By :

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Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 16:38 IST

Democrats offered lectures, not solutions. Their tone-deaf campaign, blind to America's struggles, alienated the very voters they needed to win

The Harris campaign simply did not come across as authentic. (Reuters)

Its time for Trump 2.0. Polls had predicted a historically close, once-in-a-lifetime kind of election. Yet, contrary to these predictions, the result could not be more decisive. In 2016, many intending to vote for Donald Trump kept quiet, fearing disdain from Democratsa deja vu of sorts, reminiscent of the deplorables narrative. But unlike 2016, this Trump victory is more decisive, with wins in both the Electoral College and the popular vote. Political experts will dissect the reasons for Kamala Harriss loss and Donald Trumps win, citing factors such as the economy, wars, immigration, and law and order.

Here are a few factors from a cultural communication perspective.

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Inauthentic

The Harris campaign simply did not come across as authentic. While we may accept that politicians are rarely entirely genuine, there remains a minimum expectation that we more or less know where they stand on key issues. Even when they change their positions, theres usually clarity on the reasons and timing behind those shifts. However, the Harris campaign struggled to establish and stick to a coherent message.

Rather than evolving her stance due to new information, intellectual growth, or compelling events, it appeared throughout that Kamala Harris would say whatever to get you on her side. Both the campaign and the candidate issued numerous political, economic, and foreign policy statements that seemed insincere. To those outside her base, Harris came across as overly rehearsed, uncomfortable in unscripted discussions, and seemed to make the election about Why not Trump rather than Why Harris. As a result, Trump remained in the spotlight, while Harris appeared on the periphery, hesitant about when to step in.

Both campaigns used, and criticised, edited clips, fake videos, and staged imagery, but the Harris campaign failed to fend it off as it struggled to define itself in the first place.

The Messenger Syndrome

In her individual capacity, Kamala Harris could not shake off the perception that she is only a messenger  a vessel  for Biden. In any institutional hierarchy, people are bound by decisions made by others placed above them, but the way those decisions and positional limitations are phrased and conveyed is critical. Even when not getting what they expect, the target audience wants to feel confident that the person they have elected or are going to elect, genuinely represents them, speaks for them, has their best interest and their back, and is not just making self-serving deals to get or stay in power.

The default messenger syndrome also reflects an inability to take ownership of any actions and consequences or show that ones a stakeholder too. It reflects a lack of principle or a thought on anything  just a messenger. Harris inability to convey anything that would separate her from her boss made the messenger tag stuck irrefragably. And folks tired of Bidens policies in any case did not want more of the same. The Harris campaign lacked any political identity.

Doomsday Scenario and Demonisation

Some people thrive on toxic negativity, but many dont. The daily doomsday scenario about the Trump win, constant negativity, and demonisation of Trump was exhausting. He has his faults aplenty, but it was not clear what Harris offered. The Harris campaign seemed to be about Let Harris talk about Trump. For the most part, constant negativity does not work.

Consider this  if youre stuck in an environment seeped in doom and gloom, you will distance yourself. If people are constantly in your ear criticising every other individual while projecting themselves as your saviour, youd look for an escape. Not everyone looks for fluff or a checklist of buzzwords either. A combination of pragmatic optimism and authenticity can give people confidence and hope. But the Harris campaign came across as seemingly oblivious to ground realities, especially in small towns and rural America. Instead, it either catastrophised everything, portrayed everyone as a victim or a victimiser, or served up empty platitudes. That approach just did not give any assurance about the candidates ability to hold the most powerful position in the world.

Kupamanduka Mindset

Amid social and news media, more and more people now live in their tiny, tightly shut cocoons, resisting even knowing the possibility of anything different existing beyond them. Only those who look or think like them are allowed to enter or be seen as worthy human beings. Its akin to being part of an organisation that hires no outsiders, or if it does, expects them to conform to predetermined views. No new perspectives develop, and there is no diverging from the status quo. Such organisations stagnate, are rendered irrelevant, and eventually crumble into the dust of mediocrity.

The target audience (voters) changes, evolves and moves away from such trammelling entities. Folks who cannot face anything new or need blankets of their sameness to feel relevant and secure cannot think beyond themselves. Organisations, institutions, and political parties need visionaries who can see beyond themselves or their term(s). After the drubbing, Democrats can either keep faulting others or get out of their kupamanduka mentality  a frog who lives in a well and does not know that theres a whole world outside it: limited knowledge and inability to learn and grow.

Delusion

Some people take a few crumbs and build a whole narrative around it using their insecurities, mental defects, preferred biases, or sheer hatred. To some, apophenia makes them see connections, patterns, signs, and symbols in most random places and objects. The more such delusion spreads, the more one gets away from logic, reality, and clarity. Already in those blinkered cocoons, the Harris campaign seemed confident of its understanding of polls and trends, made its connections, and drew its conclusions: it believed what it believed. It did not see anything wrong or missing in its agenda, priorities, or communication. Despite being given multiple perfectly curated platforms, Kamala Harris could not see beyond the fables weaved (pun intended) around her by her own team and legacy media. For many, Trump may not have been a candidate of choice, but it does not mean that they would gravitate toward someone who seemed detached from reality.

In this election, the electorate broke away a bit more from the monolithic boxes. Though percentages vary, Latinos, Asians, Whites, African-Americans, men, women, first-time voters, the elderly, and so on  people from across the board voted for both candidates, both parties. The Harris campaign did not read these movements early enough and expected select groups to keep in step and do (vote) as told. It reeks of elitism and virtue signalling, particularly when the campaign struggled to even communicate any authenticity.

Instead of blaming the uneducated white women, as a panellist on the ABC show The View did the morning after, the Democrats need to be sincere in their introspection. If interested (and thats the operative word), Dems can only improve from here, but it will require taking ownership, getting real, and coming clean. The party, or at least the most visible and loud voices, have moved it to the radical end  so far away that the centrists and moderates appear Right-wing to them. Commonsense, merit, accountability, logic, success, happiness, excellence  all have been turned into dirty words, and continuing with the same will not work.

The United States is a fiercely aspirational society that still values hard work and pursues happiness, and it needs politicians who embody these values themselves. This is democracy  you win some, you lose some. Introspect, learn, get real, and get ready for the next time. For now, the electorate has spoken.

Postscript:

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Some of the solid Blues and solid Reds have been fiscally poorly managed for decades, but as the lack of political change is a given, there is no accountability or concern while the taxpayers continue to pay the price for political apathy and lack of vision.

Talking of cultural communication, Fight, fight, fight" largely cemented Trumps path to the White House. Whether one supports Trump or not, it will remain one of the most iconic imagery.

Divya Sharma, PhD, is Professor, Justice and Law Enforcement. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: November 09, 2024, 16:38 IST
Opinion | From Countering China To Terrorism: How India Could Gain From Trumps Presidency

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 14:46 IST

Known for a firm stance on Islamist terrorism, Trumps leadership could see the US and India intensify intelligence-sharing, counter-extremism measures and pressure on neighbouring nations to act against terror networks

Prime Minister Modi was one of the very first world leaders who spoke to Trump after his victory. (X/@narendramodi)

As Donald Trump is set to re-enter the White House, Indias geopolitical and economic strategies may experience renewed alignment with US priorities, particularly in managing regional security and counterterrorism. During Trumps previous tenure, India benefitted from a stronger US stance against China, facilitating greater cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and enhancing Indias leverage within regional alliances. If Trumps second term mirrors this, India may find bolstered support in containing Chinas assertive presence in South Asia and strengthening shared goals of freedom and stability across the Indo-Pacific.

Another area where Trumps policies could benefit India is counterterrorism. Known for a firm stance on Islamist terrorism, Trumps leadership could see the US and India intensify intelligence-sharing, counter-extremism measures, and pressure on neighbouring nations to act against terror networks. With Pakistan often criticised for harbouring terrorist groups, Trumps no-nonsense policy could further curtail support to these groups, enhancing Indias own security.

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Economically, Trumps focus on bilateral trade deals could be a mixed bag but might open avenues for direct negotiations that prioritise Indias manufacturing and technology sectors. Trade adjustments, if strategically managed, could support Indias goals of Make in India" and economic self-reliance, aligning with Trumps preference for strong bilateral trade relationships over multilateral agreements. Lastly, with Trumps backing of the Quad, Indias partnership with the US, Japan, and Australia may continue to gain momentum. This alignment would not only advance Indias strategic position in the region but could also lead to expanded collaboration in defence, cybersecurity, and supply chains.

Pressure on China in the Indo-Pacific

With Trump poised to return to the White House, his strong stance on China could play into Indias strategic interests in significant ways. During his last tenure, Trump revived and strengthened the Quad alliancea partnership among the US, India, Japan, and Australiaaimed at curbing Chinas influence in the Indo-Pacific. Trumps commitment to this alliance suggests his presidency could bolster Indias regional security concerns, particularly regarding Chinas assertive posturing.

Enhanced US-India defence agreements under Trumps leadership laid a foundation for military cooperation and technology transfer, which is essential for Indias efforts to modernise its armed forces. If renewed, this defence collaboration would help India sustain a strategic advantage in a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape.

Beyond security, Trumps call to decouple the US economy from China could open economic opportunities for India. By motivating American companies to seek alternatives to Chinese manufacturing, India stands positioned as an appealing option for diversified supply chains. This shift not only promises a boost to Indias manufacturing sector but also reduces its economic reliance on Chinese imports, strengthening its resilience amid global disruptions. A Trump presidency could thus foster deeper US-India economic integration, empowering Indias ambitions to emerge as a leading global manufacturing hub.

Trumps Counterterrorism Stance: A Strategic Boost for Indias Security

Trumps firm stance on counterterrorism, particularly towards Pakistan, has had significant implications for India. During his presidency, Trump reduced military aid to Pakistan, a move that directly addressed Indias longstanding concerns over cross-border terrorism. By cutting off financial support, the Trump administration aimed to pressure Pakistan into taking more decisive action against terrorist organisations operating within its borders. This approach aligned the US more closely with Indias security narrative, which has consistently highlighted the threat posed by groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.

The Trump administrations willingness to impose sanctions on terror-linked entities further bolstered Indias counterterrorism efforts. By targeting the financial networks and assets of these groups, the US provided India with crucial diplomatic backing. This support was instrumental in isolating terrorism-supporting entities on the global stage, thereby reducing their operational capabilities. The US also worked closely with India in various international forums, including the United Nations, to push for stricter measures against terrorism.

Moreover, Trumps administration emphasised the importance of intelligence sharing and joint counterterrorism operations. This collaboration enhanced Indias ability to pre-empt and respond to terrorist threats. The US and India conducted several joint military exercises, such as the Vajra Prahar and Yudh Abhyas, which focused on counterterrorism tactics and strategies. These exercises not only improved interoperability between the two nations armed forces but also demonstrated a united front against terrorism.

Strengthening Indo-US Defence and Security Cooperation

A second Trump term could significantly solidify the defence ties between India and the US, as his administration has been proactive in upgrading bilateral military engagements. Initiatives like the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) and the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) have been pivotal in this regard. BECA, signed in 2020, allows India to access American geospatial intelligence, enhancing the accuracy of its missiles and armed drones and improving its topographical and aeronautical data. COMCASA, signed in 2018, facilitates secure communication between the two nations military systems, enabling India to utilise advanced US defence technology.

These agreements are particularly crucial in countering Chinas regional expansionism. By providing India with high-quality GPS data and real-time intelligence, BECA enhances Indias strategic edge in the Indo-Pacific region. COMCASA, on the other hand, ensures that Indian and American military platforms can communicate securely, which is essential for coordinated operations. Trumps firm stance against Chinas aggressive policies aligns with Indias security strategy, creating a robust framework for an even stronger Indo-US defence partnership.

Economic and Trade Synergies

Despite Trumps occasional criticism of trade deficits, his presidency has offered India an opportunity to expand bilateral trade relations, especially in the energy and technology sectors. Trumps focus on reducing trade deficits has pushed India and the US toward balanced trade negotiations, aiming to reduce tariffs and barriers on both sides. This approach has led to increased energy exports from the US to India, significantly reducing Indias dependency on the Middle East and stabilising its energy supply.

The energy sector has seen substantial growth, with US crude exports to India rising steadily. This shift not only diversifies Indias energy sources but also strengthens its energy security. Additionally, the technology sector has benefited from enhanced cooperation, with American firms increasingly viewing India as a key market for investment and innovation.

Trumps administration has also emphasised the importance of fair and reciprocal trade, which led to more balanced trade negotiations. By addressing tariff and non-tariff barriers, both countries have worked towards creating a more equitable trading environment. This trend is likely to continue, offering India long-term economic benefits and expanded access to American technology and resources.

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Trumps presidency has fostered economic and trade synergies between India and the US, particularly in the energy and technology sectors, paving the way for sustained growth and cooperation.

The author, a columnist and research scholar, teaches journalism at St. Xaviers College (autonomous), Kolkata. His handle on X is @sayantan_gh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: November 09, 2024, 14:46 IST
47 FIRs, 5 Scams In 2 Years: ED Petition On Jharkhand Corruption Web | Exclusive

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 06:00 IST

ED said the top brass remained unresponsive to graft allegations against at least three ministers, four IAS officers and multiple DMOs

JMM's Hemant Soren was arrested in February in connection with a money laundering case. (PTI File)

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has sent at least 47 First Information Reports (FIR), 24 intimation letters and 11 reminders to top officials of the Jharkhand government over alleged scams in land, mining, sand and coal allotment and MGNREGA sectors over the past two years. However, the states top brass remained unresponsive to the corruption allegations against its top functionaries, including at least three ministers, four senior IAS officers and multiple district mining officers (DMO).

The officials who received the reminders included the chief secretary, Director General of Police (DGP), Director General (DG) of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and key principal secretaries.

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The ED has now filed a 140-page writ petition with 10 annexures before the Jharkhand High Court early this week.

Between September 2022 and September 2024, the ED provided detailed documentation to the state, outlining evidence of criminal" misgovernance and wrongdoing in at least five significant scams: counterfeiting government stamps; corruption in allotment of coal and MSMEs; illegal sand mining and sale; corruption in MGNREGA; rural development scams; forging land deeds; and other land-related scams.

The FIRs, lodged across police stations in the state, were later taken over by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and multiple ECIRs (Enforcement Case Information Reports) were initiated, clubbing similar cases together.

News18 has accessed and reviewed hundreds of pages of these documents, unveiling a staggering narrative of corruption and cover-up at the state level.

WRIT PETITION FILED

According to the petition accessed by News18, the seizure lists, witness statements and other extensive records, including incriminating documents and evidence of overbilling on government tenders involving high-level figures, reveal how the alleged misappropriation of public funds took place at the senior level of the government. Some documents also point towards the Chief Ministers Office.

Despite the evidence, the Jharkhand government reportedly stonewalled the investigation, by not taking action or registering fresh FIRs, leaving the corruption network untouched and operational, ED has stated in the petition.

This calculated inaction not only calls into question the accountability of the states highest offices but also raises alarm over systemic corruption that appears to be sheltered by those in power," a senior ED officer told News 18.

With each ignored intimation and FIR, the Jharkhand government has seemingly reinforced its complicity, allowing a culture of impunity to thrive. The states decision to turn a blind eye to such damning evidence threatens to further undermine public trust in governance, drawing serious questions about its commitment to law and order," the petition added.

POLITICAL PRESSURE MOUNTING ON JMM

In the run-up to the assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seems to be pressuring the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), accusing Chief Minister Hemant Sorens government of corruption.

Starting from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, BJPs star campaigners have attacked the government on issues of corruption and infiltration.

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The JMM leaders, however, claim the cases are part of BJPs political vendetta". They (ED) arrested our chief minister, but could not establish the case before the court. He was granted bail and is back in the state. The BJP is using all its resources to break the party by poaching our senior leaders and members. They are levelling unproven and unrealistic allegations against the states bureaucrats," said a senior JMM leader.

We will fight them in court, while our political fight will also continue. People of Jharkhand will see this and give us justice in this election," he added.

First Published: November 09, 2024, 06:00 IST
Karnataka Waqf Row: 2012 Report Reveals Modus Operandi By Influential Netas To Siphon Off Funds | Exclusive

Reported By :

News18.com

Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 19:33 IST

According to the report, of the estimated value of Rs 410 lakh crore in Waqf properties, Rs 2 lakh crore has either been encroached upon or sold by successive Waqf Board chairmen and members

Waqf JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal shows a petition he received after a meeting with local farmers regarding their lands being claimed by the State Waqf Board in Hubballi, Karnataka. (PTI)

The Congress government in Karnataka recently said a Waqf Task Force was set up the day allegations were levelled by farmers that the Waqf Board is attempting to claim 1,500 acres of farmland in Vijayapura district, about 687 kilometres from Bengaluru.

As the Siddaramaiah government fire-fights the contentious issue, documents accessed exclusively by News18 show that successive governments in the state are yet to act on a 2012 report which details alleged encroachments of Waqf properties by prominent politicians, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former Karnataka chief minister Dharam Singh, former Union minister K Rahman Khan, and current cabinet minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, among others.

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Although a Lokayukta investigation into Waqf-related issues was ordered in 2012 by then chief minister Sadananda Gowda, the report went into cold storage and was not acted upon", Anwar Manipaddy, former chairman of the Karnataka State Minorities Commission and ex-vice president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), told News18.

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government appointed Jagdambika Pal as chairman of a JPC to probe allegations of Waqf-related encroachments.

Manippady said the JPC set up to probe Waqf-related issues has now taken cognisance of the report and asked him to appear before them in Delhi on October 14.

Waqf Mafia

The reports allegations focus on a systematic modus operandi by influential politicians to siphon funds from Waqf institutions", which manage properties dedicated to the welfare of the Muslim community.

Manipaddys report states that it is shocking to observe that, out of the estimated value of Rs 410 lakh crore in Waqf properties, Rs 2 lakh crore has either been encroached upon or sold by successive Waqf Board chairmen and members".

Most of the time, prominent political leaders from the minority community are deeply involved in the misuse of Waqf properties. There exists a Waqf mafia supported by wealthy, influential, elected representatives who hold key positions in the Karnataka State Boards of Waqf."

Opposition Members of Parliament had boycotted the presentation of the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024, during the JPC meeting, claiming that the allegations against Kharge from the 2012 report were intended to malign him and the party".

Indifference, Misuse Led to Waqf Encroachments

The 2012 report criticises the lack of audits for Waqf institutions assets and the state Waqf Boards indifference, which it claims has allowed misuse, encroachments, and illegal disposals of these properties. The report was submitted to then chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda in 2012, who took no action, and it was later tabled by BS Yediyurappa in 2020.

Several leaders have since challenged the findings in court.

Manipaddy described the irregularities in Waqf properties as the biggest scam since the 2G scam". He also pointed to a severe lack of accountability in enforcing the Waqf Acts of 1954 and 1995, where connivance, misuse, and adoption of illegal methods in managing Waqf properties, along with suppression of documents and facts in judicial proceedings" have allegedly enabled the embezzlement of Waqf assets.

The report also notes the Karnataka governments substantial funding of Waqf properties through grant-in-aid schemes".

However, the district Waqf officer reportedly lacks records of the amounts released to each institution under this programme, with no annual records of year-wise fund allocations to the Karnataka Waqf Board by the Karnataka government, the Karnataka State Waqf Board, or the district advisory committees".

Recommendations of Manippady Report

The Manippady report made the following recommendations:

 Hand over all Waqf Board irregularities to the Lokayukta for investigation, keeping the Board in abeyance to ensure a free and fair inquiry.

 Have the minority welfare department identify encroachments by government agencies on Waqf properties and start collecting rent to benefit the relevant Waqf institution.

 Implement a time-bound roadmap for protecting Waqf properties.

 The Union government regulate the secular activities of Waqf properties under the Waqf Act of 1995.

Social Media War Over Waqf

On Friday, the Waqf controversy escalated into a public spat between Bengaluru South MP and BJP leader Tejasvi Surya and Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge. The clash stemmed from a social media post allegedly linking a farmers suicide to the ongoing Waqf issue.

An FIR was filed against Surya over the post, which the ruling Congress claimed was misleading. Surya countered, accusing Kharge of targeting political opponents by filing baseless cases. Surya also highlighted that the deceased farmers father, Channappa, confirmed his grievance and had submitted a memorandum to the JPC chief on November 7.

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In a now-deleted post on X, Surya, a member of the JPC on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, alleged that farmer Rudrappa Channappa Balikai from Haveri had taken his life after finding out that his land had been taken over by Waqf". However, Vijayapura district in-charge minister MB Patil clarified that while farmers in other villages had received notices, no such notice had been issued in Honavad village, attributing the misunderstanding to a 1974 gazette notification.

The Haveri police issued a statement saying the report by a portal that Surya relied on was false and the farmers suicide was not connected to Waqf. After this, Surya deleted his post and said he would henceforth not rely on the news agency that reported it".

First Published: November 09, 2024, 11:45 IST
Like Waqf Board, Hindus Need A Sanatan Board Because: Tripura Minister Sudhangshu Das | Exclusive

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 17:38 IST

The BJP leader said in the exclusive interview that he had made the demand on social media and Hindu religious leaders should come forward and work together on this

Hindu temple property is under threat in some places, said Das. File pic/X

Sudhangshu Das, Tripuras minister of welfare of scheduled castes, has demanded a Sanatan Board for Hindus similar to the Waqf Board for Muslims. In an exclusive interview with News18, the 38-year-old Bharatiya Janata Party leader elaborated on his reasons and his concerns about the religious properties of the Hindu community in India as well as neighbouring Bangladesh. Edited excerpts:

Why did you say that a Sanatan Board was needed?

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My intention is clear. If there is such a board for a particular community, then why not one for us in the majority community? There are thousands and thousands of temples and also properties attached to them. A Sanatan Board can protect our temples and these properties.

Already a lot of the properties of the majority community have been grabbed, including many structures and various places. In certain cases, we cannot go to court to claim those. If one particular community can protect its properties, then why cant we?

Do you think there is a threat?

We saw what happened in Andhra Pradesh, with the adulterated Tirupati laddus. Non-Hindus had been allowed in and this hurts Hindu sentiments. How can such things happen?

Do you plan to write to the central government with your demand?

I demanded this on social media. I may send a letter to the government. I feel all Hindu religious leaders should come forward and work together on this because this is absolutely necessary in todays scenario. Hindus should come forward as well.

Does your demand have anything to do with what is going on in Bangladesh?

Things are very bad in Bangladesh. We are very concerned and I want the Indian government to take steps. This all started in 1946. A dangerous mentality exists there. They dont tolerate other religions. Look at how they are behaving with ISKCON. They have usurped the land of minorities there. Yes, I am influenced by that to some extent.

Why do you think this is required now in India?

In India, Hindu temple property is under threat in some places. There are areas where Hindus are becoming a minority. Whats happening in West Bengal? In some areas, people are losing land. Many are leaving their homes. A lot of temples are there, so we should protect them.

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Has the party spoken to you about this?

I know my government will support me and the Sanatani people. We are not against any other religion but people want to see all this end. I will respect other religions but they have to respect ours.

First Published: November 09, 2024, 17:38 IST
'Anti-India Forces Support Article 370': PM Modi Hits Out At Congress Over Kashmir Resolution

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News18.com

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 14:46 IST

PM Modi, at a Maharashtra poll rally, slammed Congress for its support to Article 370 resolution in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.

PM Narendra Modi (Image: YouTube/Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday tore into the Congress at a Maharashtra poll rally stating that if the grand old party is strengthened, the country will be weakened and left helpless.

Congress knows that the weaker the country, the stronger the party will be. And when the Congress will be strong, the country will become helpless. Thats why Congress pits different castes against each other," PM Modi said while addressing an election rally in Akola.

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The Congress did not let the SC-ST and OBC unite. They played different games and wanted them to fight with one another. They know that by doing this, their voice will be divided and their votes will also be divided which will pave the way for the Congress government," the Prime Minister reiterated.

PM Modi calls for SC unity

PM Modi called for the SC unity and warned that Congress wants to take advantage" of their differences and divisions.

If you dont remain united and be divided among your own castes, Congress will take its advantage and snatch the rights of the SC community. Congress will form its government by weakening the SC community," he said.

He reiterated yesterdays Ek Hai Toh Safe Hai call and said that the people will have to be aware of the dangerous game" by Congress.

You have to be cautious of Congress dangerous game. You have to remember Ek Hai Toh Safe Hai," he said.

#WATCH | Akola, Maharashtra: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, Congress is well aware, the more the country weakens, the more they will strengthen. Jab Congress mazboot hogi, desh majboor ho jaega Congress creates a divide between various castes. It never let our castes pic.twitter.com/HptieXWfG2 ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2024

PM Modi on Article 370

He lambasted the Congress over its Article 370 stance and said that the party is attempting to restore it in Jammu and Kashmir.

Congress wants to push Jammu and Kashmir back to violence by restoring Article 370. Article 370 will never be restored. Who are these people who want to restore Article 370? All separatists, terrorists, and anti-India forces support Article 370, and this has become Congress stance too," he stressed.

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The Prime Ministers remarks came in reference to a resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly this week seeking dialogue for the restoration of special status to the UT. All parties, including Congress and barring the BJP backed the resolution.

Maharashtra will vote in a single phase on November 20 and the counting will take place on November 23.

Location : Akola, India

First Published: November 09, 2024, 12:59 IST
Maharashtra BJP Leader Claims Life Threat In Security Breach, Writes To Poll Officer

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Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 18:12 IST

Mihir Kotecha claimed that his political opponents may be behind the incident, which he describes as a violation of the election code of conduct and a direct threat to his life

Mihir Kotecha is the BJP-led Mahayuti candidate for the Mulund constituency in Maharashtra. (Screengrab via X/@mihirkotecha)

BJP leader Mihir Kotecha from Maharashtra has claimed a threat to his life following an attempted security breach by three unknown individuals.

Kotecha alleged that the incident took place on Friday while he was having dinner at a hotel in Mulund (West) with a few team members after his campaign for the upcoming assembly elections.

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The BJP-led Mahayuti candidate for the Mulund constituency in Maharashtra has written a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer of the state S. Chockalingam about the incident, demanding a thorough investigation and strict action against the three individuals involved.

In his letter, Kotecha claimed that his political opponents may be behind the incident, which he describes as a violation of the election code of conduct and a direct threat to his life, as per a report by Mid-Day.

Kotecha shared details of the alleged incident, stating that three suspicious individuals arrived in a white WagonR and told his security team that he had called them for a meeting.

When my security team inquired, one of them mentioned his name as Nitin Bhai. However, I had not called anyone to meet me," he noted in his letter.

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He further added, I told my security team the same. I was shocked to learn how they knew my whereabouts at that time. Despite their insistence, my security team sternly denied them entry, and they left."

The BJP leader revealed that even in the past he has faced multiple attacks during his campaign. My back office was also attacked, and more than two FIRs were filed. I strongly suspect that my opponents are once again attempting to harm, hurt, or attack me. They are following me and monitoring my movements with ill intentions," he noted.

Location : Maharashtra, India

First Published: November 09, 2024, 18:07 IST
'Swadisht Hai': Ex-Himachal CM Jairam Thakur Throws Samosa Party To Mock Sukhvinder Sukhu

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 09:01 IST

A bizarre samosa controversy surrounded Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu after snacks meant for him were served to his staff.

BJP leader Jairam Thakur enjoys samosa to mock CM Sukhu (Photo: X/BJP Himachal Pradesh)

Leader of Opposition in Himachal Pradesh Jairam Thakur hosted a samosa party for BJP leaders and workers in Mandi on Friday after the controversy over the snack surrounding Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu took center stage in the state.

The bizarre row erupted after three boxes of samosas and cakes that were brought from Hotel Radisson Blue and were meant to be served to CM Sukhu at the CID headquarters for a function on October 21, went missing and were served to the CM security staff instead. A CID probe was ordered into the incident, drawing the BJPs reaction which dubbed the Congress government as a laughing stock".

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Jairam Thakur throws samosa party

In a video shared by the BJP Himachal Pradesh unit on X, Jairam Thakur, the former state Chief Minister, was seen sitting with leaders and workers of the party and enjoying the snacks.

Bahot swadisht hai bhai (Its very delicious)," Thakur is heard saying to the attendees of the party.

                           pic.twitter.com/7JKDHFHM8G BJP Himachal Pradesh (@BJP4Himachal) November 8, 2024

The party had also featured jalebi, which was a talking point after the Haryana Assembly Election results ended with the BJP victory.

The BJP had mocked Rahul Gandhi over his jalebi comment during the campaign trail and sent 1kg of jalebis from Bikanervala in Delhis Connaught Place to the Lok Sabha LoPs residence on Akbar Road.

                      pic.twitter.com/Xi8SaM7yBj Haryana BJP (@BJP4Haryana) October 8, 2024

Samosa controversy

The goof-up snowballing into controversy necessitated a CID investigation into the incident. The CID termed it an anti-government" act.

CM Sukhu said that the probe was not ordered into the missing samosas which the media had turned it into, but for misbehavior" of officials.

He termed the BJP raking up the matter aggressively to attack him as childish".

The probe was about misbehaviour of officials but the media has turned the CID probe into samosas. The DGP has already given a clarification in this regard," he said.

The BJPs behaviour in raking up this issue is childish and laughable," the Chief Minister added.

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A top official in the CID department said that all people named in the enquiry report have acted in an anti-CID" and anti-government" manner which is why the food items could not be served to the VVIPs.

(With agency inputs)

Location : Mandi, India

First Published: November 09, 2024, 08:52 IST
Arjun Kapoor Opens Up About Battle With Hashimotos Disease: What Is This Autoimmune Disorder?

Curated By :

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Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 13:04 IST

Hashimotos disease, also called Hashimotos thyroiditis, is an autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid glands leading to hypothyroidism, which is an underactive thyroid gland.

Arjun added his sister, Anshula and his mother, Mona Kapoor, also suffered from the disease. (Photo Credit: X)

Actor Arjun Kapoor has revealed that he suffers from Hashimotos disease, an autoimmune ailment. Diagnosed with the disease at 30, the actor faced physical challenges because of it, while filming consecutively from 2014-2015. Speaking to Hollywood Reporter India, Arjun added his sister, Anshula Kapoor, and his late mother, Mona Kapoor also suffered from the disease.

He also talked about his bodys reaction to the disease and stress, which caused sharp weight gain for the actor.

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I am a fat kid at heart. I was diagnosed with mild depression, which was circumstantial. When you have an autoimmune disorder  I have something called Hashimotos  its an extension of having a thyroid issue, but your antibodies fight against you. So, its almost like I can take a flight and gain weight because the body goes into stress."

What is Hashimotos disease?

Hashimotos disease, also called Hashimotos thyroiditis, is an autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid glands leading to hypothyroidism, which is an underactive thyroid gland. This condition arises if the bodys immune system targets thyroid gland cells forming a nodule to cause inflammation. Eventually, the disease damages the capacity of the thyroid gland to synthesise hormones that control metabolism and other functions.

Causes

The exact cause of Hashimotos disease remains unclear, but several factors are believed to contribute:

Genetic predisposition: A family history of thyroid disease or other autoimmune disorders may increase exposure to Hashimotos disease.

Environmental triggers: Possible causes of the disease include viral infections, stress and radiation exposure, among others.

Immune system dysfunction: It also produces antibodies that form and attack the thyroid gland focusing on antigen proteins such as TPO and thyroglobulin.

Symptoms

Hashimotos disease can sometimes take time to manifest initially and some people do not show any signs of the disease. As the condition advances, symptoms of hypothyroidism may develop, including:

Fatigue and sluggishness

Weight gain

Sensitivity to cold

Muscle weakness and joint pain

Dry skin and hair loss

Irregular menstrual periods

Depression and cognitive difficulties

Some of the patients may also suffer from goitre, which is an inflammation of the thyroid gland that leads to the formation of abnormal growth seen at the neck.

Complications

If left untreated, Hashimotos disease can lead to several complications:

Severe hypothyroidism: This may lead to myxedema coma which is a very rare but dangerous state wherein a patient shuts down and experiences extremely low levels of activity in the body.

Heart problems: When hormone levels are low, then cholesterol levels rise causing cardiovascular problems.

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Mental health issues: Hormonal imbalances causing hormonal disruption may lead to the development of depression and other mental disease conditions.

Arjun Kapoor also mentioned that the disease triggered drastic changes in his body while he was working on his film projects.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 09, 2024, 13:04 IST
Investor Offers His Private Plane To Celebs Who Promised To Leave US If Donald Trump Won

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 11:30 IST

Grant Cardone invited celebrities such as Robert De Niro, Cardi B and Stephen King to use his private jet for their supposed exodus from the United States.

Donald Trump became the 47th US President defeating Kamala Harris in the elections. (Photo Credit: X)

Donald Trump made a thumping comeback to the White House, defeating Kamala Harris in the US Presidential elections 2024. Trumps campaign for the election was met with both support and dismay, with many vowing to leave the US after his return to the White House. Taking a dig at such reactions, entrepreneur and private equity fund manager, Grant Cardone, shared a post on X offering his personal plane to people, including many celebrities, to move out of the country. He humorously invited celebrities such as Robert De Niro, Cardi B and Stephen King to use his private jet for their supposed exodus from the United States.

The post read, I am offering my jet to all crying liberals who promised to leave the USA in case of Trump victory. If you want to arrange your flight have your people email my people GC@CryingLikeALittleBitch.com."

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I am offering my jet to all crying liberals who promised to leave the USA in case of Trump victory. If you want to arrange your flight have your people email my people GC@CryingLikeALittleBitch.com. Robert De Niro @StephenKing @cher @robreiner ChristinaApplegate @iamcardib pic.twitter.com/Jw9z9tHBzL Grant Cardone (@GrantCardone) November 7, 2024

Most users found humour in his ironic bid, enjoying the parody aimed at celebrities who have come out openly to declare their anger against Trump. Many others accused him of mocking the sentiments of the people upset over the outcome of the elections.

A user posted an edited picture of several celebrities, who were opposing Trump, on a plane and wrote, LMAOOOOOOOO MAKE IT HAPPEN UNCLE G. Found a photo see below".

LMAOOOOOOO MAKE IT HAPPEN UNCLE G. Found a photo see below:  pic.twitter.com/4Qydpeg2Yr OGEARMY GENERAL (@TheTeslaBull) November 7, 2024

Another user added, They loudly told us they were leaving. Their departures should be loud as well."

They loudly told us they were leaving. Their departures should be loud as well. George (@BehizyTweets) November 7, 2024

For once, I wish these celebrities would follow through with their promise," read a reply.

For once, I wish these celebrities would follow through with their promise. Will  (@NoLeftTurns) November 7, 2024

A user mentioned, Its always interesting to see celebrities get involved in political debates, but humour and banter aside, its important to focus on meaningful discussions for the future."

It's always interesting to see celebrities get involved in political debates, but humor and banter aside, it's important to focus on meaningful discussions for the future. Aqib javed (@Aqibjaved_422) November 8, 2024

This offer comes after a flurry of social media celebrity responses to Trumps return that expressed dismay, rage, and disappointment. I hate yall bad," wrote Cardi B, who had aggressively campaigned for Kamala Harris and praised her, in an Instagram story. She also included a video of herself monitoring the election broadcast.

In a recent appearance on Whos Talking to Chris Wallace?, Robert De Niro stated, Hes never going to give it up," in reference to the possibility that Trump will willingly relinquish power if re-elected.

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In the 24 hours after the conclusion of Tuesdays U.S. East Coast polls, Google searches for move to Canada" increased 1,270%, according to company data cited by Reuters. Similar searches for going to Australia increased by 820%, while those for moving to New Zealand increased by about 2,000%.

According to a Google representative who spoke to the media outlet, late Wednesday night on the U.S. East Coast, Google searches for emigration were at all-time highs for all three nations.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 09, 2024, 11:30 IST
DAMASCUS, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Explosions heard near Al-Safira, a town in the rural areas of Aleppo province in northern Syria early Saturday, are linked to an Israeli airstrike, according to initial information from state media.

Syrian state TV cited a local correspondent in Aleppo, who indicated that preliminary information suggests the explosions were the result of an Israeli strike targeting areas around Al-Safira.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, reported that the explosions were caused by intense Israeli airstrike on the Defense Factories area in eastern rural Aleppo.

The observatory said the strike led to violent explosions across the area, though details of casualties or damage remain unconfirmed. 
MP Woman Kills Mother-in-law After She Finds Out Her Affair

Curated By :

Local News Desk

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 16:55 IST

According to reports, this incident occurred when the mother-in-law caught the woman in an objectionable condition with her lover.

The police arrested the accused daughter-in-law and her lover.

An incident came to light recently which has baffled everyone. This incident came to light from Khuderi village of Jujhar Nagar in Chhatarpur district (Madhya Pradesh), where a woman was killed by her daughter-in-law. According to reports, this incident occurred when the mother-in-law caught the woman in an objectionable condition with her lover. Fearing the outcome, the daughter-in-law planned with her lover to brutally kill her mother-in-law by beating her with bricks and hard rocks. After receiving the news of the case, the Jujhar Nagar Police took the body into custody. Additionally, the police have also arrested the accused daughter-in-law and her lover.

The police authorities confirmed that, against the accused, an FIR has also been lodged under appropriate sections and further legal action will be taken against them. The murder weapons have also been gathered from the spot by the police.

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On a similar note, a 31-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly killing her husband as she suspected her husband of having an illicit relationship with other women in outer Delhis Nihal Vihar area. The woman, identified as Bhuvneshwari Devi alias Pinky, also alleged that her 35-year-old husband Anil Sahu, who ran a placement agency, often used to beat her. In order to get rid of him, she along with a person named Raj, with whom she was also having an affair, hatched a conspiracy to kill him and later tried to mislead investigators by narrating a fake story.

The police officials confirmed that the accused, Raj, had been hiding and raids were being conducted to catch him. According to police, Sahus body with multiple injuries on his face, head, and neck was found at his home on June 3 2021 and during enquiry, his wife told the police officials that he was killed by two unknown people who had come to meet him. No information or clue was found to identify them. Later, it was found that five people including the deceaseds wife, his two minor children and two maids were present at home at the time of the incident but none of them disclosed this to the police.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 09, 2024, 16:55 IST
The Iceman To Animal, 5 Deadliest Hitmen Who Made History With Their Brutality

Curated By :

Local News Desk

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 18:15 IST

John Childs reportedly killed six people, including a 10-year-old boy who witnessed him kill the boys father.

Hitman Joseph Barboza was killed in an encounter at the age of 43 in 1976.

Weve all seen the chilling portrayal of contract killers in movies, but behind the scenes, some real-life hitmen have become infamous for their brutality and the staggering number of lives theyve taken. From using everyday tools like chainsaws to weapons as discreet as cyanide, these hitmen left a trail of terror across the globe. Today, we take a closer look at some of the deadliest hitmen in history, with one even claiming the lives of 492 people.

The Iceman

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Standing at 6 feet 5 inches, his real name was Richard Kuklinski. He was a notorious American hitman who killed more than 200 people over a span of 30 years. He used everything from a bow and arrow to chainsaws, and even cyanide nasal sprays, to kill his targets. He died in prison in 2006 at the age of 70.

The Animal

Joseph Barboza earned the name The Animal" after he killed a man by biting his cheek during a nightclub brawl. He worked for Bostons Patriarca crime family and murdered around 26 people. Barboza often used silenced guns and car bombs. He was killed in an encounter at the age of 43 in 1976.

The Superkiller

Alexander Solonik was a Russian hitman who killed around 40 people. A former Soviet soldier and martial arts expert, he could shoot with both hands. In 1994, he was caught by the police during a shootout, but he escaped from prison the following year. It is believed that in 1997, while in Greece, he was strangled to death by a fellow hitman.

Harry the Henchman

Active in America during the 1930s, a gang known as Murder Inc. carried out hundreds of contract killings for the mafia. It was reported that one of their hitmen, Harry Strauss, killed around 500 people. He was sentenced to death by electric chair in 1941 at the age of 31.

Brutal Brit

John Childs, known as Brutal Brit," was a British hitman active between 1974 and 1978. He reportedly killed six people, including a 10-year-old boy who saw him kill his father. He would burn his victims after killing them. Since 1979, he has been serving a life sentence.

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Julio Santana

A Brazilian hitman, Santana is known as one of the most dangerous in history, having killed 492 people. He started killing when he was just 17 years old.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 09, 2024, 18:11 IST
UK Woman Charged Rs 8000 By Airline After Her Cabin Bag Exceeds Limit By 2 Cm

Curated By :

Local News Desk

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 17:53 IST

The womans bag was only 2 centimetres larger than the airlines cabin baggage limit.

The name of the woman is Catherine Warrilow.

Travelling in a plane comes with a set of rules that every passenger must follow, and one of the most important aspects is luggage. It is essential to know what items are allowed in cabin luggage and which are restricted. Additionally, each airline specifies the maximum weight and sometimes even the exact size for both cabin and checked luggage. One 45-year-old woman named Catherine Warrilow, a resident of Oxford, who was travelling from England to Spain experienced the consequences of these rules. It was unveiled that her bag was only 2 centimetres larger than the airlines cabin baggage limit. Because of this small discrepancy, she was fined Rs 8000. She had to pay extra as her bag exceeded the allowed size by just a small margin.

When she was entering the flight, she was stopped by the flight attendant from entering. The attendant had an objection to the womans bag. Despite the woman taking out some things and making her expandable bag smaller by pulling its strap, she was still stopped from taking the bag. One condition was put before her that either she could leave the bag or pay Rs 8000 to take it in.

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Fortunately, the company eventually returned the money. The woman still had to pay the extra charges initially. The same issue arose on her return flight, where she was again required to pay an additional Rs 3,800 to place her bag in the check-in luggage. In total, she ended up spending around Rs 12,000 for her single bag. After this experience, Catherine decided to raise a complaint with the consumer forum and also emailed the airline. In response, the airline refunded her charges, explaining that their staff were simply following the rules but that they were reimbursing her as a goodwill gesture.

Similarly, a Delhi woman who was reportedly going on a domestic flight with her two friends faced an unlikely event. They were at the terminal 1 of Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, and the woman used the automatic bag drop machine. Her bag weighed 15.1 kilograms, just 0.1 kilograms over the 15 kilogram limit. While she thought it was not a big deal, the staff operating the machine refused to accept her bag. The woman was also asked to make her baggage lighter by a mere 100 grams and she had to take many things out.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 09, 2024, 17:53 IST
US Woman Quits Job And Sells House To Arrange Money For World Tour, But Then This Happened

Curated By :

Local News Desk

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 18:14 IST

The woman was supposed to join 1,000 passengers and visit 135 countries in three years.

The woman had reserved a seventh-floor balcony cabin in a ship for herself.

If you had the chance to take a world tour in a ship, would you let it pass? A Florida woman did not let this opportunity pass after learning about it. She promptly made arrangements to get a ticket and joined the 1,000 passengers when she learnt that a cruise would visit 135 countries in three years. She quit her job and her home to raise money. She had to live on the streets as well. Lets know why. In an interview last year, Meredith Shay of Florida, USA, said she was thrilled to be one of the 1000 people who had reserved a cruise called Life at Sea," according to the report. The passengers aboard this ship were scheduled to visit 135 countries during their three-year world tour. This ships ticket cost Rs 4 crore. She had reserved a seventh-floor balcony cabin for herself.

She resigned from her work and sold her house to raise this money. She claimed that since she has no children or grandkids, she is free to spend three years travelling the world in comfort. She began attempting to purchase a ticket on the cruise as soon as she learnt about it, and she did it in just twelve hours. She packed four suitcases, sold her house, and rented a storage unit to store her belongings.

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After much planning, she received a shocking piece of news that rocked her world. She had to begin the ships voyage from Miami last year, but the operators abruptly informed her that the ship would really begin its voyage from the Bahamas rather than Florida. She was then told once more that the cruise had been cancelled entirely.

According to Vedat Ugrulu, owner of the Life at Sea" ships company Myre Cruise," they were unable to take the ship out to sea following the October 7 incident in the Middle East. The business has now stated that it will reimburse the customers in three instalments. Despite having to live on the streets and having experienced a great deal of loss, the woman is content and chooses to see the bright side of things. She claimed that she is currently free and has no obligations. She has now made the decision to take another cruise and visit both Saudi Arabia and Dubai.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 09, 2024, 18:14 IST
24 Killed, 46 Injured In Suicide Blast In Pakistan's Balochistan, CCTV Captures Moment

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 13:02 IST

The Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the suicide blast at Quetta's railway station in the latest incident of unrest in restive Balochistan.

Balochistan police said the explosion could have been a suicide blast, although an investigation is underway. (Photo: X)

At least 24 people were killed and 46 others injured in a suicide blast near Quettas railway station in Pakistans Balochistan province. The banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack.

The explosion reportedly took place at the railway stations booking office just before the train arrived at the platform, according to Geo News. As the station is usually crowded, there is a strong possibility that the death toll could rise further.

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Quetta Division Commissioner Hamza Shafqat confirmed the death toll, adding that the incident was a suicide blast, Dawn reported. He further said that the administration was writing a letter to the railway authorities to suspend train services.

Several of the injured are in critical condition, said officials. Earlier, Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) Operations Quetta Muhammad Baloch said that the explosion seemed to be a suicide blast". The blast took place inside the railway station when the Peshawar-bound express was about to leave for its destination," said the police officer.

BREAKING: At least 22 people have been killed and scores others injured in a powerful explosion at a train station in Quetta, Balochistan province, Pakistan. Reportedly the gathering of Pakistan Army soldiers who were waiting to board the train was targeted. pic.twitter.com/cCgJsl5Je8 Baba Banaras (@RealBababanaras) November 9, 2024

A heartbreaking blast at Quetta Railway Station has left 5 dead and over 30 injured. The explosion occurred as passengers of the Jaffer Express, heading to Peshawar, were at the station.These terrorists have sunk so low that they now target innocent lives .No religion or pic.twitter.com/IVmNwtfqsA  Dukhtar-E-Balochistan (@Dukhtar_B) November 9, 2024

CCTV Captures Horrific Blast

A CCTV footage showed a heavily crowded railway station when the blast occurred, showering everyone in debris as people fled in panic. The blast reportedly targeted Pakistani army personnel from the Infantry School, according to police.

Explosion In Pakistans Balochistan Kills 20, Injures DozensA fatal blast occurred at Quetta Railway Station on Saturday,as a train prepared to depart for Peshawar, Dawn News reports. pic.twitter.com/legfib50zP  RT_India (@RT_India_news) November 9, 2024

An emergency was imposed in Quettas Civil Hospital and additional doctors and support staff were called in to join the duty in the crisis. Pakistans Acting president Yousaf Raza Gillani condemned the incident and said terrorists were enemies of humanity who targeted innocent people.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also strongly condemned the attack. According to a government spokesperson, Balochistan CM Sarfaraz Bugti summoned an emergency meeting regarding the provinces law and order situation and cancelled a foreign trip.

Terror Attacks In Balochistan

This incident took place over a week after a bombing near a girls school in western Pakistan killed seven people, including five children, in an attack targeting police guarding polio vaccinators, according to officials.

The police van that came under attack was taking personnel for the protection of polio staff," Rahmat Ullah, a senior police officer, told AFP on November 1. He added that there is a girls school near the place of the attack" in the city of Mastung in Balochistan province.

Pakistan has witnessed a worrying surge in terrorist attacks in the ongoing year with fatalities in the first three quarters surpassing the numbers recorded in all of 2023. A large share of these terrorist attacks have taken place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces.

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Pakistans security forces have battled a decades-long insurgency in the southwestern province of Balochistan with the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which has targeted Punjabi workers, Chinese nationals and hundreds of civilians. In August, at least 73 people were killed in Balochistan province after separatist militants attacked police stations, railway lines and highways.

(with agency inputs)

Location : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: November 09, 2024, 10:41 IST
Canada Ends Popular Visa Scheme For Foreign Students. How Will It Affect Indian Aspirants?

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 16:45 IST

Canada's goal is to strengthen program integrity, address student vulnerability, and give all students equal and fair access to the application process, as well as a positive academic experience, a government presser said.

The Student Direct Stream (SDS) was launched in 2018 to provide faster processing for eligible post-secondary students. (Reuters File Photo)

In a fresh policy shift, Canada did away with the popular Student Direct Stream (SDS) on Friday (November 8, 2024), ending a fast-track study permit process that has helped thousands of international students quickly secure visas.

The Student Direct Stream (SDS) was launched in 2018 to provide faster processing for eligible post-secondary students. The SDS was eventually opened to legal residents of Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam. Prospective university students from Nigeria had a similar process with the Nigeria Student Express (NSE).

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Canadas goal is to strengthen program integrity, address student vulnerability, and give all students equal and fair access to the application process, as well as a positive academic experience. To meet this commitment, SDS and NSE initiatives have ended as of 2:00 pm ET today," a government statement read.

Prospective students are invited to apply through the regular study permit stream, which accepts Guaranteed Investment Certificates as proof of financial support. Canada will continue to welcome international students from all around the world," it explained.

Also Read | Inability To Provide Minimum Security: India Cancels Scheduled Consular Camps In Canadas Toronto

Next Steps For Aspirants

The Canadian government, however, said, Eligible SDS and NSE applications received before 2:00 p.m. ET on November 8, 2024, will be processed under these streams. Study permit applications submitted on or after this time will be processed under the regular study permit stream."

This change will not adversely affect eligibility for those who wish to apply for a study permit from a country where the SDS or NSE initiatives have been offered. All students, regardless of whether they were eligible for the SDS or NSE, are required to meet Canadas study permit application requirements," it added.

How Will It Affect Indian Students

With the programme scrapped, students from India and 13 other countries will have to undergo a rather lengthy procedure to secure visas.

This significant policy change, the first of its kind in years, is being implemented as a measure to reduce the influx of immigrants into the country. The decision comes amid a backdrop of economic challenges, including a strained healthcare system, escalating living costs, and a housing crisis, among other issues.

India-Canada Ties

The move came at a time when India and Canada have been dealing with an unprecedented diplomatic crisis after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that Indian government agents were involved in the killing of Nijjar in Canada. India has rejected Canadas allegations, terming it absurd" and politically motivated."

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Last month Canada expelled six Indian diplomats and consular officials in connection with a probe of the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in 2023.

India also announced its decision to expel six Canadian diplomats, which include Canadas Acting High Commissioner in India, Steward Ross Wheeler, Deputy High Commissioner in India Patrick Hebert, and First Secretary Marie Catherine Joly.

First Published: November 09, 2024, 16:19 IST
Iran Denies Involvement In Trump Assassination Plot, Urges Confidence-building with US

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 23:00 IST

A criminal complaint filed in federal court in Manhattan alleges that an unnamed official in Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard instructed a contact this past September to put together a plan to surveil and ultimately kill Trump

Shakeri told the FBI he didnt plan to propose a plan to murder Trump within the seven days the official had requested, according to the complaint. (Photos: AP file)

Days after an Iranian man was charged in the alleged plot to kill Donald Trump, Iran on Saturday dismissed the allegations as a conspiracy to complicate the issues between the US and Iran. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi also called for confidence-building between the two hostile countries.

Now  a new scenario is fabricated  as a killer does not exist in reality, scriptwriters are brought in to manufacture a third-rate comedy," Araqchi said in a post on X.

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The American people have made their decision. And Iran respects their right to elect the President of their choice. The path forward is also a choice. It begins with respect," Araqchi said.

Iran is NOT after nuclear weapons, period. This is a policy based on Islamic teachings and our security calculations. Confidence-building is needed from both sides. It is not a one-way street," he added.

Irans Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei also denied the involvement in the alleged murder plot and described the US Justice Department report as completely baseless".

Baghaei said Iran has been accused of similar scenarios in the past that have been firmly denied and proven false", Fox News reported.

He also said that repeating these types of claims is a malicious conspiracy orchestrated by Zionist and anti-Iranian circles to further complicate the issues between the US and Iran".

Earlier on Friday, the Justice Department unsealed criminal charges in a thwarted Iranian plot to kill Trump before this weeks presidential election.

Also Read: What Is Donald Trumps Agenda 47? How Is It Different From Project 2025? | Explained

A criminal complaint filed in federal court in Manhattan alleges that an unnamed official in Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard instructed a contact this past September to put together a plan to surveil and ultimately kill Trump.

If the man, identified as Farjad Shakeri, was unable to create a plan by then, the complaint said, the official told him Iran would pause its plan until after the presidential election because the official believed Trump would lose and it would be easier to assassinate him then, the complaint said.

Shakeri told the FBI he didnt plan to propose a plan to murder Trump within the seven days the official had requested, according to the complaint.

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The plot, with the charges unsealed just days after Trumps defeat of Democrat Kamala Harris, reflects what federal officials have described as ongoing efforts by Iran to target US government officials, including Trump, on US soil.

(with inputs from AP)

Location : Tehran, Iran

First Published: November 09, 2024, 19:16 IST
'Deliberately Avoiding Khalistanis': MP Chandra Arya Bashes Canadian Politicians

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 21:01 IST

Chandra Arya comment comes in wake of several Canadian politician trying to portray the Brampton incident as a clash between the Canadian Hindu and Sikh communities

Canadian MP Chandra Arya. (Image via X)

Days after an attack on Hindus at a Brampton temple, Canadian MP Chandra Arya has come down heavily on politicians pitting Hindus and Sikhs on opposing sides" and asserted that the Hindu-Canadians and the Sikhs are on one side and the Khalistanis on the other.

Due to the deliberate actions of some politicians and the influence of Khalistanis, Canadians now mistakenly equate Khalistanis with Sikhs, Arya said in wake of several Canadian politician trying to portray the Brampton incident as a clash between the Canadian Hindu and Sikh communities.

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Protestors carrying Khalistani flags clashed with devotees at a Hindu Sabha temple and disrupted an event co-organised by the temple authorities and the Indian Consulate on November 3 at Brampton, a city in Ontarios Greater Toronto Area.

Politicians are deliberately avoiding recognising and mentioning Khalistanis as responsible for this attack or are shifting the blame to other entities. They are misleading Canadians by framing this as an issue between Hindus and Sikhs," Arya, a member of Parliament from Nepean, Ontario, said in a post on X on Friday.

My statement on Hindu and Sikh Canadians:On behalf of Hindu-Canadians and the vast majority of Sikh-Canadians, I again strongly condemn the attack by Khalistani extremists on Hindu devotees at the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton.Politicians are deliberately avoiding recognizing pic.twitter.com/386gTHHijO Chandra Arya (@AryaCanada) November 8, 2024

Politicians are portraying Hindus and Sikhs as opposing sides regarding the attack on the temple by Khalistani extremists. This picture is simply not true. The two sides are actually Hindu-Canadians and the vast majority of Sikh-Canadians on one side, and Khalistanis on the other," Arya said in the post on X which had both a video and a text statement.

Strongly condemning the attack by Khalistani extremists on behalf of Hindu-Canadians and the vast majority of Sikh-Canadians," Arya also pointed out how it is common in Canada to see Hindus visiting Sikh Gurudwaras and Sikhs visiting Hindu temples.

Politicians may try their best to divide Hindus and Sikhs. We canand mustprove them wrong," he appealed. We, as Hindus and Sikhs, will not and should not allow vested interests to divide us for their political gain." The relations between India and Canada have come 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." Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, was designated a terrorist by India.

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 Ottawas charges.

Arya, who has been vocal on the issue earlier too, also mentioned the Sikh community leader and former British Columbia Premier Ujjal Dosanjh, who said that a silent majority of Sikhs do not want to have anything to do with Khalistan and that they just dont speak out because theyre afraid of violence and violent repercussions.

Dosanjh said Khalistani supporters control many of the Gurudwaras in Canada but the silent Sikhs still hold power over which politicians get elected," Arya said.

Due to the deliberate actions of some politicians and the influence of Khalistanis, Canadians now mistakenly equate Khalistanis with Sikhs," he said, adding, Hindus and Sikhs alike must educate Canadians that we stand united in our fight against Khalistani extremists and their political backers." He also appealed to Hindus and Sikhs in Canada to urge the community leaders not to provide a platform at any of our events or temples to politicians unless they publicly recognise and expressly condemn Khalistani extremism." Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the presence of Khalistan supporters in Canada but said they do not represent the Sikh community as a whole.

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His comments came during Diwali celebrations at Ottawas Parliament Hill recently amid an ongoing diplomatic row with India over Nijjars killing.

There are many supporters of Khalistan in Canada, but they do not represent the Sikh Community as a whole. Similarly, there are supporters of Prime Minister (Narendra) Modis government in Canada, but they do not represent all Hindu Canadians," Trudeau said.

Location : Canada

First Published: November 09, 2024, 21:01 IST
Elon Musk Joined Trump's Phone Call With Zelenskyy Amid Concerns Over Ukraine War: Reports

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 07:56 IST

Musk played a vital role in Trump's presidential campaign, spending over $110 million of his personal fortune to ensure the President-elect's victory.

Elon Musk's inclusion in the phone call raised questions on his role in the upcoming Trump administration. (Reuters/File)

Elon Musk, who played a huge role in Donald Trumps return to the White House, made a surprise appearance on the President-elects phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, signalling a greater role for the Tesla CEO in the upcoming administration.

Musk was present with Trump during the call with Zelenskyy that lasted roughly 25 minutes, according to Axios, which first reported the call. Trump reassured Zelenskyy that he would support Ukraine, but did not go into details. Sources told Axios that Zelenskyy felt the call went well and did not increase his anxiety over Trumps recent win.

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A high-ranking Ukrainian source told AFP that Musk was physically present with Trump during the call. high-ranking Ukrainian source told AFP that Musk was physically present with Trump during the call. Musk wasnt on the line, Trump gave him the phone. They were there together somewhere," the source said.

After Trump handed him the phone, Musk told Zelenskyy that he would continue supporting Ukraine through his Starlink satellites, according to the Axios report. Musk initially provided Ukraine with internet connection through Starlink satellites for free, but he has also mocked Zelenskyys requests for US aid in its war against Russia.

I had an excellent call with President @realDonaldTrump and congratulated him on his historic landslide victoryhis tremendous campaign made this result possible. I praised his family and team for their great work," Zelenskyy said on Thursday.

I had an excellent call with President @realDonaldTrump and congratulated him on his historic landslide victoryhis tremendous campaign made this result possible. I praised his family and team for their great work.We agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) November 6, 2024

ALSO READ: Iranian Man Charged In Plot To Kill Donald Trump Before US Election

What This Means For Elon Musk?

Musk, the worlds richest man, played a major role in the Republican leaders campaign, spending over $110 million of his personal fortune to help get him elected. Trump has said he aims to include Musk in some form of advisory role in his upcoming government.

His presence during an official call underlines his close ties to the next US president and makes him possibly the most influential civilian in the upcoming administration in January, with speculation rising on what his role would be. Musk has already promised to lead a broad effort to slash spending inside the federal government.

Notably, Trump has repeatedly boasted that he could end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours and criticised American aid to Kyiv in its fight against Russia. Many in Ukraine are worried that Trump will not give the same level of support  or that he could back a peace settlement to Russias advantage.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday hailed Trump as courageous" for the way he handled himself following an assassination attempt at a rally in July, and said he was ready" to hold discussions with him.

Elon Musks Position On Ukraine

Musks Starlink internet service has provided a significant frontline advantage to Ukraines smaller military since the 2022 invasion, which allowed his forces to communicate in areas where combat has disrupted cellphone service. However, this relationship soured after Musk complained about the cost of providing that service, according to CNN.

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A Wall Street Journal report said the SpaceX founder and Putin have been in regular contact" since late 2022, saying they had discussed personal topics, business and geopolitical tensions." This raised national security concerns as SpaceXs relationships with NASA and the US military may have given Musk access to sensitive information.

(with AFP inputs)

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 09, 2024, 07:50 IST
Iran Warns Of Risk Of 'Expansion Of War' Beyond Middle East

Published By :

AFP

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 23:00 IST

Iran's arch-nemesis Israel has been waging a devastating war in the Gaza Strip against Iran-backed Palestinian militant group Hamas

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (Image: AP/File)

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday warned that the wars in Gaza and Lebanon, where Israel is battling Tehran-backed groups, could spill over beyond the Middle East.

The world should know that in case of the expansion of war, its harmful effects will not be limited only to the West Asia region; insecurity and instability can spread to other regions, even far away," Araghchi said in speech aired on state TV.

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Irans arch-nemesis Israel has been waging a devastating war in the Gaza Strip against Iran-backed Palestinian militant group Hamas since it launched its shock attack on Israel in October 2023.

Israel has more recently shifted its focus to Lebanon, where it has been engaged in full-fledged battle since September with Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group which is financially and militarily supported by the Islamic republic.

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 general.

Iranian officials said Israels October 26 attack killed four soldiers and resulted in limited damage" to radar systems. Iranian media also reported that a civilian was killed.

Tehran has since vowed to retaliate despite the US and Israels warning against it.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has maintained that a potential ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon could affect Irans response.

If they (the Israelis) accept a ceasefire and stop massacring the oppressed and innocent people of the region, it could affect the intensity and type of our response," Pezeshkian said early this month.

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On Thursday, an adviser to Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cautioned against an impulsive response to Israel.

Israel aims to bring the conflict to Iran. We must act wisely to avoid its trap and not react instinctively," the adviser, Ali Larijani, told state television.

Location : Tehran, Iran

First Published: November 09, 2024, 23:00 IST
This photo taken on Nov. 9, 2024 shows a view of the railway station after a blast in Quetta city, Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province. At least 20 people were killed and 53 others injured on Saturday morning in a blast at a railway station in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, chief executive officer of Pakistan Railways said. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- At least 20 people were killed and 53 others injured on Saturday morning in a blast at a railway station in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, chief executive officer of Pakistan Railways said.

The attack happened at about 8:20 a.m. local time (GMT 0320) at Platform No. 1 of the railway station in the provincial capital city of Quetta where the train Jaffar Express was ready to depart, the railways said in a statement.

Talking to Xinhua on condition of anonymity, military sources from Quetta said that the target of the attack were soldiers leaving for their homes in other provinces after completing a training course in Quetta.

The sources said that a suicide bomber blew up his explosive jacket in a crowd of over 100 people, including soldiers, railways police, and civilian passengers.

Railway officials said Jaffar Express remained safe during the attack and has been rescheduled.

Muhammad Zeeshan, manager of operations of the rescue department of the Edhi Foundation in Quetta, told Xinhua that the injured people included two railway police officials, and a woman was also among the killed.

He said that both the killed and injured included troops as well as civilians who were getting onboard the train whose final destination was Peshawar city of the country's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The proscribed group Balochistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack in a press release shared with media and on social media platforms.

Police, security forces, and rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the bodies and injured to hospital.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and directed the hospital administration to provide the best possible medical treatment to the injured people. 

This photo taken on Nov. 9, 2024 shows a view of the railway station after a blast in Quetta city, Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province.

At least 20 people were killed and 53 others injured on Saturday morning in a blast at a railway station in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, chief executive officer of Pakistan Railways said. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Nov. 9, 2024 shows people transferring a person, injured in a blast at a railway station, to a hospital in Quetta city, Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province.

At least 20 people were killed and 53 others injured on Saturday morning in a blast at a railway station in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, chief executive officer of Pakistan Railways said. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Nov. 9, 2024 shows a view of the railway station after a blast in Quetta city, Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province.

At least 20 people were killed and 53 others injured on Saturday morning in a blast at a railway station in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, chief executive officer of Pakistan Railways said. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)
'No Longer Serves Purpose': Qatar To Suspend Mediation Efforts Between Hamas, Israel

Published By :

Associated Press

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 22:38 IST

A senior Hamas official said they were aware of Qatar's decision to suspend mediation efforts, but no one told us to leave.

Students rally together during a pro-Palestine protest at the The University of Texas at Austin. (AFP File)

Qatar has decided to suspend its key mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel, officials said Saturday.

However, Qatar is highly likely to return to the efforts if both sides show serious political willingness" to reach a deal on the war in Gaza, according to one official with Egypt, the other key mediator.

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A diplomatic source briefed on the matter said Israel and Hamas, along with the United States, were informed after the decision was made. The source added that as a consequence, the Hamas political office no longer serves its purpose" in Qatar.

A senior Hamas official said they were aware of Qatars decision to suspend mediation efforts, but no one told us to leave."

Qatars announcement comes after growing frustration with the lack of progress on a cease-fire deal.

After rejecting repeated proposals to release hostages, (Hamas) leaders should no longer be welcome in the capitals of any American partner. We made that clear to Qatar following Hamas rejection weeks ago of another hostage release proposal," a U.S. senior administration official said.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. The Israeli prime ministers office had no comment.

Meanwhile, three separate Israeli strikes killed at least 16 people, including women and children, in Gaza on Saturday, Palestinian medical officials said, and Israel announced the first delivery of humanitarian aid in weeks to hungry, devastated northern Gaza.

There continued to be no end in sight to Israels campaigns against Hamas militants in Gaza or Hezbollah in Lebanon, where Israels military said that it struck command centers and other militant infrastructure overnight in Beiruts southern suburbs. An Israeli airstrike on the southern port city of Tyre late Friday left at least seven dead, officials and a resident said.

One of the strikes in Gaza hit a school-turned-shelter in Gaza Citys eastern Tufah neighborhood, killing at least six people, the territorys Health Ministry said. Two local journalists, a pregnant woman and a child were among the dead, it said. The Israeli army said the strike targeted a militant belonging to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, offering no evidence or details.

Seven people were killed when an Israeli strike hit a tent in the southern city of Khan Younis where displaced people were sheltering, according to Nasser Hospital. It said the dead included two women and a child. The Israeli army didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

And Palestinian medical officials said an Israeli strike hit tents in the courtyard of central Gazas main hospital, including one serving as a police point. At least three people were killed and a local journalist was wounded, Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir al-Balah said. It was the eighth Israeli attack on the compound since March.

The Israeli military body in charge of humanitarian aid to Gaza, COGAT, said Saturday that 11 aid trucks containing food, water and medical equipment reached the enclaves far north on Thursday. Its the first time any aid has reached the far north since Israel began a new military campaign there last month.

But not all the aid reached the agreed drop-off points, according to the the U.N. World Food Program, which was involved in the delivery process. In the urban refugee camp of Jabaliya, Israeli troops stopped one convoy bound for nearby Beit Lahiya and ordered the supplies to be offloaded, WFP spokesperson Alia Zaki said.

Israels offensive has focused on Jabaliya, where Israel says Hamas had regrouped. Other areas affected include Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun just north of Gaza City.

The aid announcement came days before a U.S. deadline demanding that Israel improve aid deliveries across Gaza or risk losing access to U.S. weapons funding.

The U.S. says Israel must allow a minimum of 350 trucks a day carrying food and other supplies.

Meanwhile, a report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, issued Thursday said theres a strong likelihood that famine is imminent in parts of northern Gaza, the territorys most isolated area.

COGAT rejected the IPCs finding and said the report relied on partial, biased data and superficial sources with vested interests."

The U.N. estimates that tens of thousands of people remain in northern Gaza. Earlier this week, the Health Ministry said there were no ambulances or emergency crews operating north of Gaza City.

The conflict has left 90% of Palestinians in Gaza displaced, according to U.N. figures. Israels army has struck several schools and tent camps packed with tens of thousands of Palestinians driven from their homes by Israeli offensives and evacuation orders.

The military has accused Hamas of operating from within civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including schools, U.N. facilities and hospitals.

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More than a year of war in Gaza has killed more than 43,000 people, Palestinian health officials say. They dont distinguish between civilians and combatants, but say more than half of those killed were women and children.

The war began after Palestinian militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and abducting 250 others.

First Published: November 09, 2024, 22:33 IST
Priest Stabbed At Church In Rare Singapore Attack, Say Cops

Published By :

AFP

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 22:52 IST

Singapore is one of Asia's safest cities and violent crimes such as stabbings or shootings are extremely rare

The priest was sent to hospital, but was in a stable condition, while his Singaporean attacker was arrested (Representative Image: AFP)

A Roman Catholic priest was stabbed while saying mass inside a church in Singapore on Saturday, police said, but added they did not think it was an act of terrorism.

The priest was sent to hospital, but was in a stable condition", while his Singaporean attacker was arrested, police said in a statement posted on Facebook.

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Singapore is one of Asias safest cities and violent crimes such as stabbings or shootings are extremely rare.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said he was very shocked and saddened" about the incident, and identified the priest as Christopher Lee.

Violence has no place in Singapore," he said on Facebook. Most of all, we must uphold the safety and sanctity of our places of worship  places where people seek peace, solace, and community."

The police statement said the 57-year-old priest was stabbed during mass" and that the attacker was disarmed by members of the congregation and subsequently arrested by police officers".

Based on the preliminary investigations, the man is believed to have acted alone and the police do not suspect that this is an act of terrorism, for now," the statement added.

The suspect, a 37-year-old member of the local Sinhalese community, had previously declared himself as a Christian, it added.

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The stabbing happened at Saint Josephs Church in an affluent suburb of the city.

The church said in a statement that masses will proceed as normal" on Sunday.

First Published: November 09, 2024, 22:52 IST
Crimea Is Gone Trump Adviser Says Priority In Ukraine Is Peace, Not Return Of Territory

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 23:27 IST

Ukraine has sought modern weapons from the United States as well as authorisation to use them on Russian targets but it has never called for U.S. forces to be deployed on its territory

Zelenskiy and Trump spoke by telephone this week after the U.S. election in a conversation joined by billionaire Trump supporter Elon Musk, according to media reports. (Photo Credits: X)

A senior aide to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said in an interview broadcast on Saturday that the new administrations priority in Ukraine would be establishing peace and not restoring lost territory, including Crimea.

Bryan Lanza, a long-time Republican party strategist, told the BBC that Trumps administration would be asking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for a realistic vision for peace."

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And if President Zelenskiy comes to the table and says, well we can only have peace if we have Crimea, he shows to us that hes not serious. Crimea is gone," he said. And if that is your priority of getting Crimea back and having American soldiers fight to get Crimea back, youre on your own."

He said the priority was peace and to stop the killing."

What were going to say to Ukraine is, you know what you see? What do you see as a realistic vision for peace? Its not a vision for winning, but its a vision for peace. And lets start having the honest conversation, he said.

Russia annexed the Crimea peninsula in 2014 after an uprising that prompted Ukraines Russia-friendly president to flee. More than 2 1/2 years after launching its full-fledged invasion, Russian forces hold just under 20% of its territory.

Zelenskiy has repeatedly said peace cannot be established until all Russian forces are expelled and all territory captured by Moscow, including Crimea, is returned. His victory plan" presented last month maintains that provision as well as an invitation for Ukraine to join NATO, long denounced by Russia.

Ukraine has sought modern weapons from the United States as well as authorisation to use them on Russian targets but it has never called for U.S. forces to be deployed on its territory.

Russian troops failed in their initial advance on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv but in recent months have been capturing a string of villages on the eastern front.

Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin said in June that conditions for peace talks included Ukraine abandoning the four regions Moscow has annexed, though it does not have full control over them.

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During the election campaign, Trump said he would find a solution to end the war within a day," but did not explain how he would do so.

Zelenskiy and Trump spoke by telephone this week after the U.S. election in a conversation joined by billionaire Trump supporter Elon Musk, according to media reports.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 09, 2024, 23:25 IST
Qatar Asks Hamas To Leave Doha Following US Request, Sources Say

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 08:00 IST

With efforts to pause the war  which has been a top priority for President Joe Biden  firmly stalled, US officials informed their Qatari counterparts about two weeks ago that they must stop giving Hamas refuge in their capital

Qatar has been a major player in efforts over the past year to try to secure a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. (Reuters)

Qatar agreed in recent weeks to kick Hamas out of its country following a request from the US to do so, capping off months of failed attempts to try to get the militant group  whose top leaders reside in the Qatari capital of Doha  to accept a ceasefire and hostage release deal in the Israel-Hamas war, US and Qatari sources told CNN.

With efforts to pause the war  which has been a top priority for President Joe Biden  firmly stalled, US officials informed their Qatari counterparts about two weeks ago that they must stop giving Hamas refuge in their capital; Qatar agreed and gave Hamas notice about a week ago, sources said.

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Hamas is a terrorist group that has killed Americans and continues to hold Americans hostage," a senior administration official told CNN. After rejecting repeated proposals to release hostages, its leaders should no longer be welcome in the capitals of any American partner."

Throughout the course of the war and negotiations to bring the hostages home, US officials have asked Qatar to use the threat of expulsion as leverage in their talks with Hamas. The final impetus for Qatar agreeing to kick Hamas out came recently after the death of American-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin and Hamas rejection of yet another ceasefire proposal.

Qatar has been a major player in efforts over the past year to try to secure a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, in no small part because senior members of the militant group are based in Doha. Major negotiations have taken place in the Qatari capital for that reason.

Exactly when Hamas operatives would be exiled out of Qatar  and where they would go  are unclear. One US official told CNN the group has not been given an extended amount of time to leave the country. While Turkey is seen as a possible option, the US is not likely to approve of that scenario for the same reasons that it does not want Qatar to give refuge to Hamas leadership.

Earlier this year, the Justice Department charged several senior Hamas leaders over the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel. At least one of those defendants, Khaled Meshaal, is believed to be residing in Qatar.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also told Qatar over the summer to warn Hamas that if the group did not agree to halt the war in Gaza, they would risk getting kicked out of Doha.

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 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

This article originally appeared in CNN.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 09, 2024, 07:56 IST
US: 'Robotic Dogs' Deployed Outside Trump's Mar-A-Lago Residence After Election Win | Watch

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 10:10 IST

These mechanical hounds were deployed outside Trump's residence after his victory in the 2024 presidential race where he survived two assassination attempts.

A robotic dog seen patrolling Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo: X)

After a decisive victory in the US presidential election, US President-elect Donald Trump has beefed up security at his Mar-a-Lago estate with a Secret Service robotic dog seen patrolling his residence on Thursday.

Robotic dogs are increasingly used by law enforcement agencies in the United States to help with security and public safety. This mechanical hound was seen strolling on the grass near the palm trees outside the Palm Beach estate on Friday morning with a large DO NOT PET" warning on its side.

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JUST IN:  US Secret Service deploys Robotic dogs at President-elect Donald Trumps property as security measures increase following his election victory. pic.twitter.com/EG8iiUOKFY BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) November 9, 2024

The US Secret Service confirmed that robotic dogs are being utilised to secure Trumps home at Mar-a-Lago. Anthony Guglielmi, the chief communications officer for the Secret Service, said these dogs are equipped with sufficient technology to support the agencys security goals, The Hill reported.

Why Robotic Dogs Are Being Used?

Safeguarding the President-elect is a top priority," Guglielmi wrote in a statement shared with Nexstar. While we cannot get into the specific capabilities, the robotic dogs are equipped with surveillance technology, and an array of advanced sensors that support our protective operations."

The robot dogs also have military applications and can perform reconnaissance missions and swiftly deliver supplies to troops without putting soldiers in danger. Ukraines military deployed 30 mechanical hounds made by Brit Alliance against Russia last year, according to the New York Post.

The remote-controlled robot dog outside Trumps residence was made by Boston Dynamics, the agency confirmed. Their inclusion in the heightened security across Mar-a-Lago comes after Trumps victory in the 2024 presidential race, where he survived two assassination attempts.

ALSO READ: Youre Selected To Pick Cotton: Racist Texts Raise Alarm In US After Trumps Win

Another Assassination Attempt on Trump?

Meanwhile, the Justice Department unsealed criminal charges on Friday in a thwarted Iranian plot to kill President-elect Donald Trump before this weeks presidential election.

A criminal complaint filed in federal court in Manhattan alleges that an unnamed official in Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard instructed a contact this past September to put together a plan to surveil and ultimately kill Trump.

The department said it had charged two other individuals in connection with their alleged involvement in a plot to kill a US citizen of Iranian origin in New York. If the man, identified as Farjad Shakeri, was unable to create a plan by then, the complaint said, the official told him Iran would pause its plan until after the presidential election because the official believed Trump would lose and it would be easier to assassinate him then, the complaint said.

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(with agency inputs)

ALSO READ: Massive Surge In US Google Searches For How To Move To Scotland After Trumps Win

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 09, 2024, 10:04 IST
'Senseless Killing Will End Soon': What We Know About Trump's Plans For Russia-Ukraine Peace

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Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 15:34 IST

Trump has repeatedly vowed to end the Russia-Ukraine War soon, even though Ukraine has opposed any plea deal that forces it to give up occupied territories

Trump, believed to share close ties with Putin, has promised to bring Russia on the negotiating table. (Reuters/File)

US President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly promised to end the Russia-Ukraine war before he takes up the Oval Office, and has even spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. With few details emerging from Trump himself, details of a purported plan have surfaced that can alter the course of the war.

According to The Telegraph, Trumps staffers said his plan may include calling on European and British troops to enforce an 800-mile buffer zone between the Russian and Ukrainian armies in an attempt to freeze the war. This would mean Russia would keep its territorial gains in Ukraine and Kyiv can say goodbye to its plans to join NATO for 20 years.

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These details came as Zelenskyy warned that any peace deal while appeasing Russia would amount to suicide" for Europe. However, this is one of several plans being considered by Trump, who said he would start peace talks between Russia and Ukraine before taking office in January.

While congratulating Trump on his election victory, Russian President Vladimir Putin said his remarks about Ukraine and restoring relations with Russia deserved attention. What was said about the desire to restore relations with Russia, to bring about the end of the Ukrainian crisis, in my opinion, this deserves attention at least," said Putin.

ALSO READ: Elon Musk Joined Trumps Phone Call With Zelenskyy Amid Concerns Over Ukraine War: Reports

The report came last month when the Financial Times, citing its sources close to Trumps team, reported that he planned to freeze the war. Vice President-elect JD Vance spoke on similar lines on freezing the war by establishing autonomous regions on both sides of the demilitarized zone and leaving Ukraine outside NATO.

The new plan has already gained the approval of Elon Musk, who played an influential role in Trumps victory. The senseless killing will end soon. Time is up for the warmonger profiteers," Musk said on X.

The senseless killing will end soon.Time is up for the warmonger profiteers.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 8, 2024

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Trumps claims he could quickly solve the conflict in Ukraine are exaggerated but still better than the continued war. He said Putin is ready to discuss Ukraine with Donald Trump but that does not mean he is willing to alter Moscows demands.

What We Know About Trumps Plan?

As the results of the US presidential elections flowed in, showing a clear mandate for Trump, the President-elect made his victory speech in Florida and vowed to end all wars. We had no wars, for four years, we had no wars. Except we defeated ISISThey said he will start a war. Im not going to start a war, Im going to stop the wars," he said.

Now, the million-dollar question now is how Trump will attempt to stop the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which is approaching its third anniversary. Trump has repeatedly said he could end the war in 24 hours."

I would tell Zelenskyy, no more. You got to make a deal. I would tell Putin, if you dont make a deal, were going to give him a lot. Were going to (give Ukraine) more than they ever got if we have to," Trump said in a July 2023 interview. However, lawmakers in Kyiv had then dismissed his claims as election rhetoric".

Now that Trump will be president, fears in Ukraine have risen about the future course of the war, with fears that a Trump presidency could deprive them of US aid and force them into a peace deal with unfavourable terms for Kyiv.

The latest plan outlined by Trumps staffers would see the current front line frozen in place and Ukraine agreeing not to join NATO for 20 years. In exchange, the US would pump Ukraine full of weapons to deter Russia from restarting the war. Furthermore, the US would not contribute troops to patrol and enforce the buffer zone.

We can do training and other support but the barrel of the gun is going to be European," a member of Trumps team told The Wall Street Journal. We are not sending American men and women to uphold peace in Ukraine. And we are not paying for it. Get the Poles, Germans, British and French to do it."

Can Europe Maintain Buffer Zone Without The US?

On June 14, Putin set out his terms for an end to the war: Ukraine would have to drop its NATO ambitions and withdraw all of its troops from all of the territory of four regions claimed by Russia. However, Zelenskyy rejected the terms and still stands adamantly against relinquishing territory to Vladimir Putin.

Meanwhile, Britain, France and Germany have already vowed to support Ukraine for as long as it takes and However, it is difficult to see how a plan could be pushed by European states alone without much-needed US aid, as experts believe that Europe, Canada and Australia have let their defence spending stagnate for too long, according to Daily Mail.

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Former UK Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said it was not realistic for the UK to keep backing Ukraine without US support following Trumps victory. Is it realistic to expect a complete victory for Ukraine, the complete ejection of Russia from Ukrainian territory? And if its not, you know, it may suit our vanity in the West to say plucky Ukrainians, [but] its not our children who are dying," he said.

Such a step is expected to drastically undermine US relations with all of Europe and undermine the legitimacy of Europe. Several European countries had already called for immediate increases in defence spending in fears that Trump will cut aid to Ukraine and roll back support for NATO.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 09, 2024, 14:36 IST
Shehbaz Sharif Uses VPN To Congratulate Trump Due To X Ban In Pakistan, Users Mock Irony

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 10:51 IST

Shehbaz Sharif was quick to congratulate Trump on his victory, but users flagged that he used VPN to use X, banned in Pakistan.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif (Images: PTI,X)

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif became a subject of mockery after a community note on his congratulatory post for US President-elect Donald Trump on X, banned in his country, highlighted that he used a VPN to use the platform.

Congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump on his historic victory for a second term! I look forward to working closely with the incoming Administration to further strengthen and broaden the Pakistan-U.S. partnership," Sharif posted on X, formerly Twitter, on November 6.

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The community note flagged that he was using a VPN which was unlawful in the country.

PM Shehbaz Sharif has banned X (formerly Twitter), in Pakistan. He is using a VPN to access X, which is unlawful according to Pakistani law," the note read.

Why did Shehbaz Sharif use VPN?

Sharif was forced to use VPN as his own government had banned X earlier this year in Pakistan citing national security reasons. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had claimed that Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) militants were using the platform to spread anti-national activities".

The Pakistani Prime Minister came under severe trolling as he posted on X to congratulate Trump without uplifting the ban on the platform. His move also drew criticism from the Pakistani nationals.

How did the users react?

Most corrupt and dictator puppet in history of Pakistan is congratulating Trump," a user wrote.

Pakistani PM taken to cleaners by his audience," another wrote sharing the community note below his X post.

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Pakistani PM taken to cleaners by his audience.  pic.twitter.com/i1Z5X7lELd Levina (@LevinaNeythiri) November 6, 2024

Mr. Trump, this joker using VPN to congratulate youBtw, Elon Musks platform has been banned in Pakistan!!!" another one wrote while also tagging Elon Musk.

Location : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: November 09, 2024, 10:38 IST
Trump Preparing to Withdraw from Paris Climate Agreement Ahead Of Taking Office: Report

Published By :

Reuters

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 15:37 IST

Trump's transition team is also shrinking the size of some national monuments to allow more drilling and mining and resuming LNG exports.

Donald Trump had promised to roll back several initiatives taken by Joe Biden. (Getty Images)

US President-elect Donald Trumps transition team has prepared executive orders and proclamations on withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement and shrinking the size of some national monuments to allow more drilling and mining, the New York Times reported on Friday.

Trump is also expected to end the pause on permitting new liquefied natural gas exports to big markets in Asia and Europe and revoke a waiver that allows California and other states to have tighter pollution standards, according to the report.

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Trump promised during his campaign to take many of the actions listed in the report. Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for the Trump transition team, said in a response to a Reuters request that the results of Tuesdays election gave him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail. He will deliver."

The administration of President Joe Biden paused approvals of new LNG exports in January in order to complete a study on the environmental and economic impact of the exports. The US Energy Department will have a draft updated analysis out for a 60-day public comment period before the end of the year, a department official said.

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Some people on the transition team are discussing moving the headquarters of the Environmental Protection Agency out of Washington, the report said, citing unnamed people involved in the discussions.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 09, 2024, 14:53 IST
'Stop Dating...': Liberal Women Go On Sex Strike, Shave Heads To Protest Trump Win

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 10:38 IST

The '4B' movement originated in South Korea in 2019 where women abstained from personal relationships with men like sex, marriage and babies.

Trump's recent victory kindled fears that women would lose their reproductive rights. (Reuters/File)

Donald Trumps re-election as the 47th US President for a second, non-consecutive term had sparked a meltdown from several people on social media a few days ago. However, some women have come up with a unique form of protest to express their anguish and disappointment over the President-elects win.

Many women have now vowed to go on a sex strike following Trumps victory in an election amid fears over its impact on abortion rights and protections for women, according to a report by The Telegraph. This unusual protest was inspired by the Korean feminist 4B movement that vows to withhold sex from men to redefine the gender power balance.

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The 4B movement originated in South Korea in 2019  where women took a new approach towards fighting patriarchy by swearing off men" and refusing to be part of heterosexual relationships. Its proponents promote the four nos  no sex (bisekseu), no dating (biyeonae), no marriage (bihon) and no having children with men (bichulsan)  for the next four years while Trump is in office.

ALSO READ: Donald Trumps Presidency Sparks Liberal Meltdown On Internet: Nightmare Going On?

Why the 4B movement is sweeping the US?

The 4B movement began in South Korea as the result of gender-based violence and the women stressed that through the protest, the birth rate of the country will go down and the population will slowly die out. This movement had spread like wildfire through social media and women decided to cease romantic relationships with men.

Trumps victory has kindled fears over restrictions on reproductive rights and other protections for women. Vice President Kamala Harris also alleged during the campaign trail that Trump wanted to restrict women and completely end abortion. Trump has also been repeatedly accused of making offensive comments on women.

After Harris was defeated by Trump, many blamed sexism for the election results and argued that America was not ready for a female President. Men will always be against women," read the caption of a sobbing young woman in a car on TikTok, encouraging women to join the 4B movement. Women are just as capable to be presidents as a man."

What Are Women In US Saying?

The recently concluded US presidential election revealed a gender divide in the electorate, with 55 per cent of men turning out for Trump and 53 per cent of women voting for Harris. However, Trumps victory has caused women to seek other female friends for comfort and exercise sovereignty" over their own bodies.

Ladies, Im being so fr when I say this, its time to close off your wombs to males. this election proves now more than ever that they hate us & hate us proudly. do not reward them," said a woman on the X platform.

ladies, Im being so fr when I say this, its time to close off your wombs to males. this election proves now more than ever that they hate us & hate us proudly. do not reward them. solita (@solitasims) November 6, 2024

Reminder that the 4B movement, and the separatist movement in general, isnt just about avoiding menits also about supporting and investing in women. Seek out relationships with women, women-owned businesses, women-made media, etc; surround yourself with women and our culture," another individual said.

Reminder that the 4B movement, and the separatist movement in general, isnt just about avoiding menits also about supporting and investing in women. Seek out relationships with women, women-owned businesses, women-made media, etc; surround yourself with women and our culture. https://t.co/hjTsfiYW6b Edie V. (@rusticfem) November 6, 2024

Other users have taken to the platform to encourage women to take it a step further" and collectively get hysterectomies," while some said they are breaking up with their Republican boyfriends" in the wake of the election, according to New York Post.

Feminists,Please shave your heads like this one so we know who you are. Fight the patriarchal beauty standard by smelling bad, growing leg hair, and refraining from brushing your teeth! Do it!pic.twitter.com/ied8jzLejb  Michael (@MikesUsername77) November 6, 2024

My favorite #4B head shave video so far. This is a must watch. pic.twitter.com/SpeXCdeiOn Sean D Sorrentino (@SorrentinoSean) November 8, 2024

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Fk being skinny, fk being hot, fk being all the things that the patriarchy wants us to be, cause clearly they dont give a st about us," said one user who began haphazardly shaving her full head of hair on camera. Stop dating men, stop having sex with men, stop talking to men, divorce your husbands, leave your fking boyfriends, leave them," she said.

However, many opined that such a movement would never work in the United States.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 09, 2024, 08:39 IST
What Is Donald Trump's Victory Margin Over Kamala Harris In US Elections? Result Of Arizona Will Decide

Curated By :

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Last Updated: November 09, 2024, 20:58 IST

Maricopa County estimated vote counting would run around 10 more days before every ballot is counted

President-elect Donald Trump won the 2024 US elections by defeating Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. (Image: AP/File)

The election results in the swing state of Arizona, which will determine the final margin of victory for Republican President-elect Donald Trump over Democrat Kamala Harris, have not yet been announced. The early ballots that get dropped off on election day at the polls are to be blamed for it.

Stir in increasingly competitive contests, and it adds up to days worth of waiting for a definitive result. Maricopa County estimated vote counting would run around 10 more days before every ballot is counted. Arizona  with 11 electoral votes  has mixed it up in the last two elections at least.

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Donald Trump has won 301 electoral votes and Kamala Harris bagged 226. Trump broke the so-called blue wall and won six of the seven swing states (Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Nevada, and Wisconsin), including the Democrat strongholds Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Only the seventh battleground, Arizona, results remain to be called.

Why Is There A Delay In Vote Counting?

American media outlets said it may take a few days for the final votes in these two states to be tallied. In Arizona, most voters cast their ballot by mail and counting typically takes days. State election officials said full tabulation could take 10 to 13 days.

The New York Times said a majority of the voters cast their ballot by mail in Arizona. Officials at Maricopa County, which is the states largest, said before the election that full tabulation could take more than a week, it said.

Taking a closer look, in 2020 as well, nearly 90 percent of the voters in Arizona cast their ballot early and by mail. While officials can start processing and tabulating mail ballots on receiving them, the results cannot be released until an hour after polling closes. And any mail ballot received on Election Day itself cannot be processed until polls have closed. This results in a delay in the counting of votes and can lead to a large number of ballots being tallied later.

Trumps Win

Donald Trump was elected president, capping a remarkable comeback four years after he was voted out of the White House and ushering in a new American leadership likely to test democratic institutions at home and relations abroad.

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Trump, 78, recaptured the White House on Wednesday by securing more than the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency, Edison Research projected, following a campaign of dark rhetoric that deepened the polarization in the country.

First Published: November 09, 2024, 20:36 IST
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Counter-narcotics police in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province have uncovered illicit drugs, including heroin and opium poppy, and arrested seven suspected drug smugglers over the past week, provincial police spokesman Mullah Asadullah Jamshid said on Saturday.

The seizures, which included heroin, opium poppy, hashish, and equipment used for heroin production, were made during operations conducted across parts of the province, Jamshid said.

The official emphasized that police are committed to preventing drug production and trafficking within the province.

In a related case, police in the eastern Parwan province recently arrested two individuals suspected of involvement in drug trafficking, according to provincial police spokesman Fazal Rahim Muskinyar. 
A Spanish research vessel that investigates marine ecosystems has been abruptly diverted from its usual task to take on a new job: helping in the increasingly desperate search for the missing from Spain's floods. The 24 crew members aboard the Ramon Margalef were preparing Friday to use its sensors and submergible robot to map an offshore area of about 14 square miles-the equivalent of more than 5,000 soccer fields-to see if they can locate vehicles that last week's catastrophic floods swept into the Mediterranean Sea. Many cars became death traps when the tsunami-like flooding hit on Oct. 29. The hope is that a map of sunken vehicles could lead to the recovery of bodies. Nearly a hundred people have been officially declared missing, and authorities admit it's likely there are more people unaccounted for, in addition to the 200-plus declared dead.

Pablo Carrera, the marine biologist leading the mission, estimates that in 10 days his team will be able to hand over useful information to police and emergency services. Without a map, he said it would be practically impossible for police to carry out an effective and systematic recovery operation to reach vehicles that ended up on the seabed. "It would be like finding a needle in a haystack," says Carrera. The boat will join a wider effort by police and soldiers who've expanded their searches for bodies and the missing beyond the devastated towns and streets. Searchers have used poles to probe into layers of mud while sniffer dogs try to find scent traces of bodies buried in canal banks and fields. They're also looking at beaches that line the coast.

The first area the Ramon Margalef is searching is the stretch of sea off the Albufera wetlands, where at least some of the water ended up after ripping through villages and the southern outskirts of Valencia city. The boat's submergible robot loaded with cameras can dive to a depth of nearly 200 feet to attempt to identify cars. Ideally, they'll try to locate license plates, although visibility could be extremely limited and the cars could be smashed to bits or engulfed in the muck, Carrera said. In the longer term, he said his team will also evaluate the impact of the flood runoff on the marine ecosystem. Those findings will contribute to initiatives by other Spanish research centers to study Spain's deadliest floods of the century. More here.

(More Spain stories.)
"It's hard to lose," Gov. Tim Walz said Friday after returning to Minnesota after the presidential election. "It's hard to understand, while so many of our fellow citizens, people that we have fought so long and hard for, wound up choosing the other path." In a 20-minute speech in the Eagan High School auditorium, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports, the Democratic nominee for vice president mourned the election result along with party leaders and supporters. "If you're feeling deflated and discouraged today, I want you to know that I get it," he told them.

Walz expressed disappointment in the choice Americans made but pride in the positions he and Vice President Kamala Harris, his running mate, took. "We refused to scapegoat immigrants," he said, drawing applause. Walz gave no hints about his political future except what he plans to do for the final two years of his term: protect the rights and policies Minnesota has in place, including ensuring women make their own decisions about reproductive care, welcoming immigrants, and protecting democracy.

Saying he's including himself in this goal, the governor suggested everyone "swallow a little bit of pride and look a little harder to find common ground with our neighbors who didn't vote like we did." In time, he said, maybe "we'll be able to look at each other and see not enemies but neighbors," per NBC News. But Walz also said, per Minnesota Public Radio, that if "the other side" tries to "bring a hateful agenda in this state, I'm going to stand ready to stand up and fight." (More Tim Walz stories.)
A suicide bomber blew himself up at a train station in restive southwestern Pakistan on Saturday, killing at least 24 people, including soldiers and railway staff, and wounding about 50 others, some critically, officials said. The attack happened when nearly 100 passengers were waiting for a train to travel to the garrison city of Rawalpindi from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, according to Hamza Shafqaat, a senior government administrator. TV footage showed the steel structure of the platform's roof blown apart and a destroyed tea stall. Luggage was strewn everywhere. Police said about a dozen soldiers and six railway employees were among the dead at the station, where a walk-through gate has been installed to check whether anyone is carrying explosives. However, there are multiple other entrances into the station without such security, per the AP .

When asked about security, Shafqaat told reporters that "it is usually very difficult to stop such suicide attacks." Shahhid Nawaz, who's in charge of security at Quetta's train station, insisted there was no breach of security, as the attacker was disguised as a passenger and blew himself up among people. A separatist group, the Balochistan Liberation Army, claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, saying a suicide bomber targeted troops present at the railway station. The outlawed BLA has long waged an insurgency seeking independence from Islamabad. A senior superintendent of police operations, Muhammad Baloch, said separatists frequently attacked soft targets. "When their people are arrested, they also attack in retaliation," he said. Police said some of the critically wounded passengers had died in the hospital, raising the death toll.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif denounced the bombing in a statement, saying those who orchestrated the attack "will pay a very heavy price for it," adding that security forces were determined to eliminate "the menace of terrorism." In August, the BLA carried out multiple coordinated attacks on passenger buses, police, and security forces across Balochistan, killing more than 50 people, mostly civilians. Oil- and mineral-rich Balochistan is Pakistan's largest but also least populated province. It's a hub for the country's ethnic Baloch minority, whose members say they face discrimination and exploitation by the central government. The BLA mostly targets security forces and foreigners, especially Chinese nationals in Pakistan as part of Beijing's multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative, which is working on major infrastructure projects.

(More Pakistan stories.)
Anti-abortion advocates say there's still work to be done to further restrict access to abortion when Republican Donald Trump returns to the White House next year. They point to the federal guidance that the administration of Democratic President Biden released around emergency abortions, requiring that hospitals provide them for women whose health or life is at risk, and its easing of prescribing restrictions for abortion pills that have allowed women to order the medication online with the click of a button. "Now the work begins to dismantle the pro-abortion policies of the Biden-Harris administration," Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, the powerful anti-abortion lobby, said in a statement Wednesday, per the AP . "President Trump's first-term pro-life accomplishments are the baseline for his second term." The group declined to release details about what, specifically, they'll seek to undo.

But abortion rights advocates are bracing for further abortion restrictions once Trump takes office. And some women are, too, with online abortion pill orders spiking in the days after Election Day. Trump has said abortion is an issue for the states, not the federal government. Yet during the campaign, he pointedly noted that he appointed justices to the Supreme Court who were in the majority when striking down the national right to abortion. And there are things his administration can do, from picking judges to issuing regulations, to further an anti-abortion agenda. The Trump administration is expected to pull back Biden's directive that requires emergency rooms to provide abortions when necessary to stabilize a woman's health or life.

Reports of women being sent home or left untreated by hospitals in dangerous scenarios have proliferated across the United States since the Supreme Court overturned the national right to an abortion in 2022. In some cases, hospitals said state abortion bans had stopped them from terminating a pregnancy. "We're seeing the lives of pregnant people be put in jeopardy," Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women's Law Center, said Wednesday. "We're seeing women who have become infertile, who have been subject to sepsis, and we're now hearing reports with death." Trump has said he supports exceptions for rape and incest cases, as well as when a woman's life is at risk. But he has not gone as far as saying he supports exemptions when a woman's health is on the line.

story continues below

Abortions may be necessary to prevent organ loss, significant hemorrhage, or dangerous infections for pregnant women in rare but serious scenarios. In cases like ectopic pregnancy and placental abruptions, a fetus might still be alive but continuing the pregnancy can be detrimental. Doctors have argued that the legal gray area has put them in a bind. Still, Trump could be a wild card on the issue, said UC Davis law professor Mary Ziegler. In the final months of the campaign, he backed away from a more rigid stance on abortion, even saying he wouldn't sign a national abortion ban if it came across his desk. Although he has enjoyed firm backing from anti-abortion groups, he's willing to break with allies when he wants. "I don't think we have a clear sense from him about what he would do," Ziegler said. More here.

(More abortion stories.)
Russia is open to hearing President-elect Donald Trump's proposals on ending the war, an official said, as a Russian drone killed one person and wounded 13 in the Ukrainian port city of Odesa and the European Union foreign policy chief held talks in Kyiv after the change in US leadership. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said Moscow and Washington were "exchanging signals" on Ukraine via "closed channels." He didn't specify whether the communication was with the current administration, or with Trump and members of his incoming administration, per the AP . Russia is ready to listen to Trump's proposals on Ukraine, provided these were "ideas on how to move forward in the area of settlement, and not in the area of further pumping the Kyiv regime with all kinds of aid," Ryabkov said Saturday in an interview with Russian state news agency Interfax.

In Kyiv, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told reporters that Ukraine is ready to work with the Trump administration. "Remember that President [Volodymyr] Zelensky was one of the first world leaders ... to greet President Trump," he said. "It was a sincere conversation [and] an exchange of thoughts regarding further cooperation." Sybiha added that "further steps to establish communication between teams were discussed, and this work has also begun. Therefore, we are open for further cooperation, and I'm sure that a unified goal of reaching just peace unites all of us." Sybiha appeared alongside EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who said his visit is meant to stress the European Union's support to Ukraine. "This support remains unwavering. This support is absolutely needed, for you to continue defending yourself against Russian aggression," he said.

Borrell urged "faster deliveries and fewer self-imposed red lines" in getting Western weapons to Ukraine. He'd appealed to allies in August to lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western-supplied long-range weapons to strike Russian military targets. Russia is mounting an intensified aerial campaign that Ukrainian officials say they need more Western help to counter. However, doubts are deepening over what Kyiv can expect from a new US administration. Trump has repeatedly taken issue with US aid to Ukraine, made vague vows to end the war, and has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin. (More Russia stories.)
SHANGHAI, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- At the ongoing seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE), Toyota's exhibit features a rare 1964 Toyota Crown model, symbolizing the brand's initial entry into the market of Chinese mainland. Alongside it, the company is showcasing its latest energy storage system featuring cutting-edge technologies.

The new large-capacity Sweep energy storage system allows the use of reclaimed vehicle batteries to their full capacity. Whether it is lithium iron phosphate batteries or nickel-hydrogen batteries, this system can work to utilize the remaining power of batteries through Toyota's unique power conversion technology.

"The current focus of new quality productive forces in the automotive industry is on green and sustainable energy storage technologies, as well as advancements in intelligent driving systems," said Xu Yiming, brand communication department director of Toyota Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd.

This edition of CIIE, the world's first national-level import-focused expo, launched in 2018, has gathered some 3,500 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions. Among them, 297 are Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders, a record high.

Over 400 new products, technologies and services from around the world are being showcased, spanning sectors including artificial intelligence, new materials, autonomous systems and energy transition technologies. From startups to world renowned companies, global companies are showing interest in aligning with China's vision of developing new quality productive forces.

New quality productive forces is a term proposed by the Chinese leadership last year, and it has become a part of China's modernization strategy. It focuses on artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, quantum computing and communication, space exploration, life sciences, clean energy and other fields, with an aim to promote the industrial upgrading and economic transformation of the world's second largest economy.

The exhibit of Toyota's newest energy storage system at the CIIE marks its first introduction to markets beyond Japan. This innovative technology has been empirically tested at a thermal power plant in Japan and has achieved grid-connected power generation. By participating in the CIIE, Toyota aims to identify potential partners to facilitate the expansion of this business.

Xu Yiming said the CIIE is not only an event to showcase the latest technologies, but also a platform to exchange ideas.

"When we first showcased our hydrogen-powered vehicles at the first two editions of the expo, it was still a very strange concept to many visitors," Xu said, adding that now Toyota's hydrogen logistics network has covered more than 10 major cities in the Chinese mainland.

This year, the CIIE has launched a special area dedicated to new materials, the first such initiative at the expo. Large companies from countries such as the United States, Germany, Japan and Singapore are demonstrating their latest technological achievements in areas such as electronics and biotechnology.

At the booth of German glass company SCHOTT AG, many glass products featuring cutting-edge technologies are on display. Frank Heinricht, CEO of SCHOTT AG, said China's emphasis on new quality productive forces has played a key role in the company's global supply chain, and the company is looking forward to participating in China's industrial upgrade and supply-side reform.

"In the past, low cost was an important factor in attracting foreign investment in China, but now we place more value in new industries that are based on technological innovation and professional talent," he said, adding that the company's research team is undergoing close communication with leading semiconductor companies in China and around the world.

Michael Bi, managing partner of EY Greater China Markets, said the CIIE can further encourage Chinese and foreign enterprises to engage in technological cooperation, joint research and development, and collaborative problem-solving.

In areas such as efficient energy storage technology in the new energy sector, China can also enhance its own technological capabilities through exchanges at the expo, while better benefiting the global supply and industrial chains, he added.

The urge to cooperate in new quality productive forces goes both ways. At the Chinese national pavilion of the expo, a range of scientific and technological achievements have been displayed, including models of the quantum satellite Micius and the Chang'e 6 lunar probe.

The expo has also attracted many Chinese exhibitors to demonstrate their latest technological achievements. Hebei Jixiang Technology Co., Ltd., a newly established company based in Xingtai City of Hebei Province, is promoting its drone products at the expo, with the aim of attracting potential buyers both domestically and internationally.

"The company focuses on producing tailor-made drones, used in areas such as emergency rescue and pesticide spraying," Ma Zhenxin, an official with Xingtai Xuyang Economic Development Zone, said, adding that it looks to enter the international market through this expo.

"The CIIE is designed to explore how humanity can collaboratively tackle various challenges," said Li Jian, a researcher at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.

The expo acts as a platform for showcasing future technologies and lifestyles, he said, adding that by fostering cooperation and mutual benefit, the CIIE aims to enhance and develop new drivers of global growth. 
President-elect Donald Trump will visit the White House on Wednesday after being invited by President Bidena longstanding post-election courtesy that Trump did not extend four years ago. The White House said the two will meet in the Oval Office, the New York Times reports. In a speech to the nation on Thursday, Biden addressed the transition. "I will fulfill my oath, and I will honor the constitution," he said. "On January 20, we'll have a peaceful transfer of power here in America."

Another outgoing Democratic president hosted the same newly elected Republican at the White House after the 2016 election. "Most of all, I want to emphasize to you, Mr. President-elect, that we now are going to want to do everything we can to help you succeedbecause if you succeed, then the country succeeds," Barack Obama said afterward. Wednesday's meeting is scheduled for 11am, per the AP. (More President Biden stories.)
An Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre resulted in at least seven fatalities, including five siblings. Among the siblings, three were deaf and mute: sisters Elissar, Rabab, and Fidaa Dabouk; also killed was their brother Ali, who had autism. The airstrike, which occurred late Friday night, also left 46 individuals injured, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. DNA tests will be required to identify certain victims due to the severity of the destruction.

This attack comes amid a broader Israeli military offensive targeting various parts of southern and eastern Lebanon. Reports indicate that Lebanon's Hezbollah group retaliated by launching rockets into northern Israel and claimed to have shot down an Israeli drone. There was no immediate confirmation from the Israeli military regarding the downed drone. In a statement, Israel's military disclosed it struck Hezbollah intelligence offices in Tyre, aiming to incapacitate its command and control operations in the region. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
Ecuador's vice president, Veronica Abad, was suspended Saturday for 150 days accused of "unjustified abandonment" of her duties. Abad's suspension without pay came at midnight, her lawyer Dominique Davila told the AP . Davila called the move "extremely serious" and claimed it may not have any legal backing. Abad was accused by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of not following an order in September to temporarily transfer her from Israelwhere she also serves as ambassadorto Turkey due to the conflict, arriving eight days after the order.

Abad had argued that she was not "properly prepared" for the trip to Turkey and that Ecuador's government suggested "that I leave my children in Israel to go to Turkey alone." Although Abad and Noboa run the government together, they have clashed for years in a feud whose origin is not publicly known. In August, Abad filed a legal complaint accusing Noboa and other officials of gender-based violence. The suspension was the second sanction against Abad this week. Abad was fined $8,500 on Tuesday by Ecuador's Electoral Disputes Tribunal for early election campaigning in 2023 when she was a candidate for mayor of Cuenca.

The vice president has previously cited the Israel case and others as measures to pressure her to resign, while the president has labeled her disloyal. Davila, Abad's lawyer, called the suspension a "trick to prevent the presidential succession" and said it will be appealed. Abad's fate has special importance for Noboa, who hopes to run for reelection in February and will have to request a leave of absence to campaign, according to experts. In that case, Abad would take over the presidency. But with the recent sanctions, her path to taking the reigns would be blocked, according to a constitutional lawyer. The expert said that while the suspension lacks strong legal backing, any appeals process to reverse the 150-day suspension would take longer than the suspension will last.

(More Ecuador stories.)
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Email: mail@newsobahrain.com

Missed Work Permit Renewal Deadline? Missing the renewal deadline for a work permit can have serious consequences, potentially leaving workers in an illegal status. However, Bahraini parliamentarians believe they have a solution to this unintentional oversight.

A proposal scheduled for discussion in the upcoming parliamentary session suggests granting employers a 30-day grace period to renew work permits.

The government, however, opposes the idea, labelling it unnecessary, given that employers already receive a six-month advance notice regarding renewals.

This stance comes with a cautionary note from the Ministry of Labour, which warns that administrative fines will apply to any employer found in breach of the law, including those employing domestic workers.

On the other hand, the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry supports the bill, stating that it benefits employers.

Penalties and Legal Basis

Parliamentarians assert that Tuesdays discussion aims to help employers avoid penalties outlined in Article 36 of the Labour Market Regulatory Law No. 19 of 2006.

Citing Clause (d) of Article 13 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain, they believe the proposal could reduce the number of legal actions against employers. According to MPs, providing employers with additional time could prevent inadvertent violations that may disrupt business activities.

Contradictions and Concerns

The government contends that the MPs' proposal contradicts the core objectives of the Labour Market Regulatory Law, which prioritizes Bahraini workers. Additionally, the government emphasizes that fees collected under this law fund training and employment programs for national workers.

They also warn that the proposal could lead to practical challenges, including an increase in informal employment. Furthermore, the government argues that the grace period could hinder hiring processes while permits are being renewed.

Additionally, foreign work permits are already regulated by Decision No. 76 of 2008 and its amendments, which govern permit renewals.

LMRA Statistics

The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) notes the difficulty in tracking delayed renewals, as renewal status fluctuates daily and hourly.

Each work permit expires after a set duration, after which the worker may leave the country, apply for a new permit with a different employer, or continue working legally in other permitted scenarios.

As such, accurately quantifying expired permits awaiting renewal is practically unfeasible.

Support from the Chamber

The Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in agreement with the MPs, also suggested additional legal amendments on the issue.

They recommended a review of the employer notification system at the authority and advocated for a graduated approach to penalties for employers.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Email: mail@newsobahrain.com

Under the patronage of His Excellency Mr. Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh, Chairman of the Shura Council, the Youth Leadership Association, in collaboration with the General Secretariat of the Shura Council, successfully hosted the 8th Youth Forum and marked the closing of the 7th Parliamentary Youth Program. Over 40 young men and women participated in the event, which focused on empowering the youth of Bahrain through political engagement, leadership development, and legislative simulations.

The forum was officially opened by Mr. Reda Ibrahim Munfredi, Chairman of the Shura Council's Youth Affairs Committee, who spoke on behalf of the Chairman of the Shura Council. Mr. Munfredi conveyed the Chairman's greetings and best wishes for the continued success of the Youth Leadership Association's programs, which strive to enhance leadership, creativity, and innovation among young Bahrainis. He praised the initiative for fostering the growth of youth leadership in the Kingdom.

The opening session was attended by members from both the Shura and Representatives Councils, as well as Mrs. Karima Mohammed Al-Abbasi, Secretary-General of the Shura Council. The participation of these dignitaries highlighted the strong support for youth initiatives that promote civic engagement and development.

Throughout the forum, discussions were led by several prominent figures, including Dr. Mohamed Ali Hassan Ali, Chairman of the Shura Council's Public Utilities and Environment Committee, Mr. Ali Hussein Al-Shahabi, Deputy Chairman of the Human Rights Committee, and Dr. Hani Abdullah Al-Saati, member of the Youth Affairs Committee. Their involvement added depth to the conversations and offered valuable insights into various issues impacting the youth of Bahrain.

The forum covered a wide range of topics, including youth development, sports, the economy, and social issues, all examined through the lens of existing legislation and laws. The sessions provided participants with the opportunity to engage in simulated debates, mimicking the discussions held in the Shura Councils legislative committees. The simulated environment allowed the young participants to debate key issues, exchange views, and develop a deeper understanding of the legislative process.

The Parliamentary Youth Program, which is a key initiative of the Youth Leadership Association, was designed to inspire political participation among young people. By offering a platform for youth to engage with real-world legislative processes, the program aims to nurture their leadership skills and encourage them to take an active role in shaping the future of Bahrain.

The forum also allowed for the exchange of forward-thinking ideas, ensuring that the perspectives of young Bahrainis are incorporated into future policies and decisions. The success of this years forum and the Parliamentary Youth Program underscores Bahrains commitment to fostering a generation of informed, active, and capable leaders who will contribute to the Kingdoms continued growth and development.
A Western New York native reported missing while on a trip abroad in Europe was murdered, police said.

Mackenzie Kenzie Michalski was killed after she disappeared this week from a famous nightclub in Budapest, Hungary, Budapest Police Headquarters announced today in a news release. Michalski, originally from Fredonia, was 31 years old.

A 37-year-old man from Ireland has been taken into custody for Michalskis murder, police said.

The man  whose name was not immediately released  was spotted with Michalski at nightclubs before she disappeared, police said. He showed investigators where he had hidden Michalskis body, police said.

We are deeply saddened to confirm a report published by Hungarian police announcing the death of our beloved Kenzie, wrote loved ones on Find Mackenzie Michalski, the Facebook page created to help find Michalski.

Michalski, a nurse practitioner who WGRZ said previously worked at Buffalo General Medical Center, moved from Western New York to Portland, Oregon.

Michalski was last seen Tuesday at Szimpla Kert, a popular ruin bar in the Hungarian Capital, Daily News Hungary reported. She was reported missing after she failed to check out of her Budapest Airbnb and missed her flight out of Hungary, WGRZ reported.

U.S. Rep. Tim Kennedy, who represents the Buffalo area in Congress, wrote a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken asking for help finding Michalski.

Three days later, the man suspected of killing Michalski led officers to her body, police said.

In the Facebook group created after Michalskis disappearance, family and friends thanked the public for their help and asked for privacy as they grieve.

We are thankful that Kenzies soul is now at peace. Her memory and legacy will endure in the hearts of all whom shes touched, Michalskis loved ones wrote. To understand Kenzies spirit is to wholeheartedly embrace the vast joy and wonder of life. Her wish for the world: fully embrace the present moment, be your authentic self, practice kindness, and always walk in the light.

Two candlelight vigils are slated to be held tomorrow for Michalski.

One will be held in Budapest, the last city the avid traveler visited.

The other is set to take place in Barker Commons in Fredonia  Michalskis hometown.
A total of 56 lost Chinese cultural relics have been returned from Italy, China's National Cultural Heritage Administration announced on Saturday. #XinhuaNews
A start-of-winter brewing ceremony for yellow rice wine is held at Shendang Winery Co., Ltd. in Haiyan County of Jiaxing City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 9, 2024. Shendang Winery Co., Ltd., a century-old winery in Shendang Ancient Town in Jiaxing, held a start-of-winter brewing ceremony for yellow rice wine on Saturday. The ceremony is a tradition observed around Lidong, or Start of Winter, the 19th of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese lunar calendar. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Tourists visit Shendang Winery Co., Ltd. in Haiyan County of Jiaxing City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 9, 2024. Shendang Winery Co., Ltd., a century-old winery in Shendang Ancient Town in Jiaxing, held a start-of-winter brewing ceremony for yellow rice wine on Saturday. The ceremony is a tradition observed around Lidong, or Start of Winter, the 19th of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese lunar calendar. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Tourists visit Shendang Winery Co., Ltd. in Haiyan County of Jiaxing City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 9, 2024. Shendang Winery Co., Ltd., a century-old winery in Shendang Ancient Town in Jiaxing, held a start-of-winter brewing ceremony for yellow rice wine on Saturday. The ceremony is a tradition observed around Lidong, or Start of Winter, the 19th of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese lunar calendar. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

A staff member works at Shendang Winery Co., Ltd. in Haiyan County of Jiaxing City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 9, 2024. Shendang Winery Co., Ltd., a century-old winery in Shendang Ancient Town in Jiaxing, held a start-of-winter brewing ceremony for yellow rice wine on Saturday. The ceremony is a tradition observed around Lidong, or Start of Winter, the 19th of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese lunar calendar. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Tourists visit Shendang Winery Co., Ltd. in Haiyan County of Jiaxing City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 9, 2024. Shendang Winery Co., Ltd., a century-old winery in Shendang Ancient Town in Jiaxing, held a start-of-winter brewing ceremony for yellow rice wine on Saturday. The ceremony is a tradition observed around Lidong, or Start of Winter, the 19th of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese lunar calendar. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

A staff member works at Shendang Winery Co., Ltd. in Haiyan County of Jiaxing City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 9, 2024. Shendang Winery Co., Ltd., a century-old winery in Shendang Ancient Town in Jiaxing, held a start-of-winter brewing ceremony for yellow rice wine on Saturday. The ceremony is a tradition observed around Lidong, or Start of Winter, the 19th of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese lunar calendar. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Workers clean brewing vats at Shendang Winery Co., Ltd. in Haiyan County of Jiaxing City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 9, 2024. Shendang Winery Co., Ltd., a century-old winery in Shendang Ancient Town in Jiaxing, held a start-of-winter brewing ceremony for yellow rice wine on Saturday. The ceremony is a tradition observed around Lidong, or Start of Winter, the 19th of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese lunar calendar. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Staff members work at Shendang Winery Co., Ltd. in Haiyan County of Jiaxing City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 9, 2024. Shendang Winery Co., Ltd., a century-old winery in Shendang Ancient Town in Jiaxing, held a start-of-winter brewing ceremony for yellow rice wine on Saturday. The ceremony is a tradition observed around Lidong, or Start of Winter, the 19th of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese lunar calendar. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)
A 72-year-old man convicted of repeatedly sexually assaulting two underage victims for nearly a decade was sentenced on Thursday to 27 years in New Jersey State Prison, according to the Camden County Prosecutors Office.

A jury found Henry Parker, of Pennsauken, guilty of several child sexual abuse charges in June. During his trial, his victims testified that hed molested them at his home from October 2009 until January 2018, when theyd reported his misconduct to police.

Parker was convicted of two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault; five counts of second-degree sexual assault; four counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child; five counts of third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact; and one count of engaging or soliciting prostitution of a minor.

He was acquitted of three counts of child endangerment. Three additional counts in his indictment resulted in a hung jury.

Aggravated sexual assault in the first degree is applied to severe sex crimes, and is a charge that can result in a life sentence and fines of up to $200,000.

The first 24 years of Parkers aggregate prison term will be subject to New Jerseys No Early Release Act, which prohibits defendants from being freed before serving at least 85% of their total jail term.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

AJ McDougall may be reached at amcdougall@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on X at @oldmcdougall.
A man pushing a shopping a cart across a Vineland street on Thursday was fatally struck by a car that fled the scene, police said.

The man, Michael J. Cimback Jr., 72, of Vineland, was trying to cross West Landis Avenue shortly after 5 p.m., police said. He was struck by a dark green Honda sedan that was traveling westbound and continued in that direction after hitting Cimback Jr., according to a release from the Vineland Police Department.

Shortly thereafter, an SUV being driven by a 36-year-old Vineland man, hit Cimback Jr. a second time but remained on the scene, the department said.

When police responded to the scene at 5:25 p.m., they rushed him to Inspira Medical Center Vineland where he later died from his injuries, investigators said.

As of Friday afternoon no charges related to the incident had been filed.

Anyone who witnessed the crash was encouraged to contact Vineland Police Officer Anthony Capelli at 856-691-4111 x4350. Anyone who calls was asked to reference Case# 24-47279.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
MUNICH  Brian Burns pondered the question Friday: Whats it like to pass rush next to Dexter Lawrence?

As Burns thought, Lawrence chimed in  with his usual deadpan tone  from across the room: Amazing.
The Hudson County Regional Arson Task Force is investigating a four-alarm fire that ripped through a business and spread to apartments late Friday night in Jersey City, officials said.

The Jersey City Fire Department responded to a report of a fire at 3507 Kennedy Boulevard just before 11 p.m. Friday, officials said.

Two firefighters suffered minor injuries fighting the blaze and were treated at Jersey City Medical Center. Twenty-six residents were displaced from their homes as a result of the fire, according to officials.

Red Cross of New Jersey said it was helping nine families with temporary lodging and other necessities.

Our Disaster Action Team responded to a home #fire on JFK Blvd in #JerseyCity, helping 9 families (26 people) with Red Cross emergency assistance for temporary lodging, food, clothing and other immediate needs.  Red Cross New Jersey (@NJRedCross) November 9, 2024

Firefighters reported heavy smoke and fire coming from the building when they arrived at the scene, authorities said.

The fire is believed to have started in a business on the ground floor and quickly spread to neighboring residential units, according to authorities.

The Jersey City Fire Department and Hudson County Regional Arson Task Force are investigating the cause of the fire, and anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact officials at 201-915-1345 or contact the Hudson County Prosecutors Office confidential tip line.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X
TOKYO, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Japan's influenza cases have entered a nationwide outbreak phase, with cases continuing to increase across the country, government data showed.

For the week ending Nov. 3, roughly 5,000 medical institutions reported a total of 5,127 influenza cases, an increase of 829 cases from the previous week, according to the country's health ministry.

The average number of patients per medical institution reached 1.04, surpassing the threshold for declaring the start of a nationwide flu season, prompting the ministry to announce the official onset on Friday.

By region, Okinawa reported the highest flu incidence, with 10.64 cases per facility, followed by Shizuoka (2.09), Chiba (2.00), Oita (1.66), and Fukui (1.62).

Health officials urged the public to adhere to basic preventative measures, including frequent handwashing, appropriate mask use, and considering vaccination, particularly for high-risk groups. 
A woman who lived in Ocean County when she entered the U.S. Capitol with rioters on Jan. 6, 2021 will serve 45 days behind bars.

Anna Lichnowski, 37, was also sentenced to serve three years' probation, perform 200 hours of community service, and pay a $2,500 fine and $500 in restitution, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia told NJ Advance Media after her Friday morning hearing.

A judge convicted Lichnowski of four misdemeanor charges during a bench trial this summer in federal court in Washington, D.C. After the riots, she posted a picture of herself on social media with a caption that said she was proud to have stormed the Capitol.

She lived in Brick in Jan. 2021, and now lives in Florida, where she works as a tour boat captain.

Federal prosecutors argued for a 12-month prison term. Her lawyer, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday, argued for probation.

On Thursday, a judge denied a last-ditch effort from Lichnowskis legal team to stave off her sentencing until next year in order to permit [her] to seek a Presidential pardon from Donald Trump. The judge wrote in his order that the potential future exercise of the discretionary pardon power" was irrelevant to the courts obligation to sentence Lichnowski.

The 37-year-olds attorneys previously attempted to portray her as having overcome great adversity, including near-fatal overdoses, having struggled with substance abuse issues after the death of her mother when she was just 18 years old.

Lichnowski went to Florida previously, but returned to take care of her younger siblings during a rough personal period in her life. Despite her deteriorating mental and physical health, she empowered her younger sisters to become successful women who graduated college, started successful careers, and moved out-of-state to lead better lives, her lawyers wrote in a sentencing report.

The report also says at the time of the rioting, Lichnowski was a federal employee, working as a disaster loan specialist for the Small Business Administration. She is also a graduate of Monmouth University.

Lichnowski currently owns a home with her fiancee, is active in her Florida community and is a mentee to young women, according to the report, which mentions several letters submitted to the court on her behalf by family, friends, colleagues and mentees  many of whom would be negatively affected by her incarceration, according to her lawyers. (The letters were not available in the court docket.)

She even helped out during the hurricanes that ravaged Florida, appearing on CNN to discuss her efforts.

The Defendant has, by all accounts, rehabilitated herself from a past life that could have certainly led to a life of crime. She has dedicated half of her adult life to achieving her potential personally and professionally. She would not risk the life she has to commit crimes in the future, the report argued.

It also said the letters show Lichnowski has accepted responsibility and shown remorse to those closest to her. She should not be penalized for failing to make an obsequious show of submission to the Federal Government.

Federal prosecutors argued in their report that Lichnowski needed to go to prison because, even after her convictions, she continues to dispute her role on Jan. 6.

Lichnowski filed objections to information in pre-sentence reporting by filing affidavits from herself and a friend she claims called her on Jan. 6, 2021, with news that Congress had been evacuated from the Capitol  purportedly before Lichnowski entered.

The call never happened, and Lichnowski is making a belated attempt to relitigate the Courts factual finding that she testified untruthfully, the prosecutors report said.

By doubling down on this spurious narrative, Lichnowski still has not come to terms with her conduct on January 6 and lacks remorse for her actions, the report said.

The report described the judge at her trial not finding her testimony convincing nor truthful, and her attempts to deceive him with several falsehoods.

Lichnowski entered the Capitol unlawfully, stayed there after a police officer ordered her to leave, then stayed in another exterior restricted area for 45 minutes, the report says. She was found guilty.

The prosecutors report said Lichnowski has no criminal history and is a college graduate.

But by the same token, nothing in Lichnowskis background mitigates her culpability for her crimes as part of the mob that breached the Capitol on January 6, 2021. To the contrary, she was 33 years old at the time of the offense. She should have known better than to participate in a riotparticularly when she knew full well that Congress and the Vice President would be there administering their constitutional obligations.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com.
Cannabis shops could be allowed soon in a small borough in Sussex County.

Stanhope voters on Tuesday approved a referendum asking if cannabis businesses should be allowed by a vote of 1,042 to 855.

Stanhope, a borough of about 3,500 residents, rejected allowing cannabis sales in 2021 under a state law that allows municipalities to opt out. About 70% of the New Jersey towns, cities and boroughs have said no to cannabis sales.
Rain is in the forecast for New Jersey this weekend, but not quite enough to end the states record-setting drought.

Up to a half inch of rain is expected in areas of New Jersey on Sunday evening, forecasters from the National Weather Service said.

Although, this certainly will not be enough to break the ongoing drought conditions, it will definitely be appreciable considering how dry it has been over the last 2 months, forecasters said in a Saturday morning weather update.

The forecast for Saturday includes sunshine and high winds, with temperatures settling in the high 50s across most of New Jersey, forecasters said.

Windy conditions will build early Saturday to around 10-15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph, forecasters said.

Higher winds will trail off later in the day to around 5-10 mph, officials said.

Periods of light rain are expected to begin late Sunday as moisture associated with Tropical Storm Rafael sweeps through the region into Monday morning, according to forecasters.

Windy conditions could complicate controlling at least nine forest fires burning around the state as extreme drought conditions persist in areas of Atlantic, Ocean and Burlington counties.

New Jersey has not had meaningful rainfall in more than two months, with most of the state now in a severe drought and portions of at least three counties in a rare extreme drought, officials said.

Voluntary water conservation measures were recommended by the governors office about two weeks ago as the lack of rain has complicated certain agricultural industries, including New Jerseys cranberry harvest.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection also issued a Stage 3 fire ban in late October, which prohibits lighting any open fires.

Embed coding for weather radar (insert as html in Arc at bottom)

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This photo taken on Oct. 28, 2024 shows a batch of 56 lost Chinese cultural relics to be returned from Italy in Rome, Italy. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

BEIJING, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- A total of 56 lost Chinese cultural relics have been returned from Italy, China's National Cultural Heritage Administration announced on Saturday.

The return signifies yet another successful cooperation between China and Italy within the framework of their bilateral agreement aimed at preventing the illegal import and export of cultural relics, the administration noted.

It follows the previous repatriation of 796 Chinese cultural relics from Italy in March 2019.

In October 2022 and April 2024, the Italian Carabinieri military police notified China about the seizure of a total of 56 suspected Chinese cultural relics.

Upon receiving this information, China's National Cultural Heritage Administration provided detailed identification opinions and legal basis reports to the Italian authorities.

Through diplomatic channels, China officially requested the return of these cultural relics. Italy subsequently made the decision to return the 56 aforementioned artifacts.

Most of the artifacts were found to have been unearthed in the provinces of Gansu, Qinghai, and Shaanxi in China.

Among them is painted pottery of Majiayao culture, an ancient Chinese culture dating back more than 5,000 years, providing valuable material evidence for the study of the origin and early development of Chinese civilization.

The returned artifacts also include pottery figurines from the Han (202 B.C.- A.D. 220) and Tang (618-907) dynasties and animal-shaped ceramics from the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).

Amid China's intensified efforts to recover cultural relics lost overseas, more than 2,100 pieces or sets of artifacts have been successfully brought back in the past 12 years. 

A Chinese staff member takes measurements of a batch of 56 lost Chinese cultural relics to be returned from Italy before packing them up in Rome, Italy, Oct. 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

Chinese and Italian staff members check and verify a batch of 56 lost Chinese cultural relics to be returned from Italy before packing them up in Rome, Italy, Oct. 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

Chinese staff members pack up a batch of 56 lost Chinese cultural relics to be returned from Italy in Rome, Italy, Oct. 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

Chinese staff members take measurements of a batch of 56 lost Chinese cultural relics to be returned from Italy before packing them up in Rome, Italy, Oct. 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

This photo taken on Oct. 28, 2024 shows a batch of 56 lost Chinese cultural relics to be returned from Italy in Rome, Italy. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

This photo taken on Oct. 28, 2024 shows a batch of 56 lost Chinese cultural relics to be returned from Italy in Rome, Italy. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

Chinese staff members pack up a batch of 56 lost Chinese cultural relics to be returned from Italy in Rome, Italy, Oct. 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

This photo taken on Oct. 28, 2024 shows a batch of 56 lost Chinese cultural relics to be returned from Italy in Rome, Italy. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

A technician restores a painted pottery artifact at the ceramic and metal cultural relics restoration room of the Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Li He)

This photo taken on Nov. 5, 2024 shows a painted pottery artifact of Majiayao culture, an ancient Chinese culture dating back more than 5,000 years, which is among a batch of 56 lost Chinese cultural relics returned from Italy. (Xinhua/Li He)

A technician restores a painted pottery artifact at the ceramic and metal cultural relics restoration room of the Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Li He)

Technicians restore painted pottery artifacts at the ceramic and metal cultural relics restoration room of the Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Li He)

This photo taken on Nov. 5, 2024 shows a painted pottery artifact of Majiayao culture, an ancient Chinese culture dating back more than 5,000 years, which is among a batch of 56 lost Chinese cultural relics returned from Italy. (Xinhua/Li He)

This photo taken on Nov. 5, 2024 shows a painted pottery artifact of Majiayao culture, an ancient Chinese culture dating back more than 5,000 years, which is among a batch of 56 lost Chinese cultural relics returned from Italy. (Xinhua/Li He)

This photo taken on Nov. 5, 2024 shows a painted pottery artifact of Majiayao culture, an ancient Chinese culture dating back more than 5,000 years, which is among a batch of 56 lost Chinese cultural relics returned from Italy. (Xinhua/Li He)

This photo taken on Nov. 5, 2024 shows a painted pottery artifact of Majiayao culture, an ancient Chinese culture dating back more than 5,000 years, which is among a batch of 56 lost Chinese cultural relics returned from Italy. (Xinhua/Li He)

This photo taken on Nov. 5, 2024 shows a painted pottery artifact of Majiayao culture, an ancient Chinese culture dating back more than 5,000 years, which is among a batch of 56 lost Chinese cultural relics returned from Italy. (Xinhua/Li He)

Technicians restore painted pottery artifacts at the ceramic and metal cultural relics restoration room of the Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Li He)

This combo photo taken on Nov. 5, 2024 shows eight painted pottery artifacts of Majiayao culture, an ancient Chinese culture dating back more than 5,000 years, which are among a batch of 56 lost Chinese cultural relics returned from Italy. (Xinhua/Li He)

This photo taken on Nov. 5, 2024 shows painted pottery artifacts of Majiayao culture, an ancient Chinese culture dating back more than 5,000 years, which are among a batch of 56 lost Chinese cultural relics returned from Italy. (Xinhua/Li He)

A technician restores a painted pottery artifact at the ceramic and metal cultural relics restoration room of the Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Li He)

This photo taken on Nov. 5, 2024 shows a painted pottery artifact of Majiayao culture, an ancient Chinese culture dating back more than 5,000 years, which is among a batch of 56 lost Chinese cultural relics returned from Italy. (Xinhua/Li He)

This photo taken on Nov. 5, 2024 shows a painted pottery artifact of Majiayao culture, an ancient Chinese culture dating back more than 5,000 years, which is among a batch of 56 lost Chinese cultural relics returned from Italy. (Xinhua/Li He)
This photo taken with a mobile phone shows people gathering at the blast site at a railway station in southwest Pakistan's Quetta city on Nov. 9, 2024. At least 17 people were killed and 20 others injured on Saturday morning in a blast at a railway station in Pakistan's southwest Quetta city, officials said. (Str/Xinhua)

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- At least 17 people were killed and 20 others injured on Saturday morning in a blast at a railway station in Pakistan's southwest Quetta city, officials said.

Medical Superintendent of Civil Hospital of Quetta Allah Noor told Xinhua that the 17 bodies and 20 injured were shifted to a hospital, fearing that the death toll could rise as several of the injured are in critical condition at the intensive care unit of the hospital.

Senior Superintendent of Police Mohammad Baloch told media that the blast took place near the ticketing booths of the railway station when a number of passengers were standing in queues to buy tickets in Quetta, capital of southwest Balochistan province.

The official said that at the time of the blast over 100 people were present at the ticketing center when the blast took place.

Police, security forces, and rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the bodies and injured to hospital.

An emergency has been declared in all hospitals of the city.

The police official said that the nature of the blast is not confirmed yet, adding that an initial investigation showed that it was a suicide attack.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. 

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows an ambulance at the blast site at a railway station in southwest Pakistan's Quetta city on Nov. 9, 2024.

At least 17 people were killed and 20 others injured on Saturday morning in a blast at a railway station in Pakistan's southwest Quetta city, officials said. (Str/Xinhua)

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows people gathering at the blast site at a railway station in southwest Pakistan's Quetta city on Nov. 9, 2024.

At least 17 people were killed and 20 others injured on Saturday morning in a blast at a railway station in Pakistan's southwest Quetta city, officials said. (Str/Xinhua)
A worker works on the fiberglass production line at a factory of China's fiberglass giant Jushi at China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Suez Province, Egypt, Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

CAIRO, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- The economic zone near Egypt's vital Suez Canal built by China's giant industrial developer TEDA is a promising model of the Belt and Road cooperation between Egypt and China, which contributes to the Egyptian industrial development, representatives of Egyptian political parties have said.

Representatives from a dozen renowned Egyptian parties, such as the Homat Al Watan (the Protectors of the Nation) Party, the Free Egyptians Party, the Al-Wafd Party, the Egyptian Socialist Party, and the Justice Party, recently toured the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Ain Sokhna district of Suez province, where they visited a few Chinese factories, including those of Chinese home appliance manufacturer Midea and Chinese fiberglass giant Jushi.

A worker works on the dishwasher production line at a factory of Chinese home appliances manufacturer Midea at China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Suez Province, Egypt, Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Eslam EI-Shamy, human resources manager of Midea Egypt, said his company's factory is operating at TEDA zone's new 6-square-km expansion area and is currently producing about 120,000 dishwashers and 500,000 air fryers annually, with 70 percent of their components being manufactured in Egypt.

Ma Xinyao, deputy general manager of Jushi Egypt, a company that has been operating in TEDA zone's primary area for about 12 years, told Xinhua that the company has four production lines with an annual production capacity of 360,000 tonnes of fiberglass.

"Our total investment in Jushi Egypt is around 1 billion U.S. dollars. We export 95 percent of our Egypt's production while 5 percent goes to the local market," Ma noted.

A worker works on the fiberglass production line at a factory of China's fiberglass giant Jushi at China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Suez Province, Egypt, Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

"What we saw today in TEDA, the size of the business over an area of more than 7 square km, the Chinese companies present, and the technology transfer to Egypt, is what we've been wishing for through cooperation with China, and it is happening now," said Amr Suleiman, spokesman of the Homat Al Watan Party.

TEDA zone is a "real translation" of the Egyptian-Chinese comprehensive strategic partnership, an embodiment of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for common development, and a contribution to Egypt Vision 2030 for sustainable development, Suleiman told Xinhua.

The cooperation zone built in 2008 by China's TEDA covers an area of 7.34 square km. According to Cao Hui, executive director of Egypt-TEDA SEZone Development Company, about 180 investment companies have been attracted to the zone by the end of September, with actual investment exceeding 3 billion dollars, sales volume surpassing 4.6 billion dollars, and tax payments reaching 450 million dollars.

Workers work on the dishwasher production line at a factory of Chinese home appliances manufacturer Midea at China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Suez Province, Egypt, Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

The zone has also created nearly 9,000 direct and over 80,000 indirect job opportunities in Egypt, Cao noted.

"The TEDA cooperation zone is a successful model within both the Chinese Belt and Road map and the Suez Canal axis development map, due to Egypt's strategic location and the distinguished relations between the two countries," Cao said.

"I think the TEDA zone is very promising. This is my first time to visit the zone, but I did not imagine that I would find such a large amount of industries. I was surprised to find products that I may have at home and didn't know they were manufactured here," Ali Abdel-Wadud, member of the foreign relations committee of the Al-Wafd Party, told Xinhua inside Midea's factory in the zone.

"It is such a strong push forward for Egyptian-Chinese cooperation in investment and industry under the BRI, as I've seen today very leading Chinese companies present in the zone," he said. 
i. In one voice note, RIVERA stated, among other things, "this bitch is hard to catch, bro. And because she hard to catch, there ain't gonna be no simple pull up, unless there the luck of the draw. Unless there's the luck of the draw." ii. In a voice note from SHAKERI to RIVERA, SHAKERI told RIVERA that Victim-1 spent most of the time in a study on the third floor and a recording studio on the second floor. SHAKERI went on to state, among other things, that "you just gotta have patience and don't, kicking, kick in the door is not an option because that's a fail, that's a fail maneuver. You gotta wait and have patience to catch her either going in the house or coming out, or following her out somewhere and taking care of it. Don't think about going in. In is a suicide move." iii. In a subsequent voice note, RIVERA stated, among other things, that "we was here at night time, like 5:30 this morning, there was no fuckin' lights on. . . . I already know kickin' in doors only gonna to bring more attention. We already know that, that part. That neighborhood is too quiet for that type of shit. Unless she's on the first floor, and you kick that shit in and then, then, you know, and let's assume you kick it in on the first try." iv. In a subsequent voice note, RIVERA stated, "If we can catch her walking through the door, that's something different. Getting' out the car, that's easy. Kickin' the fuckin' door in? That ain't gonna work, bro. That ain't gonna work. Kickin' the door in's not gonna work." V. In a subsequent voice note, apparently responding to a message from SHAKERI, RIVERA stated: What I'm sayin' to you in a nutshell, bro. Is in order for this to get done? And I don't give a fuck who is [U/I]. You say, "fuck you, nigga, I want somebody else." Ok, your secret safe with me 'cause I ain't no snitch nigga, and I sure ain't no bitch nigga. So I can handle that, right. By the same token, you not gonna find too many motherfuckers who willing to take the job with receiving next to nothin' to start the job off with. You sent me thirty-one fifty, right? That pays for some tools and fuels, right? Tools and fuels that's being, the slammer, mostly, the slammer. Um, toll bridge fee, going back and forth. Putting gas in the car. Rentin' the car. Look, the car ain't mine bromie, that shit is bein' rented. It's funded by the thirty-one fifty. Shit ain't, know what I mean, niggas ain't just lettin' you hold their car to do a drive by for nothin', know what I mean, so.... But homie, how long you think that's gonna last? How long can you expect two workin' niggas, or one workin' nigga, really me, but my man too, he a workin' nigga too. He not like, he's gonna sit out here store. Supra 30(bb). The April 1, 2024, date associated with the voice note files appears to reflect the time difference between New York and Tehran, which is several hours ahead of the Eastern time zone. 18
TOKYO, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Japan's Komeito Party, the coalition partner of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), held an extraordinary convention on Saturday to formally endorse land minister Tetsuo Saito as its new leader.

Saito, 72, takes over from Keiichi Ishii, who resigned following the party's loss of seats in the recent House of Representatives election, where he also lost his own seat.

In his inaugural speech, Saito emphasized Komeito's unique strength in bridging national and local governance, aiming to regain public trust and restore momentum with a united front.

The ruling coalition of LDP led by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Komeito lost the long-held majority in the general election last month.

Ishiba, set to be reelected as prime minister during a special parliamentary session next week, reaffirmed with Saito about their parties' cooperation in a meeting on Saturday. 
TWO general election candidates were among about a hundred people who turned out for the 5km parkrun which resumed on the bank of the Grand Canal in Tullamore on Saturday morning.

Minister of State Pippa Hackett, the Green Party candidate from Geashill, and Cllr Tony McCormack, the Tullamore man who is running for Fianna Fail, had intervened following the temporary suspension of the weekly event recently.

The resumption of the parkrun coincided with the third anniversary of its establishment. Event organiser Trish Finn said there appeared to have been a misunderstanding which resulted in Parkrun being told in late September they had to cancel the Grand Canal Way run and walk.

The organisers then looked into how they could get the event up and running again.

We just didn't know where to start. We went to Pippa Hackett and Tony McCormack and they worked at it and helped us, said Ms Finn.

Waterways have been very helpful as well.

The return of the run from suspension and a special celebration for its third birthday  with a commemorative cake for participants sponsored by local bakers Flynn's  resulted in double the normal number coming along.

There were regular parkrunners from Athlone and Mountlucas, plus a visitor from Canada, another from Mountbellew, Co Galway and a couple more from Raheny, Dublin..

WATCH:

https://www.offalyexpress.ie/video/general-election/1651931/watch-offaly-green-party-candidate-says-she-has-vision-no-one-else-running-in-county-has.html

When our parkrun wasn't running we went [to Athlone and Mountlucas] to do our parkrun so we're delighted to get people back, said Ms Finn.

It's just to get people moving, it's all part of healthy Ireland, getting people out walking in a safe environment, not just for their physical health but for their mental health as well.

Parkrun is an international organisation and once participants register online their runs and walks are recorded whenever and wherever they take place.

The parkrun in the Bord na Mona wind farm at Mountlucas was Offaly's first and it was then followed by Tullamore which begins close to the Fiona Pender memorial monument and follows a double loop on the northern bank of the canal.

Stewards supervise those taking part and on Saturday morning there were a number of pacers helping runners who wished to achieve certain times.

While the competitive element is attractive to some, others use it as an opportunity to complete a walk. Children are encourage to join and dogs are permitted on leads.

WATCH:

https://www.offalyexpress.ie/video/general-election/1651947/watch-strong-representative-needed-in-tullamore-and-offaly-says-fianna-fail-candidate.html

Two youngsters from Spain who are staying with host families in Tullamore as part of a student exchange programme took part.

Naia from Bilbao and Andrea from Valencia befriended each other since arriving in Tullamore. Naia explained why she came along for the run: I wanted to keep healthy and do a little bit of sport and run because it's a long time since I did it.

Andrea said she glad to go to the run with Naia and explained how she chose Ireland: I wanted to do an exchange and I heard Ireland was good so I came here. I really like it here.
Join Argentine correspondent Pablo Domini as he embarks on a unique adventure at the 2024 China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai--a mission to find the perfect gift for his wife! Experience the excitement of this vibrant event where cultures blend, innovation dazzles, and treasures from all over the world are on display. From eco-friendly products to one-of-a-kind finds, CIIE isn't just about business; it's about discovery and connection. Watch Pablo's latest vlog to see if he can find that special present and find out why CIIE is an experience like no other.
People visit the Auto Zurich 2024 in Zurich, Switzerland, Nov. 8, 2024.

At the ongoing 37th edition of the Auto Zurich, scheduled from Nov. 7 to 10, 70 brands are showcasing their latest models to visitors.

The "EV Experience" module, featuring electric vehicles for test drives and consultations, also gained popularity during the event. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

A visitor takes photos of a car at the Auto Zurich 2024 in Zurich, Switzerland, Nov. 8, 2024.

At the ongoing 37th edition of the Auto Zurich, scheduled from Nov. 7 to 10, 70 brands are showcasing their latest models to visitors.

The "EV Experience" module, featuring electric vehicles for test drives and consultations, also gained popularity during the event. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

People visit the Auto Zurich 2024 in Zurich, Switzerland, Nov. 8, 2024.

At the ongoing 37th edition of the Auto Zurich, scheduled from Nov. 7 to 10, 70 brands are showcasing their latest models to visitors.

The "EV Experience" module, featuring electric vehicles for test drives and consultations, also gained popularity during the event. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

People view an electric car at the Auto Zurich 2024 in Zurich, Switzerland, Nov. 8, 2024.

At the ongoing 37th edition of the Auto Zurich, scheduled from Nov. 7 to 10, 70 brands are showcasing their latest models to visitors.

The "EV Experience" module, featuring electric vehicles for test drives and consultations, also gained popularity during the event. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

A visitor takes photos of a car at the Auto Zurich 2024 in Zurich, Switzerland, Nov. 8, 2024.

At the ongoing 37th edition of the Auto Zurich, scheduled from Nov. 7 to 10, 70 brands are showcasing their latest models to visitors.

The "EV Experience" module, featuring electric vehicles for test drives and consultations, also gained popularity during the event. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

People view a car developed by Chinese manufacturer MG Motor at the Auto Zurich 2024 in Zurich, Switzerland, Nov. 8, 2024.

At the ongoing 37th edition of the Auto Zurich, scheduled from Nov. 7 to 10, 70 brands are showcasing their latest models to visitors.

The "EV Experience" module, featuring electric vehicles for test drives and consultations, also gained popularity during the event. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)
DUBAI, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, discussed the latest regional developments with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken by phone, according to an official statement from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday.

During the phone call, the two officials stressed the urgent need for intensified efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, paying particular attention to the humanitarian consequences.

They also talked about the escalation of violence in Lebanon and emphasized the importance of protecting civilians in the country amid ongoing hostilities.

The UAE Foreign Ministry noted that the two sides also discussed the situation in Sudan, highlighting the severe humanitarian impact there. 
BEIRUT, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- At least six people, including a leader of the Islamic Group, were killed and another injured on Saturday in Israeli raids in eastern Lebanon, according to Lebanese military sources.

The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua that an Israeli warplane targeted at dawn with two air-to-ground missiles a house in the village of Majdal Balhis, killing Nabih al-Ghadban, his daughter, and two of his visitors.

The sources said the four bodies have been transferred to a hospital in the Bekaa region, and the Lebanese Red Cross and the Civil Defense teams are still working to remove the rubble of the destroyed house in search of missing persons.

The Islamic Group did not issue any comment on the incident.

The Islamic Group is an Islamic political organization with a military wing called "Fajr Forces," which has recently carried out military operations against the Israeli army.

Meanwhile, the military sources added that two Hezbollah members were killed this morning, and another was wounded as a result of an Israeli raid targeting a house in the village of Libbaya, east of Lebanon.

Also on Saturday, the Lebanese Health Ministry said the death toll of the Israeli airstrike in the southwestern city of Tyre a day earlier had risen to seven and injuries to 46.

Rescue teams are still searching for missing people under the rubble, the ministry added.

On Friday, two Israeli warplanes fired eight air-to-ground missiles at two buildings in the center of Tyre, causing a massive fire, destroying the buildings, and causing great damage to the neighborhood.

Since Sept. 23, the Israeli army has been launching an intensive air attack on Lebanon in a dangerous escalation with Hezbollah. In early October, Israel initiated a ground operation across its northern border into Lebanon. 
In a stinging criticism of the Congress for its proposal to give a 10 per cent quota for Muslims, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that there will be no religion-based reservation in the country.

Addressing an election rally in Palamu, he said the Muslim quota was a Congress conspiracy, IANS reported. I want to warn Rahul Gandhi that your conspiracy to give 10 per cent reservation to Muslims will never succeed.

If such a Muslim quota is created, the biggest losers will be OBCs, Dalits and Tribals as their share of reservation will be reduced, Shah warned.

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"There is no provision for reservation on the basis of religion in the Constitution. We can never give reservation to any particular religion," he said.

"In Maharashtra, a group of Muslim clerics gave Congress a memorandum that Muslims should be given 10 per cent reservation and the state president of Congress party agreed to help them achieve this," Shah said

"I want to warn Rahul Gandhi from here. Rahul Baba, whatever conspiracy you have in your mind, as long as Bharatiya Janata Party is there, minorities will not get a reservation based on religion in this country..." news agency ANI quoted him saying at the rally.

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He attacked the Congress and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) for the state governments conspiracy to allow cross-border infiltration for vote bank politics.

Shah also slammed the INDIA bloc for corruption, which was exposed by the recent recovery of over Rs 300 crore from a Congress MPs house and the seizure of Rs 30 crore from the home of an aide of Jharkhand minister Alamgir Alam.

He also lashed out at the Congress for allegedly waving fake copies of the Constitution at public meetings. The copies of the Constitution they wave at the public have blank pages. Rahul Gandhi has insulted B.R. Ambedkar by waving a fake copy of the Constitution and reduced the revered document to a joke, he claimed.

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The Home Minister also trained his guns on Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over Article 370, saying neither the Congress leader nor his next four generations would be able to bring back Article 370, whose removal has fully integrated Jammu and Kashmir with the country under the Modi government.

Voting to elect a new 81-member Assembly in Jharkhand will be held in two phases, on November 13 and November 20. The results will be declared on November 23.
Geneva: The UN Human Rights Office said on Friday nearly 70 per cent of the fatalities it has verified in the Gaza war were women and children, and condemned what it called a systematic violation of the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.



The UN tally since the start of the war, in which Israel's military is fighting Hamas militants, includes only fatalities it has managed to verify with three sources, and counting continues.

The 8,119 victims verified is a much lower number than the toll of more than 43,000 provided by Palestinian health authorities for the 13-month-old war. But the UN breakdown of the victims' age and gender backs the Palestinian assertion that women and children represent a large portion of those killed in the war.

This finding indicates "a systematic violation of the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, including distinction and proportionality", the UN rights office said in a statement accompanying the 32-page report.

"It is essential that there is due reckoning with respect to the allegations of serious violations of international law through credible and impartial judicial bodies and that, in the meantime, all relevant information and evidence are collected and preserved," United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said.

Israel's diplomatic mission to the UN in Geneva said it categorically rejected the report.

"Once again, OHCHR fails to accurately reflect the realities on the ground, and disregards the extensive role of Hamas and other terrorist organizations in deliberately causing civilian harm in Gaza," it said, referring to the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights.

The Israelis say Hamas deliberately hides among civilians and uses them as human shields, so the militants have responsibility for their deaths. Israel reports that approximately one civilian has been killed for every fighter, a ratio it blames on Hamas.

Hamas has denied using civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, as human shields.

Israel's military, which began its offensive in response to the October 7, 2023 attack in which Israel says Hamas fighters killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel and seized more than 250 hostages, said it took great effort to mitigate harm to civilians.

Comprehensive processes ensure forces complied with the law of armed conflict, with a regulated, multi-tiered process for approving attacks that was designed to give commanders "all reasonably available information," the military said.

"Every military action is carried out in accordance with the principles of distinction and proportionality, and is preceded by a careful assessment of the potential for civilian harm," the military said in a statement.

Youngest victim aged one day

Ajith Sunghay, head of the UN Human Rights Office for the occupied Palestinian Territory, told reporters at a briefing in Geneva that the fatalities included in the report were verified by three sources such as neighbours, family members, local NGOs, hospital records or UN staff on the ground.

"The numbers are, of course, massive compared to previous years, so we do need time to catch up and verify", he said, adding that he thought the final UN tally was likely to be similar to the Palestinian toll.

The youngest victim whose death was verified by UN monitors was a one-day-old boy, and the oldest was a 97-year-old woman, the report said.

Overall, those aged 18 or under represented 44 per cent of the victims, with children aged 5 to 9 representing the single biggest age category, followed by those aged 10-14, and then those aged up to and including 4.

This broadly reflects the enclave's demographics, which the report said was evidence of an apparent failure to take precautions to avoid civilian losses.

The report found that in 88 per cent of cases, five or more people were killed in the same attack, pointing to the Israeli military's use of weapons with an effect across a wide area. It said some fatalities may have been the result of errant projectiles from Palestinian armed groups.
A former tribal police officer for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation was sentenced Friday to seven years and three months in federal prison after he was found with child sexual abuse images and admitted to repeated sexual abuse of a child that began around 1996, according to federal prosecutors.

The prosecution stemmed from a online tip to the FBI in August 2022 that led to federal search warrants of the home and phone of Cameron Jacob Sheoships, 57, which turned up numerous photos and videos depicting child sexual exploitation, according to prosecutors.
BUDAPEST, Hungary  A 31-year-old Portland woman was killed while on vacation in Hungarys capital, and the suspect, a 37-year-old Irish man, has been arrested, Hungarian police said Saturday.

Mackenzie Michalski was reported missing on Nov. 5 after she was last seen at a nightclub in central Budapest. Police launched a missing person investigation and reviewed security footage from local nightclubs where they observed Michalski with a man later identified as the suspect in several of the clubs the night of her disappearance.

Police detained the man, an Irish citizen, on the evening of Nov. 7. Investigators said that Michalski, who went by Kenzie according to friends on Facebook, and the suspect met at a nightclub and danced before leaving for the mans rented apartment. The man killed Michalski while they were engaged in an intimate encounter, police said.

The suspect, whom police identified by the initials L.T.M., later confessed to the killing, but said it had been an accident. Police said that he had attempted to cover up his crime by cleaning the apartment and hiding Michalskis body in a wardrobe before purchasing a suitcase and placing her body inside.

He then rented a car and drove to Lake Balaton, around 90 miles southwest of Budapest, where he disposed of the body in a wooden area outside the town of Szigliget.

Video released by police showed the suspect guiding authorities to the location where he had left the body. Police said the suspect had made internet searches before being apprehended on how to dispose of a body, police procedures in missing person cases, whether pigs really eat dead bodies, and the presence of wild boars in the Lake Balaton area.

He also made an internet search inquiring on the competence of Budapest police.

Michalskis parents are currently in Budapest, police told The Associated Press.

According to a post by an administrator of a Facebook group called Find Mackenzie Michalski, which was created on Nov. 6, Michalski will forever be remembered as a beautiful and compassionate young woman who dedicated herself to caring for others and making the world a better place.

Michalski was a nurse practitioner at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center working in neurocritical care, according to the hospitals website. She grew up in Buffalo, New York, according to her Facebook profile.

She was the second nurse who worked at Providence St. Vincent who was killed recently. Melissa Jubane was killed in September. A neighbor from her Beaverton apartment complex faces charges including first-degree murder in her death.

 JUSTIN SPIKE, Associated Press
LIMA, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- A seminar on cooperative achievements between China and Latin America has lately been held in Peru's capital city of Lima.

The seminar, on the theme of "Moving Forward between the Wind and the Rain: Building a China-Latin America and Caribbean Community with a Shared Future," was organized on Tuesday by the Center for the Americas under the China International Communications Group (CICG), China Yangtze Power Co., Ltd. and the China International Book Trading Corporation (CIBTC).

Present at the event were students, scholars, officials, politicians, entrepreneurs, and former ministers from Peru, as well as Chinese and Peruvian business representatives.

China has eradicated extreme poverty and played a leading role in global poverty reduction efforts, raising the incomes of millions of farmers, said Gustavo Cordero Jon Tay, president of the Peru-China Friendship Parliamentary League.

He underscored the importance of strengthening China-Latin America relations, particularly in areas of social development and poverty alleviation.

Highlighting the value of China's experience for Latin America and the Caribbean, he elaborated on how cooperation promotes effective development models rooted in equity, social justice, and modernization.

On the significance of Peru-China relations, former Peruvian minister of transport and communications, Enrique Cornejo, emphasized their foundations in cooperation and the gradual strengthening of social, cultural and economic ties.

Eduardo Yong Motta, former minister of health and president of the Peru-China Institute, highlighted China's critical role in supporting Peru's development, particularly in healthcare.

He applauded China's commitment to global well-being and the shared cultural heritage between the two nations.

The relations between China and Latin America and the Caribbean over the past decade were grounded in equality, mutual benefit, innovation, and openness, resulting in significant cooperation across multiple sectors, said CICG's chief editor Gao Anming at the seminar.

A youth cultural exchange forum between Chinese and Peruvian students concluded the seminar, where entrepreneurs, business leaders, and professionals shared experiences and aspirations, eyeing the potential for stronger ties in trade, investment and education.

The event also featured the unveiling of a special Spanish edition of China Today magazine titled "China-Latin America: Embracing Two Worlds." 
Moments after he allegedly shot and seriously injured a fellow dad at school pick-up, 42-year-old Noureddine Dib slowed down just enough to pat a nearby child on the head. Then he went after the father hes accused of trying to kill.

In Multnomah County Circuit Court on Friday, a prosecutor zeroed in on this encounter in the Islamic School of Portlands parking lot, pausing surveillance footage to argue that Dib, who is charged with second-degree attempted murder and first-degree assault in the Oct. 17 shooting, did not stop to think about what he was doing in front of kids.
The Oregon Humane Society is looking for a home with lots of love  and exercise  for a pair of brother cats that together weigh 45 pounds.

(For reference, most domestic short hair cats weigh 8-12 pounds.)

Yuki, 26 pounds, and Nikko, 19 pounds, came to the animal rescue after their previous owner was no longer able to care for them. The chubby 9-year-old blue and white tabbies are as sweet and friendly as they are large and have been described by the Oregon Humane Society as aggressively affectionate.

They love following around their human companions and playing with toys.

Dr. Kandace Henry holds Yuki, a 26-pound cat available for adoption.Oregon Humane Society

The pair will also need a weight-loss program overseen by a veterinarian.

Right now they are in a room with glass walls that face our lobby, and they seem very intrigued by all the people coming in, said Laura Klink, spokesperson with Oregon Humane Society. The minute you meet them, they are both ready for pets and love after about 15 seconds.

Yuki and Nikko are available for adoption at the Oregon Humane Society Portland Campus, 1067 N.E. Columbia Blvd., open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. The adoption fee is $25 for both cats.

Interested in taking home these big, floofy boys? Get moving. Adoptions are done on a walk-in, first-come, first-served basis.

 Samantha Swindler covers features for The Oregonian/OregonLive and Here is Oregon. Reach her at sswindler@oregonian.com.

Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com.
Several federal and state agencies are investigating how racist mass texts were sent to Black people across the country in the wake of the presidential election this week.

The text messages invoking slavery were sent to Black men, women and children, prompting inquiries by the FBI and other law enforcement departments.

The anonymously sent messages were reported in several states, including New York, Alabama, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Tennessee. The FBI said it has communicated with the Justice Department about the messages, and the Federal Communications Commission said it is investigating alongside federal and state law enforcement.

These messages are unacceptable, said a statement from FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel. She said the agency takes this type of targeting very seriously.

While the texts varied somewhat, they all instructed recipients to board a bus that would transport them to a plantation to work as slaves, officials said. They said the messages were sent to school-aged children and college students, causing significant distress.

Whoever sent the messages used a VPN, a private network, to obscure their origin, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said Thursday morning.

The Maryland Attorney Generals Office said it had received multiple reports of racist text messages being sent to Black residents, including children. In a news release Thursday night, officials said the messages appear to be part of a nationwide campaign targeting Black people in the wake of the election.

These messages are horrific, unacceptable, and will not be tolerated, Attorney General Anthony Brown said in a statement. Officials asked recipients of the texts to report them to local law enforcement.

Brown said its disturbing that children were included in datasets more typically collected on adults, such as campaign donors or magazine subscribers.

This is an intimidating, threatening use of technology that likely violated multiple laws, Brown said. And our goal is to make sure that we uncover all the facts and then use all the tools and resources available to us to hold accountable whoever is behind these text messages.

Phone service provider TextNow said that one or more of our accounts were used to send the racist text messages and that it quickly disabled those accounts for violating its terms of service.

As part of our investigation into these messages, we learned they have been sent through multiple carriers across the US and we are working with partners and law enforcement cooperatively to investigate this attack, it said in a statement Friday.

Major providers AT&T and Verizon both said it was an industry-wide problem and referred comment Friday to an industry trade group.

The U.S. wireless industry blocked thousands of texts and the numbers sending them, said Nick Ludlum, senior vice president and chief communications officer of CTIA, a wireless communications trade association. Through CTIAs Secure Messaging Initiative, participants have identified platforms bad actors used to send these messages and are working with law enforcement on this matter.

The racist text messages span the entire country, predominately targeting Black Americans, and more specifically Black children as young as middle schoolers.

Several historically Black college students received a message with a similar tone but varied wording. Robert Greene II, an assistant professor of history at Claflin University, said he heard stories from his students about it, as well as from campus officials. Greene said he thinks the timing of this mass messaging is not only intentional, but the focus on young Black students is as well.

Its a way to say to, especially Black college students, that this is the world they are now living in, that this kind of outright racist intimidation is coming back to the norm in American society and American politics, Greene said. No doubt about it, fear and intimidation are the heart of whats going on with these text messages.

This type of browbeating toward the Black community isnt a new phenomenon. Physical violence was how intimidation was done in the early 1900s and around the time of World War II, it was done through suppressive methods like poll taxes, Greene said.

But what makes this time different is the form of communication and the introduction of technology makes this a more sinister tactic, he added.

The technology that we take for granted, that brings us all together via the Internet, via social media, via cell phones, is now being used to also intimidate folks, Greene said. It does add to the atmosphere of fear and paranoia. Certainly, theres that sense of, well, if they can text message me, how else can they get in touch with me? What else do they know about me personally?

Those responsible for sending the messages took advantage of a bulk-messaging industry designed to help legitimate marketers reach people on their phones.

This is the primary way now that most Americans will communicate, said Cori Faklaris, an assistant professor of software and information services at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. So people who need to advertise or market services, they go where the people are. Unfortunately, the scammers and the haters also follow suit.

Faklaris said they also likely made use of collections of personal data that can be bought relatively cheaply on some corners of the internet. When combined with other data, such as places of residence or past purchases, Faklaris said it can be easy to use machine-learning algorithms to infer demographic information.

All of this means it might be easier than most people realize to make a really good guess about the race or ethnicity of the person attached to that phone number, she said.

Unlike email or social media, the U.S. regulates text messages like a utility and tries to remain neutral about content shared via text. As a result, theres little filtering that could have blocked this weeks spree of racist messages, Faklaris said. Theres no universal system in the U.S. to flag texts as suspicious or unwanted before they are viewed, she said.

But after an explosion of texting scams that accelerated during the pandemic, Faklaris said law enforcement agencies have developed better investigative tools and it should be relatively easy for the authorities to trace this particular attack.
Reporters at The Oregonian/OregonLive have been hard at work trying to decode all the results and what they mean for our region. Portlands got a new mayor, and the new City Council is coming into focus too.

Voters chose two new progressive Multnomah County Commissioner candidates over their more moderate opponents, while the Clackamas County Commission is on the verge of a big power shift. Democrats remain in the drivers seat in Salem, and are poised to win nationally watched Congressional races in the Pacific Northwest too.

This weeks podcast breaks it all down, plus well get into the Election Day moments well still be thinking about six months from now.

Related coverage:

Subscribe to Beat Check anywhere you listen to podcasts to get new episodes each week.

You can support local journalism by becoming a subscriber to The Oregonian/OregonLive. Explore more of our podcasts and sign up to get newsletters for the latest news and top stories.

Read the episode transcript:

Hello, Beat Check listeners. Im Julia Silverman, and Im the Oregonians K-12 education reporter. But this fall, Ive periodically been on temporary assignment to our politics team to help out with our very consequential election. Unless youre living under a rock, which sounds kind of appealing to me, frankly, you probably already know how the national election turned out. So today, Ive asked some of the Oregonians crackerjack political reporting team to talk instead about how things turned out at the city, county, and state level.

As of recording time, were not yet certain of the results of our local congressional races, but well throw in some thoughts there too. Today Im with Multnomah County reporter Austin Dideos, politics reporters Carlos Fuentes and Sami Edge, and homelessness and mental health reporter Lillian Mongeau-Hughes. Welcome to the roundtable team. And just one more quick note for our listeners: Things may have changed by the time you hear this podcast. Apologies to the NPR politics podcast. I know thats their phrase. But in politics, just expect the unexpected, I guess. Okay, on with the show.

Julia Silverman (03:48.826)

Yeah, Lillian, as polling conducted for the Oregonian in October suggested, Keith Wilson will be the citys next mayor. What do you think we should expect that to mean in terms of policy focus moving forward? Remembering, of course, that the mayors powers will be considerably downsized under Portlands new form of city government.

Lillian (04:07.384)

So I actually just got back from listening to his speech this afternoon. This was his acceptance speech to the Charles Jordan Community Center in North Portland where he grew up. He framed it really positively. I would say it was a very upbeat, very gracious speech. He name checked a lot of local politicians. He thanked his competitors for their vision and said it would continue to be critical to Portland moving forward. He talked about Portlands diverse communities and how much each of those communities contributed to the strength of Portland and that they made Portland what it is and he talked about wanting a city that works for everyone. And he just is really, his messaging is very clear that he wants everybody to step up and get involved. Of course, he ran primarily on ending or at least vastly curtailing unsheltered homelessness. And he talked about that in his speech as well. One voter that I spoke with who was there today said that they voted for Mayor Wilson almost entirely based on his single-minded focus on homelessness, which they, along with many other Portland voters, as we know from polling, consider to be the biggest issue in Portland today.

Julia Silverman (05:25.658)

Well, I think that takes us right into Multnomah County. Austin, tell us a little bit about the winners for the two open commission seats in Multnomah County and what that means for its future direction in 2025 and beyond. Listeners to the pod probably know that the county is intimately involved in the regions response to homelessness.

Austin De Dios (05:49.125)

Yeah, I mean, voters elected Megan Moyer and Shannon Singleton and rejected their more moderate alternatives in Sam Adams and Vadim Mozyrsky. And from what we saw in the primary, I dont think that was a significant surprise. I think theres this idea floating around among supporters of Moyer and Singletons opponents, more so supporters of Sam Adams, that this might mean that the board will just go back to caving to the county chair and to the status quo. I think people disagree. Everyone running for the County Commission did so on a pledge to embrace a new direction at the county to be more effective and efficient in solving its long list of challenges. And like Lillian alluded to, I think voters are really just wanting governments that work. And maybe we havent been seeing that to the degree that they want to be seeing it. I think its also important to note that Julia Brim Edwards will now become the senior commissioner and will likely be at the forefront trying to champion some of these changes around transparency and accountability that shes expressed frustration with during her term so far. And I know that those policies are growing in the background that she wants to bring to a fresh board.

I think shell find allies in pushing a lot of those changes forward. And I think theres a lot of hope that things are going to be different, especially with a clean slate when it comes to Portlands government. And its been a rocky, a rocky few months between the city of Portland and Multnomah County and how they want to address homelessness. And with a clean slate on both sides, I think theyll be able to really establish a more stable agreement on how they want to, how they want to handle that.

Julia Silverman (07:35.064)

Austin, you are such an optimist. I had no idea. Amazing. We will see. I think Im more cynical than you are, but well see what happens. Well, since were talking counties, I was fascinated on election night by the subplot in Clackamas County. Raise your hand if you remember Tootie Smith on television in 2020, inviting the entire world to her house for Thanksgiving at the height of the pre-vaccination pandemic. Yes, not entirely positive attention for the county commission there in recent years, but things look like theyre going to be different. Austin, can you tell us a little bit more about what the balance of power is looking like now that we are post-election in neighboring Clackamas County?

Austin De Dios (08:28.765)

Absolutely. Yeah, Clackamas County is interesting. An incumbent for county chair hasnt won a bid for reelection since 2008. And that trend continued this time around. And that nonpartisan seat has also flipped back and forth between

Democrat and Republican and a county that is nearly evenly split among Democrats, Republicans and non-affiliated voters. I think Craig Roberts convinced people that he was going to be a more level headed alternative given the long history that Tootie Smith brought with her in this reelection campaign. And I think theres theres a good chance hell change the narrative of the county. But what those pages might look like, Im not really sure. I think one thing we might see is just a change in how internal discussions among the board are being framed.

Now the race for that last open commission seat between Mark Shull and Melissa Fireside is still too close to call at this point, which I think also speaks volumes in its own right to the political alignment of the countys voters. Again, Mark Shull is another candidate with an extensive history in the county. And I think Fireside is another moderate Democrat with the chance of sitting on the board and changing how these discussions are framed. But I think the issues that theyre tackling will remain more or less the same.

Julia Silverman (09:49.786)

Fascinating. Well, anybody whos ever covered statewide politics in Oregon knows how crucial Clackamas County is. Its a true swing county. It has gone both ways in recent years and as goes Clackamas County, often so goes the state. Speaking of the state, Oregon did seem to buck some national trends this year when it comes to the state legislature, right, Carlos? Give us the birds eye view of Election Day results and tell us what you think it means for the legislative session thats set to kick off in January.

Carlos Fuentes (10:27.443)

Thanks, Julia. So yeah, Democrats in Oregon, who Ive spoken with in the last couple of days are all feeling pretty good about the results theyve been seeing in legislative races specifically. Just to be super clear off the bat, Democrats have had the majority in both legislative chambers for several years and nobody really expected that to change. But what made this years election interesting is that Democrats in the state Senate and House are currently just one seat short of having a super majority which would be a three-fifths majority in either chamber. And that matters because a supermajority is the threshold required for lawmakers to be able to increase or pass new taxes. So in theory, if Democrats had a supermajority in both chambers, they could pass new taxes with no Republican support at all. Ill spare you all the details in getting into the different campaigns, but what you need to know is that Democrats flipped one Bend Senate seat and held all of their other seats. So they have a super majority in the Senate. And meanwhile, in the House, things are kind of looking the same as they were before the election. Democrats are still one seat short of a super majority. Like you mentioned, this could be really important next year because lawmakers expect to pass a major transportation package. And that is almost certainly going to include a new revenue source that theyre going to have to find and convince lawmakers to get behind. And so having a super majority in the Senate could make it a little bit easier for Democrats to pass a new tax in that package.

Julia Silverman (12:00.08)

Carlos, that really gives a lot of power to whoever on the Republican side of the aisle decides they want to be a moderate bridge builder. That was a pun, you guys. Is there anybody in particular we should be watching there?

Carlos Fuentes (12:16.563)

I dont know about watching, I think its a little bit early, but I will say all of the Democratic lawmakers Ive spoken with yesterday and today say that they want any funding package, transportation or otherwise, to have bipartisan support. They dont want a package thatll just pass along party lines. So I think its honestly just too early to say and well see next year how true that is.

Julia Silverman (12:38.32)

Gotcha. Well, it will be fascinating to see if the next legislative session brings more walkouts from the Republican side, which is one of the only cards that they have left to play with, you know, this balance in the House and the State Senate. So, of course, you pay a political price for that too, as many people on the Republican Senate side found out this year, right, Carlos?

Carlos Fuentes (13:05.255)

Exactly. And I think Republicans are kind of keeping their cards to themselves right now and they, you know, they dont want to let everyone know what their tactics are going to be. So yeah, well find out.

Julia Silverman (00:00.0)

And finally, Sami, we finally have an answer as to who will represent Oregon and Southwest Washington in two of the countrys most closely watched congressional races. Woo, its been a barn burner. Tell us what happened and what it means for the Oregon congressional delegation in particular.

Sami Edge (00:21.394)

Well, the country was kind of on edge watching what was going to happen in Oregons fifth congressional district, which is this funky shaped district that goes from the very south of Portland. The Sellwood neighborhood is actually half in this district through Oregon City and then all the way over to Redmond and Bend. And then also in Washingtons third congressional district, which is kind of the Vancouver area. Both.

Sami Edge (00:49.124)

Races were among the most hotly contested in the country. They were among a couple dozen toss ups and those toss up races were really important this year because control of the House of Representatives was kind of on a razors edge. Democrats needed to flip four seats to retake the chamber. That has become even more important in the last few days for Democrats as we see that Donald Trump

Sami Edge (01:17.862)

won the presidency, the Republicans flipped the Senate to their control. As of our taping, we dont actually have a final result yet to know which party is going to control the House of Representatives. It is definitely leaning toward staying in Republican control, but still its pretty razor thin the margin. If Republicans win control, its going to be about by five or six seats.

Sami Edge (01:44.476)

So the outcome of Oregons fifth congressional district in Washington third was really important for both parties as they kind of wrestled for that control. In Washington three, there was a Democrat holding on to the seat, Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez. And in Oregon, there was a Republican, Laurie Chavez DeRemer who had flipped the seat to Republican control in 2022. Both of them were first term incumbents and that is a very vulnerable spot to be in. I spoke to a pundit yesterday who said,

Sami Edge (02:14.758)

You know, as a first term incumbent, you have a voting history that your opponent and voters can use against you, but you dont yet have that depth of connections and experience in the district. So its a really tricky spot to be. Sometimes people say its harder even than the first race. So the stakes were pretty high for Chavez-DeRemer and for Gluesenkamp-Perez.

Sami Edge (02:37.638)

What we ended up seeing was by a slim margin, but a pretty decisive margin, the Oregonian says anyway. Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez is holding on to her seat in Washingtons third district and Oregon representative Janelle Bynum has flipped the seat for Democrats in Oregon. She will be the first black lawmaker to ever represent Oregon in Congress.

Julia Silverman (03:05.804)

Thats an extremely historic outcome and definitely bucks the trends that weve seen in much of the rest of the country. Simi, before I let you off the hook, can you just tell us a little bit about all the turnover that weve had in our congressional delegation here in Oregon in the last couple of years and what that means for our standing nationally and just for our federal representatives abilities to get things done.

Sami Edge (03:34.13)

Sure, I mean, think the real question of whether anybody can get things done is who controls the chambers of Congress. Historically, or at least in the last several years, Oregons senators, Democratic senators have had, I would say, substantial sway in the Senate. With Republican control over the Senate, theyre likely to see that power somewhat diminished in the next few years. Oregons Congress or House representatives

Sami Edge (04:04.942)

are, you know, most of them are Democrats and are also going to see limited, limited chances to get things done to get their own measures passed in the next handful of years should Republicans end up winning control of the House. You know, we also we also saw the departure of Earl Blumenauer who retired, he had been in Congress for, you know, three decades. So he had really built a wealth

Sami Edge (04:33.072)

connections and was probably influential, you know, despite the Republicans having control and he will be replaced by Maxine Dexter, who, you know, in time will build those own connections, but a pretty, pretty young congressional delegation for the Democrats.

Julia Silverman (04:51.778)

Awesome. Thanks so much, Sandy. That was a really interesting look at our federal delegation.

All right, guys. Hey, before we end, lets just do a quick check around the roundtable. In 30 seconds or less, I would love it if everybody could tell us something and tell our listeners, something that happened on election day in Oregon that made you laugh or surprised you or is still on your mind. We dont know what the future holds, but the past has got to hold some clues. Ill go first. I am still thinking about, and Im really surprised by the low turnout levels in Oregon. Oregon loves to be very smug about vote by mail. I think we are right to be smug about it. I know reporters arent allowed to express opinions, but man, do I ever love vote by mail and its supposed to push up voter participation and I am looking forward to digging into why that wasnt the case this year. What happened Oregonians? Why didnt you guys vote? No good. All right, lets go next to Lillian. Lillian, what are you still thinking about this year?

Lillian (19:18.926)

this year? Well, honestly, you know, Im surprised. Im not surprised that Keith Wilson won to be mayor of Portland, but I am surprised that he won so strongly. I mean, there was no question and the ranked choice voting, theres these multiple rounds, right? And in the very first round, he had the highest percentage of votes at 35 percent. By the end, as of the last tally, he was at 62 percent because he picked up votes from all of his competitors on every single round. So I think that what we predicted as a path to victory, and I believe what his campaign predicted was like hed do okay on the first round. And then maybe if he was really lucky, hed get a lot of second and third place, votes. And that is not what happened. he was the lead from the very beginning. So that was really interesting. I think he has a strong mandate for his vision to end or sharply curtail and sheltered homelessness. and well see if he can do that.

Julia Silverman (20:10.32)

Awesome. Austin, how about you?

Austin De Dios (20:16.701)

I was going to take Keith Wilson. I guess thats off the table now. I think for me, something Im still thinking about is just the fact that because there was a bit of a delay that there were four new commissioners. Well, Julia Brim Edwards is returning, but theres a clean slate of commissioners on the Multnomah County Board. And its very rare that that happens in the way that it has. And so just reflecting on what that will really mean for Multnomah County and seeing what that future will hold now that there are just so many new faces and people with different experiences coming to a government that desperately needs some people willing to make some changes.

Julia Silverman (20:56.816)

Awesome. Carlos, tell us something that made you laugh or surprised you or is sticking with you post election day.

Carlos Fuentes (21:04.029)

Yeah, so I was watching the statewide ballot measures really closely and 30 seconds is not nearly enough time to get into them at all. But Ill just say that one measure that would have implemented rank choice voting statewide didnt end up passing, even though it received millions of dollars of funding and had widespread support from unions and progressive groups. And I just thought that was really interesting because Oregons powerful public employee unions, they kind of tend to get their way in Oregon politics. So yeah, that was interesting.

Julia Silverman (21:32.9)

Thats a good pick. I should mention also, maybe I should have said that it made me laugh a little bit that what I think of as the free money ballot measure did not pass. My son, whos 16, encouraged me to vote for it. He was like, come on, Mom, what? You dont want $1,600? Or however much money it was. But apparently a lot of other Oregonians didnt love it either. So all right, Sammy, take us out. Whats still with you post-election day?

Sami Edge (21:59.427)

I cant stop thinking about the money. In Oregon Five specifically, more than $25 million in outside spending alone went to this race. All of that money flooded your airwaves. Im sure you couldnt turn on the TV without seeing a picture of Laurie Chavez DeRemer or Janelle Bynum. And that just seems like such an incredible amount of cash for one single legislative seat. And its hard for me to wrap my brain around.

Julia Silverman (22:32.912)

Okay, everybody. Well, that was great. Its been such an interesting conversation. The Oregonian and Oregonlive.com will of course keep covering politics and policy related developments and all levels of government. So please keep reading. Ill drop links to relevant stories in the show notes where you can read more about this years election and what it means for our region. And with that, Ill call it a wrap. Thank you so much for listening to Beat Check with The Oregonian.

If you like the show, give us a five-star rating and review in Apple Podcasts. It really helps people find the show and tell a friend, help spread the word. The best way to support our journalism and stories like this one is with a subscription to The Oregonian and OregonLive. You can do that at OregonLive.com slash pod support. Until next time.
Donald Trumps second presidency will likely mean a new U.S. attorney for Oregon but otherwise presidents typically have a muted impact on a states criminal justice system, though some observers point to Trumps past targeting of Portlands protest culture as a sign he may be more attuned to whats happening in Oregon than other administrations.

Tung Yin, a Lewis & Clark Law School professor, said its customary for U.S. attorneys to offer their resignation when theres a change in party under a new presidential administration.

Wed expect that Natalie Wight would not continue to be the U.S. attorney in Oregon at some point into next year, he said.

Wight was nominated by President Joe Biden in June 2022 and confirmed the following September by the U.S. Senate. She declined comment.

While presidents usually dont get involved in the details of federal prosecutions in each state, they could exert influence over federal prosecutions in Oregon and elsewhere by appointing U.S. attorneys who share their agenda, such as potentially prosecuting more drug cases or illegal entry cases, Yin said.

What likely would have a greater effect is Trumps appointment of the next U.S. attorney general, he said.

In Trumps case, We sort of expect hes going to put in people who are more pliable to his wishes, Yin said.

Under Biden, the U.S. Department of Justice opened at least eight investigations into police agencies for systemic misconduct and rescinded a Trump-era memo that barred the use of consent decrees to seek police reforms. Biden also called for more investments in re-entry programs to help people leaving prison and he commuted sentences of people serving lengthy terms for drug offenses.

Trump may expand use of the death penalty, pull back on federal checks on policing and pursue harsher sentences for certain crimes including possession of larger amounts of drugs.

While its hard to predict how a Trump presidency will affect criminal justice policy in Oregon and nationally, Aliza Kaplan, professor at Lewis & Clark Law School, said shes confident Trump will take aim at the West Coast, which voted for Vice President Kamala Harris.

My opinion is that Oregon, Portland, the West Coast will be targets, whether its against protests or quote, our liberal policies, or how we do just about anything and whether we get money from the federal government, said Kaplan, a prominent advocate for reforming criminal justice and prisons. I think he will look to find ways to punish us by withholding federal funding from various government programs.

Trump was highly critical of Portlands response to widespread protests in 2020.

Yin said he would expect a mobilization of federal forces to bolster cities responses if mass protests break out.

After the police killing of George Floyd in May 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sent a surge of federal officers to Portland throughout that summer to help protect the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse downtown and other federal buildings during nightly protests that often devolved at night into standoffs with officers.

A lot of what happened in 2020, though, was about protecting the federal courthouse, federal buildings, but it spilled over into broader stuff, Yin said. You can get people to do your bidding if they have a plausible justification.

At the same time, if Trump chose to crack down on protests here or along the West Coast, he would have to pull federal officers away from other responsibilities.

If he wants to single out West Coast cities, thats a tremendous amount of resources, Yin said.

Kaplan said Trumps previous record as president showed a focus on both punishment and rehabilitation. She pointed to his support for the First Step Act, a federal law intended to cut unnecessarily long federal sentences and improve prison conditions.

However, Amanda Marshall, former U.S. attorney for Oregon who served in the Obama administration, foresees a system more focused on retribution under Trump.

During Trumps first administration, the U.S. Department of Justice sought the longest sentences that are available and that is in sharp contrast to the Biden administrations policies, which she said prioritized drug courts and other programs that emphasized rehabilitation.

Andy Ko, executive director of Partnership for Safety & Justice, predicts a Trump presidency will have limited impact on Oregons criminal justice system since states develop and implement those policies. Kos organization advocates for criminal justice reform.

He said Trumps statements on issues like immigration can, however, influence public perceptions.

It certainly has an impact when President-elect Trump gets up and says incorrectly that immigrants, whether theyre here lawfully or are undocumented, are responsible for huge amounts of crime as such.  It doesnt help very much when were trying to actually find solutions to underlying problems.

Yin noted, however, the state can resist involvement in federal actions that Trump may pursue, whether harsher immigration or drug enforcement.

For example, the states sanctuary law adopted in 1987 prohibits local and state law enforcement officers from assisting federal immigration authorities. The state also could bar state police or local police agencies from participating in certain federal task forces.

He has no control over what the state does, Yin said.

Oregons cannabis industry also doesnt know what to expect under Trump. Businesses and advocates had hoped for a federal reclassification of marijuana under Biden that never materialized.

Amy Margolis, a Portland-based lawyer who represents cannabis businesses, said its unclear what a Trump presidency will mean for federal cannabis policy. She said the industry expected the Biden administration to reschedule cannabis from the most restrictive Schedule I category of the Controlled Substances Act to Schedule III, but the move was delayed until next year.

It remains to be seen if well see any action, Margolis said. I think at this point the cannabis industry, at least the people I work for on both sides of the political ideology, have no expectations. When something happens, theyll believe it.

It continues to be a mystery what will actually occur, she said.

-- Maxine Bernstein covers federal court and criminal justice. Reach her at 503-221-8212, mbernstein@oregonian.com, follow her on X @maxoregonian, or on LinkedIn.

 Noelle Crombie is an enterprise reporter with a focus on criminal justice. Reach her at 503-276-7184; ncrombie@oregonian.com

Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

BEIJING, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella in Beijing on Saturday.

Li said that at present, China-Italy relations have maintained healthy and stable development, exchanges and cooperation in various fields have been deepened, and new practical results have been achieved.

China is ready to work with Italy to take the opportunity of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, continue to carry forward the traditional friendship, strengthen all-round mutually beneficial cooperation and push bilateral relations to a higher level, Li said.

Li pointed out that China is willing to work with Italy to promote two-way opening-up, continuously improve the level of bilateral trade and investment facilitation, expand the breadth and depth of cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises, create new growth points of cooperation in innovation and green fields, better achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, and jointly promote development and prosperity.

China welcomes more Italian companies to invest in China and hopes that Italy will create a fair, safe and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies in Italy, he noted.

Li also called on the two sides to implement the outcomes of the meeting of the China-Italy Cultural Cooperation Mechanism, deepen cooperation on culture, tourism, media, education and local affairs, and better promote people-to-people exchanges.

China is willing to strengthen communication and cooperation with Italy to jointly promote the sound and stable development of China-EU relations, he said.

Mattarella said Italy attaches great importance to developing friendly relations with China and looks forward to working with China to implement the important consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, deepen practical cooperation in trade, investment, small and medium-sized enterprises, green development and climate change, strengthen exchanges and mutual learning in culture, education and other fields, and push for sustained and in-depth development of bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.

Both Italy and China support multilateralism, advocate free trade and open cooperation, and oppose protectionism, he said, noting that Italy is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China on multilateral affairs, jointly deal with global challenges, and play a positive role in promoting the stable development of EU-China relations. 

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)
Tourists walk in Hamamonu district of Ankara, Turkiye, Nov. 8, 2024. Ankara, the capital city of Turkiye, is striving to increase its tourism appeal with historical attractions. One of them is Hamamonu, a vibrant ancient neighborhood that merges Ottoman heritage with modern charm. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

by Burak Akinci

ANKARA, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Ankara, the capital city of Turkiye, is striving to increase its tourism appeal with historical attractions. One of them is Hamamonu, a vibrant ancient neighborhood that merges Ottoman heritage with modern charm.

Even though Turkiye welcomed nearly 50 million international visitors in 2023, only 700,000 of them ventured to Ankara, according to official data, a figure the city is determined to improve.

While Istanbul often steals the spotlight as Turkiye's most famous and most visited city, Ankara is a gem waiting to be discovered, said Murat Toktas, vice president of the Turkish Hoteliers Federation.

"We want to see Ankara capture a larger role in Turkiye's tourism share. This is possible with historical sites like Hamamonu."

Named after the 15th-century Karacabey Hamam, or bathhouse, Hamamonu is one of the oldest still-functioning areas in the city and has been revitalized in recent years, preserving its traditional character with cobblestone streets, old houses, and authentic wooden structures dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.

Tourists visiting Hamamonu often explore its artisan shops, tea houses, and traditional Turkish cafes. The area is especially known for its handicraft shops and local markets, where artisans sell jewelry, textiles, and other handmade goods.

"Hamamonu is a precious part of Ankara, the prettiest part of old Ankara. We hope that more foreign tourists enjoy this lively part of our city," Mehmet Erberk, the owner of a coffee shop in the neighborhood, told Xinhua.

"Hamamonu used to be the prominent residential part of Ankara in history. Now, with its old houses, it appeals to all kinds of visitors who want to have a taste of these times," restaurant owner Unsal Koksal said.

In addition to the restored houses that evoke the charm of Ottoman-era streets, the historical district's notable landmarks include museums and mosques.

Koksal pointed out that tourists from East Asia have shown particular interest in the district's historical landmarks, urging local authorities to hold more fairs and festivals to attract a broader audience.

"Ankara has untapped tourism potential," said Gokhan Esengil from the Turkish Hotel Managers Association, adding that promoting cultural events like the International Ankara Film Festival or music and art events is key to vitalizing Ankara's tourism appeal. 

Tourists are seen in Hamamonu district of Ankara, Turkiye, Nov. 8, 2024. Ankara, the capital city of Turkiye, is striving to increase its tourism appeal with historical attractions. One of them is Hamamonu, a vibrant ancient neighborhood that merges Ottoman heritage with modern charm. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)
This photo taken on Nov. 5, 2024 shows the think tank report titled "Jointly Promoting High-Quality Development and Building an Asia-Pacific Community with a Shared Future". The report was released in Lima of Peru on Friday by Xinhua Institute, a think tank affiliated with the Xinhua News Agency. The report, which was released at the Annual Meeting on Pragmatic Cooperation within the Belt and Road Initiative Framework between Peru and China, calls for building an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future featuring openness, inclusiveness, innovative growth, connectivity and win-win cooperation, which conforms to the general trend of the times and should be the common goal of APEC members. (Xinhua/Li He)

LIMA, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- A think tank report titled "Jointly Promoting High-Quality Development and Building an Asia-Pacific Community with a Shared Future" was released Friday by Xinhua Institute, a think tank affiliated with the Xinhua News Agency.

The report, which was released at the Annual Meeting on Pragmatic Cooperation within the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Framework between Peru and China, is divided into three parts -- Focusing on Development: Creating a Remarkable "Asia-Pacific Miracle" Together; Facing Challenges: Meeting the Era's Responsibilities; and Continuing the Glory: Achieving Common Prosperity Through Joint Efforts.

Thirty-five years ago, leaders from the Asia-Pacific region, following the trend toward peace and development, unanimously agreed to rise above the outdated mentality of bloc confrontation and zero-sum games by establishing the APEC. Since then, regional cooperation in the Asia-Pacific has embarked on the fast track of growth.

China is an active promoter of Asia-Pacific regional cooperation, said the report.

China advocates multilateralism and adheres to open regionalism. According to the report, APEC members have widely recognized China's ideas and solutions, and China has been playing a "propeller" role in economic cooperation.

The report calls for building an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future featuring openness, inclusiveness, innovative growth, connectivity and win-win cooperation, which conforms to the general trend of the times and should be the common goal of APEC members.

APEC members should uphold the original intention of cooperation, jointly advocate the APEC spirit, work together to promote high-quality development in the region, and promote building a community with a shared future for mankind, the report said.

Xinhua Institute is the only media-based think tank among China's national high-end think tanks. It focuses on public policy and international policy research and has conducted forward-looking and strategic research around major domestic and global issues in recent years, and has released many influential research results.

The annual meeting was jointly organized by the China Economic Information Service of the Xinhua News Agency and Peru's Andina News Agency. It attracted over 100 attendees, including officials and representatives from government, businesses, media, and think tanks from China and Peru. 

This photo taken on Nov. 5, 2024 shows the think tank report titled "Jointly Promoting High-Quality Development and Building an Asia-Pacific Community with a Shared Future". The report was released in Lima of Peru on Friday by Xinhua Institute, a think tank affiliated with the Xinhua News Agency.

The report, which was released at the Annual Meeting on Pragmatic Cooperation within the Belt and Road Initiative Framework between Peru and China, calls for building an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future featuring openness, inclusiveness, innovative growth, connectivity and win-win cooperation, which conforms to the general trend of the times and should be the common goal of APEC members. (Xinhua/Li He)

A delegate reads a think tank report titled "Jointly Promoting High-Quality Development and Building an Asia-Pacific Community with a Shared Future" in Lima, Peru, Nov. 8, 2024. The report was released in Lima of Peru on Friday by Xinhua Institute, a think tank affiliated with the Xinhua News Agency.

The report, which was released at the Annual Meeting on Pragmatic Cooperation within the Belt and Road Initiative Framework between Peru and China, calls for building an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future featuring openness, inclusiveness, innovative growth, connectivity and win-win cooperation, which conforms to the general trend of the times and should be the common goal of APEC members. (Xinhua/Li Mengxin)
A former township supervisor in Delta, Michigan, has been re-elected again despite previously being arrested on child sexual charges, including sexting with a minor.

Former Delta Township Supervisor Ken Fletcher, 58, won back his seat by a landslide on Tuesday's election, receiving 89% of the votes cast.

Two write-in candidates filed to run for the position after Fletcher resigned in September. However, both candidates only gained 11% of the votes cast, per preliminary results.

His win comes months after police arrested him as part of a sting operation led by a regional internet crimes task force, including authorities from the Eaton County Sheriff's Office, Lansing police, Michigan State Police, and Charlotte police.

Fletcher's Child Sexual Charges

Authorities arrested Fletcher after he began messaging a police officer posing as a 15-year-old boy on the dating app Grindr. Court records viewed by the Lansing State Journal showed the 58-year-old told the undercover detective that he "wanted to perform oral sex" and expressed willingness to meet with the "boy" at the Lansing Mall to "just talk."

Court records said Fletcher used the same phone number he uses in his official signature line in his emails for the chat.

Fletcher was arrested on August 21. After waiving his Miranda rights, he admitted to sexting with a person he believed to be a minor.

He is now facing charges of accosting a child for immoral purposes and using a computer to commit a crime. Accosting a minor carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison, while using a computer to commit a crime carries a maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment.

What Will Happen Now?

The former township supervisor is scheduled to return to court on November 12 for a probable cause hearing. He has until January 1, 2025 to decide if he will accept or decline the position.

There are currently no indications whether he plans to accept the position. If he declines, the township will either have to appoint a replacement or hold a special election. He faces no threat of removal from his seat unless he is convicted and sentenced for a year or more, Delta Township Clerk Mary Clark told the Lansing City Pulse.

The township appointed Clark as interim supervisor after Fletcher resigned from the seat.
The Australian government on Thursday announced plans to impose a ban on social media usage in children under the age of 16 as part of what it calls a "world-leading" legislation.

Under the proposed legislation, social media companies will be made responsible for imposing the ban and will face sizable penalties if they breach the age limit and allow children younger than 16 to access their platforms. That said, users and parents who do not follow the law will not be fined.

"Social media is doing harm to our kids and I'm calling time on it. I've spoken to thousands of parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles. They, like me, are worried sick about the safety of our kids online," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement.

"I want Australian parents and families to know that the Government has your back," he added.

Legislation Details

Much of the details of the proposed ban are still unclear. However, Albanese noted that the legislation will be introduced in Parliament in its final two weeks of session this year. That will begin on Nov. 18.

Should the law pass the Parliament, the ban will take effect after 12 months to give social media companies such as Facebook and TikTok time to work out how they could exclude Australian children under the age of 16 from their platforms, per AP News.

Additionally, Albanese said the proposed legislation would not allow any exemptions for children whose parents gave consent to their use of social media. Children under 16 who already have existing social media accounts would also not be exempted.

That said, the bill would allow exemptions in circumstances where social media is needed to continue access to educational services.

Response to the Proposed Ban

Last month, over 140 Australian and international academics signed an open letter to Albanese, in which they opposed a social media age limit and said the legislation is "too blunt an instrument" to effectively address the risks of social media usage in kids.

Jackie Hallan, Director at ReachOut---a youth mental health service, also opposed the ban, noting that more than 70% of Australian youth use social media to access mental health support.
A brutal and shocking incident has rocked the small village of Krasnaya Storozhka, near Moscow, as a 15-year-old boy reportedly killed his mother after she confiscated his tablet. According to Russian authorities, the boy, who remains unnamed due to his age, struck his 48-year-old mother, Alexandra Gabbasova, repeatedly with an axe while she lay in bed. Her efforts to limit his gaming and enforce his schoolwork obligations triggered the attack.

Mother's Efforts to Limit Gaming Turn Deadly

Alexandra Gabbasova, an accountant at a local furniture factory, had become increasingly worried about her son's gaming habits. Reports suggest that the teenager spent up to 12 hours daily engrossed in online games, severely impacting his academic responsibilities.

News outlet Mash revealed that Gabbasova had confiscated her son's devices, including his phone and tablet, to redirect his focus to his studies. This act reportedly sparked the boy's violent rage, leading him to commit the gruesome murder.

Following the brutal killing, the teenager nailed his mother's bedroom door shut and displayed an alarming level of calmness. He visited a local shop to buy chocolate before returning home to play Minecraft. Reports indicate that he later used an online search engine to locate the nearest police station and turned himself in, confessing to the murder.

Details Emerge About the Attack and Teen's Behavior

According to investigators, the mother had been dead for around four hours before officers arrived at the scene. The assault, described by the Telegram channel 112, was marked by "random, chaotic" blows. Despite the brutal nature of the crime, local teachers characterized the teenager as "quiet" and "a student that studied normally," adding to the confusion and disbelief among the community.

Investigators have launched a criminal case under Part 1 of Article 105 of the Russian Criminal Code, which pertains to "Murder." In Russia, criminal liability for serious offenses, including murder, begins at the age of 14.

Lawyer Yulia Fedotova told MSK1.RU that the boy could face up to 10 years in a correctional facility. Once he turned 18, he would be transferred to a general regime adult colony. During the investigation, the case may be reclassified as "murder with particular cruelty."
A Kenosha school district staff has thwarted a possible shooting at an elementary school after they stopped a 13-year-old boy who attempted to enter the premises while carrying suspicious bags.

Investigators said the suspect, whose identity was not released to the public, attempted to enter Roosevelt Elementary School in Kenosha carrying two suspicious bags. The staff confronted the teen in the entryway, which led to the 13-year-old fleeing the school into a nearby neighborhood.

Staff members promptly placed the elementary school on a "secure hold" until authorities arrested the teen just after 2 p.m.

Was the Teen Carrying Firearm?

Following an investigation, Kenosha police did not indicate whether there was any weapon on the teen when he attempted to enter the elementary school. However, they said they believed firearms were inside the bag at the time.

"We believe that this was actually an armed suspect with a firearm, and there was no legitimate reason to enter the school," Kenosha Police Chief Patrick Patton said at a news conference, as quoted by NBC News.

They also noted that the teen had taken videos of him practicing "rudimentary techniques" with a rifle. Police also found multiple internet searches related to school shootings.

Investigators conducted a search of the teen's home, where they found replica handguns and a replica rifle. There were no real firearms located during the search.

During interviews with the detectives, the 13-year-old said he went to the elementary school to "sell candy." It was noted that the teen later told social workers that he had the "intent to scare students."

Detectives said the teen's mother has been "cooperative" throughout the investigation.

What Happens to the Teen Now?

The teen, who attends Mahone Middle School but was formerly a Roosevelt Elementary School student, has been arrested by police. He will also be charged with one count of making "terroristic threats," the police department said in a statement posted on Facebook.

The teen is expected to make an appearance in juvenile court. Proceedings in the court will be confidential, as reported by The Associated Press, citing information from Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Gravely.
Two new articles went up today in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship:

Verbal Punctuation in the Book of Mormon IIIBehold, written by John Gee

Abstract: As an ancient book, the Book of Mormon employed verbal punctuation rather than typographical punctuation. An example of this verbal punctuation is the word behold, which is used in the Book of Mormon to point things out, to highlight unexpected effects of situations, and to modify a previously expressed proposition. This corresponds to ancient Hebrew usage. Joseph Smiths usage from the time the Book of Mormon was produced, however, differs in both its frequency and how it was used, even when Joseph Smith was consciously trying to imitate the Book of Mormon.

A Deep Dive on War, written by

Review of Morgan Deane, To Stop a Slaughter: Just War and the Book of Mormon (Middletown, DE: Morgan Deane, 2024). 138 pages. $14.99 (paperback). Abstract: Morgan Deanes To Stop a Slaughter: Just War and the Book of Mormon defines and discusses the concepts of war in the Book of Mormon and places just war within a larger context. The various aspects of just war and its impact are compared to the teachings and writings of scholars and philosophers from the early Church Fathers to Chinese military strategists. This interesting and informative book helps Latter-day Saints understand when war is necessary and justified.

If youre thinking of heading out tonight for a showing of the new Hugh Grant vehicle, Heretic, with its victimized and manipulated sister missionaries, you might profit from reading this item from the staff of Public Square Magazine: Heretic Movie: All Your Questions Answered. Ill be candid: I was already disinclined to see it in the first place. And not merely because Im not really into horror movies. But Im even less inclined to see it now. It doesnt even strike me as particularly good or interesting. But theres no disputing about taste, right?

However, you still have a (dwindling) chance of catching Six Days in August on a big screen, where it can be seen to full advantage. Do you have friends, neighbors, ward members, or family members who should see it? The film will eventually be available on DVD and Blu-Ray, as well as via streaming  I signed a streaming agreement for the movie with Samuel Goldwyn Films just a few minutes ago  but that wont happen immediately.

In the meanwhile, Brett DeLange, who was among the participants in the just-completed Interpreter Foundation educational tour to Guatemala and Mexico, kindly reminded me of a nice story about Brigham Young that Ill now share with you. I believe that it illustrates an important facet of Brighams character that is often overlooked or even denied:

One disturbing incident occurred almost at the very start [of the pioneer trek to the Great Basin]. A rule had been established that no wagon in the procession should stop, because this would cause a break in the train and encourage an Indian attack. Lucy Groves attempted to climb out of her wagon while it was in motion. Weak from having given birth just ten days before, she slipped and fell in front of the front wheel. It ran over her body and broke three ribs. Her husband was standing close by and grabbed her as quickly as he could to prevent the hind wheel from running over her leg too. But her leg was broken as well. Brigham went to her immediately, set her leg, and gave her a blessing assuring her that she would reach Salt Lake in good condition. Lucys children had to walk from then on, as the bed upon which she lay took up all the room in the wagon. Her thirteen-year-old daughter assumed her mothers tasks  cooking, washing, caring for the little children. But on the ninth day out, when it seemed that the leg was knitting satisfactorily and Lucy would soon be up, the daughter accidentally stumbled over her mothers leg, breaking it a second time. This time the pain was so severe that Lucy cried out in agony at every step the oxen took. She finally told her husband that he would have to pull out of the train and stop. When Brigham saw the wagon pull to one side, he stopped the entire train and rode back to where Lucy was. Tears were falling down her cheeks as she explained the situation and urged him to go on without them. Brigham replied that he would do no such thing; he would not leave any of his people alone. Instead, he made camp for the night, sawed off the tops and bottoms of the legs of the poster bed so there was nothing left but the frame around the mattress and the springs, which were laced across pioneer style. He fastened this to the wagon bows so it would swing easily, like a hammock. He then renewed his blessing to Lucy, promising her she would live many years. He rode by her side for several days to make sure that she had no further trouble. With his gentle kind manner, wrote Lucys grandson, he won the love of Lucy and her posterity forever. (Leonard J. Arrington, Brigham Young: American Moses [New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1985], 157-158)

And, finally, Ive located a trio of additional horrors in the Christopher Hitchens Memorial How Religion Poisons Everything File that I want to share with you, or inflict upon you:

How JustServe Is Helping Create Community-Connected High Schools

Perpetual Education Fund Expands Opportunities and Makes Education More Affordable: PEF has helped some 113,000 Latter-day Saints in more than 80 countries

How the Saints Brought Hope After Hurricanes Helene and Milton: Thousands of Church volunteers gave more than 300,000 hours of service

If, understandably, you find your indignation rising to the boiling point at the thought of such abominations, just relax and take a deep breath. Focus your mind, instead, on the blissful future that awaits us all when these crimes against humanity are done away.
This photo taken on Nov. 6, 2024 shows the Lion of Venice on St. Mark Square, Venice, Italy. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

ROME, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Towering atop a column in St. Mark Square, Venice, Italy, the massive bronze lion has long symbolized the city's power and heritage for centuries. Yet its actual origin has remained a mystery.

A recent study led by a team of Italian scientists, including archaeologists, geoscientists, and sinologists, suggests the iconic bronze lion may actually trace its roots back to China's Tang Dynasty (618-907).

"I have been fascinated by the lion since my youth because of its unique appearance," said Massimo Vidale, a professor from the Department of Cultural Heritage of the University of Padua.

"It is so different from any other statue that we have in Italy or other parts of the Western world," he said.

The origin of the Lion of Venice, which is approximately four-meter in length and weighs around 3000 kg, has puzzled archaeologists for years. However, recent advancements in geoscience analysis, alongside a comprehensive extensive database of ore sources, are shedding light on its past.

"Lead isotope analysis, combined with chemical analysis, is currently the most reliable method to trace the source of metals," said Gilberto Artioli, a professor from the Department of Geosciences of the University of Padua.

Artioli and his team conducted lead isotope analysis on the lion, using three new samples from the statue. "To confirm the origin, the integrity of the database is crucial," he emphasized, noting that their research incorporated data from ore deposits across Eurasia, including a 2019 study on the chemical composition of Chinese ores.

"Based on the samples and existing data, we can say with certainty that the copper used for the original part of the lion came from mines in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China," Artioli said.

Vidale added that these isotope findings align with stylistic analyses, which support a Chinese origin. Italian scholar Bianca Maria Scarfi first suggested in 1990 that the Lion of Venice displayed stylistic similarities with specific Chinese cultural figures.

Further analysis revealed that distinctive features of the lion, such as its large nose, flared nostrils, bared fangs, and ferocious expression, closely resemble Tang-era "tomb guardians," some of which are on display in the Luoyang Museum in central China's Henan Province.

"The overall shape of the Venice bronze lion has characteristics of the Tang Dynasty 'tomb guardian'," confirmed Li Kewei, a researcher at the Luoyang Institute of Archaeology, in an interview with Xinhua.

While the exact route the lion may have travelled remains unknown, scholars suggest it could have arrived in Venice via the ancient Silk Road, probably the Maritime Silk Road.

According to Li, bustling international trade along the Yangtze River would have facilitated the transport of such a large bronze figure.

Some Italian academics further suggest that Venetian explorers - possibly Marco Polo's father Niccolo and uncle Maffeo might have brought the lion to Venice in the 13th century.

"What is certain is that when Marco Polo returned to Venice from China in 1295, it had been installed on the top of the column in St. Mark's Square," Vidale noted.

This theory hints at a profound East-West connection dating back to ancient times, highlighting the Silk Road's role in cultural exchange. "The connection between the Lion of Venice and China reflects the far-reaching influence of the Silk Road," Vidale said.

In light of new theories, new findings, and ongoing advancement in archaeological technology, the research team hopes to establish partnerships with Chinese academic institutions. "It would also be greatly advantageous to collaborate with Chinese scholars to enhance the depth of the analyses," Artioli said.

"We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to examine other Chinese bronze statues of the same period to confirm the origin of the metal during the Tang period from both analytical and stylistic-historical perspectives," he added. 

Tourists pose for a photo with the Lion of Venice on St. Mark Square, Venice, Italy, Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

This photo taken on Nov. 6, 2024 shows the Lion of Venice on St. Mark Square, Venice, Italy. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

A lab technician of the University of Padua shows the experimental process of the Venice bronze lion samples in Padua, Italy, Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

Massimo Vidale (L), a professor from the Department of Cultural Heritage of the University of Padua, talks with a lab technician about the experimental process of the Venice bronze lion samples in Padua, Italy, Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

This photo taken on Nov. 6, 2024 shows the Lion of Venice on St. Mark Square, Venice, Italy. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

Massimo Vidale, a professor from the Department of Cultural Heritage of the University of Padua, introduces his findings on the Venice bronze lion in Padua, Italy, Nov. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

A lab technician of the University of Padua shows the experimental process of the Venice bronze lion samples in Padua, Italy, Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

A lab technician of the University of Padua shows the experimental process of the Venice bronze lion samples in Padua, Italy, Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

This photo taken on Nov. 6, 2024 shows the Lion of Venice on St. Mark Square, Venice, Italy. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

This photo taken on Nov. 6, 2024 shows the Lion of Venice on St. Mark Square, Venice, Italy. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
BEIJING, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, chairman of the Central Military Commission, has signed a decree to promulgate a set of regulations on supporting military equipment.

The regulations will take effect on Dec. 1. 
A commercial electrical contractor has a new owner.

Anthony Worrall has purchased Lower Allen Township-based Secco Electric from Barry Kindt.

Secco Electric was founded in 1969 and provides electrical solutions, including lighting design, fire alarm systems, design-build engineering, and electrical infrastructure installation and upgrades, among other services. Secco Electric provides services for various industries. Secco Electric has 45 employees including 16 master electricians.

I am honored to carry forward the legacy of Secco Electric. My commitment is to serve our community with the same dedication and excellence theyve come to expect from Secco since 1969, Worrall said in a news release.

The sale was finalized on Oct. 31. Terms of the agreement werent disclosed.

It has been my privilege to lead Secco Electric Team. Im confident in passing the torch to Anthony, knowing that our commitment to quality service will remain unchanged, Kindt said in the news release.

Kindt will continue to be involved with the company post-sale, supporting the employees and ensuring a smooth transition for clients and staff.

Worrall is the founder and president of Reynolds Restoration Services, an emergency restoration services provider and a partner at Everound, an IT services company. Worrall is also a central Pennsylvania real estate investor.
A 22-year-old man who was shot and killed by police following a high-speed chase and deadly domestic violence incident early Friday morning had petitioned a Blair County judge to remove his 19-year-old ex-girlfriend from his Altoona home through a protection from abuse (PFA) three days earlier.

Ricky Shannon, of Altoona, filed a protection from abuse order against the 19-year-old woman on Tuesday, Nov. 5 while she was living at his home along the 500 block of 11th Street in Altoona, according to the PFA document obtained by the Altoona Mirror and shared with PennLive.
One of the highlights of the American Wine Society convention last weekend for one of my colleagues was a presentation on New Jersey wines.

Donna Albano, a professor in the department of Hospitality, Tourism & Event Management at Stockton University, had plenty of ground to cover during her session at the Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Benton Convention Center, from the growth in the number of N.J. wineries to the adoption of a first-ever Wine Month  which kicked off Nov. 1  to the inaugural Wine Expo that will be held in Holmdel on Nov. 9.

Among the wines shown that day was Eidolon from Auburn Road Vineyards, which the South Jersey winery produces as one of the Outer Coastal Plain Vineyard Associations Couer dEst. It was the brainchild of Larry Coia, Jim Quarella and Dante Romanini, all part of the Outer Coastal Plain group that was created in 2007.

It was Coia who visited Italy in 2011 and brought back the San Marco grape that has been planted in several states, including at Bellview Winery, which he now partially owns. Coia told PennLive earlier this week that there was a place in California that was doing a multi-winery blend that would have the same common name, and they liked the idea enough to copy it.

By 2014 they had created the name  Couer dEst means Heart of the East in French  and it was chosen to reflect the French heritage of the grapes used in the blend and the fact the AVA, in their mind, is located in the center of quality wine grape growing in the mid-Atlantic region. These are all high-quality wines.

The blend is a combination of two to six varietals grown in the Outer Coastal Plain AVA: Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Chambourcin, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Other wineries can make a Couer dEst as long as they source grapes from the Outer Coastal Plain AVA.

He noted that its a twist on a classic Bordeaux blend, using Chambourcin, a grape that has a history of growing well even in rainy vintages.

According to the parameters, Chambourcin must be used in 25% to 50% of the blend.

We didnt want to make it exactly Bordeaux, we wanted to put ... Chambourcin in the blend, and that has worked out pretty well, he said.

Auburn Road has been submitting a Couer dEst annually since the beginning.

Co-owner and self-taught winemaker Julianne Donnini said there are a few things that make theirs unique beyond its specific blend.

One is the name  Eidolon  which is borrowed from a Walt Whitman poem called Leaves of Grass. Donnini said 25 cents from every bottle sold goes to support the Walt Whitman Association in Camden County, New Jersey.

Being former English majors, my husband [Scott] and I, he especially likes Walt Whitman, we fell in love with the name, she said. Its basically the root of ideal and its Greek for idol and ideal and we think these are the ideal grapes to grow in the region.

The wine label is an original painting by their artist of his face, from a statue of him holding a butterfly, she added. The final tie-in is that the script they use for their wine brand is in Whitmans handwriting.

So theres all kinds of layers to this wine, she said.

Auburn Road Vineyard & Winery owners Julianne and Scott Donnini.Auburn Road Facebook

Donnini said their blend always includes Merlot, Chambourcin and Petit Verdot, and occasionally theyll add Cabernet Sauvignon.

Its one of our cellarable wines, she said, so we have vintages that we hold on to and then bring back out, and it just seems to get better and better with time. Chambourcin needs some aging anyway and I think the acidity breaks down and it creates a lovely, velvety wine over time. My goal is to always put away 40 and 50 cases and [eventually] bring it back out.

They are selling their 2021 Eidolon at the moment for $23/bottle. Per the winemaker notes: Dry, flavorful red blend with hints of blackberry, currant and velvety vanilla undertones from aging in American oak barrels.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  A Grand Rapids-area attorney has filed a federal lawsuit against billionaire Elon Musk over his daily $1 million giveaway to voters.

Musk, founder of Tesla and Space X, offered to give out $1 million a day in a sweepstakes in the days leading to the Nov. 5 general election. Participants had to sign his political action committees petition supporting the Constitution, the Associated Press reported.

The director of America PAC, however, testified in Pennsylvania that those who received the awards had values (that) aligned with the PAC, while an attorney for billionaire Musk, a strong supporter of president-elect Donald Trump, said the recipients were not chosen randomly.

The judge allowed Musks contest to continue.

Robert Alvarez, an attorney for Avanti Law Group in Wyoming, Michigan, filed the lawsuit Nov. 5 in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan.

Elon Musk and his organization, America PAC, fraudulently induced Alvarez and tens of thousands of Michigan residents to sign up for a chance to win $1 million via their online petition through the America PAC website, Alvarez wrote in the filing.

He said that those associated with Musk or his PAC testified in the Pennsylvania case the winners were not chosen at random. Rather, they were paid for serving as spokespeople to the PAC that backed president-elect Donald Trump in his race against Vice President Kamala Harris.

The intent was to avoid providing the funds to someone with ill-intent (i.e. someone not aligned with the political views and leanings of Musk and the PAC), Alvarez said.

He said that Musk said in mid-October that $1 million would be randomly awarded daily to registered voters in swing states, such as Michigan. Participants had to support the First and Second amendments and sign the PACs petition, Alvarez said. He said he met those requirements.

He signed up on an online form on Oct. 29. He said he learned through Nov. 4 news reports on the Pennsylvania court case that the $1 million awards were not random.

A closer look at the recipients of the $1 million prize show a clear pattern: that the selection not only is not random, but is a targeted process that eliminates anyone who is not a Republican or vocal supporter of Donald Trump, Alvarez wrote.

He sued Musk and the PAC on claims of fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of contract, silent fraud and civil conspiracy. He asked for $1 million for breach of contract and $1 million for fraud as well as damages for allegedly exploiting his personal information.

The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker in Grand Rapids.
A staff member works on a dishwasher production line at a factory of Chinese home appliance manufacturer Midea at the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Ain Sokhna district of Suez province, Egypt, Nov. 6, 2024. The economic zone near Egypt's vital Suez Canal built by China's giant industrial developer TEDA is a promising model of the Belt and Road cooperation between Egypt and China, which contributes to the Egyptian industrial development, representatives of Egyptian political parties have said. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

by Mahmoud Fouly

CAIRO, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- The economic zone near Egypt's vital Suez Canal built by China's giant industrial developer TEDA is a promising model of the Belt and Road cooperation between Egypt and China, which contributes to the Egyptian industrial development, representatives of Egyptian political parties have said.

Representatives from a dozen renowned Egyptian parties, such as the Homat Al Watan (the Protectors of the Nation) Party, the Free Egyptians Party, the Al-Wafd Party, the Egyptian Socialist Party, and the Justice Party, recently toured the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Ain Sokhna district of Suez province, where they visited a few Chinese factories, including those of Chinese home appliance manufacturer Midea and Chinese fiberglass giant Jushi.

Eslam EI-Shamy, human resources manager of Midea Egypt, said his company's factory is operating at TEDA zone's new 6-square-km expansion area and is currently producing about 120,000 dishwashers and 500,000 air fryers annually, with 70 percent of their components being manufactured in Egypt.

Ma Xinyao, deputy general manager of Jushi Egypt, a company that has been operating in TEDA zone's primary area for about 12 years, told Xinhua that the company has four production lines with an annual production capacity of 360,000 tonnes of fiberglass.

"Our total investment in Jushi Egypt is around 1 billion U.S. dollars. We export 95 percent of our Egypt's production while 5 percent goes to the local market," Ma noted.

"What we saw today in TEDA, the size of the business over an area of more than 7 square km, the Chinese companies present, and the technology transfer to Egypt, is what we've been wishing for through cooperation with China, and it is happening now," said Amr Suleiman, spokesman of the Homat Al Watan Party.

TEDA zone is a "real translation" of the Egyptian-Chinese comprehensive strategic partnership, an embodiment of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for common development, and a contribution to Egypt Vision 2030 for sustainable development, Suleiman told Xinhua.

The cooperation zone built in 2008 by China's TEDA covers an area of 7.34 square km. According to Cao Hui, executive director of Egypt-TEDA SEZone Development Company, about 180 investment companies have been attracted to the zone by the end of September, with actual investment exceeding 3 billion dollars, sales volume surpassing 4.6 billion dollars, and tax payments reaching 450 million dollars.

The zone has also created nearly 9,000 direct and over 80,000 indirect job opportunities in Egypt, Cao noted.

"The TEDA cooperation zone is a successful model within both the Chinese Belt and Road map and the Suez Canal axis development map, due to Egypt's strategic location and the distinguished relations between the two countries," Cao said.

"I think TEDA zone is very promising. This is my first time to visit the zone, but I did not imagine that I would find such a large amount of industries. I was surprised to find products that I may have at home and didn't know they were manufactured here," Ali Abdel-Wadud, member of the foreign relations committee of the Al-Wafd Party, told Xinhua inside Midea's factory in the zone.

"It is such a strong push forward for Egyptian-Chinese cooperation in investment and industry under the BRI, as I've seen today very leading Chinese companies present in the zone," he said. 

Representatives from a dozen renowned Egyptian parties tour a factory of Chinese home appliance manufacturer Midea at the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Ain Sokhna district of Suez province, Egypt, Nov. 6, 2024. The economic zone near Egypt's vital Suez Canal built by China's giant industrial developer TEDA is a promising model of the Belt and Road cooperation between Egypt and China, which contributes to the Egyptian industrial development, representatives of Egyptian political parties have said.(Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

A staff member works on the fiberglass production line at a factory of Chinese fiberglass giant Jushi at the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Ain Sokhna district of Suez province, Egypt, Nov. 6, 2024. The economic zone near Egypt's vital Suez Canal built by China's giant industrial developer TEDA is a promising model of the Belt and Road cooperation between Egypt and China, which contributes to the Egyptian industrial development, representatives of Egyptian political parties have said. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Staff members work on the dishwasher production line at a factory of Chinese home appliance manufacturer Midea at the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Ain Sokhna district of Suez province, Egypt, Nov. 6, 2024. The economic zone near Egypt's vital Suez Canal built by China's giant industrial developer TEDA is a promising model of the Belt and Road cooperation between Egypt and China, which contributes to the Egyptian industrial development, representatives of Egyptian political parties have said. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

A staff member works on the fiberglass production line at a factory of Chinese fiberglass giant Jushi at the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Ain Sokhna district of Suez province, Egypt, Nov. 6, 2024. The economic zone near Egypt's vital Suez Canal built by China's giant industrial developer TEDA is a promising model of the Belt and Road cooperation between Egypt and China, which contributes to the Egyptian industrial development, representatives of Egyptian political parties have said. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Staff members work on the dishwasher production line at a factory of Chinese home appliance manufacturer Midea at the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Ain Sokhna district of Suez province, Egypt, Nov. 6, 2024. The economic zone near Egypt's vital Suez Canal built by China's giant industrial developer TEDA is a promising model of the Belt and Road cooperation between Egypt and China, which contributes to the Egyptian industrial development, representatives of Egyptian political parties have said. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
Aiken County will soon have two new school board members.

Colen Lindell won an all write-in campaign to win the Aiken County Board of Education District 4 seat from North Augusta on Nov. 5.

"Thank you, North Augusta," Lindell said. "I am deeply humbled and grateful to have been elected to the school board through your write-in support. The trust this community has placed in me to serve as a strong voice and effective leader is a responsibility I hold with great care ... Thank you all for this opportunity to serve."

Lindell thanked S.C. Rep. Bill Hixon, North Augusta Mayor Briton Williams, City Councilwoman Pat Carpenter, Aiken County Council Chairman Gary Bunker, and Vice Chairman Andrew Siders for their encouragement and belief in him.

The Aiken County Voter Registration and Elections Office confirmed that Lindell was the winner, but could not provide details from the election as of 4:30 p.m. Nov. 8.

However, 1,063 write-in votes were cast in the race between Lindell and Tee Grant.

Lindell will replace Dr. Patricia Hanks on the school board. Hanks elected not to run for a second term.
Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 9, 2024. Xi held talks with Prabowo in Beijing on Saturday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Beijing on Saturday, expressing the readiness to work with the new Indonesian government to continue promoting self-improvement, solidarity and win-win cooperation among major developing countries.

Prabowo is in China for a state visit at the invitation of Xi.

Xi noted that Prabowo visited China in his first overseas trip right after he was elected in March and chose China as the first country to visit after taking office, which speaks volumes about the great importance he attaches to developing relations with China and demonstrates the high level and strategic nature of China-Indonesia relations.

Xi went on to point out that the adherence to strategic autonomy, mutual trust, mutual assistance, win-win cooperation, fairness and justice represents not only a summary of the experience in developing bilateral ties over the past decades, but also an important principle that should be followed for ensuring the sustained and stable development of bilateral relations in the future.

"China is willing to work with the new Indonesian government to build on past achievements, promote building a community with a shared future with regional and global influence, and continue to write a new chapter of seeking self-improvement via solidarity, and boosting coordination and mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation among major developing countries," said Xi.

Xi stressed that the two sides should consolidate higher-level strategic mutual trust, increase high-level exchanges and cooperation between governments and legislative bodies and at the sub-national level, strengthen exchanges of governance experience, firmly support each other in exploring modernization paths suited to their national conditions, and firmly support each other in upholding respective core interests and major concerns.

Xi called on the two sides to further improve the layout of strategic cooperation and foster cooperation regarding the "five pillars" of politics, economy, people-to-people and cultural exchange, maritime affairs and security.

Xi urged the two sides to deepen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, continue to operate well the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway, advance cooperation on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Corridor and the "Two Countries, Twin Parks" project, strengthen cooperation in such areas as digital economy, advanced manufacturing and the circular economy, carry out joint maritime development, and continuously deepen all-round mutually beneficial cooperation.

China is also ready to work with Indonesia to build more projects for the benefit of the people, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in poverty reduction, medicine, grain cultivation and fisheries, provide support for the training of scientific personnel and the development of vocational education in Indonesia, and introduce more facilitation measures to expand personnel exchanges, Xi said.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the next year marks the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference, Xi noted, adding that as major developing countries, emerging markets and major members of the Global South, China and Indonesia should jointly champion the Asian values featuring peace, cooperation, inclusiveness and integration, enrich the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the Bandung Spirit with the imperatives of the new era, lead countries in the Global South to unite and strengthen themselves, and steer global governance in a fairer and more equitable direction.

China is ready to carry out closer multilateral strategic coordination with Indonesia, oppose unilateralism and protectionism, advocate an equal and orderly multi-polar world and inclusive economic globalization that benefit all, and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability, Xi said.

Prabowo said that under the complex and volatile international situation, Indonesia hopes to work with China to further strengthen all-round strategic coordination, become closer comprehensive strategic partners, and build a community with a shared future that has regional and global influence.

Indonesia is willing to continue high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with China, improve the "five pillars" cooperation framework, and strengthen all-round cooperation throughout the industrial chains in infrastructure, energy minerals, medicine, agriculture, housing, joint maritime development, food security and poverty reduction, he added.

Prabowo said Indonesia unequivocally adheres to the one-China principle, and firmly supports China in its efforts to maintain development and stability in Xinjiang. He also expressed appreciation for China in upholding fairness and justice on the Palestinian question.

Indonesia follows an independent and non-aligned foreign policy, and will not join any military alliance or "exclusive bloc" against a third party, Prabowo said, adding that the country is willing to enhance coordination with China in such multilateral frameworks as the G20, to make positive contributions to safeguarding the common interests of the Global South and promoting a multi-polar world.

After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents in areas such as joint development, blue economy, water conservancy and mineral resources.

The two sides issued a joint statement on advancing the comprehensive strategic partnership and the China-Indonesia community with a shared future. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 9, 2024. Xi held talks with Prabowo, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Saturday. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 9, 2024. Xi held talks with Prabowo, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Saturday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 9, 2024. Xi held talks with Prabowo, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Saturday. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 9, 2024. Xi held talks with Prabowo, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Saturday. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 9, 2024. Xi held talks with Prabowo in Beijing on Saturday. After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of multiple documents on bilateral cooperation. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)
Cookware manufacturer Le Creuset is expanding its Lowcountry distribution center amid its growing popularity among a new generation of at-home chefs discovering the century-old brand on social media.

The French company said this week it will spend $30 million on a 300,000-square-foot expansion of its Early Branch warehouse, which has operated since the late 1970s and served as the company's primary U.S. and e-commerce distribution point since 1997.

The Hampton County investment expansion will create about 30 jobs. Councilman Roy Hollingsworth expressed his appreciation for what he called "a major employer ... for decades."

Gregory Cairo, CEO of Le Creuset of America, said the expansion will enhance operations and reflects the company's "unwavering commitment" to the rural area.

Known for its heavy-duty, colorful  and pricey  cookware, Le Creuset is a key import customer for the Port of Charleston.

The company also established its U.S. headquarters about a decade ago in the Holy City, moving into a former seafood restaurant at Ripley Point near the Ashley River. The office oversees sales, marketing, product development and other functions.

Architectural Digest recently dissected the brand's enduring popularity, saying it "stands the test of time in terms of quality and versatility." There's a nostalgia factor  many of today's younger consumers can remember seeing one of Le Creuset's Dutch ovens, tea kettles or other products in their childhood kitchens.

But Le Creuset  which translates to "the crucible"  has also found an ardent cult following among millennials and Gen Z on social media platforms like X and TikTok.
In case you're disappointed that the nation isn't at blows again over trumped-up claims of stolen elections, I've got one of those very rare stories of honest-to-goodness stolen elections and voter disenfranchisement to share with you, from right here in South Carolina.

And as The Post and Couriers Nicole Ziege reports, this election heist has a happy ending. Well, more happy than not.

On Election Day, S.C. Circuit Judge William Seals ordered Carla Taylor to be seated immediately on the Atlantic Beach Town Council, an office to which she was duly elected on Nov. 7  2023.

The voters will never get back those 363 days, give or take, they lost when their chosen candidate was barred from serving on the Town Council by increasingly creative  and pretty much always clearly illegal  schemes to keep her off. But at least Ms. Taylor will get to serve the final three years of her four-year term  thanks to the courts willingness to intervene.

Until a year ago, this tiny coastal town, population 355 or so, was known mainly for its raucous annual biker weekend. How we got to this point is a long and convoluted tale that ultimately boils down to members of the Town Council and its hand-picked municipal election commission refusing to accept the will of the voters. Along the way, it indicts the Legislature, which created the legal framework that allowed this to happen  and refused to do anything to fix it during the entire 2024 legislative session.

Ms. Taylors election might have been all that was needed to replace a lawless Atlantic Beach regime: WPDE reports that after the interim town manager canceled a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Ms. Taylor and two other council members who now constitute a majority met outdoors and fired him and the town attorney who had helped keep her out of office. But it's up to the Legislature to ensure that neither this nor any other municipality with its own election commission is able to similarly disenfranchise voters again  at least not for this long.
We need him to be a president who oversees peace and prosperity at home and abroad. We need him to be a president who brings Americans together and helps the world overcome the axis of totalitarianism and anti-Americanism that is on the ascendency across the globe. We need him to be a president who helps our nation continue to rebuild its industrial base and inspires the next generation to excel.

We also need Mr. Trump to do something neither he nor Vice President Kamala Harris nor the overwhelming majority of voters has been willing to do: acknowledge that the annual federal deficit and the cumulative federal debt have become unsustainable, and begin to chip away at them. As the first Republican to win the popular vote in two decades and the first president to win a second term in a dozen years, he has the sort of political freedom to take on this painful task that he didnt have in his first term, that President Joe Biden didnt have and that Ms. Harris would not have had if she had been elected.

We need our next president to do all this because, like it or not, we are all in this together.

Those of us who supported neither candidate and those who supported Ms. Harris need to reject the temptation to be sore losers  just as Mr. Trumps supporters should refuse to be sore winners. There is too much work to do to engage in such self-satisfying self-indulgence.

No one should be expected to give up their core values or even their policy preferences because the next president has different priorities. But we do expect them to recognize that elections have consequences and to become what we used to call the loyal opposition: people who make their case for different approaches, try to change the majoritys positions and, when that proves impossible, offer constructive ideas to make the majority's positions palatable to a broader swath of Americans.
This photo shows the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes in Baalbek, Lebanon, on Nov. 9, 2024. At least 26 people were killed and 19 others wounded on Saturday afternoon in a series of airstrikes launched by Israeli warplanes on towns and villages in eastern and southern Lebanon, according to official and military sources in Lebanon. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua)

BEIRUT, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- At least 26 people were killed and 19 others wounded on Saturday afternoon in a series of airstrikes launched by Israeli warplanes on towns and villages in eastern and southern Lebanon, according to official and military sources in Lebanon.

The Lebanese military sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua that Israeli warplanes launched 19 airstrikes on towns and villages in southern Lebanon and 12 raids on villages and towns in eastern Lebanon.

The Israeli raids in southern Lebanon killed at least six paramedics and wounded five civilians, while the death toll in eastern Lebanon reached 20 and injuries to 14, according to the Public Health Emergency Operations Center, affiliated with the Ministry of Public Health.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah announced in a statement on Saturday that it had targeted, for the first time, the Malam military factory south of Tel Aviv with a salvo of missiles.

It said that the factory produced air and missile defense systems.

Since Sept. 23, the Israeli army has intensified its airstrikes on Lebanon in an escalation of conflict with Hezbollah.

According to Lebanon's health ministry, the death toll from Israeli airstrikes since the beginning of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Oct. 8, 2023, has reached 3,136, and injuries went up to 13,979. 

This photo shows the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes in Baalbek, Lebanon, on Nov. 9, 2024. At least 26 people were killed and 19 others wounded on Saturday afternoon in a series of airstrikes launched by Israeli warplanes on towns and villages in eastern and southern Lebanon, according to official and military sources in Lebanon. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua)

This photo shows the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes in Baalbek, Lebanon, on Nov. 9, 2024. At least 26 people were killed and 19 others wounded on Saturday afternoon in a series of airstrikes launched by Israeli warplanes on towns and villages in eastern and southern Lebanon, according to official and military sources in Lebanon. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua)

This photo shows the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes in Baalbek, Lebanon, on Nov. 9, 2024. At least 26 people were killed and 19 others wounded on Saturday afternoon in a series of airstrikes launched by Israeli warplanes on towns and villages in eastern and southern Lebanon, according to official and military sources in Lebanon. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua)
BEIJING, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- The People's Republic of China and the Republic of Indonesia on Saturday issued a joint statement on advancing the comprehensive strategic partnership and the China-Indonesia community with a shared future.

Full text: Joint Statement Between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Indonesia on Advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the China-Indonesia Community with a Shared Future
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BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 9, 2024 / Smile Zemi, a dedicated online learning platform designed for elementary school students, has been named the Best Online Learning Platform of 2024 by Software Experts. Recognized for its innovative, child-centered approach,Smile Zemiprovides a unique combination of structured learning, interactive tasks, and parental support, making it an exemplary choice for young learners in today's digital landscape.Smile ZemiBest Online Learning PlatformSmile Zemi- a top online education brand that offers immersive, distraction-free learning experience tailored for elementary studentsDeveloped by Just Systems Corporation, Smile Zemi is an educational tablet tailored for children in grades 1 to 5. Unlike general-purpose tablets, Smile Zemi's platform is built exclusively for learning, aligning with Common Core State Standards and designed to help children develop essential academic skills in a distraction-free environment.Smile Zemi's standout feature is its well-balanced learning cycle, crafted to engage students across three main elements: education, enjoyment, and support.Lessons are dynamic and interactive, encouraging active engagement and making learning an enjoyable experience. To maintain students' interest, Smile Zemi incorporates rewards, allowing children to earn points that unlock customization options for their avatars and access to monthly events.In addition to its educational features, Smile Zemi provides robust support for parents. Through a connected app, parents can monitor their child's progress, review time spent on each subject, and send motivational messages. This parent-child interaction fosters a positive learning environment at home and helps reinforce students' efforts.TheSmile Zemi tabletitself plays a critical role in the platform's success. Engineered specifically for the Smile Zemi program, the device offers a 10.1-inch high-resolution display, dual cameras, and expandable storage. Operating on a customized Android system, it restricts access to outside websites, social media, and gaming applications, keeping students focused on educational activities. Designed with children's needs in mind, the tablet includes interactive tools such as a digital pen and customizable avatars, adding layers of creativity to the learning experience.Smile Zemi's subscription plans offer flexible pricing, with options for monthly, semi-annual, and annual payments. As part of the holiday season, Smile Zemi is offering its tablet free of charge with a 12-month subscription commitment, a $329.99 savings.By focusing on the unique needs of elementary students and offering a comprehensive support system for parents, Smile Zemi is establishing itself as a leader in digital education.The full review of Smile Zemi as the Best Online Learning Platform of 2024 can beread on Software Experts .About Software Experts: Software Experts provides news and reviews of consumer products and services. As an affiliate, Software Experts may earn commissions from sales generated using links provided.Contact Information Drew ThomasChief Publishing Officerdrew@ eversomedia.com SOURCE: Software ExpertsView the original press release on newswire.com
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WASHINGTON, D.C. / ACCESSWIRE / November 8, 2024 / Today, Defending Main Street extends its heartfelt congratulations to Congressman Don Bacon on his successful reelection in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District. Bacon's victory is a win for Nebraskans who value a strong, independent voice in Washington dedicated to common-sense solutions that unite rather than divide.Defending Main Street proudly invested $700,000 in support of Congressman Bacon's campaign through mail and television advertisements. Defending Main Street's efforts highlighted his commitment to putting the needs of his constituents above party politics, his dedication to local businesses and working families, and his unwavering support for public safety and national security. Defending Main Street is thrilled that voters in NE-02 responded to his message of pragmatic leadership and steady representation."Congressman Don Bacon has consistently shown himself to be an advocate for the values we stand for at Defending Main Street: common sense, responsibility, and genuine service to the American people," saidSarah Chamberlain, President and CEO of Defending Main Street. "His work has helped protect small businesses, support our military, and ensure that Nebraskans can rely on a thoughtful and balanced approach in Congress." As an organization, Defending Main Street remains committed to supporting leaders like Don Bacon who prioritize community, accountability, and responsibility. Defending Main Street looks forward to seeing all that Congressman Bacon will accomplish in his next term on behalf of his district and the nation.About Defending Main Street:Defending Main Street is a leading Republican Super PAC focused on defending incumbents and electing conservative candidates who get things done. Defending Main Street has continued to win in the toughest districts across the country in the 2024 election cycle.Contact InformationElizabeth AucampDirector of Business Developmentelizabeth@ javelindc.com (704) 249-1430SOURCE: Defending Main StreetView the original press release on newswire.com
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MOUNT PROSPECT, ILL. / ACCESSWIRE / November 9, 2024 / DLC, one of the nation's preeminent owners and operators of open-air shopping centers, welcomes the addition of Macy's small format store to Randhurst Village in Mount Prospect, IL, in the Chicago MSA. This new Macy's will provide both convenience and discovery in an easy-to-shop environment.Macy's will occupy 37,649 SF of the remaining portion of the former Carson Pirie Scott first floor level. The other 24,000 square feet of retail space has been occupied by popular home decor brand, HomeGoods since 2022. Randhurst Village is a vibrant mixed-use shopping center that is a heartbeat for Mount Prospect and the surrounding communities, and Macy's joins an impressive array of national retailers including high performing anchor tenants such as Costco, AMC Theaters, and Home Depot. Other notable tenants include Bath & Body Works, Michaels, Old Navy, DSW, and TJMaxx, along with popular dining destinations such as Chipotle, Panera Bread, and Buffalo Wild Wings.Offering a convenient and distinct shopping experience in an open environment, Macy's new small-format store will help meet customer demand and focus on convenience. Customers can expect a highly curated selection of merchandise from both Macy's private brands and sought-after market brands. Departments include clothing for women, men, children, accessories, beauty, shoes, and more."DLC has been hyper-focused on the remerchandising of Randhurst Village in a post-covid world," said DLC COO and EVP, Chris Ressa. "Macy's selection of Randhurst Village speaks to the quality of the real estate and the success of our efforts. We are thrilled to welcome Macy's to one of the premier retail assets in the Chicago area." The addition of Macy's is part of a much bigger story of growth at Randhurst. This year alone DLC has filled over 100,000 SF of space at the center, adding Planet Fitness, Hong Dae Korean Bar & Grill, Meat Moot, Altea Vietnamese Coffee & Boba, and Waxing the City. These additions highlight DLC's continued efforts to offer convenience to the communities their retail centers serve.ABOUT RANDHURST VILLAGE Located in Mount Prospect, Illinois, Randhurst Village provides regional access to the northwest suburbs of Chicago and boasts more than 40 retailers. Set in an inviting streetscape, shoppers have access to national, regional, and family-owned businesses, a 12-screen state-of-the-art cinema, and a 140 room hotel.About DLC DLC is one of the nation's preeminent private retail real estate companies, with expertise in acquisitions, development, leasing, management, and architecture. Headquartered in Metro New York, DLC has regional operations in Chicago, Dallas, and Washington, DC. For additional information about DLC and its portfolio, please visit www.dlcmgmt.com Contact InformationMichael St. JohnSenior Vice President, Marketing, DLCmstjohn@ dlcmgmt.com 914.406.7622Jennifer RichMarketing Managerjrich@ dlcmgmt.com 847.212.1979SOURCE: DLCView the original press release on newswire.com
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 8, 2024 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against The Toronto-Dominion Bank ("TD Bank" or the "Company") (NYSE:TD). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com 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 TD Bank and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until December 23, 2024, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired TD Bank 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 October 10, 2024, TD Bank disclosed that it had pleaded guilty and agreed to pay over $3 billion in penalties to resolve investigations by U.S. authorities into violations of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and money laundering. The resolution of the investigations also included an asset cap preventing TD Bank's U.S. subsidiaries from collectively exceeding $434 billion in assets and subjects TD Bank to more stringent approval processes for its products, services, and market rollouts. In a corresponding press release, the U.S. Department of Justice described TD Bank as "the largest bank in U.S. history to plead guilty to Bank Secrecy Act program failures, and the first US bank in history to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering." On this news, TD Bank's stock price fell $4.07 per share, or 6.41%, to close at $59.44 per share on October 10, 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.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
Press Release

November 9, 2024 Time to rejoin ICC - Pimentel Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to rethink his stance on the International Criminal Court (ICC) and consider rejoining the international body. Pimentel made this appeal before members of the diplomatic community during a foreign policy address at the Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday. For the former Senate President, rejoining the ICC would act as an "insurance policy" against potential abuses by a leader and in the case the justice system fails. "Let us rejoin the ICC. We should treat this as our "insurance policy" just in case "our system" fails us and we get to elect an abusive, tyrannical, heartless leader, and our justice system fails us too," Pimentel said in his speech. The Philippines withdrew from the ICC seven years after the ICC, in 2017, announced an investigation into the former administration's bloody anti-drug campaign. Saying joining the ICC is an executive action, Pimentel said the ball is in the President's court and urged President Marcos to sign the necessary documents to reenter the ICC. At the sidelines of the address, Pimentel told the media that his proposal for the Philippines to rejoin the ICC would serve as the Filipino people's recourse against a "killer" and "tyrannical" leader, or when they see that the justice system is failing. "We are monitoring the Quad Com, and here in the Senate, we also have an investigation. We've seen that in the worst-case scenario where our systems fail, such as when our democratic system elects a killer as a leader, one without conscience or compassion, and our justice system is slow to respond. In those events, it's best to have an 'insurance policy,'" Pimentel said. In the same forum, Pimentel also recommended that the Philippines join the BRICS alliance. "Let the Philippines apply to join BRICS. The march to a multi-polar world is inevitable as such is consistent with human nature. We should support the idea of a multi-polar world," Pimentel said. By joining BRICS, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, the Philippines would strengthen its position within a more balanced global power structure, he added. He said BRICS is a viable alternative to the current Western-dominated global order. The former Senate President said that it is about time that the Philippines re-calibrate its foreign policy strategy and tactic. "We should re-calibrate our foreign policy strategy and tactics towards projecting this particular image of the Philippines to the entire world - that the Philippines is a friend to all Nations and is a responsible and law-abiding member of the community of Nations. Pimentel added: "The ultimate test that we have to pass to say that we have succeeded in this mission is if the Philippines becomes accepted by the rest of the world as their natural choice for a neutral venue for 'talks, especially those involving the settling of disputes." "It is my dream that the Philippines should "host talks, not bases"," he added.
SYDNEY, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- A 16-year-old boy was charged following an alleged assault and robbery in South Brisbane, police in the Australian state of Queensland said in a statement on Saturday.

Investigations indicate that before 1 a.m. local time on Saturday, a 23-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy who were walking near the South Bank pools were approached by a group of people not known to them.

The man and the boy were allegedly both physically assaulted by the group and allegedly had several items stolen. After that, the group of people left the area.

The 23-year-old man was transported to hospital with serious injuries, and the 15-year-old boy was also taken to hospital for treatment.

Police said that following enquiries, officers located a 16-year-old boy at around 2:40 a.m. local time and took him into custody.

He has been charged with two counts each of assaults occasioning bodily harm in company, robbery in company, and one count of affray. 
Zhao Chenxin (C), deputy head of China's National Development and Reform Commission, delivers a speech at the 17th China-Japan Comprehensive Forum on Energy Saving and Environmental Protection in Tokyo, Japan, Nov. 9, 2024. Attendees at the forum noted that green development is a shared challenge and an area with substantial cooperation potential for both China and Japan, urging efforts to leverage comparative advantages to explore new areas for collaborative growth in energy conservation and environmental protection. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

TOKYO, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Over 800 representatives from government bodies, businesses and institutions from China and Japan gathered at a forum in Tokyo on Saturday to explore cooperation opportunities in green transformation.

Attendees at the 17th China-Japan Comprehensive Forum on Energy Saving and Environmental Protection noted that green development is a shared challenge and an area with substantial cooperation potential for both China and Japan, urging efforts to leverage comparative advantages to explore new areas for collaborative growth in energy conservation and environmental protection.

Zhao Chenxin, deputy head of China's National Development and Reform Commission, emphasized that China values international cooperation in green, low-carbon development, highlighting energy conservation and environmental protection as focal points in China-Japan economic relations.

China's Vice Minister of Commerce Li Fei said that China-Japan trade cooperation is mutually beneficial, calling for deepened green cooperation to contribute to sustainable development globally.

Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Yoji Muto spoke on the ambitious goal of achieving global net-zero emissions. He noted that collaboration between Japan and China, both committed to carbon neutrality, will significantly benefit global decarbonization efforts.

During the forum, 27 new cooperative projects were formalized between China and Japan, covering areas such as industrial park decarbonization, waste-to-energy, and green building practices.

Since its inception in 2006, the forum has facilitated 457 projects, becoming a vital platform for cooperation in energy conservation and green development between China and Japan. 

Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Yoji Muto (C) delivers a speech at the 17th China-Japan Comprehensive Forum on Energy Saving and Environmental Protection in Tokyo, Japan, Nov. 9, 2024.

Attendees at the forum noted that green development is a shared challenge and an area with substantial cooperation potential for both China and Japan, urging efforts to leverage comparative advantages to explore new areas for collaborative growth in energy conservation and environmental protection. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

China's Vice Minister of Commerce Li Fei (C) delivers a speech at the 17th China-Japan Comprehensive Forum on Energy Saving and Environmental Protection in Tokyo, Japan, Nov. 9, 2024.

Attendees at the forum noted that green development is a shared challenge and an area with substantial cooperation potential for both China and Japan, urging efforts to leverage comparative advantages to explore new areas for collaborative growth in energy conservation and environmental protection. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
KATHMANDU, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Four people were killed and 30 others wounded after a passenger bus veered off a highway in Surkhet district of mid-western Nepal on Friday afternoon.

"The bus carrying 34 people fell 150 meters down the highway, killing four on the spot," Birendra Bishwokarma, spokesperson for district police, told Xinhua.

He noted that three of the injured were in serious conditions, adding overspeed may be the cause of the fatal accident.

In a separate accident on Friday morning, two passenger buses collided in Nepal's Chitwan district, leaving five dead and five others injured.

Hundreds of people lose their lives in traffic accidents in Nepal each year. 
Luxury travel company recognized as best tour operator and top travel specialist

NEW YORK, Nov. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading luxury travel company Artisans of Leisure has been named Best Tour Operator by Rolling Stone and recognized as a Conde Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist and a Robb Report Travel Master, among the most prestigious accolades in the travel industry.

"We are deeply honored to continue to be recognized for our expertise, high level of personalized service and the overall level of excellence that we've brought to the luxury travel industry for more than 20 years," said Ashley Isaacs Ganz, founder and CEO of Artisans of Leisure. "These awards reflect our superb team's dedication to providing the very best in private luxury travel."

Artisans of Leisure named Best Tour Operator, Top Travel Specialist and Travel Master Post this

Artisans of Leisure was named the Best Tour Operator in the Rolling Stone Travel + Wellness Awards 2024. The magazine noted about Artisans of Leisure that "no one comes close to both theirunderstanding of the destinations andtailoring of a trip schedule to get the most out of what interests you about the locale."

Conde Nast Traveler magazine has named Artisans of Leisure travel experts to the publication's prestigious list of Top Travel Specialists for 2024.

Artisans of Leisure was named to the 2024 list of Robb Report Travel Masters, a select group endorsed by the luxury lifestyle magazine for having "the expertise, clout and ambition to make the unimaginable real."

Artisans of Leisure arranges private, customized luxury tours in more than 70 countries worldwide.

Artisans of Leisure has the unique ability to incorporate exclusive and sophisticated activities in all of its worldwide tour locations. Artisans of Leisure also arranges special interest tours, including food and wine tours, history tours, art and design tours, active travel, history tours, honeymoons and family travel. All Artisans of Leisure tours are private and highly personalized, created for discerning travelers who expect the highest level of luxury, service and attention to detail. For more information, visit https://www.artisansofleisure.com/.

SOURCE Artisans of Leisure, Inc.
Company has completed Phase One of the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative; continues to make progress on Phase Two of the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative to be better prepared for 2025 hurricane season; and will file its multi-year system resiliency plan by January 2025

Company has continued to communicate with intervening parties and plans to resume settlement talks immediately

HOUSTON, Nov. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CenterPoint Energy (CenterPoint) today announced its plans to proceed with settlement talks for its 2024 CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (CEHE) rate case that the company had previously requested to withdraw on August 1, 2024. The CEHE 2024 rate case was first filed with Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) and municipal regulatory authorities on March 6, 2024.

Over the last several weeks, CenterPoint has received feedback and continued to communicate with intervening parties to the rate case. The company plans to resume settlement talks immediately.

The original withdrawal request was part of the company-wide commitment to act urgently to improve and strengthen the resiliency of the energy system during this hurricane season.

"Throughout the second half of the year, we've been acting urgently to strengthen our resiliency, including completing the first phase of the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative, and we are making good progress on phase two. Our company's collective focus remains on building the most resilient coastal grid in the country," said CenterPoint President and CEO Jason Wells.

"Even as we have focused on rapidly hardening our system, we've continued to listen to our customers and parties to the rate case. Based on that feedback, we believe there is a shared interest in working toward a constructive resolution. We remain focused on providing value to our customers and affordably delivering our ambitious long-term resiliency goals that are vital to Houston's future economic growth," said Wells.

"We are determined to reach an agreement that reflects our commitment to customer affordability while addressing the fact that in 2023 alone CenterPoint invested more in our system, resulting in $75 million more in costs that were not billed to customers for additional system improvements and vegetation management. We look forward to working with all parties bring resolution to this case," said Jason Ryan, Executive Vice President of Regulatory Services and Government Affairs.

First Phase: Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative

Since Hurricane Beryl earlier this summer, CenterPoint has taken action across the 12-county Greater Houston area to improve resiliency and help reduce the risk of outages this hurricane season.

In the first phase of its Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative, CenterPoint crews and contractors installed more than 1,100 stronger and more resilient fiberglass poles, trimmed vegetation along more than 2,000 miles of power lines and installed more than 300 automation devices in neighborhoods across the region.

Second Phase: Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative

The company's second phase is taking the boldest series of resiliency actions in its nearly 160-year history. In early September, CenterPoint announced a comprehensive suite of new actions as part of the next phase of its Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative, including strengthening the energy system and operations over the next eight months and before the start of the 2025 hurricane season. These extensive near-term actions will: build on the work CenterPoint completed in the first phase of the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative, continue to strengthen resiliency, improve its communications and develop stronger partnerships, and help reinforce its electric system as it prepares for both the upcoming winter season and the 2025 hurricane season.

The actions in Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative Phase Two will help enable a self-healing grid, reduce the length and frequency of outages and lead to more than an estimated 125 million fewer outage minutes annually for customers in the Greater Houston area. Work will be completed ahead of the 2025 hurricane season, or June 1, 2025, and will include:

Installing new or replacing 25,000 poles that meet extreme wind standards;

Trimming or removing higher-risk vegetation across 4,000 miles of power lines;

Installing 4,500 automation devices, known as trip savers, and 350 Intelligent Grid Switching Devices as part of our effort to build a self-healing grid that utilizes automation to respond to outages faster; and

Strategically undergrounding more than 400 miles of power lines.

Third Phase: Multi-Year System Resiliency Plan

As previously stated, CenterPoint will file its updated and enhanced multi-year system resiliency plan by the end of January 2025.

Estimated Monthly Customer Bill Impact

CenterPoint's filing originally sought a net increase on the average residential customer bill using 1,000 kwh per month of approximately $1.25 per month, which is overall less than a one percent net increase on the total retail bill.

CenterPoint Earnings Monitoring Report

As was reported in the company's 2024 Earnings Monitoring Report to the PUCT, for calendar year 2023, CenterPoint invested more in its system, resulting in $75 million more in costs that were not billed to customers for additional system improvements and vegetation management.

About CenterPoint Energy

As the only investor-owned electric and gas utility based in Texas, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) is an energy delivery company with electric transmission and distribution, power generation and natural gas distribution operations that serve more than 7 million metered customers in Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio and Texas. With approximately 9,000 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com. For more information about affirmation of CenterPoint Energy's current earnings guidance and other financial information, please visit the "Investor Relations" homepage of our website under "Events & Presentations," found here.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release, as well as the website pages related to the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative, includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this news release or the website pages related to Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative the words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "goal," "intend," "may," "objective," "plan," "potential," "predict," "projection," "should," "target," "will" or other similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative and longer-term resiliency plans, including effectiveness, timing and related matters, as well as the timing of and projections for upcoming rate cases for CenterPoint and its subsidiaries, are based upon assumptions of management which are believed to be reasonable at the time made and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual events and results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Any statements in this news release or the website pages related to the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative regarding future events that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement contained in this news release or the website pages related to the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative speaks only as of the date of this release or the date that such statement is made, as applicable. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the provided forward-looking information include risks and uncertainties relating to: (1) CenterPoint's business strategies and strategic initiatives; (2) financial market conditions; (3) general economic conditions; (4) the timing and impact of future regulatory and legislative decisions; and (5) other factors, risks and uncertainties discussed in CenterPoint's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and CenterPoint's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2024, June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024 and other reports CenterPoint or its subsidiaries may file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For more information, contact

Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE CenterPoint Energy
ARLINGTON, Texas, Nov. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Clay Cooley Auto Group, a trusted name in the Dallas-Fort Worth automotive market for 25 years, proudly announces the acquisition of Don Davis Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in Arlington, Texas. With a new name, Clay Cooley Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, this dealership marks a significant milestone in Clay Cooley Auto Group's ongoing expansion and commitment to delivering superior automotive experiences across North Texas.

Clay Cooley Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in Arlington

This acquisition aligns with the group's mission to serve the unique needs of the Arlington community. Under the Clay Cooley brand, customers can expect a fresh approach, enhanced service options, and a seamless experience rooted in the group's values of integrity and customer care.

"For us, acquiring this dealership is more than just growthit's about enriching our relationship with Arlington," shared Chase Cooley. "Clay Cooley Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram allows us to introduce our expanded services, top-tier customer support, and dedication to a memorable dealership experience for every visitor."

With a quarter-century legacy of excellence, Clay Cooley Auto Group has built its reputation on transparency, quality, and customer loyalty. Current customers of Don Davis Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram can look forward to an effortless transition, with a focus on delivering the outstanding service and attention to detail that Clay Cooley Auto Group is known for.

Celebrating 25 years of automotive expertise, Clay Cooley Auto Group has become a trusted automotive leader in Dallas-Fort Worth. The group provides a wide array of new and pre-owned vehicles across various brands, always with a commitment to quality, integrity, and community connection. For more information, visit ArlingtonChryslerJeepDodgeRam.com.

This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.

SOURCE Clay Cooley Auto Group
ARLINGTON, Texas, Nov. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Clay Cooley Auto Group is excited to announce its acquisition of Don Davis Ford in Arlington, Texas, which will now operate under the name Clay Cooley Ford. This acquisition marks a significant expansion for the Clay Cooley Auto Group, underscoring its dedication to providing top-notch automotive services across the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

Clay Cooley Ford Arlington Texas

Bringing Clay Cooley Ford to Arlington is part of the group's vision to enhance the car-buying experience with a focus on quality, convenience, and community connection. The addition of this dealership introduces Clay Cooley Auto Group's trusted service and extensive vehicle inventory to even more local drivers, affirming its role as a community-focused brand.

"Arlington has always been an integral part of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and we're thrilled to be growing our presence here with Clay Cooley Ford," said Chase Cooley. "This new dealership embodies our commitment to offering expanded choices, streamlined service, and a warm welcome to everyone who walks through our doors."

With over two decades of experience, Clay Cooley Auto Group prides itself on building relationships with customers and delivering transparent, high-quality automotive services. Former customers of Don Davis Ford in Arlington can expect a seamless transition to the Clay Cooley brand, with access to upgraded service options, exclusive offers, and the exceptional attention they've come to expect.

With 25 years of dedicated service, Clay Cooley Auto Group has become a recognized leader in the Dallas-Fort Worth automotive landscape. Known for its integrity, quality, and community values, the group offers a broad range of new and pre-owned vehicles across several brands. For more information, visit ClayCooleyFord.com.

This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.

SOURCE Clay Cooley Auto Group
BEIJING, Nov. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from chinadaily.com.cn

Glassware, invented in Mesopotamia and with a history spanning at least 4,000 years, remained a luxury accessible to the few until the invention of glass-blowing.

Following the conquest of the Northern Liang Kingdom by Emperor Taiwu of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534) in 439, the Oasis Silk Road was reopened having previously been obstructed by warfare. This reopening fostered cultural exchange between the East and West, bringing prosperity to the Northern Wei capital Pingcheng, present-day Datong in North China's Shanxi province.

During this period, glassware and glassmaking techniques were also introduced to Pingcheng. The ancient document indicates that merchants from the Greater Yuezhi brought these glassmaking techniques to Pingcheng. Local production of glassware became feasible with the integration of quartz mineral in Pingcheng and Central Asian glassmaking crafts.

The blue glassware pieces unearthed in Datong mark a departure from earlier local glassware, featuring a soda lime composition and vessel forms similar to those in Pingcheng during the Northern Wei Dynasty. This suggests that they were produced locally in Pingcheng, combining local raw materials with foreign techniques. Some of these blue glassware pieces also show evidence of the glassblowing technique introduced to China by Central Asian artisans.

By merging Central Asian craftsmanship with local resources and unique vessel forms, these distinctive Northern Wei glassware pieces from Pingcheng highlight the cultural interactions facilitated by the Silk Road.

Check out the video to discover the blue glassware from Pingcheng that has lasted for thousands of years.

SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn
NEW YORK, Nov. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --

Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Stride, Inc. (NYSE: LRN) resulting from allegations that Stride may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

So What: If you purchased Stride securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.

What to do next: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=30689 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

What is this about: On October 16, 2024, Fuzzy Panda Research issued a report entitled "Stride Inc (LRN)  The Last Covid Over Earner  Hiding That Est >25% of EBITDA Came from Covid Funds." In this report, Fuzzy Panda announced that it had a short position in Stride, in part, because Stride was the "last Covid over-earning stock yet to fall. The stock is near its highs [. . .] but investors are clueless about the looming Covid funding cliff. Investors don't know because Stride management has NOT told them. [. . . ] Former Stride executives told us that management misled investors."

On this news, the price of Stride stock fell by $6.55 per share, or 9.2%, to close at $64.04 on October 16, 2024.

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. 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 achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.
-ST101 Phase 2 data demonstrates activation of the tumor immune microenvironment in glioblastoma (GBM)-

-ST316 Phase 1 data demonstrates antagonism of -catenin-driven immune exclusion-

TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Nov. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sapience Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of peptide therapeutics to address oncogenic and immune dysregulation that drive cancer, today announced the presentation of clinical and non-clinical results on its lead programs, ST101 and ST316, at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer's (SITC) 39th Annual Meeting, being held November 6-10, 2024, in Houston, TX.

ST101 is a first-in-class antagonist of C/EBP, currently being evaluated in patients with recurrent and newly diagnosed GBM in the Phase 2 portion of a Phase 1-2 clinical study (NCT04478279). ST316 is a first-in-class antagonist of the interaction between -catenin and its co-activator, BCL9, a complex responsible for driving oncogene expression in multiple cancers where aberrant Wnt/-catenin pathway signaling is observed and immune-exclusion in the tumor microenvironment. ST316 is being evaluated in colorectal cancer patients in the Phase 2 portion of a Phase 1-2 study ( NCT05848739 ).

Dr. Jim Rotolo, Sapience's SVP, Research and Translational Sciences, commented, "I am thrilled to have presented new clinical and biomarker data on ST101, which provides further evidence that C/EBP is a multi-faceted target for the treatment of newly diagnosed and recurrent GBM. The inclusion of our presentation in SITC's press briefing earlier this week, as one of 8 abstracts of the more than 1,500 received, highlights the novelty and importance of the data we are observing in our clinical study. Through our Phase 2 and Window-of-Opportunity studies, ST101 has demonstrated impressive disease control as well as modulation of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) from immunosuppressive to immune-active. This TIME shift is highly compelling given the immunosuppressive environment that is known to limit the efficacy of immune-oncology (I/O) agents in the treatment of GBM."

Dr. Rotolo continued, "We also presented initial clinical pharmacodynamic data from our ST316 Phase 1 study, demonstrating that ST316 dramatically depletes immunosuppressive cells from peripheral blood of patients. In non-clinical studies, we were pleased to see that treatment with ST316 and PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors had positive effects on tumor outcomes and immune activation. These results at SITC, coupled with the data we have from the Phase 1 study, provide further validation that ST316 has the potential to improve existing I/O approaches."

ST101 Oral Presentation Highlights Include:

Title: "ST101, an inhibitor of the transcription factor C/EBP, promotes an immune-active tumor microenvironment in a window of opportunity (WoO) study of patients with glioblastoma (GBM)"

Abstract #: 991

Session Title: Biotech Breakthroughs  Solid Tumor IO at the Tipping Point

Date/Time: Friday, November 8, 2024, 1:45 pm  3:20 pm CST

Session Location: George R. Brown Convention Center, Level 3  Grand Ballroom B

Presenting Author: Jim Rotolo, Ph.D., SVP, Research & Translational Sciences, Sapience Therapeutics

C/EBP activity within tumors promotes GBM growth, chemo-resistance, EMT, and invasion.

C/EBP activity in immune cells promotes an immuno-suppressive environment.

ST101, a C/EBP antagonist, has demonstrated safety and proof-of-concept activity in a Phase 2 clinical study, showing that treatment with ST101 leads to impaired tumor growth and increased immune activity.

ST101 Window-of-Opportunity study in Newly Diagnosed GBM cohort (n=9, with 8 evaluable): 87.5% post-surgery disease control rate (DCR), with one complete response (CR) and six stable diseases (SD) as of the data cutoff date 8/9 patients are alive as of the data cutoff date (11-76 weeks) 7/9 patients remain on study with median treatment duration of 9.5 months, with 3 patients remaining on the study for greater than 17 months

ST101 Window-of-Opportunity study in Recurrent GBM cohort (n=9): 4/9 (44%) patients had disease control, with 2 PRs and 2 SDs

Window-of-Opportunity biomarker results demonstrate: ST101 uptake past the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and into the tumor Disruption of target C/EBP Shift in TIME from immunosuppressive to immune-active

These data support the combination of ST101 with checkpoint inhibitors as a potential treatment for patients with GBM.

ST101 Poster:

Title: "ST101, an inhibitor of the transcription factor C/EBP, promotes an immune-active tumor microenvironment in a window of opportunity (WoO) study of patients with glioblastoma (GBM)"

Abstract #: 991

Session: Poster Hall

Date/Time:

Friday, November 8, 2024 : 9:00 am  7:00 pm CST

Session Location: George R. Brown Convention Center, Level 1  Exhibit Halls AB

ST316 Poster Presentation Details:

Title: "ST316, a peptide antagonist of -Catenin, depletes immunosuppressive myeloid cell populations and enhances anti-cancer immune responses in in vivo tumor models and in patients"

Abstract #: 1451

Session: Poster Hall

Date/Time:

Friday, November 8, 2024 , 9:00 am  7:00 pm CST

Session Location: George R. Brown Convention Center, Level 1  Exhibit Halls AB

Presenting Author: Claudio Scuoppo, Ph.D., Principal Scientist, Sapience Therapeutics

ST316 disrupts -catenin-driven immune-exclusion, promoting a shift to an immune-active TIME via depletion of immunosuppressive MDSCs and TAMs, resulting in enhanced cytotoxic T cell activity.

In the clinic, ST316 depletes highly immunosuppressive PMN-MDSCs in Phase I patients.

In human PBMCs, ST316 induces a dose-dependent decrease in immunosuppressive M2 macrophages and a concomitant increase in M1 proinflammatory macrophages, resulting in increased T cell activation.

In murine tumor models, ST316 inhibition of tumor growth is accompanied by a reduction in MDSC population and repolarization of TAMs to an M1-like phenotype.

In murine tumor models, anti-tumor activity of anti-PD-1 treatment is significantly enhanced by combination with ST316, an event accompanied by a reduction of M2-TAMs.

These data provide support for the advancement ST316 through the current Phase 2 study and in combination with existing immune-oncology approaches to improve responses.

About ST101

ST101, a first-in-class antagonist of C/EBP, has completed the main portion of a Phase 2 dose expansion study in recurrent GBM (rGBM) ( NCT04478279 ). An ongoing window-of-opportunity sub-study is evaluating ST101 as a monotherapy in patients with rGBM and in combination with radiation and temozolomide in patients with newly diagnosed GBM (ndGBM), with patients receiving ST101 before and after surgical resection in both cohorts. ST101 has been granted Fast Track designation for rGBM from the U.S. FDA and orphan designations for glioma from the U.S. FDA and the European Commission.

About ST316

ST316 is a first-in-class peptide antagonist of the interaction between -catenin and its co-activator, BCL9, a complex responsible for driving oncogene expression in multiple cancers where aberrant Wnt/-catenin pathway signaling is observed. ST316 is being evaluated in the Phase 2 portion of a Phase 1-2 dose-escalation and expansion study ( NCT05848739 ). The Phase 1 portion completed enrollment in July 2024. In the Phase 2 dose expansion, ST316 is being tested in colorectal cancer patients in combination with relevant standards of care and in multiple lines of treatment. Sapience is conducting the Phase 2 study across several sites in the United States.

About Sapience Therapeutics

Sapience Therapeutics, Inc. is a privately held, clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing peptide therapeutics to address oncogenic and immune dysregulation that drive cancer. With in-house discovery capabilities, Sapience has built a pipeline of therapeutic candidates called SPEARs (Stabilized Peptides Engineered Against Regulation) that disrupt intracellular protein-protein interactions, enabling targeting of transcription factors which have traditionally been considered undruggable, and can direct cargo to cell surface targets with their new class of molecule called SPARCs (Stabilized Peptides Against Receptors on Cancer), enabling delivery of payloads such as -particles to cancer cells. Sapience is advancing its lead programs, ST316, a first-in-class antagonist of -catenin, and ST101, a first-in-class antagonist of C/EBP, through Phase 2 clinical trials.

For more information on Sapience Therapeutics, please visit https://sapiencetherapeutics.com/ and engage with us on LinkedIn .

Media and Investor Contact:

Amy Conrad

Juniper Point

(858) 366-3243

[email protected]

SOURCE Sapience Therapeutics, Inc.
CLAREMONT, Calif., Nov. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Premier insurance bad faith firm Shernoff Bidart Echeverria LLP announced that former Consumer Watchdog Litigation Director Jerry Flanagan has joined the firm in the Claremont office.

Mr. Flanagan, formerly the Litigation Director for the non-profit Consumer Watchdog, has almost 30 years of experience working in health care policy, legislation and litigation. While at Consumer Watchdog he worked closely with the firm on a series of high-profile health care class action lawsuits over the "narrow network" epidemic  the practice of health insurers narrowing their networks of participating physicians and hospitals, leading to unexpected medical bills.

"We're excited to see Jerry bring his skill, his talent and his experience to our firm," said managing partner Michael J. Bidart. "His amazing track record of fighting to protect the rights of insurance consumers, and his determination to fight for justice everyday is a perfect addition to our firm."

Flanagan's 22 years with Consumer Watchdog also included a broad range of cutting-edge consumer and good-government litigation.

Flanagan has spearheaded efforts to address discrimination against those with HIV and other serious illnesses in the era of the Affordable Care Act (aka "Obamacare"). Those efforts include a case before the United States Supreme Court in 2022 where he successfully represented plaintiffs living with HIV in a suit against CVS for discrimination, including CVS's failure to provide medically appropriate dispensing of HIV medications.

In the early 2000s Flanagan worked closely with founding partner William Shernoff to expose the illegal practice of health insurers retroactively canceling coverage and authored a law journal article underscoring the need for reform in health insurance rescission law, Healthy State of Mind: The Role of Intent in Health Plan Rescissions, 43 Loy. L.A. L. Rev. 291 (2009). An "intentional misrepresentation" standard for coverage rescissions, advocated by the article, was adopted in the Affordable Care Act.

"I am thrilled to join Shernoff Bidart Echeverria LLP. I am incredibly lucky to count Bill Shernoff, Mike Bidart, and Ricardo Echeverria as friends and colleagues. Not only are they phenomenal lawyers, they are good people and I look forward to continuing to fight side-by-side with them for patients and policyholders," said Jerry Flanagan.

Flanagan is an adjunct professor at Loyola Law School of Los Angeles, where he has taught health care and insurance law.

Prior to joining Consumer Watchdog, Flanagan drafted and won passage of one of the nation's strongest HMO accountability measures, which was signed into law in New Jersey in 2001.

About Shernoff Bidart Echeverria LLP

At Shernoff Bidart Echeverria LLP, we lead the nation in protecting policyholders from insurance companies' refusal to pay claims. The firm has been protecting the rights of insurance consumers, both individuals and businesses, for over 40 years after having set the legal precedent requiring insurance companies to act in good faith. Visit us on the web at www.Shernoff.com

SOURCE Shernoff Bidart Echeverria LLP
XI'AN, China, Nov. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On behalf of the organizing committee of the 2024 Chinese Congress on Holistic Integrative Oncology (CCHIO), we are very pleased to invite you to attend the 2024 CCHIO & 4th International Congress of the Asian Oncology Society (AOS2024) . This esteemed event will be held from November 14-16, 2024, in the historic and culturally rich city of Xi'an, China, the birthplace of Holistic Integrative Medicine. The 2024 CCHIO is proudly sponsored by the China Anti-Cancer Association and co-organized by the Shaanxi Anti-Cancer Association, and the China Research Institute of Development Strategies of Holistic Integrative Medicine.

As the premier gathering in China's cancer care domain, CCHIO carries the theme "Cancer Control, Winning in Integration." The 2024 CCHIO will present cutting-edge developments in cancer care and research through keynote addresses and an array of over a hundred concurrent sessions. This congress is an exceptional platform for academic dialogue, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and synergizing clinical practice, research, industry, and application. We will convene a diverse group of leading experts to share pioneering research insights and chart the course for future cancer control strategies. We are confident that the congress will provide all attendees with a valuable global networking opportunity.

Xi'an, a city that seamlessly blends its illustrious past with a dynamic present, serves as an inspiring setting for our congress. As you engage in this pivotal academic event, we encourage you to explore the city's storied history and captivating allure. We are certain that you will find the congress to be an intellectually invigorating and profoundly fulfilling experience. It is with genuine enthusiasm that we invite you to be a part of this congress and to join us in witnessing this monumental academic event. Together, we aspire to advance the robust development of cancer control initiatives in China and globally.

We eagerly anticipate your arrival in Xi'an, China, and the prospect of sharing this significant occasion with you.

SOURCE CCHIO
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New Delhi, Nov 9 : Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh will address several rallies in the poll-bound state of Jharkhand on Saturday as part of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) campaign blitzkrieg in the run-up to the Assembly elections in the eastern state.

HM Shah has got a busy schedule lined up for Saturday as he will address four rallies in Jharkhand where polling will be held in two phases on November 13 and November 20.

The Home Minister will address the first rally at around 11 A.M. in the Chhatarpur Assembly segment and from there, he will leave for Hazaribarh where he is scheduled to address his second poll rally of the day at around 12.30 P.M.

After wrapping up the Hazaribagh programme, the former party President of the BJP will arrive in Potka where he will address the third rally at around 2 P.M.

In Jamshedpur, Home Minister Shah will address the day's fourth election rally at around 3.15 P.M.

Besides, Home Minister Amit Shah, his Union Cabinet colleague, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will also address two rallies today in Jharkhand.

The veteran BJP leader, also a former party President of the BJP, will address the first rally at around 12.50 P.M. in Khunti and the second rally in Chatra at around 2.25 P.M.

As the Assembly polls draw near, the BJP has intensified campaigning in Jharkhand and pulled out the big guns. Many of the BJP's star campaigners including Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been addressing rallies to garner support for the candidates contesting the two-phase Assembly polls.

During a mega rally in Jharkhand's Chaibasa on November 4, PM Modi slammed the Congress, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), labelling them as "anti-Adivasi".

Accusing the parties of disrespecting country's Adivasi community, PM Modi highlighted their alleged disregard for India's Adivasi President.

Addressing a huge gathering in Chaibasa, PM Modi stated: "History stands as a proof of how the British were uprooted from Kolhan. Today, Kolhan is determined to uproot the corrupt JMM government."

He also asserted that his party would form the new government in the state.

PM Modi also underscored the BJP's commitment to Jharkhand, invoking a popular slogan that has gained traction among the masses: "Roti, beti aur maati ki pukaar, Jharkhand me BJP-NDA sarkar," affirming that if the NDA assumes power, it will focus on addressing local demands symbolised by "Roti, Beti, Maati (livelihood, daughters, and land)."
Chennai, Nov 9 : K. Annamalai, the outspoken President of the Tamil Nadu BJP, is set to return to Chennai on November 28 after a three-month stint at Oxford University studying international relations. However, as he prepares to return, a faction within the Tamil Nadu BJP is pushing for his removal as state President.

Sources within the Tamil Nadu BJP told IANS that several party leaders have already written to the party's high command requesting Annamalai's replacement.

These leaders argue that with actor Vijay recently entering the political arena through his TVK, the BJP's prospects in Tamil Nadu have dimmed, and they believe a robust political alliance is crucial for future success.

Critics of Annamalai have also urged the national leadership to consider an alliance with the former ally of the BJP, the AIADMK, asserting that contesting future elections alone would likely lead to significant setbacks for the party.

They point to the BJP's poor showing in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, in which the party, despite multiple visits by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and extensive campaigning, failed to secure a single seat.

These leaders believe that Annamalai's idea that the BJP could win Tamil Nadu on its own is unrealistic and stems from his lack of political experience.

They emphasise that the AIADMK, which holds over 33 per cent of the state's vote share (in 2021 Assembly polls) second only to the DMK  remains a powerful force in Tamil Nadu politics.

According to these leaders, Annamalai's critical remarks about iconic Dravidian figures, such as C.N. Annadurai, have strained the BJP's relationship with the AIADMK.

They argue that only a new leader with amicable ties to other parties can form alliances that would benefit the BJP in the upcoming Assembly elections.

A senior BJP leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, commented, "The central BJP leadership is committed to inclusive politics and has formed alliances with the TDP and JD(U) to continue the NDA's rule at the Centre. Both Chandrababu Naidu of the TDP and Nitish Kumar of the JD(U) had previously been opposed to the BJP, but politics is the art of the possible. By allying with them, the BJP is prioritising practical politics, and this approach is necessary in Tamil Nadu as well."

He further emphasised that the BJP's success in Tamil Nadu hinges on alliances, noting that a strong coalition with parties like the AIADMK, DMDK, and PMK could create a formidable challenge to the DMK.

With Vijay stating that he views the BJP as his ideological adversary and the DMK as his political rival, a solid alliance with the AIADMK could significantly strengthen the BJP's position in the 2026 elections.

Annamalai departed for the United Kingdom on August 28 to attend a three-month course at Oxford and is expected to arrive back in Chennai on November 28.

The question remains whether he will retain his leadership role or whether the BJP will move to install a new state President better positioned to forge alliances.

IANS

aal/rad
PHNOM PENH, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- A Cambodia-China Travel Fair will be held in the cultural province of Siem Reap in northwest Cambodia on Dec. 6-8, said an announcement from the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism on Saturday.

Siem Reap is home to the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park, which is comprised of 91 ancient temples built from the ninth to the 13th centuries.

About 200 Cambodian and Chinese tour and travel operators are expected to take part in the forthcoming event, the announcement said, adding that the key activities at the fair will include a Cambodia tourism promotion seminar, a business matching event, and visits to tourist destinations.

The upcoming fair is one of the activities to promote the "Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year 2024" and the "Visit Siem Reap 2024" campaign, it said.

"The Ministry of Tourism urges tourism associations, tour operators, public-private sector, relevant institutions, national and international media outlets, and the public to actively participate in the aforementioned Cambodia-China Travel Fair, and to promote it widely to all relevant partners," the announcement said.

China is one of the largest sources of international tourists to the Southeast Asian country.

Cambodian Minister of Tourism Huot Hak said the kingdom received 4.3 million international tourists during the January-August period of 2024, an increase of 22.5 percent. Of the number, 538,834 were Chinese tourists, up 47.7 percent.

"Cambodia is projected to receive 7 million international tourists including more than 2 million Chinese tourists in 2025," he said. 
Mumbai, Nov 9 : Pakistani actress Mahira Khan recently took to social media to share a collection of unseen, candid photos and videos.

On Saturday, the actress posted a video showing her enjoying time with friends, including shots of her laughing and posing for the camera. Sharing the post, the Raees star captioned it, "Leap of faith," while adding the song "Raanjhan" from Kriti Sanon's mystery thriller "Do Patti."

In the video, Mahira is also seen dancing joyfully with her friends.

Soon after Mahira shared the video, fans and followers flooded the comments section with compliments. One fan wrote, "I love her; she's literally the most beautiful person alive." Another commented, "What a beautiful video. Biggest fan here." A third said, "Full of life, energy, and positive vibes."

Recently, Mahira Khan was honoured at the British House of Commons for her contributions to international cinema and her role as a cultural ambassador.

Posting a video from her visit to the British Parliament, the 'Humsafar' actress expressed, "This recognition and award were completely unexpected but a sweet end to my stay here in London. I spoke about how the one 'adjective' I feel uneasy with is being called a 'self-made' woman. I have been blessed with the family I have, the friends I grew up with, and those I've made along the way. My life, its ups and downs, and some very special colleagues and coworkers have played a vital role in my journey. Those who came before me paved the way. My fans, and the kindness of strangersAlhumdulillah."

On the professional front, Mahira rose to fame with her role as a troubled wife in the popular television drama "Humsafar", opposite Fawad Khan. She made her Bollywood debut in 2017 alongside Shah Rukh Khan in the crime thriller "Raees."

Mahira's next appearance will be in the upcoming movie "Love Guru" with Humayun Saeed. She is currently in London, filming for the project.
Mumbai, Nov 9 : Two Congress CMs and one Deputy CM will help the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) to counter the ruling Mahayuti and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on their narrative on the guarantee schemes that has resulted in a major row, party officials said here on Saturday.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Sukhu, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Deputy CM of Karnataka D.K. Shivakumar, along with AICC Media & Publicity Chairman Pawan Khera will hold a media interaction here this afternoon to counter the BJP's narrative on the schemes.

Maharashtra Congress President Nana F. Patole said that these senior leaders would lay bare the BJP's propaganda over the poll commitments of the Congress-ruled states of Himachal Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka.

"The BJP has released huge media advertisements and is attempting to mislead the masses by fraudulent claims that the Congress is not implementing its guarantees and assurances made before the elections. However, this is absolutely false," said Patole.

Sukhu, Reddy, Shivakumar and Khera will make some detailed presentations on the guarantees and schemes they have already executed in their respective states, the kind of impact these are having on the people along with supporting data, said a Congress leader in Mumbai.

Simultaneously, Khera on Friday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) on the media blitzkrieg unleashed by the BJP to defame the Congress ahead of the crucial Maharashtra elections, the Mumbai party leader said.

They contended to the ECI that the BJP was making a direct effort to spread false propaganda against the Congress in the state and demanded action in the matter, among other things.

The developments come in the wake of the MVA's '5 Guarantees' that were unveiled here at a mega-rally on November 6 in the presence of the MVA bigwigs, formally launching the alliance's campaign for the November 20 elections.

They included Congress President and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) President Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray, and leaders of other MVA-INDIA bloc allies.
New Delhi, Nov 9 : Officials from India and the European Union (EU) conducted an online workshop to address marine plastic pollution, which is harmful both to human health and marine ecosystems.

The workshop, organised by the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) Working Group 2 on Green and Clean Energy Technologies, aimed to explore novel digital tools to monitor plastic waste. It also discussed solutions to tackle Indiaas unique challenges in combating plastic litter.

"This partnership between India and the EU on plastic litter monitoring and reduction is not only timely but essential for developing solutions that are globally impactful and locally viable," said Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.

Signe Ratso, Deputy Director-General for International Cooperation at the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission, emphasised the need for joint efforts to tackle plastic pollution through research, technology, and shared expertise.

Further, the experts, which included government representatives and experts from academic and research institutions across India and the EU, also deliberated on an e-learning tool designed by the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) to assist in monitoring plastic litter.

This marks a significant step in the shared mission of addressing environmental challenges through technology, innovation, and international cooperation.

Plastic pollution continues to be a major reason behind the extinction of marine species. It creates health problems for human beings and animals alike and leads to the destruction of our ecosystems.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), every year 19-23 million tonnes of plastic waste leaks into aquatic ecosystems. This leads to plastic pollution in lakes, rivers, and seas. As per research by 2050, plastic will likely outweigh all fish in the sea.
New Delhi, Nov 9 : Author and social activist Taslima Nasreen has expressed deep concern regarding the persecution of minorities in Bangladesh at the hands of Islamist extremists.

Taking to X, she highlighted: "The Chittagong-based group Hefazat-e-Islam has called for a ban on ISKCON. Today, their slogan was: 'Catch one ISKCON, then slaughter'. Hefazat-e-Islam has called for terrorism. They want to kill ISKCON members."

Based on qawmi madrasas in Bangladesh, Hefazat-e-Islam is a far-right conservative Islamic advocacy group.

She went on to share her agony: "Is ISKCON a terrorist organisation that it should be banned? Have ISKCON members ever killed anyone while loudly chanting 'Hare Krishna, Hare Rama'? On the other hand, Islamic terrorists shout 'Allahu Akbar' while killing people."

Drawing reference to the popularity and the global reach of the institution, Nasreen pointed out that ISKCON exists in many countries around the world, and "nowhere does it face such issues, but it does in Bangladesh. Why is that? Because in this country, there is a large number of Islamists and jihadists who cannot tolerate people of other religions. They use all sorts of tricks and tactics to harm non-Muslims or drive them out of their land."

"Hefazat-e-Islam is playing the role of the terrorists here, while ISKCON is the persecuted minority," she added.

International Society for Krishna Consciousness, popularly known as ISKCON, is a Gaudiya Vaishnava Hindu religious organisation which has followers across countries and cultures.

After Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ouster, there was widespread fear within the Hindu minority community in the country. Violence against this community has increased since the landmark event in August this year, following a mass uprising that forced Bangladesh's longtime Prime Minister to step down and flee the country.
Guwahati, Nov 9 : Congress workers in Assam's Samaguri protested against party leader Pranjal Ghatowar and he could not campaign for the party's candidate for the Assembly seat which is heading for bypoll next week.

Pranjal is the son of senior Congress leader and former minister Paban Singh Ghatowar.

He went to Samaguri to campaign for Congress nominee Tanzil Hussain; however, the workers demonstrated against Ghatowar and raised slogans against him. They insisted that Ghatowar should leave the place immediately.

The incident unfolded on Friday, late at night in Samaguri. According to party sources, the supporters were irked with Pranjal Ghatowar due to the news that broke out a few days ago that he might join BJP along with his father Paban Singh Ghatowar.

The contest in Samaguri between BJP and Congress has become very interesting. A total of five Assembly seats will be contested for in the by-elections on November 13 and except Samaguri, BJP and its allies have been holding rest of the four seats.

According to pollsters, due to the dominance of Muslim voters in the Samaguri seat, Congress has an edge over the BJP here.

BJP fielded candidates for three seatsDholai, Samaguri and Behali.

Diplu Ranjan Sarma has been given ticket in Samaguri while Diganta Ghatowar and Nihar Ranjan Das will fight for BJP in Behali and Dholai Assembly segments respectively.

BJP's two alliesAsom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) are contesting polls in Bongaigaon and Sidli Assembly constituencies.

CM Sarma recently launched a scathing attack on Congress MP and former minister Rakibul Hussain alleging that the latter gave government jobs through backdoors during his tenure as minister in the state.

He said, "Rakibul Hussain himself acknowledged that he had been given government jobs while he was the minister in Assam during the Congress regime. However, a minister is not capable of giving jobs to anyone and hence, Hussain must be interrogated by the police on his claim."

The Chief Minister further said that once the elections are over, the police will act against the Congress MP.

"I have asked the police to interrogate Rakibul Hussin after the by-elections," he stated.
Sanaa, Nov 9 : Yemen's Houthi group said that it has launched a "ballistic missile" toward Nevatim Airbase in Israel, and has shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over Yemen's Al-Jawf province.

"In support of Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon, we carried out a qualitative military operation targeting the Nevatim Airbase with a hypersonic ballistic missile, and the missile reached its target," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a statement aired by the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.

In the same statement, Sarea said, "Our air defences succeeded in shooting down an American MQ-9 drone, which was carrying out hostile missions in the airspace of Al-Jawf province at dawn today, Friday."

"The downing of this drone brings the total number of the same type of drones that we have shot down since November 2023 to 12," he said.

"We will continue to support the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples by continuing to impose a naval blockade on the Israeli enemy (in the Red Sea)," Sarea said, adding the group's military operations "will not stop until the Israeli aggression on Gaza and Lebanon stops."

There has been no comment yet from the Israeli side concerning the missile attack, nor any response from the US military over the alleged downing, Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier in the day, al-Masirah TV reported that the US-British coalition launched two airstrikes on the Hodeidah province in Yemen, which the alliance has not yet confirmed.

Since November last year, the Houthi group, which controls much of Yemen, has been conducting missile and drone attacks on what it said were "Israeli-linked" ships in regional waters and beyond, as well as targets in Israel, to show solidarity with Palestinians amid their conflict with Israelis in Gaza.

The group has escalated attacks since the end of September after Israel killed former Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike in the southern suburb of Beirut.

In response, the Israeli military has launched airstrikes on Houthi sites in Yemen, while the US-British naval coalition stationed in the waters has been conducting sporadic air raids and strikes against Houthi targets to deter the group.
Mumbai, Nov 9 : Bollywood actors Varun Dhawan, Esha Gupta, Mrunal Thakur, and Maniesh Paul were recently spotted hanging out together.

The actors seemingly reunited for an event. Maniesh took to his Instagram stories to share glimpses of their time together, posting photos featuring Varun, Esha, and Mrunal.

The first image shows Maniesh posing with the 'Rustom' actor in a flight. He captioned the post, "Flying partner for today." The actor-host also shared a happy photo of him sitting next to Esha and Mrunal, writing, "Beauties with the beast." Esha also shared photos of her hanging out with the actors on her Instagram stories.

Maniesh also raved about Varun's performance in his web series "Citadel: Honey Bunny," where Varun stars alongside actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu. Sharing a video of Varun's scene from the show, the 'JugJugg Jeeyo' actor wrote, "This guy is everywhere!! People binging on @varundvn on a flight too!!! #HunnyBunny ruling! @primevideoin."

Meanwhile, "Citadel: Honey Bunny" is directed by Raj & DK. Varun plays Bunny, a skilled stuntman, while Samantha portrays a spy in the film.

In a statement, Samantha revealed what inspired her to join the show, saying, "It's not gimmicky and full of high-tech gadgets and technology. The world that is created is so real. The characters are genuinely relatableordinary people placed in extraordinary circumstances. That drew me in immediately. I also believe it was a brilliant move to set the show in the nineties."

The storyline follows Varun and Samantha as they assume new identities and embark on an exhilarating, globe-trotting adventure. The cast also features Kay Kay Menon, Saqib Saleem, and Sikandar Kher in key roles.

"Citadel: Honey Bunny" premiered on Prime Video India on November 7.

Talking about Maniesh, the actor was last seen in the family drama "JugJugg Jeeyo", produced by Dharma Productions.
New Delhi, Nov 9 : Taking a firm stand in the United Nations on the matter of India's territorial integrity, the senior BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi asserted in no uncertain terms that "Jammu & Kashmir will remain an integral part of India." New Delhi, Nov 9 (IANS) Taking a firm stand in the United Nations on the matter of India's territorial integrity, the senior BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi asserted in no uncertain terms that "Jammu & Kashmir will remain an integral part of India."

During the discussion on UN Peacekeeping operations, the representative from Pakistan mentioned that Pakistan's involvement with UN peacekeepers started when the UN put up peacekeepers in 1948 in the disputed territory of Jammu & Kashmir.

Calling it an "unnecessary" mention, Trivedi said that Pakistan has "again made an attempt to divert the August body from its agenda."

Exercising his ROR ( Right Of Reply), the veteran leader said: "The Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir was, is and will remain the integral part of India."

He went on to clarify the "unnecessary" mention made by the Pakistani delegate by drawing attention to the democratic exercises recently carried out in the region.

"People of Jammu and Kashmir have recently exercised their democratic and electoral right and elected a new government. Pakistan must desist from such rhetoric and falsehood because it will not alter the facts," he averred.

Not dragging the matter further and away from the subject of discourse, the parliamentarian said at the forum: "Out of respect for other members of this forum, India will refrain from responding to any further attempts by Pakistan to abuse the UN procedures."

Taking to his X handle, Trivedi further explained that since J&K has recently been through proper democratic elections for both Parliament and J&K Assembly, "The August forum of United Nations cannot be used in mentioning this type of non-substantive and misleading terms."

The electoral turnouts in these elections in J&K have been notable and the participation of people in the democratic process has been celebrated.

"This could have been possible because of firm foreign policies of PM Sri @narendramodi led government for strong and assertive India on international stage," Trivedi expressed on X.
Kolkata, Nov 9 : Tension is brewing at Canning in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal following reports of a suspected rape of a woman at a lodge.

The suspect in this case, a youth who first accompanied the woman to the said lodge and then took her to a nearby doctoras chamber where she subsequently died, has gone missing.

The members of the victimas family have lodged a complaint of rape and murder against the suspect at the local police station, following which the cops have initiated the processes of investigation in the matter and are tracking the youth.

The body of the 47-year-old victim has been sent for post-mortem and whether the matter is a case of rape and murder or not will be known only after the autopsy report is available.

Sources from the South 24 Parganas district police said that as per preliminary information available after questioning the employees of the lodge and the doctor concerned, the woman accompanied by the suspect came to the lodge on Friday afternoon.

On the same evening, the suspect came out of the room that he hired at the lodge and told the employees that the woman had become seriously ill.

Thereafter, with the help of the lodge employees he took the woman to a nearby doctor.

As the doctor became busy examining her, the suspect quietly left the chamber and went missing after that.

Later on Friday night the woman died and the local police station was informed about it.

The cops then informed the family members of the victim, who on Saturday morning lodged a complaint of rape and murder against the suspect at the local police station.

The cops have started an investigation in the matter and have also sealed the room of the lodge that was hired by the suspect.

Meanwhile, the local people have told media persons that the activities at the said lodge had been questionable for quite some time and it was suspected to be a hub of illegal activities.

West Bengal had been in the negative headlines for the last few months, following reports of series of events of rapes and rapes and murder and in many cases the victims have been minors.

The most talked-about event in the recent past had been the rape and murder of a junior doctor of state-run R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata within the hospital premises in August this year.
Patna, Nov 9 : The slogan "Batoge Toh Katoge" by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has stirred a political discourse across the country.

Responding to the BJP's message, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has come back with its own series of slogans and posters that challenge the BJP's narrative and highlight unity within Bihar.

The posters were released on the occasion of Tejashwi Yadav's birthday on November 9 as he turned 35-years-old.

The RJD's posters outside its Patna office emphasise solidarity and a collective future under Tejashwi Yadav's leadership.

One prominent poster reads, "Jude ke ba, jeet ke ba, 2025 mein niukti man Tejashwi ke mukhyamantri banawe ke ba," that translates to a call for unity and an aim to elect Tejashwi Yadav as Chief Minister in 2025.

Another poster reads, "Hum to A to Z hain, Na Katenge, Na Batenge, hum toh Tejashwi ke saath judenge," which translates as "We represent everyone, we won't divide or be divided; we will stand with Tejashwi."

This counter-campaign by the RJD highlights their commitment to inclusivity, in contrast to what they perceive as divisive slogans, and reinforces Tejashwi Yadav's bid for chief ministership in the upcoming 2025 Bihar elections.

These posters emphasise Tejashwi's inclusive vision, promising representation and support for all communities across the spectrum  upper castes, OBCs, EBCs, Dalits, Mahadalits, Muslims, and other groups.

This approach underscores the RJD's "A to Z" ideology, which aims to unite diverse castes and communities in Bihar.

The RJD's messaging also draws attention to Tejashwi's 17-month term as Deputy Chief Minister in the Grand Alliance government, during which he and his supporters claim he achieved more in terms of employment and development initiatives than the NDA government did over a span of 17 years.

Tejashwi Yadav's supporters and RJD leaders frequently highlight these accomplishments in public forums, painting him as a capable young leader ready to take charge in the upcoming 2025 elections.

This campaign by the RJD is part of a broader strategy to rally support around Tejashwi Yadav as a symbol of hope and progress for Bihar's youth and diverse communities.

The posters and slogans reflect the RJD's commitment to securing Tejashwi's leadership in Bihar's future, positioning him as the candidate who can bring change and inclusivity to the state.
Greek Foreign Affairs Minister George Gerapetritis (R) and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan attend a joint press conference in Athens, Greece, Nov. 8, 2024. (Photo by Marios Lolos/Xinhua)

ATHENS, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Greek Foreign Affairs Minister George Gerapetritis and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan reiterated the two countries' willingness to resolve chronic differences through dialogue regarding maritime borders and other issues in Athens on Friday.

"We acknowledge that there are still difficulties. However, even when we do not find easy solutions, we are engaged in dialogue," Gerapetritis said during a joint press conference after the meeting.

"In times of multiple crises, we contribute to peace, stability, protection of international law and peoples' prosperity," he added.

Fidan said that both sides were committed to strengthening win-win cooperation in many fields and continuing dialogue to find solutions to their differences.

"The relations of Turkiye and Greece are progressing in a positive direction," he said.

"We can find common ground in diverging views cooperating with mutual respect on the basis of international law," he added.

The two neighboring countries have been at odds for years over overlapping claims of territorial waters in the Aegean and Mediterranean, as well as other issues concerning minorities and the Cyprus issue.

On Friday they repeated their different perspectives on these topics, but agreed on the need to boost cooperation to address common challenges, such as irregular immigration flows, expressing concern that they may increase due to the turmoil in the Middle East.

Both officials called for the immediate end to conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and for the de-escalation of tensions. 

Greek Foreign Affairs Minister George Gerapetritis (R) and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan shake hands during a joint press conference in Athens, Greece, Nov. 8, 2024. (Photo by Marios Lolos/Xinhua)
Mumbai, Nov 9 : Bollywood actress Huma Qureshi, who was recently seen in the streaming biopic 'Tarla', has her heart full with the kind of response her brother, actor Saqib Saleem is getting for his work in 'Citadel: Honey Bunny'.

On Saturday, the actress took to her Instagram, and shared two pictures of Saqib as she heaped praise on her brother.

The first picture is from Saqib's look test for 'Citadel: Honey Bunny' in Serbia. The second picture is a still from the series.

The actress also penned a long note in the caption. She wrote, "Photo 1 - I remember the day you shaved your head and sent me this photo after your look test in Serbia".

She added, "All I want to say is - Saqu you make me proud everyday, of the actor you are and the man you are becoming  love you my baby brother. Btw  Have you guys seen the last episode of #CitadelHoneyBunny ?? @saqibsaleem is on fire Photo 2 - Can someone please tell me if that child is fine (sic)".

Meanwhile, on the work front, the actress has an array of projects in the pipeline. In July, this year, Huma, who is known for 'Gangs of Wasseypur', 'Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana', 'Badlapur' and 'Monica, O My Darling', started shooting for her upcoming film 'Bayaan'.

She wrapped up the shoot of her movie 'Gulabi' in which she reunites with actor Dibyendu Bhattacharya after their superhit streaming series 'Maharani'. The film is currently in post-production.

She also has 'Jolly LLB 3' in the pipeline in which she shares the screen with Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi. 'Jolly LLB 3' marks her return to the 'Jolly LLB' franchise.
Quetta, Nov 9 : At least 24 people have been killed in Pakistan while over 50 others are injured at the Quetta Railway Station after a suspected suicide bomber exploded when passengers were gathering for the departure of a train to Peshawar.

"Around 100 people were present at the railway station when the blast occurred. Till now, 24 people have been confirmed dead while over 50 are injured. The blast occurred on the platform as passengers gathered for the departure of Jaffar Express. The train was to depart from Quetta to Peshawar," said Quetta Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Mohammad Baloch.

The injured have been taken to Civil Hospital Quetta, while the rescue and law enforcement teams reached the blast site and cordoned off the area.

An emergency has been declared at the hospital in Balochistan's provincial capital Quetta. The Medical Superintendent at the Civil Hospital said that the dead included women and children.

"46 wounded were brought to the hospital for urgent treatment. Many of the injured are in critical condition," said the Medical Superintendent.

Police said that the blast may have been a suicide bombing as the explosion happened at the time when a high number of passengers were gathering at the platform to board the train to Peshawar at 9 a.m.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti termed the tragic incident as a "horrific act targeting innocent civilians," condemning the incident and ordering an immediate inquiry and investigation.

"Terrorists are increasingly targeting ordinary civilians, labourers, women and children. Those responsible would be pursued relentlessly," said Chief Minister Balochisan Sarfaraz Bugti.

Balochistan has been under an intensified attack by militants, who have been targeting security forces, locals and people from other ethnicities in a series of deadly blasts, posing a major threat of unrest and chaos spread across Pakistan's most vulnerable province hit by terror.

A few days back, at least five children were among the nine people killed, along with 17 others injured when a roadside bomb targeting a vehicle of security forces who were going for security of polio health workers, exploded in Mastung district of Balochistan.

Pakistan's Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces have been the epicentre of violence, terror and unrest as militant groups continue to carry out multiple attacks and claim lives of security personnel and other civilians including women and children.

Pakistan claims that the unrest in both provinces is due to the support and facilitation these groups enjoy from across the border in Afghanistan, and calls on the Afghan Taliban to ensure a crackdown against these groups instead of harbouring them to spread unrest and terror across the border.
New Delhi, Nov 9 : On the occasion of Uttarakhand's 25th Foundation Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday sent heartfelt congratulations to the people of the state in a special video message shared via social media platform X.

Marking the silver jubilee year of Uttarakhand's formation, the Prime Minister expressed his commitment to the future development of the state, framing the next 25 years as a period of transformative growth for both Uttarakhand and the nation.

In his message, PM Modi described this as a defining decade for the state, declaring, "This decade will be the decade of Uttarakhand."

He reaffirmed the central governmentas unwavering commitment to advancing the stateas development, emphasising that the countryas vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India) is closely tied to a 'Viksit Uttarakhand' (Developed Uttarakhand).

The Prime Minister outlined a road map for Uttarakhandas future, underscoring that the coming quarter-century would be pivotal in fulfilling the aspirations of the state.

"Today marks the beginning of the silver jubilee celebrations of Uttarakhand. We must now embark on a new journey for the next 25 years, with the resolution to build a bright future for the state," PM Modi said, stressing that the central government would leave "no stone unturned" to ensure Uttarakhandas development.

Highlighting Uttarakhandas significant progress, PM Modi noted the stateas top ranking in last yearas Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) index and its notable economic growth. aIn the past 1-2 years, the stateas growth rate has increased by more than 1.25 per cent," he stated.

He further added that Uttarakhand has been placed in the category of aachieversa in the aEase of Doing Businessa category and as aleadersa in the startup category. He informed that the state's GST collection has grown by 14 per cent, per capita income is up from Rs 1.25 lakh in 2014 to Rs 2.6 lakh annually and Gross Domestic Product has also risen.

He said that the statistics are a clear indication of new opportunities for the youth and industrial growth and making lives easier for women and children.

He also touched upon construction of lakhs of toilets, electricity supply, gas connections, free treatment under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana and said that the government is standing with all sections of society.

In addition to celebrating Uttarakhand's achievements, PM Modi made a set of nine requests to the people of the state and tourists, aimed at further enriching its cultural and environmental legacy. The five requests of PM Modi to the people of Uttarakhand are as follows:

Preserve local dialects: PM Modi encouraged the people to preserve their local languages and teach them to future generations.

Honour nature: He emphasised the state's deep connection with nature and urged the people to plant trees in the name of their mothers, honouring the spirit of Mother Nanda.

Conserve rivers and canals: The Prime Minister called for a collective effort to conserve Uttarakhandas vital rivers and water channels.

Stay connected to your roots: PM Modi urged people to maintain ties with their villages, return after retirement, and invest in rural development.

Revitalise Tiwari houses: He encouraged citizens to restore old village homes, known locally as Tiwari houses, and transform them into homestays to generate additional income.

He further made four requests to the tourists who are coming to visit Uttarakhand:

Maintain cleanliness: Tourists visiting Uttarakhand were urged to take extra care of the environment and maintain cleanliness in the hills.

Vocal for Local: PM Modi asked visitors to spend at least five per cent on local products to support the regional economy.

Follow traffic rules: The Prime Minister reminded tourists to be mindful of mountain traffic regulations to ensure safety.

Respect local customs: He stressed the importance of respecting cultural and religious customs when visiting sacred places.

PM Modi also praised the proactive policies of the Uttarakhand government, specifically mentioning the Uniform Civil Code of Uttarakhand and the state's tough anti-copying law.

He commended the state for taking strict action against the "copying mafia," which has led to timely recruitments in the state, improving job opportunities for the youth.

Reflecting on the stateas progress, PM Modi highlighted key figures and developments, such as the increase in the stateas GDP, which has nearly doubled from Rs 1.5 lakh crore to Rs 3 lakh crore. "The economic growth of the state reflects in the improved quality of life of its youth and daughters," PM Modi noted.

The Prime Minister also shared encouraging updates regarding infrastructure development. "In 2024, only 5 per cent of households in Uttarakhand had access to tap water. Now, 16 per cent of homes are connected to clean water, a significant step forward for rural development," he said.

He further celebrated the expansion of roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), which has seen an increase in rural road length from 6,000 kms to 20,000 kms.
United Nations, Nov 9 : The humanitarian crisis in Haiti continues to worsen largely due to the persistent violence, a UN spokesperson said.

According to the UN Human Rights Office, nearly 4,900 people were killed in Haiti between January and September this year.

More than 700,000 people have been displaced internally, over half of whom are children. In Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, the deteriorating violence has displaced 12,000 people in recent weeks, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the UN agency.

Food insecurity continues to rise, the office said. Some 5.4 million people, half of the population, are hungry. For the first time since 2022, pockets of famine-like conditions are seen in several areas where displaced people are living.

Ulrika Richardson, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator for Haiti, warned earlier this week that the situation in Haiti is very critical, especially in the capital. Many neighbourhoods there are completely under the control of gangs who impose brutal violence, rape women, and recruit children into their ranks, and that is extremely worrying.

Despite these challenges, the UN and partners continue to deliver humanitarian aid in the country, the spokesperson said. In the first half of the year, they have reached nearly 1.9 million people with humanitarian assistance, including food and cash.

Humanitarians have distributed hundreds of thousands of hot meals and water to displaced people in the capital since the end of February.

More supplies are needed to meet soaring needs in the crisis-striken country. The spokesperson said that the $684 million Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan is currently funded with $288 million, or 43 per cent.

The spokesperson called for real and long-lasting solutions to end the persistent violence and bolster development in Haiti.
Jaipur, Nov 9 : A foreign woman from Thailand was shot in the chest in Udaipur city on Saturday, said police, adding that the investigation is on to ascertain the intent of the crime and the miscreants behind it.

Officials said that the woman was left in a hospital by three boys who later fled.

Considering the case suspicious, the injured was referred to Maharana Bhupal Government Hospital (MB).

The woman, identified as Thogkot, is a resident of Thailand. She was staying at Hotel Veer Palace in Udaipur. Thogkot (24) left the hotel at 1.30 a.m. early on Saturday, got into a taxi and left.

Police went to the hospital as well as the hotel to investigate the matter. So far, it has not been ascertained at which location and why the bullet was fired at her. Information is also being sought about the three boys who left her in the hospital.

A friend of Thogkot was also staying in the hotel with her. Both of them had dinner at around 8.30 p.m. on Friday night. She came out of the hotel late at night and left in a taxi parked outside at 1.31 a.m. It is not known yet why she went out, said police, adding that the Thai national injured by the bullet was taken by three boys to a private hospital located at Bheelon ka Bedla on Gogunda Highway.

"After this, all three boys are missing. When the situation seemed suspicious, the doctor of the private hospital referred the girl to MB Hospital," said an official.

Meanwhile, police reached the hotel to investigate the matter and examined the CCTV footage. It came to light that no one knew about the girl. Police are also examining the footage of the surrounding area.

Further investigations are in progress.
Ballary, Nov 9 : Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and former Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa on Saturday expressed confidence that NDA candidates will win in all three Assembly segments in the by-elections in Karnataka.

Speaking to reporters in Hubbali, Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Joshi alleged that Congress has resorted to using "tokens" (gift coupons) in the state Assembly by-elections.

He claimed that Congress, in its "desperation" to win the by-elections at any cost, has started distributing money using a token system.

The Union Minister mentioned that Congress has set up a system where those who show these tokens receive money. He accused Congress of distributing the money they had "looted".

Despite Congress handing out tokens and money, the BJP will win all three assembly constituencies, he claimed.

Talking to media persons, senior leader Yediyurappa said: "I have the confidence that the BJP candidates are going to win for sure. I have toured all three constituencies. I am here in the Sandur constituency for two days. The tide has turned towards BJP here."

"Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has extended his campaigning in the Sandur constituency for two more days. He was supposed to campaign here for three days. It clearly shows that they have got clues on the impending defeat," Yediyurappa said.

The senior BJP leader said that he was fully confident that including the Sandur seat, the BJP candidates would win all three seats.

Talking about his engagements in the day, he said: "I will campaign in Sandur Constituency today and will go to Shiggaov constituency by the evening."

He reiterated the camping of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and group of his cabinet ministers implies that they have convinced about their setback in the election.

On Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's warning to "prosecute" BJP leaders over the alleged Covid scam, Yediyurappa said: "We have done everything during the Covid pandemic within the framework of law. With ill intention, they want to stir up some controversy, but it won't benefit them in any manner."

The bypolls in Karnataka will be held on November 13.
Shillong, Nov 9 : Agitating students of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), the northeast's oldest Central varsity in Shillong, on Saturday, refused to call off their hunger strike despite appeals by the Meghalaya Governor and its Chief Rector Chandrashekhar H. Vijayashankar.

The indefinite hunger strike, spearheaded by the North Eastern Hill University Students Union (NEHUSU), entered its fifth day on Saturday. The protesters are demanding the removal of Vice-Chancellor Prabha Shankar Shukla and four other top officials, including Registrar, Col Omkar Singh (Retd) and Deputy Registrar, Amit Gupta.

The Governor, while talking with the members of the North Eastern Hill University Teachers' Association and Meghalaya Tribal Teachers' Association at the Raj Bhavan on Friday, assured that the demands of the students would be considered and appealed to them to withdraw their agitation.

The VC, on a number of occasions, urged the students to call off their agitation and hold talks so that normal academic activities can resume in the university.

In a letter to NEHUSU President Sandy Sohtun, he assured them of the formation of an inquiry committee to study the demand for the removal of the Registrar and Deputy Registrar.

Shukla, in his letter, also assured that he would call a meeting of the Executive Council by November 14 to form an enquiry committee and based on the findings of its report, appropriate actions would be taken.

He, in principle, agreed to the appointment of a Pro-Vice-Chancellor to facilitate the administration of the NEHU's Tura Campus.

The VC called an emergent meeting of the Executive Council on Friday to discuss the demands of the NEHUSU but the meeting could not be held due to disruptions.

On the other hand, NEHUSU General Secretary Toniho S. Kharsati told the media that they are not happy with the clarification of the VC about their demands.

He also said they would continue with their agitation until and unless their demands were accepted by the authorities.

As part of their agitation, the students burnt the effigies of the VC and shut all entrances to the university complex.

At least six students, including a girl, who have been on indefinite hunger strike since November 5, were hospitalised after their health deteriorated. Two of the students, after being discharged from the hospital on Friday, have rejoined the hunger strike.

The Khasi Students Union's NEHU unit and the Meghalaya Tribal Teachers' Association are also supporting the protest.

The agitating students claimed that due to the incompetence of all top varsity officials, the NEHU's rank has slipped 21 points to 101 in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranking. NEHUSU General Secretary Kharsati said the students demanded that all "incompetent" top officials along with those "illegally" appointed must be removed for the interest of the students and the varsity.

"Since the incumbent VC took charge of the University in 2021, no important academic development has taken place, and instead rankings of the important institution have been going down. Incompetent people were appointed in the top position," he said.

The Non-teaching Staff Association (NEHUNSA) also stopped their official work in protest against the "unprecedented delay" in the recruitment process for the posts that were notified last year.

Apart from all the northeast states, students from other states of the country, as well as seven countries, including the US, Russia and Bangladesh, are studying in the NEHU.
Bengaluru, Nov 9 : The government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accounts for every rupee collected so that it doesn't get frittered away and common people benefit from the work that it is doing, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said here on Saturday.

Addressing students at an event here, FM Sitharaman said that if you're looking at how our government has managed the money that it earns and the money that it spends, "the philosophy has been that for every rupee which is collected as tax, we should be effectively creating assets as much as giving good governance to the people".

Stressing that India's banking turnaround started in 2014 with the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), the Finance Minister said the aim was to make the banking net accessible to everyone.

Today, PMJDY is promoting financial inclusion with over 523 million bank accounts, bringing marginalised sections into the formal financial system.

"Simultaneously, the evolution of digital infrastructure took place. Not just the government, but all stakeholders played their role in making it what it is today," FM Sitharaman told the students.

"For example, when I went to Nagaland, I visited an NGO which produced hand-made handicraft products, ranging from cushion covers to tea coasters. The lady running the NGO told me that they've got an order from the US and they're sending it for Christmas," she said, noting that a small NGO in Nagaland now has direct access to the market in the US.

"No one would've imagined this sort of access. The digital revolution doesn't have any borders. If it can happen for a small NGO in Nagaland, you can imagine how it must've benefited the small units across the nation," she told the gathering.

"People today aren't waiting for anyone to educate them about digital or financial inclusion because it's already available to them in their phones and that too in simple language," FM Sitharaman added.
VILNIUS, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Lithuania's Social Democratic Party (LSDP) Council has formally approved a coalition forming the ruling majority with Dawn of Nemunas (PPNA) and the Democratic Union "For Lithuania" (DSVL), the Baltic News Service (BNS) reported on Saturday.

The coalition was backed by 105 council members, with seven social democrats, including honorary chairman Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, voting against it, and another 17 abstaining.

Earlier on Saturday, both PPNA and DSVL also approved the coalition agreement.

Under the agreement, Gintautas Paluckas will lead the new government, while DSVL leader Saulius Skvernelis will serve as Speaker of the Seimas. The distribution of ministerial roles allocates three ministries to PPNA, two to DSVL, and nine to LSDP.

PPNA will oversee the ministries of agriculture, environment, and justice, while DSVL will lead the ministries of economy, innovation, and energy. The LSDP will head the ministries of finance, national defense, culture, social security and labor, communications, health care, education, science and sports, foreign affairs, and the interior.

LSDP will also hold the roles of first vice-chairman of the Seimas and two additional vice-chairman positions, with PPNA providing two Deputy Speakers.

The coalition agreement includes commitments to create a Road Fund, introduce value-added tax relief for fruits and vegetables, reform the second tier of pensions, increase efforts to combat xenophobia, reintroduce a public electricity supplier, and halt education reforms.

The coalition would hold at least 86 of the 141 parliamentary mandates in the next term.

The new Seimas term will be sworn in next Thursday.

Following two rounds of parliamentary elections on Oct. 13 and 27, LSDP secured the largest share of votes, winning 52 seats in the 141-seat unicameral parliament, with PPNA and DSVL securing 20 and 14 mandates, respectively. 
Akola, Nov 9 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the BJP-led Mahayuti will not allow Maharashtra to become an ATM for the 'Mahaghotalebaaj (most corrupt)' people of the Maha Vikas Aghadi.

He claimed that the entire nation knows that Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) stands for corruption.

In his speech at the poll rally for the Mahayuti candidates in Akola, PM Modi stepped up his attack on the MVA (comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena-UBT and NCP-SP) saying that "it stands for multi-crore scams, for extortion and token money. It stands for transfer posting racket and is completely immersed in scandals, loot and corruption."

The PM chose to target the Congress in particular and the MVA in general when the Mahayuti comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP is leaving no stone unturned to come back to power in the state.

"The Congress Party knows that the weaker the country is, the stronger the Congress will be. That is why it is the nature of Congress to make different castes fight. Since Independence, the Congress never allowed our Dalit community to unite. The Congress also kept our ST community divided into different castes. The Congress gets irritated on hearing the name OBCs. To ensure that the OBC community does not have a separate identity, the Congress has played various games," claimed the Prime Minister.

He further said, "The Congress wants that different castes of SC society keep fighting and quarreling among themselves. Because the Congress knows that if different castes of SC society keep fighting among themselves, their voice will get dispersed, their votes will get dispersed and as soon as this happens, the way will be paved for Congress to come to power."

Commenting on the present political situation in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), the Prime Minister said, "Today, the country is concerned about another sensitive issue. In the J&K Legislative Assembly, Congress and its allies have passed a proposal to restore Article 370. I ask you, should Article 370 be reinstated in Jammu and Kashmir?"

To this, the people gathered at the rally shouted "no" saying that they would not allow the reinstatement of Article 370 in J&K.

He alleged that the Congress and its allies neither care about Baba Saheb Ambedkar's Constitution, nor the courts nor the sentiments of the country.

"From Nehru ji till today, the top family of the Congress has repeatedly insulted Baba Saheb Ambedkar. During the time of Congress, Baba Saheb Ambedkar was not given credit for any major work done by him," he remarked.

Referring to the slew of schemes launched in agriculture and empowerment of farmers by the Centre and the Mahayuti government, the Prime Minister said, "Our resolve is that the farmer himself should be so empowered that he emerges as the hero of the country's progress! Therefore, we are increasing the income of the farmer and reducing their expenses. We started the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, the Mahayuti government gave its support to it. The result is that farmers of Maharashtra are getting Rs 12,000 annually."

"The Congress is snatching away the rights of the Scheduled Caste community. Cheating on the SCs is both 'Chaal' and 'Charitra' of the Congress party. You all must remember that 'Ek Hai to Safe Hai' (if united we are safe)," said the Prime Minister urging the people to foil attempts to divide on the lines of castes, religion and creed.
Patna, Nov 9 : Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday kicked off campaigning for the upcoming Assembly by-elections in Bihar, scheduled for November 13, focusing on the Tarari and Ramgarh constituencies.

He will be campaigning alongside JD(U)'s National Working President Sanjay Jha and Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, with support from senior BJP leaders and other NDA allies.

His campaign will extend to Belaganj and Imamganj on November 10, as he rallies support for the BJP candidates in these competitive constituencies.

In Tarari, the BJP has nominated Vishal Prashant, the son of muscleman Sunil Pandey.

Sunil Pandey, then independent candidate, lost the 2020 elections to CPI(ML) candidate Sudama Prasad by a margin of 13,000 votes.

However, Sunil's family has won four out of six elections from 2000 to 2020.

The seat fell vacant after Sudama Prasad transitioned to the national level as an MP, and BJP's choice of Prashant aimed to leverage his familyas established influence.

Prashant will face a strong CPI(ML) candidate in the bypolls.

In Ramgarh, the BJP has fielded Ashok Kumar Singh, who will contest against Ajit Kumar, son of RJD state president Jagdanand Singh.

The Singh family holds considerable sway in Ramgarh, with Jagdanand Singh's elder son, Sudhakar Singh, having won the seat in 2020 before moving to a national role.

With the Singh family's established presence, BJP's candidate faces an uphill battle to claim the constituency for the NDA.

The Chief Minister's campaign will continue on Sunday too in Belaganj and Imamganj, where JD(U)'s Manorama Devi is contesting from Belaganj, while Deepa Manjhi, the daughter-in-law of Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi, was fighting from Imamganj.

Notably, Imamganj is the only NDA-held seat among the four up for election, vacated when Jitan Ram Manjhi became an MP from Gaya.

The stakes are high for both the NDA and Mahagathbandhan, as each alliance seeks to secure these influential constituencies.

With Jan Suraaj, led by Prashant Kishor, entering the race, the contest has taken on an added layer of intrigue, as Kishor and his team were working to draw support.

On the Mahagathbandhan side, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and leaders from allied parties are equally engaged in intense campaigning efforts.
Ballary, Nov 9 : Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi, on Saturday, strongly condemned the FIRs against media personnel in connection with the publication of news about a farmer's suicide due to Waqf row.

Speaking at a campaign meeting in support of BJP candidate Bangaru Hanumanth in the Sandur Assembly constituency on Saturday, Union Minister Joshi expressed his anger and alleged that Congress leaders, while constantly talking about the Constitution, act in ways contrary to it.

He went on to mention that a farmer who had suffered from Waqf land encroachment in 2020, had taken his own life in 2022. When BJP MP Tejasvi Surya and the media exposed this, FIRs were filed against them.

Joshi questioned whether those responsible even understand the essence of the Constitution.

He criticised Congress leaders, calling them out for merely distributing blank copies of the Constitution while failing to honour its principles.

Joshi further openly questioned Siddaramaiah: "Aren't you ashamed of filing cases against the media while holding the Constitution?"

He further accused Minister for Housing and Waqf Zameer Ahmad Khan of engaging in land grabbing in the name of Waqf, questioning how Chief Minister Siddaramaiah could lecture them on moral issues while supporting such actions.

A case was booked against the Editor of Kannada Duniya e-paper and the Editor of Kannada News e-paper regarding the matter. The FIR was filed by the Cybercrime, Economic Offences, Narcotics (CEN) Police in Haveri district of Karnataka.

The case has been booked under Section 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita  2023. BJP National Yuva Morcha President Tejasvi Surya is named as the first accused in the case.
Chennai, Nov 9 : The Gram Sabha meetings in Tamil Nadu, originally scheduled for November 1, have been postponed to November 23.

The state government has issued a circular directing all District Collectors and the Director of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj to conduct the meetings statewide from 11:00 a.m. onwards.

The government circular also instructed District Collectors and Panchayat Raj Department officials to inform villagers about the meeting's new date and time.

The meetings were initially postponed due to administrative challenges.

Tamil Nadu traditionally holds Gram Sabha meetings six times annually -- Republic Day (January 26), World Water Day (March 22), Labour Day (May 1), Independence Day (August 15), Gandhi Jayanti (October 2), and Local Governance Day (November 1).

After coming to power in May 2021, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin introduced Gram Sabha meetings on World Water Day (March 22) and Local Self-Governance Day (November 1). He also announced the establishment of village secretariats to assist in implementing government schemes in rural areas.

However, the Gram Sabha meetings for January 26 were cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic, a decision that received criticism from the public and social activists.

Krishnasamy, a social activist from Erode, commented, "Holding six Gram Sabha meetings is a positive step, but the state government needs to ensure that villagers, panchayat members, and officials understand the role of Gram Sabhas."

He added, "Increasing the frequency of meetings is good, but these sessions need to function properly and transparently."

The government must ensure that resolutions passed during these meetings are taken seriously and implemented without delay.

Christopher David, Senior Coordinator at the Institute of Development Studies in Coimbatore, expressed concerns about quorum issues, saying, "It has become common for local bodies to claim that a Sabha couldn't be held due to lack of quorum. The Panchayats must ensure that at least one-third of the total members are present."

The 73rd Amendment empowered state governments to take necessary steps to formalise Gram Panchayats and facilitate their operation as units of self-governance.

Important decisions affecting local communities are often made in Gram Sabhas, with regular meetings supervised by activists to ensure transparency and accountability.
Palamu, Nov 9 : Highlighting the BJP's commitment to protect the 'Roti, Maati, Beti (livelihood, land, daughter)' of Jharkhand voters, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday attacked the Congress and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) for the state government's conspiracy to allow cross-border infiltration for vote bank politics. He also said that there would be no religion-based reservation in the country.

Addressing an election rally in Palamu, HM Shah also slammed the INDIA bloc for corruption that was exposed by the recent recovery of over Rs 300 crore from a Congress MP's house and seizure of Rs 30 crore from the home of an aide of Jharkhand minister Alamgir Alam.

In a stinging criticism of the Congress for its proposal to give 10 per cent reservation for Muslims, HM Shah said, "I want to warn Rahul Gandhi that your conspiracy to give 10 per cent reservation to Muslims will never succeed."

"If such a Muslim quota is created, the biggest losers will be OBCs, Dalits and Tribals as their share of reservation will be reduced," HM Shah warned.

He also lashed out at the Congress for allegedly waving fake copies of the Constitution at public meetings.

"The copies of the Constitution they wave at the public have blank pages. Rahul Gandhi has insulted B.R. Ambedkar by waving a fake copy of the Constitution and reduced the revered document to a joke," he claimed.

The Home Minister also trained his guns on Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi over Article 370, saying neither the Congress leader nor his next four generations would be able to bring back Article 370, whose removal has fully integrated Jammu and Kashmir with the country under the Modi government.

HM Shah hit out at Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren for allowing infiltration for pursuing vote bank politics.

"The CM says there is no infiltration, it is just the BJP's political agenda. But I want to tell the CM that you are allowing infiltration as part of your vote bank politics," he claimed.

HM Shah said the infiltrators were eating into the jobs meant for Jharkhand's youths.

"Once a BJP government comes to power in Jharkhand, we will protect 'Roti, Maati, Beti.' Today infiltrators are marrying tribal girls in Jharkhand and getting land transferred to their names using Dan Patra," he said, vowing to stop this malpractice.

Accusing the Congress and CM Soren of not acting against corruption, HM Shah said, "The seized Rs 300 crore and Rs 30 crore don't belong to the Congress, but belong to Jharkhand's youth that they were trying to swindle."

"Under Narendra Modi's government all corrupt people land in jail as his government has completed the task of punishing the corrupt  ulta latka kar, seedha kiya hai," he said.

He claimed that the corrupt Congress and the government misappropriated over Rs 300 crore out of the money sent by the Centre for the state.

"Between 2014-24, the central government sent Rs 3,90,000 crore for the state as compared to just Rs 84,000 crore sent by the UPA government between 2004-14," he said.

Reaching out to the youth, Shah promised to stop paper leaks and generate one lakh jobs annually and fill 2.27 lakh vacancies in a transparent manner.

Elaborating on the welfare schemes that the BJP will unveil on coming to power, Shah said the party will give Rs 25,000 annually to all adult women, one LPG cylinder for Rs 500 with two free ones on Diwali and Rakshabandhan, rebate in property registration's stamp duty, additional Rs 1 lakh loan for building homes.

He said the BJP will also open 10 new medical colleges, an internship and skill centre and give Rs 2,500 monthly financial assistance to widows and the physically-challenged.

Voting in Jharkhand will be held in two phases on November 13 and November 20 to pick a new 81-member Assembly. The results will be declared on November 23.
Nalanda, Nov 9 : In the villages and towns of Nalanda district, residents are making strides toward self-reliance, thanks to PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana initiated by the Central government.

This initiative, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is transforming lives by enabling families to generate their own electricity through solar panels, significantly reducing their dependency on the grid and slashing electricity bills.

One such success story is that of Vishwajeet Kumar, a resident of Doctor Colony in Bihar Sharif, Nalanda. Vishwajeet, like many others in the region, faced recurring power cuts and challenges with the smart metre system, which often led to high and fluctuating electricity bills. However, after installing a 3 Kilowatt solar panel system at his home, thanks to the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, his financial burden has been greatly alleviated.

Vishwajeet shared that before opting for the solar installation, his household suffered from frequent disruptions in power supply and issues with the electricity recharge system.

"The solar panel system has been a game-changer for my family. It has not only met all our electricity needs for the past two months but has also allowed us to sell excess power back to the grid," he said.

He explained that after selecting a vendor and investing Rs 2 lakh in the solar panel project, he received a subsidy of Rs 78,000 from the government. This subsidy reduced the total cost of the installation to just Rs 1.22 lakh, making the system much more affordable for him.

Since the installation, Vishwajeet has sold about 148 units of electricity to the government, earning money while powering his home no monthly cost. "This scheme has been a huge relief for my family, and I want to thank Prime Minister Modi for bringing this opportunity to us," he added.

The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is designed to promote solar energy adoption at the grassroots, encouraging self-reliance among citizens while contributing to the nationas clean energy goals. Under the scheme, solar panel systems are installed at subsidised rates, reducing the burden of energy costs for families, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.

Manikant Kumar, a representative from Adani Solar, which is one of the key vendors under the scheme, explained how the 3 kW solar panel system can produce an average of 400 to 450 units of electricity each month.

"A 3 kW system generates about 15 units per day, which is more than sufficient to meet the electricity needs of a typical household. Over time, the investment pays for itself, with the cost being recovered in approximately four years," he said.

Kumar further added that this scheme not only makes homes energy-efficient but also helps families reduce their monthly electricity bills for up to 30 years.

The success of the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana has been evident in the positive changes seen in local communities. The scheme is not only lowering electricity costs but is also helping residents contribute to the national renewable energy push by feeding surplus electricity back into the grid. With solar energy becoming more accessible, families are experiencing financial relief while supporting India's vision of becoming a self-reliant nation.
Mumbai, Nov 9 : Actress Preity Zinta once revealed that she was quite the mischievous child, often leaving her mother embarrassed with her naughty antics.

During her appearance on the chat show 'Rendezvous with Simi Garewal', the actress revealed at just 12 years old, she pretended to be 18 by stuffing oranges in her bra to sneak into an army club. While confessing being very naughty as a kid, Preity shared, "I was always a bit of rebellious. I was very very naughty. I think I have embarrassed my mother a lot. Now that I have grown up and I see my friends with their children's, I am like oh my god, I hope I don't have kids like me."

The 'Soldier' actress went on to describe how her curiosity once led her to pull a prank to gain entry into an adults-only army party.

Zinta added, "As you know, in the army, children below 18 are not allowed to attend army parties. And, it intrigued me to know what was happening behind those doors. So, I went to my mom's cupboard, took out a bra, and stuffed it with oranges. Then, I went outside to the club and stood like this (gesturing at her chest) and said, 'I am 18, can I go in'. A guy kept looking at me."

"My mom got so upset with me, my god, she got really upset," Preity mentioned.

On the work front, Zinta made her acting debut in 1998 with Mani Ratnam's romantic thriller 'Dil Se' opposite Shah Rukh Khan. In the same year, she acted in the film Soldier alongside Bobby Deol. Later, she played the role of a teenage single mother in Kya Kehna. These films earned the actress critical acclamation and shot her to fame.

Preity is also known for her role in films such as, "Dil Chahta Hai," "Kal Ho Naa Ho,", "Veer-Zaara," and "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna."

She was last seen in the 2018 film "Bhaiaji Superhit" opposite Sunny Deol.
New Delhi, Nov 9 : E-commerce platform Flipkart's logistics arm reported a more than five times surge in its net losses to Rs 1,718.4 crore last fiscal (FY24), compared to Rs 324.6 crore in the previous fiscal (FY23).

Instakart Services, which operates Ekart Logistics, also clocked a 5 per cent revenue decline at Rs 12,115.3 crore in FY24, compared to Rs 12,787.4 crore in the year-ago period.

The expenses rose by over 6 per cent to Rs 14,149.4 crore from Rs 13,325 crore. Total income narrowed by 4.3 per cent to Rs 12,431 crore from Rs 13,001 crore, as per its regulatory documents.

As per the documents, the company reported depreciation, depletion and amortisation expenses at Rs 1,183 crore and employee benefit expenses of Rs 1,244 crore in FY24. In FY23, the depreciation, depletion, and amortisation expense was Rs 1,204 crore and the employee benefit expense was Rs 1,132 crore.

Founded in 2009, Ekart provides fourth-party logistics (4PL) services to many small and large-scale businesses across the country. With grade-A warehouses across 20 locations and more than 7,000 trucks, Ekart delivers across 15,000 pin codes.

Ekart has partnered with more than 300 brands for business-to-business (B2B), warehousing, and dropship services, providing customised end-to-end (E2E) solutions for industries across direct-to-consumer (D2C), retail, apparel and fashion, and fin-tech, among others.

The company recently introduced a comprehensive aRefinish Servicea tailored to address the challenges of returns management in the fashion and lifestyle sector.

Meanwhile, Amazon Indiaas logistics arm Amazon Transportation Services (ATS) clocked a 7.6 per cent growth in its operating revenue to Rs 4,889 crore in FY24 from Rs 4,543 crore in FY23. The companyas net loss declined by 6.9 per cent to Rs 80 crore against Rs 86 crore.
Ramanagara : , Nov 9 (IANS) Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda appealed to people to strengthen Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy in the by-elections.

"The Congress government in Karnataka will not complete its full term," he underlined.

Deve Gowda made the statements on his fifth consecutive day of campaigning for NDA candidate, his grandson, Nikhil Kumaraswamy.

He addressed gatherings in SM Halli and Malur town, and Channapatna.

Recalling his initial steps in Channapatna politics in 1957, he said that he has a longstanding connection with the region.

He criticised Congress leaders, stating, "There's no politician who has the morality to stand in front of me in Congress today."

Deve Gowda maintained that he is dedicating his efforts to "strengthening Prime Minister Narendra Modi" and ensuring support for H.D. Kumaraswamy's role as a Union minister.

Reiterating his commitment to the Mekedatu project, he assured voters, "If Nikhil Kumaraswamy wins, we will fight in both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha to make the Mekedatu project a reality."

Deve Gowda also criticised the INDIA bloc questioning "is there any leader in their alliance who can become PM? Can Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin or West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee become PM?"

Questioning the guarantees, the former PM highlighted that "one of the guarantees out of the five guarantees has collapsed and other guarantees will not sustain long enough. There's no guarantee that even this government (Congress) will complete its full term."

Adding on, he said, "I will ensure to include the Kadugollas and Bestha communities into the Scheduled Caste category."

Former Deputy CM and BJP MLA C.N. Ashwath Narayan lauded H.D. Deve Gowda has been a friend of the poor and "Raitha Bandhu" (friend of farmers) stating that he had made lifelong contributions to development and irrigation.

Ashwath Narayan highlighted Deve Gowda's role in advancing critical projects across Karnataka, emphasising that the Sattegala project is essential for local irrigation needs.
Vijayawada, Nov 9 : Beleaguered low-cost airline SpiceJet on Saturday announced that it would launch seaplane operations in India next year, with an aim to connect some of the most remote and picturesque locations.

With rights to operate seaplane services on 20 routes, including Lakshadweep, Hyderabad, Guwahati, and Shillong, the airline said it is preparing to roll out connectivity across key routes as the infrastructure becomes ready.

"With the support of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Union Minister K. Rammohan Naidu, we are taking concrete steps to bring seaplane operations to life in India once again," SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director, Ajay Singh said.

The company also demonstrated a seaplane flight from the Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada to the Srisailam Dam.

Spice Shuttle CEO Avani Singh said that seaplanes can be a true game-changer for India where diverse geographies - coastlines, islands and riverine regions - often present infrastructure challenges.

The airline said it has partnered in seaplane trials across multiple locations, providing crucial engineering, technical, and logistical support to De Havilland Canada seaplane.

The budget carrier has recently announced to expand its domestic network with the launch of eight new flights starting November 15. These new routes will connect Jaipur with Varanasi, Amritsar, and Ahmedabad, while also linking Ahmedabad with Pune.

Meanwhile, the domestic passenger market share of SpiceJet, facing financial difficulties for several quarters, shrunk to 2.3 per cent in August this year, as per recent data by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). In January last year, the airline held a 7.3 per cent market share. The airline reported a 19.65 per cent drop in consolidated profit in the April-June quarter (Q1 FY25). Its profit stood at Rs 158.75 crore in Q1 against Rs 197.58 crore in the year-ago fiscal period.
ZAGREB, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Four young men, one of whom is a minor, have been arrested for physically assaulting a foreign delivery worker in Split, Croatia's second-largest city, the Split Police Department reported on Saturday.

According to the police statement, the attack occurred around 19:18 local time on Friday when the four individuals assaulted a 41-year-old foreign delivery worker while he was performing his duties in Split. Both the delivery worker and one of his attackers, a minor, sustained minor injuries during the altercation.

All four suspects have been identified and taken into custody, with investigations underway for the offense of grievous bodily harm with potential links to a hate crime, the statement noted.

Additionally, three more incidents involving attacks on foreign delivery workers took place in Split on Friday night. In one case, a delivery worker from Nepal sustained serious injuries, and the perpetrators fled the scene, according to the police statement.

Throughout Friday night, police officers increased their patrols in the city to prevent further illegal activities. The statement emphasized that police efforts will remain rigorous to combat hate-related crimes.

In response to a labor shortage in Croatia, the country has been issuing work permits to foreign workers, with 131,000 permits granted by the end of July this year. However, incidents involving violence against foreign workers have recently increased.

Croatian Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic has pledged to ensure the safety of foreign workers in Croatia and to intensify efforts to combat hate crimes. 
Kolkata, Nov 9 : Three people were killed on Saturday after being hit by a pickup van at Tulshihata in West Bengal's Malda district.

Three others, including the driver of the pickup vehicle, sustained injuries in the incident and were rushed to a local hospital.

As per the latest information, the condition of all three injured in the accident was critical.

Eyewitnesses said five persons were strolling on the street when the speedily-driven pickup van hit them from behind. The impact of the collision was such that the victims were tossed away from the point of the accident.

Even the driver of the pickup van lost control over steering because of the impact of the collision and ultimately rammed into a tree in which the driver also suffered injuries.

The three persons, who died on the spot, have been identified as Suresh Khaitan (60), Fekonlal Ram (60) and Dilip Saha (49). Khaitan was a medical practitioner by profession.

The two pedestrians who received grave injuries have been identified as Sasha's wife Sraboni Saha (40) and Shankar Karmakar (43). They, along with the driver of the pickup van Md Helal (40), were receiving treatment at Chanchal Super-specialty Hospital.

The cops have sent the bodies of the deceased for post-mortem.

The accident spot was quite close to the National Highway-31.

The local people complained that goods vehicles, especially pickup vans, rush at high speeds, without caring about the traffic rules.

"Today's accident was entirely because of the fault of the pickup van driver. He was driving rashly and those who were hit were at a distance on one side of the national highway. The administration should do something about the rash driving by drivers of the goods vehicle," an eyewitness told media persons.
Sydney, Nov 9 : A sailor who fell from a cargo ship off Australia's eastern coast near Sydney has been found alive after almost 24 hours of being stranded at sea.

The man went overboard from the Singapore-based bulk carrier Double Delight 8 km off the coast of Newcastle, a harbour city north of Sydney, at about 11:30 p.m. local time on Thursday night.

Authorities confirmed on Saturday that he was rescued by a recreational fisherman who spotted him from a boat near the coast at 6:20 p.m. on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported quoting Australia's 9News network.

The ambulance service in the state of New South Wales (NSW) said that paramedics were called to a beach in Swansea, a neighbouring town south of Newcastle, on Friday night following reports a man was found in the water.

"The patient, a man in his 20s, reportedly was in the water for about 24 hours. He was wearing a life jacket, he was conscious, he was able to communicate with us, but he was very cold and absolutely exhausted," a spokeswoman told.

A major operation involving two boats, two helicopters and an aircraft was launched to search for the sailor on Friday.

Jason Richards from NSW Marine and Rescue said on Saturday that the search team was grateful to hear that he was found safely.

The sailor was taken to hospital for treatment.
New Delhi, Nov 9 : Amid a report on high lead levels found in turmeric sold in Asia, including India, doctors on Saturday warned that lead exposure through contaminated turmeric can impair kids' cognitive functions, and raise heart disease, and stroke risk in adults.

The study, published in the journal Science of The Total Environment, found that turmeric sold in India's Patna; Pakistan's Karachi and Peshawar; and Nepal had lead levels in turmeric exceeding 1,000 micrograms/gram. This is about 200 times more than the limit set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) -- 10 micrograms/gram.

Researchers led by the University of Stanford in the US, along with those from India, found that turmeric sold in Guwahati and Chennai also exceeded the regulatory limit.

"Turmeric, widely recognised for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, is often consumed in significant quantities, making lead contamination especially dangerous. Lead exposure through contaminated turmeric can cause gastrointestinal toxicity, manifesting as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and constipation," Dr. Mahesh Gupta, Senior Consultant - Medical Gastroenterology, Dharamshila Narayana Hospital, told IANS.

"This study serves as a reminder to approach traditional remedies with caution, as overdose or consumption of contaminated turmeric could worsen health rather than improve it," he added.

The study showed that the most likely source of lead in turmeric samples was lead chromate -- a yellow pigment used in paints, rubber, plastics, and ceramic coatings. Polished roots and loose powder were the only forms of turmeric with lead levels above 1,000 micrograms/gram.

"Consumption of lead chromate via turmeric has severe health consequences, which include cognitive impairment, especially irreversible damage to a child's brain development. Children can have learning disabilities, including low IQs, and long-term exposure in adults can increase the risk of heart disease and strokes, and can also lead to certain different neurological disorders," Dr Manisha Arora, Director - Internal Medicine at the CK Birla Hospital (R), Delhi, told IANS.

Gupta said regular intake can also impact liver function, impair the organ's ability to detoxify the body, and lead to oxidative stress in the gastrointestinal lining, which can aggravate inflammatory conditions like gastritis, peptic ulcers, and even irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Given that loose, unregulated turmeric often exceeds safe lead levels, consumers with digestive sensitivities should be especially cautious, opting for packaged and branded turmeric products that meet regulatory standards, the experts noted.

They called on health authorities to focus on eliminating the use of lead chromate in the turmeric supply chain.

Raising awareness about the risks associated with contaminated turmeric, coupled with rigorous testing, is essential to safeguarding gastrointestinal health and preventing long-term toxic exposure.
Chennai, Nov 9 : A moped rider was killed in Tamil Nadu's Salem district on Saturday after the moped he was riding collided with a bus, which was carrying 30 passengers.

An official identified the victim as P. Periyasamy (60), a resident of Veerapandiyar Nagar near Chinnagoundanur in Salem district.

He said that all 30 passengers of the bus escaped unhurt which was travelling from Coimbatore to Chennai.

A police official told IANS that the bus driver had applied the breaks when he saw an elderly man crossing the road on a moped. However, the driver could not save Periyasamy.

He added that the bus also caught fire due to the leakage in the fuel tank. "Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services personnel extinguished the fire within a limited time but the bus could not be saved and was fully gutted," he said.

He said that the deceased was working as a security guard at a truck workshop in a locality in Salem. "We have also sent the body to Salem Government Hospital for a postmortem examination and registered a case," he said.

On Thursday, ten people, including the driver and conductor of a Tamil Nadu government bus, were injured when the bus collided with a truck carrying iron rods on the Chennai-Tiruchi highway in Chengalpattu district.

On Monday, a female Sub-Inspector and a female Head Constable lost their lives when their two-wheeler was struck by a speeding car.

The deceased, Sub-Inspector Jayashree (36) and Head Constable Nithya, both from Madhavaram Police Station, were reportedly on duty and headed to arrest a suspect when the accident occurred near Sirunagalur.

On October 31, S. Krishnaveni, a Special Sub-Inspector of Tamil Nadu police, was also struck by a speeding motorbike.
Ballary : , Nov 9 (IANS) Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has charged that no god will forgive the BJP and its leaders for committing corruption over dead bodies during the Covid pandemic.

"People should also not forgive them either," he appealed.

While addressing a large gathering in the village of Metri in the Sandur Assembly constituency for Congress candidate Annapurna Tukaram, CM Siddaramaiah claimed that during the Covid-19 pandemic, then-CM B.S. Yediyurappa and former Health Minister B. Sriramulu engaged in corruption by importing PPE kits from China.

He asserted that the retired justice Michael D'Cunha -led investigative commission found evidence of this corruption and called for action against them under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

CM Siddaramaiah criticised the BJP government for allegedly profiteering while the people prayed for safety during the Covid pandemic.

He urged people not to forgive the BJP leaders who exploited the dead for corruption.

He said that Congress has always supported the poor and marginalised through its programmes, while BJP has consistently opposed these initiatives and spread misinformation.

He recalled that the BJP had previously campaigned against Indira Gandhi's 20-point programme and now opposes the current government's "five guarantees" in the same way.

Siddaramaiah challenged the BJP to name any programme they have introduced to benefit farmers, labourers, women, youth, students, Dalits, and the backward classes.

He argued that the BJP has only created division among the people through false narratives.

He attributed Sandur's infrastructure, schools, hostels, Anganwadi centres, hospitals, water, and irrigation projects to the efforts of Labour Minister Santosh Lad and Congress MP E. Tukaram while criticising the BJP for only sowing discord among the public.

CM Siddaramaiah further said that the Lokayukta, led by retired justice Santosh Hegde, had previously exposed corruption by mining baron and MLA Janardhana Reddy's team and added, "They come to power only to loot."

He urged people to support Annapurna Tukaram, the Congress candidate in Sandur, and assist in bringing development to the region.

CM Siddaramaiah came down heavily on mining baron and MLA Janardhana Reddy, calling him a "fraudulent politician". "Don't forget that I freed the people of Ballari from fear and ended your tyranny," he said, referring to MLA Reddy.

Janardhana Reddy made derogatory comments against CM Siddaramaiah during the campaign.

Siddaramaiah questioned, "Mr Reddy, what have you contributed to Karnataka's politics compared to me? Are you the 'lord' of Ballari?"

"The people of Ballari and Sandur are the ones who vote, and they are our real leaders. Remember that. I couldn't campaign in the Gangavati Assembly constituency where you (Janardhana Reddy) won last time. As I couldn't campaign you won. But your victory isn't permanent; no one's victory is eternal. Remember, you have no right to speak disrespectfully about me," he asserted.

Siddaramaiah further charged MLA Reddy, "Don't you think democracy should exist in Ballari? During your government, I wasn't even allowed to speak there. People were even afraid to give me water if I asked. With what face have you returned to these same people to seek their votes?"

Minister Santosh Lad said, "For the past three days, CM Siddaramaiah has been in Sandur, knocking on doors, asking for support for Annapurna, requesting blessings for her."

Santosh Lad urged people to elect Annapurna and teach the BJP a lesson, which is creating baseless cases against Siddaramaiah.
Mumbai, Nov 9 : In a political tit-for-tat, two Congress Chief Ministers and a Deputy Chief Minister have put a spirited defence for their party's guarantees and implementation in their respective states to counter the 'fake claims' of the ruling MahaYuti and BJP in Maharashtra.

Leading the charge were Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Sukhu, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Deputy CM of Karnataka D. K. Shivakumar, along with AICC Media & Publicity Chairman Pawan Khera, who took potshots at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP for propagating "lies and falsehoods".

The development came days after BJP's Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched a direct attack on Congress' Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over the red copy of the Constitution and alleged links with the 'Urban Naxals' that sparked a furore in the Opposition parties.

Sukhu, Reddy, and Shivakumar made detailed presentations on the guarantees and schemes they have already executed in their respective states, the kind of impact these are having on the people along with supporting data.

Shivakumar said that Congress' Six Guarantees did not come overnight but after a careful study of the peoples' problems during Rahul Gandhi's two-phased Bharat Jodo Yatras covering South-North and East-West routes two years ago.

"As soon as we came to power, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah started immediately rolling out the promised guarantees. 1.22 crore women are getting Rs 2,000/month under the Grihalakshmi Scheme, 1.64 crore families are getting the benefits of 200 units of free electricity through the Gruha Jyothi Scheme and 4.08 crore falling Below Poverty Line (BPL) are getting 10 kg free rice under the 'Annabhagya Scheme. Another 3.20 crore women travelled free on State Transport buses vide the Shakti Scheme, and the Yuva Nidhi Scheme has extended Rs 3000/month to over five-lakh students," said Shivakumar.

He said all the schemes were implemented within 60 days after taking power and a provision of Rs 52,000 crore has been made from Karnataka's budget of Rs 365 thousand-crore, which is higher than many BJP-ruled states.

Sukhu said even Himachal Pradesh faced the BJP's 'Operation Lotus' but after the Congress assured power, it started implementing all the Guarantees, including Old Pension Scheme, MSP of Rs 30/k for maize, Rs 40/kg for wheat, Rs 45/Litres for cow milk and Rs 5/litre for buffalo milk.

"Those people who were getting Rs 5,000 aid are not getting Rs 50,000, all people above the age of 58 get Rs 1,500/month aid, girls over 18 years get Rs 1,500/month and those pursuing higher education including medical or doctorates get financial assistance as needed, for which the government has increased the revenue sources," said Sukhu.

Reddy said that in Telangana, the Congress guarantee of farm loan waiver upto Rs 2 lakh was given benefitting 22 lakh peasants, and 50,000 government jobs have been given in the past 10 months to youth in the state.

He added that besides, free bus travel under the Mahalaxmi Scheme has been launched for women for which the government has spent Rs 3,400 crore and provided for Rs 4,000 crore per year for the next five years, 59 lakh poor families are getting cooking gas cylinders at Rs 500, over 50 lakh families get 200 units of free electricity every month.

The trio said that the BJP has nothing to compare with all this so they are carrying out a fake campaign against the Congress, particularly in Maharashtra which is going for elections on November 20.

The two Chief Ministers and one Deputy Chief Minister accused PM Modi of resorting to blatant falsehoods, and Reddy recalled how Modi had once tweeted that Telangana did not give a farm loan write-off, but when he sent him the loan waiver report, the PM deleted the tweet.

Shivakumar gave an open challenge to the BJP leaders that he would arrange special flights and buses for them to visit Karnataka, travel to any of the 33 districts and get first-hand the people's response to the Congress guarantees to satisfy themselves instead of indulging in falsehoods.

Sukhu, Reddy and Shivakumar called upon the people of Maharashtra to bring back the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance of Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (SP)-Shiv Sena (UBT) to power as they will work for the people and progress of the state.

They also slammed Modi for writing off nearly Rs 12-Lakhs-crore loans of rich industrialists, but taking objections when the Congress governments are utilizing the peoples' money for public welfare schemes via the Guarantees.

The three dignitaries were joined by Khera, Mahila Congress President Alka Lamba, AICC Secretary B. M. Sandeep, U. B. Venkatesh, state Mahila Congress chief Sandhya Savvalakhe, Charanjit Singh Sapra and other senior leaders.

Khera on Friday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India on the media blitzkrieg unleashed by the BJP to defame the Congress ahead of the crucial Maharashtra elections.

The MVA's '5 guarantees' were unveiled here at a mega-rally on November 6 in the presence of bigwigs of the three allies while formally launching the alliance's campaign for the November 20 elections.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: qnajmi@gmail.com)
Chennai, Nov 9 : The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has issued warnings for heavy rain for several coastal districts in Tamil Nadu over the next five days.

According to the weather department, heavy rainfall is expected in Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, and Pudukkottai districts. On Monday, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Cuddalore, and Ramanathapuram are also likely to experience heavy rain.

The RMC has stated that heavy rains will continue across parts of Tamil Nadu throughout the week, lasting until Thursday.

On Tuesday, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Villupuram, and Cuddalore.

The forecast for Wednesday includes heavy rain in parts of Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Villupuram, and Cuddalore. Additionally, the weather department has forecast heavy rainfall in the coming days for Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari, Tenkasi, Virudhunagar, Madurai, and Sivagangai districts.

Officials noted that heavy rains expected in Chennai were delayed by a few days due to multiple vortex dynamics.

The RMC predicts heavy rainfall in Chennai and surrounding areas from November 11 to 17 and expects the rains to continue across Tamil Nadu over the next few weeks.

In seasonal data for the northeast monsoon (from October 1 to November 6), the RMC recorded 247 mm of rainfall in Tamil Nadu, 13 per cent above the normal 219 mm for this period. Coimbatore district saw the highest amount of rainfall, with 410 mm, which is 102 per cent above normal.

Following recent heavy rains, water levels in the Vaigai Dam have been rising, closely monitored by experts. The steady flow from the catchment areas and increased discharge from the Mullaperiyar Dam have contributed to this rise.

Over the past three days, the Vaigai Damas water level has reached 64.34 feet, approaching its full capacity of 71 feet. Officials from the Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department stated that the first flood warning will be issued when the water level reaches 66 feet, the second at 68.5 feet, and the third at 69 feet. At that point, water will be released for irrigation in Madurai district.

The Vaigai Dam serves as the primary water source for districts such as Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Sivaganga, and Ramanathapuram. The rising water levels have brought optimism to farmers in these areas
Srinagar, Nov 9 : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday directed top administrative officers to ensure that the people of the Valley do not suffer due to the harsh winter in Kashmir as dry weather has added to people's challenges.

Chairing a meeting of top officials including the chief secretary, additional chief secretaries, administrative secretaries and others, Omar Abdullah directed the officials to make full-proof arrangements for the winters.

He asked the officers to ensure adequate electricity and keep the men and machinery ready to tackle any situation. The directions were passed in a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah at Civil Secretariat in Srinagar.

The arrangements for winter preparedness were reviewed in which strict directions were passed to the departments.

An official statement said that the issue of adequate electricity and water supply amidst the low precipitation and low water level in river Jhelum and other streams besides the road clearance after snowfall were discussed threadbare.

The directions were also passed to keep adequate stock of ration and other things available for the winters.

This is Omar Abdullahas first meeting with the officials after the short session of the Legislative Assembly ended on Friday/

Ruling NC brought a resolution for the restoration of articles 370 and 35A in the Assembly which was passed by voice vote.

The BJP with 28 MLAs did not allow the Assembly to function normally as BJP MLAs demanded revoking the resolution passed by the Assembly.

Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather told the protesting BJP MLAs that he has no power to revoke a resolution passed by the Assembly.
Bengaluru, Nov 9 : Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R. Ashoka on Saturday claimed that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered the transfer of people's land in the name of Waqf board within 15 days.

Talking to reporters in Bengaluru, BJP leader Ashoka claimed that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had said that notices for land acquisition would be withdrawn, however, the Chief Secretary issued written instructions to proceed with the acquiring of lands.

Drawing parallels between Tipu Sultan and Congress, Ashoka said: "Tipu Sultan converted innocents using his sword, and now the Congress is using the Waqf to take people's land. Even the school where Sir M. Visvesvaraya (quintessential engineer) studied was being listed as Waqf property."

"Former CM and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai only ordered that land taken unlawfully be returned; he didn't suggest acquiring farmers' lands. However, Waqf board members are even claiming that Vidhana Soudha belongs to them," he remarked.

He said that during the BJP's tenure, a Valmiki Bhavan was built in Kolar, but now a place of worship has been constructed and fenced over it.

The BJP leader claimed that the Congress government was forming SITs for everything.

"The Kempaiah Commission was formed to investigate CM Siddaramaiah's alleged scams, yet its report has never been released," he stated.

On Siddaramaiah's allegation of the Covid "scam" during the BJP's tenure, he said: "During the pandemic, former CM B. S. Yediyurappa directed purchases as advised by officials. There was no wrongdoing. The Chief Minister doesn't have the authority to determine which company to buy from; officials decide. This case will backfire on the government."

"When we were in power, we handled everything peacefully. This government, however, blames everything on the previous government," Ashoka said.
New Delhi, Nov 9 : Blaming the BJP and officers controlled by it for hardships of out-of-job bus marshals, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Saturday approved a proposal to re-engage 10,000 civil defence volunteers (CDVs) as pollution sentinels.

While sending the file for approval to Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena, the Chief Minister hit out at the BJP for allegedly forcing the bus marshals out of work in October 2023 and compromising women's security in public transport buses by abruptly ending the marshals' engagement.

Talking to media persons, Atishi said, "I want to share the good news with 10,000 bus marshals that in the coming few days, a proposal for their long term engagement would be sent to the LG. But till the time their long-term engagement is not done, they would be deployed for four months in the fight against pollution till February."

The CDVs would be posted at pollution monitoring centres, they would oversee the management of pollution hot-spots and look after cleaning, water sprinkling and traffic management, she said.

Waste disposal, curbing use of diesel generators and taking follow up action on complaints received on Green Delhi App will also be some of their responsibilities, Atishi said.

The Chief Minister said by mid-next week the CDVs will be able to register in district magistrate offices and they would be deployed in anti-pollution duties.

Atishi said the decision to re-engage CDVs is an example of the triumph of truth, people of Delhi and the AAP government under Arvind Kejriwal's guidance against the regressive BJP and its attempts to create obstacles for the government.

"Arvind Kejriwal had vowed to fight for reinstatement of these 10,000 CDVs and AAP workers struggled along with them and, finally, the BJP had to bow before bus marshals' demands and agree to their reinstatement," she said.

Earlier last month, the LG had slammed the unnecessary politicisation of the matter by AAP leaders and wrote to CM Atishi to send a proposal for re-engagement of the CDVs.

"Unfortunately no concrete proposal has been sent to me by the government," he wrote in the letter addressed to the Chief Minister.

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 CDVs long-term engagement.

Earlier, this week the Delhi BJP protested outside the CM's residence demanding the re-engagement of CDVs.

The Congress also 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).

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Devender Yadav said that the AAP 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 of Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena issued on October 24 to re-employ CDVs from November 1, 2024, for deployment in enforcing pollution control measures," said Yadav.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng has called for upholding the three principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation when dealing with the bilateral ties.

Xie delivered the speech Thursday via video link to address the reception dinner of the U.S.-China Business Council commemorating the 45th anniversary of China-U.S. diplomatic relations. The event was held in the eastern Chinese metropolis of Shanghai.

The three principles put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping, namely, mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, both sum up the experience of China-U.S. relations over the past decades, and point out the right path for the two countries to get along in the new era, Xie said.

It is hoped that the U.S. side will work with China in the same direction and jointly move the relationship forward along a stable, sound and sustainable track, the ambassador said.

No two leaves are alike, nor are two countries identical, Xie said, adding that China will never become another United States and differences should be an impetus for exchanges and mutual learning.

The earth is big enough for China and the United States to develop respectively and prosper together, he said.

Seeing China as a primary strategic competitor, the most consequential geopolitical challenge and a pacing threat is seriously misguided and would only lead to a "self-fulfilling prophesy," Xie said.

The Taiwan question is the first and foremost red line that should not be crossed in the China-U.S. relationship. The one-China principle and the three Sino-U.S. Joint Communiques should be honored in both word and deed, Xie said.

No challenge would ever hold back China's development. Any attempt to encircle, contain or suppress China would be self-defeating, he said, adding that no one should underestimate the firm will and strong capability of the Chinese people to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests.

As the world's largest developing and developed countries, China and the United States can jointly make a big difference, Xie said.

The two countries have every reason to make the list of cooperation longer and longer. Tariff war, trade war, tech war or industrial war would produce no winner. Protectionism only locks one in backwardness and costs them the future, he said.

China welcomes more investment from American companies and also looks forward to greater dialogue and cooperation with the United States on global challenges such as climate change and AI for the good of both countries and the entire world, Xie said. 
Bengaluru, Nov 9 : Indian micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are providing 21 crore jobs while making a major contribution to the economy and exports across sectors, and no MSME will be left behind by the government, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said here on Saturday.

Addressing the aNational MSME Cluster Outreach Programmea, the Finance Minister said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, no state will be left behind and the government would attend to every state.

"Also, no MSME will be left behind. I want to assure that all the MSMEs will be provided adequate support by the government," she told the gathering.

To further empower millions of MSMEs, the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) will open 25 branches in the MSME clusters across the country this year, gradually moving into every such cluster.

"The cost of loans that small businesses will take from SIDBI directly will be far less. SIDBI knows small businesses and their requirements well so this will be an apt opportunity for the MSMEs to grow at scale," FM Sitharaman told the gathering.

There are currently 5 crore MSMEs registered with the governmentas Udyam portal, providing crores of jobs.

The MSME sector has continued to play a pivotal role in driving economic growth, employment, and entrepreneurship across the nation. In comparison to a total of 1.06 crore MSME registrations in 2023, the number has now increased to more than 5.07 crore in 2024. Karnataka alone has 35 lakh MSMEs which provide about 1.65 crore jobs, according to the Finance Minister.

"There is not even one MSME in this country which was left untouched by our banks during the pandemic, and given the much-needed support they required during those tough times," she said.

In the Union Budget, various announcements have been made specifically for MSMEs like an introduction of a special credit guarantee corpus to help MSMEs; a new credit guarantee scheme in the manufacturing sector to facilitate term loans for MSMEs and public sector banks to develop new credit assessment model for MSMEs wherein banks will do credit assessment themselves.

Earlier in the day, FM Sitharaman chaired a meeting to review the performance of 10 regional rural banks (RRBs) of the Southern Region here. The RRBs performance review covers the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, and the UT of Puducherry.
Ranchi, Nov 9 : Ahead of the Assembly elections in Jharkhand, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president Babulal Marandi launched a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi and previous Congress governments, saying that the state's laggardness was because of years of 'misrule' by the grand old party & its allies.

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister, speaking to IANS said that the Congress should be ashamed of the way it treated the tribal state and pointed to constant 'neglect' of the state despite the Gandhi family-led Congress being at the Centre's helm for many decades.

"Rahul Gandhi should first explain that his ancestors ruled this country for 55-60 years but what work they did for the tribals. The people of Jharkhand and the tribals have been ruined under the Congress rule," he said.

He accused the Congress regimes of treating tribals like "animals".

"Even today, people are agitating as they have not got justice. Congress had treated the tribals like animals. They never provided roads to the tribal villages and before the year 2000, electricity did not even reach their homes," he added.

Pointing to Rahul's metropolitan upbringing, he said that those living in palaces can't understand the pain of those living in villages and hinterlands.

"Rahul Gandhi was born in Delhi and lives there. How does he know how people live in the villages? The tribals of Jharkhand fought for the state of Jharkhand by being on the front line, but what did they do? From Jaipal Singh to Shibu Soren, all were bought by paying money," he alleged.

Marandi further said that it was only after the formation of the BJP government, Jharkhand was made into a separate state.

Comparing Congress' indifferent approach to the BJP's respectful treatment of tribals, he stated that much has changed in the past ten years of Modi govt.

"Today, roads are reaching the villages, electricity is available in houses. Drains and bridges are being built. Country's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has honoured the tribal community by making Draupadi Murmu, the President," he elaborated.

He also mentioned about two tribal Chief Ministers of Chhattisgarh and Odisha to underline BJP's commitment for tribals welfare.

Taking a shot at Jharkhand Chief Minister, he said that the person who has looted the most land is Hemant Soren.
Patna, Nov 9 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday reaffirmed his commitment to staying aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), stating he would not rejoin the Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) or with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in the future.

Reflecting on his political decisions at a rally in Tarari Assembly constituency -- where by-election will be held on November 13 -- in Bhojpur district, Nitish Kumar admitted that joining the Grand Alliance twice was a mistake and underlined his resolve to remain in alliance with the BJP.

Recalling Bihar's past challenges, Nitish Kumar criticised the era before 2005, often referred to as the "Jungle Raj", under the RJD regime, describing a phased when lawlessness prevailed and people felt unsafe to step out of their homes in the evening.

"There was lack of essential infrastructure... roads were deteriorated, schools' infrastructure was bad, and the education system was in a collapsed state before 2005. My administration's alliance with the BJP was responsible for the subsequent improvements in infrastructure and education that brought stability and progress to Bihar," Nitish Kumar said.

This statement is seen as a reaffirmation of his alliance with the BJP amid the competitive political landscape, underscoring his focus on development and security in Bihar's governance.

During his rally in Tarari, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also addressed the Muslim community, reassuring them of their safety and security under his administration.

"I want to urge the Muslim community to avoid being influenced by opposition parties. My government has consistently protected religious harmony and avoided any Hindu-Muslim conflicts throughout the tenure. As long as I am here, there is no need for the Muslim community to worry," he said.

The Bihar CM highlighted that he is committed to serving all communities in Bihar until the end of his political career.

Nitish Kumar emphasised that he was campaigning based on his administration's track record, which, he claimed, has significantly improved Biharas environment, removing the "situation of fear" that once prevailed.

His visit to Tarari was part of the campaign for BJP candidate Prashant Singh.

Bypolls will be held in four Assembly constituencies in Bihar on November 13. The ballots will be counted on November 23.
New Delhi, Nov 9 : As Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress, accusing the party of attempting to divide the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) for political gains, BJP National Spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain on Saturday said Congress always divides people on the basis of caste and religion.

Addressing a rally in Maharashtra's Nanded, PM Modi claimed that Congress is unable to accept that the country has had an OBC Prime Minister for the past ten years who has worked to uplift all sections of society.

Talking to IANS, Shahnawaz Hussain said, "Whatever PM Modi is saying is right. Congress party believes in dividing people in the country on the basis of caste and religion for political gains. Pitting one caste against another is the only work left for Congress. There is left nothing in Congress's 'Mohabbat Ki Dukan' except creating conflict."

"Congress always done politics of hatred. That's why it is said that if we stay united, we will live together," he added.

Hussain further reacted to Russian President Vladimir Putin praising PM Modi. "Not only Putin but the whole world is now praising PM Modi. Elected President of the U.S. Donald Trump has praised him several times. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has even called him 'The Boss.' Today, PM Modi is being seen as the world leader. There may be differences on any issue in the world but when it comes to PM Modi's leadership, the whole world is praising him. PM Modi is not only the leader of India but also the leader of the world," he concluded.

Russian President Putin has once again boasted about the relationship between New Delhi and Moscow. On November 5, Putin received the credentials of new foreign ambassadors in Moscow. During his address, Putin lauded PM Modias leadership and described India and Russia as astrategic partnersa.

Notably, Putin praised PM Modi on numerous occasions, stating that India and Russia are longstanding and time-tested partners. During the bilateral meeting in Kazan, Putin touted the 'deep' India-Russia bond and joked that PM Modi needs no translator. PM Modi recently concluded a successful visit to Kazan, Russia, for the 'historic' 16th BRICS Summit 2024.
Nagpur, Nov 9 : Congress President and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for attempting a 'divide and cut' policy with contradictory slogans aimed at diverting attention from its failures.

Speaking to the media here this afternoon, Kharge referred to the PM's slogan of 'Ek Hain to Safe Hain' and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's catchphrase of 'Batenge to Katenge', and termed them as provocative and intended to distract public attention.

"One says 'Batenge to Katenga' and another says 'Ek Hain to Safe Hain' The truth is that you are the ones who divide and also cut, but always blame others. Both of them should first sit down and decide what slogan to raise," said Kharge in a swipe at Modi and Yogi.

Accusing PM Modi of peddling lies on every occasion, Kharge said the Congress has successfully implemented all its guarantees in the states where its ruling, the UPA Government gave the country MG-NREGA, Food Security Bill, Right to Information, Right to Education, etc.

"What did the BJP give to the country The PM of the country mouths untruths without getting proper information. The BJP style of working seems to be 'to lie and lie loudly' so that people start believing these falsehoods," said Kharge.

He said the work of the BJP is to make a difference to the common people and resolve their problems instead of propagating falsehoods and pointed out how "three top leaders of the Congress had sacrificed their lives for the unity and integrity of the country who from the BJP made any such sacrifices?"

Kharge reeled off the data of the implementation of Congress Guarantees in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana and asked, "Will PM Modi give an account of which promises he could fulfil during his tenure as the Chief Minister of Gujarat for 12 years and 11 years as the PM now?"

The Congress President reiterated the statistics provided earlier today in Mumbai by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar, plus Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu and Telangana Cheif Minister Revanth Reddy to wipe off the fake narratives unleashed by the BJP during the Maharashtra polls campaign.

Earlier in the day, Kharge paid homage at the revered Deekshabhoomi monument and later went to address an election rally in Amravati for the November 20 polls in the state, with plans to release the Congress manifesto in Mumbai on Sunday.
Faizabad, Nov 9 : At least four persons including a district police chief were killed and two others injured in a road accident in Afghanistan's Badakhshan province on Saturday, district traffic police official Mohammad Hussain confirmed.

"Four commuters including the police chief of Kasham district were killed and two others injured after their vehicle turned turtle on a road linking the district to provincial capital Faizabad city," the official told Xinhua.

Without providing more details, the official noted that an investigation had been initiated into the deadly accident, Xinhua news agency reported.

A similar road accident in Laghman province injured 10 commuters late on Friday.
Bengaluru, Nov 9 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday urged Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) to increase credit disbursement for MSMEs under various flagship government schemes such as MUDRA, PM Vishwakarma, etc, with the active support of their sponsor banks.

In a meeting to review the performance of 10 RRBs of the southern region here, FM Sitharaman directed RRBs to increase their share in ground-level agriculture credit disbursement with special focus on allied agriculture activities like dairy, animal husbandry, fisheries etc, and to take necessary steps to realise the full potential of allied agriculture activities in the region.

RRBs and sponsor banks were specially directed by the Finance Minister to work with respective state government departments to increase credit disbursement to fisheries sector in Kerala and the dairying sector in Telangana.

Union Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, also urged banks to give maximum thrust to achievement under financial inclusion schemes.

The meeting focused on business performance, upgrading digital technology services, and fostering business growth in activities allied to agriculture and micro and small industry.

The Finance Minister acknowledged RRBs for the demonstrable improvement in their financial performance and technology upgradation ever since regular review was initiated in 2022.

During the review, the importance of enhancing the Current Account Savings Account (CASA) deposits was underlined, reinforcing the need for RRBs in the southern region to mobilise CASA deposits to further accelerate the pace of sustainable credit growth.

FM Sitharaman also noted the significant role played by RRBs in financial inclusion in southern region, and urged them to continue their efforts towards saturation under financial inclusion schemes of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Atal Pension Yojana (APY), etc. by achieving respective targets.

Specific emphasis was placed on reinforcing credit support to MSMEs and streamlining customer onboarding processes through digital innovations.

SIDBI and RRBs were directed by the Union Minister to collaborate on digital platforms, exploring co-lending/risk sharing models and refinance for MSME portfolio.

FM Sitharaman also stated that all RRBs should devise a strategy for MSME credit with customised products aligning with cluster activities and conduct special outreach programmes with convergence and awareness regarding the various schemes.
Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 9 : Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan should apologise to late Chief Minister Oommen Chandy before launching the seaplane service in the state, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee President K. Sudhakaran demanded on Saturday.

Sudhakaran's statement comes a day after it emerged that Tourism and Public Works Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas will flag off the seaplane service meant to boost the state's tourism sector at Kochi on Monday.

"This project, the first in the country, was mooted by Chandy. In 2013, the CPI-M created havoc over this project by using the fisher folk community which led the project to be called off. Now after 11 years, the same CPI-M is launching this project. So in all fairness, Vijayan should render an apology to Chandy and also for causing a loss of Rs 14 crore to the state exchequer as all arrangements were made then, but failed to happen," said Sudhakaran who is also the Lok Sabha MP from Kannur.

"So another dream project of Chandy is now becoming a reality, though he passed away 18 months back. Just like the CPI-M opposed mega projects which the Chandy government initiated including the Vizhinjam port, Kannur airport, Kochi Metro and the Kochi Smart City, the party is now taking credit for the seaplane project too," added Sudhakaran.

The seaplane will land at the Cochin International Airport, Kochi on Monday at 2 p.m. and then, fly down to the water aerodrome at the Bolgatty Palace at Kochi.

A Switzerland-based private company and SpiceJet are the service operators of the De Havilland Canada seaplane, which will land in Kerala after the trial services conducted in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

After the inauguration, the flight crew and passengers will be accorded a reception at the Mattupetty Dam in the Idukki district.

The seaplane service, which comes under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) UDAN of the Centre's Ministry of Civil Aviation, is aimed at increasing the connectivity of the airports and the backwaters of Kerala.

The seaplane project is aimed at amplifying the connectivity of the four airports as well as the water aerodromes. The project offers a lot of prospects to Kerala's tourism sector due to the presence of abundant water bodies.

Apart from Bolgatty and Mattupetty, the setting up of waterdromes is under consideration in Kovalam, Ashtamudi, Punnamada, Kumarakom, Vembanad, Malambuzha, and Bekal.
New Delhi, Nov 9 : India has seen a robust structural growth across all sectors -- from small startups to large conglomerates -- in the last decade, which is not a tale of monopoly but a story of a nation becoming a premier global investment destination, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Hitesh Jain said on Saturday.

Slamming Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's "baseless accusations" around the current economic landscape, Jain cited findings of a latest report by one of the leading financial services firms, Motilal Oswal, which offers a powerful glimpse into India's financial journey, driven by a decade of strategic reforms under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to Jain: "Viksit Bharat by 2047 isn't just a vision -- it's a path we're already on, empowering businesses of all sizes and shaping India's future."

In a series of posts on X social media platform, Jain said that this report disproves Rahul Gandhi's claims of "monopolisation" by highlighting the inclusive growth across sectors -- from startups to large caps.

"India's economy is thriving due to structural reforms, creating a vibrant ecosystem for businesses of all sizes. From burgeoning market caps to structural reforms, this thread provides a breakdown of India's incredible journey," the BJP leader posted.

He further stated that India's high-quality growth is no accident -- it's built on robust foundations.

"Key reforms have driven this journey: from world-class infrastructure and business-friendly policies to a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem and expanding opportunities for small businesses. Add to this the stable macro conditions and rising domestic equity flows, and India stands strong as a global investment hub. With geopolitical shifts favoring the China+1 strategy, India is emerging as a powerful alternative on the world stage. This combination of size, growth, and diversity is unmatched globally," Jain explained, citing data from the Motilal Oswal report.

For a major portion of the 2010s, a primary concern among several large investors was the limited investable universe of Indian equities, characterised by fewer investible sectors, lower absolute size of companies, narrow sector breadth, and a relatively smaller number of large-sized stocks with good depth.

"However, the last five years have seen a remarkable transformation. The blazing growth in India's market capitalization, along with wider participation of multiple sectors and smaller companies, as well as a wave of new issuances across sectors, has effectively quelled many of these concerns," the BJP leader emphasised.

India's economic growth indicates the potential for structural shifts in global capital. India now has 11 mega-sized companies with a market cap over Rs 5 trillion, compared to zero in 2014. With a surge in mid- and large-cap firms, the equity market is packed with potential giants.

"India is now the second-highest emerging market in terms of market cap, growing from $1.2 trillion in 2014 to $5.4 trillion in 2024, with a global share increase to 4.3 per cent. A decade of astounding growth," Jain posted on X, with data from the report.

Nifty-50, Nifty Midcap100, Nifty Smallcap100, and Nifty-500 have seen massive gains in the past decade, with market caps growing by 4.3x, 5.4x, 8.1x, and 5.8x, respectively.

"India's equity indices are on an impressive rally," he added.
Jammu, Nov 9 : Two Village Defence Committee (VDC) members kidnapped and later killed by terrorists were given tearful adieu on Saturday by locals in J&K's Kishtwar district as scores of people joined their funerals.

Scores of people attended both the burial and the cremation and shouted anti-Pakistan and anti-terrorist slogans.

"Everybody attending the funeral was shocked and had moist eyes," a local said.

Nazir was buried at a local graveyard while Kuldeep was cremated in the peripheral area of Ohli village.

Meanwhile, people have demanded a government job for the next of kin of the slain civilians and adequate security for the village.

Bodies of two VDC members, Nazir Ahmad (42) and Kuldeep Kumar (40) were found in the forests of Kuntwara in Kishtwar after they were kidnapped by the terrorists. The two had gone to the forest to graze cattle when the terrorists struck.

After a hectic search, the security forces recovered the bodies and these were brought to their ancestral Ohli village on Friday.

Officials said the post-mortem reports of the two slain VDC members revealed that both had been shot from behind in the head.

"Both bodies were found blindfolded with hands tied behind their back. The terrorists used a pistol to commit the gruesome murder of these unarmed civilians", officials confirmed.

Kuldeep Kumar had lost his father, Amar Chand last week. Villagers said the objective of the terrorists is to create terror and also drive a wedge between different communities living in the area.

Kashmir Tigers, a lesser-known offshoot of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) terror outfit has owned responsibility for both these killings.

J&K DGP, Nalin Prabhat and GOC of the army's Nagrota-headquartered White Knight Corps visited the area on Friday and took stock of the situation in the aftermath of the terror attack.

Local MLA, Shagun Parihar and former J&K BJP president, Ravinder Raina also went to express condolences to the bereaved families.

VDCs of civilians were created in the far-flung remote areas of the Jammu division to protect themselves and their families.

J&K Police has given automatic weapons to the VDC members after terrorists carried out ambush attacks against the army, security forces, police and civilians in Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Poonch, Kathua, Reasi and Udhampur districts of Jammu division.

--IANS

sq/dan
Bill Zhuang, president and CEO of Angstrom Electric, a division of Angstrom Automotive Group, speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Detroit area, Michigan, the United States, on Oct. 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Xu Jianmei)

by Xinhua writers Xia Lin, Xu Jianmei, Xie E

NEW YORK, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- China has spotted a window period, maybe once in a century, which, if tapped properly, can boost the country's electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing to a new height and help define the global EV market, an industry insider told Xinhua in Detroit, U.S. Midwest state of Michigan, at the end of October.

"China is now defining the (EV) market, which the United States has been failing to do and other manufacturers have no ability to do, let alone preserve such an ambition," said Bill Zhuang, president and CEO of Angstrom Electric, a division of Angstrom Automotive Group, a leading tier 1 full-service supplier for Automotive and Industrial OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturer).

Due to sectoral deficits, the automotive-manufacturing "Big Three" of the United States, namely General Motors, Ford and Stellantis, have all slowed down their transition to EV production. Staff members were laid off and factories closed, a sign of losing confidence in EV's prospects. However, latecomer Tesla has made money in the past five years, thanks to its strong presence in the Chinese market.

"China prides itself on efficiency, which is now hard to find in the United States," said Zhuang, recalling his September visit to over 10 EV manufacturers in China. "American manufacturers can give few marvels in the transmission system, interior and exterior design, customer experience and electric application, which are exactly the fields that their Chinese peers stand out."

"And the most important thing with which China calls the shot is that a sound and full-dimension supply chain has been established within the country for making EVs in the past decade," noted Zhuang, who moved from China to the United States in the 1990s and has spent the last four decades building his career across both countries, accumulating vast industry knowledge and experience.

For the vehicle industry, supply chain is the key term, he said, adding that U.S. manufacturers have rushed to establish a complete supply chain within North America to avoid impacts such as tariffs on Chinese components and logistical delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they knew the rule too late.

"A whole supply chain within the manufacturer country itself! It is just a dream for people like us because it offers so much convenience, efficiency and accuracy," said Zhuang, who is based in Michigan, one of the industry's world hubs and home to more than three-quarters of all automotive research and development in North America.

"When the United States slows down and you take the lead, your only choice is to proceed even faster and, of course, stably, with a logical blueprint," he said, stressing that this is what the window period exactly means.

"Strategy and blueprint are things that this industry direly needs," said the experienced auto manager. "With these two things in mind and in effect, China's whole and sound supply chain of EVs can sustain growth and develop further, and eventually integrate into the world supply chain." 

GM vehicles are displayed at the GM Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit, Michigan, the United States, on Oct. 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Xu Jianmei)

Vehicles are displayed at Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in the Detroit area, Michigan, the United States, Oct. 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Xu Jianmei)

A vehicle drives on a road in downtown Detroit, Michigan, the United States, on Oct. 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Xu Jianmei)

A person takes selfies in downtown Detroit, Michigan, the United States, on Oct. 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Xu Jianmei)
Chennai, Nov 9 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin visited Virudhunagar district as part of his statewide tour to monitor government projects.

During his visit, he stopped by a fireworks factory in the district, where he met with the workers and staff to inquire about their well-being.

Stalin inspected the firecracker production areas and the warehouse and reviewed the required certifications for the factoryas operation.

The Chief Minister directed the factory owner to provide insurance facilities for all the workers. He was informed that the factory was well-equipped, adhered to all safety protocols, and had not experienced any accidents.

It may be noted that Virudhunagar district, particularly Sivakasi, is the largest firecracker-producing region in India. During the 2024 Deepavali festival, Sivakasi reported a sales turnover of Rs 6,000 crore, solidifying its reputation as the afirecracker capital of Indiaa.

Upon arrival at Madurai airport from Chennai, the Chief Minister was accorded a warm welcome. Crowds gathered along the roads to greet him as he travelled to Virudhunagar.

This visit is part of a larger tour that Stalin began in Coimbatore on November 5.

In a letter to party members, he shared his plans to conduct ground-level inspections across the state to evaluate the progress of various government schemes.

He emphasised his commitment to visiting every district to inform the public about the achievements and successes of these welfare initiatives. Although he has not specified a timeline for the tour, Stalinas visits will be spread out over time.

Since taking office in May 2021, his government has introduced various programmes aimed at uplifting marginalised communities.

Key initiatives include the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam scheme, which provides Rs 1,000 monthly to 1,15,16,292 women; free bus travel for women; the Makkalai Thedi Matuthuvam (Health at Doorstep) scheme; and the Chief Ministeras Free Breakfast Scheme for schoolchildren.

Another notable scheme, Pudhumai Pen, offers Rs 1,000 per month to girl students from government and government-aided schools pursuing college education. Around 3.28 lakh girl students have benefitted from this initiative.

Following the success of the abovementioned scheme, it was extended to boys in government and government-aided schools through the Tamizh Pudhalvan scheme, which now aids approximately 3.18 lakh boys.

The governmentas Naan Mudhalvan (I am the First) scheme has trained 28 lakh students to improve employability and facilitate skill development.

Through these schemes, the government has distributed over Rs 6,569 crore across Tamil Nadu. The initiatives have drawn attention from other states, with ministers and officials visiting Tamil Nadu to learn about the welfare programmes inspired by the Dravidian model.

The Chief Ministeras office announced that Stalin would meet with government officials, MPs, MLAs, and local representatives to review the implementation of these initiatives.

On Sunday, he will meet with sanitary workers and traders of Virudhunagar to hear their grievances. Stalin will also inaugurate the new District Collectoras Office and the Integrated Commercial Tax Office in Virudhunagar on November 10.
Ranchi, Nov 9 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president J.P. Nadda, on an election campaign in Jharkhand on Saturday, lambasted the Hemant Soren government for 'stalling' the development of the state through its 'regressive and anti-people' policies.

Ranchi, Nov 9 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president J.P. Nadda, on an election campaign in Jharkhand on Saturday, lambasted the Hemant Soren government for astallinga the development of the state through its aregressive and anti-peoplea policies.

Addressing election rallies in Ramgarh and Bishrampur, J.P. Nadda described the coalition government of JMM-Congress and RJD as an alliance of corrupt people and asserted that the people of the state have resolved to overthrow the government, this time.

The BJP president, pointing to many Opposition leaders behind bars for alleged graft, said that corruption has become the identity of the INDI alliance.

"In Jharkhand, in the past five years, they looted forests and land and endangered the existence of tribals. Rs 350 crore was found from the house of the Congress MP here and Rs 35 crore was found from the house of the PA of the minister. There is a need to think how the minister might have committed the loot," he pointed out.

J.P. Nadda further told the gathering about PM Modi's special affinity for the state and highlighted the series of schemes launched in the state including Ayushman Bharat, PM Jan Dhan, Vikas Bharat Yatra.

"None of the governments in the country for 70 years did anything for the tribals. As soon as Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, he took steps to make the tribes proud. The birth anniversary of Lord Birsa Munda was declared Tribal Pride Day. When Lord Birsa's 150th birth anniversary will be celebrated on November 15 this year, big events will be organized across the country to commemorate it. The government has declared 2025 as the Year of Tribal Pride," J.P. Nadda told the crowd, amid cheers and applause.

He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has allotted Rs 130 crore for the tap water scheme in Jharkhand, but the government here did not allow it to get off the ground.

"The government increased the budget for tribal development by three times and the budget for Eklavya schools for tribal areas by 21 times," he said.

The BJP chief further promised that once a double-engine government is formed in the state, development will gain wings.

At least 10 new medical colleges will be opened. Under the Gogo Didi scheme, women will be given Rs 2,100 in their accounts every month.
Patna, Nov 9 : Three people sustained serious injuries following a collision with a high-speed vehicle in Bihar's East Champaran district on Saturday.

Enraged by the incident, locals gathered at the scene, apprehended the driver, and assaulted him.

Following the escalation, Dumaria Ghat police officers arrived to rescue the driver but met with stiff resistance from the crowd.

In an attempt to disperse the agitated villagers and protect themselves, police resorted to lathi charge (baton charge) and conducted aerial firing.

The crash occurred near Rampurwa village, where locals were protesting over frequent traffic accidents caused by speeding vehicles.

Initially, a Dial 112 emergency response team arrived at the scene but left upon witnessing the intense anger of the villagers.

The team alerted Dumriaghat police, who returned with Inspector Dharmendra Kumar to calm the situation.

However, the villagers attacked the police patrol vehicle, forcing its driver to flee.

Inspector Kumar, who remained surrounded by the mob, attempted to de-escalate the situation by firing warning shots in the air.

The police successfully rescued the detained vehicle driver and transported him to the police station.

In response to the assault on the patrol vehicle, Superintendent of Police Swarn Prabhat said that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to identify and apprehend those involved in the violence.

"The situation in the area has returned to normal, and two separate FIRs have been filed against the attackers and the driver," he said.
Itanagar, Nov 9 : Commemorating the 'Battle of Walong' and paying tribute to the valiant soldiers who fought heroically during the 1962 India-China war, the Indian Army organised a motorcycle expedition from Mipi to Meshai in Arunachal Pradesh, officials said.

Defence Spokesman Lt Col Mahendra Rawat said that remembering the 1962 'Battle of Walong' and paying tribute to the brave soldiers, the motorcycle expedition from Mipi (in Dibang Valley district ) to Meshai (in Anjaw district) was organised on the 62nd Anniversary of Walong Day.

He said that the expedition with participants from Armed Forces and enthusiasts from Arunachal was flagged off on Friday by Major General V.S. Deshpande, General Officer Commanding, Dao Division along with Mopi Mihu, MLA of Anini.

The flagging-off event included cultural events and a martial arts display.

With two scheduled halts at Roing and Hayuliang, the biking expedition would culminate at the historic Walong War Memorial on Monday (November 11) in the Anjaw district in the easternmost part of Arunachal Pradesh.

The Spokesman said that the motorcycle expedition would honour the brave soldiers who fought for the nation during the 1962 conflict.

During the challenging ride over the Mishmi Ranges and astride the pristine Dibang and Lohit Valley, the participants would ride to commemorate the resoluteness of the people of Arunachal Pradesh who stood by the Armed Forces in War, he said.

Lt Col Rawat said that the route, tracing a historic path through the beautiful landscapes of Arunachal Pradesh, symbolises the Indian Army's commitment to fostering unity and promoting adventure tourism in border areas.

Each halt en-route would be an opportunity for the riders to connect with the local communities, highlighting the strength, resilience and solidarity that define the spirit of the region and promoting national integration, he said.

The closing ceremony at the Walong War Memorial on November 11 would be marked by a flagging-in ceremony, where the motorcyclists would pay homage to the bravehearts of Walong.

This initiative stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of the 'Battle of Walong' and the Indian Army's commitment to safeguarding the nation's heritage, values and connecting with the frontier villages of Arunachal Pradesh, the Defence PRO stated.
Srinagar, Nov 9 : One terrorist was killed in an encounter between the security forces and the terrorists in Sopore town of Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district on Saturday, while two to three others were still trapped there, officials said.

Officials said that a fierce gunfight broke out between the security forces and terrorists in the Rampora locality of Sopore in the evening.

"Following specific inputs about the presence of terrorists, a joint anti-terror operation was started by the army, the CRPF, and the police. As the layers of CASO (Cordon & Search Operation) were increased, terrorists fired at the surrounding forces triggering an encounter. One terrorist has so far been killed in this operation as the operation continues. Two to three terrorists are reported to be trapped inside the cordon," an official said.

On Friday, two foreign terrorists were killed in a gunfight with the security forces in the Sagipora locality of Sopore.

After the elected government took office in J&K, terrorists have increased their activities and in response, the security forces have also increased operations against the terrorists.

According to intelligence agencies, terror handlers across the border, evincing frustration by the overwhelming public response to the democratic process, have directed terrorists to target civilians.

Terrorists killed seven civilians on October 20 when they attacked the workers' camp of an infrastructure project company in the Gagangir area of the Ganderbal district. On October 24, terrorists killed three soldiers and two civilian porters when they attacked an army vehicle in the Botapathri area of Gulmarg in Baramulla district. The killings of nine civilians and three soldiers in the two attacks in Gagangir and Gulmarg were widely condemned. Terrorists had also hurled a grenade at the Sunday Market in Srinagar earlier this month, leaving a dozen people injured.

J&K Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha said after these two attacks that those involved in these attacks would have to pay a huge price. He said every drop of civilian blood that had been shed would be avenged.
Mumbai, Nov 9 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a large public meeting in Akola, Maharashtra on Saturday, ramping up the BJP's campaign ahead of November 20 Assembly elections. Speaking at the public gathering, PM Modi slammed the Congress and other opposition parties, accusing them of 'looting' the state coffers.

"Wherever Congress party assumes power, that particular state becomes the ATM of the party's 'shahi parivar' (royal family). We won't let Maharashtra become the ATM of the Congress," PM Modi said at the campaign rally.

He also urged the people to beware of the 'divisive propaganda' of the Congress party and urged the electorate to 'stay united for staying safe'.

A large number of people, who participated in the public rally, spoke to IANS and shared what all they gathered from the Prime Minister's speech.

Many people, who listened to PM Modi's speech attentively and in great detail, also shared their views.

M. Madhavrao, a Mumbai local, said that this is a historic day as it was on this day that the decision on Ram temple was taken.

"A lot of work has been done under the leadership of PM Modi and India is moving forward under the slogan of 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas'," he said.

Pandurang, another local resident, repeated the Prime Minister's assertions that the Constitution is not in danger, as falsely propagated by the Opposition.

BJP supporter Sanjay, referring to PM Modi's speech said that the most special thing he found about the rally was "we should move forward under the slogan of One India, Best India".

BJP supporter Kalpana said that PM Modi is doing a good work.

"He is recognised throughout the world for his commitment towards the nation, its citizens," she said.

Naresh, a local resident, was left impressed with the Prime Minister's pitch for national integration and message of taking the nation forward as a cohesive unit.

Mahesh, another local, thanked the Prime Minister for unique initiatives like PM Awas Yojana and the Ladki Bahin Yojana, saying that umpteen number of people are benefitting from these schemes.

Notably, Maharashtra is slated for a single phase election on November 20. Counting of votes will take place on November 23.
Guwahati, Nov 9 : Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday said that the BJP government at the Centre under the leadership of Narendra Modi has been doing politics of development for Muslims which has immensely benefitted the minority people in the country in the last 10 years.

He targeted the Congress party for doing appeasement politics and neglecting the education and other needs of Muslim people when the opposition party was in power at the Centre.

Sonowal campaigned for the BJP candidate Diplu Ranjan Sarma contesting the Samaguri Assembly seat for the upcoming by-elections.

He said, "Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the longstanding practice of appeasement of Muslims previously employed by Congress has been transformed into a focus on politics of empowerment with the goal of enhancing the overall quality of life for the minority communities. Since the beginning of 2014, the Muslim community has benefited significantly from various government schemes and initiatives, especially designed to empower the skills, education, potential and overall quality of life."

According to the Union minister, for sixty years, the political thought of Congress never considered inclusivity as a pillar of politics. But, the revolutionary Jan Dhan Yojana launched by the BJP government, has benefitted all sections of the society.

"It is heartening to learn that more than 42 per cent of all Jan Dhan Yojana accounts belonged to Muslims. Many other schemes like 'Seekho aur Sikhao,' 'Hunar Haat,' 'USTTAD' and others have immensely benefitted the traditional artisans as well as enhanced skill sets of youths from minority section, ultimately contributing to the increasing earnings and directly contributing to the cause of nation building," he said.

Sonowal alleged that education remained neglected for the Muslim population for the most part of Congress governments. No sincere attempt was ever initiated by the Congress governments to educate the children, and the youth so that they can hone their skill sets for better livelihoods. BJP introduced and implemented many schemes like Padho Pardes, Educational Scholarships and so on.

He further said, "The BJP-led NDA has been proponents of development, equality, dignity, and prosperity for all. The NDA government has delivered a decade of transformative progress across India, standing in stark contrast to the corruption, nepotism, and misrule that defined decades of Congress leadership. With clear policies, a strong vision, and decisive leadership, the government has empowered and uplifted communities nationwide. For too long, especially during Congress rule, the youth endured repression, and ordinary citizens faced widespread injustice. Today, these hardships belong to a darker past -- one we must remember as we choose our political representatives for the future."

Sonowal stated, "The quality of lives of Muslim women has improved considerably under the NDA govt led by the BJP. According to a national family health survey, the literacy rate among Muslim women has increased significantly to 72.6 per cent compared to 50.7 per cent in the previous survey. In 2019, the Modi government enacted legislation to criminalise the practice of instant triple talaq, a reform widely celebrated as a step towards gender justice and the empowerment of Muslim women."
Gadchiroli : , Nov 9 (IANS) A wanted woman Maoist from Chhattisgarh, carrying a bounty of Rs 2 lakh laid down arms before the Maharashtra Police at the height of the state election season, a senior official said here on Saturday.

She has been identified as Laxmi Bande Majji, hailing from Bedre village in Bhairamgarh of Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh, said Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police Neelotpal.

Majji, 42, who did odd chores like supplying meals to Maoists hiding in forests for years, later joined the 'Red movement' in 2017.

She became a member of the Bhamragad and Indravati Area Committee's Chetan Natya Manch, and was active, preparing meals for the outlaws and other jobs, till she decided to surrender on Saturday.

The Maharashtra government had announced a reward of Rs 2 lakh for her and police said that she was involved in many unlawful activities for which further investigations are on, said Neelotpal.

She has cited multiple reasons for her surrender, including the brutalities perpetrated by the Maoist commanders, lack of privacy for married couples, exploiting tribals and poor for their vested interest, killing off innocents labelling them as police informers, indulging in extortion activities, women getting killed while the male members used to flee during encounters with the law-enforcers, etc.

Post-surrender, the first since the Maharashtra Assembly elections were announced last month, Majji will be entitled to full rehabilitation and other policies plus Rs 4.50 lakh reward by the Centre and state government, to enable her to join the social mainstream.

Neelotpal said that from January 2022 till date, at least 30 rebels, including several women and couples have opted to embrace peace and lead a normal life.

Since the state comeback policy was implemented in 2005 to wean them out of violence, a total of 678 Maoists have surrendered to the security forces and are leading ordinary lives after full rehabilitation.
Mumbai, Nov 9 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a large public meeting in Akola, Maharashtra on Saturday, ramping up BJP's campaign ahead of state Assembly elections. Speaking at the public gathering, PM Modi slammed the Congress and other opposition parties, accusing them of 'looting' the state coffers.

"Wherever Congress party assumes power, that particular state becomes the ATM of party's 'shahi parivar' (royal family). We won't let Maharashtra become the ATM of the Congress," PM Modi said at the campaign rally.

He also urged the people to beware of the 'divisive propaganda' of the Congress party and urged the electorate to 'stay united for staying safe'.

A large number of people, who participated in the public rally, spoke to IANS and shared what all they gathered from the Prime Minister's speech.

Many people, who listened to PM Modi's speech attentively and in great detail, also shared their views.

M. Madhavrao, a Mumbai local, said that this is a historic day as it was on this day that the decision on Ram temple was taken.

"A lot of work has been done under the leadership of PM Modi and India is moving forward under the slogan of 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas'," he said.

Pandurang, another local resident, repeated the Prime Minister's assertions that the Constitution is not in danger, as falsely propagated by the Opposition.

BJP supporter Sanjay, referring to PM Modi's speech said that the most special thing he found about today's rally was that we should move forward under the slogan of 'One India, Best India'.

BJP supporter Kalpana said that PM Modi is doing good work.

"He is recognized throughout the world for his commitment towards the nation, its citizens," she said.

Naresh, a local resident, was left impressed with the Prime Minister's pitch for national integration and message of taking the nation forward as a cohesive unit.

Mahesh, another local, thanked the Prime Minister for unique initiatives like PM Awas Yojana and the Ladki Bahin Yojana, saying that umpteen number of people are benefitting from these schemes.

Notably, Maharashtra is slated for a single phase election on November 20. Counting of votes will take place on November 23.
Chennai, Nov 9 : Anbumani Ramadoss, the state president of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and former Union Minister, has urged the Tamil Nadu government to ensure a regular supply of fertilisers for Samba paddy farmers.

In a statement on Saturday, Ramadoss highlighted that farmers in Tamil Nadu's Delta region are facing difficulties due to a shortage of fertilisers.

He emphasised that essential fertilisers such as urea and potash are unavailable even in local shops, causing distress among Samba paddy cultivators in districts like Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Nagapattinam.

Ramadoss also noted that some private stores with fertiliser stock are reportedly charging over 25 per cent above the standard prices for urea and potash.

The PMK leader pointed out that Tamil Nadu's Minister for Cooperatives, S. Periyakaruppan, recently claimed the state's cooperative societies have significant stocks32,755 tonnes of urea, 13,773 tonnes of potash, 16,792 tonnes of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), and 22,866 tonnes of complex fertilisers.

"If the minister's statement is accurate, why are farmers still suffering from a lack of fertilizers for Samba cultivation," Ramadoss questioned.

He called on the state government to guarantee an uninterrupted supply of fertilisers for Samba paddy farmers, who recently experienced a reduced yield during the Kuruvai paddy season, with cultivation area dropping by about 1.7 lakh acres.

Farmers were hopeful for a good Samba crop this season, but the shortage of essential fertilisers, including urea, potash, and DAP, has dampened their optimism.

Farmers in several Delta districts have also complained that private sellers are pressuring them to buy additional products, such as pesticides, along with fertilisers.

They urged authorities to increase fertiliser allocations to prevent exploitation by private traders.

Samba paddy cultivation has already commenced in the Delta districts, and plants that are now 25-30 days old require urea, potash, and DAP.

C. Palani, a farmer from Anthanallur block, shared his frustration, stating: "Private traders are exploiting us, and the fertiliser shortage is the main reason they're forcing us to buy unnecessary items like costly pesticides."

Official sources said that delays in fertiliser shipments caused by Cyclone Dana have now been resolved, and regular shipments have started arriving in Tamil Nadu.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to the King of Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni on the occasion of the country's national holiday - Independence Day, Azernews reports.

The letter reads:

Your Majesty,

On behalf of myself and the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to you and through you, to your entire people on the occasion of the national holiday of the Kingdom of Cambodia - the Independence Day.

I believe that relations between Azerbaijan and Cambodia will continue to evolve in the spirit of friendship and cooperation both bilaterally and multilaterally, in line with the interests of our peoples.

On this festive day, I wish you the best of health, happiness, and success in your endeavors, and everlasting peace and prosperity to the friendly people of Cambodia.

Sincerely,

Ilham Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Baku, 6 November 2024
(Bloomberg) -- ASML Holding NV, the maker of the worlds most advanced chipmaking machines, was struck by an IT outage on Friday that affected its facilities around the world.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The disruption began on Friday morning and was resolved later in the afternoon, an ASML spokesperson said by phone. The incident forced some employees to work remotely, and local Dutch newspaper Eindhovens Dagblad reported that the companys cleanrooms, offices, customer support departments and communications with suppliers were affected.

The company said its investigating the cause of the outage.

ASML is a critical part of the worlds semiconductor supply chain, and as a result, has found itself continually caught in the middle of the escalating fight between the US and China over chip-market dominance. It has a monopoly on manufacturing the machines that help companies such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and Samsung Electronics Co. produce the most-advanced chips that power everything from Apple Inc.s smartphones to Nvidia Corp.s AI accelerators.

Last month, the company mistakenly released its financial report a day earlier than scheduled due to a technical error. The premature publication of the release worked to amplify weak results, sending both its shares and those of chip companies globally falling.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Kolkata, Nov 9 : West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front (WBJDF), the umbrella body of the junior doctors of the state spearheading the movement over the rape and murder of a junior doctor of R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata, on Saturday said that they will continue to 'struggle on streets' till a logical conclusion of the case.

On Saturday, the junior doctors organised a protest rally in Kolkata which was attended by thousands of common people including people from the celebrity world, civil society and representatives from the transgender community.

At the end of the rally, Debasish Halder, one of the leading faces in the movement of the junior doctors said that there is no question of moving away from the streets unless the victim gets justice.

"Our movement on the streets will continue. This movement is not just restricted within the boundaries of West Bengal now. It is a national and rather an international affair now," Halder said.

Pulastya Acharya said that the majority of the junior doctors are united in these "protests on the streets" and they will continue to remain united.

"I am again saying that the withdrawal of the fast-unto-death agitation does not mean that our movement on the issue has stopped. The movement will continue as long as we get justice," he said.

Saturday's rally was conducted under the banner of "Janatar Chargesheet (Public Chargesheet)". It signifies that the people in general including the protesting junior doctors are not happy with the findings of CBI in its first chargesheet, which has identified civic volunteer Sanjay Roy as the "sole prime accused" in the rape and murder crime.

--IANS

src/dan
Agartala, Nov 9 : Seven more Bangladeshi nationals, three Rohingyas and an Indian tout were held in Tripura on Saturday, officials said.

Officials said that seven including six Bangladeshi nationals, who were trying to move to Chennai in search of jobs, were arrested in Udaipur in Gomati district of southern Tripura, by Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel.

Among the Bangladeshi infiltrators, four were minors and the rest two persons were married couples.

Another one, identified as Mohammad Hafizul, was a resident Nadia district of West Bengal.

The Bangladeshi couple, identified as Rubel Sheikh and Suraiya along with the minors were supposed to travel to Chennai where she (Suraiya) claimed her father stays for livelihood.

"All of them entered India through the South Tripura district. During interrogation, they said that they were from Khulna district of Bangladesh," a GRP official said.

The illegal intruders were handed over to Radha Kishore Pur police station.

In a separate development, one Bangladeshi national was apprehended by BSF troops of BOP Kamalasagar under the Sepahijala district.

The apprehended Bangladeshi national is a resident of Comilla district of Bangladesh.

In another operation, BSF troops of Panisagar Sector in northern Tripura apprehended three Rohingya migrants, including a woman.

Preliminary questioning of the infiltrators is underway.

Over the last three and a half months, over 470 Bangladeshi nationals and over 63 Rohingyas were arrested by the GRP, Border Security Force (BSF), and Tripura Police from the Agartala railway station and various other places in Tripura after they illegally entered India.

The Rohingyas illegally entered India after fleeing their camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar where more than one million displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar have been living since 2017.

After the Bangladesh unrest began in June-July, BSF enhanced surveillance along the 4,096-km border with the neighbouring country to prevent trans-border crime and infiltration, the BSF officials said.

Five Indian states  West Bengal (2216 km), Tripura (856 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Mizoram (318 km) and Assam ( 263 km) share a border with Bangladesh.
Patna, Nov 9 : BJP MP Vivek Thakur from Nawada constituency said on Saturday that the 2025 Assembly polls will be Bihar Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Tejashwi Yadav's last electoral contest.

"Tejashwi Yadav's claim of winning all four bypolls seats is far-fetched. The 2025 Assembly elections would be Tejashwi Yadav's last electoral contest. The people of Bihar would not support any member of the Lalu family as Chief Minister. The state has already witnessed and rejected their leadership," Thakur said.

Thakur also accused Tejashwi Yadav of creating a political ruckus for five days and leaving the country afterwards similar to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. "Tejashwi Yadav has been stirring political ruckus in recent days, only to plan to go abroad," he said.

Thakur also expressed doubts about whether RJD would even secure a seat in the ongoing bypolls in the state.

In response to Tejashwi Yadav's remarks on BJP President J.P. Nadda's recent visit to Bihar, Vivek Thakur dismissed Yadav's insinuations and questioned how Tejashwi could presume the purpose or content of the discussions between BJP President and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

On Jharkhand Assembly elections, Thakur claimed a strong wave of support for the BJP. As a party official overseeing the region in Jharkhand, he expressed confidence that the NDA will secure a significant victory in the upcoming elections.

"The opposition's increased activity in the region is because they have a sense of panic. The people of Jharkhand would choose the BJP as the best option for stable, long-term development," Thakur said.

Emphasizing themes of stability, development, and a rejection of past RJD-led administrations, the BJP is attempting to strengthen its position across both states by framing itself as the preferred choice for continued progress.
Kolkata, Nov 9 : West Bengal Leader of the Opposition (LoP) said on Saturday that justice in the rape and murder of a woman junior doctor of R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital will not be achieved till Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is in power.

His comments came within 48 hours after a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court of India headed by the outgoing Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud turned down an oral prayer made by a lawyer seeking the shifting of the trial process in the matter outside West Bengal.

"It is clear now that the West Bengal government and the ruling Trinamool Congress are going all-out to suppress the truth behind the rape and murder tragedy," said Suvendu Adhikari while speaking to the media persons at the sidelines of an election campaign rally for the forthcoming bypolls for six Assembly constituencies on November 13.

He added that there had been information that a senior police official had approached the victim's parents with money so that the latter remain silent in the matter.

"That's why I am saying that unless the trial is shifted to any other state, justice in the matter will never be achieved. As long as Mamata Banerjee is in power, there will be no justice," he said.

"Hence I am insisting on the trial process to be transferred outside West Bengal. The current West Bengal government under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee is protesting rapists and corrupt persons," he added.

Adhikari also accused the acting head of the neighbouring Bangladesh government and Nobel Award prize winner Mohammed Younis of patronising communal forces who are resorting to destroying Hindu temples and killing the Hindu population in the country.

--IANS

src/dan
Agartala, Nov 10 : Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday said that a religious atmosphere has been restored in Tripura following the establishment of the BJP-led government in 2018 and emphasised that any attempts to incite unrest under the guise of religion would not be tolerated.

Addressing the Sanatan Dharma Sammelan at Netaji Subhash College in southern Tripura's Udaipur, the Chief Minister, without naming the previous Left Front government, said that an atheist environment prevailed in the state for 35 years.

"The religious atmosphere has returned since our government came to power in 2018. Any attempts to create unrest in the name of religion would not be tolerated in any way," said Saha.

The Chief Minister expressed his appreciation for organising the meeting, saying, "Human society is a wonderful gift of God, and we have many duties. We are witnessing persecution against Sanatanis in Bangladesh. The Central government is monitoring this closely."

"I caution everyone involved to be careful. Sanatan Dharma has endured numerous attacks before and remains steadfast. It is here today, and it will continue into the future," he asserted.

The Chief Minister appreciated the presence of saints from across the country at the conference.

He said that Tripura is a state with a mixed population, where people of all castes and religions live together peacefully, and "we wish to continue this unity".

Criticising the opposition parties, Saha said that the opposition is now nearly invisible, like trying to find something with a microscope, as they gradually fade away.

"The opposition parties are attempting to create unrest by exploiting religion, but our government would not tolerate this. We hold trust and respect for all religions," he stated.

Saha, who also holds the home portfolio, said that some claimed that there is no law and order in Tripura now, but earlier during the regimes of previous governments, there was only an atmosphere of murder and terror here.

"The law and order situation has significantly improved. The opposition spreads lies and tries to mislead the public, but people now understand the truth and would not give them a foothold," he said.

Saha also highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's focus on public welfare since assuming office in 2014.

The Prime Minister has prioritised the development of various traditional temples, such as Kamakhya Temple in Assam, Dwarka Temple, Somnath Temple in Gujarat, and Mata Tripura Sundari Temple in Tripura, he pointed out.
New Delhi, Nov 10 : US President-elect Donald Trump is expected to meet President Joe Biden on Wednesday (November 13) at the White House, a senior official said on Saturday.

The meeting will be held at 11 a.m., White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.

"At President Biden's invitation, President Biden and President-elect Trump will meet in the Oval Office on Wednesday at 11:00 am. Additional details to follow," Jean-Pierre wrote on X.

Such a meeting is customary between the outgoing president and the incoming president and is meant partly to mark the start of a peaceful transfer of power under America's democracy, CBS News reported.

However, Trump did not host Biden for a sit-down after the 2020 election, when the Republican leader lost his re-election bid.

Donald Trump will assume office of the President on January 20.

On Tuesday, Trump won the presidential election with at least 301 electoral college votes, surpassing the threshold of 270 over Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump, who also served as the 45th president, will become the second president to serve two non-consecutive terms. The other was Grover Cleveland, who was both the 22nd and 24th president.

In his first public address after the poll debacle on Thursday, President Joe Biden told fellow Democrats that everyone gets knocked down but the true test of character is 'how quickly we get back up'.

The President also had a word for Republicans without naming them specifically.

"You can't love your country only when you win. You can't love your neighbour only when you agree, something I hope we can do, no matter who you voted for, see each other, not as adversaries, but as fellow Americans, bring down the temperature," he said.

Biden said the American electoral system is sound, can be trusted and transparent, contrary to what President-elect Donald Trump and his allies have sought to drill into American voters since his 2020 election.

"I also hope we can later restate the question about the integrity of the American electoral system. It is honest, it is fair, and it is transparent and it can be trusted, win or lose."

President Biden spoke briefly from the White House, just over six minutes, with a clear message to bring down the temperature of a politically divided country.

"Campaigns are contests of competing visions. A country chooses one or the other," he said.

The President said he had called President-elect Trump to congratulate him and on January 20 the transfer of power will take place peacefully as it is meant to. He did not mention, but hurt and angry by his defeat in 2020, Trump had skipped Biden's inauguration and left straight for his Florida home.

Biden also had a word of praise for Harris.

"She's been a partner and a public servant. She ran an inspiring campaign, and everyone got to see something that I learned early on to respect her character so much. She has a backbone like a ram. She has great character, true character. She gave her whole heart and effort, and she and her entire team should be proud of the campaign they ran," the President said.

Harris was thrust into the presidential race in July after Biden was forced to quit following a disastrous presidential debate with Trump. She inherited the Biden campaign and funds but she had built her own campaign largely in a little over three months.
In No Human Involved (Beacon, Jan.), sociologist Cheryl L. Neely argues that police neglect of Black women homicide victims allows serial killers to flourish.

Your previous book, Youre DeadSo What?, deals with the same topic. How does this one differ?

The first book looked at how the media and police neglect the homicides of Black women. This one looks at the consequences of thatat how this pernicious pattern of neglect leads to serial killers going undetected. These killers, who target Black women, understand that the police dont always work to solve these cases, that the media isnt paying attention. They know it makes this group particularly vulnerable.

Many of the victims you write about were sex workers. Did that play a role in prejudicial treatment from police?

In the book, I show that white women who were sex workers got more attention and a more vigorous police response. Arthur Shawcross was a serial killer in Rochester, N.Y., in the early 1990s. He murdered 11 womenall sex workers, all whiteand the police took those cases seriously. They even warned other sex workers that there was someone preying on their group. So when the sex workers are white, police still see them as worthy of protection and worthy of justiceas human beings. Hence the name of my book, no human involved. I didnt make that upthats a phrase police in some precincts in Los Angeles used to denote murders of Black sex workers.

Why has law enforcement generally considered the murders of Black women to have been committed by someone they knew, rather than by a serial killer?

Police tend to deny that there is a serial killer, because once they have declared that there is one, people demand action; the media starts hounding the police, asking for updates. So the police can avoid all that headache by just simply saying that all of these women were killed by individual men. Right now, for example, there are at least 51 unsolved strangulations of Black women in Chicago, and the police are still denying theres a serial killer.

Do you see the problem as more of a law enforcement one, or one of pervasive societal racism?

If we attribute this behavior to inherent racial bias, thats a really hard problem to fix, because its been there since 1619, so to speak. But unfortunately thats the root issue. Legislation like the Violence Against Women Act is only as good as its implementation. If its not being acted upon, its just words on a page. It all boils down to police seeing these women as fully human. I know theyre capablebut whether theyre willing, I do not know.
Romance imprint Avon makes its first foray into webcomics to print with the initial volume of Dutch cartoonist Janine Janssens webtoon Les Normaux (Feb. 2025). Cocreated with S. Al Sabado, the gently unfolding series presents a boy-meets-vampire tale set in a fantastical version of France and literalizes the magic of a Parisian romance, per PWs review.

What was the inspiration for Les Normaux?

My first project was a big fantasy epicI had no clue how to make it, and I was stuck. One Halloween, I did a livestream where I drew a trio of monster couples. I thought, these are cute, and I like cheesy romance. So why dont I make little scenarios with them in Paris, the stereotypical romantic city?

How did you get started making webcomics?

Ive always made comics. When I was little, I would stack copy paper and staple it. When I found webcomics, it really did something to my mind. Before that, I thought that if you wanted to do comics, you had to have a book. And I couldnt have a bookI was only 15! But I could have this. And I want to encourage people to make their own comics. In the Netherlands, the comics world is small and dominated by old-school comics and older men, and we need more voices.

The cast is very diverse. How do you establish diversity in a fantasy world?

I dont think about it too much, honestly. Early on, one critique I got a lot was that it was unrealistically diverse, like a checklist. But thats always been weird to me, because if I look at my friend group, it looks like the cast of Les Normaux. Everyones different; no ones straight. Im one of two white people. It is real lifeif you look around Paris, thats what Paris is like.

What do you have planned for the future for these characters?

In the current season, the two lead characters are in a relationship, and thats very new to the main character, Sebastien. I want to explore those feelings, and also go into demisexuality, which is not covered a lot in media. All the characters are going through the feeling of not knowing where you are in your late 20s and early 30s. Its the kind of self-discovery story thats usually written for teenagers but for a somewhat older audiencethough I think its good for younger people to read that you dont need to have everything figured out when youre 21.

Do you have a favorite scene so far?

Its an episode where Sebastien and his friends are sitting at a skate park. Hes mulling over his feelings with his friends. And then they start analyzing texts from the other lead character, and it turns into something funny. Its a scene that a friend helped me write, and it feels like a friend moment I would have. Someone left a comment saying, This feels like a memory, even though I wasnt there.
The Five and Unders

PW first inquired into the racial makeup of survey respondents 10 years ago. In 2013, 89% of the 630 respondents were white. By 2018, the share of white respondents had fallen to 80% and has hovered around that level ever since.

Publishing has been slow to diversify its workforce, but a generational shift seems to be underway. Among survey respondents who have been in the industry for five years or lessin other words, those who have come of age in publishing largely during the pandemic and in the aftermath of George Floyds murderonly 64% identify as white. And while 77% of the younger respondents identify as female (compared to 79% of overall respondents), a smaller portion identifies as male (12%, vs. 17% overall) and a much larger share identifies as nonbinary (10%, vs. 4% overall).

Though newcomers to publishing are more diverse than their older counterparts, they are also more skeptical of the industrys DEI efforts. Forty-two percent said that diversity programs have produced little noticeable results.

Responses to the survey also suggest that new industry members are still making up their minds about their future in publishing. Thirty-nine percent said they are very or extremely satisfied with their jobs, a much lower rate than among their older counterparts, but only 19% said they are not satisfied with their jobs at all, which is similar to the overall response. Forty-two percent said they are somewhat satisfied.

A small portion of younger employees, 12%, said they expect to leave the industry within the next two years, but 37% hope to be at higher positions at their current companies. Lack of advancement opportunities was second only to low salaries as the biggest source of dissatisfaction among this group.

2023 Median Compensation

Respondents from across the industry earned more on average in 2023 than in 2022. The median compensation, which includes base salary plus bonuses and commissions, rose 7.3% over 2022, to $75,000. That increase could be due in part to the success unions and other employee groups had in getting major New York publishers to raise entry-level pay beginning in 2022. Indeed, the share of respondents earning less than $50,000 per year fell to 12% in 2023, from 17% in 2022.

AI Rising

This years survey found a huge jump in the percentage of employees who said their companies are using AI: 53%, compared to 23% in 2022. But like everyone else, publishing employees are uneasy about the new technology. Only 25% of survey respondents believe AI will have a positive impact on their jobs, while 40% believe it will have a negative impact. Respondents were even more concerned about how AI will affect the industry in general: only 13% said they believe AI will change publishing for the better, while 56% think the technology will make it worse.

We asked respondents who are worried about the impact of AI on publishing to tell us their concerns. Heres what some of them said.

 I suspect poor use of AI by potential authors and quantity-over-quality publishers will further crowd the marketplace, making curation and promotion all the more essential. Though AI will have a positive effect of streamlining some work, it will create new work and skills in prompt engineering. In the short term, I think this will lead to greater confusion and noise. In the long term, I think it will make the role of the publisher and skilled publishing employees all the more essential and will become one more tool to be wieldedsuccessfully or not.

 AI is being used as an excuse to undercut and undercompensate human workers, it cant deliver on any of its promises, and it costs far more (in money and in energy) to operate than maintaining and appropriately compensating a human workforce would.

 Some publishers are already turning into book factories and book conveyor belts, and while it is understood that 80% of a publishers revenue will come from 20% of its product portfolio, its not fair to relegate the other 80% of products to AI-related processes. I can foresee smaller-name authors having a harder time than they already have coming into a publisher because their content might be seen as too expensive to publish when AI can produce something better for cheaper with 100% copyright and all other rights for the publisher.

 To put it bluntly, fuck AI. Im sorry, but not really. We put out a job opening this year. The number of submissions we received that used generative content was appalling. I have genuine concern for the future of communication if this practice is allowed to proliferate unchecked. If you want to talk automation? I already automated things. We, collectively, have been able to virtually automate tasks for over a decade, you just needed a little know-how. But now all those automations get slapped with an AI label when its just, overall, a new update to existing code and programs to allow for user-generated prompts as an input over logic clauses. Its inane. Meanwhile, the impact is felt most by small presses and literary journals who now have to hire people to check submissions for AI-generated content. The arts suffer, while tech bloats. I want no part of this technology in our ecosystem. Why even participate in the arts if a human did not have a hand in sourcing it?

 Until it is regulated, AI-created content will continue to flood the marketplace and AI companies will continue to use copyrighted materials to train their AI. We need to keep humans in the loop as the dominant creators of literature and nonfiction works. AI should be used only as a tool for the creation of long-form works, not the primary source of content.

 I see a renewed temptation to devalue the work of human creators because AI feels like an easy button solution to the hard work and complex economics of research, reporting, and creative expression.

 It feels like yet another shortcut publishers will take instead of compensating their workers well and giving them a viable career path.
By Maki Shiraki

TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota aims to make at least 2.5 million vehicles a year in China by 2030, three people said, an overhaul that will see it bring its Chinese sales and production operations closer together and allow local executives a freer hand in development.

The plan, which has not been previously reported, represents a strategic pivot by the world's top selling automaker in the world's largest car market, underlining its ambition to claw back business lost to BYD and other local players in recent years.

Toyota's strategy is in contrast to that of other global automakers, including Japanese ones, that are either scaling back or pulling out of China.

It aims to boost production to as much as 3 million vehicles a year by the end of the decade, two of the people said. However, it has stopped short of establishing a formal target, the three people said. All of the people declined to be identified because the matter has not been made public.

The bigger number represents a 63% increase on the record 1.84 million vehicles it produced in China in 2022. Last year it produced 1.75 million vehicles there.

Toyota has informed some suppliers of the intended ramp-up, in the hope of reassuring parts makers of its commitment to China and thereby securing its supply chain, the people said.

In response to questions from Reuters, Toyota said in a statement: "With the intense competition in the Chinese market, we are constantly considering various initiatives". It said it would continue to work on making "ever-better cars" for the Chinese market.

The Japanese automaker aims to bring the sales and production operations of its two Chinese joint ventures closer together, to improve efficiency, two of the people said.

It also intends to transfer as much of the development responsibility as possible to China-based staff who have a better grasp of local market preferences, particularly around electrified and connected car technology, two of the people said.

'TOO LATE'

The moves signal a growing awareness within Toyota that it needs to rely more on local staff to take charge and speed up product development in China, one of the people said, adding that otherwise "it will be too late".

Legacy automakers, Toyota included, have been outmaneuvered in China as domestic EV makers rapidly roll out affordable, battery-powered cars with advanced technology.

Last year Toyota announced plans to deepen cooperation among its R&D centre in Jiangsu province and its two local joint ventures.

One problem, representative of Toyota's broader woes, is that vehicles developed independently by joint venture partners are selling better than those produced with Toyota.
Jose Ibarra, the accused murderer of nursing student Laken Riley, has waived his right to a jury trial.

On Tuesday during a pre-trial proceeding, one day before jury selection was scheduled to begin, Ibarras attorneys submitted a waiver of his right to a jury trial.
The Ram temple in Ayodhya, initially scheduled for completion by June 2025, will now likely be finished by September 2025, said Nripendra Mishra, chairman of the construction committee.

IMAGE: The Ram temple in Ayodhya was scheduled for completion by June 2025. Photograph: @ShriRamTeerth/X

Mishra cited a shortage of around 200 workers and the need to replace certain stones on the temple's first floor as primary reasons for the delay.

"Currently, we are facing a labour shortage, causing delays in construction," he said on Friday.

"The complete construction is now expected by September 2025 instead of June 2025," added Mishra, chairman of the Temple Construction Committee.

He said while 8.5 lakh cubic feet of red 'Bansi Paharpur' stones have been readied for the temple boundary and delivered to Ayodhya but construction has slowed due to the reduced workforce.

In addition to the worker shortage, Mishra noted that some stones on the first floor appeared "weak and thin" and will be replaced with 'Makrana' stones to ensure durability.

A recent two-day meeting of the temple construction committee also reviewed the status of other structures associated with the temple, including the auditorium, boundary, and circumambulation path, all of which remain under construction.

Mishra said that statues for the temple, including those for Lord Ram's court and six surrounding temples, are in production in Jaipur and are expected to arrive in Ayodhya by December.

"The sculptor has assured us that all statues will be completed by year-end," he stated, adding that final decisions regarding their placement within the temple complex will follow. Two statues of Ram Lalla, already accepted by the temple trust, are also set to be installed in prominent locations.

Discussions continue on improving visitor flow, specifically addressing a smoother exit route for devotees after visiting the Janmabhoomi path.

Mishra acknowledged the crowding issues and emphasised that these considerations are part of the planning process to enhance accessibility for visitors.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of insulting and making a mockery of the Constitution by showing a "fake" copy of it.

IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses a rally in poll-bound Jharkhand. Photograph: @AmitShah/X

Shah also claimed that the BJP will never allow the Congress to implement reservations for minorities.

"Rahul Gandhi shows a copy of the Constitution. He was exposed two days back. Someone got a copy of the Constitution he has shown. The Constitution of India was written on the cover of that copy which was void of any content....Don't make a mockery of the Constitution. It is a question of faith and trust. By waving a fake copy of the Constitution, you have insulted B R Ambedkar and the Constituent Assembly.

The Congress party has made the Constitution a mockery, Shah alleged addressing a BJP rally in Palamu.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to observe November 26 as Constitution Day.

Shah alleged that Congress was "hell-bent on snatching reservations from OBCs, tribals and Dalits and "planned to give it to minorities".

"The Congress is against OBC quota, it promised 10 pc reservation to minorities when a delegation of Ulemas met Congress leaders in Maharashtra. Under PM Modi's leadership, the BJP will never allow religion-based reservations, Shah said.

He also attacked Congress for its alleged attempts to restore Article 370 in Kashmir.

"Kashmir is an integral part of India. I warn Rahul Gandhi that even your fourth-generation can't bring back Article 370," he claimed.

Shah also hit out at the JMM-led dispensation in Jharkhand, terming it as the "most corrupt government" in the country.

Training his guns on Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, he said: The CM says infiltration is the BJP's political agenda. I say it is CM's bank...corrupt leaders will be hanged upside down".

Elections to the 81-member Jharkhand assembly will be held on November 13 and 20, and the counting of votes will take place on November 23.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations thwarted an Iranian plot to assassinate Donald Trump, the Department of Justice said on Friday as it charged an Iranian national and arrested two American citizens for involvement in a plot to murder the Republican president-elect.

IMAGE: Republican presidential nominee Donald J Trump speaks to supporters at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, November 6, 2024. Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

The Federal Bureau of Investigations charged Farhad Shakeri, 51, an asset of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who is believed to reside in Iran.

Two individuals, Carlisle Rivera, 49, and Jonathon Loadholt, 36, were arrested from Brooklyn and Staten Island in New York on Thursday.

According to statements made by Shakeri in recorded interviews, he was tasked by the Iranian regime on October 7 to devise a plan to kill Trump, who was re-elected as the president of the US earlier this week.

However, Shakeri claimed he did not intend to carry out the plan within the deadline set by the IRGC.

Shakeri, who was deported to Iran in 2008 after serving 14 years in prison for a robbery conviction, said he was also instructed to surveil two Jewish American citizens in New York City and was offered USD 500,000 by an IRGC official to kill either of them.

He was also tasked with targeting Israeli tourists in Sri Lanka, according to the Department of Justice.

There are few actors in the world that pose as grave a threat to the national security of the United States as does Iran, said Attorney General Merrick B Garland.

He added that Shakeri was tasked by the "regime to direct a network of criminal associates to further Iran's assassination plots against its targets, including President-elect Trump.

Garland said that Rivera and Loadholt were arrested and charged for involvement in a network to "silence and kill" an American journalist critical of the Iranian regime.

At Shakeri's instruction, the two spent months surveilling an American citizen of Iranian origin in the US.

"We will not stand for the Iranian regime's attempts to endanger the American people and America's national security, he said.

Rivera and Loadholt made their initial appearance in the Southern District of New York on Thursday and were ordered detained pending trial.

The charges expose Iran's continued brazen attempts to target US citizens, including Trump, other government leaders and dissidents who criticise the regime in Tehran, said FBI Director Christopher Wray.

The IRGC  a designated foreign terrorist organisation  has been conspiring with criminals and hitmen to target and gun down Americans on US soil and that simply won't be tolerated, Wray said.

Actors directed by the Government of Iran continue to target our citizens...This has to stop, said US Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York.

"Today's charges are another message to those who continue in their efforts  we will remain unrelenting in our pursuit of bad actors, no matter where they reside, and will stop at nothing to bring to justice those who harm our safety and security, he said.
Justices Arif S Doctor and Somasekhar Sundaresan held there was nothing in the MCC that would interfere with the Board's ongoing activities.

Kindly note that this image has been posted only for representational purposes. Photograph: ANI Photo

Construction workers in Maharashtra, at the bottom of the ladder of unorganised labour, received a major relief on Friday, November 8, 2024, when the Bombay high court ordered the Board constituted for their welfare to resume activity.

The Maharashtra Building and other Construction Workers Welfare Board had suspended its functions when the model code of conduct for elections came into effect, on October 17.

The Board has been doing this during all elections, said Bilal Khan of the Kamgar Sanrakshan Sammaan Sangh (KSSS), including last year's panchayat elections, and this year's Lok Sabha elections.

Suspension of the Board's activities meant a stop to all new registrations of workers with the Board, as well as to renewals of registrations.

In effect, it meant that workers could not avail of the benefits given to them once they registered, whether in the form of protective gear and household kits, or in the form of scholarships for their children and health schemes, including maternity schemes.

Frustrated by these frequent suspensions, 8 unions, including the KSSS, approached the Bombay high court. Well-known labour lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj, out on default bail after having spent three years behind bars as an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, argued the case for the unions.

Bharadwaj pointed out that the suspended activities were statutory duties which had to be conducted under the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996. They had nothing to do with any new policy decision or any distribution of election largesse.

Counsel for the Board agreed that registration of workers was a basic statutory activity required to be carried out under the Act. However, since the benefits involved direct transfer of money to workers, the Board hadn't been sure whether such transfers clashed with the MCC. Hence they had written to the Election Commission, which had not yet replied.

The vacation bench of Justices Arif S Doctor and Somasekhar Sundaresan held there was nothing in the MCC that would interfere with the Board's ongoing activities.

Similarly, there was nothing in the Act which would render pre-existing schemes that were being implemented under it violative of the MCC.

Pointing out that the Act was a welfare legislation for workers who were fragmented and unorganised, the judgment said that registration of workers was a 'central and imperative' feature of the Act.

Renewal of registration too had to be a continuous process.

The judgment also pointed out that the Union labour ministry had drawn up a Model Plan based on recommendations of a committee constituted by the Supreme Court in 2018. Under this, construction workers were entitled to life insurance and disability insurance under government schemes.

The MCC was meant to prevent abuse of power by ruling parties who wanted to influence voters, said the judges. By no stretch would this require suspension of administration of pre-existing schemes.

'The right to register in order to avail of benefits under the schemes made under the Act, is a statutory right conferred by Parliament. Such right cannot be suspended in the name of elections,' said the judges.

In fact, they pointed out, the MCC explicitly said that pre-existing schemes should not be stopped or delayed. However, these should not be implemented by political figures or with fanfare.

Agreeing with Sudha Bharadwaj that none of the schemes already in operation under the Act could be viewed as 'inducement to the electorate', the judges quashed the circular as void and ultra vires of the Act.

They ordered the Board not to stop registrations, renewals, or disbursement of claims under ongoing schemes under the Act while the MCC is in force.

The Board has been directed to revive its online portal immediately.

The judges, however, added that this judgment could not be used by the state government to start a new scheme or provide new benefits which were not there when the MCC came into force.

This directive applies for all elections in the state, said the judgment.

Welcoming the judgment, Bilal said that their union would keep monitoring the functioning of the Board. "We cannot understand why the Board was so prompt in withholding benefits from workers. Otherwise, they are the most inefficient Board in the country," he said.

"They take 2-3 months to processes every new registration. Since construction workers are mostly migrants, they tend to go back to their village at any time, making it difficult for us to follow up on registrations."

Bilal pointed out that despite having ample funds from the cess collected from construction projects, the Board had prioritised household and safety kits over fundamental necessities such as housing.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday asserted that several leaders from his party have laid down their lives to unite the country, countering Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath's 'batenge toh katenge' slogan.

IMAGE: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge address a press conference, in Nagpur on Saturday. Photograph: ANI Photo

Those who want the country to remain united will never pass such divisive remarks, he said.

Addressing a press conference in Nagpur city of Maharashtra, where assembly elections will be held on November 20, he asked the BJP to decide between Yogi's slogan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unity message of Ek hain, toh safe hain.

Kharge also hit back at the BJP for criticising his party colleague Rahul Gandhi over a copy of the Constitution with a red cover. He showed a picture of PM Modi gifting a similar copy to former president Ramnath Kovind.

The senior Congress leader accused the BJP and RSS of provoking people to gain votes. Citing a newspaper article, Kharge said he read that RSS favoured the slogan of batenge toh katenge' (if divided, we perish) being raised by the UP CM.

First, you decide between yourselves whose slogan is to be followed  Yogi ji's or Modi ji's, he said, and added, BJP leaders give inciting speeches and speak lies and divert people's attention from core issues."

Addressing a campaign rally in the north Maharashtra district of Dhule on Friday, PM Modi had pitched for unity among SCs, STs and OBCs, saying, Remember, Ek hain, toh safe hain (we are safe if we are united).

Kharge stressed that many big Congress have laid down their lives to unite the country and attacked the BJP, saying, You only divide but blame others. You say batenge toh katenge'. Those who want the country to remain united will never pass such divisive slogans.

The Congress chief said two big leaders from Maharashtra's Vidarbha region did not stop big-ticket projects from being shifted from the state to Gujarat because they were concerned about saving their own posts and not worried about people's interest, indirectly taking a jibe at Union minister Nitin Gadkari and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who hail from Nagpur.

There is an MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi) wave in Vidarbha, which elects 62 of the state's 288 MLAs, he said and expressed confidence that the grouping comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) will win the assembly polls.

He also dismissed the BJP's allegation that the Congress supports urban Naxals', particularly when their leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi keeps talking about saving the Constitution.

Is it a crime to flaunt a copy of the Constitution with a red cover, he said, referring to Fadnavis's earlier allegation that Gandhi was building a coalition of anarchists. In many public meetings, Gandhi has waived a copy of the Constitution with a red cover  in politics, red is often associated with the Marxist or communist ideology.

At the press conference, Kharge showed a picture of PM Modi gifting a similar copy to former president Ramnath Kovind.

He alleged that PM Modi tells lies and tells them loudly.

Was it not a lie of his that he would bring black money back stashed abroad? He also lied about providing jobs and doubling farmers' income and demonetisation. Did he not tell all these, he asked.

Kharge derided the BJP for accusing the Congress of failing to implement its poll guarantees in the states governed by the grand old party, particularly in his home state Karnataka. The BJP is copying Congress' welfare schemes and implementing them, he claimed.

He also asked the BJP to engage in a debate with the Congress and tell what work its government carried out in the last 11 years.

We will tell you about the work we have done in 55 years, he said, asserting that Maharashtra needs good government to bring it back on the path of development.

MVA will win with full majority and our opponents won't be able to divide it, he added.

Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly will be held on November 20 and votes will be counted on November 23.
If patriarchy stopped women from achieving what they want in India, how come Indira Gandhi made it as prime minister, asked Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

IMAGE: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman speaks at the CMS Business School in Bengaluru. Photograph: @nsitharaman/X

She met the students of CMS Business School in Bengaluru on Saturday and discussed various measures undertaken by the Centre to support innovation as well as the government schemes available for young people, including the 1 crore internships for the unemployable youth' in the age group of 21 to 24 years old.

Replying to a question about women empowerment, Sitharaman insisted that patriarchy is a concept invented by the Left.

"Don't get carried away by fantastic jargons. If you stand up for yourself and speak logically, patriarchy will not stop you from achieving your dreams," she advised the women in the audience.

However, she admitted that women are not facilitated adequately and that more facilitation is needed.

Answering a question about the prospects of innovators in India, the finance minister said the Modi government is creating an environment that is conducive to innovators.

"We do not just support innovation by bringing out policies," she said, adding that the Indian government is doing its best to ensure that such innovations find markets too.

As an example, she cited the support mechanism that is available for MSMEs. According to her, they are given priority in government procurements.

Sitharaman said that 40 per cent of all government procurements is coming from MSMEs. "That is why we have more than 2 lakh startups today in India and more than 130 have become unicorns. The opportunity is immense but is not fully utilised," she said.

It is the same with digital banking transformation that is happening in India, she added.

According to her, opportunities were created for the common people through Jan Dhan Yojana.

"India's approach to spreading digital networks was funded by the government, while many other countries went through private players, resulting in some nominal charges somewhere. Because of this, even micro-level users also access digital banking without having to pay for it," Sitharaman said, and added that in the future this will only grow. "Therefore, technology will have to be continuously updated so that we don't become redundant."

She also explained the concept of the 'Fund of Funds' offered by the Small Industries Development Bank of India, which is enabled by the Central government by infusing Rs 10,000 crore to help small businesses and innovative ideas needing support.

"Private equity funds are also backing this because we have given them concessions," she added.

As for the latest government scheme offering one crore internships to the unemployable, Sitharaman urged the students present to help get the target audience on to the platform so that more youth can become skilled.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have found their voice after the passage of the resolution on the restoration of the special status of the erstwhile state as the "burden is off their shoulders".

IMAGE: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah speaks during the last day of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative assembly session, in Srinagar, November 8, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Notwithstanding protests by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, he said the first session of the newly elected Jammu and Kashmir Assembly is "short in duration but historic in terms of agenda".

The chief minister was speaking on the vote of thanks for the Lieutenant Governor's address in the House on the last day of the five-day session.

The assembly met on Monday for its first session post-abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories by the BJP-led Central government on August 5, 2019.

It passed a resolution moved by the ruling National Conference, seeking a dialogue between the Centre and elected representatives from the region for the restoration of the erstwhile state's special status.

The passage of the resolution irked BJP members who staged protests since Wednesday and disrupted the functioning of the House.

"After the passage of this resolution, I am happy that people have found their voice and they are able to talk. We were feeling suffocated... It seems that the burden is off the shoulders of the people.

"I have seen people who had forgotten their pens and keyboards find their footing again. They are feeling free enough to express themselves," Abdullah said in the House after all 28 protesting MLAs of the BJP were either marshalled or walked out earlier in the day.

The chief minister said that he got an opportunity to talk like this in the House after a long time.

"In March 2014, I spoke on the governor's address as chief minister and in 2018 as the opposition. So much has changed since then and we have lost a lot. When I think about it, I cannot believe it," he said referring to the August 5, 2019, development.

"When I stood here last time, we were a state and we had a special place and status in the country. It has all been snatched. While I will regret what we lost, I am happy that I have the enthusiasm. Whatever time has been fixed for me by Allah, I will not waste a day. I will serve the people," Abdullah said.

He said his government wanted a detailed discussion on the Lt Governor's address regarding next year's agenda and the National Conference manifesto with regard to Constitutional safeguards and restoration of statehood.

"It's fine they (BJP) don't need the safeguards. But we wanted to hear their take on statehood. They jumped on their chairs without any discussion. The voters do not like this. The easiest time for a government is when there is noise in the House because there is nothing to answer," Abdullah said.

He said those who left the House after raising a hue and cry have failed in their job.

"Their job was to make us accountable and get assurances from us. The last time we met, the resolution (on GST) was passed in this House... GST was imposed on us. We made noises in the hope that it would not get imposed because we knew the consequences.

"Those came to the fore on August 5, 2019, when the remaining things were also snatched. Those talking about resolution today should introspect," he said, pointing to the PDP which has raised objections over the phrasing of the resolution.

Slamming the PDP, Abdullah said this party is the one that made compromises all the way and allowed the BJP into Jammu and Kashmir.

"Let us believe that when they won in 2015, they had no option but to tie up with the BJP. But what happened in the second phase after the death of then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed?

"The PDP leaders made people wait for three months demanding additional confidence-building measures from the Centre but at the end 'unhone usi tankha pe kaam kiya' (PDP leaders worked on the same conditions as were set in 2015)," Abdullah said.

Thanking the people for voting with the hope that their issues and problems will be addressed, Abdullah said, "I have said from the outset that this assembly is the people's assembly and the government is of the people."

"Without doubt, we have the support of the Congress and Independents but this government is also of those who did not vote. We have to represent everyone. We are the servants and they are the lords. They have given their decision and we accept it," he said.

Abdullah said some people thought assembly elections would not be held. "A few days before the elections, people told me that the polls would be deferred by some excuse. There were some people who did not want to see elections (being held) here."
After terrorists killed two village defence guards in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, security near their residences has been heightened to prevent any further mishap.

IMAGE: Security personnel at the residence of one of the slain village defence guards, in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, November 9, 2024. Photograph: ANI on X

Security forces have cordoned off the area after the brutal attack by the terrorists.

The village defence guards were residents of Ohli-Kuntwara village of the Kishtwar district.

Earlier, the mortal remains of village defence guards Nazir Ahmad and Kuldeep Kumar were brought to their residences in the Ohli-Kuntwara village.

On Friday, the bodies of both the deceased were recovered by the police in the forested areas of Ohli Kuntwara following an intensive joint search operation by the Jammu Kashmir police along with the Central Reserve Police Force and the Army.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the killing and said that he was "deeply" saddened and concerned by the attack.

He further said that security forces should ensure that such attacks are stopped "completely."

"Deeply saddened & concerned by the attack that resulted in the deaths of Kuldeep Kumar & Nazeer Ahmed Padder of Kuntwara in Kishtwar, members of the local village defence committee. The terrorists killed two innocent men who had taken their livestock to graze. I condemn this attack unequivocally & send my condolences to the families. At the same time, I expect the security forces to move quickly to plug any gaps in our counter-terror grid & ensure that attacks like this stop completely," Abdullah posted on X.

J-K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also condemned the terrorist attack in which two village defence guards were killed in the Kishtawar district.

The LG paid homage to the two deceased Nazir Ahmad and Kuldeep Kumar who were killed in the attack and reiterated the government's resolve to destroy all terror outfits and avenge the barbaric act.

On Thursday, terrorists killed two village defence group members in Kishtwar.

The deceased were identified as Nazir Ahmed and Kuldeep Kumar. They had gone to graze their cattle in the forest.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday slammed the BJP over its leaders' vote jihad remark and asked if they use the same language when the prime minister visits Arab countries.

IMAGE: AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi during an election campaign in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Photograph: @aimim_national/X

The Hyderabad MP accused the ruling party of deflecting focus from core issues like farmer suicides in Maharashtra. He went door-to-door in Aurangabad Central constituency in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and interacted with voters.

AIMIM has nominated Naser Siddiqui from the constituency, where he faces sitting MLA Pradip Jaiswal of Shiv Sena and Balasaheb Thorat of Shiv Sena (UBT), for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is talking about vote jihad' in the state. But do they use the same language when the prime minister (Narendra Modi) visits Arab countries, asked the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief.

He said 324 farmers have died by suicide in Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) division", but no one is talking about it.

Instead, Fadnavis is remembering vote jihad', They are just targeting only one community. They should answer why they failed to ensure reservation for the Maratha community, he said.

Owaisi also appealed to Marathas, Muslims and Dalits to stay united.

Looking at the political landscape of Maharashtra, it is the need of the hour that Marathas, Muslims and Dalits stay united and live in harmony, he said.

The Aurangabad Central constituency is a part of the state's Marathwada region, where activist Manoj Jarange has been agitating demanding quota for Marathas in education and government jobs.

Asked about the allegations that some NGOs in Maharashtra are working to propagate vote jihad', Owaisi said anyone can campaign in an election by abiding by the law. Where did jihad' come in this, he asked.

Targeting the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), senior BJP leader Fadnavis had claimed earlier that vote jihad was witnessed in 14 out of the 48 constituencies in Maharashtra in the Lok Sabha elections.

In the Dhule constituency, the BJP candidate led with 1.9 lakh votes in five assembly seats However, our candidate lost the election by just 4,000 votes because of voting in the Malegaon Central assembly segment, he had said, referring to what he called vote jihad'.
Li Auto (LI) stock is down more than 7% in Fridays trading session. The selloff appeared to be a direct reaction to the U.S. election result, with president-elect Donald Trump vowing to raise tariffs on Chinese imports. However, Li Auto doesnt export to the U.S. and doesnt have plans to. As such, I think the selloff is unwarranted. More broadly, I think the stock is oversold and undervalued based on projected earnings growth. Thats why Im bullish.

Trumps Tariffs

Donald Trump is the president-elect and tariffs are going to be headline news when he takes to the White House. While his exact plans for vehicles and electric vehicles (EVs) are uncertain, the former president said hed look to implement tariffs of 100% or even 200% on Chinese-made vehicles entering the U.S. market. This aggressive stance is part of Trumps broader strategy to protect the American auto industry and address concerns about Chinese competition.

Of course, tariffs arent good for Chinese auto companies exporting to the U.S. In fact, a 100% tariff would almost certainly make any vehicle uncompetitive against a like-for-life peer. Analysts have hypothesized that Trumps tariffs aim to force Chinese automakers to produce in the U.S. or will be used as a bargaining chip for other concessions.

Li Autos Plans to Expand Outside the U.S.

However, a reason why I am bullish on Li Auto is because its global expansion strategy appears to be focused on markets outside the United States, with a particular emphasis on the Middle East. According to reports, the company planned to enter overseas markets starting in 2024, targeting countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

More recently, Li Autos CEO, Li Xiang, indicated that the companys immediate plans do not include international expansion before 2025, with the boss stating, We have no plans to expand globally until 2025. Reports now suggest that the company has pushed its export plan back further, focusing on its position in the Chinese luxury EV market.

This lack of appetite to export could be seen as a sensible option. The Chinese EV market is the biggest globally, with sales surging 82% in 2023 and capturing nearly 60% of global EV purchases. Overall, Chinas EV market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 17.15% from 2024 to 2030.

Lis China Dependency

Although I am bullish on Li auto, there are risks worth considering. Of course, there is an issue about being geographically focused on one country  even if it represents 20% of the global population  and thats a form of concentration risk. Chinas economy is widely considered to be faltering, and more economic stimulus will likely be required to enhance domestic demand.
Yasaman crossed more than half a dozen countries on foot, bus, and boat and paid thousands of dollars to smugglers to reach Mexico.

Yasaman, an Afghan woman whose name has been changed to protect her identity, believed she was within touching distance of realizing her dream: entering the United States.

But her hopes came crashing down on January 20, when new U.S. President Donald Trump declared an emergency on the southern border with Mexico as part of a crackdown on illegal immigration.

As part of the executive order, U.S. authorities shut down the CBP One mobile app -- the only legal way for migrants to make an appointment with U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, request asylum, and enter the country legally.

"I don't know what to do now," said Yasaman, who arrived in Mexico in November 2024. "I'm waiting [for] what Trump will decide next about migrants."

Yasaman, speaking by telephone from Mexico, said she received a notification on January 20 that read: "Existing appointments scheduled through CBP One are no longer valid."

The shutdown of the app will affect thousands of migrants, including Afghans, hoping to enter the United States legally.

Around 1 million appointments had been scheduled through CBP One since it was introduced in January 2023.

Not Happy In Brazil

Mexico has been a relatively new route for thousands of Afghan migrants seeking a new, better life in the United States.

RFE/RL contacted the United Nations refugee agency and the Mexican migration authorities to find out how many U.S.-bound Afghan migrants are currently in Mexico. We have not received a response.

An Afghan migrant who spoke to RFE/RL from the southern Mexican city of Tapachula estimated there were up to 1,500 people from Afghanistan in that city alone.

Karimullah, whose name has been changed over privacy concerns, said Afghan migrants live in rented apartments, relying on the "limited amount of money" they have brought from Afghanistan or borrow from their relatives abroad.

"Families go hungry for days while waiting for money from relatives," he said.

A former civil rights activist, Karimullah fled Afghanistan after the hard-line Taliban returned to power in August 2021.

After running out of money to pay for food and rent and as she was still waiting to get an appointment through CBP One, Yasaman got a job as a kitchen helper at a restaurant in the capital, Mexico City.

Like many other Afghan migrants in Mexico, both Karimullah and Yasaman had already been offered asylum in other safe countries -- in their case Brazil, which has issued thousands of humanitarian visas for Afghan nationals since 2021.

Asked by RFE/RL why they didn't want to stay in Brazil, where they had been given free accommodation and food, both Karimullah and Yasaman said they did not see a "good future" there due to a lack of jobs and other opportunities.

Instead, many Afghans pay money to people-smugglers to take them through Bolivia, Peru, Equador, Colombia, Panama, and other countries to reach the U.S.-Mexico border.

'Life For Immigrants Not What It Used To Be'

Some cross the border illegally. Ehsan Khan, a 26-year-old former driver from Kabul, entered the United States illegally in November 2024, hoping to get settled in the country before Trump closes the U.S. borders.

After spending two months at an immigration detention facility, Khan was released on January 11 with an electronic ankle bracelet for authorities to monitor his movements.

Speaking from San Diego by phone, Khan told RFE/RL that Afghan migrants should think twice before coming to the United States, because "the life in America for immigrants is not what it used to be."

Khan did not give details of his new life in the United States but said it isn't worth the traumatic journey he had through Honduras and Guatemala, where he said he "was beaten by thieves who demanded money" and witnessed his best friend drown in the sea.

"I saw my friend screaming for help as he drowned and I looked helplessly. I wanted to jump into the water, but I knew I couldn't swim. His parents often call me from Kabul and ask about him, and we cry," Khan said.

Back in Mexico City, Yasaman is determined to enter the United States "by any means, legally or illegally."

"I don't have a life or home in Afghanistan to go back to," Yasaman said. "I see my future only in America."
(Bloomberg) -- Salesforce Inc. plans to hire more than 1,000 workers to sell its new generative AI agent product.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The hiring surge is aimed at capitalizing on amazing momentum for the new artificial intelligence product, Chief Executive Marc Benioff said in a message. Agentforce became available just two weeks ago and were already hearing incredible feedback from our customers.

The top seller of customer relations management software, Salesforce pivoted its AI strategy this year to focus on agents  tools that can complete tasks such as customer support or sales development without human supervision. It launched the product, dubbed Agentforce, last month, with initial pricing of about $2 per agent conversation.

Over the past two years, the San Francisco-based company has worked to control sales expenses by cutting jobs and persuading some customers to use more self-service or third-party purchasing options. At the end of January, Salesforce had 72,682 employees, according to a filing.

For More: AI Agents Have Entered the Workplace, Flaws and All

Other software makers such as ServiceNow Inc. and Microsoft Corp. are also developing autonomous agents. Benioff has taken repeated jabs at Microsofts AI efforts. When you look at how Copilot has been delivered to customers, its disappointing, Benioff posted last month on X, citing Microsofts brand name for its AI assistants.

The shares, which were up about 1.5%, jumped another 2.5% on the news Friday to a record high of $322.81 in New York. The stock had gained 18% this year through Thursdays close.

(Updates with share price in the sixth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
US President Donald Trump has urged Russia to agree to a 30-day cease-fire, warning he would slap additional sanctions on the country if it refused the US proposal, as Moscow made more gains on the battlefield.



"Russia has no way out but cease-fire. If needed we will sanction it, but I hope we won't need to," Trump told reporters at the White House on March 12.



"In a financial sense we can do very unpleasant, very bad things, devastating for Russia, but I don't want to," he said.



His comments come a day after Kyiv agreed to the temporary cease-fire following nine hours of talks with Trump administration officials in Saudi Arabia.



Trump 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.



He has 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.



But Trump lacks that type 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 the US over a cease-fire to improve Russia's position on the battlefield and hence at the negotiating table when and if Moscow and Kyiv hammer out a peace deal.

As Trump spoke at the White House, Putin was visiting 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 seen as an effort to divert Russian forces from eastern Ukraine and use the territory as a bargaining chip during any peace talks.

That strategy is now at risk of failing as Russian forces slowly push the Ukrainians out of Kursk. Russians forces have retaken more than half the territory initially captured by Ukraine.

Putin's visit to Kursk was his first since the incursion and signals the momentum Russia has in that theater of the war. The Kremlin leader urged his troops to retake the region in its entirety "as soon as possible."

Ukraine's top military commander, General Oleksandr Syrskiy, said that fighting continued in and around Sudzha, the largest town in the part of the region that Ukraine occupied.

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.

"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 "maneuver to more favorable positions, if necessary," wording often used top describe a retreat.

Concessions?

Trump 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."

Earlier in the day, 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."

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."

Moscow has so far declined to comment on the specifics of the proposal for the 30-day cease-fire, and it's unclear whether Putin has made up his mind on the agreement.

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. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who represented the United States at the talks, said Washington "will have contact with Russians" today.

Trump on March 11 said he would soon speak with Putin to secure his commitment. Mike Waltz, the White House national-security adviser, spoke with his Russian counterpart on March 12, while Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff also planned to travel to Moscow, possibly to meet Putin.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe held a phone call with Sergei Naryshkin, director of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, late on March 11, the Interfax news agency reported.

Rubio told reporters on March 12 in first comments since leaving the talks in Jeddah that the United States hoped to have a positive answer from Russia toward the cease-fire deal and "strongly urge[s] Russians to end all hostilities.

Konstantin Kosachev, an influential lawmaker in Russia's upper house of parliament, seemed to imply that Moscow would not simply accept the US-backed ceasefire proposal but attach conditions, taking into account that Russian forces have the momentum on the battlefield.

"Russia is advancing, and therefore it will be different with Russia," Kosachyov said in a Telegram post.

"Any agreements (with all understanding of the need for compromise) will be on our terms, not American," he said. "And this is not boasting, but an understanding that real agreements are still being written there, on the front line. Which Washington should also understand."

Rubio also said Ukraine will need a strong deterrent to prevent future attacks and that Europeans will "need to be involved in this regard." He added that further discussions would need to tackle to topic of the European Union lifting sanctions on the Russian economy.

"I would imagine that in any negotiation, if we get there, hopefully with the Russians, they will raise these European sanctions that have been imposed upon them," Rubio said.

Moscow has so far been against a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated Russia's position during an interview with three right-wing US bloggers that it will under no conditions accept the presence of NATO forces in Ukraine.

Minerals Deal

Washington and Kyiv could sign a framework agreement as early as this week on sharing the revenue generated from Ukraine's mineral resources.

Trump and Zelenskyy intended to sign the deal during their meeting at the Oval Office on February 28. However, the two got into a heated, public exchange over security guarantees for Ukraine and the meeting was abruptly ended without any deal.

Rubio cautioned that he "would not couch [the] minerals deal as a security guarantee." But he added that "if the United States has a vested economic interest thats generating revenue for our people as well as for the people of Ukraine, wed have a vested interest in protecting it if it were to be challenged or threatened."

The parade of comments come after Russia and Ukraine traded air attacks overnight just hours after Kyiv agreed to accept the cease-fire proposal.

Two Russian missile strikes hit the central Ukrainian city of Kryviy Rih on March 12, killing one person, while a separate attack killed four crew members of a cargo ship near the southern port city of Odesa.

Russia's Defense Ministry said its air-defense systems shot down six drones overnight on March 12, one over Ukraine's Russia-annexed Crimea and five over the Black Sea. The Krymsky Veter Telegram channel reported loud explosions and air-raid sirens over Crimean towns and near Russian military sites.

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. Ukraine's battlefield positions have been under heavy pressure, particularly in Russia's Kursk region.
SKOPJE  A bottleneck in health-care services is causing dangerous delays in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in North Macedonia, forcing patients to wait months for potentially life-saving scans or obliging them to explore costly private options that are out of reach for many women.

The strain compounds the tragedy of rising breast-cancer death here and around the world, patients and physicians warn, and leaves newly stricken women especially vulnerable in a system that should be dedicated to leaving no patient behind.

Actress Vesna Petrusevska became the public face of the crisis in the former Yugoslav republic in October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, when she posted a photo of her mastectomy scar alongside glamorous images from her past to encourage women to get checkups.

We all like to see beautiful food and beautiful lives on social media, she told RFE/RLs Balkan Service. But this is life without a filter. The story is quite raw, and there isnt enough awareness about this issue among the public.

Petrusevska recognized that her treatment route -- she found one surgeon through an acquaintance and bypassed the public health system for a second operation -- was closed to many other women in this country of about 2 million people.

Bureaucracy at the counters kills, Petrusevska said, adding that she sympathizes deeply with women who cant afford private health care.

Breast cancer has been the leading cause of cancer deaths for 13 years in North Macedonia, where the cost of a mammogram and comprehensive exam at a private clinic eclipses the average monthly salary of around $730. Treatment escalates quickly from there. At Skopjes largest private hospital, a mastectomy costs between $1,700 and $4,000, depending on factors including the length of hospitalization. A PET scan costs around $2,700. Basic screenings cost around $100 each, but getting an appointment routinely takes months.

I could get a visa to America sooner than an appointment for a mammogram and ultrasound at a public hospital, one woman, who preferred to remain anonymous for privacy reasons, told RFE/RL. Yet a complete private exam costs more than my monthly salary.

Macedonian women died of breast cancer at the rate of nearly one per day in the past two years (see chart), with new cases rising rapidly. As with many cancers, early detection saves lives and reduces the cost of treatment.

A shortage of oncologists and radiologists amid a decades-long emigration crisis in the region further complicates problems. Dr. Igor Stojkovski is director of the Oncology Clinic in Skopje, which treats cancer patients from all over the country. Eight breast-cancer specialists, at most, at his clinic treat an astounding 4,700 patients a year.

Incidence increases with an aging population and changing lifestyles and habits, he said, and early detection is heavily reliant on a combination of self-exams, family doctors, and secondary health care.

By the time they arrive at the Oncology Clinic, he said, the patients are [frequently] in an advanced stage of the disease.

The Health Ministry introduced a digitized screening scheduler for early detection of breast cancer in 2015 focused on women between the ages of 40 and 69 but still does not provide information on waiting times. A year ago, authorities launched a new My Appointment system to simplify referrals, but referring physicians say they are then left in the dark, and its unclear if waiting times have been reduced.

Elizabeta Ristovska, a 42-year-old from Skopje, said she had taken out three loans in the past three years to cover diagnosis and treatment.

In the days when youre fighting to survive, there are no appointments available for CT scans or MRIs, and we wait months for a PET scan.

She waited four months for a bone scan.

Doctors say scheduling options remain complicated and lack transparency, denying potentially life-saving screenings for many women who couldnt land any of the 11,676 ultrasounds or 6,693 mammograms performed so far this year.

The situation exhausts us, said Dr. Iva Zdravevska-Pandelieva, a family care specialist in Ilinden, outside the capital. Ultrasound is a basic diagnostic method; if we dont have that, discussions on self-exams and education are futile. You see changes in the breast, but you cant help the patient.

Ana Marjanovic, a cancer survivor and patient advocate at Hema-Onco, said the screening reforms might be easier for existing patients but are still very complicated for everyone else. The greatest impact, she said, is on newly diagnosed patients: Health authorities say the screening program is simpler [now], but reality shows otherwise.

For many women, the cancer battle becomes a fight against the system itself.

Bozhanka Koseva Karakoleva, a 59-year-old retired accountant from Gevgelija in the countrys southeast, travels to Thessaloniki, Greece, for MRIs and CT scans at a private facility. Its not only closer, she told RFE/RL, but cheaper. She said she paid around $150 for an abdominal MRI, or about half what it would have cost back home.

When cancer cells appear in multiple places, you cant wait two or three months, she said.

The alarms raised by patient advocates mean little to patients stuck waiting for appointments, uncertain when -- or if -- theyll ever get them.

The fight against this illness should be real, said Ristovska, the Skopje woman slipping into debt to cover her treatment, not just a pink October filled with empty promises and fake smiles.

Written by Andy Heil based on reporting by RFE/RL Balkan Service correspondent Suncica Zoksimovska in Skopje
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
Benjamin Graham was very clear when he wrote this book what he meant by the word intelligent in the title. He says, "I don't mean somebody with a high IQ. I don't mean somebody with a PhD or a master's in economics or finance. I don't mean a professional financial analyst or a financial planner or a CPA. All I mean is that you should have good judgment and that it's much more like being wise than being smart."

Even though it's many years after his death, his words still have incredible power and beauty. And I hope this edition will help people appreciate not just the practicality of the advice, but how magnificently written it is.

And he was a brilliant writer. We bold-faced quite a bit of his original text in this new edition because I wanted to highlight the best passages in the book and how beautifully written they are  to help people learn from this master.

He wrote an article in the American Mathematical Society Journal when he was 23, about how people were teaching calculus all wrong. He wrote two books on international trade. He was fluent in ancient Greek and Latin. He could speak and read at least six different languages.

He was admitted to Columbia when he was 17. He worked a full-time job at night for much of the time that he was in college. He graduated in two-and-a-half years, second in his class. He was offered professorships in three different departments before graduation day. He held two US patents.

Jason Zweig: You can make a good case that Graham was one of the most brilliant people of the 20th century. His intelligence, had it ever been measured, would've been off the charts.

Kerry Hannon: For our readers who dont know much about Benjamin Graham, can you tell us a little about him?

The original text is untouched and features commentary on each chapter from Wall Street Journal writer Jason Zweig, who writes The Intelligent Investor column.

The revised edition has now landed. In the preface, Buffett weighs in: I read the first edition of this book early in 1950, when I was nineteen. I thought then that it was by far the best book about investing ever written. I still think it is.

One superstar devotee of Graham is Warren Buffett, who was one of his students at Columbia University. After graduation, Buffett worked for Graham's company, Graham-Newman Corporation, until Graham retired.

The classic written by Graham, the father of financial analysis and value investing, was first published in 1949.

When anyone asks me to recommend one book on investing, the answer is simple: Benjamin Grahams venerated The Intelligent Investor.

Story Continues

The way Graham put it was, "it's more a matter of the character than of the brain." He wanted to empower people and to communicate to them that they shouldn't be intimidated by the fact that so many of the public figures in investing have fancy degrees and initials after their names and often seem extraordinarily intelligent.

His point was that any person of regular, above-average intelligence should be able to do well as an investor if you follow the right principles. And that's what the book is really about.

Has the book found a new generation of investors? It was a whole different world 75 years ago?

It has because there's so much unintelligent investing that people crave the ideas that you need to have in order to be an intelligent investor. It's never been easier to be an investor, but it's never been harder to be an intelligent investor because there's so much propaganda coming from Wall Street. There's so much garbage on social media. There's so much pressure on your smartphone to trade, trade, trade and to follow the crowd. And it's easier than ever to make stupid mistakes. And if the book does its job, it'll help people avoid those errors.

How much did Buffett work with you on this edition of the book?

When I did the previous revised edition of the book in 2003, he did give me some tips on a couple of places to look and things to think about. This time he was pretty much hands-off. I think he feels that the book speaks for itself at this point.

I left the original tech text completely intact. All I did was annotate it with footnotes because some of these references are a little dated  not everybody who doesn't play Monopoly knows what the Reading Railroad was. But I also wrote for each of Graham's 20 chapters an accompanying commentary. So there's 20 chapter commentaries, and those are all new for 2024. And that's my contribution.

How does this classic advice fit into today's market realities?

Graham teaches us a handful of basic principles that are so important for success as an investor.

One is he teaches us that we should understand that a stock is a share of ownership in a business enterprise. It's not a blip on your cell phone screen. It's an organic thing. You own a piece of a company that is either making its customers thrilled to be part of the community, or turning them off. And it either will generate a growing stream of cash over time, or a shrinking stream of cash.

That's what you need to focus on to call yourself an investor in stocks. You need to understand that you're buying a piece of a business. You are not buying a spinning slot machine reel that masquerades as a stock price.

Graham writes about being an investor and a speculator. Can you elaborate?

A speculator is somebody who cares only about what the next person thinks this thing is worth. An investor is trying to understand what it's worth as a business rather than chasing the price of the stock.

Just because millions of strangers are also trading something, that doesn't mean you should. It doesn't mean they know what they're doing. It doesn't mean that even if they do know what they're doing, you should try it too.

And as a result, because we live in this networked, online, totally wired world, we have to be more on our guard against the bad influences of other people and technology than ever before. And that makes his principles even more powerful.

"The Intelligent Investor" returns for its third edition75 years after its original publication date. Wall Street Journal writer Jason Zweig, who writes The Intelligent Investor column, comments and highlights the key principles that stand the test of time. (Photo courtesy of Jason Zweig)  jason

Lets talk about the role technology plays for the individual investor today. Good or bad thing?

When it comes to investing, we get an institutional message from Wall Street that technology has leveled the playing field. The essence of that message is that you can beat the professionals at their own game. And this is the most dangerous possible message that individual investors should get.

You can beat the professionals, but not if you play their game. One of the most commonly understood statistics about the stock market is that 80% of professional fund managers underperform the market. So why would I even want to play that game?

Graham's message is that the basic advantage of the intelligent investor is you don't have to care what other people are doing. You don't have to care how they invest, or if somebody else is beating the market.

You don't have to care if somebody else is buying a stock at stupid prices. You don't have to do it, too. If someone else is selling in a panic, you don't have to sell in a panic. You can ignore what everybody else is doing.

And if you organize your financial life around the principle of independence, rather than following the crowd and Wall Street and the technology that it puts on our smartphones that is designed to distract us from that idea, thats how investors can seize control. Its not by trading more, but by trading less and investing more smartly.

Have a question about retirement? Personal finances? Anything career-related? Click here to drop Kerry Hannon a note.

Graham draws this great distinction between defensive and enterprising investors. Can you share?

The conventional way to put investors in buckets is to call them conservative, moderate, or aggressive based on the amount of risk you think you want to take  or some goofy quiz says that you are willing to take.

Graham says, forget all that. There are two kinds of investors  defensive and enterprising  and it has nothing to do with your tolerance for risk. A defensive investor is not necessarily somebody with a conservative portfolio. It's somebody who simply doesn't want to be bothered putting in the time and effort and energy it takes to be an active investor.

Your objective is to have a low-maintenance investing life. And Graham says, that's fine. There's nothing wrong with that. If you're a defensive investor, you could very defensively buy three to five index funds or ETFs, and hold them for the rest of your life and not really do anything else. That's the ultimate defensive investor.

An enterprising investor is somebody who enjoys spending part of the weekend analyzing data about stocks and funds and asset allocation and global markets. And if you are the kind of person who enjoys putting some of your spare time and a lot of your mental energy into analyzing investments, you're enterprising.

Kerry Hannon is a Senior Columnist at Yahoo Finance. She is a career and retirement strategist, and the author of 14 books, including "In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in The New World of Work" and "Never Too Old To Get Rich." Follow her on X @kerryhannon.

Click here for the latest personal finance news to help you with investing, paying off debt, buying a home, retirement, and more

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Tanaiste Micheal Martin has led tributes to noted historian Gabriel Doherty who passed away suddenly at his Cork City home on Friday.

Mr Doherty, aged 56, had strong Roscommon roots, with his late mother Lena Doherty (nee Kenny) hailing from Cloonmullen, Loughglynn.

He was well known in the West Roscommon area, and was a frequent visitor to his aunt Angela Doory and many cousins. His late father, Sean Doherty, hailed from Headford, Co. Galway.

The renowned historian was best known for his written works on Michael Collins, Terence McSwiney and the Irish Civil War.

The Tanaiste said he was deeply shocked to hear of Mr Dohertys death, having met him just last month at a commemoration to republican Dick Barrett, who was executed during the Irish Civil War.

First of all, I am shocked and very saddened to hear of Gabriels passing  he was an outstanding historian based in UCC where he did tremendous work on the War of Independence and Civil War, Mr Martin said.

President of UCC Prof John OHalloran also paid tribute to Birmingham-born Mr Doherty, who joined the School of History in UCC in the late 1990s where he taught courses in modern Irish history.

Gabriel was an outstanding historian who deepened our understanding of key moments in Irish history, said Prof OHalloran, adding that his loss will be deeply felt among the university community.

Prof O'Halloran extended his deepest sympathy to Mr Doherty's wife Gill, daughters Meabh and Una, and son Oscar, as well as his friends and colleagues.
Photographer Franz Xaver Koroschetz

Period photographs and their stories

Photographer Franz Xaver Koroschetz

Eugen Nasta, 09.11.2024, 14:00

Romanian towns had their photographers. One such photographer was Franz Xaver Koroschtz. He was the photographer of the town of Focsani, the county seat of Vrancea, a county lying on the Carpathians Curvature. An Austrian-Hungarian citizen, in 1895 Koroschetz settled in Romania, in Focsani. From 1899 to 1934, the year of his death, he took pictures of the town.

Documents about this photographer, unfortunately, are scarce, while the year and his place of birth are not mentioned in those documents. Koroschetz was the photographer of the local elite and of the middle class of Vrancea. The pictures were taken in his studio, located in the city centre of Focsani.

Journalist and collector Sorin Tudose was born in Focsani.

He is the author of an illustrated album dedicated to Franz Koroschetz, to commemorate 90 years since the death of the artist photographer.

As part of the public event occasioned by the launch of the album, Sorin Tudose made mention of a personal discovery.

I made a stunning discovery at the Romanian Academy, specifically, I discovered the most luxurious photographic product Franz Koroschetz ever made in his 35-year-long career. The story goes like this: in 1904, the royal family took a train trip on the Sinaia-Iasi route, with stopovers in the main railway stations along the route and where, of course, the event was immortalized.

With us, in Focsani, seven pictures were taken in the railway station. To the right-hand side as part of one of the photographs there is a bloke sitting with a hand of his knee. He was none other than the county prefect, Nicusor Saveanu, who, being a politician and being aware the royal family was soon to arrive, he commissioned an album to Franz Koroschetz, with pictures from Putna County, as todays Vrancea county was then known.

There were 14 pictures from the northern part of the county, and this album, once completed, was in the possession of this kid at the center of the picture, he is Radu Saveanu, the future mayor of Focsani and the son of Nicusor Saveanu. This man Radu Saveanu offered it as a gift to none other than Carol, later King Carol II. There was only one single mention of the album in the press of that time and, from 1904 to 2024, no one knew absolutely anything about it.

It came into possession of the royal family, Carol, Ferdinand leafed through it, as well as the entire royal elite, it was in the possession of the royal family and subsequently it was appropriated by the Academy Library. Until 2024, nobody was aware of its existence, until I discovered it. 

They say a photograph speaks through itself. Yet Sorin Tudoses work and passion turned the stories behind some of the photographs into complete stories, when they appear in other sources as well:

Track: Here we have two photographs, its about what the research behind the photographs meant. Neither of the two photographs had something written on them.

It is about two pictures taken by Koroschetz, belonging to the Rainu-Negut family and, in the album, I would have liked the pictures to have Photo Koroschetz as a caption in the album. My conclusion was that the pictures were taken around 1910. Yet, being passionate about it, I read a lot in the press of that time and at one point, absolutely accidentally, I came across an article.

It was written in there that in the house of Negut Family 25 years of their wedding had been celebrated, the silver wedding. And there, I discovered, in the atmosphere of the event, who the personalities were, who participated in the event, but also the fact that the mayor called in at their place and renewed their vows.

I took a closer look at the article and I discovered it was written in 1908. And thats how I succeeded to realize what the context was, when the two pictures were taken. Also, I succeeded to identify all the faces. Which, apart from the intrinsic values of the photographs, the fact that they come with their stories, that brings added value: it tells us who these people are, on what occasion they met, which somehow humanizes, to a greater extent, these otherwise special photographs. 

Unfortunately, Koroschetzs Focsani disappeared today almost completely, it only exists in Sorin Tudoses book. Here he is once again, telling us the story of its disappearance:

Beginning with the 1970s, demolition never ceased to be perpetrated. This, for example, is a church in Focsani, the towns only church the communists brought down. What you can see in this picture is the princely church, but nothing exists any more. The picture was taken by Koroschetz in 1930 or thereabouts. Comrades didnt like it, so they demolished it. They didnt like this very special building either, known as the Economia Bank, they brought that down too.

I somehow wanted to symbolize, through a drawing, what happened in my native town, Focsani. So I contacted a friend, a woman architect, telling her to symbolize what happened to our town, how it was demolished. And she asked me how I could imagine that, graphically? I gave her two major buildings in Focsani, the Economia Bank and the Princely Church. And I asked her to conceive how a couple of bulldozers were rolling, replacing their arms with a sickle and a hammer. 

The album authored by Sorin Tudose has more than 250 photographs authored by Franz Xaver Koroschetz. The photographs capture the town and its inhabitants, in their day-to-day life or at special events.
November 9, 2024 UPDATE

A roundup of local and world news

Newsflash

Newsroom, 09.11.2024, 20:00

FLOODS The Romanian foreign ministry announced that, according to information from the Spanish authorities, two other Romanian citizens initially reported missing following the floods in Valencia have been found dead. The ministry sends its condolences to the bereaved families. According to the ministry, following the devastating floods in Spain, four Romanian nationals have died and seven are still missing. The embassy of Romania in Madrid and the consular office in Castellon de la Plana continued to check public information regarding the death of several Romanian citizens in the recent floods in the region of Valencia, but so far no confirmations have been received from the Spanish authorities.

VISIT The Romanian PM Marcel Ciolacu will visit the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on November 12 and 13. He will have a meeting with his British counterpart, Keir Starmer, and will participate in the Romania-UK Economic Forum, the Romanian government announced. The government spokesperson Mihai Constantin explained that, ahead of the Prime Ministers visit to London, the Romanian government approved a memorandum that updates the Convention between the two countries in the field of taxation and prevention of tax evasion. According to Constantin, the new document takes into account the changes made in the Romanian legislation during the year 2023, as well as those related to Romanias goal of joining the OECD. The leader of the Social Democratic Party (in power in Romania as part of a coalition with the National Liberal Party), Ciolacu is running for the presidency of Romania this month, on behalf of his party.

UKRAINE The EU foreign policy coordinator, Josep Borrell, assured Ukraine of Europes unwavering support on Saturday in Kyiv. The European Union has already provided EUR 122 billion in military and financial support to Ukraine and has trained about 60,000 Ukrainian soldiers, Josep Borrell said, adding that the bloc aimed to reach 75,000 by the end of winter. Josep Borrell, whose term in office ends in December, announced that EU defence ministers will meet next week to discuss continued military and diplomatic support for Ukraine, and will call for increased support at this critical time. European leaders, convened in Budapest recently, called on US President-elect Donald Trump to maintain support for Ukraine, to avoid trade wars and preserve global order.

SCHENGEN A meeting attended by Austria, Romania and Bulgaria will be organised in Budapest, Hungary on November 22, when Vienna might give up its opposition to the full accession of the two countries to the Schengen Area, Austrian media announced. The accession decision could be announced on December 12, at the upcoming Justice and Internal Affairs Council. The Austrian minister of the interior, Gerhard Kartner, confirmed participation in the meeting with his Romanian and Bulgarian counterparts, and said discussions with both countries are ongoing. He reiterated that the essential condition for Romanias and Bulgarias full Schengen accession remains the effective protection of external borders and, if necessary, controls at internal borders. According to Austrian media, the change in attitude is due to the decrease in migration in the Balkans and in the number of asylum applications in Austria.

STRIKE The Romanian foreign ministry warns Romanian citizens who are in Italy or transiting or planning to travel to that country that on November 12 a 4-hour national strike will be organised by airport staff, between 1 PM and 5 PM. The strike will affect Romes Fiumicino International Airport, as well as the Pescara, Naples and Perugia airports. In this context, flight delays or cancellations are possible. Romanian citizens can request consular assistance at the telephone numbers of the Embassy of Romania in Italy, with calls being forwarded to the Contact and Support Center for Romanian Citizens Abroad (CCSCRS) and answered by Call Center operators around the clock.

TOURISTS Over 300 American and Canadian tourists arrive this weekend in Constanta Port at the Black Sea, on board two cruise ships, the National Maritime Port Agency announced on Saturday. The 2 vessels are Viking Kadlin, with 178 American and Canadian passengers on board, and the River Adagio, with another 144 American tourists. The tourist programme will include trips in the Danube Delta, wine tasting sessions in Murfatlar, walks in the old center of the city of Constanta and in Mamaia, the agency explained.

UKRAINE Drones launched by the Russian invasion army hit Odessa, the largest Ukrainian port city at the Black Sea, where they killed one person and wounded 13, including two children, the regional governor Oleh Kiper said on Saturday, according to international news agencies. Residential buildings, private homes, shops and dozens of cars were damaged. Russia launched 51 drones, focusing on Odessa and the surrounding region, the Ukrainian air forces announced, claiming to have shot down 32 enemy aircraft.

GAZA The Gaza Strip Civil Defence Saturday announced the death of 14 people, killed in 2 Israeli strikes, one on a school, the other in a camp of tents for displaced persons. A rocket fire on the Fahad al-Sabah school in Gaza City, turned into an emergency accommodation centre like most schools in the Strip, left 5 dead, including children, and 22 wounded. The other Israeli airstrike targeted tents for displaced people in Khan Younis and resulted in 9 dead and 11 wounded. The Israeli army fighting the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza Strip, said it had struck 50 terrorist targets in the last 24 hours in Gaza and Lebanon, where it says it plans to eliminate the Hezbollah Shia Islamists. Sources endorsed by the UN claim that more than 43,500 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war in Gaza on October 7, 2023. (AMP)
The identification of a new hominin group called Denisovans was one of the most exciting discoveries in human evolution in the last decade. Unlike Neanderthal remains, the Denisovan fossil record consists of only several skeletal fragments. According to new research, several Denisovan populations, who likely had an extensive geographical range, were adapted to distinct environments and passed on some of their genes via multiple, distinct interbreeding events that helped shape early human history.

Denisovans are an extinct hominin group initially identified from a genome sequence determined from a fragment of a finger bone found at Denisova Cave in the Altai Mountains in southern Siberia.

This was one of the most exciting discoveries in human evolution in the last decade, said Dr. Linda Ongaro, a researcher at Trinity College Dublin.

Subsequent analyses of the genome have shown that Denisovans diverged from Neanderthals 400,000 years ago and that at least two distinct Denisovan populations mixed with ancestors of present-day Asians.

The only physical remains of Denisovans discovered so far are a fragmentary finger bone, three teeth, and a skull fragment from Denisova Cave; and a jawbone and a rib bone from Baishiya Karst Cave at the northeast margin of the Tibetan Plateau.

Its a common misconception that humans evolved suddenly and neatly from one common ancestor, but the more we learn the more we realize interbreeding with different hominins occurred and helped to shape the people we are today, Dr. Ongaro said.

Unlike Neanderthal remains, the Denisovan fossil record consists of only that finger bone, a jawbone, teeth, and skull fragments.

But by leveraging the surviving Denisovan segments in modern human genomes scientists have uncovered evidence of at least three past events whereby genes from distinct Denisovan populations made their way into the genetic signatures of modern humans.

Each of these presents different levels of relatedness to the sequenced Altai Denisovan, indicating a complex relationship between these sister lineages.

In their new paper, Dr. Ongaro and her colleague, Professor Emilia Huerta-Sanchez of Trinity College Dublin and Brown University, outlined evidence suggesting that several Denisovan populations, who likely had an extensive geographical range from Siberia to Southeast Asia and from Oceania to South America, were adapted to distinct environments.

They further outlined a number of genes of Denisovan origin that gave modern day humans advantages in their different environments.

Among these is a genetic locus that confers a tolerance to hypoxia, or low oxygen conditions, which makes a lot of sense as it is seen in Tibetan populations; multiple genes that confer heightened immunity; and one that impacts lipid metabolism, providing heat when stimulated by cold, which confers an advantage to Inuit populations in the Arctic, Dr. Ongaro said.

There are numerous future directions for research that will help us tell a more complete story of how the Denisovans impacted modern day humans, including more detailed genetic analyses in understudied populations, which could reveal currently hidden traces of Denisovan ancestry.

Additionally, integrating more genetic data with archaeological information  if we can find more Denisovan fossils  would certainly fill in a few more gaps.

The paper was published in the journal Nature Genetics.

_____

L. Ongaro & E. Huerta-Sanchez. A history of multiple Denisovan introgression events in modern humans. Nat Genet, published November 5, 2024; doi: 10.1038/s41588-024-01960-y
The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has extended congratulations to Azerbaijan on the occasion of National Flag Day, celebrated on November 9, Azernews reports.

The ministry conveyed its message on its official X page, stating, "Congratulations to fraternal Azerbaijan on National Flag Day!"

National Flag Day in Azerbaijan was established following a decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev on November 17, 2009, and is observed annually to honor the countrys flag as a symbol of national pride and independence.
South Dakota Wing, Civil Air Patrol (CAP), has completed a major drone photography data collection project for researchers at the South Dakota Mines Center for Sustainable Solutions funded by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

The CAP team collected and processed over 786,000 multispectral images covering 8,125 acres (13 square miles) along Middle Creek, a tributary of the Belle Fourche River. The Centers scientists are assessing the imagery to help study the influence of past bentonite mining, which has significantly reduced vegetation, and to understand the best potential approaches for restoring the landscape.

CAPs drone capabilities are better than what we have readily available for research, said Lisa Kunza, Ph.D., director of South Dakota Mines Center for Sustainable Solutions. The multispectral imagery is crucial to our understanding of the study area. The CAP personnel were knowledgeable and professional helping aid in the project completion, prompt, and fun to work with.

To capture data, South Dakota Wing deployed a WingtraOne Gen II fixed-wing drone equipped with a multispectral camera. This Swiss-made UAS took off vertically and mapped pre-set routes, requiring 100 flights over 64.5 hours across 20 days in a 4-month period. Two or more CAP crew members assisted daily, with six UAS pilots, including one from Wisconsin, completing the project despite frequent delays due to wind, rain, and clouds.

The other strength of working with CAP is the shared opportunity for education and outreach in the Black Hills, said Patrick Kozak, research scientist for the Center for Sustainable Solutions. Kozak oversees the bentonite reclamation project including the drone data collection The Center for Sustainable Solutions gets to show the positive work that CAP brings to the stakeholders on the science of our current projects. In addition, it allows for joint outreach between CAP and the Center for Sustainable Solutions, demonstrating the benefits of CAP and STEM to K-12 education regionally and nationally.

CAP is the civilian auxiliary of the Air Force. In addition to directly supporting non-combatant Air Force missions, CAP has responsibilities that are part of the USAFs support to civil authorities. The Mines project was conducted in accordance with CAPs Memorandum of Understanding with the State of South Dakota. The research is funded under the U.S. Bureau of Land Management grant.

South Dakota Wing has always been in the forefront of the small uncrewed aerial system program in Civil Air Patrol, said Col. Mike Beason, CAPs project officer for the Mines mission and a UAS instructor at CAPs National Emergency Services Academy (NESA). We usually think of our drone program as supporting damage assessment or search and rescue missions, but we are pleased to demonstrate the flexibility of our technology in this environmental research.

CAP and the universitys Center for Sustainable Solutions plan another round of drone-based multispectral photo data collection in 2025 to continue documenting the Middle Creek area over time, Beason said.
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Andhra Pradesh will soon usher in WhatsApp governance with the government working to roll out at least 100 services through the free messaging and calling app.

Chairing a meeting here, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu asked officials to work on providing all kinds of services to citizens through WhatsApp.

Minister for Information Technology and Real Time Governance (RTG), Nara Lokesh, informed the Chief Minister that efforts are already on to bring at least 100 different services to the people through WhatsApp. Steps are also on to see to it that in another 90 days, the students get their academic qualification certificates through a QR code.

The officials brought to the notice of the Chief Minister that though there are guidelines that there is no need to submit physical certificates with digital signatures, a majority of the officers are not aware of this norm and thus they are demanding the students to submit physical certificates. The Chief Minister immediately told the officers to take steps to bring awareness on this among the students and officers. C

When the officials informed Naidu that data with regard to 40 lakh people in the state is still not available with them, he directed them to immediately collect the data and take steps to get it interlinked.

The Chief Minister also directed the officials to interlink all the houses in the state through Global Positioning System (GPS).

CM Naidu said that he is of the opinion that by intelinking the whole data, there will be transparency in the administration, thus there will be no room for corruption. Hence the officers should accelerate the process of data integration and complete it at the earliest possible.

The Chief Minister also directed the officials to see to it that every individual in the state gets Aadhaar and ensure that even the newly-born child should get the Aadhaar. The officers told the Chief Minister that the state government has 40 various departments and 500 TB data is available from 178 data fields in 128 various wings of the government.

Real Time Governance should be the main data resource for the state government, he told the officials that the data of all the departments should be brought onto a common platform to interlink and through this data, all the schemes and other programmes being implemented by the state government should be analysed. Stressing thatshould be the main data resource for the state government, he told the officials that the data of all the departments should be brought onto a common platform to interlink and through this data, all the schemes and other programmes being implemented by the state government should be analysed.

RTG should work as a support tool to help the ruling dispensation at all times, the Chief Minister said.

The citizens still have to make several rounds to the officers and to the government offices to get certificates like birth, death, residential, revenue, and academic qualification certificates, he said and stressed the need to mend this system.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Elvis Tzintzun, the 35-year-old victim of a broad daylight stabbing in Port Richmond, has succumbed to his injuries, according to a spokesman for the NYPD.

At around 12:35 p.m., Tzintzun was found on Maple Avenue between Grove Avenue and Richmond Terrace with multiple stab wounds, according to a statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

Police are still searching for the unknown individual responsible for the fatal attack. It is relayed by the NYPD that Tzintzun and the unknown individual engaged in a dispute before the latter used an unknown object to stab the victim multiple times. The individual subsequently fled from the scene.

At the time, EMS responded and removed Tzintzun to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton, where he was initially listed in critical condition.

The NYPD has since released a photo of the individual who is sought for questioning in the case; the image captured in the vicinity of Maple Avenue and Richmond Terrace.

The NYPD is asking for the public's help to identify this individual sought for questioning in connection a stabbing of a 35-year-old man on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 12:35 p.m. on Maple Avenue between Grove Avenue and Richmond Terrace. (Courtesy of NYPD)Courtesy of NYPD

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on X @NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential.

Remembering Elvis Tzintzun

In the wake of this heinous act, a 4-year-old boy and a wife are left without a father and husband.

Tzintzun was born in Mexico and came to the U.S. when he was just a year old, according to Tzintzuns wife, Melissa Solis. He spent five years as a child in California before he moved to New York with his father and brother.

Solis said Tzintzun was practically raised by his brother, the younger Tzintzun spending days with staff at New Dorp High School while his elder brother attended classes.

Elvis himself was a student at PS 19 and I.S. 51, both on Staten Island.

In 2008, Solis says Tzintzun was arrested and deported to Mexico. He would spend a number of years living south of the border before returning to the states in 2019.

A lot of people know him, Solis said. A lot of people love him. The amount of people that reached out to me, all his friends; I believe its so beautiful. He touched a lot of peoples hearts.

As Tzintzun lacked a mother in his life, older women in the community filled that role, and so Tzintzun would take to calling them Mom.

Tzintzun worked a number of jobs in his life, which took him from bakeries to construction sites, Solis said.

While he never settled on one distinct career, Tzintzun is remembered for being a talented artist who possessed an innate talent for drawing and a passion for rapping.

He was very, very lovable, said Solis. He never failed to tell me how beautiful I was and how much he loved me. He was the sweetest guy. He was super sweet to everyone and anyone. He respected women; He never liked anyone disrespecting any woman, because he would stand up.

In the wake of Tzintzuns death, Solis has put together a GoFundMe campaign in the hopes of gathering support to cover funeral and memorial expenses.

Any contribution, no matter how small, would be greatly appreciated and would provide much-needed relief to our family during this emotional time, the GoFundMe reads in part. Thank you for your love, support, and kindness.

To contribute to the GoFundMe, visit GoFundMe.com and search In Memory of Elvis: Funeral Support Needed. Otherwise, click here.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The target of an Iranian murder-for-hire plot has spoken out on the matter and confirmed her identity as the intended victim.

Masih Alinejad, an Iranian-American journalist and outspoken critic of the Iranian regime, posted on X on Friday afternoon, shedding light on the subject.
STATEN ISLAND N.Y. -- Principal Michele Ramos of the P.S 16 elementary school greeted students with enthusiasm, asking, Look at you. Are we all excited for your new coat?

The school gymnasium was filled with tables containing distinct colored coats of all different sizes. FedEx Cares is a a non-profit organization that works to connect communities through charity events. Since 2008 FedEx Cares has delivered over 1.4 million coats to kids in every community.

We have given out backpacks to students and socks to the homeless-- last year we gave out shoes to schools, and this year is coats, stated volunteer and operations manager for FedEx express Jakeeba Morrison.

Operation Warm, a company that provides coats and shoes, partnered with FedEx Cares to ensure that every coat given out to the students is brand new out of the packaging. The company acknowledges every kid and provides both girls and boys coat sizes ranging from 2T to adult XXL. Every coat comes with a name label for each kid to write their name in. This makes sure the coat is personalized to every kid.

Operation warm determines the locations and national events that FedEx Cares hosts. They work with community leaders to guarantee the coats are going to areas where the children are need of them the most.

- Tables contain unique sizes and colored coats for each student. Kass GarcedKass Garced

I am from Staten Island and this is a major place to be able to donate back to. I love anything having to do with community and teamwork, said Morrison.

Currently, there was an event in Chicago and there will be one in Florida next week--every market will host an event to make sure many kids feel included.

Every class in the school lined up to hand pick their coat to their liking. Each volunteer helped the kids preform a wear test, keeping the coat drive interactive and engaging for the students. The volunteers would have them wave their arms up and down to make sure the jacket was the perfect fit.

FedEx event lead Christopher Avitabile expressed, Every child at the schools receive a coat and if we run out of their size they get a promise bracelet-- this is our promise to them to then send them a coat in their size. At the end of the event, whatever coats that are left we then donate to the school.

- Principle of P.S 16 Elementary School Michele Ramos stands with children after picking out their coats. Kass GarcedKass Garced

Once the student had picked out their perfect coat, volunteers would then guide them to a table to have their name written in their brand new coat. Amidst the smiles, there were posters where the students could write their name if it was their first coat they got to own.

One of the biggest things, is how can we give back and make the community better-- this is how we do it. expressed Avitabile.
Gracie McGraw, the daughter of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, lashed out at Donald Trump supporters after he won the 2024 presidential election.

The oldest daughter of the country music power couple took to social media for an expletive-laden rant directed at Trump supporters.

The 27-year-old said on her Instagram story that she was experiencing overwhelming feelings of disappointment, true deep anger and anxiety, despair, and sadness.

She wrote, f--- anyone who allowed this to happen. Yall voted for a person with an abhorrent rhetoric and disposition.

The disregard some of yall have for your friends and your families is absolutely disgusting.

Democracy is dead. Just gutted. Truly, gutted.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Staten Islands own Wu-Tang Clan was honored earlier this week by the city Department of Transportation (DOT), which sold limited edition Wu-Tang Clan District street signs.

Fifty green and 50 black and yellow signs were made available for purchase Thursday for $75 each, with proceeds benefiting the citys general fund. The authentic New York City street signs, which were hand-made at the DOT Sign Shop, sold out almost immediately.

The Wu-Tang Clans rhyme schemes and lyrical styles were influential in hip-hop history and gave voice to their New York City roots, said DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. The Wu-Tang Clan is a legendary part of Staten Islands North Shore and now fans can own an authentic piece of our city to honor their legacy.
Former Saturday Night Live star Pete Davidsons arms are not what they used to be, per a report.

The Staten Island son has started the process of removing his tattoos, and fans got a sneak peek on Oct. 23 when the comedian stepped out for the preview of The Room at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

For the soft launch of his tattoo-free arms, the Meet Cute star donned a red FDNY shirt, an homage to his late father, Scott Davidson, a Staten Island FDNY firefighter who died in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

More recently, the Guardians of the Galaxy star made a cameo appearance on SNL on Nov. 2, alongside guest host  and Davidsons good friend  John Mulaney. Fans will recall that Davidson and Mulaney performed at the historic St. George Theatre in April 2019, to a packed house. For that event, tickets sold out so quickly that an additional show had to be added later that night.

Back to the arms. The King of Staten Island star bared his mostly bare arms in a surprise SNL skit, to the delight of fans, a stark contrast to his former look, which was covered in large and small tattoos. By the way, all that ink never deterred him from attracting famous love interests in the past, with the Bodies, Bodies, Bodies star dating well-known women like Cazzie David, Ariana Grande, and Kim Kardashian.

Davidson, who grew up in Great Kills and attended St. Joseph and Tottenville High School before transferring to a Brooklyn school, landed a coveted spot on Saturday Night Live at just 20 years old, making him one of the youngest cast members in its history.

In 2022, Davidson famously bought a Staten Island Ferry boat with pal Colin Jost  another borough native  the SNL head writer 2024 host of the White House Correspondents Dinner. They purchased the iconic orange boat for $280,100 through an online public auction. The vessel was the venue for the Sept 8 Tommy Hilfiger fashion show, for New York Fashion Week.
When We Were Young, an annual music festival held at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds in Winchester, Nevada, on Oct. 18, 2025, has announced its 2025 lineup of more than 50 pop-punk, emo and alternative rock artists.

This years festival will be headlined by Panic! At The Disco, who are coming out of retirement for a one-off performance of their iconic debut album A Fever You Cant Sweat Out.

Joining them on the festival bill are Blink-182, Weezer, Avril Lavigne, The Offspring, The Used, All Time Low and many more acts that defined the early 2000s rock scene.

Where to buy When We Were Young tickets

Although the festival is completely sold out, general admission tickets and VIP packages can be purchased on secondary market platforms such as Vivid Seats and SeatGeek, which offer verified tickets with buyer guarantees.

At the time of publication, general admission prices start at $427 on Vivid Seats.

Fans can also sign up for the waitlist to add a day two on the When We Were Young website.

What is When We Were Youngs 2025 lineup?

One of the most exciting aspects of the 2025 When We Were Young festival is the reunion of Panic! At The Disco  the Las Vegas-based band that officially disbanded in early 2023.

After a successful run with seven studio albums, the groups frontman, Brendon Urie, announced that Panic! would no longer be performing. However, for this special festival appearance, Urie will take the stage to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their breakthrough album A Fever You Cant Sweat Out.

Fans can expect the band to perform the album in its entirety, including hits like I Write Sins Not Tragedies and The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage, alongside other fan favorites.

Headlining alongside Panic! At The Disco will be pop-punk legends Blink-182. The band, who were also featured in 2023s festival, will bring their high-energy performance to Las Vegas with tracks from classic albums like Enema of the State and Take Off Your Pants and Jacket.

Other notable performers include Weezer, Avril Lavigne, The Offspring, Yellowcard, Bad Religion, Knocked Loose, Taking Back Sunday, Jacks Mannequin, The Gaslight Anthem, The Story So Far, Motionless in White, Ice Nine Kills and Plain White Ts.
Kent Thiry of Unite America spoke in favor of passing Proposition 131 during the Oct. 24 debate at the University of Denver.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  While there are no active brush fires on Staten Island as of Saturday afternoon, residents may smell smo,e due to active wildlifes being combatted in the New York-New Jersey area.

NBC New York reports that at least five active wildfires were being battled in New Jersey as of Saturday morning.

As a result of these blazes, fire officials told NBC New York that New Jersey residents can expect smoke to linger in the air for at least several days.

Smoke traveling in the area has prompted the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to issue an Air Quality Health Advisory for New York City until Sunday, according to Notify NYC.

The @NYSDEC has placed New York City, Rockland, and Westchester in an Air Quality Alert until 11 pm tonight. This is due to particulate matter as a result of wildfires in N NJ. The AQI is unhealthy for sensitive groups. For more, head to https://t.co/AXsHYkkiqM pic.twitter.com/38uOfk8tfQ  NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) November 9, 2024

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is forecast to reach Level Orange (AQI between 101-150). This AQI is deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups and those individuals are urged to reduce strenuous outdoor activities.

As reported by AirNow.gov, the 10306 zip code hit Level Red with an AQI of 168 around 2:30 p.m. In this level, sensitive groups are urged to keep outdoor activities short. Meanwhile, all others are encouraged to choose less strenuous activities when outdoors.

Gov. Hochul on wildfires in New York

In New York, wildfires continue to burn in Ulster, Sullivan and Orange counties, prompting Gov. Kathy Hochul to deploy a multi-agency response to combat the threats.

With recent drought conditions, there have been multiple wildfires ignited across the state, and we have deployed state assets and agencies to coordinate with local first responders in fighting these fires while closely monitoring air quality as a result of them, Hochul said. The safety of all New Yorkers is my top priority, and I urge everyone in impacted areas, especially those vulnerable, to stay alert, monitor air quality, and take necessary precautions to stay safe.

Weve deployed assets to fight multiple wildfires and are closely monitoring air quality as drought conditions impact the state.



Everyone in impacted areas should stay alert, monitor air quality, and take necessary precautions to stay safe.



More: https://t.co/G3RAzSGOc8  Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) November 9, 2024

The Whitehouse Fire in Ulster and Sullivan counties is impacting approximately 300 to 400 acres and is expected to increase, Hochul said. In battling the blaze, the Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers are coordinating the response, which includes about 13 fire departments from Ulster and Sullivan counties contributing 70 personnel.

Meanwhile, the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Conservation is working to put out two fires in Sterling Forest State Park in Orange County.

Handling one fire are three Park Forest Rangers and 24 park operations personnel, who are tackling an estimated 300-acre fire that began near the intersection of the Lake to Lake Trail and the West Valley Trail and spread into New Jersey.

Another team of a single Park Forest Ranger and five park operations personnel are in the process of taking on a second fire estimated at nine acres located near West Mombasha Road and the Appalachian Trail, according to Hochul.

An approximately 100-acre fire at the border of Sullivan/Ulster county is being handled by DEC Forest Rangers who are coordinating the response with Park Forest Rangers.

Drought conditions

These wildfire conditions are amplified by increased winds and lower humidity levels on Saturday. However, driving these risks is the persistent dry conditions in the area.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the entirety of Downstate New York, including the city, is in the midst of a moderate drought. These conditions have spurred officials to issue a citywide drought watch and urge residents to conserve water.

This watch comes on the heels of the driest month in recorded New York City history. The city went 29 days without seeing any measurable rainfall, nearly the entire month of October. And even when some precipitation did come down, it was merely 0.01 of an inch of rain.

Fortunately, the latest forecast from Dave Dombek, a senior meteorologist with AccuWeather, reveals that we might finally see some much needed relief this weekend. On Sunday night, the five boroughs could receive a couple tenths of an inch to a third of an inch or so, Dombek said.

Will we see widespread measurable rain Sunday night into early Monday ?

Yes, the chances for rain are quite high and everyone should see anywhere from around one quarter to one half inch. pic.twitter.com/bsLGz3I8ml  NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) November 9, 2024

Best case scenario, you know, we could conceivably get a third or a half an inch of rain, which in the grand scheme of things thats not a big rainstorm, its not any big deal, added Dombek. But any amount of rain more than like a trace or a hundredth is a big deal.

The city could also see additional rainfall on Thursday, as noted by Dombek. However, it remains to be seen whether this return of rain signals a shift in the consistently dry weather pattern.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Two of Staten Islands three Community Boards will hold public meetings this week.

Below is a listing of the meetings, which are all open to the public.

Community Board 1

Eric Waldhelm, deputy director of the 120th Precinct, will introduce himself to board members during a full board meeting of Community Board 1 on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 6:30 p.m.

It will be held in St. Marys Episcopal Church, 347 Davis Ave., West Brighton.

Community Board 2

Community Board 2 has no meetings scheduled this week.

Community Board 3

Community Board 3 will host three committee meetings this week, all in the board office, 1243 Woodrow Rd., Woodrow, on the second floor.

On Tuesday, Nov. 12, the Parks and Recreation and Environmental committees will meet jointly at 7 p.m. There is no set agenda for the meeting.

On Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m., a Land Use Committee meeting will be held at 7 p.m. During the meeting, a renewal of a previously approved special permit and authorizations concerning 2835 and 2845 Veterans Rd. West will be considered. The permits are located within the Special South Richmond Development District.

And on Thursday, Nov 14, at 7 p.m., the Community Alliance Committee will hold a public hearing.

At the Community Alliance Committee meeting, a New York State Liquor Authority application will be considered for a retail permit at Tutto Apposoto, 31 Page Ave., Tottenville.

Open to the public

All Community Board meetings and meetings of their committees are open to the public. They provide an excellent opportunity for residents to learn about happenings in their neighborhood and surrounding areas. Below is more information about the Islands three Community Boards:

COMMUNITY BOARD 1

Arlington  Castleton Corners  Clifton  Concord  Elm Park  Fort Wadsworth  Graniteville  Grymes Hill  Livingston  Mariners Harbor  New Brighton  Port Richmond  Randall Manor  Rosebank  St. George  Shore Acres  Silver Lake  Stapleton  Sunnyside  Tompkinsville  West Brighton  Westerleigh.

The board chairman is Nicholas Siclari. The district manager is Joan Cusack. The telephone number is 718-981-6900.

COMMUNITY BOARD 2

Arrochar  Bloomfield  Bulls Head  Chelsea  Dongan Hills  Egbertville  Emerson Hill  Grant City  Grasmere  High Rock  Lighthouse Hill  Midland Beach  New Dorp  New Springville  Oakwood  Ocean Breeze  Old Town  Richmond  South Beach  Todt Hill  Travis.The phone number is 718-568-3581. The fax number is 718-568-3595. The chairman is Fred Guinta. The district manager is Debra A. Derrico.

COMMUNITY BOARD 3

Annadale  Arden Heights  Bay Terrace  Charleston  Eltingville  Great Kills  Greenridge  Huguenot  New Dorp  Oakwood  Pleasant Plains  Princes Bay  Richmond Valley  Richmond  Rossville  Tottenville  Woodrow.The office phone number is 718-356-7900. The board chairman is Frank Morano; the district manager is Charlene Wagner.
Every fall in the village of Manlius, N.Y., the distant pop of firearms can be heard amid the din of leaf blowers as hunters sight in their rifles and shotguns prior to big game season.

If not for this annual ritual, village residents would likely never know that theres a 70-acre outdoor shooting range sitting smack in the middle of their tidy suburban neighborhoods.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced that flags on state buildings will be flown at half-staff on Saturday, Nov. 9, in honor of New York State Thruway Authority employee Stephen C. Ebling.

A Thruway maintenance supervisor in the Silver Creek Maintenance Section, Ebling was fatally injured on Interstate 90 in the Town of Hanover on Monday, Nov. 4.

Ebling, 58, of Eden in Erie County, was stopped on the left shoulder of the highway near mile marker 455 with a Thruway Authority vehicle, according to the Democrat & Chronicle. State Police said Ebling was standing in front of his vehicle when a car driven by a 20-year-old Ohio man crossed over the hazard markings on the highway toward the Thruway vehicle, according to the report.

To avoid the potential collision, Ebling ran into the passing lane of the I-90 and was struck by the [involved car] after it corrected back into the left lane, Trooper James OCallaghan said in a news release.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Ebling family as they mourn the sudden and senseless loss of their husband and father, Hochul said in a statement. Highway workers deserve our full attention on the road  their lives depend on it. Motorists must remain alert, slow down, and move over when approaching stopped vehicles on the side of the highway.

Ebling was a 15-year employee of the New York State Thruway Authority.

Ebling, who went by Steve, was a hardworking and dedicated person who was always willing to help, Thruway Authority Executive Director Frank Hoare said.

He was survived by his wife, Belinde, the couples two sons, Brett and Joel, and many loved ones.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New Yorkers currently have 10 chances to become a millionaire, but it takes a $5 bet.

The New York Lottery has various $5 scratch-off games with top-prizes ranging from $250,000 to $1 million.

As of Friday, there were 10 tickets across eight different $5 scratch-off games with guaranteed top prizes of $1 million.

Here are the $5 scratch-off games with top-prize tickets of $1 million still in circulation as of Friday, Nov. 8, according to New York Lottery data:

MULTIPLIER MONEY

Top prizes remaining: 1

Odds of winning top prize: 1 in 3,082,100

HIT IT BIG

Top prizes remaining: 2

Odds of winning top prize: 1 in 3,804,233.33

$1M GOLDEN FORTUNE

Top prizes remaining: 2

Odds of winning top prize: 1 in 2,590,025

$1M GRANDE

Top prizes remaining: 1

Odds of winning top prize: 1 in 3,705,900

$1M LUCKY DOG

Top prizes remaining: 1

Odds of winning top prize: 1 in 2,591,250

PINK PANTHER DIAMOND SEVENS

Top prizes remaining: 1

Odds of winning top prize: 1 in 2,021,700

PLATINUM POWER

Top prizes remaining: 1

Odds of winning top prize: 1 in 2,969,166.67

XTREME WINNINGS

Top prizes remaining: 1

Odds of winning top prize: 1 in 4,536,400

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about the New York Lotterys scratch-off games, visit the New York Lottery website.

The New York Lottery continues to be touted as North Americas largest and most profitable lottery, contributing $3.8 billion in Lottery Aid to Education for fiscal year 2023-2024 to help support education in New York state.

New York Lottery revenue is distributed to local school districts by the same statutory formula used to distribute other state aid to education. It takes into account both a school districts size and its income level; larger, lower-income school districts receive proportionately larger shares of lottery school funding.

New Yorkers struggling with a gambling addiction, or who know someone who is, can find help by calling the states toll-free, confidential HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (467369). You can also contact your regional Problem Gambling Resource Center directly for a referral to treatment services (state-certified or private) in your area, or contact a Recovery Center for a referral to treatment services (state-certified or private) in your area.
Staten Island is the last bastion of common sense in a sea of ideological delusion, yet your editorial board has chosen to align itself with that very delusion. By endorsing Kamala Harris, youve not only betrayed the values of this community, but youve also confirmed what so many Staten Islanders already suspect: The Advance is no longer a voice for the people, but an echo chamber for the establishment.

Your endorsement is an insult, not just to Staten Islanders, but to journalism itself. The role of a newspaper is to challenge power and expose the truth, not to parrot the preferred narratives of political elites who view communities like ours as expendable. Youve chosen to abandon your responsibility to this borough in favor of catering to a political machine that has consistently ignored and undermined its people.

The disconnect between your editorial board and the Staten Island voters couldnt be clearer. The reddest borough in New York City delivered Trump his largest margin of victory here to date. Your readers rejected the policies, priorities, and politicians youve chosen to endorse  but instead of listening, youve doubled down on your contempt for their values. Its no wonder trust in the media is at an all-time low. Youve become exactly what the people fear: an arm of the establishment that mocks their concerns while claiming to represent them.
New York City public and Catholic school students will be able to enjoy a three-day weekend, as they have the day off on Monday due to a holiday.

According to the Department of Education (DOE) academic calendar and the Archdiocese of New Yorks elementary school calendar, schools are closed on Monday, Nov. 11, to observe Veterans Day.

The holiday is a day originally set aside to remember the end of World War I, but now is a time when our nation stops to honor all U.S. military veterans. Parades are held around the country  including in New York City  to honor all who served in all branches of the U.S. military.

The DOEs 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. Public school students had a four-day week for the last two weeks and next week.

After Veterans Day, the next time off for students is when schools are closed Nov. 28-29 for Thanksgiving recess.

In addition, the city recently announced another day off this year, as Monday, Dec. 23, has been added as an extra day of winter recess for public schools in New York City.

The additional day off during the recess will allow families more time for travel and vacation.

New York City public schools will now 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.

It means students will have 12 days off, including weekends, during winter recess this year.

Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of New York also start winter break on Monday, Dec. 23, though the vacation lasts longer than public schools. Students wont return to class until the following week on Monday, Jan. 6.

Thats a total of 16 days off, including weekends.
Dont miss the premiere of Searching for a Serial Killer: The Regina Smith Story starring Karrueche Tran on Lifetime, Saturday, Nov. 9 at 8 p.m Et/7 p.m. CT. Tran plays inspirational real life hero Regina Smith.

The film centers around a single mother determined to provide a safer world for her daughter.

She joins the Dallas Police Department as a rookie, and Regina and her partner Eddie (Blair Penner) stumble upon the first victim of what would be many murders of female prostitutes by the notorious serial killer, Charles Albright (Ted Cole) whom the media dubbed The Eyeball Killer, because he surgically removed the eyes of his victims.

HOW TO STREAM ONLINE FOR FREE

If youre a cord-cutter or dont have cable, you can watch Searching for a Serial Killer: The Regina Smith Story 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 Searching for a Serial Killer: The Regina Smith Story 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.

A LITTLE SNEAK PEEK

MORE ABOUT THE SHOW

Despite only being months into the job and a woman in a profession dominated by men, Regina risks everything to get involved in the case.

She soon discovers crucial evidence missed by FBI and city homicide detectives that lands her on the doorstep of a satanic killer.
Judge Timothy M. Tymkovich recently became the first Coloradan to sit on the bench of the nation's secretive surveillance court system, which is charged with reviewing the government's applications for gathering foreign intelligence inside the United States.
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In the lead-up to the coronation of King Charles, there was speculation about whether his wife would wear a crown adorned by the Koh-i-Noor, perhaps the worlds most famous diamond. Only a few years earlier, Dalrymple and his podcast co-host Anand had written a book about the controversial jewel. It detailed the Koh-i-Noors long, blood-drenched history as it passed to numerous owners across India, Afghanistan and Persia before being gifted to Queen Victoria in 1849 by the 10-year-old Maharajah of the Punjab. The 105-carat diamond was used by Victoria as a brooch, and subsequently featured on crowns worn by Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. But ownership of the Koh-i-Noor has long been a diplomatic flash point  India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran all lay claim to it. Before last years coronation, Dalrymple gave Camilla a copy of his book Koh-i-Noor: The History of the Worlds Most Infamous Diamond. In the end, Camilla used a modified version of a 1911 crown worn by Queen Mary with the Koh-i-Noor removed. She read the book, I know that for a fact, Dalrymple says. She wrote me a note after the coronation saying, you will notice that I did not wear the [Koh-i-Noor] diamond, he says.

Dalrymple was raised in Scotland and educated at Cambridge but has spent much of his adult life in India, where his family lives in a farmhouse on the outskirts of the capital New Delhi. King Charles III and Queen Camilla, wearing a modified crown on the day of the Kings coronation. Credit: Leon Neal He was 22 years old when he won critical acclaim for his first book, a travelogue called In Xanadu: A Quest, which retraced the journey of Marco Polo from Jerusalem to Xanadu, the ruined palace of Kublai Khan north of Beijing. A swag of award-winning books since then has helped to make Dalrymple, 59, one of the worlds best-known historians. His podcast, which explores the stories, personalities and events of empire over the course of history, has clocked up more than 30 million downloads; co-host Anand recently told The Economist shes gained more fandom from the Empire podcast than as a radio and TV presenter. Its a technology which you can cook up at home at a moments notice with a 10 quid microphone and a laptop  that is literally what it takes, Dalrymple says. And it goes out to every country in the world ... it properly crosses every national boundary the way that newspapers and television just dont. And weve found our audience.

Dalrymple was invited to start Empire by podcast firm Goalhanger after appearing as a guest on the hugely popular The Rest Is History podcast in 2021. Londons Daily Telegraph reported last month that The Rest Is History hosts Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook are making $US1.2 million ($1.8 million) each a year from the program, which attracts 11 million downloads a month and has 45,000 paying subscribers. That made me realise Ive got to up my game a little bit, Dalrymple says. Although he does tell me that hosting the Empire podcast has allowed him to pay off his mortgage. Its the only time in my entire life Ive ever been ahead of a curve rather than a million miles behind it, catching up. Dalrymple cant explain why history podcasts have proved so popular. If you were to be asked 10 years ago what subjects are going to really make a hit with podcasts, you wouldnt have come up with true crime and history as the two answers. But those are the two most successful genres, other than news, he says. Among Empires regular listeners is former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, who wrote in a 2022 social media post that it was the best history podcast he had ever heard.

Dalrymples latest book. Credit: Dalrymple genuinely looks forward to Thursdays, when the two weekly podcasts are recorded, though he compares the experience to doing regular school assignments. Its like you have an essay-writing crisis where youve suddenly got to Wednesday and you havent opened a book  so its a very late night when youre catching up, he says. It literally reminds me of being 17 again, in the sense that you have fat books to read every week. Four of Dalrymples books written over a 20-year period  now dubbed the Company Quartet  chronicle the decline of the Mogul empire and the rise of the East India Company during the 18th and 19th centuries. Dalrymple says writing about the colonial era draws a very different public response today than when the first instalment of his quartet, called White Moguls, was published in 2002.

If you published exactly the same books now I think youd find yourself in the middle of a vicious culture war, where thered be a whole set of people longing to get their hands on the book to kill it, he says. At this years Tory Party conference, there were about five main speeches by ministers attacking disloyal, unpatriotic historians, teaching people to be ashamed of their history. It was largely an ignored topic 25 years ago  but now its become an extremely contentious topic at the centre of the culture wars, at least in Britain. Loading Dalrymples latest book, The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World, moves away from the Raj era. It traces how Indias art, religions, music, dance, literature and science influenced society and culture across much of the ancient world between about 250BC and 1200AD. This includes the spread of Buddhism from India to China, Indias lucrative trade with the Roman Empire and how the worlds biggest Hindu temple, Angkor Wat, came to be built in Cambodia. This wasnt a conquest by the sword, Dalrymple says, but a conquest of culture, learning and spirit. The book describes how Indian innovations in mathematics travelled first to the Arab world, then eventually to Europe, giving us concepts such as zero and the very form of the numbers we use today.

The subcontinents transformative influence on religions and civilisations stretching from the Red Sea to the Pacific is well known in India. But most people living in Western countries such as Australia are unaware of the way ancient Indias ideas and insights helped to shape the world. Everyone knows the story about Ancient Greece, and most people know the story about Ancient China, Dalrymple says. No one knows the story of Ancient India, except those in India, and even they dont know it very clearly. Its a very odd thing  India just doesnt figure in peoples image of the ancient world. Dalrymple spent five years researching and writing The Golden Road. Once finished, he asked family members to read it and give a frank assessment. They liked it, but predicted the book was too niche and academic to become a bestseller, like so many of his previous works. So far, that hasnt been the case  The Golden Road is his fastest selling book yet. Some of that must be due to the podcast, he says. Matt Wade is a former South Asia correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age based in Delhi.
Greens parliamentarian Sue Higginson said there was mounting frustration among members of the progressive crossbench as well. Jump in logging intensity The Great Koala National Park will add state forests to the existing national park estate on the Mid North Coast, providing better connectivity of habitat for wildlife, especially koalas, as climate change progresses. The assessment area includes 176,000 hectares of state forest. Its widely expected that a committee led by National Parks and Wildlife Service head Atticus Fleming will make its recommendation by Christmas. A report from Wilderness Australia and the National Parks Association NSW draws data from NSW Forestry Corporations own portal. As of October 7 this year, there were 13 active logging operations totalling a minimum of 7256 hectares inside the 176,000 hectares of state forest inside the parks assessment area. This compares with 12 active logging operations totalling 7066 hectares inside the remaining 742,000 hectares of state forest in northern NSW.

This means that more than 4 per cent of state forests inside the proposed park is being logged, compared with less than 1 per cent in the surrounding area. Concerns over the intensity of tree felling in the region prompted the government to end logging in 106 designated koala hubs covering 8000 hectares in September 2023 while the park boundaries were finalised. The report says 30 per cent of the hubs had already been logged by this point. Sharpe declined to answer questions, but a spokesperson for the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water said the government would deliver its commitment to create the park. Labor first took the policy to create the national park to the 2015 election. The department said there was less logging by volume in the parks assessment area in the past 10 years than in the previous decade, consistent with a broader industry decline.

A Forestry Corp spokesperson added that the volume of timber harvested in the assessment area was 15 per cent lower than the average monthly volume harvested in the 10 years before 2023. However, the department acknowledged that the proportion of timber from the north-east region that came from the Great Koala National Park assessment area had increased from 20.1 per cent in the 2003-14 period to 22.8 per cent since 2015. I think youre talking about an industry which is equivalent to whaling. Former NSW environment minister Bob Debus The jump is even higher by area. Dalian Pugh, co-founder of the North East Forest Alliance, said the assessment area covered just 16 per cent of the state forests in northern NSW. From 2003-04 to 2014-15, the logging of native forests inside that zone averaged 28.7 per cent of the logging in the region. In 2015-16, after Labor announced its policy, it jumped to 42.3 per cent. Since then, it has averaged 37 per cent.

James Jooste, NSW chief executive for the industry lobby group Australian Forest Products Association, said there was more logging within the assessment area because it contained the most productive forests. Loading They drew the map [for the proposed park] on purpose because theyre not looking for an environmental outcome; theyre looking for a political outcome, and thats the end of a native forestry industry, Jooste said. A Forestry Corp spokesperson said in a statement that all its operations used selective logging and the highest levels of koala tree protection. The state forests on the North Coast have been continuously harvested and regrown for more than 100 years and have maintained their ecological and habitat value, with surveys continually showing strong koala occupancy across harvested and unharvested areas, the spokesperson said.

Wilderness Australia director Virginia Young said selective logging was a furphy because the biggest, most valuable trees were also best for koalas, while the disturbance and increased sunlight-enabled weeds such as lantana. The actual area that has been logged is available from satellite data, so you can see it, and it fragments the forest, Young said. She also pointed out Forestry Corps repeated breaches of the law. A criminal organisation The NSW Environment Protection Authority has 22 open investigations against Forestry Corp. A case where Forestry Corp pleaded guilty to illegally felling giant and hollow-bearing trees at Wild Cattle Creek near Coffs Harbour is awaiting sentencing in the Land and Environment Court. In August, the same court slapped a $360,000 fine on Forestry Corp for environmental crimes elsewhere in NSW. Justice Rachel Pepper found Forestry Corp had a significant history of unlawfully carrying out forestry operations, and the fines must serve to deter it from future criminality.

In January this year, two Forestry Corp contractors were found guilty of assaulting two forest activists near Dorrigo. No conviction was recorded. Millionaire businessman turned forest campaigner Geoff Cousins said Forestry Corp was a criminal organisation, as was its union, the CFMEU. The Great Koala National Park is intended to provide habitat for the iconic species. Credit: Paul Hilton / Earth Tree Images Cousins said Forestry Corps pattern of behaviour suggested the NSW government, the sole owner, had lost control. As I know well from my corporate life, a 100 per cent-owned subsidiary is the corporation itself, Cousins said. That is the NSW government who has been convicted of those offences, in essence.

Loading Cousins has met Sharpe, Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty and Treasurer Daniel Mookhey separately this year. He found the treasurer was uninformed about the criminality and surprised at the suggestion that it was his responsibility as the senior government shareholder. Mookhey declined to comment. The Forestry Corp spokesperson said it had increased its spending on compliance and regrets any past instances where it did not meet all the conditions of [its logging] approval. A very profitable exercise In late October, the Australian government agreed to develop a proposal from the NSW government to add forest preservation to the Australian Carbon Credit Unit Scheme. If adopted, it would provide an incentive for state governments to cease or defer logging.

Former Australian Treasury secretary Ken Henry, also chairman of the Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation, said the credits could fund forest maintenance and benefit communities. The native forest division of [Forestry Corp] is hardly a money spinner for the taxpayer of NSW, Henry said. This turns it around completely. It has the potential to be a very profitable exercise for the taxpayers in NSW who, of course, are the ones who own these native forests. A mill near Dorrigo in July 2024. Credit: Paul Hilton / Earth Tree Images Cousins said the NSW government told him the national park could be bigger if people like him endorsed the carbon credits scheme, but he would not invest the time until the government first ended logging in areas it knew would definitely or probably be part of the park. Forestry Corps hardwood division is loss making. The spokesperson said native forestry was not subsidised by taxpayers; instead, timber revenue subsidised land management services that were only partly government-funded.

Loading Jooste shared EY research suggesting the NSW hardwood industry directly delivered $2.75 billion in gross revenue, including value-added services such as sawmilling, and 5920 jobs. He argued that imported timber would have worse environmental outcomes. However, Debus described the product as generally speaking, very low grade these days and claimed the industry cannot exist without a subsidy from taxpayers. Debus said ending native forest logging was more pressing now than when he was in government because climate change was intensifying and causing mega bushfires. I think youre talking about an industry which is equivalent to whaling, Debus said. I think the industry itself is heading towards extinction. The only question is, how much environmental damage it does on the way out.
Anthony Burke is an architect best known for being the host of Grand Designs Australia. Here, the 53-year-old talks about losing his father, his fierce and independent mother, and meeting his now-wife more than 30 years ago.

Anthony Burke recalls that his first kiss was as awkward and thrilling as it could be. Credit:

My maternal grandmother Edna would shell peas out the back of her small home in Padstow, NSW, always with a bowl in her lap. She had three children  my mum Jeanette is the eldest, her sister Helen who was 10 years younger, and they had a brother Ray in between them. Edna had a very quiet life. My grandfather was a house painter, and together they moved to The Entrance. She was a homebody and I suspect had a bit of depression in her life. She died when I was about 18.

I wasnt that close to my paternal grandmother, Merle. My fathers parents split, and I saw my grandparents separately and not that often. Merle moved to Brisbane, and wed see her once a year. She was an avid member of the Broadbeach Bowling Club, died in her mid-70s from probably having too much fun  she enjoyed a roll-up and a whisky. She was also a homemaker and raised my father Brent and uncle John, who is now a doctor based in Canada.

My mum raised two sons; Im the eldest and my brother Matthew is three years younger. She worked as a bank teller, did some receptionist and secretarial work; its how she met my father, who was a stockbroker. Mum did part-time work on and off while raising her kids.
A task force composed of state officials, district school board members, superintendents and parents agrees Colorado's education accountability system needs a major overhaul.

The Accountability, Accreditation, Student Performance, and Resource Inequity Task Force released its report Friday, recommending various improvements to better address the needs of students and schools.

The 26-member task force that included parents, educators, students and community leaders from across the state held over 150 hours of meetings over the past year to discuss how to improve the system.

Their focus was to address gaps in educational outcomes and to make sure all students have fair access to resources.

In total, the task force developed 30 recommendations aimed at helping the state better evaluate and support student success.

"I am thrilled that 26 diverse voices from across our state came together to identify ways to strengthen our accountability and accreditation system, focusing on addressing academic inequities and expanding opportunities for all, said Wendy Birhanzel, Harrison School District 2 superintendent and task force chair.

The task force's recommendations cover four core areas: accountability frameworks, state assessments, public reporting and engagement, and continuous improvement practices.

Within these areas, key recommendations include:

Refining school and district ratings. The task force suggests changing how schools and districts are rated to reflect the achievements of various student groups more accurately. This includes adding support for smaller student populations and addressing achievement gaps.

Better metrics for growth, achievement and postsecondary readiness. To give parents a clearer idea of how schools prepare students for college or careers, the task force recommends adding new measures focused on postsecondary and workforce readiness.

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Modernizing state assessments. Recommendations include creating assessments that adapt to student needs, offer multilingual options, and provide quicker results to help teachers and the community understand student progress.

Improving data sharing and accessibility. Recognizing the importance of accessible information, the task force proposes a statewide dashboard. This dashboard would offer clear, easy-to-understand data on school performance for parents, educators and policymakers.

Strengthening improvement processes. The task force suggests creating a system of early identification and targeted support to help schools and districts address issues as they arise and recognize their successes.

Additionally, the report suggests areas for further study, including exploring best practices for assessing students with disabilities and leveraging technology, such as artificial intelligence, in state assessments.

The task force was formed last year with passage of House Bill 23-1241 by the General Assembly. The bill specifically requires the task force to release a final report of recommendations by Nov. 15.

I want to express my sincere gratitude to Colorado's legislators for focusing on academic opportunities and inequities that contribute to achievement gaps," said State Board of Education chair and task force co-chair Rebecca McClellan.

The task force encourages the legislature, the State Board of Education, the state Department of Education and all education stakeholders to collectively implement these recommendations, though the law does not require them to do so.

Birhanzel noted that while the recommendations themselves are "essential," they are also "just the beginning."

"Our commitment to this work must continue to ensure that every student in Colorado has access to the educational opportunities and outcomes they deserve."

The full report is available online for the public to view.
The new $21.6 billion metro line is enticing more Sydneysiders to use trains to get to shopping districts on the weekend, with as many people passing through a metro station in the city centre on Saturdays as during the week.

Stations near shopping and dining areas around Chatswood and Macquarie Park have seen more people file through their gates at weekends since the city section of the M1 metro line opened in late August, new figures show.

About 27,300 people are also tapping on or off at Gadigal metro station in the central city on Saturdays, the same level as those on Wednesdays  typically the busiest day for travel. The number filing through the new station on Sundays is 81 per cent of that midweek.

Gadigal metro station is close to Town Hall station in the central citys main shopping area. Credit: Janie Barrett

Gadigal metro station is near Town Hall and close to the main CBD shopping areas along Pitt and George streets.
A teenager was trying to get a lift home from a campsite when a knife-wielding chef allegedly slashed the boys arm, shouting Ill chop your f---ing hand off as he delivered the fatal strike, leaving the boy to die in the bush, a court has heard.

Police have alleged that the 15-year-old boy leapt onto his alleged attackers car before falling and crawling toward his friends but they didnt find his body until the following morning.

The body of the teenager, from the Picton area, was discovered near Wilton Park Road, Wilton, at 7.25am on Saturday. The Herald cannot name the boy for legal reasons.

Jacob Greig, 32, presented himself to Narellan police station shortly after 4pm on Saturday and was arrested and charged with murder.
Parents at private schools are bracing for fee hikes in 2025 as rising teacher wages heap pressure on school budgets and soaring operating costs are passed onto families.

Several Sydney schools have released their fee schedules for next year, including Danebank, which will increase charges by 9 per cent to just over $30,000 for year 12. St Andrews Cathedral School fees will climb 6.5 per cent to $44,525.

Mid- and low-fee schools in regional NSW have already locked in sharp increases of up to 24 per cent.

Education finance company Edstart said a survey of 150 NSW private schools found most will lift fees 5 per cent or more in 2025. Credit: Louie Douvis

Principals say non-government schools will need to increase salaries to match or eclipse public sector teacher wages after the state government last month awarded 95,000 public school educators a 10 per cent pay rise over three years.
Australian paedophiles are hiding their assets in superannuation instead of paying survivors compensation for their crimes, despite a federal government promise to eliminate the practice.

A legislative crackdown was first promised by then-financial services minister Kelly ODwyer in 2018, and last year the federal government vowed to close a legal loophole that allowed perpetrators to bury their assets in superannuation accounts.

Child sexual assault victims struggle to be compensated by their abusers, even despite court orders. Credit: Getty Images

Yet despite bipartisan support, lawyers for survivors say nothing has changed.

Instead, they warn, perpetrators are taking full advantage of the government delays, hiding their assets and dumping huge figures into their superannuation accounts, before declaring bankruptcy to avoid paying compensation.
Fitz: To be fair, Peter Dutton has no Trump-like atrocities on his record, and if he had even a hundredth of Trumps proven record to his name, the Australian electorate would surely reject him outright. Teal appeal: Independent MPs Allegra Spender, Zali Steggall, Sophie Scamps, Zoe Daniel and Monique Ryan. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen SH: No, thats not true at all. Dutton has localised the Trumpian tactics to Australian tastebuds. Because of our compulsory voting, Australian elections are won from the centre, not the extremes, so Trumps playbook needs an Aussie translation. But if you think back to Peter Duttons comments on African gangs, our Pacific neighbours, his demonisation of refugees, his attack on Woolworths around Australia Day, his adoption of seriously divisive tactics through the Voice and his content-free policy pronouncements, hes absolutely following the playbook  right up to, yes, his embrace of billionaires like Rinehart. Dont forget how, earlier this year, he obsequiously crossed the country for a 40-minute appearance at her birthday party. Duttons Trumpian similarities are very pronounced. Fitz: Im going to tell the ABC you said what Laura Tingle said, and you will be in BIG TROUBLE! But, moving on, when will you launch your funding campaign for the next election? SH: We never stopped  many of the 11,200 donors we had at the last election have been making monthly donations. Last election, we raised $13 million to support 23 campaigns. $13 million sounds a lot, and it is, but the major parties income was over $200 million each over the last electoral cycle. In any case, its super important that a community does most of their own fundraising  so thats a big factor for us. We dont have the capacity to fund the whole movement, and frankly, if you cant inspire your community into donating to you, youre probably not going to excite them into electing you. But were telling everyone  for the best chance of holding back Trumpism from Australia, donate and volunteer early and often.

Fitz: Is there a board giving approval as to who gets Climate 200s golden seal of approval? Can you be outvoted? Loading SH: We have a committee that looks at all the requests from communities wanting help and makes a decision on support. It meets every week, Im just one of the members. The discussions can be very robust, but we always reach a consensus. Fitz: What sitting members of the major parties are in your cross-hairs for the next election? Who are you targeting? SH: I really want to get away from the language of targeting. We dont target seats  communities step up, and if theyre on a good wicket, well do our best to support their campaign. We support community campaigns, not candidates.

Fitz: Will current teals in the House of Reps all stand again, and will you be funding them? Loading SH: Were ready to support all of them again, plus six or seven who did really well last time and came close, plus a bunch of communities having a crack for the first time. I expect well support 20 to 25 campaigns in total. Fitz: Have you worked with them on specific policies that are likely to be successful? SH: The Libs and some in the media have this misogynistic idea that I control the teals. Thats what member for Wentworth Allegra Spender raised at the National Press Club the other week. I bump into MPs at events from time to time, and meet maybe a couple of times a year, but Im not a part of their political lives ... For example, Ive spent more time with the Liberal shadow minister for climate change and energy, Ted OBrien, than Zali Steggall in the last 12 months. They dont tell me what theyre going to do and nor should they. They are independents.

Fitz: Sure, but the issue Allegra Spender also made headlines for recently was reportedly lobbying The Australian Financial Review to get you removed from a list of powerbrokers. A tad hard, surely, to maintain you are only the piano player and werent even there on the night when you founded and funded  the latter at least, initially  the movement that is every chance of soon presiding over the balance of power in Australia? SH: I dont start campaigns. I dont choose where indies run. I dont choose what issues they run on  and in total, I personally contributed less than 1 per cent of the indies funding at the last election  and the spending of the major parties was each nearly 10 times more than the entire indies movement spent. Fitz: Yeah, but if a fantastic community independent arose somewhere whose policy platform countenanced, say, co-operating with the LNP to remove the ban on nuclear energy in Australia, it is surely unlikely they would get the Simon Holmes a Court tick of approval? SH: Im not anti-nuclear ... Im on record as saying John Howard should never have banned nuclear. Nuclear makes sense in some places, and I really like nuclear  Im in awe of the technology  but it just doesnt make sense in Australia, with our bountiful renewable resources and our challenge to replace coal in the next decade. As for C200, it doesnt have a position on nuclear. The job of C200 is to level the playing field so that community independents have a fighting chance against the big party machines, and we want to promise our donors that we support candidates who have a strong position on climate, integrity and gender equity. Fitz: Lets say that in the next election, the obvious happens and neither major party gets a majority in the House of Reps, giving the teals the balance of power. Would you expect to be consulted by them as to which party they support?

SH: Absolutely not. I do not discuss decisions or policies with any of them. To give you a concrete example, about six weeks after the last election, there was a summit in Canberra on electric vehicles, and I was randomly standing in the line for the buffet at lunch behind an independent who turned around and asked me what I thought of the New Zealand transport ministers EV policy. I replied, If I tell you what I think about it, itll be our very first discussion about policy. Do you really want to cross that Rubicon? And she said, No, lets not. And Ive held true to that to this day. I am not consulted on policy, nor would I want to be. The independents are answerable to their electorates, thats it. Loading Fitz: But surely, their ongoing financing by Climate 200 gives you some measure of control? SH: None. This is the most pure form of democracy we have in Australia. Most Australians dont know that the major party MPs when they walk into the chamber, pick up a pager from a pigeonhole with their name on it that tells them which way to vote. And we saw what happened to the one Labor senator who decided she might bring her conscience to her vote  it was brutal. But, here, were talking about a crossbench where every one of those independents treats every vote as a conscience vote. Its the very heart of the strength and resilience  and appeal  of the independents movement. Fitz: You mention Ted OBrien. Surely, as a nuclear exponent but without the prestige of being the opposition leader, hed be a likely teal target?

SH: I think Im going to have to explain this until the day I die: Climate 200 doesnt target MPs ... but as it happens, there are four strong coastal community campaigns in Queensland, two on the Gold Coast and two on the Sunshine Coast, and that includes Fairfax ... once upon a time held by Clive Palmer and his animatronic dinosaurs, currently held by Ted OBrien, and perhaps next year held by someone who genuinely represents their community  not just votes the way theyre directed by the party whip! Oh, one thing of interest  strong community campaigns have emerged in Dickson and Farrer, held by Peter Dutton and Sussan Ley. Fitz: Who have you got leading the charge against them? Loading SH: Ill correct you every time. We dont run candidates. Were not running against Dutton or Ley. But what I can tell you is that there are very strong groups in Dickson and Farrer that are highly skilled and kick-arse  they came to us long after they were up and running, holding sausage sizzles at community markets and well-attended forums in their communities. Weve taken a close look at what theyve achieved, and were up for giving a hand to both in order to make sure that they can run professional campaigns against formidable incumbents. Farrer has already made their selection, an amazing local woman  Michelle Milthorpe  who I think will go really well. Other ones to watch are Alex Dyson in Wannon, Kate Hook in Calare, Nicolette Boele in Bradfield, Caz Heise in Cowper. They are all proven candidates, all came second last time and are all excellent chances this time. Fitz: I find Nicolette Boele in Bradfield particularly interesting, held by Liberal moderate Paul Fletcher. I live not so far away and know she has been going flat out for the last 3 years fundraising and doorknocking, and is pretty much already the shadow member for Bradfield. Does Climate 200 do internal polling, and what shape is she in?

SH: Nicolette did incredibly well at the last election  the biggest swing against a sitting Liberal. Its been a few months since we polled her, but it was incredibly encouraging  she had a higher primary vote than the successful independents in 2022 had two months out from the election. One thing to note about Bradfield is theres only one Liberal-held seat in the country that voted Yes in the Voice referendum, and a significant credit goes to the campaign that Nicolettes team ran. Fitz: Im guessing the Holmes a Court empire has a dozen sheep stations. Would you put one of them on Nicolette winning? SH: Yes. Seeing as were in Melbourne Cup week, lets say shes an odds-on favourite. Fitz: Finally, lets finish on the state of play between you and your most famous nemesis, Josh Frydenberg. Have you two finally buried the hatchet? SH: Ill say that I and the good people of Kooyong, Goldman Sachs and even Josh Frydenberg himself  in his recent comments noting he would not be attempting a comeback at the next election  are all in agreement that hes in the best place right now that he could be. He chose to sit out this election, and Im not surprised, given the quality of our incumbent.
Toxic substances, including cyanide, were still being used to process gold, Yellishetty said, which needed to be disposed of carefully due to the high pollution risk. However, he insisted that gold mining was a necessary part of the worlds renewables future because it had so many uses  from industrial applications to dental implants. Gold is useful because it is a good conductor of electricity and is malleable and resistant to corrosion. Elizabeth Lewis-Gray at the processing plant in Maldon. Credit: Joe Armao Gold processing, which involves extracting the metal from an ore, has also traditionally required vast amounts of water. Elizabeth Lewis-Gray, co-founder of mining equipment design and manufacturing company Gekko Systems, said the industry was too dependent on clean water  particularly in drought-prone Australia. We have to be better, she said.

Together with her husband and company co-founder, Sandy Gray, she has created new machinery that recovers the metal from the ore using dirty recycled water rather than freshwater, which is widely used in the sector at present. The machinery is now in operation at the Kaiser Reef processing facility in Maldon, where the yellow metal is separated from ore that is dug up from the A1 gold mine in Jamieson, 200 kilometres north-east of Melbourne. Gray said the new machinery would help gold processors to reduce their freshwater use by up to 30 per cent. Sandy Gray inspects gold processing in Maldon. Credit: Joe Armao Rather than using freshwater, we can recycle the water theyre already using, she said. Thats really important for a place like Maldon. Gray said their new technology also meant there would be less water sent to tailings dams, which hold refuse produced during the mining process.

Sandy Gray, who developed the recycled water device, said conventional machinery typically used centrifuges that could become clogged with dirty water. He has instead developed a particulate seal that allows dirty water to pass through. Australia is one of the worlds leading producers of gold, with production hitting 293.8 tonnes in 2023. China was the biggest producer with 378.2 tonnes, followed by Russia with 321.8 tonnes. Dylan Morgan (left) and a colleague inspect the mine in Maldon where goldmining will soon resume. Credit: Joe Armao Mining company Kaiser Reef is also preparing to resume mining operations at its mine near the processing plant in Maldon. The companys processing manager, Dylan Morgan, said the mine, which runs to a depth of 350 metres, had been in care and maintenance since 2018, when mining operations ceased. He said gold was half the price when the mine was last in operation. Now, the high value of gold meant it was economically viable to resume operations.

Mining gold, like any other mineral, can be inherently dangerous. Earlier this year, a man died and another suffered serious injuries at Victory Minerals Ballarat Gold Mine when part of it collapsed. Loading However, Morgan said his company had an exceptional safety record, which included the safe use of cyanide in gold-processing. Everything can be done safely if you do it right, he said. Perth Mint depository general manager John ODonoghue said uncertainty ahead of the United States election and conflict in the Middle East had been among the factors pushing up the price of gold. He said central banks had also sought to buy more gold in the past 18 months. When the [financial] markets have been unstable and in a period of flux, gold has always been a safe-haven asset, ODonoghue said.

Some of the gold extracted from the Kaiser Reef processing facility. Credit: Joe Armao He said demand for gold for jewellery manufacturing and fabrication was high in China and India, but the metal was also crucial in products including mobile phones and computers. Loading Perth Mint buys gold from mines across Australia, including Kaiser Reef in Maldon. ODonoghue said the mint also bought gold from consumers selling their jewellery, which was particularly popular with gold prices so high. Were seeing some elevated demand for that service at the moment. People are cashing in and taking advantage of the higher prices.
Dear fellow citizens,

This year, the French side is organizing the official program of Saint Martins Day festivities. We will, therefore, be in the French Quarter on Monday, November 11, to celebrate with our counterparts from Sint Maarten, the Fete of our island.

November 11th, 2024, is a special day as it marks the 65th anniversary of the commemoration of Saint-Martins Day initiated by Dr. Hubert PETIT and Dr. Claude WATHEY on November 11th, 1959.

St Martins Day is dedicated to our history, culture and heritage. It unites us and makes us stronger together through the attachment to our beautiful island and our strong identity.

For all these reasons, we are all involved in this celebration, and I am happy to share it with the entire population in a spirit of harmony and unity.

Saint-Martin has a rich historical past; our identity is built on the love of our land and our heritage. We are fortunate to live in such a beautiful and welcoming country.

I continue to believe that Saint Martin is a land of opportunities, its inhabitants are endowed with unfailing resilience and always emerge stronger from adversity. Let us remain confident in the future and continue to to build in cooperation the future of our children.

May the celebration of Saint Martins Day bring you joy and serenity with your family and loved ones.

Let us take advantage of these important moments to strengthen ties and cherish our culture.

Happy Saint Martins Day !

Louis MUSSINGTON

President of the Territorial Council of St Martin
Republican challenger Gabe Evans took a slim lead over Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo late Friday in Colorado's battleground 8th Congressional District as county clerks continued to post returns days after Tuesday's election.

Evans jumped ahead by 2,529 votes when conservative-leaning Weld County reported about 14,000 additional votes Friday night in what's expected to be the county's last big ballot drop, marking the first time the state lawmaker has led the race since election night.

As of 6:30 p.m. Friday, Evans had 152,482 votes to Caraveo's 149,953, for a lead of 0.8 percentage points. A pair of third-party candidates trailed, with less than 2% each.

There remained a chance Caraveo can make up ground when Adams County, which has been favoring the Democrat by a roughly 12-point margin, reports its remaining ballots, though strategists on both sides cautioned that the race might not be decided for days.

Adams County Clerk Josh Zygielbaum, a Democrat, said Saturday that the county had roughly 17,000 ballots cast by the district's voters remaining to process. He added that election workers planned to work through the day to finish the count, after the county took a snow day Friday.

Depending on where the race stands after most of the remaining votes are reported on Saturday, the winner could hinge on how many voters "cure" thousands of ballots that have yet to be tallied, mostly for signature discrepancies  something both campaigns have been urging supporters to do in the days since the election.

Based on current returns, we are optimistic that Congresswoman Caraveo is in a strong position for re-election and poised to serve a second term once all ballots have been counted," Caraveo's campaign manager, Mary Alice Blackstock, said in a statement Friday.

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Alan Philp, Evans' campaign manager, sounded a note of cautious optimism Saturday morning in a text message to Colorado Politics as he awaited initial reports from Adams County.

Caraveo, a pediatrician and former state lawmaker, won the newly created seat in 2022 by just over 1,600 votes, or 0.7 points, out of more than 236,000 cast.

Stretching from suburbs north of Denver up to Greeley, the district was drawn to be the most competitive congressional seat in the state, and it's lived up to its billing.

Heading into this year's election, scant polling showed the candidates locked in a statistical tie.

The race was the most expensive contest in Colorado this year, with outside groups pouring more than $20 million into a seemingly endless stream of ads and mailers attacking both candidates.

The race could help determine which party controls the House of Representatives, with Republicans holding an edge to retain the majority but with more than a dozen races still too close to call.
US to send contractors to Ukraine to maintain military equipment



Washington, Nov 8 (AFP) Nov 08, 2024



The United States aims to send a "small number" of contractors to Ukraine to help maintain advanced weapons like the warplanes and air defense systems provided to Kyiv, a US defense official said Friday.

Washington has been a key military backer of Ukraine, committing more than $60 billion in security aid since February 2022, but had not permitted defense contractors to work in the country after Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

"These contractors will be located far from the front lines and they will not be fighting Russian forces. They will help Ukrainian armed forces rapidly repair and maintain US-provided equipment as needed so it can be quickly returned to the front lines," the official said on condition of anonymity.

"We are taking this action because some of the equipment the US has provided Ukraine -- or will provide Ukraine in the coming months -- such as F-16s and Patriot air defense systems require specific technical expertise to maintain," the official said, adding that the decision had been made "after careful risk assessment."

Washington has provided a wide range of military equipment to Ukraine, including air defense systems, HIMARS rocket launchers, artillery pieces and munitions, as well as tanks and other vehicles.

But the election of Republican Donald Trump to a second term as president has cast doubt on the future of aid for Ukraine, and President Joe Biden's administration is seeking to provide billions of dollars in assistance before leaving office in January.
US defense chief holds first call with new Israeli counterpart



Washington, Nov 8 (AFP) Nov 08, 2024



US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed Lebanon and Gaza on Friday in his first call with his new Israeli counterpart Israel Katz, the Pentagon said.

Katz was sworn in before parliament the previous day, after his predecessor's shock dismissal by the prime minister over a breakdown in trust during the war in Gaza -- a conflict that began with a devastating Hamas attack against Israel on October 7, 2023.

Austin "held an introductory call today with the new Israeli minister of defense, Israel Katz, and congratulated him on his recent appointment," Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said in a statement.

He told Katz that Washington is committed to a deal that allows Lebanese and Israeli citizens displaced by more than a year of cross-border violence to return to their homes, as well as to the return of hostages seized by Palestinian militant group Hamas, Ryder said.

The US defense chief also discussed "the need to improve the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza," after he and Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Israel in a letter earlier this month that it needed to allow more aid into the small war-wracked coastal territory.
Strikes on south Beirut after Israel evacuation call: Lebanon state media



Beirut, Lebanon, Nov 9 (AFP) Nov 09, 2024



Lebanese state media said Israeli air strikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs on Friday shortly after Israel's military warned residents to leave parts of the area, a bastion of Hezbollah militants.

The official National News Agency reported an air raid near the Lebanese University and another on the Burj al-Barajneh suburb.

The official news outlet later said the aerial attack had also hit the Al Jamous neighbourhood, which it said was not included in the Israeli army's warning.

Echoes of the attack rang out over Beirut, while thick black smoke blanketed the region, state media reported.

Hezbollah and Israel have been at war since late September, when Israel broadened its focus from fighting Hamas in the Gaza Strip to securing its northern border, even as the Gaza war continues.

Hezbollah announced on Wednesday that it had targeted a military base close to Ben Gurion Airport, Israel's main international transport hub.

Hezbollah began low-intensity strikes on Israel last year in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas following Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel which triggered the Gaza war.

Since September 23, more than 2,600 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon, according to Health Minister Firass Abiad.
A previous parade cancellation and a week full of heavy snowfall did not stop Colorado Springs from celebrating Veterans Day on Saturday.

The "In Their Honor Veterans Parade" drew hundreds of residents downtown, despite lingering chilly temperatures left over from the snowstorm that wrapped up Saturday morning. The event was pushed back an hour earlier in the week to allow additional time for snowplows to clear the route.

After a shocking cancellation in early October for the originally planned parade, it was revived in less than four days by the same organization that hosts the downtown St. Patricks Day Parade  Colorado International Events.

One of the organizers, John O'Donnell, said it was a "chaotic" five weeks getting everything set up last minute, giving a shoutout to his wife, Carol, for all her administrative assistance along the way.

"We haven't slept for five weeks," O'Donnell said Friday afternoon with a light laugh.

The O'Donnell's originally hosted the annual Veterans Day Parade in Colorado Springs from 1993 to 1999. Then the parade was taken over by Colorado Springs Veterans Day Inc. in 2000, with only two cancellations since, this year and 2020 due to the pandemic.

The parade this year was called off due to "lack of participation," with only 51 entries confirmed. However, the revived event drew an incredible turnout, with 125 organizations comprising 117 entries as of Tuesday afternoon.

"I couldn't have planned it any better," O'Donnell said. "Let's just say the response was impressive."

Ahead of the parade start time, Jack Quinn's Irish Pub hosted a reception where organizers and city officials gave brief comments before heading out to find a spot along the route.

Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade spoke briefly, highlighting how the city is constantly honoring its veterans, not just on holidays.

"If I got $1 for every time I hear from a military service member, active or veteran who says, 'we love this community and this community honors us,' I think I'd be a rich person right now," Mobolade said. "That's just a testament of who we are."

President and CEO of Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce Johnna Reeder-Kleymeyer also gave a small speech, thanking the members of the community that made Saturday's parade possible.

"Our community spirit is what makes this community different," Reeder-Kleymeyer said. "We are a unique community that is dedicated to our veteran population and to our military installations."

The streets started to fill up with parade-goers well ahead of the actual start time. Thanks to the city for clearing all the snow leftover from the massive storm that rolled through, roads and sidewalks were clear and ready for attendees. Officials made jokes about the snow needed to be hauled away in dump trucks after overnight accumulations.

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Several attendees were emotional while awaiting the start of the parade, especially Army veteran Tony Bruszewski and his wife, Diana, who shed a few tears when asked about the importance of celebrating Veterans Day.

"It is so important for us to remember and honor these guys because if we don't, who's going to stand up and protect us when we need it?" Tony said, holding back tears. "This is all volunteer and we need to be there just to let them know that we appreciate continuing to carry the torch for those of us who did before."

Six-year Navy veteran Josh Hays also lined up early with his wife, Nicholle, and spoke with The Gazette about the importance of respecting those who made the biggest sacrifice for the county.

"We both come from families that have veterans," Josh said. "It's about respecting the people that aren't here because they paid the ultimate price, honoring them."

Several others in attendance, both at Jack Quinn's and along the parade route, agree that Colorado Springs is one of the most patriotic cities in the nation and holding Saturday's parade was a necessity.

"We were just identified as the third most patriotic city in America, but that's not good enough for me, I want number one, we want to be number one," City Council President Randy Helms said. "We all came together and said, we cannot let this (the parade) fail."

The parade itself was a success, leaving attendees walking away with smiles across their faces. There was a sense of community in the air, with strangers thanking others for their service all down the street.

The Air Force Academy Band and 4th Infantry Division Army Band at Fort Carson led the parade down Tejon Street, performing together. Several high school bands appeared throughout the parade.

Between 600 and 800 ROTC and Junior ROTC cadets came out to march in the parade, drawing lots of cheering and clapping from the sidewalks. The grand marshal for this years parade was the Lt. Gen. David Miller from the U.S. Space Command.

One organization marching in the parade special to O'Donnell was the Canadian contingent from NORAD, which had a little over 100 members showing up Saturday, handing out Canadian flags.

"They are our North American partners in NORAD, and I think it's time the community could see (that.) I'm very pleased with them participating, and I hope everybody cheered them on," O'Donnell said.

Many thanks were given to the O'Donnell's Saturday, from city officials to residents on the street. The past five weeks may have been exhausting; O'Donnell is glad to have helped the community in a time of need.
N. Korea jams GPS signals, affecting ships, aircraft in South



Seoul, Nov 9 (AFP) Nov 09, 2024



North Korea staged GPS jamming attacks on Friday and Saturday, Seoul's military said, an operation that was affecting several ships and dozens of civilian aircraft in South Korea.

The jamming allegations come about a week after the North test-fired what it said was its most advanced and powerful solid-fuel ICBM missile, its first such launch since being accused of sending soldiers to help Russia fight Ukraine.

The South fired its own ballistic missile into the sea on Friday in a show of force aimed at showing its resolve to respond to "any North Korean provocations".

"North Korea conducted GPS jamming provocations in Haeju and Kaesong yesterday and today (November 8-9)," Seoul's joint chiefs of staff said in a statement Saturday, adding several vessels and dozens of civilian aircraft were experiencing "some operational disruptions" as a result.

The military warned ships and aircraft operating in the Yellow Sea to beware of such attacks.

"We strongly urge North Korea to immediately cease its GPS provocations and warn that it will be held responsible for any subsequent issues arising from this," they said in the statement.

Tensions on the peninsula have been at their highest pitch in years, with the North launching a flurry of ballistic missiles in violation of UN sanctions.

It also has been bombarding the South with trash-carrying balloons since May, in what it says is retaliation for anti-Pyongyang propaganda missives sent North by activists.

North Korea has become one of the most vocal and important backers of Russia's offensive in Ukraine.

Seoul and the West have long accused Pyongyang of supplying artillery shells and missiles to Moscow for use in Ukraine.

The latest accusations, based on intelligence reports, indicate the North has deployed around 10,000 troops to Russia, suggesting even deeper involvement in the conflict and triggering outcry in Seoul, Kyiv and Western capitals.

South Korea, a major arms exporter, has a long-standing policy of not providing weapons to countries in conflict.

But President Yoon Suk Yeol said this week that Seoul is now not ruling out the possibility of providing weapons directly to Ukraine, given Pyongyang's military support of Moscow.

On Friday, Seoul's presidential office said cyber attacks by pro-Russian hacking groups against South Korea have increased following North Korea's troop dispatch for Russia's war in Ukraine.
Iraqi PM urges Trump to 'work towards ending' Mideast wars



Baghdad, Nov 9 (AFP) Nov 09, 2024



Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani expressed hopes during a phone call with US President-elect Donald Trump that he would keep his "promises to work towards ending wars" in the Middle East.

Amid Israel's wars in Gaza and Lebanon, Sudani -- who was named premier by a majority bloc of Iran-backed political factions -- has been in a delicate balancing act to ensure his country is not drawn into the fighting.

In the phone call, the Iraqi premier pointed to Trump's "campaign statements and promises to work towards ending wars in the region", a statement from Sudani's office said late Friday.

"The two sides agreed to coordinate efforts in achieving this goal," it added.

About 2,500 American troops are deployed in Iraq as part of a US-led coalition that was formed to help battle the Islamic State group.

Bases hosting the American troops have been the target of dozens of rocket and drone attacks launched by Iran-backed groups in Iraq, which have also claimed attacks against Israel.

Baghdad has for years called on Washington to provide a clear timeline for the withdrawal of their remaining coalition troops.

The US and Iraq announced in late September that the international coalition would end its decade-long military mission in federal Iraq within a year, and by September 2026 in the autonomous Kurdistan region.

But the joint statement and US officials did not say whether any American troops would remain in Iraq.

Under Trump's first term in office, relations deteriorated between the two countries after a US drone strike in January 2020 killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani -- the chief of the Quds Force and the architect of the Islamic republic's military operations abroad.

Also killed in that strike was Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy head of Iraq's former paramilitary Hashed al-Shaabi that have been integrated into the armed forces.

As part of their investigations into Muhandis's assassination, the Iraqi judiciary issued a warrant for Trump's arrest in January 2021.
Gaza rescuers say 14 killed in Israeli strikes



Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories, Nov 9 (AFP) Nov 09, 2024



Gaza's civil defence agency said on Saturday that Israeli air strikes killed at least 14 Palestinians overnight, including women and children, while the Israeli military said it had eliminated dozens of militants in the territory's north.

An air strike hit tents housing displaced Palestinians in the southern area of Khan Yunis, killing at least nine people, including children and women, civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP.

The Palestinian Red Crescent also confirmed the toll, saying 11 others were wounded in the strike and were taken to Nasser Hospital.

A second air strike killed five people, including children, and injured about 22 when "Israeli warplanes hit Fahad Al-Sabah school", which had been turned into a shelter for "thousands of displaced people" in the Al-Tuffah district of Gaza City, Bassal said.

The dead and injured were taken to Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, he added.

In recent months, the military has struck several schools-turned-shelters where Israel has said Palestinian militants are operating.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said its troops killed "dozens of terrorists" in the Jabalia area of northern Gaza, where it has been conducting a sweeping air and ground operation for more than a month to prevent Hamas from regrouping.

Israeli forces also killed several militants in the area of Rafah in the territory's south, the military added.

The military is currently engaged in a two-front war, with troops fighting Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.

"Over the past day, the IAF (air force) struck over 50 terror targets in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip," the military said in a statement.

"Among the targets struck were military structures, weapons storage facilities and launchers," it added.

Israel's war in Gaza broke out after Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7 last year, which resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people on Israeli side, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures, which included those who died and were killed in captivity.

During the attack, militants abducted 251 people, 97 of whom are still held captive in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory military offensive in Gaza has killed at least 43,508 people, a majority of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry that the United Nations considers to be reliable.
Rwanda counting on Russia to train nuclear power specialists



Sochi, Russia, Nov 9 (AFP) Nov 09, 2024



Rwanda said Saturday it was counting on Russia training its citizens to become specialists in nuclear energy, as the African country bets on nuclear power to boost its energy supply.

Moscow is courting fresh diplomatic and economic ties with African countries, and its expertise in nuclear power is seen as one of the major draws of closer ties.

"Rwanda needs nuclear energy," Rwanda's Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe told AFP in an interview at the Russia-Africa forum taking place in the resort city of Sochi this weekend.

Hundreds of Rwandan students have graduated from Russian universities including "those who specialise in nuclear science," he said.

"We hope to be able to train a certain number of scientific managers specialising in this field," he added.

Rwanda, a small landlocked country with a population of around 13 million, generates around half its electricity from thermal sources, another 44 percent from hydro and four percent from solar.

Russia's Rosatom struck a deal in 2019 to help build nuclear power stations there.

Rwanda has also announced deals with a US firm and a German-Canadian company to build various small-scale nuclear power projects in the country.

South Africa is currently the only country in Africa with a commercial nuclear power plant.
Mali detains 3 executives from gold mining firm Resolute



Bamako, Nov 9 (AFP) Nov 09, 2024



Three expat executives from Australian company Resolute Mining, which owns a gold mine in Mali, have been detained for questioning, industry and judiciary sources told AFP on Saturday.

It is the second time in just over a month that employees of a foreign mining firm have been detained in Mali, as the ruling military junta seeks greater control over the lucrative mining industry.

The Resolute executives were arrested on Friday at a hotel in the capital, Bamako, and taken to a specialised unit set up by the junta to tackle corruption, and economic or financial crimes, the judiciary source said.

They are being questioned over suspicions of false evidence and misappropriation of public goods, said a Resolute executive on condition of anonymity.

He denied the allegations but said attempts to convince the investigators had failed so far.

Resolute holds 80 percent of a subsidiary that owns the northwestern mine of Syama, with the Malian state controlling the remaining 20 percent, according to the firm's website.

Resolute also owns a gold production site in Mako in neighbouring Senegal, and has other exploration operations in Mali, Senegal and Guinea.

Since seizing power, Mali's leaders have vowed to ensure a more equitable distribution of mining revenues.

Despite being one of the leading gold producers in Africa, the Sahel nation is also one of the poorest countries in the world.

Mali is embroiled in a political, security and economic crisis, and since 2012 has been battling Al-Qaeda and Islamic State armed groups, as well as a separatist insurgency in the north.

Gold contributes a quarter of the national budget and three quarters of export earnings.

Foreign companies, which dominate the mining sector, have recently faced tighter control by the junta.

Four employees of Canadian mining company Barrick Gold in Mali were detained for several days in September before being released.

Barrick Gold said it has reached an agreement with the state and paid 50 billion CFA Francs ($81 million) in October.

But the government in late October said Barrick Gold had not honoured its commitments and threatened to pursue the firm.

After the 2021 coup, Bamako broke off relations with former colonial ruler France, which had been helping to fight jihadist insurgents in the north, and turned to Russia for political and military assistance.
90s girl band star confesses she is homeless and has been living in her car for three years

90s music star is homeless and been living in her car for three years
The Pikes Peak region saw a snowy start to November with accumulations soaring much higher than what is typical for this point in the month.

The storm, which started dumping snow across the state Tuesday night, and prompted Gov. Jared Polis to declare a disaster emergency late Thursday evening, is expected to wrap up Saturday morning.

Friday's snowfall caused chaos across the state, especially in the evening, when winds caused visibility to be reduced to a quarter-mile or less in some areas. Many major interstate and state highways shut down amid the "rapidly deteriorating" conditions. Commercial motor vehicles were not allowed on southbound I-25 south of Exit 194 after 4 p.m. due to lack of parking and resources between the Denver area and Colorado Springs. Interstate 25 in both directions from south Castle Rock to Colorado Springs also shut down to commercial motor vehicles and towed vehicles between 4 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday. I-25 southbound from Pueblo to the New Mexico state line was closed all day Friday. Students in the Pikes Peak region racked up the snow days this week, with many school districts cancelling classes for a third day on Friday. While roads appeared mostly clear in the early morning, by the afternoon, visibility and overall conditions worsened. Colorado Springs Airport reported 43 cancellations as of 6 p.m. Friday, according to media spokesperson Aidan Ryan. FlightAware shows there were 19 delays. The numbers reflect total impacts to both outbound and inbound flights. There were 495 flights canceled and 948 flights delayed at Denver International Airport on Friday, according to FlightAware Impact on drought conditions Snowfall and water equivalent totals in Colorado Springs were much higher than what the National Weather Service in Pueblo typically records for the first week of November. Through the first eight days of November, Colorado Springs usually only receives 0.12 inches of water equivalent. As of 5:30 p.m. on Friday, the office was measuring 1.3 inches for that period.

In terms of snowfall, average measurements typically show 1.1 inches. The all-time November record for the city was recorded in 1991, when the Colorado Springs Airport received a record 26.3 inches of snow in November.

The south Colorado Springs area came close, receiving 24.5 inches by Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service. Outside of Colorado Springs, more than two feet of snow was reported in both Black Forest and Peyton, with those areas receiving 27.9 inches, and 27 inches, respectively.

Other areas in southern Colorado also exceeded some records. The Arkansas River Valley's record for the day of water equivalent is 0.25, and Rodriguez said the area "at least doubled that amount so far" at 5:30 p.m. Friday, with snow still falling.

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Meteorologist Stephen Rodriguez told The Gazette this kind of weather pattern is not "abnormal."

" While the numbers are high  and I wouldn't say this is abnormal  we see systems like this come through in November and October and in September," Rodriguez said. "It just so happened that over the last several days, we've seen repeated rounds of snowfall that allowed the snowfall to total to accumulate to these values."

Even with all the snowfall, it is too soon to tell what the impact will be on the drought conditions in Pueblo and Teller counties, where there is a moderate drought, and toward the Kansas border, where conditions are more severe.

"In terms of what this will mean right now, we can't really speak to that," Rodriguez said. "Given the amount of water that we've seen with this storm, it would only help to improve the drought conditions." A look ahead

The snow was expected to end by 8 a.m. Saturday in Colorado Springs, holding out a little longer in Monument, where it should taper off at about 11 a.m. Saturday will only see varying glimpses of the sun the city has not seen in days, with clouds forecast for most of the day.

The snow will start to melt as temperatures begin to rise, although not back to average, which is around the mid-50s. Temperatures on Saturday will only reach the low 40s, according to KOAA meteorologist Alex O'Brien. Sunday will be sunnier and in the upper 40s to low 50s.
One of the men, Farhad Shakeri, is still on the run having fled the US for the Iranian capital Tehran where he is out of reach. He allegedly confessed to the FBI that the Iranians have been devoting a lot of money on efforts to kill Trump. The other two are under arrest.
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President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov will visit Azerbaijan from November 11 to 13 for a working trip to participate in the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), Azernews reports.

According to Muratbek Azymbakiev, Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the President's Administration, Zhaparov will attend the Climate Summit's opening ceremony on November 12 and deliver a speech at the plenary session.

On November 13, Zhaparov will also join the High-Level Dialogue: Promoting the Mountain Agenda and Updating the Issues of Mountains and Climate Change, organized by Kyrgyzstan alongside Azerbaijan and Mongolia. Other prominent speakers include Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, Nepali President Ram Chandra Paudel, and representatives of international organizations.

For the first time, Kyrgyzstan will host a national pavilion at COP29 themed Kyrgyzstan: Sustainable Mountain Development, showcasing the countrys climate-related initiatives. The pavilion will feature presentations by Kyrgyz ministries on climate, energy, trade, tourism, and investment. Exhibitions of mountain products, such as honey, dried fruits, and traditional beverages, will also be part of the pavilions cultural offerings.

COP29 will open in Azerbaijan on November 13, marking the 29th annual session of the conference. Established by the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, the UNFCCC aims to prevent harmful human impact on the climate system. The Conference of Parties (COP) is the UNFCCCs main decision-making body, involving 198 member countries. The first COP was held in Berlin in 1995, with its secretariat based in Bonn, Germany.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will display an original edition of the Gettysburg Address starting on Nov. 15.

The exhibit will be available through Nov. 24 before it returns to a climate-controlled vault for safekeeping, according to a news release.

Free admission will be offered on Nov. 19 to give more people opportunity to see the document at the museum, 212 North Sixth Street in Springfield, Illinois. Nov. 19 also marks the 161st anniversary of Lincoln's delivery the speech at a military cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

While the speech is on display, guests will also have the opportunity to view it for just $5 without touring the rest of the museum if they wish.

Students from Springfield's Japanese sister city, Ashikaga, will visit the museum and recite the address on the anniversary as well.

Lincoln Historian Christian McWhirter will also discuss the document at 12:30 p.m. Nov. 21-22.

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ST. LOUIS  After more than a year of debate, aldermen are on the cusp of approving a plan that changes rules for homeless shelters.

The bill, which passed its first vote of the full board on Thursday, removes what amounts to a ban on shelters in the citys zoning rules, requiring them to obtain special exceptions to open.

Shelters would still need to gather signatures from neighbors before starting up  a requirement advocates for the homeless say is the main barrier to opening more shelters.

Shelters would also need to obtain a special permit from a city panel, which would evaluate their operations plans and hold a hearing to take public input. That panel could also impose certain limits on shelter operations, like a cap on occupancy or hours of operation, and revoke the permit if limits are exceeded.

But Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier, the bills sponsor, said the legislation would create a clearer, more efficient permitting process.

Housing is a human right, she said, and our zoning code should reflect that.

The push marked the latest effort by lawmakers to address one of the prickliest issues in the city and the region: Advocates for the homeless say there arent enough good shelter beds for all of the people who need them.

Sonnier, of Tower Grove East, and Aldermanic President Megan Green tried to address the issue last fall with a homeless Bill of Rights that would have eliminated the petition rules, established protections for tent encampments, and loosened rules on panhandling and public urination.

But the proposals ultimately died in committee amid a wave of opposition from neighborhoods and business owners worried about people relieving themselves on storefronts.

Sonnier and Green tried again earlier this year, proposing a bill that would have required shelters to gather signatures from 33 percent of their area rather than a majority. They noted that less than 15 percent of attempts to open shelters or similar institutions from 2008-2023 have met the requirements.

The legislation made it out of committee and all the way the floor of the Board of Aldermen before falling one vote short of initial passage.

That led Sonnier to the more modest proposal on zoning rules, which won over erstwhile critics and gave supporters of previous bills something to show for their efforts with elections coming up this spring.

Alderman Michael Browning, of Forest Park Southeast, applauded provisions streamlining the zoning process. Alderman Bret Narayan, of Dogtown, expressed relief that the bill said nothing about public urination.

But three North Side aldermen said they feared new shelters would come to their wards and exacerbate existing struggles. And Alderman Tom Oldenburg, of St. Louis Hills, said he worried the bills passage would herald a comeback for plans of the past, which targeted neighborhood petition requirements.

Its been mentioned that this does not touch plat-and-petition, said Oldenburg. The answer to that is, for now.

The bill won initial approval on a 10-5 vote. Those voting no were Oldenburg and aldermen Joe Vollmer, of the Hill, Laura Keys, of the OFallon neighborhood, Sharon Tyus, of Kingsway East, and Pam Boyd, of Walnut Park West.

The bill still needs to pass another round of voting at the board before it can move to the mayors desk. Mayor Tishaura O. Jones staff previously spoke on behalf of the measure, and she is expected to sign it.

The legislation is Board Bill 114.
Gen. Ronald Clark speaks to reporters at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, on Nov. 8, 2024, shortly before taking command of U.S. Army Pacific. (Wyatt Olson/Stars and Stripes)

FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii  The newest commander of U.S. Army Pacific can trace by decades his roots in Hawaii.

If you turn back the clock, our daughter, who was born at Tripler [Army Medical Center], is 30 now, Gen. Ronald Clark said during a news conference at Fort Shafter on Friday, shortly before a ceremony in which he assumed command from Gen. Charles Flynn.

Flynn, who led the Pacific forces since 2021, is retiring after serving almost 40 years.

Clark was a company commander in the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks at the time his daughter was born. He returned to Hawaii years later to lead that entire division, followed by a stint as chief of staff at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

Most recently, Clark was the top military aide to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

Clarks move to Hawaii was briefly delayed in September when Sen. Tommy Tuberville placed a hold on his nomination. The Alabama Republican had questions concerning Clarks role in the secrecy surrounding Austins hospitalization in January for complications arising from prostate cancer surgery. Tuberville dropped the hold after meeting with Clark.

Welcome back to the operational world, Adm. Samuel Paparo, head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, told Clark during an address at the ceremony.

Paparo deemed the West Point graduate tailor made for this duty.

But you also know that the security environment has worsened since the last time you were here just three short years ago, Paparo said.

Given this dangerous security environment  the increasingly connected, transactional symbiosis of our would-be adversaries, [Chinas] increasingly aggressive behavior, the increasing connections between Russia and North Korea  we need the team to be ready, he said.

Paparo told Clark he is precisely the right leader for this assignment.

And hand-picked, he said. Well value your strategic understanding of the global environment, your intimate knowledge of the Indo-Pacific.

Gen. Charles Flynn, right, relinquishes command of U.S. Army Pacific as he hands the combatant commands flag to Adm. Samuel Paparo, head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, on Nov. 8, 2024. Gen. Ronald Clark, left, awaits assumption of command. (Wyatt Olson/Stars and Stripes)

Gen. Randy George, chief of staff of the Army and the highest ranking official to speak at the ceremony, also warned of rougher seas ahead.

Today, our adversaries are working together to challenge us in every theater, he said. Russia, China, Iran and North Korea represent an axis of upheaval that is increasingly collaborating to threaten the free world. We understand how the battlefield is changing, and we have a sense of urgency about transforming our Army to meet the needs of our nation in todays volatile operating environment.

George credited Flynn with bolstering U.S. Army Pacifics formation with its roughly 106,000 personnel stationed from Alaska and the West Coast to Japan and South Korea.

Under Gen. Charlie Flynns leadership, USARPAC has transformed our expectations of what a theater army is capable of, George said. In the past four years, they have planned, coordinated and executed more than 200 bilateral and multilateral military exercises in more than 90 countries.

Flynns oversight of the reflagging of units in Alaska as the 11th Airborne Division in 2022 demonstrated organizational agility and commitment to dominating ground combat in the harsh terrain of the Arctic, George said.

Under Flynn, the 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force was stood up in 2022, which aims to integrate and coordinate cyber, electronic warfare, intelligence and long-range weapons by land, air or sea.

Flynn also helmed the creation in 2022 of the Joint Pacific Multinational Training Center, which allows soldiers based in Hawaii and Alaska to undergo combat readiness training in their respective climates and terrain rather than at centers in Louisiana and California.

There is also a mobile version of the training center, which has been deployed to Indonesia and the Philippines.

George lauded the centers for enhancing the joint forces relationships with militaries in allied and partner nations in the region.

There is no better partner than the U.S. Army, and while our adversaries are increasingly working together, it is the troopers of U.S. Army Pacific who are continuously transforming to build lethal and cohesive teams that contribute to deterrence, he said.
Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey, incoming commander of U.S. Southern Command, takes the command guidon from Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III during the SOUTHCOM change-of-command ceremony in Doral, Fla., Nov. 7, 2024. (Erica Bechard/U.S. Southern Command)

U.S. Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey assumed command of U.S. Southern Command in a ceremony held at the commands headquarters in Doral, Fla. on Thursday, according to a SOUTHCOM press release.

The change-of-command ceremony was presided over by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and attended by security leaders from 32 Latin American and Caribbean nations, the release said.

Holsey, who previously served as the military deputy commander of SOUTHCOM and was promoted to the rank of admiral shortly before the ceremony, is taking over from U.S. Army Gen. Laura J. Richardson, who is retiring.

Richardson was the first woman to command SOUTHCOM, while Holsey is the commands first African American leader. Austin hailed the distinction.

Ladies and gentlemen, were making history today. Were making America more secure for sure, Austin said, according to a Pentagon transcript. But were also making history today  as the first woman commander of SOUTHCOM passes the baton to the first African-American commander of SOUTHCOM.

Gen. Laura J. Richardson attaches the Joint Meritorious Unit Award streamer to the command guidon during the SOUTHCOM change-of-command ceremony in Doral, Fla., Nov. 7, 2024. U.S. Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey assumed command from Army Gen. Laura Richardson, who is retiring after 38 years of service. (Samantha Oblander/U.S. Southern Command)

Austin said that both Richardson and Holsey have broken barriers throughout their careers. Aside from being the first woman to lead SOUTHCOM, Richardson was also the first woman to command U.S. Army North, Austin noted. Meanwhile Holsey made history by becoming the inaugural commander of the International Maritime Security Construct / Coalition Task Force Sentinel, according to the SOUTHCOM release.

Holsey came under fire during a Senate confirmation hearing earlier in the year for his work on a report recommending steps the Navy could take to improve diversity and inclusion. His service record was not at issue in the hearing, however.

Austin also praised Richardson for her handling of the SOUTHCOMs re-engagement in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic  it had suspended most of its joint exercises prior to her taking command in October 2021  and the commands support of the multinational security mission in Haiti.

Austin, Holsey and Richardson all emphasized the importance of international partnerships to SOUTHCOMs efforts, a phenomenon underscored by the presence of numerous high-ranking officials from partner nations at the ceremony.

All three mentioned the usual challenges faced by the command  like transnational crime  but also discussed the rising role of great power competitors.

Richardson accused China of taking advantage of and extracting from the region while pretending to invest. Russia, she said, continues to bring warships into the region, while spreading disinformation through Russia Today en Espanol, Sputnik Mundo and Telesur.

In a similar vein, Holsey said that SOUTHCOM is at the front of strategic competition, according to the release. The Peoples Republic of China and Russia  seek to undermine democracy while gaining power and influence in the region.

SOUTHCOM is one of the Defense Departments 11 unified combatant commands and one of six regionally-focused commands, responsible for Central and South America and the Caribbean.
Andrew Morrison, 30, a New Zealander working in London in digital marketing for the Commonwealth Games, had come over to see his team defeat Ireland in the Aviva Stadium

An All Blacks supporter who got drunk and "buckled" the doors of a Dublin restaurant following Friday night's rugby match has been spared jail.

Andrew Morrison, 30, a New Zealander working in London in digital marketing for the Commonwealth Games, had come over to see his team defeat Ireland in the Aviva Stadium.

But he later got arrested and appeared at Dublin District Court on Saturday.

Morrison pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to the double doors of the Fabis Grill restaurant on Parnell Street, Dublin 1, and being intoxicated to such an extent he was a danger to himself and others.

Garda Michael Reilly told Judge Dermot Dempsey that the accused was arrested in the early hours of Saturday and made no reply when charged with the offences.

He objected to bail being granted to the rugby supporter, who has an address at Toronto House, Canary Wharf, London.

However, Judge Dempsey noted from defence solicitor Holly Laher that Morrison, who did not give evidence, was pleading guilty.

The arresting officer said Morrison was intoxicated in a public place, and there was a "strong smell of alcohol on his clothes".

The court heard that he had damaged the Brazilian restaurant's door and lock, which were left "buckled".

Pleading for leniency, Ms Laher said her client had been in the city for the match but got intoxicated and "believed he was at his accommodation and tried to gain entry".

Judge Dempsey demanded compensation before releasing the accused.

Ms Laher asked the judge to note her client had no previous convictions and was willing to make restitution. Following a recess, the case resumed with him handing over 500 to cover the damage, with Morrison's solicitor stressing that he was apologetic and it was out of character.

"Stand up so I can look at you, this brave All Black," the judge ordered, swiftly adding, "Take your hands out of your pockets."

He noted the compensation was paid over and imposed a 100 fine to be paid within one month.
He said his client was a bit of a hapless character and described the Garda perception of him as not a bad man, perhaps a sad man

A Dublin man caught with over 30,000 of sleeping tablets has been given a suspended sentence.

Robert Hanratty (48), described as a vulnerable person, was holding the drugs in the hope it would give protection from anti-social behaviour around his home, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard.

Hanratty, of Whiteacre Place, Ballymun, pleaded guilty to possession of zopiclone tablets at his home and a location in Ballymun for sale or supply on January 6, 2023. He has four minor previous convictions, none of which involve drugs.

Judge Orla Crowe noted there is minimum presumptive sentence of 10 years for this offence but said due to the exceptional and specific circumstances of this case, including his co-operation in relation to his own role and his lack of previous convictions, she could depart from that term.

She noted he has a drink problem, is vulnerable and had been put under pressure due to the vandalism on his home by local yobs.

Judge Crowe set a headline sentence of three years, and in light of his personal and mitigating circumstances, imposed a sentence of two years and four months which she suspended in full.

She said if there were any further issues the matter would be re-entered and noted a suspended sentence hangs over a person as a real penalty.

Garda Peter Elliot told Marc Thompson Grolimund BL, prosecuting, that gardai on patrol spotted Hanratty acting suspiciously and found three boxes of zopiclone tablets on his person.

Hanratty co-operated with a search of his home and a further quantity of 112 boxes were recovered, giving a total of 15,680 tablets. The total tablets recovered were valued at 32,200.

Gardai believed Hanratty had no propriety interest in the tablets and he was holding them for a third party.

Gda Elliot said zopiclone is a type of prescription sleeping tablet used by drug addicts coming down from a high. The court heard Hanratty does not use drugs but has difficulty with alcohol.

Defence counsel, Padraig Dwyer SC, said Hanratty said his accommodation had been targeted by juvenile delinquents and said he had been told that the attacks would stop if he held the drugs.

He said he committed the offence in circumstances where he was being threatened by local youths and thought this was a way to make life easier for himself. He also got a small payment.

He said his client was a bit of a hapless character and described the garda perception of him as not a bad man, perhaps a sad man.

He handed in an extensive psychological report and outlined his client had been drinking five nights a week, as well as suffering mental health issues and low mood as a result of the campaign against him. He has been engaging with a counsellor and intends to seek further assistance.

Counsel said it was an unusual scenario, a person committing a first serious offence at such an age. He submitted Hanratty was slightly behind in relation to intellectual functioning.

Mr Dwyer said there had been no trouble since and Hanratty had never been in prison before. He said his client was a good person who was easily led astray and handed in a number of references.
Mackenzie Michalski had been travelling through Europe with friends.

An Irishman has been arrested for the murder of an American tourist who went missing from a nightclub in Hungary.

Mackenzie Michalski (31)  who was known as Kenzie  was last heard from on Tuesday where she had spoken to her friends about her visit to Budapest.

After she failed to answer calls the next day, Mackenzies friends spread word on social media about her disappearance.

It is believed she went missing following a night out in Budapest and investigators claimed they had identified a man she was seen with in several nightclubs.

But now, Hungarian police have said they have arrested a 37-year-old Irish citizen in connection with the American womans murder.

According to the US station ABC News, Hungarian police have claimed the Irishman confessed to killing the US nurse.

He allegedly showed police where he had hidden her body and her remains have been recovered.

Mackenzie Michalski

Mackenzie, who lived in Portland, Oregon, had been traveling with a group of friends through Europe and had spent three days in Hungary.

She had partied ways with her friends on Monday telling them she was staying behind for one more night in Budapest before flying out on Tuesday.

However, when she missed her flight and never checked out of the Airbnb they shared in Budapest, her friend said she began to worry.

Michalski's family and friends released a statement on Friday that said they are "deeply saddened to confirm a report published by Hungarian police announcing the death of our beloved Kenzie."

"Kenzie will forever be remembered as a beautiful and compassionate young woman who dedicated herself to caring for others and making the world a better place.

"As a nurse practitioner, Kenzie used her humor, positivity, and limitless empathy to help heal her patients and encourage family and friends alike."

Her family and friends thanked the U.S. and Hungarian authorities for their "prompt attention, diligence, care, and consideration" as well as those who helped raise awareness about her disappearance.

"We are thankful that Kenzies soul is now at peace.

"Her memory and legacy will endure in the hearts of all whom shes touched. To understand Kenzies spirit is to wholeheartedly embrace the vast joy and wonder of life. Her wish for the world: fully embrace the present moment, be your authentic self, practice kindness, and always walk in the light."
She said she used to be a confident outgoing woman but now still has nightmares of the man cutting her fingers off

A man who left his former partner in terror after threatening to cut off her fingers with a garden secateurs before repeatedly raping her has appealed his conviction, arguing the trial judge failed to adequately explain the defence case to the jury.

The man, who cannot be named to protect the womans anonymity, was convicted of two counts of rape, two of oral rape, two of sexual assault and two threats to kill or cause serious harm following a trial before Mr Justice Tony Hunt at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork and was jailed for ten years.

At the man's sentence hearing in July 2022, the Cork woman described how she had stayed in a "toxic relationship" for 18 years for the sake of her children who she loves dearly.

After the attack, the injured party fled her home and found rented accommodation but shortly after moving in, the man smashed his way into the property with what she thought was a knife and told her he had paid someone 10,000 to get rid of her if he went to prison.

He told her this man had a picture of her and knew where she lived and worked.

The court heard the couple separated in 2019 but remained living together with their children. On the evening of August 2, 2019, the woman had come home from work when the man showed her the secateurs, grabbed her hand and told her that he would cut her fingers off if she didn't do what he said.

The man had a crazy look in his eyes and told the woman he was mad enough to cut off her fingers.

He ordered her into the bedroom and undressed her before repeatedly raping her. The court heard he only stopped when one of their children arrived home and began shouting to be let in.

At the Court of Appeal today, Padraig Dwyer SC, representing the man, argued the trial judge had erred by neglecting to summarise the evidence in the case and put the defence case to the jury.

He said defence counsel had made a submission asking the court to give a synopsis of the defence case but the judge had refused, stating: No Im not doing that, thats counsels function.

Mr Dwyer submitted it was the courts function to deal with the defence case, however briefly and succinctly, in the interests of basic fairness.

He said it was essential that the defence case should have been highlighted to understand the grounds that the defendant may have come to an honest belief that consent was given.

A second ground of appeal advanced was that the judge erred in failing to adequately charge the jury in relation to the doctrine of recent complaint evidence, in regards to the particular facts of the case and the demeanour of the complainant.

He said the directions given were confusing to the jury and as a result they may not have understood the import of what was being conveyed to them.

Thomas Creed SC, for the DPP, said the defence case in this trial was one of consent or one of honest belief in consent. This was adequately put to the jury, he said, and there had been no error by the judge.

Counsel said it was clear that the judge had properly charged the jury regarding the issue of recent complaint evidence.

Mr Justice John Edwards said the court would reserve judgement in the case.

The sentencing hearing was told that after the attack the woman fled her home and spent a few weeks sleeping in hotels and with friends before finding rental accommodation.

She did not initially go to gardai because of how it might affect her children and during that time she said she was afraid to be on the streets.

She said she felt safe for the first time when she found the rented accommodation but a few days after moving in the man smashed his way into the back of the property and came charging towards her with what the woman thought was a knife.

The knife was a modified nail file. The man told her he had paid a man 10,000 and that he "would get her" if anything happened to him and he went to prison.

He told her this man had a picture of her and knew where she lived and worked and said: I paid someone 10,000 to get rid of you if anything happens and I went to prison.

The man pleaded guilty to interfering with a witness in a criminal investigation, trespass, assault causing harm, criminal damage and making a threat to kill.

In her victim impact statement, the woman said she was in shock and believed his threats.

It gave me chills to think I had been watched in my home, she said.

The victim said she was terrified of the man because she felt he was capable of anything and she had to close her business of 18 years.

She said she used to be a confident outgoing woman but now still has nightmares of the man cutting her fingers off.
Wexford Circuit Court dealt with an assault causing harm prosecution against Martin Ryan (60), formerly of Whelans in Blackwater. The offence, which left Joe Neville with a broken jaw and several missing teeth, occurred on a Sunday afternoon in October of 2020.

A Circuit Court judge has issued a stern warning to a Wexford publican who was found guilty of assaulting an intoxicated customer with a sweeping brush.

There are ways to deal with drunk customers, Judge James McCartan told the pub landlord, hitting him with a brush is not acceptable and it is criminal.

Wexford Circuit Court dealt with an assault causing harm prosecution against Martin Ryan (60), formerly of Whelans in Blackwater. The offence, which left Joe Neville with a broken jaw and several missing teeth, occurred on a Sunday afternoon in October of 2020.

Neville came to court to recall how was in the pub on the day in question, drinking whiskey and large bottles of cider. He accepted that he was being a bit of a pain.

He broke a mirror in the gents toilet but insisted that this was an accident. Then he smashed a bottle against a wall outside in the smoking area.

He remembered shouting at Ryan when the man in charge of the bar came out to talk to him about the broken mirror. Next thing the witness could recall was waking up in the back of an ambulance.

He was referred to St Jamess in Dublin for surgery and spent eight days in hospital. His injuries required a skin graft and the fitting of false teeth. He was out from work for a while as a result of the incident.

The court heard from pub customer Brid Curran how she headed out to the smoking area on the evening in question. As she went through the door, she saw Ryan swinging a brush and someone falling to the ground. It was a good swing, she remarked.

She turned around and called for someone to come outside. Among those who responded was Paul Kelly who gave evidence of finding Neville unconscious and struggling to breathe.

His recollection was that the defendant said I burst him and, eff him, he can stay there. This choice of words was disputed by the accused.

Martin Sutton, who also testified, confirmed that he observed the injured man bleeding, eyes closed, and not moving. By the time Garda Liam Marshall arrived, the casualty had been loaded into the ambulance.

The garda used his work phone to take photos of the injuries before the ambulance left the scene. When arrested and interviewed, the defendant explained that he had been using the brush to sweep up broken glass.

He confirmed that he swung the brush at the customer and suggested that some of the injuries might have been caused by Neville falling against a table.

The court learned that Ryans partner Niamh Leacy was named on the lease of Whelans at the time but that she since did not renew the lease. The accused now worked as a self-employed bus driver.

Judge McCourt was satisfied that Nevilles injuries had come about as a result of Ryans criminal assault. He agreed with prosecuting counsel Sinead Gleeson that the red mist had descended.

That is not the way to run a public house, he concluded as he adjourned sentencing to a later date.
At Ennis Circuit Court on Friday, Helga Himmelsbach delivered a searing victim impact statement concerning the death of her husband, Jerry OConnor (71) on July 27th 2023

Mr OConnor died at the scene on the N67 leading out of Ballyvaughan after a French motorist, Olivier Le Bozec (pictured) crashed into Mr OConnors Yamaha motorbike while Mr Le Bozec was driving on the wrong side of the road

A widow has told a court that her life is broken beyond repair and she in trapped in a nightmare following the death of her husband in a road traffic accident last year.

At Ennis Circuit Court on Friday, Helga Himmelsbach delivered a searing victim impact statement concerning the death of her husband, Jerry OConnor (71) on July 27th 2023.

Before commencing her victim impact statement a few feet away from Judge Francis Comerford, Ms Himmelsbach placed a photo of Mr OConnor and a candle beside the witness box facing Judge Comerford.

Mr OConnor died at the scene on the N67 leading out of Ballyvaughan after a French motorist, Olivier Le Bozec (42) crashed into Mr OConnors Yamaha motorbike while Mr Le Bozec was driving on the wrong side of the road.

Mr Le Bozec of Rue Georges Cadoudal, Locoal Mendon, France was on the second day of a family holiday in Ireland with his wife and eight year old son and they were driving to Aillwee Caves outside Ballyvaughan when the crash occurred on a blind bend at 10.30am.

An eye witness, June Rouine driving behind Mr OConnor said that he had no chance to react before impact and Mr OConnors body slid under Mr Le Bozecs French registered Renault.

Mr Le Bozec pleaded guilty to the dangerous driving causing the death of Mr OConnor and today Mr Le Bozec walked free from court after Judge Francis Comerford imposed a suspended 17 month prison term on Mr Le Bozec.

Judge Comerford also imposed a four year driving ban on Mr Le Bozec and the terms of his suspended prison term are on condition that he pays a 7,000 fine within 12 months.

Judge Comerford said that an aggravating factor in the case was Mr Le Bozec driving on the wrong side of the road for a long time not to notice.

However, Judge Comerford said that there are a number of mitigating factors in the case

He said that there was no evidence of speed in the case, no evidence of drink driving, that there was a guilty plea at the earliest opportunity, Mr Le Bozec had co-operated with Gardai, that he had no previous convictions and that Mr Le Bozec was a first time offender.

He said: Mitigation is as complete as it could be in a case and the highest measure of mitigation does apply in this case.

Judge Comerford said Mr Le Bozec had apologised from the witness box in court.

In the witness box, Mr Le Bozec told the court through a translator said: My wife and I deeply regret what happened and this will be with us until the end of our lives.

He said: What I am going to say today I know will not mitigate the pain endured by the family of Jerry O'Connor but it is important that I say it."

The hospital maintenance worker said: We will always think about the man who died that day until the end of our lives unfortunately. We are truly, deeply and sincerely sorry for what happened."

I will never, ever forget what happened on that tragic day.

The court heard that Mr Le Bozecs wife, an oncology nurse, tried to revive Mr OConnor at the scene.

Imposing the suspended prison term, Judge Comerford commented that the culpability in this case is not as high as many other cases of dangerous driving causing death.

He said: It is more appropriate that the punishment does not involve an immediate prison sentence I know that this wont satisfy a lot of people in this court."

On the fine to be imposed, Judge Comerford said: No matter the figure I pick, it wont be commensurate with the damage caused.

In her victim impact statement, Ms Himmelsbach said following the death of Jerry instead of enjoying our days together, there is now only loneliness, pain and fear.

Ms Himmelsbach said: Instead of sharing life, there is no more togetherness, no more sharing, no more intimacy, no more chatting over a cup of coffee, no more shared meals, nothing. My days begin in loneliness and end in loneliness.

She said: All of this because one man couldnt abide by two basic rules of the road - drive on the correct side of the road and appropriately to the conditions of the road.

She said: Nothing can undo the suffering this dangerous driver has caused. Still I hope that he will get to feel the consequences of his crime in a very palpable way and through that he can atone and learn to take responsibility for his actions."

Ms Himmelsbach said from the moment she became aware that Jerry was killed by Monsieur Olivier Le Bozecs driving on the day my life has altered in the most destructive way so that now I am just contemplating on how to survive on my own".

She said: This defendant does not know me but he has ruined my life utterly, my past, my present and my future. I cannot yet bear to think of my past life with Jerry, those memories are still way too raw.

My present life is so very, very desolate without him.

She said that I still feel that the defendant abused the hospitality of our host community of north Clare when he engaged in his criminal behaviour which ultimately resulted in the death of my beloved Jerry.

The shock has not abated and still sends my heart racing and keeps me in a perpetual sense of being trapped in a nightmare.

The couple operated the Burren Wellness Centre togethe and Ms Himmelsbach said: Jerry was a beautiful, kind and multi-talented man and we loved and cared for each other that a level I never thought existed. No other person has touched my life more deeply."

While the defendant killed any husband, he also destroyed the very essence of my own life and put me under a life sentence of loss, despair, worry and pain.

I must now face every single day alone, without my closest confidante, without the person I trusted with every fibre of my being."

She added: From the moment when life was knocked out of Jerry, and nearly each and every bone was shattered in his body, my life was also shattered.

Mr OConnor was a father of four adult children and three grand-children from a previous relationship. Ms Himmelsbach said that the two got engaged on this day, November 8th in Hawaii in 2007.
Margaret Bergin has now swapped her rural life on Laois farm for the Dochas Centre in city centre Dublin which is part of the Mountjoy complex.

GRANDMOTHER-of-three Margaret Bergin has begun her two-year sentence in the Dochas Centre where shell rub shoulders with drug mules and killers.

The 73-year-old Co Laois woman had admitted falsely claiming 271,000 of her dead father-in-law's pension for over 28 years.

At one point as the net began to close in she had her husband lie in bed in a bid to throw off suspicious officials from the Department of Social Welfare.

At that stage her father-in-law, who had died in 1993, would have been 112 years of age.

In a letter of apology read out in the court last week from Ms Bergin, she said she wanted to "apologise sincerely" for what she done and say how sorry she was for committing the crime.

Margaret Bergin

But Judge Keenan Johnson said it went against her that she had failed to come up with more compensation to pay back what was owed to State.

He said he failed to understand why part of the family farm of 99 acres could not be sold, or mortgaged to get the money.

The judge said the payment of 75,000 was a factor in her favour but "not as substantial as it might otherwise have been."

Judge Johnson said it was "with great regret" that he felt duty bound to send her to prison.

At a previous hearing Judge Johnson said it was an outrageous and bizarre affair like a John B Keane plot.

The investigation started when the gerontologist  a professional who studies aging - was surprised to find a 110 year man alive and contacted the Aras to request their records.

Margaret Bergin has now swapped her rural life on Laois farm for the Dochas Centre in city centre Dublin which is part of the Mountjoy complex.

There is a womens wing at Limerick Prison but the Dochas is otherwise main prison for women serving prison sentences.

The vast majority of the 179 women there this week are serving short sentences relating to petty crime often as a result of addiction problems.

There are others serving lengthier sentences for acting as mules smuggling drugs into Ireland.

But it is also home to women serving life sentences for murder.

One of those is Catherine O'Connor who cut a memorable figure with her facial swastika tattoo, during her trial for her part in murdering two men in 24 hours.

In 2011, neighbours in the Co Cork town of Bandon spotted a body being dumped into the river from an apartment balcony.

Gardai called to the scene followed a trail of blood into a flat where they found O'Connor lying on a couch in just her underwear with blood on her hands and feet.

Tanya Doyle had been working as a prostitute when she stabbed her estranged husband to death.

His pleas for mercy were heard on his call to the emergency services.

She was 40 when she was jailed for life in 2013 for the 2009 murder of Paul Byrne at their home in Tallaght in which she knifed him 60 times.

Asked if she meant to stab him so many times she said: "I did yeah cos I wasn't going to be done for attempted murder, cos I could have had a fresh start with decent money. He wouldn't sign the house over."

Regina Keogh is one of seven people serving life sentences for murders linked to the Hutch/Kinahan feud but she is the only woman.

She persuaded a friend to let her brother Jonathan Keogh and Thomas Fox use a flat in Cumberland Street in a plan to kill Gareth Hutch in 2016.

His murder was caught on CCTV cameras after he was targeted for being a member of the Hutch family. Judge Tony Hunt said Ms Keogh, who had otherwise lived a "blameless life", was "unfortunate" to receive the same sentence as the two men.
The senior Cartel executive appeared in the High Court on Friday to drop his fight against extradition

Peadar Keating has surrendered himself to be extradited to the UK on gun plot charges.

The senior Cartel executive appeared in the High Court on Friday to drop his fight against extradition and is expected to be in custody in the UK by Christmas.

Keating has been in jail here since he pleaded guilty to directing a criminal gang but is accused of conspiring to amass an arsenal of guns in the botched plot, hatched by Thomas Bomber Kavanagh, to get a reduced sentence.

Kavanagh and his brother-in-law Liam Byrne appeared in the Old Bailey last month along with a co-accused Shaun Kent from Liverpool. They pleaded guilty to conspiring to stockpiling the guns and ammunition so that Kavanagh could hand them up to police in an attempt to get a lighter sentence for drug trafficking.

The Sunday World has previously revealed that the plot was cooked up after Kavanagh met with Steven Gerrards cousin, Bobby Gerrard, in Dovegate prison, who told him that the plan would knock years off his sentence.

Kavanaghs son Jack has since pleaded guilty to his role in the plot and is awaiting sentence.

Keating is understood to have fallen out with Kavanagh and when he first found himself wanted in the UK in relation to the plot he told prison officers that his former boss was a dirty rat.

He is furious with Kavanagh and has washed his hands with him completely, a prison source said. He hasnt a good word to say about him and wants nothing to do with him. He says that Kavanagh cant do his time and to save himself took them all down with him. It particularly disgusts Keating that Kavanagh got his own child caught up in it.

EncroChat phones were key to the NCA investigation into the plot which backfired on Kavanagh when messages relating to it were harvested during the hack of the criminals network of choice.

Messages read out during the sentence hearing of Kavanagh, Byrne and Kent suggest that Keating was reluctant to get involved and refused to take calls from Bomber from prison.

It is unlikely that Keating will fight the charges in the UK. Byrne, whose role was similar to that which Keating is alleged to have taken, received five years in prison. Kavanagh, who directed and orchestrated the plan, got six years.

The High Court this week directed that Keating be surrendered to the UK in 10 to 25 days time, when arrangements are made for his transfer.
Health Minister met relatives of some of the thousands of patients who died while being treated by the consultant neurologist.

From left to right  Dessie Carabine, Amanda Scott, holding picture of her late daughter Zoe, and Colin Armstrong.

Disgraced neurologist Dr Michael Watt continued treating patients privately even after hed been suspended by the NHS, it was claimed this week.

The struck-off doctor, who misdiagnosed hundreds of patients over two decades, was finally prevented from causing harm to patients in Belfast Trust hospitals in 2017 after a GP raised alarm bells over his treatment of one of his patients in December 2016.

In truth, concerns had been raised about his treatment a decade earlier and then again by a senior health official who was misdiagnosed with MS by Dr Watt in 2011  yet he was only stopped from treating NHS patients in early 2017.

Last week Health Minister Mike Nesbitt met relatives of some of the thousands of patients who died while being treated by the consultant neurologist.

Following that meeting, the Department of Health has had to look into claims that Dr Watt was still treating some patients privately even after he had been suspended by the Belfast Trust.

The Sunday World was barred from attending the closed-doors meeting but those inside have described it as extremely emotional.

Around 50 relatives from 15 families attended the meeting which we have been told became heated as people expressed their anger that Dr Watt hadnt been stopped from practising medicine on their loved ones long before he was.

But, shockingly, it was claimed Dr Watt continued treating some of his private patients for months, despite bosses from the Department of Health making him stop by suspending him and carrying out a review of his work.

Amanda Scott's daughter Zoe sadly died in Sept 2020, she was a long standing patient of disgraced neurologist Dr Michael Watt.

Though employed by the Belfast Trust, Dr Watt also treated patients in a private capacity in a number of locations. The Department of Health said they had not been aware of him treating patients after his suspension and have written to one family to clarify the matter.

They have not said what precise date he was fully suspended but added they would be writing to all the families to make it clear he was fully restricted in 2017.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said last night: Michael Watts clinical practice was fully restricted in 2017. The Department is not aware of Michael Watt continuing to practice after this date either within Belfast Health and Social Care Trust or in private practice. Following the meeting, department officials have been in contact with a family to clarify the date of Michael Watts restriction and there will be further correspondence with the families to make clear that Michael Watts clinical practice was fully restricted in 2017.

Dr Watt was finally struck off the medical register in November 2022 and last month we revealed more than 160 people had contacted a PSNI investigation team looking into his practices  while many of those treated by him believe others should face investigation for not stopping him earlier.

From left to right  Dessie Carabine, Amanda Scott, holding picture of her late daughter Zoe, and Colin Armstrong.

Amanda Scott attended Tuesdays meeting and says she was in tears after listening to the stories of other relatives.

Her daughter Zoe died a harrowing death in 2019 from diabetes. She begged Dr Watt to send Zoe for a brain scan but he refused, despite him being unable to successfully treat a vicious migraine headache which Zoe lived with 24 hours a day.

The tears in that room and the grief and hurt couldnt be measured, Amanda told us after the meeting at Stormont.

Our grieving process will always go back to the first stage until we get accountability and liability. I have always said his treatment killed my daughter from day one and thats what others in that meeting believe.

From that sense the meeting made me feel validated  it was never my Zoe or myself who was mentally unwell.

I was heartbroken to hear that families were still being harmed by that man even after hed been suspended. How can a suspended doctor still be allowed to run a private practice when his own employer suspended him?

Dr Watt made hundreds of misdiagnoses over more than 20 years in both the NHS and private practice in illnesses including stroke, Parkinsons disease, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy in what is developing into the biggest scandal to ever hit the health service.

Many patients were told they had serious conditions they didnt have and were given dangerous medication they didnt need to take.

Dessie Carabine was also at the meeting on Wednesday and said he couldnt believe Watt was still able to treat patients privately. His 73-year-old wife, Ciss, died after Dr Watt misdiagnosed her with having a stroke when in fact she had motor neuron disease.

Tuesdays meeting with the Health Minister came after years of campaigning from relatives like Colin Armstrong for the Department of Health to complete the review into all the deaths  around 3,500  which took place over the ten years before Dr Watt was relieved of his medical duties.

Colin, whose mum Ruth was diagnosed with epilepsy that she never had and was prescribed powerful medication by Dr Watt which he believes contributed to killing her, says he was disappointed to be told on Tuesday that commitment would not be completed.

The Department of Health said: Minister Nesbitt met with 15 families who took part in the Deceased Patients Review. The minister would like to extend his sincere thanks to everyone who attended and provided their testimony.

The minister would also like to remind any further families who wish to have their loved ones cases reviewed to do so before 31 December 2025. Families should contact the RQIA on 08000 520012.
UPDATE: Ann has been found

Gardai in Wexford have appealed to the public for assistance in locating a 29-year-old woman who has been missing since last Thursday.

Ann Lambe Murphy/Murray is described as being approximately 5'4" tall with medium-length brown hair and blue eyes.

Last seen in Wexford town, she was wearing a dark grey fleece jacket, light grey tracksuit bottoms and black-framed glasses.

Gardai say they and Ann's family are concerned for her safety.

Anyone with information on Ann's whereabouts is urged to contact Wexford Garda Station on 053-916 5200, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800-666-111 or any garda station.
Baz Ashmawy talks to Caoimhe Young about his hectic schedule on and off screen as he juggles multiple shows and being a dad (and granddad)

Baz Ashmawy returns with The Money List as his own list of successful shows grows

Baz Ashmawy returns with The Money List as his own list of successful shows grows

Ill have to keep working, laughs Baz Ashmawy as he gives a rundown on the six children and two grandchildren he shares with his wife Tanja.

Outside of being the busiest man on Irish telly, he loves spending time with his big, bustling family who run the gamut from tiny toddlers to teenagers to fully fledged adults.

His youngest daughter is on the cusp of her teenage years, but he is thankful she is still happy to spend time with him when hes away from the cameras.

There is a huge posse of us. Were going to need a bigger boat, as the man said, he says.

My youngest [was] 12 in October, I have a 14-year-old as well. The other kids are getting bigger, and one is in uni in Birmingham, and shes doing great, and the boys are doing brilliant as well.

Then Charlotte has two babies of her own now, Lily and Marlee  theyre gorgeous, theyre so sweet.

Its a big family, but its great. Im looking at the 12-year-old and going, God Im going to lose her soon to the dark side, he jokes.

But she still wants to hang out with me at the weekends, and go to the cinema and we have good fun.

His biggest sense of pride is in the characters of the children reared in his Dublin home.

Im very proud of them all. Theyve all done really well, and theyre all nice people, which is more what impresses me.

Baz Ashmawy returns with The Money List as his own list of successful shows grows

I like hanging out with them and spending time with them. Family life is still very dominant. Were still busy, especially [now] even having the grandkids at the weekends.

It just keeps going, doesnt it? Its different levels but its all good.

Away from his home life, the TV star is a ubiquitous presence on Irish screens, whether its bagging an Emmy for throwing his Mammy out of planes or becoming Irelands newest quizmaster or creating and starring in the semi-autobiographical dramedy, Faithless.

The all-round entertainers endearingly open personality brings warmth and humour to all his projects.

For him, he makes TV like he watches TV. Sometimes you want to watch a quiz, sometimes you want to watch a documentary, or you want to watch a comedy or drama.

Making TV or presenting TV can be like that as well. If you do the same thing all the time, you can become a little stale.

He is back on our screens next week with the second series of RTEs primetime game show, The Money List, which sees two teams of complete strangers pair up to fill in missing answers on a list.

When the random list titles are revealed  which can veer from Presidents of the USA to Madonnas Hit Singles  the teams bid on how many correct answers they think they can name from inside their soundproof boots.

The first team to win two lists gets to play for 15,000. The champions can keep on earning until another team of contestants knocks them out.

Baz and partner Tanja Evans

I think that punters really make the show, says Baz, I remember saying before: all the reasons Irish people should never be on telly are all the reasons they should be on telly. Theyre great fun.

And he says they can earn a lot of wedge unlike some formats. Its real punters winning decent money, he explains.

Its kind of gone past the days of these kind of game shows where theres no real money up for grabs. With this, they can win 15 grand in a week, and if they stay on for a week or two, all of a sudden the cash starts to pile up a bit.

People have won 50K, 60k, he says of the series, which will see episodes running on Saturdays and Sundays over the coming weeks.

The slick production has all the bells and whistles of a shiny, primetime game show.

Its a big set, he says, Theres a big podium and lots of buttons and lights and soundproof boots and all that kind of stuff.

And its a show that went down well with his most famous TV sidekick.

Baz Ashmawy returns with The Money List as his own list of successful shows grows

My mom is a quiz nut so I suppose its maybe a little nod to her. Shes addicted to The Chase and loves the Money List, he says.

When it comes to their Emmy award-winning show, 50 Ways to Kill Your Mammy, there are no plans for a sequel. It would be hard work getting her to do it now, he laugh. Shes at a very nice stage in her life.

Now shed probably prefer to spend her evenings relaxing a bit more than me throwing her out of planes and testing her blood pressure. But never say never.

While quiz shows are right up her lane, she did have a note on his loosely autobiographical dramedy about an Irish man of Egyptian heritage attempting to raise three young girls in Wicklow while exploring grief, identity, and multi-culturalism.

Me Ma thought the language was a bit strong, he says of the irreverent comedy, which won unanimously positive reviews.

For him, it was a full circle moment as he started out his career as an actor. Being a household name, he decided it would be hard to get cast so he decided he might as well write something.

As you get older, you care less what people think to a certain degree, Im not afraid of failing at things. Whats to lose?

Theres something amazing [about] sitting and writing something for a long period of time, and then walking onto a set one day, and this whole universe just comes alive. That was a real kick for me.

He said the reaction was much better than I ever thought it could have been.

Its a million miles away from Money List  youre effing and blinding and the language is a bit loose and the content is a bit more adult but its nice to do different things.

I was nervous, obviously, but I wasnt cripplingly nervous.

The actors I had with me were so good that I never really worried in that regard, and sometimes things work and sometimes things dont work.

Hes in the middle of penning the second series of Faithless now.

Its looking healthy, its looking good. I wont pat myself on the back just yet, but its looking very close.

With over three decades of experience on the small screen, his shows have garnered audiences across completely different generations but there are a handful very close to his heart.

There are certain shows that you just have a connection to, Mammy is something very special to me and maybe it is very personal, and thats why I love it.

DIY SOS is the same for me. Im very blessed to work on it and meet the people that I meet. I love it, and thats coming back as well. I feel very lucky.

At the end of the day, he has distilled his very particular set of skills down to one simple tenet: Youre an entertainer.
An aspirational foodie collective in the Coastal Bay of Plenty has earned a New Zealand Tourism Award for its outstanding collaboration and alignment efforts.

Judges at the Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) event praised Flavours of Plenty for being "a strong example of an exciting vehicle to elevate New Zealand cuisine, with the potential to 'awaken a sleeping giant' within Aotearoa New Zealand tourism".

Flavours of Plenty was first launched in June 2021 as the core of Tourism Bay of Plentys new culinary tourism strategy.

On Wednesday, the collective won the Tourism Industry New Zealand Trust (TINZT) Industry Collaboration and Alignment Award for its foodie community connections, brand, funding platform, and food festival.

A flashback to the launch of the Flavours of Plenty collective, in June 2021.

The win comes a year after the Flavours of Plenty Festival was named Best Lifestyle Event and co-winner of the Best Local Government Event at the New Zealand Events Association awards.

Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager Oscar Nathan said his teams latest TIA win exemplifies what it takes for tourism to flourish.

This award category is all about collaboration and alignment.

Its the magic that happens when everyone works together - how communities, councils, and a whole range of visitor sector businesses can make a real impact as we support and celebrate our people, produce, plates, and place.

Flavours of Plenty Festival. Photo supplied.

Local growers, artisans, producers, restaurateurs, chefs, and event organisers are working together across our region to align their offerings to create an award-winning festival and platform that support each other.

Together, weve put the Coastal Bay of Plenty on the map as a must-visit food destination.

Flavours of Plenty wins national tourism award. Photo supplied.

Id like to acknowledge our essential funders and supporters and all the other amazing New Zealand Tourism Award finalists.
Iwi will light bonfires on beaches this weekend to support Hikoi Mo Te Tiriti - the national hikoi (march) opposed to the Governments proposed Treaty Principles Bill.

Tauranga Moana iwi, Ngai Te Rangi, Ngati Ranginui and Ngati Pukenga will light four fires at sunrise on Sunday down the coastal boundary of Mataatua, from Bowentown to Tihirau, with the biggest on Mount Maunganui Beach, near Moturiki (Leisure Island).

Ngai Te Rangi deputy chief executive Roimata Ah Sam said in a statement the lighting of the land held great meaning for Maori and was often used in conflict resolution.

The proposed Treaty Principle Bill fell under that category and this is not just a Maori kaupapa, it is a New Zealand kaupapa, she said.

A fire will be lit on Mount Maunganui Beach near Moturiki (Leisure Island) on Sunday at 6am.

Tauranga Moana is not on the hikoi trail but the lighting of the fires symbolises the heating of the whenua which will feed into the mauri of our hikoi. Its a traditional practice that brings people together to support the kaupapa.

We are encouraging whanau to attend and participate in the lighting ceremony and to bring their own Bricnic (breakfast picnic) to enjoy with your whanau.

There will be karakia and waiata and she welcomed anyone who wanted to support the movement against the Bill.

Ngai Te Rangi Deputy chief executive Roimata Ah Sam says Tauranga moana iwi will support Hikoi Mo Te Tiriti. Photo / Naera Ohia Photography

We will not tolerate the undermining of our rights as tangata whenua. We definitely will not deal with our language being stripped away from us and for sure, we wont deal with our cultural identity being stripped away from us.

Effectively, the Government is proposing to do exactly that with the Treaty Principles Bill.

David Seymours Treaty Principles Bill was introduced to Parliament on Thursday.

The hikoi starts at Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua on Monday and arrives in Wellington for a rally at Parliament on November 19.

A busload of Tauranga Moana supporters will join the hikoi in Hamilton on November 14.

Regardless whether its high tide or low tide or if the waves are hard and smashing against the rocks, Te Toka a Tirikawa (Tirikawa rock) still stands, and that is effectively us, we will stand strong no matter the conditions. This is still a really important issue for our people.

Act leader David Seymour introduced the bill early on Thursday.

Seymour said the bill could not and would not diminish Maori language or culture.

As I said at Waitangi last year, Act is committed to cherishing the Maori and culture.

The Treaty Principles Bill provides an opportunity for New Zealanders - rather than the courts and the Waitangi Tribunal - to have a say on what the Treaty means.

Did the treaty give different rights to different groups, or does every citizen have equal rights? I believe all New Zealanders deserve to have a say on that question, Seymour said.

Hikoi Mo Te Tiriti bonfire

Why: The opening of the hikoi to support tangata whenuas fight against the Treaty Principles Bill

When: Sunday, November 10. The fire will be lit at 6am

Where: Mount Maunganui Beach near Moturiki (Leisure Island)

Bring: A Bricnic (breakfast picnic) if you wish to enjoy with your whanau
DEAR ABBY: Im a walker, and Id like to know, is there a rule regarding passing an oncoming walker? I tend to stay on my right as though I were driving a car, but the occasional walker seems insistent upon staying on their left.

Also, a shoutout to your readers: Sidewalks are for PEDESTRIANS, so please dont park your vehicles, lawn mowers, lawn equipment, home maintenance/repair equipment, etc. on them. While its easy for me to maneuver around them, it isnt easy for small children on bikes or individuals using wheelchairs or pushing strollers. -- STROLLING IN FLORIDA

DEAR STROLLING: The etiquette for pedestrians is the same as that for drivers in all 50 states: Keep to the right side of the road. Also, people who ride scooters and bicycles on the sidewalk are a danger to pedestrians. In many communities, there may be ordinances to discourage parking equipment on sidewalks. If the arrangement is semi-permanent, visit your city hall website to determine to which department the violation(s) should be reported.

EDITORS NOTE: Abbys advice here is a little unclear. In New York State, however, pedestrians are first expected to use a sidewalk, if available. Then, if no sidewalk is available, walkers are expected to walk facing oncoming traffic, i.e., on the left side of the road. Read more, here. If an oncoming walker is not obeying those rules, use common sense when it comes to getting around them, rather than having an argument over whos on the correct side in the middle of a busy roadway.

** ** **

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

** ** **

For everything you need to know about wedding planning, order How to Have a Lovely Wedding. Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby, Wedding Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)

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Utica, N.Y.  A 19-year-old mother who recently graduated high school was shot and killed early Friday morning in Utica, police said.

Kyamonie Davis, of Utica, was found shot multiple times on Faxton Street while officers were investigating another shooting, said Lt. Michael Curley, a spokesperson for the police department.

Davis was a recent graduate of Proctor High School and was the proud mother of her daughter named Kalani, her family told police.

Davis died on a night when police responded to three shootings in different areas.

The first shooting was reported at 12:30 a.m. at a store at 822 South St., Curley said.

As police were investigating the shooting at the store, a ShotSpotter notification alerted them to shots fired on Faxton Street.

Thats where Davis was shot, along with a man, he said. The man had gunshot wounds to his back and Davis had multiple gunshot wounds to the chest.

Both were taken to Wynn Hospital, where Davis died.

The family is devastated to have lost a loved one due to gun violence, they said in a statement that police shared.

Davis was a caring, trusting and beautiful soul to her daughter, family and friends, the statement said.

At 3:30 a.m., police were still investigating the shooting on Faxton Street when they received another alert that shots had been fired on the 1500 block of Howard Avenue.

Multiple gunshots were fired at a home on Howard Avenue while residents inside were sleeping. Children were in the home at the time, he said. No one was injured in the shooting.

Police are working to determine if the shootings are connected, Curley said.

Police ask anyone with information regarding the incidents to call its major crimes unit at 315-223-3556.

Staff writer Timia Cobb covers breaking news. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at tcobb@syracuse.com.
Syracuse, N.Y.  A Syracuse Common Council committee is giving residents a chance to ask questions and express concerns about lead levels in the citys drinking water.

A Public Works Committee meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, in the Van B. Robinson Common Council Chambers at City Hall. The purpose, according to a meeting notice, is to to hold a town hall-style meeting to educate the community and address concerns regarding water sampling as it relates to lead.

Mayor Ben Walshs administration last month disclosed that testing showing a dramatic spike in Syracuses drinking water lead levels earlier this year may have been faulty because proper sampling protocols were not followed. Water samples are supposed to be collected from inside homes by volunteer residents, but in the first half of 2024, some samples showing abnormally high lead levels actually were collected from outside faucets by officials charged with collecting samples.
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aviator1101 BHPian



Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Kolkata, Tezpur Posts: 593 Thanked: 3,005 Times

Re: Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 Review Ownership Update : Bagheera crosses 15000 kms





Present day odo reading : 15300 kms (post completion of Mechuka ride)





Got home Bagheera on 23 December 2023 and it's been a little less than 11 months that she's crossed the 15k milestone.



In the last 11 months, have taken her to various destinations covering almost the entire expanse of Incredible North East and one long ride from Tezpur to Lahaul-Spiti and back.



I shall share a glimpse of the trips that we have done together.





Mahamritunjay Temple, Naugaon, Assam (December 2023)





Shillong, Meghalaya (December 2023)





Bhairabkunda, Bhutan (Feb 2024)





Kibithu, Arunachal Pradesh (March 2024)





Kaho, Arunachal Pradesh (March 2024)



Few of the highest(s) that we scaled during the Spiti Trip.





Hikkim, World's Highest Post Office, Lahaul-Spiti, Himachal Pradesh (September 2024)





Komic, world's Highest Village connected by motorable bridge, Lahaul-Spiti, Himachal Pradesh (September 2024)





Chicham, World's Highest Suspension Bridge, Lahaul-Spiti, Himachal Pradesh (September 2024)





Mechuka, Arunachal Pradesh (November 2024)



Having done these trips, and accumulated over 15000 kms with Bagheera, I shall be sharing few pros and cons that I could observe with my little experience. Few heads would figure in both pros and cons for the way they appear to me :-



The Pros

General

The bike is a mile muncher. Highway behaviour is something which anybody would fall in love with. The engine with its strong mid and top range is something that helps you keep up with bikes of higher categories with ease. (Experienced it myself during Kibithu trip with a GS 850 and during Spiti trip with a Tiger 800)



Engine

The engine is a gem. Though it lacks that low end grunt of the 411, which one misses after slowing down or stopping on steep inclines, but the strong mid range rescues you every time.

I, for one, could not make out that famous lag in throttle input till date.



Suspension

One of the best things that RE has put in the bike. From potholes to speed breakers to gravel to boulders to off roads to no roads, it swallows everything with utmost ease.



Ergonomics

One of the biggest plus points of the bike. Everything seems to be spot on. Rider fatigue is minimal. You are not unnecessarily engaged with or focussing on anything to make it work. The rider's triangle is perfect for me and saddling is easy.



Seat

I'm using the stock seat.

I am 176 cms tall and the lowest stock seat height of 825 mm is perfect for me.

Seat comfort is good and I've done almost 800+ kms in a day without any discernible discomfort.



Build quality

Though some people would refute this claim, the build and parts quality of this bike is undeniably in another league as compared to the OG Himalayan. Simply incomparable. This is a class apart.



Handling

Despite being a top heavy bike and overall around 196 kgs, it handles like a charm both in traffic as well as in rough terrain.



Mileage

It returns a mileage of 30-32 if ridden in a sane manner. The sweet spot for me is 85-90 wherein it returns around 32 kmpl which is impressive for a 452cc bike.



The Cons

Engine

There is a distinct clatter which develops at times, but again subsides on it's own. As long as there is no change in the performance, I didn't bother much and same was the suggestion by RE. However, say what RE may, I would not recommend riding with the Liquid Gun for more than 6000 kms. At every oil change that I've done at 5000-5500 kms interval, I felt it surely isn't meant to last 10000 kms.



No Cruise Control

This is something that RE should have included in the bike. Since it's ride by wire, hope some day they do include it and provide an option to existing owners to upgrade.



Side Stand

The side stand is something that needs to be worked upon by RE. The bike tilts more than required to one side. With luggage loaded and uneven surface, it doesn't inspire confidence to mount after getting onto the left peg. Hope someone at RE is listening and does some amendment in the next iteration.



Headlight

Stock headlight is bad to say the least. It just illuminates itself. For anything beyond, you need aux lights.



Vibrations

They do exist, mild tingling at the handlebar, footpegs and tank at various rpms. But nothing concerning in the range of 3000-5000 where you will be operating most of the time.



Tail Light Indicator Combo

I personally feel, its more of a gimmick. In foggy conditions, the rider behind is unable to make out the brake light if the indicators are on. Got this feedback from a co-rider in the Kibithu trip and myself felt so while riding with another 450 in Spiti.



Centre Stand Stop

The centre stand stop is fitted on the resonator box. The clanking noise makes me uncomfortable every time the stand goes up and hits the box. Wish RE could find a better spot.



Handlebar Mount

It gave way 3 times after warranty replacement in 15000 kms. The rubber bushes need stringent quality control.



Switchgear

The switchgear, especially the high beam switch is oddly placed for which u need to shift your grip. Also, the joystick has a mind of it's own and can refuse to stop working at will.



Weight Distribution

Can't exactly say it's a negative point, but the bike is definitely top heavy. One feels it if you let it tilt more than required at stand still. I have dropped it twice while stationary, it takes a lot of effort to get it back on it's feet, but both times I managed it without any damage. But again, on the move, it displays it's feline agility.



Navigation

The navigation feature with the map is more of a gimmick. Enough has been discussed about it on the forum : to summarize, it's not practical, drains your battery like anything. Hope in later updates, RE does something about the loft lock voodoo. As of now, I prefer following Google Aunty's instructions through my Bluarmor C-30 anyday.



Overall, despite all the pluses and minuses, it still strikes a chord albeit with all the vibes that it carries in it's heart.



At it's price, and the features it comes with (now that tubeless spokes are also available), and REs widespread network of service centres, in my opinion it's a great buy.





Happy Miles and Memories (post completion of Mechuka ride)Got home Bagheera on 23 December 2023 and it's been a little less than 11 months that she's crossed the 15k milestone.In the last 11 months, have taken her to various destinations covering almost the entire expanse of Incredible North East and one long ride from Tezpur to Lahaul-Spiti and back.I shall share a glimpse of the trips that we have done together.Few of the highest(s) that we scaled during the Spiti Trip.Having done these trips, and accumulated over 15000 kms with Bagheera, I shall be sharing few pros and cons that I could observe with my little experience. Few heads would figure in both pros and cons for the way they appear to me :-The bike is a mile muncher. Highway behaviour is something which anybody would fall in love with. The engine with its strong mid and top range is something that helps you keep up with bikes of higher categories with ease. (Experienced it myself during Kibithu trip with a GS 850 and during Spiti trip with a Tiger 800)The engine is a gem. Though it lacks that low end grunt of the 411, which one misses after slowing down or stopping on steep inclines, but the strong mid range rescues you every time.I, for one, could not make out that famous lag in throttle input till date.One of the best things that RE has put in the bike. From potholes to speed breakers to gravel to boulders to off roads to no roads, it swallows everything with utmost ease.One of the biggest plus points of the bike. Everything seems to be spot on. Rider fatigue is minimal. You are not unnecessarily engaged with or focussing on anything to make it work. The rider's triangle is perfect for me and saddling is easy.I'm using the stock seat.I am 176 cms tall and the lowest stock seat height of 825 mm is perfect for me.Seat comfort is good and I've done almost 800+ kms in a day without any discernible discomfort.Though some people would refute this claim, the build and parts quality of this bike is undeniably in another league as compared to the OG Himalayan. Simply incomparable. This is a class apart.Despite being a top heavy bike and overall around 196 kgs, it handles like a charm both in traffic as well as in rough terrain.It returns a mileage of 30-32 if ridden in a sane manner. The sweet spot for me is 85-90 wherein it returns around 32 kmpl which is impressive for a 452cc bike.There is a distinct clatter which develops at times, but again subsides on it's own. As long as there is no change in the performance, I didn't bother much and same was the suggestion by RE. However, say what RE may, I would not recommend riding with the Liquid Gun for more than 6000 kms. At every oil change that I've done at 5000-5500 kms interval, I felt it surely isn't meant to last 10000 kms.This is something that RE should have included in the bike. Since it's ride by wire, hope some day they do include it and provide an option to existing owners to upgrade.The side stand is something that needs to be worked upon by RE. The bike tilts more than required to one side. With luggage loaded and uneven surface, it doesn't inspire confidence to mount after getting onto the left peg. Hope someone at RE is listening and does some amendment in the next iteration.Stock headlight is bad to say the least. It just illuminates itself. For anything beyond, you need aux lights.They do exist, mild tingling at the handlebar, footpegs and tank at various rpms. But nothing concerning in the range of 3000-5000 where you will be operating most of the time.I personally feel, its more of a gimmick. In foggy conditions, the rider behind is unable to make out the brake light if the indicators are on. Got this feedback from a co-rider in the Kibithu trip and myself felt so while riding with another 450 in Spiti.The centre stand stop is fitted on the resonator box. The clanking noise makes me uncomfortable every time the stand goes up and hits the box. Wish RE could find a better spot.It gave way 3 times after warranty replacement in 15000 kms. The rubber bushes need stringent quality control.The switchgear, especially the high beam switch is oddly placed for which u need to shift your grip. Also, the joystick has a mind of it's own and can refuse to stop working at will.Can't exactly say it's a negative point, but the bike is definitely top heavy. One feels it if you let it tilt more than required at stand still. I have dropped it twice while stationary, it takes a lot of effort to get it back on it's feet, but both times I managed it without any damage. But again, on the move, it displays it's feline agility.The navigation feature with the map is more of a gimmick. Enough has been discussed about it on the forum : to summarize, it's not practical, drains your battery like anything. Hope in later updates, RE does something about the loft lock voodoo. As of now, I prefer following Google Aunty's instructions through my Bluarmor C-30 anyday.Overall, despite all the pluses and minuses, it still strikes a chord albeit with all the vibes that it carries in it's heart.At it's price, and the features it comes with (now that tubeless spokes are also available), and REs widespread network of service centres, in my opinion it's a great buy. Last edited by Aditya : 22nd November 2024 at 05:06 . Reason: As requested
jacob.d.mathew Newbie

Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Chennai Posts: 22 Thanked: 71 Times

Re: All Roads to Kerala Day 5: Thekkady - Trichy - Chennai

(Home Sweet Home : The Final Chapter)



Thank you readers for patiently bearing with me all the previous chapters of the way, and all the previous kilometres of the way. We are now nearing the end of our journey, and only around 500+ kilometres separate us from Chennai.



I woke this morning to cloudy skies and laid back hill-country at Thekkady. All over the trip, I found that hotels/restaurants take a lot of time to start in the mornings. I prefer an early breakfast, early lunch and little to nil dinner while travelling. That said, in Tirumangalam, Punalur and Thekkady - the breakfast was delayed. Punalur I survived by snacking on pazham-puri, and Tirumangalam I endured. But at Thekkady I needed food, and fast.



One option was to wait for the food to be ready (like in Tirumangalam), but the road was so inviting, and the fog enveloped the entire mountainside like a gentle blanket. It would be better to have food on the way - at the first restaurant where breakfast was available. So we quickly checked out, and began descending the hill. From Thekkady we passed Kumily. Just beyond Kumily, we came across a very steep and foggy hairpin bend. At 7 in the morning, there was no traffic hurrying anyone downhill, so we took our time to take it slowly in 1st gear. If we had to travel back the entire route just to take that hairpin at that same time of the day, we would gladly do it again. The hairpin bends are lovely, foggy and romantic. But we have promises to keep. And miles, miles to go before we sleep. Passing Kumily, we came across Lower Camp. Still no breakfast in sight. There is a very real possibility of having to hold on till Theni for a proper breakfast.



While you are on long drives, as mentioned before, the breakfast is the most important food. It has to be heavy, so you may concentrate on what you need to concentrate on the most - the road. This was a setback that I had not accounted for, however my years of Bangaloring had prepared me to power on when this happens. Another thing that troubled me a lot in this trip is my morning coffee. Maybe it's just the fact that I am used to it, or maybe my own feelings, but my morning coffee is very important for a day to go smoothly. Now the last few days have definitely been smooth, but not the morning coffee. If you ever take long drives/rides in this way, and if you like caffeine, please keep this in mind. I know a friend who, like me, needs her morning tea - that too highly customised. Whenever she travels long, she carries plenty of tea for that very purpose. Maybe in my next travel I'll have to incorporate this idea - of bringing my coffee along. The coffee was light at Tirumangalam, white at Punalur, even more white on the way from Punalur to Kottayam and finally it disappeared completely at Thekkady. Once we crossed into Tamilnadu and entered Cumbum - I was at least able to have breakfast. The patron informed me that today we have no milk, there was a power cut last night, and the milk is spoilt. By now, I was beginning to forget caffeine, so I was no longer .



Soon we were underway, and we passed some delightful hamlets on the way to Theni. You'll find all the beautiful destinations here - Munnar, Kodaikanal nearby. Some places (example Kodaikanal) have a restriction (e-pass). I would recommend that you visit when it is not crowded. We reached the highway, and Elantra gets his preferred stretch of road - the ones where he can cruise in 6th gear. My caffeine requirements were temporarily met by another Bovonto, and the drive became more pleasant.



Unlike the onward journey, the return was a lot slower. Remember that "wake-driving" of day 1? I attempted the same with a Mercedes Benz. The Benz was a lot quicker, and there was too many other vehicles to try these manoeuvres. Around this time, I felt there was a sound coming from the clutch. Elantra has a very light clutch (at least in comparison with the previous vehicles that I used). This time, while releasing the clutch, there was a soft sound like a mouse squeaking gently. It could have been caused by hours of engine braking in the hills, or just wear and tear. Any clutch sound has to be handled with care, because it could come from multiple sources. For instance, it could be but the pedals (like I suspect it was this time), or it could be hinting to a bigger mechanical problem in the linkages, or worse the clutch could be busted.



The sound never worsened, and the car still ran, so I assumed there is nothing to worry for now. We were met by extremes of weather - bright humid sunlight followed by violent attacks of rain. Elantra handled the wind and rain better than Verna - but it is evident by its aerodynamic shape and greater kerb weight. These roads are probably dangerous for hydroplaning, since water fills up fast. Even though the roads were empty, the water levels nearby kept the speeds in control. Still, we were able to maintain 6th.



Once again, lunch was at Trichy. I wanted to have the same Biri from the same hotel. This time round we couldn't find the exact location, so I settled for Buhari's near the toll gate. Finally, nearing Perambalur, I was able to get my first good coffee in a stretch of five days. Coffee is a gamble wherever you go. In the Bangalore to Chennai route, at least I know where are the best places to gamble. But here, we were still learning. However - we coffee lovers can always bank on Karupatti Coffee. Perambalur is dotted with plenty of Karupattis. While the yellow-on-brown boards with Karupatti coffee can be seen for miles around, these coffee places appear on stretches of the highway where the rider would not want to lose momentum. After missing a few coffee places, we finally stopped at a coffee place after Perambalur. That coffee felt divine.



The reminder of the trip didn't have much to write about. This being the Diwali long weekend, people were only now returning - so most roads were empty. Tindivanam and Villupuram flew away in a flash. From Chingelpattu onwards, the crowd returns. The crowd from Chingelpattu to Vandalur (start of ORR) took several hours.



On the top right corner of Elantra's dashboard, it measures the average speed ever since you reset the scores. I reset while starting the journey and we have the statistics for you. Day 1 we travelled an average of 72 kmph. Punalur ghat section pulled us down to 60 (still a good score). The overall score came down to the 50s as we reached Kottayam. However, Idukki had slowed us down to 27 kmph. In the last hop, we were able to end at an average speed of 42 kmph for the entire trip. However this does not mean that we averaged that speed throughout. For instance if you stop somewhere with engine running, the count still continues. Any stop in traffic or bottlenecks will bring down the score too, so maybe if you take the running time alone it would be a healthy 60 kmph for the entire trip.



Since home is close to Poonamalli, we had a chance to finish this trip on a high - cruising at a moderate pace. The last leg of the journey was uneventful. It was while inspecting Elantra in the regular post-drive debriefing that I saw that Elantra is not even tired. Tomorrow if I have to for another similar or more drive, he is ready to fly with minimum repairs. All the same, a visit to Alex is due, and we may have some changes to be done.



Thank you all once again, and there a few more reviews pending regarding other vehicles / other trips. (Home Sweet Home : The Final Chapter)Thank you readers for patiently bearing with me all the previous chapters of the way, and all the previous kilometres of the way. We are now nearing the end of our journey, and only around 500+ kilometres separate us from Chennai.I woke this morning to cloudy skies and laid back hill-country at Thekkady. All over the trip, I found that hotels/restaurants take a lot of time to start in the mornings. I prefer an early breakfast, early lunch and little to nil dinner while travelling. That said, in Tirumangalam, Punalur and Thekkady - the breakfast was delayed. Punalur I survived by snacking on pazham-puri, and Tirumangalam I endured. But at Thekkady I needed food, and fast.One option was to wait for the food to be ready (like in Tirumangalam), but the road was so inviting, and the fog enveloped the entire mountainside like a gentle blanket. It would be better to have food on the way - at the first restaurant where breakfast was available. So we quickly checked out, and began descending the hill. From Thekkady we passed Kumily. Just beyond Kumily, we came across a very steep and foggy hairpin bend. At 7 in the morning, there was no traffic hurrying anyone downhill, so we took our time to take it slowly in 1st gear. If we had to travel back the entire route just to take that hairpin at that same time of the day, we would gladly do it again. The hairpin bends are lovely, foggy and romantic. But we have promises to keep. And miles, miles to go before we sleep. Passing Kumily, we came across Lower Camp. Still no breakfast in sight. There is a very real possibility of having to hold on till Theni for a proper breakfast.While you are on long drives, as mentioned before, the breakfast is the most important food. It has to be heavy, so you may concentrate on what you need to concentrate on the most - the road. This was a setback that I had not accounted for, however my years of Bangaloring had prepared me to power on when this happens. Another thing that troubled me a lot in this trip is my morning coffee. Maybe it's just the fact that I am used to it, or maybe my own feelings, but my morning coffee is very important for a day to go smoothly. Now the last few days have definitely been smooth, but not the morning coffee. If you ever take long drives/rides in this way, and if you like caffeine, please keep this in mind. I know a friend who, like me, needs her morning tea - that too highly customised. Whenever she travels long, she carries plenty of tea for that very purpose. Maybe in my next travel I'll have to incorporate this idea - of bringing my coffee along. The coffee was light at Tirumangalam, white at Punalur, even more white on the way from Punalur to Kottayam and finally it disappeared completely at Thekkady. Once we crossed into Tamilnadu and entered Cumbum - I was at least able to have breakfast. The patron informed me that today we have no milk, there was a power cut last night, and the milk is spoilt. By now, I was beginning to forget caffeine, so I was no longerSoon we were underway, and we passed some delightful hamlets on the way to Theni. You'll find all the beautiful destinations here - Munnar, Kodaikanal nearby. Some places (example Kodaikanal) have a restriction (e-pass). I would recommend that you visit when it is not crowded. We reached the highway, and Elantra gets his preferred stretch of road - the ones where he can cruise in 6th gear. My caffeine requirements were temporarily met by another Bovonto, and the drive became more pleasant.Unlike the onward journey, the return was a lot slower. Remember that "wake-driving" of day 1? I attempted the same with a Mercedes Benz. The Benz was a lot quicker, and there was too many other vehicles to try these manoeuvres. Around this time, I felt there was a sound coming from the clutch. Elantra has a very light clutch (at least in comparison with the previous vehicles that I used). This time, while releasing the clutch, there was a soft sound like a mouse squeaking gently. It could have been caused by hours of engine braking in the hills, or just wear and tear. Any clutch sound has to be handled with care, because it could come from multiple sources. For instance, it could be but the pedals (like I suspect it was this time), or it could be hinting to a bigger mechanical problem in the linkages, or worse the clutch could be busted.The sound never worsened, and the car still ran, so I assumed there is nothing to worry for now. We were met by extremes of weather - bright humid sunlight followed by violent attacks of rain. Elantra handled the wind and rain better than Verna - but it is evident by its aerodynamic shape and greater kerb weight. These roads are probably dangerous for hydroplaning, since water fills up fast. Even though the roads were empty, the water levels nearby kept the speeds in control. Still, we were able to maintain 6th.Once again, lunch was at Trichy. I wanted to have the same Biri from the same hotel. This time round we couldn't find the exact location, so I settled for Buhari's near the toll gate. Finally, nearing Perambalur, I was able to get my first good coffee in a stretch of five days. Coffee is a gamble wherever you go. In the Bangalore to Chennai route, at least I know where are the best places to gamble. But here, we were still learning. However - we coffee lovers can always bank on Karupatti Coffee. Perambalur is dotted with plenty of Karupattis. While the yellow-on-brown boards with Karupatti coffee can be seen for miles around, these coffee places appear on stretches of the highway where the rider would not want to lose momentum. After missing a few coffee places, we finally stopped at a coffee place after Perambalur. That coffee felt divine.The reminder of the trip didn't have much to write about. This being the Diwali long weekend, people were only now returning - so most roads were empty. Tindivanam and Villupuram flew away in a flash. From Chingelpattu onwards, the crowd returns. The crowd from Chingelpattu to Vandalur (start of ORR) took several hours.On the top right corner of Elantra's dashboard, it measures the average speed ever since you reset the scores. I reset while starting the journey and we have the statistics for you. Day 1 we travelled an average of 72 kmph. Punalur ghat section pulled us down to 60 (still a good score). The overall score came down to the 50s as we reached Kottayam. However, Idukki had slowed us down to 27 kmph. In the last hop, we were able to end at an average speed of 42 kmph for the entire trip. However this does not mean that we averaged that speed throughout. For instance if you stop somewhere with engine running, the count still continues. Any stop in traffic or bottlenecks will bring down the score too, so maybe if you take the running time alone it would be a healthy 60 kmph for the entire trip.Since home is close to Poonamalli, we had a chance to finish this trip on a high - cruising at a moderate pace. The last leg of the journey was uneventful. It was while inspecting Elantra in the regular post-drive debriefing that I saw that Elantra is not even tired. Tomorrow if I have to for another similar or more drive, he is ready to fly with minimum repairs. All the same, a visit to Alex is due, and we may have some changes to be done.Thank you all once again, and there a few more reviews pending regarding other vehicles / other trips. Attached Thumbnails








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Rare brushfire in New York stoked by heat, drought



New York, Nov 9 (AFP) Nov 09, 2024



Over a 100 firefighters battled a rare brushfire in New York City's Brooklyn borough as prolonged drought and unusually high temperatures have fuelled a series of blazes in the northeast United States, authorities said Saturday.

There were no immediate reports of damage to buildings in the blaze late Friday in the Prospect Park area, and by Saturday all but a few hot spots had been extinguished, reports said.

Mayor Eric Adams warned on X: "After the driest October on record, NYC is under a drought watch, which highly increases our risk of fires."

Hundreds of brushfires have broken out in New Jersey and Connecticut in recent weeks amid an unseasonably warm and dry fall -- including three blazes that forced evacuations and roads closures, reports said.

It was not immediately clear what sparked the flames that affected roughly two acres (0.8 hectare) in a popular meadow known as the Nethermead in Brooklyn.

Twenty-five fire units, some using drones, responded to the fire, officials said. One firefighter suffered a minor injury and was taken to a hospital.

Officials warned area residents to stay away from the area and keep their windows closed.

The city's emergency management commissioner, Zachary Iscol, said New York had seen a rise in the number of brushfires, which posed an unusual risk due to the prolonged lack of rain, The New York Times reported.

Dry conditions are expected to continue in the area -- now experiencing the second-longest rainless streak in recorded history, local media said -- through year's end.

More than half of the lower 48 states are now in drought conditions, according to the US government's Drought Monitor, with conditions particularly bad in the East and mid-Atlantic states.
The Pikes Peak region saw a snowy start to November with accumulations soaring much higher than what is typical for this point in the month.

The storm, which started dumping snow across the state Tuesday night, and prompted Gov. Jared Polis to declare a disaster emergency late Thursday evening, is expected to wrap up Saturday morning.

Friday's snowfall caused chaos across the state, especially in the evening, when winds caused visibility to be reduced to a quarter-mile or less in some areas. Many major interstate and state highways shut down amid the "rapidly deteriorating" conditions. Commercial motor vehicles were not allowed on southbound I-25 south of Exit 194 after 4 p.m. due to lack of parking and resources between the Denver area and Colorado Springs. Interstate 25 in both directions from south Castle Rock to Colorado Springs also shut down to commercial motor vehicles and towed vehicles between 4 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday. I-25 southbound from Pueblo to the New Mexico state line was closed all day Friday. Students in the Pikes Peak region racked up the snow days this week, with many school districts cancelling classes for a third day on Friday. While roads appeared mostly clear in the early morning, by the afternoon, visibility and overall conditions worsened. Colorado Springs Airport reported 43 cancellations as of 6 p.m. Friday, according to media spokesperson Aidan Ryan. FlightAware shows there were 19 delays. The numbers reflect total impacts to both outbound and inbound flights. There were 495 flights canceled and 948 flights delayed at Denver International Airport on Friday, according to FlightAware Impact on drought conditions Snowfall and water equivalent totals in Colorado Springs were much higher than what the National Weather Service in Pueblo typically records for the first week of November. Through the first eight days of November, Colorado Springs usually only receives 0.12 inches of water equivalent. As of 5:30 p.m. on Friday, the office was measuring 1.3 inches for that period.

In terms of snowfall, average measurements typically show 1.1 inches. The all-time November record for the city was recorded in 1991, when the Colorado Springs Airport received a record 26.3 inches of snow in November.

The south Colorado Springs area came close, receiving 24.5 inches by Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service. Outside of Colorado Springs, more than two feet of snow was reported in both Black Forest and Peyton, with those areas receiving 27.9 inches, and 27 inches, respectively.

Other areas in southern Colorado also exceeded some records. The Arkansas River Valley's record for the day of water equivalent is 0.25, and Rodriguez said the area "at least doubled that amount so far" at 5:30 p.m. Friday, with snow still falling.

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Meteorologist Stephen Rodriguez told The Gazette this kind of weather pattern is not "abnormal."

" While the numbers are high  and I wouldn't say this is abnormal  we see systems like this come through in November and October and in September," Rodriguez said. "It just so happened that over the last several days, we've seen repeated rounds of snowfall that allowed the snowfall to total to accumulate to these values."

Even with all the snowfall, it is too soon to tell what the impact will be on the drought conditions in Pueblo and Teller counties, where there is a moderate drought, and toward the Kansas border, where conditions are more severe.

"In terms of what this will mean right now, we can't really speak to that," Rodriguez said. "Given the amount of water that we've seen with this storm, it would only help to improve the drought conditions." A look ahead

The snow was expected to end by 8 a.m. Saturday in Colorado Springs, holding out a little longer in Monument, where it should taper off at about 11 a.m. Saturday will only see varying glimpses of the sun the city has not seen in days, with clouds forecast for most of the day.

The snow will start to melt as temperatures begin to rise, although not back to average, which is around the mid-50s. Temperatures on Saturday will only reach the low 40s, according to KOAA meteorologist Alex O'Brien. Sunday will be sunnier and in the upper 40s to low 50s.
Brazil raises target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions



Sao Paulo, Nov 9 (AFP) Nov 09, 2024



Brazil plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions more dramatically than had been planned, the government of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has announced.

Instead of the earlier target of reducing emissions by 59 percent from 2005 levels by 2035, it will aim for a 67 percent reduction, the left-leaning government said Friday.

The shift is intended to align Brazil's emissions goal -- called its "Nationally Determined Contribution," or NDC -- with the terms of the Paris Accord of 2016, said an official note published late Friday.

Signatories to the Paris Accord have until February to announce their new emission goals, but Brazil will present its new NDC target at the UN's upcoming COP29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan beginning November 11.

Brazil will host the following climate conference, COP30, next November in the Amazonian city of Belem.

The new target would allow emissions totaling roughly 850 million to one billion tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) by 2035, down from 2.4 billion tons in the baseline year of 2005.

The government note said "the new NDC covers every sector of the economy and aligns with the goal of the Paris Accord to limit average climate warming to 1.5 degrees centigrade," the note said.

It said Brazil would achieve "climate neutrality" by 2050.

But Brazilian NGO Climate Observatory, a network of civil society and environmental groups, said the program was not ambitious enough.

Marcio Astrini, the group's executive secretary, said the country had omitted key information on its strategies against deforestation or fossil fuel use, adding that greater transparency should be expected from "a country that aims to be a leader in the multilateral fight against the climate crisis."

The government announced this week that the deforestation rate in Brazil's Amazon was down 30 percent, its strongest decline in 15 years.
Afghanistan to attend UN climate talks, first since Taliban takeover: Kabul



Kabul, Nov 9 (AFP) Nov 09, 2024



An Afghan delegation will attend the upcoming UN climate change summit in Azerbaijan, the foreign ministry spokesman told AFP on Saturday, marking a first since the Taliban government came to power.

"A delegation of the Afghan government will be in Baku" for the COP29 summit, which opens on Monday in the Azerbaijani capital, said the spokesman, Abdul Qahar Balkhi.

It was not immediately clear in what capacity the delegation would participate at COP29, but sources indicated it would have observer status.

Afghanistan is ranked as the country sixth most vulnerable to climate change and Taliban authorities have pushed for the government's participation in COP summits, saying their political isolation shouldn't bar them from international climate talks.

No state has recognised the Taliban authorities since they swept to power in 2021, ousting the Western-backed administration.

Officials from the country's National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) have repeatedly said climate change should not be politicised and called for environment-related projects put on hold due to the Taliban takeover to be reinstated.

Azerbaijan, a fossil fuel-rich former Soviet republic wedged between Russia and Iran, will host the COP29 from November 11-22.

Baku reopened its embassy in Kabul in February this year, though it has not officially recognised the Taliban government.
Tens of thousands march in Spain over handling of deadly floods



Valencia, Spain, Nov 9 (AFP) Nov 09, 2024



Tens of thousands of people marched Saturday in Valencia to voice their anger at the authorities' handling of deadly floods.

Thousands also marched in other Spanish cities, but the Valencia regional authorities put the turnout in the regional capital at 130,000.

Some protesters shouted "Murderers! Murderers!" and some carried placards denouncing Valencia's regional president as well as Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

The region was the worst hit by last month's floods, the most serious in decades, which killed at least 220 people and left towns and cities swamped with mud.

Local people are furious about the lack of warning, some pointing out that official alerts for the floods landed on people's phones when cars were already being washed away.

There is anger too over what critics say was the slow response of the authorities in the aftermath of the deadly flash floods that affected around 80 towns and cities in the region.

Police and protesters faced off on Saturday in a tense atmosphere, with some clashes breaking out, an AFP journalist witnessed.

The rally started in the square in front of city hall before a march to the Valencia regional headquarters.

Some protesters had harsh words for regional president Carlos Mazon, a 50-year-old lawyer who is a member of the right-wing opposition Popular Party.

Mazon was among the senior figures pelted with mud by angry protesters last Sunday -- along with Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain -- as they visited the flood-hit region.

"Mazon's management has been outrageous and he should resign," 75-year-old Julian Garcia told AFP.

"In the hours before, they should have warned people to be on the alert, not to take their children to school, not to take their cars to work," he added.

But while the Valencia regional government was too slow to ask for help from Madrid, the central government also shared some of the blame, said Garcia.

As beleaguered residents waited for official help to arrive, many local people took matters into their own hands, turning out in large numbers to start the clean-up themselves.

Some of the marchers chanted what has become a popular refrain in recent weeks: "Solo el pueblo salva el pueblo!" (Only the people save the people).



- 'Shameful' -



Of the 220 deaths confirmed so far, 212 of them were killed in the Valencia region. The clean-up operations in some villages -- and the search for bodies of dozens of missing people -- is still going on.

Ana de la Rosa, a 30-year-old archivist, blamed poor management and political in-fighting between the regional and national authorities.

"They got mixed up in political guerilla warfare when it wasn't the time," she said.

De la Rosa argued that it was not enough for the key officials to resign: there was a case to be made that their mismanagement amounted to manslaughter, she said.

Another demonstrator, 50-year-old Trini Orduna, said that both the regional and national authorities should take their share of the blame, describing the country's political class as "shameful".

Protesters also marched in other cities across Spain, including Madrid and Alicante, in the Valencia region.

The health board of the Valencia region has reported no outbreaks of infectious diseases or a major threat to public health.

Even so, regional health authorities have asked local councils to apply measures to control and prevent the proliferation of mosquitoes and other insects capable of spreading diseases.
A one-bedroom apartment overlooking the historic Princes Pier in Port Melbourne sold for $785,000 at auction on Saturday, well above its $600,000 reserve.

Eight parties turned out to bid on G02/2 Pier Street, but two competitive buyers fast drove up the price before anyone else had a chance to put forward an offer.

There were six others that were there that just probably capped out at $600,000, Cayzer Real Estate Albert Park auctioneer Simon Carruthers said. It was over pretty quickly.

The under-bidders, a couple from Melbournes west, placed the opening bid of $550,000. They traded bids with the ultimate buyer, from Geelong, who put forward a final $5000 bid to purchase the waterfront apartment for $185,000 above reserve.
Washington: Donald Trump has won the state of Arizona giving him a sweep of all seven battleground states in the election as he prepares to return to Washington to meet with President Joe Biden this week to accelerate his transition to power.

Four days after Vice President Kamala Harris crushing defeat, the White House announced that Biden would host the president-elect in the Oval Office on Wednesday morning (Thursday AEST), continuing a tradition that Trump himself did not offer after failing to accept the results of the 2020 election.

Joe Biden will host Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday. Credit: AP

The border state of Arizona was the only remaining state yet to be decided but on Sunday afternoon AEDT it was called for Trump.

It comes after the critical battleground of Nevada was won by Trump on Saturday AEDT, marking the first time the state has elected a Republican in a presidential election since George W Bush in 2004.
New York: Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the former independent presidential candidate, is reviewing candidate resumes for the top jobs at health agencies in Donald Trumps incoming administration, says a former Kennedy aide and a source familiar with the matter.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr says he is not anti-vaccination but wants more rigorous testing of vaccines. Credit: Bloomberg

Kennedy, of the famed political family, had been asked to recommend appointees for all regulatory health agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration, said Del Bigtree, who was director of communications for Kennedys campaign and remains close to the former candidate.

A source familiar with the matter, who declined to be identified, echoed that Kennedy had taken on that role.

The American people re-elected President Trump by resounding margins because they trust his judgment and support his policies, including his promise to Make America Healthy Again alongside well-respected leaders like RFK Jr, Trump-Vance transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in an emailed statement on Friday.
Donald Trumps re-election has stunned Democrats and left the global public struggling to understand its implications.

One of the most curious areas to ponder is the effect Trump campaign-backer and billionaire Elon Musk will have on shaping the president-elects agenda. The tech mogul spent more than $US130 million ($195 million) helping Trump to retake the White House.

Elon Musk may help Donald Trump choose which government employees to fire. Credit: AP

Trump, in his first conversation since re-election with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, included Musk on the phone call, Axios reported, though details of the conversation are unknown.

And while the conversation did not reportedly raise the Ukrainians anxiety about US support in a second Trump term, the power Musk has come to hold in Western security decisions bears watching.
2 terrorists killed in J&K encounter





SRINAGAR,

(PTI) TWO terrorists were killed on Friday in an overnight encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmirs Baramulla district. Their identification and affiliation are being ascertained. Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain terrorists following the encounter which started on Thursday night after the security forces launched an intelligence-based operation. IGP (Kashmir Zone) V K Birdi said the operation was launched on Thursday night following information about the presence of ultras in the area. As a cordon was being laid, there was an exchange of fire. We thought it prudent to first remove the civilians from the area. After that, the cordon and search operation turned into an encounter which ended on Friday morning with the killing of two terrorists, Birdi said. A cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the spot, he added.
Aggrieved parties agree to keep temple at Ayodhya extension at same place





Staff Reporter

The temple at the Ayodhya extension area of the city will remain on its place. This decision was taken in a meeting held on Friday which involved both parties where the complainant gave a no objection signal to the temple being at the place if it does not pose any disturbance to their quality of life. Talking to The Hitavada, Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Raveesh Shrivastav said that a meeting was convened on Friday where both parties were invited for talk. In the meeting, residents of the colony said that they dont have any objection to the temple being on the place which is built near a shed in the area. On the other hand, the complainant highlighted the problem of loudspeakers being played at the place and that causes disturbance.

The official further stated that both finally reached a settlement where the complainant side that they have no problem to the temple being on the place on the condition that there should be no loudspeakers or any other disturbances due to the temple. Notably, protests sparred in the city on Thursday at Ayodhya Extension when a team of encroachment department of the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC), police personnel and Tehsildar, Govindpura gathered at a site at Ayodhya extension for removing a temple which was claimed to be an encroachment. The officials have said that the complaint was filed by an individual who was a resident of the same colony. Acting upon the complaint when the team went to the spot for taking action, they witnessed crowds of right wing organisations, gathered at the spot. The workers of the organisations staged a demonstration against this act and opposed a removal of the temple. They also chanted Ramdhun and Hanuman Chalisa as a mark of protest. Due to the same, the anti-encroachment team had to return. The protesters said that the site is revered by the residents of the colony and the people there worship the deity consecrated in the region.
AIDs Diwali Milan ceremony held with enthusiasm





Business Reporter

The Diwali Milan programme of the Association for Industrial Development (AID) was held here at Hotel Tuli Imperial on Friday with great enthusiasm. The event was graced by prominent personalities, including AID President Ashish Kale, Vice President Pranav Sharma, Secretary Dr Vijay Sharma, Treasurer Prof. Rajesh Bagdi, Rajesh Rokde, Dr Mahendra Kshirsagar, Prashant Ugemuge, Ravindra Bortakar, Vinod Tambi, Mahesh Sadhwani, Sanjay Gupta, and Avinash Ghuse.

At the outset, Ashish Kale gave a presentation on AIDs activities conducted throughout the year. He highlighted that the organisation of Advantage Vidarbha - 2024, workshops for entrepreneurs in various industrial sectors, and seminars on tourism policy were great success. He also highlighted AIDs contribution to the development of Maharashtras tourism policy and its efforts to upgrade the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airports runway and facilitate feeder services at Mihan. Dr Vijay Sharma delivered the welcome address, noting that AID would complete one year of its inception on November 16. Rajesh Rokde proposed a vote of thanks. The event concluded with a positive note, reaffirming AIDs commitment to promoting industrial growth and development in the region.
Aligarh Muslim Unversitys minority status will be decided by a new bench. 1967 judgement stated that the university cannot be considered a minority institution since it was created by a Central law





NEW DELHI,

(PTI) THE contentious legal question over Aligarh Muslim Unversitys minority status would be decided by a new bench, the Supreme Court held on Friday and overruled the 1967 judgement that said the university cannot be considered a minority institution since it was created by a Central law. In a 4:3 majority verdict, a Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, said a legislation or an executive action that discriminated against religious or linguistic minorities in establishing or administering educational institutions, was ultra vires Article 30(1) of the Constitution. Article 30 deals with the right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions. Article 30 (1) says all minorities, whether based on religion or language, shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. The view taken in Azeez Basha (1967 verdict) that an educational institution is not established by a minority if it derives its legal character through a statute, is overruled, held the CJI, who authored the 118-page verdict, also on behalf of Justices Sanjiv Khanna, J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra. A five-judge Constitution bench in the S Azeez Basha v. Union of India in 1967 said AMU was a central university and couldnt be considered a minority institution. Additionally, a linguistic or religious minority which has established an educational institution receives the guarantee of greater autonomy in administration.

This is the special rights reading of the provision, the majority verdict said. Justice Chandrachud held that religious or linguistic minorities must prove that they established the educational institution for the community to be a minority educational institution for the purposes of Article 30(1). The right guaranteed by Article 30(1) is applicable to universities established before the commencement of the Constitution, he said. The CJI outlined the factors which must be used to determine if a minority has established an educational institution. The indicia of ideation, purpose and implementation must be satisfied. The idea for establishing an educational institution must have stemmed from a person or group belonging to the minority community and the educational institution must be established predominantly for the benefit of minority community, he wrote. Implementation of the idea was stated to be another factor taken by the members of the minority community.

The administrative-set up of the educational institution must elucidate and affirm (i) the minority character of the educational institution; and (ii) that it was established to protect and promote the interests of the minority community, it said. The question whether AMU was a minority educational institution must be decided based on the principles laid down in the judgment, it underscored. Judicial records of the case were, therefore, directed to be placed before a regular bench, after receiving instructions from the CJI on the administrative side, for deciding the minority issue and adjudicating appeals against a 2006 verdict of the Allahabad High Court, which struck down a provision of the 1981 law according minority status to AMU. Comprehensive win for minority rights, says AMU fraternity: The Aligarh Muslim University fraternity on Friday welcomed the Supreme Courts ruling on the institutes minority status, saying it reaffirms the foundation principles on which the varsity was established. Prof Faizan Mustafa, a constitutional law expert and former registrar of AMU who had filed this case in the Supreme Court in his ex-officio position, told PTI, It is a comprehensive win for minority rights in general and AMU in particular.

Reacting to the Supreme Courts verdict, former Vice-Chancellor of AMU, Lt Gen (Retd) Zameeruddin Shah told PTI, By overturning the earlier judgement in the Azeez Basha case, the Supreme Court has responded to the aspirations and hopes of a large segment of Indias population. He also asserted, This judgement should serve as a lesson for us and should also ensure that the AMU should not just remain a beacon light for us but should also pave the path for lighting many more beacons of hope for the entire country. Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court deferred the question of AMUs minority status to a new bench and overruled the 1967 judgement that said the university cannot be considered a minority institution since it was created by a central law. Rahat Abrar, historian and former director of AMUs Urdu Academy who played a prominent role in providing vital historical documents to legal experts in the case, said the judgement has validated the claims of the AMU community which had always maintained that the case should be decided based on historical evidence on the identity of those organizations and individuals who had envisaged the idea behind this institution and worked for its establishment. Secretary of the AMU Teachers Association (AMUTA) Mohammad Obaid Siddiqui said the judgement reaffirms the idea behind the establishment of the institution for fulfilling educational aspirations, while also maintaining its commitment to an inclusive environment serving all sections of society. Prof Aftab Alam, chairman in the Department of Strategic and Security Studies at AMU and a noted scholar in the field of international human rights law, told PTI, It is a historic judgement, which has overruled the earlier 1967s judgement which had denied minority status to AMU.
assembly polls 2024





NASHIK,

(PTI) Congress is a par-jeevi (parasite) which is alive on crutches -- whether it is Maharashtra, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh or Jharkhand, said PM Modi PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Friday dared Congress allies in Maharashtra to get party MP Rahul Gandhi to speak for 15 minutes in praise of Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar and Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, whose contributions to the country, he said, were unparalleled. Kicking off his campaign for the Maharashtra Assembly polls and addressing his second rally of the day in Nashik district, Modi accused the Congress of trying to weaken and divide OBCs (other backward castes) for power, and called it a par-jeevi (parasite) which was dependent on other parties to survive. The BJPs star campaigner maintained the November 20 elections were a fight for Maharashtras self-respect and pride. For us, Marathi history, culture is a centre of faith. Savarkar is a source of inspiration.

But the Congress and its allies never gave Marathi the respect it deserves. They abuse Savarkar regularly. A senior MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi) leader has asked the Congress yuvraj (referring to Gandhi) to stop disrespecting Savarkar as elections are taking place here. Those who consider Savarkar as an icon are with the Congress, he said in an apparent reference to the Shiv Sena (UBT), a former BJP ally. Without naming Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray or any other MVA allies, Modi said, I want to dare Congress allies to make the Congress yuvraj speak 15 minutes in praise of Savarkar and his sacrifices for the country. Similarly, the yuvraj should also be made to speak in praise of Balasaheb Thackeray. Today is November 8.. And I will wait for their response. The Shiv Sena (UBT) is a constituent of the Opposition bloc MVA along with Congress and NCP (SP). Attacking the Congress, the PM emphasised the countrys oldest political party was no longer a pan-India entity. It is a par-jeevi (parasite) which is alive on crutches -- whether it is Maharashtra, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh or Jharkhand (states where Congress has aligned with regional parties), he noted. Modi said the Congress was angry with OBCs because their consolidation in the1990s (which marked era of Mandal politics) resulted in the party losing power. So, it wants to weaken OBCs and destroy their unity so that doors to power open for them again, he opined. Modi said under the Mahayuti Government, of which the BJP is a constituent, Maharashtra is setting new records in development. We are a Government which works for the poor, the PM said.
Cgarh records its first police encounter in 25 yrs Dreaded gangster killed in dramatic





Amit Jose had over 60 cases registered against him, including murder, attempted murder, and extortionn The Hitavada State Bureau Durg/Raipur, Nov 8 In a dramatic turn of events, Chhattisgarh police encountered and neutralised notorious gangster Amit Jose in a shootout near Bhilais Jayanti Stadium. According to Durg police, the Anti-Crime and Cyber Unit (ACCU) received intelligence about Joses presence in Bhilai Nagar. As officers moved to apprehend him, Jose opened fire without hesitation, prompting a retaliatory response from the police. Despite repeated warnings to surrender, Jose continued to shoot, forcing officers to engage in a brief but intense gunfight that ended his reign of terror. Jose, a resident of

Sector 6 in Bhilai, was a serial offender with over 60 cases registered against him, including murder, attempted murder, and extortion. His involvement in a June 2024 shooting incident, where he attacked three individuals and left two critically injured, had placed him high on the polices radar. He had been evading capture for months, leaving Durg police under constant pressure to apprehend him. Police have recovered the weapon used in the attack and are investigating potential accomplices. This encounter marks the states first police encounter in a quarter-century, drawing parallels to the last such operations against Govind Vishwakarma in Bhilai (2003) and Lallu Tiwari in Raipur (1990).
Carrier Technologies India and RBU sign MoU





Business Reporter

RamdeobabaUniversity (RBU) announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Carrier Technologies recently at the RBU. The MoU signing ceremony was graced by Kamal Sharma, Global Connected Hubs Leader, who was chief guest. The guest of honour was Parikshit Umare, Shared Services Leader in Digital, along with Vinod Vasudevan, Global Business Head. Dr Parag Jawarkar, Dean of the Career Development and Placement Cell, warmly welcomed the special guests and team members from Carrier Technologies. He also acknowledged the presence of Rajendra Jodhpurkar, Global Chief Information

Officer at Infocepts; Dr Rajesh Pande, Vice Chancellor of RBU; Dr Manoj Chandak, Dean of Academics; faculty members; and students. The event commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, followed by Dr Rajesh Pandes introduced the culture, discipline, and transparency of RBU to the honoured guests. Suchi Pathak (IT Head) from Carrier Technologies addressed the students, providing detailed insights into the companys operations and the opportunities available for them. Kamal Sharma offered an overview of Carrier Technologies India Ltd. This MoU represents a significant advancement in strengthening the ties between academia and industry, paving the way for future collaborations in research and innovation, says a press release.
Gadkari announces road projects of Rs 20,000 cr for CG





Staff Reporter

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, inaugurated the 83rd annual session of the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) on Friday evening at the Science College Ground in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The four-day session, taking place from November 8 to 11, brings together over 2,000 experts, scientists, and engineers from across the country. In his address, Gadkari announced an allocation of Rs 20,000 crore for various road projects. He confirmed plans for the construction of four flyovers at Sarona, Telibandha, Udyog Bhawan, and Dhaneli Junction along the national highways in Raipur.

The Union Minister also outlined intentions to upgrade four national highways in the state to four lanes and convert certain single-lane roads into two lanes, assuring that funding will not be a constraint for road projects in Chhattisgarh. Gadkari urged the State Government to expedite forest clearances for these projects, as the Chhattisgarh government is responsible for preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs). Gadkari emphasised the need for innovative infrastructure practices and stated that, within two years, Chhattisgarhs national highway network would resemble that of the United States. He encouraged the use of bamboo crash barriers as a sustainable alternative to steel, and urged engineers to design roads with safety features to reduce fatalities.

Noting that over 168,000 lives are lost annually in road accidents, he highlighted the substantial 3% GDP loss these accidents cause. Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Vishnu Deo Sai, expressed pride in hosting the IRC session in the state for the first time. Sai noted that his Government is prioritising rural road infrastructure and requested enhanced inter-state connectivity. The inaugural event was also attended by Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Ajay Tamta, Deputy C

hief Minister Arun Sao, Director General (Road Development) D. Sarangi, IRC President K.K. Pipri, and IRC Secretary General S.K. Nirmal. Principal Secretary of Public Works Department, Dr. Kamalpreet Singh, delivered the welcome address. Gadkari released a souvenir, coffee table book, and four new guidelines during the programme. Numerous technical sessions are scheduled over the four-day congress, with 18 documents under detailed review. IRCs primary objective is to set standards, codes, and specifications related to road and bridge construction and maintenance for adoption by central road agencies, aimed at fostering sustainable infrastructure development across India. On November 9, the 84th meeting of the Highway Research Board (HRB) will convene, gathering representatives from central and state governments, research institutions, IITs, and the private sector to discuss research and development in road infrastructure. The meeting will focus on advancing green tech
J&K Special Status resolution: BJP MLAs hold mock Assembly





SRINAGAR,

(PTI) OPPOSITION BJP on Friday held a mock session in the lawns of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly after half of its members were marshalled out while the other half staged a walk out of the House to protest against the Special Status resolution. The BJP MLAs assembled in the Assembly lawns and staged a mock Assembly in which they described the House resolution on restoration of Special Status as illegal and unconstitutional. BJP leaders said the mock Assembly was to protest against the National Conference which has hijacked the House. The House is hijacked by the NC. We wont allow this to happen. A Constitutional crisis has been brought about by the NC. They have violated the rules, BJP MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia said. Earlier in the days, 12 BJP MLAs were marshalled out of the House after they protested against the resolution while 11 party MLAs later walked out of the House. There are 28 BJP MLAs in the House whose strength is 88 at present. Ruckus prevailed in the Jammu and Kashmir

Assembly for the third day on Friday as BJP members protested over the Special Status resolution, leading the Speaker to marshal out 12 Opposition MLAs and Langate legislator Sheikh Khurshid. As the House met for the day, BJP MLAs raised slogans like Pakistani agenda nahi chalega. BJP MLAs also jumped into the well of the House following which Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather directed that they be marshalled out. Soon after they were evicted, 11 other BJP MLAs walked out of the House in protest. The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was adjourned sine die on Friday after the House passed the Motion of Thanks on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinhas address. The Assembly met for a five-day session on Monday, the first since the developments of August 5, 2019, when the erstwhile State was bifurcated into

Union Territories and its Special Status revoked. It witnessed chaotic scenes since Wednesday, disrupting its proceedings. The House has been witnessing uproar from the last two days as BJP MLAs protested vociferously after the passage of the resolution. Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary had moved the resolution on Wednesday that said: This Legislative Assembly reaffirms the importance of the special status and constitutional guarantees, which safeguarded the identity, culture and rights of the people of J&K, and expresses concern over their unilateral removal. It said the Assembly calls upon the Centre to initiate talks with elected representatives from the region for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmirs special status and constitutional guarantees, and to work out constitutional mechanisms for the same. This Assembly emphasises that any process for restoration must safeguard both national unity and the legitimate aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, it added.
No in the world restore Article 370 in J&K: PM





DHULE,

(PTI) PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused the Congress-led INDIA bloc of wanting to take the Constitution out of Jammu and Kashmir and asserted that no power in the world can restore Article 370 there. He also accused the Congress of pitting one caste against another and cautioned people to stay united. Ek hai, toh safe hai, he said. Addressing his first rally in Maharashtra for the November 20 Assembly elections, Modi said the INDIA grouping is flaunting blank books passing them off as the Constitution to provoke Dalits and Adivasis. The PM said the Congress and its allies should not encourage the Pakistan agenda and speak the language of separatists. The agenda wont succeed till he has peoples blessings, said Modi. Only Ambedkars Constitution will be followed in J&K. You must have seen on TV how a resolution was moved in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on bringing back Article 370 and when BJP MLAs protested, they were thrown out. The country and Maharashtra should understand this, Modi said. The BJPs star campaigner also accused the Congress of playing a dangerous game of dividing castes and communities.

If ST (Scheduled Tribes), SC (Scheduled Castes) and OBCs (Other Backward Classes) stay united, the Congress politics will be over, he said. The Congress wants to pit one caste against another and weaken the unity of SC, ST and OBCs. Since Nehrus time Congress and his family opposed reservation and now their fourth generation yuvraj (prince) is working for caste divisions. You must realise that ek hai toh safe hai (we will be safe if we are united), he said. Earlier, Modi alleged, the Congress played politics over religion which led to Indias partition and now the party is indulging in the politics of caste. There can be no bigger conspiracy against the country than this, he said at the rally in the north Maharashtra district. Modi quipped that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), as a vehicle that has neither wheels nor brakes and there is a fight there to sit in the drivers seat. Recalling his affinity with Dhule and Maharashtra, Modi said whenever he has asked something from the people of the State, they have been gracious. I sought your blessings in 2014 to end the 15 years of misrule of the previous Government. You graciously ensured that BJP got unprecedented success. Today, I am starting my campaign in Maharashtra from Dhule. Each and every candidate of Mahayuti seeks your blessings, he said. 

I assure you that the pace at which Maharashtras development has gained in the last two-and-a-half years will not be allowed to stop, said the PM. In the coming five years, Modi said, Maharashtras progress and development will be taken to new heights. Only Mahayuti can provide good governance. The Maha Vikas Aghadi is a vehicle that has no wheels, no brakes and there is a fight to sit in the drivers seat. One can hear different kinds of horns, he said. MVA has no intention to work for the development of people and the State and the goal of its leaders is to loot the public, he said. MVA was formed out of deceit and the State has seen the work that they have done. MVA was in power for two years before Eknath Shindes rebellion in Shiv Sena sunk it and split the Bal Thackeray-founded party in June 2022. The MVA put roadblocks on development projects and stopped every scheme which could have improved peoples lives. The situation changed when, with your blessings, the Mahayuti Government was formed and new heights of development were seen, he said. Maharashtras lost pride and belief in development was back on the path, he said. People should remember that Mahayuti aahe tar gati aahe Maharashtra chi pragati aahe (if Mahayuti is there, Maharashtras progress and development is assured). The manifesto of Mahayuti  BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP  is a roadmap to development. It speaks of economic progress, social equality, security and is all-inclusive, he said. Empowerment of women is important for Viksit Maharashtra. Previous Governments stopped women from progressing and Modi and Mahayuti removed all roadblocks and provided them several opportunities, he said. The States Ladki Bahin scheme is being talked about in the entire country, but the Congress ecosystem is working against it and even took it to court, he said. If voted to power, MVA will scrap the scheme. Every woman should be wary of the MVA, he said. Modi also touched upon the imported maal comment by Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant for Mahayutis Mumbadevi candidate Shaina NC. Women should not tolerate and forgive MVA leaders for such remarks, he said.
RSS chief Dr Mohan Bhagwat asks Swayamsevaks to achieve tasks for Centenary Year celebrations of Sangh





Staff Reporter

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat chaired a meeting of Pracharaks in Mahakoshal Prant at Keshav Kuti, on Friday. He encouraged the Swayamsevaks for achieving the tasks set for Centenary Year celebrations of the organisation. After a marathon meeting, RSS Chief Dr Bhagwat attended a Shakha in

Narmada Nagar in the evening. Make use of swadeshi goods. Promote swadeshi products. Focus on the use and promotion of goods from cottage industries, RSS chief Bhagwat said. The meeting was focused on the activities and plans pertaining to centenary celebration of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Discussions were centered around expansion and strengthening of RSS activities in every Mandal and numbers of Shakha, a key objective for the centenary year. Addressing the meeting, Dr Mohan Bhagwat emphasised on the vision of Panch Parivartan including adopting an indigenous lifestyle, fostering unity and harmony within families and society, promoting family values, practicing environmental sustainability and upholding civic duties. Pracharaks were encouraged to implement these principles in their personal and family lives, creating a more cohesive and responsible society. Bhagwat is slated to leave for Nagpur on Monday.
Two prisoners escape from Patan Sub-Jail





Staff Reporter

Two prisoners escaped from Patan Sub-Jail, located around 30 kms from Jabalpur, early on Friday morning. The escape came to light immediately and the jail authorities, along with prison staff, managed to catch the two fugitives after a half-kilometre chase. Patan Sub-Jail Jailor Hemandra Bagri informed that an unidentified individual threw a rope over the jails back wall to help the inmates escape. Using this rope, the prisoners climbed over the wall but were injured when the rope fell at the crucial moment. While trying to scale the 15-feet high wall, the two prisoners suffered injuries in their legs and waist.

They were limping while fleeing through a nearby field. As soon as the jailbreak was discovered, Jailor Hemendra Bagri reached the scene along with his team and apprehended the two prisoners about half a kilometre away, near Gram Vanwar area. During the chase, the jailor also sustained injury after being hit by iron rod by one of the prisoners on his hand and waist. The two prisoners, Sheikh Shahadat of Katra and Krishna Yadav of Katangi, Kudhan Mohalla, are both undertrial prisoners. Sheikh Shahadat is accused of rape while Krishna Yadav was imprisoned for illegal liquor sale. Both have been lodged at Patan Sub-Jail for approximately five months. Following the incident, the Jailor informed Jabalpur Central Jail, District Jail Head Office, and the court about the escape. The incident took place following the cleaning and maintenance work underway inside the Patan Sub-Jail, which has led to the entry of women and labourers from outside. Authorities suspect that the escape plan may have been coordinated with the help of an outsider who was involved in the jailbreak during this period. Currently, both the prisoners are receiving medical treatment in jail for their injuries. Meanwhile, the Jail Superintendent, Akhilesh Tomar reached at Patan Sub-Jail to monitor the investigations.
Two quintals of Chinese garlic seized during raid at KUM





Staff Reporter

Food and Safety Department conducted a raid at Krishi Upaj Mandi (KUM) and seized two quintals of garlic suspected of being Chinese garlic. The department is now investigating the source of the garlic and whether this type of garlic has been used earlier in Jabalpur. The Food Safety Department has inspected five shops in the market, with the garlic being seized from Baabusalam & Company store printed with Process of Chinese on its sack. A sample of the seized garlic has been sent to Bhopal laboratory for further testing.

According to information, Pankaj Srivastava, District Food Safety Officer, along with his team, reached the Agricultural Produce Market on Friday. The team conducted inspections of various shops dealing in potatoes, onions, and garlic. During inspection of Baabusalam & Company, the team held doubt on garlic stored at the shop. During checking, they found sacks of garlic were labelled as Process of Chinese Garlic. Further investigation revealed that the store had a bill addressed to a person named Arvind Kumar. The food safety officers discovered 14 sacks containing seized garlic, with an estimated value of approximately Rs 1.5 lakh. The shop was selling the Patan Sub-Jail, which has led to the entry of women and labourers from outside. Authorities suspect that the escape plan may have been coordinated with the help of an outsider who was involved in the jailbreak during this period. Currently, both the prisoners are receiving medical treatment in jail for their injuries. Meanwhile, the Jail Superintendent, Akhilesh Tomar reached at Patan Sub-Jail to monitor the investigations.
DECATUR  Rain-dampened ballots, tired election judges and ever-greater scrutiny at polling places didnt get in the way of Macon County Clerk Josh Tanner voting this presidential election cycle a mostly smooth success.

County turnout was high, hitting just under 68%. But not as high as Tanner was expecting. He had predicted around 50,000 of the countys registered total of more than 67,300 voters casting ballots, but the final number was 45,613 recorded votes.

Not every voter voted for every issue on the ballot when they entered the voting booth. So, for example, on the Property Tax Relief and Fairness Referendum  which won in the county  the "yes" tally was 23,684 compared to the "no" vote of 19,857. This added up to total number of votes cast on the issue of 43,541.

The problem with the soggy weather on voting day meant that, in a few cases, the water brought into the polls on voters sleeves ended up electing to soak itself into the edges of their absorbent paper ballots.

The ballot is a lot more technical than people understand and there are markings on the ballot that validate its an actual ballot, said Tanner.

And if those markings get wet or slightly damaged, when the ballot is fed into the machine it gets kicked out. So we struggled with a little bit of that for a while but then the rain kind of dried up and it wasnt too bad.

LONGEST DAY

Voting was the longest day for election judges and Tanner noticed ever-closer attention from poll-watchers scrutinizing the work of those judges. This resulted in some tempers starting to fray at the edges as the hours ticked on by.

You know, there is always some tension between poll watchers and judges," said Tanner. "And when you have people hovering over you and questioning everything you do well, after a 13-hour day, that wears you out.

Tempers got a little hot in some places although things stayed fairly calm. But I did go to a couple of locations to try and smooth it over. Election day is stressful anyway, especially a presidential election, and we had more poll watchers then I had anticipated. And so all this can make it very difficult to recruit people who want to be judges in the future.

One strong theme of this election that helped ease the crush of activity on election day itself was early bird voting. That started strong and got stronger with early voting accounting for 17,842 of the ballots cast, or 48.1%. On top of those were 5,870 ballots, or 12.9%, which came in the mail.

And its not over yet: Tanners vote-counters can still tally mail-in votes received within a two week window of election day and some ballots continue to trickle in. As long as they were postmarked by Nov. 5, they count. President-elect Donald Trump probably isnt sweating the outcome, but hell have to wait until that two week window has passed before the Macon County count is officially certified.

One change this year was the location of early voting to the new Macon County Annex Building at 151 W. Wood St. The building, across the street from the Macon County Office Building that had been the site of early voting for many years, provided much needed space for the growing early voting trend.

Despite "Vote Here" signs and a large flag flapping in the wind, Tanner said the biggest challenge with the new site was getting people familiar with where it was located and where to park. There were 45 parking spaces near its front door.

Since the new location was unveiled during such a popular election, Tanner predicts that won't be a problem in future elections.

NO REST

Even when that is all done and dusted, however, the county clerk and his crew wont get to rest on their laurels for too long.

November 12 is when we start taking the certifications for the school board for the April 1 municipal election, Tanner said. And so anybody who is filing to run for the school board files with us here in the County Building. For the fire districts and the library districts, they all file at the library or at the fire district.

Those defending or taking a shot at a Decatur City Council seat have already made their filings to allow time for handling issues like the triggering of primary elections.

The county clerk said the sad thing about the April election is that he doesnt expect his election judges to be grappling with the problem of processing a deluge of votes. Typical turnout for elections like this hovers around an apathetic 12.5%.

Its unfortunate, he added. Whether its city councils, fire districts, library districts, school boards and townships, these are areas of local government that touch your everyday life and they are important. We encourage you to come out and vote.
Nigeria has reportedly secured the support of some West African countries to clinch a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council.

The UN Security Council, established in 1945, currently has 15 members  five permanent members (the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France) with veto power, and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms without veto power.

Africa, despite having 54 member states in the UN, does not have any permanent representation in the council.

The United States has proposed adding two permanent seats for African countries on the Security Council.

Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt are the strong contenders for a permanent seat.

These countries are frequently highlighted due to their economic, political, and diplomatic influence on the continent but the final decision will likely involve extensive negotiations within the African Union and among UN member states.

Nigerias Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, told a press conference in Abuja that he had recently led a delegation to Togo, Cote DIvoire, Gambia and Guinea Bissau to solicit their support for the country in its bid to get one of the permanent seats for Africa at the UN security council.

Everywhere we went, we had the opportunity to discuss and solicit support for Nigerias intention to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council because this is something that is a hot topic at the moment and all the countries we visited said they are in the same region but they know there is no other country that is best suited, best qualified to speak on behalf of the continent more than Nigeria and they assured us of their support when the time comes.

Some volunteered even to start doing that groundwork right away and the second issue we discussed was the opening that exists in the International Court of Justice where Nigeria is presenting its candidate, Femi Elias and again all countries we visited. All assured us of their support for Nigeria candidate and this is just the first phase of this shuttle diplomacy within the West Africa region.

We had a break because of other engagements happening in between and as soon as those events are over we will return to shuttle diplomacy, he said.

The minister said a seat in the United Nations Security Council was important because 68 per cent of decisions made at the Council involved Africa, yet there is no African country with a permanent seat there.

So, its important that Nigeria is in there, its important that Nigeria represents and speak for not just ourselves, not just our region, not just the continent but for the world as a whole.

This is what this administration is ready to do. President (Bola) Tinubu is pushing hard, fully committed to it and we are getting the right response because for the first time, the United States came out and issued a statement and said they are fully in support of permanent seats in the United Nations Security Council for Africa, Tuggar said.
SOREPA sets record straight

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IMPHAL, Nov 9

The Socialist Revolutionary Party (SOREPA) Kangleipak has clarified that the abduc-tion and physical assault of Joshua Kamei on November 5 at Keikhu Kabui village gate was carried out by a gang led by one Khaba of the outfit.According to a press release issued by the outfits secretary, publicity and organisation MC Yaifabi, one Taslima, a Meitei Pangal woman from Keirao Mak-ting hired Khabas gang and the gang abducted Kshe-trimayum Rishikesh Singh, Kshetrimayum Gandhi Singh and Kshetrimayum (ongbi) Sonia a few days back.The three were abducted for they owed certain amount to Taslima.On reaching Urup (Lai Haraopham), a car (Baleno) in which the three individuals were travelling was impounded by the gang.As such, the three individuals walked back home. On the next day, the car was given back to them only after they gave Rs 2.5 lakh to the gang, SOREPA said.Investigation into the incident revealed that some members of the party were involved in the incident.The gang was formed by two/three members of SOREPA who have been defying the partys principle and working against the revolutionary movement for their personal wellbeing, it said.The gang which is extorting money in the name of SOREPA was set up by Sgt Mayengbam Amitap alias Khaba s/o M Sova of Wabagai Thingel LeikaiIt was this same gang led by Khaba which assaulted Joshua Kamei, the outfit said.Khaba and his gang members who have been defying the partys principle and extorting money from the public in the name of the party for their personal wellbeing would be awarded befitting punishment as per the partys rules, it said.It also appealed to all the associates of Khabas gang to stay from the gang.If they continue to associate with Khabas gang and its activities, they too will be awarded befitting punishment, the outfit warned.SOREPA said that it respects all the communities settled together in Kangleipak/Manipur and values communal harmony.It also appealed to all the people to be wary of such gangs who have been portraying the revolutionary movement in the wrong light.It further announced that SOREPA would continue its campaign against drugs particularly No 4 (heroin), brown sugar etc.The outfit also tendered apology to the Rongmei people for the involvement of one its cadres in physically assaulting Joshua Kamei.
Xi urges China-Italy cooperation for building better world

Xinhua) 09:09, November 09, 2024

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

BEIJING, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Italian President Sergio Mattarella in Beijing on Friday, saying the two countries should make joint efforts to build a world of harmonious coexistence.

Mattarella is in China for a state visit at the invitation of Xi.

Noting that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the China-Italy comprehensive strategic partnership, Xi said China and Italy, both ancient civilizations, should uphold their traditions of openness and inclusiveness, and encourage the international community to resolve differences through dialogue and rise above conflicts through cooperation.

Noting that mutual respect and trust, and win-win cooperation should always be the defining feature of China-Italy relations, Xi said the two sides should fully leverage the role of the China-Italy Government Committee and dialogue mechanisms in various fields, strengthen exchanges, consolidate mutual trust, continue to understand and support each other on issues of core interests and major concerns, and be strategic partners of mutual support.

China-Italy cultural cooperation has yielded fruitful results and is full of vitality, Xi said. He urged the two sides to continue to strengthen people-to-people exchanges, implement the new round of cultural cooperation action plans, deepen cooperation on culture and art, cultural relics' protection, translation of classical works, tourism and education, and make cooperation on cultural heritage sites a new highlight of China-Italy people-to-people exchanges.

Xi called on the two sides to support language teaching and youth exchanges, and remain cooperative partners helping each other to succeed. China is willing to import more quality Italian products, support mutual investment by enterprises of the two countries and continue to advance cooperation on science, technology, environmental protection, clean energy and aerospace, Xi said.

Xi said that China and Europe are major forces for peace and constructive action, and should stick to the right direction of strategic communication, open cooperation and mutual learning, which is in the interests of both sides and the world at large.

Xi said that China takes Europe as an important partner on the path toward realizing Chinese modernization. He urged the two sides to seek win-win cooperation and manage their differences properly to ensure that bilateral relations are more mature and stable, as duly expected.

"China is willing to strengthen cooperation with the European side to cope with global challenges, and hopes that Italy can play a positive role in this regard," Xi said.

Mattarella said this year marks the 700th anniversary of the death of Marco Polo, whose connection with China epitomizes the long-standing friendship between the two countries and the mutual success of the two civilizations. He added that Italy and China should further enhance people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in such fields as culture, education, language teaching and cultural heritage cooperation, and make new contributions to promoting the dialogue and mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations, as well as the progress of human civilization.

Mattarella said Italy firmly adheres to the one-China policy and always considers China as an important partner. Italy looks forward to working with China to take the opportunity of celebrating the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership to strengthen cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, and science and technology, and push bilateral relations to a new height.

Italy shares similar positions with China on many major issues. Both sides oppose protectionism, advocate mutual openness, and stand for strengthening constructive communication, solidarity and cooperation to jointly meet various challenges. Italy is willing to work closely with China in multilateral collaboration and contribute the wisdom of the two civilizations to promoting world peace and stability, Mattarella said.

After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of culture, science and technology, education, and the protection of world heritage sites.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan pose for a group photo with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and his daughter Laura Mattarella in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 8, 2024. Xi held talks with Mattarella, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Italian President Sergio Mattarella in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 8, 2024. Xi held talks with Mattarella, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Italian President Sergio Mattarella in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 8, 2024. Xi held talks with Mattarella, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Italian President Sergio Mattarella in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 8, 2024. Xi held talks with Mattarella, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Italian President Sergio Mattarella in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 8, 2024. Xi held talks with Mattarella, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Wu Chaolan)
Allow UPSC aspirants to write in Meitei Mayek: WAMA

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IMPHAL, Nov 8 : Wakhal Manaba Apunba, Kangleipak (WAMA) urged the Central Government to allow aspirants to write Civil Services examination conducted by UPSC in Meitei Mayek.

Speaking to the media persons at Manipur Press Club, Moirangthem Naokhomba, president of WAMA said, Meitei Mayek was first introduced to the students of class I and II in 2006 and they are now doing PhD in Meitei Mayek, so the students are now not able to read or write Bengali script. He further stated that, the Government must take every possible step to let these students take the examination in Meitei Mayek starting from the year 2025.

Nokhomba continued that, the civil services preliminary exam is held at various North Eastern States but not in Manipur. The decision to not allot examination centre in Manipur has caused great inconvenience to the aspirants of the State. It will be very difficult for the students to travel to other States during the present crisis, said the president of WAMA.

He appealed the State Government and relevant authority to set up committee and take up every possible step to include Manipuri language as classical language.
Emergence of power players Need to exercise caution

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Manipur needs to be very, very cautious and this observation is made not without a reason. Ever since Manipur went up in flames in the evening of May 3, 2023, no one seems to know who is calling the shot. The result is chaos and all round confusion and it is in such a situation that power players of different hues will emerge and Manipur is undergoing such a situation at the moment. Even as the storm kicked up by the strong voice of protest raised by Senapati based civil society organisations against the assault and looting of two Poumai youths some days back is yet to die down, at least two prominent Rongmei organisations, the Rongmei Naga Youths Organisation (RNYOM) and Rongmei Naga Students Organisation, Manipur (RNSOM) have raised a strong voice of protest against the assault of a Kabui civilian at Keikhu Kabui Khul in Imphal East on November 5. Round this off with the brutal assault of the Headmaster of Irilbung Government High School in Imphal East within the sanctum sanctorum of the educational institution on November 7 and Manipur today comes close to the understanding of a place where brute force can be used and unleashed by anyone as if there is no rule of law. Demonstrating brute force inside a Temple of Learning and not surprisingly students and teachers of the said school have come out as one to lodge a strong protest. Not the first time that people have had to come out and lodge a protest against the increasing demonstration of brute muscle and gun power reflecting a situation where there just does not seem to be a Government in place. What is the State Government doing is a question worth raising at the moment. Manipur and her people have been reeling under an undeclared state of war for over 18 months now and making things worse is the emergence of different power players who have not hesitated to throw their weight around and in the process ride rough shod over the sensibilities of the people, the very set of people on whose behalf some of the power players have ostensibly emerged. This is not the way to go about it and this is certainly not the way a State of the Indian Union should be governed. Delhi or the Government of India may or may not take note of what is happening in Manipur, but it is more than clear that there are some elements who have emerged to make the situation all that more critical for the people.

And even as different power players have emerged all over to make life for the people all that more difficult, it is more than clear that Manipur is still far off from normalcy. Violence has reportedly come knocking back at Jiribam with deadly repercussions with reports coming in that some houses have been torched and one killed. The details are not yet clear, but already the social media platforms are rife with different versions of the violence that erupted sometime late in the night yesterday or in the wee hours of today. Purported video footage of the attack at the village has also gone viral on the social media, all definite pointers that normalcy is still a far cry away. In the last few days there have been reports of bullets raining down on villages lying at the foothills and at the paddy fields where farmers were out for the harvesting work and if the past is any indication the violence at Jiribam will not be the last either for there seems to be no lack of firepower on either side of the communities at war with each other. This is where one is reminded of the posers on whether Imphal and Delhi have worked out the roadmap to peace and normalcy. Or was the October 15 meeting at Delhi, where the Central team first met the Kuki-Zo MLAs, a part of the roadmap ? If at all this was a roadmap, one wonders why nothing has been let known to the people or if what was discussed are supposed to come under the classified information bracket, then why hasnt this been spelt out ? The Government still has a lot to do and to say this when Manipur has been burning for over 18 months should underline the importance of the words, still a lot to do.
After Kajal Sheikh, the sabhadhipati of zilla parishad, now the all India general secretary of Trinamul Congress, Abhishek Banerjee has also supported retaining the core committee for running the party in the Birbhum district.

After returning to his home from Tihar after almost two years Anubrata Mondal, the former district president of TMC in Birbhum district has sought expansion of the core committee from six members to fifteen members with representatives from all the blocks from the district.

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In the absence of Anubrata Mondal, the party chief Mamata Banerjee had formed the core committee, which included the two MPs, Shatabdi Roy and Asit Mal and Suri MLA and veteran TMC leader Bikash Roy Choudhury as convener to run the Birbhum district.

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Yesterday, Abhishek Banerjee has recommended retaining the core committee and said that under it the TMC has performed better in the 2023 three-tier gram panchayat polls and 2024 Lok Sabha polls, compared to the 2021 Assembly polls.

In fact, Abhishek Banerjee is known to have said that both the two MPs have increased their margin of victory and to keep such results in future too the core committee should be retained.

Kajal Sheikh is known to be very close to Abhishek.
At a time when the Aedes mosquito has brought apprehensions in the neighbouring district of North 24 Parganas, Kolkata is heaving a sigh of relief. The city has registered 93 per lower count of dengue cases in its limits as compared to last year.

According to the data received from Kolkata Municipal Corporation, till 3 November, Kolkata recorded 865 cases of dengue. Last year, the city had registered a much higher count. As learnt from sources in the municipal corporation, last year the number of reported cases of dengue in the city was 12,334 till 3 November 2023. Considering the fact, the count of cases in the city are said to have witnessed a considerable reduction of around 93 per cent.

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Notably, the state health department informed about the number of dengue cases reported in various districts of West Bengal. As per the information of the state health department, more than 17,000 people are said to have been infected by the Aedes mosquito in West Bengal till 30 October. The highest number of cases was reported till 30 October, were in the district of Murshidabad that recorded over 4,000 cases among the 23 districts. After Murshidabad, the North 24-Parganas registered more than 1,900 cases of dengue.

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Even as the reported cases of dengue have triggered concerns in the neighbouring district, the situation in Kolkata is still under control. Not only dengue, even in terms of reported cases of malaria, Kolkata has witnessed a considerable reduction. As learnt from official sources in KMC, the city has registered 5,187 cases till 3 November. Last year, the figure stood at 9,309 during the same period. This, as claimed by the officials in the municipal corporation, is around 44 per cent lower as compared to last years data.
On the 222nd anniversary of the Bengal Engineer Group and Centre, senior officers from the Indian Armys Technology Regiment, along with their families, visited sprawling campus of Patanjali to recognize the organizations contributions to health and wellness.

The officers, including retired Lieutenant Generals R.M. Chadha, Vijay Sharma, D.S. Ahuja, Brigadiers S. Gopikrishnan, and Devendra Pratap Singh, joined more than 70 fellow officers to meet with Patanjali founders Swami Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna.

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During their visit, they explored Patanjalis facilities and acknowledged its role in promoting holistic well-being through yoga and Ayurveda.

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Swami Ramdev took the opportunity to highlight Patanjalis core mission: helping Indian citizens achieve mental, physical, and spiritual freedom through traditional practices.

Patanjali, founded in 2006, has grown into one of Indias largest Ayurvedic and FMCG brands. It offers a vast range of products, from natural health supplements to daily essentials, all made with an emphasis on indigenous, organic ingredients.

Ramdev underscored how Patanjali mission aligns with the goals of the Bengal Engineer Group, emphasizing both organizations dedication to engineering a strong Indiaone through defense infrastructure and the other through inner engineering for personal wellness.

Acharya Balkrishna, the managing director of Patanjali, spoke of the shared vision of service to the nation. Just as the Indian Army instills patriotism and bravery, Patanjali inspires people to adopt a healthy lifestyle. They also emphasis to appreciate Indian heritage.

Balkrishna explained that Patanjalis work goes beyond products. It fosters awareness about the benefits of yoga, Ayurveda, and a return to traditional practices. They, in turn, support self-reliance and national pride. Under his leadership, Patanjali has established centers across India and expanded into research. With this, they aim to blend ancient practices with modern science.

The anniversary celebration provided an opportunity for Patanjali and the Indian Armys officials to exchange insights on leadership and service.
Trinamul Congress core committee meeting of Birbhum district will be held on 16 November.

Party chairperson Mamata Banerjee has instructed party leaders in Birbhum to hold the meeting at the party office. Anubrata Mondal will be present at the meeting.

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The Lok Sabha election was held in 2024 in absence of Mr Mondal and Trinamul Congress retained the sets at Bolpur and Birbhum.

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When Mr Mondal returned, some party leaders showed resentment. The alleged difference of opinion between Mr Mondal and Kajal Sheikh is well known. Miss Banerjee wants to put an end to the differences among the leaders before 2026 Assembly election. She wants that all the leaders should bury their hatchet and work together for the party. She wants to utilise Mr Mondal for partys better show in the district.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that major changes inside the party is in the offing. Many district presidents will be changed. Trinamul Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee wants to assess the performance of all the leaders. There are some councilors, who had won in the civic election but did not take the Lok Sabha polls seriously. He wants to replace such leaders with young faces.

He has come back from abroad after his eye treatment. Though he is wearing dark glasses, he took part in his birthday celebration when hundreds of party supporters assembled in front of his residence on Harish Mukherjee Road. He will be attending a Bijoya Sammelani in Diamond Harbour constituency tomorrow.

Party insiders said that Abhishek has already given some suggestions to the party chief Mamata Banerjee suggesting a change of heads in a number of municipalities in the state, especially for those where BJPs performance was much better than the states ruling party in the Lok Sabha polls this year.

Going by that logic, party insiders added that changes in the heads of at least 69 municipalities in the state are inevitable since in those urban civic bodies, BJP was ahead of Trinamul Congress in terms of votes secured this year. However, insiders said that the proposed reshuffle might be incorporated in some more municipalities as well although Trinamul Congresss performance was better there in the polls this year.

However, considering the importance of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), it might not come within the proposed reshuffle although BJP was ahead of Trinamul Congress in terms of votes this year in 48 out of 144 wards under the corporation.

Since Trinamul Congress candidates finally got elected from both the Lok Sabha constituencies in Kolkata, namely, Kolkata-Dakshin and Kolkata-Uttar, KMC might not come under the purview of the possible rejig.

It is learnt that the partys national general secretary is in favour of a performance-based reshuffle in the party in view of the state Assembly elections in 2026.
Three assailants involved in two back-to-back shooting incidents in Northeast Delhi were arrested within hours of the crimes, which occurred early Saturday morning.

Police reported that in two separate shootings in the Welcome and Jyoti Nagar areas, one person was killed, and another was injured.

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According to authorities, a PCR call was received at the Welcome Police Station reporting an attack on a young man by three assailants.

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A police team rushed to the scene, where they found that 24-year-old Nadeem had sustained a fatal gunshot wound, while his friend Sahnawaz, also injured, was taken to GTB Hospital for treatment.

The investigation revealed that Nadeem, along with friends Aman and Shanwaz, was riding a scooter when three attackers on a motorcycle intercepted them and opened fire. The assailants then fled the scene on Nadeems scooter, leaving their motorcycle behind.

Shortly after, another PCR call was received at the Jyoti Nagar Police Station. The complainant, 24-year-old Rahul, reported that at 1:26 am, three individuals on a scooter fired multiple rounds at his house in New Kardampuri.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northeast) Rakesh Paweriya stated, Local police developed intelligence on the suspects through CCTV footage and informants, leading to the swift arrest of three teenagers found in possession of the weapons used in both incidents.

During questioning, the suspects confessed to their involvement, explaining that in the first incident, two of them had borrowed money from Nadeem. Although they had repaid the loan with interest, Nadeem allegedly continued to threaten them for further payments, which led to the confrontation.

In the second incident, the suspects claimed they were acting on instructions from a local criminal, though the exact motive for this attack is still being verified, according to DCP Paweriya.
A LPG cylinder blast in the Krishan Vihar area of North Delhi resulted in the death of a woman and left another severely injured. According to the Delhi Fire Services (DFS), the incident took place around 3: 30 pm today. Two fire tenders were immediately dispatched to the site following reports of the explosion and it was found that the blast had caused a portion of the house to collapse, DFS added.

The fire department informed that a 25-year-old woman identified as Rajni, was killed on the spot, while another 20-year-old Renu, sustained burns covering 18 per cent of her body. Both were rushed to Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital by a CATS ambulance. While Rajni was declared dead upon arrival ,Renu is undergoing treatment.

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A police team also rushed to the spot and are asserting the exact cause behind the cylinder blast.

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Hollywood actress Halle Bailey has slammed her ex-partner DDG for showing off their baby to millions of strangers online without her consent.

The Little Mermaid star split from rapper DDG, 27, last month, almost a year after welcoming their son Halo, reports Mirror UK.

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She expressed her disappointment at the musician Darryl Dwayne Granberry Jr for showing off their baby on YouTube star Kai Cenats Twitch livestream to the content creators 13.8 million followers.

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Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Halle, who is suffering with severe postpartum, wrote, Hi everyone. just so you know i am out of town and i dont approve of my baby being on a stream tonight. I wasnt told or notified and I am extremely upset to have my baby in front of millions of people. I am his mother and protector and saddened that I wasnt notified especially when I am out of town.

As per Mirror UK, she has since deleted the tweet. In a follow-up tweet, that was also deleted, she said she has been battling severe postpartum and criticised her ex-partner for not respecting her boundaries.

As a woman experiencing severe postpartum, there are boundaries that I wish to be respected. No one knows what someone is going through until they snap, she added.

Before the tweets disappeared from her page, fans took to the comment section to share their support for her, with one user writing, Totally understandable, boundaries are important, especially during such a sensitive time. Hope they can work things out.

Another posted, Respect her boundariespostpartum is no joke.

Last month, DDG announced the couple had split after nearly three years together. Back in July, the couple showed their little boys face for the very first time.

DDG said, After much reflection and heartfelt conversations, Halle and I have decided to go our separate ways.

In January this year, Halle introduced the world to their little boy as she shared a photo holding onto baby Halos hand.
Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha workers on Saturday took out a Samosa march in Shimla, following CID probe into the missing Indian snack allegedly meant for Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister.

The protest erupted after a CID investigation that was allegedly reported following the missing Samosas and cake ordered from a five-star hotel in Shimla that was meant to be served to the Chief Minister, who had visited the CID Headquarters on October 21 to inaugurate the cyber wing station.

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The CID investigation revealed that the refreshments were mistakenly served to his staff.

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Strongly condemning the incident BJYM, State president Tilak Raj said that the state government is facing severe criticism in the entire country for the alleged Samosa investigation case.

The BJYM workers distributed Samosas on this occasion and also raised slogans against the Congress government in the state headed by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

Sukhu ka Samosa kisne khaya(Who ate Sukhus Samosa), Samosa Sarkar Murdabad (down with Samosa government), they chanted.

They also demanded Sukhus resignation.

Taking a swipe at the Sukhu led government Tilak Raj alleged that the corrupt governments brain has also become corrupt.

The people of the state are troubled. The youth are waiting for jobs and unemployment is increasing. However, this Congress government is worried about the Chief Ministers samosas going missing. A CID probe has brought embarrassment making the state a laughing stock in the country, he claimed.

All this has happened because of the Congress government that has also been in the spotlight for imposing toilet tax in the state, he blamed.

Taking a dig at Sukhus slogan of Vayavastha Parivartan, he said that this is perhaps the kind of system change of the state government that is happening in the state.

Law and order situation in the state has deteriorated, but the government is only concerned about the Samosas of the Chief Minister, nothing is going right in the state. Drugs allegedly coming from the neighboring states are ruining the new generation of Himachal, he alleged.

He claimed that in a recent survey involving 7,500 school children of 204 schools it was found that many school children are falling prey to drugs. Around 9.02 percent of teenagers are taking drugs through injection. Out of 1,170 youth aged 15 to 30 years are admitted in de-addiction centers, about 35 were addicted to Chitta. But the government is not concerned about this, he alleged.
Opposition leader VD Satheesan on Saturday came out strongly against the CPI-M on its attitude towards former Kannur district panchayat president PP Divya, accused in the case related to the suicide of ADM Naveen Babu.

Speaking to media persons in Kochi on Saturday, he said the CPI-Ms role and attitude in the PP Divya issue is creating a lot of mystery. Even while, CPI-M state secretary MV Govindan has been saying that the party is with the family of Naveen Babu, who committed suicide after facing public humiliation and corruption allegations from PP Divya at the farewell meeting, his(MV Govindans) wife was among those who went to receive Divya , when she was released on bail from jail on Friday.

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The CPI-M state secretary says that the party is with the victims family. But, the one who receives the predator on her release on bail from prison is the same leaders wife. This is the face of the CPI-M in Kerala, he said, and asked, what a hypocrisy is this?

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Satheesan made this comment in the wake of reports that some CPI-M leaders, including CPI-M state secretary MV Govindans wife, reached outside the Kannur jail to receive Divya, when she came out on bail from the jail. The senior Congress leader alleged that the CPI-M has a mysterious role in Divyas issu. He said it has now become clear that the CPI-M is not with the victim but with the predator

Why did top leaders of the CPI-M go to receive someone who had been demoted through disciplinary action by the party? Is CPI -M afraid of P P Divya? Who owns the controversial petrol pump at Chengalai?  he asked. Stating that everybody knows that the petrol pump is not owned by Prasanthan, Satheesan said whose benami was Prasanthan, who had accused Additional District Magistrate(ADM) Naveen Babu of accepting a bribe for granting a no objection certificate (NOC) for the petrol pump. Some top CPI-M leaders were behind him, he alleged
In a case of caste conflict, several Dalit women staged a dharna in front of a temple in Kendrapara district on Saturday after they were allegedly denied the right to perform the ritual of offering milk to the deity during the holy month of Kartik.

The protesters accused the temple priests and a group of upper-caste individuals of preventing them from performing the religious rite at Siddheswari Ramachandi Shakti shrine in Garajanga village under the Marsaghai block of the district.

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Those opposing the Dalits argued that only upper-caste people are entitled to perform the milk-offering ritual.

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Meanwhile, the protesters filed a complaint at Marsaghai Police Station on Saturday, demanding strict action against those who blocked them from offering milk to the deity.

The puja rituals have come to a halt in the temple as the priests voiced their objection to the Dalit womens demand to offer milk.

We have received a complaint regarding this matter. Efforts are underway to resolve the issue amicably. Talks are being held with senior members from both the upper caste and Dalit communities. Police are closely monitoring the situation, with personnel deployed in the village to maintain peace. However, the situation is currently under control, said Inspector-In-Charge of Marsaghai police station, Purna Chandra Pattayat.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Friday, inaugurated the Gomti Book Festival at Gomti Riverfront Park.

Organised in collaboration with the National Book Trust and the Lucknow Development Authority, the festival will run from November 9 to 17.

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During the inauguration, the Chief Minister encouraged children to expand their reading beyond textbooks, urging them to explore creative and informative books to gain broader insights. He also appealed to children to buy at least one book from the fair to foster a lifelong reading habit.

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Expressing concern over the influence of the digital age, CM Yogi Adityanath remarked, Todays youth are spending nearly six hours of their day on smartphones or other digital devices. If this time were redirected toward meaningful pursuits, it could benefit both society and the young generation. He further stressed, We should use technology as a tool, not become enslaved by it.

Drawing attention to Indias ancient tradition of knowledge, Yogi emphasized the profound significance of the countrys Shruti tradition. He noted that sacred sites like Naimisharanya became pilgrimage centres as sages documented knowledge there.

He remarked that listening, reflecting, and putting learned principles into practice has long been a valued tradition in India, which now needs to be revived.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath highlighted the rich cultural legacy of Uttar Pradesh, noting its privilege as the birthplace of revered poets like Maharishi Valmiki and Tulsidas. He referenced the Ramcharitmanas, which is cherished and sung in homes throughout India, as well as the Bhagavad Gita, remarking that this profound work of wisdom was composed on the battlefield.

Yogi underscored the importance of taking pride in this invaluable heritage and emphasized the need to preserve it for future generations.

The Chief Minister praised the National Book Trusts initiative and suggested that similar book fairs should be organized across all 18 divisions of Uttar Pradesh. He noted that such fairs would benefit all sections of society and increase peoples interest in reading.

He emphasized the need to reduce time spent on digital devices and focus more on reading books. Books broaden our perspectives and make us more aware of society, he stated, stressing the need to inspire the younger generation in this direction.
Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Jai Ram Thakur has charged the Chief Minister Himachal Pradesh Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu of spreading lies in Maharashtra.

Sukhu who is in Maharashtra for the general assembly elections, says that he has fulfilled the guarantees promised to the people of the Himachal before the elections, claimed Thakur in a statement on Saturday.

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Every daughter of the state will start getting a pension of Rs 1500 as soon as she turns 18, is what the Chief Minister is harping, charged Thakur, stating that Sukhu thinks that by repeating lies again and again, it becomes truth that is why he is lying.

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However, by repeatedly lying the credibility of any person ends. He should not forget he is also the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, he added.

On one hand, Congress cheated the women of the state in the name of guarantee in the elections and now the Chief Minister is lying about giving them pension. This is a double insult to the women of our state, he alleged, stating that the Chief Minister has probably forgotten that pension is a system to be given every month.

During the Lok Sabha elections by giving just an installment to 25,000 women of the state is not giving pension, but cheating, he alleged.

The Congress leaders before the elections had made tall claims that every woman in the age group of 18 to 59 years will be given Samman Nidhi. Many leaders of Delhi even held a press conference in Himachal and said that we have already made arrangements to give money. They even claimed that their economists have found a way for this. They also got lakhs of beneficiaries to fill forms which gathered dust in the Congress offices months after the elections. After assuming power, no economist of Congress returned to Himachal. But when the Lok Sabha elections came one and a half years after the formation of the government, the government announced this scheme and after giving only one installment of Samman Nidhi to 25 thousand women, they are now silent, said Thakur.
Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh will address several rallies in the poll-bound state of Jharkhand on Saturday as part of the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) campaign blitzkrieg in the run-up to the Assembly elections in the eastern state.

HM Shah has got a busy schedule lined up for Saturday as he will address four rallies in Jharkhand where polling will be held in two phases on November 13 and November 20.

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The Home Minister will address the first rally at around 11 A.M. in the Chhatarpur Assembly segment and from there, he will leave for Hazaribarh where he is scheduled to address his second poll rally of the day at around 12.30 P.M.

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After wrapping up the Hazaribagh programme, the former party President of the BJP will arrive in Potka where he will address the third rally at around 2 P.M.

In Jamshedpur, Home Minister Shah will address the days fourth election rally at around 3.15 P.M.

Besides, Home Minister Amit Shah, his Union Cabinet colleague, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will also address two rallies today in Jharkhand.

The veteran BJP leader, also a former party President of the BJP, will address the first rally at around 12.50 P.M. in Khunti and the second rally in Chatra at around 2.25 P.M.

As the Assembly polls draw near, the BJP has intensified campaigning in Jharkhand and pulled out the big guns. Many of the BJPs star campaigners including Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been addressing rallies to garner support for the candidates contesting the two-phase Assembly polls.

During a mega rally in Jharkhands Chaibasa on November 4, PM Modi slammed the Congress, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), labelling them as anti-Adivasi.

Accusing the parties of disrespecting countrys Adivasi community, PM Modi highlighted their alleged disregard for Indias Adivasi President.

Addressing a huge gathering in Chaibasa, PM Modi stated: History stands as a proof of how the British were uprooted from Kolhan. Today, Kolhan is determined to uproot the corrupt JMM government.

He also asserted that his party would form the new government in the state.

PM Modi also underscored the BJPs commitment to Jharkhand, invoking a popular slogan that has gained traction among the masses: Roti, beti aur maati ki pukaar, Jharkhand me BJP-NDA sarkar, affirming that if the NDA assumes power, it will focus on addressing local demands symbolised by Roti, Beti, Maati (livelihood, daughters, and land).
Ahead of the Jharkhand assembly elections, the Income Tax (IT) department on Saturday conducted raids at the residence of Sunil Srivastava, personal secretary to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, in Ranchi.

The raids were reportedly conducted at nine locations across Ranchi and Jamshedpur in connection with an alleged land scam case.

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This comes as Jharkhand prepares for a two-phase election on November 13 and 20, with the results to be declared on November 23.

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The state assembly has 81 seats, with both the BJP and JMM-led alliance engaged in high-stakes campaigns to secure a majority.

In response to the raids, the Jharkhand CM said that a new cadre of the BJP has emerged.

Raids have started, a new cadre of BJP has emerged in the area. No problem, we will see it, he remarked.

Earlier on Thursday, Soren accused the BJP of targeting him like cowardly British, challenging them to engage in a direct political contest.

If you have the courage, fight face-to-face why keep attacking from behind like cowardly British? Soren said on X, formerly Twitter. He alleged that the BJP was using central agencies and shadow ads to tarnish his image before polls.

Meanwhile, State BJP chief Babulal Marandi defended the actions of the central agencies, asserting that they were simply fulfilling their duties.

Agencies are doing their work. Just like we are campaigning, they are also doing their work, Marandi remarked.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey also commented on the developments, stating, Sunil Srivastava is a junior engineer. His wife has become the director of 10 companies He is an officer, a public servant, not a JMM worker. If raids are being conducted on an officer, what impact will it have on the elections?
As part of Indias capacity-building support for friendly nations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the Government of India has gifted two water-jet propelled Fast Interceptor Craft (FIC) to the Government of Mozambique.

The FICs, transshipped from India aboard INS Gharial, aim to strengthen Mozambiques maritime security and counter-insurgency capabilities.

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The handing over ceremony was attended by High Commissioner of India to Mozambique, Robert Shetkintong, Indias newly appointed Defence Adviser in Maputo, Col Puneet Attri, and the Commanding Officer of INS Gharial, Commander Rajan Chib.

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On behalf of Mozambique, the vessels were accepted by Augusto Casimiro Mueio, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of National Defence.

The FICs, equipped with machine guns and bullet-resistant cabins, feature a top speed of 45 knots and can cover 200 nautical miles at 12 knots.

With a capacity for a crew of five, the boats will enhance Mozambiques ability to address maritime threats, including combating terrorism and insurgency in the Cabo Delgado region.

This delivery builds on previous support, following Indias 2019 gift of two large interceptor vessels and two FICs in January 2022 to support Mozambiques maritime security efforts.
India has taken exception to Pakistan digressing from the main issue at a UN session on peacekeeping by raising the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and asserted that the region was, is and will remain an integral part of India.

In Indias Right of Reply (RoR) at the meet, BJP MP and party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi told the august gathering on Monday that J & K recently witnessed proper democratic elections and reprimanded Pakistan for using the platform for non-substantive and misleading purposes.

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His remarks came after the Pakistani delegate sought to discuss the role of the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan(UNMOGIP), which monitors the ceasefire along the LoC, and referred to J & K at a meeting of the Special Political and Decolonisation Committee of the UN General Assembly. India has consistently maintained that the UNMOGIP has lost its relevance after the 1972 Shimla Agreement, making the peacekeeping mission redundant. Taking a strong view of the Pakistani delegates remarks, Mr Trivedi immediately used the option of ROR and said Pakistan must desist from indulging in rhetoric and falsehood on J & K.

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The people of Jammu and Kashmir have recently exercised their democratic and electoral rights and elected a new government. Pakistan must desist from such rhetoric and falsehood because it will not alter the facts. Out of respect for the august members of this forum, India will refrain from responding to any further attempts by Pakistan to use, abuse, the UN procedures, he said.

On the significance of UN peacekeeping, he noted that the peacekeepers make sacrifices not for national interests but for the benefit of all humanity. He also mentioned a UN resolution supporting the establishment of a memorial wall for fallen peacekeepers at the UN Headquarters, highlighting the importance of ensuring that such a memorial is appropriately honored.
The family of Naveen Babu, Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Kannur who died by suicide last month, is set to petition the Kerala High Court to revoke the bail granted to PP Divya, accused in connection with his death.

The family believes the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigation has been ineffective and is calling for a thorough probe into a possible conspiracy surrounding Babus death, potentially monitored by the court.

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The family expressed dissatisfaction with the current police investigation, alleging that several critical aspects that may have contributed to Babus suicide have been overlooked.

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They also demand an inquiry into the involvement of Kannur District Collector Arun Vijayan, TV Prasanthanthe complainant in the case against Babuand Prasanthans brother-in-law, who is reportedly well-connected with CPI-M leaders.

On Friday, the Thalassery Principal Sessions Court granted bail to former Kannur district panchayat president PP Divya, who had been in judicial custody related to Babus death.

Judge KT Nizar Ahammed noted that the prosecution failed to justify Divyas continued detention, stating that the case did not meet the criteria for withholding bail.

While the court acknowledged a prima facie case under Section 108 (abetment of suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), it deemed further incarceration unnecessary as Divya has been complying with legal proceedings.
The Kerala State Police Chief submitted the investigation report on the Mallu Hindu Officers WhatsApp Group controversy to the Chief Secretary on Saturday.

The report indicates that the phone of Director of Industries Department K Gopalakrishnan was not hacked.

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Forensic analysis and a report from Meta concluded that no unauthorized access occurred. Following this, the Chief Secretary is expected to seek an explanation from Gopalakrishnan, potentially leading to disciplinary action.

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According to findings presented by the Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner, no evidence of hacking was discovered in forensic tests or through Metas response.

However, it was noted that the phones had been formatted prior to submission, limiting the investigations ability to retrieve dataa factor that may lead to consequences for Gopalakrishnan.

The police investigation revealed that both of Gopalakrishnans phones, submitted for forensic examination, had been reset, thereby erasing potential evidence.

Metas prior clarification indicated that since the WhatsApp groups in question are no longer active, determining whether hacking had occurred is now impossible. Both reports ultimately dispute Gopalakrishnans hacking claim.

To validate a hacking incident, unaltered devices would have been essential; however, as Gopalakrishnan had formatted the phones himself, no evidence could be established.

Consequently, police officials have informed the Commissioner of Police that no further investigation can be conducted.

The lack of hacking evidence suggests that Gopalakrishnan may have created the WhatsApp groups himself.

Forming groups based on religious affiliations and segregating officials in this manner is against service regulations.

K Gopalakrishnan, Director of Industries and Commerce, allegedly established the WhatsApp group Mallu Hindu Officers, which included Hindu bureaucrats, some of whom were retired IAS officers.

Reportedly launched on Diwali, invitations were extended to both active and retired Hindu IAS officials. After the controversy gained attention, 11 WhatsApp groups linked to his name were deleted.

On November 4, Gopalakrishnan filed a complaint with the Thiruvananthapuram City Police, asserting once more that his phone had been hacked. In response, police sought a report from WhatsApp to verify whether unauthorized access had taken place.

The report from WhatsApp did not conclusively prove that the mobile phone was hacked. Forensic analysis also revealed the phone was reset three or four times. While the officer maintains that his phone was hacked, no explanation has been given for the resets, which erased all data that could support his claim, a senior police officer stated.

Meanwhile, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has expressed support for IAS officer Gopalakrishnan in the controversy. The VHP questioned whether forming a WhatsApp group for Hindus in Kerala should be considered an offense.

The Communist government in Kerala is targeting an IAS officer simply for creating a WhatsApp group called Mallu Hindu. The officer clarified that his phone was hacked and that no messages were sent to the group. Will the government ban groups formed by people of other religions as well, asked VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal in New Delhi.
Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled states, including Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, along with deputy CM of Karnataka DK Shivakumar Saturday joined forces in Mumbai to counter BJPs allegations of fake promises in their respective states.

Accusing the BJP and its allies of running a false advertisement campaign, the leaders defended their states accomplishments and extended an invitation to Maharashtras ruling coalition leaders to visit their states to witness the works being done by the Congress governments.

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With pointed remarks aimed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJPs campaign narrative, the leaders outlined a series of welfare initiatives implemented under Congress rule, asserting that transparency and real progress remain the cornerstone of their governance.

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Highlighting Telanganas welfare achievements, CM Reddy said, Narendra Modi lied about the guarantees given by Telangana government and Congress. Whereas Maharashtra has the highest number of farmer suicide cases in the country and the Congress government in Telangana has fulfilled the promise it made.

Loan waiver was done to provide relief to farmers in Telangana; We have given 50 thousand government jobs within 10 months; Gas cylinder is available in Telangana for Rs 500; There is free bus facility for women in the state; Lakhs of families are taking advantage of free electricity; There is MSP on paddy and a bonus of Rs 500, the Telangana CM stated.

Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar said The three of us are here to tell and show what we have promised, what we have delivered.

I was surprised to hear that the BJP allies had run a big false advertisement yesterday. I invite the leaders of the three parties, BJP, NCP and Shiv Sena who are running this Mahayuti government, to visit Karnataka so that they can see what we have promised, what we have delivered and how our five guarantees have benefited the people of Karnataka, he added.

Himachal CM Sukhu also echoed their sentiments and accused the BJP of orchestrating operation lotus in Himachal Pradesh.

Truth always faces lies but in the end, its the truth that triumphs. Just like Maharashtra, Operation Lotus took place in Himachal Pradesh as well during the Rajya Sabha elections, he said.

The presser by CMs of Congress came after PM Modi attacked the grand old party for allegedly making fake promises during election campaigns.

In a social media post earlier this month, Prime Minister Modi alleged, The Congress Party is realising 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. Now, they stand badly exposed in front of the people!
Prime Minister Narendra Modi told an election rally at Akola on Saturday that the BJP-led Mahayuti will never allow Maharashtra to become an ATM cash machine for the Maha Ghotalebaaz (super corrupt) Congress-backed Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). In fact, he went on to repeat other allegations against the Congress and the MVA which he made at his election rallies in Dhule and Nashik in the state yesterday.

The PM said that the MVA stands for multi-crore scams, extortion and token money. It stands for transfer posting racket and is completely immersed in scandals, loot and corruption, in his speech at the poll rally for the Mahayuti candidates in Akola.

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The Congress Party knows that the weaker the country is, the stronger the Congress will be. That is why it is the nature of Congress to make different castes fight. Since Independence, the Congress never allowed our Dalit community to unite. The Congress also kept our ST community divided into different castes. The Congress gets irritated by merely hearing the term OBCs. To ensure that the OBCs never have a separate identity, the Congress played various games, Mr Modi claimed.

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The Congress wants that different castes of SC society keep fighting and quarreling among themselves. Because the Congress knows that if different castes of SC society keep fighting among themselves, their voice will get dispersed, their votes will get dispersed and as soon as this happens, the way will be paved for Congress to come to power, he alleged.

The PM said, Today, the country is concerned about another sensitive issue. In the J&K Legislative Assembly, the Congress and its allies have passed a proposal to restore Article 370. I ask you, should Article 370 be reinstated in Jammu and Kashmir? People gathered at the rally could be heard shouting no, indicating that they would not like the Article 370 to be reinstated in J&K.

He alleged that the Congress and its allies neither care about Dr Ambedkars Constitution, nor the courts, nor the sentiments of the country. From Nehru until today, the ruling family of the Congress has repeatedly insulted Dr Ambedkar. During the time of Congress, Dr Ambedkar was not given credit for any major work done by him, he alleged.

The Congress is snatching the rights of the Scheduled Caste (SC) community. Cheating the SCs is both Chaal and Charitra of the Congress party. You all must remember that Ek Hai To Safe Hai (If We Are United, We Are Safe), he said, urging people to foil all attempts by the Congress to divide people on the lines of castes, religion and creed.

He also referred to the schemes launched to empower farmers by the Centre and the BJP-backed Mahayuti government. Our resolve is that the farmer himself should be so empowered that he emerges as the hero of the countrys progress. Therefore, we are increasing the income of the farmer and reducing their expenses. When we started the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, the Mahayuti government gave its support to it. The result is that farmers of Maharashtra are getting Rs 12,000 annually, he asserted at his Akola election rally.
The Mysuru Sangeetha Sugandha Festival was inaugurated in Mysuru today with distinguished guests celebrating Karnatakas rich heritage in Carnatic music, Kannada culture, and the Dasa tradition.

The festival, organised by the Ministry of Tourism, has positioned Mysuru as a center for cultural tourism, highlighting Karnatakas unique contributions to Indias musical and cultural legacy.

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Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman expressed her joy at being part of the event, praising Mysuru as a nerve center for Karnatakas arts and culture.

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She emphasised Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of Vikas (development) and Virasat (heritage), stating that Karnatakas cultural enrichment must go hand-in-hand with economic growth.

She highlighted the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat initiative, which aims to foster unity among Indias diverse cultures. She acknowledged the Dasa tradition, particularly Purandaradasas foundational role in Carnatic music, and urged Kannadigas worldwide to connect with the festival digitally, celebrating Mysurus music and sandalwood heritage.

Union Minister of State for Tourism Suresh Gopi honored Mysurus cultural significance, describing Indias soft power as rooted in its music and arts, which resonate deeply with travelers.

He praised the Ministry of Tourisms integration of musical events into tourism offerings, envisioning similar festivals across India to enhance cultural tourism. Mr Gopi commended the festival as a platform to inspire and unite audiences through Karnatakas musical legacy.

Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa, Minister of Social Welfare and Mysuru District In-Charge, celebrated Karnatakas long-standing musical heritage, tracing Carnatic musics origins back to the Vijayanagara era.

He emphasised Karnatakas unity in diversity, where languages, traditions, and cuisines coalesce to form a vibrant cultural identity.

The Mysuru Sangeetha Sugandha Festival will continue over the next three days, offering inspiring Kannada compositions.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that development projects worth over 2 lakh crore are in progress in Uttarakhand, with central grants to the state doubling over the past 10 years. Modi assured that the Rishikesh-Karnprayag rail link will be completed by 2026.

Addressing Uttarakhands 25th foundation day celebration virtually, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that central government-funded development projects worth Rs 2 lakh crore are underway in the state, with a focus on enhancing connectivity in hill areas. He noted that the Rishikesh-Karnprayag rail link, one of the countrys most challenging rail projects, is set for completion by 2026 as the grant received by the state from the Centre has doubled over the 10 years. The Rs 20,000 crore project will not only improve access to Badrinath and Kedarnath for tourists but also hold strategic importance for defence forces.

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In his address, Modi said that the ongoing Dehradun-Delhi expressway project will reduce travel time from Dehradun to Delhi to just two and a half hours. He also made several observations about the development work undertaken in Uttarakhand since his government came to power in 2014.

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The Prime Minister said that in addition to the central governments doubling of Uttarakhands grants, the state is now home to the countrys first drone application research centre, with plans to build a smart industrial township in Udham Singh Nagar district. Modi added that under the double-engine government, Uttarakhand is witnessing a mahayagna of development.

The PM praised CM Dhami, saying, Uttarakhand has taken decisions that are setting examples for the nation. The state has implemented the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) after deep study, which is a true secular civil code. Today, the whole country is discussing UCC and feels its need. Modi also highlighted Uttarakhands implementation of anti-cheating law to secure the future of its youth and its strict action against the mafia. Many of the states initiatives are becoming examples for other states to follow, he remarked.

Praising the states growth trajectory, Modi said, Uttarakhand is setting new records of development, as it led the SDG Index in 2023 and emerged as a major achiever in the ease of doing business and startup rankings. He noted that the states growth rate has been more than 1.25 times higher in the past one and a half years.

He further said that in 2014, the states per capita income was 1.25 lakh, which has now increased to 2.60 lakh. He also pointed out that Uttarakhands gross domestic product has increased from 1.5 lakh crore in 2014 to 3.5 lakh crore in 2024, adding. These figures show how new opportunities have been created in Uttarakhand.

Modi said that the Kedarnath shrine area is being given a major facelift while work on the Badrinath shrine area master plan is progressing rapidly. He reiterated that the present decade belongs to Uttarakhand as the Himalayan state will see central government-sponsored development projects in the coming days.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said today that provocative slogans like Batenge Toh Katenge (If We Are Divided, We Will Get Slaughtered) and Ek Hain Toh Safe Hain (We Are Safe Only If We Are United) are raised by the BJP merely to divert peoples attention from real issues.

BJP gives inciting speeches and speaks lies in order to divert peoples attention from core issues, he alleged at a press conference in Nagpur.

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He said while Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has raised Batenge Toh Katenge (If We Are Divided, We Will Get Slaughtered) slogan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the call of Ek Hain Toh Safe Hain (We Are Safe Only If We Are United). First you decide between yourselves about whose slogan will be followed  Yogijis or Modijis, Kharge asked.

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He said that efforts are on to paint anybody who waves the Constitution of India as an Urban Naxalite simply because the cover of that book is red in colour. Adding that the Constitutions cover could be of any colour, the Congress chief displayed a photograph showing the PM Modi himself gifting a copy of the Constitution with a red colour cover to former President Ram Nath Kovind.

He spoke about how his party has implemented all its guarantees given to voters. He compared the Congress record of implementing its promises with the BJPs jumlas (bluff) like bullet train which is yet to run and even the bridge constructed for it collapsed. Sometimes the new Parliament develops water seepage in monsoon, sometimes the newly constructed Ram temple develops leaks, he quipped.

He recalled how the Multimodal International Cargo Hub And Airport (MIHAN) which was initially supposed to come up in Nagpur was diverted to Gujarat. Has the BJP generated employment? What is the point in simply diverting projects from Nagpur to Gujarat, Kharge asked.

He also spoke about how two big BJP leaders (Nitin Gadkari and Devendra Fadnavis) from Vidarbha failed to stop big investments going out of the region to Gujarat since they are concerned only about saving their own posts and do not have anything to do with the peoples interests.

Why have you punished the people of Maharashtra? What crime have they committed, he questioned.
With the ruling BJP and the arch rivals Congress both experimenting on futuristic strategy bringing on forefront newer younger provincial leadership for campaigning and election management the battlefields for November 13 by-election in seven assembly segments in Rajasthan are all set to produce keen and close contests.

The perennial star campaigners, stalwarts of both parties including former Chief Ministers Ashok Gehlot and Vasundhara Raje, their contemporaries and ministerial colleagues of late Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, besides Gehlot and Raje either were not visible at all or showed up themselves only once or twice.

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Gehlot has attended nomination rallies of the Congress nominees in Dausa, Deoli  Uniara and Chorasi (ST). Contrary to this, senior BJP leader, two time CM Raje continued to maintain her absence from almost all party engagements. While the saffron dispensations parliamentary board considered for approval the names sent by block/district level committees through the partys state level panel, the grand old party high command in Delhi decided to listen to word from the local party MPs.

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Both the parties, apparently could not duly synchronise their moves  steps with political compulsions. Particularly, the move of the Congress to walk out of poll alliance with Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) and Bharatiya Adivasi Party (BAP) has already changed the character and fate of the contests in at least 3  4 of the seven poll bound segments.

Moves by the ruling BJP although based on buoyancy and optimism generally after partys impressive victory in Haryana assembly polls ,also demonstrate over  confidence over the part of state leadership. In fact, in evenly strong political space of the Gehlot- led Congress and Modi  Shah guided BJP in this bipolar state, there was no viable scope for taking undue liberty for trying too much experiments until the assembly polls in December 2023. However, the outcome of the assembly polls last year proved to be game changer as the saffron party got clear-cut mandate of the people to form next government in the state.

So whatever edge the saffron party had after formation of its government in December last, the grand old party mitigated the impact through its subsequent electoral victories. Likewise, the Congress also suffered erosion in its advantage by making risky move against its alliance with RLP and BAP. Hence, in the given situation keen and tough contests are on cards in all 7 constituencies -Jhunjhunu, Ramgarh, Dausa, Deoli  Uniara, Khinvsar, Salumbar(ST) and Chorasi(ST) the next week.
At least 24 people were killed and more than 50 others sustained injuries in a powerful suicide blast at Quetta Railway Station in Pakistan on Saturday. According to local authorities, the victims were mostly civilians but also included some law enforcement personnel.

The injured are being treated at various hospitals in the area where around a dozen are believed to have been in critical condition, according to reports.

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Pakistan-based Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed the responsibility of the suicide blast. Reacting to the tragic incident, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti strongly condemned the bombing, calling it a cowardly act targeting innocent lives.

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The Chief Minister has immediately contacted top administrative authorities, ordering a thorough investigation, his office stated.

Such acts of terrorism are a tragic continuation of cowardly violence against our people. Bugti has directed local authorities to ensure that all injured receive the best possible medical care.

Emergency services were mobilized quickly, and local hospitals were put on emergency to handle the sudden influx of casualties.

This devastating blast follows another attack just a week earlier, where a bomb explosion near a girls school and a hospital in Balochistans Mastung district killed eight people, including children.


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Air India Express announced its plans this week to add more routes from tier-2 and tier-3 cities to the Middle East and South East Asia. The carrier, which recently merged with AIX Connect, looks to increase its fleet to 110 aircraft by the end of the fiscal year.



Officials of the Tata Group-owned airline said that the carrier expects to fly to 55 destinations by March 2025, adding domestic routes and international destinations such as Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand.

With most passenger traffic peaking in the metro-to-non-metro routes, Air India Express MD Aloke Singh reiterated the importance of tier-2 and tie-3 cities and towns "growth engines".

"We want to provide connectivity between the full service, long haul, wide-body side of the business and the domestic tier-2, tier-3 cities," Singh told the media on Friday.

Tata has been consolidating its airline business, with AIX Connect completing its merger into Air India Express and the Vistara brand coming under the Air India fold next week.

ALSO READ | Generations will be grateful to him for making India a better...: PM Modi remembers Ratan Tata

Ankur Garg, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Air India Express, said the carrier is considering starting services in Bangkok and Phuket. Bangkok is expected to get direct flights from tier-2 cities.

The airline also expressed the possibility of adding routes to Malaysia and Hong Kong in the future. However, it will take time since the carrier will look at the performance of these sectors.

Earlier on Friday, the Air India Group also announced a shuffle in senior management ahead of the Vistara merger.

Vistara CEO Vinod Kanan is expected to continue as the Chief Integration Officer even after the merger, reporting directly to Air India CEO Campbell Wilson.

ALSO READ | Jet Airways: From major Indian private air carrier to bankruptcy and liquidation

Vistara Chief Commercial Officer Deepak Rajawat will become the CFO of Air India Express, reporting to CEO Aloke Singh. The incumbent CFO of Air India Express, Vikas Agarwal, will move to a new role at Air India.

"Over the past two years, the four Tata airlines have worked hard to prepare for and execute one of the most complex mergers in aviation history," said Wilson, the Air India CEO.
SpiceJet announced it will launch seaplane services across the country from next year. The destinations will include places like Lakshadweep, Shillong, Guwahati, Hyderabad etc.

The seaplane service seems aimed at boosting tourism and connectivity to remote and picturesque locations. The airline already has the rights to operate seaplanes on 20 routes. Seaplanes have the potential to transform Indias regional connectivity, opening up access to some of the most stunning, yet remote, parts of the country, said SpiceJet chairman & MD Ajay Singh. We are taking concrete steps to bring seaplane operations to life in India once again. We are excited to help drive this initiative forward, partnering closely with the government and civil aviation authorities to ensure these services become a reality and a success.

Avani Singh, CEO, Spice Shuttle (right) and Ajay Singh, CMD, SpiceJet with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu

SpiceJet has partnered in seaplane trials across multiple locations, providing crucial engineering, technical, and logistical support. Our journey in regional connectivity has been a purposeful one, rooted in the belief that everyone, no matter how remote, deserves access to affordable and efficient air travel, said Avani, Ajay Singhs daughter who previously led SpiceHealth, is now spearheading SpiceJets seaplane project.

The announcement was made on Saturday during a demonstration seaplane flight from Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada to Srisailam Dam, both in Andhra Pradesh, attended by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu.

SpiceJet started Indias first scheduled seaplane service in October 2020 linking the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad to the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat. But the service had to be discontinued soon. The budget airline is planning to restart seaplane services under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme of the union government which offers subsidies and a cap on airfares.
As part of Project Shaurya Gathathe governments ongoing effort to study, preserve and celebrate Indias military history and heritagekey military landmarks, including forts, battlefields, memorials, and museums, will be identified, restored, and promoted with the objective of developing a comprehensive National Military Heritage Conservation Policy.

The motive behind this effort is to honour the valour and sacrifice of Indias warriors from ancient times to the modern times which will contribute towards promotion of national pride and identity, and also open new avenues for tourism and development particularly in the border areas which hold immense potential for growth.

The initiative to honour the past which will foster national pride and educate future generations was launched on Friday in the national capital. It will also make history accessible.

Besides creating a robust network of historic sites, there will be informative tours with the use of digital resources, and strategic marketing. There will be major spinoffs in the form of economic development, jobs creation, improving infrastructure, and promoting sustainable economic activities.

Project Shaurya Gatha is a landmark initiative by the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) in collaboration with the Center for Military History and Conflict Studies under the aegis of the United Service Institution of India (USI-CMHCS).

Besides the defence ministry, the collaborative effort has also roped in the tourism, culture, education, home and foreign affairs ministries.

A source in the defence ministry told THE WEEK: A significant aspect of this project is the formulation of a National Policy for Military Heritage conservation, addressing a long-standing need to systematically preserve, restore, and protect our tangible and intangible military heritage.

This initiative will ensure that our historical assets, from ancient battlefields to war memorials and museums, are safeguarded for future generations. It will also help document oral histories and artifacts, preserving the stories of our armed forces sacrifices and achievements while fostering a deeper sense of national pride and unity.

The project will project Indias military heritage and to the countrys role in global affairs from protecting ancient trade routes, contributing to world peace, and participating in international conflicts to uphold justice and maintain the global order.

The project will also compile an extensive resource in the form of publications, documenting the accounts of key battlefields, military museums, memorials, and the ancient military history of India.
In an abrupt move, Canada has ended its popular Student Direct Stream (SDS) visa programme, ending the fast-track study permit process that has helped thousands of international students quickly secure visas.

The SDS programme was launched to ease the visa application process for students from 14 countries including India, China and the Philippines, who met the requirements including a Canadian Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) worth $20, 635 CAD and English or French language test scores.

The programme was launched in 2018 by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Under the programme, the applicants could secure permits in a matter of weeks, while the standard processing time often extends to around eight weeks for Indian applicants.

The latest Justin Trudeau's government raised concerns over delays in visa processing and uncertainty for many international students from India. The government's decision is expected to have a severe impact on international students, especially Indians, with many opting to move to Canada for higher studies.

Why Canada ended its fast-track visa programme?

The latest move comes at a time of strained ties between India and Canada over the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Also, the Trudeau government was under immense pressure regarding the massive surge in applications from international students.

However, the Canadian government has not given the exact details behind its latest decision.

How it would impact Indian students?

Around 2 lakh Indian students received study permits in Canada in 2023. Also, Indian students have been a leading source of international students in Canada.

With the fast-track programme terminated, Indian applicants may now experience long waiting times for their study permits. It will now be mandatory to submit all detailed documentation requirements and submit their applications well in advance to prevent any potential delays.

Experts believe that the applicants will also have to face additional hurdles to getting the study permits.
Kicking off his campaign for the Maharashtra assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused the Congress of creating rift among communities by pitting one caste against another.

Giving out a message of unity, Modi said ek hain toh safe hain (we are safe if we are united), echoing his party colleague and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths 'batenge to katenge' (if divided, we perish) slogan.

The sole agenda of the Congress party is to make one caste fight against another. They do not want SCs, STs and OBCs to progress and get their due recognition Remember, ek hai toh safe hai, he said.

Assembly elections: A report card on Maharashtra's key health indicators

Modi addressed two public rallies in Dhule and Nashik and said the governments at the Centre and in Maharashtra are committed to the welfare of the country.

He launched a scathing attack on the Congress, accused it of being anti-reservation.

Since assuming power post-independence. Since Nehru's time, the Congress and his family opposed reservation and now their fourth generation yuvraj' (prince) is working for caste divisions, he said, referring to leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi.

Why Maharashtra assembly elections 2024 is going to be unlike any other

Modi dared Congress allies in MaharashtraSharad Pawars NCP and Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Senato get Gandhi to speak for 15 minutes in praise of Hindutva ideologue V.D. Savarkar and Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray.

"Balasaheb Thackeray's contribution to the politics of the country and Maharashtra is incomparable. But not a single word comes out from the mouth of Congress leaders in praise of Balasaheb Thackeray. I challenge my friends in the MVA, they should get the Congress leaders to praise Balasaheb Thackeray and his ideology, said the prime minister.

He compared the opposition bloc to a vehicle without wheels and brakes and said each partner was trying to occupy the drivers seat.

Maharashtra assembly elections: Time of reckoning for two Shiv Senas and two NCPs

Further stepping up his attack on the grand old party, Modi said people have rejected the Congress in several states and it is surviving only with the support of its allies.

The whole country has completely rejected the Congress due to its actions. Congress is no longer the All India Congress. Congress has now become a parasitic Congress. This Congress party is now surviving only on crutches. Be it Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar or Jharkhand, in most states, Congress is in a position to contest elections only with the support of other parties, Modi said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stepped up his attack on the opposition Congress on the second day of his campaign in poll-bound Maharashtra as he accused the grand old party of creating divide among various castes.

In a scathing remark, Modi said the Congress gets strengthened when the country weakens.

"Congress is well aware. Jab Congress mazboot hogi, desh majboor ho jaega. Congress creates a divide between various castes. It never let our castes unite, he alleged, addressing a rally in Akola.

#WATCH | Akola, Maharashtra: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "Congress is well aware, the more the country weakens, the more they will strengthen. 'Jab Congress mazboot hogi, desh majboor ho jaega'... Congress creates a divide between various castes. It never let our castes pic.twitter.com/HptieXWfG2  ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2024

The prime minister further charged that the opposition party will take advantage of the situation if various castes do not stay united. This is their conspiracy and character. You have to stay aware. Remember, 'Ek hai toh safe hai," he said.

Modi attacks Congresss divisive politics, says ek hain toh safe hain

Modi also targeted the Gandhi family, saying wherever the Congress forms government, those state become an ATM for the royal family.

These days, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana have become their ATMs. In the name of elections in Maharashtra, they have looted Rs 700 crores from liquor sellers in Karnataka, he alleged.

Noting that Maharashtra has consistently supported the BJP since 2014, the prime minister attributed this to the partys patriotism, political insight, and vision of the people.

There is a reason behind Maharashtra's trust in the BJP. The reason for this is the patriotism, political understanding and vision of the people of Maharashtra," he said.

Modi hit the campaign trail in the politically crucial state on Friday when he addressed two public meetings in Dhule and Nashik. In those rallies, too, the prime minister accused the Congress of creating rift among communities by pitting one caste against another.

The sole agenda of the Congress party is to make one caste fight against another. They do not want SCs, STs and OBCs to progress and get their due recognition Remember, ek hai toh safe hai, he said

Polling to 288-member Maharashtra Assembly will be held on November 20 and the votes will be counted on November 23. In 2019 elections, the BJP had become the single largest party by bagging 105 seats.
On Saturday, doctors and civilians gathered at Esplanade in Kolkata to commemorate the 90th day without justice since the tragic rape and murder of a doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. The rally was organised by the West Bengal Doctors Forum and the Joint Platform of Doctors, West Bengal.

The West Bengal Junior Doctors Front (WBJDF), which has been at the forefront of protests demanding justice since the incident on August 9, marched to Esplanade from College Square under the banner of Janatar Matamat, Rajpothe Aadalat (Public opinion, court on the street), along with a copy of the Constitution of India and a statue of the Lady Justice.

Time and again, protesting doctors have raised concerns about the CBI investigation overseen by the Supreme Court of India. The central agencys chargesheet has so far accused only one individual in the rape and murder of the trainee doctor.

Nonetheless, the protesting doctors believe there were others involved who have not yet been arrested. To demand that the CBI arrest others who were allegedly involved, they presented the janatar chargesheet (public chargesheet).

In the so-called chargesheet, they pointed out alleged shortcomings in the ongoing CBI investigation such as not clearly mentioning what items belonging to the victims were seized. The protesters also questioned about the CBIs response to construction activities that occurred near the crime scene after the August 9 incident.

The medicos further called out the CBIs investigation into the alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar and the role of Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of the institution.

However, there was visibly less crowd in comparison to the earlier protest events by junior doctors such as the seize the night call on August 14 midnight, marches to West Bengal health department and Kolkata Police headquarters and the subsequent dharmas in front of them, and hunger strike.
A militant was gunned down in an encounter in Sopore town of Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district.

Security forces launched an operation in the forests of Rampur-Rajpur after receiving information about militant activity in the area.

"Acting on a specific input regarding the presence of #terrorists in Rampora #Sopore area of #Baramulla, a joint anti-terrorist operation was launched by Police and security forces. During the search operation, an exchange of fire took place. Further details shall follow," said Kashmir Zone Police.

Acting on a specific input regarding the presence of #terrorists in Rampora #Sopore area of #Baramulla, a joint anti-terrorist operation was launched by Police and security forces. During the search operation, an exchange of fire took place. Further details shall follow.  Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) November 9, 2024

One militant was killed in the operation, an official told PTI. However, police are yet to ascertain the identity of the deceased militant.

On Friday, two terrorists were eliminated by security forces following an encounter in Sopore. Reportedly, both were Pakistani nationals.

Kashmir Zone Police confirmed that two terrorists were neutralised and incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered.

"A joint anti-terrorist operation was launched by Police and security forces based on a specific input regarding the presence of terrorists in Panipora of Sopore area in Baramulla. During the search operation, an exchange of fire took place," said the Kashmir police.

There has been a spike in terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir with the security forces engaging in encounters with them.

In the wake of the progressing search operations, Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi reviewed the prevailing security situation in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district on Saturday.
On the occasion of Uttarakhands 24th foundation day, the states Governor, Lieutenant General Gurmeet Singh (Retd), asked that a resolution be taken to keep the states youth away from all kinds of intoxication and drugs.

According to some estimates, the incidence of substance abuse in the state stands anywhere between 35-37 per cent. For a young state, that poses a big problem.

The Governor said that only a drug-free Uttarakhand could ensure a safe environment for a bright future. He also spoke about the nine requests made by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on the occasion.

Earlier today, Modi made five requests from the people of the state, and four from tourists. The former include the preservation of the local dialect so that it percolates to the younger generation, planting saplings in the name of the mother, making efforts towards conserving rivers and canals, and staying connected to the roots so that they can settle down in their native villages post superannuation from service.

Modi also urged people, especially, mountaineers to keep the pristine landforms clean, to be 'Vocal for Local' and spend five per cent of their expenses on local products, strictly obeying traffic rules in the mountains and upholding the dignity of the customs observed in the religious places.

Singh said that the requests of the PM were like nine resolutions for the state and the people should ensure 100 per cent compliance of these resolutions.

The governor said that the states progress was inherent in the progress of agriculture, horticulture, aromatic farming, honey production, homestay, tourism, yoga and the wellness sector. Good work in these areas, he said, would bring prosperity along with employment to the states villages. It would also turn the states ghost villages into host villages.

The governor also emphasised the use of technology, artificial intelligence and internet services to tackle the remote geographical conditions of the state.
Security forces have intensified the operation against militants involved in the killing of two Village Defence Guards (VDGs) in Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir.

Two VDGs, Nazir Ahmed and Kuldeep Kumar of Kuntwara were killed by militants when they had gone to graze the cattle in the Munjla Dhar area of Kishtwar.

ALSO READ | 2 Village defence guards killed in Jammu; security forces launch massive search op



Their bodies were recovered near a rivulet with signs of torture. A pall of gloom fell in their native village when their bodies reached home.

After the incident, the security forces intensified the search operation against the militants using sniffer dogs, helicopters and drones. Special forces were also air-dropped to aid the operation.

ALSO READ | J&K: BJP MLAs protest; hold session on lawns of Legislative Assembly

Senior police officers including J&K DGP Nalin Prapbah also visited Kishtwar to assess the situation.

Meanwhile, protests were held against the killings in Kishtwar and neighbouring areas against the killing. Shops, businesses and schools also remained closed in the area. Protests were also held in Jammu, Udhampur, Samba, Kathua, and Reasi.

The Sanatan Dharam Sabha led a women-centred protest in Kishtwar town, where demonstrators burned Pakistani flags and demanded an intensified crackdown on terrorists.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the killing and said that he was deeply saddened and concerned by the attack.

Deeply saddened & concerned by the attack that resulted in the deaths of Kuldeep Kumar & Nazeer Ahmed Padder of Kuntwara in Kishtwar, members of the local village defence committee. The terrorists killed two innocent men who had taken their livestock to graze, Abdullah wrote on X.

I condemn this attack unequivocally & send my condolences to the families. At the same time, I expect the security forces to move quickly to plug any gaps in our counter-terror grid & ensure that attacks like this stop completely J&K Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha also condemned the killing.

Sinha paid homage to the two deceased and reiterated the governments resolve to avenge the killings. The killing of VDGs has come in the wake of a spike in militant attacks in Kashmir after the NC-Congress government was sword in.
On day two of his by-poll campaign, Yogi Adityanath kept up the attacks on Akhilesh Yadav calling him babua (boy) who was yet to mature.

The Uttar Pradesh chief minister was addressing a rally in the Yadav stronghold of Mainpuri on Saturday. The Karhal Vidhan Sabha in the constituency is to go to the polls on November 20. This is Yadavs seat which fell vacant after he was elected to the Lok Sabha recently.

ALSO READ | UP Assembly bypolls: CM Yogi Aditynath launches scathing attack against SP, Congress

Meanwhile in Lucknow, former chief minister Yadav addressed the media and said, The countdown of the encounter people has started.

He also took on Adityanaths statements from Friday saying that the CM should get his eyes checked and pay attention to data from the National Crimes Records Bureau (NCRB). The CM had, on Friday said that wherever people from Samajwadi Party were seen, daughters were filled with fear.

ALSO READ | UP bypolls: It's a fight between ideology and prestige in nine seats

Hitting out at the CM, Yadav also said that it was not saffron robes, but a persons conduct which made him a yogi. He also spoke about the poison of demonetisation which had affected those in jobs, shopkeepers, small vendors and everyone.

Meanwhile, the slogan war between the BJP and the Samajwadi Party carried on in Lucknow.

To the BJPs Batenge toh Katenge, the Samajwadi Party came up with- You write about divisions, we will write history; you write about hatred, we will write about progress; you write about atrocities, we shall write about the PDA revolution. This jibe is fashioned after the poem Sab Yaad Rakha Jayega written and performed by the poet Amir Aziz during the demonstrations against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

In Sisamu (Kanpur) Adityanath continued his attack on Yadav saying that the Samajwadi Party had it in it to offer condolences on the passing away of mafias. This was a reference to Yadavs visit to the residence of Mukhtar Ansari after his death in March this year.

Adityanath also scoffed at media surveys and said that all of those had been proved worthless when the BJP was elected to a third term in office.
ISRO is working on making India's regional navigation system, NavIC, available to the public in the near future. Until now, this precise positioning system was mainly used for critical, strategic purposes, such as defence and other key government operations.



NavIC is expected to benefit civilians with its accurate navigation capabilities. NavIC, short for Navigation with Indian Constellation, was previously called the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS). It is an independent satellite-based navigation system designed by ISRO to provide accurate positioning and timing information across India and nearby regions.

Interestingly, the NavIC system includes a group of seven satellites and a network of ground stations that work continuously, around the clock. NavIC offers precise location services across India and reaches up to 1,500 kilometres beyond the country's borders.

The NavIC system provides two types of services: the Standard Position Service (SPS), which is available to the public, and the Restricted Service (RS), which is reserved for critical, strategic purposes like defence. SPS is the open-access navigation service from NavIC that is available for all civilian users. It provides reliable and accurate location information for daily applications, such as navigation and mapping.

On the other hand, RS is an encrypted navigation service provided by NavIC exclusively for authorized users, like defence and government agencies, offering secure and precise positioning for strategic and sensitive operations.

NavIC to be open to public use via L1 band tech

ISRO's plan to make NavIC available for public use includes launching new satellites equipped with L1 band technology (1575.42 MHz). The L1 band enables improved signal strength and compatibility with common GPS-enabled devices worldwide. This upgrade will allow NaVIC signals to work on civilian mobile phones that have compatible chipsets.

"This effort is intended to make NavIC more accessible and increase its usefulness for everyday purposes. NavIC offers impressive precision, with location accuracy within 10 meters across India and up to 20 meters in nearby regions. Such precise accuracy is essential for many uses, like navigation, mapping, and location-based services," said space expert Girish Linganna.

'A dependable alternative to GPS'

"By allowing public access, ISRO is making NavIC a dependable alternative to global navigation systems like GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou. This reduces India's reliance on foreign systems and strengthens the country's navigation capabilities," explained Linganna.

This move will help advance new technologies like self-driving cars, drones, and smart city systems. These technologies rely on precise and dependable navigation to work smoothly. ISRO is focused on growing India's space industry, with plans to launch about twelve satellites each year by 2025, including six GSLV missions. This increased launch activity is expected to open up opportunities for private companies to participate and bring innovation in satellite technology and related services.

This move is also expected to have global implications as well. "Making NaVIC compatible with other global navigation satellite systems allows ISRO to enhance the worldwide navigation network. This compatibility ensures users around the world enjoy improved accuracy and reliability in their navigation services.

ISRO's efforts create opportunities for partnerships in space technology and navigation services with other countries. By sharing its progress, India can build stronger international relationships and encourage joint efforts in space exploration and technology," added Linganna.

Experts observe that with the planned civilian access to NavIC, India's navigation services will have a new dimension of autonomy and localized accuracy. NavIC's potential impact on agriculture, for example, is significant. India's farmers will be able to leverage accurate satellite data for precision farming, enabling them to optimize fieldwork, manage resources more efficiently, and increase crop yields. This access could particularly benefit remote and rural areas, where access to advanced farming technologies is limited.

Precise satellite data would allow farmers to make informed decisions, supporting better planning, yield forecasting, and sustainability in farming practices. In urban infrastructure and transportation, NavIC's expanded civilian access is likely to bring new opportunities for public and private sectors alike.

ALSO READ | Fully electric-propelled satellites that ISRO will launch in December

"By relying on a locally controlled system, India can improve its logistical operations, from managing public transit to optimizing last-mile delivery for businesses. For urban planners and government agencies, NavIC offers a robust tool for building "smart" cities, as it enables precise tracking and planning capabilities for infrastructure development, traffic management, and public services. Furthermore, the system's independence from foreign satellite networks ensures that these applications remain secure and reliable, even in cases of geopolitical tension. India's push toward using NavIC for civilian applications also aligns with the nation's broader strategic goal of technological self-reliance," pointed out Srimathy Kesan, founder and CEO of Space Kidz India, which is into design, fabrication and launch of small satellites, spacecraft and ground systems.



With NavIC's data, Indian companies and startups can now develop home-grown navigation services that can compete with foreign offerings, creating new business opportunities within the tech sector. "Startups, in particular, stand to benefit, as they can tap into NavIC's resources to develop apps and services optimized for Indian consumers. This initiative stands to reshape agriculture, urban planning, public safety, and tech innovation, bringing the benefits of cutting-edge satellite technology directly to Indian citizens and paving the way for a more self-sufficient and resilient future," added Kesan.
At least 27 people, including 14 security forces, were killed and 62 others injured on Saturday in a suicide bombing at a railway station in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, officials said.

The explosion ripped through the railway station of the provincial capital Quetta as passengers gathered on the platform before the departure of the Jaffar Express, scheduled to depart for Peshawar at 9:00 am. There were around 100 people on the platform when the blast occurred.

ALSO READ | Powerful blast at Pakistans Quetta railway station kills at least 24, injures over 40

"So far, we have received 27 bodies and at least 62 people are injured, with some in critical condition," said Dr Wasim Baig of the Quetta Trauma Centre.

#Pakistan is suffering the consequences of its deeds. #BombBlast took place in the #QuettaRailwayStation of Pakistan in which hundreds of people lost their lives. Pakistan itself is responsible for this.



        ! #Blast pic.twitter.com/uUgMeQ4jKk  Rocky Bhai  (@Iambakshi) November 9, 2024

Dr Arbab Kamran Kasi, Managing Director of the Trauma Centre, warned that the death toll may increase since several wounded individuals, aged 20 to 50, remain in critical condition.

Quetta Division Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat said it was a suicide attack targeting security forces and civilians were also hit badly.

There are around 14 members of the law enforcement agencies among the dead and dozens more among the wounded, he said.

The suicide bomber had entered the station with luggage, Shafqaat said, adding that was difficult to stop a person coming with an intention to carry out a suicide attack.

Earlier, SSP Operations Muhammad Baloch had also said that initial findings point to a possible suicide bombing.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), an ethnic Baloch separatist group designated as a terrorist organisation, has claimed responsibility for the attack. The BLA alleges that the federal government exploits Balochistan's resources while neglecting the province's development. However, the federal government dismisses these allegations and claims that foreign powers are manipulating disgruntled elements to perpetrate sabotage.

All bus stations, public spots have been put on high alert and gatherings discouraged, Shafqaat said.

Balochistan Inspector General of Police (IG) Moazzam Ansari said early investigations suggest the terrorists "targeted personnel from the Army Infantry School".

Rescue and law enforcement teams responded immediately, securing the area and transporting the injured and deceased to Civil Hospital Quetta, according to the provincial government spokesperson Shahid Rind.

An emergency was declared at the hospital where additional medical staff was summoned to deal with the injured.

The blast, which also damaged the platform's roof, was heard far and wide in various areas of the city.

BLA has stepped up attacks in the restive Balochistan province in recent months. Saturday's suicide bombing comes a week after a blast near a girl's school and a hospital in Balochistan's Mastung district killed eight people, including five children.

The terror group has also been targeting Chinese nationals working in the province and in Karachi. Last month a suicide bombing near the Karachi airport killed two Chinese engineers.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the attack, terming it as "a horrific act targeting innocent civilians", and ordered an immediate investigation.

He said that terrorists are increasingly aiming civilians, labourers, women, and children, and vowed that those responsible would be pursued relentlessly.

Pakistan, particularly the Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, has seen a sharp uptick in terrorism-related incidents over the past year.

According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), the third quarter of the ongoing year witnessed a 90 per cent surge in violence in Pakistan, the Geo News reported.

With a total of 722 people being killed, including civilians, security personnel, and outlaws, while 615 others were wounded in as many as 328 incidents recorded during the period under review, 97% of these fatalities occurred in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.

Over 92% of these incidents of terror attacks and security forces' operations were recorded in the same provinces.

The total fatalities from three quarters of this year have now surpassed the total fatalities recorded for the entire 2023; the number of fatalities rose to at least 1534 in the first three quarters compared to 1523 in 2023, the report said.
Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has, perhaps for the first time, admitted the presence of Khalistani elements in the country, but added that they do not represent the Sikh community as a whole.

Trudeau reportedly made the statement on November 4 while addressing the Indian diaspora at a Diwali event in Ottawa.

"There are many supporters of Khalistan in Canada but they do not represent the Sikh community as a whole. There is no room for violence or intolerance or intimidation... That is not who we are," he was quoted as saying.

Notably, his remarks came a day after pro-Khalistan activists attacked devotees at Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton. Trudeau had condemned the attack, but refused to underscore the involvement of Khalistani elements in the incident.

In his Diwali speech, Trudeau also sought to assert that the supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Canada do not represent Hindus as a whole.

There are supporters of the Modi government in Canada, but they do not represent all Hindu Canadians as a whole," he said.

The relations between India and Canada have nosedived since the killing of Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June, 2023 with Ottawa alleging the potential involvement of Indian agents.

The diplomatic standoff escalated further last month after Trudeau tried to link the Indian high commissioner in Ottawa in the probe into the killing of Nijjar.

The two countries expelled at least half a dozen diplomats while New Delhi maintained that Canadas charges against Sanjay Kumar Verma were "preposterous imputations" and a "political agenda of the Trudeau government that is centred around vote bank politics."
At least 24 persons were killed and over 30 persons suffered injuries in a powerful blast at Balochistans Quetta railway station on Saturday. As per officials, the death toll is expected to rise as the blast ripped through the railway station in the provincial capital.

According to police, the blast occurred when passengers were gathered at the station and the Jaffar Express train was ready to depart to Peshawar from the Quetta railway station. Quetta Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Mohammad Baloch said at least 100 persons were present at the platform when the blast occurred, Dawn reported.

Police and security forces rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations. Bomb disposal squad has also reached the site and is collecting evidence of the blast.

According to Dawn, banned militant group Balochistan Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack. Quetta Division Commissioner Hamza Shafqat said the incident was a suicide blast and they have requested railways to suspend operations on the route. As per preliminary probe, the explosion took place at the railway station's booking office.

Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind emergency has been imposed on hospitals in the region and all injured were being provided with medical aid. The administration has summoned additional health staff to attend to the injured.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the attack and said in a statement, The terrorists target now are innocent people, labourers, children and women. Those targeting innocent people do not deserve mercy. Bugti said perpetrators behind the railway blast would be caught and they would root out terrorism from Balochistan.
After the debacle in the US presidential elections against Republican rival Donald Trump, vice president Kamala Harris said she will continue the battle. But does that mean the Demoract will run for president again in four years?

With just two-and-a-half months are left for the US vice president to step down, Harris is reportedly yet to decide about what is next for her. In 2003, she was elected San Francisco district attorney and more than two decades later, she is set to lead a private life.

The Joe Biden administration is coming to an end soon but there is much more Harris could do. However, several allies and friends, including California Lt Governor Eleni Kounalakis believe that she will have an answer about her next venture in the coming months.

Harris was criticised for being a "selected" candidate instead of an "elected" one as Biden dropped out of the race midway, leaving not much time for the Democrats to hold a primary election. Hence, it's not yet clear how many Democrats will back Harris for 2028 following Trump's emphatic victory.

However, if Trump's second administration turns out to be unpredictable like the first one and become "an existential danger to the country's foundational institutions" as she said, Harris could have a chance for a comeback with the support of donors.

While conceding the election, Harris said the fight will continue "in the voting booth, in the courts and in the public square." She said the fight takes a while sometimes but that "does not mean we wont win."

Biden also praised his VP, saying she will continue the fight with "purpose, determination, and joy" and be a champion for all Americans. He said Harris will continue to be a leader "our children will look up to" for generations to come.

Harris was the first woman to become the US vice president. Hillary Clinton, also a Democrat, was the first female candidate to run for president as a major party's nominee in 2016. Unlike Harris, she won the popular vote but was defeated in the Electoral College by Trump.
Lucknow, Nov 8 (PTI) The Uttar Pradesh government, the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) and the World Bank on Friday held negotiations for the Rs 3,903 crore Uttar Pradesh Agricultural Growth and Rural Enterprise Ecosystem Strengthening project.

The negotiations were held in New Delhi with Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh representing the state government, according to a statement here.

The six-year project aims to revitalise the state's agriculture and allied sectors, enhance productivity and link smallholder farmers to high-value commodity clusters.

Singh outlined the project's pivotal role in advancing the state's vision to achieve a trillion-dollar economy by 2030, it said.

He highlighted that the project will support high-value crop clusters and establish a stronger fisheries ecosystem, with particular focus on the state's eastern and Bundelkhand regions, it added.

The project will also create a digital agriculture platform to provide real-time insights to farmers, helping optimise resources, increase resilience, and boost productivity.

"I am convinced that the farmers of Uttar Pradesh can achieve great things if they are given exposure to the best national and international practices," the chief secretary said.

The project's key components under discussion include climate-resilient productivity enhancement, development of value-added commodity clusters, and strengthening the state's digital and financial ecosystems.

By mid-2025, Uttar Pradesh's Jewar airport is expected to become operational, providing further export avenues for local produce, according to the statement.

World Bank's Country Director for India, Auguste Tano Kouame, voiced strong support for the initiative, underscoring the institution's commitment to assist Uttar Pradesh in implementing this transformative project, it said.

The World Bank's board of executive directors is anticipated to review and consider project approval by mid-December 2024, it added.
Bhopal, Nov 9 (PTI) State Bank of India Chairman Challa Sreenivasulu Setty on Saturday took part in an MSME Cluster Outreach Programme in Bhopal and handed over cheques totaling over Rs 1.5 crore to two prominent social organizations.

The cheques were handed over to two prominent social organizations -- People's General Association, Bhopal, and Adiwasi Sanrachana Seva Sansthan, Betul, under the CSR initiative, aimed at bringing the underprivileged and marginalised sections of society into the mainstream, State Bank of India (SBI) said in a release.

This support will significantly contribute to the revitalization of government schools, old age homes, orphanages, anganwadis, primary health centres, and girls' toilets across 19 districts across Madhya Pradesh, the release added.

The MSME Cluster Outreach Programme was held at Govindpura industrial area, the release said, adding that as part of the initiative, two key clusters -- Bhopal and Jabalpur -- have been selected.
London, Nov 9 (PTI) Sojan Joseph is among the new crop of Indian-origin Labour members of Parliament who pulled off an impressive feat by being elected from a former Conservative Party stronghold of Ashford in Kent, south-east England, in the July general election.

In an interview with PTI at the House of Commons, the mental health nurse on a career break from the National Health Service (NHS) reflected upon finding his rhythm as a new MP with his parliamentary team now in place.

The Kerala-origin father of three feels the election has brought a strong sense of optimism to his constituency and is particularly relieved about investment in the NHS unveiled in the Prime Minister Keir Starmer-led governments first Budget tabled in Parliament last week.

I'm still an employee of the NHS and so pleased that not only the NHS, but the minimum wage also went up in the first Labour Budget in 14 years. It will be a big boost for workers, like a lot of Indians and new migrants who arrive here for jobs, including as care workers. Their minimum wage is going up which is very welcome news, shared Joseph.

After the Budget, while the UKs national minimum wage is set to rise in April 2025 from GBP 11.44 to GBP 12.21 an hour, the state-funded NHS received GBP 22.6 billion for day-to-day spending over two years and GBP 3.1 billion towards capital investment.

The 49-year-old former hospital worker feels his experience as a mental health nurse and work in the community as a local councillor and charity fundraiser helped him connect with voters, who were desperate for change.

It was not an easy campaign, but I tried to be very positive when I met people crying out for change, with the economy so down and public services in desperate need of improvement, he said.

Often in the mental health sector, it is not just patients, but you also engage with the family and wider society. You come across people who are vulnerable, struggling and in need of help, which helped me understand the needs and led me to join in politics," he said.

"I thought to influence change, I need to be in the right place, he added.

Joseph was born in Kottayam and went on to study nursing in Bengaluru and work in Himachal Pradesh.

He moved to the UK after being appointed to an NHS hospital in Dorset, south-west England, and eventually settled down in Ashford with his family in 2002 after completing his training.

His wife, who is also a nurse, and children were initially hesitant about his career shift to step into frontline politics but have since been his biggest cheerleaders.

My wife and children were quite happy when I became a local councillor, but when I talked about standing for Parliament, it came as a big shock to them. But since then, the outpouring of support has been overwhelming.

He also recalls fondly the heros welcome he received when he made a brief post-election visit to his family home in Kottayam.

Especially in my parish back in India, they all are very proud to see me getting elected to the Parliament. When you think of Kerala, every house in my village has somebody living here in the UK. So, any decisions that the Parliament is taking here impact each and every one of us, he reflected.

Joseph sees his election along with around a dozen Labour MPs of Indian heritage as symbolic of the new governments commitment to strengthen ties with India and its diaspora.

He said: I am extremely proud and happy to represent the people of Kerala, and, even if they don't live in my constituency, I have really good, close connections with the Malayali community around the UK.

I also feel proud to represent the Indian community and, of course, the NHS. I originally came to this country to work as a nurse in the health sector. When you look at the health sector here, thousands of Indian doctors, nurses and care workers are employed in the NHS. So, there is a clear connection between the NHS and India and representing them makes me truly proud."
Washington, Nov 9 (PTI) The Biden Administration in the last four years has expanded Americas relationship with India, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said.

"We strengthened NATO. We've pulled NATO together. We've kept 50 countries focused on providing security assistance to Ukraine. The things that we've done in the Indo-Pacific. Quite amazing," Austin told reporters in Florida.

"We walked in the door, and we were about to get kicked out of the Philippines. We are 180 degrees out from that now. We have a great relationship with the Philippines, and we continue to work together in the ways that we should be working together. You look at AUKUS, which is a generational capability that is really going to make a significant difference going forward, he said.

Austin said that America's relationship with India has improved under the Biden administration.

"We walked in the door and Japan has doubled its investment in defense and the list goes on and on and on. So, despite supporting and managing security assistance to Ukraine, and also supporting Israel's efforts to defend its sovereign territory, we've been able to maintain a focus on the Indo-Pacific as well, Austin said.

"We described it as our "pacing challenge" early on, and that remained our pacing challenge. So we were able to manage challenges and resources  and I think that put us in a pretty good place. It sets up the country for success going forward, as long as we follow on the work, said the Defense Secretary in his first remarks after the defeat of the ruling Democratic party in the November 5 presidential elections.

Responding to a question, Austin said the most important thing on voter's minds was the economy, and that's what people voted on.

"I did not say that this was not important. Of course, it's important. I'm saying that what you've described as the most important thing to the people of America was the economy. So, I can't disagree with that, I think that's the way, people may have voted," Austin said.

"But I can also say that things in Europe, things in the Middle East were very important as well. I think we've done a magnificent job there in terms of managing things and not allowing things to blossom into a full-blown regional war, he said.
Mexico City, Nov 9 (AP) Gunmen on Friday killed a navy rear admiral in Mexico, one of the highest-ranking officers slain in the country in a decade.

Mexico's navy said that a rear admiral  which is just below full admiral, the navy's highest rank  had been shot to death in the Pacific coast port city of Manzanillo. Local media gave his name as Fernando Guerrero Alcantar, but a navy spokesman would not confirm that or whether he was in uniform at the time.

The navy said in a statement that he was driving in his own private vehicle when the attack occurred, so it was unclear if the gunmen knew who he was.

He would be one of the highest-ranking military officers killed in Mexico since 2013.

That year, gunmen in the neighbouring state of Michoacan ambushed and killed Vice Adm. Carlos Miguel Salazar, the top navy commander in the neighbouring Pacific coastal state of Jalisco. Members of the Knights Templar drug cartel were blamed for that killing.

The Vice admiral is a slightly higher rank than the rear admiral.

Attacks by Mexican cartels on high-ranking officers have occurred, but are relatively rare.

However, the Mexican government has given more law-enforcement responsibility to the navy, army and the militarized National Guard in recent years, and they now represent the front-line forces against the country's drug cartels.

Manzanillo, because it is a Pacific coast port with direct shipments from China and other places in Asia, is highly prized by drug cartels seeking to smuggle in precursor chemicals to produce the deadly opioid fentanyl. (AP) HIG
Washington, Nov 9 (PTI) President-elect Donald Trump stitched together the broadest, most diverse coalition in modern history resulting in the Republican party taking control of the White House along with the US Congress, said a member of the Team Trump.

"It was a resounding victory  a shift that highlights President Trump's connection with American voters and the trust he has earned by fighting for them. It's why, beginning on Day One, President Trump will be better positioned than ever to begin undoing the damage of the past four years and delivering results for the American people, said Jake Schneider, Rapid Response Director associated with Trump War Room, Team Trump and RNC Research.

Trump won 295 electoral college votes as against 226 of Vice President Kamala Harris. He also won the popular vote. He got 74 million popular votes, while Harris received 70 million.

In the Senate, the Republican party has 52 seats as it flipped three seats while the Democrats have 45.

In the House of Representatives, the Republican party has so far won 212 seats, while the Democrats have 199 seats. The counting of votes for 24 seats has still not been completed.

The Republicans are all set to win enough from the remaining 24 to retain a majority in the House. Having control over the Congress and the White House is a rare feat.

President Donald J. Trump won the 2024 presidential election with a historic mandate. As the first Republican to win the popular vote in two decades, President Trump did so by stitching together the broadest, most diverse coalition in modern history, Schneider said.

Trump gained support in 49 states and the District of Columbia over 2020  the biggest party gain since 1992, he said. Trump had the best Republican showing among 18-29-year-olds since 2004, among Black voters since 1976, and among Hispanic voters since at least 1972, he added.

"Trump aided House Republicans in their best popular vote showing since 1928," Schneider said.
Washington, Nov 9 (PTI) The priorities of President-elect Donald Trump are border, terrorists, bringing home hostages, and ending the forever wars, said Kash Patel, an Indian-American lawyer in an interview.

"He is the only president in modern history not to start a new one. If the initial indications after the election are any indication of how it's going to be, it's going to be a very peaceful process. He had a phone call with Vladimir Zelensky and already talked about winding down the Ukraine war. He has already discussed had phone calls with multiple world leaders," Kash Patel told Fox News in an interview.

An American attorney and former government official, Patel served as a US National Security Council official, senior advisor to the acting Director of National Intelligence, and chief of staff to the acting United States secretary of defence during the first Trump presidency. He is one of Trump's close confidants on national security and foreign policy.

He was responding to a series of questions on the next Trump Administration.

But what you have to do is what President Trump already did. It's no secret. Prioritise the collection of intelligence against our adversaries to make sure that we defeat the threats, which is the Iranian mullahs and the number one state sponsor of terror, and also make sure we keep in check the CCP (Communist Party of China) and our Russian adversaries from attacking our cyber infrastructure, Patel said.

But you can't do that if your intelligence communities are prioritised against climate change and DEI. President Trump made it clear the priorities are the border, terrorists, bringing home hostages, and ending the forever wars. I think that mandate will carry, he said.

Patel indicated that Trump after being sworn in as the President on January 20, 2025, will adopt the policy of maximum pressure on Iran.

I'll just tell you what worked. I think it was a multitude of things. These full-on sanctions programs against the Iranian economy to suffocate the mullahs from making money. I don't think the president's going to fork over another seven billion dollars like Harris did to them so they can start another world war, he said.

He's also going to talk to adversaries about trade with Iran and have a global coalition because we can't do it alone to take on Iran and make sure they don't do one thing we can't have them do is achieve a nuclear bomb, which they're dangerously close to under the Biden-Harris administration, he said.

These next 75 days are critical because Iran's going to hyperspeed what they are currently working on, knowing that Trump's coming in and knowing that his around the world are going to put Iran back in check. I think you're going to see that playbook again, he added.

Responding to a question, Patel said people are lining up to serve this president as their commander-in-chief because they saw the power and wasp of him on the global stage without igniting the world into another world war. He's not the war hawk that these people made him out to be. Proof is in the pudding. He had world peace. I think he'll do it again fast, he said.
The spotlight is on Azerbaijan as the small petrostate in the South Caucasus hosts the UN's biggest climate conference.

Diplomats from across the world will descend on the capital Baku for the annual climate summit, known as COP29, to discuss how to avoid increasing threats from climate change in a place that was one of the birthplaces of the oil industry.

It was in Baku where the world's first oil fields were developed ?in 1846 and where Azerbaijan led the world in oil production in 1899.

Sandwiched between Iran to the south and Russia to the north, Azerbaijan is on the Caspian Sea and was part of the Soviet Union from 1922 to 1991. Nearly all of Azerbaijan's exports are oil and gas, two of the world's leading sources of planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions. President Ilham Aliyev described them in April as a gift of the gods.

Aliyev is Azerbaijan's authoritarian leader. He is the son of the former president and has been in power for more than two decades, overseeing a crackdown on freedom of speech and civil society. The Associated Press was not granted permission by Azerbaijan's authorities to report in the country ahead of the conference.

Aliyev has said it is a big honour for Azerbaijan to host the conference. He has also said he wants his country to use more renewable energy at home is so that it can export more oil and gas abroad.



In Baku, the signs of fossil fuel addiction are everywhere



In metal cages next to Azerbaijan's Aquatic Palace sporting venue are pumpjacks  a sign says they extract just over 2 tons of oil a day. Others pump away elsewhere, sucking up oil in view of one of Baku's religious and tourist sites, the Bibi Heybat mosque that was rebuilt in the 1990s after it was destroyed by the Bolsheviks almost 80 years ago.

Aliyev said he considers it a sign of respect from the international community that Azerbaijan is hosting COP and a recognition of what Azerbaijan is doing around green energy.

Some of those plans involve developing hydropower, solar and wind projects in Karabakh, a region populated by ethnic Armenians who fled to Armenia after a lightning military offensive by Azerbaijan in September 2023.

Aliyev said in a speech in March that his country is in the active phase of green transition but added that no one can ignore the fact that without fossil fuel, the world cannot develop, at least in the foreseeable future.

Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijan's environment minister and former vice president at?the state energy company Socar, will serve as conference president of the talks. Babayev said in April he wants to show how this oil and gas country of the past can show the world a green path with its efforts to ramp up renewable energy, especially wind power.

He said he believes his country's COP summit must build on? last year's agreement ?to transition away from fossil fuels and pave the way for countries to come together in 2025 on beefed-up and financed plans to clamp down on heat-trapping gases.

But plenty of people doubt those commitments.

Multiple organisations say Azerbaijan's commitment to the green energy transition amounts to greenwashing  giving the impression that the country is doing more than it is to combat climate change.



Claims of greenwashing and civil society crackdowns abound



While many countries including the United States and the United Arab Emirates  last year's host  grapple with the challenges of transitioning away from fossil fuels, Azerbaijan has historically not been proactive in that regard, said Kate Watters, executive director at Crude Accountability, which monitors environmental issues in the Caspian Sea region.

Environmental monitoring in Azerbaijan is dangerous, she said, referencing a crackdown on civil society that has effectively snuffed out any real opposition and seen people detained.

There's no effective mechanism in Azerbaijan for locals to ring alarm bells about exposure to pollutants from the oil and gas industry, Watters said. She referenced health issues such as rashes and sickness that residents may experience living near the Sangachal oil and gas terminal just outside Baku but indicated that their concerns are not heard.

Azerbaijani government officials did not respond to numerous requests from The Associated Press for comment.

Babayev has pointed to Azerbaijan experiencing higher-than-normal temperatures and said he wants states to come together to improve plans to stop the emission of gases that contribute to global warming. But his country has been criticized for failing to clamp down on exactly that.

Analysis from Global Witness, a nonprofit organization, found the volume of gas flared at oil and gas facilities in Azerbaijan increased by 10.5% since 2018.

Gas flaring is a major source of soot, carbon dioxide and methane emissions that contribute to global warming. It happens when energy companies burn off excess gas instead of capturing it when it's released while drilling for oil. It's been blamed by human rights groups and investigative journalists for some of Azerbaijanis' health issues, including around the Sangachal terminal.

We're heading into a COP where even the host isn't bothering to do the basic functions of climate diplomacy, Louis Wilson, head of fossil fuels investigations at Global Witness, told AP.

The Paris climate agreement requires countries to submit plans to combat climate change, with Azerbaijan's latest update coming in 2023. A group of climate scientists rated it critically insufficient in September. It's expected the country will submit an updated plan this year.



Amid war, Europe turns to Azerbaijan for gas



Azerbaijan owns one of the largest gas fields in the world, Shah Deniz, and BP announced in April the start of oil production from a new offshore platform also in the Caspian Sea.

Baku is planning to hike its fossil fuel production over the next decade and its natural resources have transformed it into a geopolitical player.

Before Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Moscow supplied some of 40% of Europe's natural gas through four pipelines but most of that was later cut off.

That meant opportunity for Azerbaijan, with the EU striking a deal later that year to double its imports of Azeri gas to 20 billion cubic meters a year by 2027. But there are questions as to whether Azerbaijan can meet that demand and disagreements over the terms of the deal.

The more renewable sources we have, the more natural gas we will save, Aliyev said in March, noting the fuel saved will be an additional contribution to the Southern Gas Corridor, which takes gas from the Caspian Sea to Europe.

Azerbaijani officials have argued that it is unfair to criticize Baku for producing more fossil fuels when there is a demand for them across Europe as national governments endeavor to keep fuel prices low for citizens.

Azerbaijan's hosting of COP will turn the spotlight on the nation which makes most of its money from selling fossil fuels but it may also highlight Europe's  and the world's  continuing dependence on them.

For many climate experts, the question for Azerbaijan is whether the country that saw the beginnings of the fossil fuel industry is serious about hosting negotiations focused on moving the world toward green energy. (AP)

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Beijing, Nov 9 (AP) Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto pledged to maintain close ties with China during a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Saturday, his first overseas stop since he took office three weeks ago.

Subianto is seeking to strengthen relations with China, Indonesia's largest trading partner and one of its most important foreign investors. This is his second visit to Beijing this year, following a visit in April as president-elect, the first overseas trip he made after winning the Indonesian presidential election in February.

Indonesia considers China not only as a great power but as a great civilization, Subianto said at the meeting, adding that the two countries had had close relations for centuries. Therefore, I think it is only natural that now in the present situation, geopolitical and geoeconomic, that Indonesia and China have become very close partners and in many, many fields.

Xi vowed support for Subianto's administration, thanking him for visiting China first and saying he believed Indonesia will adhere to an independent development path, continue to make new achievements in the journey of achieving national prosperity and national rejuvenation, and play an important role on the international and regional stage.

Earlier on Saturday, Subianto met with other top Chinese leaders, including Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, who is chairman of the National People's Congress and considered the No. 3 official in the ruling Communist Party.

Subianto is on the first stop on a multi-country tour. He is scheduled to visit five other nations, including the US and the UK, suggesting that Indonesia will continue to pursue its longstanding stance of neutrality between Beijing and Washington.

Subianto, 73, is a wealthy ex-general with ties to both Indonesia's popular outgoing president and the country's dictatorial past. He presented himself as heir to the immensely popular President Joko Widodo, the first Indonesian president to emerge from outside the political and military elite. Subianto vowed to continue the modernisation agenda that has brought rapid growth and vaulted Indonesia into the ranks of middle-income countries.

Indonesia's economic ties with China flourished during Widodo's decade in office. China became Indonesia's largest trading partner and plowed billions into major infrastructure projects such as the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway, which opened last October, and Cirata, Southeast Asia's largest floating solar power project, on a reservoir in West Java, 130 km (80 miles) from the capital, Jakarta.

Subianto said during the meeting with Xi that he will preside over the signing of over USD 10 billion worth of deals during a meeting between Chinese companies and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Subianto is singling a more active foreign policy for Indonesia, visiting over 20 countries as president-elect. Days after his inauguration, Indonesia expressed interest in becoming a full member of the BRICS bloc of developing economies that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Indonesia has maintained a relatively neutral stance amid rising tensions between China and its Southeast Asian neighbours over territorial disputes in the South China Sea. China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have overlapping claims in the resource-rich and busy waterway.

The Philippines has boosted security ties with Washington since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr took office in 2022, shifting back from the more China-friendly policy of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte. China and the Philippines have been engaging in repeated high-seas confrontations since last year, sparking fears of a larger conflict that could put China and the US on a collision course.

Though Indonesia's leaders say they do not have a formal territorial dispute with China over the South China Sea, China's nine-dash line, which it uses to roughly demarcate its claim to most of the South China Sea, overlaps with a section of Indonesia's exclusive economic zone that extends from the Natuna Islands.

Last month, Indonesian patrol ships repeatedly drove away a Chinese coast guard vessel from a survey vessel in the disputed area, according to Indonesian authorities. Jakarta has become increasingly protective of its rights in the region as Chinese ships have regularly entered the area Indonesia calls the North Natuna Sea, fueling tensions between the countries. (AP) SCY

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Deir al-Balah (Gaza), Nov 9 (AP) Two separate Israeli strikes killed at least 13 people, including women and children, in Gaza on Saturday, Palestinian medical officials said, as Israel announced the first delivery of aid in weeks to the war-battered northern Gaza.

One of the strikes hit a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City's eastern Tufah neighbourhood, killing at least six people, Gaza's Health Ministry said. Two local journalists, a pregnant woman and a child were among the dead, the ministry said. The Israeli army said the strike targeted a militant belonging to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group, offering no evidence or further detail.

Another seven people were killed when an Israeli strike hit a tent in the southern city of Khan Younis where displaced people were sheltering, according to Nasser Hospital. It said the dead included two women and a child. The Israeli army did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the blast.

COGAT, the Israeli military body in charge of humanitarian aid to Gaza, said Saturday that 11 aid trucks containing food, water and medical equipment reached the far north of the enclave, including the urban refugee camp at Jabaliya. It is the first time any aid has reached the far north of the enclave since Israel began a fresh military campaign there last month.

The announcement comes days a ahead of a US deadline demanding that Israel improve aid deliveries across Gaza. Experts have said there is a strong likelihood that famine is imminent in parts of northern Gaza.

Israel's new offensive has focusing on Jabaliya, a densely populated refugee camp where Israel says Hamas had regrouped. Other areas affected by the new campaign include Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun, situated just north of Gaza City.

The UN estimates that tens of thousands of people remain in the area. Earlier this week, the Gaza Health Ministry said that there were no ambulances or emergency crews currently operating north of Gaza City.

Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, the Israeli army has struck several schools and tent camps, packed with tens of thousands of Palestinians driven from their homes by Israeli offensives and evacuation orders. The conflict has left 90% of Palestinians in Gaza displaced, according to UN figures.

The military has continually accused Hamas of operating from within civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including schools, UN facilities and hospitals. The contesting narratives over the use of schools and hospitals go to the heart of 13 month conflict.

In July, Israeli airstrikes hit a girls' school in Gaza's central city of Deir al-Balah, killing at least 30 people sheltering inside. Israel's military said it targeted a Hamas command centre used to direct attacks against its troops and store large quantities of weapons.

More than a year of Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza has killed more than 43,000 people, Palestinian health officials say. They do not distinguish between civilians and combatants, but say more than half of those killed were women and children. The war began after Palestinian militants stormed into Israel on Oct 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and abducting 250 others. (AP) SCY

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Beijing, Nov 9 (AP) Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto pledged to maintain close ties with China during a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Saturday, his first overseas stop since he took office three weeks ago.

Subianto is seeking to strengthen relations with China, Indonesia's largest trading partner and one of its most important foreign investors. This is his second visit to Beijing this year, following a visit in April as president-elect, the first overseas trip he made after winning the Indonesian presidential election in February.

Indonesia considers China not only as a great power but as a great civilisation, Subianto said at the meeting, adding that the two countries had had close relations for centuries. Therefore, I think it is only natural that now in the present situation, geopolitical and geoeconomic, that Indonesia and China have become very close partners and in many, many fields.

Xi vowed support for Subianto's administration, thanking him for choosing to visit China first and saying he believed Indonesia will adhere to an independent development path, continue to make new achievements in the journey of achieving national prosperity and national rejuvenation, and play an important role on the international and regional stage.

Earlier on Saturday, Subianto met with other top Chinese leaders, including Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, who is chairman of the National People's Congress and considered the No. 3 official in the ruling Communist Party.

Subianto is on the first stop on a multi-country tour. He is scheduled to visit four other nations, including the US and the UK, suggesting that Indonesia will continue its longstanding stance of neutrality between Beijing and Washington. He is scheduled to meet US President Joe Biden and expected also to meet president-elect Donald Trump early next week.

Subianto, 73, is a wealthy ex-general with ties to both Indonesia's popular outgoing president and the country's dictatorial past. He presented himself as heir to the immensely popular President Joko Widodo, the first Indonesian president to emerge from outside the political and military elite. Subianto vowed to continue the modernisation agenda that has brought rapid growth and vaulted Indonesia into the ranks of middle-income countries.

Indonesia's economic ties with China flourished during Widodo's decade in office. China became Indonesia's largest trading partner and plowed billions into major infrastructure projects such as the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway, which opened last October, and Cirata, Southeast Asia's largest floating solar power project, on a reservoir in West Java, 130 km (80 miles) from the capital, Jakarta.

The two leaders presided over the signing of various agreements on fishing, mining, housing and import and exports. Subianto said during the meeting with Xi that he will later preside over the signing of over USD 10 billion worth of deals during a meeting between Chinese companies and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Subianto is signalling a more active foreign policy for Indonesia, visiting over 20 countries as president-elect. Days after his inauguration, Indonesia expressed interest in becoming a full member of the BRICS bloc of developing economies that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Indonesia has maintained a relatively neutral stance amid rising tensions between China and its Southeast Asian neighbours over territorial disputes in the South China Sea. China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have overlapping claims in the resource-rich and busy waterway.

The Philippines has boosted security ties with Washington since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr took office in 2022, shifting back from the more China-friendly policy of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte. China and the Philippines have been engaging in repeated high-seas confrontations since last year, sparking fears of a larger conflict that could put China and the US on a collision course.

Though Indonesia's leaders say they do not have a formal territorial dispute with China over the South China Sea, China's nine-dash line, which it uses to roughly demarcate its claim to most of the South China Sea, overlaps with a section of Indonesia's exclusive economic zone that extends from the Natuna Islands.

Last month, Indonesian patrol ships repeatedly drove away a Chinese coast guard vessel from a survey vessel in the disputed area, according to Indonesian authorities. Jakarta has become increasingly protective of its rights in the region as Chinese ships have regularly entered the area Indonesia calls the North Natuna Sea, straining relations between the countries.

Though neither leader directly addressed the tensions in front of reporters, the two countries signed agreements on maritime safety and on the joint development of fisheries and oil and gas in the area of overlapping maritime claims during Subianto's visit. No details were provided. (AP) SCY

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Lahore, Nov 9 (PTI) An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan has granted post-arrest bail to jailed former prime minister Imran Khan in four arson cases in Lahore and adjourned hearings in another eight ones till November 30.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supreme leader was booked in 12 cases in Lahore in connection with May 2023 violence, including for allegedly attacking the government and military buildings following his arrest in a graft case.

Khan is lodged at the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.

On Friday, he was granted bail in four cases in connection with allegedly burning the office of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Model Town area, a container near Kalma Chowk, police vehicles in Gulberg, and violence at Sherpao Bridge during the May 9, 2023 riots.

Khan had sought post arrest bails in these cases.

Punjab government law officer, prosecutor Farhad Ali Shah, argued that Khan made a narrative of resorting to violence in case of his arrest. The PTI leadership and workers attacked sensitive installations, including military ones on Khan's instructions, he said and requested dismissal of the bail pleas.

Khan's counsel Barrister Salman Safdar had already completed his arguments on his behalf. However, he sought permission from the court to advance more arguments, saying the prosecution presented arguments contrary to the facts.

He requested the court to defer the decision for one hearing.

Judge Arshad Javed of the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) here then announced the decision, allowing Khan's bail petitions in the four cases.

Khan, who was arrested on August 5 last year after his conviction in the first Toshakhana corruption case filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan, has been in jail since then in different cases, with conviction in few of them.

Separately, ATC-I judge Manzer Ali Gill gave one last opportunity to Khan's counsel to complete arguments in post-arrest bail petitions in eight other cases connected with the May 9 riots, including an attack on the senior military officers residence in Lahore.

The judge said a decision in the eight cases will be announced in the light of the record of the cases if the petitioners counsel does not appear at the next hearing.

The judge adjourned the hearing till November 30.
Ottawa, Nov 9 (PTI) Canada has ended with immediate effect the popular fast track study visa programme, SDS, a major policy decision that is likely to impact scores of international students, including from India.

The processing time for students applying under the Student Direct Stream (SDS) was significantly shorter and approval rates higher, something that will change after Canada ended the scheme on Friday.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in September had announced on X: Were granting 35 per cent fewer international student permits this year. And next year, that numbers going down by another 10 per cent.

Immigration is an advantage for our economy - but when bad actors abuse the system and take advantage of students, we crack down, he added in the post as the Canadian government said it was looking to reduce the number of temporary residents.

The move comes amid the ongoing diplomatic row between India and Canada.

According to the Indian High Commission here, India is the largest source country of foreign students with an estimated 4,27,000 Indian students studying in Canada.

Canada is committed to giving all international students equal and fair access to the application process for study permits, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said in a statement on Friday.

Canada's goal is to strengthen programme integrity, address student vulnerability, and give all students equal and fair access to the application process, as well as a positive academic experience, the statement said.

The SDS was launched in 2018 to provide faster processing for eligible post-secondary students, it said, adding, it was eventually opened to legal residents of Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam.

There was a similar Nigeria Student Express (NSE) for prospective university students from Nigeria; it too has ended along with the SDS, the statement said, adding, both the SDS and the NSE initiatives ended on Friday.

The IRCC gave a cut off time of 2:00 pm ET on Friday (00:30 IST Saturday), and said all the eligible SDS and NSE applications received before it will be processed under these streams.

However, the IRCC said the prospective students can still apply through the regular study permit stream, for which Guaranteed Investment Certificates are accepted as proof of financial support.

According to a news portal immigrationnewscanada.ca, the SDS was launched with the goal of simplifying and expediting study permit processing for students from selected countries. The streamlined process allowed eligible applicants from countries such as India, China and Philippines to enter Canada faster, typically within a few weeks, rather than waiting for the standard processing time, which could take several months, it added.

Explained another portal, moving2canada.com, Year 2024 has been a turbulent year for prospective students looking to study in Canada, with significant cuts being made to the number of international students Canada will admit each year. In contrast, many say the fast-tracking of SDS and NSE applications as a means to accept as many students as possible.

Under SDS, Indian students' applications were processed within 20 business days and now it may take up to eight weeks, the portal added.

Not just for international students, Canada is also stepping back from its previously welcoming immigration stance, especially for low-skilled workers, including a large number from India.

On October 24, Immigration Minister Marc Miller outlined the latest immigration strategy saying Canada will admit approximately 3,95,000 permanent residents in 2025, marking a drop of nearly 20 per cent from the 4,85,000 expected this year.

The plan also sets a target for temporary immigrants, including international students and foreign workers. Their numbers are expected to drop to about 4,46,000 in 2025 and 2026, down from roughly 8,00,000 this year.

By 2027, Canada will accept just 17,400 new non-permanent residents, the new policy suggested.
HARRISBURG  Diana Poole never planned to go to Vietnam. As a young woman in 1966, she barely knew anything about the United States war in the country, as she did not read the newspaper, nor did she own a television.

I did not know much about Vietnam, she said.

But the Harrisburg resident ultimately became one of the more than 2.7 million men and women who served in Vietnam. While Poole did not engage in combat, as a U.S. Army nurse she played a critical role in taking care of injured soldiers.

Poole, 78, served roughly two years in Vietnam where, as a head nurse of an orthopedic ward and later a triage unit in a local hospital, she helped save the lives of many soldiers  a few of whom made contact with her several decades after the war ended.

Poole, in an interview with The Independent Tribune, noted she was proud of her service and that she helped improve the lives of many of the soldiers she came into contact with. She is a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 909.

Getting into the military

She was in nursing school in Michigan when an Army recruiter visited the senior class to talk about joining the military. The recruiter told the ladies that they would not have to go to Vietnam and would only have to serve for two years.

We thought that was great, so three of us signed up, Poole said. I had no idea what I was going to do after I graduated, and this seemed like a good idea.

After training at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Poole, formerly known as Dwan, served at the Letterman Army Hospital in San Francisco. There, Poole worked in the orthopedic ward, providing care to injured soldiers who frequently needed intensive physical therapy.

Poole recalls treating a lieutenant who lost one leg while the other was badly injured. The man was crying in front of more than 20 other soldiers, all of whom he outranked.

I said, Youre not setting a very good example, Poole told the lieutenant. But I lost my leg, he told her. Well get you a new one, Poole responded.

Twice during her two-year stint at the hospital, she received orders to go to Vietnam, and both times she convinced the chief nurse to rescind the orders.

Poole was not sure what she was going to do with her life after her time in San Francisco. She enjoyed her two years in the Army and did not want it to end  so she went to the chief nurse in 1967 and asked to be sent to Vietnam.

During her time at Letterman, Poole helped several soldiers learn to walk again, and she wanted to take her experience closer to the front lines.

I dont want to pass up going to Vietnam, she recalled telling the chief nurse, because it is a piece of history.

Scared to death

A few weeks later, Poole was on a flight with a bunch of soldiers headed to Southeast Asia. After arriving at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in southern Vietnam, she boarded a bus to Bien Hoa Air Base, where Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine units were stationed during the war.

The Army struggled to figure out what to do with Poole. They initially assigned her to the Fourth Infantry Division Fire Base, but the commanding officer protested about having a female in front of his war-weary men.

After three days of pushback from the commanding officer, Poole was reassigned to the 67th Evacuation Hospital on the Qui Nhon Airfield. The Army gave her no instructions about her specific role before she was transported to the hospital.

The helicopter dropped me off, took my luggage off, saluted me and said, Good luck, and went away, Poole said with a chuckle.

The hospitals chief nurse took Poole to her room but never explained her role. Get a good nights sleep, the nurse told an anxious Poole, because you start in the morning.

The next day, Poole was assigned to the orthopedics ward, which was comforting, as she had a similar experience during her time at the Letterman Army Hospital in San Francisco.

But she encountered an unexpected situation: The head nurse of the ward was going home in a few days, and Poole would replace her.

I said, What! Im too young, I dont know how, Poole recalled. Youll learn in a week, the chief nurse told her.

Upon receiving a promotion to captain, Poole oversaw roughly 10 other nurses and several hospital corpsmen. Together, the group was in charge of 25 hospital beds.

I was scared to death, Poole said.

The hospital lacked the everyday equipment typically found in most hospitals in the United States. There was only one glass syringe and one needle for the entire ward. As a result, Poole and her team frequently had to improvise. Whenever the needle got dull, for example, the nurses used nail files to sharpen it.

Everybody got really good at innovating, she said. With such scarce supplies, you dont dare throw something away, because it will take another month to replace it.

Providing comfort to dying soldiers

Poole, who at 23 was older than most of the other nurses, implemented a rule that she followed during her time in San Francisco: There was to be no crying in front of the patients.

These guys are hurt and scared and they need somebody strong ... they do not need to see tears, Poole said.

There were several heart-wrenching moments, though, which made it hard for even Poole to abide by her rules.

She remembers interacting with a badly wounded soldier who asked Poole if he was going to die. She responded by asking him if he felt like he was going to die, to which he replied in the affirmative.

Poole, who knew the man was dying, asked if he knew any prayers. He said he was familiar with the bedtime prayer, Now I lay me down to sleep.

As Poole laid on the bed with her arms around the man, they started reciting the prayer. At the end, the soldier told Poole: I love you, Mama, and then died.

At that moment, Poole noticed the other nurses and corpsmen had broken her rule, as tears were running down their faces. She went into the utility room to wash up.

Poole extended her stay at the hospital for a second year because she needed to act as a stabilizing force for the new nurses, many of whom had just finished nursing school.

They didnt know anything, and I said, Oh, theyre going to kill my boys  I have to stay, she said.

During her second year, Poole changed positions and became the head nurse of casualty receiving and triage. She had to sort and prioritize patients based on the severity of their injuries and the available resources.

Working in the orthopedic ward was challenging, but managing the triage unit, with only three operating rooms, introduced a whole new level of stress as Poole and her new team frequently faced critically injured patients requiring life-saving help.

Following a mass casualty attack, 75 wounded soldiers were transported to the hospital during one especially perilous moment.

I had to figure out who was going to surgery first, Poole said. Soldiers often died waiting for an operating room to open up.

Poole remembers a helicopter pilot was so injured that his helmet had melted onto his head. He was placed in the corner of the room; that was the area for soldiers who were not expected to survive.

The helicopter pilot, who understood he was dying, asked Poole to reach into his pocket and take out a picture of his wife and two little girls. She propped up the picture so he could see his family one last time.

The next time I looked at him, he was dead, Poole said.

During the frantic period as the 75 soldiers were flooding into the triage area, an Army general wanted to talk with Poole. He was complaining about something in his eye and he wanted it removed.

Knowing that there were many more soldiers who needed her attention, Poole stood up to the general. Im sorry, there are other people here that need me, she told him. Well get to you when its your turn.

The man tried to intimidate her with his military rank, but Poole would not budge. In this hospital, you have no rank; I outrank you, she told him.

The general threatened to have Poole court-martialed.

Have at it, she said. And I turned around and walked away.

She never saw the man again.

Surviving her own near-fatal attack

Poole was largely insulated from the dangers that existed outside the hospital. That changed when she was part of a small convoy traveling to a nearby leprosarium to help people with leprosy.

Wearing a helmet and a flak jacket, Poole was riding with other doctors and nurses in a truck, which was equipped with no tarps. Bullets fired by enemy snipers began whizzing by.

As she was on the ground with her hands by her neck, I heard the biggest mosquito in the world whiz by my ear and blow a hole in the wooden floor of the truck, she said of a bullet that just missed her.

She became emboldened, understanding quickly that God was taking care of her.

I said, OK, God, I have been very scared up until this point, but that bullet didnt have my name on it, and Im still here. I have decided that youre taking care of me, and Im not going to be scared anymore.

That was the last time she recalls ever traveling through Vietnam by truck. Poole left Vietnam in 1971, toward the end of her second year.

Poole first moved to Harrisburg in 1979 and has lived in the area ever since. Now retired, Poole worked in real estate and later spent a few years working at Atrium Health Mercy in Charlotte.

My Vietnam Hero

Her experience in Vietnam has always stayed with Poole  in large part because over the intervening years she has reconnected with some of the soldiers she treated.

In 1986, Poole went to Freedom Park in Charlotte to see the traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall, a miniature replica of the Vietnam Veterans Wall in Washington, D.C. One man speaking at the event actually singled out Poole, who was dressed in her fatigues.

When he learned Poole was stationed at the 67th Evacuation Hospital on the Qui Nhon Airfield, he told her he had been a patient there.

I thought I recognized you, she recalled him telling her. You were my nurse.

A woman at the event came up to Poole and, tears in her eyes, thanked her for her service. The woman, who was adopted, shared with Poole that her father served in Vietnam and a nurse saved his life.

If the nurse had not saved his life, he would not have become my dad, the woman told Poole.

She has since heard from several other former patients who have reconnected with her.

One man called Poole about 20 years ago and told her he had looked her up on the Internet. He told her he was one of her patients during Vietnam.

I had really bad leg injuries, and you told me I had to walk or I would never walk right, the man told her. Poole instantly remembered the man, whom she had to convince to get out of bed.

Not one day has gone by since then that I have not thought about you, the man told her, noting how bad it felt when he began walking again.

The man told Poole that he is now a grandfather and regularly runs with his grandchildren, with no signs of a limp.

The phone call left Poole speechless. I sat right down on my kitchen floor and just thought, Holy mackerel.

Poole had been married for many years to a dust-off pilot whom she had met in Vietnam. They had two children and her husband, who has since died, never allowed Poole to tell her children that she was a Vietnam veteran.

It was at the event at Freedom Park when Poole first revealed to her young children about her service as a nurse. It was a moment they have never forgotten.

To this day, her son tells Poole, You are my Vietnam hero.
Kyiv, Nov 9 (AP) Russia is open to hearing President-elect Donald Trump's proposals on ending the war, an official said, as a Russian drone killed one person and wounded 13 in the Ukrainian port city of Odesa and the European Union foreign policy chief held talks in Kyiv after the change in U.S. leadership.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Moscow and Washington were exchanging signals on Ukraine via closed channels. He did not specify whether the communication was with the current administration or Trump and members of his incoming administration.

Russia is ready to listen to Trump's proposals on Ukraine provided these were ideas on how to move forward in the area of ??settlement, and not in the area of ??further pumping the Kyiv regime with all kinds of aid, Ryabkov said Saturday in an interview with Russian state news agency Interfax.

In Kyiv, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told reporters that Ukraine is ready to work with the Trump administration.

Remember that President (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy was one of the first world leaders ... to greet President Trump, he said. It was a sincere conversation (and) an exchange of thoughts regarding further cooperation.

Also during the telephone conversation, further steps to establish communication between teams were discussed and this work has also begun. Therefore, we are open for further cooperation and I'm sure that a unified goal of reaching just peace unites all of us, Sybiha said.

Sybiha appeared alongside EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who said his visit is meant to stress the European Union's support to Ukraine.

This support remains unwavering. This support is absolutely needed, for you to continue defending yourself against Russian aggression, he said.

Borrell urged faster deliveries and fewer self imposed red lines in getting Western weapons to Ukraine. He had appealed to allies in August to lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western-supplied long-range weapons to strike Russian military targets.

In Odesa, regional Gov. Oleh Kiper said high-rise residential buildings, private houses and warehouses in the Black Sea port city were damaged overnight by the fall of a drone. He did not specify whether the drone had been shot down by air defenses.

A further 32 Russian drones were shot down over 10 Ukrainian regions, while 18 were lost, according to Ukraine's air force, likely having been electronically jammed.

A Russian aerial bomb struck a busy highway overnight in the northeastern Kharkiv province, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekohov said. No casualties were reported.

Russia is mounting an intensified aerial campaign that Ukrainian officials say they need more Western help to counter. However, doubts are deepening over what Kyiv can expect from a new U.S. administration. Trump has repeatedly taken issue with U.S. aid to Ukraine, made vague vows to end the war and has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In Russia, the Defense Ministry said 50 Ukrainian drones were destroyed over seven Russian regions  more than half over the Bryansk region, bordering Ukraine. (AP) NPK

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Deir-al-Balah (Gaza Strip), Nov 9 (AP) Qatar has decided to suspend its key mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel, officials said on Saturday, after growing frustration with the lack of progress on a cease-fire deal for Gaza.

It wasn't immediately clear whether the remaining Hamas leadership hosted by Qatar must leave.

However, Qatar is highly likely to return to the efforts if both sides show serious political willingness to reach a deal, according to an official with Egypt, the other key mediator.

Qatar told Israel and Hamas that it can't continue to mediate as long as there is a refusal to negotiate a deal in good faith and "as a consequence, the Hamas political office no longer serves its purpose in Qatar, a diplomatic source briefed on the matter said. Qatar told Hamas it will have to leave if it isn't ready to engage in serious negotiations, the source said.

In Washington, a US official said the Biden administration had informed Qatar two weeks ago that the continued operation of the Hamas office in Doha was no longer useful and the Hamas delegation should be expelled.

A senior US official said that after Hamas rejected the last proposal for a cease-fire, Qatar accepted the advice and informed the Hamas delegation of the decision 10 days ago.

A senior Hamas official said they were aware of Qatar's decision to suspend mediation efforts, but no one told us to leave.

Hamas has repeatedly called for an end to the war and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza as a condition for any cease-fire deal. Israel seeks the return of all hostages and insists on a presence in Gaza.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. The Israeli prime minister's office had no comment.

There continued to be no end in sight to Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and the Israel-Hezbollah war in Lebanon, where Israel's military said it struck command centres and other militant infrastructure overnight in Beirut's southern suburbs. An Israeli airstrike on the southern port city of Tyre late Friday left at least seven dead, officials and a resident said.

Hezbollah should continue (the fight) and we will continue to back them up even if we lose our families, our homes, and end up in the dirt, said one Beirut resident, Mohammed Mekdad, as people searched the smoking rubble.

In Gaza, three separate Israeli strikes killed at least 16 people, including women and children, on Saturday, Palestinian medical officials said, while Israel announced the first delivery of humanitarian aid in weeks to the territory's hungry, devastated north.

One of the strikes hit a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City's eastern Tufah neighbourhood, killing at least six people, the territory's Health Ministry said. Two local journalists, a pregnant woman and a child were among the dead, it said. Israel's army said the strike targeted a militant belonging to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, offering no evidence or details.

Seven people were killed when an Israeli strike hit a tent in the southern city of Khan Younis where displaced people were sheltering, according to Nasser Hospital. It said the dead included two women and a child. The Israeli army didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

And Palestinian medical officials said an Israeli strike hit tents in the courtyard of central Gaza's main hospital, including one serving as a police point. At least three people were killed and a local journalist was wounded, Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir al-Balah said. It was the eighth Israeli attack on the compound since March.



Israel says aid trucks reach northern Gaza

The Israeli military body in charge of humanitarian aid to Gaza, COGAT, said Saturday that 11 aid trucks containing food, water and medical equipment reached the enclave's far north on Thursday. It's the first time any aid has reached the far north since Israel began a new military campaign there last month.

But not all the aid reached the agreed drop-off points, according to the the UN World Food Programme, which was involved in the delivery process. In the urban refugee camp of Jabaliya, Israeli troops stopped one convoy bound for nearby Beit Lahiya and ordered the supplies to be offloaded, WFP spokesperson Alia Zaki said.

Israel's offensive has focused on Jabaliya, where Israel says Hamas had regrouped. Other areas affected include Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun just north of Gaza City.



US deadline is looming for Israel

The aid announcement came days before a US deadline demanding that Israel improve aid deliveries across Gaza or risk losing access to US weapons funding.

The US says Israel must allow a minimum of 350 trucks a day carrying food and other supplies.

Meanwhile, a report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, issued Thursday said there's a strong likelihood that famine is imminent in parts of northern Gaza, the territory's most isolated area.

COGAT rejected the IPC's finding and said the report relied on partial, biased data and superficial sources with vested interests.



No emergency services functioning north of Gaza City

The UN estimates that tens of thousands of people remain in northern Gaza. Earlier this week, the Health Ministry said there were no ambulances or emergency crews operating north of Gaza City.

The conflict has left 90 per cent of Palestinians in Gaza displaced, according to UN figures. Israel's army has struck several schools and tent camps packed with tens of thousands of Palestinians driven from their homes by Israeli offensives and evacuation orders.

The military has accused Hamas of operating from within civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including schools, UN facilities and hospitals.

More than a year of war in Gaza has killed more than 43,000 people, Palestinian health officials say. They don't distinguish between civilians and combatants, but say more than half of those killed were women and children.

The war began after Palestinian militants stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and abducting 250 others. (AP) PY

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Lucknow, Nov 8 (PTI) Hearing a case related to the safety of school children, the Lucknow bench of the High Court on Friday found that the schools in the state have not been inspected for the last 14 years despite guidelines given by the Supreme Court in 2009.

Expressing displeasure over this, the court summoned the 'minutes of meetings' of the National Disaster Management Authority for the last two years.

The court said if we find that the disaster authority has not done anything in this regard despite the apex court's order then appropriate orders will be passed.

The case will be next heard on November 11.

This order has been passed by a division bench of Justice Alok Mathur and Justice Brijraj Singh while hearing a PIL filed by Gomti River Bank residents in 2020.

In the said petition, the issue of schools running in the residential areas of the city has been specifically raised.

During the hearing, the court has emphasized on implementing the guidelines given by the apex court in 2009 in the Avinash Mehrotra case.

In compliance with the order passed in the last hearing, the state government informed that there are a total of about one lakh 41 thousand schools in the state which will take about eight months to inspect.

The court was also informed that an action plan has been prepared to inspect various schools in the state in which it is proposed to include trained people of civil engineering, fire fighting, road transport and basic education officer and district school inspector, the job of these experts will be to evaluate the structural safety and security measures of the schools.

On this, the court said that videography of every inspection will also have to be done.

Amicus curiae will hold talks with the schools that do not allow pick-drop.

During the previous hearing of this case, the court had ordered the school institutions around Hazratganj and Raj Bhavan to provide pick-drop facility to the children up to class 5 from within the school premises.

DCP (traffic) Prabal Pratap Singh, who was present during the hearing, told the court that only three schools have followed this order.

On this, the court has given the responsibility to senior advocate JN Mathur, who has been appointed as amicus curiae in the case, to talk to the rest of the school management.
Thane, Nov 9 (PTI) Speakers at the 64th annual conference of the Indian Medical Association's Maharashtra chapter being held in Thane on Saturday sought stronger safety measures for medical college students, especially women.

The speakers cited the rape and murder of a postgraduate student in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in August, a case that made national headlines and triggered protests across the country.

"Today, more than 60 per cent students of medicine are females, while it is 90 per cent in nursing, 80 per cent in dental courses and 70 per cent in physiotherapy. It is imperative that women feel as safe on campus and in the workplace as they do at home. This is our central demand from both government and private institutions," IMA national president Dr Anil J Nayak said.

Highlighting the 1:1800 doctor-patient ratio in India, Nayak said it was concerning and stressed the need for improved services and infrastructure in the healthcare sector.

During the day, IMA Maharashtra president Dr Santosh Kadam released the 'IMA Health Manifesto', which includes demands like 7 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5 lakh for any assault on medical staff.

It also demanded that hospitals with fewer than 50 beds be exempt from the Maharashtra Nursing Home Act, as well as improvement of hostels and living quarters for graduate and postgraduate students.

The IMA as 4 lakh members across the country, including 50,000 in Maharashtra.

The conference began on Friday and will conclude on Sunday.
Agartala, Nov 9 (PTI) Expressing serious concern over attacks on the believers of Sanatan Dharma in Bangladesh, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday said the Centre as well as the state are aware of the atrocities on religious minorities in the neighbouring country.

Recently, Tipra Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma voiced concern over the attacks on minorities in Chittagong in Bangladesh bordering Tripura.

While addressing a Sanatan Dharma conference in Tripura's Gomati district, the chief minister said, "We are aware of the incidents of attack on the believers of Sanatan Dharma in Bangladesh."

He said that the attackers should think twice before carrying out such attacks on them.

"There were attacks on Sanatan Dharma in India in the past but the ancient religion remains intact to date," the chief minister said.

Criticising the CPI(M) which ruled the state for 35 years, Saha alleged they had created an atmosphere of atheism across the state as its leaders did not visit even the Tripureswari temple, one of the Shakti Peeths, in Gomati district.

Because of their 'nastika' (atheist) mindset, they have become non-entity in Tripura, the BJP leader claimed.

"In the name of religion, they made attempts to engineer riots in the state. Our government respects all religions but will not remain silent if anybody challenges amity among the people of different faiths," he alleged.

Saha also slammed the opposition for questioning the state's prevailing law and order situation.

"Some people are pointing fingers over the state's law and order situation but the truth is it has improved," the chief minister said.

Saha also highlighted how Prime Minister Narendra Modi has developed infrastructure in and around temples across the country since 2014.
Dehradun, Nov 9 (PTI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday said the day is not far when the problem of migration will be eradicated from the state through the creation of employment opportunities.

Addressing a function at the police lines here on the occasion of the state's foundation day, Dhami said Uttarakhand is progressing rapidly in various sectors, including tourism, agriculture, horticulture and industry, due to which businesses, self-employment and job opportunities, in general, are on the rise.

"The day is not far when we will be able to eradicate the problem of migration from the state by increasing employment opportunities," the chief minister said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also greeted the people of the state on the occasion through a video message, saying a 'mahayagna' of development is currently underway in Uttarakhand.

He showered praises on the state government, saying policies begun by it are serving as models for other states.

"Uttarakhand is proving that this decade belongs to it. It is setting new records of development. It has been ranked first in the country in the Sustainable Development Goals index, it has been put in the category of achievers in Ease of Doing Business and the category of leaders in startup ranking," the prime minister said.

Referring to the date, Modi said the number nine is an auspicious number that symbolises power. He added that he would make nine requests, five to the people of Uttarakhand and four to tourists who visit the state.

Modi said his five requests to the people of Uttarakhand were to conserve local dialects, actively participate in the tree plantation campaign 'Ek Ped Maa ke Naam', clean water bodies, connect with their roots in villages and beautify their old-style Tibari homes into homestays.

His requests to the tourists were to avoid single-use plastic, spend five per cent of their travel expenses on buying local products, follow traffic rules in the mountains and show regard to local customs and rules associated with religious places while on a pilgrimage.

Dhami said his government has worked to increase the opportunities for capital investment in the state by making many new policies, including industrial, logistics and startup policies.

An 'industrial smart city' is also going to be established soon at Khurpiya in Udham Singh Nagar district, he said.

The dream of reaching the hills by rail is going to come true soon through the Rishikesh-Karnprayag rail line, the chief minister added.

New medical colleges are being set up in various districts besides the construction of a satellite centre of AIIMS, Rishikesh, in Udham Singh Nagar district, he said.

Dhami remembered former prime minister Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee during whose tenure Uttarakhand became a separate state on November 9, 2000.

"Atal ji fulfilled Uttarakhand's dream of attaining statehood. It is moving rapidly towards becoming a leading state in the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said.

Paying tributes to people killed in the recent bus accident in Almora, Dhami said a comprehensive policy will be made by taking various departments together for effective prevention of road accidents.

A special procedure will be created to fix the responsibility of contractors and engineers for the purpose of ensuring the quality of roads, he said.

Other important announcements by the chief minister included linking all villages with a population of 50 or more by roads by 2030, the introduction of a new women's policy for their overall development and a special "Youth Policy" for the all-round development of the youth and payment of an additional amount to players from Uttarakhand who win medals at the forthcoming National Games which will be equal to their prize money.

The "National Uttarakhandi Migrant Day" will be organised every year in the month of November for migrants living in other states and the "International Uttarakhandi Migrant Day" in January for those living abroad.

Dhami also paid tributes to the statehood martyrs at the Shaheed Sthal in Dehradun, besides addressing another programme in the summer capital Gairsain to mark the state foundation day.
Mainpuri/Kanpur/Aligarh (UP), Nov 9 (PTI) "Babua is yet to become an adult," Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Saturday, slamming Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav for aligning with the Congress that had "imprisoned Mulayam Singh Yadav during Emergency".

Launching a blistering attack on the Samajwadi Party ahead of the Assembly bypolls, the senior BJP leader asked people not to let the "black deeds of the red caps flourish". Red is the colour of the caps worn by the Samajwadi Party workers.

Addressing an election rally at Karhal in Mainpuri district, Adityanath said, "His conduct is against the sentiments of his father and SP founder late Mulayam Singh Yadav."

"Akhilesh Yadav's SP is playing on the Congress' lap. The Congress had imprisoned Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) during Emergency. Netaji always opposed Congress. He used to say that we should not stay with it even by deceit. But SP has now distanced itself from Netaji's values and ideals."

"Mulayam Singh Yadav would have been hurt by the actions of the SP leadership. His son has pledged the party to the Congress and is hell-bent on destroying the SP. Babua (apparently referring to Akhilesh Yadav) is yet to become an adult. Hence, sometimes, he does things that cause problems for the people of Mainpuri," Adityanath said.

Addressing the rally, he said Ram Manohar Lohia was the ideal of Mulayam Singh Yadav. "It was Lohia who said a true socialist does not have attachment to property and children. Yet in the SP, one family desires all the posts," he said.

The BJP leader termed the Samajwadi Party "Ramdrohi" and alleged that its leaders did not visit the Ram temple in Ayodhya fearing that it would cost their vote bank.

"The People of Karhal should tell them that if you cannot respect Krishna-Kanhaiya then why do you come to seek our votes? The BJP had promised to build a temple in Ayodhya and said we did that.

"Shri Krishna-Kanhaiya we will come, we will respect the public sentiment in Mathura too. Does SP agree to this? Will the Samajwadi Party support the government's thinking about Mathura-Vrindavan? They want votes, but not respect for Krishna-Kanhaiya. They are silent on this," he charged.

Referring to the gang-rape incident in Ayodhya in which the BJP alleged that the main accused is an SP member and the Kannauj rape case in which an SP member is an accused, Adityanath said, "These are blot on the civilized society."

"Do not let the black deeds of the red caps flourish. These people are conspiring, they will again push Uttar Pradesh into anarchy. Their lies were exposed in the Lok Sabha elections. Wipe them out in the elections."

Attacking the Congress over the passage of a resolution in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly seeking restoration of the special status of the erstwhile state, Adityanath said, "Bhimrao Ambedkar did not want Article 370 to be added to the Constitution of India, but Nehru's stubbornness forcibly got it done."

"The Congress never tried to remove Article 370, but in the interest of the country, Prime Minister Modi removed Articles 35A and 370. Due to this, there is an excellent environment for development. Now lakhs of tourists come to Kashmir," he claimed.

Addressing a rally at Khair in Aligarh district, Adityanath stressed that efforts should be made to build a state university in the name of Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh of Aligarh, who was forgotten by the Congress.

About the Aligarh Muslim University's minority status, the chief minister said it is being decided by the Supreme Court.

"Such an institution, which is nurtured by India's resources and runs on public taxes, does not give reservation to the backwards, scheduled caste or tribal people, but is arranging 50 per cent reservation for Muslims.

"The Constitution of India provides reservation to the people of backward castes based on the reports of Scheduled Castes-Tribes and Mandal Commission, but why is this facility not available in AMU," he posed.

Adityanath argued that when the country's money is being invested in the university, then people should get the benefit of reservation there too.

"Why was it stopped? Because the Congress, SP and the BSP do not want it. To protect their vote banks, these people are playing with your sentiments and national unity and identity," he said.

Bypolls will be held in nine assembly seats of Uttar Pradesh on November 20. These are Katehari in Ambedkar Nagar, Karhal in Mainpuri, Meerapur in Muzaffarnagar, Ghaziabad, Majhawan in Mirzapur, Sishamau in Kanpur city, Khair in Aligarh, Phulpur in Prayagraj and Kundarki in Moradabad.

Eight of these seats fell vacant after their MLAs were elected as Lok Sabha MPs. The bypoll in the Sisamau seat is being held as Samajwadi Party MLA Irfan Solanki was convicted in a criminal case.

The Congress is not contesting the bypolls and supporting its INDIA bloc partner Samajwadi Party, while the BSP is contesting solo on all nine seats.
Chandigarh, Nov 9 (PTI) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday ordered to deduct the 15 days salary of two joint commissioners, two deputy municipal commissioners and an executive officer due to delay in implementing the Shehri Swamitva Scheme.

Apart from this, Gurugram Municipal Corporation clerk Sandeep Kumar was suspended with immediate effect in a case of demanding a bribe of Rs 50,000.

Different schemes of each department are monitored from the CM dashboard cell at the chief minister's residence, according to an official release.

In this series, a confirmation cell talks to the beneficiaries over phone and takes their feedback. After the implementation of the schemes, the beneficiaries are asked about their experience.

In a case in Gurugram, a beneficiary of the Shehri Swamitva Scheme was being made to run around for two years despite depositing full amount and Sandeep Kumar, the clerk, had demanded a bribe of Rs 50,000.

The chief minister took strict cognizance of this and suspended the clerk with immediate effect.

In Ambala, Sonipat and Nuh, the beneficiaries told the confirmation cell over phone that the full amount had been deposited a year ago, but the officials have not yet got the conveyance deed done and made them run around the office again and again.

The chief minister immediately issued instructions to deduct half a month's salary of all the concerned officers and said that no officer will be spared for negligence in implementing the government schemes.

On the orders of the chief minister, the commissioner and secretary of the urban local bodies department deducted 15 days salary of MC Gurugram Joint Commissioner Akhilesh Yadav, MC Ambala Joint Commissioner Puneet and Deputy Municipal Commissioner Deepak Sura, MC Sonipat Deputy Municipal Commissioner Hardeep and Nuh Municipal Corporation Executive Officer Arun Nandal.

Clear instructions have been given by Saini that the execution of the conveyance deed should be ensured within two days of payment of the full amount.

The commissioner and secretary of the department directed the officers to ensure the execution of the conveyance deed in pending cases under the Shehri Swamitva Scheme in the next three days and submit the report.

Apart from this, the execution of the conveyance deed of 100 such cases in which the full amount has been paid should also be completed by November 14.

Under the scheme, ownership certificates are issued to the owners of properties in 'abadi' areas of erstwhile villages which have been included in the municipalities.
Jammu, Nov 9 (PTI) India has been a powerhouse of science and spirituality for thousands of years, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Saturday as he reiterated the government's resolve to promote ancient Indian ideals and values.

Sinha, who was addressing the first Vedic conference, also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had rekindled a sense of self-respect in the country's 140 crore people.

The event, based on the theme "Vedon Mein Vigyan", was held at the Shri Ranbir Campus of Central Sanskrit University in Jammu.

The lieutenant governor also commended the endeavours of Vigyan Bharati, Central Sanskrit University and everyone associated with the event.

Highlighting the significant scientific achievements of the Vedic period, Sinha said, "Our Vedas are the first and a complete scientific knowledge system of mankind, which has been inspiring learning traditions since ages."

"India has been a powerhouse of science and spirituality for thousands of years. When the Vedas were composed, India was the centre of the world's economy, education, culture and philosophy. It was the engine of world civilisation and our country laid the foundation of socioeconomic progress through science, mathematics, astronomy and medicine," he said.

Sinha claimed India was not only emerging as the new economic power of the world under Modi's leadership but also gaining the respect and glory "achieved by our ancestors thousands of years ago in the Vedic period".

He underscored the need to utilise the treasure of knowledge in science, mathematics, medicine, botany, arts and humanities to enrich the existing knowledge system and transform India into a knowledge economy.

"The prime minister gave a clarion call to shed the vestiges of colonial past to regain global stature. Our ancient past was glorious and we are poised for a brighter future. We should not live in the past but use the ancient values and ideals to face the future challenges," he said.

Sinha also emphasised the important role of academic institutions and social organisations in reconnecting youngsters with their cultural roots.

"I am confident that this conference will also provide guidance towards better teaching-learning tools for the Indian knowledge system," he said.

Sinha also unveiled an idol of the goddess Saraswati on the university premises and released several publications.
Jammu, Nov 8 (PTI) The commander of the Army's White Knight Corps visited Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Friday to review the ongoing operations to track down terrorists responsible for the killings of two Village Defence Guards.

The bodies of Nazir Ahmed and Kuldeep Kumar, the two Village Defence Guards (VDGs) killed by terrorists, were found near a rivulet during a massive search operation, officials said.

The officials said the two VDGs were executed on Thursday after being abducted in the higher reaches of Kishtwar.

On Friday, Lieutenant General Navin Sachdeva -- the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Jammu-based White Knight Corps -- visited the area and reviewed the operations.

A large-scale cordon-and-search operation is underway to apprehend the terrorists responsible for the killings.

"The GOC of White Knight Corps, along with commanders, visited Kishtwar and the general area of Bhart Ridge to review the operations in progress," the White Knight Corps said in a post on X.

The Army, police and other security agencies have cordoned off the area to prevent the terrorists from escaping.
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Whats the essential ingredient of a great summer? Ice cream. And what are the essential ingredients of ice cream? Milk? Sugar? Vanilla? Chocolate? What about fried oysters? Seaweed? Whitebait? Yes, I know youre grimacing but these flavors  and many more  do exist.

Whats more, you can find most of them in and around Tokyo. Metropolis went on a one-day trip around the city to taste as many of the capitals weirdest ice cream flavors so you dont have to. Along the way, well also introduce some local gourmet bonuses that are outside of Tokyo, but equally worthy of mention, for your next trip out of the city. Which flavors would you dare to try?

Whitebait fish ice cream

Website 4-10-17 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku Hours: 10 a.m.  2 p.m. Price: 500 (Whale), 350 (Whitebait)

We kicked off our ice cream tour early in the morning in Tsukiji, the good old hometown of fresh-off-the-boat seafood in Tokyo. Many people were already there to secure the freshest seafood of the morning. We had joined the seafood-craving crowds too, but for something else: whitebait (a type of small white fish) ice cream.

Fish ice cream? How? Why? I honestly dont know. Now zoom in  can you see the little black spots? They are not black sesame seeds. They are the eyes of whitebait fish. Still not convinced? Lets take a look at the whitebait ice cream in its ultimate form:

This shot is actually from a store in Shizuoka, but it shows you the full scale of the fish. So, how does this salty fish taste like with sweet ice cream?

Heres my honest answer: It was tolerable. But why?

The ice cream base has a pleasant balance between saltiness and sweetness. However, the fish didnt actually bring anything to the flavor profile. It really put me off when I bit into a tiny piece of tasteless fish while I was enjoying the smooth texture of the ice cream. Though this was a pass for me, there seems to be a fanbase online. At least its worth a try. Maybe youll love it, who knows?

Bonus: Fried oyster ice cream (in Okayama Prefecture)

If you think thats enough talk of marine life invading your go-to dessert, now imagine salty fried oysters with thick soy sauce dripping down your snow-white ice cream cone. Have you ever tried dipping your french fries in your milkshake at fast-food restaurants? (Im looking at you Americans.) Think of that but with the surprise of an oyster in the mix too. Though not in our Tokyo ice cream day trip, give this umami bomb a try the next time youre in Okayama. Its a surprisingly delicious combination though it really sounds like a terrible one.

Bonus: Pickled ice cream (in Iwate Prefecture)

I think these seafood should stick to being eaten with white rice, not ice cream. With all the weird savory flavors theyre topping their ice creams with, it seems like eateries in Japan are treating the dessert as if it was just white rice on a cone, and pairing it with the same sides.

What else goes with Japanese white rice? Japanese pickles. The one and only perfect word to describe these foods is salty  sometimes too salty. Its common that dessert chefs add a pinch of salt to their dessert recipes to highlight the sweetness, but can you imagine sprinkling a handful of salt into your ice cream? Kinkontei in Iwate has mastered the combination of ultimate saltiness and sweetness with their pickled ice cream.

Bonus: Onsen tamago (hot spring egg) ice cream (in Gifu Prefecture)

In addition to pickles, another side dish youll commonly find at Japanese restaurants is onsen tamago (hot spring eggs). Normally, you mix the runny egg with rice and other condiments  a warm bowl of classic Japanese comfort food.

But was it still comforting when we substituted the white rice with the sweet chill of ice cream? I wont spoil it  youll have to find out for yourself at Yuami-ya in Gifu Prefecture. This one wasnt on our Tokyo day trip spot but it was the inspiration behind creating our Tokyo version.

The classic matcha ice cream (but this one makes you sneeze)

Enough with the side-tracking with side dishes on ice cream cones. Lets continue our trip in Tokyo. Matcha might seem like the most obvious classic choice when it comes to ice cream in Japan, but this one we tried in the afternoon in Higashitabata made the list because it was a bitdangerous.

Located in a quiet neighborhood near Tabata Station, this matcha ice cream grabbed the attention of the TV program Monday Lateshow (), in which the hosts talk about all kinds of weird and wonderful things happening in Japan.

Whats weird about this matcha ice cream is that it makes you cough and sneeze when you try to take a bite. When I first saw this on TV, I thought the hosts were just exaggerating for the cameras  but then I went to have some for myself. When I was carefully licking the dripping ice cream, I heard a couple cross the street in a fit of coughs and sneezes. I looked over and saw both of them laughing, the bottom half of their faces dusted in matcha powder.

I could tell from the color that the matcha powder used is nothing like the mediocre packets of green tea powder youd find at a convenience store. Nagamine Seicha specializes in high-quality Shizuoka Tea. Taste-wise, the balance of bitterness and sweetness was just right for me and I would highly recommend this to anyone whos a matcha fan  but eat it carefully!

This cone is a great price, only 400, and I suggest you eat it fast to avoid staining your clothes green as it drips on you. Or, as I had unintentionally done, wear matcha green to camouflage your clumsiness.

Along our ice cream tour, we spotted that classic shade of green in almost every ice cream shop we visited. However, if you head out of Tokyo and visit Yamaguchi, dont be fooled by the matcha-esque hue of this one because theres something a little fishy about it

Bonus: Wakame (seaweed) ice cream (in Yamaguchi Prefecture)

At a glance, this wakame (seaweed) ice cream looks similar to a matcha one. But if you take a closer look, you will see tiny flecks of seaweed hiding in the green cream. According to reviews on Tabelog (we didnt have a chance to visit here in person), this fishy-looking ice cream is surprisingly good.

Bonus: Wasabi ice cream (in Nagano Prefecture)

In line with our green-themed Japanese foods that someone thought would be good to put on top of a wafer cone is the wasabi ice cream in Nagano. Though not part of our day trip, I happened to find this Daio Wasabi Farm when I was wandering in the middle of nowhere in Nagano trying to find some food to eat. I walked in and saw a big advertisement board with their premium wasabi ice cream. The fear it would make me cry (on many levels), the curiosity, the expectation It took me five minutes to decide if I should really give it a try.

To be very honest, it doesnt taste bad at all, though it does sound like a bad idea. The high-quality wasabi is nothing like the spicy artificial ones Ive had at chain sushi restaurants. The spiciness from the wasabi is rather refreshing as it cuts through the sweetness and brings a weird heat to the iciness. It was indeed a pleasant surprise when I was starving and convenience stores were nowhere to be found.

Sesame seeds and soy milk ice cream

OK, back to Tokyo. Two stations away from Tabata, Sugamo was our next stop on our ice cream hunt. This one is located on the main shopping street right next to the station.

I know what you are probably thinking: Doesnt that look a bit like a

This texture is just off said my friend, giving me an uncertain look.

Yeah, its just sesame seeds and soy milk, I replied as I took a bite. I was blown away by how good it tastes despite its deceiving appearance. Not too sweet yet you can taste the deep flavor of the high-quality sesame seeds. Its also plant-based and made with no milk or eggs. What a healthy guilty pleasure!

IKEAs blue apple ice cream

IKEA Shinjuku (IKEA ) 3-1-13, Shinjuku, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo Hours: 11 a.m.  8 p.m. Price: 200 We continued moving west and arrived in Shinjuku for the internet-famous IKEA blue ice cream.

200 is a budget-friendly deal for a stylish picture on your Instagram, but I dont think your taste buds or your stomach will thank you for this weird tasting thing.

The flavor tasted artificial and like chemicals; I just couldnt get over the fact that this blue and black cone had an apple flavor. If you insist on giving it a try, make sure you go to the IKEA in Shinjuku since its only available there.

The legendary eight-scoop ice cream of Nakano Broadway

We thought the blue apple flavor was already crazy enough, and our stomachs were telling us that six ice creams were enough sugar for one day. But we had now arrived in Nakano and faced the biggest challenge of the day. This giant eight-scoop monster is in every Tokyo ice cream guide, but we couldnt leave out such a legendary dairy dessert on our Tokyo trip.

The shop staff warned us to not spend too much time photographing it because this wobbly thing could fall at any time.

And so we began our seventh and final ice cream of the day. Ten minutes in and we were not even halfway through. Our lips and tongues had become numb and all we could taste was sugar. Keep in mind that from top to bottom theres supposed to be eight flavors: orange, almond, chocolate, matcha, strawberry, coffee, vanilla and Ramune (a Japanese brand soda).

After about 25 minutes, we finally gave up and couldnt finish the final, soda-flavored layer. I would say we did well enough since we had already eaten so many ice creams prior to this monster. Next time, if youd like to challenge this ice cream in Nakano, be sure to invite at least two friends with empty stomachs so theres a better chance of victory.

There you have it. Our most honest guide to the most exotic ice creams you could possibly find in Tokyo and beyond. A final note, I thankfully didnt have a stomach ache after consuming so many ice cream cones in a day, but follow this guide at your own risk.

metropolisjapan.com/
New Delhi, Nov 9 (PTI) Citizens' voices cannot be throttled by a threat of destroying their properties and "bulldozer justice" is simply unacceptable under the rule of law, the Supreme Court has said.

Observing that justice through bulldozers was unknown to any civilised system of jurisprudence, a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said the state must follow due process of law before taking action to remove illegal encroachments or unlawfully constructed structures.

"Bulldozer justice is simply unacceptable under the rule of law. If it were to be permitted the constitutional recognition of the right to property under Article 300A would be reduced to a dead letter," said the bench, which also comprised Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.

Article 300A of the Constitution says that no person shall be deprived of his property save by authority of law.

The apex court delivered its verdict in a matter related to demolition of a house in Maharajganj district of Uttar Pradesh in 2019.

Holding that the entire process which was followed by the state was "high handed", the bench directed the Uttar Pradesh government to pay Rs 25 lakh compensation to the petitioner, whose house was razed for a road project, as an interim measure.

"Justice through bulldozers is unknown to any civilised system of jurisprudence. There is a grave danger that if high handed and unlawful behaviour is permitted by any wing or officer of the state, demolition of citizens' properties will take place as a selective reprisal for extraneous reasons," the verdict delivered on November 6 said.

"Citizens' voices cannot be throttled by a threat of destroying their properties and homesteads. The ultimate security which a human being possesses is to the homestead, said the judgement penned by the CJI.

The November 6 verdict, which was uploaded on the apex court website later, said the law does not undoubtedly condone unlawful occupation of public property and encroachments.

The bench said there were municipal laws and town-planning legislation which contain adequate provisions for dealing with illegal encroachments.

"Where such legislation exists the safeguards which are provided in it must be observed. We propose to lay down certain minimum thresholds of procedural safeguards which must be fulfilled before taking action against properties of citizens," it said.

It said the officials of the state who carry out or sanction such unlawful action must be proceeded against for disciplinary action.

"Their infractions of law must invite criminal sanctions. Public accountability for public officials must be the norm. Any action in respect of public or private property must be backed by due process of law," the bench said.

It said before acting in pursuance of a road widening project, the state or its instrumentalities must ascertain the existing width of the road in terms of official records or maps.

The bench said the state must carry out a survey or demarcation to ascertain whether there was any encroachment on the existing road with reference to the existing records or maps.

It said if an encroachment was found, the state must issue a proper written notice to the encroachers to remove the encroachment.

"In the event that the noticee raises an objection with regard to the correctness or the validity of the notice, decide the objection by a speaking order in due compliance with the principles of natural justice," the bench said.

It said if the objection was rejected, state must furnish reasonable notice to the person against whom adverse action was proposed and upon the failure of the person concerned to act, proceed in accordance with law to remove the encroachment unless restrained by an order of the competent authority or court.

"If the existing width of the road including the state land adjoining the road is not sufficient to accommodate the widening of the road, steps must be taken by the state to acquire the land in accordance with law before undertaking the road widening exercise," it said.

The bench said the registrar (judicial) of the apex court shall circulate a copy of its judgment to the chief secretaries of all the states and Union Territories to ensure compliance with the directions issued with regard to the procedure to be followed for the purpose of road widening in general.

"The chief secretary of the government of Uttar Pradesh is directed to have an enquiry conducted into the entire matter pertaining to the illegal demolition, against all concerned officers of the state and the contractors who are responsible for the illegal demolition," it said.

While hearing the matter on November 6, the top court had pulled up the Uttar Pradesh government for the "illegal" demolition.

"You can't come with bulldozers and demolish the constructions overnight. You don't give the family, time to vacate. What about the household articles inside the house?" the bench had orally told the counsel representing the state government.
New Delhi, Nov 9 (PTI) Chimpanzees perform difficult tasks better when they have a human audience, a new study has suggested.

Researchers from Kyoto University, Japan, said the audience effect -- where one's behaviour changes if they think someone is watching them -- is considered unique to human societies, in which reputation plays a huge role.

While chimps are known to live in a hierarchical society, it wasn't clear to what extent they too might be influenced by those watching them, the researchers said.

They wanted to find out if the audience effect -- which contributes to managing reputations in humans -- might also exist in a non-human primate.

For the study, published in the journal iScience, six chimpanzees were engaged in cognitive tasks involving the control of a computer using a touchscreen over a period of six years and over 2,100 sessions were analysed.

The researchers found that in three different number-based tasks, the chimpanzees performed better on the most difficult task as the audience watching them grew in size. In contrast, they performed the worst on the easiest task when they were being watched by a bigger audience.

"It was very surprising to find that chimpanzees are affected in their task performance by audience members and by human audience members nonetheless," said author Christen Lin of Kyoto University.

"One might not expect a chimp to particularly care if another species is watching them perform a task but the fact that they seem to be affected by human audiences even depending on the difficulty of the task suggests that this relationship is more complex than we would have initially expected," Lin said.

The findings suggested that the audience effect could possibly predate reputation-based human societies, the authors said.

"Our findings suggest that how much humans care about witnesses and audience members may not be quite so specific to our species," said author Shinya Yamamoto, Kyoto University.

The specific mechanisms that form the basis for these audience-related effects remain unclear, even for humans, the researchers said.

They called for more studies on non-human apes which could help understand how this trait evolved and developed.

"These (audience-related) characteristics are a core part of how our societies are largely based on reputation and if chimpanzees also pay special attention towards audience members while they perform their tasks, it stands to reason that these audience-based characteristics could have evolved before reputation-based societies emerged in our great ape lineage," Yamamoto said.
New Delhi, Nov 9 (PTI) There will be no water supply in parts of the national capital's Rohini area for 16 hours on November 11 due to maintenance work, the Delhi Jal Board said on Saturday.

It issued a statement, saying the affected areas would include Rohini Sector-6, Rohini Sector-7, Rohini Sector-8 and their adjoining areas.

"The work of installation of flow meter at 700 mm dia. outlet line of Rohini Sector-7 BPS is proposed to take up on November 11 from 10 am onwards for 16 hours. Therefore, water supply will not be available in the evening and may be available at low pressure in the morning of November 12," the statement said.

Due to the repair work, the water supply will be stopped, and therefore, residents of the affected areas are advised to make judicious use of water, it said.

The statement said water tankers will be available on demand from the DJB helpline or the central control room.
Qatar is withdrawing from its role of mediating a hostage release deal between the Hamas terror group and Israel via the US, an official familiar with the matter told Reuters on Saturday.

The report was confirmed by Qatar on Motzei Shabbos, with its foreign ministry issuing a statement saying: The State of Qatar notified the parties 10 days ago during the last attempts to reach an agreement, that it would stall its efforts to mediate between Hamas and Israel if an agreement was not reached in that round.

Qatar will resume those efforts with its partners when the parties show their willingness and seriousness to end the brutal war and the ongoing suffering of civilians caused by catastrophic humanitarian conditions in the Strip, [and will] be at the forefront of making every good effort to end the war and return the hostages and prisoners.

On Friday, Israels Kan News reported that Qatar is ousting Hamas officials from its territory.

Economy Minister Nir Barkat responded to the report by stating: Qatar has never been a mediator; it is the advocate of Hamas, the financer and protector of the terror organization. Qatar is an ally of Iran, inciting against the Jewish people and the State of Israel, and has invested hundreds of billions of dollars in spreading terror and hatred towards Israel. Finally, we see the wolf that disguised itself as a lamb. Now, after Trump won the election, this is the opportunity to act forcefully against Qatar.

(YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis haShabbos in Israel)
Newly appointed Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana flew to Amsterdam on Friday morning following the shocking pogrom carried out by Dutch Arabs on Thursday evening.

Saar met with Dutch Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel who told him: I am deeply ashamed of what happened in Amsterdam.

Saar demanded that Dutch authorities fully prosecute the perpetrators of the attacks. He suggested during the meeting that the Israeli police assist in gathering testimonies and documenting evidence from the Israeli citizens who were brutally attacked to ensure justice is served.

Van Weel agreed to Saars request and the two agreed that the security officials of both countries will cooperate during the investigation.

Following the meeting, the two ministers held a press conference, during which Saar stated that a new antisemitism is raging in Europe, based on denying Israels right to exist and its right to self-defense. He stressed that this antisemitism is what led to the barbaric attack against Israelis in Amsterdam.

Saar stated: I held my first meeting here as part of my visit to the Netherlands, a meeting with the Minister of Justice and Public Security, which primarily addressed the criminal proceedings we expect to take place against those who perpetrated crimes against Israeli citizens on the streets of Amsterdam. We expect arrests, we expect severe punishments, and we expect to see a full disclosure from the Netherlands on this matter.

Saar added: I also offered the Dutch minister Israels assistance, the assistance of the Israel Police, in collecting evidence and testimonies from Israeli citizens who returned to Israel. The Dutch minister accepted this proposal, and I hope and am confident there will be cooperation between the judicial authorities in both countries to truly punish and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Righ-wing Dutch leader Geert Wilders met Saar and Ohana at the airport in Amsterdam upon their arrival to the Netherlands on Friday.

(YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis haShabbos in Israel)
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof met with representatives of the Jewish community in Amsterdam following the shocking pogrom perpetrated by local Arabs against Israelis on Thursday evening and assured them that he will do everything he can to ensure the communitys safety.

Schoof also met with newly appointed Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Motzei Shabbos.

Saar and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana flew to Amsterdam on Friday morning for urgent diplomatic meetings in a visit that was coordinated with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

Saar and Ohana met with Schoof at his residence. During the meeting, Schoof called the attacks on Israelis a turning point and said he is committed to bringing the perpetrators to justice and ensuring that the local Jewish community is safe. He also noted that he canceled his plans to participate in the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan [which begins on Monday, Nov. 11] due to the serious incidents in Amsterdam, instead scheduling meetings regarding the attacks in Dutch parliament and other forums.

During the meeting, Saar stated that the brutal attacks on Jews and Israelis and the demand by their attackers that they present their passports to prove their identity were reminiscent of dark periods of history. He stressed that Israel cannot accept the persecution of Jews and Israelis on European soil.

Saar emphasized that this new antisemitism that denies Israels right to exist is manifested in the political assault on Israel in the institutions of the UN and international legal forums. The goals are identical  the delegitimization of Israel and the undermining of its right to self-defense. This is not carried out against any other democracy.

Saar also thanked Schoof for his friendship and support for Israel and invited him for an official visit to Israel.

Saar also met with his Dutch counterpart Caspar Veldkamp, who stated after the meeting: Met with my new Israeli colleague Gideon Saar to discuss the appalling attacks on Israeli citizens in Amsterdam. I expressed my horror and stressed that the Netherlands will do all it can to identify these thugs. We will hold perpetrators accountable and combat antisemitism.

After an in-depth conversation yesterday evening with representatives of Amsterdams Jewish community, I met today with the Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Saar, Prime Minister Schoof wrote on X on Motzei Shabbos.

We spoke about his impressions and experiences during his brief visit to the Netherlands. The events in Amsterdam affected him deeply, and he expressed his serious concern about and revulsion at the rise in antisemitism. I told him the Dutch government was doing everything to ensure that the Jewish community in this country feels safe.

Schoof wrote on Friday: Have been following the news from Amsterdam and am horrified by the antisemitic attacks on Israeli citizens. This is completely unacceptable. I am in close contact with all parties involved and have just spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by phone to stress that the perpetrators will be identified and prosecuted. The situation in Amsterdam is now calm once more.

(YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis haShabbos in Israel)
The operation to rescue Israelis from the Netherlands in the wake of the pogrom against Jews on Thursday evening in Amsterdam has been completed, with over 2,000 Israelis returned to Israel on 10 rescue flights.

The Foreign Ministry, in cooperation with the Transportation Ministry, the National Security Council, Israeli airlines El Al and Israir, the Civil Aviation Authority, the Airports Authority, the IDF, the police, and other security bodies worked together in coordinating the rescue operation.

During the operation, the Israeli embassy in the Netherlands opened a special command center in Amsterdam and a special command center was also established at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Jerusalem. Teams from the Israeli embassy in the Netherlands, led by Ambassador Modi Ephraim, and the Foreign Ministrys staff in Jerusalem worked around the clock to ensure that every Israeli in the Netherlands was safe and no one who wished to return to Israel was left behind.

Five Israelis were hospitalized in Amsterdam after the attacks and were released after emergency medical treatment. Another 20 Israelis were lightly injured, and eight were treated at Sheba Medical Center upon their return to Israel.

Chabad shlichim in Amsterdam also assisted the Israeli victims of the attacks along with Israeli and Jewish organizations, including the Maccabi World Union, which opened an emergency assistance center in Amsterdam and helped hundreds of victims, including providing or locating food, hotels, transportation, and security. The Jewish Agency is also assisting the victims and sent an agency representative to Amsterdam.

(YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis haShabbos in Israel)
In a week that witnessed a great deal of violence, a fatality punctuates the end of week news cycle.

Here's the first report . . .



Homicide 75th and Paseo

Tonight just before 6 oclock officers were dispatched to 75th and Paseo on a shooting call.



On arrival they were directed towards a vehicle that was stopped in the southbound lanes of Paseo.



As they approached the vehicle, they located an adult male shooting victim unresponsive inside the vehicle.

Officers rendered aid until EMS arrived and took over.

EMS transported the victim to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. At the hospital, the victim was declared deceased.



Homicide detectives and Crime Scene investigators are here at the scene processing for evidence and canvassing for any potential witnesses.



Preliminary investigation indicates that the victim was in his vehicle when he was shot by an unknown suspect from outside of the vehicle.



If anyone heard or saw anything in this area or has any information they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.



We are committed to assisting victims of violent crimes through use of Missouris Protection Program for Victims/Witnesses of Violent Crime. Funding for temporary, or even permanent relocation, may be available but is subject to pre-approval by the States administering agency.



We are working with Partners for Peace in all our homicide investigations to monitor risks for retaliation and provide social services to affected residents.

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Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Kansas City police investigating homicide at 75th and The Paseo Police officers responded to a shooting call just before 6 p.m. in the area of 75th and The Paseo.

Police respond to homicide Friday night in Kansas City, Missouri Police in Kansas City, Missouri, are investigating a homicide Friday night. Police said the incident happened at East 75th Street and The Paseo.

Developing . . .
As always . . .

We advise our readers to be skeptical of EVERYONE . . . And post-election chatter has a way of evaporating as more immediate concerns arise.

Even worse . . .

There might be national debate on this topic that would diminish Missouri political action.



But everybody wasnt on board, including the next governor of Missouri, Mike Kehoe, who weighed in on the choice Missourians made on election day.



Well were going to have to work with our legislators to find out what are any other options to protect innocent life, youre right once its in the constitution its not an option, so well have to look to what all the avenues are available, Kehoe said.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Litigation surrounding abortion rights in Missouri underway Ten states had abortion on the ballot this year. Missouri and six others approved expanding access.

Will these Missouri GOP leaders swear to defend abortion rights? We asked. With abortion rights now voted into Missouri's constitution, we asked long-time abortion opponents whether they will ultimately swear the oath of office.

Developing . . .
One of the key national trends to Donald Trump winning a second term as president was chipping away at voter gains made by President Joe Biden in the seven swing states during the 2020 election.

Forsyth and Guilford counties, where urban Democrats typically outvote suburban Republicans, showed slight ballot increases for Trump.

However, Vice President Kamala Harris was unable to build upon Bidens performance in both counties.

That was an eye-opening development considering both counties are Democratic strongholds, along with Durham, Mecklenburg and Wake counties, that are all critical to any Democratic statewide success.

The voting percentages for Trump in both counties were remarkably similar even though he ran against three Democratic opponents.

For Forsyth, Trump received 42.8% vs. Kamala Harris, 42.3% vs. Biden and 42.6% vs. Hillary Clinton.

For Guilford, Trump received 38.3% vs. Harris. 37.7% vs. Biden and 38.1% vs. Clinton.

Yet, that meant Trump received 1,289 more votes in Forsyth and 1,316 more in Guilford.

Even though she won comfortably with 55.6% in Forsyth and just under 60% in Guilford, Harris drew 995 fewer votes than Biden in Forsyth and 3,052 fewer than Biden in Guilford.

Political scientists and analyst said that given how pivotal urban counties are to Democrat statewide candidates, Harris needed to significantly expand her vote totals from Bidens to offset Trumps strength in rural and most suburban counties.

In terms of Harris performance overall in North Carolina, she appears to have suffered some of the same problems that affected her nationally, said John Quinterno, principal with South by North Strategies Ltd., a Chapel Hill research company specializing in economic and social policy.

While she performed well in many of the places she needed to, she didnt perform well enough relative to Joe Biden in 2020, particularly combined with lower voter turnout.

Harris, at 22, won three fewer counties than Biden and two fewer than Clinton.

By comparison: in Durham County, Harris had 2,001 fewer votes than Biden, while Trump gained 48; in Mecklenburg County, Harris had 3,152 fewer votes than Biden, while Trump gained 7,986; in Wake County, Harris had 4,513 more votes than Biden, while Trump gained 8,120.

That pattern of smaller margins for Harris in counties she needed to win, and larger margins for Trump in his areas of strengths, enabled to win North Carolina by a greater margin than he did in 2020, Quinterno said.

New congressional realities

Forsyth and Guilford voters, particularly Democrats, experienced their first doses of reality for the four gerrymandered congressional districts that will be in effect  barring a successful court challenge  through at least the 2030 election.

Before the Republican super-majority gained in 2023 court approval of the 2024 congressional map, all of Guilford and most of Winston-Salem were represented by Democratic Rep. Kathy Manning in the 6th District.

Most of the suburban parts of Forsyth were represented by Rep. Patrick McHenry in the 10th District.

The 2024 map split the counties into four House districts: Forsyth still in the 6th and 10th; and Guilford sharing the 6th, as well as in the 5th and 9th.

With the compactness of the 6th now a memory, it also diminished Forsyth and Guilford Democratic voters ability to have an influential say with their representatives.

Manning said in explaining her decision not to run for re-election that these maps dont acknowledge that the Triad is a region with shared interests, concerns and needs.

The following are the compositions of the four districts:

* 5th: The northwest section and much of urban Greensboro is in the district with Republican incumbent Virginia Foxx that also gained all of Rockingham and Stokes counties in lieu of the Forsyth suburban areas. The district stretches to the Tennessee and Virginia borders.

* 6th: Kernersville, Walkertown and the southern Forsyth border with Davidson and Davie are in the 6th, along with southwest Guilford and High Point, all of Davidson, Davie and Rowan counties and about 20% of Cabarrus.

* 9th: The rest of Guilford, in the shape of a backward C or as Sen. Jay Chaudhuri, D-Wake, described as a lobster claw, is in the 9th that includes most of the northern, east Greensboro and the vast majority of the southern Guilford portions.

Also in the district is all of solidly Republican Alamance, Hoke, Moore and Randolph counties and about 55% of a purple Chatham County and about 20% of rural northwest Cumberland County.

* 10th: Winston-Salem and western Forsyth is in the 10th District, along with solidly Republican counties Catawba, Iredell, Lincoln and Yadkin.

Chaudhuri said the map splitting municipalities in urban cities, such as Greensboro and Winston-Salem, weakens those voters voices, particularly with Black voters.

The congressional maps unnecessarily pack the states most urban and most diverse communities, diminishing their voting power even though these are the very same areas where populations have grown, Chaudhuri said.

The district results

As expected, the 6th was won easily by Republican Addison McDowell, who faced Kevin Hayes of the Constitution Party.

In Forsyth, McDowell won by a 68% to 32% margin, along with an overall 69.2%-30.8% margin of victory.

In the 5th, Democrat Chuck Hubbard emerged out of Guilford with a 65.4% to 34.6% margin over Foxx. The 87,619 votes he received represented 54.3% of the 161,302 votes he received in total.

However, Foxx won handily overall by a 59.5% to 40.5% margin even with losing Watauga County by a 54.3% to 45.7% margin.

Foxxs margins of victory in the remaining GOP-leaning counties in the 5th were: Alexander 80.2%-19.8%; Alleghany 76.4-21.6% Ashe 71.8%-28.2%; Caldwell 77%-23%; Rockingham 68.5%-31.5; Stokes 79.8%-20.2%; Surry 77.2%-22.3%; and Wilkes 78.7%-21.3%;

In the 9th, GOP Rep. Richard Hudson defeated Democrat Nigel Bristow by a 56.4%-37.9% margin.

Of the six counties in the district, only Cumberland went for Bristow. Guilford voters backed Hudson by a 54.7% to 41.5% margin.

In the 10th, Republican Pat Harrigan defeated Democrat Ralph Scott by a 57.7% to 38% margin.

Forsyth voters went 57.8%-36.9% for Scott, the only county out of six he won. The 78,880 votes Scott gained in Forsyth were 51.7% of his overall total of 152,401.

Trump, Robinson support

One of Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinsons main supporters in the last 10 weeks of the governors race was Ken Raymond, chairman of the Forsyth Republican Party.

Robinson lost by a 54.8% to 40.2% margin to Democrat Attorney General Josh Stein in the most lopsided governors race of the 21st century.

In the controversial Sept. 19 CNN report, the cable network indicated that Robinson used the name minisoldr when he wrote that he was a Black Nazi and that he not only supported a return of slavery but that he also wanted to own slaves.

The story also said Robinson wrote that he liked to watch transgender porn. The comments were made on the porn website Nude Africa between 2008 and 2012.

Trump, who once called Robinson Martin Luther King on steroids, chose to ostracize him following the CNN report. Robinson also had endorsements withdrawn by the Republican governors of Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

I think a major contributing factor to Mark Robinsons loss is that the North Carolina GOP allowed the media and the Democrats to divide us, Raymond said.

We cannot win statewide elections if were divided, and the accusations against Mark Robinson did just that.

Raymond said that even though Robinson was a MAGA acolyte, Republicans viewed his bombastic and controversial campaign rhetoric different that from Trump.

Both were accused of scandalous and outrageous behavior, Raymond said.

But the RNC and Republicans around the country supported and rallied around Donald Trump. Not all North Carolina Republicans rallied around Mark Robinson.

Meanwhile, Forsyth Democratic chairwoman Jenny Marshall credits Steins victory to showing the people of North Carolina honor, dignity and public service are honorable attributes in our elected leaders.

Where I was on the other hand, Mark Robinson came across self-centered and self important.

I dont think Robinsons race impacted the other Council of State races. They had issues all of their own.

The separation over the final 10 weeks of Robinson from the Trump and fellow Council of State candidates showcased that voters have viewed his troubles as exclusively of his own making, as opposed to being a referendum on the rest of the Republican ticket, said Zagros Madjd-Sadjadi, an economics professor at Winston-Salem State University.

Swing state sweep

Jason Husser, director of the Elon University Poll and a university professor, cautioned about a week before Election Day that just because most polls show the swing states as tight doesnt mean there couldnt be an Electoral College victory similar to Bidens 306 to 232 margin in 2020.

Trump will have a 312-226 victory over Harris once he is declared the winner in Arizona.

It would not be surprising to see most of the swing states break in the same direction, Husser said on Oct. 27.

Though the margin of victory could be 2% or less in each state, the final Electoral College results not be close at all. Either Trump or Harris could win the lions share of those undecided voters and end up with a 3% to 5% win.

With Arizona (Trump up 5.9%) still undeclared as of Friday morning, Trump won the other swing states of Georgia (5.3 percentage point win), Michigan (1.5%), Nevada (3.5%); North Carolina (3.4%), Pennsylvania (2%) and Wisconsin (0.8%).

On Friday, Husser said the data I was seeing made me expect Trump to win at least five of the seven swing states, enough for Trump to win the White House.

In terms of polling, Husser said the difficulty in reaching Republican-leaning voters, particularly men, would lead polls to underestimate Trump by 1% to 3%.

That level of error is acceptable in terms of polling accuracy.

But a 2% extra break for either side had high potential to make a very close election seem not close at all when counting Electoral College votes.

Husser said Republicans did very well in early voting in North Carolina relative to Democrats.

Trumps polling numbers in the swing states were better than they had been in 2016 or 2020. He had a slight lead in the polling averages in the majority of the swing states.

Other factors shifting the election in Trumps direction was most voters thought the country was on the wrong track, Husser said.

The economy continued to be the top issue on a large portion of voters minds, and Trump was leading Harris on economy voters.

Husser said early voting also indicated that voter turnout would not be depressed in the Republican-leading Hurricane Helene disaster region.
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Kashmir issue hogs limelight in Tamil film Amaran

The latest Tamil film 'Amaran', based on the life of Major Mukund Varadharajan, has sparked controversy for allegedly containing defamatory remarks about Kashmiri people

Saturday November 9, 2024 11:09 PM , Syed Ali Mujtaba

Chennai: The latest Tamil film 'Amaran', based on the life of Major Mukund Varadharajan, has sparked controversy for allegedly containing defamatory remarks about Kashmiri people and some organizations calling for respecting the will of the people of Kashmir.

The 'Amaran' movie is produced by former Tamil superstar Kamal Haasans production house Raaj Kamal Films International.

It stars current heartthrob Sivakarthikeyan and was released on the occasion of the Diwali festival on October 31.

Surprisingly, Kamal Haasan in public life has advocated for the will of the people of Kashmir.

The organization May 17 Movement champions the cause of the Right to Self Determination worldwide and has joined the fight to oppose the film Amaran.

Thirumurugan Gandhi, coordinator, of the May 17 Movement, and K.M. Shariff, President of Tamilaga Makkal Jananayaga Katchi and others, addressed the media at the Chennai Press Club on November 8, 2024.

They condemned the negative characterization of Kashmiri people in the film, saying the film portrays Kashmiris as enemies and their struggles for their rights are portrayed as antinational in the movie.

May 17 Movement was formed by activist Thirumurugan Gandhi in May 2009 during the war in Sri Lanka when thousands of Tamils were killed. It is a Tamil nationalism movement based in Tamil Nadu, that works for Worldwide Tamil people and their right to self-determination.

Jumping into the fray of the Amaran controversy is MLA, M. Jawahirullah, the leader of Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) who said the movie spreads negativity and distorts history, ignoring the hardships faced by thousands of Kashmiri people who continue to suffer.

He claimed that the film unjustly labels those who fought for democratic land rights as "terrorists". He stated that Tamil Nadus fight for state rights mirrors the struggles of Kashmiris for their land rights.

According to Jawahirullah, Amaran echoes the themes seen in films like  The Kashmir Files ' and  The Kerala Story , embedding a similar ideology under the guise of art.

Jawahirullah criticized Kamal Haasans production company for backing such films. He stated that Kamal Haasan had previously faced criticism for films like, Unnai Pol Oruvan and Vishwaroopam", etc, which also allegedly cast the Muslim community in a negative light.

He also criticized the BJPs praise for the film, linking it to the partys decision to revoke Article 370 in Kashmir, which he labeled as an injustice. He was reacting to BJP leader Vanathi Srinivasans praise for the film, suggesting it should be screened in schools.

Jawahirullah concluded by urging the Tamil film industry not to distort history or incite hatred, as seen in films like Thuppakki and Vishwaroopam, and called for Tamil Nadus political leaders to stand united against such narratives.

A few Muslim associations in Tamil Nadu have also stood up in protest against the movie 'Amaran'. They demanded a ban on the screening of the film in Tamil Nadu.

The members of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) staged a protest outside the office of the actor and producer Kamal Haasans Raaj Kamal Films International. They have also burned an effigy of the Kamala Haasan.

The protesters said the Tamil Nadu government should not support the film and demanded an immediate ban. According to A.K. Kareem, the State Secretary, of SDPI, the film 'Amaran' is thrusting anti-minority sentiments among the people and was made to sow the seeds of hatred against Muslims.

The Greater Chennai City Police has stepped up security for theatres that are screening the film Amaran.

A senior officer said police personnel have been deployed to pre-empt any untoward incident following calls from the outfits to ban the film and protests.

"Our personnel are guarding outside premises to ensure law and order are maintained at theaters showing the film," the officer said.

[The writer, Syed Ali Mujtaba, is a Journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com.]

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Microsoft asks Windows 10 users to get ready before support ends

Tech giant Microsoft has advised Windows 10 users to prepare moving and upgrading to Windows 11 before it ends support to the operating system

Saturday November 9, 2024 12:06 PM , Zohair M Safwan, ummid.com

Malegaon: Tech giant Microsoft has advised Windows 10 users to prepare moving and upgrading to Windows 11 before it ends support to the operating system.

Microsoft had earlier announced that it will end support to Windows 11 on October 14, 2025  around one year from now.

Windows 10 will reach end of support on October 14, 2025. The current version, 22H2, will be the final version of Windows 10, and all editions will remain in support with monthly security update releases through that date, Microsoft said in a statement.

Microsoft started supporting Windows 10 Home and Pro on July 29, 2015 and the retirement period is 10 years, the tech giant had said in 2021 ahead on Windows 11 launch.

Why Windows 11?

The tech giant has however asked subscribers to be prepared beforehand and not wait for the deadline.

As we approach the end of support for Windows 10 on Oct. 14, 2025, we want to ensure you are well-prepared for the transition to Windows 11, Microsoft said in a blog post.

Microsoft is pushing Windows 11 as it claimed the new operating system launched on October 05, 2021 is more secure, more productive and higher performing than Windows 10 PCs.

Microsoft later upgraded a number of features in Windows 11 including Copilot  the companys now popular AI tool, simultaneously launching Copilot+ PCs powered by Windows 11.

"With Copilot, you can get straightforward answers, learn, grow and gain confidence. Copilot breaks down complex concepts and helps you make sense of it all. Easily accessible right from the Windows taskbar or the Copilot key on new Windows 11 PCs", Microsoft said.

"Because of this, we designed Windows 11 to be the most secure version of Windows ever  by default and design, to help you stay ahead of those risks", Microsoft said.

Windows 11 advanced security features include hardware-based protection through TPM 2.0, enhanced authentication methods and virtualization-based security fully enabled by default.

Windows 11 also includes phishing protection, offering robust defense mechanisms, and provides an extra layer of security against common and persistent cyberattacks, like attempts to compromise login credentials or install malware.

Migration Process

Starting Oct. 14, 2025, Windows 10 will no longer receive security updates. As security threats evolve and adapt, so must our operating systems and hardware.

And, to make transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 easier, Microsoft has released step by step guide and migration process.

"Weve created a straightforward and secure migration process to Windows 11, beginning with checking whether your current Windows 10 PC can upgrade to Windows 11 or if a new, more secure PC is necessary", Microsoft said.

Microsoft further said Windows 10 PCs will receive new in-product notifications to educate you about Windows 10 End of Support coming in October 2025.

"You will be able to learn more about options available and actions you can take to prepare for the move to Windows 11", the tech gian said.

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Inclusivity in education has now made its way to several colleges across the US. This means providing important focus to neurodivergent individuals, those with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other unique challenges that make college more difficult.

To facilitate this, US colleges have started to implement programs to create an inclusive and supportive environment that warmly celebrates their differences in particular.

Inclusive Education for Neurodivergent Students Made Possible by US Colleges

According to the Hechinger Report, colleges adopting programs for neurodivergent students also face higher awareness of brain differences that both administrators and educators can now see them without the lens of incapacity, but rather, through being unique in strengths and potential.

Some universities do not just accommodate their environment, they also provide full-ride scholarships to qualified students, recognizing the value they bring to the academic community.

To embrace inclusive education, here's how colleges help students with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other differences.

University of San Diego: Center for Embodied Equity and Neurodiversity

Hechinger Report shared that there is now a new Center for Embodied Equity and Neurodiversity at the University of San Diego. It provides training for teachers, policy development, and direct support for said students. This way, they are prepared for both their college and career years. Emphasizing 'embodied equity,' it includes all students who come from different gender, race, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

University of California, Berkeley: Neurodivergent Task Force

In Berkeley, there's now a task force that addresses the needs of these students. This time, it focuses on improving access to medical care, together with accommodations for their condition and adjustments to their curriculum. This effort provides an adaptable environment that makes college life easier for them.

San Diego State University: Specialized Coursework

With different brain functions come different interests in careers, hence, where San Diego State University will come in. Using specialized coursework, the university will cover topics that will equip neurodivergent students with essential skills so they can easily navigate not just college, but also their preferred careers in the future.

Beacon College, Florida: Built-in Environment for Neurodivergent Students

To make them feel included with non-neurodivergent students, Beacon College provides a fully neurodivergent-focused education environment with accommodations built into the academic structure. They can either break larger projects into manageable parts or offer extended deadlines. At the same time, they offer regular guidance to help them stay on top of their studies.
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PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Nov, 2024) Like other parts of the province, the 147th birthday anniversary of national poet Dr Muhammad Iqbal was celebrated with great national enthusiasm on Saturday.

It was a public holiday in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where glowing tributes were paid to Poet of the East for awakening the Muslims of Subcontinent for a separate homeland through his universal poetry and great literary works. The day dawned with special prayers in mosques for progress and prosperity of Pakistan and eternal peace of all martyres of Pakistan.

Walks and seminars organized by political and literary organizations in Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Swat, Charsadda, Abbottabad, Khyber, DI Khan, Dir and Kohat.

Declamations contest were also held at Govt and private schools and colleges in all districts where speakers highlighted Dr Iqbal great services for Muslims of Subcontinent and declared his philosophy of Selfhood highly praised worthy.

A debate completion was organized at Govt College Pabbi Nowshera where the speakers said that Allama Muhammad Iqbal's historic Allabad address of 1930 had set a clear direction for Muslims to achieve a separate homeland in subcontinent.

They said Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal had created hope, patriotism and spirit in Muslims of Subcontinent after delivering his historic address at Allahad in 1930 that greatly helped in creation of Pakistan.

They said that Dr Muhammad Iqbal was the founder of two nations theory that was proved the foundation of Pakistan.

Dr. Iqbal's vision for Pakistan has infused a revolutionary spirit in the lives of Muslims, advocating for their own homeland and his words serve as a unique guide for those in quest of their own journey. As result of Allahabad historic address in 1930, he said that Pakistan Resolution was passed in Lahore on March 23, 1940 that led to creation of Pakistan on August 14, 1947 on world map.

Known as Poet of East, Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal was born at Sialkot in Punjab province on November 9, 1877 and was laid to rest at Lahore.

Experts said Dr Iqbals ideology and principles of life are the best source of inspiration for people in all sectors of life and there is a time to strictly adhere to his lesson of Khudi (selfhood) to achieve new heights of progress and prosperity.

The print medua published special articles, columns and features while tv channels aired special documentaries highlighting his meritorious political, poetic and literary services of the great poet.
(@FahadShabbir)

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Nov, 2024) Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has called upon the nation to follow the teachings of philosopher-poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal (RA) by actively incorporating his vision into Pakistans development agenda.

Speaking at an Iqbal Day seminar titled The Journey of National Development: In the Light of Iqbals Vision, organised by the Punjab Universitys Department of urdu Language and Literature here on Saturday, Ahsan stressed that observing Iqbal Day with holidays alone is not sufficient. Instead, he urged educational institutions to conduct regular discussions on Iqbals ideology to inspire progress and strengthen Pakistan's independence.

Ahsan Iqbal highlighted the current challenges facing the Muslim world and questioned why two billion Muslims worldwide appear less influential than smaller nations. He attributed this disparity to a lack of advancement in science and technology, stressing that Iqbals vision champions education and intellectual pursuit as cornerstones of societal progress.

Recalling his studies at a prominent U.S. university, Ahsan noted that Americas status as a 'superpower' stems from its dedication to knowledge and innovation, with research facilities open 24/7. Calling upon the authorities concerned to adopt a similar approach, investing in education and research to build a robust intellectual foundation.

Reflecting on Iqbals teachings, he stressed the concept of 'Khudi' (self-belief) and a sense of purpose as fundamental principles for Pakistans youth, noting that "self-belief is our starting point" for progress. He challenged the youth to think beyond basic survival and to aspire toward national development goals.

The minister also warned of a "civilisational crisis" facing the Muslim world, calling for character-building, integrity, and unity to meet these challenges head-on.

He stressed that Pakistans journey to economic empowerment is essential for achieving a prominent international status. Today, economy is the Primary source of a nations strength. A strong economy means a strong nation, he remarked, underlining the need for unity to strengthen Pakistan against internal and external adversities.

Pointing out societal divisions, the minister urged Pakistanis to rise above hatred and differences, referencing his own experience as a victim of violence fueled by societal discord. He emphasised that Pakistanis should view one another as equal members of a single national family, unified by shared goals and respect for diversity.

Reflecting on missed economic opportunities, Ahsan Iqbal expressed regret over the setbacks to CPEC investments in recent years, urging a renewed focus on Pakistans economic development. He also announced plans to collaborate with the Iqbal academy and the Department of Iqbaliyat to create a roadmap for spreading Iqbals philosophy in educational institutions across the country and internationally, establishing Iqbal centres to promote intellectual and cultural heritage.

Concluding his speech, the federal minister urged Pakistanis to unite in honoring Iqbals vision as a catalyst for development, reminding the nation that achieving greatness is possible through commitment to Iqbals ideals of unity, resilience, and progress.
(@Abdulla99267510)

Nation pay homage to Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal on his 147th birthday anniversary

LAHORE: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-Nov 9th, 2024) The 147th birth anniversary of national poet, Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal is being observed with national fervour on Saturday (today).

The Philosopher poet known as Poet of the East, Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal was born in Sialkot on November 9, 1877.

He awakened the Muslims of the Subcontinent through his universal poetry and political acumen by presenting idea of the creation of Pakistan through his historic address at Allahabad in 1930.

Allama Iqbal's address gave a clear direction and separate identity to Muslims of the Sub-Continent to achieve Pakistan.

It is public holiday on Saturday (today).

Acting President Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif paid heartfelt tribute to national poet Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal on his 147th birth anniversary.

In his message, Acting President Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani said Allama Iqbal's work united the Muslims of the Subcontinent and his thoughts and speeches motivated them to wage a struggle to achieve a separate country for them.

He said the message of Dr Allama Iqbal emphasized Islamic values, advocating for spiritual and cultural revival, which has shaped Pakistan's identity while his vision continues to resonate with youth, guiding and educating them to uphold Pakistan's values and strive for progress.

In his message, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said Iqbal's philosophy ignited the dream of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent, leading to the creation of Pakistan.

He said the teachings of Allama Muhammad Iqbal on self-reliance, self-awareness and unity remain a source of inspiration for us to strive for progress and prosperity as a nation.

He urged the youth to rise above mediocrity and achieve greatness through unwavering faith and hard work.

The Prime Minister expressed commitment to imbibing the vision of Allama Iqbal of building a nation that reflects his ideals of justice, equality, and excellence.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Nov, 2024) A solemn and dignified ceremony of guard change was held at the Mausoleum of the Thinker of Pakistan,Hazrat Allama Muhammad Iqbal (RA),commemorating his 147th birth anniversary,here on Saturday.

During the ceremony,a smart contingent of the Pakistan Navy assumed the duties of honorary guards, while the departing contingent of Pakistan Rangers Punjab respectfully handed over their responsibilities.

Rear Admiral Azhar Mahmood,Commander Central Punjab of the Pakistan Navy,led the tribute by laying a wreath and offering prayers at the mausoleum.

He also conducted an inspection of the Pakistan Rangers and Pakistan Navy guards.

After the placement of the new guards,Chief of Naval staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf, accompanied by Navy officers, sailors and civilians,honored the National Poet with a floral wreath laid at the mausoleum.

In observance of Allama Iqbals birth anniversary, a public holiday was being observed across the country.

The poets birthplace,Iqbal Manzil has been adorned and decorated to mark the occasion.

This 147th anniversary of the "Poet of the East," Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal, was being celebrated nationwide with deep respect and reverence for his contributions to the nation's identity and heritage.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Nov, 2024) The Embassy of Iran in Pakistan on Saturday paid homage to Allama Muhammad Iqbal, lauding him as a poet, philosopher, and visionary Muslim thinker who embodied a strong affinity for Iran.

In a message, the Embassy described Iqbal as a friend of Iran who chose the Persian language to express his profound and inspiring ideas.

The Embassy highlighted Iqbals role as a cultural bridge between Iran and Pakistan, noting that he remains a symbol of the deep, historic relationship shared by the two nations. Iqbals thoughts on Islamic awakening, unity, self-realization, freedom, and justice continue to resonate with Muslims worldwide, even decades after his passing, the statement read.

In celebration of Iqbals birthday, the Iranian Embassy extended its congratulations to the people and government of Pakistan, as well as admirers of Iqbals philosophy.
(@FahadShabbir)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Nov, 2024) Pakistan National Museum Director and Focal Person, Anwaar ul Haq Saturday said that this year's Lok Mela has brought together over 500 skilled artisans from every corner of Pakistan, where talented individuals are mesmerizing visitors with their exceptional craftsmanship, preserving the country's traditional arts and crafts.

While sharing exciting details about Lok Mela , the Director in an exclusive interview with Radio Pakistan said that annual Mela has taken on a global dimension, with several diplomatic missions participating in the International Culture Pavilion.

The food and provincial cultural dances at Lok Mela 2024 are truly captivating the attention of citizens and visitors alike, he added.

The rich flavors and aromas of traditional Pakistani cuisine, including popular dishes from various regions are a testament to the country's diverse cultural heritage, he mentioned.

This unique platform showcases the diverse cultural heritage of various nations, fostering cross-cultural understanding and exchange, he added.

He further said that many diplomatic missions, including those from Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Turkiye and Indonesia are also presenting their cultures and arts through the International Culture Pavili on, which is part of Lok Mela.

Through stunning displays of art, music and craftsmanship, the International Culture Pavilion celebrates the unity in diversity that defines our global community, he added.

This cultural extravaganza promises to be an unforgettable experience for visitors from Pakistan and beyond, he expressed confident.

He recognized the media's vital role in fostering a positive national image, promoting cultural awareness and preserving traditional heritage.
(@FahadShabbir)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Nov, 2024) Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday paid tribute to visionary poet and philosopher Allama Dr. Muhammad Iqbal, on his birth anniversary and called for commitment to imbibing his vision and building a nation.

On his X handle, the prime minister said His (Dr Iqbal) thoughts and writings have deeply influenced the course of our nation and remain a beacon of inspiration, urging us to work tirelessly for the progress and strength of Pakistan.

Allama Iqbals poetry was not just a reflection of his time but a timeless call for action and introspection.

He urged the youth to rise above mediocrity and achieve greatness through unwavering faith and hard work, he added.

He further posted, As we celebrate this day, let us commit ourselves to imbibing his vision and building a nation that reflects his ideals of justice, equality, and excellence.

The prime minister also posted couplets of Allama Iqbal highlighting the message of constant struggle in life to overcome trials and tribulations of life.
(@FahadShabbir)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Nov, 2024) Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh on Saturday strongly condemns the blast at Quetta railway station in which several people lost precious lives.

In a condemnation statement, the minister expressed the grief and sorrow with the bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss.

He emphasized that the federal and Balochistan governments was jointly providing all possible assistance to the injured.

He said that this tragic incident on the occasion of Iqbal Day had further clarified the agenda of the enemies of the country while the morale of the law enforcement agencies was high.

Qaiser Sheikh said that the valiant armed forces were eliminating the terrorists activities to ensure peace and maintain law & order situation in the country.
(@FahadShabbir)

London, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Nov, 2024) Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, took a significant step in her recovery from cancer on Saturday as she attended her first major royal occasion since ending chemotherapy.

Kate, as she is widely known, smiled and clapped alongside her husband Prince William at the Festival of Remembrance commemorative concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

The musical event is one of the most important dates in the royal Calendar, along with Sunday's more solemn ceremony at the Cenotaph war memorial, both of which honour Britain's war dead.

Catherine and William were joined in the royal box by head of state King Charles III, who is still undergoing treatment for his own cancer diagnosis.

Buckingham Palace in February announced that Charles, 75, had been diagnosed with an undisclosed cancer and would withdraw from public life to undergo treatment.

The following month Kate, 42, revealed that she too had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy.

Both have since made limited returns to public duties, with Charles recently pausing his treatment while on tour in Australia and Samoa.

Catherine said in September that she had completed her chemotherapy and was looking forward to undertaking more engagements "when I can".

Last month, she and heir to the throne William visited Southport in northwest England to meet people affected by a knife attack in July that killed three young girls.

Catherine is among senior royals also due at Sunday's wreath-laying at the Cenotaph near parliament alongside political leaders, current and former members of the armed forces, including war veterans.

It will be the first time she has carried out two consecutive days of public official engagements since the start of the year.

William said this week that the past year had been "brutal" and probably the "hardest" of his life because of the twin diagnoses.

"Honestly, it's been dreadful," he told reporters on Thursday at the end of a four-day visit to South Africa for his Earthshot prize initiative.

"So, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult."

Queen Camilla, Charles's wife, missed Saturday's concert, and was to also skip the Sunday service as she continues to recover from a chest infection, the palace said.

She "hopes to return to public duties early next week," a palace spokesperson said.

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Kyiv, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Nov, 2024) EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Kyiv Saturday pledged "unwavering" support for Ukraine, on the first visit by a top Brussels official after Donald Trump's poll win.

The volatile Republican's victory in the United States election has set nerves jangling in Ukraine and Europe that Trump could end Washington's support for Kyiv's fight against Russia's invasion.

"The clear purpose of this visit is to express European Union support to Ukraine -- this support remains unwavering," Borrell, who is set to leave office next month, told journalists.

"This support is absolutely needed for you to continue defending yourself against Russia aggression."

On the campaign trail, Trump cast doubt on maintaining the vast US military and financial aid to Ukraine and said he could cut a quick deal to end the war.

"Nobody knows exactly what the new administration is going to do," Borrell said, pointing out that incumbent Joe Biden still has two months in power to make decisions.

"We have to do more and faster, more military support, more training capacities, more money, faster supplies, and also the permission to strike the enemy on its military targets on its territory," Borrell said.

He added that Russia's President Vladimir Putin "doesn't want to negotiate and will not negotiate unless he is forced to do it".

Europe together has spent around $125 billion on supporting Ukraine since Russia's 2022 invasion, while the United States alone has coughed up more than $90 billion, according to a tracker from the Kiel Institute.

Keeping Washington, Ukraine's single biggest donor, on board is seen by most as key for ensuring Kyiv can fight back, especially at a time of political uncertainty in major European powers Germany and France.

On the battlefield, Ukraine's fatigued troops are struggling to stave off Russia's advances as they approach three years of full-scale combat.

With countries such as Hungary, which oppose military support for Ukraine, emboldened after Trump's win, getting consensus within the EU to do more could prove difficult.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga reiterated Kyiv's insistence that it should not be forced to make concessions to Russia.

"Everyone needs to realise that appeasement of the aggressor will not work," he said.

"We need real peace, not appeasement that will bring more war."

Kyiv's top diplomat said that changes such as the US election "always represent a hope and a chance, a chance to accelerate peace."

He said contacts had been established with Trump's team after a congratulatory phone call by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and that work was underway on a potential new meeting between the two leaders.

del/jc/giv
Like many other young women living in communist East Germany, Solveig Leo thought nothing about juggling work and motherhood. The mother of two was able to preside over a large state-owned farm in the northeastern village of Banzkow because childcare was widely available.

Contrast that with Claudia Huth, a mother of five, who grew up in capitalist West Germany. Huth quit her job as a bank clerk when she was pregnant with her first child and led a life as a traditional housewife in the village of Egelsbach in Hesse, raising the kids and tending to her husband, who worked as a chemist.

Both Leo and Huth fulfilled roles that in many ways were typical for women in the vastly different political systems that governed Germany during its decades of division following the country's defeat in World War II in 1945.

As Germany celebrates the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on Nov. 9, 1989  and the country's reunification less than a year later on Oct. 3, 1990  many in Germany are reflecting on how women's lives that have diverged so starkly under communism and capitalism have become much more similar again  though some differences remain even today.

"In West Germany, women  not all, but many  had to fight for their right to have a career," said Clara Marz, the curator of an exhibition about women in divided Germany for the Federal Foundation for the Study of the Communist Dictatorship in Germany.

Women in East Germany, meanwhile, often had jobs  though that was something that "they had been ordered from above to do," she added.

Front line of Cold War

Built in 1961, the Wall stood for 28 years at the front line of the Cold War between the Americans and the Soviets. It was built by the communist regime to cut off East Germans from the supposed ideological contamination of the West and to stem the tide of people fleeing East Germany.

Today only a few stretches of the 156.4-kilometer (97.2-mile) barrier around the capitalist exclave of West Berlin remain, mostly as a tourist attraction.

"All the heavy industry was in the west, there was nothing here," Leo, who is now 81 years old, said during a recent interview looking back at her life as a woman under communism. "East Germany had to pay war reparations to the Soviet Union. Women needed to work our own way out of that misery."

By contrast, Leo said, women in the West didn't need to work because they were "spoiled by the Marshall Plan"  the United States' generous reconstruction plan that poured billions of dollars into West Germany and other European countries after the war.

In capitalist West Germany, the economy recovered so quickly after the total devastation of WWII that people soon started talking of a Wirtschaftswunder, or "economic miracle," that brought them affluence and stability less than 10 years after the war.

That economic success, however, indirectly hampered women's quest for equal rights. Most West German women stayed at home and were expected to take care of their household while their husbands worked. Religion, too, played a much bigger role than in atheist East Germany, confining women to traditional roles as caregivers of the family.

Mothers who tried to break out of these conventions and took on jobs were infamously decried as Rabenmutter, or uncaring moms who put work over family.

Not all West German women perceived their traditional roles as restrictive.

"I always had this idea to be with my children, because I loved being with them," said Huth, now 69. "It never really occurred to me to go to work."

A new generation

More than three decades after Germany's unification, a new generation of women is barely aware of the different lives their mothers and grandmothers led depending on which part of the country they lived in. For most, combining work and motherhood also has become the normal way of life.

Hannah Fiedler, an 18-year-old high school graduate from Berlin, said the fact that her family lived in East Germany during the decades of the country's division has no impact on her life today.

"East or West  it's not even a topic in our family anymore," she said, as she sat on a bench near a thin, cobble-stoned path in the capital's Mitte neighborhood, which marks the former course of the Berlin Wall in the then-divided city.

She also said that growing up, she had not experienced any disadvantages because she's female.

"I'm white and privileged  for good or worse  I don't expect any problems when I enter the working world in the future," she said.

Some small differences between the formerly divided parts of Germany linger. In the former East, 74% of women are working, compared to 71.5% in the West, according to a 2023 study by the Hans-Bockler-Stiftung foundation.

Childcare is also still more available in the former East than in the West.

In 2018, 57% of children under the age of 3 were looked after in a childcare facility in the eastern state of Saxony. That compares with 27% in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia and 44% in Hamburg and Bremen, according to Germany's Federal Statistical Office.

Germany as a whole trails behind some other European countries when it comes to gender equality.

Only 31.4% lawmakers in Germany's national parliament are female, compared to 41% in Belgium's parliament, 43.6% in Denmark, 45% in Norway and 45.6% in Sweden.

Nonetheless, Leo, the 81-year-old farmer from former East Germany, is optimistic that eventually women all over the country will have the same opportunities.

"I can't imagine that there are any women who don't like to be independent," she said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Germany of defending a "terrorist" after the death in Iran of Jamshid Sharmahd, a dual national sentenced to execution, which triggered condemnation from Berlin.

Iran on October 28 announced the execution of Sharmahd, 69, but eight days later the judiciary spokesperson said Sharmahd had died before the "imminent" execution could be carried out, implying natural causes.

After the initial execution announcement, Berlin recalled its ambassador to Iran and closed three Iranian consulates in Germany. That in turn triggered what Iran called a "strong protest" to the German charge d'affaires, who was summoned.

"I regret that this is straining German-Iranian relations, and I wish I could have prevented it," Araghchi said in an interview published Friday by the German weekly Der Spiegel.

"But to do that, the German government would have had to cooperate and communicate that this is a terrorist, instead of defending someone who has trampled all humanitarian standards underfoot," he said, according to Spiegel's English edition published online.

Earlier this week, Germany's Foreign Ministry, reacting to the official's comment about Sharmahds passing, said, His death was confirmed to us by the Iranian side.

Jamshid Sharmahd was abducted by Iran and held for years without a fair trial, in inhumane conditions and without the necessary medical care," the ministry said. Iran is responsible for his death."

Germany added it was "lobbying the Iranian government to hand over his body to his family.

Iran, which does not recognize dual citizenship, announced Sharmahd's arrest after a "complex operation," without specifying when, where or how he was detained.

His family said he was seized by Iranian authorities in 2020 while traveling through the United Arab Emirates.

Iran sentenced Sharmahd to death for his involvement in an April 2008 bombing of a mosque in Shiraz, in the south of the country, which killed 14 people and wounded about 300.

Sharmahd was also accused of leading the Tondar group, which aims to topple the Islamic Republic. Iran classes it as a terrorist organization.

Jamshid Sharmahd's daughter has told AFP that she and her family "do not trust anything" Iran says about the circumstances of her father's death.

"If there is a corpse, he needs to be returned and brought back to us as soon as possible," Gazelle Sharmahd said.

Araghchi told Der Spiegel that, "If his family officially submits a request, we see no obstacles" to returning Jamshid Sharmahd's body.

"The question of whether he was executed or died of natural causes is beside the point," he said.

During the interview, Araghchi also censured what he called the Western "double standards" that he said failed to condemn Israel for its actions in the Gaza Strip, where its war with Hamas has led to tens of thousands of deaths.

"I am not calling Hamas, Hezbollah and others, 'proxies.' I call them freedom movements. Supporting them brings no benefits to Iran," which arms and finances Lebanon's Hezbollah and backs Hamas, Araghchi told the German publication.
Burkina Faso's military regime wants to reinstate the death penalty after the West African country abolished it in 2018, a government source told AFP on Saturday.

The latest execution in Burkina Faso was in 1988, according to Amnesty International.

Reintroducing capital punishment to the penal code "is being considered. It's up to the government to discuss it, then make the proposal to the Transitional Legislative Assembly (ALT) for adoption," the source said, adding that the date had not been chosen.

Justice Minister Rodrigue Bayala said Friday  after parliament passed a bill introducing community service  that "the issue of death penalty, which is being discussed, will be implemented in the draft criminal code."

Bayala also said there could be further amendments to the criminal code, "to follow the vision and the guidelines given by the head of state, Captain Ibrahim Traore," who seized power in a September 2022 coup.

The Burkinabe government in July passed a bill that included plans to ban homosexuality.

Amnesty International has reported a surge in the use of the death penalty on the African continent, saying in a statement in October that "recorded executions more than tripled and recorded death sentences increased significantly by 66%."

On the other hand, the rights group noted that "24 countries across sub-Saharan Africa have abolished the death penalty for all crimes while two additional countries have abolished it for ordinary crimes only."

"Kenya and Zimbabwe currently have bills tabled to abolish the death penalty for all crimes, while Gambia ... has commenced a constitutional amendment process that will ... effectively abolish the death penalty," it said.
Huldah Momanyi Hiltsley made history November 5 by becoming the first Kenyan-born immigrant elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives. She describes her victory as a testament to resilience, determination and the realization of the American dream.

Standing in the State Capitol for the first time on the morning of her orientation, Hiltsley told VOA she was overwhelmed with emotions and eager to start her journey as an elected official.

I am super excited, Hiltsley said. Today is orientation day for new legislators, and to be standing in this Capitol as an African immigrant woman is a tremendous honor. Im just overexcited right now.

She said this milestone did not come easily. Her path to the Minnesota State Capitol was marked by struggles, including a fight against an immigration system that nearly led to her familys deportation. She credits much of her success to the community support and the intervention of the late U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone, whose advocacy she said ultimately secured her familys green cards and, later, citizenship.

Getting to this moment honestly is just a testament to the struggles that my family has gone through to be in this country, she said.

There has been a media frenzy surrounding Hiltsleys victory and it has captured the attention of Kenyan media, with celebrations taking place in her hometown, Nyamemiso village, which is eight hours from Nairobi, Kenya's capital. Despite the attention, Hiltsley said she remains humble.

Im that little girl from that little village somewhere in the middle of Kenya, and now Im in the spotlight of this media frenzy. And so, Im still trying to really appreciate the magnitude of the moment, she said.

Hiltsley said she has a desire to inspire others, particularly young girls in Kenya and the United States.

"It is still surreal, she said, adding that if I can make it to this point, I can be a role model to somebody to remind them that it is possible that our wildest dreams are possible. And that would be something that I would look back and say, wow, Ive made a difference in somebodys life.

Her legislative priorities

Looking ahead, Hiltsley said she is committed to championing issues that matter to her constituents in Minnesotas Legislative District 38A. Her priorities include community-centered public safety policies, affordable housing options, workers rights and support for small businesses  many of which are run by African immigrants.

The resources are out here, she said, promising to empower her community.

It is my job to go back to my community and tell them, hey, there are resources here. This is how this system works. Lets work together to mobilize and make sure that we are also taking a piece of the pie, she said.

As the first Kenyan American woman in Minnesota's Legislature, Hiltsley said she recognizes the weight and responsibility of her position.

She described it as an honor that I dont take lightly.

I dont want to be the last, she, adding that she hopes "this moment right here is a testimony that you can come to this country, work hard, take care of business, know your craft, stick to it, be consistent and get to where you want to.

Her message to those who have yet to succeed in their political campaigns is clear: Perseverance is key.

Be consistent. Keep going. Theres enough space in this Legislature for more people of color, especially immigrants, because thats the voice that is missing, Hiltsley said.

Changing political scene

Hiltsley shared her thoughts on the changing political landscape in Washington, particularly with the coming administration under President-elect Donald Trump. While acknowledging the challenges, she said she will stay focused on serving her constituents in Minnesota, regardless of politics.

We are here to serve the people, and it doesnt matter if you are Democrat or Republican, she said. We are here as legislators to serve the people of Minnesota.

Hiltsley also shared her heartfelt message to fellow Kenyans who have been celebrating her historic achievement.

This is a historical moment, and Im honored to be a Kenyan American, she said. Lets continue celebrating this victory, but after that, we have work to do.

She said her eyes are set on not just her role in Minnesota, but also finding ways to collaborate with Kenyas leaders to address issues facing the country, including corruption and a lack of strong leadership.

Kenya has unlimited potential, she said. Its up to our leaders to do right by the people.

Hiltsley will officially take her seat in the Minnesota State House of Representatives and be sworn in on January 7. Representatives are elected to serve two-year terms.

This story originated in VOAs Swahili Service. Salem Solomon contributed to the report from Washington.
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, 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 more than 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.

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.

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 and standing up to 20 meters 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.

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.

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."
A constitutional court in Bolivia has barred former President Evo Morales from running again for office, ushering in a new phase in the country's long-running political crisis.

Morales, who led Bolivia from 2006 to 2019, had been vying for the candidacy of his MAS party, alongside his former mentee-turned-rival, President Luis Arce.

But, in a decision last week that was reported on Friday, Bolivia's constitutional court ruled that presidents were limited to serving two terms, whether consecutive or nonconsecutive.

After his first two terms, a court ruling allowed Morales to serve a third term because his first preceded a constitutional rewrite. He ran for a fourth term in the 2019 elections but fled the country after the results were disputed and unrest ensued. Arce was elected in 2020.

"Without a doubt, this ushers in a new era of politics in Bolivia," opposition lawmaker Marcelo Pedrazas told journalists Friday. "In 2025, we'll have an election without Evo Morales on the ballot."

Morales' lawyer, Orlando Ceballos, called the court's ruling politically motivated.

"What are they trying to do? To get rid of MAS, to disqualify Evo, that's the point," Ceballos said in a radio interview, adding that they would take up the matter with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

Morales and Arce have increasingly butted heads in past weeks, with Morales supporters using roadblocks to halt commerce and raiding military bases.

Morales has called for peaceful talks with the government but went on a nearly weeklong hunger strike in protest of what he considers political persecution by Arce's administration.

On Friday, lawmakers loyal to Morales caused chaos in Congress, shouting and throwing flowers at the vice president ahead of Arce's planned yearly address and forcing him to deliver his speech from the presidential palace.
As dusk falls over the City of Light, a new spectacle is illuminating Saint-Sulpice church, a monument whose interiors are even larger than Notre Dame's  and arguably just as breathtaking.

The cavernous walls of the neoclassical gem on Paris' Left Bank are coming alive with 360-degree video projections, sparkling cutting-edge technology and actors, all telling the story of the church and its place in French history.

Blending centuries of intrigue, revolution and family drama, the show reimagines the Saint-Germain district during the Fronde, the 17th-century civil war, and the lead-up to the French Revolution.

"Paris Cur de Lumieres" (Paris Chancel of Lights), which runs until November 23, transforms the church's sprawling 6,000-square-meter (65,000-square-foot) interior into a digital stage through advanced video mapping.

"From a technological standpoint, it's a laser scan of the entire building that allows us to reconstruct the space in three dimensions," director Damien Fontaine explained.

"We then 'unfold' it like origami ... and put it back into 3D to be projected as a single unified image. We have over 45 projectors, each covering a part of the vaults, a section of a pillar, or a piece of the nave. It's ... a mosaic of images to form one large picture."

Projections transform stone carvings into animated storytellers, while immersive soundscapes, paired with an original score, wrap the audience in a sensory experience.

The actors brought history to life. Over 350 performers and volunteers, clad in more than 500 historical costumes, move among the audience portraying local families and rivalries, threading personal narratives into the broader history.

Many of those who volunteered themselves marveled at learning about little known aspects of French history.

Anne Dubosc, a 65-year-old amateur actress, played Anne of Austria, mother of Sun King Louis XIV.

"She was a remarkable woman, very involved in politics and religion," Dubosc said. "I hadn't realized how important she was. If Louis XIV became the man he was, it was partly thanks to this woman, this mother who was like a tigress, doing everything to protect her son and teaching him to be a great statesman."

Performing in Saint-Sulpice, she added, was extraordinary: "It's exceptional. You lose track of what's happening, of where fiction ends and history begins."

Her historic costume shaped her performance  literally.

"I have a corset that squeezes me so tightly," she said. "You realize there's a very 18th-century way of holding yourself, of carrying your shoulders and neck, which gives a natural majesty. The costume really impacts how you carry your body, and that posture influences your mind, giving character to this woman of state."

The production underscored a growing trend in Paris of using light technology to show off the city's storied church interiors. A similar illuminations display took place at Saint-Eustache church until September, featuring video projections, lighting effects and spatialized electronic soundtrack.
A suicide bomber detonated himself at a crowded railway station in Pakistan's violence-hit southwestern Balochistan province Saturday, killing at least 26 and injuring more than 60 others.

Senior police officer Mohammad Baloch told reporters the powerful blast in the provincial capital of Quetta hit the passenger waiting area, where "around 100 people" were present at the time.

At least half of those killed and many among those injured were members of the Pakistan army, the primary target of the attack, according to police and hospital officials.

Shahid Rind, the provincial government spokesperson, said that at least 10 people among the injured "are in critical condition."

An insurgent group, the Baloch Liberation Army, took responsibility for the deadly attack, claiming a member of its suicide bombers squad targeted Pakistani military personnel.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the "terrorist" bombing in Quetta and vowed to punish those behind the killings of "innocent civilians," his office said in a statement in Islamabad.

Last week, a bomb blast in the city of Mastung in the province killed at least nine people, more than half of them schoolchildren. The attack targeted a police vehicle transporting personnel to protect polio vaccinators.

Balochistan, renowned for its abundant natural resources, has experienced a dramatic surge in militant attacks, killing hundreds of people this year alone.

The Baloch Liberation Army, listed as a global terrorist organization by the United States, and several other ethnic Baloch militant groups routinely stage attacks against Pakistani security forces as well as government installations.

Insurgents claim that their violent campaign aims to seek independence for the province from Pakistan, accusing the central government of exploiting their resources.

Islamabad rejects the charges, denouncing militant groups as "enemies of the development" in Balochistan and the country at large.
Ecuadoran Vice President Veronica Abad was suspended Saturday for 150 days after being accused of unjustified abandonment of her duties. It comes during a public rift between Abad and President Daniel Noboa that could have implications for Ecuador's February elections.

Abad's suspension without pay came at midnight, her lawyer Dominique Davila told The Associated Press. Davila called the move extremely serious and claimed it may not have any legal backing.

Abad was accused by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of not following an order in September to temporarily transfer her from Israel  where she also serves as ambassador  to Turkey due to the conflict, arriving eight days after the order.

Abad had argued that she was not properly prepared for the trip to Turkey and that Ecuador's government suggested that I leave my children in Israel to go to Turkey alone.

The move comes at a time of deep tensions between Abad and Noboa who, despite running the government together, have clashed for years, establishing a sort of feud, the origins of which are unknown.

In August, Abad filed a legal complaint accusing Noboa and other officials of gender-based violence.

The suspension was the second sanction against Abad in less than a week. Abad was also fined $8,500 on Tuesday by Ecuadors Electoral Disputes Tribunal for early election campaigning in 2023, when she was a candidate for mayor of Cuenca.

The vice president has previously cited the Israel case and other incidents as government measures to pressure her to resign, while the president has called her disloyal.

Davila said the suspension was the latest attempt to push Abad out, calling it a trick to prevent the presidential succession and something they planned to appeal.

Abads fate has special importance for Noboa, who hopes to run for reelection in February 2025 and will have to request a leave of absence to carry out the campaign, according to experts.

In that case, Abad would take over the presidency. But with the recent sanctions, the pathway to her taking the reins would be blocked, according to constitutional lawyer Andre Benavides. The expert said that while the suspension lacks strong legal backing, any appeals process to reverse the 150-day suspension would take longer than the suspension period.
Northwest Normal University in northwest China's Gansu Province and France's Foundation for Cultural Heritage Science (Fondation des Sciences du Patrimoine) recently signed an agreement to strengthen technological cooperation in cultural heritage preservation, the university said on Friday.

Under the agreement, the two parties will foster exchanges and cooperation in higher education and research, with a particular focus on collaborative activities in the interdisciplinary field of cultural heritage analysis techniques.

They plan to share research outcomes and promote the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. They will join hands to establish a joint laboratory for cultural heritage preservation methods and instruments, conducting relevant research to support heritage conservation efforts in both countries.

"This agreement aims to provide advanced scientific and technological support in the field of cultural heritage conservation, including for the protection of murals and other heritage works," said Emmanuel Poirault, general director of the foundation.

"We have been actively advancing scientific exchanges and project collaborations with France in cultural heritage preservation. This agreement will further enhance Gansu's research capabilities in cave art and relic conservation," said Lu Zhenjiang, an official from the provincial science and technology department.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France.

Ma Shinian, vice president of the university, said this new agreement serves as an important step in deepening Sino-French cooperation in cultural heritage preservation.
The electric vehicle industry is closely watching to see how Tesla boss Elon Musk, who played a key role in the victory of Republican President-elect Donald Trump, will use his influence with the incoming president to steer the industry's future.

At stake are several issues including the new administration's approach to tariffs on Chinese EVs and tax credits. In anticipation of decisions favorable to Tesla, shares in the company rose 27% after the election result was announced, taking its market capitalization to $1 trillion.

During the campaign, Trump said he would increase tariffs on Chinese goods and roll back tax credits available to EV buyers in the U.S. He also vowed to reduce or eliminate many vehicle emissions standards under the Environmental Protection Agency, which support the EV industry.

Industry analysts are divided on whether high tariffs on Chinese EVs are advantageous or disadvantageous for Tesla's business. Some analysts have suggested that Musk could persuade the Trump administration to reduce the tariffs on Chinese EVs and might even temper the overall tariff regime against Chinese goods.

However, Musk is likely to support the elimination of the $7,500 tax credit given to EV buyers in the United States. The absence of tax credits would make it difficult for legacy carmakers to introduce EV versions of their cars in competition with Tesla.

"As Elon Musk played a very important role in funding Trump's campaign, he will no doubt have the ear of the U.S. president and play a role that will help shape policies that are advantageous to Tesla and his other businesses," Bill Russo, founder and CEO of Automobility Limited, a Shanghai-based strategic consulting and investment platform, told VOA.

To be sure, Musk opposed U.S. tariffs on China-made EVs last May. "Neither Tesla nor I asked for these tariffs. In fact, I was surprised when they were announced. Things that inhibit freedom of exchange or distort the market are not good," Musk said after the Biden administration enhanced tariffs on Chinese EVs.

The question is whether he will continue to oppose tariffs on Chinese EVs after Trump enters the White House. A section of analysts has predicted that Musk would continue this line of argument because China accounts for one-third of Tesla sales.

"Tesla is in China because Elon Musk needs the scale and efficient cost structure of the Chinese supply chain to make the company more competitive around the world," Russo said.

China makes over 70% of the EV batteries in the world and almost two-thirds of all EVs and related components. "Tariffs make accessing this supply chain more costly, and that does not help Tesla," he said.

Between January and May this year, Tesla sold almost as many cars in China as it did in the United States. Chinese consumers bought one-third of Tesla cars of all models totaling 513,644. In the same period, the company sold 522,444 vehicles in the U.S.

Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives argued that higher tariffs would help Tesla compete better with Chinese EVs in the U.S. market.

"Tesla has the scale and scope that is unmatched in the EV industry and this dynamic could give Musk and Tesla a clear competitive advantage in a non-EV subsidy environment, coupled by likely higher China tariffs that would continue to push away cheaper Chinese EV players (BYD, Nio etc.) from flooding the U.S. market over the coming years," Ives said in a note to clients this week.

Taking a different view, Beatrix C. Keim, director of Germany-based Centre Automotive Research, said the next president is unlikely to listen to arguments for reducing tariffs on Chinese EVs.

"There is a 100% tariff for Chinese EVs in place. I don't think that Trump will weaken this," she said. The high tariff does not affect Tesla because it does not export cars from its Shanghai plant for the U.S. market, and builds them in the U.S.

Keim said Musk will do whatever serves Tesla's business in China. "Chinese people are very likely to react emotionally if he is perceived as acting against China's interest," she said. "Chinese customers had once blocked the sales of Tesla cars, and this can happen again."

Musk said last April that he loved the Chinese people.

"I'm a big fan of China. I also have a lot of fans in China. Well, the feelings are reciprocated," Musk, who has often been described in Chinese social media as a "friend of China," said in April.

Tesla is set to introduce a new fully self-driving (FSD - Supervised) car in the coming months, though the vehicle's safety remains under review. Musk must have sufficient influence in both Washington and Beijing to obtain the regulatory approvals necessary to sell it.

"China is likely to approve FSD as it would like to show goodwill toward foreign technology," Russo said. However, Tesla's FSD may have a limited market in China where local manufacturers play a much bigger role.

Keim said Tesla's FSD might not face regulatory challenges in Europe, but it may be difficult for it to find enough customers in the face of local competition.

One of the questions that is often asked is whether China would retaliate by imposing higher tariffs on American goods, including Tesla.

"This is very unlikely, as Tesla has invested in China and is used as an example of how foreign brands are still welcome in China, and Tesla is held up as a benchmark for Chinese companies to measure against," Russo said.

"Killing competition is not viewed as healthy for the forward development of the Chinese automakers. This is in stark contrast to the way the U.S. has acted so far."
A Gaza family sat weeping Saturday over children killed by an Israeli strike as they were getting ready to play soccer. The strike came amid an intensified bombardment that Palestinian health authorities said killed 44 people over the past 24 hours.

The strike was in Mawasi, a southern coastal area where hundreds of thousands of people have sought shelter after Israel's military told them to leave other areas it was bombing in its war against Hamas.

"The rocket struck them. There were no wanted or targeted people there and there was nobody else in the street. Just the children who were killed yesterday," said Mohammed Zanoun, a relative of the children killed.

Palestinian health authorities say Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 43,500 people, with another 10,000 believed to be dead and uncounted under the rubble.

Israel launched its offensive in response to the terror attack on October 7, 2023, when Hamas gunmen stormed border defenses and rampaged through Israeli communities killing 1,200 people and seizing around 250 as hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Hamas has been designated as a terror group by the United States, the U.K. and other Western countries.

Qatar and peace talks

On-off talks for a cease-fire and hostage release deal mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar have made little progress, and Saturday a Qatari official said Doha would pause negotiations unless the two sides committed more fully.

The official said Qatar would stop trying to mediate talks until Hamas and Israel "demonstrate a sincere willingness to return to the negotiating table."

That followed a U.S. official saying Friday that Washington had asked Qatar to close the Hamas office in Doha after the group rejected a cease-fire proposal.

Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri dismissed the report as "an American attempt to send a message of pressure to the movement through the media."

In Lebanon

Israeli airstrikes over the last day have killed more than 20 people including several children, Lebanese authorities said Saturday, after Israels military pounded the southern suburbs of the capital Beirut overnight.

At least seven people were killed in the coastal city of Tyre late Friday, Lebanon's health ministry said.

At least 16 more people were killed in Israeli strikes Saturday across the eastern plains around the historic city of Baalbek, the area's governor said in a post on social media platform X.

Israel's military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Gaza strikes

The U.N. Human Rights Office said Friday that nearly 70% of the fatalities it had verified in Gaza were women and children. Israel's diplomatic mission in Geneva, where the office is based, said it categorically rejected the report, which it said did not accurately reflect realities on the ground.

Strikes overnight and Saturday morning killed at least 40 Palestinians across the enclave, health officials said.

In one airstrike on a school sheltering displaced families in Gaza City six people including two journalists were killed, while another killed two at a tent inside Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza Strip, they said.

The Hamas-run Gaza government media office said the deaths of Mohammad and Zahara Abu Skhaila raised the number of journalists killed by Israeli fire to 188 since Oct. 7, 2023.

Israel's military did not immediately respond Saturday to a request for comment on strikes on areas where displaced people were sheltering.

The military has said that Hamas fighters hide among the civilian population, and it hits them when it sees them. Hamas denies hiding among civilians.

Famine likely, experts say

For the past month, Israel's main military focus has been in northern Gaza, the first part of the tiny, crowded territory that its troops overran early in the conflict last year.

A committee of global food security experts warned Friday that there was a strong likelihood of imminent famine in northern Gaza amid the renewed fighting.

Israel's military said 11 trucks of food, water and medical supplies had been delivered into the north Gaza areas of Jabalia and Beit Hanoun on Saturday and said the famine assessment was based on "partial, biased data."

It said it was preparing to open the Kissufim crossing into Gaza to expand aid routes.
Germany marks 35 years since the Berlin Wall fell with festivities beginning Saturday under the theme "Preserve Freedom!" as Russia's war rages in Ukraine and many fear democracy is under attack.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz  whose governing coalition dramatically collapsed this week  said in a message to the nation that the liberal ideals of 1989 "are not something we can take for granted."

"A look at our history and at the world around us shows this," said Scholz, whose three-party ruling alliance imploded on the day Donald Trump was elected president in the United States, plunging Germany into political turmoil and toward new elections.

November 9, 1989, is celebrated as the day East Germany's dictatorship opened the borders to the West after months of peaceful mass protests, paving the way for German reunification and the collapse of Soviet communism.

One Berliner who remembers those momentous events, retiree Jutta Krueger, 75, said about the political crisis hitting just ahead of the anniversary weekend: "It's a shame that it's coinciding like this now."

"But we should still really celebrate the fall of the Wall," she said, hailing it as the moment East Germans could travel and "freedom had arrived throughout Germany."

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will kick off events on Saturday at the Berlin Wall Memorial, honoring the at least 140 people killed trying to flee the Moscow-backed German Democratic Republic during the Cold War.

In the evening, a "freedom party" with a music and light show will be held at Berlin's iconic Brandenburg Gate, on the former path of the concrete barrier that had cut the city in two beginning in 1961.

On Sunday, the Russian protest punk band Pussy Riot will perform in front of the former headquarters of the Stasi, former East Germany's feared secret police.

Pro-democracy activists from around the world have been invited for the commemorations  among them Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and Iranian dissident Masih Alinejad.

Talks, performances and a large-scale open-air art exhibition will also mark what Culture Minister Claudia Roth called "one of the most joyous moments in world history."

Replica placards from the 1989 protests will be on display along 4 kilometers of the wall's route, past the historic Reichstag building and the famous Checkpoint Charlie.

Among the art installations will be thousands of images created by citizens on the theme of "freedom," to drive home the enduring relevance of the historical event.

Populism and division

Berlin's top cultural affairs official Joe Chialo said the theme was crucial "at a time when we are confronted by rising populism, disinformation and social division."

Axel Klausmeier, head of the Berlin Wall foundation, said the values of the 1989 protests "are the power-bank for the defense of our democracy, which today is being gnawed at from the left and the right."

Most East Germans are grateful the East German regime ended, but many also have unhappy memories of the perceived arrogance of West Germans, and resentment lingers about a remaining gap in incomes and pensions.

These sentiments have been cited to explain the strong support for the far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, in eastern Germany, as well as for the Russia-friendly and anti-capitalist BSW.

Strong gains for both at three state elections in the east in September highlighted the enduring political divisions between eastern and western Germany over three decades since reunification.

While the troubled government led by Scholz's Social Democrats and the opposition CDU strongly supports Ukraine's defense against Russia, the antiestablishment AfD and BSW oppose it.

The AfD, which rails against immigration, was embarrassed this week when several of its members were arrested as suspected members of a racist paramilitary group that had practiced urban warfare drills.

On the eve of the anniversary of the Berlin Wall's fall, government spokesperson Christiane Hoffmann recalled that the weekend will also mark another, far darker chapter in German history.

During the Nazis' Kristallnacht or Night of Broken Glass pogrom of November 9-10, 1938, at least 90 Jews were murdered, countless properties destroyed, and 1,400 synagogues torched in Germany and Austria.

Hoffmann said, "It is very important for our society to remember the victims ... and learn the correct lessons from those events for our conduct today."
In the middle of a Berlin hotel cafe, Masih Alinejad raises her voice and starts singing at the top of her lungs in Farsi, as waiters and her three German government bodyguards turn to watch.

I blossom through my wounds and my scars, she translates the lyrics as. Because I am a woman. I am a woman. I am a woman.

Alinejad was expressing her defiance and asserting her right to express herself following the news of Iranian murder-for-hire plots to kill her and Donald Trump that were disclosed by the U.S. Justice Department. She said that some Iranian women had been jailed for singing.

The Iranian American human rights activist, who was in Berlin on Saturday to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall together with other human rights activists from around the globe, told The Associated Press in an interview that despite the shock of the news, she felt more determination than ever to continue fighting for women's rights in Iran.

They want to get rid of me. When they want me dead, it means that Im doing something. Im hurting them so bad," said Alinejad, 48, referring to the Iranian government. Im echoing the voice of powerful women and that scares them.

She raised her hand in a defiant fist repeatedly during the interview.

On Friday, the U.S. Justice Department said that it was charging a man who said he had been tasked by a government official before this weeks election with planning the assassination of Trump.

Investigators were told of the plan by Farhad Shakeri, an accused Iranian government asset who spent time in American prisons for robbery and who authorities say maintains a network of criminal associates enlisted by Tehran for surveillance and murder-for-hire plots.

Shakeri is at large and remains in Iran. Two other men  identified as Jonathan Loadholt and Carlisle Rivera by the U.S. Justice Department  were arrested on charges that Shakeri recruited them to follow and kill Alinejad, who has endured multiple Iranian murder-for-hire plots foiled by law enforcement.

The Justice Department alleges that the two men spent months conducting surveillance on her and, during their efforts to locate and kill her, shared messages about their progress and photographs.

Around February, they traveled to Fairfield University in the U.S. state of Connecticut, where Alinejad was scheduled to appear, and took photos of the campus.

Around April, Shakeri sent Rivera a series of voice notes discussing their efforts to locate and kill her, the Justice Department said in a statement Friday.

In one voice note, Shakeri told Rivera that you gotta wait and have patience to catch her either going in the house or coming out or following her out somewhere and taking care of it, the statement said.

Its scary. But at the same time, I was very pleased that the U.S. law enforcement is protecting me, Alinejad said, recounting her call with American security officials.

The same person who was trying to kill President Trump was assigned to kill me as well. I mean, thats a badge of honor.

In Tehran, Esmail Baghaei, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, rejected the report and called it a plot by Israel-linked circles to make Iran-U.S. relations more complicated, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Alinejad is a prominent figure on Farsi-language satellite channels abroad that critically view Iran, and she has worked as a contractor for U.S.-funded Voice of Americas Farsi-language network since 2015. She fled Iran following the countrys disputed 2009 presidential election and became a U.S. citizen in October 2019.

Alinejad accused the Iranian government of continuing to oppress women in Iran and make them wear the mandatory headscarf, or hijab, even two years after the death of Mahsa Amini that sparked weekslong mass protests.

The fact that the Iranian government has repeatedly tried to kill her, she said, "makes me more determined to give voice to powerful women inside Iran who are facing the same killers every single day.
A U.S. judge has set aside all the pending court deadlines President-elect Donald Trump is facing for his 2020 election interference case.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan approved the request for the move Friday by Special Counsel Jack Smith, the prosecutor in the criminal case against the president-elect.

Smith's team said in its request for the delay that it needs "time to assess this unprecedented circumstance and determine the appropriate course going forward consistent with Department of Justice policy."

Sitting presidents, according to Justice Department policy, cannot be prosecuted.

Now it seems that as Trump is on the verge of assuming the country's highest office again, following his victory this week over Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election, the presidential office could shield Trump from facing charges stemming from what has become known as the Capitol riot.

Chutkan has instructed the prosecutors to file their court papers with their proposed way forward in the case against Trump by December 2.

Trump has always maintained that he has immunity from prosecution. In July, the Supreme Court ruled that former presidents do have broad immunity from prosecution and kicked the case back to Chutkan for her to determine how the case against the former president could proceed.

Trump's lawyers were scheduled to respond by November 21 to Smith's argument that the case could still proceed because most of the activities Trump was accused of came in his role as a candidate for re-election, not as president.

On January 6, 2021, Trump and his supporters sought to prevent Joe Biden from assuming the presidency. Biden had defeated then-President Trump in the 2020 election, but on that day, after Trump delivered a fiery speech, his supporters surged the Capitol as lawmakers were set to certify the presidential election results. More than 1,000 of Trump's supporters have been convicted for their participation in the riot.

Despite the violent images that have emerged from that day, including insurrectionists beating police officers, Trump has continued to characterize his supporters as "patriots" and has said he would pardon many of them if elected.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
European nations should not repeat the mistake of creating a barrier between them and President-elect Donald Trump but instead cooperate on issues of common interest, Lithuanias defense minister said Saturday.

Assuming that Trump will again apply what Laurynas Kasciunas called his contract approach to our relations, Kasciunas outlined areas where Europe and the new president could join forces: more investment in defense, European acquisition of American weapons and cooperation on containing China and Iran.

What we did a little bit wrong last time when he was elected [by defeating] Hillary Clinton, and it was unexpected, we built against him a moral wall, Kasciunas told The Associated Press.

I think it was not a correct way, Kasciunas said. He was speaking on the sidelines of a three-day gathering in Prague focusing on European and transatlantic military capabilities.

During his first term, from 2017 to 2021, Trump pushed NATOs European members to spend more on defense, up to and beyond 2% of gross domestic product, and to be less reliant on U.S. military.

Thats what the allies have been doing. A total of 23 members are expected to meet the 2% target this year, compared with three 10 years ago, according to NATO. Lithuania has already surpassed 2.5% with a goal of reaching 4%, which would be more than the United States.

Europes defense industry managed to increase output of some products after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but European countries also donated their own weapons to Ukraine and remain dependent on the U.S. for some important aspects of their military capability, a report published by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies at the Prague event said.

Lithuania, which borders Russias Kaliningrad exclave to the west and Belarus to the east, remains the largest buyer of U.S. arms among the three Baltic states.

The minister, whose country was in a spat with China over Taiwan, also spoke in favor of European Union sanctions on Iran.

However, Russia's war against Ukraine has been divisive.

Trump has repeatedly taken issue with U.S. aid to Ukraine, made vague vows to end the war and has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Kasciunas insisted that Europes military aid to Ukraine must continue and that Russia should not dictate the conditions for peace, while a limited cease-fire would not make sense because it would only help Russian troops recover from losses and strike again.

We need a just peace, credible peace, he said.

During his election campaign, Trump also threatened actions that could have groundbreaking consequences for nations across Europe, from a trade war with the EU to a withdrawal of NATO commitments.
China's new J-35A stealth fighter jet will be displayed for the first time next week at the country's biggest civil and military air show, a biennial event where Beijing showcases its expanding aerospace industry.

The six-day China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition begins Tuesday in the southern Greater Bay city of Zhuhai. The 2022 edition of the event led to about $40 billion in "cooperation agreements" being signed, according to its organizers.

Developing domestic aerospace design and manufacturing capabilities is a major strategic priority for Beijing as it vies for regional military dominance with the U.S. amid escalating tensions around Taiwan and the South China Sea.

China also seeks to reduce its reliance on foreign imports, a concern borne out after the election as the next U.S. president this week of Donald Trump, who has been vocal about increasing trade tariffs and decoupling supply chains from the world's second-largest economy.

Alongside drones, weapons systems, aircraft and electronic warfare technologies, China's emerging role as a commercial airliner manufacturer through state-owned planemaker COMAC will be on display.

Fighter jet

As the expected highlight of the show, the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) will reveal to the public the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation's J-35A, which the air force last week described as a "medium-sized stealth multi-purpose fighter."

Russia has also flown its most advanced fighter jet, the SU-57, to Zhuhai for its first air show abroad, in an apparent message to the West about China-Russia cooperation.

The J-35A, which uses airstrips to take off and land, is a variant of the J-35, a stealthy aircraft China is developing for use on aircraft carriers. Little is known about its performance or capabilities, although it superficially resembles the Lockheed Martin LMT.N F-35.

The J-35 program is a follow-on from China's J-31 fighter, which made its public debut at the Zhuhai show in 2014 but was never used by the People's Liberation Army or sold to foreign customers.

Diplomats and security analysts have closely watched the evolution of J-35 variants given the importance of the plane to China's aircraft carrier program, which seeks to expand jets' range and payload to project power beyond China's home waters.

Monday marks the 75th anniversary of the PLAAF, which will have its largest presence at the air show, Xinhua news agency has reported.

COMAC

This year's Zhuhai air show is its first post-pandemic edition since Beijing lifted its zero-COVID policy and travel restrictions in 2023.

Airbus AIR.PA and the world's third-largest planemaker, Embraer EMBR3.SA, will have a presence at the show, but Boeing BA.N will not be officially represented after new CEO Kelly Ortberg halted travel to industry events as the troubled U.S. manufacturer recovers from a damaging seven-week workers' strike that ended this week.

Beijing has invested heavily in developing home-grown commercial planes, and engines that one day may replace the foreign versions that currently power COMAC's jets.

COMAC-watchers will, in particular, be paying attention to a possible re-branding of the company's ARJ21 regional jet, after one was spotted by aviation enthusiasts in mid-October at a Chinese airport with C909 painted on its blue tail, instead of ARJ21.

Although largely symbolic, the change -- which would align with the manufacturer's naming convention for its other models -- signals Beijing's growing intention to present itself as a full-scale alternative to Airbus and Boeing, which are both struggling to keep up with demand.

Industry sources say COMAC is a long way off from making inroads internationally without benchmark certifications from the EU -- which COMAC is pursuing for its C919 airliner -- or the U.S.

In particular, competing with Western engines poses one of the most daunting challenges for China's rising aerospace industry, even after a spate of industrial problems in the West.

Even so, Chinese manufacturers will benefit from the sheer scale of their domestic market, analysts say. China is the world's second-largest domestic aviation market after the U.S.

Boeing has said China will more than double its commercial airplane fleet and need 8,830 new planes by 2043.
The U.S. Department of the Interior says American Indian and Alaska Native people are at a disproportionate risk of going missing, experiencing violence or being murdered. In the Southwest state of New Mexico, some Indigenous families are using a new grant to help expand their search for justice. Gustavo Martinez Contreras has our story.
North Korea staged GPS jamming attacks on Friday and Saturday, an operation that was affecting several ships and dozens of civilian aircraft in South Korea, Seoul's military said.

The jamming allegations come about a week after the North test-fired what it said was its most advanced and powerful solid-fuel ICBM missile, its first such launch since being accused of sending soldiers to help Russia fight Ukraine.

The South fired its own ballistic missile into the sea on Friday in a show of force aimed at demonstrating its resolve to respond to "any North Korean provocations."

"North Korea conducted GPS jamming provocations in Haeju and Kaesong yesterday and today," Seoul's joint chiefs of staff said in a statement Saturday, adding that several vessels and dozens of civilian aircraft were experiencing "some operational disruptions."

The military warned ships and aircraft operating in the Yellow Sea to beware of such attacks.

"We strongly urge North Korea to immediately cease its GPS provocations and warn that it will be held responsible for any subsequent issues arising from this," they said in the statement.

Relations between the two Koreas are at one of their lowest points in years, with the North launching a flurry of ballistic missiles in violation of UN sanctions.

It also has been bombarding the South with trash-carrying balloons since May, in what it says is retaliation for anti-Pyongyang propaganda missives sent North by activists.

The South Korean military said Pyongyang also attempted to jam GPS signals in May, but added at the time that it did not hinder any military operations in the South.

In Friday's drill, South Korea fired a Hyunmoo surface-to-surface short-range missile into the West Sea, which the military said was to show Seoul's "strong resolve to firmly respond" to any North Korean threats.

The Hyunmoo missiles are key to the country's so-called 'Kill Chain' preemptive strike system, which allows Seoul to launch an attack if there are signs of an imminent North Korean attack.

'Real risk'

Experts say such jamming attacks can lead to other incidents that could escalate tensions on the Korean peninsula.

"It remains unclear whether there is an intention to divert the world's attention from troop deployments, instill psychological insecurity among residents in the South, or respond to Friday's drills," said Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.

"However, GPS jamming attacks pose a real risk of serious incidents, including potential aircraft accidents in the worst-case scenario," he told AFP.

Ahn Chan-il, a defector-turned-researcher who runs the World Institute for North Korea Studies, told AFP the North's jamming could be "to shield their own communications and intelligence exchanges during critical military operations" at home and abroad.

Russia and Ukraine

North Korea has become one of the most vocal and important backers of Russia's offensive in Ukraine.

Seoul and the West have long accused Pyongyang of supplying artillery shells and missiles to Moscow for use in Ukraine.

The latest accusations, based on intelligence reports, indicate the North has deployed around 10,000 troops to Russia, suggesting even deeper involvement in the conflict and triggering outcry in Seoul, Kyiv and Western capitals.

Seoul, a security ally of Washington, said last month the presence of North Korean troops in Europe would be a major escalation.

South Korea, a major arms exporter, has a long-standing policy of not providing weapons to countries in conflict.

But President Yoon Suk Yeol said this week that Seoul is now not ruling out the possibility of providing weapons directly to Ukraine, given Pyongyang's military support of Moscow.

On Friday, Seoul's presidential office said cyberattacks by pro-Russian hacking groups against South Korea have increased following North Korea's troop dispatch for Russia's war in Ukraine.
Russia is open to hearing U.S. President-elect Donald Trumps proposals on ending the war, an official said, as a Russian drone killed one person and wounded 13 in the Ukrainian port city of Odesa and the European Union foreign policy chief held talks in Kyiv on support for Ukraine after the change in U.S. leadership.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Moscow and Washington were exchanging signals regarding Ukraine via closed channels. He did not specify whether the communication was with the current administration or Trump and members of his incoming administration.

Russia is ready to listen to Trumps proposals on Ukraine provided these were ideas on how to move forward in the area of settlement, and not in the area of further pumping the Kyiv regime with all kinds of aid, Ryabkov said Saturday in an interview with Russian state news agency Interfax.

Odesa regional Governor Oleh Kiper said high-rise residential buildings, private houses and warehouses in the Black Sea port city were damaged by the fall of a drone. He did not specify whether the drone had been shot down by air defenses.

A further 32 Russian drones were shot down over 10 Ukrainian regions, while 18 were lost, according to Ukraines air force, likely having been electronically jammed.

A Russian aerial bomb struck a busy highway overnight in the northeastern Kharkiv province, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekohov said. No casualties were reported.

Russia is mounting an intensified aerial campaign that Ukrainian officials say they need more Western help to counter. However, doubts are deepening over what Kyiv can expect from a new U.S. administration. Trump has repeatedly taken issue with U.S. aid to Ukraine, made vague vows to end the war and has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, however, reassured Ukraine of European support during a visit to Kyiv on Saturday.

EU support to Ukraine has been my personal priority during my mandate and will remain on top of the EUs agenda, he wrote on social media platform X.

In Russia, the Defense Ministry said 50 Ukrainian drones were destroyed over seven Russian regions  more than half over the Bryansk region, bordering Ukraine.
The United States will send a small number of contractors to Ukraine to help it maintain and repair the U.S.-provided weapons and air defense systems it is using against Russias invasion, a defense official said Friday.

The official said the contractors "will be far from the front lines and they will not be fighting Russian forces."

Ukraine needs the contractors to repair and maintain equipment, such as F-16s and Patriot air defense systems, that requires "specific technical expertise to maintain," the official said.

The decision to send the contractors was made "after careful risk assessment," the official said.

On Wednesday, when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to congratulate him on his election victory, Trump had Elon Musk join the call. The billionaire businessman was a contributor to Trumps presidential campaign.

A Ukrainian official told The Associated Press that Zelenskyy thanked Musk for helping Ukraine gain access to the Starlink satellite internet platform. Other media outlets reported that Trump told Zelenskyy that he would support Ukraine, and that Musk said he would continue to supply Starlink.

Musk was on the phone for only part of the conversation.

Overnight attacks

Ukrainian officials said Friday morning that Russia attacked the regions of Odesa, Kharkiv and Kyiv overnight into Friday with drones, missiles and aerial bombs, damaging residential buildings and infrastructure and killing at least one person and injuring at least 25.

Regional officials in Kharkiv say a Russian guided aerial bomb struck a 12-story residential building in the early hours Friday. They said the bomb struck the first three floors. A search was underway for anyone trapped in the rubble.

In Odesa, police and emergency service officials told the French news agency Agence France-Presse that a Russian drone struck several residential buildings, sparking fires in some. They said a 46-year-old man was killed when his car was struck by shrapnel, and at least nine others were injured.

The Odesa officials reported shrapnel from the attacks also ruptured fuel lines, causing several fires.

On the social media platform X, President Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces shot down four missiles and about 60 drones launched by Russia against Ukraine overnight Thursday.

"Each time Russia attempts to destroy our lives, it is crucial to respond collectively and decisively at the international level to reduce and block the potential for terror," Zelenskyy wrote. "Ukraine needs strength to achieve this. This is the only way to achieve a just peace and to ending the killing of our people," he said.

He called for more air defenses, and long-range capabilities, weapons packages, and sanctions against Russia.

Zelenskyy took that message Thursday to the European Political Community Summit in Budapest, where he met with European leaders and reportedly reached new defense agreements to strengthen Ukrainian forces, along with agreements on positive steps toward reinforcing air defenses before winter.

But while most European leaders signaled continued support for Ukraines war effort, there were indications that Trumps victory in the U.S. elections this week could change that picture.

In a radio interview Friday, the host of that summit, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has close ties to both Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, said U.S. support for Ukraine will end with the election of Trump and that Europe needs to re-think its approach to the war.

"The Americans will quit this war," Orban told Hungarian state radio and indicated he felt Europe must follow suit.

"Europe cannot finance this war alone, there are some who still want it, who still want to continue sending enormous amounts of money into this lost war, but the number of those who remain silent, though they were loud before, and those who cautiously voice that we should adjust to the new situation, is growing," Orban said.

The Hungarian leader made the comments ahead of the European Union summit Friday in Budapest. Before that meeting, outgoing European Council President Charles Michel told reporters Europe wants to strengthen ties with the United States and continue strengthening Ukraine.

"We have to support Ukraine because if we do not support Ukraine, this is the wrong signal that we send to Putin but also to some other authoritarian regimes across the world," Michel said.

Trump has criticized the level of U.S. support for Ukraine's fight against Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion, and before the election he promised to end the conflict before even taking office, without explaining how.

Some information for this story was provided by The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
The U.S. Defense Department will appeal a military judge's ruling that plea agreements struck by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the September 11, 2001, attacks, and two of his co-defendants are valid, a defense official said Saturday.

The ruling this past week voided Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's order to throw out the deals and concluded that the plea agreements were valid. The judge granted the three motions to enter guilty pleas and said he would schedule them for a future date to be determined by the military commission.

The department will also seek a postponement of any hearing on the pleas, according to the official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss legal matters and spoke on condition of anonymity. Rear Admiral Aaron Rugh, the chief prosecutor, sent a letter Friday to the families of 9/11 victims informing them of the decision.

The ruling by the judge, Air Force Colonel Matthew McCall, allowed the three 9/11 defendants to enter guilty pleas in the U.S. military courtroom at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and would spare them the risk of the death penalty. The pleas by Mohammed, Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi would be a key step toward closing out the long-running and legally troubled government prosecution in the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.

Government prosecutors had negotiated the deals with defense lawyers under government auspices, and the top official for the military commission at Guantanamo had approved the agreements. But the deals were immediately slammed by Republican lawmakers and others when they were made public this summer.

Within days, Austin issued an order saying he was nullifying them. He said plea bargains in possible death penalty cases tied to one of the gravest crimes ever carried out on U.S. soil were a momentous step that should only be decided by the defense secretary.

The judge had ruled that Austin lacked the legal authority to toss out the plea deals.

The agreements, and Austins attempt to reverse them, have made for one of the most fraught episodes in a U.S. prosecution marked by delays and legal difficulties. That includes years of ongoing pretrial hearings to determine the admissibility of statements by the defendants, given their torture in CIA custody.

While families of some of the victims and others are adamant that the 9/11 prosecutions continue until trial and possible death sentences, legal experts say it is not clear that could ever happen. If the 9/11 cases ever clear the hurdles of trial, verdicts and sentencings, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit would likely hear many of the issues in the course of any death penalty appeals.

The issues include the CIA destruction of videos of interrogations, whether Austins plea deal reversal constituted unlawful interference and whether the torture of the men tainted subsequent interrogations by clean teams of FBI agents that did not involve violence.
Thousands protested in Mozambique's capital on Thursday and security forces responded by firing tear gas and rubber bullets, as weeks of post-election unrest continued in the southern African country.

The protests were sparked by a vote last month that will keep the ruling party in power for more than a half-century amid allegations of rigging.

Opposition parties and many citizens have rejected the results of the October 9 presidential election as fraudulent and growing protests in the capital, Maputo, and other cities have been met by deadly force from police. Thursday's protest was the biggest yet.

International rights groups say at least 20 people have been killed by police since the unrest began nearly a month ago, while local groups say the death toll is more than 50. Authorities are threatening to deploy the army as protesters set fires on the streets and burn ruling party offices.

The internet is being restricted and social media sites have been blocked, according to Human Rights Watch. Neighboring South Africa has shut its border post with Mozambique and heightened security around it.

What happened in the election?

The candidate for the ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique, Daniel Chapo, was declared the winner of the presidential election on October 24. That keeps the party that has governed Mozambique since independence from Portugal in 1975 in power for another five years.

Even before the results were announced, opposition parties claimed fraud, accusing the ruling party, known as Frelimo, of ballot stuffing, manipulating voter lists and staffing polling stations with officials loyal to it. Frelimo has long been accused of rigging elections in the country of around 34 million.

The European Union's observer team said there were irregularities in the election, including the altering of some results. Mozambican media has reported that the Constitutional Council, the supreme body for election law, has asked the commission that ran the election to explain discrepancies.

Senior opposition figures killed

Independent candidate Venancio Mondlane, who was second behind Chapo in the official results, has led criticism of the vote. He called for a national strike and for people to stay at home in the days after the election in protest at the alleged tampering. But the mood changed when two senior opposition figures were killed in their car in a late-night shooting by unidentified gunmen on October 18.

The men who were killed were the lawyer for Mondlane and the official spokesperson for the political party that supported Mondlane in the election. Mondlane said they were assassinated and he and opposition supporters gathered near the site of the killings the day after to protest. Police fired tear gas canisters at Mondlane, his aides and journalists who were interviewing him, forcing them to flee.

Growing protests

Since then, there have been waves of protests across the country. In one city, protesters toppled and cut the head off a statue of current President Filipe Nyusi, who is stepping down after serving a maximum two terms.

Mondlane said on social media that he had gone into exile in fear for his life after the killing of his lawyer. His whereabouts are unknown, but he has called on social media for more protests "so that we can then be freed from these shackles that have held us up for 50 years."

Authorities have said little other than the protests have been violent and needed to be quelled. They have not given information on the number of people killed or injured in the protests.

Rights groups accused the police of shooting at peaceful protests in the days after the election and said children were among the victims. Anger among opposition supporters has swelled. The presidential palace is under heavy guard.

A history of civil war and violence

Mozambique is still in the shadow of a bloody 15-year civil war the leftist Frelimo fought against rebel group Renamo after independence. The country only held its first elections in 1994 and this was the first vote where there were no armed groups connected to political parties after a process to disarm militias.

The country, which has rich natural resources including large, newly discovered natural gas fields, was already struggling with a yearslong insurgency by an Islamic State-affiliated group in the northern province of Cabo Delgado.

Mondlane, who broke away from Renamo, has support among Mozambique's disaffected youth and he and the new Podesa party that is backing him have become the biggest challenge to Frelimo's long rule.
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Former Citizens Coalition for Change leader Nelson Chamisa, who attended the inauguration of Botswana's new president Duma Boko, praises Batswana for choosing a person of their choice, noting that change is coming in other nations like Zimbabwe. (Video: Mqondisi Dube)
Russias Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia presented the Security Council with a picture of the situation in Ukraine on 31st October.

According to him, the Ukrainian army has gained 250 km in one year, during its

counteroffensive, but is losing 30 km per day today and even 478 km during the month of October alone. Yet the Zelensky regime continues to congratulate itself on its progress and to proclaim its victory. The United States intends to plunder the Ukrainian subsoil (uranium, titanium, lithium and graphite) which Senator Lindsey Graham has estimated at between $10 and $12 trillion.

The EU Council is talking about a possible loan to Ukraine, backed by frozen Russian assets, on the condition that control of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex is transferred to Brussels.

As the resources of the subsoil do not belong to the Government, but to the Ukrainian people, the "Zelensky peace plan" has classified the annexes that authorize its looting as "Secret-Defense".

Western illegitimate sanctions have failed to hinder Russian economic growth (3.9 - 4% this year), while the German economy is collapsing. Russias isolation is a failure, as shown by the presence of 36 heads of state and government in Kazan last week.

Kiev is trying to recruit new soldiers by all means, constantly lowering the age of recruits, while half of its population has already fled, including 5.3 million to Russia in the first year. There were 100,000 to 170,000 deserters, 30,000 of whom were prosecuted for going AWOL. The regime has had at least a hundred of its soldiers shot dead for refusing to obey and is recruiting foreign mercenaries.

The private military companies "Academy", "Cubic", "Darkhorse Benefits", "Dyn Corporation", "Forward Observations Group", "Hyperion Services", "Sons of Liberty International", "ASBS Othago" and "European Security Academy" send the mercenaries they manage to recruit abroad.

In the end, Russias goals of demilitarizing and denazifying Ukraine have not changed. This war, if it continues any longer, can only end with additional Ukrainian losses.
Voltaire, International Newsletter is a weekly newsletter on international politics. It features 10 to 15 pages of contextualized, sourced news items. Its aim is to enable you to follow the decline of the unipolar world and the emergence of a multipolar system.

The newsletter is published in several languages. Several foreign ministries from different countries have already subscribed.

Our director of publication and editor-in-chief directed French magazines several years ago, and has won journalism awards abroad. He has regularly contributed to some fifteen major dailies and magazines around the world.

Voltaire, International Newsletter is available by subscription for 500 a year, is published 42 times a year (not in July-August, nor during the Christmas holydays). Its an indispensable tool for any professional in international relations or defense.

Whats more, 10 times a year, subscribers are invited to Zoom virtual meetings with publications director Thierry Meyssan.

Contents of issue N107

EDITORIAL

 2348 Russias view of the situation in Ukraine

AMERICAS

 2349 Canadas Hybrid War Against Bharat

 2350 YouTube censors an interview with candidate Donald Trump

 2351 Pentagon Continues Deployment in Middle East

EUROPE

 2352 London secretly and illegally sent F-35 parts to Israel

 2353 Media professionals condemn British medias treatment of Israels crimes

 2354 Bezalel Smotrich in Paris

 2355 Storebrand withdraws from Palantir, given its involvement in Israels actions in Palestine

 2356 Ikea to pay compensation to political prisoners it exploited in the GDR

 2357 EU hopes to see effects of anti-Russian sanctions within a year

 2358 Slovak-British controversy

 2359 Polish-Ukrainian controversy

 2360 Interference in Hungary of NATO stay-behind networks

 2361 How to access internal EU documents

 2362 EU takes action against Transnistria and Ukrainian deserters

 2363 EU signs security and defense partnership with Japan and South Korea

 2364 Moldova prepares to join EU after fraudulent election

 2365 The watchwords of Ukrainian propaganda

 23366 Russia evacuates its citizens from Lebanon

AFRICA

 2367 French researcher jailed in Tunisia

 2368 Election of the new President of Botswana

ASIA

 2369 Benjamin Netanyahus manipulations

 2370 Conflict between the General Staff and the defense minister on the one hand, and the Israeli Prime Minister on the other

 2371 Giora Eiland, author of the "Generals Plan"

 2372 Israel passes law allowing the expulsion of resistance families

 2373 IDF vs. PFLP

 2374 A Jewish Force deputy relieved of the reserve forces

 2375 Movement for the suspension of Israel from the United Nations

 2376 Middle East Applauds Donald Trumps Election

 2377 New proceedings against Riad Salame

 2378 Israeli destruction in Lebanon

 2379 Video of Hezbollah tunnels

 2380 Israel controls Lebanese access to the sea

 2381 Israel controls Lebanons land borders

 2382 Destruction of Lebanese archaeological heritage

 2383 Position of Najib Mikati

 2384 Amos Hochstein in Lebanon

 2385 Israel continues Daeshs action in Damascus

 2386 Jordan worried about an extension of the conflict on its soil

 2387 Iran is said to be preparing an attack on Israel from Iraq

 2388 Decline in Saudi oil revenues

 2389 Saudi-US negotiations

 2390 Qatar calls into question the very existence of its consultative parliament

 2391 Ansar Allah no longer believes in Iran

 2392 Iran could review its nuclear doctrine

 2393 Pakistan and Iran condemn Israels role in Baloch terrorism

 2394 China vs. U.S. Arms Manufacturers

INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

 2395 Washington and Tel Aviv against all and against Cuba

 2396 Communique of the fifteen UN humanitarian agencies

 2397 Five Eyes Cyber Security Campaign

 2398 Russia in favor of BRICS enlargement

 2399 NGOs condemn corruption at COP29
I have two questions at the very start of this episode. The first is: What exactly does Dessert Week mean? Isnt everything they make on here, other than bread and a few savory dishes, a dessert? Last week they made cakes; were those not desserts? Or what about when they made Paris-Brest? Is that not dessert? I kind of feel like Russell Crowe in Gladiator, and I want to rise up from the dusty floor of the arena and shout to Paul Hollywood wearing a toga that is a little too tight in a sexy way, Are you not desserted?! Like, what makes any of these desserts a dessert instead of a pastry or a cake or croquembouche?

My second question is: Did Dylan somehow manage to become hotter from last week to this week? Did he get a haircut? Is the notch in his eyebrow freshly shaved? Is he just humbled from his terrible performance last week? I dont know, but as soon as I saw his Lisa Frankinspired tie-dye shirt and his hair back with one Superman power curl in the front it was the absolute hottest I had ever seen him. This is before he pulled the Baking Show trifecta  getting a Hollywood handshake, winning the technical, and becoming star baker  in one episode. According to @GBBOdata, where I get all my GBBO and/or GBBS data, Dylan is only the fifth person in the shows history to achieve this feat, following Dan (season nine), Peter (season 11), Giuseppe (season 12), and Syabira (season 13).

This might be why Illiyin and the rest of the bakers think Dylan is the one to beat. During the Technical, Noel is talking to Illiyin asking if shes scared of Dylan and she says that she is afraid hes going to beat them all. Noel says it might be due to Paul having a crush on him, and, well, I cant imagine being a human being with eyes and not having a crush on Dylan no matter your orientation. When Noel asks Dylan if he thinks Paul has a crush on him, he says, I did hold his hand today. Oh yes, she ate that and left no crumbs. Do desserts have crumbs? Maybe thats what makes them desserts? I still dont know.

The first dessert they have to make is meringue nests with various fillings. Dylan starts by saying hes the only baker making his meringues in molds so that they will be perfect half spheres because hes going to make them look like coconut shells. He adds every time he has done them before this they have cracked and broken. This is the point of the show where I yell at my television, Then why are you doing it! If they broke every other time, why wont they break now? What an idiot! But then he gets them out of the oven, pops them out of the molds, and does an adorable little dance that none of them have broken. I hate when these bakers prove me wrong. He puts some creme and booze-filled cake in the middle and Paul and Prue lose their minds. Prue says, The texture, flavor, and everything is there, and Paul sticks out his hand and calls them original and delicious.

Georgie is the only other baker who does a good job, and her meringues are as wonky as lipstick put on in a moving vehicle. Her recipe is based on one from her auntie with mascarpone cream, orange curd, and stewed plums on almond-flavored meringues. The way Paul looked at her you could tell he wanted to give her a handshake but couldnt get passed her cracked and wonky nests.

Gill gets knocked for hers tasting artificial after she used peaches right out of the can, like the kind we used to get as dessert at school lunch. See, Paul, theyre desserts. Get with the program. Sumayahs, like always, look delicious with a cute little lattice sticking out of them, but Prue says her mix of flavors like pomegranate, peach, tarragon, and honey, make the whole thing more savory than sweet. Christiaan makes the rookie mistake of using rose flavoring. While they were the most attractive of the bunch (next to Dylan, and I dont mean his coconuts) they tasted like soap because rose always does and its disgusting and I dont know why these people keep trying it. The judges seemed most disappointed in Illiyins pina-colada-inspired dessert because its Pauls favorite drink. Her meringues were also cracked, but she intended to make Paul make that silly face he makes when something is really citrusy and he made exactly that face so she may not get a handshake, but at least she got a face shape.

The technical is to make spotted dick, a dessert that lives in infamy mostly for its punny name than its quality. How did this pun-crazy show go a decade and a half without introducing this to the public yet? You have two hours and 15 minutes left to get your dick ready, Allison says, and they all fall out laughing. When Sumayah doesnt cook hers enough and it gets stuck in the bowl, she gets upset and teary. As the rest of the bakers comfort her she says, Im crying about spotted dick, and everyone laughs. I laughed when Christiaan admitted he was the only person who had eaten spotted dick and of course the gay guy is the one to have some (dont say it, dont say it, dont say it) dick in his mouth. (Sorry.)

Dylan ends up at the top of the technical with an absolutely perfect (girl, dont go there) dick that everyone wants to get their hands on. Georgie is right behind him. Sumayah is at the bottom and its looking like an increasingly bad week for her.

Going into the showstopper, Paul and Prue say that Georgie and Dylan are the only two really in line for star baker and the other four are just trying to stay in the competition. The assignment is to make a very fancy tiramisu. Okay, Im just gonna say it: Tiramisu is garbage. It is the only dessert I wont eat. I would rather take a whole spotted dick in one sitting (not the first time) than have to eat even a bite of tiramisu. The only thing that is possibly worse is tarte tatin and pumpkin pie, and they already made both of those this season, too. Gross. Make it stop.

At least Gill thinks that coffee is disgusting too. I knew there was something I liked about her. She admits that she had to have her husband, Steve, taste all of her trial runs so that she could get the level of coffee correct because she knew that even a little bit of it would make her gag. Same, sis. Give her the trophy. The judges find no fault with almost any of the big desserts. Gills looks perfect and traditional, with ladyfingers on the outside wrapped up in a pretty little bow. The judges think that it is divine, though they later hint that it might have been a bit basic. Looked good to me, and I hate this stuff.

Georgies was another that looked delicious, covered by a chocolate collar in brown, pink, and white like a pint of Neapolitan ice cream. Wow, everything about this is Italian, including half of Georgie. She uses her aunts old family recipe but puts hazelnut pralines inside for texture and Prue loves it so much she says that this should be the new recipe of tiramisu everyone follows. None for me, thanks, but good for Georgie.

Christiaans is inspired by the Memphis school of design and has a black-and -white-striped collar with pink half circles around it and a green pistachio mousse on top. It looks like a birthday cake you would find in Pee-wees Playhouse. Prues only problem is that there is too much and she cant fit it all in her mouth. Maybe her jaw is just tired from all of that spotted dick. (Last one, I promise.)

I thought Illiyins looked a mess. She tried to make this chocolate cage around her tiramisu and it kind of collapsed and she had to trim it back. It looked less like a box than some kind of poorly trimmed hedge. However, Prue calls it a little triumph. I wonder if were looking at the same cake.

Dylans, of course, was absolutely magical. He made a box out of chocolate and then put his dessert inside. Since I have already made so many spotted dick puns, I have been informed that I have used up my dirty-joke quota for the week and cant say a single thing about Dylans box other than it looks delicious. He wanted it to look concrete, but it looks more metallic, but it seems like something you would get at an avant-garde New York restaurant, and while I would never eat it I can appreciate that it looks gorgeous. So congrats to Dylan on his trifecta, and I cant wait to crush on him even more next week.

The only tiramisu that had problems was Sumayahs. It looked cool, with a printed sponge collar that looked like fancy Italian paper, but Paul could see where it didnt quite join up and she had to add some scraps to achieve the effect. But what really upset the judges was her using a lemon curd with coffee in it, saying that the flavors are at odds with each other. Yeah, that sort of is like inviting Cardi B and Nicki Minaj to the same party, but Sumayah thought she could pull it off. After the judging she said, I can see their criticism, but I am bitter. With no one else making any mistakes, it was Sumayah whose dessert will be her last. Who is going to make fun of Noel to his face now?
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald was joined by Waterford general election candidates Deputy David Cullinane and Cllr Conor McGuinness today in Dungarvan.

Earlier in the day, Ms. McDonald paid visit to Waterford airport, and told the media that a Sinn Fein government would deliver the project:

It is fair to say that the south east has for a long time felt left behind she said, we were out at the airport earlier and the case has been made for investment in that airport and certainly a Sinn Fein government will make good on that commitment.

In this part of the country for too long a promise is made and then withheld and its not the way to invest properly anywhere and its not fair for the south east, so we will certainly take a very different approach in that regard.

Whilst in Dungarvan, Ms. McDonald endorsed party colleagues David Cullinane TD and Cllr Conor McGuinness, saying:

It is the time for a new government, a government with new purpose, new priorities, a government that is prepared and a government with the right talent and the right team.

Obviously we have to convince people of our case, and were here in Dungarvan, in Waterford and in the South East to make the case for that change.

Waterford has had an incredible ambassador in my colleague and friend deputy David Cullinane. I want David to be Minister for Health in that new government.

Were here also with Cllr Conor McGuinness, who is a Dungarvan man, this is his town. For the change in government that we require, Waterford can play its part by returning not one, but two TDs.

She added, The campaign is going very strongly and we feel quietly confident that we will make a breakthrough here."

Whilst speaking to the media, Ms. McDonald addressed a now deleted Facebook comment from party spokesperson on integration, Claire Kerrane. The Roscommon-Galway TD suggested in her comment that deportation be considered for any immigrant who commits a crime in Ireland.

Responding to the suggestion, Ms. McDonald said: What Claire said is just a matter of plain common sense, its also a matter already in Irish law.

Where someone is convicted of a serious violent offence, there is the option to return that person to their home state or their country of origin. That to me just makes sense.

She added: Were here in a place today where lots of people come to visit and theyre always very welcome here. This is a welcoming country and we need to make sure it remains that way.

But the question that Claire was addressing was not that, she was addressing a situation where there is a serious crime, and what the sanction ought be."

Ms. McDonald was asked if Deputy Kerrane was asked to delete the comment, to which she replied: to be honest I didnt even see the post.

Ms. McDonald was also asked if she is ruling out entering into a coalition with Fine Gael and Fianna Fail in the future:

We want a new government beyond Fine Gael or Fianna Fail" she said, "Our proposition could not be clearer to the people. After a century of government led by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, we want a new government led by Sinn Fein without Fianna Fail or Fine Gael. That is the basis upon which we are running a record number of candidates.
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 Peek into your pantry or fridge and youll likely own at least a few glass-bottled Asian condiments with the rectangular gold label and red lid. But, if asked without any reference or context if youre familiar with Lee Kum Kee, not everyone will immediately place the Chinese sauce giant that invented oyster sauce. Its a problem the multibillion-dollar condiment company is working on. We recognise there is a gap, said Wilson Lam, the Asia-Pacific senior business development manager at Lee Kum Kee and the companys head of Australia. Lots of people know about our brand, but when theyre asked, Do you know about Lee Kum Kee?, its sort of a question mark to them. Until they open up the cabinet, they find out, Oh, Ive actually got so many Lee Kum Kee products. Oyster sauce, invented by accident by Lee Kum Kees founder, is used around the world by chefs and home cooks alike. Credit: Kristoffer Paulsen The 136-year-old sauce makers penetration in some global markets, such as Australia, has arguably exceeded its brand awareness among locals. Lee Kum Kee is said to have been created accidentally. Founded in 1888 by Lee Kum Sheung, the legend goes that he was selling cooked oysters in his tea house when one day he forgot about some oysters simmering in a pot and returned to a thick brown, delicious paste he began selling as oyster sauce. Despite its fortuitous beginnings, nothing about Lee Kum Kees success today has been by chance. That happy accident has spawned a six-generation family empire, one of the most successful in the world, with over 300 sauces, oils, marinades and powders sold across more than 100 markets. It has also expanded into health and wellness, real estate and venture capital investing, making the Lee family, sitting atop an estimated net wealth of $27 billion, one of Hong Kongs best-known and wealthiest families.

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A notable part of their success is owed to governance structures put in place to prevent wayward family members from upending the business, which nearly happened three times in the 1990s to then-patriarch Lee Man Tat, who battled his uncles and brother for control. His youngest son, Sammy  now the groups executive chairman  and his siblings came up with a dual governance structure to separate family and business matters. Established in 2002, the family council, comprised of seven family members, oversees all family affairs, including succession planning and investments. As each successive generation joins the business, the sauce company evolves the way it appeals to new consumers. Boomer and Gen X migrants who settled in other parts of the world, Lee Kum Kees core market, are likely to have a higher degree of familiarity with and loyalty to the brand. But this isnt the case with their children, the latest generation, who executives say are cooking less and are more fickle. Itll always be about the top line and bottom line, but theres more to it. How are you going to hold on to your customer, right? Lee Kum Kee corporate affairs executive vice president Dodie Hung told this masthead in an exclusive interview. Gone are the times of splashing on big-budget ad campaigns and calling it a day. Its not like that any more. Your social media, your reputation is as good as peoples word of mouth, and what they think about you, Hung said. Were also looking at how to approach a younger generation. And some of the things that we do, we were doing that even before they become consumers. Dodie Hung, Lee Kum Kees executive vice president of corporate affairs. The companys strategy isnt so much about flogging products, but selling Asian cuisine as accessible and easy to cook. Products have evolved to meet the demand for convenience. What is effectively a hoisin sauce is presented as a san choy bao ready sauce in a packet to help consumers grasp its ease of use. More chefs are reportedly using pre-made sauces as a base for consistency in their cooking, rather than making it from scratch.

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Growing the number of products stocked in home pantries and chef kitchens is a target articulated by the company maxim: Where there are people, there is Lee Kum Kee. (The mission extends beyond Earth. Lee Kum Kee is an official partner of Chinas space industry and the companys condiments have gone to space 11 times as part of Chinese astronauts meals.) Loading But the ambition also requires investment in educating consumers. Lee Kum Kees encyclopaedic list of products  which includes more than 50 variations of soy sauce, among them premium, superior and gold label that range in quality and are ill-defined  is something of an Achilles heel, particularly in Western markets where uninitiated consumers may be puzzled by the difference between light and dark soy. When country manager Lam visits Australia, where he spends about a third of his time, he can sometimes be found standing in front of the Asian food aisle in a Coles or Woolworths supermarket to observe incognito how consumers make purchasing decisions. The majority (80 per cent) of Australians seem to recognise the Lee Kum Kee brand, but the same proportion switch brands in front of the shelf, according to research the company commissioned. It also found Australians cook at home about four or five days of the week, with Asian cuisine making up about half of those days. Things get a little hazy after that. When you start asking more, Is this Chinese? Is this Korean?, there are some question marks, Lam said. Its stir-fried, its Asian food. But stir-fry is many things. Former MasterChef contestant Declan Cleary is a brand ambassador for Lee Kum Kee, a first for the companys Australian operations.

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The company has shown a preference for strategic partnerships, collaborations and sponsorships to bridge the gap with Western markets. Shortly after Lam took the helm of the Australian market two years ago, 2023 MasterChef contestant Declan Cleary became Lee Kum Kees first brand ambassador outside of Asia. The sauce giant was a key sponsor of the program this year, as contestants used Lee Kum Kee condiments in a mystery box challenge and were whisked to Hong Kong on a surprise trip. Australians enjoy Asian flavours but dont always know how to achieve the same results in the kitchen, Cleary said. Theres definitely an educational piece around how different condiments work, he said. Australians are open to diverse flavours but often need a little guidance  [they] are getting there, but theres still a way to go. For the family, making money is not necessarily the primary target. Its actually to grow the [Lee] name, to do it right. Dodie Hung, Lee Kum Kees corporate affairs executive vice president Overseas, the Hong Kong-based company has partnered with US ramen chain Kyuramen, Japan-inspired hospitality group Chubby Group and Japanese sushi train chain Sushiro to create exclusive dishes. Lee Kum Kee has also linked up with Australian gelato chain Messina, which has a lesser-known outpost in Hong Kong, to create limited edition oyster sauce, tofu and soy sauce ice-creams (more palatable than you think). Jumping on the right trends  like chilli  is important, not just for brand perception and getting Gen Z on board, but securing prime shelf space in crucial markets. We tried for the longest time to get into Walmart and Costco in North America. We couldnt succeed. Guess what took us there? Sriracha [sauce], Hung said. It sold so well that they would carry our products, and then subsequently things like oyster sauce. The new world of anything-on-demand has also created an unexpected enemy of cooking: food delivery. Everyones just gaming, Hung said of his university-age sons. They dont want to go out.

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Trade secrets Lee Kum Kee is eager to promote the companys long legacy, but as a family business, is secretive about much. Company executives are happy to confirm that theirs is the worlds top oyster sauce brand, that their soy sauce comfortably sits in the top three in that category, and about 50 per cent of business comes from retail sales, with the other half from food service. But it has never publicly disclosed profit or sales numbers; requests for market share or revenue figures by reporters were either provided on background or politely declined. Executives, particularly the Lee family, rarely make themselves available to media. The company also believes those closely guarded trade secrets are part of its success and global penetration. A media group hosted by Lee Kum Kee and touring the companys production facility in Xinhui, China, were not permitted to enter the factories themselves. The company will not disclose seemingly more innocuous details, like how many oysters go into a bottle of oyster sauce. Tanks of soy sauce at Lee Kum Kees production facility in Xinhui, China. The tanks span 1.33 million square metres. The only thing we can divulge is the sauce business has been growing every year, even through the toughest times, Hung said. We dont [share figures] because were not a public company  were a private company. The sixth generation, which has begun entering the family business, brings strengths in social media and marketing. Rules have been set in place to guard against nepotism. Younger members of the Lee family must have at least three years experience at an unrelated company before joining the business, which has a special development program for family members. Newcomers are also permitted to sit in board meetings of the venture capital business, Happiness Capital.

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Just how neurotic do you have to be to work as an actor or singer? Well, according to a study published this year in the prestigious Journal of Applied Psychology, there are reliable differences in the average personality profiles across different occupations.

The researchers analysed personality and occupational data from over 68,000 people. Personality was measured using the popular Big 5 model that captures neuroticism, extroversion, openness, conscientiousness, and agreeableness.

Crane operators were found to be some of the workers least open to new ideas. And good thing too. Credit: Bloomberg

The results were sometimes surprising, and at other times obvious. The highest average scorers on conscientiousness were ships engineers, dental assistants and therapists, and construction managers.

Makes sense, doesnt it? We all want a diligent engineer checking the ship before the cruise, rather than some slap-dash unreliable type. The lowest average scorers on this trait were visual artists, followed worryingly by electronics engineers, and then graphic designers.
Kristian Connelly fondly recalls the spine-tingling moment during childhood movie visits when the lights faded, the screen expanded, and the audience settled in for the trailers.

I think it was the original Twister with Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt, and they played the teaser for The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Connelly, chief executive of Cinema Nova in Melbournes Carlton, said.

I would almost be happy to have just paid admission to see that. It was just so exciting to see a first glimpse.

Kristian Connelly is the chief executive of Cinema Nova in Carlton. Credit: Simon Schluter

While trailers are beloved by many, its another fixture of the pre-show, the ads, that might be under threat. Director Todd Phillips, whose Joker: Folie a Deux failed to set the box office alight, this week told Empire that theatres should stop showing pre-show ads altogether.
Dr KK Cheung  who chairs the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) specific interests antenatal and postnatal care group  says the AMH test has typically been the domain of obstetricians and gynaecologists, but has noticed more women asking for one from GPs. Loading AMH is mainly used to determine if someone is a strong candidate for egg-freezing or assisted reproductive technology such as IVF. Since it can provide a rough estimate of the number of eggs someone has, it can help shape expectations around how successful egg retrieval might be. Fertility is multifactorial, rather than a reflection of one biomarker, says Cheung. A GP will consider and discuss all these aspects with a patient whos thinking about pregnancy, as well as the health of any reproductive partner.

Kennett and her husband have always dreamed of having two children. While she says the information shes received since taking the AMH test has been reassuring, that anxiety from hearing about her low result will never completely leave her. It is something thats always going to be in the back of my mind. Once you know, you cant unknow it, she says. AMH goes commercial For Maz Coote, a Sydney-based publicist, her experience with the AMH test led her to found WHEN, an at-home, commercial version of the test and the first of its kind in Australia, where it is typically done at a pathology clinic via GP or specialist referral.

Coote first had the test when she was single, in her early 30s and considering having her eggs frozen. She got the test and received what her doctor told her was a low result of 7.8. Despite this, Coote says the doctor gave little context to what this number meant and so, reassured and sensing no urgency to act, did nothing. A few years later, after meeting her husband, she went back to do the test and received a lower result of 3.6, and was incorrectly told by her doctor this meant she was infertile. She panicked. Coote, now 37, has gone on to have a daughter naturally. But she says the lack of information around the test caused unnecessary stress. Her low AMH also meant she had to go through several rounds of egg retrieval, which may not have been the case had she frozen her eggs earlier. I crawled through those rounds and that was one of the most frustrating parts: egg freezing is something Id intended to do, says Coote. But because I delayed it not understanding my result... there was the financial toll of three rounds, the toll on my body, the personal toll, and it didnt necessarily have to be like that. What it really comes down to is education and resources and giving people the tools. Maz Coote, founder of WHEN

Coote and her husband raised $1.1 million from investors in Australia and New Zealand, and are looking raise more funds soon, after launching in August. Manufactured by Trajan Scientific and Medical, WHEN is a TGA-listed mail order kit that collects a sample of blood via pinprick. The brand charges $249 for the test, while pathology clinics typically charge between $80 and $120. While the test is identical to the one performed by a pathology clinic, Coote says the key difference is that participants receive their results alongside a report with commentary from Australian fertility experts. It also includes a telehealth consultation with an accredited nurse if low AMH levels are detected. She believes this is lacking in the health system and that many GPs do not have the specialist knowledge to accurately counsel patients on their AMH result. She urges women to seek the advice of GPs with an interest in womens health and fertility. Coote also hopes the test increases accessibility for women in rural areas who might not have access to the specialists she did. What it really comes down to is education and resources and giving people the tools to start a fertility conversation earlier. Maz Coote is a Sydney-based publicist and founder of WHEN, Australias first at-home AMH test. Credit: Janie Barrett

Not a fertility  or menopause  test Some experts are concerned about the framing of the test as a fertility test and believe it has no use beyond egg freezing or IVF. Dr Tessa Copp, a research fellow at the University of Sydneys School of Public Health, believes the language used by many commercial companies promoting their products is unclear. In February this year, Copp led a study that looked at how corporations use feminist messaging to promote non-evidence based health interventions, including the AMH test. The language used in [WHENs] advertising shares the same characteristics weve found in our research on other companies across the globe. Theyre using feminist rhetoric promising empowerment, selling it as a way for women to gain personalised insights into their fertility.

Loading The test is not powered for these purposes. It should not be used to inform your reproductive timeline because its just too unreliable and could really mislead if it gives the wrong information. A major US study from 2017 concluded that decreased AMH levels were not associated with infertility, while another from 2021 found it was not a reliable predictor of natural pregnancy in women across all age groups. While studies have shown an association between AMH levels and the age of menopause, Mol stresses that it cannot predict menopause on an individual level. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists was unable to provide comment but does not recommend the AMH test to diagnose or predict menopause.

Coote is conscious of the criticisms around the marketing of the test and agrees it is not a fertility test. Its about interpretation, says Dr Raelia Lew, a CREI fertility specialist and medical director of Womens Health Melbourne. Without education, any test in medicine has the potential to do harm ... but it also has the potential to empower patients to make decisions that may ultimately be in their best interests. [So] Its a complex conversation of which AMH is one piece of a much bigger puzzle. Lew adds that men should also be a bigger part of the conversation. A study from the University of Sydney, co-authored by Copp, recruited women aged 25 to 45 in Australia and the Netherlands to review their attitudes to the test. It found that women who viewed evidence-based information about the AMH test showed less interest in it than those who viewed the information presented by online companies selling the test.

Assisted reproductive technology on the rise The age of first-time mothers in Australia is rising (from 28.3 years in 2010 to 29.8 in 2022) and with it demand for assisted reproductive technology such as IVF. The number of women freezing their eggs in Australia has doubled, with one-third choosing to do so for lifestyle reasons, such as not having a partner. Professor William Ledger, medical advisor with WHEN and the former director of the Fertility and Research Centre at the Royal Hospital for Women, says that as Australians start to delay parenthood for various social and economic reasons, an AMH test can be a useful part of family planning, particularly if someone is expecting egg collection to be part of their journey. People are waiting, and if theyre in the 30 to 40 age group, they should have a look at their egg count. Because if its low, they might need to move a bit quicker, whereas if its OK, theyve got time. While it has the potential to create anxiety  as it did with Coote  Ledger believes that it can give reassurance with the right education.

Its not designed to worry people, its designed to be honest. Lew has seen many women come through her doors seeking help with their fertility. She says as women start to delay motherhood, fertility, which of course declines with age, is a growing concern. Starting conversations around fertility younger, she believes, would help relieve the cost burden of assisted reproductive technology on the health system. Like bra sizes, she says there is no such thing as a normal AMH level. Some people are born with more eggs and others are born with fewer eggs. And that doesnt actually have a direct correlation or relationship to quality or the chance that an egg will make a baby. Deb Nazareth. Credit: Justin McManus Deb Nazareth, a facilities manager based in Melbourne, starting to think about having a child with her now ex-partner last year. Then 38, Nazareth decided to go to her GP to explore her options, who suggested she have an AMH test. What her GP failed to tell her was that the contraceptive pill can produce false readings of the test.

It was really upsetting to hear that my AMH levels were quite low, and I felt like I needed to do everything very quickly and there was not much chance that I would be able to have a baby, she says. Loading After seeing a specialist, Nazareth stopped taking the pill and retook the test, which provided a higher reading. Now single, she has recently frozen her eggs to keep her future options open. Nazareth wants to see more education for women about what the test means and the fertility options available to them to prevent them experiencing the upset she did. She says its also important to remember the test can only provide a rough estimate of the number of eggs to be retrieved  Nazareth got fewer eggs than the test indicated from her first round of retrieval.
Me leaving hurts the company. Hurts my employees. Hurts the fighters. Doesnt hurt me, he said at the time. Heres my punishment: I have to walk around for however long I live, and this is how Im labelled now, he added. How did White become a high-profile Trump supporter? Donald Trump has been a long-time financial backer of the UFC, hosting some of the first fights under Whites leadership at his since-shuttered Trump Taj Mahal casino in New Jersey. Donald Trump with Dana White at a UFC event in New Jersey in June. Credit: AP

Interviewed by The Hill in 2018, during Trumps first presidential term, White said he had received support from Trump since he took over the UFC franchise in 2001. At the time, mixed martial arts fighting was banned in several US states. I would never say anything negative about Donald Trump because he was there when other people werent, White said. Loading Any good thing that happened to me in my career, Donald Trump was the first to pick up the phone and call and say congratulations. White has supported Trump politically since his first presidential run in 2016.

He spoke at the 2020 Republican National Convention, calling Trumps re-election critically important. In June, Trump received a standing ovation as he was escorted by White to his seat at a UFC event, two days after he was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records by a New York jury. What did White say at Trumps victory speech? As he celebrated his election win on Tuesday evening, US time, Trump invited White to the microphone. UFC CEO Dana White speaking as US presidential nominee Donald Trump claims victory in last weeks election. Credit: AP

This is karma, ladies and gentlemen, White told the crowd. Nobody deserves this more than his family does. This is what happens when the machine comes after you. White thanked controversial podcast host Joe Rogan for his endorsement of Trump, calling Rogan mighty and powerful, as well as several other right-wing figures, including prankster YouTubers the Nelk Boys, whose skits include pretending to possess cocaine in front of police and taking young Amish men to strip clubs. What is the UFCs relationship with NSW Labor? As an election promise, NSW Labor pledged $16 million in funding to host three pay-per-view UFC events in Sydney.

The first, UFC 293, was held at Qudos Bank Arena in September 2023. Last month, Premier Chris Minns announced a second event, UFC 312, would be held at the same venue on February 9, 2025, bringing the franchises Octagon fight venue to Sydney. UFC events had been held previously in Australian cities, including Sydney. But the deal is understood to be the largest between an Australian state government and Whites organisation. In 2019, the Victorian government paid $5 million to host UFC 243 in Melbourne, News Corp reported. Perth hosted the first of two planned major UFC events in a Tourism Western Australia-funded series in August. When NSWs three-event deal was first announced, White posted a video on social media personally thanking Minns for making all of this happen. Minns is an avowed UFC fan.

Announcing UFC 312 alongside UFC Australia vice president Peter Kloczko and Australian ex-concreter turned professional fighter Alexander Volkanovski, Minns said Volkanovski, who has also written childrens books, was one of our greatest Aussie athletes and a fantastic role model. The NSW government is also in negotiations to host further UFC events. How has NSW Labors spending on the UFC been received? Australias UFC events have been extremely well attended. UFC 293 was watched by a sellout crowd of 18,168 spectators  the highest number of tickets issued for a single sporting event in Qudos Bank Arenas history.

According to the UFC, 63 per cent of tickets were sold to attendees who did not live in NSW. However, when the plan to spend big to lure three UFC fights to Sydney was first announced by Minns in 2023, womens safety advocates warned against glorifying violence and raised concerns about Whites personal history of domestic violence. Loading Not helping matters were sexist remarks made by US fighter Sean Strickland, including that women dont need to work, they need to stay home and raise a family, during a press conference in front of a NSW government logo. He later posted on social media concerns about being surrounded by dirty liberalS [sic] in Sydney and relief that he had seen literally zero pride flags on his arrival. Minns at the time said these comments were obnoxious and objectionable.

The Coalition has also opposed Labors spending on the UFC. What does Minns make of Whites relationship with Trump? Asked about Whites appearance at Trumps party, Minns said his governments relationship with the UFC was important. Programs like the partnership between the UFC and PCYC teach young men about the importance of healthy lifestyles and positive decision-making, he said. This is a massive global sport with huge economic benefits, and we have world champions right here in NSW.
WA Police have expressed frustration that the safety campaign to stem the states rising road toll is not getting through after the death of another young driver in Perths south-east.

A 22-year-old male died after the orange Holden Commodore ute he was driving west at speed on Thomas Road in Oakford clipped the rear of an oversized truck travelling in a convoy in the opposite direction about 6.40am on Saturday.

The driver lost control of the vehicle before colliding with a white Ford Ranger utility, the rear pilot vehicle that had been escorting the truck.

The 22-year-old man sustained critical injuries and was taken to Fiona Stanley Hospital where he later died.
Vapes were dispensed behind-the-counter at pharmacies just 3500 times during the first month of the federal governments scheme to weed out the black market by making them chemist products, despite an estimated 1 million Australians using the devices.

Data supplied to Senate estimates reveals the uptake of pharmacy vape prescriptions was slow in October, the first month that e-cigarettes could be bought after a consultation with a chemist under Health Minister Mark Butlers vaping crackdown.

With about 5800 pharmacies across the country, the data suggests thousands of them would not have prescribed a single vape product.

Data supplied to Senate estimates reveals a slow uptake in pharmacy vape sales in October. Credit: Louie Douvis

The governments initial policy analysis assumed about 450,000 people a year would seek out medical vape products once illicit products became harder to get.
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

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.
Italian luxury brand Bulgari plans to further expand its network within China, said Bulgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin, during an interview on Nov. 6 at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai.

"In 2004, Bulgari opened its first 12-square-meter store at the Peninsula Hotel in Beijing. Today, Bulgari has about 100 stores across China, covering approximately 40,000 square meters," Babin explained.

He added that Bulgari is proud to have 1,500 Chinese colleagues across the region, making China the company's second-largest workforce after Italy.

With China being one of the largest jewelry markets globally, the luxury brand sees immense potential for growth in the country, Babin said, adding that "we believe that we have the opportunity to elevate the brand to a much higher level in China."

Babin highlighted China's advanced e-commerce landscape, which significantly extends Bulgari's reach. "China is the most developed country in e-commerce in the world, thanks not only to the digital skills of the Chinese but also to platforms like T-mall, JD and WeChat."

"We have plans to further expand our network in China as more cities are envisioning to have luxury malls. There is still room in China for further boutiques," he added.

The booth of Italian luxury brand Bulgari at the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, Nov. 7, 2024. [Photo by Wang Yiming/China.org.cn]



As part of the LVMH Group, Bulgari has attended CIIE for five consecutive years. This year's booth, themed "Celebrates Art," showcases Bulgari's dedication to blending artistry and luxury. Since it entered China in 2004, Bulgari has aimed to build bridges between Eastern and Western cultures, continuously drawing inspiration from diverse civilizations.

"We feel very close to China due to cultural reasons," Babin said, noting that CIIE provides a unique occasion "to share, to foster dialogue, and to promote what is so dear for us, arts."

The booth features artwork by Chinese artist Wu Jian'an, "Candle Dragon," inspired by a mythical serpent-bodied god from ancient Chinese lore. This piece is part of Bulgari's "Serpenti Factory" exhibition initiative, which has toured multiple cultural centers worldwide. The initative has brought together artists to reinterpret Bulgari's iconic serpent motif as well as helped young artists gain greater public and media exposure.
I am a surgeon from a family of surgeons, all based in Massachusetts. Throughout my career, I have faced many challenges, both in and outside of the operating room. Like most doctors, I am saddened by the current collapse of our system in general and my own hospital in particular, which is facing closure due to mounting debt owed to private equity. For the record, I have been warning my colleagues for years, speaking out as an independent physician in my community, writing angry letters to news sources, and finally building a platform where physicians can remain accessible to their patients outside the inevitable insurance company chokehold. I was told recently that I have been like a prophet, but I think of myself more like Cassandra, warning the Trojans not to bring the horse inside the gates of the city. Either way, the die is cast, the city lies in ruins, and its time to think about building something new.

The first step is to improve access by putting a ban on all network restrictions. This would immediately allow patients to seek care from any qualified physician who takes their insurance, not just those selected by their employer or government-based health plan. This would free both patients and doctors to focus on care rather than coverage. Network restrictions result in unnecessary delays and denials of care and, to date, have not reduced the cost of care by a single dollar. I can recall when these policies began. I was a surgery resident at Tufts-New England Medical Center. Harvard Pilgrim had decided to restrict their members to only Harvard-affiliated hospitals, which included patients in the middle of cancer treatments and protocols. My chairman, Dr. Thomas ODonnell, who was also CEO of the hospital at the time, fought the insurers and won, because it wasnt just unfair; it would be bad for patients. He could see it clearly because he was seeing patients every day. This could never happen today because our hospital boardrooms are filled with MBAs, franchise owners, and marketing executives who prioritize margins and revenue. Its time to put an end to networks once and for all, and since all insurers are tax subsidized, our elected officials have the authority to make it happen.

Next, along with requirements for more financial transparency, hospitals need to restore physician authority. Hospital administrators often make decisions or implement policies that adversely affect patient outcomes and increase the cost of care. Doctors can no longer take a patient to the OR, order a transfusion, or even admit a patient without stopping to ask permission. Every aspect of patient care is dictated by a corporate model that requires the collection of extraneous data, turning the patient record into an invoice. When doctors cannot comply with the administrative burdens and do what is best for the patient, they face moral injury and burnout. It is no wonder resident physicians and academic physicians are forming unions. To address this issue, it is imperative for public health officials to mandate that hospital boardrooms primarily consist of actively practicing physicians who hold valid licenses. This measure will ensure that decisions are guided by patient well-being rather than financial considerations.

Finally, the citizens of our state should have the right to decide how their health care dollar is spent. Do we want our premiums going toward paying doctors, nurses, and medical technology, or do we want to pay administrators, marketing executives, and business consultants? Its really that simple. People have a right to ask why an insurer denies coverage of a prescription but rewards a broker for raising premiums. Our system was predicated on a top-down, paternalistic model of care centered in the hospital, but that truth no longer applies. Patients, by necessity, have had to learn more about their health risks, treatment options, and recovery, including the cost, which has created the marketplace for direct-to-consumer medicine. More physicians need to be free to put patients first again, rather than comply with corporate policy. This will take more than just transparency, but a better understanding of the true costs of care, including independent practice. It will take a major shift in how we approach health care in the future, but the city walls have already been breached, and we have no choice.

Elected officials and those running for office consider health care too complicated to fix. Faced with the collapse of a major network in our state, there is no alternative but to act. Eliminate networks, restore physician leadership and autonomy, and require transparency; these are the first steps. Let us have a crack at rebuilding the city we unfortunately helped take down. When the walls of Troy were breached and the city burned, the Trojans who escaped went on to found another great civilization. Rome wasnt built in a day, and neither will our new version of health care, but the time is now to begin the journey.

Paula Muto is a vascular surgeon.
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We dive deep into the evolving role of artificial intelligence in health care with Muhamad Aly Rifai, a practicing internist and psychiatrist. We explore how AI is not only shaping clinical care but also transforming the enforcement of health care regulations. With a focus on the ethical dilemmas and potential risks of AI in medicine, Muhamad Aly shares his insights on the future of physician autonomy and patient care in an increasingly AI-driven world.

Muhamad Aly Rifai is a practicing internist and psychiatrist in the Greater Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania.

He discusses the KevinMD article, The use of artificial intelligence in the enforcement of health care regulations.

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Transcript

Kevin Pho: Hi, and welcome to the show. Subscribe at KevinMD.com/podcast. Today we welcome back Muhammad Aly Rifai. He is an internal medicine physician and psychiatrist. Todays KevinMD article is The Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Enforcement of Health Care Regulations. Muhammad Aly, welcome back to the show.

Muhammad Aly Rifai: Thank you for having me.

Kevin Pho: So lets jump straight into this article, but before talking about it, what led you to write it in the first place?

Muhammad Aly Rifai: So, I have been on the receiving end of investigations and prosecutions by the United States Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Inspector General. And during this prosecution, I discovered that the Department of Justice, as well as the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, had been using artificial intelligence to basically target physicians who are outliers. Specifically, my area of expertiseeven before the advent of COVID and telehealthI was doing telehealth, and I was an outlier because there was nobody else that was doing telehealth. I was also doing psychiatric services to rural nursing homes in Pennsylvania. So, unfortunately, the precogs of the artificial intelligence caught me because I was an outlier. But the artificial intelligence software did not recognize that I was the only one providing these services and there were no comparators.

So that kind of really prompted me to try to dig in deeper into the subject of artificial intelligence. And some of the things that I discovered were very shocking, and I detail that in the article.

Kevin Pho: All right, and before talking about that article, for those who arent familiar with your story, just tell us what kind of accusations the Department of Justice levied against you.

Muhammad Aly Rifai: So the Department of Justice indicated that I was billing for services that were not provided. Not that we actually didnt see the patient. We actually saw the patient, but we provided specialized psychiatric services to severely psychiatrically ill individuals who were in rural nursing homes in Pennsylvania. The government said that we were just providing the bare-bone services, while in reality, we were providing detailed and very specialized services. And they could not distinguish that. The AI basically picked me up because I was an outlier. I was the only one providing services, and there were no comparators.

Kevin Pho: All right, so lets talk about your article. You explore the role of AI in targeting you. Tell us what you found.

Muhammad Aly Rifai: So, the United States Department of Justice and the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the Centers for Medicare Services, really have started honing in on the utilization of artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence is basically just a computerized construct, a machine learning construct that mimics human intelligence. There are multiple versions of artificial intelligence, but specifically, they were targeting the billing codes. They were sending software to swim through the billing codes and see if they could identify codes that were aberrantpeople who were different than others, as well as people who were doing things that were not appropriate.

Specifically, in my case, they had software that checked for billing on deceased patients. In my case, for example, we had three errors where we had two individuals with the same date of birth, but we billed on the deceased one instead of the live one. However, in addition to finding these three, the software found an additional ten patients who had died before I was even born, when I was in kindergarten, or in high school. And they charged me or indicated that I billed on those patients, when in reality, I wasnt even practicing at that time.

Kevin Pho: So when you brought up these rebuttals and inaccuracies, what was the response you received?

Muhammad Aly Rifai: A response of embarrassment and a lack of explanation. Actually, the jury was very sympathetic to those findings, and that was one of the factors that led them to come back with a verdict of not guilty because they realized the inaccuracy of the software that the government was using and that it was basically 80, 90 percent inaccurate and in its infancy. This is one of the reasons that made me write about this topic.

Kevin Pho: Now, is your case an outlier scenario? For the most part, when the government uses artificial intelligence to look for potential fraud, is it generally effective, or is your case the norm?

Muhammad Aly Rifai: My case is the norm. Its typical. The software, the artificial intelligence, is not ready yet. It hasnt learned. Im actually in the process of writing an article about another event that happened a year before my case where there was some aberrant billing involving urinary catheters. Individuals and companies billed for $3 billion worth of urinary catheters, and the Medicare software failed to detect it. It was individuals in the community who alerted Medicare to that billing. The artificial intelligence is not ready for prime time, and its producing faulty results that result in unjust prosecutions of physicians.

Kevin Pho: Do you have any insight into the technology behind the artificial intelligence and why it isnt as accurate as it should be?

Muhammad Aly Rifai: Sure, sure. Number one, it is in its infancyit is still learning. During my prosecution, I learned that one of the companies that are Medicare contractors, which conduct audits and use artificial intelligence, Safeguard Services, is a subsidiary of a larger company called Peraton (P-A-R-A-T-O-N). I discovered that Peraton was a contractor for various federal agencies, like the FBI and CIA, providing artificial intelligence for tracking terrorism and other security threats. They were adapting that software for use in Medicare billing.

When you look at their advertising, it can be unnerving to see that this kind of technology is being used to target physicians for Medicare billing. So, its software tailored for other purposes being adapted to probe for billing abnormalities in the Medicare system.

Kevin Pho: So if a physician gets caught up in one of these cases where they are falsely accused, what kind of options do they have in terms of next steps?

Muhammad Aly Rifai: They have to scrutinize what was done in terms of the statistical analysis. Were seeing cases where a small number of aberrant billings are identified, and then extrapolated to larger numbers. For example, in the case of Dr. Rajendra Batra in Detroit, they reviewed only six charts out of 25,000 patients and extrapolated from that review, ultimately asking for $455 million back. Dr. Batra was found not guilty after the experts they brought in uncovered issues with how artificial intelligence was being used to inflate findings from the Department of Justice.

Kevin Pho: Are there specific areas of medicine or typical cases more prone to these types of false AI accusations?

Muhammad Aly Rifai: Yes, for example, physicians accused of overprescribing opioids were often targeted and screened using artificial intelligence. Now, some of those physicians are defending themselves by bringing in experts to show they were not outliers and that the AI targeted them inappropriately. When you dig into the actual evidence, which was built on AI algorithms, you can sometimes prove that the targeting was wrong, leading to not-guilty verdicts.

Kevin Pho: You told your story in our last episode, but for those who didnt hear it, can you share how long it took to clear your name, the emotional difficulties, and the time and effort it required?

Muhammad Aly Rifai: It was a very difficult journey that took a lot of hard work, emotions, and sleepless nights sifting through the evidence provided by the Department of Justice to figure out how the software was applied. Because of my knowledge of computers and my experience as an expert witness and psychiatrist, I was able to identify inconsistencies with the help of other experts in that field. We found the discrepancies in the software and how the evidence was presented, which allowed us to challenge it effectively.

However, the trend were seeing is that the Office of Inspector General, the Centers for Medicare Services, and the Department of Justice are implementing software that predicts who might overcode or cause issues proactively, which is heading in a very dangerous direction.

Kevin Pho: What is your solution from the governments perspective? Given the size of our current health care system, some automation is necessary to sift out bad actors. Is there a role for artificial intelligence? If so, how would you improve its use?

Muhammad Aly Rifai: Sure, sure. I believe there is a tremendous role for artificial intelligence, but it has to be well-trained and backed by human oversight to verify its findings. In my case, the AI model produced results without any human verification. They just presented the data in court, and it was embarrassing when we pointed out the inaccuracies. Its crucial to have trained individuals validate these findings. For example, the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services only has one physician on staff out of 1,600 employees. Involving more physicians to verify the findings would be a significant improvement. If Medicare approached me with findings reviewed by several physicians, I would understand. But when college or high school graduates review the billing and call it fraudulent, without understanding its nuances, it becomes a big problem.

Kevin Pho: Were talking to Muhammad Aly Rifai. He is an internal medicine physician and psychiatrist. Todays KevinMD article is The Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Enforcement of Health Care Regulations. Muhammad Aly, well end with some of your take-home messages for the KevinMD audience.

Muhammad Aly Rifai: I think artificial intelligence is here to stay, and health systems and practitioners need to be aware that they could be perceived as outliers based on the codes or procedures they use. Its important for them to have their own systems to compare and see how they stand relative to their peers. AI has great potential, and I hope we continue discussing how it can be effectively used in other areas of medicine.

Kevin Pho: Well, thank you again for sharing your story, time, and insight. Thanks for coming back on the show.

Muhammad Aly Rifai: Thank you.
BEIJING, Nov. 8 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima and pay a state visit to Peru from Nov. 13 to 17 at the invitation of President of the Republic of Peru Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced on Friday.

Xi will attend the 19th G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro and pay a state visit to Brazil from Nov. 17 to 21 at the invitation of President of the Federative Republic of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Hua said.

President Xi's attendance at this year's APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting fully demonstrates the great importance China attaches to Asia-Pacific economic cooperation, said Mao Ning, another foreign ministry spokesperson, at a regular press briefing.

"At present, world economic growth lacks momentum, and economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region faces new challenges," Mao said, adding that it is hoped the region will continue playing its role as an engine for world economic growth.

Xi will deliver a speech at the meeting, expounding on China's measures to deepen reform and opening up and its policies and propositions on advancing Asia-Pacific cooperation, Mao said.

The Chinese president's attendance at the G20 Summit demonstrates China's firm support for multilateralism and the great importance China attaches to G20 cooperation, Mao said, adding that Xi will deliver a speech at the meeting and have in-depth exchanges of views with leaders of other countries.

She said it is widely expected that the G20 will play its role as the premier forum for international economic cooperation, inject impetus into world economic growth, and chart the course for improving global economic governance.

On Xi's upcoming visit to Peru, Mao said since the establishment of diplomatic relations 53 years ago, China and Peru have strengthened political mutual trust and achieved fruitful results in Belt and Road cooperation.

During the visit, Xi will hold talks with his Peruvian counterpart to exchange in-depth views on bilateral relations and cooperation in key areas.

It is believed that President Xi's visit will further consolidate political mutual trust between China and Peru, deepen practical cooperation in various fields, and push for more positive outcomes in bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, said Mao.

During his upcoming visit to Brazil, Xi will hold talks with the Brazilian president to exchange in-depth views on bilateral relations and on international and regional issues of common interest, said Mao.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of China-Brazil diplomatic ties. Over the past 50 years, bilateral relations have maintained sound and steady development with fruitful practical cooperation in various fields, she said.

Xi's Brazil visit will enhance political mutual trust, promote the synergy of development strategies of the two countries, and deepen strategic communication and coordination on global hotspot issues, said Mao.

(Source: Xinhua)

Editor: Wei Xuanyi
Agent of Happiness is a documentary directed by Arun Bhattarai and Dorottya Zurbo about the Gross National Happiness survey conducted in the small kingdom of Bhutan (population 700,000), situated between India and China. The film opened in New York City November 1 and will play elsewhere in the US later in the month.

Agent of Happiness (2024)

Dozens of agents fan out across the landlocked country (at 14,824 square miles, it would rank as the 42nd US state in area, between West Virginia and Maryland), with numerous Himalayan mountains rising in the north of the country to more than 23,000 feet, to ask detailed questions (148 of them) about the state of mind of those surveyed. A Happiness Index, the first produced in 2008, is the result.

Critics have long heaped scorn on this government operation. It has been legitimately characterized in part as a propaganda scheme to distract attention from the brutal ethnic cleansing policies of the Bhutanese regime, which has expelled or otherwise oppressed more than 100,000 people of Nepalese origin and Hindu faith (Buddhism is Bhutans state religion).

The government survey is also an effort to divert public focus from immense social inequality. Most of the population, as the Economist pointed out in a 2004 article, live in grinding poverty. The country ranks 153rd in gross domestic product per capita, making it one of the poorest in the world.

The documentary is primarily interesting and valuable for what it shows about the people of Bhutan, including the agent of happiness of the title, Amber Kumar Gurung, who himself has no Bhutanese citizenship because of his Nepali ethnicity.

Objectively speaking, the people in Bhutan are no happier than people anywhere else living in an economically unequal, unjust and oppressive class-riven society.

Agent of Happiness

In fact, changing what must be changed, the popular responses to the conditions are not so different than one would expect to find in any part of the world. They inevitably follow along the general fault-lines of social class, i.e., the rich are satisfied with life, the aspiring petty bourgeois worries about his or her property and status, the workers and rural poor are overworked and angry. Presiding above all this, an absurd, would-be godlike monarch prattles on hypocritically about how the country is guided by spiritual values.

One woman is pleased because her cow gave birth to a calfhappiness in this case is two cows. A group of road workers, of whom one would have liked to have seen more, have to work hard.

Do I have to say Im happy? one asks. They too are deprived of citizenship.

A stupid, wealthy man has three wives. He is obviously a minor tyrant and bully, full of himself and his religious talk. The wives get along like sisters. They all came from poverty-stricken families, so he knew he could do what he wanted.

I never loved him, one wife says. One has a tear in her eye.

A small farmer explains bluntly, Im as happy as the number of grains in my rice storage. In fact, he is sad at present because his wife has died. He erects 108 prayer flags to ease her journey to the next world.

We meet a lovely, innocent young couple. He says, and she shyly agrees, that the happiest moment was the birth of their first child. A trans woman, with a mother ill with cancer, is understandably worried, scared.

Surveyors asking questions in Agent of Happiness

In a ramshackle house, a divorced woman lives with her two daughters. The 17-year-old explains frankly that life is difficult because her mother drinks too much. The family has no car, no refrigerator, no radio, no washing machine, although all three have cellphones. The daughter cant find a boyfriend because her family is poor. When her parents were together, they drank and fought all the time. Dad beat mum.

The agent himself, Gurung, is unhappy because he is deprived of basic democratic rights, including the right to have a passport and travel. He writes a letter to his majesty, the King of Bhutan, applying for citizenship. Ive been working all my life. I dont feel like an equal, he tells the king. The citizenship issue is a never-ending problem. The outcome is uncertain.

This is the second film co-directed by Bhutanese Arun Bhattarai and Hungarian Dorottya Zurbo devoted to Bhutan, following The Next Guardian (2017), about a teenager unhappy with the prospect of becoming the next guardian of a Buddhist temple.

The filmmakers told Documentary magazine that they had accidentally encountered two happiness surveyors while making their earlier film. They had been immediately drawn in.

The pair

were very thoroughly asking hundreds of questions from the head of the family and then converting the replies into numerical numbers. Everything from feelings, dreams, and subjective state of mind to household items. However, what really struck us was the genuineness with which Amber was actually listening to his respondents. His warm personality quickly made people forget the official nature of the interview. He turned the situation into a conversation beyond the survey.

In a final title, the film observes that according to the Gross National Happiness Survey this year, 93.6 percent of Bhutanese are happy, an increase of 3.3 percent from the previous year. The filmmakers do not add a comment nor need to.
UK chancellor Rachel Reeves allocated a further 2.9 billion to military spending in last months Labour government budget, but this has only intensified complaints in ruling circles that this is nowhere near enough.

Labour, now four months in power, has still not committed to a date when it will meet an election pledge to ramp up military spending from its current level of just above 2 percent of GDP to 2.5 percent. On taking office, Labour said military spending decisions would be taken following a Strategic Defence Review (SDR) to be held next year.

UK's two aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth (top) and HMS Prince of Wales (middle) in Portsmouth naval yard in March 2022. Another UK warship, the frigate HMS Richmond, is in the foreground.

Reeves vaguely said the government would set a path to spending 2.5 percent of GDP on defence at a future fiscal event.

With the election of US President Donald Trump this week (to take office on January 20), a chorus is growing that all delays must end and that military spending is hiked still further. Annual military spend is around 55 billion but it is being demanded that billions more must be handed over to the Ministry of Defence (MoD)given Trumps previous insistence that NATOs European members increase military spendingor risk forfeiting US backing. As Trump stated at a campaign event in August, Ill insist that every Nato nation must spend at least 3 per cent. You have to go up to 3 percent2 percent is the steal of the century, especially as were paying for it.

Reeves was unable to say when military spending would substantially increase because the economic and social impact of an immediate hike to pay for the deeply unpopular wars Britain is embroiled in, which threaten to escalate, would be severe and provoke opposition.

Conservative Party leadership contender Robert Jenrickwith eventual winner Kemi Badenoch saying she has hardly any policy disagreementsmade reaching 3 percent military spending central to his campaign.

With a serious chance that Trump could take office, Jenrick agitated last month in the pages of the Telegraph that British imperialism would have to fall into line with the US on confronting Chinaon top of its current backing of wars on two frontsUkraine and the Middle East. Jenrick wrote, To deter a Russian invasion of NATO, we must spend 3 percent of GDP on defence and make that the new NATO standard for all member states We must prepare for an American pivot to the Indo-Pacific to contain China, which means the UK and Europe stepping up to defend against Russian belligerence. The age of freeloading has come to an end We must wake up and urgently prepare for China to invade Taiwan within three years.

More pressure on Labour to get with the programme is being made via debates in the House of Lords since Sir Keir Starmers party took office. In the first held on October 9as Labour peer and former NATO head Lord Robertson introduced his planned defence reviewcrossbench peer and former Chief of the Defence Staff Lord Stirrup insisted, Investment in defence needs to be above 3 percent of GDP, not the 2.5 percent that the government say that they aspire to but for which they have not so far set out a firm plan.

A debate held last week as demanded by the Tories, to coincide with the budget, saw Viscount Trenchard ask the government, What progress they have made in laying out the roadmap to spending 2.5 percent of gross domestic product on defence?

He added, [Wartime Prime Minister] Churchill was fond of quoting the Latin adage, If you want peace, prepare for war. In 1943 and 1944, more than 40 percent of GDP was spent on defence. If this country should again become directly embroiled in a major military conflict, it is reasonable to assume that the government would again have to spend a huge proportion of our national output on defence to fulfil their first duty.

Labours reluctance to massively increase military spending meant we are now placing our ability to provide leadership in military operations at risk because we have in recent years been increasing our defence expenditure at a much slower rate than other nations. Trenchard cited Germany, which in 2014 was spending only 1.2 percent of its GDP on defence, has committed to spend $97.7 billion on defence this year, which is an increase of 29.45 percent over 2023. France has increased its defence budget by 6.05 percent, and the United States by 7.21 percent. Against that, we have managed to provide an uplift of only 1.73 percent after adjustment for the implementation of the new accounting standard.

Tory Lord Bilimoria said, I am like a stuck record: in 2019 I first said that we should be spending 3 percent of our GDP on defencenot 2.5 percent but 3 percent. That was five years ago. Five years ago, there was no sign of Putin invading Ukraine, or of 7 October and the tragic situation in the Middle East since. Since the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, we are closer to global conflict than ever before, and then 3 percent will be nowhere near enough.

He summed up the dilemma facing the British ruling class over Ukraine, stating that it was correct to say that the UK couldnt afford Ukraine to lose the war with Russia, But the defence of Ukraine is possible only if the United States continues its support. It has provided over $100 billion of support; if it pulls out its support, that war is over. The election in America is next week; the repercussions will be very serious indeed and we must be prepared for that.

Another Tory peer Lord Shinkwin castigated the government, saying Ultimately, it is not a future fiscal event that is going to determine UK defence spendingit is a future military event, orchestrated by Putin and his allies.

Hereditary Peer Lord Mountevans stated that recent Tory and Labour military spendingas with Reeves 2.9 billionwas of a one-off nature and represented sticking plasters rather than a serious attempt to bring the forces to the level that is required in the current international and geopolitical condition. There was no guarantee of continued American support for NATO, especially if the Republican candidate were to succeed in the US presidential election next week. More generally, it has to be faced that attention in the United States is turning towards the Indo-Pacific. Europe will be expected to take greater responsibility for its own defence.

The major problem was that if the US is to continue to regard the UK as a key ally, we must maintain the fabric and capabilities of our Armed Forces. If not, they will regard us differently, as having less value as an ally.

The scale of the war against the conditions of the working class needed to secure the tens and hundreds of billions required for imperialist war was spelt out by Baroness Buscombe. Making a cursory comparison with our welfare spending alone, she stated, Taxpayers money is there but the priorities for government expenditure are just wrong In April this year, the Governments forecast for our total defence budget in 2024-25 was 55.6 billion. At the Department for Work and Pensions, figures for the same period forecast a spend of 315.8 billion on our social security system. Working-age benefits go to 9.3 million people, a huge proportion of whom are capable of working.

Buscombe complained that in contrast with our brilliant Armed Forces, benefit claimants receive a Christmas bonus [a 10 pittance] for doing nothing. The opportunity wasnt missed to scapegoat immigrants. It was scandalous that soldiers had to rely on charities to provide basic needs for their wardrobes and messes given our current expenditure on fully serviced hotels and weekly cash payments given to illegal migrants.

The Times plays a major role in demands for more military spending and leapt on comments by Labour Defence Minister John Healey that the Tories had underfunded the armed forces to such an extent that the UK was ready to conduct military operations but What weve not been ready to do is to fight. The Times noted, It is understood that senior military chiefs inside the Ministry of Defence (MoD) share Healeys view that if the armed forces were forced into combat any time soon [against Russia] they could lose in a fight.

The Times editorialised that while Healey has identified the problem his governments cure is inadequate Slowly but surely, Britains capacity to fight a peer adversary was whittled away as defence ceded ground to more politically pressing concerns like health and welfare.

It is crystal clear that this country should be spending 3 percent of GDP on defence. The international situation is the most perilous of modern times, with the Middle East in chaos, China menacing Taiwan, and Russia threatening to overwhelm Ukraine. Yet Labour, and the Conservatives before them, have failed to commit to 3 percent.

While the government was talking about charting a path to higher military spending, General Sir Roland Walker, the head of the army, says he needs to double his warfighting capability by 2028 and triple it by 2030. Planners, he warned recently, must work on the assumption of war with Russia in three years.

At the Commonwealth Summit in Samoa (October 21-26), Starmerwith an eye to a Trump victory, announced that next year the Royal Navy would join patrols with Pacific island nations and the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales will visit Singapore in 2025. The Times editorial was scathing commenting, The Royal Navy is sinking into insignificance. Its destroyer and frigate force could soon drop to 13 as ageing ships fall apart and replacements lag. Next years long-range deployment of a carrier will require a Norwegian stores ship because the UKs sole example is inoperable.
On Sunday, November 10, at 3 p.m. EST, the Socialist Equality Party is hosting an online event, The Election Debacle and the Fight Against Dictatorship. Register and join the event at: wsws.org/FightTrump

The election of Donald Trump is a critical event whose political repercussions will be felt throughout the world. This fascist demagogue has won the 2024 election with both an electoral and popular vote majority. He will be re-installed in the White House in 73 days.

Countless millions in the United States and throughout the world are stunned by the outcome of the election, which was made possible by the policies of the Democratic Party. But the shock is turning into disgust as they witness the Democrats craven surrender to Trump.

Forgetting not only Trumps attempted violent overthrow of the Constitution on January 6, 2021, but even the open threats he made during the election campaign to rule as a dictator from day one, President Biden and Vice President Harris are promising to assist Trumps transition team between now and Inauguration Day on January 20, 2025. It is not enough that they cleared the way for his return to the White House. They are now promising to polish the seat of Trumps chair in the Oval Office.

Little more than a week ago, Kamala Harris was warning that Trump was a fascist. Now she tells her supporters that there is nothing to worry about, and that everything will be all right. Biden promises proudly that there will be a peaceful transition of power on Inauguration Day, as if his spineless transfer of power to a fascist president deserves to be celebrated as a triumph of democracy.

The Democrats are attempting to chloroform the public.

Trump has proclaimed that this is the last election, and that his supporters will not have to vote again. The political reality is that the election of Trump sets the stage for an unprecedented repudiation of democratic rights, a wave of mass repression, and violent social counterrevolution. While Biden extends an olive branch, Trumps advisers are threatening vengeance against their political opponents. Steve Bannon, a key Trump adviser who was recently released from prison, has threatened them with rough Roman justice, that is, with murder.

Plans are being drawn up for mass deportations. And on the economic front, Elon Musk has stated that the policies of the new administration will result in pain, by which he means the slashing of funding for essential social programs, especially those related to healthcare, education and retirement benefits. The corporations will be given a free hand to implement massive layoffs.

Moreover, despite his claims to oppose war, the Trump administration will pursue a foreign policy no less aggressively militaristic than Bidens.

The defense of democratic rights and the social interests of the working class cannot be entrusted to those who are responsible for Trumps victory.

The critical task is the development of an independent political movement of the working class, based on a socialist program. The Democratic Party has surrendered to Trump. But the resistance of the working class to the plans for a police state will grow. The Democrats wont fight Trump, but the working class will.

In fact, the past year has seen an explosive growth of political and social opposition, from the mass protests against the genocide in Gaza to a steady growth of strike action by workers. Immense social struggles are on the horizon.

These struggles must be politically independent of and opposed to the Democratic Party, guided by an understanding that fascism can only be stopped by a movement of the working class against the source of political reaction and oligarchy: the capitalist system. There must be a new birth of genuinely socialist politics, based on the working class and animated by an international strategy.

Toward this end, the Socialist Equality Party will be holding an emergency online event on Sunday, titled The Election Debacle and the Fight Against Dictatorship. Its purpose will be to provide an analysis of the present political situation and to discuss the strategy and program necessary for the social, industrial, workplace and political struggles that lie ahead. The panelists participating in this online discussion will include SEP presidential candidate Joseph Kishore, vice presidential candidate Jerry White, immigrant and civil rights legal expert Eric London and myself.

Dont mourn. Organize and strategize! Attend the online event this Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Register and join the event at: wsws.org/FightTrump
The adoption by the Bundestag (parliament) on Thursday of a so-called antisemitism resolution once again underlines the fact that the German ruling class supports genocide and has never truly broken with fascism. The resolution has nothing to do with the fight against antisemitism or the protection of Jewish life. It is an extreme right-wing text aimed at defending Israels genocide against the Palestinians and criminalising and suppressing any criticism of it under the false accusation of antisemitism.

Lawmakers attend a session of German parliament Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, November 7, 2024. [AP Photo/Markus Schreiber]

In the context of Israel escalating the extermination of the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip and expanding its genocidal war to Lebanon and the entire region, the resolution expresses solidarity with this policy. We call on the government to continue to actively advocate for the existence and legitimate security interests of the state of Israel as a central principle of German foreign and security policy, the adopted text states.

And further: Israel has the right, under international law, to defend itself against attacks in violation of international law and thus the recognised duty to protect its citizens from terror while upholding its obligations under international law. We call on the German government to continue to advocate for this right in international forums and with international partners.

The Bundestag could not make its support for Israels genocide, which is estimated to have already killed more than 200,000 people, mostly women and children, any clearer.

To put it plainly: Israel has no internationally enshrined right to defend itself against the Palestinian people, whom it unlawfully oppresses and whose land it occupies. As the judge of the International Court of Justice, Navanethem Pillay, recently stated, a distinction must be made between Israel and Palestine, because one is the occupier and the other is the occupied.

In fact, the Israeli army is not fighting a defensive war, but an imperialist war of extermination. The real war aims go far beyond the destruction of Gaza. Israel serves as an extended arm for Berlin and the other imperialist powers to militarily enforce their economic and geostrategic interests in the Middle East and worldwide. The arming and support of the Israeli killing machine is part of the larger plan to bring the entire Middle East under imperialist control and to expand the war offensive against Russia and China.

As in the past, this requires the militarist enforced conformity of the whole of society. The resolution repeatedly calls on the German government to suppress the enormous opposition to the genocide even more harshly. The German Bundestag reaffirms its decision to ensure that no funding is provided to organisations and projects that spread antisemitism, question Israels right to exist, call for a boycott of Israel or actively support the BDS movement, the text reads.

Above all, the cultural sector and universities, which have repeatedly been the scene of numerous protests against the genocide, are to be cleansed. There must be no room for antisemitism in the arts and culture or the media, the resolution states.

And at universities, the proper conduct of events must be guaranteed. Antisemitic behaviour must have consequences. Therefore, schools and universities should be supported in continuing to make use of their legal options or to implement appropriate measures. These include the application of domiciliary rights, exclusion from teaching or studies, and even exmatriculation in particularly serious cases.

The fact that this is not about fighting real antisemitism, but about suppressing opposition to genocide, is underlined by the resolutions demand to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Associations (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which was adopted by the Bundestag in 2019, as authoritative. The IHRA definition is an ahistorical and anti-democratic construct that defines any political opposition to Zionism and to Israels oppression of the Palestinians as antisemitic.

It has long been a central element of a right-wing campaign that uses the accusation of left-wing antisemitism to criminalise the growing opposition, especially among workers and youth, to imperialism and war. The Bundestag resolution provocatively states that a purported increase in antisemitism since October 7 2023 can also be traced back to a relativising approach and an increase in Israel-related and left-wing anti-imperialist antisemitism.

If the resolution is titled Never Again Is Now, and cites the crimes of the Holocaust to justify the genocide of the Palestinians and the establishment of a dictatorship at home, that is the height of criminality. To put it bluntly, when Germanys ruling class aligns itself with Israels genocide of the Palestinians, it is in fact aligning itself with its own genocidal traditions.

And the same applies to the question of antisemitism. It is not the opponents of the genocide, including many Jews, who are promoting antisemitism, but the imperialist governments. The very attempt to associate Jewish people collectively with the murderous policies of the extreme right-wing Netanyahu regime is antisemitic through and through.

Nothing could make the deeply reactionary character of the resolution clearer than the fact it corresponds one-to-one with the policies of the Alternative for Germany (AfD)a party whose leaders glorify Hitlers Wehrmacht (Army), agitate against the Holocaust memorial in Berlin and stand in direct political and familial continuity with the Nazis who industrially exterminated 6 million Jews in the Holocaust.

In her speech in the Bundestag, the deputy parliamentary leader of the AfD faction, Beatrix von Storch, made it clear that by adopting the resolution, the federal government was implementing the racist and authoritarian programme of the far right. She said that this joint motion was the admission of the former coalition parties [SPD, Greens and Liberal Democrats, FDP] and the CDU [Christian Democrats] that the explosion in antisemitism in Germany has something to do with immigration and Islam.

She said she could still well remember the gasps of shock and horror here, especially from the Greens, when the AfD warned about imported Muslim antisemitism. But now, she said, we read in this motion, co-tabled by the Greens, about antiemitism that is based, and I quote, on immigration from the countries of North Africa and the Middle East.

And the motions proposed solution was also directed at us: to exhaust repressive possibilities, particularly in criminal and citizenship law and in asylum and residence law. In plain speech: put Muslim antisemites on a plane and send them home. Goodbye! and not Auf Wiedersehen!

There is hardly anything more repulsive than a Nazi politician like Storch, granddaughter of Hitlers finance minister Johann Ludwig Graf Schwerin von Krosigk, raving against Muslimsand ultimately also against Jews who are against genocidein the name of combatting antisemitism, and threatening them with persecution and deportation. But this is the policy of the entire ruling class.

The motion following the line of the AfD was introduced into the Bundestag by the parties of the now collapsed three-party coalitionSPD, Liberal Democrats and Greensand the Christian Democratic (CDU/CSU) faction. Although the Left Party abstained, its speaker Gregor Gysi left no doubt that his party supported the basic orientation of the resolution and Germanys support for Israel and thus for the genocide. The existence and security of Israel is part of Germanys raison detat, he asserted.

Only the deputies of the Left Party splinter group, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) voted against the resolution. However, they were trying to cover their own tracks. Right at the beginning of the Gaza genocide, BSW representatives in the Bundestag, at that time still members of the Left Party parliamentary group, had unanimously supported the introduction of a pro-Israeli motion from the coalition parties and the CDU/CSU and celebrated it as a German contribution in the fight against terror.
On Friday, the United Nations Human Rights Office published a report showing that nearly 70 percent of verified deaths in Gaza are of women and children, further underlining the reality that Israel is waging a genocide in Gaza.

[Photo: United Nations Human Rights Office]

The report declared, The main victims of strikes on residential buildings were children, with the three categories of age mostly represented in the verified fatalities sequentially being the ones from 5 to 9 years old, from 10 to 14 years old, and from 0 to 4 years old, for both boys and girls.

Due to the systematic destruction of Gazas healthcare system, it is impossible to know the real death toll since Israel began its war of extermination on October 7, 2023. Gazas Health Ministry has confirmed 43,000 deaths from Israeli attacks, with countless more remaining uncounted and unburied. Earlier this year, The Lancet published an article estimating that the real death toll could be 186,000 or more: a figure that has no doubt grown to over 200,000.

The UN report was based, however, on deaths that the UN Human Rights Office could verify firsthand: 8,119 people. This included 2,036 women and 3,588 children.

[Photo: United Nations Human Rights Office]

In figures that are almost equally shocking, the vast majority of those killed, or 64 percent, were killed in attacks that led to 10 or more civilian deaths. This is the result of a systematic Israeli policy of dropping massive ordnance on densely populated neighborhoods and high-rise buildings, with the aim of killing as many people as possible.

This level of mass death has been made possible by the more than 14,000 2,000-pound bombs provided by the United States to Israel, which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has used to systematically demolish more than 60 percent of the buildings in Gaza.

The UN report declares,

the IDF has systematically violated the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precautions in attack fundamental principles of international humanitarian law on the conduct of hostilitiesin the course of its attacks in Gaza since 7 October 2023.

It adds,

the level of violations of international law was unprecedented, giving rise to concerns over the commission of war crimes and other possible atrocity crimes. The International Court of Justice, in its series of orders on provisional measures, underscored the international obligations of Israel to prevent, protect against and punish acts of genocide and associated prohibited conduct.

And it concludes,

Intentionally directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects, or in the knowledge the attack would cause incidental loss of life or injury to civilians or damage to civilian objects clearly excessive in relation to the concrete and direct overall military advantage anticipated, are war crimes.

The report also compared the age breakdown between previous Israeli wars against Gaza and found a massive increase in the targeting of children in the present genocide. Compared with the distributions of OHCHR-verified fatalities in previous escalations of hostilities, the strikes on residential buildings in Gaza since 7 October suggest a pattern of attacks inflicting casualties evenly as a proportion across the entire population, with high numbers of babies and young children, women, older persons, and families killed together in residential buildings, raising further concerns that the IDF has failed to strictly comply with fundamental principles of IHL [International humanitarian law].

The UN report further warned that starvation became a reality for Palestinians in early January 2024, especially in the north, with the most vulnerable, including infants and older persons, reportedly dying.

In a separate report also published Friday, the Famine Review Committee warned that the entire Gaza Strip is facing emergency levels of food insecurity. It warned that famine is imminent in large parts of Gaza, where famine thresholds may have already been crossed or else will be in the near future.

These reports form the backdrop of the announcement made by the IDF that it no longer considers any people in northern Gaza civilians, in effect putting the whole area into a free-fire zone.

In a briefing this week, IDF Brigadier General Itzik Cohen declared, there is no intention of allowing the residents of the northern Gaza Strip to return to their homes.

He added that humanitarian supplies would no longer be allowed to enter the area as there are no more civilians left there.

In reality, tens of thousands of people remain in northern Gaza, subjected to relentless Israeli bombardment and a policy of deliberate starvation.

Last month, the Netanyahu government implemented the so-called Generals Plan, aimed at completing the depopulation of northern Gaza through ethnic cleansing and mass starvation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed this plan with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken last month, and Blinken emerged from their meeting with a blanket statement of support for Israel.

Now, emboldened by the election of the would-be fascist dictator Donald Trump, the Israeli military is openly declaring that it is deliberately starving the people of northern Gazaa fact that the Netanyahu government had only previously asserted in leaks to the press.
Governments across South Asia have rushed to congratulate Americas fascist president-elect Donald Trump, voicing their readiness to work closely with his incoming administration and further integrate themselves into Washingtons war drive against China.

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on August 19th, 2024 [Photo by Prime Ministers Office (Government Open Data License - India)]

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Trump on Wednesday, stating in an X/Twitter message: Had a great conversation with my friend, President @realDonaldTrump, congratulating him on his spectacular victory. Looking forward to working closely together once again to further strengthen India-US relations across technology, defence, energy, space and several other sectors.

Modis statement makes clear that his government will step up its involvement in Washingtons war preparations against China. With the support of the opposition Congress Party, Modis Hindu supremacist Bharatiya Janatha Party has transformed India into a frontline state in Americas military-strategic offensive against China. In return the US has extended strategic favours to India, including access to advanced weapons and weapon-systems and a growing role as a cheap-labour US arms industry subcontractor.

New Delhi has given the US military access to Indian ports and bases for resupply and repair and joined an ever-growing web of bilateral, trilateral and quadrilateral alliances directed against Beijing, with the US and its principal Asia-Pacific allies, Japan and Australia. It is working in close concert with Washington to counter Chinese influence across South Asia and draw states throughout the Indo-Pacific into an informal anti-China bloc.

Both Democratic and Republican administrations have prioritised developing the Indo-US Global Strategic Partnership. Under the Biden-Harris administration this was taken to a qualitatively new level. In August 2023, senior Indian officials let it be known they were urgently responding to a Biden administration directive that they detail what support India would provide in the event of a war with China over Taiwan.

Nevertheless, Modi and other senior Indian government leaders have expressed enthusiasm at Trumps victory, calculating that the Indian bourgeoisie can profit from the tactical differences between Trump and the outgoing administration over how best to secure US global hegemony. In particular, the Modi government is hopeful that the second Trump administration will be less strident than Bidens in pressuring India to downgrade its longstanding economic and military-strategic ties with Russia, and will instead prioritise Americas strategic conflict with China.

Explaining how India can benefit from Trumps victory, Indian Foreign Affairs Minister Jaishankar told a meeting of Australian business leaders in Sydney on Thursday that his election is likely to accelerate the shift of US and other western-based firms from China to India.

There was already a re-ordering of the supply chains taking place. It is very likely that in view of the election results, this would accelerate. Some of it will be disruptive, but we in India see it as an opportunity, Jaishankar said.

Underscoring the Indian governments eagerness to cooperate with Trump, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal indicated support for Trumps plans to deport immigrants en masse. According to a report in the Deccan Chronicle, he said that New Delhi agrees undocumented Indians in the US should come back.

Modis warm relationship with Trump is not only based on shared Indo-US strategic and economic interests. Modi is very much a far-right political leader in the Trump molda would-be Hindu authoritarian strongman, with a long and bloody record of communalist incitement, brutal cuts to social spending and pro-business attacks on the Indian working class.

In Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, who heads that countrys interim administration congratulated Trump. Electing you as the US President for a second term reflects that your leadership and vision have resonated with the people of the United States of America. I am confident that under your stewardship, the United States will thrive and continue to inspire others around the world, he declared.

Yunus came to power following mass protests that forced the resignation of Bangladeshs former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Hasani and her dictatorial regime. He has pledged to maintain the harsh International Monetary Fund austerity policies Hasani was implementing.

JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake [Photo: Facebook]

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Sri Lankas recently elected president and leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)/National Peoples Power (NPP), was among the first of the South Asia leaders hailing Trumps victory.

His X/Twitter message declared: Warm congratulations to president-elect Donald Trump on receiving a strong endorsement as the 47th President of the United State of America. I look forward to engaging with your administration in realising common objectives of our relations that are beneficial to the people of Sri Lanka and the United States.

Dissanayakes congratulations are yet another assurance to Washington that his regime will maintain the policies of his predecessor, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and further integrate the island into the US and Indian geostrategic offensive against China.

The increased involvement of Sri Lanka, which is located alongside strategic Indian Ocean import and export shipping routes to China, including access to vital Middle East oil, is key to Washingtons geostrategic planning. Over the past two years Dissanayake has cultivated close relations with US Ambassador Julie Wang and last month held closed door meetings in Colombo with US Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Steve Koehler.

This week the JVPs Lanka Truth website published an article which cites comments from Dr. Amunugama, a former cabinet member in governments led by Wickremesinghes United National Party and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. Amunugama echoes Dissanayakes farcical claim that Trumps agenda could benefit the people of Sri Lanka and the United States.



Sajith Premadasa, the leader of the opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and former President Wickremesinghe also joined Dissanayake in congratulating Trump. Premadasa expressed his wishes for peace, goodwill, and meaningful cooperation during Trumps incoming administration. Wickremesinghe described Trumps return to power as a historic accomplishment and an indication that American people trust in Trumps reactionary, demagogic pledge to Make America Great Again.

The rush of South Asian political leaders to hail the fascistic Trump is no accident.

Modi, Dissanayake, Yunus and other members of South Asias ruling elites are well versed in whipping up communalismtheir own versions of Trumps racist attacks on immigrantsto suppress the inevitable struggles that will erupt against the austerity measures they are imposing in their own countries. And like Trump they will readily turn to dictatorial forms of rule to impose the dictates of big business, the banks and the billionaires.



Sri Lankan President Dissanayake and his JVP/NPP administration live in fear of a re-eruption of the multi-million strong movement of workers and the oppressed masses that emerged in 2022 against the austerity measures of the Rajapakse regime and threw it out of office. Their eagerness in backing Trump is a desperate attempt to reinforce their ties with what remains the worlds premier imperialist power and thereby strengthen their hand against the working class and rural toilers.



Workers in South Asia need to join with their class brothers and sisters in the US and internationally in a united movement against the escalation of imperialist war across the globe and the imposition of dictatorial forms of rule. Such a movement must be based on the fight for socialist internationalism and the overthrow of the capitalist profit system.

These are the foundation of the program on which the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) in Sri Lanka fights. The SEP is intervening in the countrys general elections to be held on November 14, running 41 candidates in three electoral districtsin the capital Colombo, Jaffna in the north and Nuwara Eliya in central plantation areato take forward this fight. We urge workers, students and youth in Sri Lanka to vote for our candidates, support our election campaign and join the SEP.
Last Friday, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) issued an immediate interim suspension of graduate student Prahlad Iyengar for penning an article titled On Pacifism in an MIT student magazine, Written Revolution, opposing Israels genocide against the people of Gaza. The publication itself has been banned from campus.

Graduates protesting the genocide in Gaza leave an outdoor commencement at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Thursday, May 30, 2024. [AP Photo/Michael Casey]

Zionist groups and the MIT administration have falsely claimed the article incites violence and have attempted to paint Iyengar as a terrorist. The article, which appeared in the fifth edition of the magazine, which is an American Sociological Association-recognized publication, does nothing of the sort as is obvious from the text of the article itself which is academic in character.

The World Socialist Web Site opposes this flagrant attack on free speech and academic freedom and calls on workers, students and youth to demand the immediate rescinding of all administrative measures against Iyengar.

As Iyengar wrote in a statement opposing the ban, The administration has also banned Written Revolution outright, meaning students who disseminate or read this publication on campus may face discipline. Some students reading the magazine were approached by the police. According to a recording of the call made to police, it was to stop the handing out banned pamphlets. Students face Orwellian disciplinary actions for distributing or merely reading the article on campus.

In an interview with the WSWS Iyengar stated This is an attack on very many different fronts. The question I have is where does it end? The Zionists designate all sorts of people as terrorists, including UNRWA. Are they going to categorize UN members as terrorists? Poets as terrorists? MIT by banning me from campus has banned any sort of academic debate.

The suspension and ban represent an escalation of the bipartisan campaign led by the Biden administration and Democratic Party against opposition on the campuses to the Gaza genocide. It takes place after over 186,000 people in Gaza have been massacred by Israel, according to an estimate by The Lancet from July. The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) has warned that everyone in northern Gaza is at imminent risk of dying, while there is a massive and unprecedented amount of photographic and video evidence both from the victims and killers themselves on social media documenting the genocide, which could correctly be described as the first live-streamed genocide in history.

Iyengar, a second-year electrical engineering Ph.D. student, was summarily banned from campus under the bogus justification that he presented an immediate risk of violence, with the administration falsely claiming his article supports terrorism. This was done solely on the basis of anonymous allegations by Zionist students claims that statements in the article could be interpreted as a call for more violent or destructive forms of protest at MIT. The rule for interim banning of students is ostensibly aimed only at those who actually present a risk of violence, like those suspected of rape, murder or assault. This is clearly not the case.

Essentially no evidence has been presented beyond a Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) poster being used as an illustration in Iyengars article. The administration falsely used this to claim that the article supported terrorism. The banning opens a veritable Pandoras Box of avenues for censorship, meaning all manner of media from textbooks and dictionaries which have pictures of real or supposed terrorist organizations to documentaries and non-fiction books and even news articles in the mainstream press could be banned.

In a strong statement denouncing the ban available here, Iyengar writes:

These extraordinary actions should concern everyone on campus. My article, which I encourage everyone to read at writtenrevolution.com, attempts a historical review of the type of tactics used by protest movements throughout history, from the civil rights movement to the struggle to the fight against South African Apartheid here on MIT campus. The article addresses the academic author Ward Churchills famous essay, Pacifism as Pathology, and responds to those who embrace pacifism as an end in itself, which intellectually undermines the Palestinian right under Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions to fight back against the oppression they confront.

Iyengar points out that such themes are already addressed by MITs History Department, as well as in the campus student newspaper and are the subject of legitimate debate, and that if one were to use the same standards of banning terrorism, that this could be used against anyone accused of it by Israel, including members of the UN, Palestinian poets and academics and others.

MIT has made other attacks on academic freedom, such as preventing tenured Professor of Linguistics Michel DeGraff from teaching a course about the language used surrounding the Gaza genocide. DeGraff received letters of reprimand and a pay freeze in response to his request to teach this class.

The treatment of anti-genocide protesters stands in contrast to MITs treatment of Zionist students, which exposes a double standard.

Iyengar, who was previously evicted from student housing for sending an email on a non-violent protest, told the WSWS that he has filed harassment reports against some Zionist students and staff, who have slandered him on the social media website X calling him a school shooter and falsely claimed he is an affiliate of the PFLP, which is designated a terrorist organization by the United States government. Nothing came of any of these reports.

MIT officials have no qualms about Zionists at MIT attacking us or advocating violence, calling for us to be raped, blasting genocide pop songs like Harbu Darbu, or meeting with the criminal Netanyahu, Iyengar told the WSWS.

Zionists at MIT are also implicated in violent assaults on students for which they have faced no repercussions legally, academically or otherwise. This follows a similar trend on other campuses, such as at Columbia University as well as at universities in Canada.

The ban on Iyengar was carried out without any due process. As he explained to the WSWS, They banned me from campus without hearing my side of the story, without hearing my defense at all.

The campaign against Iyengar on campus is being directed by Dean of Student Life David Randall, who is also on the board of MITs Hillel organization, which is playing a leading role in the witch-hunt of anti-genocide activists. Hillel Internationals own website accepts Israels reactionary definition of antisemitism as including those who politically oppose Zionism.

There are also extensive commercial connections between MIT and the Israeli Ministry of Defense, the former of which has developed much of the drone technology used by the latter. The Israeli military company Elbit Systems is part of the industrial liaison system at MIT, and multiple professors take money from the Ministry of Defense.

Pointing to these connections in dicussion with the WSWS, Iyengar noted, Within 3 weeks after October 7 there was a company, Skydio, launched basically from a professors lab, sent 100 surveillance drones to the IDF. The capability of those drones was developed at MIT.

MIT has hypocritically said that cutting research ties with the Israeli military would violate academic freedom.

The attack on Iyengar is clearly a political frame-up directed by powerful political forces, including Zionist organizations as well as the Democratic Party, which controls the administration, with Randall even admitting that he had not read the article carefully.

The action, in addition to violating Iyengar and all MIT students and professors First Amendment right to freedom of speech, has effectively deprived Iyengar of his access to his lab, as well as barring him from participation in courses and may prevent him from attending final exams, which could put his academic career in jeopardy.

In his statement, Iyengar pointed out the broader context within which this takes place noting:

Across the country, there is a systematic effort by university administrations to suppress free speech of those who oppose the genocide in Gaza. Cornell attempted to revoke the visa of a graduate student for participating in a protest. Students at the University of California are being kicked out of student housing and made homeless by disciplinary action for protest activity.

He also pointed to the firing of Dr. Maura Finkelstein for social media posts she made opposing the Gaza genocide and asked:

Do we want colleges and universities to be places for free and open discussion, or are we going to allow MITs administration to essentially accuse its own students of terrorism and ban student-run publications for articles that attempt to thoughtfully address the burning issues of the day? Now, more than ever, we cannot take our basic democratic rights for granted. The genocide grows worse every day. In the north of Gaza, the Jabalia refugee camp has faced unimaginable horrors under a total seige and blackout by the Israeli military occupation. The World Health Organization reported that the Sheikh Radwan healthcare center, intended for distribution of the vital polio vaccine, was bombed by the Israeli military during a humanitarian pause. In Lebanon, millions of people have been displaced while entire villages, some thousands of years old, are being entirely obliterated by the genocidal Israeli regime which seeks to erase Arab history.

It also takes place only a few months before Donald Trumps inauguration. Trump has promised to be a dictator on day one after previously attempting to overthrow the presidential election results on January 6, 2021 in a violent coup. He has promised to use the military against domestic opposition and has said that Israel must finish the problem in relation to Palestine, echoing the language of Hitler in relation to his final solution for the Jewish problem. Iyengar makes this point in the conclusion of the letter:

And here at home, the very engine of these global atrocities, Donald Trump has threatened to establish a dictatorship and says he wants to crush protests with violence. Meanwhile, Kamala Harris has only continued to support the US complicity in genocide, and promises to use her track record of law and order to criminalize protestors. In the midst of this crisis, MITs actions only weaken our collective ability to oppose threats to humanity, whatever their source. I therefore make the following call to all students, staff, and faculty of conscience at MIT: Do not let the administration control our speech and censor student-run publications. This is not only about me, this is about the democratic principles involved. Do not let MIT limit the boundaries of thought on this campus by restricting our ability to engage in the criticism vital to movement building. We demand the administration drop its censorship of Written Revolution and allow me to return to campus to continue my academic work and research labor.
Are you a postal worker? Register here to attend the first public meeting of the Postal Workers Rank-and-File committee (Canada) on November 10 at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.

On Sunday, November 10 at 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee (PWRFC) is hosting its first online public meeting. We urge postal workers across Canada, as well as delivery workers and workers from other economic sectors, to join our meeting. The meeting is a democratic forum to allow all postal workers to voice their demands and discuss the PWRFCs strategy of launching a political class struggle to counter the conniving of the union bureaucrats with Canada Post management and the Trudeau government to impose on us yet another concessions-filled contract.

Members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) voted over 95 percent in favour of strike action, and workers want to know why were not on the picket lines. Many postal workers have contacted us regarding the threat posed by the corporations use of automation, AI and surveillance technology to undermine working conditions. Reports coming out of Winnipeg, Manitoba are exposing letter carrier walks of upwards of 42 Kms per day. Wetaskiwin, Alberta-based postal workers experienced a significant change to their workflows with the introduction of automated sorting immediately before CUPW agreed to a no strike/no lockout agreement against the wishes of 95 percent of its members. Separate sort and delivery transformations have been cascading across Ontario depots. Postal workers from all over Canada have described miserable working conditions punctuated by management bullying and overwork, overseen and enforced by the CUPW officialdom.

Striking Canada Post workers during their 2018 campaign of rotating strikes, which was criminalized by the Trudeau Liberal government.

Given that our strike mandate has been overridden by the CUPW National Executive Board, how can we defend our jobs and wages against the threat of automation and AI? How are postal transformations and restructures affecting working conditions across the country? What can be done to defend our democratic right to strike? These questions and more will be discussed at Sundays meeting.

The PWRFC was founded in June of this year. Our founding statement begins by clarifying important issues such as CUPWs relationship with the federal government and the Canada Post Corporation:

CUPW is a key pillar of support for the Trudeau government through its important role in the Liberal/union/New Democratic Party (NDP) alliance, which is backed by the Canadian Labour Congress In opposition to the conspirators in Canada Post management, the federal government and the CUPW bureaucracy, we reject the claim that Canada Post must be run as a profit-making corporate enterprise. We oppose the use of new technologies to step up exploitation. We demand that workers on the shop floor make decisions about the operation of the postal service, the implementation of new technologies, and our wages and benefits. The Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee will fight for these objectives in a political struggle against the corporatist partnership between CUPW, corporate management, and the Liberal government.

Additionally, the PWRFCs founding statement warned workers about specific attacks on our working conditions:

In some instances, routes have gone from an average of two sets of fliers per week to 15 or even 20 full sets. Management wants to bundle multiple fliers together for only one neighbourhood mail count, even though the full weight and volume are still present. Separate Sort and Delivery (SSD) restructures are sweeping across the country. The balance of inside and outside work is being destroyed. One worker is expected to work inside all day, while anothers work is outside all day Dynamic routing, trialed against rank-and-file workers with the CUPWs approval in the Montreal area for over five years, takes advantage of automation and AI to overburden us and deny us a consistent route and work schedule. Canada Post is now seeking to create another group of super-exploited workers called Permanent Flexible Employees. Their very title indicates that their working conditions would be under permanent revision and attack.

The statement went on to stress the necessity to broaden our struggle to other sections of workers, especially given the looming threat of a government back-to-work law or some other arbitrary use of the states bureaucratic powers to rob us of the right to strike:

We face powerful enemies in our struggle, but our potential allies are even stronger. By building the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee, we are appealing to the working class in logistics and other economic sectors across Canada, as well as postal workers and the working class as a whole internationally, to join our fight. We say that there is no way forward within the suffocating, state-sponsored collective bargaining system. Rather, we can only counter the looming threat of strikebreaking legislation by making our struggle the starting point for a worker-led counteroffensive against capitalist austerity and war.

Our latest statement, published Sunday, is titled Stop CUPWs delaying tactics! Launch a working-class political struggle against Canada Post and the Trudeau government! Focusing on CUPWs attitude towards our strike mandate, we stated:

CUPW President Jan Simpson responded to our massive strike vote by announcing that any strike action would be delayed more or less indefinitely if Canada Post showed real movement to meeting our demands. What does real movement mean? We have no way of knowing, because CUPW demands that we take their word for it. What we do know is that with less than 72 hours to go until we were in a legal strike position, CUPW conveniently discovered Friday that real movement was taking place in talks, so they did not issue a 72-hour strike notice. After they sabotaged our fight against government interventions in support of the employer by Harpers Tories in 2011 and the Liberals in 2018, we think its reasonable to assume that real movement is just another excuse to avoid a serious fight.

The CUPW bureaucracy repeatedly insists that what is required above all is unity with the negotiating team, and that any attempt by the rank and file to assert its own independent interests strengthens the employers hand. The fact of the matter is that the CUPW apparatus has separated itself from the workers it claims to represent by developing corporatist ties with the government and corporate management over the past four decades. The social interests of the bureaucrats are at odds with the workers they claim to represent, which is why they have collaborated in the enforcement of one round of concessions after another. What is required is for workers to create new forms of organization to provide political leadership and coordinate a counter-offensive by the working class. This movement must be directed against capitalist austerity, rejecting the idea that Canada Post must be run as a profit-making enterprise. Above all, it must appeal for support from all workers to defend public services and secure decent-paying, secure jobs for all.

All postal workers who believe that the rank and file must take into our own hands the struggle against Canada Post and the Trudeau government should make plans to attend the PWRFCs online meeting this Sunday, Nov. 10, starting at 7 p.m. Eastern. If you have not already done so, register here to attend.
On Thursday evening, Students Allied for Freedom and Equality (SAFE UMich), the University of Michigan chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), posted a statement on its Instagram account and the national SJP Twitter/X account announcing that the university had filed a complaint and was threatening to suspend SAFE as a student club.

Students demonstrate against the Gaza genocide on March 28, 2024 at the University of Michigan.

SAFE noted that the complaint marked the first-ever attempt by the University of Michigan administration to suspend a legacy organization at its Ann Arbor campus.

The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE), the youth section of the Socialist Equality Party, denounces this witch-hunting attack on SAFE and on the democratic rights of all students, faculty and staff at the university. It is a direct attack on free speech and the right to peacefully protest, and marks an escalation of the nationwide attack on students and others who seek to oppose the Israeli genocide that is being armed, funded and overseen by the United States against the people of Gaza.

The IYSSE at UMich demands the immediate rescinding of the complaint and unconditionally defends the right of the pro-Palestinian organization to function politically at the university.

This attack is bound up with a series of anti-democratic changes made by the UMich administration to its code of conduct. Earlier this year, the university administration unveiled changes to its policies that allow the university to file a complaint against a student or organization with practically no restrictions. This, in turn, followed the adoption of policies allowing the administration to ban any protest or gathering it deemed disruptive. Additionally, the new conduct policies no longer guarantee an accused student or organization the right to request an appeals panel of students, faculty and staff, erasing due process.

The threat to suspend SAFE at UMich is only the latest anti-democratic attempt to muzzle the opposition to US/Israeli genocide among workers and youth. In October 2023, Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts became the first private university to ban an SJP chapter from campus, based on fraudulent charges of antisemitism. The university libeled students opposing the Gaza genocide as celebrating the barbaric killing of Jews just because they are Jews.

Just days later, Columbia University in New York followed Brandeis, banning its local SJP chapter alongside the Columbia chapter of the anti-Zionist Jewish student group, Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP). Far-right Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has also banned the SJP throughout the state university system.

The UMich administrations attack on SAFE follows revelations in a Guardian report published in late October detailing how the UMich Board of Regents recruited Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (Democrat) to investigate and charge protesters involved in the pro-Palestinian encampment established on the UMich Ann Arbor campus last semester.

According to the Guardian report, Nessels campaign for reelection as Michigan attorney general in 2022 received substantial funding from several UMich regents, as well as from Zionist forces among state politicians, organizations and UMich donors, all of whom have publicly denounced the anti-genocide protests as antisemitic. The UMich regentswealthy financiers, politicians and business ownersare predominantly aligned with the Democratic Party.

In September, Nessels office announced it was charging 11 protesters involved in the encampment, the majority being students and campus workers. Seven were charged with trespassing and obstructing a police officer. The latter charge is a felony carrying a maximum two-year sentence. The others were charged with trespassing and various misdemeanors.

On October 31, the Tahrir Coalition, a group of student organizations opposing the Gaza genocide at UMich, published an open letter demanding Nessel drop the charges her office brought against the 11 pro-Palestinian protesters in September. The IYSSE supports the open letter and joins in demanding the dropping of all charges against the 11 protesters. The IYSSE has signed the open letter and urges all workers and youth to do so.

In early October, a leaked clip of UMich President Santa Ono speaking on the repression of student protests on campus appeared on social media. In the clip, Ono explicitly stated that the US government was directing his administration and those of other leading universities across the country to suppress anti-genocide and antiwar protests.



The government could call me tomorrow and say, in a very unbalanced way, that the university is not doing enough to combat antisemitism, and I could say its not doing enough to combat Islamophobia, and thats not what they want to hear, Ono explained.

He continued:

You may know that my peers from presidents of other universities have been in the hot seat in Congress. The question from Congress is not balanced. Its focused almost entirely on antisemitism, which I think is an issue, but theres also Islamophobia as well. And so, you can see, they are a very powerful group, who are not shy to say that they will hold the whole institution accountable for not addressing antisemitism.

At the close of the clip, Ono remarked that the US government would say something like, well, we will withhold two billion dollars in funding if you dont address antisemitism.

On October 7, police violently attacked and pepper sprayed dozens of protesters marching on the university Diag. In late August, during U-Michs annual Festifall club day, police dragged, pinned and arrested three protesters while ripping signs away from other protesters during a peaceful die-in protest on the Diag.
You are here: China

China's top market regulator on Friday issued guidelines to strengthen regulations on antitrust behaviors pertaining to standard essential patents (SEP).

The guidelines, unveiled by the State Administration for Market Regulation, consist of six chapters and 22 articles. The document has defined SEP-related concepts, put forth analysis principles for antitrust behaviors and established a set of supervision rules, among others.

A standard essential patent is a patent that protects an invention essential to a particular technology standard. In the era of the digital economy, technology standardization plays an important role in enhancing product interconnectivity, promoting international and domestic trade and boosting economic growth.

With rules clearly laid out, the guidelines will help promote fair market competition and protect the driving forces of industrial innovation and development, according to the administration.

As SEP licensing covers a wide spectrum of industries and involves increasingly diverse entities and complex modes, antitrust supervision and enforcement are faced with challenges.

The introduction of the guidelines will foster a well-regulated market environment that encourages innovation, promote China's high-level opening up and enhance the international competitiveness of Chinese industries, analysts said.
Yes. Its true. Bunny-Man is a new superhero and he is coming to our screens soon in his very own movie. But who is Bunnyman, you might ask? Well, hes a fetching anonymous multimillionaire superhero who fights eviland yes, goes around dressing as a leather-clad bunny vigalante. Its like Batman, but with less flying/brooding and more hopping. Honestly, we feel obsessed with the Bunny-Man movie and this costume. No notes from us. And were even hoppier to hear that Bunny-Man may even feature in a trilogy of movies. It pays to be a bunny.

TaTaTu

Bunny-Man is actually an Italian superhero movie. And its cast currently includes Michele Morrone, Franco Nero, Ana Golja, Mike Tyson, Bella Thorne, and James Franco. Deadline reveals, the Bunny-Man movies synopsis. It shares, The plot of Bunny-Man is said to involve an anonymous multimillionaire superhero who strikes against evil forces while wearing a rabbit mask. He is driven by the desire to avenge his sister who committed suicide after being attacked, images of which wound up on the internet. Little else is known about the film or its cast at present. But hopefully we can know more soon. We cant wait to hare all about it. Mostly, were just curious to know which villains Bunny-Man will fight. Maybe a snake-themed foe?

Apparently some kind of musical single will also release around the movie. Producer Andrea Iervolino shared, I believe Bunny-Man will revolutionize the way we think of superheroes. This character embodies both mystery and modernity, not just in his story but in how the audience relates to him. Its a privilege to produce Italys first superhero franchise, and Im confident it will leave a lasting impact on the global market.

Welcome to the table Italys superheroes. If Bunny-Man is indication of whats in store for us, we welcome it.
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Rhode Island may be the smallest, and likely the most unassuming, state, but it is certainly far from the most boring. Besides the impressive amount of coastline (every resident lives within a half-hour's drive of the ocean) and beautiful natural areas, Rhode Island is also home to some pretty tasty dishes.

As a Connecticut-turned-Vermonter-turned-Rhode-Islander, I've had a lot of opportunities to sample the local cuisine and find my favorites. This list highlights some of the must-eat foods that you need to sample the next time you're in the Ocean State. While I won't say that many folks have a reason to specifically come to Rhode Island, the diversity of food options make a pit stop off the interstate more than worth it. Moreover, each dish has a deep connection to the people, both past and present, that call Rhode Island their home -- which is reason enough to order them.

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Read more: 25 Most Popular Snacks In America Ranked Worst To Best

Coffee Milks And Cabinets

Coffee syrup with coffee milk - autocratcoffeesyrup/Instagram

When I first moved to Rhode Island, I kept seeing "coffee syrup" listed on the menu at different coffee shops that I visited. It's a concept that might seem completely foreign to someone who lives outside of the Ocean State, but folks who live in Rhody know that coffee syrup is the nectar of the gods.

The coffee syrup itself, which is sold by brands like Autocrat, basically a syrupy mixture of strong coffee and sugar. The food was initially created by the Italian immigrant population who lived in the state. Since then, it's made its way onto restaurant and coffee shop menus around the state. Coffee shops will also sell coffee milk (coffee mixed with whole milk) in addition to the option to add coffee syrup right into your beverage. If you live outside of the Ocean State, fear not; you can also buy containers of Autocrat online.

Some folks will also take things a step further from a coffee milk and order a coffee cabinet. "Cabinet" is the Rhody word for a milkshake; the beverage combines the syrup, coffee ice cream, and milk. The concoction is easy enough to whip up at home, but you can also pay Delekta Pharmacy in Warren a visit. This old-school ice cream parlor is a must-visit for anyone looking to sip on a little piece of history.

Pizza Strips

Pizza strips on table - antoniosbakery/Instagram

Pizza strips (or red strips) are one food that's not for the faint of heart -- especially if you consider yourself a diehard fan of New Haven pizza. These pieces of pizza are often found at bakeries, rather than pizza shops. It's clear that these slices are more bread-like than they are pizza-like. The sauce is the star ingredient on these slices; it sits atop a thick, focaccia-like base without much cheese at all. They're bready, carby, and delicious -- plus that sauce adds a hint of umami goodness and makes the entire feel like your Italian Nonna just whipped it up for you in her kitchen.

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If you visit Rhode Island to grab a pizza slice or two, just be forewarned that the slices will come out at room temperature -- a nod to the history of this dish. It was believed that the Italian immigrants near the capital city of Providence had a ton of leftover, thick-cut bread and a ton of sauce. The bakeries, in order to make this dish compliant with health code regulations at the time, stripped off the cheese entirely so that they could be displayed out of the refrigerator. The lack of perishable dairy on these slices meant that they could be enjoyed by blue collar workers and laborers in the city. Though, pizza snobs will be glad to know that you can still find some places that are serving up this style with cheese. DePetrillo's in North Providence is an excellent stop for them.

Johnnycakes

Johnnycakes on plate with butter - Liudmyla Chuhunova/Getty Images

It's hard to say no to a fluffy stack of pancakes, but it's even more difficult to say more to a couple of extremely filling johnnycakes, straight off the griddle. These cornmeal pancakes have a mysterious origin and can be found in both Rhode Island (and other New England states), as well as in the South. The ingredients for this pancake are simple. You have your cornmeal, and two other pancake ingredients like butter, water, and salt. As expected, the texture of the cornmeal gives these flapjacks a mealy texture, but a very flavorful one at that. The mixture is cooked the exact same as pancakes; it's ladled on the grill and cooked until it's golden brown on both sides. Then, it can be transferred to a plate and enjoyed hot with a pat of butter on top.

It's believed that New Englanders owe the creation of the johnnycake to the Pawtuxet tribe, who were settled in the area prior to the arrival of Europeans. While the recipe has changed over the years, the appreciation for this simple and tasty side dish has not. Commons Lunch in Little Compton is a great spot to get a plate of these, and a tasty, hearty omelette as well.

Rhode Island Clam Chowder

Rhode Island clam chowder bowl - AnastasiaKopa/Shutterstock

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Everyone has their opinions as to what kind of chowder is the best variety. But if you live in the Ocean State, you may feel a bit impartial to the clear clam chowder, rather than the creamy New England-style. The exact recipe of this chowder will vary depending on where you order it. But, it usually always contains two ingredients: chunky potatoes and clams (and by proxy, clam juice). Many folks enjoy a steaming cup or bowl from their favorite local seafood shack after a long day at the beach, but because of how easy it is to find canned clams and clam juice, you may also see some folks enjoying it during the chillier months, as well.

The Matunuck Oyster Bar, located on the water in Wakefield, is one of the popular spots for chowder (and seafood as a whole) for locals and tourists alike. After you're done with that first soup course, be sure to order its clams casino with Rhode Island littlenecks, or the clams and linguine pasta as an entree. You just can't have enough clams -- at least in the state of Rhode Island.

Del's Lemonade

Del's lemonade cup next to truck - delslemonade/Instagram

Del's lemonade is like the song that calls to me after a long, hard day of work. When I see its green and white truck around town, I know that I have to make a pit stop. This frozen lemonade brand has some brick-and-mortar shops around the state, but it can also be found at seaside shacks, tents, carts, and, of course, its trucks. Del's lemonade is very pared down; you should only expect to find a couple of flavors, like watermelon and regular lemonade. My go-to is always the regular frozen lemonade, as it is perfectly sweet (but not overwhelmingly so) and has small chunks of lemon spread throughout it to add texture (and inevitably suck up in your straw).

Del's, like many of the other Rhode Island foods on this list, got its start thanks to an Italian immigrant: Franco DeLucia. After immigrating to the United States and ramping up production of the frozen treat, he and his family established the brand in 1948. This family-owned business is a staple in the Ocean State and one that every beachgoer should indulge in.

Allie's Donuts

Allie's donuts on brown surface - alliesdonutsofficial/Instagram

No visit to the North Kingstown region of the state is complete without a stop at Allie's Donuts. This shop has been cranking out some of the tastiest donuts in the state since 1968. While all of its donuts are great, the brand is most well-known for its brightly-colored assorted vanilla sprinkle donuts. They're not greasy at all, and have the perfect balance from the sugary topping and the indulgent fried base. However, you can still find your favorite donut at the shop, whether you're a fiend for a chocolate frosted or can't say "no" to a raspberry-filled powdered sugar donut.

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You can stop in the shop to pick up any number of donuts, but if you're planning on a special occasion, you'd best be off ordering one of Allie's famous donut cakes. These fried monstrosities are absolutely delicious and are a great replacement for a birthday cake.

Doughboys

Doughboys in a bag - iggys_ri/Instagram

Who doesn't love a warm, plush mountain of fried dough, covered in a signature cinnamon-sugar sprinkle (or powdered sugar)? At Iggy's, located in Warwick and Narragansett, you can indulge in a bag of these Rhode Island doughboys. Most of the time, these dough balls are shaped in the traditional square, but during special times of the year, you may find Valentine's Day hearts, Halloween ghosts, and more. They're best served piping hot, and are a great sweet way to end a day at the beach.

Traditionally, doughboys were made with leftover pizza dough, which is a nod to their Italian-American heritage. So, as long as you have a pack of pre-made pizza dough on hand, you can whip up a batch of doughboys for yourself. You don't have to pay the Ocean State a visit to get your hands on a doughboy, either. You can order a 12-pack from Iggy's shipped directly to your door via Goldbelly.

Stuffies

Stuffie with lemon wedge - Brett Godfrey/Shutterstock

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Rhode Island's proximity to the Atlantic Ocean makes it a haven for seafood lovers -- especially folks who love clams. Its clam stuffies are made with monster-sized clams, called Quahogs. Quahogs are otherwise known as Northern hard shell clams and be up to 4-inches across. The mollusk is so beloved in Rhode Island that it's the state shellfish. And if you have all of the equipment, you could venture out to the seashore to try and find some for yourself.

Or, take the easy way out and visit one of Rhode Island's seaside shacks to get your hands on a warm, hot stuffie. The filling for these clams is closely tied to the Portuguese immigrants who settled in the region during the 19th and 20th centuries. While you may see some folks switch up the filling for these clams, there are some standard ingredients that usually make an appearance: bread crumbs, hot sauce, celery, and occasionally sausage. Aunt Carrie's in Narragansett is a great spot for stuffies, while others swear by the appetizer at Iggy's in Warwick and Narragansett.

Hot Wieners

NY System weiner with coffee milk - olneyvillenysystem/Instagram

Hot wieners may seen like an odd addition to this list, as hot dogs are a food that's commonly associated with cities like New York and Chicago. But, Rhode Island too has its own top-dog: the New York system (aka hot wieners). The best spot to find these dogs is at Olneyville New York System in Providence and Cranston. Just be sure to oder a glass of cold coffee milk to enjoy with one.

The dog itself is made of a mixture of pork and veal, which gives it a far juicier and more flavorful bite than your classic all-beef dog. The dogs are served on a hot steamed bun, then covered in a layer of meat. The buns are also sweeter than traditional hot dog buns, and many spots that sell these dogs purchased their goods from the Homestead Baking Company in East Providence. The complete dog includes cooked ground meat seasoned with cumin, paprika, and allspice (though this will vary depending on the restaurant that you visit) and a layer of mustard and onions.

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Although its name may suggest that it has ties to New York's hot dog scene, the New York system originated within Providence's Greek community. The addition of "New York" in the hot dog's name was originally added to bring a sense of authenticity to the food, since Coney Island Hot Dogs were all the rage in the early 1900s. However, these Rhode Island wieners have practically nothing to do with New York City. Still, despite the name's deception, any Rhode Islander knows that these dogs are as real (and tasty) as it gets.

Clam Cakes

Clam cakes with chowder and can - iggys_ri/Instagram

No trip to Rhode Island is complete without an order of clam cakes, too. You'll need to get any vision of Maryland crab cakes out of your brain, though; these Rhode Island-style clam cakes are totally different. If you could make a savory, fishy beignet, this would be it. Each bite is perfectly crisp and tantalizing, and filled with that straight-from-the-ocean flavor from the freshly chopped clams. If you order them from a seafood shack, expect to have your order come out with a bottle of Tabasco or a little plastic container of tartar sauce.

There are many places in Rhody where you can get your hands on a piping hot order of these clam cakes. Aunt Carrie's in Narragansett is many folk's top spot, while other folks swear by the food (and views) at George's of Galilee, which is also located in the water in Narragansett. Regardless of where you order them, you'll know that you're in for something good when the clam cakes come out crispy, golden-brown, and smelling of the sea.

Rhode Island-Style Calamari

Rhode Island calamari with peppers - woodsidebistro/Instagram

Rhode Island calamari isn't your same-old-same-old fried squid that you'd get from your nearby Italian joint. Rather, the traditional Rhode Island-style involves tossing the fried seafood in a bath of garlic butter and serving it with hot peppers. Every bite is filled with golden-brown fried batter and the elastick-y texture of the squid. Then, your tastebuds are met with the piquant and acidic bite from the cherry peppers or sliced pepperoncinis.

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The Rhode Island calamari didn't emerge until 1950, but it quickly became beloved by folks who appreciated the balance of spiciness from the peppers and the sweet, hearty flavor of the squid. In 2014, Rhode Island-style calamari even became the state appetizer (Rhode Island is also the only state with a state appetizer, if you needed a new fact for trivia night).

These dishes are a dime a dozen in the Ocean State, but some places serve it better than others. If you want to try a plate Rhode Island-style, make a trip up to Providence's Federal Hill section and stop at Andino's.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
PORT BARRE, La. (KLFY)  For the last 38 years, the Port Barre Lions Club has held the Cracklin Festival as a way to support organizations that help the underprivileged and people with disabilities.

The Port Barre Cracklin Festival started in 1985 by the Port bare Lions Club as an annual fundraiser selling Cracklins.

Katelyn Calhoun, a member of the Port Barre Lions Club said it started out small but grew into a large Festival that supports two of their charities.

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We got started in 1985 and it started out as a very small celebration where somebody showed up with a bag of said, hey maybe we should do this. We can market this and make this into a festival,' she said.

Calhoun said the festival supports Lions Club charities like the Louisiana Foundation, which has programs for promoting surgery and helps with funding for it. Another charity it helps is the Louisiana Lions Camp, which is a free camp for children that have disabilities so they can spend a week at camp and feel just like a normal kid.

The festival has something for everyone whether its food, carnival rides, games, and of course the Cracklin Cookoff.

Calhoun said its a way they can continue supporting those in need as all proceeds go their charities.

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Being more than just a festival, it can only describe it in one word, mind-blowing.

Desirea Vicknair, a Lion Tamer with the Port Barre Lions Club says the impact the annual Cracklin Festival has on the town is huge.

Most people dont realize when you have an influx of people coming around, all of your businesses end up flourishing, Vicknair said.

Vicknair said an increase in revenue can be seen and felt throughout the Port Barre. She said although all proceeds from the festival goes to their charities, the economic impact goes a long way.

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Vicknair says as long as there is a need to support, they will continue to put the festival together.

We are volunteers from around the area that come together and know these are two things that are very near and dear to our hearts, she said.

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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 KLFY.com.
Say goodbye forever to dry and dull turkey.

Con Poulos/AR Magazine

As much as Thanksgiving turkey gets the starring role as the centerpiece of most holiday tables, lets be honest: Its rarely the culinary highlight. When we polled readers and Allrecipes staff members about their favorite Thanksgiving recipes, pies and casseroles, even bread and potatoes, earned far more rave reviews than turkey, which some folks view as dry, boring, and still somehow essential to the holiday meal.

When we asked a panel of eight professional chefs about their thoughts on turkey, they all agreed that it is possible to make a stand-out bird. Not only can it look deliciously tempting, but it can also deliver serious flavor and incredibly juicy, tender bitsboth on Thanksgiving day and as leftovers.

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A whole lot of science happens in the oven when heat meets the bird to result in a juicy, tender turkey, says Peter Som, a New York City-based culinary creator. The proteins in the meat begin to break down, which will help trap moisture. Plus, the collagen in turkey, especially the dark meat, will break down into gelatin, which will add to the moisture factor. At the same time, the fat in the turkey will render during cooking which will then baste the meat and as we knowfat means flavor and juiciness.

This all sounds great in theory, but how can you lock in that flavor and juiciness in the meat, rather than it all sinking to the bottom of the roasting pan or evaporating in steam? Read on to hear our chefs top tips to make this years bird your best yet.

Our Panel of Turkey-Savvy Chefs

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

The #1 Trick for a Juicer Turkey

With seven out of eight chefs recommending it as the secret to a juicy turkey, the top tip is to brine your bird. This is also the first step for our Perfect Turkey recipe, which has more than 1,500 5-star reviews.

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Sure, brining adds another step to dinner prep, but cooking the turkey is pretty hands-off after that. All you have to do is mix some seasonings, apply them to the turkey, and just let it marinate in the fridge. It's a simple extra step, but according to Wright, it's the key to ensuring the turkey stays juicy and packed with flavor, whether you opt to roast, grill, smoke, or fry it.

Petito Jr. confirms that brining changes turkey on a cellular level. The salt in the brine breaks down muscle proteins, allowing the turkey to retain more water as it cooks. This not only helps the meat stay juicier, but with aromatic vegetables and herbs in the mix, a brine also seasons it from the inside out, making every bite an explosion of flavor.

How to Brine a Turkey

The chefs recommend soaking a turkey in a wet brine, which is typically made with water and salt, and sometimes sugar, vegetables, citrus, and herbs. Add your turkey to a large bowl or bucket breast-side down, submerge in the brine, and refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours.

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

If you dont have extra room in your fridge, you could also opt for a dry brine instead. Petito Jr. suggests rubbing approximately 1 tablespoon of salt per 5 pounds of turkey, and, of course, your preference of spices.

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Whether wet or dry, brining makes the biggest difference in terms of retaining moisture and enhancing flavor throughout the meat, Petito Jr. says. Both types of brining draw out moisture at first, but then that reabsorbs the salty liquid, resulting in flavorful, tender meat.

For more inspiration and instructions, check out our step-by-step guide on how to brine a turkey, or try one of our recipes for Citrus Turkey Brine, Brined Thanksgiving Turkey, Thanksgiving Turkey Brine, or Maple Turkey Brine.

Tips for the Juiciest Turkey

The key to a juicy turkey is all about moisture retention and even cooking, says Laguatan. In tandem with brining, here are more tips for how to help your turkey retain its juices and flavor.



Opt for a Fresh Bird

If possible, start with a fresh turkey that hasnt been frozen. According to Stilianessis, "Frozen turkeys lose moisture during the defrosting process, which leads to dry meat. Fresh turkeys retain more moisture and have better flavor.

Cook the Stuffing Separately

Humblepieliving

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When stuffed in the cavity of the bird, bread or rice stuffing takes quite a bit of time to reach the safe minimum temperature of 165 degrees F (75 degrees C). Instead, cook stuffing separately for both food safety and better moisture retention in the turkey," Stilianessis says. Don't have a stuffing recipe yet? Try our Bread and Celery Stuffing, which fans confirm is a big hit at our house and is packed with flavor. Bonus: You can easily customize this recipe with vegan butter and vegetable stock and share it with any plant-based guests.

If Using Frozen, Thaw Turkey Well

According to Wright, you should plan for about 24 hours of thawing time for every 3 to 5 pounds of meat. Cooking a turkey that's coldor even worse, partially frozenwill result in uneven cooking, Som says. The exterior will cook faster than the inside, often leading to dry breast meat since the interior will slowly be coming up to temperature while the rest has reached a safe temp, Petito Jr. adds. After thawing, make sure to remove the turkey from the fridge 30 to 60 minutes before roasting so that it comes closer to room temperature by the time you start cooking.

Consider Spatchocking

Dont be intimidated by the name. This simply means slicing out the backbone so you can flatten, or essentially butterfly the bird, so it cooks more quickly and evenly. To learn more about how to spatchcock turkey, read our guide here. If you don't want to go the spatchoking route, you could also simply separate the legs and thighs from the breast, which is leaner. Dark meat and white meat cook differently, Hales says. By separating them, you can take the pieces out to rest once each reaches the USDAs safe minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

Kelly Cline

Rub Butter and Herbs Under the Skin

Although some recipes call for rubbing the skin with butter and seasonings, Plush and Morrison both advise against this. Applied externally, butter is unable to penetrate the skin and can easily burn as the turkey cooks. Instead, mix softened butter with chopped fresh herbs, minced garlic, and lemon zest, then use clean fingers to gently separate the skin from the flesh of the bird. Spread this butter mixture under the skin, which Som says, traps moisture under the skin for a succulent bird." The butter essentially bastes the turkey as it roasts, Petito Jr. explains. This also prevents the oven temperature from fluctuating, which would happen if you had to open and close the door to baste yourself.

Cover the Turkey in a Butter-Soaked Cheesecloth

If youre set on the idea of butter on the outside of your bird, follow Petito Jr.s lead and soak a large piece of cheesecloth in melted butter, or a mix of melted butter and broth, then drape this over the turkey before putting it in the oven. This method helps keep moisture in and results in beautifully golden, crisp skin," he says. "Remove the cheesecloth in the last 30 minutes of cooking to allow the skin to brown further."

Roast Turkey Low and Slow

Meat is made up of proteins like collagen and muscle fibers. As the turkey cooks, these proteins start to firm up and tighten. According to Hale, cooking low and slow allows "the muscle fibers [to] shrink slightly but retain moisture, making the meat tender and juicy. If you cook at too high of a temperature the proteins tighten too much, squeezing out the juices." The chefs we spoke to recommend roasting around 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Once the meat nears 165 degrees F (75 degrees C) and the skin isnt as golden and crisp as you like, crank up the heat to between 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for the final 20 minutes to help accelerate the crisping process.



Melissa Goff

Invest in a Reliable Meat Thermometer

If your turkey comes with a plastic pop-up thermometer, Stilianessis says dont trust it. They're set to go off at 185 degrees F (85 degrees C), which results in an overcooked, dry turkey. Use a real meat thermometer, like Oxo Good Grips Chef's Precision Digital Thermometer and ThermoPro TempSpike Plus. When the thickest part of the breast reaches 165 degrees F (75 degrees C) and the thigh hits 175 degrees F (80 degrees C), Petito Jr. suggests pulling your bird from the oven.

Allow the Meat to Rest

Youve made it to the finish line and now its time to enjoy the fruits (okay, poultry) of your labor. But the last step is a crucial one: patience. As the meat cools slightly, the juices that were pushed to the surface during cooking redistribute back into the meat, keeping it moist when sliced. Slicing the turkey too soon after it comes out of the oven can cause the juices to run out, leaving the meat dry, Hales says. A very juicy cutting board and a dry turkey is not exactly what were going for, Som continues. Let the meat rest for 20 minutes after pulling it from the oven, then its time to carve your succulent, flavorful, and perfectly-cooked turkey.


My ex and I broke up but continued living together because I couldn't afford to move out.

Living together has its challenges, but it has helped us avoid spending too much money.

A year later, we are still roommates after setting some boundaries and saving money.

"You're still living with him?" my friend prodded during one of our weekly coffee meet-ups. Like most of my friends, she's still puzzled about why I live with my ex even though we broke up. For the umpteenth time, she offers me one of her spare couches to crash on for a month as I figure "everything out."

Typically, most people would dread bumping into their ex, but I've been living with mine out of financial necessity.

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About a year ago, I broke up amicably with my boyfriend of three years. We met in college in early 2021, pursuing the same major, and began dating almost immediately. Three months later, we moved in together. Initially, we got along just fine. We both loved the outdoors, and we'd spend the weekends searching for a new hike or caving adventure.

However, as we transitioned from college students to young professionals, our individual priorities shifted. He wanted to settle down and have kids almost immediately, while I just started a new career in freelancing.

After three years of dating, we broke up to pursue our own interests.

Living together after breaking up has saved us costs

Initially, we wanted to go our separate ways after the breakup. However, we live in Nairobi, a city with one of Africa's most expensive rent prices.

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While my ex has a relatively stable full-time job, I wasn't in a financial position to move out immediately. Due to the nature of my work, my income is pretty inconsistent, and moving out would have severely damaged my finances. Living on my own would have come with higher costs due to the "single tax" of handling rent, utilities, and groceries solo.

Once I shared my sentiments with my ex and informed him that I wanted to continue living together, he was on board with the idea.

We've managed to keep expenses manageable by splitting the bills, even though we've had to redefine our relationship.

It was hard to set boundaries, but we've made it work

For us, our biggest issue was setting boundaries, especially when it came to sharing the common areas and distributing chores. We'd get into petty arguments about who was to use the kitchen at what time or whose day it was to take out the trash.

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My ex would also get mad if I took up too much TV time. Eventually, we came up with separate times for cooking meals. For instance, during the evenings, I have the kitchen space to myself from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., while my ex has his allocated time between 8:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. We've also allocated separate time to watch television, and all chores are split in half.

Since we live in a two-bedroom apartment, we each have separate bedrooms with extra beds for our visitors. Whenever we want to bring a partner home, we rent out a hotel room to avoid making the other feel awkward.

I have been upfront with all my dates about my living situation. Sometimes, it can be hard for them to comprehend my motive behind this arrangement, but eventually, most of them come around.

We've also developed a platonic friendship

Once we lost the romantic spark, we began to see each other in a different light  not as partners but as companions who cared deeply for each other without romantic attachment.

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We catch up on each other's days like regular roommates do. My ex is comfortable offloading about his day at work to me, and I'm happy to share how my freelance work is progressing. Occasionally, we even share meals.

I have realized that I prefer my ex more as a roommate than when he was my partner. Our bond now feels like a friendship between two people who respect each other's boundaries.

I plan to save up enough money for at least a year to enable me to move out comfortably, but I plan to make a slow and steady transition. For now, I've found a balance in our shared space that is both financially practical and has led to a relationship dynamic that works for us.

Read the original article on Business Insider
It was 5.30 in the morning and Royal Caribbeans Voyager of the Seas cruise ship was floating off the coast of Fiji.

American passenger Bobbi Waterman was one of only two people on the deck, gazing out at the ocean as the sky illuminated the water with amber and bronze reflections. It was a spectacular view, and Bobbi felt her spirits rise with the sun.

Bobbi didnt know the other passenger on the deck. She didnt even recognize them from the preceding days of the cruise. At first, the two strangers kept their distance, but as the sun continued to rise, they found themselves coming together to share the moment. They both enthused about the view, at the tranquility of the empty ship deck in the early hours of the morning and at the beauty of Fiji.

It was 2013. Bobbi, who is a trans woman, was still male-presenting at the time. She was in her 50s, living in Florida, and had recently lost her wife of 14 years to breast cancer. Every day was a struggle through the grief. Bobbi wanted to live her life to the fullest  she knew thats what her late wife would have wanted too  but she was also navigating an internal struggle with her gender identity. She really wasnt sure what the future held.

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Bobbi didnt share all of this with the other sunrise watcher. They didnt even talk much at first. But once the fellow passenger introduced themselves as Tam Asbury, from Australia, and started making conversation, Bobbi unexpectedly found herself talking to Tam about her recent loss.

We talked for about three hours, Bobbi tells CNN Travel today. Bonding over grief, because I had lost my wife and Tam had experience in grief and losing people. So we just talked for a while. Tam is very empathetic  they started crying  and that, to me, was a sign Tam had a big heart.

Tam, who is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, was also going through a difficult time. When Bobbi and Tam met, Tam, then in their forties, was in the middle of an acrimonious separation from their husband.

Id bought 10 acres of land and was going to build a tiny house and live on there with dogs and donkeys and ducks, Tam tells CNN Travel. I wasnt ever contemplating another relationship. I was happy being on my own.

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Tams two teenage daughters were on the brink of adulthood and were now old enough to stay home alone, so the cruise around the South Pacific was Tams first vacation without kids in tow. For Tam, this was both exciting and bittersweet. They were looking forward to the future, but still unpacking the complexities of the disintegrating marriage.

Tam discussed some of these complicated feelings with Bobbi that day, and listened as Bobbi talked about her grief, her late wifes illness. The two strangers shared, empathized and connected with one another.

As dawn finally broke, Bobbi and Tam left the deck and went their separate ways. As they walked in opposite directions, they each felt grateful that theyd run into each other. It felt like a significant meeting.

But neither Bobbi nor Tam could have anticipated just how significant this meeting would prove to be.

Rocket science

After their sunrise bonding moment, Bobbi and Tam kept running into each other on the cruise ship, sometimes accidentally, sometimes on purpose, as Bobbi puts it.

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Some days, theyd just find themselves in the same place at the same time and start chatting. Other times, theyd arrange to eat dinner together or grab a drink on the pool deck.

We continued to hang out, Bobbi says. I thought Id made a new friend.

The two passengers talked about everything and anything  but one thing Bobbi downplayed in their conversations was her job and her workplace. Then, one day, one of the other passengers mentioned to Tam, in passing, that Bobbi was a rocket scientist at NASA. Tam couldnt believe Bobbi hadnt dropped this information into their conversation on day one.

But when Tam reflected on it, they decided this was illustrative of Bobbis humility and natural modesty.

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I was like, If I was a rocket scientist, I would lead with that in conversation, says Tam, laughing. But Bobbi didnt.

At the end of the 10-day cruise, Tam disembarked thinking how Bobbi was very different from their ex-husband.

Bobbi showed her emotions, talking about losing her wife, and she seemed intelligent, says Tam.

Tam was also grateful for their deep, interesting conversations.

I like people with brains, and it was nice to talk to someone you could converse with, they say.

As for Bobbi, she also felt thankful that Tam had entered her life and had quickly become somebody I could talk to.

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Before Tam returned to their kids in Melbourne, Australia, and Bobbi flew back to her home in Florida, the two swapped social media details and email addresses.

While they both acknowledged that their connection ran deep, neither expected it to turn into anything beyond a long distance friendship. The question of romance had hung over all their interactions, but neither was looking for love.

At the time, friendship was fine, says Tam. At that point in my life, I was not ready to have a relationship.

And I was not ready to move on, says Bobbi. I still had this black spot in my head, in my brain, from losing my wife and not really seeing a future yet of what I was going to do. It was just nice to have somebody to talk to.

A long-distance connection

Tam and Bobbi spoke for over three hours on the first day they met. They instantly connected and opened up to one another. - Tam & Bobbi Waterman

Almost 1,000 miles apart, Tam and Bobbi stayed in touch via instant messages and social media updates. Before long, they were enjoying regular video calls via Skype. Rather than seeing their friendship dwindling, they surprised themselves by growing closer and closer.

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When summer 2014 rolled around, Bobbi booked another trip. This time, she opted for a river cruise, traveling from Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, to Budapest, Hungary, with various stops in European cities.

Bobbi intended to travel solo. But as the cruise start date grew ever closer, Bobbi found herself thinking more and more about Tam, wondering about their connection. One day, on a whim, Bobbi decided to ask Tam if they wanted to join her.

Tam didnt say yes right away, deciding to talk it over with their daughters.

I spoke to both of my girls, says Tam. I said, This is what happened. Weve become friends. Theyve invited me here. What do you think I should do?

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Tams youngest daughter, whod always wanted to go to Paris, said she was fine with Tam embarking on a trip to Europe  so long as Tam didnt go to Paris without her.

Tams oldest daughter also supported the idea  with the caveat that the cruise couldnt involve London, as that was on her own personal bucket list.

And Im like, Okay, well the cruise isnt going to either of those places, recalls Tam. So they said, Okay, you should do it. And then I booked the flights and went to Amsterdam to meet Bobbi.

While Tam had their daughters approval, and Bobbi and Tam had grown close over a year of communicating via social media, Tam was still a little apprehensive about the trip. Still, while Tam had never visited Europe before, they had a couple of old friends who lived there. Tam contacted them, explaining the situation and making back up arrangements just in case things didnt go to plan.

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Bobbi was also a little worried about seeing Tam again. But when the two were reunited at Amsterdams Schiphol Airport, they were both overwhelmed with excitement. Their connection felt natural and easy.

And as the cruise wound around Northern Europes waterways, Bobbi and Tam bonded further.

We enjoyed spending our time together, recalls Bobbi.

But they still didnt discuss romance.

My future wasnt really clear to me yet, says Bobbi. I was still grieving.

Meanwhile, other cruise passengers kept commenting how Bobbi and Tam made such a good couple, asking when they were getting married.

I was not ready for that type of conversation, says Bobbi. Tam was not ready yet either.

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Bobbi was navigating grief, and unsure about dating again. Meanwhile for Tam, the idea of intertwining their life with someone again was equally daunting  especially someone they were still getting to know, who lived on the other side of the world.

A turning point

Tam and Bobbi, pictured here on another cruise, stayed in touch after meeting on Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas. - Tam & Bobbi Waterman

Post-cruise, Bobbi came face-to-face with some complicated family dynamics back in the US. Her burgeoning connection with Tam took a back seat for a couple of months as she navigated these family issues.

I had to deal with all of that stuff, says Bobbi. But Tam also helped me through it. And after talking with Tam, by the time I was ready, I was seeing a path.

Bobbi says this period was a turning point. She became increasingly sure that Tam was her future.

So I said to Tam, Id like to come visit you and spend time in Australia and meet your family and see where you live, and how you live, recalls Bobbi.

Tam told Bobbi that theyd love that. And so, in mid-2015, Bobbi arrived in Australia, greeted by Tam at Melbourne Airport.

While Bobbi had visited Australia when she was younger, shed only really seen Sydney. She was excited to see more of the country  and see things through Tams eyes.

I was excited and happy to show Bobbi my country, says Tam.

Tams family welcomed Bobbi too. There was some light ribbing and teasing, but they liked Bobbi and saw how happy she made Tam.

My oldest daughter was excited that Bobbi worked at NASA, says Tam. Meeting the family went off very well, some family members jokingly suggested Bobbi may be the janitor at NASA.

During Tams month in Australia, Tam and Bobbi also took a cruise, traveling from Sydney to Perth. They also enjoyed several days visiting New Zealand.

For Bobbi and Tam, this time together was special. Bobbis trip to Australia cemented Bobbi and Tams status as a couple.

Now I had a vision of the future, says Bobbi. I knew that I wanted to have a relationship with Tam, that I wanted something longer term.

A new chapter

Post-Australia, Bobbi and Tams conversations took on a slightly different tone. On long video calls, they started discussing the future, and what a shared life might look like, together. One time, Tam sent Bobbi a link to a vintage ring on eBay, mentioning that if Bobbi ever decided to propose, that was the ring she wanted.

The following year, in the summer of 2016, Tam came to the US to visit Bobbi for an extended three-month stint. During this trip, Tam met Bobbis family in Connecticut, and the couple also went to Alaska on a cruise with some of Bobbis close family members.

The couple also enjoyed downtime together in Bobbis hometown in Florida, and Bobbi enjoyed showing Tam her favorite spots in the city.

Toward the end of Tams trip, Bobbi took Tam to a park near where she lived. It was just the two of them, walking hand in hand.

Its a beautiful park, says Bobbi. And that day there were all these dragonflies flying around reeds in the water.

Tam was taking photos of the dragonflies, when Bobbi suddenly turned to them.

I said, You know why all the dragonflies are here? They want to witness something, recalls Bobbi.

Bobbi gave Tam this stone when she proposed in Florida in summer 2016. - Tam & Bobbi Waterman

A few months earlier, while on a business trip in Boulder, Colorado, Bobbi had wandered into a local boutique and spotted a heart shaped stone, engraved with the words marry me. Bobbi instinctively knew this would resonate with Tam, and purchased the stone right away.

Now, standing in the park in Florida, Bobbi asked Tam to stretch out their hand. Tam complied.

And then I gave Tam the little stone in their hand that said, marry me. And they said, Yes, recalls Bobbi.

I cried, says Tam. Bobbi took me by surprise.

Tams were happy tears. Bobbi felt her eyes brim up too. The couple continued to stand together in the park, watching the dragonflies, arms around each other.

A new chapter together

Bobbi and Tam planned their wedding day for the summer of 2017, inviting friends, family and loved ones to gather with them on a beach in Hawaii.

The lead-up to the wedding was a little stressful, as there were some question marks surrounding Tams US residency visa approval. In the end, the paperwork didnt come together in time, but Tam and Bobbi continued with their beachside celebrations. Eventually, the documents came through and Bobbi and Tams legal marriage took place at a Florida courthouse later that year. Tam took Bobbis last name, becoming Tam Waterman.

Prior to the wedding, Bobbi and Tam talked extensively about where they might live. While Bobbi was very open to moving to Australia, her job at NASA tied her to the US, so she and Tam decided to base themselves in Florida for the foreseeable future.

While Tam was thrilled at the prospect of marrying Bobbi, they were less excited about the idea of packing up their life in Australia and moving to the US.

Relocating abroad wasnt something Tam had ever dreamed of  they are proud to be Australian and loved living there. Tam also had misgivings about the political climate and culture in the US.

If you had told me before I met Bobby, Youre going to move to America, Id have laughed at you, says Tam, who was quickly frustrated by Americans throwing around phrases like the American Dream.

They say You moved here because its better than where you were. And Im like, No. Thats not why I moved to America, definitely not why, says Tam.

Despite Tams mixed feelings about the US, they were excited to share life with Bobbi.

Since I had visited a couple of times this felt like a home, says Tam of Florida. And I was happy to be with Bobbi all the time.

Tams oldest daughter was settled in Australia, so she stayed there. But Tams youngest daughter relocated and moved into Bobbis Florida home too.

Around this time, Bobbi started taking steps toward adopting Tams youngest daughter.

It was important to let her know she was family here, says Bobbi. I always tried to make it as easy as I could, because I knew how hard it was for them to uproot their lives and come all the way across the world.

Living authentically

Tam and Bobbi, pictured here at the Chichen Itza archaeological site in Mexico, say they have always supported one another. - Tam & Bobbi Waterman

Bobbi, Tam and their daughter soon settled into life as a family unit in Florida.

For Tam and Bobbi, being together 24/7 was thrilling. There were no more airport goodbyes, no more navigating 16-hour time differences  they supported each other, made each other laugh, made travel plans together,

But with the relationship solid, and Tams US visa status settled, Bobbi found herself thinking more and more about her gender identity.

I had mentioned to Tam that there were parts of me that felt more right to be a woman probably in the 2015 time frame, says Bobbi. Then by 2018, we had a deep conversation about being a woman. Tam always thought it was obvious that I was the female of the relationship.

Tam was supportive, encouraging Bobbi to live authentically. But it wasnt until summer 2023  four years after she retired from NASA  that Bobbi came out as a trans woman to her wider circle.

We were sitting around the table one night  me and Tam and our daughter  and we were talking about the lottery. What would we want to do if we won Powerball? If we came into all this money, what would we want to do? What vacations would you go on? Where would you want to live?

The conversation was jovial, lighthearted. But then Bobbi got more serious.

I said, Well, if we won a lot of money, do you think Id be okay transitioning to female? Bobbi recalls.

She didnt know what reaction to expect, but Tam and their daughter didnt skip a beat.

Theyre like, Why would you have to win a lot of money to do that? If you feel that you are female, just be female, just transition.

Tam immediately went upstairs to get some clothes that Bobbi could try on, while the couples daughter helped Bobbi do her make-up.

They were very, very supportive, says Bobbi.

A few months later, in July 2023, Bobbi recorded a video she called Life Update, Coming Out and posted it to YouTube. Shed already started uploading vlogs of her travels with Tam, and a video seemed like the natural way to share the news.

In the video, Bobbi talked about considering herself as non-binary, gender fluid for several years, and that shed looked into transitioning to female a few times, but convinced myself that I was too old to start this process.

But, said Bobbi in July 2023, looking directly at the camera, shed now decided to be her true self.

Ive decided that Im going to live my life as a woman, she said.

Bobbi shared the video on her social media accounts. She was struck by how many people from all aspects of life reached out with words of support.

It was very heartwarming, says Bobbi.

Most of Bobbis loved ones were encouraging.

Both of our girls are very, very supportive, says Tam. They both accept Bobbi for who she is.

Bobbi also has a stepdaughter and stepgranddaughters from her first marriage. While shes not close with her stepdaughter, she says her stepgranddaughters have always been very supportive.

Throughout it all, her biggest champion was Tam, whod always encouraged Bobbi to be her authentic self, emphasizing theyd always love her.

For Bobbi, this only further underlined what she considered Tams greatest quality: their heart, empathic soul.

Im much happier now, being able to live my life who I really am, reflects Bobbi. I kept it inside for many, many years. And it wasnt until I had the relationship with Tam that I felt comfortable enough to talk about these things and realize that, if this is who I am, I should live my life as who I am, and be myself.

A nine-month cruise

The couple traveled the globe on a nine-month cruise for much of 2024, which included a stop off at Mount Fuji, in Japan, pictured. - Tam & Bobbi Waterman

As Bobbi started living authentically in 2023, she and Tam also started preparing for the trip of a lifetime.

The couple love to travel together and  fittingly, given how they met  particularly enjoy exploring the world via cruise travel.

So when they learned about Royal Caribbeans Ultimate World Cruise, a nine-month long world cruise setting sail in December 2023, the couple jumped at the chance. It seemed like the perfect way to celebrate Bobbis retirement and the next chapter of their life.

When I was very young, I had a globe  in fact I still have this globe  and I would sit there and stare at it, and look at all these countries that I wanted to visit, says Bobbi. The nine-month world cruise hit most of them.

When the Ultimate World Cruise set sail in December 2023, the voyage quickly gained a lot of traction on social media, with several passengers on board posting viral TikToks about their experiences on board.

While Bobbi and Tam were into YouTube, they were a little late to world cruise TikTok. But by February 2024, they were posting regular dispatches about their experiences at sea under the handle @tam.and.bobbi, as well as Instagram updates under @tamandbobbiadventures.

The couples growing social media presence came with both positive and not-so-positive feedback. While the hate could be disheartening, Bobbi and Tam were determined to not let naysayers impact their travels. They were enjoying an incredible travel experience, and they wanted to share it with the world.

Plus, there were many supportive comments and messages that counteracted the negativity.

Wed get messages in our inbox and talk to people who were like, My granddaughters trans, or my child is trans, or my trans partner is willing to travel now, because youve made it possible, says Tam.

People would say, Youve shown us its possible as a trans couple, to go explore the world and see sites and travel, adds Bobbi. Being able to show thats okay to people that were scared and afraid to do that has been very meaningful. Those are the messages that kind of wrench at your heart, and youre like, Oh my gosh, this is so beautiful. Im so glad I was able to do this.

The nine-month cruise was also meaningful because it was truly once-in-a-lifetime, just an amazing experience, as Bobbi describes it.

A particularly memorable moment for Bobbi and Tam was the ships stint in Antarctica.

It was unreal, says Bobbi. Serene, quiet, zen-like. The water was glass, there were icebergs and whales and penguins everywhere.

Another highlight was when Tams oldest daughter, who still lives in Australia, boarded the cruise and joined Tam and Bobbi for the voyage between Brisbane and Hong Kong.

This was especially meaningful because there was a period during the pandemic where the couple couldnt see her because of Australia and US Covid rules.

The Ultimate World Cruise came to an end in September 2024, and Bobbi and Tam are already planning their next travels. They hope to explore more of the US, including the countrys national parks. Theyve got a couple more cruises on the calendar and are also daydreaming about a big trip to Vietnam.

Bobbi also recently got a new passport, which shes excited to take on her next trip.

That was the hardest thing on the world cruise, because my passport was my old name and my old gender. And so I was presenting, as me, as who I am, but my passport said I was somebody else, explains Bobbi.

Fortunately this discrepancy didnt cause any particular issues for Bobbi during the nine-month cruise. There were five countries on the cruise itinerary that Bobbi and Tam skipped because of anti-trans and LGBTQ+ laws, but the couple say they felt largely welcomed in most places.

And now, if I have a passport that reflects who I am, when we travel in the future, that will make it much easier, because you dont have to explain that extra step in there, says Bobbi. The passport matches who I am.

As well as continuing to explore the globe, Bobbi and Tam are also considering the possibility of relocating to somewhere outside the US in the future.

Now that Bobbis retired, living in Australia is back on the table, although nothings set in stone yet. Bobbi and Tam have two dogs that theyd want to bring with them, so they have to consider their needs. Their short list of potential future homes also includes the Caribbean island of Grenada, as well as Spain and Portugal.

Reflecting on a life together

While Tam and Bobbi were on their nine-month world cruise, they enjoyed many sunrises and sunsets together. As they watched the sun break over the ocean, they often found themselves reflecting on that first sunrise they watched together, off the coast of Fiji, more than a decade ago.

Tam marveled at the fact they came together, despite literally living half a world apart. Theyre grateful that they met Bobbi a little later in life, when their priorities were clearer.

My first marriage was not good, Tam says. But when youve had a storm, you can see the rainbow. You need the rain for the rainbow, and I think you appreciate even more what you have.

As for Bobbi, she found herself thinking about the deep grief she went through, and the unexpected life and happiness that waited with Tam on the other side.

I like to think that the spirit of my first wife and other spirits helped us meet, Bobbi says today. How else would we both meet on deck 12, at 5.30 in the morning, sailing into Fiji, from different sides of the world? The odds of that happening are astronomical, and theres got to be a reason we met and I think it was, there was some help pushing us together.

Traveling not only fills your soul, it is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer, she adds. Also, your soulmate may not be in your home town or state or country, your soulmate may be on the other side of the planet waiting for you to find each other.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  A woman died Thursday in a motorcycle crash in Newark.

According to the Newark Police Department, two people were on the motorcycle around 4:44 p.m. when it drove onto a sidewalk along West Union Street. The driver tried to get back onto the road, but lost control of the motorcycle, throwing the female passenger off.

1 of 28 passengers in I-490 tour bus crash dies

The passenger was taken to Newark Wayne Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The driver was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital with what police said were not life-threatening injuries.

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Police are investigating the crash.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
One person has been seriously hurt following a shooting in northeast Charlotte Saturday morning, according to MEDIC.

It happened just before 7 a.m. on the 100 block of Eastway Drive.

ALSO READ: Driver shot on I-85 in west Charlotte, police say

MEDIC said the victim was taken to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Channel 9 has reached out for more details regarding this shooting.

This is a developing story; check wsoctv.com for updates.

VIDEO: Driver shot on I-85 in west Charlotte, police say
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  One person was seriously injured in a crash in Northeast El Paso early Saturday morning, Nov. 9, El Paso Fire dispatch said.

The crash happened a little after 1 a.m. along Loop 375 near Railroad, dispatch said. One person was transported Code 3 (serious injuries).

Loop 375 was closed for several hours because of the crash but reopened later Saturday morning.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
LONDON (AP)  Michael Woods has visited his wife, Mary, every day since she moved into a nursing home two years ago.

But on Sunday, the 100-year-old Royal Air Force veteran will skip the daily get-together so he can fulfill another duty  honoring the men he served with during World War II.

For the first time since he left the RAF in 1947, Woods will take part in Britains national Remembrance Day service, joining thousands of veterans as they march past the Cenotaph war memorial in central London to honor those who died during the world wars and all the conflicts that followed.

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Its a great privilege for me to do this, said Woods, a mechanic who kept Lancaster bombers flying during the war. And I suppose Ill never do it again."

The annual ceremony is a solemn event marked every year when the king and envoys from the Commonwealth nations that fought alongside Britain in the two world wars lay wreaths at the Cenotaph. It culminates when up to 10,000 veterans, many with medals gleaming on their chests and regimental berets on their heads, parade past the memorial.

Until now, Woods has watched on television from his home in Dunstable, 30 miles (50 kilometers) away. Mary always watched with him.

Woods had a lot on his mind before. For many years, he was busy with his family: two daughters, a son, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. And, more recently, he was looking after Mary, his wife of 68 years.

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But there was something else holding him back as well. He didnt feel he deserved the honor, as he was just" a mechanic working on the 12-cylinder Rolls-Royce Merlin engines that powered the Lancaster bombers. He changed his mind after he connected with other ex-service members through Blind Veterans UK, the charity that has helped him deal with macular degeneration and glaucoma.

He felt it was time to remember the men who didnt come home after they roared into the sky aboard planes he had certified as airworthy. Each Lancaster carried a crew of seven, most in their early 20s, so the losses  so many at once  were hard to bear.

Its very, very upsetting when a Lancaster takes off and it doesnt return," Woods told The Associated Press.

I couldnt forget it if I wanted to," he added. Its just imprinted on your mind, you know."

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The RAFs Bomber Command had the highest attrition rate of any Allied unit during World War II, with 44% of aircrew members killed in action, according to the International Bomber Command Centre. Some 55,573 of the 125,000 who served on the aircrews died during the war.

Adrian Bell, CEO of Blind Veterans UK, said hes met many World War II veterans who describe themselves as mere cogs in a massive machine. But thats what it took to defeat fascism. Everyone was needed.

So come Sunday, Woods will be marching.

With the stubbornness to retain his independence that seems to have come with turning 100, Woods insists he wont use a wheelchair because he has never used one before and isnt going to start now. Besides, his son, Eddie, will be there to act as a guide and his buddies from the charity will be nearby to offer emotional support.

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He will be an inspiration, Bell said.

I think the most important thing is the fortitude of a man who is 100 years old, who fought in the Second World War and beyond, who is going to be there physically on Sunday and marching as a tribute to those who lost their lives and as a sort of a sign of hope and a sign ... that there is life after all of these things," Bell said. Thats the embodiment of something that I think is really important.
OCALA, Fla. (WFLA)  A Florida teenager pleaded guilty on Thursday morning after beating and sexually assaulting a 91-year-old woman back in June, court records show.

Around midnight on June 9, the teen, 14-year-old Jesse Stone, of Reddick, allegedly snuck into the 91-year-olds home, then beat and sexually battered her, according to the Marion County Sheriffs Office.

Roommate who reported Florida woman missing now charged with her murder: police

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Deputies said the woman woke up to find the boy inside her home, who reportedly entered through an unlocked door.

Then, Stone allegedly punched and groped the victim, as she fought back until he stopped.

In a cruel act of violence, she was beaten and sexually battered, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said back in June.

Lakeland father gets 20 years in prison after toddler dies in hot car following party

According to NBC affiliate WESH, a neighbors video showed Stone had ridden his bike by the victims home, in what appeared to be the same clothing he was wearing during the crime.

Deputies identified Stone by using video and DNA evidence from a rape kit, WESH reported.

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It came as a shock that any individual would commit such an act on a 91-year-old, but it is truly disturbing when we see the young age of the arrestee, the Sheriff had added. Although I firmly believe he should be held accountable for his crime, as a father, my compassion goes out to his family. Hopefully, his arrest will lead to getting him help that prevents any further such acts.

Middle school student shoots self on school bus in St. Petersburg

In an interview with detectives over the summer, WESH said Stone admitted to entering the home, beating and sexually battering the woman.

He was arrested on charges of sexual assault by someone under 18 years toward a victim over the age of 12, and burglary of a dwelling with battery.

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Stones sentencing is scheduled for the morning of Dec. 19.

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A car-to-car shooting Thursday night led to a high-speed chase on two freeways, with suspects firing at police as they sped at over 100 mph.

The pursuit ended in Rancho Cucamonga, where two suspects were arrested after a dramatic freeway exit.

Undercover San Bernardino police officers witnessed the initial car-to-car shooting near 14th Street and Magnolia Avenue. During the exchange of gunfire, one of the suspects rounds struck an unmarked police vehicle, according to a news release from the San Bernardino Police Department.

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Officers chased the suspects onto the 215 and 210 freeways, where the suspects discharged multiple rounds at marked police vehicles. The chase, which reached speeds exceeding 100 mph, ended when the suspects exited at Archibald Avenue, where they were taken into custody.

No injuries were reported during the incident.

The San Bernardino Police Department is investigating the shooting within the city, while the California Highway Patrol is handling the freeway shooting.

Authorities are continuing to investigate, with additional details expected as they become 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 KTLA.
A handout photo made available by the Korea Coast Guard shows the 129-ton Geumseong, which sank 15 miles off Jeju's Biyang Island, South Korea, on Friday. Of its 27 crew members, 15 were rescued, including two who were found unconscious and later pronounced dead, while 12 others remained missing. Photo by Korea Coast Guard/EPA-EFE

Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Two people died and rescuers were searching for 12 others who went missing in the waters of the East China Sea on Friday after a fishing boat sank off South Korea's Jeju Island, authorities said.

The fishing vessel Geumseong, a 129-ton craft, sent out a distress call early Friday morning when it began sinking about 15 miles off the small island of Biyangdo, located just northeast of Jeju, Korean Coast Guard officials told the Yonhap News Agency.

They said the ship had 27 crew members aboard when it began sinking, including 16 Koreans and 11 Indonesians. Of those, 15 were rescued by a nearby vessel but two of them, identified as Koreans, were later pronounced dead after being hospitalized.

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The 12 who remain missing include 10 Koreans and two Indonesians, officials said.

Coast Guard Commissioner General Kim Jong-wook activated the agency's Central Rescue Headquarters to launch a full-scale effort to find any survivors, deploying dozens of divers who searched through waters reaching depths of nearly 300 feet.

A spokesman for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol told Yonhap he has issued authorization to mobilize all available resources and personnel for the rescue mission.

Crew members said the boat capsized after unloading its catch onto a transport vessel and lifting the net, although questions remain about why the weight of an unloaded net would cause such a large boat to capsize.

One possibility is that heavy floating trash may have been caught up in the net, the Hankook Ilbo daily reported. Refuse floating the waters off Jeju Island has become an increasingly serious problem in recent years, it said.
They were loving life and they hadnt even started being people, the boys neighbor told the BBC

sosdesaparecido/X.com Izan and Ruben Matias are missing after they were carried away in flood waters in Spain Izan and Ruben Matias are missing after they were carried away in flood waters in Spain

A family in Valencia, Spain, is continuing the desperate search for two young boys after flood waters ripped them from their father's grasp over a week ago.

With his wife working the late shift, Victor Matias returned home on Oct. 29 after picking up his two sons, Ruben, 3, and Izan, 5, from daycare and was preparing to make them dinner when the house was overtaken by flood waters, according to the BBC.

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As the flooding became more severe, Victor sat the tearful boys down in their bedroom and attempted to reassure them, The Times reported. Just a few moments later, water  and a truck it was carrying  smashed through a wall and carried the trio from their home and to a nearby ravine.

Everything that was forced down the ravine  cars, trees and a container  hit the bedroom outer wall with a great crash, the boys aunt, Barbara Sastre, told The Times.

sosdesaparecido/X.com A missing person poster for Izan Matias and Ruben Matias A missing person poster for Izan Matias and Ruben Matias

Victor grabbed his sons in his arms as the water swept them away, his next-door neighbor Jonathan Perez told the BBC. But despite his best efforts, the boys were swept away in the floods  and so was Victor.

Victor regained his footing and carried the boys in his arms. But then he realised he no longer had them, Perez said. The water took everything in its path.

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According to Victors mother, he almost gave in to the flood waters after his sons were swept away, but kept going because he could not leave his wife by herself, the BBC reported.

The father of two was found four hours later, clinging to a tree a few hundred feet from the home. After more than a week of intensive daily searches, Ruben and Izan are still missing.

David Ramos/Getty The aftermath of the flooding in Valencia, Spain, on Oct. 30, 2024 The aftermath of the flooding in Valencia, Spain, on Oct. 30, 2024

The boys  who are not the only people missing following the catastrophic flooding  have since made headlines as los ninos desaparecidos, or the missing children, as the search for them continues, the BBC reported.

The brothers' family is destroyed by their absence, their aunt said  a sentiment evidenced by Victor sleeping with the boys blankets as he recovered from his flood injuries, according to the BBC.

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We are destroyed, Sastre told The Times. They are so young and so many days have now passed.

Sastre also described the young boys as cartoon-loving, high-energy children full of joy. They were such happy kids, Sastre told the BBC.

David Ramos/Getty Images The aftermath of the flooding in Valencia, Spain, on Nov. 1, 2024 The aftermath of the flooding in Valencia, Spain, on Nov. 1, 2024

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Their neighbor, Perez, echoed this sentiment  and expressed anger at the timing of the official flooding alert, which he thinks came too late.

They were loving life and they hadnt even started being people  they were 3 and 5 years old, he said of the little boys.

With better coordination, better management and an earlier alarm  even half an hour earlier  those kids could have been saved, he added, and those parents would not be going through hell.

Izan and Ruben are among the 89 people who are still unaccounted for after the deadly flooding as of Tuesday, Nov. 5, according to the Associated Press and The Times. At least 217 people, meanwhile, are confirmed to have been killed.


Nebraska voters in the state's 2nd Congressional District will face a rematch between Democratic State Sen. Tony Vargas, left, and U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb. (Candidate photos courtesy of the campaigns; Capitol photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)

OMAHA  Its official: Republican U.S. Rep. Don Bacon has won Nebraskas 2nd Congressional District, securing a fifth term, the Associated Press declared Friday.

The AP called the race just after 5 p.m., following the latest vote report by the Nebraska Secretary of State that showed Bacon ahead of State Sen. Tony Vargas, a Democrat, by 7,150 votes.

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Vargas in a statement thanked those who believed in him.

This campaign has always been about giving a voice to working families and uniting our community. Throughout my career, Ive worked across the aisle to help parents, seniors, and students, and I will continue that fight. 

He talked about his background and reason for stepping up. And, he said, he will continue to serve.

Said Vargas: I am the son of immigrants who came here with nothing and sacrificed so much for our family. My parents worked hard so my brothers and I could get an education and decide what we wanted for our lives. Thats why I work as hard as I possibly can, every day, so that people can have that same opportunity.

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I know the challenges facing Nebraskans right now because Ive lived them  the difficulty to find affordable housing, to pay for groceries, gas, childcare, and medical bills. And while this wasnt the outcome wed hoped for, our work is not going to stop tonight.

Bacon had declared his own victory Wednesday morning. He celebrated at his west Omaha campaign headquarters on Wednesday, with more than 75 people attending, including Gov. Jim Pillen, the other four members of Nebraskas congressional delegation.

Bacons team was celebrating again Friday on social media, showing the AP statement.

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Its official. We won, Bacon said.

The retired Air Force brigadier general thanked supporters for pouring into our campaign and delivering victory in the most difficult congressional race in America.

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Three Independence police officers are on administrative leave after an officer-involved shooting left a woman and a child dead, Independence police confirmed Friday.

Officers were called to Oval Spring Apartments, located at 16801 East Larkspur Lane, at approximately 1:43 p.m. Thursday for a domestic violence disturbance reported by a third-party caller, Independence police chief Adam Dustman said at a news conference Friday.

When officers arrived, they said a woman was armed with a knife. Independence police refused to release the identities or ages of the woman and child, but some Oval Spring residents said they were told it was a mother and her infant who were killed in the mid-afternoon shooting. On Friday, Dustman said he could only confirm it was a woman and child.

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Police refused to give the official causes of death. No arrests have been made, police said.

Independence police chief Adam Dustman fields questions from the media the day after an officer-involved shooting resulted in the deaths of a woman and child.

At Fridays news conference, Dustman said one officer fired a shot. Its not yet known if that was the cause of the deaths.

Both the officer that fired their weapon and two other responding officers have all been placed on leave as part of normal protocol as the investigation plays out, he said.

Dustman called the officer who fired a shot a long-tenured veteran of law enforcement.

De-escalation attempts were made, according to Dustman. A mental health co-responder, from an agency not with police, was also called to the scene, but was held back from engaging before the fatalities occurred because the woman was armed, police said.

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That would not be normal nor acceptable, Dustman said about the responder de-escalating an armed person. We try to [de-escalate] as much as possible. But that also is situationally dependent.

Dustman confirmed the new details Friday at a hastily-arranged news conference at police headquarters, at which officials said they intended to discuss the broader issue of violence against children in our community. They played a public service announcement to the assembled audience to highlight that issue, asking the community to say something if they see something of concern.

Thursdays shooting is being investigated by the Police Involved Investigation Team, made up of detectives from various Eastern Jackson County law enforcement agencies. The leading officer of the investigation is from Blue Springs Police, Dustman said.

We were tore down

At Oval Spring Apartments, residents of the apartment complex are still processing what happened there Thursday.

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Durrell Johnson, who has lived at the complex for eight years, said he was putting his daughter down for a nap Thursday afternoon when he heard a rush of emergency vehicles entering the complex.

It was like they were on their way into a war zone, he said.

Johnson and other residents initially assumed there was a kidnapping or hostage situation to cause the vast police presence, until they watched local television reports.

We got word that there was a baby and another resident, we were tore down. We couldnt understand it, Johnson said.

Property manager Carrie Lufkin, who has worked on the property for about a year, said she vaguely knew the family involved in the shooting. She said she was told the woman was holding her infant hostage in a closet shortly before the two died, but that has not been confirmed by police.

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Lufkin said she was also told a man was attempting to grab the child from the woman. Police refused to name if a man was involved in the case.

Carrie Lufkin, manager of the Oval Spring Apartments, waits outside the facility after speaking with the media regarding an officer-involved shooting at the Oval Spring Apartments on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in Independence.

Police also havent confirmed whether the Childrens Division of the Missouri Department of Social Services had prior contact with that family, but did say social workers had been at the apartment complex once before.

As the investigation unfolded Thursday, Lufkin waited at the front of the complex for residential children to be dropped off from school buses on Thursday, while officers processed the scene.

Im very shaken up, Lufkin said at the time. Its an awful situation.

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On Friday, Johnson said Lufkin sent an email to residents apologizing for the incident. Johnson commended her and her small staff for caring for the residents and their children as the incident unfolded.

Its terrible that a tragedy like that happened here, resident Heather Roszell said.

A police-involved shooting took place at an Independence apartment complex on Nov. 7, 2024.

We can prevent things like this

This is the latest in a string of child deaths in Independence.

At the beginning of November, a 7-year-old child died in the area of 32nd Street and Crysler Avenue. When asked, Dustman said there werent any new details about that case as of Friday.

A 3-year-old boy died in July after falling from the broken window of his eighth floor apartment at Independence Towers. Then, in August, a 12-year-old boy died after his unregistered rental home went up in flames.

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Dustman said the area is at an inflection point concerning firearm violence and child deaths, given the the rise of firearms collected by police over the past several years.

Sometimes its just accidental firearms that are left out or accessible inside of a residence, and that results in a shooting, he said. All ages, all spectrums, thats preventable. Thats a preventable death, its a preventable injury.

Dustman is pleading with the community to report signs of firearm use and violence before it escalates into a situation where lives are lost.

When we all come together as a community and look out for one another, theres a higher likelihood that we can prevent things like this from ever happening, he said.

The Stars Nathan Pilling and Noelle Alviz-Gransee contributed to this reporting.
AMES, Iowa  Three people were stabbed in Ames Friday evening and the Ames Police Department is searching for a suspect.

At around 5:30 p.m. the Ames Police Department responded to a report of multiple stabbing victims in the 3700 block of Tripp Street. While enroute to the scene first responders found two victims and transported them to a nearby hospital. A third victim arrived at a local hospital by private vehicle. Police said one of the victims was transferred to a Des Moines hospital. The conditions of the victims are unknown at this time.

Suspect accused of hitting SEP student, stealing car arrested

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According to police, the suspect is still at large. No additional information has been released.

Anyone with information about the stabbings is asked to contact Ames Police at (515) 239-5133. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to the tip line at (515)239-5533, or to Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa at (515)223-1400 or online.

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Today we present the short story "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe. Here is Shep O'Neal with the story.

True! Nervous -- very, very nervous I had been and am! But why will you say that I am mad? The disease had sharpened my senses -- not destroyed them.

Above all was the sense of hearing. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in the underworld. How, then, am I mad? Observe how healthily -- how calmly I can tell you the whole story.

It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain. I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye! Yes, it was this! He had the eye of a bird, a vulture -- a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell on me, my blood ran cold; and so -- very slowly -- I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and free myself of the eye forever.

Now this is the point. You think that I am mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely and carefully I went to work!

I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him. And every night, late at night, I turned the lock of his door and opened it  oh, so gently! And then, when I had made an opening big enough for my head, I put in a dark lantern, all closed that no light shone out, and then I stuck in my head. I moved it slowly, very slowly, so that I might not interfere with the old man's sleep. And then, when my head was well in the room, I undid the lantern just so much that a single thin ray of light fell upon the vulture eye.

And this I did for seven long nights -- but I found the eye always closed; and so it was impossible to do the work; for it was not the old man who was a problem for me, but his Evil Eye.

On the eighth night, I was more than usually careful in opening the door. I had my head in and was about to open the lantern, when my finger slid on a piece of metal and made a noise. The old man sat up in bed, crying out "Who's there?"

I kept still and said nothing. I did not move a muscle for a whole hour. During that time, I did not hear him lie down. He was still sitting up in the bed listening -- just as I have done, night after night.

Then I heard a noise, and I knew it was the sound of human terror. It was the low sound that arises from the bottom of the soul. I knew the sound well. Many a night, late at night, when all the world slept, it has welled up from deep within my own chest. I say I knew it well.

I knew what the old man felt, and felt sorry for him, although I laughed to myself. I knew that he had been lying awake ever since the first noise, when he had turned in the bed. His fears had been ever since growing upon him.

When I had waited a long time, without hearing him lie down, I decided to open a little -- a very, very little -- crack in the lantern. So I opened it. You cannot imagine how carefully, carefully. Finally, a single ray of light shot from out and fell full upon the vulture eye.

It was open -- wide, wide open -- and I grew angry as I looked at it. I saw it clearly -- all a dull blue, with a horrible veil over it that chilled my bones; but I could see nothing else of the old man's face or person. For I had directed the light exactly upon the damned spot.

And have I not told you that what you mistake for madness is but a kind of over-sensitivity? Now, there came to my ears a low, dull, quick sound, such as a watch makes when inside a piece of cotton. I knew that sound well, too. It was the beating of the old man's heart. It increased my anger.

But even yet I kept still. I hardly breathed. I held the lantern motionless. I attempted to keep the ray of light upon the eye. But the beating of the heart increased. It grew quicker and quicker, and louder and louder every second. The old man's terror must have been extreme! The beating grew louder, I say, louder every moment!

And now at the dead hour of the night, in the horrible silence of that old house, so strange a noise as this excited me to uncontrollable terror. Yet, for some minutes longer I stood still. But the beating grew louder, louder! I thought the heart must burst.

And now a new fear seized me -- the sound would be heard by a neighbor! The old man's hour had come! With a loud shout, I threw open the lantern and burst into the room.

He cried once -- once only. Without delay, I forced him to the floor, and pulled the heavy bed over him. I then smiled, to find the action so far done.

But, for many minutes, the heart beat on with a quiet sound. This, however, did not concern me; it would not be heard through the wall. At length, it stopped. The old man was dead. I removed the bed and examined the body. I placed my hand over his heart and held it there many minutes. There was no movement. He was stone dead. His eye would trouble me no more.

If still you think me mad, you will think so no longer when I describe the wise steps I took for hiding the body. I worked quickly, but in silence. First of all, I took apart the body. I cut off the head and the arms and the legs.

I then took up three pieces of wood from the flooring, and placed his body parts under the room. I then replaced the wooden boards so well that no human eye -- not even his -- could have seen anything wrong.

There was nothing to wash out -- no mark of any kind -- no blood whatever. I had been too smart for that. A tub had caught all -- ha! ha!

When I had made an end of these labors, it was four o'clock in the morning. As a clock sounded the hour, there came a noise at the street door. I went down to open it with a light heart -- for what had I now to fear? There entered three men, who said they were officers of the police. A cry had been heard by a neighbor during the night; suspicion of a crime had been aroused; information had been given at the police office, and the officers had been sent to search the building.

I smiled -- for what had I to fear? The cry, I said, was my own in a dream. The old man, I said, was not in the country. I took my visitors all over the house. I told them to search -- search well. I led them, at length, to his room. I brought chairs there, and told them to rest. I placed my own seat upon the very place under which lay the body of the victim.

The officers were satisfied. I was completely at ease. They sat, and while I answered happily, they talked of common things. But, after a while, I felt myself getting weak and wished them gone. My head hurt, and I had a ringing in my ears; but still they sat and talked.

The ringing became more severe. I talked more freely to do away with the feeling. But it continued until, at length, I found that the noise was not within my ears.

I talked more and with a heightened voice. Yet the sound increased -- and what could I do? It was a low, dull, quick sound like a watch makes when inside a piece of cotton. I had trouble breathing -- and yet the officers heard it not. I talked more quickly -- more loudly; but the noise increased. I stood up and argued about silly things, in a high voice and with violent hand movements. But the noise kept increasing.

Why would they not be gone? I walked across the floor with heavy steps, as if excited to anger by the observations of the men -- but the noise increased. What could I do? I swung my chair and moved it upon the floor, but the noise continually increased. It grew louder -- louder -- louder! And still the men talked pleasantly, and smiled.

Was it possible they heard not? No, no! They heard! They suspected! They knew! They were making a joke of my horror! This I thought, and this I think. But anything was better than this pain! I could bear those smiles no longer! I felt that I must scream or die! And now -- again! Louder! Louder! Louder!

"Villains!" I cried, "Pretend no more! I admit the deed! Tear up the floor boards! Here, here! It is the beating of his hideous heart!"

You have heard the story "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe. Your storyteller was Shep O'Neal. This story was adapted by Shelley Gollust. It was produced by Lawan Davis.

________________________________________________

Quiz - The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

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Lesson Plan

This lesson plan, based on the CALLA Approach, teaches the strategy, classify, to help students understand the story.

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Words in This Story

nervous - adj. often or easily becoming worried and afraid about what might happen

underworld - n. the place where dead people go in Greek myths

vulture - n. any one of several large birds that eat dead animals and have a small and featherless head

lantern - n. a light that has usually a glass covering and that can be carried by a handle

terror- n. a very strong feeling of fear

well - v. to rise to a surface and flow out  usually + up

horrible - adj. very bad or unpleasant

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QUETTA, Pakistan (AP)  A suicide bomber blew himself up at a train station in restive southwestern Pakistan on Saturday, killing at least 26 people, including soldiers and railway staff, and wounding about 62 others, some critically, officials said.

The attack happened when nearly 100 passengers were waiting for a train to travel to the garrison city of Rawalpindi from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, according to Hamza Shafqaat, a senior government administrator.

When asked about a security breach that led to the bombing, Shafqaat told reporters that it is usually very difficult to stop such suicide attacks.

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However, Shahid Nawaz, who is in charge of security at Quettas train station, insisted there was no breach as the attacker was disguised as a passenger and blew himself up among people at the station.

TV footage showed the steel structure of the platforms roof blown apart and a destroyed tea stall. Luggage was strewn everywhere. Most of the victims were taken to a state-owned hospital and some to a military one.

Wasim Baig, a spokesman for the health department and police said over a dozen soldiers and six railway employees were among the dead at the station, where a walk-through gate has been installed to check whether anyone is carrying explosives. Still, there are multiple other entrances to the station without such security.

A separatist group, the Balochistan Liberation Army, claimed the attack in a statement, saying a suicide bomber targeted troops present at the railway station. The outlawed BLA has long waged an insurgency seeking independence from Islamabad.

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A senior superintendent of police operations, Muhammad Baloch, said separatists frequently attacked soft targets.

"When their people are arrested, they also attack in retaliation. We all have to fight this war. We are resilient. Our teams are here and trying to save as many lives as we can.

Police said some of the critically wounded passengers had died in the hospital, raising the death toll.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif denounced the bombing in a statement, saying those who orchestrated the attack will pay a very heavy price for it," adding that security forces were determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism.

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Afghanistans Foreign Ministry also condemned the bombing and expressed its condolences to the families of the victims, as did the Russian Embassy in Islamabad.

Saturday's assault came a little over a week after a powerful bomb attached to a motorcycle exploded near a vehicle carrying police officers assigned to protect polio workers in the province, killing nine people, including five children who were nearby.

In August, the BLA carried out multiple coordinated attacks on passengers buses, police and security forces across Balochistan, killing more than 50 people, mostly civilians.

Oil- and mineral-rich Balochistan is Pakistans largest but also least populated province. It is a hub for the countrys ethnic Baloch minority whose members say they face discrimination and exploitation by the central government. Along with separatist groups, Islamic militants also operate in the province.

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The BLA mostly targets security forces and foreigners, especially Chinese nationals who are in Pakistan as part of Beijings multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative, which is working on major infrastructure projects. The group often demands the halt of all Chinese-funded projects and for workers to leave Pakistan to avoid further attacks.

Last month, the BLA claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that targeted a convoy with Chinese nationals outside Karachi airport, killing two. Beijing has asked Pakistan to ensure the safety of its citizens working in Balochistan and other parts of the country.

___

Associated Press writer Asim Tanveer in Multan, Pakistan, contributed to this report.
After former President Donald Trump was elected to be the 47th president of the United States this week, many women turned to social media to express their fears and frustrations about what a second Trump presidency would mean for womens rights. Many women on TikTok specifically endorsed the idea of joining the 4B movement in response to his win.

One post from a TikTok user said she broke up with her Republican boyfriend after election night and planned to join the 4B group. The post racked up nearly 2 million likes on the app.

Doing my part as an American woman by breaking up with my republican boyfriend last night & officially joining the 4b movement this morning, she wrote in the text overlay of the video.

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Another TikTok user said in a viral video that she believes the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, wouldve won the presidency if she were a man.

Yall hate women that bad, she said, writing 4b movement ladies in the caption of the post.

Both TikTok posts are a part of a surge of post-election social media posts promoting the idea of a particular womens rights movement, which emerged in South Korea.

What is the 4B movement?

The 4B group, which champions a no-marriage stance, began around 2018 with the goal of rejecting gender norms that have historically and systemically exploited women.

The name of the group stems from women disengaging from men in four categories, which all begin with the letter B in Korean: bihon, bichulsan, biyeonae and bisekseu. The list translates to: no dating, no sex, no marriage and no child-rearing.

Why did it start?

For years, feminist movements in South Korea have worked to fight against various forms of gender inequality, such as pay gaps, gender-based violence (including the countrys spy-cam porn epidemic) and male-centered standards of beauty that place extreme pressure on women. Women in South Korea have also increasingly rejected the traditional expectations to become mothers due in part to misogynistic views about the burden of care often placed on women, among other factors.

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The country has been battling a demographic crisis, with record low birth rates for years.

The 4B movement specifically emerged in South Korea in the midst of a feminist movement in the late 2010s into the early 2020s, according to Jung Hawon, a journalist and author of Flowers of Fire: The Inside Story of South Koreas Feminist Movement and What It Means for Womens Rights Worldwide.

Jung explained to YouTuber Elliot Sang in June that there was a lot of momentum for the 4B trend at the time it emerged. For example, South Korean YouTuber Jung Se-young, who promoted the 4B movement, told Reuters in 2020 that she vowed to stay single because marriage is the root cause of patriarchy in South Korea.

During Jungs YouTube interview with Sang, she said that the 4B movement and its followers, represent an extreme end of a whole spectrum of women who remain single and childless in South Korea.

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But despite its original popularity, Jung also said that she believes more recent anti-feminism waves in South Korea have intimidated some women in the country. A lot of them have fallen silent, including the followers of the 4B Movement as well. Its a really disheartening development.

Why is 4B trending in the U.S.?

Theres been an uptick in interest in the 4B movement since Trump defeated Harris in Tuesdays election.

Many women on social media are voicing concerns about the future of reproductive rights and slamming the men who voted against the policies aimed at protecting women and their bodily autonomy.

Theyre also concerned for their safety in a second Trump administration. On Wednesday, far-right social media users on X shared their unfiltered, misogynistic celebrations following the former presidents reelection: Your body, my choice. Forever, one far-right political pundit posted on the platform  a phrase that has since spread online. (Other grotesque and threatening tweets insinuating men can now control women also followed.)

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As a result, some are turning to the ideals of the 4B movement in response.

I like the new idea from the #4BMovement about not engaging or speaking with men whenever we can, one person wrote on X, formerly Twitter. That sounds so peaceful. We can just ignore and block. Let their loneliness epidemic spread.

The movement also encourages women to uplift other women more intentionally.

Reminder that the 4B movement, and the separatist movement in general, isnt just about avoiding men  its also about supporting and investing in women, wrote another. Seek out relationships with women, women-owned businesses, women-made media, etc; surround yourself with women and our culture.

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But others online have said that some of the recent discourse surrounding the 4B movement in the U.S. doesnt acknowledge the ways different demographics of women, and men, voted in the election.

The majority of the conversations operate under a blanket statement that most men voted against womens best interests  and that women generally voted in favor of those interests. But the voting demographics tell a more pointed story.National exit polls suggest that Harris received support from about 91% of Black female voters and about 60% of Latina voters. She received about 77% of the Black male vote, according to Reuters.

Trump, however, won an estimated 56% of the white vote: 60% of the white men and 53% of white women.

Per voting, Black people are the most unified group in the country, one X user wrote, adding, Our men are not who voted against us and our humanity, it was theirs.

Black women dont need to engage in the 4B movement. Per voting, Black people are the most unified group in the country. We need to lean into each other and grow our population and community. Our men are not who voted against us and our humanity, that was theirs.  Dr. C (@BEautifully_C) November 8, 2024

Other people on X pointed out that simply swearing off men after Trumps win doesnt address the white female voting bloc, which has often voted for Republican candidates.

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4B movement is good and important and Im glad people are talking about it but I need white women to keep up the energy when unpacking white supremacy in themselves and their peers. Statistically a man of color is a better ally to me than a white woman, one user said.

Regardless, people are continuing to express their frustrations with the outcome of the 2024 election, and many are drawing inspiration from the womens movements in South Korea. As of Friday there were more than 19,000 videos tagged about the 4B movement on TikTok, as well as posts on Instagram and X.

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TYRE, Lebanon (AP)  An Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese port city of Tyre left at least seven people dead, among them five siblings, three of whom were deaf and mute, officials and a resident said Saturday. Elsewhere in Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes killed 31 people.

The rise in Tyres death toll came as Israels air force carried out airstrikes on different parts of southern and eastern Lebanon on Saturday hours after Beiruts southern suburbs were pounded by jets, destroying several buildings, state media reported.

The Health Ministry said late Saturday that the airstrikes on towns and villages in the eastern Bekaa Valley and Baalbek-Hermel province left 20 people dead while those in two villages in south Lebanon killed 11 people, including five paramedics.

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Lebanons Hezbollah group said it fired dozens of rockets on northern Israel and shot down a drone over south Lebanon. The group said that Israels air force struck the area where the drone crashed. There was no immediate confirmation from the Israeli military.

The Health Ministry said the strikes on Tyre late Friday night also wounded 46 people. It added that remains also were found in rubble and DNA tests will be used to identify the victims.

Youssef Jundi, a Tyre resident, told The Associated Press that the airstrikes destroyed several buildings in the coastal city.

He said that his long-time neighbor and friend, Ghazwa Dabouk, was among those killed. Dabouks sisters Elissar, Rabab and Fidaa, who were deaf and mute, were also killed in the airstrike, together with Dabouk's brother Ali, who had autism.

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The Israeli military said it attacked the Tyre offices of Hezbollahs intelligence department as well as a command and control center for the group in the city.

More than 3,000 people were killed in Lebanon during the 13 months of the Israel-Hezbollah war.

Hezbollah began firing rockets into northern Israel the day after Hamas surprise attack into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, ignited the war in Gaza. Hezbollah and Hamas are both allied with Iran.

For nearly a year, the conflict was mostly contained to the areas along the border between Israel and Lebanon. The conflict dramatically escalated on Sept. 23 with intense Israeli airstrikes on south and east Lebanon as well as Beiruts southern suburbs, leaving hundreds dead and leading to the displacement of nearly 1.2 million people.

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Israel began a ground invasion of south Lebanon on Oct. 1, causing wide destruction in border villages but making little advances on the ground inside Lebanon. Israel says it is destroying Hezbollah weapons and command centers near the border, including an extensive tunnel system built by Hezbollah.

____

Mroue reported from Beirut.

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Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
An 84-year-old man was arrested this week in connection with the slaying of a female hitchhiker 50 years ago in Wisconsin.

Mary K. Schlais, 25, was found dead Feb. 15, 1974, at an intersection in Spring Brook, Wisconsin, the Dunn County Sheriffs Office said.

Mary K. Schlais.

The Minneapolis, woman was killed while hitchhiking to an art show in Chicago, Sheriff Kevin Bygd said Friday.

This was a very bright lady who had a very bright future ahead of her, he said. Her life was taken away.

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Although investigators worked the case for decades, chasing tips and collecting evidence, no viable suspects were identified, according to the sheriffs office.

But through forensic genetic genealogy, Bygd said investigators tracked down Jon Miller, 84, at his apartment in Owatonna, Minnesota. Miller on Thursday confirmed his involvement with Marys homicide after 50 years, Bygd said.

Miller was awaiting extradition to Wisconsin, Bygd said. It was not clear Friday afternoon if Miller had retained an attorney.

Bygd said he was ecstatic when he heard of Millers arrest.

I had a difficult time controlling my excitement, he said. You know, Ive been here with this agency for 35 years, and this case has been worked on all those 35 years.

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The sheriff continued: This is a huge victory for our agency.

The sheriffs office said in recent years, it had collaborated with Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey, and its team of genetic genealogists helped identify Miller as a suspect.

Through genetic genealogy, law enforcement utilizes commercial DNA databases to find family matches to the DNA of a crime suspect, a victim or a missing person.

Last month, authorities in Arizona announced they used genetic genealogy to identify a John Doe whose remains were found near the Hoover Dam more than a decade ago. The man was not seen by his family for nearly 30 years.

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Don Schlais, 79, of Minneapolis, said Friday that he never thought he would see the day an arrest was made in his sisters death.

Its just surreal. You dont expect it after all this time, he said.

Schlais said his sister had earned an undergraduate degree in art from the University of Minnesota and was applying to graduate school. She was passionate about horses and horseback riding, he said.

Schlais credited law enforcement and the forensic team for the arrest. He said whatever happens to Miller, is out of his hands.

Im going to let go and Im going to let God, he said. I suspect he will take care of this. Hell have to pay the karma when he dies.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
SYRACUSE N.Y. (WSYR-TV)  Syracuse Police were called to University Hospital for a report of a walk-in stabbing on Saturday, November 9.

When police arrived at the hospital around 5:37 a.m., officers found a 54-year-old man who was being treated for multiple stab wounds to his body because of an apparent stabbing.

The mans injuries were deemed non-life threatening. The stabbing is believed to have happened in the areas of East Raynor Street and South Salina Street.

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Anyone with information is asked to call Syracuse Police at (315) 442-5222.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR.
EBENSBURG, Pa. (WTAJ)  Three days after voters cast their ballots, a victor has finally been declared in the hotly contested battle for Pennsylvanias 72nd District.

It took election officials over 55 hours to hand count thousands of ballots after an error prevented them from scanning in Cambria County on election day, creating angst and anxiety for candidates and voters alike.

PREVIOUS STORY: Cambria County still counting day after error with ballots

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Among the races impacted by the delay was the race for the 72nd District seat in the State House of Representatives. This race determined party majority in the House. With incumbent representative Frank Burns officially being named victorious against opponent Amy Bradley, the Democrats will maintain control with a one-seat majority.

READ MORE: Rep. Frank Burns called as winner over Bradley, A win for Cambria County

While Cambria was the last county to be called, Burns said he doesnt believe the balance of power really came down to him.

Just because our votes came in three days later doesnt mean that Im the decider of what happens in Harrisburg, Burns said. There were other races that were much closer than mine that were decided earlier. Just because of the fiasco of the county commissioners and the elections office here in Cambria County does not put any more pressure on me.

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In a county that has gone red for the past several elections, and in a state that went red this election cycle, Burns is one of few Democrats that held onto his position, winning by less than 3% of the total vote. But Burns said that elections like this one are about more than just party politics.

I think its a testament to the work that I do here in the community that people arent so much worried about what happens in Harrisburg and Washington. Its really the work I do in the community that matters, Burns said.

Burns has served in the seat for 16 years, representing Johnstown and 23 surrounding townships and boroughs, making him one of the longest serving representatives in the state. But Burns said he still has work to do when he returns to Harrisburg.

We need more jobs and job creation and economic activity here. Weve planted the seeds so far for that with the Keystone Opportunity Zone. Its already in place here in Cambria County, Burns said. Now we have to execute and get employers to take advantage of the tax incentives that we created.

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Burns only has a short time to celebrate his victory before getting back to Harrisburg Nov. 12 when the House will reconvene for a voting session.

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Syracuse, Nebraska  Gerri Eisenhauer's father, Army Pvt. William Walters, was shipped off to World War II before she was even born.

In 1944, her family got back his body and a U.S. government letter that only said he had died somewhere in France.

"I just always wondered, where he died, how he died, it was just a little part of a puzzle piece that was missing in my life," Eisenhauer told CBS News.

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For decades, the family was resigned to the fact that it would never know. That is, until a few months ago.

Eisenhauer was at her home in Syracuse, Nebraska, this past summer when she received a message from Christophe Ligere, a French historian, from the small village of Grez-sur-Loing, in central France. The message read, in part, "On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of France, we pay tribute to Private William Walters."

Ligere had found Walters' name in the diary of an eyewitness to his death, and he immediately felt like he had to find Walters' family. Ligere conducted some research and located the Walters' family tree, and from there he found the online obituary of another relative of Eisenhauer, through which he left her that message.

"We were looking for our soldier," Eisenhauer's daughter, Jan Moore, told CBS News. "We did not know that he was their soldier, too."

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As Eisenhauer learned from Ligere, in August 1944, American troops began liberating the village of Grez-sur-Loing. It was a joyous day, but there was one casualty: while crossing the Loing River into town, Walters' boat capsized and he drowned at the age of 20.

After Ligere tracked down Walters' family, he invited them to France to honor their shared hero and the sacrifice he made here. Eisenhauer and her daughter and son, Jan and Allen, made the trip in September.

Marc Perrot had witnessed Walters' death at the age of 13.

"They went looking for him and found him," Perrot explained in an interview with France Televisions. "They did a lot of things to try to revive him, but it didn't work."

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Perrot met Eisenhauer and showed her where they laid her father to rest prior to his body being returned to the U.S.

"They covered him with flowers," Eisenhauer said of the French. "It's just amazing, the care that they gave him."

This week, Eisenhauer returned to her father's grave in Cass County, Nebraska.

"First time I've been here and had the answers," Eisenhauer said.

She says she now feels at peace, and it's all thanks to the grateful people of France, who even 80 years on, still see the U.S. through the prism of our better angels.

"It's very important because theyoung people come from the US...to battle for democracy...in France," Ligere told CBS News.

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In September 2006, a US military C-17 cargo plane arrived at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and deposited 14 new prisoners. The men had previously been held in CIA black site prisons around the world, where many were tortured outside the protections of US law.

One of them was Ammar al-Baluchi, one of the five men facing a military tribunal at Gitmo for allegedly aiding the 9/11 hijackers. Prior to arriving at the island prison, Baluchi was subject to isolation, forced shavings, beatings, dousings with ice water, stress positions including being shackled to a ceiling, and food denial. In one particularly disturbing incident, trainee interrogators formed a line and repeatedly slammed his head against a wall for practice in a technique known as walling, leaving him with brain damage, according to a CIA report declassified in 2022.

When he arrived at the island US naval base alongside the 13 others, they were spirited to an equally shadowy lock-up: Camp 7.

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Camp 7, before it closed in 2021, was the most clandestine part of Gitmo, so closely guarded its exact location, design, and costs were secret. It held some of Americas most high-value detainees, including Baluchi and his uncle, 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed.

Nearly two decades after those prisoners arrived at Guantanamo, a new lawsuit could reveal more about what went on inside, and whether it was under the full operational control of the CIA.

On Monday, the American Civil Liberties Union asked the Supreme Court to take up Connell v CIA, which argues that the intelligence agency was wrongly able to dodge a records request about its ties to Camp 7. What might seem like an arcane legal fight about records policy has the potential to shed new light on one of the ongoing secrets of the War on Terror.

The case stems from Baluchis legal defense. Baluchi, who was born in Kuwait and captured in Pakistan in 2003, is accused of providing money and travel arrangements for the 9/11 hijackers at the request of his uncle. The Kuwaiti has said he didnt know for certain what the recipients of his support were planning to do, and hasnt been convicted of any crimes.

The CIA has declined to release all of its records about Camp 7, the secretive facility inside Guantanamo where some of the USs most high-profile War on Terror detainees were held (Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

In 2017, Baluchis lawyer James G. Connell III filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the CIA, seeking information about his time being detained in Camp 7, a facility the 2014 Senate torture report later described as being under the operational control of the CIA at the time Baluchi arrived. The agency replied with three records, but withheld a fourth in its entirety, and it refused to clarify whether any further records linking the CIA and Camp 7 even existed.

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The ACLU argues the CIAs non-denial denial, its cliched we can neither confirm nor deny response known as a Glomar defense, defies common sense because the torture report, Guantanamo Bay military commission testimony, and declassified documents all suggest CIA activity at Camp 7.

The CIAs claim to secrecy in this case is as extreme as it is absurd, given the extensive public record about the CIAs connection to Camp 7, Brett Max Kaufman, one of the ACLU attorneys arguing the case, said in a statement. The CIA has once again stretched Glomar past its breaking point, and the courts should not be roped into endorsing a patent secrecy charade like this one.

The Independent has contacted the CIA for comment, and the Defense Department referred requests for information to the intelligence agency.

Ammar al-Baluchi is accused of aiding his uncle, 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed (picture), in carrying out the 2001 terror plot

Some lower courts have so far sided with the CIA, finding that in records cases, judges need not look further afield for information that might contradict an agencys silence. The ACLU argues, however, that appeals courts are split on the matter, and judges shouldnt have to "bury their heads in the sand if there are indications that an agency is refusing to acknowledge, and potentially divulge, information it likely possesses.

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The civil rights group argues the CIA regularly abuses the Glomar defense, using it to deflect inquiries on controversial issues like drone strikes, extrajudicial killings of US citizens, and questions of potential spying on Congress.

What is public about Camp 7 and the CIAs activities at Guatanamo is concerning to many observers.

In 2019, a former commander testified in the 9/11 case that the detainees there were guarded by a secret unit, called Task Force Platinum. The unit wore US military uniforms with pseudonyms instead of names and no marks of rank, suggesting to observers they were CIA agents or contractors posing as soldiers. (At the same hearing, a former Army officer called by the government testified that he and his troops took custody of the prisoners when they arrived, further muddying the picture who was actually in control of Camp 7.)

Biden administration Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has attempted to null a plea deal for some of the alleged 9/11 plotters (AFP via Getty Images)

There are also questions of whether the detainees at Camp 7 suffered further civil rights abuses during interrogations at the naval base. At Guantanamo, the former CIA torture victims were interrogated again, this time by FBI agents sent in 2007, in the hopes that the government could extract information without the use of torture so it would later stand up in court.

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Defense lawyers have argued evidence from these FBI interviews is tainted too, since detainees were held in conditions much like their past time in black sites, potentially overseen by the same agency, the CIA. The detainees may have been unaware they could refuse to comply with these interviews or afraid they would be tortured again.

Moreover, theres evidence that the FBI was involved in the original international black site interrogations at CIA prisons where torture took place. An FBI agent has testified in 2019 to sending hundreds of questions to the network of secret prisons where men like Baluchi were tortured before they were flown into Guantanamo.

Camp 7 closed in 2021, but the records fight is only one front in a much larger legal war over the governments conduct hunting the men who carried out 9/11.

Revealed: First Image of War on Terror Detainee in CIA Black Site

Today, we confront a stark and haunting image that lays bare the grim realities of what is called the war on terror. This photograph, the first of its kind to be published, shows Ammar al-Baluchi, confined at a CIA pic.twitter.com/SrHiwCBwQz  Mansoor Adayfi 441   (@MansoorAdayfi) August 2, 2024

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In August of this year, it was Baluchi who appeared in the first publicly released photo of a black site detainee, standing naked and gaunt in shackles with his head shaved, part of a trove of some 14,0000 such black site images reportedly in the governments possession that mostly remain secret. Baluchis torture inspired scenes in the 2012 film Zero Dark Thirty, and remains a live issue in the ongoing 9/11 capital case, where defense lawyers have long argued evidence obtained under torture should be inadmissible.

Resolution in any of these matters seems far away. In August, the Defense Department canceled an apparent plea deal involving Mohammed and two others, though it was reinstated on Wednesday. The 9/11 trial of the remaining defendants may not start until 2026.

Whatever form this chapter of the post-9/11 reckoning takes, and whenever it takes place, its clear that even decades after the height of the War on Terror, many secrets are still being kept  and the US is maintaining its silence.
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  The Abilene City Council made the decision to temporarily ban fluoride in the citys water.

Abilenes history with fluoride in water has gone back and forth. The first ban took place in 1964; however, the ban was removed in 2000. The city council unanimously voted in favor of the fluoride ban, as many expressed their concerns about the issue.

Council Member Kyle McAllister suggested that the Trump Administration would have Robert F. Kennedy look into the fluoride-in-water situation. At the same time, Council Member Brian Yates responded that he favored permanently banning the addition of fluoride water and was opposed to waiting, as Blaise Regan also agreed with Yatess position on fluoride in water.

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City Manager Robert Hanna said the ban wont happen tomorrow or next meeting, but Stanley Smith and him will meet next week to discuss the ban.

One of Abilenes citizens, Tammy Fogle, responded, its not your job to tell us what we voted for or how to fix it, even though you legally can; I believe in the law, the constitution, and I believe in our charter, and we need to fix our charter.

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Despite Kamala Harris' loss, pro-abortion rights activists are celebrating the results of the 2024 election, arguing that abortion rights won.

"When we look at the election results from this week, we saw voters in states that are really different from each other, in large majorities support abortion rights," Elisabeth Smith, the director of state policy at the Center for Reproductive Rights, told ABC News in an interview.

Abortion was a central issue in Harris's campaign as she sought to draw a stark difference between her vision for the country and President-elect Donald Trump's. But, exit polling shows some supporters of abortion rights still voted for Trump, despite Roe v. Wade being overturned as a result of his U.S. Supreme Court appointments.

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The battlegrounds of Arizona and Nevada were among 10 states with abortion on the ballot Tuesday. Some strategists hypothesized that this would boost turnout among the majority of voters who support legal abortion, aiding Democratic candidates in the process.

PHOTO: Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris delivers a concession speech after the 2024 presidential election, Nov. 6, 2024, on the campus of Howard University in Washington. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

Trump's approach, focusing on states' rights, appeared to resonate with voters who didn't view abortion access as incompatible with a Trump presidency. In Arizona, 23% who voted "yes" on the state's initiative enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution also voted for Trump. In Nevada, where another abortion rights measure was approved, 27% of "yes" voters elected Trump.

This followed at the national level. Among the two-thirds of voters who said abortion should be legal in all or most cases, 28% voted for Trump; that included 30% in Arizona, 33% in Nevada and 36% in Florida.

Supporters of legal abortion still broke strongly for Harris, but partisan elasticity on the issue did not cut both ways. As Harris made abortion access a central focus of her campaign, she won only 9% of voters who said abortion should be illegal in all or most cases. In Arizona, anti-abortion voters made up 31% of the electorate and backed Trump by 95%.

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"In thinking about what seems like a contradiction, research has shown that Americans -- when there is an abortion ballot or abortion-protecting constitutional amendment or initiative on the ballot -- they don't see abortion as a partisan issue," Smith said. "Americans see abortion as an issue of liberty and of freedom."

PHOTO: Supporters listen as Vice President Kamala Harris delivers a concession speech after the 2024 presidential election, Nov. 6, 2024, on the campus of Howard University in Washington. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

"In 2022, 10% of voters in the state of Kentucky voted against the restrictive constitutional amendment that was on their ballot and for Rand Paul -- a senator who has made his opposition to abortion rights known," Smith said.

Trump has also told voters that there won't be a federal abortion ban and it could be that voters were persuaded by him, Smith said.

"I don't think that people know that a federal abortion ban would preempt state constitutional protection. So I think there could also be this sense 'I'm voting yes on this amendment, and that means my state is fine,'" Smith said.

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At least 14 states have ceased nearly all abortion services since Roe v. Wade was overturned. In total, 21 states have restrictions on abortion in effect.

Seven of the 10 states with abortion on the ballot are projected to vote in favor of abortion rights while three states are projected to uphold abortion restrictions -- marking a first since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Six states previously voted in favor of abortion rights in the 2022 midterm elections.

PHOTO: Vice President Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and President-elect Donald Trump. (AP)

In Florida, 57% of voters voted in favor of enshrining protections for abortion rights in the state's constitution, but the measure failed to reach the 60% threshold it needed to pass. Still, abortion rights groups dubbed this measure a success, saying a majority of voters sided with abortion.

"Abortion won big," said Gretchen Borchelt, the vice president for reproductive rights and health at the National Women's Law Center, at a press conference Wednesday. "If not for the rigged rules and for the very intentional and purposeful efforts to confuse and mislead voters and change the goal post and change the rules, abortion access would have won, certainly in Florida but in Nebraska and South Dakota too."

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In Nebraska, two contradicting abortion-related amendments on the ballot confused voters, likely contributing to the failure of the initiative, Smith argued.

"There is research, outside of the abortion context, but about ballot initiatives that show that when voters are confronted with two choices on the same question, that creates a lot of confusion about what people are voting for. And in Nebraska, when signatures were being collected, there were voters who alleged that they were told they were signing the abortion rights petition and later found out they had signed the petition against abortion rights," Smith said.

PHOTO: Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives at an election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Evan Vucci/AP)

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Despite the success of ballot initiatives, advocates need to make it more understandable to people that their elected officials greatly determine their ability to access reproductive healthcare like abortion, Kelly Baden, the Guttmacher Institute's vice president of policy told ABC News in an interview.

"Women are dying from these abortion bans. And so unfortunately, to to see that that reality wasn't sufficient for people to fully prioritize abortion rates up and down the ballot in every way possible is it's a tough pill to swallow," Baden said.

"Seven states did soundly declare their support for abortion, active rights via ballot measures and I think there's a bigger conversation of how and why people are able to make that make sense in their own voting patterns. That is a problem that predates Trump," Baden said.

ABC News' Gary Langer contributed to this report.

Abortion ballot initiatives could have helped Harris win, instead Trump overperformed originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Idaho Democrats were proud to field candidates in every legislative race this election. They outraised the Republican Party by a wide margin and drew $70,000 from the Democratic National Committee to invest in minority voter turnout, the Idaho Statesman previously reported.

But they faced resounding defeats across the state and losses in Ada County. In West Boises purple legislative District 15, Democratic incumbent Sen. Rick Just lost to Republican challenger Codi Galloway, while Republican Rep. Dori Healey fended off a challenge from Democrat Shari Baber. Republican incumbents won all county races handily  in commissioners races, by their widest margin since at least 2016.

People line up to vote early in Novembers general election. Democrats faced resounding defeats statewide.

In part, the shift to the right mirrors the areas changing political demographics. Between 2004 and 2023, nearly 120,000 people originally from other states registered to vote in Idaho, according to the Idaho Secretary of States Office, which tracks voter registrations. Amid the states population boom, Republican newcomers vastly outnumber Democratic voters. Except for Vermont, every state in the U.S. has sent more Republicans than Democrats to Idaho, according to the state data.

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Many newcomers are politically active and enthusiastic, said Thad Butterworth, chair of Ada Countys Republican Party.

Theres a very large contingent of people who are coming from some of these states where they felt like they were not listened to by their by their government, by their party, Butterworth told the Statesman by phone. The new contingent, they want action. They want to see things moving. They want they want to be able to look at the end of the day and say, We moved the ball forward.

Statewide, about a quarter of those newcomers are from California. Secretary of State voter registration data shows that more Californians moved to Ada County than anywhere else in Idaho.

The changes reflect a national trend: Millions of Americans have moved along political lines in recent years, resulting in a widening gap between blue and red neighborhoods, the New York Times reported in October.

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Ada Countys population has grown dramatically: from about 200,000 residents in 1990 to over 550,000 in 2024, according to data from the Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho. More than 60% of Idahos new registered voters are over 50, according to Secretary of State data.





We mapped the countys voting patterns in every presidential election, by precinct, since 2012. The redder a precinct is, the more votes cast there for the Republican candidate. The bluer it is, the fewer votes cast for a Republican.

The data shows that political polarization is occurring below the state level, too  as some formerly pale-red and light-blue neighborhoods turn maroon and darker blue.

Ada County presidential election results from 2012 through 2024 show increasing support for the Republican Party in the northwestern, eastern and southern parts of the county. The redder a precinct is, the more votes cast there for the Republican candidate. The bluer it is, the fewer votes cast for a Republican.

Both southern and northwestern Ada County have grown redder since Donald Trumps first run for the presidency in 2016. In the countys largest precinct, on its southern border, Trump received about 65% of the vote in 2016  and nearly 75% of the vote in 2024.

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In the northwest, around Eagle and Star, Trump earned about 63% of the vote in 2016 and over 80% in 2024.

Democratic support has remained strongest in central Boise and in the North and East Ends, where the Democratic candidate has regularly received over 50% of the vote since at least Barack Obamas 2012 campaign.

Support for Democrats was highest in the North End in 2020, with Joe Biden hitting a high of nearly 88%. Support flagged for Kamala Harris in the same area, receiving nearly 83% this year.

Voters between Meridian and Boise have consistently been the most split between Democratic and Republican presidents. In one neighborhood near Summerwind Elementary School, residents in 2020 voted for Trump by a 0.11% margin.

The maps below show each Ada County precincts voting patterns since 2012. Note: Precincts boundary lines have shifted multiple times since 2012 as the region has grown, which could partly explain differences in each precincts voting patterns.
PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ)  A settlement with a California-based energy company will lead to Pennsylvanians who were misled to be paid restitution.

According to Attorney General Michelle Henry, a settlement with Inspire Clean Energy will make sure that the company will be paying restitution for misleading customers in service agreements. Customers may also be receiving other monetary relief.

As part of an investigation, the company was found to told consumers they were merely participating in a survey or signing up for a mailing list to receive information about clean energy, when in fact they were being enrolled in Inspires energy services.

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Former Pennsylvania city treasurer convicted of stealing $106k

Some consumers were promised savings but then typically faced higher energy costs from Inspire. Other consumers reported that Inspires representatives told them they were affiliated with the government or with a different utility company and that Inspire representatives photographed consumers electric bills without consent.

The settlement requires Inspire to pay $250,000. Of that money, $150,000 will go towards consumer restitution and to make clear disclosures when contacting potential customers.

This settlement protects Pennsylvanians from being duped by Inspire representatives who try to sell service packages disguised as surveys and mailing lists, Attorney General Henry said. Any company that misleads Pennsylvania consumers about essential services, such as electricity, will be held accountable.

The settlement will require the company to:

Obtain express informed consent from a consumer prior to enrolling the consumer in any of Inspires electric services.

Clearly and conspicuously disclose all material terms of Inspires services to consumers including, but not limited to, terms pertaining to cancellation policies, pricing and rates, and the presence, purpose, and effect of trial periods.

Create and implement training and oversight reasonably necessary to ensure that its representatives comply with the settlement and with applicable consumer protection laws.

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This investigation was handled by Senior Deputy Attorney General Jim Wise resulting in the settlement being filed in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  With an estimated 20,000 whales dying from ship strikes each year, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Falmouth, Mass. is working to use artificial intelligence and thermal-imaging cameras to diminish these unnecessary deaths.

The independent organization, dedicated to ocean research, technology and education, said that the technology can spot whales more than 4 miles away and alert captains before fatal strikes occur.

This technology uses thermal imaging to detect a whales body or spout and provides real-time information on their distance and bearing from a vessel, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution announced in an October press release. The goal is to provide ship captains with enough time for vessels to be able to change course or slow down.

A thermal imaging camera system, seen mounted to a ship, can detect moving objects, like whales, from several miles away. (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

USGS: Small earthquake strikes off Oregon coast

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Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is working with the Matson Navigation Company in Hawaii to better protect marine mammals from ocean liners, commercial fishing vessels and cargo ships. The Hawaii-Based shipping company Matson Navigation has pledged $1 million to support WHOIs research and development of the whale-detection cameras. The company is also taking part in the research by attaching the detection systems to one of its ships traveling the Hawaii trade lane, as well as another in Alaska.

In three months of trial tests, the technology has identified 1,169 whales and dolphins. WHOI Associate Scientist Daniel Zitterbart, who specializes in ocean physics and engineering, said that the cameras algorithms filter out thermal signatures of boats, birds, and waves and only send alerts for possible whale detections.

A highly stabilized thermal imaging camera is mounted on a ship and monitors the surface of the water for whale surfacings and exhalations, or blows, Zitterbart saud. If a whale blows, its thermal signature is recognized by the integrated AI, and also alerts vessel crews within seconds to the presence of whales up to several kilometers away.

Mapped whale or dolphin detections using new AI technology. (Image courtesy: Dan Zitterbart, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Common blue shark washes up on Oregon beach

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When a potential whale sighting occurs, the AI-assisted cameras send an alert to a human within 15 seconds, the organizations said. The person then verifies or discredits the sighting to ensure that captains dont receive false alerts. Cascadia Research Collectives Senior Research Biologist John Calambokidis, who has followed the progress of this technology for the past decade, told KOIN 6 that this is the first study hes seen that combines a detection system with a practical verification method.

You dont want to have a lot of false negatives, meaning things identified as whales that arent whales, Calambokidis said. Because then the captains and ships are going to start avoiding things. Or once they learn its not working, theyre going to start ignoring it. So that was kind of a neat new addition.

The waters off the coast of Hawaii and along the West Coast of the U.S. are home to as many as 16 species of whales. The whales most at risk of ship strikes off the West Coast include blue, fin and humpback whales  which are all listed as endangered species  and gray whales, which are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Blue, fin and humpback [whales] have been the primary species [of concern regarding ship strike], Calambokidis said. Theyre all kind of large, coastally distributed, sometimes occurring in high density and areas of high shipping traffic, and seem to be particularly vulnerable to ship strikes. In other oceans like in the North Atlantic, the primary concern is the North Atlantic right whale.

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Vessel strikes and entanglement are some of the leading causes of injury and death to marine animals like whales. Although the new technology shows promise, Calambokidis said that this is just one method of reducing ship strikes.

Im certainly hopeful about technologies like this, he said. And you know, seeing this actually tested and implemented and actually being adopted in part by a shipping company, those were encouraging directions along this line. I think the reduction in ship strikes is going to take multiple strategies.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  New York State officials issued an air quality health advisory on Saturday following a red flag warning on Friday.

The air quality index will likely reach pollution levels of up to 101 to 150, according to NotifyNYC. The higher the AQI, the greater the health concern, the National Weather Service says.

Drought conditions in NYC: When will it rain?

The high AQI can make breathing difficult for people who are sensitive to air pollution. Older adults, children, and people with heart and lung conditions are most at risk, according to the New York City Health Department.

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Health officials recommend the following to stay safe from high levels of air pollution.

Air pollution safety tips:

Stay inside if possible

Limit strenuous outdoor physical activity

Limit time outside and take breaks

Wear a well-fitting N95 or KN95

Use a portable air cleaner

Talk to your healthcare provider for additional guidance

The air quality health advisory and red flag warning come amid raging wildfires in New Jersey and brush fires throughout New York City.

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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NORTH ALABAMA (WHNT)  The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) says drivers should expect nighttime delays next week as it adds dynamic overhead signs to Interstate 565.

ALDOT said a contractor, Stansell Electric, will install dynamic message signs, also called DMS, at two locations on 565 next week. The agency said the signs are part of the ongoing $5.2 million improvement project on 565 that began in 2023.

Madison Superintendent: Communication protocols not followed in Liberty Middle gun incident

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According to ALDOT, drivers should expect some overnight delays next week due to the work.

The agency said on Tuesday night Stansell will install a DMS over the westbound lands between County Line Road and Greenbrier Road. On Wednesday the company will install another sign over the eastbound lanes between Jordan Lane and Memorial Parkway

ALDOT said drivers should expect significant traffic delays from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. on both nights as crews will close all lanes in one direction while they work. The agency said the contractor plans to halt traffic for 20 minutes at a time. ALDOT said that once the overhead structure is in place it will install the message board and run wiring.

Alabama State Troopers and Huntsville Police will be on-site to help with traffic control and ramp closures.

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ALDOT said a third DMS on I-565 westbound approaching Jordan Lane will be installed at a later date.

The agency said the project will also include the installation of fiber optic cable, 10 new traffic cameras and two weather stations on the interstate.

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An alleged leader of a violent left-wing extremist group in Germany has been taken into pre-trial detention following his arrest.

The detention order was executed by an investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) in the south-western city Karlsruhe, a spokeswoman for the Federal Prosecutor's Office said on Saturday.

The authority accuses the man, identified as Johann G under German privacy laws, of membership in a left-wing extremist organization.

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Johann G is reported to have belonged to the Leipzig group led by student Lina E and to have held "a prominent position" alongside her within the organization, the prosecutor's office said.

"The organization, which is also networked across regions, carried out violent attacks in 2019 and 2020 against individuals whom they considered part of the 'right-wing scene,'" the statement said.

Numerous people were injured, it said. The members are said to have usually prepared the actions intensively, including spying on the habits of selected victims in advance.

Their militant left-wing extremist ideology reportedly included the rejection of the existing democratic constitutional state, the fundamental right to free speech and the state's monopoly on the use of force.

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Furthermore, it is alleged that Johann G attacked individuals in the Hungarian capital Budapest in February 2023 with accomplices, targeting people perceived by the attackers to belong to the right-wing scene. Several individuals were injured in the incidents, according to the statements.

The Federal Prosecutor's Office accuses the man of participating in a criminal organization on several counts. In addition, he is charged with grievous bodily harm in association with others, breach of the peace and property damage.
SCOTTSVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56)  A Kentucky man was arrested on Thursday on charges related to child sexual abuse material.

Kentucky State Police said 25-year-old Bradley Austin Keen, of Adolphus, was arrested after an undercover investigation.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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According to authorities, the investigation started after the KSP Electronic Crime Branch learned Keen was allegedly sharing images of child sexual exploitation online.

Police said Keen was interviewed in Scottsville on Nov. 7, and the equipment used to facilitate the crime was taken to a forensic lab for examination.

Keen was charged with five counts of distribution of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor under 12 years old and lodged in the Allen County Detention Center.

How to check for Kentucky registered sex offenders near you in 2023

His arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 7.

The investigation is ongoing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
Donald Trumps team has reportedly been dragging its feet on important paperwork for transition planning in coordination with the Biden administration, potentially impeding a smooth beginning for Trumps return to the White House.

Trumps team has not yet signed agreements to begin the formal transition process with the Biden White House, which were due Oct. 1, according to The Associated Press. It also has not signed an agreement with the General Services Administration, originally due Sept. 1, which provides logistical services and funds for the transition.

As NPR reported:

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The agreements come with ethics requirements, including safeguards against conflicts of interest and fundraising limits. Trumps team has blown past the deadline to sign the agreements, saying they are still negotiating the terms.

Under the Presidential Transition Act, both major-party nominees are expected to sign the agreements prior to the election in order to support a speedy transition of power. The legislation was enacted in 2022 in an effort to prevent a repeat of 2020, when Trump delayed the transition process as part of his election denial.

Trump can still be inaugurated as president in January 2025 regardless of whether his team signs those agreements. But his administration wont be prepared to assume governance in a way that is safe for us, Max Stier, the executive director of the Partnership for Public Service, a nonpartisan group that has supported past transitions, told NPR.

The consequences are severe, Stier also told The New York Times. It would not be possible to be ready to govern on day one.

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In late October, just days before the election, Rep. Jamie Raskin urged the Trump campaign to sign the agreements, saying in a letter that without those contracts in place, federal agencies are unlikely to be able to securely and effectively communicate with your staff, which will endanger the orderly transfer of the executive power and threaten our national security.

Trumps transition team, which is led by Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick and Trumps former head of the Small Business Administration, Linda McMahon, said in October that they expected to sign those agreements but still have yet to do so. Lutnick told CNN last week that the contracts are a low-grade issue.

The White House said on Saturday that President Joe Biden and Trump are scheduled to meet in the Oval Office on Wednesday morning. It will be the first time the two men come face-to-face since the presidential debate in June that tanked Bidens re-election bid.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Western New York Native Mackenzie "Kenzie" Michalski is being remembered as a "pure-hearted person"

Find Mackenzie Michalski/Facebook Mackenzie Michalski Mackenzie Michalski

An American nurse missing from Western New York has been found dead in Hungary, and a suspect has been arrested.

Mackenzie "Kenzie" Michalski, 31, was last seen on the night of Monday, Nov. 4 during a trip to Budapest, according to a GoFundMe campaign and a Facebook page dedicated to the search for the missing woman.

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Authorities are now reporting that a woman  understood to be Michalski  disappeared from a local nightclub on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

On Friday, Nov. 8, the Budapest Police Headquarters said in a translated release that they had "caught sight of a man with whom the missing girl was seen in several nightclubs" amid their search, before identifying him as a 37-year-old Irish citizen.

Authorities later arrested the man in front of an apartment and interrogated him as a murder suspect, before he "showed" authorities "where he hid the woman's body," police said.

The name of the suspect has not yet been released. Police said they would share more details about the case on Nov. 9, per ABC News.

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In another release, police said that the suspect took the victim to his apartment, where they got "intimate." He then admitted to killing her and claiming it was an "accident," per authorities.

The Associated Press, which also cited the police update, reported that the man then attempted to cover up the scene by cleaning his apartment and placing the woman's body in a wardrobe cabinet while he bought a suitcase  which he later put her body inside.

The man then drove around 90 miles outside of Budapest to Lake Balaton with the suitcase in his trunk, before disposing of it in a wooded area outside of Szigliget, authorities said.

The Budapest Police Headquarters said that the suspect made various internet searches about how to dispose of dead bodies, if pigs eat dead bodies, the smell of decomposing corpses, the competence of Budapest police and missing-person case procedures.

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The AP reported that Michalski's parents are now in Budapest, citing police.

GoFundMe Mackenzie Michalski Mackenzie Michalski

Related: Missing Man Found Dead Miles from Home with Loyal Pit Bull by His Side: 'Comforting Knowing He Wasnt Alone

According to the GoFundMe for Michalski, which has since surpassed an initial $35,000 goal, the nurse practitioner was last seen around 10 p.m. local time on Nov. 4 at Barack et Szilva Etterem in the Jewish Quarter of Budapest, before her friends obtained photos of her at the bar Szimpla Kert not long after.

Per multiple outlets, including NBC affiliates KGW and WGRZ, Michalski's friends realized she disappeared after she didn't board her departing flight and an Airbnb host contacted them to share that she left her belongings behind.

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Michalski, a Fredonia native who worked as a nurse practitioner in Portland, was on vacation with a friend, who left Budapest for Italy on Nov. 4, per KGW.

After a multiple-days-long search, an admin on the Facebook page dedicated to the search confirmed the news of Michalski's death. There, Mary Eustace expressed her "gratitude" for the "prompt attention, diligence, care, and consideration" of local authorities.

She also remembered Michalski as "a beautiful and compassionate young woman who dedicated herself to caring for others and making the world a better place." The message was signed by her family and friends.

"As a nurse practitioner, Kenzie used her humor, positivity, and limitless empathy to help heal her patients and encourage family and friends alike," Eustace wrote. "We are thankful that Kenzies soul is now at peace. Her memory and legacy will endure in the hearts of all whom shes touched."

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"To understand Kenzies spirit is to wholeheartedly embrace the vast joy and wonder of life," she added. "Her wish for the world: fully embrace the present moment, be your authentic self, practice kindness, and always walk in the light."

Healthcare provider Providence in Oregon, which Michalski worked for, also shared a tribute to the late nurse, per WGRZ.

"Those who worked with her and knew her best say Kenzie was kind and loving  a great friend and a valued caregiver who lived out our Providence mission and values in her daily life," the message read. "... We appreciate the support of our community and all those who are holding Kenzies loved ones and colleagues in their hearts and prayers."

Childhood friend Crystal Suarenzo called Michalski a "very, very pure-hearted person" with "a real hunger for experience and life," per KGW. She added that Michalski had been to Hungary before.

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"I feel like we're woven into the fabric who each other turned out to be and losing that is... I feel like we're missing a whole section of the tapestry of myself without her," Suarenzo said, describing her "very sunshiny" friend, per the outlet. "When she laughed, her whole body would laugh."

According to WIVB, friends and family are encouraged to attend a candlelight vigil in honor of Michalski in Fredonia's Barker Commons at 6 p.m. on Nov. 9.


A 31-year-old American tourist in Hungary who had been missing for several days was killed, and a suspect has been arrested for her murder, authorities said Friday.

Mackenzie "Kenzie" Michalski, a nurse practitioner, was last heard from early Tuesday while visiting Budapest, according to her friends, who spread the word about her disappearance.

The American went missing while at a nightclub on Tuesday, according to Budapest police. Amid the search for her, investigators identified a man she was seen with in several nightclubs, police said.

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MORE: 3 charged in connection with Liam Payne's death, self-harm ruled out in cause of death

The suspect -- a 37-year-old Irish citizen -- was arrested and allegedly confessed to killing her, police said. He allegedly showed police where he had hidden her body, police said. The name of the suspect, who was a "a couple of years the victim's senior," according to investigators, was only identified as L.T.M.

PHOTO: Police station of Hungarian police forces (Jerome - stock.adobe.com)

Investigators provided more details about the murder during a news conference Saturday.

Michalski and the suspect met at a nightclub and spent the night together going to other venues, according to investigators. They then went to the suspect's rented apartment and he allegedly killed her there, according to investigators.

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The perpetrator then tried to cover up the murder; so he allegedly cleaned his apartment and hid the woman's body in the wardrobe cabinet while he went out to buy a suitcase, according to the police.

He then allegedly put the victim's body in the suitcase, rented a car and drove to Lake Balaton with the suitcase in the trunk, police said.

The suspect allegedly hid the victim in the woods, in an area outside Szigliget and then drove back to Budapest, investigators said.

PHOTO: Bucharest Police released photos of evidence in their investigation of an American woman. (Budapest Metropolitan Police)

The suspect allegedly made several suspicious internet searches including "Do pigs really eat dead bodies?", "Texas woman killed by a wild boar," according to investigators.

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Michalski lived in Portland, Oregon, and was a native of Fredonia, New York, according to ABC Buffalo affiliate WKBW.

A friend told WKBW that she and Michalski had been traveling with a group of friends through Europe and had spent three days in Hungary before parting ways on Monday.

The friend, Gretchen Tower, told WKBW that Michalski was staying behind for one more night in Budapest before flying out on Tuesday.

When Michalski never checked out of the Airbnb they shared in Budapest, her friend said she began to worry. Michalski also missed her flight, according to her friends.

PHOTO: Budapest Police released photos of evidence in their investigation of an American woman. (Budapest Metropolitan Police)

After not hearing from her, Tower told WKBW she called the U.S. Embassy on Tuesday to report Michalski missing.

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MORE: Man randomly stabs teenage girl in Dollar Tree as she stood with her mother: Police

The U.S. State Department said Friday it is aware of reports that Hungarian police have detained a suspect in connection with the disappearance of a U.S. citizen in Hungary. It said the U.S. Embassy is in contact with Hungarian police but has no further comment due to "privacy and other considerations."

Michalski's family and friends released a statement on Friday that said they are "deeply saddened to confirm a report published by Hungarian police announcing the death of our beloved Kenzie."

"Kenzie will forever be remembered as a beautiful and compassionate young woman who dedicated herself to caring for others and making the world a better place," the statement said. "As a nurse practitioner, Kenzie used her humor, positivity, and limitless empathy to help heal her patients and encourage family and friends alike."

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Her family and friends thanked the U.S. and Hungarian authorities for their "prompt attention, diligence, care, and consideration" as well as those who helped raise awareness about her disappearance.

"We are thankful that Kenzies soul is now at peace," the statement said. "Her memory and legacy will endure in the hearts of all whom shes touched. To understand Kenzies spirit is to wholeheartedly embrace the vast joy and wonder of life. Her wish for the world: fully embrace the present moment, be your authentic self, practice kindness, and always walk in the light."

American tourist who went missing in Hungary killed, murder suspect arrested: Police originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
MONTEVALLO, Ala. (WIAT)  Montevallos American Village will offer free admission to guests on Nov. 11 in recognition of Veterans Day.

The American Village will open at 10 a.m., and events will last until 4 p.m. Guests are encouraged to participate in the American Villages tributes to American veterans.

Zydeco announces immediate closure, plans to relocate in 2025

At 11 a.m., visitors are invited to take part in A Service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance in the Colonial Chapel. This service will be immediately followed by a wreath laying ceremony in front of the National Veterans Shrine. During this ceremony, guests can place an American Flag in the Veterans Day wreath and ring a bell to honor a veteran or active member of the military.

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Other experiences offered by the American Village include viewing the film Choosing to be an American People, visiting a replica of the Oval Office and Concord Bridge, exploring the Pettus Randall Miniature Museum of American History and meeting historical patriots.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
The sight of Jewish people hounded through the streets of Amsterdam by a baying mob has invoked memories of some of the darkest hours of European history. In the words of Dutch King Willem-Alexander, his country failed the Jewish community of the Netherlands during World War Two, and last night we failed again.

Rioters carrying knives shouted slogans including free Palestine while Israeli fans hid in hotels or leapt into canals to escape. In the words of Israeli President Isaac Herzoc, this was an anti-Semitic pogrom, and the result is that his country is now sending two planes to rescue its citizens.

As Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis says, this shameful incident should be a watershed moment for Europe and the world.The scenes in Amsterdam did not emerge from a vacuum. Anti-Semitic rhetoric and violence has surged across the continent since the October 7 pogrom in Israel, with crowds of pro-Palestine protesters chanting hate-filled slogans and direct attacks upon people and property in cities including Berlin and Paris.

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Britain is no exception to this trend, and the Governments independent advisor on political violence Lord Walney has called for the UK to be on high alert for the safety of Jewish people here, and to adopt a hard line on rhetoric that calls on protesters to globalise the intifada.

More broadly, it is time for politicians across the West to drop evasive wordgames and directly confront the reality of the new anti-Semitism, and its roots in Islamist thought. Until they do so, policymakers will be left chasing shadows.

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ANDERSON COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  Anderson County School District Five is hosting a blanket and coat drive in preparation for colder months ahead.

Leaders said theyre ready to hand them out for free to those in need.

This years been a little atypical. We sent a message out to all of our staff here in Anderson Five asking for additional donations, said Kyle Newton, assistant superintendent Anderson School District Five.

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The giveaway will be held at the Education Center at 1700 South Fant Street in Anderson.

The district has more than 200 students experiencing homelessness, outpacing the numbers the district normally has around this time of year.

Numbers spiked even more after Helene.

We registered 50 students after the hurricane just because of the damage they sustained to their homes. A lot of students lost clothes and supplies, said Newton.

For years, community organizations have helped with the giveaway but this year is a little different with extra help.

Our teachers and our faculty and staff inside of the schools really helped give gently used or brand new coats, and donated those to children in need in our community so thats just great to see, said Newton.

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The giveaway is not limited to Anderson Five students. Anyone in need is welcome.

I think the main thing were looking forward to is helping out the community and give back. Anderson is a very giving community that we see time and time again when theres a need, they really step up, said Newton.

The coat and blanket drive will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, November 9 at 1700 South Fant Street, Anderson, SC 29621

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
SAN FRANCISCO  London Breed is about to join a growing club: Democratic mayors whove been ousted by voters fed up with their cities post-pandemic struggles.

The incumbent mayor of San Francisco lost Tuesdays election to Daniel Lurie, a Levis heir and nonprofit founder, by more than 12 points. She has led the city for over six years as it battled against surges in deaths from drug overdoses, brazen retail theft, widespread homelessness and a decline in population as newly remote workers fanned out to other parts of the state and country.

The city has started to bounce back from its post-Covid hangover, but it wasnt enough for voters. Her ouster speaks to the difficulty mayors face amid a widespread sense of lawlessness in downtown centers  despite falling crime and overdose statistics. Last year, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot finished third place in her reelection fight. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler opted not to run for another term this year.

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In Oakland, voters forced Mayor Sheng Thao, another Democrat, out of office after just two years.

Being the mayor of an urban center after a pandemic has been one of the hardest jobs in America, said Todd David, a member of Breeds inner circle of advisers. Certain races  they are not set up to be won.

In the end, the San Francisco election wasnt even close. Lurie tapped into residents frustrations and cast himself as a change agent  a message that he and his family members spent roughly $10 million to send to every corner of the 800,000-person city.

Breed conceded the race to Lurie on Thursday afternoon, after the latest ballot count showed Lurie holding a formidable lead.

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Across the San Francisco Bay, Thao conceded the recall effort late Friday. But many began writing her political obituary days earlier  the culmination of years of frustration over rising crime rates.



Conservative pundits and President-elect Donald Trump have long painted a dark picture of San Francisco, blaming its deep-seated problems on the Democrats in charge. But  as with the recall of its progressive district attorney in 2022  Breeds loss was a revolt from progressive-leaning voters that ultimately brought her down.

Tyler Law, Luries top consultant, said he tapped into voters' prevailing sentiment with his message about being a City Hall outsider  a first-time candidate whos ready to make a clean break from the citys establishment.

He really embodied the change that San Franciscans were calling out for, Law said of the mayor-elect, a moderate Democrat.

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Lurie performed well in neighborhoods across the city, but he was particularly strong on the west side of San Francisco, where Asian Americans make up one of the citys largest voting blocs. Throughout his campaign, he spoke about the community's concerns with crime and street conditions.

Breed, also a moderate by San Francisco standards, tried to counter negative narratives with statistics about how the citys response in the last few years has improved. She also emphasized her experience leading through a global pandemic  a tumultuous period that led two other prominent Democratic mayors, Jenny Durkan of Seattle and of Keisha Lance Bottoms of Atlanta, not to seek reelection.

The stats show conditions in the city have changed: Property and violent crime rates have decreased dramatically  homicide rates are at the lowest level in a half-century. Drug overdose deaths are down sharply after a record peak last year. There are fewer tent encampments on the streets (though more homeless people overall, counting those in shelters).

I dont know about you, but the city sure is feeling good, Breed told cheering supporters Tuesday night during her party at a soul food restaurant downtown. We have laid the groundwork for this city to continue to move forward.

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Her closest supporters are trying to cast her loss in a positive light. David said Breed arguably outperformed expectations given the change-oriented local and national political climate.

The mayor ended up in second place with an electorate that was really chomping for change, he said.

There was a moment in early August when polls showed Breed leading the race. Lurie, however, quickly picked up steam as he poured millions into TV ads and mailers emphasizing his outsider message.

Then, in late August, 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was shot in the chest and seriously injured during an armed robbery at Union Square in broad daylight. Two weeks later, a Breed appointee stepped down amid yet another City Hall scandal  this time over contracts awarded to a man she lives with.

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Rafael Mandelman, a member of the Board of Supervisors and Breed ally, said that in hindsight, its clear many voters made up their minds months ago about wanting to shake up City Hall.

It seems like there was a set of voters who were never going to have London Breed on their dance card in any way, he said. They just werent going to consider her at all.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Sunday marks 49 years since one of the most famous and deadly Great Lakes shipwrecks: the sinking of the ore-carrier SS Edmund Fitzgerald.

Photos: SS Edmund Fitzgerald: From inception to sinking

In 1958, it cost $8 million to build the freighter, which was the largest vessel on the Great Lakes until 1971. It was carrying 26,116 tons of taconite pellets when it went down Nov. 10, 1975 in Lake Superior, 17 miles from Whitefish Point. All 29 crewmen aboard were lost.

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You might remember the song Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald by the late Gordon Lightfoot.

The Edmund Fitzgerald left Superior, Wisconsin, at 2:15 p.m. on Nov. 9, 1975, under the command of Captain Ernest M. McSorley. She was headed to a steel mill on Zug Island, near Detroit, Michigan. The ships cargo was 26,116 long tons (29,250 short tons) of taconite iron ore pellets. It soon reached her full speed of 16.3 miles per hour (14.2 kn; 26.2 km/h).

The ship sank in Canadian waters at a depth of 530 feet. The Edmund Fitzgerald sent out this message: I have a bad list, lost both radars and am taking heavy seas over the deck. One of the worst seas Ive ever been in.

The last message from the ship was sent at 7:10 p.m. Shortly after that, the ship disappeared from the radar of another ship in the area. It was 17 miles from the relatively calmer waters of Whitefish Bay.

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A major storm moved over Lake Superior that day. The National Weather Service upped the marine forecast from gale warnings to storm warnings (the category just below hurricane warnings). During the afternoon of Nov. 10, sustained winds of over 50 knots (93 km/h; 58 mph) were recorded by ships and observation points across eastern Lake Superior. A nearby ship, the Arthur M. Anderson logged sustained winds as high as 58 knots (107 km/h; 67 mph).

Heres a weather map from Monday, Nov. 10, 1975. That day, the temperature soared into the mid-60s in West Michigan. Showers and thunderstorms brought locally heavy rainfall and one tornado that damaged mobile homes and a barn in Allegan County. The map above shows steady 25-knot (29 mph) winds in Grand Rapids and 30-knot (35 mph) winds in Milwaukee, Chicago and Fort Wayne.

Every year on this grim anniversary, the Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point holds a service to honor the lives lost on the Edmund Fitzgerald. A bell tolls 29 times for each life lost during the disaster.

Approximately 240 ships have sunk in the Whitefish Point area since the first recorded sinking in 1816.

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In 1998, a similar storm system moved across the Great Lakes. It produced a wind gust to 90 mph. Over 167,000 homes were without power. Many homes and businesses suffered roof and siding damage and thousands of trees were blown down. The high winds literally blew much of the water out of Saginaw Bay, with the water level dropping several feet and large sections of the Bay becoming dry land for a time. A waterspout on Lake Michigan briefly moved inland near Muskegon, but rapidly dissipated and caused no damage.

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Before the wildfire comes a decision: what to save. It often comes down to the smallest things," Dawn Deleon told ABC7. The Mountain Fire destroyed her house in Ventura County, California this week.

Cats, dogs and horses. Family photos and SD cards and mementos. A single bag of clothes.

It's a choice becoming ever more common as human-caused climate change adds fuel to the destructive wrath of wildfires around the world, especially in already fire-prone landscapes like Southern California, with its strong Santa Ana winds that rustle flame-adapted vegetation.

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The power of fire is evident. Palm trees turn to silhouettes against a raging orange wall. Firefighters push a vintage car through a haze of smoke. A woman clutches a scarf to her masked face as she leads her horse away from a burning hillside. Towering blazes strip homes to their foundations.

"Its never a question of if but rather when and how big when it comes to wildfires in Southern California, said Alex Hall, director of UCLAs Center for Climate Science. He called the impact on lives, livelihoods and ecosystems "truly devastating.

The flames forgive little. Lucky residents escape with their lives and the few things that matter most. The unlucky lose the irreplaceable.

Often residents must return to sift through ash and rubble. Every now and then comes a surprising remnant  like a teapot with the word blessed in soot-covered cursive.

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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.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  A Travis County district judge on Friday ordered Austin real estate investor Nate Paul to jail for 10 days for contempt of court, according to a court order.

Paul is ordered to report to Travis County jail by the morning of November 15 for the sentence to begin, according to the filing by Travis County District Judge Jan Soifer.

The finding of contempt and potential jail term is tied to a lawsuit between Paul and the Mitte Foundation, a charity that sued him years ago over an investment in his real estate company called World Class Holdings.

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On March 3, 2023, Soifer first found Paul in contempt of court and, days later, ordered him to jail by March 15. He was accused of perjury and violating an injunction that required him to report transfers over $25,000, according to court records.

Nate Paul filing: 10-day jail sentence is imminent

Paul has unsuccessfully fought the jail sentence up to the Texas Supreme Court and federal courts.

He filed petitions with the Texas Supreme Court and U.S. District Court, but both were ultimately denied. He also sought a U.S. Supreme Court review, and that was denied in October, according to court records.

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On Thursday, one day before Soifer filed the order for Paul to be committed, Federal District Judge David Ezra denied Pauls emergency application for a stay.

It isnt clear if, or how, Paul may continue the fight the impending jail term.

Federal court hearing Wednesday on Nate Pauls wire and bank fraud counts

Pauls cases have been pulled into the spotlight, due to his association with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The Mitte Foundation lawsuit tied Paul to allegations against Paxton for disregarding his official duties by trying to help Paul in the case. Paxton was impeached, tried and acquitted of all articles of impeachment last year.

Federal criminal case

Separate from the 10-day jail sentence issue, Paul is fighting criminal charges in federal court, where he faces a dozen counts of bank and wire fraud. The wire fraud counts carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The bank fraud counts can carry sentences of up to 30 years each, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

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The trial is scheduled for February 2025.

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  The Arkansas Board of Corrections is moving forward with plans to build a new state prison in Franklin County despite pushback from community members.

Board members met Friday morning via Zoom to vote on the land purchased to build a planned 3,000-bed prison in Charleston.

Controversy stirring over new state prison coming to Franklin County

Five BOC members voted in favor of the motion to approve the purchased land, with one abstaining.

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The decision comes after a week-long heated exchange between Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders office and the countys residents. County residents held a town hall meeting Thursday night in Charleston to voice concerns, the large crowd packing out a gym.

Residents, including local leaders, said that the prison news came as a surprise, with them not learning of the new prison coming their way until last weeks statewide announcement.

State officials have said the prison will alleviate the overcrowding problem in county jails and the lack of space in state prisons, which has existed for years.

Locals said they fear for the safety of their small community, along with the property value of homes near where the prison would be built.

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The Board of Corrections has previously pushed back on the Sanders administrations efforts to expand prisons due to staffing concerns. The board, before the announcement of the prison, had cited concerns over the safety of the incarcerated Arkansans and prison staff if there were prison expansions.

Arkansas Board of Corrections votes on land to build prison in Charleston

Officials have not set a construction timeline, as they are still in the beginning phases.

Sanders thanked the BOC for making its vote.

Thank you to Chairman Magness and the Board of Corrections for their vote for a safer, stronger Arkansas this morning, the governor said. We kicked this can down the road for far too long  its time to make the first investment in our prison system in two decades and finally address our failed system of catch-and-early-release of violent offenders.

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At the same time, the governor indicated a willingness to work with the Charleston community.

I am committed to working with community members throughout the prison construction process as we invest hundreds of millions of dollars in Franklin County and create hundreds of recession-proof, good-paying jobs, Sanders said.

State legislators, however, including Republicans, are speaking out in opposition to this plan.

This decision was expected, but disappointed to see the governor not have any respect for the local people in giving them a fair chance to voice their concerns, state Senator Bryan King (R ) said. This kind of action is not what our country was founded on.

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King also took issue with the cost of the project.

As a long-time Republican, not providing details on a $470 million estimate is fiscally irresponsible, he said.

State Senator Gary Stubblefield (R ) also said Thursday night at the town hall meeting that he disagrees with the lack of notice people in the community received or the lack of input the state received before this decision.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
Jason Rapert, a member of the Arkansas State Library Board, attempts to withhold funding for libraries that don't separate "sexually explicit" books during a meeting on Nov. 9, 2024. Member Lupe Pena de Martinez looks on. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate)

Jason Rapert continued to wage his one-man culture war at Fridays Arkansas State Library Board meeting with help from a handful of speakers who spoke against the availability of books with sexual themes in public libraries.

Rapert suggested the board be abolished if it doesnt act to restrict minors access to sexually explicit books in public libraries.

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Rapert has made the same call at each quarterly library board meeting since February. Each time a majority of board members has resisted his efforts to restrict or withhold funding for libraries that dont segregate books with sexual and LGBTQ themes in spaces minors cannot access.

As he promised at previous meetings, Rapert indicated Friday he would bring similar proposals as long as he is on the board.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders appointed Rapert, a former state senator, to the library board last November, and his term ends in 2029.

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I plead with the people of Arkansas and every state legislator in this state  if we cant have people that will protect these young folks in our libraries, for goodness sake, do something to get them out of there, said Rapert, a former state senator and founder and president of the National Association of Christian Lawmakers. And for Gods sake, if this board wont take action, abolish this board and give all the authority to the director of the education department because this is absolutely ridiculous.

The State Library Board is a subagency of the Department of Education.

Raperts actions are related to Act 372 of 2023, a state law that would change how libraries handle controversial material. The law would have also made librarians criminally liable for distributing some obscene content, but a federal judge temporarily blocked two sections of the law last year before it took effect. A trial scheduled for December was canceled after parties in the case filed briefs with the court.

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Raperts remarks Friday came after he failed to secure enough support from the board to start a rule promulgation process to withhold library funding and after a public comment period that included six Arkansans who shared concerns about sexually explicit books in their local libraries. Two library staff members also spoke in support of their services.

Rapert said he wanted to bring forward a rule that would amend the boards policies to require any library receiving funds through our board attest in writing that they are ensuring no sexually explicit books or materials are accessible by minor children under the age of 18 whether in print or digital format.

Funding would be withheld from libraries that refused to attest until they were in compliance, and libraries that did not comply for six months would be deemed ineligible for funding through the state board, according to a written motion by Rapert that he amended to include language about the rule promulgation.

Sarah DeBusk with the attorney generals office said the board has the authority to draft rules and send them through the promulgation process, which would include approval from the education secretary, governor and a public comment period. The board has a history of not supporting Raperts motions that include minimizing library funding.

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While fellow member and Sanders appointee Shari Bales supported Raperts motion to begin the rule drafting process, she recommended that explicit needed to be further defined. The five other members voted against Raperts motion.

Shari Bales, a member of the Arkansas State Library Board, listens to a speaker during a meeting on Nov. 8, 2024. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate)

The country is absolutely taking a stand against this junk; this state takes a stand against this junk, Rapert said, referring to the recent election. If you people dont have the decency to do whats right, then I pray the Arkansas Legislature does.

The Legislature will convene at noon on Jan. 13, 2025, for the start of the 95th General Assembly.

On Friday, Rapert opposed various funding requests for libraries and library staff scholarships throughout the meeting. He also opposed nominating Deborah Knox and Pamela Meridith to chair and vice chair, respectively.

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There is no way that I can vote for anyone to be chair and vice chair of this board who doesnt have the [intention] to protect minor children from sexually explicit materials, Rapert said.

At the end of the meeting, Rapert said he would bring two discussions to their next meeting in February: the American Library Association and amending the boards policies to withhold funding from libraries that are not restricting access to sexually explicit materials.

Public comments

Eight people spoke during public comment at Fridays meeting. Six shared concerns about what they said were sexually explicit books, and two others spoke in support of the libraries they worked for.

I personally do not approve of these kinds of materials, said June Matheny from Little Rock. If a parent wants their children to see this, they want to indoctrinate them on what most of us do not want, let them go and check it out themselves. Im not for censorship  but I am opposed to anything being where my children can see them.

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Matheny said she is a grandmother of a 7- and 3-year-old, and she has stopped taking them to libraries in Little Rock and instead relies on the Imagination Library.

Fridays speakers referenced All Boys Arent Blue and Gender Queer, two books frequently mentioned by Rapert and others who have sought to defund public libraries or force them to change how they handle controversial materials regarding minors. Both books contain themes of gender expression and are quasi-memoirs about the authors.

David Naylor, a member of the Conway School Board, told the library board Friday that he received pushback when the district removed two sexually explicit books from school libraries in 2022. Despite the reaction, Naylor said he would do it all again.

Its not a Republican thing. Its not a Democrat thing. Its not a political thing, Naylor said. Its a common sense issue, and our children here  our childrens mental health is probably at an all time low. This stuff is not healthy, theres no reason that the taxpayers money should go to this material.

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Both books the school board removed had transgender characters.

Clare Graham, director of the Malvern-Hot Springs County Library, (center) talks with members of the public who shared concerns about sexually explicit books during a State Library Board meeting on Nov. 8, 2024. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate)

Clare Graham, director of the Malvern-Hot Springs County Library, said libraries have a tremendous community impact in the state and measures are already in place to ensure that materials are in age appropriate sections.

Professional librarians are best equipped to make decisions about the librarys collection based on the needs and the interest of our community, Graham said. We need continued support; we need continued funding.

Mississippi County Library System Director Lowell Walters provided a lengthy written speech to members and read portions of it aloud.

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My personal bias is moderated by allowing all citizens to develop collections and programming as the citizens care to participate, Walters wrote. Such tolerance brings a potpourri of perspectives to be considered and then accepted or rejected by the individual.

Walters asked library board members to continue to stand for tolerance and to strike down motions and measures that seek to dictate a false sense of security for thought and belief. Truth and reality always emerge in the long run.

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA)  The Pinellas County Sheriffs Office is investigating a deputy-involved shooting after an armed suspect charged toward officers with a handgun on Friday night.

Around 10:30 p.m., deputies responded to St. Petersburg home, located on 47th Avenue North, in regards to a domestic incident.

Burning us up: Good Samaritan describes trying to rescue 2 kids from fiery Lakeland crash

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Neighbors, like Trace Hunt, were on alert with the huge police presence in the neighborhood.

All we heard was the pop pops, the consistency of pop pops, and then cop cars, sirens, and it just sounded like World War III coming in the neighborhood, said Hunt.

At the home was a 37-year-old woman, along with a teenage girl and a teenage boy, and the suspect, 44-year-old Jeremy Lyle Reed, who was armed inside. Reed was the mothers domestic partner, according to the sheriffs office.

The girl told officials that Reed pointed a handgun at her and said, Are you ready to have some fun?

1-year-old found dead in St. Petersburg after being left in car all day

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Additional deputies were requested to the incident, as they ushered the victims out of the home and to a safer area a block away on 48th Avenue North. Deputies set up a perimeter to arrest Reed with aggravated assault with a firearm.

There was three people that ran towards my home, two ladies and a young man, Hunt said. We heard a scream, it was a very piercing scream.

As Reed, armed with a black semi-automatic handgun, emerged from the home, he charged toward deputies and the victims.

Three of the deputies, identified as Deputy Jessee Creaser, Deputy Dylan Schultz, and Corporal Stuart Kellman, fired at Reed and struck him.

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Roommate who reported Florida woman missing now charged with her murder: police

Reed, who was hit several times in the lower body, was transferred to a nearby hospital, where he is in critical condition.

No one else was injured.

The cops did what they had to do, its unfortunate, I hope everyone, you know, is able to be okay from this, said Hunt.

The deputies involved are on paid administrative assignment, pending the outcome of the investigation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP)  The U.S. Army awarded a $435 million contract on Friday to build a TNT production plant in western Kentucky that will become the first domestic source for the explosive material in decades, officials said.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, a key player in securing the funding, said the new facility in his home state is part of a broader retooling of the U.S. defense industrial base that's needed to deter adversaries abroad. Trinitrotoluene, or TNT, is used in artillery shells, bombs and grenades.

Establishing domestic production of TNT is vital for national defense, the Army said. The current supply chain for the crucial explosive material is entirely reliant on overseas sources, it said.

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The new TNT plant in Kentucky is part of the Army's strategy to ramp up munitions production to ensure the U.S. military has timely access to essential resources, said Maj. Gen. John T. Reim.

"It is not lost on us that victory on the battlefield begins in our production facilities, Reim said during the announcement at a VFW post near where the plant will be built. Today marks the beginning of the return of TNT production to American soil, a capability we have not had since 1986.

The contract was awarded to Repkon USA to construct the plant at Graham in Muhlenberg County, about 136 miles (219 kilometers) southwest of Louisville. The project is expected to create about 200 to 250 construction jobs and about 50 permanent jobs.

Republican U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie, who served as an artillery officer, said the war between Ukraine and Russia underscores the importance of having ample supplies of explosives for artillery shells. TNT is the primary explosive fill for 155mm artillery shells, the Army says.

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Its an artillery battle thats going on and Ukraine and the West do not have as much 155(mm artillery) rounds as Russia can make, said Guthrie, whose district includes Muhlenberg County.

Bryan Van Brunt, president of Repkon USA Holdings Inc., called it a historic opportunity to build a production plant that's vital to the military and will be relied upon for decades.

We are grateful to leaders at the Army for their trust in us to establish this facility, he said in a news release.

McConnell, in the twilight of his long tenure as Senate Republican leader, has stressed the need to build up the nation's defenses as a deterrent against foreign adversaries. McConnell, who has two years left in his current term, said months ago he would step down from his leadership post sometime after the election.

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Were up against a network of authoritarian regimes," the Kentucky Republican said Friday. "North Korea, China, Russia, Iran and Irans proxies are all communicating with each other. They hate us and they want to reform the world order in a way that benefits autocratic regimes.

McConnell consistently evokes Ronald Reagans mantra of peace through strength to confront foreign policy risks. Notably, McConnell and President-elect Donald Trump differ on the U.S. role in the world, reflecting a fundamental struggle among Republicans over whether to follow Trumps America First doctrine on foreign affairs or an internationalist view backed by McConnell to stand with American allies. McConnell has been steadfast in urging the U.S. to support Ukraine in its war with Russia.

If the Russians are not defeated in Ukraine, that wont be the last loss, the senator said. That will be just the beginning. ... A way to look at this is an impending conflict between authoritarian parts of the world and democratic parts of the world.
Three NASA astronauts who just wrapped up a 235-day mission to the International Space Station discussed their flight with reporters Friday, but steadfastly refused to comment on a medical issue of some sort that resulted in one astronaut spending the night in a hospital after landing.

The unidentified astronaut flew back to the Johnson Space Center in Houston the day after splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico on Oct. 25, rejoining their crewmates. But NASA, citing medical privacy issues, provided no details other than to say the astronaut "is in good health and will resume normal post-flight reconditioning with other crew members."

Moments after splashdown, the Crew 8 fliers smile for the camera. Left to right: cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, pilot Mike Barratt, commander Matt Dominick and astronaut Jeanette Epps. / Credit: SpaceX

"I know there may be some interest in our post-flight medical event, where we diverted to a hospital," Crew 8 pilot Mike Barratt, a physician-astronaut, told reporters Friday. "You know, space flight is still something we don't fully understand. We're finding things that we don't expect sometimes, and this was one of those times.

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"We're still piecing things together on this. And so to maintain medical privacy and to let our processes go forward in an orderly manner, this is all we're going to say about that event at this time."

Barratt, Crew 8 commander Matt Dominick, astronaut Jeanette Epps and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin were launched from the Kennedy Space Center on March 3 and docked at the space station two days later. They returned to Earth last month after an extended stay in space.

Barratt, Dominick and Epps all appeared healthy and in good spirits Friday as they continue their re-adjustment to gravity. Grebenkin flew back to Moscow shortly after splashdown, but in a social media post just after the crew's return to Earth, he was smiling and said to be in good shape.

While the presumably minor medical issue remains a mystery, the crew shared highlights of their stay in space, including details about a water leak during preparations for a June spacewalk that triggered a blizzard in the space station's airlock.

Astronauts Mike Barratt, left, and Tracy Dyson, right, are seen inside the inner compartment of the International Space Station's Quest airlock preparing for a planned spacewalk on June 24. After being sealed in the outer airlock (visible in background), a water leak erupted from a faulty umbilical used by Dyson, forcing NASA to call off the excursion. During a briefing Friday, Barratt praised Dyson for managing to re-mate the umbilical and close the outer hatch while a cloud of ice crystals obscured her vision. / Credit: NASA

After a spacesuit "discomfort" problem forced Dominick and astronaut Tracy Dyson to call off a planned spacewalk on June 13, Dyson and Barratt suited up for another excursion on June 24.

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While floating in the airlock with the outer hatch open to space, an umbilical failed to "seat" properly and water began spewing into the chamber.

"Oh, my goodness," Dyson said when she noticed the water spewing out. "There's a lot of water flowing. There's literally water everywhere. ... I've got ice all over my helmet."

"It was not a trivial leak," Barratt reflected Friday. "Anybody who was watching NASA TV at the time could see there was basically a snowstorm, a blizzard spewing from the air lock, because we already had the hatch open. We were seeing flakes of ice in the air lock. Tracy was seeing a lot of them on her helmet, on her gloves, whatnot.

"So it was...dramatic is the right word, to be real honest. I think literally, Tracy's actions were nowhere short of a heroic to be able to re-mate that umbilical with her hands covered with ice and kind of being vision impaired and getting the air lock closed."

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Barratt said he grabbed her space-suited legs so Dyson could "lever that thing closed, and she just made it happen. So yeah, there was a bit of drama. Everything worked out fine. And again, normal processes and procedures saved our bacon."

NASA plans to resume spacewalks in January, and Barratt said the suits will be in good shape.

"I think we're leaving them a brand new umbilical, a really clean interface on that side where we had the problem and the suits are charged and really ready to go," he said. "So I think we are more than ready for the next EVA campaign. I just wish we were doing it."

That said, he pointed out, "none of our spacesuits are spring chickens. And so we will expect to see some hardware issues with repeated use. So again, it's one of those things that we are always, at every second, ready to stop...or work a contingency procedure."

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As for the suit "discomfort" issue that Dominick reported prior to the earlier spacewalk attempt, no details were provided.

"We're still reviewing it and trying to figure all the details out," Dominick said.

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The last branch of the Ukrainian national postal service Ukrposhta has closed, and ATMs have stopped working in the Kupiansk hromada, Kharkiv Oblast, due to Russian shelling. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]

Source: Andrii Besedin, Head of Kupiansk City Military Administration, on air during the national joint 24/7 newscast, Ukrinform reports

Quote: "Unfortunately, the Ukrposhta branch has been closed due to security measures to prevent crowds. We could no longer keep this branch open and expose employees and visitors to danger every second. ATMs have also stopped working due to the use of a large number of FPV drones targeting the cars of cash collectors."

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Details: Besedin said that the Russian army was monitoring the entrances to Kupiansk and attacking cars with FPV drones, preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid.

The head of the hromada calls on people to evacuate.

Besedin recalled that the dead people in the village of Kivsharivka had been trapped under the rubble for six days because the Russians were not allowing rescue workers to use special equipment and recover the bodies.

"Three people were killed, lying under the rubble, and it is impossible to unblock their bodies," Besedin said.

He said that 1,100 residents of the hromada remain without electricity, gas or centralised water and heat supply on the left bank of the Oskil River, where the Kupiansk hromada is located.

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NEW YORK (PIX11)  Investigators have confirmed that a viral crash on the Belt Parkway in New York City was staged as part of an insurance fraud scheme.

Dash camera footage of the incident, which went viral and sparked public outrage, ultimately led to an arrest. Police are still searching for three others involved, including the driver.

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Im really happy  this is really, really good news, said Ashpia Natasha, who broke the news on TikTok, thanking the public and police for their detective work. Natashas dashcam footage of the apparent staged crash on the Belt was viewed tens of millions of times, prompting a police investigation last month.

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I just got off the phone with the NYPD; they made an arrest, which is amazing! she added.

Maikel Martinez, 28, of Dyker Heights, was arrested Thursday night at JFK Airport after returning from Ecuador, sources said. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz confirmed Martinez was a passenger in the suspect vehicle. Martinez was charged with insurance fraud and staging a vehicle crash.

Police are still seeking three other individuals captured in the footage, including a man suspected of being the driver, who fled the scene in a getaway vehicle.

The people put up a tarp, Katz said, explaining how they covered the rear windshield. Were alleging the driver and passenger switched.

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The crime highlights an alarming trend. In order to do this scam, you have to be an insured vehicle, a licensed driver, and all the papers need to be in order, Katz said.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, staged crashes are increasingly common in New York and New Jersey, with incidents up 14% and 58% respectively. The scheme costs insurers an estimated $20 billion nationwide each year.

Wed like information from other individuals whove fallen prey to the same scam, Katz added.

The NYPD Organized Crime Unit is working with local district attorneys to crack down on staged accidents and put a stop to these criminal schemes. Natasha echoed their call for assistance, urging anyone in a similar situation to come forward.

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The NYPD is working really hard, she said. If anyone has been in a similar situation, please let me know.

Here are some tips from AAA on how to protect yourself from insurance scammers:

Be alert. Stay aware of your surroundings, and avoid distracted driving.

Dont tailgate. Leaving a safe distance between you and the car ahead can help prevent staged rear-end collisions.

Know if youre at risk. Drivers of luxury or commercial vehicles are more frequently targeted by scammers.

Consider a dashcam. Having a dashcam can provide crucial evidence in case of an incident.

If you do find yourself in a situation that seems like a staged collision, AAA recommends the following actions:

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Get to safety. Move out of traffic if possible to avoid further danger.

Collect information. Take photos of the other drivers license, vehicle identification number, insurance policy number, license plate, and the vehicle itself. This information can be critical for police and insurance companies in investigating fraud.

Anyone who suspects they may have been a victim in a staged car crash, call the NYPD Office of Fraudulent Collision Investigation Squad at 718-822-5403.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
The spotlight is on Azerbaijan as the small petrostate in the South Caucasus hosts the U.N.s biggest climate conference.

Diplomats from across the world will descend on the capital Baku for the annual climate summit, known as COP29, to discuss how to avoid increasing threats from climate change in a place that was one of the birthplaces of the oil industry.

It was in Baku where the worlds first oil fields were developed in 1846 and where Azerbaijan led the world in oil production in 1899.

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Sandwiched between Iran to the south and Russia to the north, Azerbaijan is on the Caspian Sea and was part of the Soviet Union from 1922 to 1991. Nearly all of Azerbaijans exports are oil and gas, two of the worlds leading sources of planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions. President Ilham Aliyev described them in April as a gift of the gods.

Aliyev is Azerbaijans authoritarian leader. He is the son of the former president and has been in power for more than two decades, overseeing a crackdown on freedom of speech and civil society. The Associated Press was not granted permission by Azerbaijan's authorities to report in the country ahead of the conference.

Aliyev has said it is a big honor for Azerbaijan to host the conference. He has also said he wants his country to use more renewable energy at home is so that it can export more oil and gas abroad.

In Baku, the signs of fossil fuel addiction are everywhere

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In metal cages next to Azerbaijans Aquatic Palace sporting venue are pumpjacks  a sign says they extract just over 2 tons of oil a day. Others pump away elsewhere, sucking up oil in view of one of Bakus religious and tourist sites, the Bibi Heybat mosque that was rebuilt in the 1990s after it was destroyed by the Bolsheviks almost 80 years ago.

Aliyev said he considers it a sign of respect from the international community that Azerbaijan is hosting COP and a recognition of what Azerbaijan is doing around green energy.

Some of those plans involve developing hydropower, solar and wind projects in Karabakh, a region populated by ethnic Armenians who fled to Armenia after a lightning military offensive by Azerbaijan in September 2023.

Aliyev said in a speech in March that his country is in the active phase of green transition but added that no one can ignore the fact that without fossil fuel, the world cannot develop, at least in the foreseeable future.

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Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijans environment minister and former vice president at the state energy company Socar, will serve as conference president of the talks. Babayev said in April he wants to show how this oil and gas country of the past can show the world a green path with its efforts to ramp up renewable energy, especially wind power.

He said he believes his countrys COP summit must build on last years agreement to transition away from fossil fuels and pave the way for countries to come together in 2025 on beefed-up and financed plans to clamp down on heat-trapping gases.

But plenty of people doubt those commitments.

Multiple organizations say Azerbaijans commitment to the green energy transition amounts to greenwashing  giving the impression that the country is doing more than it is to combat climate change.

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Claims of greenwashing and civil society crackdowns abound

While many countries including the United States and the United Arab Emirates  last years host  grapple with the challenges of transitioning away from fossil fuels, Azerbaijan has historically not been proactive in that regard, said Kate Watters, executive director at Crude Accountability, which monitors environmental issues in the Caspian Sea region.

Environmental monitoring in Azerbaijan is dangerous, she said, referencing a crackdown on civil society that has effectively snuffed out any real opposition and seen people detained.

There's no effective mechanism in Azerbaijan for locals to ring alarm bells about exposure to pollutants from the oil and gas industry, Watters said. She referenced health issues such as rashes and sickness that residents may experience living near the Sangachal oil and gas terminal just outside Baku but indicated that their concerns are not heard.

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Azerbaijani government officials did not respond to numerous requests from The Associated Press for comment.

Babayev has pointed to Azerbaijan experiencing higher-than-normal temperatures and said he wants states to come together to improve plans to stop the emission of gases that contribute to global warming. But his country has been criticized for failing to clamp down on exactly that.

Analysis from Global Witness, a nonprofit organization, found the volume of gas flared at oil and gas facilities in Azerbaijan increased by 10.5% since 2018.

Gas flaring is a major source of soot, carbon dioxide and methane emissions that contribute to global warming. It happens when energy companies burn off excess gas instead of capturing it when it's released while drilling for oil. It's been blamed by human rights groups and investigative journalists for some of Azerbaijanis' health issues, including around the Sangachal terminal.

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Were heading into a COP where even the host isnt bothering to do the basic functions of climate diplomacy, Louis Wilson, head of fossil fuels investigations at Global Witness, told AP.

The Paris climate agreement requires countries to submit plans to combat climate change, with Azerbaijan's latest update coming in 2023. A group of climate scientists rated it critically insufficient in September. It's expected the country will submit an updated plan this year.

Amid war, Europe turns to Azerbaijan for gas

Azerbaijan owns one of the largest gas fields in the world, Shah Deniz, and BP announced in April the start of oil production from a new offshore platform also in the Caspian Sea.

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Baku is planning to hike its fossil fuel production over the next decade and its natural resources have transformed it into a geopolitical player.

Before Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Moscow supplied some of 40% of Europes natural gas through four pipelines but most of that was later cut off.

That meant opportunity for Azerbaijan, with the EU striking a deal later that year to double its imports of Azeri gas to 20 billion cubic meters a year by 2027. But there are questions as to whether Azerbaijan can meet that demand and disagreements over the terms of the deal.

The more renewable sources we have, the more natural gas we will save, Aliyev said in March, noting the fuel saved will be an additional contribution to the Southern Gas Corridor, which takes gas from the Caspian Sea to Europe.

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Azerbaijani officials have argued that it is unfair to criticize Baku for producing more fossil fuels when there is a demand for them across Europe as national governments endeavor to keep fuel prices low for citizens.

Azerbaijans hosting of COP will turn the spotlight on the nation which makes most of its money from selling fossil fuels but it may also highlight Europes  and the world's  continuing dependence on them.

For many climate experts, the question for Azerbaijan is whether the country that saw the beginnings of the fossil fuel industry is serious about hosting negotiations focused on moving the world toward green energy.

___

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.
Bassnectar performs during the Pemberton Music Festival on July 14, 2016 in Pemberton, Canada. - Credit: Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/FilmMagic

Bassnectar has requested for the sexual abuse lawsuit filed against him three years ago to be dismissed, according to court documents obtained by Rolling stone.

Lawyers for the DJ, whose real name is Lorin Ashton, filed the motion earlier this week, stating that the three women who sued him had lied about their ages to deceive Ashton into thinking they were at least 18 years old. The motion also claimed discovery for the case had also confirmed their relationships with Ashton were consensual.

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To the contrary, the record demonstrates that the pursuit of a sexual relationship between the parties was instigated by Plaintiffs, each of whom was always free to continue it or end it, the suit said. Eventually, Plaintiffs did just that when they decided to pursue other romantic relationships. Plaintiffs simply cannot prove that they were coerced or that they felt that they had no other choice but to engage in a sexual relationship with Defendant.

Alexis Bowling and Rachel Ramsbottom first sued Ashton in April of 2021, with Jenna Houston joining as a third plaintiff a month later. In the initial complaint, Bowling and Ramsbottom had alleged that Ashton had solicited underage girls through various means, including through social media and fan club programs. They claimed that he offered tickets to his shows and had unprotected sex with them. They also alleged that he had them take sexually explicit photographs and that he was possession of child pornography. Houston shared similar allegations in an amended complaint a month later.

Regarding the child porn allegations, Ashtons motion stated that Ramsbottom and Bowling rely on memory alone for their claims. It further claimed, They have no corroborating evidence, admissible or otherwise, that they transmitted such images to Defendant or that he received them, and there is documentary evidence of their lies to him about their ages.

In documents filed in October, an attorney for the plaintiffs wrote that Ashton has an inability to truthfully recount the facts and evidence adduced during discovery, as his Motion for Summary Judgment briefing is rife with easily disprovable falsehoods. The attorney wrote that Ashtons deposition suggested he knew the plaintiffs were below the age of 18.

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Neither Ashton nor the plaintiffs attorneys immediately responded to a request for comment.

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The situation on the front lines is "challenging" and "trending towards escalation," Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Nov. 9.

"The situation remains challenging and is trending towards escalation. The enemy, leveraging its numerical advantage, continues offensive operations, concentrating its efforts primarily in the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove directions," Syrskyi said in a post on Facebook.

"We have numerous reports about the preparation of North Korean soldiers to participate in combat operations alongside Russian forces," he added without providing further details.

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Syrskyi was reporting what he had told General Christopher Cavoli, NATO's top commander in Europe, in a phone call earlier in the day.

According to a Bloomberg analysis published on Nov. 1, Ukraine has lost 1,146 square kilometers of its own territory since the launch of the Kursk Oblast incursion in early August, with the week up until Nov. 1 reported as the worst in terms of lost territory in all of 2024.

On Nov. 2, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said that Ukraine was facing one of the most powerful Russian offensives since the start of the all out war.

Over autumn, large chunks of Ukrainian territory, sometimes including entire cities, have been lost on a near-daily basis in southern Donetsk Oblast, while Russian forces have also made operationally significant gains near Toretsk, Chasiv Yar, Kupiansk, as well as on their own soil in Kursk Oblast.

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Read also: Crimea is gone  Senior Trump advisor says Ukraine needs to have realistic war aims

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
From the Stirewalt on Politics on The Dispatch

Former President Donald Trump at Van Andel Arena on November 5, 2024, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

People are throwing the word landslide around willy-nilly this week, and while President-elect Donald Trump certainly won a decisive victory and did so in much stronger fashion than his 2016 squeaker, landslide it aint.

Trump will end up with 312 electoral votes, adding Nevada to his 2016 haul. That puts him at 57.99 percent of the Electoral College, tied with James Garfield in the election of 1880 at 44th biggest victory out of 60 presidential elections. Trump fits well with Garfields era. Ours is the first time since the stretch from 1884 to 1892 that Americans have seen the incumbent party lose three consecutive elections.

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Trumps fellow beefy New Yorker and non-consecutive executive, Grover Cleveland, was the product of a time like our own, in which rough parity between the parties produced a lot of see-sawing and a great deal of public frustration with incompetent, corrupt governance.

But the president-elects win is bigger than not only his own victory of 2016, but, also, by 1 point, President Joe Bidens 2020 total. Trump, though, is well behind both elections for the two other most recent Democratic presidents, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.

The size of Trumps margin relative to history does nothing, though, to diminish the size of the blue-to-red shift from 2020 to 2024. It was absolutely a red wave that rolled from coast to coast. In the scenarios we laid out last week, the result was unambiguously the first one: Trump again outperformed his polls substantially. It was an election like 2012 in that it looked close, but really wasnt.

Given that the shift in the non-swing states was an eye-popping 6.7 points, the fact that the swing states shifted only about 3 points toward the Republicans suggests that Vice President Kamala Harris and her campaign have much to be proud of. So do Democratic Senate candidates in Nevada, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Michigan who managed to avoid getting washed out like incumbent Democrats in Ohio, Montana, and, probably, Pennsylvania. The House will be close, but Republicans may be able to hang on to a razor-thin majority like the one they scratched their way to in 2022.

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That shift included big, heavily Democratic cities, as economist Jed Kolko points out: Many [metropolitan areas] swung more than 10 points toward Trump in 2024 versus 2020, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, and Miami, as well as heavily Hispanic/Latino metros in Texas, California, and the Southwest.

That geographic and demographic snapback has prompted the abuse of yet another election-time buzzword: realignment. Trumps substantial improvement with black and Hispanic men compared to his previous two runs has made everyone gaga for realignment talk.

Donald Trumps return to the White House was powered by a historic realignment of the American electorate that upended decades of traditional coalitions, says the Washington Post. Trump, of course, agrees.

Ehhhhhhh 

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All that loose talk forgets how such a realignment was even possible, and depends on a very short-term definition of history.

The only president since 1980 other than Biden that Trump has electoral bragging rights on is his fellow Republican, George W. Bush, who had 53.16 percent in 2004 and 50.47 percent in 2000. And certainly Trump can count some improved showings with nontraditional Republican constituencies as reasons for his advantage over Bush the younger. But not many.

Trump did better with black voters than Bush, and saw gains with younger voters and voters from union households. But Trump did worse with women, Hispanic voters, white voters and older voters than Bush.

If you compare the numbers on the races between Bush and challenger John Kerry in 2004 and the one between Trump and Harris, they look remarkably similar:

2004 Exit Polls vs. 2024 AP VoteCast

Men: Bush +11  Trump +11

Women: Kerry +3  Harris +7

White: Bush +17  Trump +13

Black: Kerry +77  Harris +67

Hispanic: Kerry +9  Harris +13

18-24: Kerry +13  Harris +10

50-64: Bush +5  Trump +7

65+: Bush +5  Trump +3

Union household: Kerry +19  Harris +11

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We certainly can see some differences, but overall that doesnt look anything like a historic realignment.

Certainly there are trends that, if they continue, would point in the direction of wholly new coalitions for the parties. But, of course, thats what they said in the two elections after Bushs.

Thats when barrier-breaking Obama ran up huge numbers with ethnic minority groups and young votersfirst in his big 2008 win (32nd on the landslide list) and then when he faced the severely white Mitt Romney in 2012. It was said again when Trump cratered Republican support with these groups in his first two runs. And yet, here we are, back with something that looks a lot like the 2004 electorate.

Looked at through the lens of this years numbers, the period between 2008 and 2020 seems more like a deviation from the norm and not a new normal. The Obama coalition was partly identity politics but also partly the understandable reaction against the party in power after the Iraq war and the financial panic of 2008.

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Republicans wanted to try to get the demographic band back together for 2016, but Trump had other ideas. Lots of them. Lots and lots and lots. Since then, two things have changed. Trump and his team have gotten better and smarter about courting minority voters. Not always gracefully, but ultimately effectively. The campaigns closing ad blitz on transgenderism was brutally effective and aimed squarely at black men.

But also, voters in all demographic groups were fed up with the Biden administration, particularly about the high prices that resulted from the (bipartisan) pandemic spending spree and, maybe most devastatingly for Democrats, the wave of migrants that entered the country after Biden lifted Trumps restrictions and then waited too long to start clamping down again.

We could credit Trumps macho vibes or arrest record or sneaker sales for the improvements in urban precincts listed above, or we could point to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott who decided to start sending busloads of migrants to big cities in the north and spreading the pain around.

Certainly, the extraordinary shift of Latino-dominated counties on the U.S.-Mexico border would seem to suggest that the migrant surge played perhaps the biggest role in the red wave of 2024.

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Nor can we overlook the role that sexism played. As white progressives learned painfully in the battles over gay marriage during the Bush and Obama years, ethnic minority voters can be far more averse to cultural change than the white majority. While most affluent Americans might not be bothered by the idea of a woman president, its hardly unthinkable that working-class Americans, including black and Hispanic voters, may have had reservations about it.

Which is a long way of saying that there isnt one reason Trump did better this time with black and Hispanic voters than he did in his first two runs. Im prone to think, though, that the economy and the migrant crisis are the biggest ones.

I think what we had was a fundamentals election, not a vibes election. Voters were unhappy with the party in power and turned them out. The chaos of Trumps term had faded from memory, but aggravation with the Biden teams missteps remained fresh.

After every election, particularly with a change in party, the temptation is to declare new coalitions and lasting change in our political alignments. But we would do well to remember that even in a sharply divided electorate like ours, four years provides plenty of time for elasticity.

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Will Republicans keep the minority and working-class voters they recovered after the 2008-2020 drought? Will Democrats be able to absorb the white, college educated voters who fled Trump? Those things will not primarily depend on vibes, either.

Trump had a lot to do with creating the circumstance where getting less than a third of black voters and underperforming Bush by 10 points with Hispanic voters would appear to be a historic realignment. Obamas wins were certainly a big part, but Trump finished the job with his rhetoric and first presidency.

Bidens unpopular administration let the GOP get back to par with groups that had rejected the party in historic numbers for 16 years. Theyre not going to stick around because they like Trumps swagger. If Republicans make a hash of things again, well be doing the realignment shuffle four years from now.

Democrats got spanked this time because they misunderstood what voters were saying in the 2020 and 2022 elections, and that started with imagining a mandate and a realignment that hadnt occurred. Humility is hard to come by in politics, but it is the essential ingredient in any lasting success.

Holy croakano! We welcome your feedback, so please email us with your tips, corrections, reactions, amplifications, etc. at STIREWALTISMS@THEDISPATCH.COM. If youd like to be considered for publication, please include your real name and hometown. If you dont want your comments to be made public, please specify.

TIME OUT: PROBABILITIES ARE BANANAS

BBC: Known as the infinite monkey theorem, the thought-experiment has long been used to explain the principles of probability and randomness. However, a new peer-reviewed study led by Sydney-based researchers Stephen Woodcock and Jay Falletta has found that the time it would take for a typing monkey to replicate Shakespeares plays, sonnets and poems would be longer than the lifespan of our universe.  The results indicated that even if every chimp in the world was enlisted and able to type at a pace of one key per second until the end of the universe, they wouldnt even come close to typing out the Bards works.  There would be a 5% chance that a single chimp would successfully type the word bananas in its own lifetime. And the probability of one chimp constructing a random sentence  such as I chimp, therefore I am  comes in at one in 10 million billion billion.

WITHIN EARSHOT: THE PERFECT KINSLEY GAFFE

We dug out of a deep hole, but not enough.David Plouffe, senior adviser to the Harris campaign, takes a jab at President Biden in a post-election tweet thanking supporters and staff. Plouffe has since deleted his account.

You should email us! Write to STIREWALTISMS@THEDISPATCH.COM with your tips, kudos, criticisms, insights, rediscovered words, wonderful names, recipes, and, always, good jokes. Please include your real nameat least first and lastand hometown. Make sure to let us know in the email if you want to keep your submission private. My colleague, the indefatigable Nate Moore, and I will look for your emails and then share the most interesting ones and my responses here. Clickety clack!

CUTLINE CONTEST: THE ULTIMATE REALIGNMENT

A debate watch party at Penn Social on September 10, 2024, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

This weeks winner did what the best always do: Kept it short, simple, and with no need for extra context. Which is nice, because it makes my job easier in the introduction!

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Smiles emerge as the Sweet Meteor of Death approachesGeorge Spence, Bentonville, Arkansas

Winner, Stay Puft Division:

Election result onlookers attempt to clear their minds after Gozer commands that they choose the form of their destructor.Cannon Alsobrook, Smyrna, Georgia

Winner, Steamboat Willies Division:

Voters react as Mickey Mouse attains 270 electoral votes.Linda McKee, DuBois, Pennsylvania

Winner, Attention Shoppers Division:

Anticipation mounts as historys last Blue Light Special features presidential candidates at a price you wont want to miss.Michael Smith, Georgetown, Kentucky

Winner, Electoral Hangover Division:

In a lively round of Votable Potables, the crowd prepare to take another slug when the candidate says fair share.Bill Ward, St. Augustine Beach, Florida

Winner, Sheaf Throwing Division:

In the dull moments between voting updates, the audience marvels as Stirewalt and Moore compete in various feats of strength competitions.Paul Williams, Shaker Heights, Ohio

Winner, Error Message Division:

Democratic poll watchers get the blue screen of death.Mark Swedberg, Natal, Brazil

FRIENDLY FIRE

Politico: The Pentagon  said it was unable to confirm reports that North Korean troops are taking advantage of their more expansive internet access in Russia to consume copious amounts of online pornography. U.S. Department of Defense spokesperson Maj. Charlie Dietz said he couldnt verify any North Korean internet habits or virtual extracurriculars taking place in Russia, saying the Pentagon is only concerned with the more serious aspects of the North Korean military relationship with Russia as it wages war on Ukraine.  His comments came in response to a report, first posted to social media by Financial Times commentator Gideon Rachman, that North Korean troops are gorging on pornography thanks to their newfound online freedom. While internet access is not unfettered in Russia, it is freer than in North Korea, one of the worlds most restrictive countries.

Read more at The Dispatch

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Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner has condemned contemporary anti-Semitism in the German capital on the anniversary of the Nazi-led Kristallnacht pogrom against German Jews.

Speaking at a commemorative event on Saturday marking the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Wegner said: "Anti-Semitism is still a reality today, unfortunately also in our city, on our streets."

He said the city administration is doing everything it can to ensure there is no place for this hatred. "But it remains all of our task to consistently oppose hatred of Jews - regardless of where it comes from and where it takes place."

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"Only in this way can we live up to the responsibility that our history imposes on us," he said.

On November 9, 1938, the Nazis launched a nationwide wave of terror which came to be known as the Night of Broken Glass, or Kristallnacht, during which synagogues were burned, businesses owned by Jewish people were looted and destroyed, and Jews were abused, arrested and murdered.

Commemorations for the November pogroms under the Nazis coincide with festivities to mark 35 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, which came after months of peaceful protests in what was then East Germany.
At an event marking the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on Saturday, the city's mayor, Kai Wegner, said November 9 remains a fateful day for Germany, both in a positive and negative sense.

The date marks both the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, and of the beginning of a Nazi-led nationwide wave of terror against Jewish people in 1938, which came to be known as the Night of Broken Glass, or Kristallnacht.

"Those were incredible moments, incredible hours and days," the mayor said, noting that the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall recalls a positive event, when people pushed the wall aside.

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Wegner said he hopes that the spirit of optimism and solidarity from that time will return. He also underlined the value of freedom, saying the people who peacefully protested in 1989 should be considered role models.

Speaking alongside German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Wegner called on Germans to preserve freedom, saying "without freedom, everything else is nothing."

"Freedom and democracy have never been a matter of course," he said, adding that they are currently under attack both from outside forces and within.
Berlin on Saturday marked the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, with thousands of visitors attending a "Freedom Festival" along the former route of the Wall and a series of events being held in the once-divided city.

The events of November 9, 1989, were the culmination of months of peaceful protest and led to the reunification of Germany in 1990.

However, the date is also the anniversary of one of the country's darkest days: Kristallnacht, or the Night of the Broken Glass, saw a Nazi-led wave of terrorism against Jewish people in 1938.

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Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner said November 9 remains a fateful day for Germany - both in a positive and negative sense.

"Those were incredible moments, incredible hours and days," the mayor said, speaking of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Wegner said he hopes that the spirit of optimism and solidarity from the time will return and underlined the value of freedom, saying the people who peacefully protested in 1989 should be considered role models.

Speaking alongside German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Wegner called on Germans to preserve freedom, saying "without freedom, everything else is nothing."

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"Freedom and democracy have never been a matter of course," he added, arguing that both are currently under attack.

In a huge open-air installation to commemorate the 35th anniversary, 5,000 posters are being displayed in the city centre along the course of the Berlin Wall, which the former East Germany started to erect in 1961.

The posters combine the demands of demonstrators in the autumn of 1989 with today's aspirations and were created in workshops in schools, church parishes, associations or cultural projects.

A concert is planned for the evening along the 4-kilometre route of the installation, with 700 professional and amateur musicians playing a "Soundtrack of Freedom" simultaneously on various stages.

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The soundtrack includes songs by the late David Bowie and the rock band Silly, which has its roots in the former East Germany.

Among further events on Sunday, the Russian opposition band Pussy Riot are to perform in the former headquarters of the East German secret police, the Stasi.

Berlin's other November 9

On November 9, 1938, the Nazis launched nationwide attacks during which synagogues were burned, businesses owned by Jewish people were looted and destroyed, and Jews were abused, arrested and murdered.

Speaking at Saturday's commemorations, Wegner drew parallels to modern Berlin, saying: "Anti-Semitism is still a reality today, unfortunately also in our city, on our streets."

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He said the city administration is doing everything it can to ensure there is no place for this hatred. "But it remains all of our task to consistently oppose hatred of Jews - regardless of where it comes from and where it takes place."

"Only in this way can we live up to the responsibility that our history imposes on us," he said.

1989 revolution and today's Ukraine

During the commemorative festivities of the fall of the Berlin Wall, people placed roses in a gap in the remaining wall in the north of the city to also commemorate the victims who died trying to cross the border between former East Berlin and West Berlin.

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Several speakers addressed the war in Ukraine, which has been ongoing for two and a half years. "The values of the 1989 revolution are being defended today on the battlefields of Ukraine," the director of the Berlin Wall Foundation, Axel Klausmeier, said.

Klausmeier called on people to remember the yearning for freedom of that time and "to practise tolerance, defend democracy and human rights, and tirelessly promote the dream of peaceful coexistence."

At the same time, he commemorated the November pogroms of 1938, saying it is intolerable that Jewish people in Germany have to again live in fear.

Germany's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (R) and Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin, take part in a prayer at the central commemorative event to mark the 35th anniversary of the peaceful revolution and the fall of the Berlin Wall in the Chapel of Reconciliation at the Berlin Wall Memorial. Christoph Soeder/dpa

Germany's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (C) and Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin, take part in a prayer at the central commemoration ceremony to mark the 35th anniversary of the peaceful revolution and the fall of the Berlin Wall in the Chapel of Reconciliation at the Berlin Wall Memorial. Christoph Soeder/dpa

Kai Wegner (L), Governing Mayor of Berlin, places a rose at the Hinterlandmauer alongside German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier during a central commemorative event marking the 35th anniversary of the peaceful revolution and the fall of the Berlin Wall at the Berlin Wall Memorial. Christoph Soeder/dpa

Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin, speaks during a central commemorative event marking the 35th anniversary of the peaceful revolution and the fall of the Berlin Wall at the Hinterlandmauer at the Berlin Wall Memorial. Christoph Soeder/dpa

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Clearer views of a new stealthy Chinese trimaran uncrewed surface vessel (USV) have emerged, highlighting a number of interesting features, including a vertical launch system (VLS) array and aft-end flight deck for drone helicopters.

New images of the stealthy USV, which look to have been taken at or near ground level, first began circulating online last week. A surge of interest in the drone ship followed its appearance in high-resolution satellite imagery of Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) facilities on Longxue Island, just southeast of the city of Guangzhou, earlier in the year. The same imagery also revealed a still mysterious new class of Chinese ship with a large open flight deck. You can read our report on it here.

A satellite image of Guangzhou Shipyard International taken on October 23, 2024, showing the new trimaran USV and the still-mysterious ship with the larger flight deck. PHOTO  2024 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION

In addition to a picture showing a view from the rear, two images of the USV shown from the side have emerged that look to have had the background edited out. There is a possibility these images could be further manipulated or be renders rather than real pictures.

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The side views do show the USV with a four-cell vertical launch system (VLS) array in a relatively large and potentially modular open section on top of its main superstructure. There is also an array of windows at the front pointing to an optionally crewed capability.

China's new trimaran-hull large USV that was discovered under construction via satellite images. pic.twitter.com/bM6i97ooDg  Clash Report (@clashreport) November 7, 2024

The side images, as well as the rear aspect picture, also show a faceted integrated mast structure with an additional extension at the top. What looks to be a traditional rotating maritime navigation radar antenna, as well as multiple sensor turrets of the type typically equipped with electro-optical and infrared cameras, are visible on top. Those sensors would be needed just for semi-autonomous operation, including deconflicting with other ships at sea, in addition to surveillance and target detection/tracking type functions. Rectangular sections at various points lower on the mast structure point to at least the provisions for additional radars and electronic warfare/electronic support measures (EW/ESM) systems.

A closer look at the new trimaran USVs mast structure and extension on top showing various sensors and emitters, and/or provisions for them in the picture taken from the rear. Chinese Internet

The USV also has a small flight deck at the stern configured to support a drone helicopter. Chinese aviation firms have been separately developing a growing number of uncrewed helicopters, including ones configured for naval applications.

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Overall, the core shape of the mast and other portions of the ships external structure, at least, point to radar signature-reducing design considerations.

By all indications, the new Chinese trimaran USV is the JARI-USV-A, a 300-ton displacement design that has reportedly been under construction in Guangzhou since 2022. Huangpu Shipyard may be the actual builder, according to a recent report from Naval News. Huangpu and GSI are both subsidiaries of the state-run China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).

JARI in the name comes from the Jiangsu Automation Research Institute, which has also been involved in the development of a smaller 20-ton-displacement JARI-USV with a traditional hull profile. JARI was originally established as part of the state-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), which CSSC absorbed in 2019.

Interestingly the final configuration appears to be somewhat closer to the "Jari-USV-A" (not the Jari) concept model shown years ago vs the graphic shown at launch of the project. https://t.co/3Bp71lZbYv pic.twitter.com/WbjrzkekzH  Alex Luck (@AlexLuck9) October 28, 2024

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Another unrelated trimaran USV design had previously emerged in China in 2020.

However, the USV now sitting in GSIs yard differs in significant ways from models and renders of the JARI-USV-A that have been shown in the past, which notably featured an eight-cell VLS array in a much lower-profile main superstructure. The earlier design also had what looked to be torpedo tubes nestled in its side sponsons and a remotely-operated weapon system with gun and missile launchers that could be fully retracted into a section of the bow. Whether or not these features have been carried over to the newer design is unknown.

Satellite imagery of China's JARI USV (trimaran version). The hull seems completed. It will be a real beast with its heavy weaponry.



Here are my photos from NAVDEX 2023 in Abu Dhabi. https://t.co/xN64QVwpPy pic.twitter.com/vvyyrTPyj9  Tayfun Ozberk (@TayfunOzberk) October 29, 2024

Armed with a mixture of missiles, torpedoes, and guns, the USV could help support anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare missions, with its drone helicopter helping to spot and track targets, as well as otherwise scout around for miles around the vessel. It could also be used as a network relay and kinetic platform, as well.

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The USVs could also just offer valuable additional capacity to provide localized maritime presence, including around more far-flung outposts like Chinas man-made islands in the hotly contested South China Sea. Its shallow draft would make it very well suited for operations in littoral areas. Similarly sized crewed Type 022 catamaran missile boats are among the assets the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) currently uses for those kinds of missions.

A Type 022 missile boat. PLAN

Whether or not the new USV is expected to be an operational platform, or just a testbed for future developments, is unclear. Naval News posited that the trimaran drone ship, as well as the new carrier-like ship in GSIs yard (which weve now seen curiously bears the CSSC company logo rather than clear naval-style markings), could be more experimental in nature and also intended in part to help with export pitches to foreign navies. Similar questions have been raised about exact intended purposes of the trimaran USV design that previously emerged in China, as well as a new stealthy crewed corvette design that first broke cover in the country last year.

A look at the other known Chinese trimaran USV design. Chinese Internet

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The PLAN certainly does have a history of building bespoke vessels ostensibly for research and development, test and evaluation, and training roles. At the same time, from what we have now seen, the new USV has a configuration that is at least potentially operationally representative and that could point to the possibility of a future fleet of operational drone ships based on this design.

Even if the new trimaran drone ship is ostensibly a test platform, it underscores the PLANs clear ambitions (and those of the rest of the PLA) to increase its uncrewed capabilities across all domains. The PLAN has been very actively working to expand the scale and scope of its crewed surface warship and submarine capabilities in recent years, backed by Chinas substantial shipbuilding industrial base.

In this broader context, it is also worth noting that Chinas public interest in trimaran USVs emerged following the U.S. militarys highly successful work with a design called Sea Hunter. The U.S. Navy still has that USV, as well as a second example named Seahawk, but has so far not moved to acquire more of them for operational use. The service has been working to operationalize other USVs in recent years, but the main focus has been on smaller and less capable designs.

Testbed or not, the new Chinese USV is the latest evidence the country continues to push ahead with its own increasingly more advanced uncrewed naval capabilities.

UPDATE: 11/10/2024 

We now have full images and video of the ship underway:

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Contact the author: joe@twz.com
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA)  A bicyclist is dead after St. Petersburg police said he ran a stop sign and collided with a Jeep on Friday afternoon.

At 2:30 p.m., 51-year-old Jason Newberry was riding an electric bicycle down 59th Street South heading southbound.

Lakeland resident killed in crash with semi-truck on US-98

As Newberry approached the intersection of 7th Avenue South, police said he failed to stop at the stop sign. He then collided with the passenger side door of a Jeep Compass heading westbound on 7th Avenue South.

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The bicyclist did not have a helmet on and was thrown from the bike.

He was taken to a nearby hospital where he died that night due to his injuries.

This remains an ongoing 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 WFLA.
The Canning River, which flows on the western edge of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge into the Beaufort Sea, is seen from the air on Aug. 23, 2015. The coastal plain of the refuge, through which the river flows, is the subject of new rules proposed by the Biden administration to minimize the environmental impact of legally mandated oil leasing there. (Photo by Katrina Liebich/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Oil companies could buy oil leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, but with new restrictions, under a plan released this week.

At least 400,000 acres in the refuges coastal plain would be available for oil and gas leasing, but only in areas deemed to have high potential for holding hydrocarbons and only under some new environmental restrictions to protect wildlife and other resources, according to the preferred plan released by the President Joe Bidens administration.

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The plan, detailed in a supplemental environmental impact statement led by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, proposes much more limited oil development than what was authorized by the administration of former President and now President-elect Donald Trump.

The fate of the refuges coastal plain has been subject of hot debate for decades, pitting desires for oil development in a new part of Arctic Alaska against desires for environmental protection, including protection of the calving grounds of the huge Porcupine caribou herd.

With Trump set to return to the White House, the area is back in the spotlight. He has declared intentions to reopen the area to drilling. He has claimed, falsely, that it holds potential for more oil than what is in Saudi Arabia.

He referred to the refuge in a September town hall event in Michigan, though he confused it with Bagram air base in Afghanistan. We have Bagram in Alaska, they say it might be bigger than all of Saudi Arabia, he said at the time.

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Environmentalists are expecting a tough fight over the refuge in the coming years.

The coastal plain is clearly something in the crosshairs of the Trump administration, said Cooper Freeman, Alaska director of the Center for Biological Diversity.

Freeman noted that the 2021 lease sale drew little industry interest. Nonetheless, Its going to be the fight of our lives to keep the Arctic Refuge protected from development, he said.

The Biden administrations new environmental study was launched in response to legal challenges against the Trump plan, and it is intended to correct what the Biden administration characterized as deficiencies in studies done by the Trump administration that led to a January 2021 auction that sold nine leases.

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No major oil companies submitted bids, and no exploration work took place on the leases that were sold. The main bidder was the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, a state development agency, which picked up seven leases. An Anchorage real-estate company bought another, and a small oil company bought one. The latter bidders relinquished their leases voluntarily, and the Biden administration canceled the AIDEA leases, citing the need for better environmental analysis.

Although Biden, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and others in the administration oppose oil development in the refuge, a second lease sale is required by law.

The Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017, signed by Trump, mandates two lease sales offering at least 400,000 acres be held before the end of 2024.

The main differences between the Biden administrations chosen alternative for leasing and that pursued by the Trump administration concern protections for caribou, polar bears, marine and freshwater areas and ice-rich permafrost.

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One major difference is the limit on the areas within the coastal plain that may be leased. Under the new preferred plan, tracts offered for leasing would be concentrated in the northern and western part of the 1.5 million-acre coastal plain; much of the eastern and southern area is withheld from leasing because of use by the Porcupine Caribou Herd.

Another difference is a new limit of 995 acres for surface disturbance, down from the 2,000 acres allowed under the Trump plan.

Caribou graze July 9, 2019, on tundra plants growing on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The animals are in the Porcupine Caribou Herd. A new environmental study released by the Biden administration recommends more protections for the Porcupine herd, which packs into the refuge coastal plain during calving season. (Photo by Andrea Medeiros/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

A third notable difference is the preferred alternatives restriction on seismic exploration, which employs heavy equipment on the surface to send soundwaves into the earth to help map out geologic structures. Under the new preferred alternative, seismic exploration would be limited to leased tracts; under the previous Trump administration plan, seismic exploration was to be allowed throughout the entirety of the coastal plain. Although seismic exploration was proposed, none was carried out.

The exact date of the lease sale to be held is yet to be determined. It would follow the next step in the administrative process, which is the issuance of a formal document called a record of decision that makes the choice final. The record of decision will come no earlier than 30 days after the notice of the supplemental environmental impact statement is published in the Federal Register. Publication is scheduled for Friday, the BLM said.

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The Biden administrations move toward new restrictions on refuge leasing drew sharp criticism from some ardent supporters of oil development there.

Voice of the Arctic Inupiat, a regional group that has generally advocated for oil development across the North Slope, said in a statement that local leaders are unified in their opposition to the new plan, singling out the effect on the village of Kaktovik.

It seems that once again the people of the North Slope are being told that our voices and lived experience are insufficient, and that federal laws passed by Congress mean little in the eyes of the Biden administrations Department of the Interior (DOI), North Slope Borough Mayor Josiah Patkotak said in the statement. The federal governments latest actions are shameful and will have serious consequences for Kaktovik and the North Slope. With this latest development, DOI has soundly rejected the opportunity to partner in our effort to aptly balance development and preservation in our region.

Rex Rock Sr., president of the Arctic Slope Regional Corp., also criticized the new restrictions.

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There is a majority consensus of elected leadership across the North Slope, including Kaktovik, that responsible resource development is essential to maintaining our economic security and way of life, he said in the Voice of the Arctic Inupiat statement. We remain united against any attack on our self-determination.

Kaktovik, which has about 270 residents, is the easternmost Alaska North Slope community and close to much of the caribou-calving area that the new plan has designated for protection. It is also a center of ardent support for drilling in the refuge coastal plain, as its village for-profit corporation owns land that could be developed. Arctic Slope Regional Corp., the regional Native corporation for the North Slope, has the mineral rights on that Native-owned land, and it also generates much of its income from North Slope oil operations.

In Tuesdays election, 78% of Kaktoviks presidential vote went to Trump, according to preliminary results from the Alaska Division of Elections.

Alaska Natives who oppose oil development in the refuge said Wednesday they will continue their fight.

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In a statement, the Neetsaii Gwichin Tribal governments of Arctic Village and Venetie, Gwichin Athabascan communities near the southern edge of the refuge, renewed their call to permanently ban oil development in the refuge.

As people connected to the Arctic Refuge for our cultural, spiritual, and subsistence purposes, we will never accept any disruption of this land, RaeAnn Garnett, first chief of Native Village of Venetie Tribal Government, said in the statement. Though the FSEIS is an improvement on the previous EIS, we continue to urge Congress to create permanent protections for this land that our people have lived in concert with for countless generations.

It is inarguable that the Arctic Refuge EIS released by the Trump Administration was inadequate and completely disregarded the impact any oil and gas activities would have on our Tribal communities who rely on that land, Galen Gilbert, first chief of Arctic Village Council, said in the statement. The recently released FSEIS is an improvement on the initial assessment. However, this is only a step towards protecting our Sovereignty and right to continue our traditional way of life that depends on this sacred place.

In Tuesdays election, over 90% of Arctic Village voters supported the Democratic ticket of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, and 72.5% of Venetie voters also supported the Harriz-Walz ticket, according to preliminary results from the Division of Elections.

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Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, was the lead author of the legislative language that requires the lease sale. Speaking to reporters Wednesday, she said she fears that the plan effectively crippled and made it not viable for anybody to bid on with the conditions that they have put in place.

She also said potential bidders may look elsewhere as Trump opens up federal land where development is less costly. She wants oil companies to come to Alaska, she said But I think we need to also recognize that perhaps were not the only game in town, she said.

The Center for Biological Diversitys Freeman said the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge coastal plain is likely to be only one area over which environmentalists will be battling with the incoming Trump administration.

We are definitely going to be playing some serious defense to protect whats left and all we love and cherish across Alaska, he said.

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Reporter James Brooks contributed to this article.

This story was originally published by Alaska Beacon, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alaska Beacon maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Andrew Kitchenman for questions: info@alaskabeacon.com. Follow Alaska Beacon on Facebook and X.
President-elect Donald Trump will meet with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office on Wednesday, the White House announced Saturday.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement that the two would meet at 11 a.m. at Bidens invitation, adding that additional details about the meeting will be released.

Incoming first lady Melania Trump has also been invited to the White House to meet with first lady Jill Biden, an official in the East Wing told CNN, though it is unclear when that might happen.

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Trumps incoming chief of staff, Susie Wiles, and Bidens chief of staff, Jeff Zients, have been in contact this week regarding Trumps transition and coordinated Wednesdays meeting, two sources familiar with the process told CNN.

Conversations with the White House were straightforward and really easy, one of the sources said.

The source added that Wiles  also Trumps campaign manager  and Zients have been in contact over the last several months, discussing topics such as the first assassination attempt against Trump and Secret Service protection.

Biden spoke with Trump on Wednesday, the day after the election, to congratulate him on his win over Vice President Kamala Harris and invite him to the White House, an administration official said.

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President Biden expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and emphasized the importance of working to bring the country together, the official said Wednesday.

Trump on Thursday said he and Biden had agreed to have lunch together very shortly when they spoke by phone, according to NBC News. Trump told NBC his calls with Biden and Harris after the race was called were very nice calls, very respectful both ways.

Its tradition for the outgoing president to host the incoming commander in chief after the election as part of a peaceful transfer of power. Trump did not host Biden in 2020, however, as he fought the election results based on falsehoods about voter fraud. Trump also didnt attend Bidens inauguration in 2021.

President Joe Biden walks out of the Oval Office to speak about the results of the 2024 election in the Rose Garden on November 7, 2024. - Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Aside from 2020, it has also been tradition for the current first lady to host the incoming first lady at the White House. In 2016, then-first lady Michelle Obama hosted Melania Trump for tea in the White Houses Yellow Oval Room and took her on a tour of the private residence.

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Biden drew implicit comparisons to the non-transition four years ago during remarks on Thursday conceding his vice presidents loss to Trump. He listed the steps he was taking that were never offered to him when he beat Trump and used the moment to again push back on questions of election integrity after years of false allegations from his predecessor  and now successor.

Campaigns are contests of competing visions. The country chooses one or the other. We accept the choice the country made, he said, making explicit that he accepted the results of the election.

This story has been updated with additional developments.

CNNs Alayna Treene, Kate Sullivan, Arlette Saenz and Betsy Klein contributed to this report.

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Bill Maher wants the Democratic Party to do some serious reflecting after once again losing a presidential election to Donald Trump.

His imploring message at the top of Fridays Real Time, however, initially seemed to confuse his own audience.

Were gonna hear about both tonight on the panel, and throughout the whole show, the winners and the losers, said the host and Trump critic in his opening monologue. My message to the losers? Losers, look in the mirror.

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No? Maher added, when the crowd met him with stunned silence. Well, maybe you should.

Maher eventually earned some applause after pivoting to a joke and criticizing pundits who felt blindsided by the results.

For months, Democrats have been saying, How is this even close? Maher told the crowd. And theyre right  it wasnt. They could not conceive of a second Trump term, but they shouldve. When does America ever turn down seconds?

The results left many pundits in shock, however, as Trump ran an extremely xenophobic campaign centered on bloodthirsty migrants bringing bad genes into the country  and the notion of him winning amid numerous criminal indictments seemed unlikely to many.

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Mahers peers in the Democratic Party have exchanged plenty of blame in the days since Harris lost. Moderate Democrats like Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) and progressives like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) have claimed the partys leaders are out of touch with the working classs economic struggles. Still others have blamed Harris unwavering support for Israels brutal military campaign in Gaza.

Maher, meanwhile, had another diagnosis, which he made after a jab referencing the anti-trans ads Harris opponent ran.

Make no mistake, this election was very much about what Ive been saying here, and lost a lot of fans for saying over the years, Maher argued Friday. That this country has had enough of the anti-common sense woke bullshit.

While countless pollsters predicted a close election that Harris would ultimately win, Trump swept every battleground state  with even traditionally blue areas of the country shifting toward his conservative policies  which Maher made light of Friday.

Harris, seen here delivering her concession speech Wednesday at Howard University. Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post/Getty Images

This is just the facts, he told the audience. Trump won all the swing states, all seven  he ran the table. Trump won so big, today he called the Secretary of State in Georgia, and he asked them to lose him 11,000 votes.

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Trump, who was caught telling Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to find him as many votes after losing the 2020 election, and was later indicted on election interference charges, is nonetheless now set to retake the White House on Jan. 20, 2025.

Later on in his show, during the Overtime segment, Maher mocked MSNBCs Joy Reid for praising Harris now-failed campaign.

All this was this week was people who said, Oh she ran a flawless campaign  how ridiculous, he added. Or, its sexism, its racism. This is an old playbook  I think Americas perfectly willing to elect a woman  they just didnt like the last two that were put up.

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CHICAGO  A 63-year-old man is dead after he was discovered unresponsive and later pulled from the river in Chicagos Loop, authorities confirmed Friday.

Details remain limited, but according to police, the unresponsive male was seen in the 300 block of S. Wacker Dr. around 1:20 p.m.

Following his removal from the water, first responders rushed the male to Insight Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

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Area Three Detectives are conducting a death investigation pending autopsy results.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

The discovery comes just one week shy of another incident where police say a body was pulled from Lake Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 2.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
WARNING: The video in this story contains graphic material that may be upsetting to viewers. Discretion is advised.

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  An Oklahoma City officer is under investigation for his actions at the scene of a car accident.

Police say the officer used force on an elderly driver, leaving the man seriously injured.

This started with the officer giving the man, Lich Vu, a ticket for causing a minor crash, but ended with Vu in handcuffs and unconscious.

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LOCAL NEWS: OKCPD release video of deadly police shooting

Oklahoma City police released body cam footage Friday, more than a week after an encounter between an officer and elderly man turned tense.

The officer was called to a crash along NW 39th Expressway.

Both drivers were given tickets, but Lich Vu felt he shouldnt receive one.

Throughout the encounter, there appears to be a language barrier. The officer later telling Lich if he doesnt sign the ticket, he will be taken to jail.

Moments later, he speaks with Lich again about what he did wrong. Lich and a woman he was with argued that the other driver is at fault.

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In that moment, Lich appears to hit the officers chest lightly and tells the officer to shut up.

The officer then grabs Lich and forcefully takes him to the ground. Lich suffered serious injuries according to police.

In a report, the officer writing, I perceived Lich touching me that things were going to escalate.

He went onto say, I placed Lich in handcuffs and observed Lich not respond and appeared to be unconscious.

Lich later regained consciousness and was treated for his injuries at a local hospital.

Oklahoma City police said Friday, theyre dedicated to transparency and accountability.

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As for the officer, hes still on administrative leave. The department says it will soon hand over the findings of its investigation to the District Attorneys Office.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
A 50-year-old nurse practitioner from Boise will spend four years in federal prison for distributing narcotics in exchange for cash, a portion of the pain drugs and other controlled substances.

Angela Kathryn Hughes was sentenced this week after she pleaded guilty to several drug crimes, U.S. Attorney for Idaho Josh Hurwit announced in a press release.

The release cited court records and said Hughes conspired with Sydney Neal, 39, and others to issue illegitimate prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances between January 2022 and March 2023. The prescriptions totaled more than 9,800 pills of oxycodone and hydrocodone, according to the release.

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Hughes, who sometimes received methamphetamine as part of the payments for pills, faced charges of conspiracy to possess controlled substances and of distributing controlled substances, according to public information officer Cassie Fulghum. She pleaded guilty in May and was sentenced Tuesday.

Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Hughes to be placed on supervised release for three years after her prison sentence.

The U.S. attorneys release said prescriptions for the pain pills were written and distributed without a legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of professional practice.

Medical providers are supposed to take care of their patients and their community. The defendant in this case did the opposite, adding to the dangerous problem of prescription drug abuse, said Hurwit. I am grateful for the team of prosecutors and investigators that found out what was happening and put a stop to it.

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Neal was also paid in cash for selling the drugs and provided the proceeds to Hughes. She pleaded guilty in September to one count of conspiracy to possess controlled substances, according to Fulghum. She was sentenced to five years of probation.

Providers who recklessly distribute controlled substances undermine efforts to address the ongoing opioid crisis and betray their professional responsibility to serve the health and well-being of the American public, said Steven J. Ryan, the special agent in charge with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.

Hurwit thanked the Boise Police Department, Health and Human Services, and the Drug Enforcement Administration for working on the investigation.
LA PAZ (Reuters) - A constitutional court in Bolivia has barred former President Evo Morales from running again for office, ushering in a new phase in the country's long-running political crisis.

Morales, who led Bolivia from 2006 to 2019, had been vying for the candidacy of his MAS party, alongside his former mentee-turned-rival, President Luis Arce.

But, in a decision last week that was reported on Friday, Bolivia's constitutional court ruled that presidents were limited to serving two terms, whether consecutive or non-consecutive.

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After serving his first two terms, a court ruling allowed Morales to serve a third term because his first preceded a constitutional rewrite. He ran for a fourth term in the 2019 elections, but fled the country after the results were disputed and unrest ensued. Arce was elected in 2020.

"Without a doubt this ushers in a new era of politics in Bolivia," opposition lawmaker Marcelo Pedrazas told journalists on Friday. "In 2025, we'll have an election without Evo Morales on the ballot."

Morales' lawyer, Orlando Ceballos, called the court's ruling politically motivated.

"What are they trying to do? To get rid of MAS, to disqualify Evo, that's the point," Ceballos said in a radio interview, adding they would take up the matter with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

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Morales and Arce have been increasingly butting heads in past weeks, with Morales supporters using roadblocks to halt commerce and later raiding military bases.

Morales has called for peaceful talks with the government, but went on a nearly week-long hunger strike in protest of what he considers political persecution by Arce's administration.

On Friday, lawmakers loyal to Morales caused chaos in Congress, shouting and throwing flowers at the vice president ahead of Arce's planned yearly address and forcing him to deliver his speech from the presidential palace.

(Reporting by Monica Machicao and Daniel Ramos; Writing by Kylie Madry; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
Former Trumps national security adviser John Bolton seemingly brushed off President-elect Trumps decision to have billionaire Elon Musk join his call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after his 2024 election victory.

My first reaction when I heard it was, well, so what? Whats unusual about having the Vice President-elect sitting with the President-elect on a call? And then I realized, of course, Elon Musk wasnt the Vice President-elect, Bolton told CNNs Kaitlan Collins on Friday. This is really, I think, typical of Trump.

[The] sort of bounds and norms are not Trumps strength as we know. I wouldnt get too hyper thyroid about it too quickly, but its certainly not a sign that order and stability have suddenly appeared at Mar-a-Lago despite what everybody is talking about, about these early appointments, he added in the interview on CNNs The Source.

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Trump has spoken with a number of world leaders since he was declared the winner of the White House race over Vice President Harris. Musks presence on his call with Zelensky shows how his close relationship with the president-elect could manifest itself in January.

Zelensky said the call was a productive conversation, a good conversation.

Of course, we cannot yet know what his actions will be. But we do hope that America will become stronger, he said.

Trump has for months touted on the campaign trail that he would be able to end the nearly three-year-long war between Russia and Ukraine  even before he takes office in January. Critics of his have argued that the push would require Ukraine to cede territory to Russia.

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Bolton, who served under the Trump administration but has become a vocal critic, said the new information about the phone call looks like the same chaotic, Do what you want to do Donald Trump, with his latest bright, shiny object, Elon Musk.

The former ambassador to the United Nations was also asked to provide advice to the next potential national security adviser.

In his remarks, Bolton explained that in the role, the person must make sure the president has options laid out before them so they can make the best selection of policy. And, he said, you must make sure the decisions are followed through.

If the president doesnt take your advice, then that goes with the job, he said in the interview, highlighted by Mediaite. You are the national security adviser and not the national security decision-maker.

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But most assuredly, what your job is not, is simply to say, Yes, sir when the president says something, Bolton continued. You have to do what you can, and you are obviously dealing with a human being, but you need to do what you can to make sure that all of the information is available, and all of the feasible options are laid out.

The former adviser added, If you fail to do that by saying, Yes, sir, every time the president speaks, youre not serving the president, youre not serving the country.

The comments come as Trumps transition team has already started vetting potential candidates for his Cabinet and other key administration posts. So far, he has only announced Susie Wiles as his chief of staff  the first woman to serve in the role.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A bomb threat made to a Lakeville Wells Fargo branch sparked a police and bomb squad response on Friday morning.

The Lakeville Police Department received the threat at around 9 a.m., directed toward the Wells Fargo Bank at 17365 Kenyon Avenue.

After receiving the call, officers evacuated the bank and nearby businesses, and the Bloomington Bomb Squad and MSP Airport Police Departments bomb detection K-9 were called in to assist with a search of the area.

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Officers did a comprehensive sweep, but no suspicious items were found in or near the bank. The area has since been deemed safe, and businesses have been permitted to resume operations.

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The investigation into the origin of the threat is still active, and police say there is no ongoing public safety concern.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcements latest version of events, and may be subject to change.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcements latest version of events, and may be subject to change.
Bradley Nelson was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and epilepsy in 2016, and his father, Darren Spreadbury, was convicted of grievous bodily harm in 2018

Gofundme Bradley Nelson and Sharon Boocock Bradley Nelson and Sharon Boocock

A 9-year-old boy in England has died, years after his father was convicted and sentenced to prison for attacking him and leaving him brain-damaged and blind.

According to reports from the BBC and Metro UK, North Yorkshire Police have opened an investigation after Bradley Nelson died on Oct. 22 from cardiac arrest while hospitalized.

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Nelson was left disabled and unable to walk, talk or feed himself after being attacked by his father, Darren Spreadbury, at their home in Whitby in April 2016, the outlets reported. The then 7-month-old also was left blind after the attack, and he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and epilepsy.

"Bradley was blind because [Spreadbury] shook him that hard, he snapped his optic nerve and he had a can of Cokes worth of blood between his brain and his skull," the boy's mother, Sharon Boocock, told the BBC.

In 2018, Spreadbury was found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent in the case, after scans found that Nelson's brain injuries were caused by shaken baby syndrome, the BBC reported. He was sentenced to four years in prison and was given a 10-year restraining order, according to Metro UK. A GoFundMe page organized by one of Boocock's friends states that Spreadbury served two years of his sentence.

NorthYorkshirePolice/Facebook North Yorkshire police vehicles North Yorkshire police vehicles

"When they said it was an unexplained, non-accidental head injury, I was like, 'What are you on about?' " Boocock recalled of the moment which led to Spreadbury's arrest. "It actually took me a long time to believe that they were right."

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Although Nelson returned home from the hospital after his initial diagnoses in 2016, he was hospitalized again in 2022 for severe sepsis and underwent multiple operations, according to the GoFundMe page.

Boocock told the BBC that much of her life was dedicated to caring for her son because of his injuries, though she added that Nelson was "always smiling and happy."

"I couldnt go anywhere after [5 p.m.] because Bradley would come home from school and that was me housebound," she recalled.



The 9-year-old was hospitalized again on Oct. 21 after contracting a virus, per the GoFundMe page. He later suffered a severe epileptic seizure and had two heart attacks.

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"I got to sit with him for 10 minutes and then he had another massive cardiac arrest, and they just couldn't get him back," Boocock told Metro UK of her son's death.

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According to the BBC, police have now reopened the case and will investigate to see if further charges should be filed.

"We have been made aware of the death of a nine-year-old boy from the Whitby area, who sadly passed away in hospital on October 22," a North Yorkshire Police spokesperson told the BBC. "The child had complex medical needs, and an investigation into the cause of his death is currently underway, reflecting due process in such circumstances."

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The GoFundMe page organized on Boocock's behalf to raise funds for Nelson's funeral has garnered more than 8,000 (about $10,000) to date.

"When Bradley was hurt, Sharon became his eyes, his voice, his life force and his fiercest advocate," the fundraiser organizer wrote in part. "Sharon is the very definition of 'a mother's love.' As her best friends, we want to say that, to us, Sharon is inspirational. She is a warrior. she is everything we would want our mum to be."

North Yorkshire Police did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.
The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is alerting residents of a cyanobacteria algae bloom in Sprague Pond in the Hyde Park/Readville neighborhood of Boston.

he Neponset River Watershed Association alerted BPHC of an observed cyanobacteria, a blue-green algae, bloom at Sprague Pond.

Sprague Pond is temporarily closed to the public. During the closure, residents should:

Avoid contact with the water.

Keep pets away from the water.

Avoid fishing and other activities in or near the water.

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If you, your child, or your pet comes in contact with the water, rinse them off immediately.

Blue-green algae can form harmful blooms in lakes, ponds, and rivers that make the water murky and can sometimes make the water look like pea soup or paint. Blue-green algae blooms can produce toxins that may make people and pets sick.

Toxins may be present within the algae cells or in the water.

For humans, the primary concern is ingestion of water containing blue-green algae while swimming,  BPHC said in a statement. Direct skin contact with the blue-green algae and inhalation of water droplets containing blue-green algae or toxins is a secondary concern. For dogs, the primary concern is the ingestion of water containing blue-green algae or scum that has washed ashore or gotten onto their skin or fur.

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The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) will continue to monitor cyanobacteria algae levels in the pond.

Residents who have questions or concerns, or would like more information, should call the Mayors Health Line at 617-534-5050.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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(Bloomberg) -- When the United Nations climate conference COP29 kicks off Monday in Baku, Azerbaijan, attendees will be grappling with the reelection of former US President Donald Trump. Countries will try to find a path forward that bypasses Trump, who is hostile to emissions-cutting policies and has vowed to pull the country back out of the Paris accord.

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Yet even as delegates arrive in Baku, preparations are underway for the 2025 edition of the summit, in Brazil. COP30 will be the first COP held in the Amazon rainforest and will see the debut of a new global order on climate, with the US likely playing a much diminished role and China, possibly, a larger one. That raises the stakes, and the pressure on the host  which was already high.

The challenge of being the leader of COP30 next year, in the heart of the Amazon forest, is huge, said Marina Silva, Brazils environment minister and top climate diplomat, at an event on the sidelines of the World Bank and IMF meetings in Washington, DC, in late October. The event is already being talked about as the green COP, Silva added.

For two years in a row, COP has been hosted by oil-rich autocracies with climate plans that are critically insufficient, according to the research partnership Climate Action Tracker. Brazil is different. It may be among the worlds top 10 oil exporters, but its also a world leader in new wind and solar installations and has strong climate commitments. So observers hope that when Brazil hosts the talks, more aggressive goal-setting will be possible. Otherwise, the world will be in even deeper trouble.

2025 is the 10-year anniversary of the Paris agreement, when nearly 200 countries agreed to rein in warming from levels so catastrophic it could reshape the world map. But countries are decidedly not on track. Temperatures have already risen 1.3C compared to the preindustrial era. Despite progress in scaling up green energy worldwide, fossil fuel use hit a record high last year and emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are still rising at levels that the UN warns could result in dire warming of up to 3.1C.

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That means the time for talk is over. If we are ambitious about announcing goals, we have to be ambitious about implementing them, Silva said in an interview with Bloomberg Green. To that end, Brazil's COP has to be the COP for reducing CO2 emissions.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (who is not related to Marina Silva) chose to host COP30 in Belem, a port city near the mouth of the Amazon River, so that tens of thousands of decision-makers can see the richness and fragility of the rainforest up close. One of the most biodiverse places on Earth, the Amazon also stores massive amounts of CO2, making it an essential defense against climate change. But as this year has shown, the forest is itself vulnerable to warming. Hot, dry conditions have helped fuel thousands of fires, scorching millions of hectares of land and sending smoke as far as the capital of Brasilia and the financial hub of Sao Paulo.

The pressure for COP30 to deliver rests on Lula, and also on Silva. Born into poverty on a rubber plantation in a rural, forested part of northern Brazil, Silva didnt learn to read or write until she was a teenager. After rising to prominence as an activist, she joined Lulas government during his first term as president.

Silva, 66, found success in politics not because of charisma but to a character thats demure, genuine and profoundly ethical, people who have worked with her say. Her steadfast advocacy for the Amazon and its communities, and her willingness to draw red lines against policies she cant support, have gained admiration not just in Brazil but around the world.

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Silvas influence was critical to President Lula moving climate issues up his agenda after winning a third term in 2022. Brazil last year committed to a roughly 53% reduction in its emissions by 2030, compared to 2005 levels. It has pledged to end deforestation by 2030.

She brought Lula around to appreciating the importance of protecting the Amazon, and Brazil taking environmental leadership in the world, said Steve Schwartzman, associate vice president for tropical forest policy at the Environmental Defense Fund.

She is always reminding her colleagues that theres no time to waste to tackle the climate crisis, said Andre Correa do Lago, secretary for climate, energy, and environment at the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

At COP29 and COP30, Silva can bring her credibility to bear on tense arguments over fossil fuel use, climate finance and other contentious issues. But whether that will be enough to get past long-standing political deadlock, largely between the developing and developed worlds, isnt clear.

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Lula and Silva have known each other for decades, their relationship shifting from friendly, to estranged, to closely allied. Both were members of Brazils Workers Party early on. In her twenties, Silva worked with rubber tapper and activist Francisco Alves Mendes Filho  better known as Chico Mendes  who fought for communities being driven off their lands by cattle ranchers hired guns. He was killed for it.

His assassination put a spotlight on the Amazons deforestation problem. Following in his footsteps, Silva became a prominent Amazon activist and ultimately proved successful at navigating politics. In 1994, at age 35, she became the youngest woman elected to the Brazilian senate. By the time Lula won the Brazilian presidency, taking office in 2003, Silva was the obvious candidate for environment minister.

Under her watch, Brazil launched its first deforestation action plan. Its credited with driving down deforestation more than 80% between 2004 and 2012, even as cattle herds and soybean production grew. That showed clearing more trees wasnt needed to develop these agricultural sectors.

But during Lulas second term, Silva resigned. She was exhausted by the constant pushback against environmental regulations both inside and outside the government, and objected to large-scale development in the Amazon that Lula and other officials supported. Silva ran for president herself in 2010, 2014 and 2018, without success.

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Then came President Jair Bolsonaro, who oversaw a systematic dismantling of the countrys forest protections. Deforestation surged. Bolsonaros far-right agenda was what finally brought Lula and Silva back together. So when Lula took on Bolsonaro in the 2022 presidential election, Silva helped her former boss win.

Brazil epitomizes the one-step-forward, one-step-back nature of climate progress as a country that now gets 90% of its electricity from non-fossil sources but remains a major oil exporter. Its unusual, however, in that the biggest source of its emissions is from changes in land use. Because of that, Silva advocated for, and Lula embraced, the goal of Brazil ending deforestation in just a few years. And it has made good progress, despite the government having to rebuild its capacity to thwart illegal deforestation after the Bolsonaro era.

Last year Brazil cut deforestation by 50%, according to government data, and this year it has dropped a significant amount again, Silva told Bloomberg Green. By the time Lulas term ends in 2026, she said, Brazil has to have policies operational to ensure zero deforestation in 2030.

In the Amazon, many poor families have cleared trees to grow sugarcane, soybeans or other crops as a matter of survival. If the country eliminates deforestation, rainforest communities will still need ways to survive and improve their living standards.

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Correa do Lago said Silva has always been very sensitive to the social dimension of environmental issues. Beyond saving nature, he said, she wants to take care of people. So Silva splits her efforts between stamping out deforestation and trying to make conservation of the forest profitable.

One possible way to do that is through carbon credits. Lulas government has introduced legislation to launch a state-run carbon market. The effort has stalled in Brazils congress, partly due to pushback from conservative lawmakers backed by the cattle and agriculture industries, which benefited the most from aggressive tree-clearing.

Theres also the Amazon Fund. After Lula launched it in 2008, other countries began to give Brazil donations toward halting deforestation and supporting the communities and industries reliant on the forest. Foreign donors stopped contributing in 2019 as deforestation increased under Bolsonaro. Lula later revived the fund, and its grown to roughly 4 billion reais ($710 million).

But speaking in Washington last month, Silva made clear that donations alone arent going to cut it. Thats why she will be talking about climate finance at COP29, as well as pitching a new Basel Accord, an international agreement on capital requirements for banks, on the sidelines of the forthcoming G20 meeting in Brazil. She also wants to see new financial instruments that embrace conservation.

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Trumps return cant be allowed to hinder global progress, she said Nov. 6, and the US still has a big responsibility to reduce emissions: Were working hard, and obviously the world is going to make sure that no country makes any kind of stepbacks in relation to what weve achieved.

We have turned nature into money, and now we have to turn money into preserving, restoring and conserving nature, Silva said. This is the only way to make money in the future. Otherwise, it wont work.

There remains one big source of tension between Silva and Lula. The president has revived plans to expand offshore drilling, saying the proceeds can finance the energy transition. Silva has been adamant that Brazil and the world must abandon fossil fuels. Lula and Silva have not opposed each other publicly on the subject, though it could come to a head at COP30 or sooner.

Rising emissions could ultimately be ruinous for the Amazon, even if deforestation is halted. The grim possibility hangs over Silva. But the enormity of the challenge ahead wont slow her down, she said: I know the size of the responsibility, of the efforts  and I feel committed.

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Voters sign in at a polling place in Takoma Park, Maryland, on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024. Voter enthusiasm was high across the country on Tuesday. (Barbara Barrett/Stateline)

Americas voting system was under siege for four years.

Former President Donald Trumps false claims about fraud in the 2020 election exposed the people who operate our elections to threats and harassment in the run-up to this one. They fortified their offices against potential violence, adjusted to last-minute, politically driven changes in election laws, and fought a relentless stream of lies and disinformation. Going into Election Day, officials and pro-democracy advocates braced for the worst.

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What a difference a day  and a result  makes.

Aside from a few hiccups, the U.S. voting process went smoothly this year. The winner of the presidential election was declared early the next morning, few people claimed widespread voter fraud, and the losing candidate conceded defeat.

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It was a triumph for democracy, said David Becker, founder and executive director of the Center for Election Innovation & Research, a nonpartisan organization that advises local election officials nationwide.

But he wondered what would have happened had Trump, now president-elect, lost again.

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Its somewhat telling that weve seen fewer fraud claims in the aftermath of an election which former president and future President Trump won, he said. But if we can get to the point now where President Trump and his supporters believe in the integrity of our elections, believe in the reality of our integrity of the elections, I will take it.

Those who study the election process say they have questions: With Trump heading back to the White House, will faith in American democracy rebound? Will Republican lawmakers continue to use the myth of widespread voter fraud to implement further restrictions on mail-in and early voting? And will the threats that have hounded state and local election officials continue?

Theres a lot of uncertainty ahead for U.S. elections, said Kathy Boockvar, the former Democratic secretary of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. But what is certain is that by fueling distrust in elections, Trump and his allies have done permanent damage in this country, she said.

Will there be a bump, maybe, because some of these folks now saw their candidate that they wanted to win? Sure, she told Stateline. There may be a bump in trust, but its not going to erase years and years of intentional dividing American against American, and intentional fueling of distrust of institutions and media.

What happened to the election fraud?

In his victory speech on Tuesday night, Trump said his win was a massive victory for democracy. He made no mention of widespread voter fraud and gave no indication that there were any attempts to steal the election.

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He had struck a different tone just hours before.

Earlier in the day, Trump falsely asserted in a Truth Social post that there was a heavy law enforcement presence in Philadelphia and Detroit. Officials in both cities debunked that claim. He also claimed without evidence that there was massive CHEATING in Philadelphia, which local officials, including Republicans, denied.

Trump would go on to win the critical swing states of Michigan and Pennsylvania in his landslide victory.

What will it take to get belief in the trustworthiness of elections to a point where its true for all of us, all the time?

 Pamela Smith, Verified Voting president and CEO

Election officials faced some falsehoods and disruptions Tuesday. Michigan officials called out what they said was an inauthentic video, allegedly showing boxes of ballots being carried into Detroits election office late Tuesday evening. The FBI warned of fabricated videos circulating online and of noncredible bomb threats at polling places in several states, including Michigan, originating out of Russia.

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Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, told reporters at a news conference Wednesday morning those incidents of disinformation felt like things she saw in 2020, as Trump and his allies began to contest his loss.

I worry and imagine that there was much more planned to drop, potentially, to create confusion and chaos in the hours following the election in an effort to potentially lay seeds to challenge results in the future, she said. Of course, we didnt see that play out.

U.S. national security officials praised how elections were conducted nationwide this year, as they had in 2020. Jen Easterly, the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said the election was peaceful and secure, and that malicious activity had no significant impact on the integrity of the process.

Our election infrastructure has never been more secure and the election community never better prepared to deliver safe, secure, free, and fair elections for the American people, she said in a press release Wednesday.

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Election officials did a heroic job this year, said Pamela Smith, president and CEO of Verified Voting, a nonprofit that works with state and local election officials to keep voting systems secure. Officials work was built on years of beefing up election procedures, audits and security, and coordinating with nonprofit advisers. Elections are resilient, Smith said.

But she added: What will it take to get belief in the trustworthiness of elections to a point where its true for all of us, all the time? And maybe that is a lofty goal, but its worth having.

There are some challenges that need to be addressed, including long lines on college campuses, how to decrease the number of absentee ballots rejected over incorrect signatures, and how to address the continued threats from foreign bad actors such as Russia.

But the crisis of the past four years did force state and local election officials to be more prepared for all threats, said Boockvar, who is president of Athena Strategies and a member of the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections. The committees bipartisan group of election and law enforcement officials developed pocket-size guides to election laws for police officers to carry.

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The good news is we have much more cross-sector support, she said.

A line of voters wrapped around a polling location in Huntsville, Alabama, by midmorning on Nov. 5., 2024. (Anna Claire Vollers/Stateline)

Future legislation

After Trump cast his ballot on Election Day in Florida, he went to his campaign headquarters in Palm Beach and laid out what he wished the voting process looked like.

They should do paper ballots, same-day voting, voter ID and be done, he said. One day, same day.

The makeup of Congress is still unknown as local election offices continue to count ballots. But Republicans have shown a willingness to tackle federal voting legislation, as they did with their failed attempt to insert into a larger funding bill a ban on voting by noncitizens (which already is illegal).

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But some of Trumps ideas, especially moving the country to a system in which voters can only cast a ballot on Election Day, is unlikely, said Walter Olson, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank. But other suggestions are possible, he added.

There is broad, bipartisan support among voters for mail-in and early voting, along with other protections such as voter list maintenance and audits, Olson said. For example, Georgia is a Republican-run state with robust early and mail-in voting and high voter turnout, with paper ballots, post-election audits and voter ID requirements.

Connecticut voters just approved a constitutional amendment that allows for no-excuse absentee voting. Nevada voters approved a ballot measure that now requires an ID to vote by mail and in person. Voters in eight states, including North Carolina and Wisconsin, also approved ballot measures to make noncitizen voting illegal under state law.

Republican state lawmakers still seem keen to continue finding new ways to tighten procedures in the name of election integrity.

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This election ran smoothly because of the legislation and proactive lawsuits from the conservative movement, argued Arizona state Rep. Alexander Kolodin, a Republican who was sanctioned by the State Bar of Arizona for his role in challenging the 2020 election.

Look, there were a lot of vulnerabilities still, but it was a more secure election than the ones weve had in the past, he said in an interview.

Kolodin introduced legislation this year to keep vote centers open longer and give voters more notice to fix signature or date errors on their absentee ballots, among other provisions. Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs signed it in February.

He expects Trump to keep election integrity in the public consciousness and continue to pressure conservatives to work on it. For his part, Kolodin will push to scrap Arizonas larger vote centers and opt for precinct-level polling places for better efficiency.

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Before the election, Michigan state Rep. Luke Meerman, a Republican, told Stateline that he would love to see measures that require some sort of ID to vote in person and by mail.

Something to prove that whoever filled that ballot out was the person that was supposed to be filling it out probably would be at the top of my list, he said.

Despite Trumps win, the false narratives around the supposed insecurity of U.S. elections  in which noncitizens and dead people are voting in droves  will likely continue, said the Cato Institutes Olson; it is baked into the movement that brought the former president back into power.

Given that so much of this was about Trumps desire for personal vindication, maybe its over, and maybe we wont face the same kind of systematic attempt to delegitimize the honesty of elections, Olson said. But thats the optimistic view.

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This report was first published by Stateline, part of the States Newsroom nonprofit news network. Its 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.
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11)  A large brush fire broke out at Prospect Park in Brooklyn Friday night.

A passerby first spotted the fire around 6:40 p.m., according to the FDNY. Two acres of the park were on fire at one point. Citizen App video showed a wooded area of the park up in flames.

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FDNY officials said more than 100 firefighters responded and brought the fire under control. Firefighters will remain at the scene overnight to ensure it doesnt reignite.

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There are some hotter spots. As the wind picks up, there might be a spark or something. But we are leaving fire companies here for the purposes of mitigating any small fires that might happen. Its very wet up there now. We have a lot of water up there now, so we dont think that there is any threat to future fires tonight, FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker said.

No injuries were reported. The exact cause of the fire is under investigation.

New York City is currently under a drought watch amid a historic stretch of days without significant rainfall.

NYC is under a fire risk Red Flag Warning due to dry conditions and strong winds, Mayor Eric Adams said Friday night. We urge all New Yorkers to stay vigilant and call 911 if they see a fire. Any fire that sparks will catch and spread quickly in these conditions.

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Earlier in the week, multiple brush fires broke out at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, underscoring the severity of the dry conditions.

Wildfires were also burning in five New Jersey counties on Friday as portions of the state experience some of the worst drought conditions in the country.

Finn Hoogensen is a digital journalist who has covered local news for more than five years. He has been with PIX11 News since 2022. See more of his work here.

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NEW YORK  A brush fire ignited in Prospect Park Friday evening, amid an ongoing drought across the city.

Fanned by strong winds, the fire rose to two alarms as the blaze spread across a 2-acre swath of the wooded area of the Nethermead near the center of the park around 6:40 p.m.

More than 100 firefighters, including special brush fire units, fought the fire for nearly three hours as FDNY drone operators sought out hot spots overhead.

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FDNY Deputy Chief Joe Duggan described the challenges firefighters faced operating in the dense, hilly area of the park at a press conference at the scene.

We got our equipment and folks into position in a hilly, dense brush condition  An extremely inaccessible area said Duggan. Conditions today are perfect for a brush fire.

Mayor Eric Adams joined FDNY officials at Prospect Park, where he praised a passerby who alerted authorities to the urban wildfire.

We were extremely lucky when the passerby saw something but also did something, said Adams. They notified FDNY and it was a quick response.

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The brush fire comes less than a week after the city issued a rare citywide drought watch in response to a historic dry spell.

Last month was the driest October on record, with the second-longest rainless streak in city records dating back to 1869, officials said.

The city was placed under a red flag warning due to a high risk of fire which caused numerous brush fires in New York last night along with a wildfire in New Jersey, according to Commissioner of Emergency Management Zachary Iscol.

Were asking New Yorkers: Dont throw cigarettes on the ground and making sure as the passerby did today youre recording any fires you see, Iscol told reporters at Prospect Park. This is the new normal of extreme weather. Its not something we were expecting but something we need to be prepared for.
BRYAN COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV)  The Bryan County Sheriffs Office (BCSO) is investigating a drowning that occurred in the Tivoli River.

The Bryan County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Diving Team was deployed and retrieved Spc. Carlito Lindsey, 26. Lindsey was from Hollandale, Mississippi, but was an active military member stationed at Fort Stewart.

Fort Stewart said he was a 3rd Infantry Division Soldier and utilities equipment repairer assigned to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd ID. Carlito served in the Army on active duty for 13 months at Fort Stewart and previously served in the National Guard for nearly eight years.

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His awards and decorations include an Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal and an Army Service Ribbon.

BCSO said that deputies were dispatched to the Tivoli Bridge in reference to an individual who could not swim but had entered into the water.

The BCSO said that their investigation into the drowning revealed that Lindsey and four other men were crab fishing. Lindsey had gone into the water to retrieve a trap and was caught in the sweeping current, according to the BCSO.

Fort Stewart said they are working closely with the police while they investigate the details surrounding the incident.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Police are looking for a burglar who broke into a vacant business in the airport area to access the bakery next door.

The thief was caught on camera last month inside the Laideal Bakery, located in the Plaza Mexico strip mall on Lamar Avenue.

Friday, MPD released photographs that show the masked and tattooed man trying to open the cash register. He managed to steal nearly $1,000.

Laideal Bakery burglary suspect(MPD)

According to the bakerys owner, the burglar broke through a wall to enter an empty storefront adjacent to Laideal Bakery and then forced open an adjoining door.

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He said all the cash from the days sales was taken during the burglary.

3900 block of Lamar Avenue. WREG photo.

Police said the suspect had distinctive tattoos on both arms and may frequent the area. If you recognize him, call CrimeStoppers at (901)528-CASH.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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BURKBURNETT (KFDX/KJTL)  As Thanksgiving approaches, many families begin purchasing the ingredients they need to prepare their holiday meals. However, some struggle to provide the traditional turkey and fixings expected for Thanksgiving dinner.

The students of Burkburnett Middle Schools National Junior Honor Society are hosting their second annual turkey drive on November 23 at the Burkburnett Softball Complex.

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This event provides Thanksgiving meals to people who otherwise may not be able to afford them. The students said that people should donate turkeys and side dishes to the cause, which will later be distributed to people while supplies last.

One student said this event benefits the community by allowing more people to share nice Thanksgiving meals with their families, and his favorite part about it was seeing and talking with the people he was helping.

Burkburnetts NJHS volunteers throughout the community and seeks to inspire service, community, scholarship and leadership in its student members.

The turkey drive will be held on Saturday, November 23, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at 511 Davey Drive in Burkburnett.

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LOS ANGELES (AP)  California Gov. Gavin Newsom has agreed to pay a fine for not reporting on time charitable donations that companies made on his behalf.

The Los Angeles Times reported Friday that the Democratic governor agreed to pay $13,000 in a settlement with the Fair Political Practices Commission.

State law requires elected officials to report donations made on their behalf within 30 days. Elected officials often ask companies to make these charitable donations, and the payments aren't subject to campaign contribution limits but are required to be reported out.

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The Commission said Newsom and his 2018 campaign committee didnt make donation reports on time on 18 occasions, sometimes filing them months late. Among them was one payment of more than $12 million from T-Mobile, the Times reported.

Newsoms campaign said some filings were late because it had to depend on third parties to track filing information. Nathan Click, a spokesperson for the governor, said Newsom has filed a thousand other such reports on time.
A Central California District Court has denied Sheins motions to dismiss allegations brought by creatives who accused the fast global fast-fashion conglomerate of ripping off their designs last year.

In a groundbreaking Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) suit filed in July 2023, Worcester, Mass.-based artist and designer Krista Perry, alongside Los Angeles, Calif. brand-owner Larissa Martinez and co-plaintiff Jay Barron alleged that entities including Shein Distribution Corporation (SDC), Roadget Business Pte., Ltd., and Zoetop Business Co., Ltd. infringed upon their trademarks and copyrights.

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RICO statutes are often used by prosecutors to freeze the assets of organized crime syndicates in cases of racketeeringmaking money off of illegal activities, often through the perpetuation of unlawful schemes.

Its unusual to see RICO invoked in a civil case. But according to the plaintiffs attorneys, Jeffrey Gluck and David Erikson, Shein has grown rich by committing individual infringements over and over again, as part of a long and continuous pattern of racketeering, which shows no sign of abating.

It is well established that egregious copyright infringement (of the type alleged here, and of the type referenced in other similar cases against Shein) constitutes racketeering, they said upon filing the suit.

More specifically, the plaintiffs claimed that the Shein defendants collectively produced, distributed and sold copies of their creative work, violating RICO statutes through the predicate acts of criminal copyright infringement and wire fraud. Predicate acts are defined as criminal offenses that are used to carry out more serious crimes, like racketeering.

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The American designers, artists and retail businesses argued that the Shein defendants used mail and interstate wires to deliver the infringing designs to users of Sheins mobile app and its website. They also alleged that the company used those channels to obfuscate or misrepresent Sheins corporate structure, making it impossible for complainants to identify the entity or entities responsible for boosting their designs.

Since the complaint was first filed, it was amended several times to include new plaintiffs Rachel Pfeffer, Dirt Bike Kidz Inc., EstelleJoyLynn, LLC, Jessica Louise Thompson Smith and Liv Lee. An amendment to the case also listed Shein business development and partnership lead and SDC president George Chiao as a defendant.

The Shein defendants pushed the California court to have the complaints dismissed, saying that the suit failed to sufficiently support the accusations that they worked together as a criminal enterprise, or that they willfully used copyright infringement and wire fraud as predicate acts.

Chiao asserted that the RICO claim against him fails because it doesnt provide plausible proof that he committed any predicate acts of racketeering or that he participated in a RICO enterprise.

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Presiding U.S. District Judge Mark C. Scarsi ultimately rejected the Shein defendants challenges to wire fraud as a predicate act, and said that the plaintiffs pleading gives rise to a reasonable inference that the Shein Defendants participated in a RICO enterprise.

The judge also denied Chiaos motion to have RICO charges against him dismissed, saying that the plaintiffs plausibly and particularly plead Chiao personally used the mail and wires to advance the fraudulent scheme at least twice.

However, Scarsi validated Chiaos claim that the lawsuit failed to connect him personally with the acts of trademark and copyright infringement based on his status as a corporate officer affiliated with Shein.

Whereas Chiaos conduct might support a fraudulent scheme to conceal or avoid liability for infringement across the Shein corporate ecosystem, Plaintiffs do not connect that conduct to the acts of infringement, he said, nor does the complaint raise a plausible inference that Chiao was the guiding spirit behind the wrongful conduct or the central figure in the challenged corporate activity, as it stated.

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But this was just the complainants initial crack at the Shein exec. Since this was Plaintiffs first attempt to plead the claims against Chiao, Chiao offers no reason why the Court should find amendment futile, Scarsi stated.

They are free to file an amended complaint within the next 14 days.

Jeff Gluck, an attorney for the plaintiffs said Saturday, Our landmark ruling against Shein firmly establishes clear precedent towards bringing an end to their alleged unlawful conduct and should provide some relief to the countless creators, who have allegedly had their work relentlessly infringed. What seems like every day, we receive inquiries from more artists and designers who have found their work allegedly copied and stolen by this platform. But this ruling will finally lead to enforcing major changes within this enterprise and its entire model.
Californians voted for some GOP-backed propositions and against some liberal ones.

They voted in favor of increased criminal penalties and seemed poised to reject a minimum wage hike.

Other blue states showed significant rightward movement on Election Day.

Even the bluest states in the US were not immune from a significant move to the right on Election Day

That was evident in California, the most populous US state, which has voted Democratic in every presidential election since 1988. Well-known for its liberal politics, California has often drawn the ire of Republican politicians and some pro-business billionaires such as Elon Musk. Musk moved Tesla to Texas in 2021 and said this year he would also move X and SpaceX out of California, citing laws that he said attack "families and companies."

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"Paradise Lost" is how Donald Trump, now president-elect, referred to California during a campaign stop in the Coachella Valley last month, adding: "Whether you're a Democrat, Republican or independent, this election is your chance to send a message to the world, the people of California are not going to take it any longer."

While Vice President Kamala Harris easily won California over Trump, a closer look at the numbers and votes at the state and local level tells a more nuanced story than the progressive reputation the Golden State has earned.

California voted for increased criminal penalties and against rent control

California overwhelmingly voted to increase penalties for certain drug and theft crimes despite Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's opposition to the measure, which he called a step back toward "mass incarceration." Around 70% voted in favor of the proposition as of Friday.

Voters also rejected a proposition giving local governments more power to enact rent control, with 61% voting against it. Landlords, realtors, and some pro-housing groups opposed the measure, but the California Democratic Party, tenant groups, and some unions supported it.

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Though the races had not been called as of Friday, voters in California seemed poised to reject two propositions supported by liberal groups: raising the state's minimum wage and outlawing forced labor in prisons.

California voters did, however, vote to enshrine a state constitutional right to marry regardless of sex or race and to issue bonds for natural resource conservation.

California voted in favor of a measure that would increase penalties for some drug and theft crimes. Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

Local races also suggested a move to the middle

Incumbent San Francisco Mayor London Breed lost reelection to Daniel Lurie, a moderate Democrat and political outsider. Lurie, heir to Levi Strauss, spent more than $8 million of his own money on his campaign.

Though Lurie is a Democrat, he received the support of some Republican groups in San Francisco who have criticized Breed's handling of crime, drug use, and homelessness in the city. The San Francisco Republican Party had Lurie and candidate Mark Farrell as their top picks for mayor.

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In Los Angeles County, voters rejected incumbent District Attorney George Gascon, a prosecutor known for being among the most progressive in the country. Gascon was elected in the wake of the 2020 racial justice protests.

Los Angeles voters instead elected former federal prosecutor Nathan Hochman, a former Republican who ran as an independent and has promised to roll back Gascon's policies, which he said made it difficult to combat crime.

Other signs California was turning more red

Before Election Day, there were some signs the state's electorate had shifted to the right. A survey by the Public Policy Institute of California said the number of registered Democrats this year was about the same as 2020, while the share of registered Republicans increased by a few hundred thousand.

Though the share of Californians switching parties from Democrat to Republican was small, the PPIC found it was most common among Black, Latino, and younger voters  all groups Trump picked up support with in other places as well.

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California is still tallying its votes, so exactly how much the presidential vote changed from 2020 to 2024 is unclear. As of Friday, with around 63% of the vote counted, it appeared some inland counties were poised to flip from blue to red.

Other blue states with a greater share of their vote counted as of Friday also showed a consistent trend to the right.

Harris easily won Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Maryland  but by significantly smaller margins than President Joe Biden won them by in 2020.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Ambassador Bridge has reopened after partially closing for almost five hours Saturday, with traffic into Canada being halted due to an "incident" with the Canadian Border Services Agency. The Detroit-to-Canada lanes of the bridge reopened to traffic around 3 p.m.

On X, formerly known as Twitter, Windsor police said their officers were on the scene, assisting border agents with an "ongoing investigation."

More: New credit card fee, lower MacPass costs: What to know about crossing the Mackinac Bridge

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In the same post on X, Windsor police noted that incoming traffic to Canada would be rerouted through the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel for an "indeterminate period," while traffic into the United States over the Ambassador Bridge will continue as usual.

Officials at the Canadian Border Services Agency could not be immediately reached for comment regarding the nature of the "incident."

Breaking news reporter Liam Rappleye can be reached at LRappleye@freepress.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ambassador Bridge closes for 'incident' at Canadian Border
Canada is bracing for an influx of migrants crossing the border from the US following Donald Trumps election win.

Since we saw Donald Trump was a candidate, we have started getting ready, Sergeant Charles Poirier of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police told The Telegraph.

We knew his stance [on migration] made during the campaign, and we have contingency plans to handle a rise in numbers.

What we dont know is whether it will be families, individuals or an influx like we saw in the past.

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The pinchpoint has been Roxham Road in Hemingford, Quebec, about 30 miles south of Montreal.

The road is bisected by the border with upstate New York.

Between 2016 and 2023, 140,000 people crossed into Canada via this route. It lies between two official crossings, one of which is only three miles away.

Deputy PM examines potential issues

Last year 39,000 people entered Quebec via unofficial crossings.

In Ottawa, the nations capital, Chrystia Freeland, the deputy prime minister, met to examine potential issues that could arrive between Canada and the incoming Trump administration, including that of migration.

We have a plan. Canadians need to know... our borders are safe and secure and we control them.

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Warnings over a potential influx come as Canada is slashing its own immigration targets.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus government has said it wants to slow population growth while it bolsters key infrastructure and social services.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault this week also expressed concerns about a large number of arrivals overwhelming his provinces already strained ability to house them.

Immediately following Trumps election win, online searches in the United States about moving to Canada jumped tenfold.

Google Trends pointed to search terms such as immigrate to Canada, Canada immigration process and how to move to Canada.

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The government estimates the processing of permanent residency applications can take up to one year, while projected wait times for refugee claims is 44 months.

Danger warning

Entering Canada between border checkpoints is illegal, and dangerous, especially in winter months, the RCMPs Sgt Poirier noted.

We understand the misery and fear that drives people to try to cross into Canada (through forests or fields or across lakes and rivers), but there are real dangers, he warned.

Its starting to get cold. Weve seen some tragedies in the past. People were severely frostbitten and had to have amputations. People also suffered severe hypothermia, Sgt Poirier said.

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Rule changes in 2023 have also made it harder for people coming from the United States to succeed in making asylum claims in Canada, and they would likely be returned to the United States.

Sgt Poirier said more boots on the ground are expected to be deployed along the worlds longest unmilitarised border in the coming days, as authorities expect migrants to start hitting the road soon, ahead of Trumps inauguration in January.

Additionally cameras, sensors and drones have already been set up along this 8,891 kilometres (5,525 miles) stretch, and information is being shared between Canada and the United States in real time, he added.

Despite months of planning, Sgt Poirier warned if thousands of migrants come all at once and cross at many border points it could become unmanageable.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Frank Heyl served 40 years in the Army Air Corp and Oregon National Guard. Bobbie Fallon was a physical therapist at the US Army hospital in Paris. Elton Denner put his college career on hold to join the Air Force.

Frank Heyl is 101. The World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veteran became hooked on flying from the moment his uncle, a Navy pilot, took him up in the air when he was just 11  90 years ago.

Bobbie Fallon is 102. The first lieutenant was a physical therapist at the Army hospital in Paris during World War II while her husband served in Oregons 41st Division in the Pacific. She was even in a photograph with then-Gen. Dwight Eisenhower (although it was what is now called a photobomb.)

Bobbie Fallon, shown on her 100th birthday in 2022 (Courtesy photo)

Army Lt. Bobbie Fallon is seen standing behind Gen. Dwight Eisenhower during World War II, undated (Courtesy photo)

Elton Denner is 100. He was 19 when he joined the military.

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I came home this one day from work and my draft papers were in the mailbox. I left from there and went back down to the Santa Ana air base and signed up, finalizing my entrance into the Air Force, Denner said.

He was an aerial witness to history on the day Japan surrendered.

(General Douglas) MacArthur took his (USS) Missouri right up to the dock and got off and did his surrender thing, and that was the end of it, he said. The end the war.

With Betty, his wife of 82 years still by his side, he said he was surprised to receive new recognition of his military career.

Elton Denner, 100, and his wife of 82 years, Betty Denner, at their Oregon home, 2024 (KOIN)

Its amazing, Betty said. After all of these years that everybody gets sort of excited about it and they should be. It was quite a time, quite a time for everybody. But we survived.

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These veterans and their stories, are being highlighted in an ongoing volunteer initiative called the VA Centenarian Project.

Retired Army Major Shaun Benson served in Afghanistan and later worked in Portlands VA Health Care system. As he neared retirement, he wanted a project and found inspiration through his family legacy.

I grew up in the military. My dad was an Army officer, served two tours in Vietnam as an artillery officer, and then my grandfather was in the Marine Corps during World War II in the Pacific, Benson said. My father and grandfather are no longer with us and just the history that I had the opportunity to see throughout my 30 years at the VA, we need to capture this information. We need to capture these stories before this Greatest Generation is no longer with us.

Frank Heyl, 101, was a Navy pilot during World War II. Hes seen with Retired Army Major Shaun Benson, 2024 (Courtesy photo)

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The VA Centenarian Project, he said, was started by one of my colleagues at the Denver VA.

Working with VA Medical Teams, Benson has tracked down dozens of local veterans in Oregon and Southwest Washington, many who served in World War II.

We include the families and we submit that information to VA headquarters, Secretary McDonoughs staff craft a letter for him to sign, and they send the letter back with a challenge coin, Benson said. And then we get to work with the families and the veteran to present the certificate of appreciation, thanking them for their service.

Each presentation is a chance to hear the stories behind the service record.

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I appreciate what the VA is doing, what they have done, what they are doing, and what they continuously do. And Im really proud of em, the job that they do, and I thank you, Elton Denner said.

The gratitude is mutual.

The opportunity to give back to these men and women who have served has been one of the great experiences of my life, Benson said.

Air Force veteran Elton Denner, 100, in 2024 (KOIN)

And Elton Denner knows there is importance and meaning beyond today.

Particularly in this day and age, the history of our country, what were going through, what were going to have to go through before its ever resolved, he said. Historically, its important.

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BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  Students and staff spent all day raking and tidying the panthers habitats in honor of the high schools Panther Day.

Bear Creek Feline Center is home to two Florida panthers, Marilyn, and Saint, who watched cat-fully as the volunteers worked to clean their homes.

Bear Creek staff say bringing students in helps teach them about the animals on a more paws-on level.

Fall for arts and crafts at the Fall Fling

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I am a tactile learner, so I touch everything and I want the students to have that experience. In my opinion, you can learn better if you taste it, smell it, see it, touch it. I mean, use your senses for our animals in the wild and in captivity, Education Adventure Director Bertie Broaddus said.

While the students get to learn more about the animals, they also get to learn important life lessons. The idea to bring students to the sanctuary came after Central High School received the Pathways grant.

It is a way to some funding that helps students who have dealt with trauma provide community service. And find self-worth and empathy for others. I thought this would be a perfect place for me to put that grant to use because now theyre helping animals that are in that same situation that, you know are the ones that nobody wanted. These are the animals that people couldnt take care of and now the kids are coming here to help take care of them, Central High School Principal Jeremy Knapp said.

Bear Creek staff say the extra help is claw-some for the cats.

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Students faced minor injuries following Franklin County school bus accident

That really stimulates the cat because theres been people in their houses, in their playgrounds, and so they go out all sniffing and trying to figure (it) out, Knapp said.

Bear Creek Feline Center can always use volunteers. To apply to become a volunteer, click here.

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA)  A Champaign veteran, and current Circle K employee, is partnering up with The Salvation Army to help heroes this Veterans Day.

On Monday from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., The Salvation Army on N. Market St. will host their first hiring and housing event. The event is geared towards helping homeless veterans across Central Illinois find a home and employment before the winter.

Veterans Day deals for active-duty military members, veterans

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They can get information about these opportunities, along with a free haircut from Crucial Cuts.

Army veteran Brandon Harrold launched the event to help struggling veterans get back on their feet.

[Its] just important to me to get them employed. It can be hard when you get out of service, Harold said. Your skills and your jobs dont necessarily transfer over to the civilian world, and there are 22 veterans who end their own lives every day in the United States. So hopefully, maybe something I do can lower that number a little bit.

Attendees will also get a free cell phone and a free lunch. Harrold said Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD) and the Manpower employment agency will be in attendance.

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CHARLESTON, Ark.  The Arkansas Board of Corrections voted Friday to approve a prison in Charleston, and their final decision is unsettling to many who live there like Dalton Moore.

Im not happy with it, Moore said. I think its definitely going to cause the property values to decrease when they do get it built, and its going to make Charleston less appealing.

New prison coming to Charleston pushing residents to speak out

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State leaders said the 3,000-bed facility will bring an economic boost to the area, but Moore said it should have been the citys choice to make, not the state government.

Our government here in Arkansas should have been more transparent with the community and let them know that it was a decision to be made, Moore said.

Arkansas Board of Corrections votes on land to build prison in Charleston

Safety and aesthetics were also a big concern especially for people who live by the prison site near Mill Creek Mountain.

Despite the news, resident Travis Slaughter said he is choosing to stay optimistic.

Arkansas officials announce land purchase to build new prison in Charleston

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Its going to be four to five years down the road before the prison is built, so a lot of things can happen, Slaughter said.

He said he bought his property in Charleston four years ago and plans to stay hoping others in the city also remain resilient.

Lets just let them run and see what they can do and then we carry the ball and try to do everything we can to stop it, Slaughter said.

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ChatGPT rejected over 250,000 AI image requests in the month leading up to Election Day according to a Friday blog post from OpenAI.

Users tried to generate photos of President-elect Trump, Vice President Harris, Vice President-elect Vance, President Biden and Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minn.)

Weve applied safety measures to ChatGPT to refuse requests to generate images of real people, including politicians, the company wrote. These guardrails are especially important in an elections context and are a key part of our broader efforts to prevent our tools being used for deceptive or harmful purposes.

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Instead, ChaptGPT directed election related questions to CanIVote.org through a partnership with the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) in an effort to remain politically neutral.

The platform is directing inquiries about the election results to news outlets like the Associated Press and Reuters. In recent weeks, OpenAI had to ban a foreign influence operation known as Storm-2035 which was pushing out influential Iranian political content.

The company said it will continue to monitor ChatGPT to ensure responses are accurate and ethical. This year, the company applauded the Biden administrations efforts to outline policy regarding national security and AI technology.

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  Cherokee National Forest will be getting a portion of the $43 million that the U.S. Department of Transportation has sent to repair damages in national forests and a national park caused by Hurricane Helene.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, the $43 million in Emergency Relief funds are immediately available through the quick release process for use by part of the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service. The money is in addition to the $144 million sent to North Carolina, Tennessee, and South Carolina, to quickly repair and reopen hurricane-damaged infrastructure

FEMA extends flooding assistance deadline for East Tennesseans through early 2025

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The damage caused by Hurricane Helenes heavy rains, strong winds, and flooding is so extensive that emergency vehicles and utility crews cannot make their way into the national forests and national parks to make essential repairs, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The emergency funding were sending will help the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service make repairs to vital transportation networks in four impacted states where roads are currently impassable and reopen these roadways as quickly as possible.

Of the $43 million in Emergency Relief funds, $25 million has been given to the National Park Service to help with emergency repairs to the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. While parts of the parkway have reopened, significant parts still remain closed. The Federal Highway Administration said the funding will assist in the reopening of damaged sections, and ultimately help to restore tourism.

The remainder of the funds are being used by the U.S. Forest Service to reopen and reestablish roads and bridges in national forests in North and South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The breakdown of those funds will be:

$5.1 million for emergency repairs in the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests in North Carolina

$1.25 million in emergency repairs in Francis Marion and Sumter national forests in South Carolina

$5.25 million for emergency repairs in Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee

$6.4 million for emergency repairs in George Washington and Jefferson national forests in Virginia

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One person in custody after fire destroys part of a Blount County RV park

The Federal Highway Administration said additional funds needed to repair the damage across the four states, which is currently estimated to be more than $1 billion, will be supported by the Emergency Relief program through nationwide funding allocations.

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CHICAGO  Billy Lawless, Irelands first Senator to be based overseas and the man behind a successful Chicago restaurant group, has died. He was 73.

It is with profound sadness that I share the passing of my Dad  my friend, partner, and fun nemesis, Billys son wrote on the Facebook page for The Gage, one of the restaurants his father launched. I miss him with all my heart.

According to the news organization Irish Central, Lawless grew up on a dairy farm. He sold it in the 70s and found success in the hospitality business. He emigrated to the United States on an investors visa in 1998 after after his daughter won a rowing scholarship to Boston University. He and his wife, Anne, became US citizens in 2014.

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In the early 2000s, Lawless began his advocacy work for immigrants, eventually working with the Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights. At the same time, he established Chicagos Gage Hospitality Group, which now includes four restaurants: Acanto, Coda Di Volpe, The Dawson, and The Gage.

He was appointed by Taoiseach Enda Kenny as Irelands first-ever emigrant Senator in May 2016 and remained in the role for four years. Lawless worked on behalf of the Irish abroad and championed the rights of emigrants everywhere.

No one was a stronger advocate for the Irish diaspora and broader immigration reform than Billy, Sen. Dick Durbin said in a post on X.

Current Taoiseach Simon Harris remembered Lawless as a gentleman to his core.

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Billy Lawless will be greatly missed, President Michael D. Higgins said in a statement. I hope that the deep affection in which he was held by the Irish community in the Chicago area, and across the US as well as in Galway, will be some consolation to his family and to all who knew him.

The Lawless Family released the following statement on Friday:

Today, we say goodbye to our beloved father, Billy Lawlessa remarkable man, a true visionary, and the patriarch of our family. His journey from Ireland to Chicago was one of dedication and deep love for the communities he served. His loyalty to the communities in Galway & Chicago never wavered. He was proud to represent the Irish community every chance he had. His term as an Irish Senator was one of the things he was most proud of because it gave him the opportunity to fight for what was right, especially focusing on immigration reform legislation. Our passion for people stems from his guidance, and every day, we strive to carry forward his spirit and values. Thank you for all of the kind messages & notes, stories about dad & the outpouring of love our family has received today. To conclude, Thank you, Dad, for teaching us what it means to lead with kindness and integrity. We will miss you deeply and will honor your memory always.

A Book of Condolence will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Consulate General of Ireland from Monday through Wednesday. The consulate is located at 1 East Wacker Drive, Suite 1820 in Chicago.

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MIAMI, Okla.  A Fairland woman facing multiple sexual-related child abuse charges in Delaware and Ottawa County is having her cases consolidated into one county, District Attorney Doug Pewitt said Friday.

Shelly Douthit-Delcour, 43, of Fairland, appeared in Ottawa County District Court on Nov. 5 where she saw her two charges of procuring, producing, distributing and possession of juvenile pornography, child neglect and failure to report child abuse were dropped in the interest of justice.

Shes not free, Pewitt said. Her cases were consolidated, and she will be tried in Delaware County.

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Not only will Delcour, a former daycare worker, face her Ottawa County charges, but she also is charged in Delaware County District Cort with enabling child sexual abuse in connection to her extramarital relationship with Bruce Bandy, Jr., 45, of Jay.

Bandy was convicted on three counts of child sexual abuse in Delaware County and is serving a life sentence. He confessed to sexually abusing several children under the age of two while Delcour was present.

In addition to Delcour not stopping Bandy, she is accused of taking pornographic photographs of toddlers and sending them to Bandy. Authorities confirmed none of the children in the daycare where she worked were featured in the photos.

She is currently being held in the Delaware County jail.

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Bandy and Delcour were married to other people when they began a sexual relationship. The pair met on an adult website geared toward deviant sexual practices, such as pedophilia, bestiality, and child pornography, according to the 20-page arrest affidavit.

Two of Delcours three children were fathered by Bandy to have a pedophiliac family, according to the affidavit. Delcour told investigators Bandy wanted to have children so that he could sexually abuse them, the affidavit states.

A former Department of Human Services child protective services worker testified in an earlier court hearing, Declour said, Bandy was into porn  daddy/daughter and daddy/son and bestiality.

He (Bandy) told me he always wanted a little girl, that he wanted to have sex with and make her pregnant, and so that way he could end up having a sexual family, Delcour told investigators.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to contact Delaware County Childrens Special Advocacy Network at (918) 253-4539 or the Childrens Advocacy Center of Ottawa County at (918) 540-1621 if they suspect any child is a victim of abuse.

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The Democratic Progressive Party authorities in Taiwan have recently imposed a ban on the import of Huang Fei Hong, a popular spicy crispy peanut snack from the Chinese mainland, which was criticized by the mainland as political manipulation.

The Taipei 101 skyscraper commands the urban landscape in Taipei, Taiwan. [Photo/Xinhua]



Produced in Yantai, Shandong province, the peanut snack is made from peanuts from Shandong, chili peppers from Hebei province, and peppercorns and prickly ash from Sichuan province and Chongqing, offering a distinctive flavor.

Due to the cultural and taste similarities between the two sides, the snack has also gained popularity among many Taiwan residents, often being brought back as a souvenir by individuals returning from the mainland.

Taiwan's DPP authorities recently claimed that their decision to prohibit the sale and import of this peanut snack in the island was to protect local industries. The move has left many Taiwan people puzzled, with some netizens posting photos jokingly indicating they are "secretly enjoying" the snack.

The primary reason for the DPP to put the ban on this snack is its mainland origin, said Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, adding that "the DPP's relentless political manipulation has reached a point where they cannot even tolerate a small peanut."

She said efforts were made to assist Taiwan agricultural products in entering the mainland market, benefiting Taiwan farmers, but in contrast, the DPP restricted over 1,000 mainland agricultural products from entering Taiwan, disrupting normal agricultural trade.

As cross-Strait exchanges continue to expand, an increasing number of mainland snacks, including spicy peanuts, snail rice noodles, konjac jelly and cooked fish with pickled cabbage and chili, are gaining popularity in Taiwan, sparking a mainland food craze on the island.

At the Wutong Passenger Terminal in Xiamen, Fujian, where tourists travel between Xiamen and Jinmen, shelves in specialty stores are stocked with Taiwan visitors' favorites. A Taiwan passenger surnamed Hsu packed three boxes of konjac jelly taking the boat back to the island, saying, "I bought these for my granddaughter who is in sixth grade; she loves them, and they are very popular in Taiwan."

"Walnuts, shiitake mushrooms and morel mushrooms are rarely found in Taiwan. We like to buy this kind of stuff," said another passenger surnamed Lin from Kaohsiung taking the ship route, adding that she has high expectations for cross-Strait communication.

Hou Chia-wen, a college student from Taiwan, brought many popular snacks in Taiwan since her childhood to share with her mainland peers while joining an exchange activity for young people from both sides this summer.

Discovering the mainland college students she met have enjoyed similar snacks, she said, "It turns out there are others like me who shared similar childhood experiences!"

Zhu said the food trend underscores the shared customs, culture and culinary preferences between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.

She said the mainland will enrich the snack options available to residents of Taiwan and welcomes more Taiwan visitors to explore more snacks, and further enhance cross-Strait cultural exchanges.
ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (KRQE)  A decades-long battle to move chimps from a former research facility here in New Mexico to a sanctuary in Louisiana has finally come to an end. Weve been waiting for a long time, said Gene Grant, Chief Program & Policy Officer for Animal Protection New Mexico (APNM). I mean, a long time, multiple decades for this word.

Story continues below

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For years, dozens of chimps have lived in federal primate facilities across the southwest formerly used for biomedical research; and one of those is in New Mexico, the Alamogordo Primate Facility (APF), located on Holloman Airforce Base.

Most of the chimps are old and have some form of chronic health condition including diabetes, breathing issues, and heart problems. For more than a decade, animal advocates have argued that the Alamogordo location is not a proper home for the chimps. But with a recent announcement from the federal government, those chimps will soon be moving to the Chimp Haven sanctuary in Keithville, Louisiana. We strongly believe that a life at the sanctuary is the best place for retired chimpanzees, and we look forward to their arrival, said Rana Smith, President and CEO of Chimp Haven.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the federal government plans on moving the animals by sometime early 2025. They said the remaining 24 chimps at the Alamogordo facility will be medically evaluated to see if they can handle the move- as the relocation process is a major stressor for them. The announcement comes as many of the chimps caretakers plan to retire next year, and the specialized skillset needed for those jobs makes it difficult to hire new people.

We know that the chimpanzees in Alamogordo have a compromised health state, so we want to be extra careful and our teams of experts at Chimp Haven will take all kinds of precautions just to make sure we transfer those chimps safely, Smith explained.

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Though animal advocates are excited about the announcement, theyre still remaining cautious. Wed love to see an aggressive timeline because, honestly, what happens is the longer we wait, the more danger there is of a chimp passing, Grant said. Weve had this happen in the past.

APNM said theyre grateful for all the support theyve received from New Mexicans and lawmakers in pressuring the federal government to move the chimps.

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Xpeng has recently unveiled a gas-powered range extender called the Kunpeng Super Electric System.

The company's extended-range EV powertrain offers up to 267 miles (430 km) on electric alone, and up to 869 miles (1,400 km) when using both the battery and gas.

Although China's range estimates tend to be optimistic compared to US figures, its an impressive range, Inside EVs reported.

By adding an internal combustion engine as a range extender, hybrids offer a practical solution for areas with unreliable charging, especially in remote regions. This makes hybrid models more accessible for people who might otherwise hesitate to switch from traditional cars.

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Thus, Xpeng is using a full-sized EV battery, unlike Mazda, which reduced the MX-30 EVs battery capacity by half for its range-extender version.

Long-range appeal with big battery and AI enhancements

Xpengs range extenders combine a large battery with the convenience of quick refueling, likely boosting their appeal. Xpeng also plans to add an AI Battery Doctor to extend battery life by up to 30%, with all AI functions managed by a 40-core processor that powers Level 4-capable autonomous driving systems.

Xpeng highlights its rapid charging capability of up to 960 kW, providing about 1 km of range per second. With a compatible water-cooled charger, the car can reach 80% charge in around 12 minutes, thanks to its 800-volt system. The Chinese company also plans to produce charging stations to support this speed.

Xpeng claims that when the range extenders engine activates, passengers wont notice, as it only raises interior noise by one decibel. The main downside could be cost, as adding a combustion powertrain might make Xpengs cars more expensive to produce.

Pivot to hybrids may help bypass new EU tariffs on Chinese EVs

Xpeng, which up until now was known for electric-only vehicles, may be shifting to hybrids to avoid new EU tariffs on Chinese-made EVs. The 21.3% tariff applies to fully electric vehicles, but hybrid models are exempt, which could give Xpeng a way around these fees if it can classify its cars as hybrids.

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Furthermore, Xpengs founder, He Xiaopeng, pointed out the widespread issue of underdeveloped power infrastructure. To address this, Xpengs extended-range hybrid is designed with flexible charging solutions to meet the needs of various markets.

However, Xpeng has not yet announced when vehicles with this system will be available. This strategy aligns with other Chinese manufacturers like Li Auto, which focuses on extended-range EVs, and Nio, which plans to launch its first hybrid vehicle in 2026 under the Firefly sub-brand, targeting markets outside of China, mainly Europe and the Middle East.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bVjC7bSTw0&t=1s

The trend is also seen in battery manufacturer CATL, which recently launched a battery designed for extended-range hybrids, indicating growing demand for these solutions. Chinese automotive experts have also noted that the technology could offer cost benefits as China and Europe deal with charging infrastructure limitations.
The Chinese military increased flights near Taiwan by 300 percent in the last five months, Gen. Kevin Schneider, commander of the U.S. Air Forces in the Indo-Pacific Command, told NBC News in an exclusive interview on Friday.

Whether its coming into the air defense identification zone or crossing the center line within the Taiwan Strait, since the inauguration we have seen a 300% increase in those air activities, Schneider said, as reported by NBC News.

Schneider said that the Peoples Libertarian Air Force activities have increased dramatically since the inauguration of Taiwans president, Lai Ching-te, in May, NBC News reported.

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This comes as Taiwan said an invasion from China is a serious possibility, including concern about a possible invasion in 2027, but whether China will carry out an attack remains unclear. Chinese President Xi Jinping has told his forces to be ready for a potential attack  but it does not mean it will happen then.

According to figures from Taiwans Ministry of National Defense, which NBC News compiled, China violated Taiwans air defense zone more than 330 times from May 2023 to November 2023. From May 2024 to November 2024, China did the same thing at least 1,085 times, according to NBC News.

Schneider, who oversees more than 40,000 airmen in Japan, South Korea, Hawaii, Alaska and Guam, said that the biggest challenge he faces comes from Beijing, as reported by NBC News.

Its the behaviors that have gone along with that, he said, as highlighted by NBC News, its the bullying, the aggressiveness.

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The Hill has contacted the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C.

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(KTLA)  A Chinese chemical company, its director, and three senior employees have been indicted on charges of manufacturing and distributing fentanyl precursors and xylazine, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.

The company, Hubei Aoks Bio-Tech Co. Ltd., is based in Wuhan, China, and is accused of fueling the fentanyl crisis in the United States.

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The 13-count federal grand jury indictment charges the company with multiple offenses, including conspiracy to manufacture and distribute fentanyl and the introduction of misbranded drugs into interstate commerce.

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Its alleged that from November 2016 to November 2023, Hubei Aoks sold significant amounts of fentanyl precursors to customers in the United States.

These chemicals were often mislabeled and imported as items such as furniture parts and makeup to evade detection. Some of the shipments were intercepted by U.S. agents, who were posing as buyers.

The company is also accused of selling xylazine, an animal sedative commonly referred to as tranq, which has saturated the streets of Los Angeles and is known for its effect of causing flesh to rot. Those properties have led to law enforcement dubbing xylazine a flesh-eating zombie drug.

A volunteer registered nurse treats the skin wounds of a user of xylazine in Philadelphia on May 24, 2023. (AP Photo)

Four individuals tied to Hubei Aoks, including the companys sole director, Xuening Gao, 38, and senior employees Guangzhao Gao, 36, Yajing Li, 30, and an employee identified as Jessie Lee, have also been named in the indictment.

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The Ministry of Public Security in China arrested the defendants and dissolved the company following a parallel investigation, the DOJ said.

This indictment alleges a corporation, its director and sales manager reaped financial benefits by knowingly exporting materials that helped fuel the fentanyl crisis in our nation, said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. Synthetic drugs such as fentanyl have wreaked devastation in our country, and it is therefore critical that we hold accountable those behind this crisis.

If convicted, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the IRS Criminal Investigation, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, among others.

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With Donald Trumps victory at the polls, some Christian extremists are celebrating what they see as a rare opportunity to take up roles inside government institutions and manipulate them  if not outright destroy them  after Trump takes office.

Several notable Christian nationalist figures arent hiding their excitement over the potential to impose their will on the nation. In October, Trump told an allied Christian group in Georgia that the more powerful you become, the better the country is going to be. And he told evangelical Christian broadcasters in February that they would experience power at a level that youve never used before if he were elected  a disturbing claim when you consider the history of bigots using Christianity to justify all kinds of injustices, up to and including slavery.

NBC News reported Thursday that several Christian nationalist leaders were elated after Trumps win, including Lance Wallnau and Dutch Sheets (a person, not a brand of bed linens). Wallnau is a far-right Christian leader who told his followers that Trump is a divine tool being used by God and that Vice President Kamala Harris represents the spirit of Jezebel in a way that will be even more ominous than Hillary [Clinton] because shell bring a racial component, and shes younger. Vice President-elect JD Vance attended one of his events in September.

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On an election night livestream, Wallnau claimed Trumps win provides an opening for Christians to tear down the gates of Hell in government:

Weve got one administration, one four-year period to do it, Wallnau proclaimed. The church is going through a reconfiguration right now, Wallnau added. Revival is for us; reformation is for the institutions. We have to have revived believers, strong and connected as an ekklesia [a term derived from the Greek for congregation], to go where the gates of hell are located in the DOJ, in the government, in the IRS. I know its a daunting task. It sounds crazy, but thats exactly what the believers had to do. They had to go up against giants. We have to see these strongholds come down. Gods giving us a chance to see it happen.

Sheets, a far-right Christian leader who attended a Trump White House conference for faith leaders, has openly called for an end to the separation of church and state. According to NBC News:

Sheets told his followers that Trumps victory would help usher in what he called a Third Great Awakening  what he and other believers say will be a global revival of fervent Christian faith around the world. The reformation will take some time, but we will get there, Sheets said. And Trump is a necessary part of this reformation.

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(NBC News reached out for comment to Sheets and Wallnau, who did not immediately respond.)

Christian nationalist leader Joel Webbon  who has called for an end to womens voting rights and said his wife isnt allowed to read certain books without his permission  is hyped about Trumps return to the White House, as well. After Trump's win, Webbon shared a manifesto he edited about the need to reshape the U.S. as an explicitly Christian nation. The manifesto claims the Church is to instruct civil authorities regarding their identity and duties.

Christian nationalists have found their MAGA messiah, and they see Trump as the vehicle to implement their worldview. For deeper background on this strain of extremism, watch Joy Reids Project 2025: Exposed report from July on the ways Christian nationalists are prepared to wield control in a second Trump term:

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
CNBCs Joe Kernen sparred with Anthony Scaramucci on Friday after the former White House communications director knocked Donald Trump, his onetime boss, for using threatening rhetoric about political foes.

On CNBCs Squawk Box, Scaramucci  who had just a dayslong stint in Trumps White House in 2017  said he didnt like the coarseness displayed by Trumps successful 2024 presidential campaign.

Kernen responded by saying that the rhetoric got heated everywhere and that Scaramucci himself got pretty heated on occasion, a claim that seemingly baffled the frequent Trump critic.

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How did I get heated? What did I say, Joe? Scaramucci asked.

Anthony, you have had an utter disdain for Trump. Youll always be welcome at the table of legacy media and have people nodding as you trash Trump, Kernen told him.

But arent you the slightest bit embarrassed or at least humbled about how wrong you were about the feeling of most Americans? Kernen asked, pointing to Scaramucci enthusiastically supporting a candidate who a majority of people did not want in the Oval Office.

Scaramucci previously backed the 2020 presidential campaign of Democrat Joe Biden  who has seen low favorability ratings this year  and recently supported Vice President Kamala Harris failed bid to succeed him.

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Kernen described Harris policies as anathema to what Scaramucci, a Republican, has believed his whole life.

Do you ever eat any crow? Not even a little crow wing, like a little capon? he said.

Later in his CNBC appearance, Scaramucci sarcastically asked if Kernen wanted him to get on bended knee and said that they have a violent disagreement on Trumps personality.

You like Trump, Scaramucci said. I got to see the ugliest of what he is.

Hes been very good for your career, Kernen interjected. Youre here, are you not? And youre going to be welcome anywhere you want to go.

Related...
Political commentator and CNN contributor Ana Navarro has suggested that tech bro Elon Musk was acting as Donald Trumps First Lady after she spotted him in a photo in which Melania Trump was missing.

In a panel on CNNs AC360, Navarro said she had also found it a little weird that Elon Musk was present on a call between President-elect Trump and Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Elon Musk seems to be everywhere at all times. Hes like, secretary of everything, and at the same time, hes like First Lady, she said. The other day I saw this picture of him. It was a picture of Trump with his entire family except Melania, but Elon Musk was there. And now you hear about this.

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The reference was made to a picture of the whole squad posted online by Kai Trump, Donalds teenage granddaughter. While several members of the Trump family were in the pictureas well as MuskMelania Trump was suspiciously missing.

Navarro also raised her concerns about Musks power and influence over the incoming Trump administration despite being the billionaire owner of Tesla, Starlink and SpaceX.

Theres obviously also conflicts of interest. This is somebody who has contracts with the Department of Defense. This is somebody who has Starlink thats a big part of whats going on in Ukraine.

Musk has already played a major geopolitical role during the conflict in Ukraine.

CNN commentator Ana Navarro calls Elon Musk the First Lady and says Its weird that Elon Musk was on a call with Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.



I think its a little weird, right? I mean, Elon Musk seems to be everywhere at all times. Hes like, secretary of pic.twitter.com/zLCFAUtGLQ  RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) November 9, 2024

He was at the center of a scandal last year when it was revealed that he thwarted a Ukrainian attack on Russias naval fleet in Crimea in 2022 over not enabling the Starlink satellite connection. Musk blamed the lack of connection on sanctions against Crimea, with the government failing to give him approval to turn it on.

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Navarro was responding to remarks made by Republican political strategist Scott Jennings, who was asked by CNN host Anderson Cooper what he made of reports that Musk joined Trump on the call.

That doesnt surprise me at all, he said. Of course, Donald Trump can put anyone on the phone that he wants. I mean, I assume a lot of these calls are congratulatory in nature. So, as further, more policy-driven calls take place, I would expect there to be other policy and administration officials or designated officials on the calls.

But at some juncture, Trump won, and hes got a cadre of advisers thats obviously gonna include Elon Musk. And so, I dont think anybody should be surprised by this or alarmed by it either way.
CNN commentator Ana Navarro suggested that Elon Musk was taking over the title of First Lady from Melania Trump after he appeared in a recent Trump family photo instead of her.

Speaking on a panel on Friday, Navarro referenced a picture of the Trump family following the president-elects sweeping victory in the 2024 race against Harris. Most family members were present, but Melania was conspicuously absent.

Musk, however, was standing at the front right of the picture.

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It comes following reports that the billionaire tech entrepreneur joined a call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday  the details of which are unclear.

I think its a little weird, right? said Navarro. I mean, Elon Musk seems to be everywhere at all times. Hes like Secretary of Everything, and at the same time, hes like the First Lady.

She continued: The other day, I saw this picture of him. It was a picture of Trump with his entire family, except Melania, but Elon Musk was there.

Theres obviously also conflicts of interest. This is somebody who has contracts with the Department of Defense. This is somebody who has Starlink. Thats a big part of whats going on in Ukraine.

Elon Musk appeared in a Trump family photo taken shortly after Donald Trumps sweeping victory  but Melania was absent (KaiTrumpGolf/X)

I find that a little weird, but as Scott [Jennings] said, they won. He gets to do whatever he wants. And if he wants Elon everywhere all the time, thats whats going to happen.

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Despite her absence from the family victory photo, Melania did come out in support of her husband following his win, posting on X about the former first couples return to the White House.

The majority of Americans have entrusted us with this important responsibility. We will safeguard the heart of our republic  freedom, she wrote.

I anticipate the citizens of our nation rejoining in commitment to each other and rising above ideology for the sake of individual liberty, economic prosperity, and security. American energy, skill, and initiative will bring together our best minds to propel our nation forward forevermore.

Since the election victory on Tuesday, Musk has leaned into the role of one of Trumps biggest cheerleaders. Musk is seen with Trump at a campaign rally in Butler (Getty Images)

For his part, Musk has continued to ramp up his frenzied posting on X  the social media platform which he owns  and has leaned into his role as one of Trumps biggest cheerleaders.

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His inclusion on the call with Zelensky on Friday potentially reveals how highly Trump values him, and foreshadows a possible role in his administration.

Musk also weighed in to say he will continue supporting Ukraine through his Starlink satellites  that have become pivotal to Ukrainian forces communications on the frontline. The billionaire had previously mocked Zelensky on social media for his attempts to fundraise for his nations war effort.
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO)  Jon Hansen of Dell Rapids reportedly has been chosen by South Dakota House Republicans in a private vote on Friday night as the chambers speaker for the 2025-26 session.

Hansen succeeds Hugh Bartels of Watertown, who had defeated him two years ago. Bartels was term-limited and couldnt run again.

THC drinks becoming more common in Sioux Falls

The speaker serves as presiding officer of the House and decides where representatives sit, which committees they serve on and which committee hears each piece of legislation.

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Hansen had been speaker pro tem, the chambers No. 2 presiding officer during the 2021-22 term. Traditionally the speaker pro tem ascends to speaker during the following term if re-elected. But Bartels interrupted that tradition.

On Friday night, Hansen finished ahead of Mike Stevens of Yankton, who was speaker pro tem during the 2023-24 term.

Scott Odenbach of Spearfish reportedly was chosen by South Dakota House Republicans as their new majority leader for the 2025-26 term Friday night. He succeeds Will Mortenson of Fort Pierre.

Hansen and Odenbach opposed SB201, the CO2 pipeline legislation that the South Dakota Legislature passed and Governor Kristi Noem signed. Opponents however referred the pending law to a statewide vote. On Tuesday, voters rejected it, with 59% saying no.

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Karr chosen as Senates new president pro tem

Odenbachs Liberty Tree PAC donated money to dozens of Republican legislative candidates who opposed SB201. Fourteen Republican incumbents lost in the June primaries, in part because many of them had voted to pass SB201.

Karla Lems of Canton, another SB201 opponent, was chosen by South Dakota House Republicans as speaker pro tem in the private vote, and Marty Overweg of New Holland, also a SB201 opponent, was picked as assistant majority leader.

Hansen, an ardent opponent of abortion, also helped lead the fight against Amendment G that would have added abortion rights to the South Dakota Constitution. Voters on Tuesday rejected Amendment G, with 59% saying no.

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COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  Columbus Technical College is honoring veterans at its annual Veterans Day Program on Monday, Nov. 11.

The event is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. in the Patrick Hall Auditorium on campus. It is free and open to the public.

This event is an important opportunity for our community to express our deepest gratitude and to reflect on the significance of service, says Martha Ann Todd, president of Columbus Tech.

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There will also be a luncheon following the program, according to the school.

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Major Nigerian company Oando's latest oil spill in the state of Bayelsa has turned drinking water into a toxic threat, disrupting the lives of the residents in the area.

What's happening?

As reported by The Southern Examiner, an oil spill from Oando PLC's pipeline is hurting local communities in Nigeria and coating rivers with toxic oil. This isn't an isolated incident  it's the second spill in just two months, hitting the Ogboinbiri/Tebidaba pipeline. Residents in affected areas report seeing thick layers of oil contaminating the water they depend on, with some unable to access clean drinking water. The spill is also killing fish and coating plants with a layer of oil, hurting the wildlife, too.

"Crude oil is flowing through my paternal community, Ukubie, in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. Anyone can see the thickness, and is destroying aquatic lives and our means of livelihood. We don't have potable water in this community," said Timi-ikio Enewari, a resident of a downstream community, per The Southern Examiner.

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People in Ogboinbiri and Keme-ebiama are now pleading for help, saying that the oil company has ignored previous complaints. Many of these residents are fishermen and farmers who rely on the river not just for water but also for food and income. With their primary resources heavily contaminated, locals are calling on authorities to step in and hold the company accountable before the situation worsens.

Why is the oil spill important?

Oil spills like this aren't just messy; they're life-threatening. Crude oil in drinking water can cause a range of health issues, from skin rashes to severe illnesses, even cancer over long-term exposure. For people who bathe in or drink from these waters daily, the risks are high. Additionally, the spill is killing fish populations and damaging farmlands where crops like cassava and plantain are grown, creating food insecurity and forcing families into even deeper poverty.

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Beyond immediate health and economic impacts, these spills highlight a bigger issue: the lack of accountability and infrastructure to prevent environmental disasters in Nigeria's oil-producing regions. Local leaders are voicing frustration over repeated spills, saying that contaminated water and devastated farms have become too common.

What's being done about oil spills?

Environmental groups like Environmental Defenders Network are taking action, urging Oando to clean up the spill and calling on the government to enforce stricter regulations on oil operations. EDEN has also advised communities to use bamboo barriers to slow the oil spread, providing a temporary fix.

Community leaders are appealing for emergency aid, requesting essentials like clean water, food, and medical supplies to help those affected. The spill has also sparked renewed calls for Nigeria's National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency to enforce penalties on polluters and conduct more thorough investigations.

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.
Butler High School security associate Robert Aponte was diagnosed with prostate cancer last month and now former and current students are rallying behind him.

You go through your own personal battles, and hes there for you no matter what, said former student Camila Uriarte. Check in on you every single day.

Aponte said the diagnosis was the last thing he wanted to hear.

Never wouldve thought it would be me, Aponte said.

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Its just been my place: The legacy left by champion-making football coach

Cancer is just half the battle hes facing. He needs a High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound procedure however, his insurance doesnt cover it.

Its FDA-approved, but here in the United States, is not covered by conventional insurance, he told Channel 9. So, with that, were trying to raise the money on ourselves.

His wife started a GoFundMe to help with the financial burden.

The support is more than just monetary donations, which gets Aponte emotional.

Theres been a lot of lot of messages that Ive received, Aponte said. Some of them, I start reading them, I cant finish reading them.

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Those simple reminders can do so much for a person, Uriarte said.

I consider myself strong, but at times like this, you take away from me a little bit, Aponte said. The support system is comfort.

Students said Aponte was also instrumental in providing emotional support on campus after a deadly shooting at the school in 2018.

Aponte is hoping to raise $25,000 for his cancer treatment.

CLICK HERE to help Aponte.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  NASA Astronauts from SpaceXs Crew-8 mission are now back on Earth and held a press conference with reporters on Friday.

The crews safe return to Earth, from the International Space Station, marks nine successful missions by SpaceX, shuttling crew to and from the International Space Station. Boeing, the other company contracted with NASA to do the same, has yet to complete one.

Astronauts Barry Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams flew to the International Space Station on a Boeing Starliner test flight but after problems with the Starliners thrusters and helium leaks, NASA elected to bring Wilmore and Williams back on the SpaceX Crew-9 mission, due to return next year.

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Theyve all had problems. But this, leaving astronauts in space, has not happened before to my knowledge, said Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.). If were going to sit and watch it happen and not raise a ruckus, shame on us.

When NASA retired the Space Shuttle program, the agency elected to contract with private companies to take astronauts to the ISS. NASA contracted with SpaceX, a relatively new company at the time, for $2.6 billion. Boeing, a more established company, received a $4.2 billion contract, according to NASAs website.



The goal of commercial crew was to create more ways to get people up and down from orbit, said Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), the Chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.

NASA Associate Administrator Ken Bowersox said the commercial crew program was created to strike a balance between NASAs goals and the industrys innovation. Hickenlooper, though, believes the public-private partnership brings too much complexity into the equation.

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You have all of the legal issues. Whose fault is it? How do you demonstrate fault? At each step of advancement, whos delivering what? Hickenlooper said. Everyones pointing their fingers every which way.

Lucas said he remains in favor of the public-private partnership, noting NASA has always relied on partnerships with private companies. He said his agency will be looking into the commercial crew program, though he said he did not want to pre-judge the outcome.

Its our responsibility to hold peoples feet to the fire, Lucas said about Congresss role. There will be a grand reassessment of everything. And well see if the course weve been on is the direction we need to go.

NASA leaders said the agency is committed to having multiple companies transporting astronauts. NASA said Boeings leaders intend to keep moving forward with Starliner.

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On Sep. 30, the NASA Inspector Generals office announced it will examine NASAs Commercial Crew Program.



Bowesoxs full statement is below:

NASAs partnerships approach allows companies to be flexible and innovative, while freeing up agency resources for other priorities, spurring private sector innovation, creating well-paying jobs, and driving American leadership in space. NASAs Commercial Crew Program was created with the goal of allowing unique and alternative approaches, striking the right balance between agency requirements and industry innovation. NASA and its commercial crew partners are delivering on that goal.

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HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  About 200,000 fewer voters went to the polls in Connecticut this election compared to 2020, according to data released on Friday.

General Election Results

Voter turnout reached 74%, with 1.7 million people casting ballots, according to the Connecticut secretary of the states office. About 1.9 million people voted in 2020, with 80% voter turnout.

There were more than 740,000 early voting ballots cast in the states first year of early voting. There were another 122,000 absentee ballots cast.

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Three Republican senators with a history as rabble-rousers are poised for the first time in their careers to chair major committees when the new Senate convenes in January.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is in line to lead the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, where he is currently the ranking Republican. Sen. Mike Lee of Utah is expected to head the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, according to an aide. And Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky is in line to chair the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

The musical chairs of the committee shakeups are all part of the transition as Republicans regain control of the Senate after four years in the minority and Republican senators scramble to assume coveted spots atop the committees.

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The most high-profile leadership change will take place next week when Republicans pick a successor to Sen. Mitch McConnell as Senate GOP leader. But the leaders of the chambers committees will have significant power to influence sweeping policy.

Cruz, Lee and Paul have often railed against Senate GOP leadership  and committee chairs  over government funding, deficit spending and other hot-button issues. Now, while still vocal on those topics, they have risen in the ranks of seniority and are more seasoned. Theyll have significant influence to impact policy making, nominations and usher through pet projects.

Cruzs assent to the commerce committee would place him in a position to help run the confirmations of the secretaries of Transportation and Commerce, as well as approve more than 100 Senate-confirmed positions. This year, as the ranking member, Cruz worked to approve a far-reaching FAA bill that won him plaudits for working across the aisle to shape and pass the bill.

Meanwhile, Lees control of the energy committee would give him power over key issues important to his home state of Utah and a front-row seat to set energy policies that Republicans plan to champion in the next Congress.

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Pauls role on the homeland security committee would give him broad oversight over national security and includes a powerful investigative subcommittee with subpoena power that is expected to be chaired by conservative Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, a panel that has traditionally tackled major bipartisan projects.

Johnson told CNN Wednesday he plans to work alongside vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on health issues, saying there is so much to do he plans to be like a mosquito at a nudist colony. Paul has used his current perch as the top Republican on the committee to focus on issues such as the origins of Covid-19, something he is expected to continue to investigate but now with the authority that comes with being the chair.

Staff for Cruz and Paul did not provide an answer when asked to confirm if the senators planned to chair their respective committees.

Cruz and Lee are closely politically aligned with President-elect Donald Trump. Paul has been distanced from him at times and has complained about increased deficits during Trumps first term, but Paul is still seen as an ally.

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However, a long-time Trump critic appears on track to run the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee that oversees much of federal spending. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine will have to work closely with the White House on many of its policy goals and the funding that goes with them. There is an outside chance that Sen. Mitch McConnell, who is on the committee and has more seniority than Collins, could move to take the helm now that he is stepping down as Republican leader. But hes said nothing yet that suggests he will.

Other key committee posts

Sen. Chuck Grassley, a 91-year-old non-lawyer, will helm the influential Senate Judiciary Committee again.

Grassley is an eighth-term Iowan who will lead Republicans often-contentious battles to confirm Trumps nominees to be federal judges, including Supreme Court justices, should vacancies arise. It will be the third term Grassley  who is a farmer  will lead the committee.

Sen. Michael Crapo of Idaho intends to chair the Senate Finance Committee that deals with taxes, health policy and other matters, his aide Amanda Critchfield said, putting Crapo in a key role to help negotiate what will be a top priority of the administration: another tax bill.

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In the national security space, Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho intends to chair the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a source familiar told CNN, while Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi intends to run the Senate Armed Services Committee, according to his spokesman Zach Barnett.

Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida is currently the top Republican on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and intends to become the chair in January. But special rules dictate with this sensitive committee that party leaders name its members. With McConnell stepping down as GOP leader, Rubio will have to wait until a new leader is elected  which is set to happen next week  before confirming he will he selected for the job. But that is expected.

Seniority broadly dictates which Republicans are in line for these top posts, although they are technically voted on by the committee membership and then that is ratified by the full Republican conference and on the Senate floor. A Republican senator can serve six years as chair and six years as ranking member. Although, once a lawmaker has served six years as chair, they can no longer serve as ranking member, a Senate aide explained.

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) on June 18, 2024 in Washington, DC. - Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Democrats dont have term limits on their chairs and ranking members.

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Aides told CNN that Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana plans to lead the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas wants to chair the Committee on Veterans Affairs, Arkansas Sen. John Boozman intends to chair the Senate Agriculture Committee, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia hopes to head the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa wants to chair the Senate Small Business Committee.

Sen. Deb Fischer, who was just reelected in Nebraska, is in line to be chair of the Senate Rules Committee, a powerful inside-the-Capitol panel. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska is in line to chair the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. Aides to these senators didnt respond when asked if they intended to seek those slots.

Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina has signaled in press reports he wants to chair the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. He did so recently when asked if he would be interested in working in the Trump administration if the fomer president was reelected.

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who is currently the top Republican on Judiciary, is set to take over the Senate Budget Committee. In that role, he would play a key part in writing and passing a budget resolution that can be used to pass expiring parts of the 2017 Trump tax cuts and other major policy changes related to border security, energy and other matters that wont be subject to a 60-vote filibuster and can be passed with just GOP votes.

CNNs Lauren Fox contributed to this report.

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CHICAGO  A Wheaton restaurant owner was surprised at the reaction he received after posting two signs at his establishment.

The community, however, has rallied behind him to show their support.

Matt Marquez, owner of Moveable Feast + Company in Wheaton, described the backlash hes been receiving after installing two signs outside his restaurant earlier this week.

Its Make America Healthy Again which we strongly believe in and we put a picture of our storefront, and then we put another sign that said Jesus is my Savior, and Trump is my president,' Marquez said.

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He never imagined displaying the signs would provoke hostile reactions.

We started getting tons of messages of just horrible negativity and threats and just really, really bad things and attacking my family personally, Marquez said.

AG weighs in after racist text messages sent to Illinois residents

He went and shared the negative feedback on social media. Although he said the criticism was intense at first, the support from customers began pouring in.

You couldve voted for somebody else in the White House. You still have First Amendment rights. Those rights dont end because of your feelings, customer Kim Tameling said.

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It takes courage in the world today to stand up for something you believe in and people have against. We just wanted to encourage them, customer Alicia Piech added.

According to Marquez, the beauty of this country lies in the freedom here all can express their beliefs. He believes in the power of having constructive dialogue rather than fueling division or hate.

This is the Wheaton I know, the one that rallies around people, he said. Im happy to have anyone talk about it. I think its really something I would love to talk about.

Marquez also shared that while not everyone agrees with the signs, another positive outcome  aside from the overwhelming encouragement  is the sense of unity the signs have created among people with differing opinions, who are now dining together in the same space.

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A possible threat on Congressman Jared Moskowitzs life was thwarted by South Florida police a few days before Tuesdays election, Moskowitz said. The would-be assassin was found with a manifesto and a list with Moskowitz as the sole target.

On Friday afternoon, Moskowitz posted on X that he was alerted by Margate police, a department within his district, a day before the election that they uncovered a potential plot on his life.

Police released a statement Friday announcing they had apprehended John Lapinski on firearm-related charges, including possessing a gun while being a convicted felon, on Nov. 2. During that arrest, detectives found evidence that he was planning some type of criminal act.

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Police, who alerted the FBI and ATF and received help from them, did not disclose what the plot was or if it involved Moskowitz.

In Moskowitzs social-media post, he said the arrested former felon had a rifle, suppressor and body armor. His manifesto had antisemitic rhetoric.

As someone who was appointed to the Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump, I understand the failures and importance of fixing the protection of our current and future Commander-in-Chief and Vice President, Moskowitz said in the post. At the same time, I am deeply worried about Congressional member security and the significant lack thereof when we are in the district. Regardless of our political affiliations or differences, we all have families we want to keep safe.

The Democrat, who represents parts of Broward County and Palm Beach County, won reelection to the District 23 seat on Tuesday, defeating Republican Joe Kaufman. Moskowitz did not immediately respond to a request for comments.

As of Friday night, Lapinski remained in the Broward County Jail.
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?
County of San Diego Registrar of Voters receives bomb threat

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  The San Diego Registrar of Voters received a bomb threat early Friday evening, prompting a full-scale investigation, the county communications office confirmed.

The San Diego County Sheriffs Department took the lead and ultimately determined that the threat was not credible. Authorities assured those who were in the building were safe.

What California counties did Trump flip red in the 2024 presidential election?

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The safety of county employees and the public is a top priority. The sheriffs office will continue working with law enforcement partners to monitor intelligence and information related to any possible threats, and they are prepared to handle any safety challenges that may arise, county officials stated in a news release Saturday detailing the incident.

The Registrar of Voters echoed those sentiments, with officials stating that the Registrar is committed to a safe, transparent and accurate election process, and will continue to process remaining ballots to certify election results by Dec. 5.

According to the county, the Registrar expects to use the full certification period to make sure every legally cast vote is added to the count in the most expeditious, yet careful manner available. All updates will be posted on sdvote.com.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect comments from the Trump White House transition team distancing itself from Lanza's comments.

A senior advisor to President-elect Donald Trump has said Ukraine needs to be "realistic" in its aims for the war, adding the Russian-occupied peninsula of Crimea was "gone."

Speaking to the BBC on Nov. 9, Republican party strategist Bryan Lanza said the Trump administration would ask President Volodymyr Zelensky to present a "realistic vision for peace."

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"When Zelensky says we will only stop this fighting, there will only be peace once Crimea is returned, we've got news for President Zelensky: Crimea is gone," he said.

Russia invaded and then illegally annexed the Crimea peninsula in 2014.

Ukraine's leadership has said publicly that it plans to restore the country's 1991 borders, which includes the liberation of Crimea and parts of the Donbas occupied by Russia since 2014.

Lanza did not reference the Donbas during the interview, but said the return of Crimea was "not the goal of the United States."

Despite U.S. troops never being deployed in Ukraine, nor Kyiv ever requesting as much, Lanza added Ukraine would be "on your own" if the goal was "having American soldiers fight to get Crimea back."

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Following reports of his comments, a spokesperson for Trump's White House transition team distanced Lanza from Trump, Reuters reported.

"Bryan Lanza was a contractor for the campaign," the unnamed spokesperson told Reuters. "He does not work for President Trump and does not speak for him."

Trump defeated Democratic candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris in the Nov. 5 presidential election, adding further uncertainty for Ukraine as it struggles to envision its future.

"If we have a win, long before Jan. 20, before I would take the presidency, long before that, I think we could work out something that is good for both sides," Trump said, standing alongside Zelensky in New York in September.

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It remains unclear why Russia would want to pause at the current phase since Moscow's forces are currently at the height of their offensive in 2024 and reportedly still have the resources to keep pushing further.

On Nov. 9, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that Russia was "ready to listen" to Trump's proposals but added that there would be no "simple solution."

Read also: Trumps peace plan may include deploying European troops to buffer zone in Ukraine, Telegraph reports

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  On Nov. 8, 2024, at about 9:29 a.m., officers from the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) were dispatched to a neighborhood near Pikes Peak Avenue and South Circle Drive after a private GPS monitoring system alerted a vehicle theft victim that his car was there.

According to CSPD, Officers arrived in the 100 block of South Brentwood Drive and found the stolen vehicle parked in a driveway. Vevina Hernandez, 25, and Joaquin Rivera, 34, had attempted to drive away in the car but crashed into a parked vehicle as police arrived. Officers later forced the stolen car off the road and arrested Rivera and Hernandez without further incident.

Further investigation revealed that William Gragg, 48, had initially stolen the vehicle, said CSPD. Hernandez was arrested on charges of eluding and motor vehicle theft. Gragg was also arrested for motor vehicle theft. Rivera and four other adults at the home were arrested and booked into CJC on outstanding warrants.

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DALE COUNTY, Ala. (WDHN)  A State Court has thrown the book at a Dale County Judge, who plead guilty to delaying cases and failing to fulfill his duties as a judge.

Longtime Dale County Judge Stuart K. Smith was escorted out of the Dale County Courthouse August 12 and served a complaint from the Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission after a state investigation into hundreds of cases.

Prior to his suspension, Judge Smith, who began serving as a district judge in 2017 and who was in his second term, presided over all; juvenile dependency cases, termination of parental rights cases, district civil cases, small claims cases, and child support enforcement cases.

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According to the original complaint, Judge Smith had failed to carry out his duties as a judge and delayed issuing rulings and orders, halted a multitude of cases, sometimes even for years at a time.

Judge Smiths conduct has degraded the publics confidence in the integrity of the judiciary and brought the judicial office into disrepute, the complaint alleged. Judge Smiths delay and lack of attention in handling his cases has harmed the litigants, families, and children of the cases he presides or has presided over.

Smith appeared in court to resolve the charges brought against him, pleading guilty to violating three codes of judicial conduct.

A Judge should Uphold the Integrity and Independence of the Judiciary

A Judge should Avoid Impropriety and the Appearance of Impropriety in all his Activities

A Judge should Perform the Duties of His Office Impartially and Diligently

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Following the plea, Smith agreed to the penalty of a 120-Day Suspension from office without pay until his reinstatement and developing a case management plan with the court, to help manage his caseload. Additionally, upon completing a case management training course to help better utilize the courts tools, Smith must select a mentor Judge whom he will meet with twice a month and will submit reports to the court to show he is complying.

The state court agreed that Judge Smith could be allowed to return to his post, but only upon completing the penalties listed above.

In May 2023, Judge Smith had approximately 334 open cases, and as of March 2024, 303 of those cases had not been resolved, according to the Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission.

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE)  A Dandridge man was arrested on Friday and charged more than 40 counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, according to the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office.

The sheriffs office released on Friday that Ryan Woods, 38, was arrested following an investigation into child pornography. He was charged with 48 counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, possession of schedule I and II narcotics, and theft.

Sevierville man charged with felony child abuse after 3-year-old exposed to meth

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As the result of an investigation by a detective assigned to the Tennessee Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, deputies, investigators and officers with the White Pine Police Department assigned to the Special Operations Response Team, as well as support staff from the Jefferson City Police Department and Sevierville Police Department SWAT team executed a search warrant at a home on Sockless Road in Dandridge, the sheriffs office said.

Man charged after fire destroys part of a Blount County RV park

Woods was taken to the Jefferson County Detention Center where he is being held on a $500,000 bond.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
Republican Dave McCormick is the projected winner of Pennsylvanias United States Senate race against incumbent Democrat Bob Casey, but thousands of provisional ballots have yet to be counted.

Now, McCormick has filed a lawsuit in connection with those ballots.

The suit is asking the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia to allow McCormick to make global challenges to large groups of provisional ballots that share the same deficiencies including missing signatures or lack of a secrecy envelope.

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The Philadelphia Board of Elections is currently examining 15,000 to 20,000 provisional ballots.

Casey has refused to concede the race.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
April McClain Delaney, Democratic nominee for Maryland's 6th Congressional District, addressed supporters at an election night party. Photo by Elijah Pittman.

Democrat April McClain Delaney claimed victory in the 6th District congressional race Friday afternoon, after three days of counting mail-in ballots widened her election night lead from a few hundred votes to 8,464 over Republican Neil C. Parrott.

I am deeply honored and humbled by the trust the people of Marylands 6th District have placed in me, McClain Delaney said in a statement posted to social media. Since the beginning of this campaign, our message has been clear: Its time for common sense, common ground leadership that puts people over politics, defends our freedoms and values, and builds a future centered on unity.

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But Parrott refused to concede Friday, noting that counting was still going on in Montgomery and Frederick counties, the two largest jurisdictions in the district, which stretches from northern Montgomery County through Western Maryland.

I want everyone to know that I am extremely grateful for the huge amount of work that was put into this campaign by volunteers in all five counties. As a result of this effort and sacrifice, the Parrott Campaign will wait until all the votes are counted before declaring victory or defeat, he said in a statement posted to social media.

As of Friday evening, the Maryland State Board of Elections was reporting that McClain Delaney had 174,514 votes to 165,750 for Parrott out of 340,997 cast, a margin of 51.2% to 48.6%. The race was called for McClain Delaney on Friday by Decision Desk HQ, but it had not been called by the Associated Press, as Parrott noted in his statement.

Neil Parrott, the Republican nominee for Marylands 6th Congressional District, speaks to supporters at Havana nightclub in Hagerstown on election night. Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

As expected, the three western and more conservative counties in the district  Washington, Allegany and Garrett  went heavily for Parrott, while Frederick and northern Montgomery were solidly in McClain Delaneys camp.

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She held a lead of a little more than 300 votes on election night, when both candidates sent their supporters home from post-election watch parties, saying the race was too close to call. But that lead has steadily increased as county election officials have tallied mail-in ballots.

While counting is expected to continue for several days, the mail-in ballot numbers do not bode well for Parrott. Of the 103,004 mail-in ballots requested in the 6th District, 56,868 were requested by Democrats and 23,416 by Republicans.

Even if all 22,720 ballots requested by independents are included, there were still more Democrats casting mail-in ballots in the district. The imbalance is similar in the numbers of mail-in ballots returned and accepted by 6th District election officials as of Thursday night.

McClain Delaney and Parrott are running to replace Rep. David Trone (D-6th), who mounted an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic nomination for Senate this year. The seat has been in Democratic hands for 12 years: Trone held it for the last three terms and before that it was held for three terms by John Delaney, McClain Delaneys husband, who left the seat to mount a short-lived campaign for president.

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If McClain Delaneys lead holds, it would let Democrats maintain their chokehold on Marylands congressional representation, with both Senate seats and seven of the eight House seats held by Republicans. Rep. Andy Harris (R-1st), the chair of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, is the only Republican member from Maryland on Capitol Hill.

A McClain Delaney win would also extend Parrotts string of consecutive losses in the district. The former state delegate twice ran unsuccessfully against Trone.

A win would keep alive, for now, Democrats increasingly slight chances of regaining a majority in the House. With 11 races still undecided Friday, Republicans were just two wins away from the 218 seats they need to take control of the chamber. The GOP has already won control of the White House and the Senate.

The 6th District race has been closely watched in recent days because control of the House was at stake. But it has long been one of the most competitive in the state in terms of partisan registration, and recent redistricting made it even more so, raising Parrotts chances. It was widely seen as the only competitive House race in the state, and was closely watched in Maryland for that reason.

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Most analysts said the district leaned toward a McClain Delaney win, but their predictions tightened in recent weeks.

The election pitted McClain Delaney, a lawyer and former Commerce Department official who worked most recently in the Biden administration, against Parrott, a conservative former state lawmaker. The candidates presented starkly different positions that hewed to their respective partys lines on most issues.

McClain Delaneys campaign painted Parrott as too conservative for the district, citing his votes against abortion rights while in Annapolis, among others, while Parrott criticized McClain Delaney  who does not live in the district  as out of touch with Western Maryland.

The attacks reached a boiling point during an early October debate at Hood College, which ended with raised voices and finger-pointing, followed the next day by statements from each campaign saying the outburst proved the other candidate unfit to hold office.

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As in his previous two campaigns, Parrott has been heavily outspent by his Democratic opponent, even though both sides drew significant funding from outside groups. Parrott reported raising $910,000 as of last month, according to the Federal Election Commission, compared to $4.3 million for McClain Delaney  more than $3 million of which is money she loaned her campaign.

Counting in the race could continue until next Friday, the last day by which election officials must receive mail-in ballots that were postmarked Nov. 5.
By Moira Warburton

(Reuters) - Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen won reelection to the U.S. Senate in Nevada, Edison Research projected on Friday, keeping a competitive seat in her party's control.

Rosen, 67, beat Republican candidate Sam Brown, a U.S. Army veteran who received a Purple Heart after being wounded by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan.

The seat was a top priority for Republicans to flip. Nevada has a large Hispanic population, a traditionally Democratic demographic where Republican former President Donald Trump and his party have been making significant inroads.

(Reporting by Moira Warburton; Editing by Scott Malone and Daniel Wallis)
Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Florida) has revealed that he was the target of an antisemitic assassination plot in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, with cops in Florida arresting the suspect in question.

The congressman said in a statement on X that he was informed about the potential plot on his life the day before the election, adding that the suspect in question had been arrested not far from his home.

Moskowitz beat his Republican opponent Joe Kauffman to keep his seat representing Floridas 23rd congressional district.

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He is a former felon who was in possession of a rifle, a suppressor, and body armor, the statement said. Found with him was a manifesto that, among other things, included antisemitic rhetoric and only my name on the target list. There are many other details that I will not disclose as I do not want to interfere with an ongoing investigation.

Moskowitz is one of 13 members of a task force investigating the attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. The gunman, a 20-year-old kitchen worker named Thomas Matthew Cooks, was shot dead by a Secret Service sniper after he had fired shots which wounded Trumps ear.

I understand the failures and importance of fixing the protection of our current and future Commander-in-Chief and Vice President, Moskowitz said. At the same time, I am deeply worried about Congressional member security and the significant lack thereof when we are in the district. Regardless of our political affiliations or differences, we all have families we want to keep safe.

Moskowitz also thanked law enforcement agencies in his statement.

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The Margate Police Department has not commented on the incident.

The plot follows several other attempts to kill key political figures in the U.S., most notably Donald Trump.
A cadre of blue-state governors is already preparing a litany of political and legal moves to shield their states policies and residents from federal actions under Donald Trump's new administration.

The plans from Democratic governors across the country  including a handful of potential 2028 presidential contenders  offer both a repeat of how leaders of liberal states pushed back against Trump during his first term, as well as a snapshot of what the resistance to him from the left will look like this time around.

In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that he would convene a special session of the Legislature explicitly intended to safeguard California values and fundamental rights in the face of an incoming Trump administration.

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In a news release, he said the session would focus on bolstering California legal resources to protect civil rights, reproductive freedom, climate action, and immigrant families.

Newsom outlined that the session, set to kick off Dec. 2, will take expedited action to best protect California and its values from attacks on LGBTQ rights and womens rights. He also said it would provide additional resources to the states Justice Department and other agencies to pursue robust affirmative litigation against future potential unlawful actions by the Trump administration, as well as to defend against any federal lawsuits from the administration that could be filed.

He added that the session would be the first of several actions by his administration and the Legislature to begin shoring up Californias defenses against an incoming federal administration that has threatened the state on multiple fronts.

The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack  and we wont sit idle. California has faced this challenge before, and we know how to respond, Newsom said in a statement. We are prepared, and we will do everything necessary to ensure Californians have the support and resources they need to thrive."

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Newsoms office told The Associated Press that the governor was attempting to Trump-proof the states laws.

Trump hit back at Newsom in a lengthy post on Truth Social on Friday, referring to him as Governor Gavin Newscum and saying he was using the term 'Trump-Proof' as a way of stopping all of the GREAT things that can be done to Make California Great Again.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who like Newsom is considered to be among the Democrats in the 2028 mix, echoed many of the same themes during a press conference this week.

To anyone who intends to come, take away the freedom and opportunity and dignity of Illinoisans, I would remind you that a happy warrior is still a warrior, he said Thursday. You come for my people, you come through me.

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Pritzker, whose Think Big America nonprofit group spent millions of dollars on abortion-rights ballot measures in four states this cycle, called Illinois a refuge for those whose rights are being denied elsewhere, including those seeking political asylum, reproductive health care or to avoid persecution because of their sexual orientation or gender.

He nodded to policies his administration has enacted, including codifying abortion rights and a law requiring gender-affirming care to be covered by health insurers in Illinois.

Efforts Trump-proof Illinois have been ongoing for months, if not longer, said Pritzker chief of staff Anne Caprara.

She said the state is looking into other legal protections for women who travel to the state to access reproductive care, including protecting transponder data and medical records from out-of-state attorneys general.

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The state also has been working to codify environmental regulations in case a Trump administration tries to roll back clean air and water protections, as well as ensuring labor protections are maintained.

Were literally going through Project 2025 to understand every element of what they might touch. Some of this work has been done or in the process for a while, Caprara said.

She also said collaborative efforts involving other Midwestern states are in the works.

Midwest governors who governed through Covid with Trump at the helm  it got hairy then  weve been through this before and are determined this time to draw in those lessons and make sure that to the degree it makes sense we are collaborating on best practices and how to creatively deal with the more difficult pieces of this, Caprara sais. Those relationships the governors at large on the Democratic side of the aisle have been key all along in navigating those years of Trump.

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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also announced an effort this week  dubbed the Empire State Freedom Initiative  she said was designed to address policy and regulatory threats that could happen during Trumps administration.

The effort, being conducted together with the office of New Yorks Democratic Attorney General Letitia James, will address federal legal threats to reproductive freedom, immigration issues, civil rights, gun safety, climate change progress, environmental justice and other issues, they said in a joint announcement this week.

Im committed to working with anyone on policies that make our state stronger, safer and more livable  but my administration will also be prepared to protect New Yorkers fundamental freedoms from any potential threats, Hochul said in a statement Wednesday.

She said in the statement that officials leading the effort in the state had already developed an initial analysis of likely statutory, regulatory and fiscal "vulnerabilities" based on comments and policy proposals from Trump and his team, and had begun developing legislation, rules and appropriations that would serve to counter such federal actions.

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In addition, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said on MSNBC on Wednesday that she would use every tool in the toolbox to protect our residents and to hold the line on democracy and the rule of law.

Healey, who as the states attorney general during Trumps first term challenged his administration several times on immigration policies, said shed exercise her executive and regulatory authority, and make use of legislation in the state to fight various Trump policies.

Specifically asked about Trumps plan to implement mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, Healey said she would absolutely not allow state police to assist in such an effort.

Asked about Democratic governors' response to Trump's return to the White House, Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement: The American people re-elected President Trump by a resounding margin giving him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail. He will deliver.

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Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, another possible 2028 contender, referred to a statement he released Thursday in response to Trumps victory that focused heavily on unity when asked whether similar efforts were underway in the state.

Now that this election is over, it is time to govern  to work together, to compromise, and to get stuff done, Shapiro said in that statement. I believe theres more that unites us than divides us  and we must work together to continue to get stuff done for Pennsylvania.

Unlike in the deep-blue states of California, New York and Massachusetts, where Democrats enjoy a trifecta of power across state government, the Legislature in battleground Pennsylvania is split, which would make plans to counter Trump more difficult. Plus, Trump just carried the state at the presidential level.

Let me also make clear: I will never back down from standing up for the freedoms I was elected to protect. I will continue to defend our democracy, defend our fundamental rights, and ensure we continue the legacy of William Penn by building a Commonwealth that is warm and welcoming for all, Shapiro added.

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In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy pledged to both push back against Trump when necessary, while also seeking out areas for compromise.

If its contrary to our values, we will fight to the death, Murphy said at a Wednesday press conference, mentioning issues such as immigration and reproductive rights.

If theres an opportunity for common ground, we will seize that as fast as anybody, he added.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen will win reelection in Nevada, CNN projects, holding off Republicans from adding to their incoming majority in the US Senate.

Rosen, a former synagogue president who was first elected in 2018, is projected to narrowly defeat Army veteran Sam Brown. The Republicans campaign had appeared to struggle to gain traction in this battleground state, but in the end, he kept the race close.

With Donald Trump projected to win Nevada, Rosen becomes one of several Democrats who were able to win Senate seats this year while the president-elect was carrying their states.

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Democrats focused much of their attacks on Brown over abortion rights  with Rosen attacking him on the issue even before he emerged from a June primary. While Brown had said he would not support a federal abortion ban and backs exceptions for victims of rape or incest, he once backed a 20-week ban in Texas, which would not have made exceptions for rape or incest, when running for a Texas legislative seat a decade ago.

His wife, Amy Brown, spoke out during the campaign about having an abortion before she met her husband and how that experience shaped their views on the issue.

Rosen, for her part, campaigned on being a staunch supporter of abortion rights. Nevada, where abortion is legal up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, was one of several states that voted this year on ballot initiatives to enshrine reproductive rights in their state constitutions. CNN projected that Silver State voters will approve a measure that would establish the fundamental right to an abortion up to the point of fetal viability in the states constitution.

Brown, who moved to Nevada from Texas in 2018, first ran for Senate in 2022. He lost the Republican nomination to former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt, who then narrowly lost the general election to Democratic incumbent Catherine Cortez Masto. This year, Brown leaned heavily into his endorsement from Trump, using the former presidents praise of him and criticism of Rosen in ads.

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In both of his Senate runs, Brown faced accusations of being a carpetbagger.

In one case, Brown landed on the wrong side of one of the most politically toxic issues in the state: stalled plans to send nuclear waste to a federal repository at the states Yucca Mountain. Brown was forced to backtrack on his support for opening the facility after his remarks were reported.

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The Harris campaigns tent may have indeed been too big.

Rolling Stone has reported that several Democratic aides warned Vice President Harris against campaigning so closely with former Representative Liz Cheney. Cheney may have voted to impeach Trump, but shes also still the daughter of notoriously hawkish Iraq War orchestrator Dick Cheney, which most of America is far more familiar with.

People dont want to be in a coalition with the devil, one anonymous campaign source told Rolling Stone in regard to Dick Cheney. But their warnings went unheeded, as a Harris staffer told them its not their place to question the campaigns decisions.

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The Harris campaign ran hard with Cheney in the last days of the campaign, appearing with her at rallies and on television appearances, as they urged women to vote in secret from the conservative men in their lives.

One Democratic strategist noted that campaigning with Cheneyand reaching out toward Republicans so enthusiastically in generalrisked alienating the liberal base and wouldnt even convince that many swing voters, if any. Donors and state party chairs also tried to convey this message to the Harris campaign, but to no avail. We were told, basically, to get lost, no thank you, they told Rolling Stone.

Campaigning with Cheney is just one of Harriss many strategies that Democrats everywhere are questioning as the shock wears off.
A view of the Colorado Capitol on May 4, 2024. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline)

The Democrat-favoring partisan balance in the Colorado Legislature will look similar to the previous two years, based on early results from Tuesdays election, though a couple of races remained too close to call Monday, and Democrats could lose their supermajority in the House of Representatives.

The House is poised to have a 43-22 Democratic majority while the Senate is on track to retain its 23-12 Democratic majority, as of Monday morning. Democrats currently hold 46 seats in the House, and 44 are needed for a supermajority.

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House Republicans hoped to flip a handful of competitive seats to chip away at Democratic power. They managed to switch three seats in the House and one seat in the Senate, while Democrats also flipped one seat in the Senate, according to the latest unofficial results.

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Lawmakers reconvene at the Capitol in January, when they will face a budgetary shortfall of close to $1 billion. That could threaten spending for programs like Medicaid and will limit any legislation with a high price tag.

House of Representatives

In House District 16, in the north Colorado Springs area, Republican Rebecca Keltie was slightly ahead of the Democratic incumbent, Rep. Stephanie Vigil. On Monday morning, Keltie had a 21-vote lead. The Associated Press had yet to call the race.

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Republican Dan Woog was ahead of Democrat Jillaire McMillan in House District 19, which is north of Broomfield along Interstate 25. McMillan on Friday had about a 2-percentage point lead when The Associated Press called the race, but by Saturday the AP appeared to walk back that status and Woog had jumped ahead by 0.4% points. Whoever wins will replace outgoing Democratic Rep. Jennifer Parenti, who narrowly defeated Woog in 2022.

In the western Jefferson County House District 25, Democratic Rep. Tammy Story defeated Republican Geroge Mumma and will hold on to her seat. That was one of the few competitive races called on election night. Story received 52.2% of the vote.

Democratic Rep. Bob Marshall of Highlands Ranch also held on to his seat in House District 43, defeating Republican Matt Burcham with 51.1% of the vote. The AP called the race Thursday.

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In one of the closest state House races, Republican Ryan Gonzales beat Democratic Rep. Mary Young of Greeley in House District 50 to flip the district to Republicans. The AP called the race Saturday.

Senate

Republican Rep. Marc Catlin of Montrose will head over to the Senate next year after he beat Democrat Cole Buerger in Senate District 5. Catlin won the Western Slope seat with 52% and will replace outgoing Republican Sen. Perry Will. The AP called the race around noon on Thursday.

In Senate District 6, Republican Rep. Cleave Simpson of Alamosa will retain his seat. He defeated Democrat Vivian Smotherman with 55.8% of the vote when the race was called Tuesday night.

In Senate District 12, Democratic Rep. Marc Snyder of Manitou Springs defeated Republican El Paso County Commissioner Stan VanderWerd. The AP called the race Friday. The seat is currently held by Republican Sen. Bob Gardner, so it will flip to the left with a Snyder win.

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Republican Scott Bright flipped Senate District 13, however, by defeating Democrat Matt Johnston with 56.3% of the vote. The AP called the race on Wednesday morning. It is currently held by Democratic Sen. Kevin Priola of Henderson.

Democratic Sen. Chris Kolker of Centennial will hold on to his seat in Senate District 16 if his 5-percentage point lead Friday holds. He will have beaten Republican Centennial City Council member Robyn Carnes. The AP called the race Sunday.

Editors note: This story has been updated as new results have emerged.

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A group of Democrats are raising pointed questions about their losses on Election Day and why their warnings werent heeded.

Democratic pollster James Zogby sent countless memos to Vice President Kamala Harris campaign warning about her liabilities over Gaza. Dean Phillips called on Democrats to hold a competitive primary when President Joe Biden was the nominee. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez for years urged Democrats to take the concerns of working-class voters seriously.

These guys didn't get it at all, they were playing to a narrow base of the people they know best, said Zogby, who claimed he sent Harris and the Biden administration memos on their vulnerabilities over the war until I got tired of writing them and they got tired of reading them.

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Prominent Democrats broadly agree that the vice presidents historic 107-day campaign was always going to be an uphill battle. Still, the scope of the loss has prompted an intense round of finger-pointing that reflects deep ideological fissures within the party as it seeks a path forward.

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a powerful force behind Bidens exit from the race, told the New York Times in an interview Thursday that had the president gotten out sooner, there may have been other candidates in the race. She said she had anticipated an open primary, but because the president endorsed Kamala Harris immediately, that really made it almost impossible.

Phillips, who ran against Biden in the Democratic primary, told The Washington Post that this was absolutely the outcome he had imagined  and the reason hed challenged the president, whom he thought was too weak to run and win. Do I believe if my party had heeded the call to promote and encourage a competitive primary that we would have identified a candidate perhaps better positioned to win? Phillips asked. Absolutely. No question, 100 percent.

And Gluesenkamp Perez, a Democrat who is likely to hold her seat in a red Washington district and has long urged her party to focus more on the working class, on Thursday told the New York Times: Its a lot easier to look outward, to blame and demonize other people, instead of looking in the mirror and seeing what we can do.

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A Harris campaign spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

President-elect Donald Trump moved many corners of the country rightward, sweeping parts of the Sun Belt and turning the Blue Wall red to likely notch the first Republican popular vote victory in two decades. In doing so, he made inroads among lower-income voters and voters of color, chipping away at constituencies Democrats have long considered reliable.

In 2016, Trump stoked decades-long anxieties among the white working class about cultural abandonment, coastal elitism and demographic overhaul  and was aided by Hillary Clintons basket of deplorables comments, which added evidence to his theory of the case. In 2024, Trump and the GOP more broadly gave a name to this group  the forgotten men and women of America  while seeking to expand it, going after disaffected young men and non-college-educated Black and Latino voters. He won one-fifth of Black men and nearly half of Latino men.



We gotta stop making assumptions about people of color and give them something of substance, said Mark Longabaugh, a Democratic strategist and top adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders 2016 campaign. If we don't, Trump and the Republicans are going to cement a coalition that it's going to be very hard to defeat.

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Longabaugh emphasized that he thought Harris had run a good campaign, especially given the truncated circumstances, but that her loss signals bigger issues for the party.

Longabaugh attributed Harris loss, in part, to a lack of strong economic messaging, particularly in the final days of her campaign. Although Harris had released a hefty economic plan, titled A New Way Forward For the Middle Class, her focus in the last weeks of the race shifted to casting herself as a foil to Trump, whom she and her surrogates asserted to be a fascist and a danger to democracy.

It just was always a head-scratcher to me, Longabaugh said. What exactly were you saying? Most political campaigns are not won in an academic seminar about democracy.

Exit polling showed that democracy was a top motivator for voters  though that didnt just help Harris, since Trump has long cast the Democratic party as part of an antidemocratic deep state. But nationally, the economy and immigration  two strengths for Trump  came out on top when it came to getting voters to the polls, followed by abortion, Democrats strongest issue.

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Another warning sign came from Arab American and Muslim voters, and the Democratic progressive flank more broadly, over the war in the Middle East. From the time thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched on the Democratic National Convention, declaring Harris Killer Kamala, the vice presidents position as No. 2 in the Biden administration was a liability.

Although Harris sought to strike a tone that was more critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and compassionate toward Palestinian suffering than Bidens, the approach was overly cautious, rather unimaginative, said Zogby, the founder of the Arab American Institute and chair of the Democratic National Committees Ethnic Council.

Michigan, which has an Arab American population of about 400,000 centered in Detroits Wayne County, was a particular concern. Harris lost the state by about 80,000 votes, earning about 60,000 fewer votes in Wayne County than Biden did in 2020.

More and more people are deeply troubled by Gaza  parts of the Democratic coalition, the Obama coalition, young people, progressives, Black, Latino and Asian voters  theyre deeply troubled by Gaza, Zogby said.
DENMARK, SC (WJBF)  According to officials, one year after Bamberg County secured a nearly $600,000 federal grant to rehabilitate the airport water tank, residents are closer to getting clean drinking water.

On Friday, November 8, Bamberg County and city council members, Denmark City council members, Denmark Technical College and Voorhees University administrators, and other community and state leaders united in a celebratory groundbreaking ceremony.

Officials say the grant funds will be used to repair and repurpose the current tower, and an estimated 3,500 Denmark residents could be positively impacted.

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Although the grant was funded by President Bidens Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services serves as the primary liaison between the local and federal government and determines which counties and/or municipalities are eligible.

A year may seem like a long time, but it really isnt when it comes to governmental projects. Im excited to see the positive impact this restored water tower will have on this community, said SC Revolving Fund, Bureau of Water Director Meredith Amick

Officials say the estimated project completion time frame is 60 days.

This is a great day in Bamberg County, and we expect to experience more days like this in the future, said Bamberg County Council Chairman Evert Comer, Jr.

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Water is the most essential element we can give our people, and we will continue to elevate Bamberg County toward more successful initiatives, said Bamberg County Councilwoman Sharon Hammond.

Water! Water! Water!is the most essential resource. We are grateful to everyone who came together, some behind the scenes, to help us restore this resource to Denmark and Bamberg County citizens, said Councilman Spencer Donaldson.

County Administrator Joey Preston expressed his gratitude to DHEC, the Bamberg Department of Public Works, Senator Brad Hutto, Representative Justin Bamberg, Project Manager Ken Parnell, Bamberg County Councilmembers, and Mayors Nancy Foster (Bamberg), Gerald Wright (Denmark), and Wilma Edmonds (Govan) as well as Denmark Technical College and Voorhees University for collaborating on the project.

The program culminated in the ceremonial groundbreaking.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
DRASCO, Ark.  Deputies with the Cleburne County Sheriffs Office are investigating a Friday morning shooting that left one injured.

Officials said that deputies with the CCSO responded to a disturbance call at 7:15 a.m. Friday at a house on Altom Road in Drasco.

Cleburne County deputies investigating truck crash at Greers Ferry Dam

Deputies said when they arrived, they found a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Deputies provided first aid and he was transported to a local hospital by helicopter for further treatment, officials said.

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After detectives arrived and began their investigation, 37-year-old Rebecca Mryglod was taken into custody and transported to the Cleburne County Jail. Officials said Mryglod is the mans live-in girlfriend.

Cleburne County deputies searching for trusty who they say walked away from jail

Officials said that though charges have not yet been filed, she is being held in jail while facing charges including attempted first-degree homicide, first degree domestic battery and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms. Her bail has not yet been set.

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CHEROKEE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  Deputies with the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred at a Gaffney home Friday morning.

According to the sheriffs office, deputies were sent to 3rd Avenue at around 11:57 a.m., after receiving reports of a shooting.

Investigators found a person dead inside the home. Officials noted that the victim had a gunshot wound.

The Cherokee County Coroners Office has identified the victim of the shooting as Nigel Phillips, 37. The coroners office said Phillips and another man reportedly shot at each other and Phillips was hit multiple times.

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Deputies said the suspect left the scene before they arrived, and that there is no threat to people in the area.

Witnesses are being interviewed at this time.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at (888) CRIMESC, or Captain Parnell at (864) 489-4722 ext. 117.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
This article was originally published in Florida Phoenix.

Following his so-so results with school board endorsements during the primary election in August, Gov. Ron DeSantis said these campaigns hadnt drawn as much of his attention because he had so much other stuff going on.

DeSantis endorsed 23 candidates and watched 11 lose, six win, and six have their fate on hold until this week. Tuesday, four runoffs went in favor of DeSantis endorsees, with wins in Brevard, Miami-Dade, Volusia, and Lee counties.

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In all, DeSantis watched 13 of his 23 endorsements lose, while 10 won  eleven counting his less-formal endorsement of Laurie Cox in Leon County, who won in August against Democratic-endorsed candidate Jeremy Rogers.

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Eight-year member Matt Susin won reelection to the Brevard County School Board, fending off Ava Taylor with a margin of nearly 20%. He previously served as chair of the board, which remains fully conservative, Florida Today reported.

DeSantis-endorsed Donna Brosemer challenged incumbent Carl Persis to win a seat on the Volusia County School Board. Brosemer finished with 58% of the vote to Persis 41%.

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Vanessa Chaviano, a DeSantis endorsee running for an open seat on the Lee County School Board, beat Sheridan Chester with 69% of the vote to Chesters 30%, with nearly 300,000 votes cast.

DeSantis endorsement was not enough for Stacy Geier to claim an open seat on the Pinellas County School Board; she lost to Katie Blaxberg, a fellow Republican. Geier held a 2% edge on Blaxberg in the August primary, although the general favored Blaxberg by more than 4%.

DeSantis endorsee and Air Force veteran Mark Cioffi lost his bid for the Hernando County School Board. He lost to Michelle Bonczek by nearly 10% in the general, despite earning 44% of votes to Bonczeks 28.8% in the primary, which prompted the runoff.

Democratic endorsements both lose

Two of the Democratic Partys 11 school board endorsements faced runoffs Tuesday. Of the 11 the party backed, seven won in August. Facing runoffs were Max Tuchman in Miami-Dade and Stephanie Arguello in Seminole County.

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Tuchman, a tech entrepreneur, lost in a big way to incumbent and DeSantis endorsee Mary Blanco, who earned 67.88% of votes  86,151 to Tuchmans 40,773. Blanco was appointed to the board a year ago by DeSantis.

Arguello, a public health PhD student, lost to incumbent and chair of the board Abby Sanchez by nearly 6%. Sanchez earned 52.95% of votes, or 114,630 votes to Arguellos 101,842.

Other stuff

The other stuff DeSantis alluded to included Amendment 3, which would have legalized recreational use of marijuana, and Amendment 4, which would have guaranteed a right to an abortion in the Florida Constitution. Both fell just short of the 60% voter approval threshold.

The governor, the First Lady, and other GOP officials paraded around the state campaigning against the two amendments in the weeks between two major hurricanes and Election Day. Some said the outcomes of the amendments could be a major mark on the governors record, for better or worse, if he chooses to pursue the White House again.

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Nonpartisan school board elections will remain, as voters rejected Amendment 1 Tuesday, which would have printed candidates political party affiliations next to their names on the ballot. The races will remain nonpartisan on paper, although partisan endorsements likely will not stop any time soon.

Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com. Follow Florida Phoenix on Facebook and X.
CHEROKEE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  Deputies with the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office said that a plot to bring contraband ended Wednesday with the arrest of two former detention officers and an additional charge for four inmates.

The following inmates received an additional charge of furnishing contraband in prison:

22-year-old Bradley Dean Whitesides Jr., of Gaffney

25-year-old Wali-Kasim Markkis Anderson, of Gaffney

63-year-old Ronnie Lynn McNeil, of Gaffney

45-year-old Gerald Jerome Raymond Jr., of North Carolina

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Investigators were able to determine that between Friday, Nov. 1, and Monday, Nov. 4, an inmate allegedly persuaded 25-year-old Christopher Randall Duncan, of Wellford, and 26-year-old Darius Michael Fuller, of North Carolina, to aid in helping him bring contraband into the detention center.

Duncan and Fuller were hired as detention officers within the Cherokee County Detention Center on Jan. 22 this year, the sheriffs office said. Both men were terminated from employment on Nov. 6.

Subsequently, the former corrections officers were arrested, stripped of their uniforms, placed in jumpsuits and charged with furnishing contraband to an inmate.

The items the suspects attempted to smuggle were cigarettes, vapes and marijuana according to deputies.

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It was reported that the plot was for 21-year-old Vanessa Renee Addy, of Gaffney, to pose as a food delivery worker and bring a bag with the contraband hidden inside to the detention officers. The detention officers would then get the contraband into the hands of an inmate who delivered the items to the housing units.

Addy was located and arrested Thursday, Nov. 7 and charged with furnishing contraband in a prison.

The case remains under investigation by the CCSO.

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Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has announced that a recent phone call between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President-elect Donald Trump indicates that a dialogue has been established between them.

Source: Sybiha at a joint press conference with EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell in Kyiv, as reported by European Pravda

Quote: "The dialogue between President Zelenskyy and President-elect Trump has already been established. And the promptness of the phone conversation is evidence of the existing direct dialogue between the heads of states.

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Naturally, possible future contacts at the level of leaders have been discussed. The parties agreed that the teams would begin practical preparatory work to organise a meeting," Sybiha said.

Details: He recalled that during his September visit to the United States, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with then-presidential candidate Donald Trump and presented Ukraine's vision of achieving a just peace.

"This philosophy, i.e. achieving peace through strength, was also reflected in President Zelenskyy's congratulations to the newly elected US president," Sybiha said.

He also added that Zelenskyy was one of the first world leaders to speak to Trump on the phone after his election.

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"It was a good conversation, a sincere conversation, where we exchanged views on further cooperation. We look forward to this contact at the level of leaders."

"Further steps to establish communication channels between the teams were also discussed during the conversation, and this work has already begun. So we are open to further cooperation.

I'm convinced we're all united by the goal of achieving a just peace and stopping Russian aggression," the minister said.

Sybiha stressed the paramount importance of not substituting concepts and that a just peace should be discussed, not appeasement.

Background:

Zelenskyy, congratulating Trump on his victory, said he appreciated his commitment to the "peace through strength" approach and expressed his belief that it could help bring a just peace to Ukraine.

After the European Political Community Summit, Zelenskyy noted that he believed that Trump wanted a quick end to the war but that it could mean losses for Ukraine.

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The core of the interview was done, but Detective Thomas OBrien returned with another question to the room in which serial killing suspect Jason Thornburg was sitting in a chair.

Thornburg, who had just confessed to killing three people whose bodies he said that he cut into pieces and set on fire in a dumpster in Fort Worth, spent much of his time with OBrien and Detective Matthew Barron discussing religion, including biblical references to flesh.

Did you eat anybody? OBrien asked.

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Thornburg, who had previously been reluctant to discuss the particulars of the killings, was direct. Yes, Thornburg said, he had taken a bite of Davids heart.

Before his body ended up in a trash bag under Thornburgs bed at Mid City Inn and later in the dumpster, David Lueras had befriended Thornburg at the Euless motel.

Prosecutors on Friday played for the jury in Thornburgs capital murder trial in Tarrant County Criminal District Court No. 3 a video and audio recording of the interview. The state is seeking the death penalty.

Thornburg told the detectives that he strangled 34-year-old Lauren Phillips. To kill the other victims, 42-year-old Lueras and 33-year-old Maricruz Mathis, he said that he used a Milwaukee straight blade knife to cut their throats.

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The killings, which Thornburg said were religious sacrifices he felt called to commit, occurred over five days in mid-September 2021.

After luring the victims to the motels Room 113, Thornburg is accused of dismembering their bodies in the bathtub, driving with the parts in plastic bins to the dumpster in Fort Worth and setting them on fire in an attempt to destroy the remains. Surveillance video shows he made two trips to move the containers full of body parts from the motel to the dumpster while wearing a hazmat body suit, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

After the confession addendum on Sept. 27, 2021, OBrien moved toward a table next to Thornburg to throw away a bag containing a partially eaten double cheeseburger and tater tots from Sonic. OBrien then left the interview room at the Fort Worth Police Departments Homicide Unit office off of North Henderson Street northwest of downtown.

Earlier on Friday, Dr. Richard Fries, a forensic pathologist at the Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office, testified that homicidal violence caused the deaths of Phillips, Lueras and Mathis.

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Here were looking at the decedents head, Fries said as he guided the jury through autopsy photos.

Fries noted a hole in a heart he examined, although he testified he did not know to which victim the organ belonged.

The task of getting the remains out of the dumpster fell to Amy Renfro.

A police officer backed a pickup truck to the black steel container in west Fort Worth, and Renfro, an investigator at the medical examiners office, stood on the tailgate.

Wearing boots borrowed from a firefighter, she climbed in.

For almost three hours, Renfro lifted body parts covered in melted plastic from the dumpster and passed them to her supervisor, Steve White, who stood outside the trash bin.

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She stepped through water that reached mid-calf. The water had been used to extinguish the fire in the dumpster.

White had placed body bags on the ground.

Theres no delicate way to say this, lead prosecutor Kim DAvignon said on Thursday at the beginning of a question during Renfros testimony.

How did White and Renfro determine how many body bags they needed, DAvignon asked.

The amount of heads, Renfro said.

There were three.

Defense attorneys Bob Gill, Miles Brissette and Warren St. John were appointed to represent Thornburg. The defense did not make an opening statement at the beginning of the trial but could choose to do so later. Thornburgs attorneys might present an insanity defense, according to court documents.

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DAvignon is prosecuting the case with Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Emily Dixon and Amy Allin.

Thornburg, 44, told police that he separately killed two other people, his roommate, Mark Jewell, in Fort Worth in May 2021 and a girlfriend, Tanya Begay, in Arizona in 2017.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  The fight for State Representative in District 39 went to a recount. That recount was completed on Friday.

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There was no change in the outcome.

Republican Elijah Pierick still maintained the lead with 4,706 votes and 50.11% to Democrat Corey Rosenlees 4,686 and 49.89%.

There are 2,500 ballots that still have signature issues, according to the County Clerk. Seventy-five of those are District 39 voters.

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That amount of votes could make a difference in the recounted race.

Voters can track their ballots and have until Nov. 13 to cure, or fix, their ballot.

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Nov. 8 (UPI) -- A Black attorney who formerly worked on the staff of the Republican-controlled Mississippi State Senate was the target of illegal racial discrimination, the Department of Justice alleged Friday.

In a complaint filed Friday in the Southern District of Mississippi, federal prosecutors alleged that Kristie Metcalfe was paid "significantly less" than every other staff attorney in the Senate's Legislative Services Office -- all of whom are White -- despite having essentially the same responsibilities.

Metcalfe was the first non-White attorney hired by the LSO in 34 years, the DOJ said. Staffers' duties include legal services such as drafting bills for use by all members of the Senate.

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"Discriminatory employment practices, like paying a Black employee less than their White colleagues for the same work, are not only unfair, they are unlawful," Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said in a statement.

"The Black employee at issue in this lawsuit was paid about half the salary of her White colleagues in violation of federal law. This lawsuit makes clear that race-based pay discrimination will not be tolerated in our economy," she added.

The suit claims Metcalfe resigned following eight years on the job after her requests for a pay increase were denied then-Senate Rules Committee Chairman Terry Burton and other committee members.

Federal officials say they are seeking back pay and compensatory damages for Metcalfe as well as an injunction barring the Mississippi Senate from further alleged pay discrimination.

Republican Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann's and Gov. Tate Reeves' offices did not immediately respond to a request for comment sought by The (Jackson, Miss.) Clarion Ledger.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps of Iran was working through agents to kill an American journalist and plot an assassination of President-elect Donald Trump, the Department of Justice alleged in a complaint shared Friday.

According to the DOJ, Farhad Shakeri, Carlisle Rivera and Jonathon Loadholt were all involved in a series of murder-for-hire plots on behalf of the Revolutionary Guard Corps. Shakeri was allegedly approached by the IRGC in October and asked to plot an assassination of Trump.

Rivera and Loadholt have both been arrested. The pair appeared in court on Friday over charges related to the journalist assassination plot. The journalist in question was not named in the criminal complaint but appears to be Masih Alinejad, a critic of the current Iranian regime. She shared her reaction to the arrest of Rivera and Loadholt on X.

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"I am shocked. I just learned from the [FBI] that two men were arrested yesterday in a new plot to kill me at Fairfield University, where I was scheduled to give a talk."

Shakeri is still at large and believed to be in Iran.

There are few actors in the world that pose as grave a threat to the national security of the United States as does Iran, said Attorney General Merrick Garland in a statement announcing the charges. The Justice Department has charged an asset of the Iranian regime who was tasked by the regime to direct a network of criminal associates to further Irans assassination plots against its targets, including President-elect Donald Trump."

Trump was the target of an assassination attempt in July and another apparent attempt in September. Trump blamed Iran for those attempts. The new charges center around an alleged plot headed by Shakeri that was hatched after the two attempts on Trump's life.

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Tensions between Trump and Iran nearly escalated into war during his first term when he ordered the assassination of top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in 2020.

The president-elect previously fantasized about revenge against the state over the assassination plot, writing in July he hope[s] that America obliterates Iran in the event of his death.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a lawsuit Friday against the Mississippi state Senate for discriminating against a former Black staffer.

The woman, a former staff attorney in the states Legislative Services Office, was paid about half of what her white counterparts were paid.

The Justice Departments claim argues the state Senate violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits racial discrimination in compensation, among other things.

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Discriminatory employment practices, like paying a Black employee less than their white colleagues for the same work, are not only unfair, they are unlawful, said Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division.

This lawsuit makes clear that race-based pay discrimination will not be tolerated in our economy. Our work to eliminate race-based pay disparities is about promoting compliance with the law and promoting equity and fairness for all workers.

When Kristie Metcalfe was hired by the Mississippi state Senate in 2011, she was the first Black person to be hired in 34 years.

But according to the DOJs complaint, Metcalfe was offered a starting salary of $55,000  significantly less than white hires and the lowest starting salary in 15 years.

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According to the lawsuit, Metcalfes starting salary was 60 percent of what the next closest white attorneys salary was. The highest salary was more than $121,000.

The lawsuit argues Metcalfe was paid less even though she was being hired to do substantially the same as that of her white colleagues.

In January 2012, Metcalfes colleagues were given a raise, but she was not.

Another employee with no previous experience was hired for the same position Metcalfe currently worked and was offered a starting salary of $101,500.

When Metcalfe complained and demanded a raise, the Senate denied her request. She resigned shortly thereafter.

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The DOJ is seeking back pay and compensatory damages for Metcalfe, as well as injunctive and other appropriate relief.

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President-elect Donald Trumps return to the White House could be a bumpy ride because he has not pledged to avoid conflicts of interest, among other ethical concerns, while in office.

The New York Times reported that Trumps transition team missed the Oct. 1 deadline to submit an ethics plan in accordance with the Presidential Transition Act. Whats more is NYT reported that Trumps assembled transition team has refused to participate in the established transition process, usually beginning months before elections.

The team has also missed numerous deadlines for signing agreements required to participate in national security meetings and to gain access to federal agencies.

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While transition planning is private activity, it is deeply connected to the activity of our government and the stewardship of public resources, said Max Stier, the president and chief executive of the Partnership for Public Service. The nonpartisan group assists presidential candidates with the transition through the Center for Presidential Transition.

Stier added, The avoidance of conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflicts of interest is critical to that task.

Trump was the very reason Congress amended the Presidential Transition Act law in 2019, which requires candidates to post an ethics plan with information on how eligible presidential candidates will address their own conflicts of interest during a presidential term.

Although Trumps transition leadership has drafted an ethics code and statement to govern its staff, NYT reported that Trumps plan was not included.
Douglas County observes Veterans Day each year with a variety of events, culminating with their annual Veterans Day Parade.

This year, the parade will start at Douglas County High School at 11 a.m on Saturday, before following a route through downtown Douglasville.

According to county officials, the parade marks the end of multiple Veterans-focused events throughout the week.

Douglas County officials said Operation Greenlight is a national effort to unite counties in support of American military veterans.

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Operation Greenlight is a powerful reminder of the sacrifices veterans have made, and we are excited to shine a light on their contributions, stated Board of Commissioners Chairman Dr. Romona Jackson Jones. As a fellow veteran, my gratitude extends well beyond November, and I would like to personally say thank you to all the veterans for answering the call of duty with valor and sacrifice while protecting and defending our rights to freedom.

Now in the third year of operation, officials said Operation Greenlight is meant to shine a light on the challenges veterans face after leaving the armed services and to highlight resources available to help them on the county, state and federal levels.

More than 300 counties participated in Operation Greenlight in 2023, Douglas County officials said.

Here are some of the previous programs Douglas County put on to commemorate our nations veterans and honor them for their sacrifices:

Operation Greenlight, illuminating the Douglas County Courthouse in green from Nov. 4 to Nov. 11

Veterans Resource Fair held on Nov. 6

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The Copernicus Climate Change Service, a European Union organization that monitors global heating, announced on Thursday that the year 2024 will be 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial levels. That means humanity has passed a critical threshold established in 2015 in the Paris climate accord.

After 10 months of 2024 it is now virtually certain that 2024 will be the warmest year on record and the first year of more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels according to the ERA5 dataset," Samantha Burgess, deputy director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), said in a statement. "This marks a new milestone in global temperature records and should serve as a catalyst to raise ambition for the upcoming Climate Change Conference, COP29.

"This latest record sends another stark warning to governments at COP29 of the urgent need for action to limit any further warming," said Liz Bentley, chief executive of the Royal Meteorological Society, to the BBC.

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The EU agency announced this moment as nations all over the world gather in the Azerbaijani city of Baku for the 29th Conference of the Parties. The ERA5 dataset found that global temperatures in 2024 were on average 1.55 degrees Celsius higher than the 1.48 degrees threshold measured in 2023. The report also noted climate change-fueled major weather events in 2024 such as torrential floods in Spain and rapidly melting Antarctic sea ice.

Speaking to Salon in August, Dr. Ken Caldeira, an atmospheric scientist at the Carnegie Institution for Science's Department of Global Ecology, warned that passing the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold would be a devastating benchmark.

"A year above 1.5 degrees Celsius is unprecedented in human history," Caldeira said. "Nevertheless, it is important to remember that each carbon dioxide emission causes another increment of global warming and so each emission avoided is an increment of global warming avoided."

With the recent reelection of Donald Trump, the United States is expected to renege on its recent commitments to protect the planet, as climate change experts express alarm over his denial of climate science and his history of eroding environmental protections. At the same time, the United States is not the primary culprit behind greenhouse gas emissions.

"There has been considerable progress in cutting carbon emissions in several countries, such as the United States, but those cuts are lost in the increases by the two most populous countries: China and India," Dr. Kevin Trenberth  a distinguished scholar at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, worked for the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) and has published more than 600 articles on climatology  told Salon in July. "Population matters. While developing countries continue to improve their standards of living, especially by bringing electricity to all, this should be done using renewable energy rather than burning coal, oil and gas. Because of the downstream effects on climate change, the real costs of using fossil fuels have not been properly appreciated. Indeed, there is a great need to decarbonize the economy of all nations and put an appropriate price on carbon emissions."
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCN)  As North Carolina voters were deep into early voting some polling had Kamala Harris ahead in the state by one or two points. Yes, thats within the margin of error, but ended up giving false hope to Democrats.

Donald Trump ended up winning N.C. for the third election in a row, this time by three points, at 51% to 48%.

The East Carolina University poll released the day before the election had Trump winning with 50 percent of the vote and Harris at 48. One point off, but still correct in predicting the winner.

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Peter Francia, professor of political science and director of the ECU Center for Survey Research, said factoring in recall vote is an important part of their methodology. That means asking people how they voted in the 2020 election.

Theres a subgroup of Republicans that dont trust polls. They dont trust universities, they dont trust media organizations, and they dont want to talk and take part in those polls. And of course, they vote. So you dont want to miss key segments of the electorate when you do a poll, said Francia.

Professor Francia makes sure the candidates who voters say they voted for in the last election actually match up with that elections final result which allows better accuracy.

And that helps make sure that we dont miss any of those shy Trump voters. There are some pollsters who dont do that, and I suspect that when everybody does their autopsy of the polls at the end of this election, were going to find that the pollsters who did not vote on recalled vote missed, sometimes by big margins, and the pollsters who did vote on recalled vote were the ones that were the most accurate, said Francia.

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In the race for governor, the ECU poll was spot on. It had Democrat Josh Stein winning with 55% of the vote, Republican Mark Robinson with 40% and third party candidate Mike Ross with 3%. Thats exactly how it ended up.

As with all polls, voters were asked how they planned to vote if they hadnt already done so. But since the poll was done while people were already early voting they were also able to ask people how they voted. That also helped with accuracy.

The fact that we can get early voters to take our poll gives us data that is certainly on firmer ground than asking somebody how theyll vote in the future, and there were a considerable number of early voters in our sample, said Francia.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Several parades will be held this weekend and on Monday, Nov. 11 to honor those who have served the United States in military service and to recognize Veterans Day.

Saturday, Nov. 9, the United American Veterans Organization will be hosting its annual Veterans Day Parade along the streets of Downtown El Paso.

The parade begins at 10 a.m. This years theme is In Honor of our Past and Present Military History. The main viewing area will be on the eastside of the County Courthouse.

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Veterans Day is Monday, Nov. 11 but El Paso tends to celebrate veterans and their contributions for multiple days leading up to the holiday.

Also Saturday, San Elizario will host its annual Veterans Day Parade which starts at 9 a.m. and ends up at Veterans Memorial Plaza, where there will be a celebration of Veterans.

On Monday, the annual annual Veterans Day Parade in Northeast El Paso will be held starting at 10 a.m. and finishing up with a ceremony at Old Glory Memorial at 11 a.m.

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SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  An elderly Shreveport man faces up to 8 1/2 years in prison for strangling and beating his wife in September of 2023.

A Caddo Parish jury found John Lafleur, 79, guilty of domestic abuse strangulation, attempted cruelty to the infirm and simple battery.

According to testimony, on September 20, 2023, the victims daughter-in-law arrived at the couples home in the 8600 block Shelton Avenue to take her grocery shopping and was shocked to see the victim had horrendous bruising on her face, neck, chest, arms and legs. When they arrived at the store, employees encouraged her to report her injuries to the police.

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Shreveport police looking for suspect in alleged hit-and-run

The victim recounted how Lafleur had savagely beaten her one week prior and had refused to allow her to call police or leave the home. The victim testified Lafleur threatened to kill her if she reported the abuse. The jury heard three witnesses and viewed photographs of the victims injuries before deliberating. They returned the verdict in less than two hours.

When Lafleur returns to Judge Donald Hathaways court December 17, 2024, he faces up to three years in prison for domestic abuse strangulation, up to five years for attempted cruelty to the infirm, both at hard labor, and six months in the parish jail for simple battery.

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WASHINGTON  Tech mogul Elon Musk briefly joined President-elect Donald Trump's phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Musk, who campaigned for Trump in the final weeks of the 2024 race, was not scheduled to be on the call but walked into the room and greeted Zelenskyy, according to the source. He was not part of a substantive conversation between the two leaders, the person said.

Neither Zelenskyy nor Trump had previously disclosed that Musk was on the call. Axios first reported his participation, which was confirmed by other outlets.

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Trump transition team officials declined requests for comment Friday. Neither Musk nor the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington, D.C., immediately responded to requests for comment.

Zelenskyy on Wednesday described his call with Trump as "excellent."

"We agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our cooperation," Zelenskyy continued in a post on X. "Strong and unwavering U.S. leadership is vital for the world and for a just peace."

On Saturday, a source in Zelenskyy's office confirmed that Musk joined the phone call, saying that Musk was not "directly on the call," and did not participate for the entire conversation.

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"President Trump was likely near Musk and at some point handed him the phone," the source said. "Thats not the same as being directly on the call. President Zelensky thanked Musk for the Starlink. They spoke briefly."

"Overall, Zelenskyy greeted Trump, and they had a very warm conversation," the source added.

Trump has previously claimed that he could have the war "settled" in one day, asserting that if he became president-elect, "Ill get it done before even becoming president." He did not lay out a plan for doing so.

During Trump's lone debate against Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump refused to say whether he wanted Ukraine, a U.S. ally, to win the war.

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"I think its in the U.S. best interest to get this war finished and just get it done, all right," he said. "Negotiate a deal."

Vice President-elect JD Vance has also suggested that Ukraine should be ready to give up some of its territory to end the war.

Musk has also had phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a source with knowledge of the matter. The conversations were first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Near the start of the war, after Russia invaded, Musk helped provide internet support for Ukraine. Emergency Starlink receivers played a key role in helping Ukrainians communicate. Starlink systems are a service that is part of SpaceX, which Musk owns.

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But he has also angered Ukrainians for suggesting the country give up some of its territory to Russia. In October 2022, he suggested that Ukraine cede Crimea to Russia as part of a possible peace deal, drawing rebukes from Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian officials.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Erie Arts and Culture brought together supporters for their organizations annual meeting to show off all their latest developments.

The organization works with many public and private institutions year-round to help promote artistic projects in our communities.

NPAA celebrates 50 years of artistic expression at Mercyhurst

This years meeting also served as a welcome to the organizations new office space in the historic Cashiers House on State Street.

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The report serves as a way for Erie Arts and Culture to help show off what theyve been doing, and to help lay out a clear vision of where theyre going.

Kiwanis Club starts up new charter at Erie High School

We have a partnership with the state that grants us that service region, and we do arts and education programming, grant making, and we serve folk and traditional arts. Our goal is to make sure that everyone in northwestern Pennsylvania has access to what they need to live a creative and engaged life, said Casey Corritore, executive director of Erie Arts and Culture.

Erie Arts and Culture covers not just Erie County, but six counties in northwest Pennsylvania.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
An aura of honor and respect for those who have served fill the Erie County Courthouse Friday.

Community members and leaders gathered for the countys annual Veterans Day ceremony.

Gannon Universitys ROTC battalion hosts veterans ceremony paying tribute to those served

The program included the presentation of colors by Cathedral Preps AF JROTC, musical selections and guest speakers, including Pennsylvania Brigadier General Maureen Weigl from Harrisburg.

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Joe Benacci, the director of veterans services, said this is a day of celebration.

Erie VA Medical Center asks for public feedback at community meeting

Dont forget. Sometimes we have a habit of forgetting. See a veteran, you can tell they have their hats on or the jackets or the shirts, just walk up and say thanks, said Benacci.

Erie County thanks all veterans, including the 62 that they employ for their service.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
Forty-three monkeys bred for research escaped from their South Carolina compound Wednesday, but they havent gone far.

The animals, all young female rhesus macaques, made a break for it after an employee at the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center in Yemassee neglected to latch the doors to an enclosure that housed 50 monkeys. When one monkey took off, it was kind of like follow-the-leader, with the others making a mad dash, Alpha Genesis CEO Greg Westergaard told The New York Times.

Seven monkeys hung back, but it appears that they werent totally abandoned by their newly free comrades. As of Friday, the escapees were exploring the outside of the facilitys perimeter fence and engaging with those still inside by cooing to them, the Yemassee Police Department said in an update.

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Alpha Genesis breeds monkeys and sells them for medical and other research. The young escapees all weigh around 7 pounds, and have not been tested on or infected with anything. Local police have emphasized the monkeys are harmless, but also urged the public to stay away from them.

A young wild rhesus macaque is pictured in Dharmsala, India, in June 2020. AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia

As of May, the Yemassee facility held 6,701 primates. A similar escape happened in 2016, when 19 monkeys reportedly got out for about six hours before they were returned to the facility.

On social media, fans of the 43 monkeys have cheered for their liberation and also joked about a Planet of the Apes style scenario.

If you see one of the 43 escaped monkeys from the research lab in South Carolina, no you didnt.  Rabbit (@vinylrabbit) November 8, 2024

What if we kissed underneath the tree filled with escaped research monkeys  Brunette Bohemian (@Jane_Doe82) November 8, 2024

Cooing at the remaining monkeys inside is killing me Not them giving the other monkeys directions on how to escape https://t.co/qnJs2gW30G  Your Fav Disabled Hottie (@nilanmorton) November 8, 2024

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43 monkeys escaped from a research facility in South Carolina and Im so tired of living thru every dystopian/sci fi novel to exist at the same time  chelsea  (@ct_jg) November 8, 2024

Notice how they dont abandoned the ones stuck inside. Be like them. https://t.co/RI3pWPKoT5  David AttenBruh (@AlHendiify) November 9, 2024

Run, Caesar! Dont let them catch you.   Shane (@shizzyshane215) November 8, 2024

Related...
Josep Borrell, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has arrived in Kyiv on his fifth visit since the start of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Source: Borrell on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: This particular visit will be his last one as the EU chief diplomat.

Quote from Borrell: "In Kyiv for my 5th visit since Russias full-scale invasion and last one as HRVP [High Representative/Vice President of the European Union  ed.].

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EU support to Ukraine has been my personal priority during my mandate and will remain on top of the EUs agenda."

More details: He also posted a photo from Kyiv Central Railway Station.

Background:

Borrell believes Ukraine needs stronger security guarantees.

During his visit to South Korea on Monday, Borrell also urged the country to increase its support for Ukraine amidst concerns in Seoul over the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia.

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By Andrew Silver

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - The EU does not want a trade war with Beijing but five years of talks have yielded no real progress, the bloc's ambassador to China said on Saturday, adding that concern was growing over Chinese market access for European medical devices.

Trade frictions between the bloc and China have intensified over the past year after the EU launched an investigation into Chinese-made imports of electric vehicles (EVs) that prompted Beijing to launch probes into Europe's pork and dairy industries and curb brandy imports.

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New EU tariffs of up to 45.3% on Chinese EV imports came into effect last week.

On top of that, the EU launched a probe into China's public procurement of medical devices in April, which Beijing swiftly criticised at the time.

Speaking at an event in Shanghai, the EU's Ambassador to China Jorge Toledo said talks with European medical device makers had shown they were being discriminated against in Chinese public procurement.

"We have found out, that it's clear ... European companies, that have been producing medical devices in China for the last two decades, are being discriminated against their Chinese competitors in public procurement," Toledo said at the 30th anniversary celebration of the China Europe International Business School.

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"If that is true, and we know it's true, we will treat Chinese companies in Europe the same way we are treated here," he said. "We don't want a trade war. We just want transparency. We want a level playing field."

(Reporting by Andrew Silver; Writing by Brenda Goh; Editing by Helen Popper)
EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell arrived in Kiev on Saturday to hold talks with Ukrainian leaders for what is likely to be the last time before his term comes to an end.

"EU support to Ukraine has been my personal priority during my mandate and will remain on top of the EU's agenda," Borrell wrote on X.

He was met at the train station by the EU ambassador to Ukraine, Katarina Mathernova. He is to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later on Saturday.

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It is Borrell's fifth and final visit to the city since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in his capacity as EU foreign affairs chief, as his five-year term draws to a close.

Former Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas was appointed to succeed Borrell in July.
KYIV (Reuters) - EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell sought to reassure Ukraine of Europe's unwavering support on Saturday, days after Donald Trump's election win cast uncertainty over its war effort.

Borrell, the first top EU official to visit Kyiv since Trump's win, said that the purpose of his visit was to stress EU support for Ukraine, as its war with Russia nears 1,000 days.

The European Union has already provided 122 billion euros ($131 billion) in military and financial support to Ukraine and trained about 60,000 Ukrainian soldiers, said Borrell, adding that the bloc aimed to reach 75,000 by the end of the winter.

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"This support remains unwavering. This support is absolutely needed for you to continue defending yourself against Russia's aggression," Borrell said during a joint news conference with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister in Kyiv.

"We need faster deliveries and fewer self-imposed red lines," he said, reaffirming his support for Ukraine's plea to allow long-range strikes on military targets inside Russia.

Support from Western allies has been key to Ukraine's ability to defend itself against Russia's much larger and better-equipped enemy.

Although the United States is a key ally, Trump has criticised the scale of its military and financial support for Kyiv and has pledged to end the war quickly, without saying how.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was among the first leaders to congratulate Trump and said that his conversations with the U.S. president-elect should continue.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that Kyiv hoped for continued U.S. leadership in helping achieve "just peace", adding that the teams would start to prepare a potential future meeting between the two leaders. He gave no other details.

Borrell, who is set to leave office next month, said that EU defence ministers would gather next week to discuss continued support to Ukraine, both military and diplomatic, and would make a case for "boosting support at this critical hour".

Ukrainian troops are on the back foot on the frontline as Russia steadily advances in the eastern Donetsk region. Russian forces currently occupy about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

($1 = 0.9330 euros)

(Reporting by Yurii Kovalenko and Olena Harmash; Editing by Alexander Smith)
The European Union's chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, arrived in Kyiv on Nov. 9 for his fifth trip to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

In a social media post on X, Borrell vowed that the EU's support for Ukraine has always been his "personal priority" and should remain on top of the bloc's agenda.

Borrell's latest visit to Kyiv as the EU's high representative for foreign and security policy comes a few days after Republican candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump secured victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Although Trump has remained vague about his foreign policy plans, his sweeping victory added further uncertainty for Ukraine regarding the future of Western military aid in its defense against the ongoing Russian invasion.

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Amid uncertainty about the level of U.S. support for Ukraine under Trump's leadership, attention has shifted to Europe and its potential to take the lead in navigating the largest European war since World War II.

Borrell arrived in Kyiv after visiting South Korea earlier in November, where he encouraged Seoul to step up its support for Ukraine amid rising concerns over North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian troops in the war against Ukraine.

Borrell has been a strong supporter of Ukraine. In August, he urged Western allies to lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western long-range weapons to strike Russian military targets.

Read also: Before Trump begins, Biden has 6 weeks left to help Ukraine  heres what he could do

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
NEW YORK  Mohamed Bahi, Mayor Eric Adams former Muslim community liaison at City Hall, is in discussions with federal prosecutors about a potential plea deal after being charged with obstructing the corruption investigation that led to the mayors indictment, according to a new court filing.

The filing, submitted this week by Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams office, said prosecutors and Bahis attorney have since his Oct. 8 indictment had discussions regarding a possible disposition of this case.

The feds wrote the plea talks remain ongoing and requested all filing deadlines be frozen until at least Dec. 9 to continue the foregoing discussions and reach a disposition of this matter.

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It wasnt clear from the court papers whether any plea would require Bahi to cooperate in the corruption investigation that resulted in Adams indictment.

A spokesman for Williams declined to comment Friday. Bahis lawyer, Derek Adams, didnt return a request for comment.

The mayor has pleaded not guilty to charges of bribery, fraud, conspiracy and soliciting illegal campaign contributions.

The charges stem from accusations that the mayor solicited and accepted illegal campaign cash and bribes, including luxury travel perks, from Turkish government operatives and others in exchange for doing official government favors, including resolving building safety issues. The feds say they are likely to bring a superseding indictment against the mayor that could include additional charges and defendants.

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To date, Bahi is the only other person to be charged in the Turkey-related probe. Bahi, who also worked for Adams 2021 campaign, resigned from his City Hall job the day before the feds unsealed charges against him.

According to his indictment, Bahi helped an unidentified New York businessman illegally pump $10,000 into Adams 2021 campaign by giving most of the cash in the names of employees of his construction company.

The indictment doesnt name the businessman, but The New York Daily News previously confirmed he is Tolib Mansurov, an influential member of the citys Uzbek community and owner of United Elite Group, a Manhattan construction company, who sought help from Adams with resolving Buildings Department issues once he became mayor.

Specifically, prosecutors allege Mansurov told the mayor in a text on Feb. 5, 2023, that he had always supported you, but was having a hard time with the Department of Buildings related to permits for a luxury condo building his company was constructing in Brooklyn.

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Let me look into this, Adams texted back, according to court papers.

About a week and a half later, the Buildings Department lifted a stop-work order on Mansurovs project.

Mayor, brother I want to thank you for your help. DOB issue partially resolved and they promised to expedite the process. Thank you, you have my continued support, Mansurov texted Adams after the stop-work order was lifted, prosecutors say.

Mansurov was raided by federal authorities this past June.

Shortly after that raid, prosecutors allege Bahi met with Mansurov and instructed him and his four employees to lie to federal investigators about the source of their contributions to Adams. Prosecutors allege Bahi told Mansurov the mayor believed Mansurov would not cooperate with law enforcement.

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Bahi, whos facing witness tampering charges for his alleged communications with Mansurov, also is accused in his indictment of deleting evidence of misconduct once FBI agents raided his home this summer. The deleted evidence included texts exchanged with the mayor, according to the feds.

While saying he never instructed anyone to commit crimes, Adams told reporters after Bahis indictment that he always found him to be thoughtful and willing to go into all the communities.

(Staff writer Molly Crane-Newman contributed to this story.)
AUSTIN (KXAN)  A complaint was filed by the city of Austin Office of the City Auditor with the Ethics Review Commission (ERC) against former interim city manager Jesus Garza for allegedly violating the citys code of ethics.

KXAN reached out to the city of Austin, and a spokesperson provided this statement:

The City of Austin has been apprised of this allegation, which has now been referred to the Ethics Review Commission, and will let the process run its course.

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Shortly after Garza was appointed interim city manager in February 2023, he was accused of violating the city code for hiring two people without getting approval from the Austin City Council, according to an independent investigation conducted by the city auditors office.

The investigation said Garza used his official position to secure a special privilege for Joe Canales and Laura Huffman. They were both hired as subcontractors under the citys 2017 contract with PFM Financial Advisors, LLC (PFM FA). The city executed that contract with PFM FA, which provides financial advisor services.

The city auditors office said both Canales and Huffman were paid more than $265,000 in city funds. The city charter limits the city managers purchasing authority with amounts up to $76,000, according to the investigation.

The original contract with the financial advisor firm has a scope of work focused on financing programs, studies of fees and enterprise funds, and other financial focused items. The scope of work for Canales and Huffman focused on organizational health and structure, workforce initiatives, problem identification, and project tracking, the city auditors office said in a statement.

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A statement provided on behalf of Garza said he disagreed with the complaint and report.

Read that full statement below:

I disagree with the complaint and report. In early 2023, the City of Austin faced an emergencywith multiple unprecedented crises and challenges highlighted in 2021 and 2022 City Auditor reports, including the aftermath of recent winter storms, issues with our 911 call center and the need to restore public confidence in city departments. It was essential to have the right expertise, so in the essence of time, I brought two highly skilled former City of Austin employees to address and solve these issues effectively. They upended their lives to serve the city and organization they care deeply about, achieving widely recognized and outstanding results that fully justified their compensation. The hiring of these individuals did not require formal City Council approval, as they were brought in as subcontractors under an existing City contract managed and approved by the Finance Department. The process used was vetted and approved by third parties. I believe this report and the allegations unfortunately overlook the urgency of the situation, and the valuable work done by these dedicated professionals. Jesus Garza statement on the report

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
By Virginia Furness

BAKU (Reuters) -Countries at the U.N. COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan will attempt to agree rules for a global system for trading carbon offset credits.

Here's what you should know:

WHAT ARE CARBON OFFSETS?

Some governments and companies may struggle to reduce their planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions to meet their climate targets. Supporters of carbon offsets see them as a key means to help meet these goals.

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These offsets allow one nation or company to offset some of their emissions by paying for actions to cut emissions elsewhere. These actions might include rural solar panel installations or converting a fleet of petrol buses to electric.

WHAT IS ARTICLE 6?

Article 6 of the Paris Agreement helps countries work together to reduce their carbon emissions. It sets out two options for countries and companies to trade offsets, helping them meet the goals they set to reduce planetary-warming gases in their climate action plans, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs).

One allows two countries to set their own terms for a bilateral carbon trading agreement, this is known as Article 6.2. The second aims to create a central, UN-managed system for countries and companies to begin offsetting their carbon emissions and trading those offsets, known as Article 6.4.

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Article 6 is seen an important mechanism for delivering climate finance to developing countries, and a Paris Agreement carbon market, if launched, could continue operating even if the United States under Donald Trump withdraws support for the Paris Agreement.

WHAT'S BEEN DECIDED SO FAR?

At the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, negotiators reached a breakthrough agreement that established a broad rulebook to regulate trading of carbon credits.

But after two weeks of talks at COP28 in Dubai, countries failed to seal a deal on necessary details to operationalise a central carbon trading system or to clarify rules for nations wanting to make bilateral arrangements.

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Some countries like Japan and Indonesia have decided to press ahead with bilateral agreements without those clarifications and are already preparing to trade carbon credits, known as "internationally transferable mitigation outcomes" (ITMOs). The UN says 91 agreements had been made between 56 countries as of October this year. Thailand and Switzerland completed the first sale in January, and the market for bilateral trade agreements is still quite small.

Some buyers are worried there are not adequate rules to stop countries changing the terms of the agreements, or revoking them, and that there is not a robust system to ensure that credits bought and sold are not being counted by both the buying and selling countries.

WHAT WILL BE DECIDED AT COP29?

Officials are keen to secure an early "win" on Article 6 at this year's climate conference.

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Market watchers are hopeful an agreement can be reached to set guardrails for the bilateral agreements and to operationalise the UN-backed centralised marketplace.

Guardrails include checks and balances to provide assurance countries are buying and selling actual emissions reductions. Some countries for example want methods nations use to generate credits to be checked internationally.

Countries will also negotiate whether the UN's central registry can itself house credits that can be transacted and retired or whether it should operate just for accounting purposes.

An expert group elected under United Nations rules has already hammered out a framework for the multilateral trading system to ensure credits meet basic quality standards. But countries at COP29 can decide to either sign off on this standard, open up further discussions, or reject it.

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After COP29, the technical expert group will meet again to agree which methodologies for generating carbon credits through cookstoves projects or reforestation for example can issue credits into the new Paris Aligned system.

If the key points are resolved this year, the system could launch as soon as 2025.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE VOLUNTARY CARBON MARKET?

Some companies that are under no legal obligation to cut their emissions have set voluntary targets, which they can meet partially through buying credits on a voluntary carbon market. In 2022, the voluntary market was valued at about $2 billion worldwide. But the market value plummeted to $723 million last year after being shaken by repeated scandals.

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Linking up carbon projects currently in the voluntary market with the Paris Agreement system could boost confidence.

Developers of projects like mangrove restoration to regenerative agriculture can apply to have their credits sold under the UN system, meaning that if approved, they could sell in either that system or on the voluntary market. Experts expect UN-approved credits to carry a higher price tag.

(Reporting by Virginia Furness; editing by David Evans)
By William James

BAKU (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of people from around the globe will gather next week for COP29, the annual U.N. climate summit, in Azerbaijan's capital of Baku.

But as each year's summit has produced its own set of promises, plans and paperwork to chase, the rationale for these discussions can be hard to follow.

Here's what you need to know about why COP, short for Conference of the Parties, matters:

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WHY DO WE HAVE A YEARLY COP?

Because climate change will affect every country, regardless of whether it contributed to the problem, it demands global solutions that can address the diversity of needs across countries.

In signing the 1992 U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that launched the global negotiations, the parties that agreed to it took pains to differentiate between the wealthy nations that caused the bulk of warming and poorer countries that suffer disproportionately from it.

Put another way, the talks are framed around the idea that the countries that benefited the most from industrialising should take the most responsibility for dealing with the warming that resulted.

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Addressing that imbalance has become more difficult as developing countries' economies have grown and rich nations juggle competing costs including war.

WHAT CAN A YEARLY SUMMIT ACHIEVE?

The summit provides a place for countries to discuss solutions, including energy policies, financing schemes or funding needs.

Nearly every summit is also attended by world leaders, giving an important signal that their countries are committed to the UNFCCC goals. The leaders' presence also helps countries hold one another accountable for past promises.

But the annual COP is just the main event in a continuous process. Country representatives meet year round to build support for new climate action proposals ahead of the COP, where they can be agreed by consensus of all countries.

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IS THE PROCESS WORKING?

While each summit is meant to advance global climate action from the year before, the event also offers countries a chance to show their citizens the problem is being addressed.

Importantly, the exercise has seen countries counting and reporting their emissions, and has helped move hundreds of billions of dollars in climate aid to developing nations.

By requiring decisions by consensus, the process also ensures strong global support for agreed actions, improving the chances these actions will be implemented.

But the pace of progress has been too slow to contain the rise in global temperatures. Since COP summits began in 1995, both emissions and temperatures have continued to rise, meaning the world is on track for extreme climate change.

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Proponents of the UNFCCC process say there is no alternative for negotiating major socioeconomic changes to try to limit global warming.

WHAT WILL WE GET OUT OF COP29?

This year's summit is hoping for a few headline agreements: a new annual climate finance target, a deal to get multilateral carbon credit markets working, and more aid money pledged for countries already hit by costly climate disasters.

Beyond that, negotiators will continue to work on technical agreements that build on work done at previous summits.

Outside the formal COP framework, groups of countries could launch their own initiatives or pledge funding for specific projects. Companies will likely announce commercial deals related to climate action, while financiers try to raise cash for climate investments.

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WHAT IS AZERBAIJAN'S ROLE IN COP29?

Azerbaijan holds the presidency of COP29 this year, when the rotating COP presidency fell to Central and Eastern Europe.

Next year Brazil will serve as Latin America's host for COP30.

As summit host, a country works the entire year to steer pre-summit negotiations and lobby other governments for ambitious action. This gives the presidency an important part in defining the summit's priorities.

WHAT ELSE HAPPENS AT A COP?

Beyond the country negotiations, the COP summit offers a chance for anyone to try to draw attention - or funding - to their cause.

Hundreds of side events see activists and scientists rubbing shoulders with industry lobbyists and banking heavyweights.

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Public-facing conference stages host panel discussions on topics from ocean acidification to designing carbon offset projects.

An exhibition hall, dubbed the "Green Zone," features discussions led by national delegations, non-profit organisations and corporations.

While some summits have seen big organized protests, such as the rally of thousands outside of COP26 in Glasgow in 2021, the last two conferences in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have allowed for protests only in designated, roped-off areas.

Azerbaijan, which also has banned public protests, will likely see little civic action outside of the high-security conference site.

(Reporting by William James; Editing by Katy Daigle and Barbara Lewis)
SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  Visit Shreveport-Bossier held a press conference revealing their most anticipated seasonal events across North and Central Louisiana.

In the heart of downtown Shreveport-Bossier there will be Snow Port with Sci Port, Believe with the Shreveport Aquarium, Rockets over the Red, and much more.

Weve got seven more weekends till Christmas, its kind of scary, but with the seven destinations you can have make sure your family is having a great time every single weekend. So it doesnt matter what youre interested in, theres going to be something for you on the Louisiana Holiday Trail of Lights, said Stacy Brown, President, Visit Shreveport-Bossier.

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Veterans Day free event honors military and first responders

The Holiday Trail of Lights formed in 1992 to enhance the holiday experiences. It includes partnership from Minden, Ruston, Monroe-West Monroe, Natchitoches, Logansport, and Alexandria/Pineville.

Jill Leo, the director of festival and events for the Natchitoches historic business association said, our festival has grown a lot in 98 years. It started with one weekend and now weve spread to almost seven weekends. We continue to grow and like I said this festival means so much to our downtown and our area, its the livelihood of many of our businesses, and the economic development and the joy that it brings our town is just priceless.

In Natchitoches, the holiday lights turn on November 23rd which begins a festive season of drone shows, cookies with Santa, a tour of homes, boat parade and their historic Festival of Lights Parade.

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The traditions and things that have been instilled in Natchitoches are definitely something to be proud of. We were probably one of the first I guess you could say Christmas capitals of Louisiana, Jill Leo, Director of festival and events, Natchitoches historic business association

Brown says no matter how many times you have experienced the trail, there is always something new to see.

Thats a commitment that each of our partners throughout the Holiday Trail of Lights made is to make sure were constantly bringing about new product, fresh ideas, great things for people to see and do and really concentrating on the experiences, said Brown.

Serena Gray, Vice President of Marketing and Communications with Visit Shreveport-Bossier says the strength of the trail comes from local people and small businesses.

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We can have attractions that are permanent to our destinations, but diversifying that product truly comes in when you have local people who love Christmas, who love the holidays, and they want to contribute to the greater good of the community and bring joy to the community, said Gray.

Each town and partner will have events throughout the holiday season.

I truly believe that as we continue to grow this could eventually turn into a Louisiana trail, going down into New Orleans and coming right back up, said Serena Gray, Vice President of Marketing and communications with Visit Shreveport-Bossier, said Gray.

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Claim:

Following the 2024 election of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, demonstrators at Texas State University carried signs reading "Women are property" and "Homo sex is a sin."

Rating:

Rating: True

Context:

Representatives from Texas State said the demonstrators were not affiliated with the university.

On Nov. 6, 2024, the day after former U.S. President Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election, photos appeared on social media showing two demonstrators at Texas State University in San Marcos carrying misogynistic and homophobic signs that read "Women are property" and "Homo sex is a sin."

Went outside to get lunch just now. Lost my appetite. pic.twitter.com/3KdESx8l5A  Louie Dean Valencia (@BurntCitrus) November 6, 2024

Pictures of the offensive signs quickly spread on social media, including posts on X and Reddit. Snopes readers wrote in to ask if the signs were real.

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They were.

Texas State's student newspaper, The University Star, published a photo gallery showing two demonstrators with offensive signs surrounded by at least 100 counterprotesters, some of whom were holding signs reading "Jesus loves y'all," "Jesus values and respects Texas State women" and other messaging. According to the student newspaper, the demonstrators were not affiliated with the university. Instead, they were members of The Official Street Preachers, a news organization that "covers global and local events from a Christian perspective."

The outrage over the signs led university president Kelly Damphousse to write a letter to the university community condemning the hateful speech. Damphousse noted that Texas law requires the public universities, like Texas State, "to make public outdoor campus spaces open to what are known as 'expressive activities,' even by external groups with whom none of us agree."

Some Texas State alumni left comments on social media posts noting that this was not the first time the group had appeared on campus with provocative and hateful signs.

Sources:

A Message from President Damphousse. 7 Nov. 2024, https://www.president.txst.edu/communications/email-addressing-nov-6-incident.html.

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"About Us." Official Street Preachers, https://officialstreetpreachers.com/about/.

Boles, Meg. "(Photo Gallery)  Demonstrators Spark Counter-Protest of Hundreds at TXST." The University Star, https://universitystar.com/28322/multimedia/photo-gallery-demonstrators-spark-counter-protest-of-hundreds-at-txst/. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Choueiry, Lucciana. "Demonstrators Spark Counter-Protest of Hundreds at TXST." The University Star, https://universitystar.com/28309/news/demonstrators-spark-counter-protest-of-hundreds-at-txst/. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

McGee, By Kate. "Texas State University Condemns Demonstrators Who Brought Offensive Signs to Campus." The Texas Tribune, 7 Nov. 2024, https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/07/texas-state-president-offensive-signs/.

Reporter, Jordan King US News. "'Women Are Property' Sign on Texas Campus Goes Viral after Trump Win." Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2024, https://www.newsweek.com/women-are-property-texas-state-university-donald-trump-victory-1982167.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Two women testified in front of the grand jury that Nathan Chasing Horse used his status as a Medicine Man in the Native American culture and developed bonds with them at a young age to then victimize them.

Las Vegas grand jury indicts Nathan Chasing Horse for years of sexual abuse

The 8 News Now Investigators obtained transcripts from grand jury proceedings which also reveal challenges in communicating with a third alleged victim.

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A Clark County grand jury indicted the Dances with Wolves actor in October for 21 felony charges including 10 counts of sexual assault with a minor under 16 years of age, six counts of sexual assault, two counts of possession of visual presentation depicting sexual conduct of a child, and one count each of use of a minor under the age of 14 in producing pornography, open or gross lewdness, and first-degree kidnapping of a minor. One charge dates back to 2010, according to court documents.

Nevada Supreme Court declines to drop charges against Nathan Chasing Horse

Las Vegas Metro Police said they found video of Chasing Horse sexually assaulting an underage girl. That girl was later considered to be one of Chasing Horses wives, and is now an adult. Attempts to talk to the woman have been unsuccessful as law enforcement has been met with hostility from her family, according to testimony.

Myself and another agent attempted to serve her a subpoena at her mothers house and we were greeted by her stepfather, her mother, and her brother multiple times and they even ripped the subpoena up and said that they would not be cooperative in the investigation, FBI Special Agent Tieara Jones testified.

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Accused sex predator Nathan Chasing Horse gets another chance at Nevada Supreme Court

Police arrested Chasing Horse at his North Las Vegas home on Jan. 31, 2023. Five women considered to be his wives, were taken to the police department, including the third alleged victim. Her mother showed up at Metro Police headquarters and began to yell in the lobby, according to police.

Its torture, Mother of alleged Chasing Horse victim says she lives with guilt

She was very hostile not only to law enforcement but she was also hostile toward the wives and was very upset that they had agreed to come down to Metro headquarters to speak with detectives and she began yelling at them as well, Detective Jackie Orton-McCrary testified.

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Corena Leone-Lacroix, who previously shared her story with the 8 News Now Investigators, testified she first met Chasing Horse as a child and at the age of 14, turned to him to help cure her mothers cancer. She said this was when Chasing Horse first sexually assaulted her.

I am one of the victims, Woman describes Nathan Chasing Horses alleged abuse

He said that its what the spirits had wanted, that that was the price of helping my mom, she said.

Corena Leone-Lacroix, who previously shared her story with the 8 News Now Investigators, testified she first met Chasing Horse as a child and at the age of 14, turned to him to help cure her mothers cancer. She said this was when Chasing Horse first sexually assaulted her. (KLAS)

Leone-Lacroix said Chasing Horse repeatedly sexually assaulted her when she was underage. She said she eventually moved in with Chasing Horse and became a wife. She described abuse inside the home.

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In 2019, Leone-Lacroix said she set up a Tinder profile which Chasing Horse later discovered. She testified he punished her.

Chasing Horse appeals to Nevada Supreme Court, says alleged sex abuse victim, 14, never said no

He had said that since I had wanted to be with other men so badly he could make that happen and that that could be a way I could repay the betrayal that I had done by serving other men and being a vessel by letting men have sex with me. He said that the rules were though that I was not allowed to see them so I would be wearing a blindfold. I was not allowed to say anything and I was not allowed to move or touch them in return, she said. I was just supposed to lay there and allow it to happen and that would be a way I could pay back my betrayal.

FILE  Nathan Chasing Horse, left, and Clark County public defender Kristy Holston listen during a court hearing on April 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. The sexual abuse trial of a former Dances With Wolves actor charged in Nevada with abusing Indigenous women and girls for more than a decade is on hold indefinitely, according to Clark County District Judge Carli Kierny on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil, File)

She testified this happened multiple times, both at Las Vegas hotels and inside a home.

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A second woman testified Chasing Horse sexually assaulted her and then gave her a pill. She said she later developed an ectopic pregnancy.



Leone-LaCroix also testified she was given a pill after the first alleged sexual assault and then Chasing Horse put her on birth control.

No question that he is guilty, police sergeant says of Nathan Chasing Horse

Chasing Horses followers were considered members of The Circle.



As Chasing Horse portrayed himself as a Holy Man or Medicine Man, he had gained the trust of Indigenous families and their children by using Native tradition, spiritual ceremony, and a historical belief system to bring together a sense of cultural identity that has otherwise been diluted by modern America, according to a report.

Nathan Chasing Horse with unidentified women. Chasing Horses followers were considered members of The Circle. (Kortnee Ward)

Chasing Horse was previously charged with 18 counts in Clark County District Court in connection with alleged sexual abuse against two of the three women in the current case.

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The Nevada Supreme Court dismissed the previous indictment in a Sept. 26 order and said prosecutors should not have defined grooming to the grand jury.

Nathan Chasing Horse appears to communicate with supporters in Las Vegas court appearance

Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson immediately told the 8 News Now Investigators that prosecutors would seek another indictment against Chasing Horse within weeks and would follow the dictates of Nevadas high court. The order allowed prosecutors to retry Chasing Horse.

In February 2022, a Clark County grand jury indicted Chasing Horse on a total of 19 counts. This included 10 counts of sexual assault against a minor under the age of 16, six counts of sexual assault, along with open and gross lewdness, first-degree kidnapping of a minor, and trafficking in a controlled substance. Clark County District Court Judge Carli Kierny later dropped one drug charge.

As Chasing Horse portrayed himself as a Holy Man or Medicine Man, he had gained the trust of Indigenous families and their children by using Native tradition, spiritual ceremony, and a historical belief system to bring together a sense of cultural identity that has otherwise been diluted by modern America, according to a report. (Kortnee Ward)

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Breaking the Circle: Nathan Chasing Horse Exposed

The 8 News Now Investigators have learned that similar allegations against Chasing Horse have previously been made but did not result in an arrest. The Las Vegas case is the first of several to move forward against Chasing Horse after women like Leone reported abuse.

Chasing Horse faces warrants in Montana and Canada. He has also previously been banned from several reservations.

How the definition of grooming led to the dismissal of the Nathan Chasing Horse case

Chasing Horse is accused of victimizing Indigenous underage girls and women for approximately two decades. The arrest report stated Chasing Horse is a Rosebud Sioux Indian, Lakota Tribe.

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Chasing Horse is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 13. His bond is currently $500,000 and he remains in custody. Defense attorney Craig Mueller said he has been retained to represent Chasing Horse. Previously, he was represented by the Clark County Public Defenders office.

8 News Now Investigator Vanessa Murphy can be reached at vmurphy@8newsnow.com.

To contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline, call 1-800-656-4673.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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TWIN FALLS  The United States is preparing to honor Veterans Day on Nov. 11.

In Twin Falls, Bridgeview Estates Independent Living celebrates veterans, from having a once-a-month breakfast for them to decorating an entire wall with photos of residents who served.

The facility also has a singular table in its dinning room with the U.S. flag and an Idaho flag on each side of the table.

The table is set with dishware, a red rose, a slice of lemon, a salt shaker and an inverted glass serving as a reminder of the soldiers who have fallen.

While many soldiers have fought in bloody, gruesome battles, Vernon Woody Woodland was in charge of handing out mail to soldiers.

Woodland enlisted in the army with five of his friends in the summer following his high school graduation. He said they all knew they would eventually be drafted so they decided to get ahead of the curve.

He went to Fort Lewis, Washington, for basic training before setting sail on the USS General A. W. Greely to Japan. By then the World War II was over, but the United States still occupied Japan.

Woodland was a member of the 3rd Engineer Battalion, a unit of the U.S. Army that deployed to designated contingency areas and conducted combat and stability operations when they occupied the island of Kyusu in southern Japan.

94-year-old Twin Falls veteran remembers the Battle of the Bulge Lincoln Mahaffey remembers landing at the beaches of Normandy one month after D-Day.

Woodland was located in the city of Kokura, originally a target for the first atomic bomb.

When I got there, they needed a mail clerk, Woodland told the Times-News. I kind of said I was a mailman, but I wasnt.

Every morning, Woodland and a Jeep driver would drive to the the main depot, a designated area where the mail would arrive. He would sort it and, by 11 a.m., he would deliver the mail to the soldiers.

They treated me like royalty because they were concerned that I might hold on to their mail if I got mad at them, he said. But that was never going to happen.

Woodland served 18 months while in the service.

Wayne Brown, another resident at Bridgeview Estates, was a member of the Air Force from 1955 through 1959 during the Cold War.

Nobody was trying to kill me, Brown said.

Brown served in various locations from the Bay Area in California to Okinawa, Japan.

He held a top-secret clearance position and worked on classified projects related to atomic and hydrogen weapons.

We worked on some important stuff that hardly anybody knew anything about, so even now, 60 to 70 years later I wouldnt want to say too much, he said.

Brown looks back at his time with the Air Force as memorable, recalling that the was impressed with Japanese culture.

I think it was memorable to go to Okinawa and see how they lived, he said. And the culture. This was 10 years after World War II so for the most part they were really friendly.

Veteran Robert Boyd Shepherd served 20 years in the Air Force. Seventeen of those were spent flying on various aircraft as a load master during the North Korean and Vietnam conflicts.

His duties were to mathematically preplan the correct placement of a load on the airplane, securing cargo and taking part of airdrop operations.

Load masters are seen as aircrew members and are required to fly as part of the job.

Shepherd spent three years Okinawa, and two years in Guam, where his wife, Barbara, also accompanied him.

She said being a military wife and traveling with him was challenging.

He packs his bag and leaves, and then you wait for your orders, Barbara Shepherd said.

The couple have eight grandchildren; six decided to join the military because of their grandfather.

Rex G. Hess served from 1953-56 in the Marine Corps. He underwent bootcamp and infantry training in San Diego before volunteering for sea duty.

Sea duty is service in a commissioned vessel that is homeported in the U.S. and requires members to be away from their duty station for months.

He served on the USS Essex in Japan, the Pacific and the Philippines.

After two years, he was sent back to base and finished out his service as an ambulance driver because they didnt know what to do with me, he said.

Ryan Rustici, director of sales and marketing, said Century Park, the owner of Bridgeview Estates, has always made honoring veterans a big thing.

We take pride for the people that have protected the United States and protect us, Rustici said. We want to make sure that we give back to them.

On Veterans Day, Bridgeview Estates will honor its veterans with the color guard and a plaque for all who have served.
Centrist journalist Fareed Zakaria, host of CNNs Fareed Zakaria GPS, hit Democrats with some tough love in his latest column for The Washington Post, published on Friday.

In an election postmortem, Zakaria wrote that the Dems could have put up a stronger fight against Republicans had they not flubbed key issues that inflamed the opposition and depressed their base.

To avoid appearing to have 20/20 hindsight, I should say that I noted each of these mistakes at the time, often provoking angry responses from the left, wrote Zakaria.

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According to him, such mistakes included the collapse of Americas immigration system, the misuse of law to punish Trump, and playing too much into identity politics.

In place of shutting down the border completely, liberals branded anyone protesting as heartless and racist, wrote Zakaria. As a result, they missed a massive shift in American public opinion in just a few years.

Zakaria added that Vice President Kamala Harris should have declared that she would shut down the border early and hard to distance herself from Joe Bidens administration.

Dems also got punishing Trump all wrong, said Zakaria. Despite having some legitimate criminal cases against him, a host of lawsuits piled on in rapid succession gave the impression that the legal system was being weaponized to get Trump, he wrote.

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Lawfare turned Trump from a loser into a victim, said Zakaria. And as Trumps indictments grew, his campaign contributions increased and his poll numbers solidified.

The final nail for Dems was ironically alienating populations in the name of inclusivity.

This kind of obsession made Democrats view people too much through their ethnic or racial or gender identity, wrote Zakaria. It also made Dems blind to how Trump was warming up to populations such as working-class Latinos, because they were socially conservative or liked his macho rhetoric or even agreed with his hard-line stance on immigration.

With cancel culture bleeding into the workplace and university campus, liberal ideologies became deeply illiberal, wrote Zakaria.

And he wrote that if Dems should learn any lesson from this election its this: Liberals cannot achieve liberal goalshowever virtuousby illiberal means, he wrote.
(Bloomberg) -- Richard Farley, a partner at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel, and Kirkland & Ellis partner Norm Champ are among contenders to replace Gary Gensler as chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Most Read from Bloomberg

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Robinhood Markets Inc. legal chief Dan Gallagher, current SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda and Heath Tarbert, a former chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, are also among those being considered for the job, said other people with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be identified because the information isnt public.

Also in contention are former SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins and Robert Stebbins, a partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher, some of the people said.

Members of President-elect Donald Trumps transition team and other advisers began talks with potential candidates following Tuesdays election, some of the people said. Discussions are ongoing, and a candidate may not be chosen for weeks. No matter Trumps choice, the next SEC chief is likely to scrutinize the major Gensler-era rules still pending or not yet in effect and seek less regulation for the digital-asset industry to comply with securities laws.

Farley, Champ and Uyeda declined to comment. Atkins, Stebbins, Tarbert and Gallagher didnt immediately reply to messages seeking comment.

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Gensler was nominated by President Joe Biden in February 2021 and was sworn in two months later. His term ends in 2026, and he hasnt said whether hell step down when Trump takes office.

Reuters reported earlier that Gallagher, Atkins and Stebbins are being considered for the job. The New York Post reported earlier on Farley.

--With assistance from David Voreacos, Ava Benny-Morrison and Stephanie Lai.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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Favorable weather conditions helped thousands of firefighters get the upper hand Saturday on the devastating Mountain fire that has scorched some 20,640 acres, destroyed more than 130 homes and damaged nearly 90 others  while upending the lives of Ventura County residents.

The blaze was 26% contained by Sunday morning as crews were dousing mulch fires in agricultural land north of the 118 Freeway just a few miles east from the fire's origin in the Somis neighborhood. In Santa Paula, firefighters were extinguishing smoky areas in the Santa Clara River bottom, while in the hard-hit Camarillo Heights neighborhood, they were mopping up hot spots some 300 feet in from the fire's perimeter amid burned-out shells of homes.

"A lot of resources are going to be down there today," Clint Swensen, operations chief with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said of the Camarillo Heights effort.

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The blaze started shortly before 9 a.m. Wednesday morning in a remote area near Bradley and Balcom Canyon roads amid prime Santa Ana wildfire conditions, with wind gusts topping 60 mph and humidity in the single digits  prompting the National Weather Service to issue a "red flag alert." Its cause remains under investigation.

Gene Potkey, a Cal Fire assistant chief, said that 12 teams are inspecting damage from the fire and so far have confirmed 104 destroyed structures and 25 damaged structures.

On Saturday, the weather was cooperating with some 3,000 fire personnel working the blaze  as the winds died down and relative humidity levels rose.

That trend was expected to continue through Monday, giving crews several days to make headway putting a ring around the fire. However, windy and dry conditions were forecast to pick up again in the evening and on Tuesday, again posing a hazard.

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"We're monitoring the situation very closely as it does coincide with the potential for critical fire weather conditions," said Ariel Cohen, meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service in Los Angeles and Oxnard.

The favorable weather conditions and headway made by fire crews improved air quality on Saturday, with an alert that had been issued by the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District expected to expire at 4 p.m.

On Friday, a thick layer of smoke blanketed the county, forcing many residents indoors and schools to close, but by Saturday the air quality was rated "good to moderate" for all regions of the air district and was forecast to remain so through Monday.

However, with the potential for the chemical benzene to leach into water systems from burned materials, the California American Water Co., the Pleasant Valley Mutual Water Co. and the Crestview Mutual Water Co. had issued unsafe water alerts, which meant water was not safe for drinking even if it was boiled.

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The fire had prompted evacuation notices for thousands of residents in the fire's path. On Saturday, 10 areas were still subject to the notices, including neighborhoods north of Somis, around Santa Paula and near Grimes Canyon Road. Residents can check the Ventura County Sheriff Emergency Services Incident Dashboard for the latest information.

Southern California Edison, which had cut power to more than 40,000 homes in the area as a preventive measure as the Santa Ana winds howled, was reporting on Saturday that fewer than 100 homes were without power in the county.

The blaze caused its greatest devastation on Wednesday, when the powerful winds prevented aircraft from dropping fire-retardent chemicals as firefighters struggled to combat the flames on rugged steep ground amid periodic shortages of water.

The unfavorable weather conditions also sparked smaller wildfires elsewhere in Southern California, including in Santa Barbara County, Angeles National Forest and Malibu.

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The Mountain fire has been the most destructive wildfire in Southern California in several years  though it has not approached the damage caused by the 2017 Thomas fire, which scorched more than 280,000 acres and destroyed more than 1,000 structures in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, or the even more devastating Woolsey fire the following year.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, who visited the fire zone Thursday, proclaimed a state of emergency that day in the county, which helped mobilize firefighting resources. On Friday, he issued an executive order to expedite debris removal and mobilize the California National Guard. He also spoke with President Biden about federal assistance, including helping with the mounting costs.

The Mountain fire is the sixth wildfire in this area of Ventura County since 1986, including most recently the 2023 South and 2019 Maria fires that burned thousands of acres in the western section of the current blaze.

Repeated blazes in a single area create a dangerous cycle that burns down brush and trees and makes room for light invasive grasses that provide excellent tinder for new fires  especially this year after two seasons of high growth were followed by record-setting late-summer heat.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A second county in Western Pennsylvania has instated a burn ban.

According to Fayette County Emergency Management, county commissioners passed the burn ban on Wednesday due to ongoing drought conditions. The ban will remain in place for at least 15 days. On Nov. 21, the ban will be reviewed for a potential extension.

The ban targets open burning of any combustible material outside in a bird barrel, fire ring or on the ground. It does not prohibit home grilling or the use of gas stoves. Campfires are typically allowed in a ring, but the Pennsylvania Game Commission has temporarily prohibited them on game lands.

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RELATED COVERAGE >>> PA Game Commission issues temporary campfire ban on state game lands

Anyone who violates the ban could receive a $100-$300 fine.

Lawrence County has also issued a burn ban. That ban will be in place for at least 30 days.

Pennsylvania has been abnormally dry this year, and most counties in Western Pennsylvania remain under a Drought Watch.

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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  When youre feeling under the weather, you likely grab your go-to cough and cold medicine. But are all the ingredients helping you fight off that cold?

If a drug is not effective, you know, the question is, should it really be on store shelves for patients to use? Stanford University Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine Clinical Assistant Professor Dr. Lauren Eggert asked.

Phenylephrine is widely used in many over the counter medicines. The Food and Drug Administration announced a new proposal to remove products from stores with the common decongestant ingredient, pointing to studies that question its effectiveness.

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This evidence thats been mounting for years that phenylephrine, an oral over-the-counter decongestant, is probably just not very effective, Eggert said.

Eggert says this is a move years in the making that got some help from health experts talking about phenylephrine on social media.

A final decision from the FDA would force manufacturers to remove products from shelves that contain oral forms of the ingredient, but Eggert says its still safe to use these drugs if they are in your medicine cabinet.

Going forward. You know what I say to continue buying these medications or stocking up before they run out? Probably not, because you kind of dont want to waste your money on drugs that arent effective, Eggert said.

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The Consumer Healthcare Products Association said it was disappointed in the proposal saying, Americans deserve the option to choose the safe and effective OTC medicines they prefer and rely on.

A final decision could come in May.

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A federal judge in East St. Louis on Friday struck down Illinois assault weapons ban on the grounds that it violates the Second and 14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution and issued an order barring the state from enforcing it.

That order, however, was stayed for 30 days, giving the state time to file an appeal before it takes effect.

In a 168-page opinion released Friday afternoon, Judge Stephen McGlynn sided with plaintiffs in the case who argued the assault-style weapons banned under the law are commonly used for legal purposes such as self-defense.

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What is particularly disturbing is that the prohibition of weapons that are commonly owned and used by citizens are now banned, depriving citizens of a principal means to defend themselves and their property in situations where a handgun or shotgun alone would not be the citizens preferred arm, McGlynn wrote.

In March, before the case went to trial, McGlynn issued a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of the law, saying the plaintiffs challenging the law were likely to prevail on the merits of the case.

But the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that decision, and in July the U.S. Supreme declined to review it  along with several other cases challenging the law  and remanded all the cases back to district courts for full proceedings.

The case before McGlynn was the subject of a week-long trial in September. Two other cases, each with multiple sets of plaintiffs, are pending before district court judges in the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago.

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Meanwhile, a three-judge panel of the 7th Circuit is scheduled to hear oral arguments on Tuesday, Nov. 12, in a case challenging Cook Countys local assault weapons ban.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul did not immediately comment on McGlynns ruling.
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (WTVO)  On Friday, a federal judge found that Illinois semi-automatic gun and magazine ban is unconstitutional.

Judge Stephen Glynn issued a 30 day stay on the ruling, allowing for the state to appeal, according to The Center Square.

[The Protect Illinois Communities Act aka PICA] is an unconstitutional affront to the Second Amendment and must be enjoined, federal Judge Stephen McGlynn wrote in his ruling. The Government may not deprive law-abiding citizens of their guaranteed right to self defense as a means of offense. The Court will stay enforcement of the permanent injunction for a period of thirty (30) days from the date of this Order.

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Illinois banned the sale and possession of 170 guns in January 2023, arguing the firearms are too dangerous for public use.

Lawsuits were filed in early 2023 that were consolidated in the Southern District of Illinois. An injunction was issued but later overruled by the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, who ruled in favor of the state.

The case was sent back to the district court for a four-day bench trial in September.

The Court is also not convinced that weapons like the AR-15 and its relatives are dangerous and unusual, McGlynn wrote. Therefore, the Court holds that military use refers to weapons that are selected, procured, tested, and issued to military members for use in combat. With this in mind, none of the weapons, magazines, or attachments prohibited by PICA can be called military-grade since they were not issued to the military for use in combat.

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While the Court is sympathetic to those who have lost loved ones to gun violence, such tragedies are not an excuse to restrict the rights guaranteed to the Illinois public by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, McGlynn continued. Regardless of state governments desire to restrict law-abiding citizens Second Amendment rights under the guise of crime control, the Second Amendment conclusively protects law-abiding citizens right to defend themselves utilizing weapons that are in common use.

Sen. Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) applauded the decision, saying Friday, This ruling comes as no surprise to those who value the U.S. Constitution, and I am delighted with the strong wording in Judge McGlynns ruling. When he stated that PICA is an unconstitutional affront to the Second Amendment, he vindicates every lawful gun owner who pushed back against Illinois Democrats attempts to trample on their constitutional rights when they passed this ill-conceived law.

Todays ruling affirms our legislative position and shows our dedication to fighting on behalf of the millions of law-abiding Illinois firearms owners, the Illinois State Rifle Association said in a statement following the ruling.

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A federal judge in Illinois ruled that the states assault rifle ban is unconstitutional, arguing that the decision violates the Second Amendment.

In U.S. District Judge Stephen McGlynns opinion, he issued a permanent injunction prohibiting enforcement of the ban, though he stated the injunction wont take effect for 30 days, meaning its paused to give time for an appeal.

The decision comes as a federal appeals court in the state last month upheld the assault weapon ban  which was passed last year following a mass shooting at a Fourth of July parade in the suburbs of Chicago  arguing that the ban constitutes a reasonable limit on the Second Amendment.

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Government may punish a deliberately false fire alarm; it may condition free assembly on the issuance of a permit; it may require voters to present a valid identification card; and it may punish child abuse even if it is done in the name of religion, Judge Diane Wood wrote in that decision. The right enshrined in the Second Amendment is no different.

In McGlynns ruling, he wrote, So much about firearms is contentious, from the political debate to the jurisprudential debate.

At the crossroads of this debate stands the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution, he added.

The law in question  dubbed the Protect Illinois Communities Act  bans the sale and distribution of assault weapons, high-capacity magazines and switches in the state. Under the act, individuals who had those items in possession were required to submit an endorsement affidavit through their firearm identification card.

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Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D), who signed the bill in January, called the measure a commonsense law.

McGlynn wrote in the ruling that the ban criminalizes knowing possession of hundreds of previously lawful rifles, handguns, and shotguns.

There is no happy consensus on guns, particularly those defined as assault weapons. With malice toward none on either side of these debates, and with no desire to impose policy judgments by judicial fiat, this Court seeks to understand what exactly it means for a firearm to be dangerous, unusual, bearable, in common use, in dual use, and/or a military weapon,' he wrote.

A spokesperson for Pritzkers office defended the law, saying that it was the result of hundreds of hours of deliberation between legal experts, legislators, and advocates, and it makes Illinois a safer place for everyone.

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Despite those who value weapons of war more than public safety, this law was enacted to and has protected Illinoisans from the constant fear of being gunned down in places where they ought to feel secure, the spokesperson added in an emailed statement. We look forward to the Attorney General filing an immediate appeal and the Governor is confident the constitutionality of the Protect Illinois Communities Act will be upheld through this process.

The Hill has contacted the Southern District of Illinois Court for comment.

Updated at 9:44 a.m. EST

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Nov. 9 (UPI) -- A federal judge in Illinois has ruled the state's blanket ban on assault weapons is unconstitutional and violates the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Stephen McGlynn, the U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Illinois, also ruled elements of the Illinois legislation violated the 14th Amendment, which states "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States."

In early 2023, Illinois passed the "Protect Illinois Communities Act," banning high-powered, assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines as well as the sale, manufacture, delivery and purchase of assault weapons across the entire state.

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The law was crafted following a mass shooting north of Chicago during an Independence Day parade in 2022, which drew national attention.

In November 2023, a federal appeals court in Illinois upheld the ban, saying "even the most important personal freedoms have their limits."

In early 2023, Illinois passed a law banning high-powered, assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines as well as the sale, manufacture, delivery and purchase of assault weapons across the entire state following mass shooting north of Chicago during an Independence Day parade in 2022, which drew national attention (suspect Robert Crimo III pictured). File Photo courtesy of the Highland Park Police Department

The three-panel jury overturned a lower court ruling in April that found the state law unconstitutional.

"So much about firearms is contentious, from the political debate to the jurisprudential debate," McGlynn wrote in his ruling.

"At the crossroads of this debate stands the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution."

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Gov. J. B. Pritzker, D-Ill., championed the law's passing, calling it "commonsense" at the time.

"Despite those who value weapons of war more than public safety, this law was enacted to and has protected Illinoisans from the constant fear of being gunned down in places where they ought to feel secure," a spokesperson for Pritzker's office told The Hill in an email.

"We look forward to the Attorney General filing an immediate appeal and the Governor is confident the constitutionality of the Protect Illinois Communities Act will be upheld through this process."

McGlynn this past July issued a temporary injunction temporarily halting the law.

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The U.S. Supreme Court later declined to take up the issue.

In his ruling this week, McGlynn sided with the plaintiffs in the case.

"[The law] criminalizes knowing possession of hundreds of previously lawful rifles, handguns, and shotguns," McGlynn wrote

"What is particularly disturbing is that the prohibition of weapons that are commonly owned and used by citizens are now banned, depriving citizens of a principal means to defend themselves and their property in situations where a handgun or shotgun alone would not be the citizen's preferred arm. Sadly, there are those who seek to usher in a sort of post-Constitution era where the citizens' individual rights are only as important as they are convenient to a ruling class.",
The aftermath of a home explosion above Oak Grove Mine that killed W.M. Griffice in the Oak Grove area of Alabama. Federal regulators waited over seven months to begin a formal investigation into the explosion. (Lee Hedgepeth/Inside Climate News)

OAK GROVE Mining for coal under homes can make land sink and settle, exactly what residents of this small community say has been happening all year. Homes are cracking apart, they warn. One blew up in March, killing its owner after methane gas seeped up through newly created rock fissures, a lawsuit claims.

Through it all, worried residents keep asking a fundamental question: How can an activity undercutting the land on which their homes sit be allowed?

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The answer: Its written into federal law.

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Thats part of a long history of rules that benefit mining companies rather than the Americans whose lives they disrupt. But the law does instruct regulators to act when there is imminent dangerand theyre falling down on the job, an Inside Climate News investigation found.

The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) calls for companies to minimize mining damage from land subsidence, compensate affected property owners and replace lost water sources. But the federal agency that oversees SMCRA, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), routinely downplays its authority and fails to step in when problems mount, frustrating coalfield residents from Pennsylvania to Montana.

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The law has allowed 24 states to be the primary coal mine regulators in their jurisdictions. That includes Alabama, which has taken no significant enforcement action against the mine in Oak Grove since the March home explosion and waited nearly six months after the blast to hold a public meeting about it with rattled neighbors.

An investigation into the cause of the blast by the Alabama Fire Marshals Office was inconclusive. But experts have said, and OSMRE documents describe, how methane migrates upward through disturbed rock atop an underground mine. A lawsuit by the family of the man who died in the March explosion alleges that by capping a water well on the property, the mine operator limited where the flammable gas could go and pushed it through new cracks and crevices to the surface. The Oak Grove Mine is one of the gassiest in the country.

Representatives of Crimson Oak Grove Resources, which operates the mine, did not respond to requests for comment for this story. The companys lawyers have denied liability for the explosion.

Inside Climate News found little evidence that OSMRE has used its oversight authority to ensure that states minimize damage from subsidence caused by active mines, protect people living atop mines from methane migration or make certain that compensation provisions are handled fairly.

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Nationally, records for 2019 to mid-2024 released after a Freedom of Information Act request show the federal agency rarely intervening with a state through its process known as a ten-day notice, an option that can trigger formal federal inspections.

Even with the laws limitations, a former director of OSMRE said that SMCRA is strong enough to protect the people of Oak Groveif only regulators were willing to act.

Joe Pizarchik, a Pennsylvania attorney with decades of experience, ran the agency through both terms of the Obama administration. He cited rarely used provisions of SMCRA that say the regulatory agency shall halt underground coal mining in cities, towns or communities if officials conclude there is an imminent danger.

In the case of Oak Grove, Pizarchik said, if the Alabama Surface Mining Commission fails to act, then OSMRE can and should do so.

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They should be able to conclude that blowing up peoples homes and killing them is an imminent hazard, and they should be able to suspend underground coal mining beneath those areas, he said. It appears we have a documented example of the regulators failure to fulfill their mandatory duty to protect the health and safety of the public.

Pizarchiks conclusions are similar to those written in an OSMRE technical manual dated September 2001, eight months after President George W. Bush took office, on how to mitigate methane migration. The preface was written by Glenda Owens, a longtime senior manager at the agency and its current deputy director.

Methane at explosive levels is an imminent danger, she wrote. Thus, when methane related to active coal mining causes an imminent harm situation, [OSMRE] or the State regulatory authority has the responsibility to act.

Alabama Surface Mining Commission Director Kathy Love, by contrast, has suggested that methane migration from coal mines falls within a black hole, with no agency squarely responsible for mitigating risks, even to occupied dwellings.

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Typically, when a state agency fails to follow a federal law, thats an invitation for intervention from a federal agency. But some statesincluding Alabamahave recently argued in court that SMCRA gave them all but exclusive jurisdiction over the regulation of mining. Pizarchick dismisses that as a misguided states rights argument.

States rights, he said, is a euphemism for not following federal law or protecting peoples normal rights.

Inside Climate News has repeatedly asked to interview OSMRE experts since the Alabama home explosion in March. The agency has declined on every occasion and said the regulatory responsibility for surface and underground mining lies with the state.

In a late September email, agency spokesperson Judith Lavoie finally acknowledged that the federal agency could intervene. But she put the burden on local residents to start that process, saying, OSMRE hasnt received a complaint from citizens in Alabama on the fire or subsidencea claim at least one resident has disputed.

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They should be able to conclude that blowing up peoples homes and killing them is an imminent hazard.

 Joe Pizarchik, former federal mine regulator

On Oct. 24, OSMRE reversed course when asked for a reaction to Pizarchiks assessment.

In an email, Francis Piccoli, OSMRE chief of communications, wrote that the agency has been monitoring the Oak Grove situation and had now decided on its own to conduct a federal inspection. Piccoli wrote that the inspection would be in collaboration with the state of Alabama, the mine operator and the community to ensure the safety of the residents living in and near the Oak Grove/Adger area and to evaluate whether underground mining was a contributing factor in this tragic event.

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That confirmation came seven-and-a-half months after the explosion that killed W.M. Griffice, 78.

The grave of W.M. Griffice in the Oak Grove community. (Lee Hedgepeth/Inside Climate News)

Legal scholar: Mining companies have the upper hand

Griffice had been uneasy for days after representatives from Crimson Oak Grove Resourcesdue to begin mining under his home in Februaryfound methane gas in his water well and capped it, his family said. Loud booms began shaking the ground. He feared his home might explode.

On March 8, it did. The blast destroyed the home, badly injured his grandson and sent Griffice to the hospital with injuries that killed him 26 days later. In the following months, residents of this community of about 500 people some 40 miles outside Birmingham said that they too are worried about the risk of methane from the mine moving up into their homes. Some say their homes are cracking apart as the land under them subsides.

Structures around Oak Grove have suffered from damage due to underground mining. (Lee Hedgepeth/Inside Climate News)

In interviews and testimony at the only public meeting since the explosion, residents have pleaded for help as they have learned more about what is happening beneath them. Hundreds of feet underground, miners operating massive machinery are chewing through buried coal seams and then allowing the ceiling of the new cavern to collapse behind them, causing the land above it to sink.

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Miners traditionally would carve out rooms in coal seams, leaving behind pillars of coal to hold the ceiling up, in whats called room and pillar mining. Eventually, those pillars give way, often decades after a company sold the coal and abandoned the mine.

But by the late 1970s and into the 1980s, the industry was touting what it called a better, more efficient method for underground mining.

Longwall mining, which gets its name from digging out coal along an underground wall, allows companies to extract and sell more of their product. No pillars are left behind as bladed machines shear off large slices of coal along a vast underground expanse. Those mined-out chambers can be more than 1,000 feet wide and more than a mile long.

The industry describes longwall mining as controlled subsidence, said Kentucky-based attorney Tom FitzGerald, but thats not the case in ways that matter to the people living above.

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Its just controlled in terms of time because it happens immediately, but its not controlled at all in terms of its impact on the surface, said FitzGerald, who has more than 40 years of experience representing coalfield residents, largely with the Kentucky Resources Council, a nonprofit environmental advocacy group that he led from 1984 until 2021.

Youre going to have differential settlement, and youre going to have damage to structures. Youre going to have the release of methane. Youre going to have the draining of aquifers. All of thats going to occur, he said. Its just going to occur in real time.

For former U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, who represented the states defunct 4th District from 1977 to 2015, the disruption in Oak Grove is all too familiar. It reminds him of the 1980s in West Virginia.

A lot of my constituents were complaining, recalled Rahall, a Democrat and West Virginias longest-serving congressman. Subsidence from mining was causing ill effects upon their property and their water resources.

It was a big enough problem that he got language inserted in the sprawling Energy Policy Act of 1992, a law that dealt with everything from electric utility markets to energy efficiency standards to alternate fuels. The provision Rahall inserted specified that companies needed to compensate property owners for damage caused by their underground mining. The language amended the SMCRA law passed in 1977, which regulates surface mining as well as the surface effects of underground mining.

A separate federal agency, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, regulates worker safety inside coal mines. In the last year, the Oak Grove Mine has racked up more than 840 safety citations, both before and after the death of a miner due to a rock collapse in September.

The 1992 SMCRA amendment was a balancing act both for Rahall, who also had many constituents financially dependent on the coal industry, and for Congress itself. And it included wording that intentionally weakened its effect: Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit or interrupt underground coal mining operations.

At the time, coal provided more than half the nations electricity, compared to 17 percent in 2024.

Coal operators have had the upper hand, and the support of lawmakers, for generations, said West Virginia University Law Professor Patrick McGinley, who has worked on mining issues for more than 50 years.

Starting in the late 1800s, companies across the region began securing the rights to mine underground coal with language in their deeds that gave them broad permission to damage the property of surface owners, setting the stage for political battles a century later.

Basically they exempted coal operators from any liability, anything, any harm or injury to the surface, or any watercourse, McGinley said, referring to any surface or underground source of water.

Eventually, public outrage over environmental and property damage caused by coal mining prompted Congress to pass the 1977 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, which was heavily focused on addressing the ravages of strip mining, where giant shovels dug down from the surface or explosives blasted away at the tops or sides of mountains, wreaking havoc on farms, forests and streams.

As longwall mining expanded in the 1980s and early 1990s, coalfield residents raised their voices even more, McGinley recalled. Congress caved into the pressure and passed the 1992 amendments, he said.

But, he said, the update did not go far enough to stop property damage, nor did it resolve concerns about methane releases.

Instead, Congress set up a system that remains in place today, in which mining companies are obligated to minimize the damage they cause to property owners above the mines and compensate them for losses. This process routinely ends up in legal disagreements between companies and landowners, McGinley said.

And, he added, regulatory agencies do little to ensure the public is treated fairly.

Its ridiculous, McGinley said.

FitzGerald said the underlying problem goes back to a shortcoming of the original 1977 law. He said Congress should never have allowed undermining where theres a possibility of surface impacts, of subsidence, within three hundred feet of peoples dwellings.

Benny Walden, whose father died in Oak Grove Mine, agreed. His home is among more than 100 in the Oak Grove area that are scheduled to be undermined sometime in the next year. In a deep Southern drawl, he said he resents the federal and state governments for their lack of action.

They need to either completely shut it down or figure out a way to get the coal without destroying whats on top of the land, Walden said.

Ashley Burke, a spokeswoman for the National Mining Association, a lobbying group that considers itself the voice of mining in the United States, defends the environmental performance of its members, though Crimson Oak Grove Resources is not listed as a member on the associations website.

Mitigating impacts as much as possibleand correcting problems if they ariseis not only the law and good business, its embedded in the operational values of the modern mining industry, Burke said.

Language favorable to mining in SMCRA merely reinforces that the laws are not in existence to prevent or obstruct responsible mining, but to ensure mining is done properly, Burke said.

At the public meeting following the explosion in Oak Grove, Griffices closest neighbor called on everyone, including state and federal regulators, to act more decisively to protect residents from the dangers of longwall mining.

That night was a terrible, terrible night, Lisa Lindsay said of the explosion. It was terribly traumatic. We can make it better so that what happened to Mr. Griffice does not happen to anybody else.

They are pretending there is no problem there

Oak Grove residents listen as mining officials speak during a public meeting on Aug. 26. (Lee Hedgepeth/ Inside Climate News)

The 1977 mining law created OSMRE. It also allowed states to adopt their own regulations, as long as those were at least as stringent as the federal rules, and let those states take the primary role of enforcement.

Federal oversight in those states largely comes in the form of conducting reviews of individual regulatory programs.

OSMREs 2024 Annual Evaluation Report for the Regulatory and Abandoned Mine Lands Programs in Alabama says it is intended to focus on the success of the state in meeting the [SMCRA] goals for environmental protection and prompt, effective reclamation of lands mined for coal.

The report covered July 2023 through June 2024, including the period of the Griffice home explosion. But it made no mention of any oversight of Alabamas regulation of subsidence. Nor did it reference methane migration at any active underground coal mine in the state, including the Oak Grove Mine.

W.M. Griffice died from injuries suffered in the explosion of his home above the Oak Grove mine. (Courtesy of the Alabama Fire Marshals Office)

The same positive focus is evident in all of the federal agencys annual evaluation reports for Alabama mines dating to at least 2019.

They are pretending there is no problem there, said Jack Spadaro, a West Virginia-based former top federal mine safety engineer who works as a consultant for coalfield residents, workers and their lawyers. He said the federal agencys lack of attention to subsidence and methane migration from active mines in Alabama is also evident across the country. As a result, he added, the citizens are left unprotected.

In Alabama, that realization has shaken Clara Riley, a nonagenarian with a water well in her home. She said mine officials notified her that the mine will soon expand under her home, and shes worried about the settling ground and rising methane.

I live in constant fear, she told state officials at the August public meeting. That well is inside my house.  Im going to get blowed away.

OSMREs ten-day notice process requires state agencies to respond within 10 days by either taking appropriate action to correct a violation or showing good cause for not taking action, according to federal regulations.

Ten-day notices are largely driven by citizen complaints, which are a rare occurrence, partly by design.

In 2020, for example, the Trump administration made it more difficult for citizens to file complaints by requiring them to have more supporting documentation, having them first take their complaints to state agencies and allowing for an informal review process that caused delays.

The Citizens Coal Council, Appalachian Voices and the Sierra Club, all environmental groups, sued the Interior Department in 2021 over those changes. Earlier this year, the Biden administration reversed much of what the Trump administration had done to the policy.

This rule will help ensure that citizen voices are heard and that their concerns regarding adverse mining impacts are addressed in a timely manner, Sharon Buccino, OSMREs principal deputy director, said in an April press release.

But in June, 17 states including Alabama sued the Interior Department over the new Biden ten-day rule, claiming it exceeded the federal governments statutory authority.

The mining law gives extraordinary deference to the States, they argued, including exclusive jurisdiction  except in a few specific areas.

FitzGerald, who has intervened in the still-pending lawsuit on behalf of the Citizens Coal Council and other groups, said the states are wrong to downplay the role of federal oversight.

The 1977 mining law followed a decade of focus on mining, and it was clear by the time President Jimmy Carter signed it that lawmakers had intended for robust citizen participation and for federal authority to step in to ensure state enforcement, he said.

Congress was concerned the states would revert to their old habits, which was non-enforcement of their state laws, FitzGerald said.

OSMREs Piccoli, in a written statement, said the agency can use the ten-day notice process if it believes that the Alabama Surface Mining Commission or any other state with primary regulatory responsibility is potentially not properly enforcing SMCRA.

A house blew up and somebody died. How do you miss that?

 Daryl Mashburn, Oak Grove resident

However, according to records the agency released to Inside Climate News in June, its officials had not issued any ten-day notices to the Alabama Surface Mining Commission since at least 2019.

Nationally, OSMRE issued only four notice letters over that five-and-a-half-year period, according to the agencys Freedom of Information response. Asked for comment, OSMREs press office did not respond.

The low number could be attributed in part to a national decline in coal mining, and Pizarchick said some state mining regulatory programs work hard to resolve disputes before they may escalate to federal intervention. But the barriers to citizen complaints may have played a role as well, lawyers who represent coalfield residents said.

The Trump administrations changes made what was already a difficult process worse, said lawyer Derf Johnson, deputy director of the Montana Environmental Information Center, an environmental group thats been fighting a longwall mine with serious subsidence issues in that state for years.

Citizens were confronted with more red tape and states were given more discretion, he said. By having to first bring the complaint to the state, he added, OSMRE created an asking the fox to guard the henhouse kind of situation.

FitzGerald said theres another issue at play that disadvantages coal communities: A lot of people living atop coal mines dont know how to navigate the provisions of the federal mining law.

There hasnt ever been a lot of outreach to communities on these rights, FitzGerald said. Because the administrative process is difficult to navigate, he added, some residents get ground down by it and stop trying, unfortunately.

The OSMRE website still encourages people to first take their complaints to state regulators, even though that is no longer required.

Lindsay, Griffices neighbor, said she filed a complaint with OSMRE within a few months of the blast but never heard back from the agency.

Lisa Lindsay addresses her neighbors in August during the first community meeting since the March explosion. (Lee Hedgepeth/Inside Climate News)

She said she used the agencys online form to ask that federal officials investigate the circumstances surrounding mining in Oak Grove, including the home explosion and state regulators inaction.

I begged for them to seriously investigate the mine, the ASMC and any other entity involved, Lindsay said.

Authorities should not wait for people to file a complaint before enforcing the law, said Daryl Mashburn. His home in Oak Grove is scheduled to be undermined in the coming months, something he awaits with trepidation.

It seems like they dont know anything unless somebody complains to them directly, Mashburn said of state and federal regulators. A house blew up and somebody died. How do you miss that? They just dont have a clue.

A disruption of life and the environment

Daryl Mashburns property is scheduled to be undermined. He said hes afraid the settlement will impact a gas line on his land. (Lee Hedgepeth/Inside Climate News)

In all, 29 longwall coal mines were operating in nine states as of 2022, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. That includes nine in West Virginia, four each in Alabama, Illinois and Pennsylvania and one in Montana. Those numbers and geographic distribution are consistent with a survey published earlier this year by a coal industry publication, Coal Age, which concluded that longwall mining accounted for nearly a quarter of overall coal production in 2023.

Whether longwall mining occurs in the mountainous or hilly terrain of Appalachia, under farmers fields in Illinois or beneath ranch land in Montana, people who live atop the mines describe similar experiences. The damage to the surface may be different, depending on the local geology, but the underground mining in each region brings with it disruption of life, livelihoods and the environment.

In Taylor County, West Virginia, white plastic pipes extend 15 feet or so up from the ground beside many homes, a spinning vent on top hinting at their role. Theyre designed to vent methane from a gassy mine below. In 2022, Spadaro, working with a local attorney, encouraged James and Melissa Nestor, residents of the county, to evacuate their home after gas was found in their water well, nine feet from the back of their house.

If you had a house and you had children in it, and you were nine feet from a pipe that was venting methane at what could be explosive levels, I dont think anybody would want to live near that, Spadaro said.

James Nestor said his family is still renting another home and awaiting the resolution of litigation against a mining company. He would like to return to his home, but we cant.

In Pennsylvanias Washington County, southwest of Pittsburgh, Amy Erickson recalls when her home and community were undermined in 2007. I was praying to God every day they closed [the mine] down before they went under my house, she said. But that didnt work out.

Settling damaged her well and made her floors uneven, she said. Other homes ended up in worse condition; many neighbors accepted financial settlements and left, she said.

A lot of the community is gone now, Erickson said. People just threw up their hands and said, Im not fighting this.

A vent releases methane from an underground coal mine near a home in Taylor County, W.Va. (James Bruggers/Inside Climate News)

Erickson, the executive director of the Citizens Coal Council, has been a coalfield advocate since 2005, and now works to help other communities grapple with mining impacts.

She said the language in SMCRA is too vague or contradictory, creating what she describes as loopholes.

In Illinois, longwall mining sinks valuable farmland, sometimes causing water to collect on the surface or disappear, and the subsidence can damage farm buildings, said Judy Blumenshine, a longtime volunteer who follows mining issues closely for the Illinois chapter of the Sierra Club.

As a result, landowners find themselves in fights with mine operators to repair the damage, and they wrestle with state and federal regulators to enforce reclamation laws, Blumenshine said.

We know better than this, she said, noting coals oversized role in contributing to climate change. We dont need coal anymore. Its killing the planet.

In Montana, ranchers were once told ranching and coal mining could co-exist, but its been a fraught relationship.

Ellen Pfister, a retired former ranch owner, has been fighting coal mining since the 1970s and worked to help secure the original passage of the 1977 mining law. Shes active with the Bull Mountain Land Alliance and the Northern Plains Resource Council. The grassroots groups, along with Montana Environmental Information Center and Earthjustice, recently sued to stop an expansion of Bull Mountain Mine, the states only underground mine and one of the largest in the country.

Bull Mountains longwall operation under her ranch caused cracks and dried up water, she said. One crack, she said, was a quarter-mile long and so deep you could lose a mans body in it. She said the mining company filled in the crack, but the subsidence dried up natural springs that had supported a mile-long, year-round oasis for birds and wildlife in the otherwise arid prairie.

Multiple cracks in the ground emerged above the Bull Mountain longwall mine on a ranch formerly owned by Ellen Pfister. (Courtesy Ellen Pfister)

The company operating the mine, Signal Peak Energy, did not respond to messages sent to its website and left on an office voicemail.

Pfister said she sold the ranch in 2019 after it had been in her family since the 1940s. She called SMCRA a good law, but added: Unfortunately, there has been a nearly 50-year effort to pull its teeth.

One of the problems is longwall mining itself, Pfister said. It doesnt fit into any category. It does such extensive damage, you almost cant express it.

Bipartisan bill calls for subsidence report

Theres a new bill in Congress that takes up the issue of mine subsidence, but its ambition is limited.

In July, four House membersNikki Budzinski (D-Ill.), Mike Bost (R-Ill.), Alex Mooney (R-W.V.) and Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.)filed legislation that would require OSMRE to report on what its doing to address the problem of subsidence.

Budzinski drafted the bill in response to subsidence from an abandoned mine that caused a grocery store in Belleville, Illinois, 18 miles southeast of St. Louis, Missouri, to sink. The owners were forced to close it.

With millions of Americans living in close proximity to abandoned minesincluding many of my constituentsits critical that we improve our understanding of how to prevent the subsidence of coal mines and make our communities more resilient in the aftermath, she said in a written statement.

Budzinskis emphasis on abandoned mines, considered to be those shut down before the passage of the 1977 mining law, has some coalfield advocates worried it gives short shrift to subsidence and the methane migration from active mines.

Erickson said she spoke with a member of Budzinkis staff, and I just begged her to  change the wording to add longwall mining specifically. Thats an urgent need. And nobodys paying attention to it.

A spokeswoman for Budzinski said the report is meant to include all mine subsidence, but she did not elaborate.

Rahall, the former West Virginia congressman, said he believes the 1992 amendments to SMCRA have helped many coalfield residents across the country recover financial losses from coal mining impacts.

But he said a huge problem remains and will not likely change anytime soon: An uneven playing field where an unsuspecting and ill-equipped public finds itself up against wealthy mining companies that often have the backing of the regulatory agencies.

Its been unfortunately a way of life, a method of operation of the industry, Rahall said. And with their high-caliber law firms and legal defense and deep pockets, they can create misery for these families.

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A central Florida woman contacted Action 9 after her home solar system suddenly stopped working. She told Consumer Investigator Jeff Deal the companies responsible for making sure the panels were up and running didnt take care of the problem right away.

Do you have a consumer complaint or need help from Jeff Deal and Action 9? Click the banner below to submit a tip.

While renovating her small home near Poinciana, Connie White-Carter decided to have solar installed on her roof after her friend raved about Meraki Solar and the advantages of using the Florida sunshine to generate power.

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Connie White-Carter said, Let me know just how much money she was saving on her electric. She lives in Lakeland, so she was, you know, she was praising them.

Read: We have unauthorized charges here: Scammers use fake QR codes to steal money and personal info

But in early September around two years after the panels were installed, she received a big electricity bill that was nearly $500. Thats when she realized the panels werent working at all and they hadnt been generating electricity since July 23rd.

For the most part, up until this point, we are happy. Were absolutely happy, she said.

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What made White-Carter unhappy was initially trying to reach anyone from the company for help. Her calls to Meraki were rerouted to a company in California called Freedom Forever which has entered into a partnership with Meraki. Freedom Forever told Action 9 its now the official subcontractor for Meraki.

She claims Freedom Forever informed her it would monitor the system and that it could be twenty days before someone would contact her.

Connie White-Carter didnt think that was soon enough and said, I still need to make my loan payment, and I still need to make this big fat electric bill. I need some help. I cant get a hold of these guys.

Meraki Solar has an F rating with the Better Business Bureau. Freedom Forever has a C rating with a pattern of complaints about panels not fully installed or not working.

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Freedom Forever sent a long response to the BBB that states in part:

We are by all accounts, the gold standard in solar installations. We understand that from the sheer volume of solar projects we install, some consumers will be unhappy. There is no pleasing everyone.

The full statement is available on the BBB website: Freedom Forever, LLC | Better Business Bureau Profile

After Action 9 sent messages to both companies about the issue, Freedom Forever sent a technician to replace the inverter at Connie White-Carters home. The company said it did a remote diagnostic test and initiated the replacement under the manufacturers warranty. Her system is now fully operational.

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White-Carter is glad to have the system is back up and running , but she says the Meraki sales team promised to refund her monthly solar payments during the months the system is down, but so far that hasnt happened.

I feel jilted. I feel angry. I feel like there was a lot of false promises made, she said.

In her contract with Meraki, Action 9 couldnt find a mention of that reimbursement policy, but she showed Action 9 paperwork indicating her friend did receive reimbursement. Meraki Solar has not responded to Action 9s inquiry about those payments or why the system isnt set up to alert the company or owner when the system stops working.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A FEMA employee was terminated over the weekend after reportedly advising her survivor assistance team not to go to Florida homes with yard signs supporting President-elect Donald Trump.

In a statement sent out Saturday afternoon, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell confirmed that the employee had been fired, adding that her actions were reprehensible.

New tropical wave pops up as Rafael downgrades to tropical storm: NHC

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This is a clear violation of FEMAs core values and principles to help people regardless of their political affiliation, Criswell said.

According to FEMA, the matter was referred to the Office of Special Counsel, and officials have been working to ensure similar acts do not happen again.

The agency did not specify which neighborhoods in Florida were being canvassed by the employees team. However, the incident comes as relief workers have been aiding those affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in several parts of the state.

I want to be clear to all of my employees and the American people, this type of behavior and action will not be tolerated at FEMA, and we will hold people accountable if they violate these standards of conduct, Criswell added in her statement.

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FEMA did not provide any additional details on how officials were notified of the employees actions, nor the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took to social media to comment following initial reports of the alleged misconduct. In a post on X, DeSantis said he had directed state officials to investigate the matter further.

The blatant weaponization of government by partisan activists in the federal bureaucracy is yet another reason why the Biden-Harris administration is in its final days, the governor wrote. At my direction, the Division of Emergency Management is launching an investigation into the federal governments targeted discrimination of Floridians who support Donald Trump.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A Federal Emergency Management Agency official has been suspended after ordering disaster relief workers to skip the homes of Donald Trump supporters.

The Fema supervisor told staff to avoid homes advertising Trump in a best practices memo as the agency carried out relief efforts in Lake Pacific, Florida, following the devastation of Hurricane Milton.

The storm made landfall on Oct 10, causing an estimated $34 billion in damage and claiming the lives of at least 14 people.

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As a result of the instruction, at least 20 homes with Trump signs or flags were ignored between the end of October and early November, meaning residents were not given the chance to qualify for the agencys multi-billion-dollar aid scheme, government employees told The Daily Wire.

Images shared with the outlet showed that after skipping homes with Trump paraphernalia outside, workers entered messages into Femas tracking system such as: Trump sign no entry per leadership.

Ron DeSantis, Floridas Republican governor, said he has directed state officials to investigate the incident.

The blatant weaponization of government by partisan activists in the federal bureaucracy is yet another reason why the Biden-Harris administration is in its final days, Mr DeSantis wrote on X.

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At my direction, the Division of Emergency Management is launching an investigation into the federal governments targeted discrimination of Floridians who support Donald Trump.

The officials instructions meant some residents were not given the chance to qualify for the agencys multi-billion-dollar aid scheme - Joe Raedle/Getty Images

A Fema spokesman said officials at the agency were horrified the incident had taken place and have taken extreme action to correct the situation.

The agency is currently investigating how many houses were overlooked by its disaster relief teams, a spokesman told CNN.

It has also deployed a new team to the area to make contact with those who may have been missed out.

While we believe this is an isolated incident, we have taken measures to remove the employee from their role and are investigating the matter to prevent this from happening ever again, the spokesman said.

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The employee who issued this guidance had no authority and was given no direction to tell teams to avoid these homes and we are reaching out to the people who may have not been reached as a result of this incident.

It is understood that the member of staff responsible for the policy has been suspended pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

A Fema spokesman said that the agency helps all survivors regardless of their political preference or affiliation.

The revelations will increase pressure on the beleaguered agency, which came under heavy criticism for its sluggish disaster response in the wake of Hurricanes Milton and Helene, which struck Florida within a fortnight of each other.

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Leading Republicans including Mr Trump claimed that billions of dollars in relief funds for Hurricane victims was diverted to house illegal migrants.

Jaclyn Rothenberg, Femas public affairs director, responded that the claims about funding were false, adding that the agency was working to bring in life-saving resources to the people and communities who need it most.

The Telegraph revealed last month that the agency had budged 20-times more cash for its response to coronavirus aid in September than it spent on Hurricane relief aid.

Fema was approached for comment.

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PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  A Peoria mother said she wishes it would just stop.

Multiple people across the United States have received the same jarring text messages.

On Wednesday night, a Peoria teen received a text saying they were selected as a slave to pick cotton.

She forwarded the text to her mom.

I was mad, the mother, who has asked for her and her daughter to remain anonymous, said, I was worried. I was fighting mad because who would send something like this to a minor? Shes 16 years old. You have to talk to me. Im her mom.

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Across the nation, many Black Americans ranging from middle school to college age have received a variation of the racist text.

The mother we spoke to said other teens in Peoria received the text as well.

My friend that I talked to first about this, I sent her the message, the mother said. She instantly called me and she was like, What are you serious?'

NAACP Peoria Branch President, Martin Hightower said he wants to see change, and says now is the time to address it.

In order for us to move forward, we all have to be at the table, Hightower said. And sometimes being at the table means we have to take our own chair. For those who are against racism, its up to us to do the work.

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Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul released a statement which read:

Hate has no place in the state of Illinois. Full stop. I am outraged by reports of these offensive, racist texts and am particularly saddened to learn these hate-filled messages have even been received by students, including in Illinois. I urge any Illinois resident who has received one of these racist text messages to contact local law enforcement or the Help Stop Hate Helpline, or to file a complaint with my offices Civil Rights Bureau.

Racist text messages referencing slavery raise alarms in multiple states and prompt investigations

While speaking to the mother of the Peoria teen, she said someone needs to be held accountable for the heinous act.

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Whoever did it needs to have some sort of consequences behind it, she said. And I hope they get caught.

The FBI released a statement to WMBD saying:

FBI Springfield is aware of the offensive and racist text messages being sent to individuals around the country, as well as in the area of Illinois that we serve. We are in contact with the Justice Department and other federal authorities on the matter. As always, we encourage members of the public to report threats of physical violence to local law enforcement authorities.

WMBD reached out to the Peoria Police Department and was told by a spokeswoman there have been no reports filed for this matter.

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Those who have received some form of this text can report it to the Illinois FBI office at (217) 522-9675 and to the Illinois Attorney Generals Office by emailing CivilRights@ilag.gov or calling the Civil Rights Hotline at (877) 581-3692.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
WARNER SPRINGS, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  Firefighters are battling a wildfire that broke out in Warner Springs, the third in the county to ignite within a few hour period Friday afternoon.

The fire, dubbed as the Resort Fire, is located at Highway 79, northwest of Warner Springs Resort, according to Cal Fire San Diego.

Around 4:15 p.m., SkyFOX/KUSI in the Sky was over the area where large clouds of white smoke and flames could be seen, burning the vegetation.

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Cal Fire says the wildfire has been stopped at 25 acres in size and 50% contained, as of 9:23 p.m.

Garden Fire in Fallbrook grows to at least 48 acres; forward progress stopped

Warner Unified School District notified the public on Facebook at 4:13 p.m. that the fire was just north of the school on the other side of the Warner Springs Ranch and that they were loading kids into buses and vans right now.

Los Coyotes students are loading onto vans and taking directly home. All other students who take Mr. Inocentes northbound bus will be taken on the bus down through Pala, and through Temecula home. The southbound route will leave immediately and will deliver students as normal. Please be at your bus stop to wait for the students, the school district said.

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No structures have been threatened and no evacuations have been issued at this time. Cal Fire says a significant amount of resources have been assigned and will work through the night in to tomorrow to strengthen control lines.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Check back for updates on this developing story.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
NEW YORK  New York City firefighters were looking for hot spots overnight in Brooklyn's Prospect Park, where a brush fire consumed approximately two acres.

According to fire officials, a passerby who was walking through the park just before 7 p.m. Friday called 911 to report smoke.

By 8 p.m., the FDNY said the fire had grown to two alarms and spread across approximately two acres. FDNY Brooklyn Borough Commander Joe Duggan said the fire was in an "extremely inaccessible," hilly area with dense brush.

#FDNY units are operating at a brush fire in Prospect Park in Brooklyn. Operations are ongoing. pic.twitter.com/15QclbBXov  FDNY (@FDNY) November 9, 2024

It took about 120 firefighters to get the fire under control, FDNY officials said. Firefighters would remain on the scene overnight to ensure it doesn't reignite.

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"There are some hotter spots. As the wind picks up, there might be a, you know, a spark or something, but we're leaving fire companies here for the purposes of mitigating any small fires that might happen. It's very wet up there now, we've got a lot of water up there now, so we don't think that there's any threat to future fires tonight up there," FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker said.

It is unclear how the fire started.

"Daylight will help us figure out the cause and origin of this fire," Tucker said.

FDNY officials said no civilian structures were threatened by the fire at any point. There were no reported injuries.

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Crews were also called to another brush fire near the Major Deegan Expressway in the Highbridge section of the Bronx. Further details have not yet been released about that fire.

New York City under drought watch

New York City is under a drought watch, along with other parts of the state, due to the weeks-long dry stretch across the region. Less than 2 inches of rain has fallen in Central Park since September, and October was the driest month ever recorded in the city.

A Red Flag Warning was also issued for the area Friday, meaning the danger for fire is very high because of a combination of high winds and parched earth. The warning has been extended through 6 p.m. Saturday.

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"We're encouraging New Yorkers to, you know, don't throw cigarette butts on the ground. Making sure that, as the passerby did today, you're reporting any fires you see. You shouldn't be grilling in the parks," said New York City Office of Emergency Management Commissioner Zachary Iscol.

"We were extremely lucky by the passerby who saw something but also did something. They notified the FDNY, and it was a quick response," Mayor Eric Adams said.

After six wildfires on Staten Island over the last two weeks, Borough President Vito Fossella and FDNY officials plan to urge locals to take preemptive measures to protect their homes.

"We work with the State Department of Environmental Conservation to allow homeowners who live around an area that may be very sensitive or prone of brush fires to obtain a permit and cut back some of the Phragmites with the goal to protect their homes and the people who live in those homes," Fossella said.

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Firefighters in New Jersey have been battling a string of wildfires in recent days, including one that started early Friday morning in the Palisades. That fire sent clouds of smoke across the Hudson River into parts of Upper Manhattan and the Bronx.

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Firefighters managed to contain a large brush fire in Brooklyn's Prospect Park Friday night, officials with the New York City Fire Department said.

Four engine companies will remain on the scene overnight to make sure the fire remains contained and does not re-ignite. Some hot spots remain, officials said at a press conference.

A passerby reported the fire in Prospect Park at about 6:40 p.m., Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker said.

#FDNY units are operating at a brush fire in Prospect Park in Brooklyn. Operations are ongoing. pic.twitter.com/15QclbBXov  FDNY (@FDNY) November 9, 2024

The fire grew to about two acres in size and is located in a "very inaccessible" and dense forested area of the park. Extremely dry vegetation and heavy winds contributed to the fire, Fire Deputy Chief Joseph Duggan said

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Drone technology was being utilized to identify hot spots and specialized brush fire units, the FDNY said on X.

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for New York City on Thursday, through Friday evening due to "critical fire weather conditions are expected due to strong winds and dry conditions."

Multiple wildfires were reported Friday in neighboring New Jersey amid windy, dry conditions.

New York City Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue said that the forest in Prospect Park is the oldest standing forest in Brooklyn. "Our urban forest here is so critical," she said.

Large brush fire in Brooklyn's Prospect Park under control: FDNY originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A Florida Democratic congressman said that police arrested a suspect who allegedly was armed and had him on a target list near his home the day before the election.

Rep. Jared Moskowitz said in a statement on X Friday that the suspect is "a former felon who was in possession of a rifle, a suppressor, and body armor."

PHOTO: Rep. Jared Moskowitz is seen outside the U.S. Capitol after the last votes before the August recess, July 25, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

"Found with him was a manifesto that, among other things, included antisemitic rhetoric and only my name on the 'target' list," Moskowitz said, adding that there were other details that he did not want to disclose due to the ongoing investigation.

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MORE: Election security: Officials say election saw only 'minor' disruptive activities

The Margate Police Department, which Moskowitz said informed him about the arrest, didn't immediately return messages to comment on the case.

Moskowitz noted that he is on the House task force that is looking into the attempted assassination of President-elect Donald Trump.

"I understand the failures and importance of fixing the protection of our current and future Commander-in-Chief and Vice President. At the same time, I am deeply worried about Congressional member security and the significant lack thereof when we are in the district. Regardless of our political affiliations or differences, we all have families we want to keep safe," he said.

Florida Democratic congressman says he was target in attempted assassination originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
There was little to no visible campaigning on constitutional Amendment 1 ahead of the Nov. 5 election. But the measure couldve been one of the most consequential ballot questions facing voters this season.

The amendments failure is a victory for public education and a defeat for those who want to insert partisan politics into decisions that affect Florida students.

Amendment 1 would have required school board candidates to disclose their party affiliation when running for office. The proposal received a majority of Florida votes but not enough to clear the required 60% approval threshold. Just shy of 55% of voters cast ballot in favor of it.

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One potential consequence that didnt garner much discussion but should have: Had Amendment 1 passed, voters without party affiliation  NPAs  would have been blocked from casting ballots in partisan primaries that often decide the winners of school board races. That would have been counter-intuitive in a state where independents are a growing segment of the electorate.

Supporters of Amendment 1 argued that partisanship has already infiltrated school boards  and many voters know their candidates political affiliation even if it is not disclosed  so making the seats officially partisan would have added needed transparency. But we should be working to return those elections to the nonpartisan issues that once dominated them, not forcing candidates to run farther to the right or the left.

Keeping those elections nonpartisan is crucial. We want our school boards to spend more time discussing how to increase reading and math scores than debating the latest culture war. Thanks to Gov. Ron DeSantis push to remove what he calls woke indoctrination from schools, too much of the focus of education policy in recent years has been on banning books and controlling what teachers can discuss in the classroom.

Florida led the nation for the second year in a row in 2023 in the number of books restricted or removed, permanently or temporarily, from schools, according to PEN America, a nonprofit that advocates for free speech.

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Its no wonder then that the Legislature and DeSantis put Amendment 1 on the ballot. The intent appeared to be to root out more liberal candidates running in red parts of the state and force them to respond to primary voters who tend to be more ideological.

DeSantis, specifically, has spent significant political capital trying to get his allies elected to school boards. This is part of an effort to exert control over local education decisions  first by passing state laws, then by having direct control over local boards. Adding an R or D next to candidates names on the ballot would have made his mission easier to accomplish.

Lets not overstate the political implications of what happened with Amendment 1. Voters rejection of it was a small defeat for DeSantis in this years elections. This still was a very successful election year for the governor and Republicans. Donald Trump carried the state and Miami-Dade; the GOP won all countywide constitutional offices in the county.

DeSantis was mostly focused on defeating Amendment 3 to legalize recreational marijuana for adults and Amendment 4 to protect abortion rights. Both measures failed, though Amendment 4 came within less than 3 points of receiving the needed 60% approval.

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These were huge wins for the governors political brand. The failure of Amendment 3 was particularly remarkable because in Miami-Dade  Floridas largest and one of its most urban counties, where voters would generally be expected to approve this kind of measure  most voters nonetheless opposed it.

And yet, the defeat of recreational marijuana will be less consequential than the failure to protect abortion rights and to turn school board elections into partisan showdowns.

While many women in Florida will suffer because of the lack of reproductive rights  the states six-week abortion ban will remain in place  our students and parents are protected, as least for now, from more political interference in public schools.

Thats a victory.

Click here to send the letter.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  New research shows that some strains of influenza may now be extinct following the pandemic, but health professionals stress that the flu shot is still important as we head deeper into the winter months.

A new study dives into reasons why a certain strain of the flu may have died out during the 2020 pandemic  due to restricted travel and social distancing. 2 NEWS talked with local medical experts about what these findings mean for us now.

Kettering Health expanding services at Wilmington location

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According to the Ohio Department of Health, cases of the flu in the state of Ohio are relatively low  with 61 reported cases so far this year. A new study from the American Association for the Advancement of Science says that the pandemic may have altered how influenza spreads.

The study shows influenza numbers dropped during the pandemic, but they also point out that a strand of the flu, the B/Yamagata Lineage, may have gone exinct entirely.

That lineage was likely just out competed for hosts, said Dr. Austin Williams, Kettering Health. I have not seen, at least in the last couple of years, headlines talking about fully  full extinction of a lineage of influenza like this.

Austin Williams is a family medicine doctor who says that while the study may not impact the flu this year, it could have long term implications on how we handle the spread of influenza.

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Whats more interesting are the implications of how we can potentially control the virus going forward, said Williams. It does show that the quarantining measures and the masking, and all the things we did to prevent the spread of COVID in 2020 and 2021 also had a tremendous effect on other viruses.

Scammer targeting personal information of Daytonians

Dr. Williams stresses to remember that even if one strain is gone, there are others to replace it.

If a strain of the virus is not effective in replicating, it will be replaced by something more successful, said Dr. Roberto Colon, Premier Health.

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That sentiment is echoed by Dr. Roberto Colon, assistant chief medical officer of Premier Health. He says its important to remember that there are still plenty of dangerous strains of the virus.

We want to make sure that we dont fall into the false sense of that time period eliminated the dangerous forms of the virus, said Colon. And that we are in a much milder form of influenza. We didnt. We eliminated some strains, and others were able to evolve.

It is not too late to get your flu shot  health officials further state that while one strain may be extinct, there are still other types of strains that the vaccine can help protect you against.

Visit your local pharmacy or healthcare provider to learn about vaccination.

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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.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  A former Austin ISD employee faces additional charges after a second student victim was discovered during an investigation into an improper relationship with a different student, an arrest affidavit states.

According to court documents filed Thursday, 41-year-old Rodney Tyrone Childers, who had been employed at LBJ Early College High School at the time of the incidents, was charged with improper relationship between an educator and student, a second-degree felony, concerning the second victim.

According to Travis County court records, Childers is facing a total of 10 charges. KXAN reached out to an attorney connected with Childers. This story will be updated if we receive a statement on his behalf.

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During an interview with Austin ISD Police Department detectives, Childers admitted to not only engaging in inappropriate behavior with the first student victim but also with another student victim.

Affidavit: Teacher accused of improper relationship, allegedly sent $2K to victim

According to a new affidavit, Childers told detectives he sent the second victim nude photographs and video recordings through a location-based chat and dating app.

Through a search warrant, detectives obtained records from the app for Childers account and found several message conversations as well as nude photos and videos sent to the student.

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One message conversation included Childers telling the student if they were to do anything, nobody should know, according to court documents.

Records said some of the photos and videos obtained showed Childers in his LBJ High School office.

During an interview, the student victim told investigators they received sexually explicit material from Childers as well as sending some of their own. The student also said there was never a point where the two made contact, saying the communication was strictly via chat on the dating app.

According to court documents, Childers also faces six other charges related to the first student victim. The charges include three counts of improper relationship between an educator and student, two counts of indecency with a child and one count of child grooming.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
(NewsNation)  A former New York bank manager was sentenced to 13 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $208,000 after being found guilty of stealing from customers.

The DOJ announced the verdict in a press release issued Wednesday.

James Gomes, 43, has three years of supervised release attached to his sentence. From January-April 2020 Gomes used his position as branch manager of an international bank to access a customers account and steal approximately $208,938.68.

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Gomes unauthorizedly transferred the funds into his personal bank account and investment accounts.

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The deviance included linking his personal cell number and a fraudulent email address to the customers bank account before creating conversations with his work email to engender fictitious communication between the customer and himself.

After the customer died on April 5, 2020, Gomes continued the scheme, according to the release.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
ST. LOUIS  A former CFO of a St. Louis County business was sentenced Friday in a $2 million embezzlement scheme through which he used his employers bank accounts to pay off to balances on personal credit cards.

A federal judge sentenced Richard D, Zellner, 66, of OFallon, Missouri, to 41 months in prison, or nearly 3.5 years behind bars. He was also ordered to repay $2 million in stolen funds.

St. Louis Cardinals secure new TV deal: What to know and whats next?

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Investigators say Zellner stole millions from his employer between January 2019 and January 2024. He repeatedly paid off credit card balances once he incurred thousands of dollars in charges, which typically occurred every few days or couple of weeks, according to a news release the U.S. Department of Justice.

During this time, Zellner spent money vacations, travel, personal bills and purchases of gold and precious metals. He covered up his thefts by altering company accounting records and creating fake work orders and bills.

Investigators say Zellner made more than 1,000 unauthorized transactions during his scheme, fraudulently obtaining about $2,062,051. He also used company credit cards for personal expenses.

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Zellner waived grand jury indictment and pleaded guilty in August in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of wire fraud.

The U.S. Department of Justice did not immediately disclose the company through which Zellner worked as a CFO in its news release.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  On November 8, the Johnson County District Attorney announced that a former Shawnee teacher and former Kansas Teacher of the Year has been sentenced for sex crimes.

Court records show that Keil Hileman, a former teacher at Monticello Trails Middle School in Shawnee was charged in Johnson County in October of 2022 on six counts of attempted unlawful sexual relations.

Kansas City man sentenced in connection to 2019 child-sex crime

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However, Hileman struck a plea deal that removed four of the charges. Hell only be serving time for two counts of attempted unlawful sexual relations. These counts will run consecutively for a total of 24 months.

Additionally, part of the plea deal claimed that Hileman would serve his sentence, and no requests for probation would be made, Hileman will also register as a sex offender for the next 25 years per statute and complete sex offender treatment.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ryann Walkiewicz. The Shawnee Police Department and the Johnson County Sheriffs Office Criminalistics Laboratory assisted in the case.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  A former Lowell police officer pleads guilty on Nov. 8 to sexual assault and was sentenced to 120 days in jail.

Roy Mitchell, 45 Courtesy: Washington County Sheriffs Office

According to a press release from the Arkansas State Police, Roy E. Mitchell, 46, pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree sexual assault in Washington County Circuit Court.

Mitchell was sentenced to 120 days in the Washington County Detention Center, 20 years of probation and must register as a sex offender.

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Former Lowell officer arrested for sexual assault while awaiting trial for previous charges

Mitchell is also required to surrender his law enforcement certification.

Court documents say Mitchell engaged in sexual contact with a person younger than 14 years old less than a month after he was arrested for a similar crime.

According to Washington County Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Durrett, the victim described to law enforcement multiple inappropriate occurrences at Mitchells house.

Arkansas State Police first arrested Mitchell on Oct. 5, 2023. He was arrested again in December 2023 for similar charges. He was fired immediately before his first arrest.

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ASPs Criminal Investigation Division opened an investigation on Sept. 22, 2023, following a call to the ASP Crimes Against Children Division Hotline. The Lowell Police Department placed Mitchell on administrative leave at that time.

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SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  WSAVs Tina Tyus-Shaw attended the album release party for frequent Friday Wind Down guest Jordan Hernandez with his band, The Quintessentials.

You can check out Jordan at the Kimpton Brice Hotel on December 1. His new album is out now.

Learn more about Jordan by visiting his website here.

Catch Friday Wind Down each week during our 5:30 p.m. newscast or at wsav.com/FridayWindDown.

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As Americans headed out to the polls to vote in the election this week, they enjoyed gasoline that, on average nationwide, costs less than it has since 2021. Gas prices have fallen so much from record levels in 2022 that Uber is now using the low cost of gas to justify a proposal to cut driver wages in order to pass cost savings along to riders.

COVID and Russias war on Ukraine caused a surge thats unlikely to repeat, GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan said in a statement earlier this week.

President-elect Donald Trump will inherit relatively low gasoline prices after successfully campaigning, in part, on the cost of gas being too high. Prior to the election, the Energy Information Administration forecasted gas prices would naturally be lower on average through 2025. Economists have said Trumps proposal to lower gas prices below $2 per gallon overstates the ability of the executive office to influence market prices and that it could have negative consequences for oil and gas companies.

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Stacker compiled statistics on gas prices in Mississippi. Gas prices are as of November 8.

Mississippi by the numbers

 Gas current price: $2.69

 Week change: +$0.01 (+0.4%)

 Year change: -$0.20 (-7.0%)

 Historical expensive gas price: $4.53 (6/12/22)

 Diesel current price: $3.17

 Week change: +$0.00 (+0.2%)

 Year change: -$0.76 (-19.3%)

 Historical expensive diesel price: $5.38 (6/19/22)

Metros with most expensive gas in Mississippi

#1. Jackson: $2.69

#2. Biloxi-Gulfport-Pascagoula: $2.68

#3. South Haven  Olive Branch: $2.67

#4. Hattiesburg: $2.62

States with the most expensive gas

#1. Hawaii: $4.58

#2. California: $4.52

#3. Washington: $4.01

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States with the least expensive gas

#1. Oklahoma: $2.63

#2. Texas: $2.68

#3. Mississippi: $2.69

This story features data reporting and writing by Dom DiFurio and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

You may also like: These 10 car insurers have the highest market share in Mississippi

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California air quality regulators late Friday approved tougher rules to encourage use of lower-carbon fuels, overriding objections that the action would lead to higher gasoline prices for motorists.

On a 12-to-2 vote, the California Air Resources Board approved amendments to the state's Low Carbon Fuel Standard, or LCFS, which aims to shift Californias fuel dependence away from gasoline and toward lower-carbon fuels such as biodiesel, hydrogen and electricity.

The board members voting for the program, some looking bleary-eyed by the end of the 12-hour meeting, said the new rules were needed to move the state closer to its goal of no longer burning fossil fuels.

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"From a climate perspective, this is absolutely necessary," said board member Hector De La Torre.

Dean Florez, a former Democratic state lawmaker, was one of two board members to vote no. He said one of his concerns was that the plan would make driving more expensive in a state that already has the second-highest pump prices in the nation after Hawaii.

Im just kind of wondering how we can in all good conscience say that  somehow were not a cause of this, Florez said.

Of the 14 voting members on CARBs board, 12 were appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and confirmed by the state Senate. Florez was appointed by the state Senate. De La Torre was appointed by the state Assembly.

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California Air Resources Board staffers estimated last year that the new rules could raise the price of a gallon of gas by as much as 47 cents next year. By 2040, the added cost to the price per gallon could be $1.80, staff members estimated in their 2023 document .

Since then, and again Friday, CARB officials asserted that those estimates were flawed and that they no longer believe the action will boost gas prices.

"Any claims that LCFS is responsible for high gas prices is misleading at best and not supported by the data," Dillon Miner, CARB's staff air pollution specialist, told the packed auditorium in Riverside on Friday.

Those assurances were met with skepticism by some speakers during the seven-hour public hearing.

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Assemblymember Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale) told the board that residents of his district, many of whom were lower-income, often drove 100 miles a day.

This is all about survival, financial survival, Lackey said. We simply cannot afford this.

Nearly 13,000 Californians signed a petition written by Republican state senators that asked the board to postpone the vote until CARB provided information on how much the amendments would increase gas prices.

Even some Democrats spoke out about how the amendments could raise gas prices, which would especially burden low-income people who must drive to their jobs.

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I represent a working-class rural district that is largely dependent on agricultural jobs, Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria (D-Fresno) wrote in a Thursday letter to CARB Chair Liane Randolph. It is these working families that can least afford even a modest increase in fuel prices.

Many speakers at the public hearing urged the board to reject the amendments for reasons that did not involve the price of gasoline.

Some said they lived in the Inland Empire where the meeting was held. They spoke about how the pollution from trucks and other vehicles was continuing to harm the health of their families. They said they believed the program was benefiting companies by allowing them to continue to pollute and that the board should do more to support electric vehicles.

Environmentalists told the board they were disappointed that the amendments favored fuels such as renewable diesel that is made from food crops including soybeans and canola. Such biofuels result in turning land that was once used to grow food into that producing fuel.

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Gary Hughes at Biofuelwatch told the board that the plan would be a driver of global deforestation as more land was used to grow plants for the biofuel. These fuels are not a climate solution, he said.

Because of the LCFS, California now accounts for nearly all renewable diesel consumption in the U.S. Most of that fuel is not made in California but trucked in from other states or imported, mostly from Singapore.

These dirty fuels are wolves in sheeps clothing, Nina Robertson of Earthjustice told the board.

Supporters of the amendments included dozens of executives from the producers of alternative fuels and electric vehicles, as well as other companies that have been financially benefiting from the program.

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Steve Lesher of Shell USA told the board that the LCFS had prompted the oil company to invest in hydrogen and biofuel production, as well as electric vehicle charging stations. He called the program an investment attractor.

The LCFS program was created in 2009 under Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. CARB says the program has resulted in more than 30 billion gallons of petroleum being displaced by low-carbon fuels. The program, the agency said, also has helped California reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20%.

The state uses a carbon-trading market to encourage producers to make the alternative fuels. Producers that dont meet the states low carbon standard must buy credits from those that do, which pushes companies to develop cleaner options.

Under the current program, fuel producers had to reduce the carbon intensity of their fuels by 20% of the levels in 2010 by 2030.

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The proposal approved Friday increased the carbon-intensity reduction target in 2030 to 30%. And the target would leap to 90% in 2045.

As the standard tightens, the cost of the credits is expected to rise. Critics say this cost will be passed on to consumers.

CARB officials say that isn't correct. They say there is no direct relationship between the fuel credit prices and the cost of gas at the pump. And they say data show that the current fuel standard, before the amendments approved Friday, has added just 10 cents to the price of a gallon of gas.

Danny Cullenward, a climate economist in San Francisco and senior fellow at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania, estimated in an October report that under the new rules, the 2025 cost could be as high as 65 cents a gallon .

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Its absolutely irresponsible and unacceptable that this board has chosen to ignore how its policies will impact gas prices, state Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa) said in a statement. How can they possibly vote to approve it if they dont even know what it will do to Californians at the pump?

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP)  Gate City Boulevard westbound between South Holden Road and Boulevard Street was closed after a crash with reported injuries.

The cause of the crash is unknown at this time.

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Generation Z would rather work for Deliveroo than the Armed Forces, research has found.

The tech companies Microsoft, Google and Apple were deemed the most attractive places to work by young people in a survey, while the least appealing employers were found to be McDonalds, KFC and the Royal Marines.

The Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force ranked as the fourth, fifth and seventh least appealing employers, with Deliveroo coming in at sixth.

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In the career preference survey of 1,997 people aged between 15 and 27 conducted by Prograd, an insights company, Gen Z showed minimal interest in public sector jobs such as the military.

The findings come amid a recruitment crisis in the Armed Forces, which has prompted the relaxation of entry requirements.

Earlier this year, The Telegraph revealed the Navy has so few sailors it has had to decommission ships, while employment levels have also fallen in both the Army and RAF.

John Healey, the Defence Secretary, has pledged to scrap more than 100 regulations that prevent the brightest and the best from joining the Armed Forces, such as allowing people with eczema or acne.

Capita, the outsourcing company, is also said to be drawing up plans to allow recruits with autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or a history of depression into the Armed Forces for the first time.

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These plans would then need to be put to the government for approval

In March, Government figures revealed the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had managed to recruit 132,000 people from one million applicants since 2014, with the majority of would-be recruits dropping out during the lengthy application process.

Also ranking in the surveys 20 least appealing employers were the police force, fire and rescue service, schools and the coastguard.

At the other end of the spectrum, Rolls-Royce, BMW and Netflix were highly sought-after employers, hinting at the appeal of innovative brands in the private sector over public sector roles.

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Some 64 per cent of those Gen Z surveyed said that career growth was one of the most important factors when looking for a job.

Salary and benefits were prioritised by 58 per cent, while half of recipients said job security was one of their top five considerations.

In a sign of their practical attitude towards work, 58 per cent of Gen Z said they valued financial stability over following their passion.

Gen Z set their salary expectations at 28,377 for their first full-time job, which is aligned with many internships.

However, this rises quickly, with Gen Z expecting to earn 55,510 by the age of 30, rising to 72,537 by 40 and 87,954 by 50.

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This is much higher than UK averages, which see 22- to 29-year-olds earning 30,316 per year on average, 30- to 39-year-olds earning 37,544 and 40- to 49-year-olds earning 40,040, according to the ONS.

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Londoner Clarissa Muzariri, 18, said: Lets face it, passion doesnt pay the bills, and with costs continuing to rise, we want careers that help us achieve the lifestyle we want.

Big tech companies not only pay well, but they are also places that can give people exciting careers.

If companies dont listen to what young people want, they are going to struggle to attract and hold on to young talent.

Marco Logiudice, co-founder of Prograd, said the results showed Gen Zs demands go beyond value alignment.

He added: Gen Z want high salaries, career progression, job security and positive work environments.

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Companies that dont adapt to the needs of this generation risk missing out on the talent that will shape their future success.

CLARIFICATION: This article has been amended to clarify that whilst Capita is drawing up plans for changes to the medical rules for recruitment into the Armed Forces any such plans would require Ministry of Defence sign off

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WEBSTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Before the snowflakes start fluttering in our skies, there are already a few prancing their way across the dance floor and preparing to pirouette alongside the pros.

I look forward to dancing in front of a crowd and it just makes really fun memories for me to remember, says one young dancer, Maeve.

The students from the studio Dancing with Denise in Webster will perform with internationally traveling, career ballerinas to put on Nutcracker! A Magical Christmas Ballet. The professionals will be traveling from as far as Ukraine, Italy, Japan and more for this 16th year of the partnership with the local dance studio.

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Looking at themI usually just stand on the side of the stageand Im always in awe and so proud, Baller says.

From the role of snowflake to mouse to party girlevery dancer has a part to play to make the story come alive.

It will feel really cool and for some people its their first time. They can feel nervous, but its really, really fun, says Cassidy, whos been cast as a mouse.

Baller says a few of these dancers have performed with the pros year after year, and she says she enjoys introducing new kids every time to inspiring talent and watching their dreams take off. This will also be the first year introducing the Making Spirits Soar Project, where the Webster students have created special care packages to thank the travelling ballerinas for sharing their stage.

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The girls are so excited! We also have two little boys in the cast, and its a great way to start your holiday season, says Baller.

Ive been almost every part. Its very fun! I come out of retirement to do it, so its an amazing experience, because the people on stage with us have been dancing their entire lives and theyre very experienced with ballet and its awesome, says another longtime dancer, Kristina.

The performance, Nutcracker! A Magical Christmas Ballet, will be 3 pm Saturday at the West Herr Auditorium. Baller encourages anyone from the Greater Rochester community to join them getting into the holiday spirit.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  An 18-year-old Geneva man admitted Friday that he knowingly sold fentanyl to a 16-year-old girl who died after taking the drug.

According to the Ontario County District Attorneys Office, the man, who was 17 years old at the time, disguised the fentanyl as a Percocet pill when selling it to the young girl.

This family lost a child to illegal drugs sold to her by another child, said Assistant District Attorney Peter Van Dellon.

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1 dead, 1 hospitalized after Newark motorcycle crash

Prosecutors said the drug was masked so well; it even included the stamp pressed into the pills.

The 18-year-old, now convicted of criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degrees, faces six months of jail time and five years of probation.

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Early elections in Germany may not be possible because of a lack of paper, the head of the electoral commission has said.

Olaf Scholz, the chancellor, has caved to pressure to hold a snap election after initially planning to hold the vote five months after the collapse of his coalition government this week.

Ruth Brand, the president of the German electoral commission, told German television that it was a great challenge in todays world to actually procure the paper and carry out the printing orders.

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She warned against holding elections too soon after Christmas in comments that drew scorn from opposition politicians and Bild, Germanys best-selling newspaper. She has also written to Mr Scholz on the matter.

As parties need to decide on candidate lists and other organisational issues, holding the vote after a long run of public holidays would come with incalculable risks, Ms Brand said.

We must be careful not to make ourselves look ridiculous internationally with a debate at this level, said Thorsten Frei, of the opposition party Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which wants a vote held before the inauguration of Donald Trump in January.

Friedrich Merz, leader of the CDU, refuses to support Scholzs agenda as a condition for quick elections - Lisi Niesner/Reuters

The government collapsed on the same day Mr Trump, whose threatened tariffs would harm the stuttering German economy, won the election.

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The statements made by the Federal Election Commissioner are scandalous and shameful, Carsten Linnemann, the general secretary of CDU, told Bild.

A country like Germany must be able to hold elections within 60 days.

Mr Frei said that France had held elections this summer after just three weeks.

Federal and state election officials will meet on Monday to discuss how to deal with the early elections in January or March.

The German chancellor said on Friday that he wanted to quickly allow new elections after initially insisting that he wanted to pass a raft on unratified legislation before taking the country to the polls.

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Mr Scholz appeared to make his agreement to an early election conditional on the opposition backing legislation that was in the pipeline before he lost his majority.

In order for a general election to be held ahead of schedule, German law requires that a chancellor loses a vote of confidence, which then leads to the dissolution of parliament.

Friedrich Merz, leader of the CDU, has refused to agree to support Mr Scholzs legislative agenda as a condition for quick elections.

Describing Mr Scholz as a share without any value, he has said that Germany cannot afford to have a government without a majority for months on end.

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After months of bickering inside his three-way coalition with the Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats, Mr Scholz fired his finance minister on Wednesday, a move that led to the Free Democrats resigning en masse from the government.

The chancellor initially set out a plan to hold an election in late March, saying he wanted to pass bills that cant be delayed beforehand.

In polling, the CDU are in the lead by 33 per cent, with Mr Scholzs Social Democratic Party and the hard-Right Alternative for Germany both on around 16 per cent.

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National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano on Saturday announced that the recently enacted Maritime Zones Act and Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act empower the Philippines to assert its maritime jurisdiction amid ongoing disputes in the West Philippine Sea.

These laws empower us to govern our maritime zones effectively while promoting lawful and peaceful maritime activities, Ano said.

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The security official expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for signing the laws. He also acknowledged the Senate and House of Representatives for passing the landmark legislations, which align with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The Maritime Zones Act defines the Philippines authority over its internal waters, territorial seas, archipelagic waters, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and continental shelf. It reinforces the Philippines legal standing, especially in the contested West Philippine Sea, in accordance with the 2016 Arbitral Ruling and international norms.

Meanwhile, the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act provides regulations for the passage of foreign vessels and aircraft through the countrys archipelagic waters, reinforcing national security and respecting Philippine sovereignty.

It establishes vital safeguards to protect both our maritime resources and the environment, reinforcing our responsibility to uphold the sanctity of our waters and airspace, Ano said.

He added that the new legislation enhances the Armed Forces capability to protect Philippine waters from potential infringement and that the government is committed to working with stakeholders for full enforcement of these measures.
(Bloomberg) -- German Economy Minister Robert Habeck is ramping up pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz to schedule new elections without delay.

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Habeck, whos also Germanys vice chancellor, told public broadcaster ZDF on Friday evening that a vote should be held as soon as possible following the collapse of Scholzs unpopular three-way coalition. He also cautioned that parties should be careful not to jeopardize the constitution or ongoing government affairs.

Germany has been plunged into a period of unusual uncertainty with the governing coalition breaking down on the same day that Donald Trump declared victory in the US election. Trump has been hostile to Berlin in the past. His return comes at a moment when Europes largest economy is struggling and industries such as autos and chemicals are facing disruptive transformations.

Habeck referred to a letter issued by Federal Election Commissioner Ruth Brand who warned of incalculable risks at all levels if the election is rushed.

The Green politician added that for historical reasons, the decision on the timing of the election lies solely with the chancellor. We are discussing such things, but in the end it is his decision and he has made it. If he changes his mind or reconsiders it, that is also his decision, Habeck said.

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Scholz on Wednesday sacked Christian Lindner, finance minister and leader of the business-friendly Free Democrats, in a dispute about debt-financed government spending, dismantling his three-party coalition. He proposed to pull forward the date of Germanys next federal election from September to end of March at the latest. Until then, Scholz intends to continue governing in a minority government with Habeck and the Greens.

The chancellor intends to put the question of confidence to parliament in mid-January. Friedrich Merz, leader of the conservative opposition party CDU/CSU, which has a clear lead in the polls, is putting pressure on him to start the process as early as next week to enable elections already in January.

At a summit of European heads of state and government in Budapest on Friday, Scholz said that he was ready to discuss a quicker timetable for triggering new elections, calling the current situation a big democratic party.

Thorsten Frei, parliamentary secretary of the conservative caucus, on Saturday rejected a push by Scholz to tie the question of an earlier election date to bi-partisan cooperation on lawmaking in parliament before the vote.

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First the chancellor must ask the question of confidence, then we will be available for talks, the RND media group cited Frei as saying. Scholz should put an end to his obvious delaying tactics.

Separately, Transport and Justice Minister Volker Wissing told the public broadcaster ARD on Friday that the question of the election date shouldnt be turned into a political issue. Wissing left the Free Democrats to remain in Scholzs cabinet and was appointed justice minister in a reshuffle following Lindners dismissal.

According to the latest Politbarometer survey by public broadcaster ZDF, 54% of respondents are in favor of holding elections before March. Only 30% support the March timing proposed by Scholz.

In an interview published on Saturday with Suedddeutsche Zeitung, SPD General Secretary Matthias Miersch signaled openness to talks with the CDU/CSU holding the vote of confidence earlier, on the condition that the opposition helps to pass certain projects in the Bundestag before elections are held.

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Miersch also referred to the concerns raised by Brand, that enough time must be given to ensure enough time for the logistical prepararion of the vote so that it can be conducted fairly and properly.

Federal and state election officials have scheduled a meeting with Brand on Monday to discuss the necessary measures for early elections.

The election campaign is beginning, but it must not be conducted at the expense of constitutional norms and government business, Habeck, who announced his own candidacy for chancellor on Friday, told ZDF.

--With assistance from Stefan Nicola.

(Updates with CDU official comment in ninth paragraph.)

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Jesse Watters on Fox News' The Five.

Jesse Watters revealed his unique sense of humor while talking about Donald Trumps proposed mass deportations.

The president-elect has a vision to remove around 11 million people from the country, and said this week that no level of expenditure would stop him from seeing it through.

You have no choice, Trump reportedly said of his plan, adding that there is no price tag to equal the value of the biggest mass deportation in U.S. history.

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To Watters, the concept of the deportees being detained is hysterical.

Jesse Watters: The footage of ICE ripping people from their homes will be "hysterical". pic.twitter.com/okqjOL1ebe  The Intellectualist (@highbrow_nobrow) November 8, 2024

On The Five on Friday, Watters first spoke of Trumps plans to battle homelessness in Los Angeles so as not to embarrass the country during the Olympics, before moving on to border control.

And then, deportation. Theyre going to lose the states on this because that is a federal issue, he said.

And there will be massive clashes, cause youre going to have cameras out there making sure that they capture the images of ICE coming along and taking these people away. And they deserve to be taken away.

Fox News later said that Watters' use of the word hysterical was a reference to hysteria was not about humor, but the lefts reaction.

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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was central to Watters' envisioning of the comedic clips.

Sometimes, you have to do tough stuff, but AOC is going to be there tying herself to migrants. Its gonna be hysterical. the Fox host said.

In his final comment on the matter, Watters did not dispel allegations that some conservatives see a big strong daddy in Trump.

But sometimes Dad has to do the tough thing. Doesnt make it always look great, but its the right thing to do and thats what we expect, he said.

Despite Watters strong words about the proposed deportations, Trump has yet to unveil a clear plan for how hell remove undocumented migrants during his upcoming second term.

While his goal is to remove millions, his highest number of deportations came in 2019, when 267,258 people were removed.
From the Boiling Frogs on The Dispatch

Being a writer means never being able to enjoy someone elses prose without feeling jealous.

It happens to me every time I read Kevin Williamson. What a terrific piece. The bastard.

But not all good prose comes from professionals. Theres plenty of it in daily conversation for those who care to look, sometimes from people not known for intellectual bravado.

Think what you want about Marjorie Taylor Greene, for example, but this is objectively good prose: The American people, the voters that voted for Trump overwhelmingly, they are MTG. MTG is not radical or extreme. Shes mainstream America.

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Concise, vivid, forceful, and true. Thats the good stuff. I wish Id written it myself.

Greene has spent the days since Donald Trumps victory hinting that she wantsand deservesa spot in his Cabinet. Asked Wednesday about the prospect of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. or Vivek Ramaswamy landing big jobs in the new administration, she complained that they both tried to beat [Trump] in the presidential race this year.  Its important to realize who stood with President Trump from the beginning, never backed down, never stabbed him in the back, never tried to beat him.

When Steve Bannon raised the possibility with her of taking charge of the Department of Homeland Security, which would place Trumps bloody mass-deportation program directly under her command, she didnt dismiss it.

DHS Secretary Greene? If Trump made that nomination and I were a senator, I would vote to confirm.

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FDA Commissioner Robert F. Kennedy? Id be a yes on him too. Attorney General Jeffrey Clark? Also yes. Supreme Court Justice Aileen Cannon? I dont see why not.

Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard, H.L. Mencken famously said in another bit of prose I wish Id written. I find that logic insuperable under the present political circumstances. The American people are MTG; MTG is mainstream America. By what right should their representatives in the Senate deny them the government theyve asked for?

Give it to them. Good and hard.

The will of the people.

Theres more to this argument than spite. Although I will admit that spite is a big part of it.

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Two years ago, Steve Hayes hosted Tim Miller of The Bulwark for a chat about Millers book, with the conversation coming around to the fact that Trump had appointed mostly qualified deputies in his first term. Ive written about their debate before. Steve was glad that President Trump had been advised by proverbial adults, noting that a government led by irresponsible people can cause immense human misery. Tim countered that Trump might not have remained politically viable after leaving office if those adults hadnt restrained his most despicable impulses until the final months of his presidency.

Because of the adults in the room, American voters never got to experience Trumpism. What they experienced was Trumpism sanitized by Mike Pompeo and John Kelly and James Mattis and Mark Milley, which wasnt that scary until election night 2020.

Steve had the better of the argument at the time, I think. Many Americans didnt know what they were getting when they gambled on Trump as the lesser of two evils in 2016. In fact, most didnt vote for him at all; it was his opponent who won the popular vote. Handing the Department of Homeland Security to a creature like Marjorie Taylor Greene under those circumstances would have extracted an awfully steep price for a simple electoral mistake. Civic-minded officials in the Trump administration behaved honorably in trying to mitigate the damage of that mistake.

Sitting here now, three days after a sweeping Trump victory and outright popular-vote majority, the strength of Millers argument seems overwhelming in hindsight. This morning, a Dispatch colleague said that the normie Trump supporters he spoke to this week have all tended to justify their votes the same way: We experienced life under a Trump presidency, and life under a Biden presidency, and the country and the world were better off under Trump. But they didnt experience life under a Trump presidency. They experienced life under a sanitized Trump presidency thanks to the adults in the room.

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Its high time they experienced an actual Trump presidency, no?

Im being only half-cute in saying that. If you believe in democracy, you should find it earnestly troubling when a majority votes for a candidate expecting one thing and then gets something very different once hes in office.

The sole virtue of Trumps campaign this year was his honesty about his goals and the personnel he intends to deputize to achieve them. He campaigned side-by-side with Americas most prominent vaccine skeptic, promising to let him go wild on [public] health after returning to the White House, then won the presidency going away. The people elected him with eyes wide open. Under what theory of democracy should Trump now break his promise to put Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in charge of Americas health bureaucracy? Under what theory should the Senate reject Kennedy if his nomination is submitted?

We could navel-gaze here about the paradox of a democratic republic, in which representatives simultaneously have a duty to carry out the will of the people and a duty to ignore the will of the people when the people want to do something particularly stupid. The Founders distrusted the members of Americas popular majority enough to have denied them the right to choose their own senators, leaving that job to state legislatures instead in hopes that those legislatures would select men of (giggle) virtue whod demonstrate wisdom in the peoples best interest.

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That duty to behave wisely is the best case one can make, I think, for senators to reject Kennedy, Greene, Jeffrey Clark, and any other cretin who might come before them. If you believe that Liz Cheney, representing Americas most Republican state, did the right thing by voting to impeach Trump after January 6, then you presumably agree. Representatives should exercise good civic judgment even when their constituents dont.

But what about their other duty, to carry out the will of the people?

Mandate is a dirty word here at The Dispatch, so I wont bother arguing that Trump has earned a mandate for his agenda. He won his election, yes, but the senators and House members who prevailed on Tuesday won theirs too. They dont owe him their votesexcept, maybe, for mediocrities like Bernie Moreno, who almost certainly wouldnt have prevailed in Ohio without Trump dragging them over the finish line.

Trump doesnt have a mandate. But populism has something like a mandate, dont you think?

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Republicans won the presidency and a Senate majority and are very likely to narrowly retain their House majority. Thats total control of government, gift-wrapped and delivered on a silver platter at a moment when a legislative check on the incoming president was direly needed. Trump became the first Republican in 20 years to win the popular vote and did so by making meaningful gains with nearly every major demographic group. And he and his party achieved all of that while being remarkably forthcoming about their malevolent intentions. Tariffs, isolationism, retribution, anti-vaxxismany and every species of woo-woo populism you can imagine, up to and including removing fluoride from the water supply, was on the menu. And more than half of this country ordered it.

Trump winning wasnt a mistake this time. It was a choice, and a very deliberate one. Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get itgood and hard. Who are their representatives, including representatives in the other party, to tell them that they cant have what they knowingly chose when Trump sends Marjorie Taylor Greenes nomination to lead DHS over to Congress?

Do you support self-government or dont you?

Learning the hard way.

If appealing to democracy doesnt sell you on rubber-stamping Trumps nominees, though, then how about deterrence?

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All Ive wanted since January 6 is deterrence. America needed to punish the instigator and his accomplices, I thought, not chiefly as a matter of justice but to show the fascists of tomorrow what awaited them if they ever dared try to pull what Trump pulled. You throw the book at coup-plotters for the same reason you throw it at any major criminal, to warn other degenerates in the population that crime doesnt pay.

But at every step since the insurrection, America has turned around and said that crime does pay.

It paid when Senate Republicans declined to convict Trump at his second impeachment trial because they feared retaliation from him and his crazed supporters. It paid when Trumps polling in this years GOP primary improved following his criminal indictments as Republican voters guzzled down argle-bargle about a deep-state witch hunt. And it paid when a convicted felon, with dozens of felony charges still pending against him, easily won the presidency over a career prosecutor.

The American people have done everything they could reasonably do to weaken the taboo against authoritarian criminality. The only thing left that might work to deter them from ever doing something like this again is making them live with the consequences of their decision.

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Give them Trumpism red in tooth and claw, unsanitized this time. If he nominates out-and-out cranks for major Cabinet positions, confirm them. The Senate will confirm them, I think: Marco Rubio, a good Republican, all but admitted it this week when he was asked about the prospect of a Kennedy nomination. Once the GOP reached 52 seats on Tuesday night, rendering Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski irrelevant, any chance of this party of geldings resisting Trumps demands in the upper chamber disintegrated.

The American people have chosen. They should not be insulated from the consequences of their choice, Jonathan Last wrote on Friday, urging Democrats not to block elements of Trumps agenda that will primarily harm his own voters. Its really that simple. If you want to stop future generations from experimenting with postliberalism, theyll need to see the results of the experiment that our generation is conducting. Let Trump carry it out.

Maybe itll turn out okay. Secretary Greene could prove as effective a public servant at DHS as she is a prose stylist. Perhaps the many fond wishes at the start of Trumps first term that hell grow in office, briefly interrupted by his attempt to end American democracy in early 2021, will at last bear fruit in a second term. Taking fluoride out of the water and resurrecting measles outbreaks could usher in a new era of health, wealth, and prosperity, I suppose.

But if not, your kids and grandkids will benefit from the disastrous political history lesson you and I are about to live through. Assuming they survive those outbreaks, I mean.

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Full Trump, no limits. Well get the deterrence I wanted in the end. Itll just be much, much more expensive than it needed to be.

Its not so simple, though, is it?

If all of us were destined to suffer the same under Trumps government, itd be simple. We arent. Despair is an elite luxury that vulnerable communities cannot afford, David French wrote on Thursday. If Trump was telling the truth about his intentionsand there is no good reason to think he wasntthen he will attempt a campaign of retribution and mass deportation that will fracture families, create chaos in American communities and potentially even result in active-duty troops being deployed to our cities.

Its easy for me to say bring on Secretary Greene! when Im at no risk of being tangled up in some inept, gratuitously brutal deportation dragnet or being shot at by regular military after joining a left-wing protest.

But look at it this way: Even if the Senate were to reject Greene in the name of defending the vulnerable, Trump would just scrape some other ruthless unqualified populist toady off the bottom of his shoe and nominate them for the position instead. Were going to get miscreants in this Cabinet one way or another. Isnt it better that they be high-profile ones, with neon reputations for crankery and incompetence, to help the public draw clear conclusions about the caliber of Trumps henchmen?

Theres another problem with my argument. The prospects for deterrence depend an awful lot on the decency of the American people, no? Most of us have spent our lives taking that decency for granted, but we really should stop.

If theres a shining lesson from Trumps reelection its that Americans no longer care even a little bit about decency in their leaders, at least not when eggs are more expensive than they used to be. Faith in the inherent goodness of Americans has failed us, attorney Ken White declared after Tuesdays results. Too many people saw it as a self-evident truth that the despicable rhetoric and policy of Trump and his acolytes was un-American.  Trump came wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross (upside down, but still) and too many people assumed their fellow Americans would see how hollow that was. That assumption was fatal.

Americans will revolt against postliberalism, fulfilling my dreams of deterrence, if and only if Trumps policies hurt them personally. Tariff-palooza is high-risk for him because of that, since an aggressive trade war that triggers stagflation will shatter his silly mystique as some sort of economic magician. The tacit bargain he made with voters is that hell make the trains run on time and theyll look the other way at his abuses. If he cant keep up his end of it, his supporters will wonder what theyre getting in return for amorality.

But if he can, wheres the problem? So long as Secretary Greene and the other goblins in Trumps Cabinet stick to harassing undesirablesimmigrants, Democrats, transgender people, enemies of populism various and sundrytheres no reason to expect a sharp decline in the presidents job approval or anything more than throat-clearing from the evaporating respectable right. The results of this election have given us every reason to believe Americans will tolerate Trumps brand of politics to the extent its competent in administration and judicious in who it persecutesjudicious in this case meaning Them, not Us.

With apologies to Mencken, one might say that democracy under postliberalism is the theory that the common people get what they want while the less common people get whats coming to them, good and hard. If thats so, a Cabinet of cretins wont put most Americans off of Trump. It might be just what theyre hoping for.

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More people searched online for contraception  and its potential ban  after Trump's victory

Getty Stock image of birth control. Stock image of birth control.

Online searches for birth control skyrocketed after the Nov. 5 presidential election  along with related terms about potential bans for the medication.

At 4 a.m. on Nov. 6  right around when news broke that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump defeated the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris  Google searches for birth control more than doubled, according to Google Trends.

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The states where the term was searched the most were all ones that Trump won: West Virginia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Arkansas and Indiana.

Those states have instituted near-total bans or restrictions on abortions.

Related searches include variations of the phrase Is birth control being banned, along with Is Trump going to get rid of birth control," per Google Trends.

Getty Stock image of a woman using a cell phone. Stock image of a woman using a cell phone.

Related: Georgia Mom, 28, Dies of Preventable Infection After Being Denied Life-Saving Procedure Due to States Abortion Laws

During his first term in office, Trump rolled back a previous requirement that employers include birth control coverage in their health insurance plans without a co-pay. The 2017 decision, the administration said, was to protect religious freedom and moral sensibilities as birth control promotes risky sexual behavior.

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The nonprofit organization A Step Ahead Chattanooga, which provides contraception to Southeast Tennessee, Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama, shared on Instagram that requests for birth control were up 287% following the election.

Getty Stock image of birth control pills. Stock image of birth control pills.

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.

Related: First Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill to Hit Stores This Month

After the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was handed down in 2022, multiple states enacted trigger bans that severely limited  or outright banned  access to abortion.

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During this years election, voters in some states approved measures to permanently enshrine abortion access into the states constitutions.

In September, Trump, 78, said that women "will no longer be thinking about abortion" if he won the election "because it is now where it always had to be, with the States, and a vote of the people.
Gov. Jim Pillen hosts a news conference at the end of the Legislature's special session to address property taxes that begin almost one month prior. Aug. 20, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  Gov. Jim Pillen is officially calling on Nebraska lawmakers to address inconsistencies in the states main school aid formula in the 2025 legislative session.

Pillen, in a Friday news release, pointed to a new report from his policy research office that compiled property tax data for new state senators. The governor noted that newly elected senators  with 16 fresh faces set to join the body in January  might not have a complete understanding of the states funding formula, or the impact of recent legislation.

Gov. Jim Pillen officially unviles his property tax plan as a summer-long attempt to find a path to reduce local property taxes. July 18, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

The report includes data from Nebraskas 244 school districts in the previous school year and indicates how decreases in state aid led to property tax increases.

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This document helps illustrate the impact of those changes and, hopefully, [will] inform discussions as we embark on the next legislative session and resume efforts to provide additional property tax relief to Nebraskans, Pillen said in a statement.

TEEOSA breakdown

The conversation revolves around the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act, better known as TEEOSA, which has been perennially updated since its adoption in 1990.

TEEOSA, also known as the equalization aid formula, determines funding aid based on the difference of about 18 needs minus six resources for each public school district. If resources outweigh needs, the district doesnt receive the aid and is classified as unequalized.

Needs include student growth, poverty and English as a second language. Resources include net option enrollment, allocated income tax funds and base aid per student.

These are the various components that make up the resources and needs that amount to equalization aid as part of the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act (TEEOSA). (Courtesy of the Nebraska Department of Education)

Another resource is based on possible property tax collections, assuming a $1 hypothetical tax rate across each school district. This is the amount the state assumes a district could raise if it had that high of a tax rate, based on annual valuations.

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This means when valuations go up, a districts equalization aid automatically goes down, possibly to the point they are unequalized and lose the extra funding.

Finding stability

For example, Lincoln Public Schools, the states second largest district, is likely to be unequalized in the coming years. LPS lost $31.85 million in state aid this year, a decrease of 30.4%, and raised property taxes by $31.57 million in response, a 9.6% increase.

Three other school districts  Millard Public Schools, Papillion-La Vista Public Schools and Gretna Public Schools  also saw dramatic drops in state aid. Combined with LPS, the four districts lost $56.27 million in state aid and increased property taxes by $62.25 million. That accounts for 82% of the total increase in property taxes statewide for that period.

State Sens. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn and Tom Brandt of Plymouth meet at the front of the legislative chamber near Clerk of the Legislature Brandon Metzler. Aug. 17, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Kenny Zoeller, director of the governors policy research office, said state aid decreased for 111 school districts for the 2024-25 school year.

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We need to find a way to better help districts budget for the aid they do get, thereby creating some predictability and, hopefully, further reduce what Nebraskans end up paying in property taxes year over year, Zoeller said in a statement.

Pillen and Zoeller do not explain how to provide more stability. However, they state that initial research indicates newly placed soft caps on how much school districts can increase their property taxes slowed total increases to 2.5%, or about $75.82 million.

Thats the smallest annual increase since 2018 and the smallest percentage increase this century.

Theyre on pins and needles

Multiple state lawmakers proposed addressing TEEOSA in the Pillen-led special session on property taxes this summer, including State Sens. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn and Jana Hughes of Seward.

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Linehan, the Legislatures outgoing Revenue Committee chair, called for eliminating the resources side of the funding formula, to better calculate each districts needs. She later proposed using TEEOSA to distribute increased sales and sin tax revenue to districts for property tax relief. Linehan is term-limited and wont return next year.

State Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward meets with State Sens. Tom Brandt of Plymouth and Danielle Conrad of Lincoln during the first day of the Legislatures special session on property taxes on Thursday, July 25, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

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Hughes, a former school board member in Seward, worked with a bipartisan group of lawmakers on a proposal to reform TEEOSA over 10 years, or sooner if possible. Her proposal would have decreased maximum school property tax rates gradually over 10 years.

Pillen had proposed having the state take over nearly all local operational property taxes, which account for an average of 60% of Nebraskans property tax bills. However, when Linehan introduced Pillens core proposal, it did not include that component.

Hughes said she agrees TEEOSA needs to be a focus but thinks it will take time and an in-depth look, such as what happened when TEEOSA was first created, with the Revenue and Education Committees collaborating on the proposal, and relying on years of research and design.

I get this sense from schools right now, every year theyre on pins and needles of what is going to change or what is the legislative body going to do? Hughes said.

The formula is inconsistent

In 2023, the Legislature helped to increase aid to schools by doubling special education reimbursements from 40% of expenditures to 80% and set a baseline foundation aid, about $1,500 per student in each public school district.

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Hughes said some school districts hunker down and ask residents to invest through property taxes to prevent budget cuts or to react to uncertainty of whether future funds will be available.

Its just a little vicious cycle a bit when valuations go up, Hughes said.

State Sen. Brad von Gillern of Elkhorn, center. Aug. 20, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

State Sen. Brad von Gillern of Elkhorn, vice chair of the Legislatures Revenue Committee, said he hadnt yet digested the report but agreed with its main findings. He said hes aware of people encouraging a reconsideration of TEEOSA and is supportive of a thoughtful and patient process that includes all stakeholders, to improve the state funding calculation.

Hughes said she and a team of lawmakers will return with a 2025 proposal that will be smaller but still take a little bite out of reforming TEEOSA.

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Pillen has requested that lawmakers consider similar legislation.

The formula is inconsistent and hits taxpayers hard, the policy research office report states. It is not fair to them or the schools. Providing certainty to school districts will allow Nebraska to have sustained property tax reductions for the first time in history.

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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.  Missouris next governor said one of his top priorities is addressing crime and he wants to do that by putting the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department under state control.

The topic isnt new to lawmakers. Both the House and the Senate have spent hours in years past debating who should control the citys police department. Across the state, the Kansas City Police Department is controlled by the state, and many say it hasnt reduced crime or made the city safer.

I would say I feel like Republicans love to attack Kansas City and St Louis, Rep. Emily Weber, D-Kansas City, said. I dont think that attacking St. Louis and trying to take away their local control of their police department is the answer or the solution.

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A long-debated political issue resurfaced following the election.

Ive been very vocal, especially in St. Louis, that I think state control is appropriate for that police department, Governor-Elect Mike Kehoe said.

In response, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones promptly issued a statement, saying, in part, Every year since Ive been in office, St. Louis has seen a significant reduction in crime and homicides, and a state takeover threatens that progress.

Jones pointed to the Kansas City Police Departments state takeover, noting that Kansas City experienced a record high in homicides in 2023. She also highlighted that, under her leadership, the city reached a 10-year low in homicides that same year.

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Weber represents Kansas City in the General Assembly and said her constituents constantly say they wish their police department was locally controlled.

Here in KC, thats a conversation that weve continued to have for years; why dont we have control of our police department, and when is that going to happen? Weber said. Im for certain and for sure that St. Louis and Kansas City will stand together to make sure that this does not cross the finish line.

Kehoe believes if the state has control of the agency, streets will be safer, and it will be easier to recruit and retain officers.

Youre not going to have any private business consortium spend money and redeveloping of any inner city, not just St. Louis, unless they feel like their employees and their customers can be safe, Kehoe said. There are other states around the union, were looking at some of the other models that theyve done for recruiting and retention of officers and we think weve got some pretty good ideas out there to give the men and ladies in blue the resources they need, the protections their family needs to really make Missouri one of the best if not the best law enforcement states in the nation.

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Mayor Jones went on in her statement to say, Ill continue to work with Chief Tracy, our Office of Violence Prevention, Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore, and community partners to reduce crime in St. Louis and advocate fiercely against state control.

Fire destroys Hermann antique store

Back in 2012, Missouri voters approved to put the department under control of the mayors office. Before that, a state-appointed board ran the department. It was initially established to keep Union supporters in St. Louis from controlling the police departments weapons arsenal.

Chief of SLMPD, Robert J. Tracy, has been on record in the last legislative session and currently saying that his police department is better as a department under local control.

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Under the legislation filed in previous sessions, the department would be overseen by a five-member board of police commissioners appointed by the governor which includes the mayor, similar to Kansas City.

Kansas City is the only major city that does not have control over its own police department.

When asked for a response to Kehoes proposal, a spokesperson for Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said:

As Kansas citians have seen, for generations, state control has too often been synonymous with a lack of accountability by police departments under the states control. Under Mayor Jones leadership, St. Louis has made commendable improvements in public safety by demanding accountability. The Mayor appreciates Governor-elect Kehoes interest in safer communities, a goal shared by the Mayor, but state control has not led to increased hiring or better staffing, nor has it reduced crime in our community. As Governor-elect Kehoe takes office, the Mayor looks forward to working with his administration and state legislators to increase accountability and identify solutions to the citys ongoing 9-1-1 crisis and inadequate recruitment and retention of officers by our state-controlled police department.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  On Friday, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of allowing St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Charter School to become the first publicly-funded religious charter school in the country.

This comes a month after the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board filed a petition asking SCOTUS to review the case. The Oklahoma Supreme Court previously ruled that St. Isidores contract with the SCSB was unconstitutional back in June.

Petition filed to bring St. Isidore case to the U.S. Supreme Court

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Governor Stitt is committed to ensuring that all Oklahoma parents, regardless of religious affiliation, have access to a diverse array of high-quality schooling options that allow them to make choices based on what is best for their children reads the brief, in part. Governor Stitt is compelled to speak on behalf of Oklahomans through this Brief because the Oklahoma Attorney General has deprived them of a true advocate by launching this attack against their religious liberty and educational freedom.

The full amicus brief filed with the court can be read here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
GREECE, N.Y. (WROC)  The Ritz-Carlton of dog hotels  K9 Resorts opened its first Upstate New York location in Greece Saturday.

Located on the intersection of North Greece Road and West Ridge Road, the resort offers local families an 8,700 square foot indoor and outdoor doggie daycare. Guest pets can enjoy premium Microban built into the floors, Kuranda bedding and hospital grade advanced air purification system.

Grand opening for the K9 Resort featured a ribbon cutting, a fundraiser benefiting Lollypop Farm, The Humane Society of Greater Rochester, music, food and special grand opening discounts and services.

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The new location is also expected to add around 25 jobs in Greece with the capacity for 130 dogs for boarding and 100 dogs for daycare.

K9 Resorts also plans to open a second location in Penfield in early 2025.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
GROVETOWN, Ga. (WJBF)  We see it all the time on social media- videos of service men and women surprising loved ones when they come home from deployment. Friday, it happened right here in the CSRA.

Major Kamona Riley-Lee, a nurse with the Army National Guard, deployed to Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo in January, leaving her third grade son, Benjamin here at home.

Its been a hard transition. We are really like best friends. Its just been me and him from the beginning, she said.

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After finding out when she was supposed to go home, she discovered it aligned with Grovetown Elementary Schools Veterans Day program and thought it would be perfect to surprise him there.

Im extremely anxious. Im excited. I hope that all of these nine months were worth it. I hope that hes excited to see me, Major Riley-Lee smiled.

The school honored veterans with breakfast, a speaker, and performances- which Benjamin was a part of.

Then came the encore. Onstage, Benjamin read a Thank you poem to the veterans attending the ceremony. The principal announced that someone deployed to Kosovo had a message for him. To thunderous applause and cheers, Major Riley-Lee came around the corner with balloons and a teddy bear to see her son for the first time in months.

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Benjamin was surprised, but so happy to see his mom after so long

It felt really well. Just to see my mom showing up and made me want- it made me cry. It felt really good, said Benjamin.

Major Riley-Lee got home a few days earlier than expected and had to hide from Benjamin so she wouldnt ruin the surprise, a fact that shocked him.

So your mom has actually been home for several days, revealed NewsChannel 6s Kim Vickers.

Several days? Benjamin asked.

Benjamins had the same teacher for the past two years. She taught his whole class for 2nd grade, then took them with her when she moved up to teach 3rd grade. She said it has created a family with his classmates.

I think its a little bit more meaningful because Ive had him for so long. I think I had him before mom left and knowing and getting that situated before she was going and trusting in me to have him and then looping with him again, like I said. I think I told her, I said, selfishly, I feel like this is a big homecoming for me, too, explained Amy Alexander.

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Major Riley- Lee told Kim Vickers that she is grateful to have a tribe she could trust with Benjamins care while she was serving her country.

But I have an amazing village, an amazing support system with my family, my friends. Everybody chipped in and made sure- and especially Grovetown elementary school. I mean, they chipped in any time Benjamin needed something needed help me the extra hugs or love they were they were there for him.

Major Riley-Lee said she is looking forward to taking benjamin out for sushi and spending as much time with him as possible.

Photojournalist: Dania Alawir.

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Senatorial aspirant and former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. lauded President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.s signing of two historic and landmark measuresthe Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act.

These laws, Abalos said, reinforce the countrys sovereignty over its maritime zones and archipelagic waters.

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Through these laws, the government will be able to monitor the movement of foreign vessels and aircraft, said Abalos, a lawyer by profession.

He said the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act establishes a system of archipelagic sea lanes and air routes through which foreign vessels and aircraft shall exercise the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage.

Abalos said the two laws are critical, particularly in the light of repeated incidents where Chinese vessels disrespected the Philippines territorial boundaries.

He cited past incidents such as the one in March when Chinese fishing boats were spotted within the countrys exclusive economic zone.

These new laws will clearly define and strengthen our jurisdiction and our sovereign rights over our territorial water and the airspace over it , Abalos said.

Abalos earlier condemned a recent incident involving a Chinese maritime militia vessel that attempted to block the path of a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ship near Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea on October 11.

Abalos, who is running for senator under the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas, also rallied Filipinos to stand united behind President Marcos firm stance on the West Philippine Sea issue.

Lets support our President in his efforts for China to respect us as a nation and the 2016 tribunal ruling that invalidated Chinas sweeping claims over the West Philippine Sea, he said.
CNN political analyst and The New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman suggested that President-elect Trumps decision to have billionaire Elon Musk join his phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was a way of showing off to the leader.

I think it is a trust thing. I also just think it is that the Trump likes to impress other people, and Elon Musk is the richest man in the world, and thats one way of showing off for Zelensky, Haberman told CNNs Kaitlan Collins on Friday.

I also think its something of a dominance play, Haberman added.

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During the interview, Haberman pointed to reporting from The Wall Street Journal of alleged contact between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Musk.

There has been a lot of reporting about that in The Wall Street Journal, and I dont think that that is completely out of Donald Trumps head when he is doing this, Haberman said.

I mean, this call attracted a lot of attention for a variety of reasons. Musks various connections to the government and interest in government approvals and government contracts and so forth is going to be a big discussion in the coming months, she added.

Following Trumps election, Zelensky said that he had a productive conversation with Trump after the Republican secured his presidential victory.

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It was a productive conversation, a good conversation, Zelensky said of his phone call with Trump on Wednesday. Of course, we cannot yet know what his actions will be. But we do hope that America will become stronger.

This is the kind of America that Europe needs. And a strong Europe is what America needs, to my mind, he continued. This is the connection between allies that must be valued and cannot be lost.

When asked during the interview how much influence Musk could have during Trumps second term, Haberman said she thinks the billionaire could have a lot of influence, citing his frequent appearances at Mar-a-Lago.

I do think that he will be influential. Does it mean he is going to influence every single thing? No. But he is certainly going to leave his imprint, even if he never actually formally joins the government, Haberman said.

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As the United Nations warned Friday that famine is spreading to new areas of Haiti amid the countrys worsening hunger and gang crises, the countrys top politicians are engaged in a high-stakes blame game that is setting the stage for another crisis.

After weeks of tensions over who should control the government, the ruling Transitional Presidential Council moved late Friday to fire Prime Minister Garry Conille in an act that resembled more of a coup than a simple change in governance, as Haitians and diplomats tried to keep pace. The council reportedly met with the national security forces in which leaders were informed of changes, and decided among themselves a replacement for Conille.

The decision came after hours of discussions and political wrangling Friday, and after weeks of disagreement between the prime minister and Leslie Voltaire, the president of the nine-member council, which after taking the leadership reins last month demanded a cabinet reshuffle that Conille resisted.

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On Thursday, a meeting brokered by the Organization of American States to try to salvage the transition ended without resolution after Conille, Voltaire and council member Fritz Jean could not reach an agreement. Another attempt on Friday to mediate the crisis also went nowhere and ended with one of the council members storming out on Conille.

Late Friday, the council sent a resolution dismissing Conille to the governments official newspaper, Le Moniteur, for publication, several sources confirmed to the Miami Herald. The council was working on a second resolution reportedly naming his replacement.

Whether the resolutions will be published remained uncertain, as council members appeared to be still engaged in discussions and planned to meet again on Saturday morning. Some foreign diplomats in Port-au-Prince were attempting again on Saturday to see if they could get both sides to make concessions before the publication of any resolution or mandate naming a new prime minister.

It is unclear whether the councils seven voting members and two observers have the power to fire Conille, a career United Nations development expert who was tapped in late May to lead the transition. Their rise to power isnt the result of an elections, ratification by a Parliament or any article in Haitis constitution. They were formed by an April 3 political accord that was forged by Haitian political parties and civic organizations with the help of Washington and Caribbean leaders following the forced resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry in March during a gang insurgency.

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The idea was that the council, once installed, would choose a prime minister to replace Henry to head a new government. Together the new two-headed executive would oversee the arrival of a U.N.-authorized multinational security force led by Kenya, and establish a board to stage general elections to return the country to democracy by Feb. 7, 2026.

In his nearly six months in office, Conille has struggled to manage the transition and navigate Haitis treacherous political terrain. Though he frequently visited injured police officers and neighborhoods under siege, he has been unable to find agreement with the presidential council. Members have accused him of being confrontational and arrogant. He in turn, has accused council members of blocking efforts to round out the government by naming heads of agencies.

For the past month Conille and Voltaire, in particular, have been at loggerheads over reorganizing the government and a corruption scandal engulfing the council and endangering the transition. They have also been blaming each other as armed gangs increasingly take over towns and neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince, people starve and thousands are forced to seek shelter.

There have been reports of threats to Conilles and some of his ministers lives; the council threatening to fire Conille if he refused to make changes to his cabinet, and an undisclosed contract with a private U.S. security firm. In the meantime, Caribbean leaders efforts to get both sides to find common ground have failed.

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Attorney Bernard Gousse, a constitutional expert and Conille adviser, argues that the criminal allegations involving the three accused council members disqualifies them in any decision-making and any deliberation including them must be considered non-existent.

Other advisers have argued that though the council acts as the presidency, it has no legal status to fire him because the April 3 political accord was never officially published in Le Moniteur, the official government gazette, and a mechanism they had agreed to put in place to evaluate the government has yet to be formed. During one meeting about the demand to reshuffle the government, Conille suggested the council put in place an oversight entity to evaluate the governments performance. Conille said decisions should be made based on its independent assessments.

That suggestion, once source told the Herald, was quickly dismissed by Voltaire, who complained about the governments failure to clean the trash-clogged streets and reopen schools currently sheltering some of the people internally displaced by the armed gangs.

Conille and the council have been jostling for control of the government and the countrys meager finances amid a wave of problems and dissatisfaction over the performance of both the police and Kenyan-led troops as gangs increasingly expand their territory.

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On Friday, the U.N. Human Rights Office in Port-au-Prince said nearly 4,900 people have been killed between January and September. Police sources also reported a sudden uptick in kidnappings in broad daylight after months of a lull.

Food insecurity continues to rise, Stephanie Tremblay, associate spokesperson for U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres told journalists Friday in New York. For the first time since 2022, we are seeing pockets of famine-like conditions in some areas where displaced people are living.

Control of ministries

The political crisis is rooted in two issues: the presidential councils desire to control certain key ministries under Conilles purview and the corruption scandal involving three members of the council. Council members Smith Augustin, Louis Gerald Gilles and Emmanuel Vertilaire have been accused with shaking down the director of the countrys state-owned commercial bank, National Bank of Credit, BNC, and asking him to pay 100 million Haitian gourdes, about $758,000, to retain his job. The director, Raoul Pierre-Louis, refused the bribery request and after the allegations went public, Haitis Anti-Corruption Unit opened an investigation.

While insisting on their innocence, the council members have failed to respond to efforts by the 15-member Caribbean Community to mediate the crisis. They have also refused calls to step down from some of the political parties involved in the transition. One accuse member, Vertilaire, has openly expressed his rage over the allegations in private conversations, according to a source. An investigative judge, Vertilaire has said that he should not be summoned and that the justice ministry should have been under his control as a member of the presidential council.

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Until the investigation is closed, he recently vowed, the transition will not move forward, said the source, speaking anonymously to discuss a private conversation. In describing the scandal, Vertilaire said that it has turned me into a crazy person, the devil.

Last month, anti-corruption investigators issued a report saying criminal charges should be pursued against Vertilaire and the two other accused members. Earlier in the week, Conille sent Volatire a letter asking for the removal of the three council members accused of bribery. He also told Voltaire, a U.S.-educated urban planner who represents Fanmi Lavalas political party, that he believes that merely changing a few ministers will not alleviate the dire challenges the Haitian people face.

It will not ease the suffering of the 700,000 internally displaced, the despair of the 5.5 million experiencing food insecurity, the frustration of the unemployed, or the anger of communities held captive by gang violence, according to the letter, obtained by the Herald.

Security cannot be restored in the midst of such political dysfunction. The Haitian people deserve better https://t.co/pfWYoVz6Vi  Martin Kimani (@AmbMKimani) November 9, 2024

The suggestion, like efforts to mediate the tensions, have fallen on deaf ears. In discussions with Conille about the reshuffling, council members have asked to replace the head of justice, finance, defense and health. They also want control of interior, which will oversee the elections, and they want Conilles foreign minister, Dominique Dupuy, replaced. Dupuys hardened stance against the Dominican Republics recent decision to deport up to 10,000 Haitians a week has irritated council members.

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Should the presidential council succeed in ousting Conille, the move will have reverberations at both the U.N., where there is currently a draft resolution for the Security Council to vote on deploying a U.N. peacekeeping operation to Haiti to replace the multinational security force.

Officials in Washington, who have publicly supported Conille and his cabinet, have for weeks been calling on members of the transitional council to forgo the political infighting and focus on Haitis pressing concerns.

On Friday, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, who is trying to get more security assistance to Haiti, spoke with Guterres about the security situation in Haiti and underscored the gains made by the multinational mission led by Kenya.

The day before the call with Guterres, Blinken also spoke with Kenyan President William Ruto, who is currently preparing to send an additional 600 police officers to Haiti to join the 416 already there from Kenya, Jamaica, Belize and The Bahamas.

In the call Blinken thanked Ruto for Kenyas continued leadership of the mission as it works with its Haitian counterparts to restore peace and security to the Haitian people, Miller said.
Campaign signs for Calvert County Board of Education candidates Melissa Goshorn and Paul Harrison, two of the candidates around the state backed by Project 1776, are posted along Route 4 last month. Photo by William J. Ford.

A first-ever effort by the Maryland Democratic Party to spend tens of thousands of dollars targeting extreme school board candidates had mixed results, with voters choosing to elect more than half of them in this weeks election.

The party targeted many candidates in the supposedly nonpartisan school board races that it said were affiliated with Moms for Liberty, an organization with GOP ties also formed in 2021 to focus on local school board races, or endorsed by Project 1776 PAC, a group that pushes for conservative education policies and parental rights in schools.

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Aiden Buzzetti, head of coalitions and candidate recruitment for Project 1776, confirmed in an interview Thursday that it spent at least $75,000 spent in the general election to support 19 candidates in nine counties. Buzzetti said his group was still able to win more than half the races we got involved in, even though he claimed the states Democratic Party and the state and local teachers unions had more funding and resources to invest in the races.

The candidates that we support care about turning our schools around, and theyre willing to engage with parents and teachers, other community stakeholders, and that resonates with them, Buzzetti said. We get involved because these candidates deserve to have a voice and not be drowned out by teachers union.

But Maryland State Education Association Executive Director Sean Johnson noted that most of the unions members are parents as well as educators.

We take the partnership with parents very seriously. Groups like the 1776 Project are not the voice of Maryland parents. They dont speak for them. Theyre funded by out-of-state, far-right interests, Johnson said Thursday. Our efforts are more reflective of the interests and values of parents in Maryland, than a group like the 1776 Project.

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SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

Maryland Democratic Party Chair Ken Ulman said the party achieved its goal of informing voters about certain candidates in the nonpartisan contests who promote book bans, target marginalized students and support anti-inclusive policies. He noted that the founder of Project 1776, Ryan Girdusky, was kicked off CNN last month for a derogatory comment made live on air.

Girdusky told another guest on CNN Newsnight with Abby Phillip, a Muslim journalist, that I hope your beeper doesnt go off, an apparent reference to pagers rigged with explosives that the Israeli military used against the militant group Hezbollah, which various news reports said killed dozens of people and injured thousands. Gidursky apologized for what he said was meant as a joke, but was banned from the network as a result.

Ulman said that if candidates with extreme views run for future school board seats in Maryland, the party would get involved again.

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In places where we were successful, were really pleased. In places we were not successful, were still really pleased that we entered the discussion and entered the fray and able to point out the differences between the candidates, Ulman said.

Whenever there are candidates that espouse hate, ban books and the things that are anathema to the Democratic Partys values, well stand up and make the case for candidates that share our values, he said.

Winning candidates

The party also had mixed success with the candidates it targeted because it said they were affiliated with local chapters of Moms for Liberty. Out of the two dozen extreme candidates the party focused on, voters from seven counties elected 15 to represent them on their school boards.

Two voters cast ballots at Ward Farm Voter Center in Calvert County on Oct. 31, the last day of early voting in Maryland. Photo by William J. Ford.

According to unofficial results posted Friday morning by the state Board of Elections, some of the targeted candidates who won included:

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Dawn Pulliam in Anne Arundel Countys District 7;

Greg Malveaux and Kristen E. Zihmer were the top two vote-getters in Carroll County;

Jaime Brennan and Colt Morningstar Black were two of the top three vote-getters in Frederick County. Brennan stepped down as chair of the county chapter of Moms for Liberty to run for school board seat;

and Charles Burkett, Ashley McCusker, Victoria Beachley and April Zentmeyer were the top four vote-getters in Washington County.

Winning candidates supported by Project 1776 are Melissa Goshorn, Paul Harrison and Joseph Marchio (top vote-getters in three districts on the five-member Calvert County board); Anna OConnor and Karla Wieland-Cherry (in two of three districts in Talbot County); and Crystal Bender (top vote-getter for one of two seats in Allegany County).

The political action committee noted victories for five other candidates: Mary Beth Bozman and Matthew Lankford (in Somerset County); Carrie Sutherland (Queen Annes County); Matthew Trezise (Garrett County); and Stephanie Johnson (Caroline County).

Trezise was one of two candidates who ran unopposed in Garrett County, while Johnson and Sutherland were also unopposed in their counties, according to the board of elections.

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Eight other candidates endorsed by Project 1776 lost their school board races in Anne Arundel, Cecil, Howard, Montgomery, St. Marys and Talbot counties.

Wieland-Cherry, who was ahead by 330 votes, said in an interview Thursday she was not aware the Democratic Party had targeted her and other candidates.

The registered nurse and associate real estate broker said two of her top priorities are improving student discipline and the need to get back to basics to teach children how to read, write and do math. In terms of attracting more teachers to the school system, Wieland-Cherry said the Blueprint for Marylands Future education reform plan isnt working.

Its not very effective. Counties arent able to fund it, she said. Its vaguely written. We need to get the Blueprint straightened out.
BRADENTON, Fla. (WFLA)  A 70-year-old New Hampshire man who was wanted for allegedly sexually assaulting children was arrested in Bradenton, according to police.

David Duncan was being investigated by the Campton, New Hampshire, police department since June 2024. Police determined Duncan was using a Post Office box in Bradenton.

Officers found Duncan in September living in a car, and contacted him to keep tabs on him, according to the Bradenton Police Department. On Nov. 1, Campton police secured warrants and Bradenton police took him into custody.

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Duncan is charged with six counts of aggravated felony sexual assault on a minor, two counts of pattern aggravated felony sexual assault on a minor and one count of felony sexual assault, police said.

David Duncan (Courtesy: Bradenton Police Department)

The Bradenton Police Department said it doesnt have information to believe Duncan committed any crimes in Bradenton.

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The president of Hampton University in Virginia is expected to give the keynote address Monday, Nov. 11, during a Veterans Day program at the Palm Beach Kennel Club's Paddock Restaurant in West Palm Beach.

Retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Darrell K. Williams, a West Palm Beach native, has served as president at Hampton, a private, historically Black research university, since 2022. He had a 37-year military career that included stints as deputy chief of staff, U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC), Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, and commander of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Land and Maritime in Columbus, Ohio.

Williams was awarded numerous awards and decorations during his military career, including the Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf clusters, which is bestowed upon those who provided heroic or meritorious service.

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Honoring veterans: Boca Raton WWII vet's unique skill as teenager kept him off front lines against Japanese

Monday's Veterans Day program, scheduled to held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., was organized by the foundations of the West Palm Beach, Belle Glade and Delray Beach alumni chapters of Kappa Alpha Psi, a 113-year old Black fraternity.

Part of the program's goal is to draw attention to the service and sacrifices of Black members of the armed forces.

Samuel Bruce McDonald and Charles Chamblee, military veterans in their 90s, will be among those honored for their service.

Hampton University President Darrell K. Williams

Chamblee was the program's keynote speaker last year. McDonald, who served in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1952, had a long career in education, including a stint as assistant principal at Roosevelt High School, which was West Palm Beach's all-Black high school during segregation.

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Veterans Day was first observed as Armistice Day on November 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. President Dwight Eisenhower changed the name of the holiday to Veterans Day in 1954 to honor all veterans.

Black Americans have made vast contributions to the U.S. armed services. From the Korean War through 2022, 21,121 Black Americans died in combat, according to a review compiled by the Defense Manpower Data Center, an office under the U.S. secretary of defense.

Through March 2023, 94 Black Americans had been awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest military honor presented by the U.S. government. One Black American, Robert Augustus Sweeney, received two medals of honor, one of only 19 people in American history to achieve that distinction.

RELATED: Palm Beach County events and dining deals to honor veterans on Veterans Day

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Sweeney, a seaman in the U.S. Navy, jumped overboard to rescue a shipmate in 1881 and then again in 1883. He died in 1890 at age 37 and is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Woodside, New York, in an unknown grave.

Monday's program will feature a POW/MIA display to honor those who died in defense of the country. The program is open to the public, and hors d'oeuvres will be provided to all attendees.

Veterans Day program at Palm Beach Kennel Club

The president of Hampton University in Virginia is expected to give the keynote address Monday during a Veterans Day program at the Palm Beach Kennel Club's Paddock Restaurant in West Palm Beach.

When: 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 11

Where: Paddock Restaurant at the Palm Beach Kennel Club, 1111 Congress Ave., West Palm Beach

Cost: Free; open to the public

More information: 561-683-2222. The event is organized by the foundations of the West Palm Beach, Belle Glade and Delray Beach alumni chapters of Kappa Alpha Psi, a 113-year old Black fraternity;

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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: Black fraternity to hold Veterans Day event in West Palm Beach
CULLMAN COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT)  A Hanceville man was killed in a Cullman County crash early Saturday morning.

According to state troopers, 63-year-old Jeffrey Horton was traveling on County Road 648 when his truck left the roadway and struck a tree. The crash happened around 3:25 a.m. roughly 10 miles south of Hanceville.

Horton was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

Members of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys Highway Patrol Division are investigating the circumstances surrounding Hortons crash.

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Cranston, R.I. (WPRI)  Its your chance to experience Rhode Islands largest Armenian food festival! Join Sts Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church for a weekend full of food and fun at the annual Armenian Festival. The festival is returning this year to Rhodes on the Pawtuxet on November 9th & 10th where you can experience delicious meals, pastries and sandwiches, along with vendors & crafters, auctions, raffles, and dance performances.

In the attached clip, Ashley Erling learns more about this annual event!

Each weekend, Ashley brings you around Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts for a look at whats happening as part of our all-new, expanded 12 News This Morning.

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KENTON, Ohio (WCMH)  A Hardin County man is under arrest for allegedly killing a man, stealing from him and abusing the body.

The Hardin County Sheriffs Office announced this week that Dustin Ray Bolen, 42, of McGuffey, has been charged in the death of a missing man, Michael Bolen, 66, also of McGuffey, in late March. The sheriffs office and court records do not say what the relationship was between the men.

Dustin Ray Bolen is charged with murder, tampering with evidence, gross abuse of a corpse, having weapons under disability, trafficking in fentanyl, theft from a person in a protected class and possessing criminal tools.

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Dustin Ray Bolen is being held at the Multi-County Correctional Facility awaiting arraignment.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY)  Harrison Countys Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program unveiled its brand new family center in Clarksburg on Friday.

Its main office will remain in the same place at the Harrison County Board of Education building, but officials said this expansion will allows them to triple the number of families and children they help now with the specialized visiting wing.

The Harrison County program is the first in the state to have its own separate building dedicated to visitations. Three separate families will be able to simultaneously visit, as there are three rooms: a nursery, a toddlers room, and an older children room. The goal is to help children and their families feel at home during visitation time.

Nursery at Harrison County CASAs Family Center in Clarksburg. (WBOY image)

Toddlers room at Harrison County CASAs Family Center (WBOY image).

Older childrens room at Harrison County CASAs Family Center (WBOY image).

Alisha Madia, Executive Director of CASA, talked about the importance of the expansion.

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Without visitation space like this, unfortunately families have to go out into the community and maybe meet at restaurants or public places that arent as intimate where they can really spend quality time with each other and be able to really work on deficits in families in areas that need to improve, we can really focus on those here and help those children and families.

Marion County Rescue Squad donates breast cancer fundraiser to Star City police chief

CASA was able to purchase the building in full thanks to donations raised by the General Federation of Womens Clubs (GFWC) Bridgeport Junior Womans Club during its Be The Change Ball of 2023 and 2024. In 2023, it raised $106,350 and in 2024, $115,000. Madia said thanks to this donation, CASA fully owns the building and everything has been paid off.

Our goal is to recruit volunteers that ultimately speak out for the best interest of a child thats in foster care, but ultimately we want to wrap our arms around the entire family in hopes that reunification can be possible and that families can reunite and thrive in our community, Madia said about CASAs mission.

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In one year, the Harrison County CASA served roughly 250 children, and statewide there are CASA programs in 32 counties, with more than 4,000 children served. The new building will start serving families starting Tuesday next week.

For more information, you can visit the West Virginia CASA website.

Ribbon cutting for the Harrison County CASA Family Center, (WBOY image)

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HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  A Harford substance abuse counselor pleaded guilty on Friday to health care fraud, according to the department of justice.

Former Connecticut CEO found guilty of committing health insurance fraud

Thelma Wendy Epps allegedly entered into an agreement with Dennis Tomczak, another Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (LADC), where Tomczak would bill Medicaid using his provider number for psychotherapy counseling that were purportedly provided by Epps. The claims falsely represented that Tomczak had personally provided the services. In return, Epps agreed to pay Tomczak 25% of the amount that Medicare paid him. In total, Medicaid paid him over $330,000.

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When Tomczak expressed concerns to Epps about the number of services she was providing, she began a similar agreement with another LADC, Shawn Tyson. Tyson allegedly provided Epps with his login information to the online portal to submit Medicaid claims. Epps would then allegedly use Tysons login information to submit false claims under Tomczaks Medicaid provider number, until she began using Tysons number instead.

Epps has agreed to pay over $1 million in restitution to the Connecticut Medicaid program. She faces a maximum jail sentence of 10 years.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
The three-day World Without Hunger Conference, organized by UNIDO, the Ethiopian Government, and the African Union with FAOs support, was held at the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum in Addis Ababa, concluding on November 7, 2024.

Key attendees included Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, UNIDO Director-General Gerd Muller, Abu Dhabis Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled, and leaders from UN agencies, private sector entities, DFIs, NGOs, academia, and the media.

Prime Minister Abiy opened the conference, commending UNIDOs efforts to combat global hunger. Discussions centered on agribusiness, innovation, climate resilience, and fair trade, with four technical sessions highlighting various contributions toward a secure and sustainable food system. CEOs and stakeholders also participated in a field visit arranged with Ethiopian authorities.

On the final day, government leaders made statements and participated in a government-to-business (G2B) dialogue, with the conference closing on the Addis Ababa Call to Action for A World Without Hunger. UNIDO emphasized the need for a $50 billion investment over the next decade to achieve a hunger-free world.

Sudan, represented by Agriculture Minister Dr. Abu Bakr Omar Al-Bushra, engaged with UNIDO, securing pledges for ongoing support, including a Canadian-funded $6 million project for womens agricultural enterprises and a 5-million-euro EU-funded sesame crop initiative in Sudans Al-Gadarif State. The conference also discussed irrigation and solar projects for Sudans Red Sea State. Dr. Al-Bushra requested UNIDOs aid in reconstructing the Gezira Scheme, particularly in irrigation and gene banking, with Director-General Muller affirming UNIDOs commitment to Sudans agricultural development.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  Hawaiian Electric (HECO) faced tough questions from lawmakers on Wednesday as it presented its long-awaited wildfire mitigation plan, which was ordered by the states Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in response to growing concerns over fire risks linked to its infrastructure.

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During a legislative hearing, HECO outlined its strategy, which includes four key elements aimed at reducing wildfire risks:

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Foundational work such as improved inspections, better vegetation management, and the switch to sparkless fuses Operational changes, including implementing public safety power shutoffs in high-risk areas Situational awareness, utilizing AI-powered video cameras for enhanced monitoring Grid hardening to reinforce electrical infrastructure against extreme weather and wildfires

Tulsi: A Hawaii woman with a former, future Presidents ear

Despite the companys assurances, lawmakers expressed frustration over the delay in finalizing the plan, with some questioning why it had taken so long to put it into action, especially in the wake of devastating wildfires on Maui and the Big Island.

In addition to the mitigation plan, HECO announced it would contribute $1.99 billion as its share of a $4 billion global settlement stemming from the utilitys role in the recent wildfires. This includes a $75 million allocation to the One Ohana Fund, which provides compensation for wrongful death and serious injury claims related to the fires.

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The first payment toward the settlement will come from a $550 million stock sale completed last month, with that payment scheduled for late next year.

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HECO also noted that it is exploring financing options for the remaining payments, but assured lawmakers and the public that the companys contributions would not result in higher customer bills.

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HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP)  One High Point group is trying to lend a hand in the recovery efforts in the western part of our state, specifically for the men and women who gave so much to their country.

The effort started roughly three weeks ago when the executive director of The Heroes Center got a call from someone at the North Wilkesboro Speedway saying a group from Ohio donated around 60 campers, and they didnt know how to get them to people in need.

The executive director called The Heroes Center board member Tyler Dixon. He is a fellow veteran with a TikTok following on his account Dixon Teams and is dedicated to his landscaping and hardscaping business.

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I dont ever post anything outside of that community, so this was the first time I had ever done anything outside of that realm, and that outreach was just overwhelming, Dixon said.

The video took off within hours of him posting it, and the ask was simple: tell advocates with The Heroes Center where the veterans are that need help in western North Carolina, and theyll find a way to get a camper to them.

Immediately, hundreds of people emailed him offering to drive campers to veterans in need in the mountains.

The first seven days of it, my email would not stop, Dixon said.

Slowly, they started connecting to people who needed campers and the people who could provide them.

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A guy reached out to me from Maryland and said, Hey, I want to help. I want to buy a camper for a veteran. He said, Ill go buy one on Facebook. Would you be willing to help us find a place for it to go?' Dixon said.

That man drove it down the same weekend.

The more than 16,000 views and 600 comments on the video also got the attention of the Cajun Navy, who joined the effort.

I know a lot of [veterans] are on a fixed income. Theyre getting support from the VA, and that money can only go so far. That money isnt going to build their house this month or next month or in six months, so they need help, Dixon said.

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The Heroes Center has connected with even more groups like the Asheville VA, Red Cross and other volunteers to get 50 campers to veterans and first responders so far, but Dixon tells FOX8 they could use even more.

The last thing they need is their country forgetting about them during their time of devastation, so were here to let them know were not going to forget about you, and were going to be here for you, Dixon said.

If youre interested in donating or you know a veteran in need, reach out to The Heroes Center at (336) 884-4376 or email them at info@heroescenter.org

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A military veteran, a community activist, the vice chairman of a state agency, a journalism teacher and a psychologist have filed to become Hialeahs new interim council member following the resignation of Bryan Calvo, who stepped down to run unsuccessfully for county tax collector.

The candidates range in age from 29 to 86 years old.

Juan Junco, Vice-Chairman of the Hialeah Housing Authority, has served on the Charter Review Committee in 2019 and was a board commissioner for the Hialeah Housing Authority from 2018 to 2022. Recently reappointed to the authority through February 2026, Junco is expected to be named the interim council member to fill Bryan Calvos vacant seat.

Juan Francisco Junco, 86, the oldest applicant for seat six, is considered the most likely candidate to be appointed as a placeholder, according to several council members who spoke with the Miami Herald days before he filed his candidacy on Nov. 5. The appointment is scheduled for Tuesday.

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There will be an election for the seat on Nov. 4, 2025.

Junco is the vice chair of the Hialeah Housing Authority, where he has served as a board member since 2018. He was also a member of the citys Charter Review Committee in 2019 and was recently reappointed to the housing authority board through February 2026.

The housing authority is a state agency that receives funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and currently operates 1,117 public housing units. Recently, the authority assumed management of Hialeahs affordable housing, taking over 625 units across 14 properties throughout the city.

Junco has also worked as a plant manager and production supervisor in the private sector for two different companies, from 1969 to 2000. However, his resume lists no professional activities between 2000-18, when he began serving as a board member for the housing authority under former mayor Carlos Hernandez.

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Juncos involvement in politics dates back to 2016, when he ran for the Republican Committee in Miami-Dades District 6. He finished third with 17% of the vote. However, sources familiar with his nomination noted that he has been active in Hialeah politics for many years, having supported the campaigns of two former mayors, Carlos Hernandez and Julio Robaina.

If appointed, Junco would have to step down from his position on the housing authority, according to agency director Julio Ponce.

City officials have said Mayor Esteban Steve Bovo is recommending Junco after his preferred candidate, Carlos San Jose, was unable to apply for this position. San Jose, the mayors former deputy chief of staff, was considered the strongest candidate to fill Calvos vacancy when the former council member announced in March his intention to run for tax collector. However, his nomination raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest. San Jose left the mayors office in September to take on the role of assistant city attorney and director of external government affairs.

The other candidates

In addition to Junco, four other candidates have filed to fill the council seat, the second vacancy of 2024. The first vacancy occurred when Angelica Pacheco was suspended from office by Gov. Ron DeSantis on June 25 following a federal indictment on charges of committing a multimillion-dollar healthcare fraud at a rehab clinic.

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 Lisa Setrini Espinosa, 47, holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication from the University of Miami and a teacher certification from the University of Central Florida. She currently teaches CTE Digital Media at Westland Hialeah Senior High School.

Lisa Setrini Espinosa, a candidate for interim council seat in Hialeah following Bryan Calvos resignation to run for tax collector, poses with Max, her 2-year-old Dutch Shepherd.

Espinosa worked for the City of Hialeah from 2003-12 as supervisor of communications and special events.

In her letter of intent, she said her personal and professional experience in Hialeah has allowed her to build strong relationships with residents, businesses and community groups, giving her a deep understanding of the issues that matter most to the community, from education and economic development to public safety and cultural preservation.

She believes the city council needs to focus on more in affordable housing. She told the Herald many of her students and their families are moving out Hialeah due to lack of affordable housing.

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According to the Miami-Dade Affordable Housing Plan, prepared by Florida International University in 2020, more than 12,000 new rental units are needed to meet the citys housing demand. In January, the city established an Affordable Housing Task Force, and new ordinances are expected soon mandating a percentage of affordable housing in the city.

Espinosa is married to Justo Espinosa, Hialeahs Transit Director, which could potentially raise concerns about a conflict of interest. She told the Herald that if appointed as a council member, she would recuse herself from voting on any matters that directly involve her husband. She said that her decisions would be based on her own independent views. I will always vote based on what I believe is right, she said. The fact that the mayor is my husbands boss will not influence my decisions.

Im not doing this as his wife or even as a former employee, Espinosa added. Im doing this because I am a resident of Hialeah, and I want to make a difference.

Kassandra Montandon, 29, wants to become the next interim council member in Hialeah. She has an Associates in Arts degree in Psychology from Miami Dade College and a Bachelors degree in Psychology from Florida International University.

 Kassandra Montandon, 29, currently runs several education initiatives, including a financial literacy program that helps low- to moderate-income Miami-Dade Public School and Miami Dade College students, including those at the Hialeah campus, explore education and career opportunities.

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Montandon has an Associates in Arts degree in Psychology from Miami Dade College and a Bachelors degree in Psychology from Florida International University.

Montandon said her background in clinical psychology, along with her experience as education director for the Center for Financial Training, a nonprofit in partnership with Miami Dade College, would help her serve effectively as an interim council member and advocate for Hialeahs residents.

Juan Santana, 41, an advocate who regularly voices his concerns at council meetings, is running for the interim council seat following Bryan Calvos resignation. Santana is a former three-time mayoral candidate and also ran for the interim council seat in 2022 and July 2024.

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 Juan Santana, 41, is an activist who frequently speaks out at council meetings about local developments, rising fees for water and trash services and other issues affecting long-time residents.

Santana is a former three-time mayoral candidate and a former candidate for an interim council seat in 2022 and July 2024. Santana promises to foster greater government transparency, provide affordable housing for workers, and reduce trash collection fees and water bills.

Santana holds a high school diploma and pursued political science in college, though he did not complete his degree. He is currently the vice president of Positive Hits Community Service Group South, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting people in need in Hialeah.

Lawrence Jay Arther, 58, a military veteran, is running for the interim council seat following Bryan Calvos resignation. He is committed to working for the betterment of the community, with a particular focus on supporting disabled veterans.

 Lawrence Jay Arther, 58, a military veteran, attended the special meeting on Nov. 4, when the council discussed the process to fill the vacant seat. During the meeting, he announced his intention to apply for the position. Arther urged the council and mayor to stop harming people, especially veterans, with fines. Hialeah records shows that Arther resides in a property that accumulated fines in 2023 for code compliance violations.

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Im asking you to stop harming people with fines and other measures you have in place. Im asking you to find in your heart alternative ways... and please consider me for the city council, Arther said.

In his letter of intent, Arther said he was applying because he has the interest of the community not my own agendaworking for the betterment of the community, disabled veterans, and all those who feel they dont have a voice. However, his application lacks a resume and details about his military service.

Espinosa and Montandon, the two female candidates, have expressed interest in running for the council seat in the 2025 election if appointed to the interim position. However, the council is seeking a placeholder to serve for one year until a decision is made about who will ultimately run for the seat.

Next year, Hialeah will have four of its seven council seats on the ballot, along with the mayors seat. Two of these seats are up for reelection, while the other two would be held by interim council members. One of the interim members, Melinda De La Vega, was appointed on July 16 to fill Pachecos vacancy.
LEHI, Utah (ABC4)  A Highland man has pleaded guilty to a road rage incident that resulted in the death of 38-year-old Michael Brown in Lehi.

John Williams, 43, was booked into the Utah County Jail on a felony charge of aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury back in June. At the time of the incident, Brown had sustained a traumatic brain injury and was on life support after the incident. He died the following Monday, June 3, after being taken off life support.

Father of 2 dies following road rage fight in Lehi, family confirms

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Browns two children, aged 8 and 10, were reportedly with him at the time of the incident.

According to police, Brown was followed by Williams. Both got out of their cars and confronted each other, which is when the fight ensued.

Both parties exchanged a few punches, a police report reads. [Brown] sustained a hit to the head, causing [him] to go unconscious and fall onto the roadway. No physical injuries were found on Mr. Williams. Brown died due to a traumatic brain injury that resulted from the altercation.

According to sentencing documents, Williams pleaded guilty to homicide by assault, a third-degree felony; and impaired driving, a class B misdemeanor. The judge in the case waived any jail time in favor of five years of probation.

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According to court documents obtained by ABC4.com, Williams cannot have any major violations and must complete an anger management class and thinking errors class. He also will have to complete 500 hours of community service and not use, possess, or abuse recreational marijuana.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A hiker was found dead in the Mt. Hood National Forest near Welches on Friday after a days-long search effort by multiple agencies, authorities said.

Earlier this week, the 33-year-old hikers family told authorities he was overdue for a return after what was supposed to be a day hike. On Wednesday just before 7:30 p.m., the family reported that he was missing after last being heard from at 2 p.m. the day before, the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office said.

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The hikers identity isnt being released until the family members have been notified, officials said. Family members said the hiker was experienced but wasnt carrying gear for overnight conditions.

After he was reported missing, the CCSO Search and Rescue coordinators dispatched their volunteer Clackamas County Search and Rescue team. The hikers tracks were soon spotted in the snow, kicking off an elaborate search.

Other agencies joined the efforts, including Portland Mountain Rescue, Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue, and Hood River Crag Rats, among others. An Oregon National Guard helicopter and a Hood River County Sheriffs Office fixed-wing plane were also used in the search, in addition to drones. Communication across teams in the difficult terrain was provided via Mountain Wave Emergency Communication.

Arctic fox found in Portland is now in great health

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The missing hiker, deceased, was located by the PMR search team near the Hidden Lake Trail just before 10:30 a.m. Friday morning.

CCSO said they dont believe the hikers death is suspicious and more information as to their cause of death will be determined through the Clackamas County Medical Examiners Office.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  The Queen Theater in Kaimuki has been an eye-sore for decades. The city is threatening to take over if the owner doesnt do something about it soon.

Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

The Queen Theater atop Waialae Avenue  built in 1936, vacant since 1985. Shes definitely seen better days.

Weve been looking to restore that for a loooong time, said Tommy Waters, Honolulu council chair. Ive been waiting for the owner to step up their game, and at this point were considering condemnation.

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Waters initially introduced a bill 3 years ago but pulled it because the owner said hed work on it. But nothings happened.

Feeling a bit subversive? Try this

Just like Diamond Head is to Hawaii, Queen Theater is Kaimuki, said Lori Yamada, Envision Kaimuki Director.

Every time I see it, its an eye sore, said Susie Kam. You have to fix em up.

Now, the owners daughter says shes in charge of the redevelopment and ready to move forward immediately.

The state proposes minimal increase to annual vehicle safety checks; one inspector says it should be raised higher

I grew up in Kaimuki, I understand the importance of the Queen to the community and I fully committed to revitalizing the theater and create a space the community deserves and can enjoy once again, said Adoree Yu, Queen Theater owner.

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If they could bring something here that could be like all the others coming up, it would be like only benefit the community more, said Sheryl Siu, Kaimuki resident.

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I think Kaimuki is being revitalized, said Deanna Hayashida, Hawaii Kai resident. Has lot of real good businesses yeah. I think once they come and pick up little bit, oh this is the hub.

Yu says work is planned in 3 phases.

Phase 1 is to fix the exterior  sign, marquee, facade, new paint, and security which could be completed April 2024.

Phase 2 is the interior lobby and 2nd floor, to prepare for possible tenants. That could be completed by the end of 2025.

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And phase 3 would be renovating the auditorium.

I wanna emphasize that these plans are flexible and that Im committed to a continuing partnership with the community and want to ensure that needs and concerns are addressed, said Yu.

Yu says she has the money for the first two phases. And can get financing for the rest.

For now, the bill passed committee and will go to the full council.

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If the owner does take care of it, and fixes it, and allows the community to use it, thats the best thing that could happen, said Waters.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  In the weeks leading up to Tuesday, Horry Countys elections chief Sandy Martin predicted a huge final turnout number based on record-breaking early voting levels.

Anybody driving by our office today thinks its Walmart, Martin told an Horry County council subcommittee on Oct. 21. It looks like its going to be a very busy election.

Indeed it was. By the time polls closed at 7 p.m. on Nov. 5, 77% of Horry Countys eligible voters had done so either in-person or through the early window, state Election Commission data shows  the highest mark since 2008, when turnout hit 73%.

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That participation matched statewide turnout of 77%  also the biggest number since 2008. In all, 2.56 million ballots were cast, including 207,168 in Horry County.

Heres a look at other turnout numbers across the Grand Strand and Pee Dee from this years election:

Dillon County, 71%

Florence County, 74%

Marion County, 67%

Marlboro County, 68%

Horry County also delivered president-elect Donald Trump and U.S. Rep. Russell Fry their largest margins of victory in the region, at 69% and 71% respesctively.

Vice President Kamala Harris and Frys Democratic opponent Mal Hyman both fared best in Marion County, taking 57% and 54% of the overall votes there.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
NELSONVILLE, Ohio (WCMH)  Authorities in Athens County are seeking help in identifying a dog that was found in a pond, in the hopes of finding those responsible for its death.

According to the Athens County Humane Society, Humane Agents responded to a report of a dog found in a pond behind Pine Grove Drive in Nelsonville, Ohio. Agents arrived at the pond, where two individuals reported they were fishing in the area, where they discovered the dog.

No charges against officers who shot and killed knife-wielding man in Columbus

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Agents said the dog, a grey and white terrier, had reportedly been shot and its body was weighed down and discarded in the pond to conceal its location. The Humane Society is asking for assistance in identifying the dog to potentially help find an owner.

The Humane Society posted an image of the dog on its social media page. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Athens County Humane Agent at 740-590-0711 or email agent@athenshumane.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 NBC4 WCMH-TV.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

The 3D bioprinter at the Collins BioMicrosystems Laboratory at the University of Melbourne. Credit: University of Melbourne

Biomedical engineers from the University of Melbourne have invented a 3D printing system, or bioprinter, capable of fabricating structures that closely mimic the diverse tissues in the human body, from soft brain tissue to harder materials like cartilage and bone.

This cutting-edge technology offers cancer researchers an advanced tool for replicating specific organs and tissues, significantly improving the potential to predict and develop new pharmaceutical therapies. This would pave the way for more advanced and ethical drug discovery by reducing the need for animal testing.

The research is published in the journal Nature.

Head of the Collins BioMicrosystems Laboratory at the University of Melbourne, Associate Professor David Collins said, "In addition to drastically improving print speed, our approach enables a degree of cell positioning within printed tissues. Incorrect cell positioning is a big reason most 3D bioprinters fail to produce structures that accurately represent human tissue.

"Just as a car requires its mechanical components to be arranged precisely for proper function, so too must the cells in our tissues be organized correctly. Current 3D bioprinters depend on cells aligning naturally without guidance, which presents significant limitations.

"Our system, on the other hand, uses acoustic waves generated by a vibrating bubble to position cells within 3D printed structures. This method provides the necessary head start for cells to develop into the complex tissues found in the human body."

Most commercially available 3D bioprinters rely on a slow, layer-by-layer fabrication approach, which presents several challenges. This method can take hours to finish, jeopardizing the viability of living cells during the printing process. Additionally, once printed, the cell structures must be carefully transferred into standard laboratory plates for analysis and imaginga delicate step that risks compromising the integrity of these fragile structures.

The University of Melbourne research team has flipped the current process on its head by developing a sophisticated optical-based system, replacing the need for a layer-by-layer approach.

The innovative technique uses vibrating bubbles to 3D print cellular structures in just a matter of seconds, which is around 350 times faster than traditional methods and enables researchers to accurately replicate human tissues with cellular resolution.

By dramatically reducing the 3D printing time and printing directly into standard lab plates, the team has been able to significantly increase the cell survival rate, while eliminating the need for physical handling. Ensuring the printed structures remain intact and sterile throughout the process.

Ph.D. student Callum Vidler, the lead author on this work, said the groundbreaking technology was already generating excitement in the medical research sector.

"Biologists recognize the immense potential of bioprinting, but until now, it has been limited to applications with a very low output," he said. "We've developed our technology to address this gap, offering significant advancements in speed, precision, and consistency. This creates a crucial bridge between lab research and clinical applications.

"So far, we've engaged with around 60 researchers from institutions including the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Harvard Medical School, and the Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive."

More information: Callum Vidler et al, Dynamic interface printing, Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08077-6 Journal information: Nature
JERUSALEM (AP)  With virtually no food allowed into the northernmost part of Gaza for the past month, tens of thousands of Palestinians under Israeli siege are rationing their last lentils and flour to survive. As bombardment pounds around them, some say they risk their lives by venturing out in search of cans of food in the rubble of destroyed homes.

Thousands have staggered out of the area, hungry and thin, into Gaza City, where they find the situation little better. One hospital reports seeing thousands of children suffering from malnutrition. A nutritionist said she treated a pregnant woman wasting away at just 40 kilograms (88 pounds).

We are being starved to force us to leave our homes, said Mohammed Arqouq, whose family of eight is determined to stay in the north, weathering Israels siege. We will die here in our homes.

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Medical workers warn that hunger is spiraling to dire proportions under a monthlong siege on north Gaza by the Israeli military, which has been waging a fierce campaign since the beginning of October, saying it's rooting out militants. Hamas, who are still holding hostages inside Gaza, have regrouped in the area and have been carrying out hit-and-run attacks from tunnels and bombed-out buildings. The military has severed the area with checkpoints, ordering residents to leave. Many Palestinians fear Israel aims to depopulate the north long term.

On Friday, experts from a panel that monitors food security said famine is imminent in the north or may already be happening. The growing desperation comes as the deadline approaches next week for a 30-day ultimatum the Biden administration gave Israel: raise the level of humanitarian assistance allowed into Gaza or risk possible restrictions on U.S. military funding.

The U.S. says Israel must allow a minimum of 350 trucks a day carrying food and other supplies. Israel has fallen far short. In October, 57 trucks a day entered Gaza on average, according to figures from Israel's military agency overseeing aid entry, known as COGAT. In the first week of November, the average was 81 a day.

The U.N. puts the number even lower  37 trucks daily since the beginning of October. It says Israeli military operations and general lawlessness often prevent it from collecting supplies, leaving hundreds of truckloads stranded at the border.

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U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Israel had made some progress by announcing the opening of a new crossing into central Gaza and approving new delivery routes.

But he said Israel must do more. Its not just sufficient to open new roads if more humanitarian assistance isnt going through those roads, he said.

A desperate daily struggle

Israeli forces have been hammering the towns of Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun and Jabaliya refugee camp. Witnesses report intense fighting between troops and militants.

A trickle of food has reached Gaza City, but as of Thursday, nothing entered the towns farther north for 30 days, even as an estimated 70,000 people remain there, said Louise Wateridge, spokesperson for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, speaking from Gaza City.

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The government acknowledged in late October that it hadn't allowed aid into Jabaliya because of military operational constraints" in response to a petition by Israeli human rights groups. On Saturday, COGAT said it allowed 11 trucks of food and supplies into Beit Hanoun and Jabaliya. But Alia Zaki, a spokeswoman for the WFP, said Israeli troops at a checkpoint forced the convoy to unload the food before it could reach shelters in Beit Hanoun. It was not clear what then happened to the supplies.

Palestinians in the north described to The Associated Press a desperate daily struggle to find food, water and safety, as strikes level buildings, sometimes killing whole families.

Arqouq said he goes out at night to search bombed-out buildings: Sometimes you find a half-empty package of flour, canned food and lentils.

His family relies on help from others sheltering at a Jabaliya school, he said  but their food, too, is running low.

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We are like dogs and cats searching for their food in the rubble, said Um Saber, a widow.

She said she and her six children had to flee a school-turned-shelter in Beit Lahiya when Israel struck it. Now they live in her father-in-law's home, stretching meager supplies of lentils and pasta with 40 others, mostly women and children.

Ahmed Abu Awda, a 28-year-old father of three living with 25 relatives in a Jabaliya house, said they have a daily meal of lentils with bread, rationing to ensure children eat.

Sometimes we dont eat at all, he said.

Lubna, a 38-year-old mother of five, left food behind when fleeing as strikes and drone fire pummeled the street in Jabaliya.

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We got out by a miracle, she said from Beit Lahiya, where they're staying. She spoke on condition her family name not be used for fear of her safety.

Her husband scavenged flour from destroyed homes after Israeli forces withdrew around nearby Kamal Adwan hospital, she said. It's moldy, she said, so they sift it first. Her young daughter, Selina, is visibly gaunt and bony, Lubna said.

Surrender or starve

The offensive has raised fears among Palestinians that Israel seeks to empty northern Gaza and hold it long term under a surrender-or-starve plan proposed by former generals. The Israeli military has denied receiving such orders, but the government hasn't denied the plan outright. Witnesses report Israeli troops going building-to-building, forcing people to leave toward Gaza City.

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On Thursday, the Israeli military ordered new evacuations from several Gaza City neighborhoods, raising the possibility of a ground assault there. The U.N. said some 14,000 displaced Palestinians were sheltering there.

Food and supplies are stretched for the several hundred thousand people in Gaza City, too. Much of the city has been flattened by months of Israeli bombardment and shelling.

Dr. Rana Soboh, a nutrition specialist at Gaza Citys Patient Friend Benevolent Hospital, said she sees some 350 cases of moderate to severe acute malnutrition daily, most from the north but also Gaza City.

The bone of their chest is showing, the eyes are protruding, she said, and many have trouble concentrating. You repeat something a number of times, so they can understand what we are saying.

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She cited a 32-year-old woman shedding weight in her third month of pregnancy  when they put her on the scale, she weighed only 40 kilograms (88 pounds).

We are suffering, facing the ghost of famine that is hovering over Gaza," Soboh said.

A problem long in the making

Even before the siege in the north, the Patient Friend hospital saw a flood of children suffering from malnutrition  more than 4,780 in September compared with 1,100 in July, said Dr Ahmad Eskiek, who oversees hospital operations.

Soboh said staff get calls from Beit Lahiya and Jabaliya pleading for help: What can we do? We have nothing.

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She had worked at Kamal Adwan Hospital in the north but fled with her family to Gaza City. Now they stay with 22 people in her uncle's two-bedroom apartment. Thursday, she had had a morsel of bread for breakfast and later a meal of yellow lentils.

As winter rains near, new arrivals set up tents wherever they can. Some 1,500 people are in a U.N. school already heavily damaged in strikes that could collapse at any moment, UNRWA spokesperson Wateridge said.

With toilets destroyed, people try to set aside a corner of a classroom to use, leaving waste streaming down the walls of the school, she said.

Others in Gaza City move into the rubble of buildings, draping tarps between layers of collapsed concrete, she said.

Its like the carcass of a city, she said.

___

Magdy reported from Cairo. AP correspondent Sarah El Deeb contributed from Beirut.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  As the year comes to an end, many in the community need a little extra help putting food on the table.

Downtown Rescue Mission teamed up with a local business to put together some extra meals on Friday. The nonprofit gives out about 1,200 meals every day.

L3Harris Technologies found a way to help out with that big job.

City of Huntsville GIS Department adds web app to help locate Veteran grave sites

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Employees came together to pack 2,000 box lunches for Downtown Rescue Mission. Those meals will be handed out over the next two days to the men, women and children who are staying at the shelter and those who come by for a meal.

Ashleigh Hayes, the Public Relations Coordinator with Downtown Rescue Mission, said box lunches are easy to hand out, people can take them to-go and kids can bring them to school.

Sometimes people underestimate the power of a good sandwich, Hayes said. Weve got ham, turkey, with cheese, condiments and snacks. Its a full lunch, and it will just be nice, easy and simple, but really good food.

Hayes said Downtown Rescue Mission assisted more people on-site last month than ever before. She said there is a lot of need in the community right now, and with Thanksgiving just weeks away, the nonprofit wants to make sure everyone has a nice holiday meal.



Downtown Rescue Mission is collecting Thanksgiving foods, like turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, mac & cheese, stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy and yams. If you or your organization, would like to fill a barrel of food for the holidays, contact Ashleigh Hayes at 256-731-4316 or volunteer@downtownrescuemission.org.

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You can also make a monetary contribution online.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
PERMIAN BASIN (KMID/KPEJ)  Here are the top stories from around the Basin for the week ending on November 9.

The Odessa Police Department has released more information regarding an overnight shooting after several reports of gunshots were made. The department said anyone with further information about this incident is encouraged to contact OPD or Odessa Crime Stoppers. You can learn more here.

A Midland man was arrested Wednesday after allegedly hiding a ring camera inside a womans bedroom closet. He was charged with Invasive Visual Recording and booked into the Midland County Detention Center where he remained as of Friday morning on a $50,000 bond. You can learn more here.

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Missed what happened last week? Here were the top headlines from across the Basin

The Ector County Sheriffs Office released new information about an Election Day shooting that left one man dead. ECSO is asking residents with any information to contact local authorities. You can learn more here.

After discovering a love for dirt soda, a combination of cream, soda, and flavored syrups, a local man is opening his own dirty soda-pop shop. Located at 207 East University Boulevard across from Chick-fil-A, Sodarrific was expected to open Friday, November 8, serving a variety of dirty sodas, energy drinks, and snacks. The company later announced on Facebook that it has experienced setbacks, pushing the opening to a later date. You can learn more 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 Yourbasin.
An Idaho judge set a Meridian mans bail at $2 million this week after prosecutors alleged he had thousands of child pornography videos on his phone.

The 26-year-old has been charged with three felony counts of sexual exploitation of a child, according to online court records.

We do believe that this is a strong case, given that this is an ongoing investigation, prosecutors told the judge on Friday during the mans arraignment. Additionally, the defendant confessed to viewing, downloading and searching child pornography, and that he shares files with other people.

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Meridian detectives received a tip over the summer, according to a statement from the department.

Prosecutors said in court that the investigation began with only 23 files on the mans computer  14 of which were apparent minors.

But the investigation revealed even more, prosecutors said in court.

Meridian Police executed a search warrant on Nov. 7 and the man was taken into custody without further incident, the statement said.

Prosecutors said in court there were two minor children in the home when he was arrested.

The state requested a $1 million bond, but ultimately the judge ordered the higher amount.

The judge set several pretrial release conditions, including prohibiting the man from using a computer or smartphone, not being physically present with a minor child and not residing with a child.
In this photo, Justices Robyn Brody, left, and Chief Justice G. Richard Bevan, right, listen to oral arguments in a December 2023 hearing. (Kyle Pfannenstiel/Idaho Capital Sun)

The Idaho Supreme Court is deciding who must cover the costs of preparing court transcripts for indigent defendants on appeal  a decision complicated by the states recent overhaul of its public defense system.

On Friday, the court ordered four entities  the state public defender, state appellate public defender, Ada County prosecutor, and Canyon County prosecutor  to explain why they should not be financially responsible for these costs. This issue has led to delays in appeals, as payment disputes have stalled the production of transcripts, which are important for the appellate process.

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The hearing comes one month after Idaho transitioned to a new public defense system, consolidating 44 county-level state public defenders offices into one statewide office  the Office of the State Public Defender. The reform was meant to address concerns and lawsuits claiming the previous system was inadequate.

Before the reform, counties paid for these transcripts. However, with the new law relieving counties of their financial obligations for public defense, it remains unclear who should cover this specific expense. For now, the when the Office of the State Public Defender is billed for a transcript, it pays the expense, according to the offices spokesperson, Patrick Orr.

The issue at question, and what Idaho law says

The issue at question is what government agency is now responsible for paying for appeal transcripts.

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Before the State Public Defender Act took effect, Idaho law said when such transcript is requested by a defendant or his attorney on an appeal in a criminal action where after conviction  the court must direct payment to such court reporter of the page charge in this subsection provided, from the county treasury.

However, when the act took effect Oct. 1, counties were released from their financial obligations to provide public defense.

According to the State Public Defender Act, All counties are released from any further financial or legal obligation to provide indigent public defense. On and after (Oct. 1), the state assumes the full financial and legal obligation to provide indigent public defense 

The act then specifies that the release of the counties financial and legal obligation includes no longer needing to provide defense attorneys, investigators, social workers, legal assistants, office materials, technology equipment, software equipment or to assume any other expense necessary for indigent defense services on and after October 1, 2024.

State Public Defender, State Appellate Public Defender argue they do not have financial responsibility

State Appellate Public Defender Erik Lehtinen and State Public Defender Eric Fredericksen argued to the court they do not bear the responsibility for transcript costs, given that Idaho law explicitly says counties are responsible for paying for transcript costs.

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Additionally, according to court documents, the State Appellate Public Defenders Office does not have the budget to pay for appeal transcripts. The office estimates that transcripts would cost between $500,000 and $1.9 million per year. The appellate offices 2025 fiscal year budget is nearly $4.1 million, with almost $4 million of it allocated for personnel costs, and the remaining for operating expenses.

Lehtinen said the legislation was not meant to shift the funding sources of public defense, but rather improve the quality of public defense in Idaho. However, if the responsibility fell on his office, there would not be enough to cover the costs, he said.

Justice Colleen Zahn said she was struggling to understand Lehtinens argument, given the specificity of the new law. She said she was sympathetic to the cause, but that it is not unusual for an agency to run short of funds and request a supplemental budget.

Lehtinen said his office would look into a supplemental budget depending on the courts decision. Fredericksen told the court the office already has a supplemental budget request on his radar.

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This requires a legislative fix, Fredericksen said. This is something on the radar of our office, but at this point in time we dont have the funds to fix it.

Idaho State Public Defender Eric Fredericksen photographed in Boise on Nov. 15, 2023. (Otto Kitsinger for Idaho Capital Sun)

Justice Gregory Moeller asked Fredericksen why one month into the establishment of the State Public Defenders Office they did not prepare for this or foresee this issue.

Now we have cases potentially backing up and appeals not moving forward because transcripts cant be produced, Moeller said.

Fredericksen said his office will decide on a supplemental budget request depending on the Idaho Supreme Courts decision. He said his office is receiving various requests from counties to pay the expenses they previously covered with the county public defense offices, such as paying for utilities.

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Were taking the position that were not responsible for a number of them, he said.

Fredericksen said his office would be happy to cover transcript expenses with prosecuting offices since they also use transcripts.

Youre suggesting we go halfsies? Justice Robyn Brody said.

This is a legislative fix, and were not there yet, Fredericksen said.

This was an oversight, Ada County Prosecutors Office says

Representatives from the Canyon County and Ada County Prosecutors Office rebuked claims from the State Public Defender and State Appellate Public Defender.

Aaron Bazzoli, representing the Canyon County Prosecutors Office, pushed back on Lehtinens claims that the State Public Defenders Act wasnt meant to change the finances.

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Thats exactly what this was, Bazzoli said.

Shawna Dunn, representing the Ada County Prosecutors Office, agreed with Bazzoli, and said she would be less gracious with the Legislature in her argument.

This was an oversight, she said. And case law says that when this happens, the new wins because it is the purpose of the Legislature passing this law that these costs shift from the counties to the state.

Dunn argued that the county offices  such as the Ada County Public Defenders Office  that previously paid for transcripts no longer exist, nor do those budgets.

Shifting the costs from the counties to the state was the specific intention of the Legislature, she said. I understand the debate and the question, and I think the Legislature could not have made (its) intent any more clear.

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Brody said it was of vital importance that the agencies work through difficulties to make the system work. The Idaho Supreme Court is taking the arguments under consideration, and will issue an opinion at a later date.

Update: This story has been updated to include a clarification from Office of the State Public Defender spokesperson, Patrick Orr.

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PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  The Illinois Department of Labor announced on Friday it has reached a settlement agreement with Elevate Trampoline Park.

According to a news release from IDOL, the agreement addresses safety concerns and makes improvements at Elevates Illinois locations in Peoria, East Peoria and Milan.

In March 2024, Elevates Milan location allegedly violated a stop order that was imposed by IDOLs Amusement Rides and Attraction Safety Division after an inspection. The stop prohibited the use of the main trampoline court and corrective actions that needed to be taken.

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During a re-inspection in May, IDOL said the Milan location allegedly was still using the main trampoline court despite the stop order.

Trampoline park offers a sensory friendly environment

The new agreement will have Elevate introduce upgraded safety measures and new attractions to cater to visitors of all ages. The new soft play areas for younger children also meet all the states safety requirements.

Elevate will also pay civil penalties to the Illinois Department of Labor.

Public safety is always IDOLs top priority when were inspecting amusement rides and attractions, Illinois Department of Labor Director Jane Flanagan said. This settlement agreement ensures these Elevate Trampoline Park locations in Illinois will comply with the safety regulations in place to protect visitors.

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IDOL annually inspects amusement rides and attractions open to the public to ensure they meet safety standards.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CHICAGO  An organization in Illinois has a mission to get more women involved in politics.

The Illinois Womens Institute for Leadership (IWIL) Training Academy works to prepare and propel women to pursue elected and appointed positions to advance progressive, Democratic ideals.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

Terrie Pickerill, the president of IWIL joined WGN News on Saturday to discuss the training academy.

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Visit the IWIL Training Academy website or Facebook page for more information.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
Sandra Hale Schulman

Special to ICT

The latest: Rock guitarist on a roll, shoe company gets in step, Seminole craft spotlighted

MUSIC: Jesse Ed Davis exhibit and book gives late musician his due

The life, career and music of Jesse Ed Davis, Kiowa, Comanche, Seminole and Creek, legendary rock n roll musician and member of the Native American Music Hall of Fame, will be celebrated with a new exhibit Jesse Ed Davis: Natural Anthem, book and record.

Hailing from Oklahoma, Davis began playing guitar in his teens, and was soon on the big stages with John Trudell, Jackson Browne, Taj Mahal, George Harrison, Leon Russell, Eric Clapton, Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond, Leonard Cohen, Rod Stewart and Bob Dylan.

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Davis significance as a musician, songwriter and Native American artist has been previously highlighted in the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indians exhibit Up Where We Belong: Native Musicians in Popular Culture in 2010 and in the film Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World in 2017.

The career-spanning exhibit opens to the public at the Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa, Okla., on Friday, Nov. 15, along with the book launch of Washita Love Child: The Rise of Indigenous Rock Star Jesse Ed Davis by Douglas Miller.

Miller wove together over 100 interviews with Davis bandmates, family members, friends and peers to reconstruct Davis life and career. His childhood in Oklahoma, first real gig backing rockabilly star Conway Twitty, through playing with George Harrisons 1971 Concert for Bangladesh to his breakthrough work with John Trudell and the Graffiti Man band. Of particular interest is Davis ancestry that includes notable chiefs, artists, medicine people, athletes and war veterans.

Miller also produced Tomorrow May Not Be Your Day: The Unissued Atco Recordings 1970-1971, a double-LP collection of unreleased recordings taken from Jesses sessions for his two Atco solo records, that will be out on Record Store Day on Nov. 29.

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This project is so personal for me, Miller told ICT. It's really about a life of music for me as much as the people that are interviewed about Jesse. It could not have been easy for him in that time period with his Indigeneity, though his family were extraordinary people. I hope it connects with people.

"The fact that (Jesse) Ed came out of Oklahoma and went through all of these different amazing musicians, and proved himself over and over and over again, is a phenomenal story,"

 Robbie Robertson, late Mohawk musician with The Band

"Like Jim Thorpe before him, Jesse helped move the dial when it came to how the outside world has viewed Native people. From his early life in Oklahoma to touring as a young guitar player, to playing sessions in LA to his own solo career  he started a movement in Indigenous art that continues today."

 Sterlin Harjo, filmmaker and creator of Reservation Dogs

Minnetonka Thunderbird Animikii mocassins by Lucie Skjefte

CRAFT: Minnetonka finds its sole

They are a multi-million dollar company, found in nearly every trading post and reservation store. Minnetonka Moccasins was founded in 1946 by Polish immigrant Philip W. Miller. The company has acknowledged its history of cultural appropriation and has taken steps to address it by hiring Adrienne Benjamin, a Minnesotan, Anishinaabe and member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, as a reconciliation advisor.

Red Lake Nation Anishinaabe Thunderbird moccasin designer Lucie Skjefte

Minnetonka got in touch with me through a Minneapolis community elder in 2020, Benjamin told ICT. After an initial values-alignment meeting, I made the decision to become their reconciliation advisor. With my guidance, in 2021 Minnetonka publicly apologized for profiting from Native American culture and shared its newly constructed reconciliation commitment. From there, I felt that a vital next step in its long-term commitment plan was to work with local Minnesota Native American artists.

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They hired artists to create new moccasin designs and to revitalize existing ones.

With my help, Minnetonka is actively creating new and redesigned products with artists and craftspeople from Native American communities, making sure their stories are told, that they are paid fairly for their work, and that they are integral to decision making about the use of their art.

Why were specific designs relaunched?

Said Benjamin: While Minnetonka is working to redesign all of its appropriated styles, we felt it was appropriate to start with the Thunderbird because it had been a staple style in Minnetonkas catalog for decades. The Thunderbird, now named Thunderbird Animikii (the Anishinaabe word for Thunderbird), was one of the brand's most recognizable appropriated products, and were proud to have been able to redesign it and shine a light on the designer and their story and Anishinaabe heritage.

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I connected Minnetonka with an incredibly talented Red Lake Nation Anishinaabe designer named Lucie Skjefte to redesign the style. Lucie then began the process of creating the Thunderbird Animikii, a redesigned beading that honors and represents her cultural roots.

Animikii is also the name of Lucie's son. We also agreed it was so important for Lucie to be the sole owner of her design. So in addition to the lifetime royalties of the Animikii design, we filed the images copyright in Lucies name. The Thunderbird Animikii relaunch was so successful that it has already sold 185 percent more than the discontinued style last year.

Since relaunching the Thunderbird Animikii, were continuing to look at Minnetonkas entire collection of shoes to prioritize redesigning the remaining appropriated styles, some of which will launch in 2025.

The Seminole Tribe of Floridas Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum recently celebrated the opening of its latest exhibit, Taweekaache: Seminole Patchwork, a vibrant exhibit of the tribes unique and iconic patchwork garments. (Photo courtesy of the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum)

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FABRIC ART: Unique craft zigzags into exhibit

Distinctive Patchwork is celebrated at the Seminole Tribe of Floridas Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum and the opening of its latest exhibit, Taweekaache: Seminole Patchwork, a vibrant exhibit of the tribes unique and iconic patchwork garments.

Open now through June 2025 in the East Gallery, more than 20 Seminole sewing artists from five different Seminole reservations, including Trail and Big Cypress, are on display.

Taweekaache shows the intricate and culturally significant art of patchwork, whose colors and hand-stitched symbols tell stories of nature, animals and heritage, a tradition that has been passed down through generations of Seminole artisans. Despite the Florida Everglades heat, it was necessary to cover up completely to protect the body from the searing sun, mosquitos, sharp palm fronds and snakes.

Visitors can view exclusive video interviews with renowned Seminole artists Lenora Roberts and Melissa Osceola DeMayo, who both provide their insight into the craftsmanship, stories and cultural importance of Seminole patchwork. From bold applique rick rack patterns to tiny pieces stitched with time-consuming care made into dresses, shirts, capes and leggings, the designs reflect the connection between artist and heritage.

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Patchwork has grown and evolved over time, becoming more intricate and beautiful with each generation, says DeMayo in the exhibits video segment. This exhibit honors the past while showcasing how the tradition continues to thrive today.

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Donald Trump carried Florida by 13 percentage points and ended any speculation that it's still a swing state. Journalists Zac Anderson, Antonio Fins and John Kennedy discuss Florida's hard right shift, ballot measures on recreational marijuana and abortion rights failing and Rick Scott's return to the U.S. Senate.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Trump red wave soaks Florida: Inside Florida Politics
The News

The center of the US political universe is now Palm Beach, Florida, where conservatives in and out of government are flocking to Mar-a-Lago to see and be seen by Donald Trumps presidential transition team.

Led by co-chairs Howard Lutnick and Linda McMahon, Trumps transition operation has quietly prepared for a few months now, even as the superstitious former president shied away from direct involvement. Now that hes president-elect, his team is bombarded with calls and aspiring advisers are booking flights to Florida in the hopes of getting face time.

Conversations with a half-dozen people inside Trumpworld reveal broad agreement that his second transition is more disciplined than his first terms. One Trump adviser described it as a very orderly operation.

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The details of that order, however, vary depending on the Trump administration position thats being discussed. Lutnick and McMahon have tapped specific Trump world players to put forward names and vet possible appointees for different jobs over the last two and a half months, according to two people who described the inner workings of the operation. Among the people weighing in are Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, donor and financier Omeed Malik, and Elon Musk, whom Semafor is told has sat in on a few recent transition meetings.

Trump and his team are particularly focused on several top positions, including but not limited to secretary of state, CIA director, attorney general, and treasury secretary. Hes closer to a pick for some posts than others: Trump is homing in on a choice for secretary of state, two people familiar with the discussions told Semafor. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is seen as a top contender, as is former Trump national intelligence director Richard Grenell and Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn.

Theres been some mud slinging around Trumps team as he nears a decision: Rubios opponents have privately argued that hes too much of an establishment neocon to be involved in an incoming Trump administration, while his allies argue Grenell could have a hard time getting confirmed given his occasionally antagonistic online persona (although thats something Trump historically respects).

Know More

The transition is in earlier stages when it comes to other posts, such as treasury secretary. Investor Scott Bessent, who met with Trump on Friday, and billionaire hedge fund manager John Paulson are seen as two leading candidates, but former SEC chief Jay Clayton and Apollo CEO Marc Rowan have also been discussed, according to two people familiar with the process.

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Theres also a broad appetite on Trumps team to elevate Democrat-turned-conservative Tulsi Gabbard. Two people close to the operation confirmed that shes being considered for a still-undefined role in the foreign policy or national security space.

Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Lutnick has already interviewed the main contenders for all of the top political spots, according to two sources. One of the people familiar with discussions on top posts said that anyone hoping for one would have had to have thrown their hat in the ring weeks, if not months, ago.

Of course, Trump himself is also making calls to ask friends who they think he should be tapping, as hes known to do.

And there are plenty of less prominent roles to fill, jobs where the process will get more chaotic but more opportunities abound for ambitious conservatives who are now turning Mar-a-Lagos patio into a hotbed of activity. Foot traffic at Trumps residence is likely to only rise over the next two months.

Shelbys view

Trumps transition will have to bridge the ideological gaps between some of the Republicans who helped him win and are now seeking big jobs. Gabbard, for instance, has taken a more friendly approach to Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad  and she might be sharing influence with Rubio, who has called for Assads removal.

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While its minimal so far, there has already been some jockeying from supporters of the different factions.

The next several weeks will certainly test Susie Wiles as she dives into the chief of staff role. Long credited with ensuring that Trumps 2024 campaign was more disciplined than prior runs, Wiles will have her work cut out for her trying to keep that going.

Room for Disagreement

One thing that could throw a wrench into the transition process? The president-elect has yet to submit the usual transition ethics pledge and has shied away from signing various traditional agreements surrounding the handoff process, The New York Times reported.

Notable
A handheld device could end invasive smear tests for 98 per cent of women.

Women are invited by the NHS for their first smear test at the age of 25 and then have one every three years, dropping to one every five years between 50 and 64.

But one in three miss their appointment due to concerns over the invasive procedure, which requires a speculum and swab to be inserted into the vagina, which can sometimes be painful.

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Sanziana Foia, a PhD researcher at Imperial College London, has invented the reusable Papcup to replace the traditional pap smear after having a bad experience of her own.

The device scans menstrual blood which can be collected while a woman is on her period for signs of HPV.

Traditional smears collect cells from the cervix which are tested for HPV, only positive samples then go for further analysis for signs of possible cervical cancer.

However, only one in 40 women have a positive HPV result, according to the NHS, which means the smear test is merely a HPV test for 98.5 per cent of women.

When the NHS performs a smear test, they collect the sample invasively, as in, using a speculum, it requires a vaginal insertion, and then they send that sample to a lab, Ms Foia told The Telegraph.

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If HPV is in the sample, then theyre going to take it one step further and look at the cells in the sample, see if theres any abnormal cells, but if there isnt any HPV that could cause cancer, then they just discard the sample.

So essentially, for most women, this is just a very invasive HPV test and this is the only option that they have.

Ms Foias device hopes to replace this stage of smear tests which would remove the need for anything to enter the vagina in order to test for HPV and results would be given in minutes, and not several days or weeks.

Women who return a positive test for HPV would then go for a pap smear and the cells can undergo more detailed analysis.

The device, currently a prototype, uses a new cartridge for every test and contains a biosensor to detect signs of HPV in a similar way to the diabetes sensors which detect blood sugar levels through the skin.

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We are providing a solution that is non-invasive and looks at whether HPV is present without having to undergo the whole very uncomfortable, potentially traumatic for some women, procedure, Ms Foia said.

Instead of having to send menstrual blood to a lab where they perform an analysis, the device is actually analysing for HPV present right then and there and gives a result in a few minutes.

No false positives

The device received funding from Imperial to make a prototype and initial tests showed the technology worked well, with no false positives.

Ms Foia is now seeking more funding to be able to progress to clinical trials and to access menstrual blood samples of women to further test the devices speed and accuracy.

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I would say an optimistic time frame would be about three years from now until the end of clinical trials, she told The Telegraph.

The way I envisage Papcup is that women would get it free through the NHS and the NHS would be one of our few customers.

A non-invasive alternative

Cancer Research UK funded the accelerator programme at Imperial, which Ms Foia was a part of, which gave initial funding to academics to develop startup ideas.

Tony Hickson, Chief Business Officer at Cancer Research UK and Cancer Research Horizons, said: We know that one in three women do not attend their cervical screening due to various mental and physical barriers.

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Were pleased to have helped support the development of Papcup, which offers a non-invasive alternative to conventional cervical screening methods. Innovations like these can hopefully help more people live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.

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DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi denied U.S. charges that Tehran was linked to an alleged plot to kill Donald Trump and called on Saturday for confidence-building between the two hostile countries.

"Now ... a new scenario is fabricated ... as a killer does not exist in reality, scriptwriters are brought in to manufacture a third-rate comedy," Araqchi said in a post on X.

He was referring to the alleged plot which Washington said was ordered by Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards to assassinate Trump, who won Tuesday's presidential election and takes office in January.

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"The American people have made their decision. And Iran respects their right to elect the President of their choice. The path forward is also a choice. It begins with respect," Araqchi said.

"Iran is NOT after nuclear weapons, period. This is a policy based on Islamic teachings and our security calculations. Confidence-building is needed from both sides. It is not a one-way street," he added.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said earlier that the claim was a "repulsive" plot by Israel and the Iranian opposition outside the country to "complicate matters between America and Iran".

Iranian analysts and insiders have not dismissed the possibility of a detente between Tehran and Washington under Trump, although without restoring diplomatic ties.

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"Iran will act based on its own interests. It is possible that secret talks between Tehran and Washington take place. If security threats against the Islamic Republic are removed, anything is possible," Tehran-based analyst Saeed Laylaz said this week.

While facing off against arch-foe Israel, Irans clerical leadership is also concerned about the possibility of an all-out war in the region, where Israel is engaged in conflicts with Tehran's allies in Gaza and Lebanon.

(Reporting by Parisa Hafezi, additional reporting by Dubai newsroom; Editing by Alexander Smith and Giles Elgood)
Since Donald Trump was re-elected as US president, the Left in the US and Europe have gone into meltdown. But nobody will feel a greater sense of foreboding than the leadership of the Wests enemies in Moscow, Beijing and Tehran.

Most immediately, the return of Trump is Irans worst nightmare. The ayatollahs have enjoyed four years of financial and political benefits from Joe Bidens policies of appeasement, which saw billions of dollars of frozen assets released, empowering Tehran on the world stage. Why else would Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei have allowed or even ordered his terrorist proxies Hamas and Hezbollah to so viciously assault Israel in October last year, if he did not feel confident that a craven US administration would let him get away with it?

The Trump years were very different. As President, Trump had trashed Barack Obamas irrational nuclear deal and piled on economic sanctions. He went on to order the elimination of Qasem Soleimani, chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, the organisation responsible for terrorism across the Middle East and around the world. Trumps return to the White House therefore represented a clear and present threat to the continuation of the regime in Tehran.

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The Supreme Leader couldnt tolerate the return of his nemesis to the White House, and that is why the regime ordered Trumps assassination in September. On Friday, the Department of Justice revealed charges against an Afghan immigrant to the US, Farhad Shakeri, who was allegedly tasked by the IRGC to murder the then US presidential candidate.

There is no question that Khamanei and the IRGC meant business. The regime has successfully carried out multiple political assassinations since it came to power in 1979, and has attempted to murder many others.

On its own, Irans intent to assassinate Donald Trump is a casus belli, demanding the decapitation of the regime. But Tehrans aggression goes beyond even that. In the last year alone, Irans proxies have carried out almost 200 attacks against US forces in Iraq, Syria and Jordan. On 7 October last year, more than 40 Americans living in Israel were murdered by Iranian proxies and 12 kidnapped, some of whom are still held hostage. Trump has warned Hamas and their Iranian sponsors: We want our hostages back, and they better be back before I assume office, or you will be paying a very big price.

This suggests that, when Trump re-enters the White House, Washingtons protection of Iran will come to a dramatic end. It is vital for the Middle East and the West that it does. Thanks to Obamas nuclear deal and Bidens appeasement, Tehran is now on the cusp of becoming a nuclear armed state. It is believed to have sufficient highly enriched uranium to manufacture at least ten nuclear weapons and the ability to deliver them by ballistic missiles, and may be about to gain the capability for weaponisation.

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Prior to the recent Israeli response to Irans October missile attacks on its territory, Biden pronounced targeting of Tehrans nuclear capabilities off-limits. Conversely, Trump said that Israel should hit the nuclear first and worry about everything else later. Whatever action Trump decides the US should directly take against Iran, he should remove all the shackles Biden has clapped on Israel. Not only should he unequivocally support whatever action Jerusalem needs to take to defend itself from this threat, he should equip it with whatever military resources it needs to effectively destroy the Iranian nuclear programme.

Such a move should be fully backed by the West, including the UK. Sir Keir Starmer, whose government has ground to make up in its relations with the future Trump administration, could secure an easy win now by proscribing as a terrorist organisation the IRGC, would-be assassins of its number one allys president-elect.

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Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has praised the decision by a Berlin court to classify using the controversial pro-Palestinian slogan "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" as use of a "terrorist symbol."

"I welcome the decision of the Berlin Regional Court to outlaw the phrase ... The new anti-Semitism that is based on the denial of the Jewish state's right to exist must be uprooted!" Saar wrote on X on Saturday.

A court in the German capital found a protester guilty for the first time on Friday of employing a symbol of a terrorist organization for using the phrase.

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The presiding judge said the slogan is a symbol of the Palestinian Islamist Hamas group, which the European Union classifies as a terrorist organization.

The court imposed a fine of 1,300 ($1,390) on the 42-year-old defendant.

The defence lawyer has said they will appeal the decision.

The slogan calls for a free Palestine stretching from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, which is the area currently occupied by Israel.

German police have sought to crack down on the use of the phrase, which Israel has described as anti-Semitic, saying it calls for the elimination of the state of Israel.

Criminal courts throughout Germany have followed different interpretations of the slogan. There has been no Supreme Court ruling on the phrase so far.
Nov. 9 (UPI) -- Israel Defense Forces carried out airstrikes in Gaza and Lebanon that killed dozens while targeting Hamas and Hezbollah militants Saturday morning.

While Israel's wars with Hamas and Hezbollah continue in Gaza and Lebanon, Qatar officials no longer will mediate a cease-fire deal on behalf of Hamas, NBC News reported. CNN and Fox News unnamed U.S. officials also confirmed the decision.

IDF airstrikes throughout much of Gaza began at dawn Saturday and killed at least 40, Al Jazeera reported.

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Local officials and first-responders reported 40 Gazans killed during the airstrikes, including 24 in northern Gaza and others near Khan Younis, Beit Lahiya, Gaza City and Deir el-Balah.

The Palestinian Red Crescent confirmed 14 deaths, including women and children, while IDF officials said dozens of Hamas militants were killed in northern Gaza, VOA News reported.

An airstrike killed five and wounded 22 when Israeli aircraft struck the Fahad Al-Sabah school in Gaza City's Al-Tuffah district. The casualties were taken to the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital for treatment.

The IDF said its forces killed "dozens of terrorists" in northern Gaza's Jabalia area where a ground operation has been underway for more than a month to stop Hamas from regrouping in the area.

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The IDF said it also killed militants in the Rafah area of southern Gaza while engaged in a two-front war with Hamas to the south and Hezbollah to the north in Lebanon.

The IDF carried out airstrikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut and in Tyre in Lebanon.

"Over the past day, the [Israel Air Force] struck over 50 targets in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip," the IDF said in a statement.

"Among the targets were military structures, weapons storage facilities and launchers," the IDF said.

The IDF targeted Hezbollah embedded its operations in residential and manufacturing centers in and near Beirut despite the resulting dangers to Lebanese citizens, the Jerusalem Post reported.

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The IDF has targeted Hamas and Hezbollah militants during dozens of military actions begun Friday morning and continuing through the overnight hours and into Saturday.

Hamas recently rejected a cease-fire proposal mediated by Qatar.

Qatar officials notified Hamas, Israeli and U.S. officials regarding its decision to expel Hamas 10 days ago.

"Qatar has become increasingly frustrated with a lack of progress toward a cease-fire by both Hamas and Israel," one of the diplomats told NBC News Saturday morning.

"Hamas has been told that if this continues then Qatar cannot continue to host them."

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The officials did not say whether Hamas was given a deadline.

Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani has played a key role in mediating talks between Hamas and Israel, alongside Egypt and the U.S., since the Oct. 7 war.
BEIRUT (Reuters) -Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon over the last day have killed at least 40 people including several children, Lebanese authorities said on Saturday, after heavy Israeli bombardment pounded the southern suburbs of the capital Beirut overnight.

At least seven people were killed in the coastal city of Tyre late on Friday, Lebanon's health ministry said. The Israeli military has previously ordered swathes of the city to evacuate but there were no orders published by the Israeli military spokesperson on social media platform X before Friday's strikes.

The ministry said two children were among the dead. Rescue operations were ongoing and other body parts retrieved in the aftermath of the attack would undergo DNA testing to identify them, the ministry added.

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Strikes in nearby towns on Saturday killed 13 people, including seven medics from rescue groups affiliated to Hezbollah and its ally Amal, the health ministry said.

At least 20 more people were killed in Israeli strikes on Saturday across the eastern plains around the historic city of Baalbek, the health ministry said.

The Israeli military said it had struck Hezbollah infrastructure sites in the areas of Tyre and Baalbek, including fighters, "operational apartments," and weapons stores.

The Lebanese health ministry said Israeli attacks have killed at least 3,136 people and wounded 13,979 in Lebanon over the last year. The toll includes 619 women and 194 children.

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Israel has been locked in fighting with Lebanese armed group Hezbollah since October 2023, but fighting has escalated dramatically since late September of this year. Israel has intensified and expanded its bombing campaign, and Hezbollah has ramped up daily rocket and drone attacks against Israel.

The Iran-backed group announced more than 20 operations on Saturday, as well as one that it said fighters carried out the previous day against a military factory south of Tel Aviv.

More than a dozen Israeli strikes also hit the southern suburbs of Beirut overnight, once a bustling collection of neighbourhoods and a key stronghold of Hezbollah.

Now, many buildings have been almost entirely flattened, with Hezbollah's yellow flags jutting out from the ruins, according to Reuters reporters who were taken on a tour of the area by Hezbollah.

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Some buildings were partially damaged by the strikes, leading some floors to collapse and sending furniture and other personal belongings spilling onto parked cars below.

Men and women were picking through the rubble for their belongings, shoving blankets and mats under their arms or into black plastic bags.

"We are trying to gather as many (of our possessions) as we can, so we can manage to live off them, nothing more," said Hassan Hannawi, one of the men looking for his belongings.

(Reporting by Maya Gebeily in Beirut; Adam Makary and Menna Alaa in Dubai; Editing by Mark Potter, Helen Popper and Chizu Nomiyama )
By Emily Rose

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel rejected on Saturday a group of global food security experts' warning of famine in parts of northern Gaza where it is waging war against Palestinian militant group Hamas.

"Unfortunately, the researchers continue to rely on partial, biased data and superficial sources with vested interests," the military said in a statement.

The independent Famine Review Committee (FRC) said on Friday in a rare alert that there was a strong likelihood of imminent famine in parts of north Gaza with immediate action required from the warring parties to ease a catastrophic situation.

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Israel said it had increased aid efforts including opening an additional crossing on Friday.

Asked about the FRC alert, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said on Saturday that Washington was "concerned about the limited amount of aid reaching civilians living in Gaza" and that the report underscored the situation's urgency.

"We have and will continue to make clear to Israel that they must do more to facilitate aid entry and delivery inside Gaza," the spokesperson said, adding that the U.S. was working with Israel, the UN, and other partners to find solutions to ramp up aid delivery.

The State Department spokesperson also said Hamas must release the hostages it is holding and not interfere in any humanitarian efforts.

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Since the beginning of the war in October 2023, 39,000 trucks carrying more than 840,000 tons of food have entered Gaza, Israel said, and meetings were taking place daily with the U.N., which had 700 trucks of aid awaiting pickup and distribution.

With some critics decrying a starvation tactic in north Gaza, Israel's main ally the U.S. has set a deadline within days for it to improve the humanitarian situation or face potential restrictions on military cooperation.

(Reporting by Emily Rose in Jerusalem and Daphne Psaledakis in Washington; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Daniel Wallis)
Missoula Mugs, a popular website that aggregated mugshots of recently booked crime suspects in the county, is kaput after the sheriffs office stopped posting them online.

The local website, which until this week displayed a mobile-friendly gallery of booking photos from the countys online jail roster, has been replaced by a lengthy post deriding the change in county policy.

Following media inquiries, Missoula County Sheriffs Office spokesperson Jeannette Smith issued a press release Monday explaining why the county is no longer publishing mugshots.

After reviewing the justification for posting all photos, it was decided that there was no justification to continue to post booking photos on the roster and that removing them was more in line with recent changes to Montana state law, as well as the practices of other Montana counties detention facilities, Smith wrote in the press release.

Since 2021, Montana law has required that law enforcement charge $100 apiece for mugshots of crime suspects, but also requires them to distribute them for free if the person is convicted. It allows the fee to be waived under extenuating circumstances.

The countys press release directs people to its website for public information requests if they want to get an individual booking photo.

The current law, adopted by the state Legislature in 2021, followed several failed attempts by Montana lawmakers to clarify whether booking photos fall under the states definition of public information or confidential criminal justice information  a category that includes crime scene photos, fingerprints or evidence from an active criminal investigation.

Previously, police and sheriffs offices across the state operated under a patchwork of different policies regarding the dissemination of booking photos. In 2015, a Park County District Court judge ruled that mugshots are public information. But uncertainty remained after then-Attorney General Tim Fox declined the following year to issue a legal opinion that would apply across the state.

Around that time, legal uncertainty held up the release of perhaps the most famous mugshot in recent Montana history. It took a judges 2017 order before Gallatin County released the booking photo of then-U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte following his misdemeanor assault conviction.

Prior legislation had included attempts to make them public information, or conversely to ban their release. Some law enforcement officials, including Billings police chief, testified that in some cases local media outlets had prompted additional victims to come forth after local media ran a suspects mug shot. Others argued, however, that the practice unfairly shamed suspects and ran counter to the presumption of innocence in the American justice system.

The bill ultimately passed in 2021, with bipartisan support, and became effective in April 2021.

A question of media ethics

The local legislative debate in recent years has paralleled discussions in newsrooms across the U.S., many of which have shifted away from the practice of running mugshots as part-and-parcel of local crime stories.

"It's a little bit of a microcosm of the modern open-records problem," University of Montana School of Journalism Dean Lee Banville told the Missoulian. "It's a criminal record, it's published by the state, Montana has a right to know, and therefore the expectation is that this is a document that ought to be open to the public."

And then came the internet. The ephemeral daily newspaper issues and television or radio broadcasts can now live on forever in digital form, potentially following a person through life regardless of whether they're acquitted or have their charges dropped.

"I think that has changed the way a lot of us have thought about them, because before it was just assumed you'd throw a mugshot in with any crime story," Banville said.

He added, "Editorially, there should always be a conversation about, 'What's the point of using this photo? Is it necessary to allow the public to understand the story better, or is it not?'"

Over the past decade, many individual local newspapers and television stations have phased out the use of mugshots. While acknowledging the popularity of mugshot galleries among readers, some newsrooms have called the practice exploitative and questioned whether it furthers the goals of local journalism.

In 2021, the Associated Press announced it would no longer publish the names or photos of people charged with minor crimes, out of concern that such stories can have a long, damaging afterlife on the internet that can make it hard for individuals to move on with their lives.

While it's not a right in the United States, some European countries recognize a "right to be forgotten," said Denise Dowling, a professor at the UM journalism school who teaches media ethics.

"Someone can bring a plea to the courts to say that because this information is out there and publicly available about me, I have been discriminated against in terms of my ability to get a job, my ability to get housing, etc.," Dowling said.

The Missoulian generally refrains from publishing mugshots for crime suspects, although editorial staff has the discretion to make exceptions. Those might include when there are public safety concerns or if a photo could prompt additional victims to come forward.

Why destroy this treasured local institution?

Missoula Mugs spartan format has for years included a scrollable gallery of local booking photos, scraped in real time from the jail inmate roster, along with a frequently-asked-questions page that linked to the county jail website.

The FAQ also included glowing references to the websites sole advertiser, local defense attorney Dwight Schulte. Reached Tuesday, Schulte declined to comment about the website.

In the countys press release, Smith referred to unconfirmed reports of requests to exchange money to remove booking photos from the internet, which prompted a policy review.

Smith didnt offer any further information on those incidents, but national news outlets have previously documented the rise of websites that mass-publish mugshots and extort money from the suspects to have their photos removed.

As of Monday, the mugshot gallery on the front page of Missoula Mugs had been replaced with a lengthy post claiming that the website received tens of thousands of local visitors and denying that its administrators had ever accepted money in exchange for removing a persons photo.

Why destroy this treasured local institution? the post reads, in part. ... Have we not been totally cool about all this? We never allowed comments on Mugs, never took this thing to social media, and never tried to cash in on this glorious venture  and not for lack of opportunity, believe you me.

A domain registration search for missoulamugs.com indicates the URL was first registered in 2018, but doesnt list any contact for the website administrator. The registrant is listed as Cloudflare, a web services company.

All weve ever done is help keep you all informed of just what this government of the people, for the people, and by the people, is doing, the website administrator wrote.
Israeli forces killed a 25-year-old Palestinian man in a village near the town of Tubas in the north of the West Bank, the Health Ministry in Ramallah said on Saturday, adding that the Israeli army has not yet released his body.

According to Palestinian media, Israeli soldiers surrounded the house of the family of the deceased man during the raid.

The Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that Israeli forces shot the man dead. The reason for this was initially unclear. Another man was seriously injured by bullet wounds to the chest, the report said.

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The Israeli military said it was investigating the reports.

The already tense situation in the occupied West Bank has dramatically worsened since the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, which left 1,200 people dead, mostly civilians, and triggered the Gaza war, in which Israeli attacks have killed thousands more, mostly women and children, according to UN figures.

Israeli military operations, armed clashes and attacks by extremists have since killed 746 Palestinians in the West Bank, according to the local Health Ministry.
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP)  Qatar has suspended its key mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel, it said Saturday, after growing frustration with the lack of progress on a cease-fire deal for Gaza.

It wasn't immediately clear whether the remaining Hamas leadership hosted by Qatar must leave, or where it would go. Hamas has good relations with Iran and Turkey, and some of its leaders are now in Lebanon.

However, Qatar is highly likely to return to mediation efforts if both sides show serious political willingness to reach a deal, according to an official with Egypt, the other key mediator.

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Qatar told Israel and Hamas it can't continue to mediate as long as there is a refusal to negotiate a deal in good faith and "as a consequence, the Hamas political office no longer serves its purpose in Qatar, a diplomatic source briefed on the matter said. Qatar told Hamas it will have to leave if it isn't ready to engage in serious negotiations, the source said.

In Washington, a U.S. official said the Biden administration informed Qatar two weeks ago that the Hamas office's continued operation in Doha was no longer useful and the Hamas delegation should be expelled.

A senior U.S. official said that after Hamas rejected the last proposal for a cease-fire, Qatar accepted the advice and informed the Hamas delegation of the decision 10 days ago.

A senior Hamas official said they were aware of Qatars decision to suspend mediation efforts, but no one told us to leave. Hamas has repeatedly called for an end to the war and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza as a condition for any cease-fire deal. Israel seeks the return of all hostages taken in Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and insists on a presence in Gaza.

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The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. The Israeli prime ministers office had no comment.

Late Saturday, the state-run Qatar News Agency published comments attributed to Majed bin Mohammed al-Ansari, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, confirming that Doha informed parties in the talks 10 days ago that it would stall its efforts to mediate between Hamas and Israel if an agreement was not reached in that round.

Qatar will resume those efforts with its partners when the parties show their willingness and seriousness to end the brutal war and the ongoing suffering of civilians," the report said.

There continued to be no end in sight to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and the Israel-Hezbollah war in Lebanon, where Israels military said it struck command centers and other militant infrastructure in Beiruts southern suburbs and elsewhere. An Israeli airstrike on the southern port city of Tyre late Friday killed at least seven, officials and a resident said.

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Hezbollah should continue (the fight) and we will continue to back them up even if we lose our families, our homes, and end up in the dirt, said one Beirut resident, Mohammed Mekdad, as people searched the smoking rubble.

In Gaza, Israeli strikes killed at least 16 people on Saturday, Palestinian medical officials said, while Israel announced the first delivery of humanitarian aid in weeks to the territory's hungry, devastated north.

One strike hit a school-turned-shelter in Gaza Citys eastern Tufah neighborhood, killing at least six people, the territory's Health Ministry said. Two local journalists, a pregnant woman and a child were among the dead, it said. Israel's army said the strike targeted a militant belonging to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, offering no evidence.

Another Israeli strike killed seven people, including two women and a child in the southern city of Khan Younis, according to Nasser Hospital. Israel's army didn't respond to a request for comment.

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And an Israeli strike hit tents in the courtyard of central Gazas main hospital, killing at least three people and wounding a local journalist, Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir al-Balah said. It was the eighth Israeli attack on the compound since March.

Israel says aid trucks reach northern Gaza

The Israeli military body in charge of humanitarian aid to Gaza, COGAT, said 11 aid trucks containing food, water and medical equipment reached the enclave's far north on Thursday. It's the first time any aid has reached there since Israel began a new military campaign last month.

But not all the aid reached the agreed drop-off points, according to the the U.N. World Food Program. In the urban refugee camp of Jabaliya, Israeli troops stopped one convoy bound for nearby Beit Lahiya and ordered the supplies to be offloaded, WFP spokesperson Alia Zaki said.

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Israels offensive has focused on Jabaliya, where Israel says Hamas had regrouped. Other areas affected include Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun just north of Gaza City.

U.S. deadline is looming for Israel

The aid announcement came days before a U.S. deadline demanding that Israel improve aid deliveries across Gaza or risk losing access to U.S. weapons funding. The U.S. says Israel must allow a minimum of 350 trucks a day carrying food and other supplies.

A report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, issued Thursday said there's a strong likelihood that famine is imminent in parts of northern Gaza, the territory's most isolated area.

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COGAT rejected those findings and said the report relied on partial, biased data and superficial sources with vested interests.

No emergency services functioning north of Gaza City

The U.N. estimates that tens of thousands of people remain in northern Gaza. Earlier this week, the Health Ministry said there were no ambulances or emergency crews operating north of Gaza City.

The conflict has left 90% of Palestinians in Gaza displaced, according to U.N. figures.

More than a year of war in Gaza has killed more than 43,000 people, Palestinian health officials say. They don't distinguish between civilians and combatants, but say more than half of those killed were women and children.

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The war began after Palestinian militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and abducting 250 others. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, about a third believed to be dead.

It has been 400 days and the hostages are still in Gaza. There is a war without a direction. Its so sad, said Eial Tiskim, who attended the latest protest in Tel Aviv on Saturday night to demand a cease-fire deal.

___

Magdy reported from Cairo and Lee from Washington. Associated Press writer Jack Jeffery contributed to this report from Ramallah, West Bank.

___

Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
Another Italian tourist site has decided to regulate its hefty traffic - this time the buried city of Pompeii, which is introducing a visitor limit of 20,000.

The move follows one by the city of Venice, whose residents have long complained about being overrun by tourists. Earlier in the year it became the first city in the world to charge an entrance fee: 5 ($5.36), which will eventually double.

At Pompeii, now an archaeological park in which visitors can learn about the victims of the Vesuvius eruption, tourists flock to the attraction - one of Italy's most popular - by the hordes.

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By instituting the 20,000 daily visitor limit, management says it wants to control the masses of visitors - which reached a record 4 million this summer, with the park recording some 36,000 visitors on some days.

Apart from the visitor cap, the park will be introducing personalized tickets. Both measures start on Friday.

The city at the foot of Vesuvius was covered by ash, mud and lava in 79 AD after several volcanic eruptions. The preserved remains of death and devastation provide insight into life at that time to this day.

"We are working on several projects to reduce the pressure of people on the site, which can pose a danger both to people and to the unique and fragile cultural heritage," said the German director of the park, Gabriel Zuchtriegel. "We aim for slow, sustainable, pleasant and non-mass tourism," he added.
JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  Members of the very first Jackson County Fire Rescue came back to the station house Friday to recognize what they started all those years ago.

50 years ago, these men and women were pioneers in what was such a rural area with no fire service, no coverage. Its just such a blessing to have them here today, Jackson County Fire Rescue Chief Charlie Brunner said.

Artwork will be reaching new heights in Panama City

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Former and current employees celebrated the 50th anniversary sharing lunch and their memories.

Before Jackson Hospital had the paramedics, the funeral home is what actually raced to a car wreck or something. If they got a patient first, they got paid, former Jackson County Fire Rescue employee Robert Daffin said.

The creation of Jackson County Fire Rescue changed emergency response in the community for the better.

It saved a lot of lives, a lot of lives. Once you start a service like that and people catch onto it, then theyre going to use it, Daffin said.

Brunner said his predecessors made fire rescue what it is today.

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Indiana man arrested after fleeing deputies in Holmes County

What these men and women went through, they were true pioneers. They were doing things that a lot of people around the United States of America werent doing. They were starting IVs and they were carrying medications on these ambulances and they were providing care for the first time ever outside of a hospital, Brunner said.

Jackson County Fire Rescue has a new blood program beginning soon. Theyll be the first in the county to carry blood products on their ambulances, helping to save more lives.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com.
NORTH JACKSON, Ohio (WKBN)  It was another outstanding year for donations to a Veterans Day drive.

The drive was organized by Jackson-Milton teacher Sue Prozy, whose father served in the Army. She started it over 20 years ago in his honor and to remember our military.

Prozy collects simple snacks and other personal items to brighten the day for active-duty military.

The children help her sort and box the items, which are sent to military members who have a connection to Jackson-Milton Schools.

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Prozy also teaches the students about the military ahead of Veterans Day.

I dont know. I just have a love for our country and I want to instill that in them as well, and just want them to understand that there are a lot of people out there that make sacrifices for us so that we can stay safe and to help protect us. So its important, she said.

The care packages will be boxed and shipped next week so the military members can receive them before the holidays.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Former Arkansas senator and current Arkansas State Library Board member Jason Rapert is calling for state lawmakers to dissolve the board completely after Fridays meeting.

Rapert claimed in an open letter posted on Facebook that, during the meeting, five members of the seven-member board refused to take any action to promulgate policies or rules to protect minor children by withholding taxpayer funds from libraries unwilling to do something to protect kids from sexually explicit materials.

Former Arkansas Sen. Jason Rapert appointed to states library board

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The former senator also said that six of the eight people who spoke during public comment were in favor of the ASLB protecting children from sexually explicit materials. He noted that the other two who spoke were library employees.

I implore the members of the Arkansas legislature to take action to abolish this board and turn over the authority to the Secretary of Education and the Department of Education, or at a minimum abolish the board and reconstitute it as we have done with other boards while I served in the Arkansas legislature, Rapert said.

Former Arkansas Sen. Jason Rapert responds to library board appointment and pushback from GOP state senator

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders appointed Rapert to the board in November of 2023 and his appointment was confirmed later in December.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
What just happened?

In this moment, when humility and curiosity are required, there are a few things I wish I would have seen coming.

For all of the hemming and hawing about people wanting to know more about Vice President Kamala Harris plans, this was never a campaign about policy proposals. What we learned is that a majority of voters are pissed off at the system, and at the government, and wanted change  whatever that looked like. Would a campaign longer than 107 days have made a difference? Maybe. But as long as the candidate was from the same party as the party in power, those headwinds may have proved insurmountable.

The role of racism, sexism and the massive dysfunction of the information system are all issues worth exploring.

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But there are also some additional tough truths.

Millions of people voted to protect abortion rights in seven states and then a good chunk of them also voted to elect Donald Trump, the very guy who put the three people on the Supreme Court who took that right away.

Trump did not get more votes than he did in 2020, but nearly every major demographic group moved his way, with the exception of white college-educated voters.

The most important groups of voters to listen to in this moment, in my view, are the ones who didnt show up. The Americans who may have felt aligned with the Democratic agenda at one point, but now feel left behind or forgotten. These are not all white working-class voters.

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Finally, no one should feel powerless in this moment. When Trump was elected the first time, he said he was going to get rid of the Affordable Care Act. You know what happened? People got active. They called their members of Congress and went to meetings. They told their representatives, You cannot take away my health insurance. And guess what? It didnt happen. Every fight will not be won. But there are leaders still to emerge, movements yet to take shape, and as much as there needs to be reflection, there is a lot of power we can find in this moment, too.

All eyes on the House

With Republicans winning control of the Senate, Democrats only remaining hope for a check on the Trump administrations agenda rests on flipping the House. According to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the path to take back the majority now runs through too close to call pick-up opportunities in Arizona, Oregon, Iowa and California.

But the numbers make it a big uphill battle. According to the NBC News Decision Desk, Democrats need to win 17 of the remaining races to reach a majority. Currently, Republicans lead in several of those uncalled races, including two razor-thin contests in Iowa and California.

Despite flipping two New York districts, Democratic gains were offset by GOP wins in the blue wall states of Michigan and Pennsylvania. With votes still being counted, it may take weeks of recount cases and ballot curing to get to a final result  and confirm whether Democrats in Congress will have any power come January.

Historic wins on Election Day

While the election results at the top of the ticket were incredibly difficult, on a brighter note, here are some of the historic victories we saw this Election Day:

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Lisa Blunt Rochester will be the first woman and first Black senator from Delaware.

Angela Alsobrooks will be the first Black senator in Marylands history.

For the first time, more than one Black woman will serve in the U.S. Senate at the same time.

Andy Kim will be the first Korean American senator ever and the first Asian American senator from New Jersey.

Sarah McBride will be the first openly transgender member of Congress.

Suhas Subramanyam will be the first South Asian member of Congress to represent Virginia.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Jilted brides should return engagement rings to their exes even though it was not them who called off the wedding, a judge has ruled.

A Massachusetts court ruled on Friday that an engagement ring must be returned to the person who purchased it, ending a six-decade-old state rule that required judges to try to identify who was to blame for the end of the relationship.

The case involved Bruce Johnson and Caroline Settino, who started dating in the summer of 2016, according to court filings.

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Over the next year, they travelled together, visiting New York, Bar Harbor, Maine, the Virgin Islands and Italy.

Mr Johnson paid for the vacations and also gave his partner jewellery, clothing, shoes and handbags.

Eventually, Mr Johnson bought a $70,000 diamond engagement ring and in August 2017 asked Ms Settinos father for permission to marry her.

Two months later, he also bought two wedding bands costing around $3,700.

Relationship turned sour

Things in the relationship turned sour, he claimed, after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Mr Johnson claimed that Ms Settino became increasingly critical of him and was unsupportive of his health issues.

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At some point Mr Johnson claimed that he found a message to another man on Ms Settinos cell phone.

My Bruce is going to be in Connecticut for three days. I need some playtime, the message allegedly read.

He also alleged to have found messages from the man, including a voicemail in which the man referred to Ms Settino as cupcake and said they did not see enough of each other.

Ms Settino has said the man was just a friend.

Mr Johnson then ended the engagement.

A trial judge initially concluded Ms Settino was entitled to keep the engagement ring, reasoning that Mr Johnson mistakenly thought Settino was cheating on him and called off the engagement. An appeals court found Mr Johnson should get the ring.

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In September, the case landed before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, which ultimately ruled that Mr Johnson should keep the ring.

Well-reasoned, fair decision

In their ruling the justices said the case raised the question of whether the issue of who is at fault should continue to govern the rights to engagement rings when the wedding does not happen.

We now join the modern trend adopted by the majority of jurisdictions that have considered the issue and retire the concept of fault in this context, the justices wrote in Fridays ruling.

Where, as here, the planned wedding does not ensue and the engagement is ended, the engagement ring must be returned to the donor regardless of fault.

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Stephanie Taverna Siden, Mr Johnsons lawyer, welcomed the ruling.

We are very pleased with the courts decision today. It is a well-reasoned, fair and just decision and moves Massachusetts law in the right direction, Ms Siden said.

A lawyer for Ms Settino said they were disappointed, but respected the courts decision to follow the majority rule among the states.

We firmly believe that the notion of an engagement ring as a conditional gift is predicated on outdated notions and should no longer be a legal loophole in our otherwise well-established rule that a breach of a promise to marry is not an injury recognised by law, Nicholas Rosenberg said.

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Rebecca Tushnet, a Harvard Law School professor, who studies engagement ring law, said she was not surprised that the court rejected the fault standard, saying it really does not fit with modern family law.

Im a bit disappointed that they didnt give more consideration to the other no-fault option. That would be that the gift stays with the person who received it, as is standard for most gifts, she said. The court calls an engagement ring a conditional gift, but the rule for engagement rings is not the same as the rule for every other kind of conditional gift.

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The Los Angeles City Council on Friday confirmed Jim McDonnell as the city's 59th police chief in a split 11-2 vote, and he was later officially sworn in in front of a crowded room of city leaders.

While several council members praised Mayor Karen Bass' selection of a respected and experienced lawman to lead the department, the lack of unanimous approval underscored lingering concerns around McDonnell's record on immigration as President-elect Donald Trump returns to office.

McDonnell, who has made few public appearances since his appointment, delivered his strongest comments yet about ensuring that the department would not participate in federal immigration enforcement.

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"LAPD will not assist with mass deportations. Los Angeles is a city of immigrants, and I know that immigrants are being disparaged right now," McDonnell told the council, striking a more decisive tone than he did in answering some of the same questions at a previous committee hearing. "My job is to protect everyone in Los Angeles and to build trust, and that's what I plan to do."

After the new chief's private swearing in, Bass said she was so appreciative of the way he handled everything."

Read more: What type of LAPD chief will Jim McDonnell be? Clues may lie in the past

"He heard everything people said. And to me, that is just emblematic of the type of chief he will be," she said. A public swearing-in ceremony is expected to be held next week.

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Councilmembers Eunisses Hernandez and Hugo Soto-Martinez cast votes against McDonnell, with Kevin de Leon and Heather Hutt absent.

In response to a question about how he will ensure that all officers under his command will comply with the department's immigration rules, McDonnell said, "It's very clear what our policies are."

"Accountability is basically the foundation of trust, and we are accountable to the rule of law and to the policies of this organization," he said.

When asked about a hypothetical scenario in which LAPD officers had detained someone in the back of a police car and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials asked to hand them over, McDonnell replied his officers would not comply.

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Most of the opposition has focused on McDonnell's past willingness to allow immigration authorities into the country's largest jail system, which he did while serving as L.A. County sheriff from 2014 to 2018. Permitting federal agents to target inmates for deportation, critics say, led to the forced separation of "thousands of families."

Read more: A top detective alleges the LAPD is toxic toward women. Will her lawsuit bring change?

McDonnell said he had evolved in the 10 years since he was sheriff, but argued that his record was misunderstood. He pointed to statistics showing that the number of incarcerated people released to immigration authorities fell to 820 in the last year of his tenure, from the more than 7,800 in 2013, the year before his election. The number of U-Visas, which provide protections to immigrants who are victims of crimes, sponsored by the department also climbed during his tenure.

The council's split vote on the LAPD chief was unusual. McDonnell's two immediate predecessors, Michel Moore and Charlie Beck, were each confirmed unanimously.

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Soto-Martinez said in an interview before the vote that he would stick with his "no" vote from last week's public safety committee meeting, where he grilled McDonnell on his record on immigration and his views on traffic enforcement.

Soto-Martinez, whose district stretches from Echo Park to Hollywood, said he remained concerned about the new chief's "history at the county working with ICE and expanding some of his policies."

"I don't have any questions today, but I'm voting no," he said.

The council also approved McDonnell's $450,000 yearly salary. It was lowered from the initial salary proposal of $507,509, which spurred criticism with the city facing financial straits.

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While McDonnell was before the City Council, several hundred activists gathered for a rally Friday morning in front of City Hall, calling for a new "sanctuary city" law that would bar city personnel and resources from being used in federal immigration enforcement.

Many clutched signs reading "Trump out of LAPD" and "McDonnell is anti-immigrant," while a band played cumbia and banda music from the back of a flatbed truck.

Read more: LAPD union leader faces complaints that his security company hires and underpays problem cops

"Sheriff McDonnell does not deserve and does not have the trust of the community he is sworn to protect, Pablo Alvarado of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network said in a statement.

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The council vote on McDonnell was preceded by a fiery public comment period, which featured about 85 speakers split between supporters and detractors.

One speaker said she feared for the safety of children in her Westside neighborhood and said she supported McDonnell, who she believed "will help restore peace, safety and calm to our city."

Like others who supported McDonnell, her comments were met by a smattering of both applause and jeers.

Andres Dae Keun Kwon, a senior policy counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union, said "thousands of families" were separated thanks to the Sheriff Department's cozy relationship with federal immigration authorities.

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Pastor Stephen Cue Jn-Marie, founder of Creating Justice LA, called McDonnell's appointment "a spit in our face," after he was voted out of office by L.A. County residents after one term as sheriff. "You want to pay this man $500,000 a year, and we're in a budget deficit?"

Some Latino establishment community and political figures expressed disappointment that Bass did not pick Robert "Bobby" Arcos, a former LAPD assistant chief who would have been the first Latino leader in the department's long history. In a list of finalists presented to Bass by the Police Commission, McDonnell was ranked third behind Arcos and Deputy Chief Emada Tingirides, who is Black.

Read more: Why Latino men voted for Trump: 'It's the economy, stupid'

At a news conference after his confirmation, McDonnell addressed questions about whether he'd cooperate with Trump's deportation efforts.

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"Any talk of mass roundups or the Police Department being involved in that thing  we don't do that kind of thing," McDonnell said. "We would alienate much of our population, much of our community, by doing anything like that. So it would make no sense for us to do that."

The new chief added, "We're here to keep everybody safe in all communities throughout our city, and the way we do that is by nurturing trust.

Times staff writer Dakota Smith contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Johnston County deputies are searching for a person who shot into a car with a woman and her children on Friday afternoon, news media outlets report.

The woman and her children, who have not been identified, were unharmed during the incident, according to the Johnston County Sheriffs Office. Her car was not hit by any bullets.

Deputies said a person in an SUV opened fire on Interstate 40 between Clayton Bypass and N.C. Highway 210 in Johnston County, according to ABC11, The News & Observers news gathering partner. They are calling the matter a road rage incident.

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A spokesperson for the sheriffs office said have no leads on the suspect but said the woman called police around 4 p.m. and that the SUV the suspect was driving may have been black.

The State Highway Patrol is assisting the Johnston County Sheriffs Office in the investigation, according to WRAL.

NC State student arrested for car shootings

The Johnston County incident happened after a weeklong string of shootings into cars driving on Interstate 40.

On Friday, a 23-year-old student was arrested by Raleigh Police after 12 cars and homes were shot during rush hour on Interstate 40 near the Chapel Hill Road exit.

Andrew Thomas Graney of Kentford Court was charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury and discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle.

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Police said eight cars and four homes were shot into between Monday and Thursday. Along with Graney, a second unidentified person was arrested and released without charges.

No one was injured during the shootings but cars and homes were struck.
By Suleiman Al-Khalidi, Joanna Plucinska and Jehad Shalbak

PETRA, Jordan/LONDON (Reuters) - Enas Al Hinti has cut staff pay in half and asked workers to take unpaid leave in an effort to keep her hotel in ancient Petra open as Western holidaymakers fearful of conflict shun destinations in the Middle East.

A crisis across the region's tourism industry since the start of the Israel-Hamas war 13 months ago is being felt acutely in Jordan, whose border with Israel along the Red Sea and Dead Sea is studded with beach resorts.

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Sites such as Petra, Wadi Rum and crusader castles have been drawing visitors for decades - more than one million a year before the war, mainly Americans and Europeans.

But Reuters reporters on a recent trip to the city carved from rose-coloured rock - Jordan's most-visited tourist attraction - found businesses boarded up by their owners.

"There are no revenues, it's all losses," Al Hinti, who runs the Nomads hotel, told Reuters.

Data and interviews with seven hotel and business owners and tour operators underline the damage to the tourist industry, which last year made up 12.5% of the economy.

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Flight ticket bookings to Jordan, which is not involved in the conflict, were down 35% year-on-year between Sept. 16 and Oct. 4, data from travel intelligence firm ForwardKeys shows.

The situation has worsened since Iran's drone strike attack on Israel in April and following tit-for-tat military strikes between Israel and Iran, said Seif Saudi, the managing director of Amman-based in Jordan Direct Tours.

"Things were starting to look up for October, but the second attack erased all those gains."

LONG-TERM DAMAGE

The tourist industry across the Middle East is struggling. Flight bookings to the region are down 6% year-on-year since the war erupted after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, ForwardKeys data shows.

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Bookings to Israel and Lebanon fell even more sharply than those to Jordan between Sept. 16 and Oct. 4, while Oman, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have seen smaller declines.

The recent regional escalation of the conflict, including intensified Israeli attacks on Lebanon's Hezbollah armed group, has dashed hopes for a recovery in the cooler autumn months, a key season for Middle East tourism.

International tour groups like Intrepid and Riviera Travel said they cancelled tours to Jordan and Egypt after Iran showered Israel with ballistic missiles on Oct. 1.

Hotel occupancy rates in Petra have fallen on average to as low as 10%, estimates Abdullah Hasanat, president of the Petra Hotels Association.

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"We are searching for a saviour. All the investments in Petra are in intensive care. When tourism stopped, bookings stopped," Hasanat, who owns a hotel himself, told Reuters.

Most international carriers have halted flights to Beirut and Tel Aviv, but some, such as Ryanair, have also paused flights to Jordan, in part due to its proximity to Israeli and Lebanese airspace.

Hotel owners said Ryanair's decision in particular meant far fewer Western tourists came to the country. Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary told Reuters in October it was a "sensible" move given the closure of airspace at the time.

Before the war, Christian tourists making pilgrimages to Israel often also tagged on a trip to Jordan.

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WHAT'S NEXT

Business owners say the damage will be long-term.

Future bookings have evaporated, forcing hotel managers like Al Hinti to dip into their financial reserves to continue paying salaries. She is keeping her hotel open, but with fewer floors available.

"We are facing next year with a drop of not less than 90-95% (in bookings)," said Nabih Riyal, CEO of Plaza Tours, which runs holidays with European and American operators.

Jordan's tourism sector has survived previous crises related to the prolonged conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, Tourism Minister Lina Annab told Reuters.

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"This calls for us to really focus on our most resilient markets, which are not as affected by the situation," Annab said, adding that visitors are still coming from neighbouring countries.

Some Western tourists are undeterred too.

"We knew that the trip would be cancelled if it was really risky," said Dorothy Lawson, a tourist from California, walking around Petra in late October. "They said we could come. So we came and we're really glad we did."

But businesses that rely on big crowds are struggling to survive.

"We used to have 4,000 visitors every day," said Marcus Massoud, a salesman in one of Petra's many souvenir shops.

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"Now we have 300 to 400. It's not like before."

(Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi and Jehad Shalbak in Amman and Joanna Plucinska in London; Writing by Joanna Plucinska; Editing by Josephine Mason and Catherine Evans)
Exploratory wells have damaged the water flow at Ha Kamwe in Wikieup, Arizona, seen here on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Ha Kamwe is a hot spring sacred to the Hualapai Tribe, which says an Australian companys proposed lithium mining project threatens. (Photo by Ash Ponders/Earthjustice)

A federal judge extended a temporary pause of exploratory drilling as part of a lithium mining project near the Hualapai Tribes sacred site after the court found that irreparable harm from drilling is likely.

Lithium exploration is an important public interest at a time when the United States is striving to transition to renewable sources of energy, Judge Diane Humetewa wrote in the decision. However, this interest does not outweigh the potential damage the Phase 3 drilling project may cause to HaKamwe, which is central to the Hualapai Tribe lifeway.

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Nor does it permit a federal agency to short-cut its regulatory consultation obligations or reasoned evaluation of the effects of its undertaking, she added. And this Court finds that irreparable harm from the Phase 3 drilling project is not just potential, it is likely.

The Big Sandy Valley Lithium Exploration Project allows a subsidiary of an Australian mining company to drill and test more than 100 sites across U.S. Bureau of Land Management land surrounding one of the Hualapai Tribes cultural properties, among them HaKamwe, a medicinal spring sacred to the tribe.

For years, the Hualapai Tribe tried to work with the BLM by actively voicing their concerns about a lithium exploration project near Wikieup, in northern Arizona, but the agency ultimately ruled that any disruptions to the tribe would be temporary, and thus werent grounds to block the project.

Were pleased with how everything turned out with this decision, said Ka-voka Jackson, the director of the Hualapai Department of Cultural Resources. It was definitely worth the wait.

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Jackson said the judges decision is reassuring, and it validates the tribes long-voiced concerns.

It feels like were being heard, and it also puts it into context that this is a very serious issue and the tribe is taking it very seriously, she said. We want to protect these sacred places and protect the water and other resources in the area, not only for us but for the future.

The court issued a preliminary injunction on Nov. 5, halting all drilling activity as the Hualapai Tribes lawsuit continues in court. The decision comes over a month after the tribe presented its argument for the extension in court.

This doesnt resolve the case, Laura Berglan, a senior Attorney for Earthjustice representing the tribe, told the Arizona Mirror.

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Berglan said they are pleased that the judge recognized that the drilling threatened the tribes resources after hearing from witnesses during the September hearing, and they will continue to work on the case as it moves forward.

Were glad the court rejected BLMs 19th-century mindset, that the company gets whatever they want at the expense of Indigenous communities, Berglan said in a press release. BLM should have considered alternatives with less impact on HaKamwe, like drilling fewer wells or moving them farther from the spring.

In August, the judge granted the Hualapai Tribes initial request for a temporary restraining order against BLM, temporarily freezing the exploratory drilling project.

The restraining order was granted after the Hualapai Tribe filed a lawsuit, following years of the tribe actively voicing its concerns about the mining effort.

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I feel a huge sense of relief today, but we know this is not the end of the story, Hualapai Tribal Chairman Duane Clarke said in a written statement. Our people have used HaKamwe for centuries for healing, prayer, and rites of passage.

We are absolutely determined to protect our sacred waters and our way of life from those who would destroy it to enrich themselves, he added.

Jackson said they also feel fortunate because this isnt something that all tribes experience, having courts rule in their favor with issues like this, protecting sacred sites.

We feel very lucky, and were gonna keep charging forward, she added.

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HaKamwe is located within the Hualapai Tribes property known as Cholla Canyon Ranch, and the boundaries of the Big Sandy Valley project nearly surround the entire property. Only one portion of the tribes land does not border the drilling project.

The spring is recognized as a traditional cultural property and is eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The tribes lawsuit claims the projects approval violates the National Environmental Protection Act and the National Historic Preservation Act.

The lawsuit asks for full compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which includes having the BLM take a hard look at the exploration activitys environmental impacts and consider the implications of its actions on historic properties.

The lawsuit claims that BLM approved the mining project without appropriately considering a reasonable range of alternatives or taking a hard look at water resources under the NEPA and moved forward with the project without providing mitigation measures under the NHPA for HaKamwe and other resources essential to the tribe, thus violating both acts.

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Out of concern for HaKamwe, the tribe submitted multiple public comments, sent several letters of concern, and participated in tribal consultations with BLM throughout the Big Sandy Valley Lithium Exploration Project planning phase.

Big Sandy, Inc., a subsidiary of Australian mining company Arizona Lithium, leads the project and has sought approval since 2019. Arizona Lithium is not a direct party in the Hualapai Tribes lawsuit, but it filed a motion to intervene. Humetewa granted the request in August, allowing the company to defend against the tribes efforts to stop the project.

BLMs approval of the Big Sandy Valley Project allows the mining company to drill and test up to 131 exploration holes across 21 acres of BLM-managed public land to determine whether a full-scale lithium mining operation could be viable.

Arizona Mirror is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Arizona Mirror maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jim Small for questions: info@azmirror.com. Follow Arizona Mirror on Facebook and X.
Judge Christopher Abbott asks questions of DPHHS Licensure Bureau Chief Tara Wooten during a preliminary injunction hearing on rules to regulate abortion clinics in Montana on Nov. 8, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

A district court judge in Helena heard arguments Friday over whether he should continue to block a bill passed by the Legislature in the 2023 session, and subsequent rules created by the Department of Health and Human Services, that would require abortion clinics be licensed in order to operate in Montana.

Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Christopher Abbott told lawyers with the state, the American Civil Liberties Union of Montana and Center for Reproductive Rights he would issue a decision likely by the end of next week determining whether the extra licensure requirements will remain blocked. Otherwise, the court order he issued in September 2023 will expire on Nov. 19.

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Should Abbott decide not to issue a preliminary injunction continuing to block the bill and the rules finalized earlier this year from taking effect, its possible that clinics like All Families Health Care and Blue Mountain Clinic  two Montana abortion providers that are plaintiffs in the case  could have to close even though they have sought waivers from the rules to continue operating, attorneys told Abbott during Fridays hearing.

We have no obligation to try to comply with the law we are arguing is unconstitutional. It is the states burden to demonstrate why that law is necessary, Hillary Schneller, a Center for Reproductive Rights attorney representing the plaintiffs, told the court.

Hillary Schneller, an attorney with the Center for Reproductive Rights, argues that rules for abortion clinics should be blocked during a hearing on Nov. 8, 2024, in Lewis and Clark County District Court. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

When Abbott issued a temporary restraining order enjoining the portion of 2023s House Bill 937 that said, a person may not operate or advertise the operation of an abortion clinic unless the person is licensed by the department, DPHHS had not yet begun the rulemaking process despite the law being slated to take effect just days later.

At the time, he said the bills language plainly and unambiguously prohibited abortion clinics from operating without a license, which was not previously required for the clinics, though their providers are licensed by the state.

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But he said last year the law could not go into effect until rules were made and that prior court precedents in Armstrong and Weems, two Montana Supreme Court cases that affirmed the right to abortion under the right to privacy in the state constitution, made it dubious whether the law was constitutional anyhow.

While there may or may not prove to be a compelling state interest in licensing abortion clinicsa question for another daythere is no compelling interest in imposing a mandatory licensure regime while issuing no license, Abbott wrote last September.

But he had declined to predict whether the bill would be found unconstitutional, allowing DPHHS to promulgate the rules in order to follow the Legislatures mandate.

The department completed the rules this summer, which the plaintiffs say include several additional requirements not placed on other types of licensed clinics, including clinics that assist with miscarriages. Those include requiring that the applicant is of reputable and responsible character, a requirement to keep staff background checks on file for random inspection, born alive language, additional testing requirements, construction requirements, and a $450 annual license fee, among others. Some of the language was taken from rules for outpatient surgical centers, a DPHHS employee testified, including a rule regarding anesthesia.

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The plaintiffs, which also include Helen Weems, an advanced practice registered nurse at All Families Health Care, argue that the additional licensure requirements infringe on Montanans right to abortion and right to privacy and violate the equal protection clause of the state constitution because they impose additional requirements not necessary for other medical clinics.

The plaintiffs asked the state for waivers for some of the rules on Oct. 1, but the department has not responded. Assistant Attorney General Thane Johnson, representing the state, told the court Friday the department had not responded since Fridays hearing was scheduled after the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint in October, and suggested it could be resolved there.

Tara Wooten, the bureau chief of the DPHHS Licensure Bureau, was the lone witness called by either party during Fridays hearing. Johnson and Alex Rate, an attorney with the ACLU of Montana, both asked her questions about the rules and rulemaking process.

She explained that the bureau had followed the lead of similar abortion clinic licensing requirements in Mississippi, where abortion is banned except to save the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest.

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That law has contributed to there being one abortion clinic in Mississippi, and now abortion is completely prohibited in Mississippi, Schneller later told the court. But Ill just note the department choosing to base this regulation on a state that singles out abortion  only further demonstrates that these regulations are signaling out abortion and treating it differently.

Schneller told Abbott that the Montana Supreme Court had on four occasions during the past year affirmed the right to abortion under Armstrong and Weems, and found any abortion restrictions were subject to the highest level of court scrutiny.

The state has made no effort to defend HB 937 or the rules under strict scrutiny, and it cant. The overwhelming medical consensus makes clear that abortion can and is being provided in offices spaces like plaintiffs clinics, and again, are subject to pre-existing regulation, she said, adding that the Kansas Supreme Court and U.S. Supreme Court had recently come to identical conclusions.

Further, she said the rules violated existing injunctions in Montana that allow nurse practitioners to perform abortions and uphold telehealth requirements in a large and rural state.

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Johnson, representing the state, conceded that the rules were a moving target and might need to change, but said that DPHHS was drafting rules simply to follow the Legislatures will when it passed HB 937, sponsored by Rep. Lola Sheldon-Galloway, R-Great Falls.

He said he understood there were several types of abortions performed at various clinics and that the two plaintiff clinics only perform certain types. He said that was what the waiver process was intended for, while the full rule was aiming to cover all types of abortions.

Abbott told Johnson that with just 11 days before the restraining order is set to expire, there is a chance the clinics would have to close if they are still bickering with the department over the waivers they had asked for. He said that process was problematic because there was a lack of specificity in the waiver language and it could lead to the clinics being shut down. And he said he believed the plaintiffs would likely face irreparable harm if they were forced to close.

Montana Assistant Attorney General Thane Johnson (left) is asked questions by Judge Christopher Abbott during a hearing on No. 8, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

Johnson conceded that DPHHS isnt an expert in abortion yet and suggested Abbott consider severing some portions of the rule when he makes his decision  upholding some parts of it while enjoining others. He suggested the two sides could perhaps come to some sort of agreement on the waivers without the judge enjoining the bill and rules entirely.

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Thats very optimistic, Abbott responded.

Abbott also brought up Constitutional Initiative 128, the measure that will enshrine abortion protections in Montanas constitution, which was passed this week by 58% of voters. It takes effect on July 1, 2025. Johnson said he believed that the measures passage wouldnt prohibit the state from regulating health and safety at abortion clinics. That would lead to absurd results, he told the court.

Schneller went back to the equal protection argument to close out the hearing, saying the rules would allow Blue Mountain Clinic to provide miscarriage care anytime in a pregnancy that involves the same type of care as abortions, but would not be subject to the same regulations as it would when performing abortions.

She pointed out that while the two sides were now arguing about waivers less than two weeks before the restraining order was set to expire, it took the department more than a year to write and finalize the rules, then DPHHS failed to respond to the waiver requests for more than a month.

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In this case, we have provided significant evidence of the irreparable harm that will accrue to our clients practices as well as their patients, she said. And finally, I would note that a preliminary injunction here would merely maintain the status quo of the regulation that plaintiffs have been under for decades in Montana.

Abbott committed to having an order out on the matter before the prior order expires on Nov. 19.

One way or another, Im going to get a decision out by then, he said. So, I think Ill probably have something for you late next week.
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (WCIA)  The Illinois ban on assault weapons has lost a major court battle.

A judge for the U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois Stephen McGlynn has ruled Friday afternoon the states ban on the sale of assault weapons is unconstitutional for gun owners.

Considering all of the evidence presented, the Court holds that the provisions of PICA criminalizing the knowing possession of specific semiautomatic rifles, shotguns, magazines and attachments are unconstitutional under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution as applied to the states by the Fourteenth Amendment, the ruling reads.

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Man convicted of murdering Sangamon Co. DCFS worker gets life in prison

Also overturned was State Polices registration database requiring many firearm owners to submit information on their weapons and enforcing any of the penalties.

McGlynn previously issued a temporary injunction while deciding the case, but that was overturned by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the temporary injunction.

As a part of the ruling, the injunction on the law will not start until after 30 days. This allows the state 30 days to file an appeal.

Governor J.B. Pritzker heavily lobbied for the law after the mass shooting at a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, a suburb of Chicago, in 2022. A spokesperson with the governors office told WCIA that Pritzker is working with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul to appeal the ruling and is confident the law will ultimately be proven constitutional.

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Rantoul PD looking for hit and run driver that struck high school student

The Protect Illinois Communities Act was the result of hundreds of hours of deliberation between legal experts, legislators, and advocates, and it makes Illinois a safer place for everyone, said Alex Gough, a spokesperson for Pritzker. Despite those who value weapons of war more than public safety, this law was enacted to and has protected Illinoisans from the constant fear of being gunned down in places where they ought to feel secure.

The law immediately stopped the sale of these assault weapons since early 2023. The Illinois State Rifle Association celebrated Friday, as they fought against the ban since its passage.

Todays ruling affirms our legislative position and shows our dedication to fighting on behalf of the millions of law-abiding Illinois firearms owners, said the Illinois State Rifle Association. The ISRA looks forward to restoration of 2nd Amendment rights to Illinois firearms owners just in time for the holidays and winter hunting seasons.

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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 WCIA.com.
NEW YORK (AP)  New York City can't use an unconstitutional, two-century-old anti-pauper law to block the state of Texas from offering migrants free bus rides to the city from the southern border, a state judge has ruled.

The court on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit brought by Mayor Eric Adams in January against charter bus companies contracted by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. It sought to bar them from knowingly dropping off needy persons, citing an 1817 state law that criminalized bringing an indigent person into the state for the purpose of making him a public charge.

Justice Mary Rosado said in a sternly worded decision that the law is unconstitutional for several reasons.

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For one, she wrote, states are not permitted to regulate the interstate transportation of people based on their economic status.

The statute also violates a fundamental right  the right to travel, she added.

Rosado said requiring bus operators to screen passengers based on the possibility that they may need public assistance when they get to their destination would infringe on that fundamental right, and punishing the bus companies for failing to keep poor people out of the city would be improper.

The judge concluded by saying that if city officials want to do something, they should turn to Congress rather than ask the court to enforce an antiquated, unconstitutional statute to infringe on an individual's right to enter New York based on economic status.

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Starting in 2022, the state of Texas began offering migrants free bus rides to cities with Democratic mayors. At least 46,000 were sent to New York, 19,000 to Denver, 37,000 to Chicago and over 17,000 to other cities, according to Abbott's office.

At the time, Adams, a Democrat, said the trips were illegal and amounted to political ploys from the state of Texas.

It would have been difficult for New York City to sue Texas due to a legal doctrine known as sovereign immunity, so it went after the private charter companies instead.

Despite the court loss, the Adams administration said the lawsuit has had its desired effect: Fewer charter buses brought immigrants to the city after it was filed, and none have been identified since June, according to a statement from his office. Adams has not given up on further action, either.

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We are reviewing our legal options to address the costs shifted to New York City as a result of the Texas busing scheme, mayoral spokesperson Liz Garcia said in a statement.

The New York Civil Liberties Union applauded the court's decision.

Mayor Adams is not above the law and cannot keep wrongly exploiting the plight of newly arrived immigrants to bolster his own political agenda, NYCLU senior staff lawyer Beth Haroules said. Everyone, regardless of their citizenship status or income, has the right to freely travel and reside anywhere within the United States.

Abbot said during one visit to New York City that Adams was right to be upset about the surge in migrants but should be blaming President Joe Biden.

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Adams ultimately did criticize the federal government, saying it had an obligation to help the city pay for housing and providing services to migrants.

New York has long provided shelter to more homeless people than any other U.S. city, in part because of a 1981 court ruling requiring it to shelter anyone who asks for it. City officials say they have provided shelter and other services to more than 200,000 immigrants in the past two years, only a fraction of whom arrived via Texas-sponsored buses.

As the new arrivals swelled, New York and other cities ended up following Abbott's lead, offering migrants free bus tickets to other places. New York paid over 4,800 fares for immigrants to travel to Texas, including some who had been bused from there, according to city officials.
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois  A federal judge on Friday overturned Illinois ban on semiautomatic weapons, leaning on recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings that strictly interpret the Second Amendment right to keep and bear firearms.

U.S. District Judge Stephen P. McGlynn issued the lengthy finding in a decree that he said applied universally, not just to the plaintiffs who brought the lawsuit challenging the ban.

The Protect Illinois Communities Act, signed into law in January 2023 by Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, took effect Jan. 1. It bans AR-15 rifles and similar guns, large-capacity magazines and a wide assortment of attachments largely in response to the 2022 Independence Day shooting at a parade in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park.

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McGlynns order doesnt take effect for 30 days.

Sadly, there are those who seek to usher in a sort of post-Constitution era where the citizens individual rights are only as important as they are convenient to a ruling class, McGlynn, who was appointed by President Donald Trump during his first term, wrote in his opinion. The oft-quoted phrase that no right is absolute does not mean that fundamental rights precariously subsist subject to the whims, caprice, or appetite of government officials or judges.

Pritzker and Democratic Attorney General Kwame Raoul pledged to swiftly appeal the ruling.

Despite those who value weapons of war more than public safety, this law was enacted to and has protected Illinoisans from the constant fear of being gunned down in places where they ought to feel secure, Pritzker spokesman Alex Gough said.

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The Illinois State Rifle Association, in a post on its website, said, Our legislative team tried to warn lawmakers about the unconstitutionality of Pritzkers scheme.

Todays ruling affirms our legislative position and shows our dedication to fighting on behalf of the millions of law-abiding Illinois firearms owners, the association said.
Nov. 9 (UPI) -- Jurors in the high-profile Indiana double-murder of trial of Richard Allen on Saturday concluded their second full day of deliberations without reaching a verdict.

The 12-person jury deliberated from 9 a.m. EST until just before 3 p.m. before leaving the Carroll County Courthouse in Delphi, Ind., without a verdict and are scheduled to resume deliberations at 9 a.m. Monday, the Indianapolis Star reported.

The jury got the case at 1:25 p.m. Thursday. They are attempting to reach a decision on two counts of murder and two counts of murder while kidnapping against the 52-year-old Allen, who is accused of abducting and brutally slaying Abigail "Abby" Williams, 13, and Liberty "Libby" German, 14, on Feb. 13, 2017.

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The panel of five men and seven women began their deliberations following a 17-day trial in which prosecutors painted Allen as the killer of the two girls, whose bodies were found downhill from a hiking trail a day after they went missing near the Monon High Bridge in Delphi, a town of 3,000 people located 67 miles northwest of Indianapolis.

Allen was formally charged taken into custody by Indiana State Police at the end of 2022, nearly five years after the slayings. He has pleaded not guilty.

During the trial, defense lawyers portrayed Allen as an innocent man wrongly accused of the heinous crimes despite repeatedly confessing to the killings, including one instance in which he told his wife over the telephone, "I did it. I killed Abby and Libby."

Allen's attorneys cast doubt on the confessions, arguing they were not sincere and merely the product of mental illness and psychological trauma he suffered while incarcerated in solitary confinement, according to a neuropsychologist who testified as a defense witness.

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In his closing arguments, defense attorney Bradley Rozzi noted there is no forensic evidence or explicit witness testimony linking Allen to a hiking trail or the bridge on the day the girls went missing, and argued that in the five years between the time the girls were slain and his arrest, Allen had ample opportunity to flee, but did not.

Prosecutors, however, countered by arguing that an Indiana State Trooper who had monitored more than 700 of Allen's prison phone conversations identified his voice on a video found on Libby German's phone, in which a man says, "Guys... down the hill."

They claimed Allen forced the teens off the hiking trail with plans to rape them but altered his intended actions when a van passed by. Instead, they said, he cut their throats.

Prosecution witness Railly Voorhies, who was 16 in 2017, testified she was on the trail on that day with three other people and that they passed a man she identified as Allen from a grainy still image of the so-called "bridge guy" -- a man recorded in Libby's 43-second video who was walking behind them on the trail.

The photo of the "bridge guy" was released by police shortly after the slayings and has long symbolized the hunt for the killer in the high-profile case.
The Maryland food delivery man charged with shooting and killing Meghan Riley Lewis outside her apartment days after Christmas in 2023 was convicted on lesser charges but acquitted of her murder on Wednesday.

Brian Delen, 48, fatally shot Lewis in a parking lot outside her apartment on December 27, 2023. He was convicted of second-degree assault and use of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime but was acquitted of first and second-degree murder by jurors following a seven-day trial in Harford County Circuit Court.

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Delen reportedly told police he was delivering food to another resident in the apartment complex when he got into a dispute with Lewis after he allegedly misgendered her, according to charging documents seen by local CBS affiliate WJZ-TV in January.

Are you waiting for a food delivery, sir? Delen reportedly asked Lewis.

The two exchanged heated words before Delen returned to his car and drove away but then stopped and shot Lewis while still in the apartment complexs parking lot, according to the charging documents.

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Delen called 911, administered first aid, and remained at the scene until police arrived. He admitted shooting Lewis but claimed it was in self-defense. Police transported Lewis to a local hospital where she later died.

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At trial, prosecutors presented evidence they said showed there was no argument between Delen and Lewis before the shooting.

He just leaned out of his car and shot her, prosecutors described the testimony of one witness, local Fox affiliate WBAL reports.

Harford County State Attorney Alison Healey expressed disappointment in the verdict but respected the jury for its efforts.

Obviously, this is not the outcome for which we were hoping, Healey said. We stand by our arguments to the jury that the incident that took the life of Meghan Riley Lewis was undoubtedly a first-degree murder. While we are disappointed and saddened by the outcome, we respect the jury's decision in this case and their role in the judicial process.

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Healey promised prosecutors will seek the maximum sentence allowed by law, which is 30 years, five of which will be required to be without the possibility of parole.

Little was known about Delen prior to trial, but his social media included numerous posts about firearms, including one where he speaks of his Glock as an emotional support mechanism.

Lewiss friends remembered her was a very open, loving, and sparkly individual, telling WJZ she had helped found a patient support group for trans people who came to the city in search of affirming health care.

She opened her doors, her heart, everything for LGBT individuals and was one of the strongest advocates in supporting them, one friend told the station.
Twelve Native American lawmakers  five of whom were elected for the first time on Tuesday  will serve in Montanas state Legislature this term.

The group of Indigenous state lawmakers, formally called Montanas American Indian Caucus, work together to advocate for Indian Country during the legislative session, when legislators convene in Helena for about four months to pass new laws.

While tribes are sovereign nations, state legislation  which can affect wildlife and natural resource management, law enforcement jurisdiction and access to health care, among other things  has tremendous influence in Indian Country.

Meet Montanas new Native American state lawmakers

Montana voters elected five new Indigenous lawmakers, four of whom are women.

Shelly Fyant, former council member and chair of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, will represent House District 91, which overlaps with the Flathead Reservation. Fyant grew up on a farm in Arlee and currently serves as the food sovereignty chair for the Arlee Community Development Corporation.

She earned a liberal arts degree from Haskell Indian Junior College (now Haskell Indian Nations University) and a bachelors in business administration at the University of Montana. As a tribal leader, Fyant oversaw the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes' Water Compact, coordinated COVID-19 response teams and advocated for the return of bison to tribal land.

At the Legislature, she said she plans to advocate for the basics  food, water, shelter. She hopes to improve access to healthy foods and nutritional information, advocate for affordable housing policy and keep the environment free of pollutants.

Fyant, whose Indian name is Eagle Woman, said she is good at looking at big-picture problems.

Working is my superpower, she said.

Thedis Crowe, Blackfeet, was elected to represent House District 15 in northern Montana. A graduate of Browning High School and Blackfeet Community College, Crowe earned her bachelors and masters degrees in planned resource science and Native American policy at Montana State University. She worked in conservation and natural resource management for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 19 years and worked within the Bureau of Indian Affairs for more than a decade. Her campaign focused on five key topics  housing, taxation, agriculture (including climate, environment and drought), education and access to quality health care.

Crowe lives in Heart Butte on the southern end of the Blackfeet Reservation, and for her, the issue of accessing quality health care is personal. When she had a medical emergency last summer, it took 40 minutes for an ambulance to arrive at her house and then be transported to the hospital. She said improving health care access is vital to strengthening rural communities.

Ive never really been intimidated by things, so I dont have any problem stepping into an arena thats new, she said of the Legislature.

Jacinda Morigeau, who is Bitterroot Salish, will serve in the state Senate, representing Senate District 46 that overlaps the Flathead Reservation. Morigeau, whose cousin Shane Morigeau also serves in the Montana state Senate, grew up in Arlee and said her values have been largely shaped by her family. Her late father was a volunteer firefighter and EMT for more than 20 years, her mother is a nurse and her yaya (Salish for mother's mother) Frances Vanderberg is a well-respected cultural leader.

A first-generation college student, Morigeau earned a bachelors degree in psychology from the University of Montana. She works as the communications manager for United Way, an organization that promotes education, health and financial stability, and shes on the board of the All Nations Health Center and Montana Women Vote.

In her campaign, Morigeau vowed to strengthen reproductive rights, improve access to affordable housing and stand up for the rights of historically disadvantaged communities. She said she wants to keep an open line of communication with her community and looks forward to serving with the other newly elected Indigenous women.

In my campaign, my best friend made a friendship bracelet for me that said, Helena needs more rez girls, she said. And Ive been keeping that close to my heart.

Jade Sooktis will serve in the state House, representing House District 41 that overlaps with the Northern Cheyenne Reservation.

Sooktis was the first person in her family to earn a college degree, graduating from Chief Dull Knife College on the reservation. She said shes always been active in community outreach, assisting in food distribution efforts during the pandemic and coordinating get-out-the-vote initiatives during past elections.

In Helena, she plans to advocate for more resources  especially enhanced infrastructure  in her community.

Its necessary for us to be at those tables (where decisions are made), she said.

Sidney Chip Fitzpatrick will serve in the state House for House District 42, which overlaps with the Crow Reservation.

Fitzpatrick is the Apsaalooke elders support advocate for Messengers for Health, an organization that works to improve health outcomes in the community. He previously worked for the local sheriffs department and served as a Big Horn County commissioner. He also served on the Crow Tribal Legislature.

When his wife was diagnosed with cancer more than two decades ago, Fitzpatrick became her caregiver. At Messengers for Health, he encourages elders, particularly men, to access preventive health care services.

Fitzpatrick takes pride in serving his community.

Im a rez man, he told Lee Montana last year.

Caucus loses a giant in Sharon Stewart Peregoy

Incumbent Reps. Donavon Hawk, D-Butte; Tyson Running Wolf, D-Browning; Frank Smith, D-Poplar; Mike Fox, D-Hays; and Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, each won their districts.

The newly elected members and incumbents will join Sens. Shane Morigeau, D-Missoula, and Susan Webber, D-Browning at the Legislature this session. Republican Rep. Rhonda Knudsen, who is Turtle Mountain Chippewa, lost her primary election. Sen. Jason Small, the only other Republican member and former chair of the American Indian Caucus, and Rep. Marvin Weatherwax, who represented Browning, did not seek reelection.

Rep. Sharon Stewart Peregoy, who had represented Crow Agency in the Legislature for 16 years, lost her state Senate race to Republican Gayle George Lammers. Last session, Stewart Peregoy advocated for the Indian Child Welfare Act protections and spoke out against racism and discrimination.

Lance Fourstar, who directed the 2023 American Indian Caucus, said every member expressed their sorrow that she lost that race, how important she is and how much theyll miss her.

She was one of the most outspoken members in the Indian Caucus, he said. Not only for us but for other groups, too.

What does Montanas American Indian Caucus do?

Last year, the American Indian Caucus introduced and passed laws that protected the Indian Child Welfare Act, strengthened Indian Education for All, elevated tribal governments roles in language revitalization efforts and combated the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People epidemic.

The caucus made national headlines when it was among the first groups to formally support Rep. Zooey Zephyr, a transgender lawmaker from Missoula who was censured. When the 2023 Legislative session concluded, caucus members also spoke out about the racism they experienced at the Capitol.

This legislative session, caucus members anticipate advocating for Medicaid expansion and extending protections for the Indian Child Welfare Act. Members plan to propose new legislation to combat the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis and address cross-jurisdictional law enforcement issues.

Stewart Peregoy said it's imperative that the new caucus stands their ground so that no more injury occurs to our people.

My word of advice is theyre going to have to come together and not be afraid to speak up, she said. Thats all we can do.
A jury on Saturday wrapped up a third day of deliberations in the highly publicized double murder trial of Richard Allen, who is accused of killing two teenage girls and leaving their bodies near a hiking path in the small town of Delphi, Indiana, more than seven years ago.

Deliberations will resume on Monday, CNN affiliate WTHR reported.

Allen has pleaded not guilty to two murder and two felony murder charges in connection with the 2017 deaths of Liberty Libby German, 14, and Abigail Abby Williams, 13. Allen could be sentenced to up to 130 years in prison if convicted of all the charges, the Associated Press reported.

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The 12-person jury, which began deliberations Thursday, deliberated for more than five hours Saturday at the Carroll County Courthouse before departing for the day, WTHR reported. Jurors will deliberate from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday until they reach a verdict, according to WTHR. Last month, 16 Allen County residents were selected to serve on the jury, including four people serving as alternates, WTHR said.

Allen County Superior Court Judge Frances Gull gave the jurors their final instructions Thursday morning and urged them to consider the facts before Carroll County Prosecutor Nick McLeland delivered closing arguments, walking the jury through the evidence and testimony presented during the trial, WTHR reported.

I believe the evidence is firmly convincing that Richard Allen is Bridge Guy and he killed Abby and Libby, McLeland told the jury.

McLeland showed jurors graphic photos of the girls bodies, a video of the suspect taken from Libbys smartphone that he said captured the final moments of the girls lives, and a recording of Allen purportedly confessing to his wife during a phone call.

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I did it, Allen could be heard telling his wife. I killed Abby and Libby.

Defense attorney Brad Rozzi in closing arguments said a broken timeline, false confessions and a lack of DNA or weapons evidence should lead to acquittal.

The defense trusts what youve heard over the past several weeks is more important than what youre hearing today, Rozzi told the jury Thursday.

The defense further argued no physical evidence ties Allen to the killings and said confessions he made in the past were involuntary and stemmed from being in solitary confinement for months.

Liberty German (left) and Abigail Williams - Family Photos/WXIN

The Delphi murder case goes back to February 13, 2017, when Abby and Libby went for a hike on the Monon High Bridge in Delphi. The two girls were reported missing after they failed to meet Libbys father that afternoon. The next day, their bodies were found, both dead from cuts to the throat, partially covered by sticks.

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The case attracted public attention in part because of a photo and audio recording of a suspect taken from Libbys smartphone. The image shows a man walking on the bridge with his hands in his pockets, and the audio includes a mans muffled voice saying, Guys, down the hill. Although police circulated the photo and audio just days after the killings and identified the Bridge Guy as their prime suspect, the case ran cold for more than five years until Allen was arrested in 2022.

Allen had seemingly evaded police notice, staying in the small town of Delphi and working at a local CVS pharmacy, until a clerk digitizing tips related to the investigation in September 2022 noticed he had placed himself at the scene of the crime. Just days after the bodies were discovered, Allen told police he had been on that trail during the timeframe the girls were thought to have been killed.

Carroll County Sheriff Tony Liggett said despite the tip, Allen got lost in the cracks, according to CNN affiliate WLFI. Around a month after the tip was rediscovered, Allen was arrested after police matched an unspent cartridge found between the girls bodies to a pistol recovered from his home during a police search.

After Allen was arrested on October 26, 2022, he was charged with two counts of murder while committing or attempting to commit a kidnapping five days later. Prosecutors later amended the charges to include two additional counts of murder.

Allens mental state and confessions were highlighted

Over the course of the trial, which began October 18, the prosecution highlighted Allens dozens of confessions while incarcerated: He confessed to the crime more than 60 times, prosecutors say, including to his wife, his mother, the psychologist who treated him, the warden and other prison employees and inmates. They played audio recordings of some of the confessions for the jury.

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Monica Wala, the former lead psychologist at Westville Correctional Facility where Allen was housed, testified he initially told her he was innocent, but began confessing to the crimes in April 2023, around the time he was placed back on suicide watch.

Wala testified that Allen had told her, I killed Abby and Libby. Im sorry, according to CNN affiliate WTHR. He said he originally planned to sexually assault the victims but ran away when he saw a van nearby, and that he had cut the girls throats and covered their bodies with sticks, she testified.

The defense has sought to paint a portrait of Allen as a mentally ill man whose fragile mental state was exacerbated by months spent in solitary confinement  including during the time period when he confessed to the crimes. He was twice put on suicide watch while in prison, exhibited bizarre behavior such as eating his own feces and banging his head, and was at one time diagnosed with a brief psychotic disorder, according to testimony from Wala.

Testifying for the defense, Deanna Dwenger, a clinical psychologist who worked for the Indiana Department of Corrections Behavioral Health, testified Allen was diagnosed with a serious mental illness in April 2023 and that a team of mental health professionals concluded he had a grave disability, according to CNN affiliate WRTV.

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The defense originally hoped to introduce an Odinism defense: a theory that followers of Odinism, a Norse pagan religion recently adopted by White supremacists, committed the killings. But Judge Gull repeatedly rejected motions to introduce this theory.

Officers escort Richard Allen out of the Carroll County courthouse following a hearing, November 22, 2022, in Delphi, Indiana. - Darron Cummings/AP

Audio recording and bullet evidence became key focuses

Despite Allens confessions, very little physical evidence ties him to the case: A DNA expert testifying for the state found none of Allens DNA at the crime scene, and none of Libby or Abbys DNA was found on items recovered from his home.

Prosecutors drew attention to the .40-caliber unspent round found by the girls bodies, which a prosecution expert testified matched Allens pistol. The defense cast doubt on the bullet evidence, questioning why more images were not taken of the cartridge and suggesting the bullet could have come from a law enforcement officers weapon, according to WRTV.

The prosecution has also tried to match Allen with the video and audio recording of the Bridge Guy captured on Libbys cellphone. Indiana State Police Master Trooper Brian Harshman, who said he listened to more than 700 of Allens prison phone calls, testified for the prosecution that in his opinion, the voice of the Bridge Guy is the voice of Richard Allen, according to WRTV.

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Richard Allen is Bridge Guy, McLeland told jurors. He kidnapped them and later murdered them.

In response, Rozzi said that Allen wasnt clearly identified by witnesses as the man on the hiking trail or the bridge when the teenagers went missing. He also pointed out that Allen still lived in Delphi for more than five years after the girls were killed.

He had every chance to run, but he did not because he didnt do it, Rozzi told jurors.

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I cant help but wonder if the American people have given up on democracy, Jonathan Capehart said during the PBS election coverage right before President-elect Donald Trumps victory speech.

During the same broadcast, New York Times columnist David Brooks spoke more reassuringly about the moderating elements of democratic institutions and the American people themselves  arguing, for instance, that the revulsion many would feel at witnessing hardworking, established migrant families being torn from local communities would temper impulses towards mass deportation.

Others remain far less assured. Were in for a long, exceptionally dangerous, endlessly trying four years with democracys warning lights flashing red more or less continually, wrote Persuasion contributor Quico Toro in an article entitled, The Unthinkable Plunge.

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Conservative author Marc Thiessen pushed back on post-election fears in The Washington Post, writing, Democrats say Trumps election is a blow to democracy. In fact, the opposite is true.

He went on to catalog the opposition Trump faced in the Republican primary (including two sitting Republican governors, three former Republican governors, a former congressman, a sitting U.S. senator and even his own former vice president), before still winning the nomination in a landslide. His defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris was also significant, he added, even after all the threats and warnings she and others kept raising.

Thats not a threat to democracy. That is democracy.

Former President George W. Bush seemed to agree, saying in his statement congratulating Trump that strong turnout was a sign of the health of our republic and the strength of our democratic institutions.

Defining democracy dangers differently

Its clear that voters on the right and left are defining what constitutes a danger to democracy very differently. Whereas the political right once emphasized activist judges and excessive executive orders as among their greater concerns with democracy, conservatives have now become far more attuned to threats from elite power structures crowding out or dismissing their own views and values. That includes federal bureaucratic agencies, but goes well beyond that to universities, legacy media, big business and tech companies.

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The list of concerns about democracy on the political left is long, especially after the election. They include a conservative-leaning U.S. Supreme Court, reprisals from the new executive branch, voting rights, and the weakening of constitutional protections for minority groups. Together, these begin to resemble the same kind of fear that their views and values will be crowded out of current power structures.

Some truth on both sides?

While democracy concerns among progressives are sky-high following this U.S. election, Trump-supporting conservatives are enthusiastic about the recent electoral process, with concerns about the fairness and integrity of the vote more or less evaporating (demonstrating a long-standing winner effect experts have identified after elections).

So, which side is right? Maybe both to some degree. While acknowledging indicators of democratic backsliding across the world, Veith Selk, a political scientist at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, cautioned against overstating the concerns: These developments are not harbingers of a global domino effect that will override electoral procedures and break down constitutional barriers. In fact, by many measures, the health of elections is quite robust around the world.

Selk went on to highlight 2024 data confirming that the number of global elections where power changed hands has remained more or less stable over recent decades. Like so many things, the full truth seems to be more nuanced than an overly rosy or doom-and-gloom take on democracy would allow.

The bottom line: Listening to voters

Whether surprised or disappointed by the results of an election, Brooks warned against lazily blaming the voters  an easy instinct when your team lost.

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Following the will of the people is obviously the essence of democracy. The democratic creed consists of the belief that ordinary citizens can influence political life, Selk continued. It holds that even though the big players call the shots, regular people also have their share of influence.

The voters are not always wise, but they are usually sensible, Brooks said. They know their own lives. They make sensible calls.

Rather than finding some reason to condemn or write off voters judgment, this columnist encouraged a more humble posture, which asks, what are they trying to tell us here?

Usually theres a valuable lesson in there.

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One such lesson is now being widely acknowledged: the fact that for most voters, concerns about the economy and immigration trumped fears about abortion access or even democracy itself.

Yet, of course, fears about democracy remain very much alive among many who are mourning the loss.

Preserving our founding ideals

Its more than an election that some people are mourning. I fear were forgetting that about the founding ideals of our country, the national director of The Village Square, Liz Joyner told Deseret News. These are special ideas that are so beautiful, but rather than staying close to them, she worries we keep drifting away.

Thats what scares me more than anything.

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The health of a governing system built on these ideals depends on other constituent parts, according to experts leading national initiatives to preserve democracy. Those include a healthy civic ecosystem, an educational and media ecosystem still aspiring for truth, and sufficient unity as a people around the continuing value of democratic institutions and ideals.

In a message encouraging Americans to accept the results of the election, Liz Cheney, a leading critic of Trump in recent years, called citizens the ultimate guardrails of democracy in their various roles, including in the courts, members of the press and those serving in our federal, state and local governments.

Representing those who remain concerned with the possibility of future democratic backsliding in the U.S., she concluded, We now have a special responsibility, as citizens of the greatest nation on earth, to do everything we can to support and defend our Constitution, preserve the rule of law, and ensure that our institutions hold over these coming four years.
Kamala Harris raised over $1 billionmuch of which was spent on advertisingbut internal polling showed that she still struggled to convince swing-state voters that Donald Trump had been a bad president.

Harris, based on filings, disclosed spending $880 million on the election by mid-October, more than double the $354 million disclosed by Trump, according to The Washington Examiner .

And from July 22 to Election Day, Harris and her associated committees outspent Trump and his backers on advertising by a margin of $654 million to $378 million.

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It also dwarfed Trumps campaign when it came to payroll expenditures and the associated taxes. Harris reportedly spent $56.6 million on staffing, while Trump spent just $9 million on a much smaller team.

The filings also show that Harris spent $12.8 million on a team of political, digital, and media consultants.

One of the firms that scored a sizable payday, at $3.9 million, was Village Marketing Agency, which reportedly worked to garner support for Harris from thousands of social media influencers in an effort to appeal to young voters.

Former Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, now an MSNBC analyst, became teary-eyed on Wednesday, after Harris concession, as she lamented the fact that the vice president was listening too much to consultants and struggled to exude who she was.

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Another spending area likely to raise eyebrows is the $15 million the Harris campaign spent on event production, which went in part toward star-powered musical performances at rallies during the lead-up to the election, featuring the likes of Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Christina Aguilera, and Ricky Martin.

Harris paid $1 million to Harpo, a production company owned by Oprah Winfrey, who emerged as one of the vice presidents top celebrity allies, appearing at a town hall in September and the campaigns final pre-election rally, in Philadelphia.

An unnamed source also told the Examiner that Harris team spent over six figures to build the set for her appearance on the popular yet raunchy women-oriented podcast Call Her Daddy, which aired in October.

One Democrat political strategist told the Examiner that Trumps greater existing visibility meant that he didnt need to spend as much as Harris.

Harris disclosed campaign spending by mid-October more than doubled Trumps.

There was a segment of the electorate that was very consistently saying, Im not familiar with Kamala Harris, and, because of that, Im not comfortable enough to decide to vote for her, whereas Trump is incredibly well-defined, said Jake Dilemani. It was easier for him to spend less and still win.

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Even within the Harris campaign, there were concerns during the run-up to the election about her ability to win the battle over voter perception.

A Harris campaign operative told The New Republic that internal polling across battleground states suggested that undecided voters, even those who had a negative opinion of major events from Trumps presidency, didnt think the Republican was at fault.

Specifically, these voters didnt hold Trump accountable for economic woes of 2020 or the Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wadeeven as Trump has frequently taken credit for the latter.

Instead, these voters associated Trump with the strong pre-COVID economy, and gave him a pass for what happened during the pandemic.

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There was frustration inside the campaign that voters turned the massive job losses into a non-issue, another Democratic operative familiar with the data told The New Republic.

The Daily Beast Podcast episodes are released every Thursday. Like and download on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app. And click here for email updates as each new episode drops.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The Federal Bureau of Investigation is looking into racist text messages Black Americans across the U.S. are getting, telling them theyve been assigned to pick cotton.

You have been selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation. Be ready at 12 AM NOVEMBER 13 SHARP with your belongings. Our Executive Slaves will come get you in a Brown Van, be prepared to be searched down once youve entered the plantation. You are in Plantation Group B, Carolyn Mitchells text message said.

Mitchells text came through at 10:10 pm Wednesday, November 7. She replied, but never got a response.

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KCPD arrest suspect following vandalism at Vietnamese business in Columbus Park

Mitchell says her first thought was that it had something to do with the election. It came out the same day Americans found out former President Donald Trump won decisively over Vice President Kamala Harris.

Other texts Black Americans have gotten say theyll be picked up in a white van with a Trump Representative from your area.

How do you know that were black? You know, how do you even know our number? Where do you get this from? How do you know who we voted for? Like he said, it probably has nothing to do with the election, Mitchell said.

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These text messages have absolutely nothing to do with the Trump Campaign, Trump-Vance Transition Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to FOX4 Friday.

While Mitchell knew not to take the text seriously, her 28-year-old did not.

I have a handicapped son you know, and it was kind of a little bit disheartening because he goes, Well mom, you know, if you go to the plantation, where do I go?' Mitchell said.

I said, You know what son? Mamas not going to nobodys plantation, and Mamas not picking anybodys cotton. Im not going to be anybodys slave. You dont have to worry about when you wake up if your moms going to be here.'

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Friday on X, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said her cyber team discovered some of the messages can be traced back to a VPN in Poland.

Its official: Buc-ees is coming to the Kansas City metro

At this time, they have found no original source, meaning they could have originated from any bad actor state in the region or the world. We will continue to investigate.

I did not report this text message, Mitchell said when asked whether she reported this text message.

You know, I have so many better things to be doing with my time than to be running to a police station because people are ignorant out here.

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Kansas City Police Department Public Information Officer Alayna Gonzalez told FOX4 theyve not been made aware of anything like this. Missouri State Conference President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Nimrod Chapel Jr. said students at Missouri State University in Springfield have received the texts.

State Representative David Tyson Smith says students at the University of Missouri have received the texts. Theyve been reported in Kansas too.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Kansas City, Kansas, police are investigating a shooting that left a man dead Friday evening.

Police were called around 5 p.m. to the area of Sixth Street and Splitlog Avenue on reports of a shooting. There, they found a man with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A suspect was taken into custody, though police continue to investigate. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-8477. Tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced a Kansas City man was sentenced to prison today, November 8 in relation to a 2019 incident involving a child wandering naked around Brush Creek.

Two dead after officer-involved shooting in Independence

Court records show that Gerald Smith was convicted of first-degree sodomy, first-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child. He received 20 years on the sodomy conviction and 15 years on the assault conviction. The sentences will run concurrently.

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Records reveal that on September 13, 2019, officers were dispatched to the area of Blue Parkway and Lawn on reports of a juvenile found wandering naked. The caller reported the child was seen in the middle of the road.

Officers found the child, and she was transported to a hospital for treatment. KCPD says they used video, cell phone records and other data to locate Smith.

In April 2020, detectives found that Smiths DNA was found on the child.

Prosecutors are protecting the identity of the child victim.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys Harrison Blue and Nicole Erickson prosecuted this case on behalf of the state of Missouri.

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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 FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Kansas City police are investigating a Friday night shooting that killed one person.

Police were called to a shooting at 75th Street and Paseo just before 6 p.m. where they found an unresponsive man in a vehicle stopped in the southbound lanes of Paseo, according to Jacob Becchina, spokesperson with the police department. The man had been shot.

The victim was taken to the hospital where he was declared dead.

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Detectives were at the scene investigating, processing evidence and canvassing potential witnesses. Their preliminary investigation indicates the victim was shot in his vehicle by an unknown suspect from outside the car.

Anyone with information is asked to contact homicide detectives at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted through the TIPS hotline.

This marks the 131st homicide this year, compared to 162 this time last year, according to data tracked by The Star.
Arizona Senate candidates Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Republican Kari Lake answer questions during the Arizona Clean Election Commission debate at BitFire Studios on Oct. 9, 2024 in Phoenix. Photo by Cheryl Evans | The Arizona Republic/Pool

Republican Kari Lake on Friday continued to slowly chip away at the number of votes separating her and her Democratic opponent Ruben Gallego as more results were released in the race for one of Arizonas U.S. Senate seats.

As of 8 p.m. on Friday, after Maricopa County reported the votes from around 123,220 new ballots, Lake was trailing Gallego by only 1.1 percentage points and 32,779 votes.

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The day following the election, Gallego led Lake by 2.5 percentage points and 52,578 votes. That lead shrunk to 43,698 votes Thursday, before decreasing again Friday.

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Lake, a former Phoenix television news anchor, benefited from votes tallied in some of the states most deeply red counties like Yavapai, where she garnered an overwhelming nearly 76% of new votes to Gallegos 22%. U.S. Congressman and Marine veteran Gallego had the advantage in new votes from Coconino County, garnering 57% to Lakes 39%.

Around 60% of the Grand Canyon States voters live in Maricopa County, where Lake led Gallego in new votes tallied on Friday by 2 percentage points. The county has come under fire for its slow counting, both from Arizonans and those across the country who are keeping an eye on the outcome of the race.

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Maricopa County has taken an average of 13 days to completely count its ballots over the past 16 years, but counting has gone even slower this year, in part because of a lengthy two-page ballot that takes more time to process and tabulate.

As of Friday evening, around 81% of the states ballots had been tallied, with about 351,000 left to count in Maricopa County and almost 629,000 across the state. At that time, 2.8 million ballots had been tallied, out of the states almost 4.4 million registered voters, according to the Secretary of States Office.

Lake and her campaign continued an aggressive effort Friday to recruit people to urge voters to cure any issues with their ballots, such as a missing signature on an early ballot envelope, so that their votes count.

The devotee of President-elect Donald Trump and her supporters remained optimistic about her chances of overtaking Gallego as more results come in.

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Guys, I am running through the voters left to count in Arizona and between that and the voters that we know we ballot chased, Kari Lake is in an incredible spot, Tyler Bowyer, chief operating officer of Turning Point USA, said in a post on the social media site X. This thing is going to be close and every ballot matters, but I feel really good about what we know we have left.

Turning Point USA is a rightwing student activist group based in Phoenix that has been a major player in Republican get out the vote efforts this election cycle.

We have hundreds of full-time staff and hundreds more volunteers curing every last ballot in Arizona for Kari Lake, Turning Point CEO Charlie Kirk posted on X Friday. We are relentless.

Lake and Gallego, who has represented Arizonas 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House since 2015, ran acrimonious campaigns, taking turns trading personal barbs and accusations of extremism.

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Gallego ran on a platform of making life more affordable for the middle and working class, reestablishing abortion rights and making measured increases in border security that would include increased manpower and better use of technology.

Lake copied Trumps style in her campaign, calling for completed construction of his border wall, mass deportation of undocumented immigrants and an extension of his tax cuts.

Trump endorsed Lake both in her unsuccessful run for Arizona governor in 2022 as well as in this years bid for senator.

In the middle of her Senate campaign, Lake continued to unsuccessfully challenge the results of the gubernatorial race in court, and two years later she still has not conceded the race. The Arizona Supreme Court on Wednesday denied her final appeal in the case.

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Lake is also facing the prospect of paying yet-to-be determined damages to Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, after she legally conceded fault in his defamation suit regarding Lakes false claims that Richer helped rig the 2022 governors race against her.

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A former Johnson County teacher accused of abusing two middle school students was sentenced on Friday after he pleaded guilty in August to two counts of attempted unlawful sexual relations.

Judge Neil. B Foth sentenced Keil E. Hileman to serve two years in prison, according to a Johnson County District Attorneys Office news release. Hileman is required to register as a sex offender for 25 years.

Hileman, of De Soto, was first charged in October 2022 with six counts of unlawful sexual relations. Prosecutors dropped four of the six charges before Hileman pleaded guilty to the two amended charges in August.

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Prosecutors alleged in charging documents that Hileman assaulted two victims while they were students enrolled at Monticello Trails Middle School, where Hileman was employed.

States witnesses in the case against Hileman included the two alleged victims, De Soto School District Assistant Superintendent Alvie Cater, the Kansas Department of Children and Families and other De Soto district employees.

One of the victims was assaulted at least five times between June 2017 and late July 2018, according to court records. Abuse involving the second alleged victim occurred between September and Oct. 4, 2022, court records say.

Prosecutors filed charges against Hileman based on testimony from Shawnee Police Department investigators.

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Hileman was first hired in the De Soto district in 1994. He received several awards during his tenure, including being named Kansas Teacher of the Year in 2004. He taught courses in social studies and archaeology.

The Stars Kendrick Calfee contributed to this article.
KANSAS CITY, Kan.  Kansas City, Kansas police detectives are investigating a deadly shooting Friday night in the citys Strawberry Hill neighborhood.

Police responded to the shooting just after 5:10 p.m. at a residence in the area of N. 6th Street and Splitlog Avenue, near The Easy Inn bar.

KCPD arrest suspect following vandalism at Vietnamese business in Columbus Park

When officers arrived on scene they found a man with an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

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KCK police say a suspect was located and taken into custody.

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The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information can call the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-8477.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Kansas City police officers have arrested a suspect in connection to a vandalism incident at an Asian-owned cafe in the Columbus Park neighborhood.

The incident happened at Cafe Ca Phe just before 2 a.m. Wednesday.

Surveillance video shows a person get out of a silver SUV and throw rocks at the storefront, damaging the windows and the door.

The Vietnamese business proudly presents itself as a safe space for marginalized communities.

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Olathe police investigating after victim tied up during armed disturbance

The fact that the vandal didnt try to get into the store and proximity to the election has workers concerned it was a targeted attack.

I think at Cafe Ca Phe that weve always been prepared for something like this, Maarketing Team Member Xay DOn Gxay said. Where we could be potentially targeted for our beliefs or what we stand for. I think now more than ever, we need the community to stand up and start organizing themselves.

Every time this kind of thing happens, are we going to keep asking for donation to replace the door, replace the windows, replace the cash register, Manager Madoka Kaguchi said. The community will show up no matter what. Which I am so grateful for. We have the best community. But who is actually going to protect us from this?

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This is the third time the business has been vandalized.

KCPD said a suspect was arrested overnight and charges are pending.

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)  A Kentucky police officer has been reprimanded years later for firing non-lethal rounds at a TV camera crew during street protests over Breonna Taylor s death in 2020.

A crew from WAVE-TV was filming live as Louisville Police Officer Dustin Dean fired two rounds of pepper balls at them in May 2020. The first protests over Taylors shooting death by Louisville police had just broken out the night before.

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Dean was reassigned while the FBI investigated the incident. Louisville Police Chief Paul Humphrey said the FBI investigated Dean for three years, declining to file criminal charges. Once that concluded, the departments Professional Standards Unit opened an investigation.

Dean was found to have violated the departments use of force policy for chemical agents, WAVE-TV reported. He received a letter of reprimand.

Humphrey said the night of the protests, Dean was wearing a gas mask and it was dark outside, making it harder to see. The chief called that night a tense, uncertain, rapidly evolving situation and said many officers were injured by protesters.

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Dean remained on administrative suspension for years while the FBI investigated, Humphrey said.

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MUHLENBERG COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56)  The community of Graham will be home to the first domestic source of Trinitrotoluene (TNT) since the 1980s thanks to an investment secured with the help of Sen. Mitch McConnell.

McConnell said in a press conference on Friday that TNT is a critical part of the Department of Defenses munitions supply chain.

KSP searching for armed and dangerous Monticello man in connection with murder investigation

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TNT is a critical explosive our military uses for artillery shells, bombs, grenades, and other materiel, McConnel said. The Muhlenberg County facility will utilize state-of-the-art technology, maximizing the use of automation and digitization and a novel waste neutralization process.

Government officials said the U.S. Army will award Repkon USA $435 million to build the TNT facility in Graham.

Through this partnership with the Army and Repkon USA, our state is proving once again that we have the infrastructure, workforce, and logistics edge to take on projects critical to our national defense, McConnell said.

Mack McGehee, judge-executive of Muhlenberg County, said that the project would be a huge boost to Grahams economy by bringing construction jobs as well as high-quality, lasting work opportunities for the community.

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Today marks the beginning of the return of TNT production to American soil, a capability we have not had since 1986. This history making initiative underscores our commitment to strengthening our national security and reducing reliance on foreign sources for critical materials. A domestic source of TNT is a crucial step in strengthening and building resilience in our Defense Industrial Base to ensure our armed forces have timely access to essential resources, Maj. Gen. John T. Reim, joint program executive officer for armaments and ammunition, said.

A construction date for the TNT production facility in Graham has not yet been announced. The facility is expected to bring more than 50 jobs to the community.

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The child was in another room playing video games with headphones on during the fatal altercation

Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office/Facebook Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office vehicle (stock image) Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office vehicle (stock image)

An 11-year-old in Washington state called the police on Halloween after their parents stabbed and shot each other to death while they were in another room playing video games with headphones on.

On Oct. 31 around 6:05 p.m. local time, the Cowlitz County Sheriffs Office responded to a call from Olympia Way in Longview, where they discovered a man and a woman in the kitchen area of their home who had "succumbed to their injuries and were pronounced deceased on scene," the office shared in a release on Thursday, Nov. 7.

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Authorities and medics with Cowlitz 2 Fire and Rescue rendered first aid but were unsuccessful, per the release. The married couple was later identified as Juan Antonio Alvarado Saenz, 38, and Cecilia Robles Ochoa, 39.

The next day, the CCSO wrote on Facebook that there was "no indication of any ongoing threat to the public." The Oregonian and local ABC affiliate KATU were among the first outlets to report the news.

The couple's 11-year-old child  who was "playing video games while using earbuds" and "did not witness the altercation"  was the only other person in the home at the time of the fight, the CCSO said.

The child then called police after finding the injured parents, one of whom had been shot. After obtaining a search warrant, processing the scene and conducting interviews, authorities learned that the couple had "relationship issues" and "intended to separate."



Getty Police car sirens (stock image) Police car sirens (stock image)

Related: Mom of 3 Found Dead With Cuts to Her Neck Next to Uninjured Child in Car

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Alvarado Saenz died from multiple stab wounds to the chest, while Robles Ochoa died from both gunshot and stab wounds, police said, citing autopsies.

Detectives discovered one knife and one pistol  which was stolen from Alvarado Saenzs employer  at the crime scene. The gun was "not discovered to be missing until after this incident," per the CCSO.

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The sheriff's office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for more information on Saturday, Nov. 9.

"There is no evidence of any third-party involvement in this case," the CCSO said in its release. "Investigation at the scene and the autopsy results indicate that both subjects were assaulting each other, but investigators are unable to determine a primary aggressor."
The Ukrainian government is organizing a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President-elect Donald Trump.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha confirmed the plans at a joint press conference with EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell in Kiev on Saturday, days after Trump secured a historic second term in the White House.

"The dialogue between Trump and Zelensky has already been established," Sybiha said, after the two leaders were reported to have held a phone call that was also joined by billionaire Elon Musk.

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Sybiha added: "We are open to further cooperation."

Trump and Zelensky last met in New York in late September when the Ukrainian leader travelled to the United States to present his "victory plan" to defeat Russia.

Key points of the plan include further Western arms deliveries to Kiev and an invitation to join NATO in the near future.

Trump's election victory has global consequences, Sybiha emphasized.

While the US has been Ukraine's most important ally since the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022, Trump has repeatedly threatened to withdraw aid to Kiev.

Borrell in Kiev for final visit in current role

Borrell, the EU's foreign affairs chief, arrived in Kiev on Saturday to hold talks with Ukrainian leaders for what is likely to be the last time before his term comes to an end.

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"EU support to Ukraine has been my personal priority during my mandate and will remain on top of the EU's agenda," Borrell wrote on X.

He was met at the train station by the EU ambassador to Ukraine, Katarina Mathernova. He was to meet Zelensky later on Saturday.

It is Borrell's fifth and final visit to the city in his capacity as EU foreign affairs chief since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, as his five-year term draws to a close.

Former Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas was appointed to succeed Borrell in July.

Woman killed in Odessa as Ukraine claims drone success

Fighting also continued on Saturday, with one woman killed and 13 injured in a Russian drone attack on the Ukrainian port of Odessa overnight.

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The regional prosecutor's office said two high-rise buildings, several private residential buildings and the storage rooms of a company had been damaged during the attack.

Investigations have been launched into suspected war crimes, the prosecutor's office said.

Since February 2022, Russia has been systematically bombing cities and other civilian targets, in particular targeting the country's energy facilities.

However, Ukraine has also built up its capabilities, with Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi saying on Saturday that the military's drone force destroyed or damaged more than 52,000 Russian targets in October.

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Following a meeting with commanders of the Ukrainian drone force, Syrskyi wrote on Facebook that drones had destroyed 129 Russian artillery systems and 221 radio systems, and killed or wounded around 4,000 Russian soldiers over the month.

The figures could not be independently verified.

"The technology of unmanned systems is developing rapidly, and we have to stay one step ahead of the enemy," Syrskyi added.

The Ukrainian military leadership has declared the development and construction of all kinds of drones to be a top priority and established the drone force as a separate branch of the military.

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According to official figures, the Ukrainian arms industry had already built and delivered over 1 million drones by mid-September. Private companies and Kiev's foreign partners are supplying the military with additional drones.
Section 2 of the Suicide Act 1961 currently makes it a criminal offence to help someone commit suicide. Kim Leadbeaters Private Members Bill seeks to change this. Subject to some supposed safeguards, it will no longer be a criminal offence to assist someones suicide if the prospective victim is a terminally ill adult in the final months of life.

Many arguments can be made as to why this would be a bad change in the law. As an academic lawyer, Ill limit myself to the legal ones. A worrying aspects of other countries assisted suicide laws is the way theyve expanded over time.

In Canada the law used to require someones natural death to be reasonably foreseeable before medical assistance could be offered to bring it prematurely to an end. That requirement has been dropped, and euthanasia is set to become available for those with mental illness in 2027. The mentally ill can already obtain help to end their lives in the Netherlands, and its now proposed to extend assisted suicide to elderly people deemed, rather ominously, to have lived completed lives. In Oregon restrictions on assisted suicide to terminal illness are now being criticised as barriers to access.

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Dozens of MPs are already calling for Leadbeaters Bill to be expanded to people who are incurably suffering. And thats before its made it to the statute book. Yet supporters of the Bill insist assisted suicide will be limited and immune to gradual future extension. They point to the fact that in the United Kingdom, Parliament is sovereign. If the law is to expand further, itll require Parliaments express permission first.

Yet those invoking parliamentary sovereignty fail to mention the UKs obligations in international law. They forget our responsibilities under the European Convention on Human Rights. While Parliament is free as a matter of constitutional law to pass laws contrary to the Convention, doing so could lead to an adverse judgment from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. And recently both the Attorney General and the Lord Chancellor have made speeches on the importance of international law, human rights and the rule of law.

At home our own courts are required, under the Human Rights Act, to take Strasbourg judgments into account. They must interpret laws passed by Parliament, [s]o far as it is possible to do so, in a way that secures compliance with the Convention. And if they cant extend the meaning of a law to make it meet the demands of European human rights, they can issue a declaration of incompatibility, which governments of all political stripes have invariably followed.

Importantly, the Human Rights Act allows the government to change a law when it is declared incompatible with the Convention without asking Parliament to pass a new Act.

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Is it conceivable that Kim Leadbeaters assisted suicide law could breach the European Convention? Scholars on both sides of the assisted suicide debate have suggested it could.

The European court has recognised that bans on assisted suicide interfere with a persons right to respect private life under article 8 of the Convention. But blanket bans have been accepted on the grounds that theyre necessary to protect the vulnerable.

Once the UKs ban is partially lifted, however, itll be much more difficult to justify excluding other groups from assisted suicide. If its possible to lift the ban for terminally ill people, why not those suffering from non-terminal disabilities or people experiencing chronic mental illness?

Article 14 of the Convention prevents states from discriminating on grounds of disability and illness. The Strasbourg court has said it will subject any laws that do this to particularly intense scrutiny.

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Most European assisted suicide laws arent as deliberately limited as the one being proposed for the UK. There can be no guarantees as to how so discriminatory a law will fare when the inevitable legal challenge is brought.

None of this is an argument for a wider assisted suicide law. But no one supporting the Leadbeater Bill can claim with certainty that assisted suicide wont expand in the future.

The slippery slope is not a fiction, invented by scaremongering opponents of assisted suicide. Its a real possibility baked into our present law. And those seeking legal change need to acknowledge this and stop burying their heads in the sand.

Dr Philip Murray is an assistant professor in Law at Robinson College, Cambridge

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Former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger (IL) said he has no fear about president-elect Trumps second term in office .

Can I be clear about something? I have absolutely no fear of Trump. Honest to God, the anti-Trump Republican posted on Instagram Threads.

This narrative that his opponents are intimidated is what MAGA wants to believe. No, we are REINVIGORATED, he added.

Kinzinger has been known for his critical comments about Trump and notably served on the House Committee designated to review the January 6 Capitol insurrection.

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As the former president returns to office, he has threatened to use military force on those who are openly against his decisions.

However, earlier in the day, Kinzinger said he remains unphased by Trump who is weak.

Just a reminder, Trump himself is weak and scared. Dont be intimidated, Im absolutely not, and you shouldnt be either, the Air Force veteran posted. The online flying monkeys are just as weak. We will just be ready to pick up the pieces.

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South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) said Friday that Democratic governors who have pledged to resist President-elect Trumps immigration policies are being extremely irresponsible and should instead seek dialogue with the incoming administration.

If I had a new president in the White House, and even if he wasnt from my political party, the first thing I would do would be call him up and see if I could get a meeting, Noem said on NewsNations Elizabeth Vargas Reports.

The Republican governor dismissed early opposition from Democratic governors like Illinois JB Pritzker and Californias Gavin Newsom as not a mature response to Trumps election victory.

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Newsom, a fierce critic of Trump, called on lawmakers Thursday to convene a special session later this year to safeguard the states progressive policies on climate change, reproductive rights and immigration ahead of another Trump presidency.

The move  a day after the former president defeated Vice President Harris in the presidential race  effectively reignited Californias resistance campaign against conservative policies that state Democratic leaders started during the first Trump administration.

It is also part of a growing discussion among Democratic state officials across the country seeking to protect policies that face threats under Trumps leadership.

Regarding her own potential cabinet position, the South Dakota governor deflected questions about reports shes being considered to lead the Interior Department, saying only that the only person who will make that decision is President Trump while noting she love[s] being governor of South Dakota.

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The governor also expressed support for the Justice Departments decision to suspend investigations into Trump, saying it was a good first step toward restoring faith in federal law enforcement agencies. She said the president-elect had assured her he did not plan to pursue political prosecutions once he was in office.

Trump ally and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is a possibility for Interior Secretary, according to a person familiar with the matter, a Wall Street Journal story published Thursday that looked at a variety of potential cabinet appointments said.

She was the only one mentioned for the Interior Department slot.

If chosen and confirmed, Noem would replace the Biden administrations Interior secretary, Deb Haaland, who, according to the departments website, made history when she became the first Native American to serve as a cabinet secretary. She is a member of the Pueblo of Laguna and a 35th-generation New Mexican.

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Among the U.S. Department of Interiors official responsibilities are federal relationships with tribal governments, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education.

Noem, as governor, has faced ups and downs with tribal governments in South Dakota.

She offered emergency assistance after flooding in 2019, moved the state Office of Indian Education from the state Department of Education to the state Department of Tribal Affairs, has been banned from many of the nine reservations at different times and shifted funding so the states law enforcement training program could conduct the first-ever class for tribal officers this year.

Trumps little-noticed campaign promise to shift thousands of federal employees who are in Washington, D.C., to patriot-led states also points to a potential gain for South Dakota.

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The former president has won South Dakota all three of his presidential bids. On Tuesday, he received 272,000 votes vs. 146,837 for Harris. That 63 percent was slightly more than the 62 percent Trump received from the Mount Rushmore States voters in 2020 and 2016.

NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.

South Dakotas KELO, a Nexstar affiliate, and The Associated Press contributed reporting.

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Kentucky State Police have arrested a Wayne County man who allegedly killed his mother and set her home ablaze.

The Wayne County Fire Department found a woman believed to be Mary J. Fulton, 64, of Monticello, when they went to her home on Old Springs Road in response to a fire, Kentucky State Police said in a news release.

Her son, Joseph K. Fulton, 43, reportedly made statements claiming he shot his mother and set the house on fire, state police said.

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State police said they arrested Joseph Fulton just after 8:30 p.m. Friday, charging him with murder and first-degree arson.

Earlier Friday, state police had asked for the publics help finding Fulton, who lived at the home with his mother and was not there when emergency responders arrived. State police said he is considered armed and dangerous and has an active arrest warrant.

State police said Wayne County 911 contacted them to ask for help investigating at about 1 a.m. Friday.
Eight years ago, L.A.'s political leaders jumped into action on the issue of immigration, moving to protect the city's undocumented population from the Trump administration.

City Council members put public money toward lawyers to defend Angelenos facing deportation. They pushed to legalize the work of street vendors, many of whom lack citizenship. And they created a new committee focused on immigration.

This week, there was a feeling of deja vu at City Hall as political leaders braced for another round against President-elect Donald Trump.

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Several council members said Friday that they would hasten passage of L.A.'s sanctuary law, which is still under review by city attorneys, in the face of Trump's promised crackdown on immigrants.

The ordinance, first proposed last year and modeled after a San Francisco law, would bar federal immigration enforcement officials from accessing city databases.

Seven council members on Friday also signed a resolution urging President Biden to renew a program that allows undocumented people from Central America to stay temporarily in the U.S. Los Angeles has the largest Central American population outside of Latin America.

One of the resolution's backers, City Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez, said his own family members, constituents in his Eastside district and immigrant rights groups are all feeling "absolutely nervous."

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More than anything, people are angry, said Soto-Martinez, who chairs the city's immigration committee. Theyre agitated and theyre ready to fight back, just like we did in 2016."

Other council members said they feared that funding for homelessness would be choked off following Tuesday's election. And some worried about the heavily Democratic city's ability to obtain federal security and transportation funds for the 2028 Olympics in L.A.

Hosting the international sporting event is already a financial risk because the city is responsible for cost overruns.

City Councilmember Paul Krekorian, who traveled to Paris for the recent Summer Games, said Trump's election left him anticipating "four difficult years for our city on multiple levels, not least of which is our access to federal funding for different programs, and preparations for the Olympics.

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L.A. is expected to receive approximately $355 million in federal grant funding this fiscal year, according to the City Administrative Office.

That doesn't include the federal dollars that flow to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, a joint city and county agency, or that would come to the region through the Federal Emergency Management Agency following massive disasters.

City officials expressed fear that Trump, a mercurial leader prone to grudges, would retaliate against California and Los Angeles because of its Democratic leadership.

Trump recently threatened to end federal disaster aid for Californias wildfires  remarks that were on the mind of Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who works closely with the city's fire department.

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"That's not a democracy," Rodriguez, whose San Fernando Valley district includes areas that are prone to wildfires, said Tuesday night. "Thats not how this is supposed to work."

Rodriguez was on the council during the last Trump administration, when the U.S. Justice Department regularly battled with L.A. in court, including over whether federal funds could be withheld if city officials refused to cooperate with immigration agents.

Mayor Karen Bass was a member of Congress during Trump's first term and repeatedly criticized the then-president. In 2020, she called him a "lawless" president who wants to be an "authoritarian leader."

Since winning the mayor's race in 2022, she has made ending street homelessness her priority and worked closely with the Biden administration to lobby for more housing vouchers and for new rules to allow homeless Angelenos to become eligible for federally funded apartments.

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Asked Thursday if she is worried about losing federal funding with Trump in office, Bass spoke in broad terms.

Angelenos won't allow "anyone to divide us or to pit groups against each other," she said. "We've done that before, and we'll do that again."

City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson also sought to reassure Angelenos this week, telling reporters that its the job of the City Council and the mayor to ensure that everybody in this city feels protected and safe, and that includes immigrants.

L.A. County has about 800,000 undocumented residents, including many families with mixed status, according to USCs Equity Research Institute. Over 70% of the county's undocumented residents have been in the country for longer than a decade, according to the institute.

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Immigration will be the biggest source of tension between the city government and the Trump administration, said Manuel Pastor, the institute's director. At the same time, the City Council has grown more progressive since 2016, he said.

City leaders regularly talk about immigration in personal terms. Councilmember-elect Ysabel Jurado, a tenant rights attorney, won a seat this week representing parts of the Eastside after running a campaign that highlighted her Filipino parents' undocumented status.

Despite their assurances, the City Council and Bass have limited power when it comes to stopping deportations.

The city is also facing a budget crisis that could limit its ability to pay for programs now sought by immigrant groups, including free attorneys for those at risk for deportation.

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At a rally Thursday outside City Hall, some immigrant rights leaders urged city officials to fund efforts to alert communities of deportation raids.

Masih Fouladi, executive director of the California Immigrant Policy Center, said L.A. needs to offer "unprecedented investment" in such programs because of Trump.

Harris-Dawson signaled Friday that the council may take more action on immigration in the following weeks. He also suggested that some city officials are taking a wait-and-see attitude when it comes to Trump's plans.

Some of us, I dont know why, want to give the president the benefit of the doubt and try to see what's going to happen, as opposed to reacting before something actually happens," he said.

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Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, whose district includes the immigrant-rich neighborhood of Pico-Union, wasn't among those waiting. She told The Times that officials have to "re-train" themselves on how to protect immigrant communities.

Trump "has been very explicit in what he wants to do," she said.

Times staff writer David Zahniser contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
UPDATE, 11/12/24, 9 a.m.: Lafayette Police have made an arrest in connection with this shooting.

Shawn Chaisson, 44, of Carencro, is charged with first degree murder in connection with the killing of Rickey Christian. Chaisson was also wanted on other charges, including obstruction of justice (evidence tampering), possession with intent to distribute Schedule II drugs, possession of marijuana (14 grams or less), possession of a firearm or carrying concealed weapon by a person convicted of certain felonies, illegal possession of stolen things and several traffic violations.

Chaisson is being held on a $1,513,500 bond for all charges.

Shawn Chaisson

ORIGINAL STORY: LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)  A Lafayette man was killed in a shooting on CO Circle Friday night, authorities said.

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Rickey Christian, 65, of Lafayette, was shot and killed in a dispute just after 10 p.m. Friday, according to Lafayette Police.

Police responded to the 200 block of CO Circle in reference to a shooting incident in progress. Upon arrival Christian was found with an apparent gunshot wound. He was taken to a local hospital, where he later died.

Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Lafayette Police Department or Lafayette Crime Stoppers at (337) 232-TIPS (8477). You can download the LPD App and submit your information via the submit a tip tab. You can also contact Lafayette Crime Stoppers by downloading the P3 TIPS Mobile App or by dialing **TIPS (**8477) on your mobile device. All callers remain anonymous.

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SPRINGFIELD, MO- A store that caters to kids of all ages is making a big move and expansion on the citys south side.

In 2018, OzarksFirsts Mike Landis spoke with local HobbyTown owner Tim Weyers after his stores largest competitor, Toys R Us, went out of business. Weyers said he believed there was still a bright future for toys and hobbies- despite the trend of kids turning to video games and phone apps, and ditching things like miniature model planes, trains, and automobiles.

Since then, HobbyTown has continued to stay busy at its longtime location on East Battlefield Rd.

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Weyers explained, The pandemic was good to us. Parents found out that they were kind of tired of their kids just looking at the screens of any sort. He added, I thought we would lose a lot of that after things opened back up and we havent. And it has grown for us.

Due to the growth, HobbyTown is moving into a new, much bigger home.

Well, this is the first project Im doing for myself, and so its exciting, Weyers said.

The retailer is moving from its current location to a massive new space in the old Kmart (formerly Venture) building on South Glenstone at Battlefield Road. Right now, contractors are building out the space for the new toy and hobby center, which Weyers says will now be the largest of its kind in Missouri. At 13,000 square feet, itll be quite a bit larger than its current floor space of around 4,000 square feet.

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In addition to a lot of retail space, Weyers explained the new store will have a track area for RC vehicles, as well as ceilings tall enough to fly model planes and helicopters.

In a bit of a coincidence, HobbyTowns new neighbor in the center will be Hobby Lobby. Despite a similar name, the two companies have no corporate connection. The two also carry mostly different products, with Hobby Lobby focusing more on arts, crafts, and home decor items, and HobbyTown catering to customers seeking scale models, remote-controlled vehicles, games, and educational toys.

This shopping center at ChristmastimeI think were going to be busy, Weyers said.

HobbyTown says work on the new location will wrap up in a few months. The goal is to have an opening sometime by February.

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To be able to build something that I think is going to be part of Springfield for a long time, Im proud of that, Weyers said.

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DeKiah Montgomery loved Nerf gun wars with his 7-year-old nieces, music and making people laugh.

Now his family is trying to figure out how to carry on without him. The 23-year-old Everman man died Oct. 13 from complications of injuries he received in a shooting 10 days prior.

Its really hard to navigate the day to day without him, Montgomerys sister Dacia Smith told the Star-Telegram.

Montgomery was more than a sibling, Smith said. He was her best friend and a father figure to her twin daughters, Aria and Amara.

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Right now, the family is taking it a day at a time. Smith said shes trying to hold on to the lessons her brother taught her from the way he lived.

Montgomery had a big heart, Smith said. People were often intimidated by his size, but he was a gentle giant, according to Smith. He never lost his patience and would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.

One of his special joys was his relationship with his twin nieces, Smith said. Montgomery and Smith didnt have a father figure in their life after their grandfather died, and Montgomery was determined to break that cycle with Smiths children.

He attended Meet the Teacher with Aria and Amara and celebrated their good report cards with ice cream or other treats, Smith said. At their kindergarten graduation, Montgomery cheered louder than anyone else when their names were called.

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Social media photos show Montgomery holding the twins as babies, Montgomery with the girls at a mall, Montgomery and the twins on Halloween.

He enjoyed being a part of whatever they had going on, Smith said.

To Smith, Montgomery was the curly-haired little boy she watched grow up. She remembers when he came home from the hospital as a baby, and she saw him take his first steps. As a child, he would spill Kool-Aid powder on the kitchen floor, and Smith said it was her job to clean it up.

Montgomery always treated others with respect and brought love wherever he went, according to Smith. She credits their mother, Shannon Montgomery, for her influence in his life.

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Fort Worth police are investigating the Oct. 3 shooting that led to Montgomerys death, but no arrests have been announced. The Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office ruled his death a homicide.

According to Smith, her brother was at a block party the night of the shooting. Hed been at that location several times before, even taking Smith and her daughters for the Fourth of July and his mother for a Mothers Day event.

He wasnt somewhere he shouldnt have been, she said.

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Police said Montgomery and 29-year-old Kinte Johnson were shot while leaving the party. The two victims left the scene in a vehicle and after driving a short distance were involved in a crash near U.S. 287 and Mitchell Boulevard, investigators said. Johnson was shot in the torso and died in the vehicle in the 3100 block of Wesleyan Drive South.

Smith said she doesnt know how her brother knew Johnson, or even if the two were friends. A kind stranger found Montgomery after the shooting and took him to John Peter Smith Hospital.

Smith told the Star-Telegram that shes thankful for the man who stopped to help Montgomery. Shes also grateful for the JPS staff who cared for her brother during his last days.

Since his death, people who knew her brother from years ago have reached out to Smith to share their stories and memories of what he meant to them.

He made that lasting impact on people, Smith said.

Montgomerys family has organized a GoFundMe to help cover the 23-year-olds medical and funeral expenses.
In the wake of the election, Black people across the country have reported that theyve received racist text messages threatening them with slavery, which has prompted investigations in several states and a federal probe.

The texts, sent anonymously, seemed to have begun Wednesday morning just hours after the presidential election was called for Donald Trump. NBC News reported that the messages were similar in nature, telling people that they have been selected to pick cotton on a plantation and to be ready at a certain time. Some of the texts referred to the recipient by name.

Several messages also mentioned Trump, though the Trump campaign has repudiated the text messages. Brian Hughes, a campaign communication adviser, told NBC News it is absolute nonsense to link Trump to the messages. If we can find the origin of these messages which promote this kind of ugliness in our name we will obviously take legal action to stop it, Hughes said in a statement.

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The FBI said Thursday that its aware of the offensive and racist text messages sent to individuals around the country and is in touch with other federal authorities, including the Justice Department. The Federal Communications Commission said it is also investigating, as did Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. New York Attorney General Letitia James said that some recipients are as young as middle school students.

The source or sources of the text messages remain a mystery. NBC News reported that some of the originating numbers seem to be linked to TextNow, a text messaging service that allows users to use untraceable numbers. A spokesperson for TextNow told NBC News that it is aware of the messages and that it shut down the accounts involved within the hour.

BREAKING: My cyber team at the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation has discovered that some of these vile & racist spam messages can be traced back to a VPN in Poland. At this time, they have found no original source - meaning they could have originated from any bad actor state pic.twitter.com/R85FQ6CgAa  Attorney General Liz Murrill (@AGLizMurrill) November 8, 2024

On Friday, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations cyber team had traced some of the messages to a VPN in Poland.

At this time, they have found no original source  meaning they could have originated from any bad actor state in the region or the world, she said in a statement, adding that the investigation is ongoing.

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NAACP President Derrick Johnson condemned the text messages in a statement, saying they represent an alarming increase in vile and abhorrent rhetoric from racist groups across the country, who now feel emboldened to spread hate and stoke the flames of fear that many of us are feeling after Tuesdays election results.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
A Kentucky state legislator predicts there likely will be new bills introduced in the 2025 General Assembly regulating students use of cell phones in Kentucky schools.

State Sen. Steve West, co-chair of the Joint Interim Committee on Education, on Friday heard testimony on the effects of social media and cell phones on K-12 students.

With the testimony we received yesterday and other information, it is clear that cell phones in classrooms lead to: Distraction from learning, increased discipline issues, more bullying, more depression and mental health problems. Once cell phones are removed, there appears to be a positive change in all these areas, the Paris Republican told the Herald-Leader Saturday.

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Bourbon County Schools Superintendent Larry Joe Begley, whose district banned cell phones from classrooms in May, told lawmakers on the Education Committee that perhaps there hasnt been stronger laws on school cell phone limits because of pushback from students and parents who want to communicate throughout the day.

However, the opposition is not as many as you think it is, Begley said.

Bourbon County students put their phones in a pouch in each classroom and check them in and out so they can communicate with their parents during class changes.

West, who told the Herald-Leader Saturday he expects one or more bills to be filed, said he doesnt know what the final result will be, when legislation is proposed, but lockers are an option.

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He said many parents support the policy, though those who oppose it may be a little louder publicly.

Morgan Adkins, principal of Bourbon County High School, told lawmakers that prior to the new policy, individual teachers decided whether students could use cell phones in classrooms. The uniform policy had improved the school climate, he said.

Adkins said discipline problems had improved and there was more focus on academics. He said school staff had not experienced the student opposition that he had anticipated.

Students, he said, say they are more engaged in the classrooms. Adkins said there was less cyberbullying.

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After speaking to lawmakers, Zach Rausch, Associate Research Scientist at New York Universitys Stern School of Business, told the Herald-Leader in an email that he had three key messages for Kentucky lawmakers:
Nov. 9 (UPI) -- More than half of the 43 monkeys that escaped from a research facility in Yemassee, S.C., have been recovered, local police said Sunday.

Rescue workers from the Alpha Genesis research facility continued to try to recover the remaining 18.

"We are pleased to report that one of the escaped primates has been successfully recovered unharmed," the Yemassee Police Department posted on Facebook Saturday at noon EST.

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"A significant number of the remaining primates are still located just a few yards from the property, jumping back and forth over the facility's fence," the YPD said.

The monkeys are among 43 rhesus macaque primates that left an enclosure at the Alpha Genesis research facility on Wednesday.

A caretaker did not secure a door properly on the enclosure containing 50 monkeys, and 43 of them left while seven others stayed in the enclosure, Alpha Genesis CEO Greg Westergaard told CBS News.

"It's really like follow-the-leader," Westergaard said. "You see one go and the others go."

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He said the loose monkeys are staying close to the facility.

Baited traps and thermal imaging cameras were placed Thursday to capture the monkeys, and Alpha Genesis staff continue feeding and monitoring them while the recovery effort also is ongoing.

"The primates continue to interact with their companions inside the facility, which is a positive sign," the YPD said.

The effort to recover the escaped monkeys will continue for as long as it takes, Westergaard told the YPD.

Local residents are advised to keep their doors and windows shut and locked while the recovery effort continues.

"We strongly urge the public to refrain from entering the area surrounding the facility as these animals can be easily startled," the YPD said on Facebook.

Yemassee is about 60 miles west of Charleston.
A suicide bombing at a train station in southwestern Pakistan on Saturday killed at least 25 people, as a separatist militant group in the region said it carried out the attack.

Another 53 people were injured in the attack in the city of Quetta, Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat said in a statement.

Explosion at the railway station was a suicide bombing, the statement said.

The blast happened on a platform at the citys main railway station at about 9 a.m., Senior Police Superintendent Muhammad Baloch said.

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The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a militant group active in the region, has claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement seen by CNN.

The explosion happened when a large number of passengers were present on the platform, Baloch said.

Fareed, an eyewitness to the blast, told CNN: There was a lot of chaos. People were running back and forth, people were lying martyred, some without legs and arms and hands.

Passengers, railway employees and security personnel are among the dead, a senior local government official said.

Security forces have cordoned off the area, and investigations are underway. The provinces Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has ordered an inquiry into the incident.

At least 53 people were injured in the blast, some of whom were taken to hospital. - Mazhar Chandio/Anadolu/Getty Images

In a statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack.

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An insurgency in Balochistan has been running for decades but has gained traction in recent years since the provinces deep-water Gwadar port was leased to China, the jewel in the crown of Beijings Belt and Road infrastructure push in Pakistan.

The BLA has been responsible for the deadliest attacks in Pakistan this year, most recently in October when it targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers and investors in the city of Karachi leaving two Chinese citizens dead.

Correction: This story has been updated to correct when the suicide bombing occurred.

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Nov. 9 (UPI) -- At least 26 were killed and 62 wounded when an explosion occurred Saturday morning at the busy Quetta railway station in southwestern Pakistan.

About 100 people were in the vicinity of the blast that occurred as a train was readying to leave for Peshawar at 8:45 a.m., CNN, the BBC and Al Jazeera reported.

"There was a lot of chaos. People were running back and forth," a witness told CNN. "People were lying martyred, some without legs and arms and hands."

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The Balochistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack in Quetta, which is the capital of Balochistan,

The BLA issued a statement saying a suicide bomber targeted troops who were at the railway station.

An injured victim is brought to a hospital in Quetta following the Saturday morning suicide bombing carried out by the Balochistan Liberation Army at the Quetta Railway Station as passengers prepared to board the Jaffar Express for Peshawar. Photo by Sami Khan/EPA-EFE

The dead and wounded also include passengers, railway employees and security staff, according to local officials.

The death toll rose to at least 26 with another 62 wounded, Balochistan health department spokesperson Wasim Baig told Al Jazeera.

Relatives of the victims of a Saturday morning suicide bombing at a railway station wait at a nearby hospital in Quetta, Balochistan province, Pakistan. Photo by Sami Khan/EPA-EFE

The Balochistan province is along Pakistan's borders with Iran and Afghanistan, and is among the poorest provinces in Pakistan but has many natural resources.

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It also is home to several separatist groups and frequently is targeted for attacks.

Since the start of 2024, many attacks have targeted security forces in the area as militant ethnic force, including the BLA, wage an armed rebellion against Islamabad, journalist Saadullah Akhter told Al Jazeera.

The BLA is the largest of the separatist groups and says the Pakistani government exploits the area's natural resources, which include gas and minerals.

Quetta is about 900 miles southwest of Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad.
To the editor: I would like to address our next president directly. ("'Do not despair,' Harris tells supporters as she concedes the election," Nov. 6)

Congratulations on your convincing victory, President-elect Trump! As you savor your win against a worthy opponent who outspent you and dazzled with star power, please recall four things.

First, Vice President Kamala Harris conceded as soon as it was clear that you had won. You never offered that courtesy to President Biden.

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Second, the very system that handed you this victory proved to be free and fair. Why do you trust it now when you spent the last four years calling it "rigged" and worse?

Third, your inauguration will be peaceful and dignified, unlike the days leading up to Biden's. Keep that in mind.

Finally, remember that since you will never run for elected office again, there is no need to appeal to your former base of MAGA Republicans, since your base is now all of the citizens of the United States. We are all looking to you to fulfill your promises of peace and prosperity.

Of the many options available to you, take the one that will make everyone look good. You won't regret it.

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Jonathan Kaunitz, Santa Monica

..

To the editor: I really dislike Donald Trump. His sexual behavior offends me. His rambling tirades can be senseless. So I voted against him, right?

No. I voted against socialism. Against political correctness. Against cancel culture. Against the idea that government solves problems.

Things have to be pretty bad for me to vote for Trump.

I wonder if liberals will think about the election results, consider what message that sends and reconsider their priorities. Or will they just tell us who voted for him that we are deplorable and garbage?

David McCobb, Rancho Cucamonga

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..

To the editor: A bare majority of American voters have sowed the wind, but our entire country will reap the whirlwind.

In advance, I feel compelled to offer sincere sympathy and utmost regret to my children, to future generations, to the Earth and to all the world's nations that will ultimately experience the cataclysm of the next four years.

Some of us really did know better, just not enough.

Nikki Sandifer, Huntington Beach

..

To the editor: Some remarkable things happened this week.

The losing candidate called and congratulated the winner. The losing candidate did not claim that the election was stolen. The loser did not seek slates of fake electors. The president called the winner and offered to talk with him and help with the transition.

The loser will not be encouraging a crowd of supporters to descend upon the U.S. Capitol and fight like hell.

Edward Grubbs, Spring Valley, Calif.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Lieutenant Commander Tony Fane, who has died aged 96, was a naval pilot who flew Sea Furies during the Korean War.

In 1950-51, Fane flew the Hawker Sea Fury, the last propeller-driven fighter to serve with the Royal Navy, from the carriers Ocean, Theseus and Glory, serving in 807 and 804 Naval Air Squadrons.

He dived at 60 degrees on bridges and railway lines to drop 500lb bombs, and spotted the fall of shot of ships bombarding enemy shore targets. He would while away less eventful combat air patrols by listening to the Test match in Australia.

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When Theseus completed her 10th and Fanes fourth patrol, the commander of the US 7th Fleet signalled: Theseuss fine performance in this Korean show has added a new lustre to the brilliant traditions of the British Navy. It has been a privilege to have you in the 7th Fleet.

Transferring to Glory, Fane flew more than 40 sorties and spent 120 hours in the air at intense operational flying rates. His last sortie was on May 19 1951, when he strafed shipping in the Imjin river.

Fane taking off from a carrier in his Sea Fury

He wrote: Every day we were under pressure, and we had to be on top of our game at all times. A silly mistake, a lapse in concentration, a flak shell with your name on it, could very quickly lead to disaster.

Even on a day off or back in harbour for replenishment, we never truly relaxed. Knowing that we would shortly be back in the air kept the adrenaline pumping. I wouldnt say that I have fun memories of carrier flying or that I enjoyed it, but, my word, I wouldnt have missed it for anything.

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Antony Charles Reynardson Fane was born on October 11 1927 in Lincolnshire to Mountjoy Fane, second son of the 13th Earl of Westmoreland, and Agatha Acland Hood, whose family had provided officers to the Royal Navy since the 18th century. Educated at Westbourne House near Chichester, he went, aged 13, to Dartmouth in 1941.

He had been inspired to join the Navy as a pilot ever since, as a seven-year-old passenger, he had flown over the fleet assembled for King George Vs Silver Jubilee at Spithead.

Fane survived a belly-landing at Sembawang, Singapore, with nothing more than a pair of burning ears

In January 1945 he joined the battleship Queen Elizabeth in Trincomalee, seeing action against the Japanese in Sumatra and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and he was part of the covering force when the Japanese cruiser Haguro was sunk at the Battle of the Malacca Straits.

Continuing his training in the cruiser Ceylon, he witnessed the preparations for Operation Zipper, the intended British landings in Malaya, and was in Singapore when Lord Mountbatten accepted the Japanese surrender.

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He served in the cruiser Jamaica during the Indonesian War of Independence, and recalled returning to the UK in early 1946 with the magazines having been filled with sherry at Gibraltar.

Fane survived a crash landing on the carrier Illustrious in 1950

After Korea, Fane started a jet conversion course on Gloster Meteors and de Havilland Vampires and in 1955 he won the Clarkson Trophy, the Central Flying Schools aerobatics competition, flying a piston-engined Percival Provost. He loved to sneak away and perform high-altitude aerobatics in a Vampire.

He qualified as a flying instructor, but left the Navy in 1957, having had flown a dozen types of aircraft including jets, in more than 1,600 hours, and made 277 deck landings.

Fane worked initially in the aircraft industry on naval projects such as the Sea Slug missile, and later as a life insurance broker.

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He recorded his life in the privately printed My Life with the Royal Navy (2011).

In 1956 Fane married Caroline Holland, a relation of Vice-Admiral Lancelot Holland, who died in the battleship Hood in 1941. She died in 2010, and he is survived by their son and two daughters.

Tony Fane, born October 11 1927, died September 1 2024

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WACO, Texas (KSNW)  A Texas man arrested in Wichita in connection to a homicide in Texas has been sentenced to life in prison.

Derek Joseph Daigneault (McLennan Co. Jail)

Our sister station, FOX 44 in Waco, reports it took a jury just 30 minutes to convict and sentence Derek Daigneault in the death of 26-year-old Mandy Reynolds. Reynolds body was discovered in a brush fire in April of 2023.

Prosecutors say Daigneault had dumped her body and had set a fire to try to cover it up. Investigators notified Wichita police he may have been in the area.

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Woman charged with murder in teens death on Halloween

He was arrested on April 9, 2023, after running inside a Dillons at 13th and Tyler after striking several police vehicles in a high-speed chase. In March of this year, he was sentenced in that case to 9 years in prison before being returned to Texas to face murder charges.

Prosecutors say the victim was Daigneaults cousin, but a specific motive for the crime was not provided.

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BARTONVILLE, Ill. (WMBD)  The Bartonville Police Department has arrested a man after investigating an alleged inappropriate relationship between a Limestone Community High School employee and a student.

According to a Bartonville police Facebook post, Ronnie Baskin, 37, was arrested on charges of criminal sexual assault, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and delivering alcohol to a minor.

Officers were made aware of an alleged inappropriate relationship between an employee and a student at Limestone on Friday and conducted an investigation with the schools administration. Baskin worked in a non-teaching role at the school.

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According to a message sent to parents from Superintendent Keith Brown, the school cant release additional details due to the active investigation, but the district is conducting its own investigation and will take any necessary actions.

The safety and security of our students is paramount, and the appropriateness of the educational environment is, of course, crucial to our mission, Brown stated. The administration and Board of Education will take appropriate steps to investigate and will take any and all necessary action to protect the welfare and security of Limestone students.

Former Morton High School teacher charged with criminal sexual abuse after alleged inappropriate relationship with student

Brown also says they would update parents with more information when it is appropriate.

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PRAGUE (AP)  European nations should not repeat the mistake of creating a barrier between them and President-elect Donald Trump but instead cooperate on issues of common interest, Lithuanias defense minister said Saturday.

Assuming that Trump will again apply what Laurynas Kasciunas called his contract approach to our relations, Kasciunas outlined areas where Europe and the new president could join forces: more investment in defense, European acquisition of American weapons and cooperation on containing China and Iran.

What we did a little bit wrong last time when he was elected (by defeating) Hillary Clinton, and it was unexpected, we built against him a moral wall, Kasciunas told The Associated Press.

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I think it was not a correct way, Kasciunas said. He was speaking on the sidelines of a three-day gathering in Prague focusing on European and transatlantic military capabilities.

During his first 2017-2021 term, Trump pushed NATOs European members to spend more on defense, up to and beyond 2% of gross domestic product, and to be less reliant on U.S. military cover.

Thats what the allies have been doing. A total of 23 members are expected to meet the 2% target his year, compared to just three 10 years ago, according to NATO. Lithuania has already surpassed 2.5% with a goal of reaching 4%, which would be more than the United States.

Europes defense industry managed to increase output of some products after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022 but European countries also donated their own weapons to Ukraine, and remain dependent on the U.S. for some important aspects of their military capability, a report published by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies at the Prague event said.

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Lithuania, which borders Russias Kaliningrad exclave to the west and Belarus to the east, remains the largest buyer of U.S. arms among the three Baltic states.

The minister, whose country was in a spat with China over Taiwan, also spoke in favor of European Union sanctions on Iran.

However, Russia's war against Ukraine has been divisive.

Trump has repeatedly taken issue with U.S. aid to Ukraine, made vague vows to end the war and has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Kasciunas insisted that Europes military aid to Ukraine has to continue and Russia should not dictate the conditions for peace while a limited cease-fire would not make sense because it would only help Russian troops recover from losses and strike again.

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We need a just peace, credible peace, he said.

During his election campaign, Trump also threatened actions that could have groundbreaking consequences for nations across Europe, from a trade war with the EU to a withdrawal of NATO commitments.
On Monday, Nov. 11, the nation will pause to honor those who have served in the military.

But one local VFW did not wait for Veterans Day to say thank you.

They brought veterans together Friday night for an event thats all about camaraderie for vets of all branches of the military.

Post historian James Fournier, the post-571 historian, said the annual dinner is all about veterans serving veterans.

The annual Veterans Day dinner was held at the American Legion Post in Wesleyville Friday evening in an effort to provide free meals to veterans of any era.

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Fournier told us its their way of showing their appreciation for their service and a token of respect.

He added the veterans share a common bond and that this is a special moment that is anticipated every year.

We appreciate their service as do all the members of our club not just the veterans because we have auxillary and sons of the veterans and we have legion writers. Not all of us are veterans but we appreciate what veterans do and thats why we do it every year, he went on to say.

Fournier also said the feedback from veterans is appreciative of this initiative year after year.

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At least five abortion clinics in Montana will be subject to a batch of new rules issued by the state health department starting Nov. 19, unless a Helena judge issues an order granting relief. Two clinics say these regulations, if implemented, would significantly disrupt patient care and possibly force the facilities to shut down entirely.

Lawyers from ACLU Montana and the Center for Reproductive Rights argued on behalf of their clients, All Families Healthcare in Whitefish and Blue Mountain Clinic in Missoula, in front of Judge Christopher Abbott in Lewis and Clark County District Court on Friday.

Only a few days removed from Montanans showing resounding support for a ballot measure to enshrine abortion rights in the state Constitution, the plaintiffs sought injunctive relief against rules from the Department of Public Health and Human Services that, they say, uniquely target abortion providers.

Fundamental rights are not subordinate to the states police power, said Hillary Schneller, a lawyer from the Center for Reproductive Rights, during the Nov. 8 hearing.

House Bill 937, passed by the Montana Legislature during the 2023 session, requires all abortion clinics to secure a license created by the state health department in order to operate. The Department of Public Health and Human Services is charged with crafting those regulations through a public rulemaking process and overseeing the issuance of the license.

It adopted the rules Sept. 20, jumpstarting a two-month countdown to the deadline for clinics such as Blue Mountain and All Families to come into compliance.

Any health facility that provides abortion-inducing drugs like mifepristone to five or more patients a year or performs surgical abortions must get a license. Providers at these clinics are subject to licensure by state professional boards, but the clinics have never before been required to secure separate licensure through the state health department. DPHHS said in its original administrative rule proposal that five clinics would be impacted, though it did not name which.

Many of the new regulations mimic those applied to outpatient surgical centers. Exam rooms and hallways must be a certain size. Clinics must have a written transfer agreement with a hospital in case of emergency, and they must hire a medical director that is a physician, though that employee doesnt have to be on-site. There are particular recordkeeping mandates, specific sterilization protocols and a slew of written procedures, among other requirements.

It also requires abortion facilities to pay $450 to obtain a license, hundreds of dollars more than other health care facilities regulated by the state health department. Abortion clinics would have to re-certify their license annually, whereas other health facilities can obtain licenses that last up to three years.

Plaintiffs argue that HB 937 violates Montanans constitutional right to privacy because it singles out abortion providers. Physicians who operate in a private practice, for example, are not required to obtain licensure from DPHHS, even if they provide almost identical miscarriage or gynecological care, they say.

Jennifer Mayo, an OB-GYN at Western Montana Clinic, submitted an affidavit on behalf of the plaintiffs articulating what they see as an inconsistency.

The procedures I perform in my office for management of miscarriage are identical in skill, technique, and risk to abortion procedures, she writes in the affidavit. Additionally, the medications I prescribe to manage miscarriage are identical to the medications used to induce an abortion. There is no medical reason that would necessitate different facility licensure or facility requirements for an induced abortion, as compared to management of miscarriage.

Abbott acknowledged that some of the regulations proposed seemed somewhat benign, and asked the plaintiffs to demonstrate how things like general sanitation standards would compromise abortion access. Toward the state, the judge focused much of his questioning on what qualifies as a surgical procedure under the law, and why DPHHS chose to liken the abortion licensure regulations to those for outpatient surgical centers, which mostly include facilities that offer orthopedic or cosmetic operations.

The overwhelming majority of abortions in Montana are medication abortions that take place during the first trimester. All Families also provides abortion through aspiration, and Blue Mountain Clinic offers aspiration plus dilation and evacuation abortions during the second trimester.

None of those seem comparable in my mind to a knee replacement, or a hip replacement or the sorts of things that we do at a surgical center, Abbott said. So, why are we regulating them like a surgical center?

Representing the state, Thane Johnson conceded that finding the exact right assortment of regulations for abortion providers, as required by HB 937, is a moving target, and that there might be some in the package worth revisiting. But he emphasized DPHHS view that many of the rules in question are common-sense practices to ensure patient safety.

In a way, the plaintiffs want their cake and to eat it too, Johnson said. They want to be treated as premium health care but when the state treats them like premium health care, they claim its too burdensome.

But the plaintiffs say these regulations go beyond health and safety regulations  which abortion providers are already subject to  and seek to undermine the availability of abortion care in Montana.

According to an affidavit submitted by Joey Banks from Blue Mountain Clinic, the facility provided 350 abortions last year. The rules, if enacted, would make it more difficult, if not impossible, for Blue Mountain to continue offering abortion care, it reads. As a result, our patients will face increased costs, delays, or experience other needless interferences  

The state called Tara Wooten, the DPHHS licensure bureau chief, as a witness. She explained that the DPHHS rules package includes a waiver process designed to allow abortion clinics to be exempted from some of the regulations if not applicable to the services they provide or if its shown to be too costly.

We made it broad so that we could work one-on-one with providers to determine what could be waived, Wooten said during her testimony. This waiver process is meant to ensure flexibility as long as it doesnt jeopardize patient safety.

Both All Families Healthcare and Blue Mountain Clinic have applied for waivers, but received no response from DPHHS. Wooten said the department was in a holding pattern awaiting the outcome of the hearing.

Abbott said he would issue a decision on whether to grant a temporary restraining order and/or preliminary injunction before the Nov. 19 deadline, perhaps by late next week.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Friday marked the annual Boys and Girls Club of Youngstowns Gala where the community came together to support the non-profit at the Lake Club.

First News anchor Lindsey Watson emceed the event which saw over 300 people eating, dancing and donating to the cause.

The Boys and Girls Club serves around 80 kids per day on the South Side of Youngstown. Next year, they will be renovating their facility and have been building a park.

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Were proud to be part of the South Side of Youngstown and were proud to help lift the South Side up, and we want to be a community resource for all the people on the South Side, said Executive Director James Byrd.

Byrd estimates theyve raised nearly $1 million in the years theyve been hosting their fundraiser gala. He hoped to raise around $100,000 at this years event.

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SPRINGFIELD TWP., Ohio (WKBN)  Many of the areas farmers are done or almost done with the harvest way earlier than normal because of dry conditions. But now theyre having to deal with selling their grain at prices from 50 years ago.

Springfield Township farmer George Houk spoke about how dry his farm is and how ideally  after a deep ripping, the soil would be smooth. Instead, its bumpy.

We went from the middle of May when it quit raining until after Labor Day with less than five inches of rain. Thats dry, said Houk.

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Haley Shoemaker of Ohio State Universitys Mahoning County Extension Service says areas that received rain had better yields than others.

Weve seen some variance in yields simply because of the drought conditions, Shoemaker said. But corn is pretty much average or right around there but soybeans have a little more variance just because they were a little more impacted in some cases by the drought.

The soybeans have been yes, theyve been below average. The corn has been average or just a tick over, Houk said.

What corn Houk did harvest this year will sell well below what it sold for in recent years. But his expenses have remained the same.

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But our price per bushel is within 10 cents a bushel of where we were 50 years ago. So its a struggle. When you talk about tightening your belt, you have to tighten your belt, he said.

The best aspect of this farming season was that the dry weather allowed for an early harvest; 89 percent of the corn and 96 percent of the soybeans have been harvested in Ohio.

We havent seen this many dry, abnormally warm days in a harvest season in a long time, Houk said.

Farmers with dry fields are hoping for a moist winter, both in the form of rain and snow, and they want that moisture to seep deep into the soil so its ready for planting come next spring.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A local commercial art gallery owner is celebrating seven years in Downtown Dayton while looking ahead to the future.

The Edward A. Dixon Gallery opened in 2017 on Ludlow Street during the construction of the Dayton Arcade Project. It moved to the Talbott Tower in 2020 before finding its new home at 222 North St. Clair Street in 2022.

Weekend events around Dayton: Nov. 8-10

After enduring several moves, the COVID-19 pandemic and start-up struggles, gallery owner Ed Dixon created a fundraiser to support operations, artist pop-ups and public events.

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I wouldnt put the ask out there if I didnt think the business was headed in the right direction, but the continued community involvement and support lets me know the gallerys presence is still wanted and needed, said Dixon.

The gallerys newest exhibition, Works Of Art, features artists Cedric Michael Cox, Marilynn Page, Cynthia Kukla and Paul Rienzo, and Alisa H. Workman, the gallerys newest artist. The exhibition opened on Nov. 1 and will run through the end of the year.

Exhibitions are open to the public Thursday from 12 to 5 p.m., Friday from 3 to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m.

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Planning for 2025 exhibitions is already underway, Dixon says.

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CHICAGO  A non-profit in Chicago is giving back to the community for a whole holiday season.

ChiGivesBack, Inc. is a nonprofit that works to make sure low-income communities have access to resources, especially during the holidays when there is great need.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

Co-founders Sandi Robinson and John Boddie joined WGN News on Saturday morning to discuss the nonprofits plans heading into the holiday season.

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Visit the ChiGivesBack website for more information on how to give back.

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BEAVERCREEK, Ohio (WDTN)  Voters in Beavercreek put up another hurdle for new convenience stores in their neighborhood.

An overwhelming majority in Precinct 34 decided to prohibit all alcohol carry-out sales from businesses.

The initiative started after a Racetrac convenience store and truck stop was proposed for a plot of land in the area. While that plan has since been nixed, voters then decided to approve a measure that could prevent any convenience store from opening.

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Homeowner seeking justice after neighbors dog enters yard, kills 8-month-old puppy

Pretty much the whole of Beavercreek was counting on this little precinct to do their part, said Susan Marticello with Beavercreek for Responsible Development.

Susan Marticello doesnt live in Precinct 34, but she lives right next to it. She says she drives on US-35 and Factory Road every day.

It was kind of disheartening to have something as ugly as a truck stop, be within a mile of your house, said Marticello.

In an effort to prevent Racetrac and other similar businesses from opening in the area, Marticello and others led an initiative to make Precinct 34 a dry district. This means  now that its approved by voters  carry-out sales of beer, wine and liquor are prohibited.

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The citizens surrounding this area are not going to just sit back and let it happen, said Marticello. Were going to make it so that this cannot happen without impacting a gas station or truck stop or convienience stores bottom line because you would not be able to buy wine, beer or liquor there.

All this started because earlier this year, Racetrac attempted to build its first Ohio location in this spot.

After a lot of residents spoke out against the plants, Beavercreek City Council eventually rejected Racetracs request in April.

Marticello says shes hopeful this decision by voters will allow for other ideas to develop the land.

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It leaves the land open so potentially we can have an overpass put in there someday because the streets are unsafe and theyre confusing for people coming in from our town, said Marticello.

On-site alcohol consumption is still allowed in case any restaurants want to move in to the precinct. Racetrac has not re-applied since council rejected its proposal earlier this year.

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EAST SYRACUSE, NY (WSYR-TV) Following the shocking crash involving a box truck and a New York State Department of Transportation vehicle near Whitney Point, more roadside workers are drawing attention to the trucks dash camera video, sharing that this happens more than you think.

Watch: Highway worker nearly hit by box truck on I-81 in Whitney Point

When Oakes Towing Service Owner Conner Rosso saw this video for the first time, it really hit home. His fathers best friend, who was also a roadside worker just like him, was hit and killed while on the job. It was one of the only times he saw his father cry.

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Its not just another guy, its somebodys friend, its somebodys family member, somebodys husband, somebodys kid. I think it should be more of a statement, you know there should be a heavier penalty for somebody who does that, said Rosso.

On his towing truck, Rosso has colored flashing lights that he puts on when hes pulled over to keep him safe.

He specifically uses the color green on the front of his truck because he believes it catches the drivers eyes since typically you see yellow on the side of the road for construction and plow trucks.

But thats not the only strategy he uses to stay safe, he also tries to work on the opposite side of the road.

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If I can work on the passenger side, then Im going to work on the passenger side. Always wear reflective clothes and I always keep an eye on traffic, no matter how safe you think youre going to be you always watch traffic because it happens, Rosso said.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already celebrated Donald Trumps U.S. presidential election victory this week as historys greatest comeback. And on Friday, Netanyahu signaled what he thinks Trumps reascent to the Oval Office means for his own policies  by tapping a new ambassador to the U.S. who has roots in far-right Israeli political movements that disdain Palestinians and fuel Netanyahus power grabs.

Appointee Yechiel Leiter is a U.S.-born academic prominent in the Israeli settler movement  he in fact lives in one of the settlement communities, established in the occupied Palestinian territory of the West Bank in defiance of international law. He was previously involved in the Jewish Defense League, a violent group purporting to combat antisemitism that was founded by extremist Rabbi Meir Kahane and that the FBIdeemed a terrorist organization. Leiter has suggested dismantling the Palestinian Authority and annexing the West Bank to Israel  moves the U.S. and most other world governments say would be inflammatory and destabilizing, as the area is central to hopes for an eventual Palestinian state. And he has worked at the conservative Kohelet Policy Forum think tank, which promoted Netanyahus ongoing attempt to weaken Israels judiciary.

He is set to take the job in January, the same month Trump is scheduled to be inaugurated for his second term.

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That sends a clear message: Netanyahu is interested in representing the radical settler movement to the Trump administration, Mairav Zonszein, an analyst at the International Crisis Group think tank, told HuffPost of the appointment.

Michael Koplow of the U.S.-based Israel Policy Forum wrote on social media, This is Bibi [Netanyahu] intentionally embracing everything that drove the [U.S. President Joe] Biden administration crazysettlement expansion, judicial overhaul, democratic backslidingand betting not only that Trump wont care about any of these things but that Leiter can push them forward.

The relationship between the looming Trump administration and Netanyahu has huge implications for millions of people, within Israel itself and in the Middle East broadly. With the bloody ongoing Israeli military offensives in Gaza and Lebanon, the targeting of Palestinians in Israeli-occupied territory, and the risk that expanded conflict between Israel and its nemesis Iran produces a regional war that could ensnare the U.S., the change in administration comes with the possibility of a significant shift in the tone and priorities of the bond between the two nations.

Washington has long been Israels chief diplomatic and military backer, sending the country billions in weapons and aid annually, and hence the global player best positioned to influence Israeli policies. So far, most indications suggest a Trump presidency will be even more permissive to the Israeli leader than Biden has been, even as the Biden administration sent Netanyahu huge, largely unchecked military support following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack inside Israel by the Gaza-based militant group Hamas, which the U.S. calls a terror organization.

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In retaliating against Hamas and pursuing other enemies, Israel has invaded Gaza and Lebanon, killing tens of thousands of people, a large proportion of them children. The Israeli military says it works to avoid hurting civilians. But independent investigations have accused Israel of disproportionate attacks, and the Biden administration has conceded it is reasonable to assess that Israeli forces have used American weapons in violation of international and U.S. standards for limiting civilian casualties.

Officials and experts doubt the new Trump administration will press Israel on subjects like its battlefield conduct or its harsh restrictions on aid for Palestinians.

Two State Department officials described how Trump-era changes will likely alter their agencys agenda, which under Biden has included both sending weapons to Israel and U.S. nudges to allow relief to reach Gaza and to limit civilian casualties from Israeli operations.

The new administration is going to be terrible for any sort of humanitarian effort in Palestine, one official told HuffPost.

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Both officials highlighted that the chief aid office at the State Department  the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, which oversees matters like the U.S. relationship with the United Nations aid agency serving Palestinians  is expected to be shrunk under Trump in line with proposals from conservatives, like the Project 2025 plan. One described the bureau as likely to be gutted.

As officials are bracing for transition, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is believed to want some commitments from Israel on limiting the toll of its operations that can extend into the new administration, one State Department official said, noting that Blinken and Biden remain in office for more than two months.

Its unclear what the administration will just kick down the road and give up on just yet, the official continued.

Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin last month told the Israeli government its limits on aid could prompt the U.S. to stop sending some weapons if they deem there is a violation of an American law barring U.S. weapons for countries that block American humanitarian assistance. The deadline they set for improvement is approaching next week, and experts say Israel is still blocking aid deliveries as famine looks likely in northern Gaza.

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Yet it is not clear whether the outgoing administration will actually impose consequences on Israel for its aid policy, which would break with Bidens pattern of resisting calls to do so. Even if it does, officials know Trump could quickly unwind any such move.

The White House has not yet issued any broad guidance on what Biden wants to achieve on Israeli-Palestinian issues before leaving office, according to one of the State Department officials.

A U.S. official working on Middle East matters at another government agency said everything went silent in internal discussions following the presidential election result.

That includes conversations about two of the signature Israel-related policies of the Biden administration, the official added: sanctions on Israeli settlers who attack Palestinians in the West Bank, and a proposed U.S.-Israel-Saudi Arabia agreement, which Biden aides claimed would give Israel an incentive to make a lasting peace with the Palestinians.

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Some analysts believe that since Biden now no longer risks an electoral toll for appearing anti-Israel, he may apply more of the sanctions to discourage violence by Israeli settlers  which is at historic highs  and to preserve the idea of a two-state solution, which the president calls his goal. Trump would revoke the measures, the U.S. official predicted.

Once the new administration is in office, it could take steps that suggest a different U.S.-Israel dynamic, if Trump feels motivated to fulfill his campaign trail promises to end wars or Netanyahu feels he must take those pledges seriously.

But its likely the two leaders will find ways to break with the Biden era that still prioritize their personal political interests above concerns like permanently reducing the risk of more bloodshed and respecting the rights of civilians or self-determination for the Palestinians, Lebanese or others.

You can also proclaim an end to the war and still have [military] positions within Gaza or outside Gaza, Zonszein said. Both in Lebanon and in Gaza, Israel could try and get a deal. ... That would allow it still to have a lot of freedom of action, in terms of launching fresh waves of attacks in the future, she said.

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Maybe there would be some level of concession, and obviously a cessation of hostilities would be a big improvement, but still it would serve Israels interests as far as what the postwar situation would look like, she continued.

Netanyahus definition of Israeli interests will likely be influenced by his right-wing allies  some of whom have discussed establishing Israeli settlements in Lebanon and Gaza  and by his determination to project strength in Israeli domestic politics. Israels parliament, the Knesset, overwhelmingly voted this summer against the idea of establishing a Palestinian state, and Netanyahu has repeatedly said he would not permit Gaza to be run by the Palestinian Authority, the body recognized by many nations as representing the Palestinian people.

The prospect of a U.S.-Israel-Saudi Arabia bargain could become a defining theme in Trump-Netanyahu interactions and affect policy decisions.

Advancing that idea may require a veneer of concessions to Palestinians, given Saudi statements of solidarity with them, Zonszein noted.

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Yet Netanyahu can follow his own example in seeking deals with other Arab states during the previous Trump presidency: He threatened to formally annex the West Bank, then did not do so. The back-and-forth gave the countries that then recognized Israel, like the United Arab Emirates, a route to say they had successfully prevented Israeli annexation of the Palestinian region.

He hasnt formally annexed and honestly doesnt have an interest in doing so.  What theyre doing is almost just as good by expanding Israeli control there in more subtle ways, Zonszein said.

A straightforward path on the Saudi deal could be complicated, however, by how Trump and Netanyahu choose to approach Iran.

In his first term, Trump imposed maximum pressure on Tehran, and has since signaled he will appoint Iran skeptics to government jobs. Some of the foreign policy voices who are welcoming a new Trump administration and asserting it will deliver peace through strength have openly embraced U.S. militarism: America must be prepared to use force directly against Iran, including its expanding nuclear weapons program, Mark Dubowitz and Jonathan Schanzer of the hawkish Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank wrote earlier this year. And Netanyahu has long envisioned a U.S.-led effort to kneecap Iran.

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Yet Trump has also hinted at negotiations with Iran, and the Saudis and other Gulf players he is close to have sought to avoid an all-out conflagration between U.S. partners and Irans network of regional allies.

As Trump and Netanyahu craft their approach, both are likely to benefit from dissenting voices being in a weak position. In the U.S., Democrats will likely spend months focused inward to try to understand their broad election losses, and Republicans and the Trump administration are near certain to clamp down on the anti-war movement and pro-Palestinian voices who are challenging U.S. policy on the Middle East.

Meanwhile, in Israel, Netanyahu has consolidated his power, including by firing his chief rival in government this week. And even the most symbolically significant of his critics  the families of Oct. 7 hostages whom he promised to bring home but has not been able to  have been unable to dislodge his dominance.

The hostage crisis is still very much pushed by the families, but I think a lot of people understand that Israel has given up on the hostages and thats no longer the main issue here, Zonszein said, pointing to the Israeli leaders push against the judiciary and a fight over whether ultra-Orthodox Jews should be drafted into Israels military.

In terms of the political opposition in Israel, they dont have a plan.  They dont have a way to topple this government, so things are kind of static, she added. Most Israelis who are against this government and have been for a hostage deal are in serious despair, and there isnt really any light at the end of the tunnel right now.
Russian authorities are seeking a six-year prison sentence for Dr. Nadezhda Buyanova, a pediatrician originally from Lviv, Ukraine, accused of criticizing Russias actions in Ukraine during a private appointment.

The case began when Anastasia Akinshina, the ex-wife of a soldier missing in Ukraine, alleged that Buyanova called Russia an aggressor and labeled her ex-husband a legitimate target.

Buyanova, who denied these accusations, was initially released with restrictions but later placed in pre-trial detention for alleged non-compliance.

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She is being charged with spreading fake information about the Russian military.

I am not a politicianI am just a doctor, Buyanova said in court, insisting she is innocent.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's crackdown on dissent since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine has seen thousands of his citizens arrested and many jailed.

In 2023, at least 21,000 people were targeted by Russia's repressive laws against anti-war activists, according to Amnesty International.

Read also: Russia imprisons former US consulate employee for secret collaboration with foreign state

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A squeaker of a Florida House race that triggered a machine recount Friday ultimately confirmed election night totals: Former Wellington Mayor Anne Gerwig flipped a seat and racked up a win for Republicans, defeating incumbent Democratic state Rep. Katherine Waldron.

Waldron, also of Wellington, lost her first bid for re-election to the House seat that represents Wellington, parts of Greenacres and Boynton Beach.

Gerwigs victory further cements the state Legislatures Republican supermajority and is more evidence Palm Beach County is no longer the reliable Democratic stronghold it was only a few election cycles ago. Democratic Rep. Matt Wilhite formerly represented the area in the district that was redrawn into its current configuration in 2022.

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The post-2024 election tally shows that Republicans hold 86 of out of 120 seats in the state Legislatures lower chamber. Thats two more Republican seats than last year, when the GOP-dominated chamber passed Republican priorities that garnered headlines.

Those new laws include limiting where homeless people can sleep, loosening restrictions on labor rules for 16- and 17-year-olds and allowing less-regulated insurance companies, called surplus lines, to take over policies from the states insurer of last resort, Citizens Property Insurance Corp., under certain circumstances.

When one party has more than two-thirds of the seats, it can waive procedural rules and unilaterally shut down floor debate to steamroll any opposition to its agenda.

Katherine Waldron (left) and Anne Gerwig

After the initial counting of votes on Nov. 5, Waldron trailed Gerwig but the margin was too narrow for a winner to be declared. Still, Waldron said she was surprised to find the next day that she was already considered an ex-lawmaker in spite of the fact the contest was headed to a recount.

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She no longer had access to the House computer network and systems. The Legislature's Human Resources unit then told her she actually had been cut off from the state's information technology system at 11:59 on Election Night per order of House Speaker-Designate Daniel Perez.

Perez, through a spokeswoman, said he was simply adhering to the state constitution. Incumbents Republican Rep. Caroline Amesty and Democratic Rep. Tom Keen, who both represented House districts in Central Florida, also lost their access to the state network, Perez said in a prepared statement.

Neither of those races, however, were close enough to warrant a recount.

With all precincts reporting Nov. 5, Gerwig's margin of victory was at 520. The next day, it narrowed to 358  about .4% of 91,488 votes cast. On Thursday, as the county canvassing board considered provisional and mail-in ballots, Waldron picked up another two votes, putting her 356 votes behind Gerwig.

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The Facebook account for Gerwig's campaign anticipated Saturday's result the day after Election Day.

"Thank you!" the post read. "We finally finished strong and won the race. I could not have done it without you. I look forward to representing District 93."

State statutes call for a machine recount if the the difference between the candidates is 0.5% or less of the total votes cast. If the machine recount finds the total is 0.25% or less of the total votes cast, a hand recount is triggered. And that means examining the undervotes and overvotes, in addition to the overseas and military votes.

Those overseas ballots are due at the Supervisor of Elections Office by Nov. 15. They are counted if they have a postmark no later than Election Day. Usually, though, there aren't enough to sway the election outcome.

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A machine recount started at 10 a.m. Friday and continued until 4:20 a.m. Saturday, confirming that Waldron lost by 356 votes.

"The recount has been completed and my opponent has prevailed by under 400 votes of over 91,000 total votes," read a posting on Waldron's Facebook account. "I wish to thank all of the constituents of District 93 for the opportunity to serve you for the last two years."

Still, Waldron said the abrupt cutoff with no notification did not serve her constituents well.

"Records of our current District 93 constituent cases we've been helping on are now apparently gone ... unemployment, homeowners insurance, FPL problems, all lost to the ether," she said.

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Anne Geggis is the insurance reporter at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at ageggis@gannett.com.Help support our journalism. Subscribe today

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Recount: Gerwig defeats Waldron in Wellington state House race
Mahomet parents looking for answers after school referendum fails

MAHOMET, Ill. (WCIA)  Mahomet voters rejected a school districts proposal to raise approximately $113M dollars through a property tax hike.

The money would have gone towards building a new elementary school, replacing Mahomet-Seymour Junior High and improving existing school sites. It failed after 54% of voters said no.

Travel Center of America truck stop is a split decision in Mahomet

One parent said they were not happy with the outcome.

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It was absolutely devastating that it was turned down, said Mahomet mom Brandi Kastner. I have a ninth grader, a seventh grader and a fourth grader, and having to wake them up the next morning to tell them that it did not pass was completely crushing.

She said she felt like this was the best of the three plans proposed since 2022. Kastner said that the modular classrooms currently being used are horrible, and they leave kids disconnected from the schools community.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
Microscopic analysis by Montana scientists has revealed the first detailed structure of the pathogen that causes chronic wasting disease (CWD), the always fatal illness that infects deer, elk and moose.

Knowing this structure should help us understand how CWD pathogens grow and spread, and what might be done to stop them in deer, elk and moose, said Byron Caughey, chief of TSE/prion biochemistry at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton. The structure has also suggested a possible molecular basis for the apparent human resistance to CWD infections.

The scientists were able to map a CWD prion, the misfolded protein that causes the deadly brain disease, to the near-atomic level. The prion was collected from a naturally infected whitetail deer.

The detailed analysis indicated the cervid version of CWD has striking differences in its structures from human prions that may help protect against infections.

Prion pathogens are abnormal thread-like clumps of a protein called PrP that grow by incorporating normal PrP molecules onto their ends, Caughey explained. This new CWD structure should help researchers search more rationally for effective CWD drugs and vaccines that block the growing ends of CWD prions. Researchers have already noticed features of the CWD prion that may make it difficult for a CWD prion from a deer to grow using human PrP molecules if it infected a human host. However, further testing is needed to substantiate these preliminary ideas and to better understand human vulnerabilities to the multiple strains of CWD pathogens that afflict cervid species of North America, Europe and Asia.

Malfunctioning prions are also the infectious proteins that caused a mad cow disease outbreak in Great Britain in 1985. Its believed the disease led to the deaths of more than 170 people who suffered from the human form of mad cow, variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. CWD is also similar to scrapie, which can infect sheep.

CWD in cervids

Chronic wasting disease was first found in a wild deer killed near Bridger in south-central Montana in 2017. Since then, it has spread to more than 33 of the states 139 hunting districts, with detections geographically distributed across much of Montana, according to a 2023 CWD report from Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

Between 2017-2023, we estimated that CWD has had a maximum annual epidemic growth rate of 38% among white-tailed deer and 35% among mule deer in Montana, the report said.

Hunting districts with the highest prevalence of CWD are 600, 640, 555 and 670 for mule deer and HDs 340, 555 and 322 for white-tailed deer. Male whitetails and mule deer are more likely to be infected than female deer in Montana.

In Wyoming, CWD has been detected across most of the state with the exception of a few counties in the far west.

In both Montana and Wyoming, wildlife agencies will test hunter-killed deer, elk and moose for CWD at no charge to protect humans from possible infection, as well as to track the diseases spread. Hunters are also encouraged to dump carcasses only at approved landfills and to take extra precautions disinfecting any cutting boards, knives or grinders they use to process wild game.

CWD spread

The always fatal neurological disease was first found in captive deer in Colorado in 1960 before spreading to wildlife.

Has it always been there at some level, and now the surveillance programs are picking it up? Caughey questioned. Or is it really spreading anew from some localized source, like northern Colorado, southern Wyoming, to other places?

CWD was detected in wild deer in southeastern Wyoming as early as 1985, spreading to elk a year later. It may have migrated into Montana from infected animals in Wyoming and Saskatchewan, Canada.

The disease is now found in 35 states and five Canadian provinces as well as Norway, Finland, Sweden and South Korea.

European cases of CWD in the reindeer and the moose there seems to be clearly a distinct origin of CWD because the strain looks so different, Caughey said.

There are also rare examples of spontaneous disease, which is what happens in people with sporadic Creutzfeld-Jakob disease, especially in older people, he added. Such an outbreak in wildlife could create a new strain.

Really potent

CWD is highly infectious and spreads from contact with a sick animals bodily fluids. The infectious proteins can live in the soil even after the host dies, making the disease extremely difficult to kill and contain.

These CWD prion preparations that we purified from this Montana deer had, by our estimates, about a billion lethal doses per milligram of protein, Caughey said. So these things are really potent.

Of the protein-based neurodegenerative diseases  which includes Alzheimers, ALS and Parkinsons  CWD seems to be the most obviously contagious of all of the proteins, he added.

According to a 2011 study, Some models show that environmental transmission plays a larger role in CWD spread as the epidemic progresses, likely causing management through hunting and culling to become less effective.

Although no case of CWD spreading to hunters after consuming an infected animal has ever been documented, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise against eating an infected cervid.

Yet Caughey also stated, At this point in time, all the indications so far is that humans are quite resistant, as far as we can tell, at least to the strains that we know people are being exposed to.

He also encouraged hunters to continue to have their animals tested for CWD.

Atomic level

To map the CWD prion, the Hamilton scientists isolated the prions and froze them in glass-like ice, according to a post on the NIAID Now website. Then, using electron microscopy techniques, they developed a 3-D electron density map that indicated the detailed shapes of the protein molecules within the prion structure. This involved taking nearly 80,000 video clips of the sample, magnified 105,000 times the original size, at various orientations. They marked prion filaments in the video clips and collected more than 500,000 overlapping sub-images. They isolated about 7,300 of the highest quality sub-images and then used supercomputers to generate a 3-D density map and a molecular model to fit the map.

Caughey cautioned this analysis is of one of what may be several CWD strains, each of which could have different structures and abilities.

So we are only scratching the surface now, he said.

However, the detailed information could guide the rational design of vaccines and therapeutics, as well as identify mechanisms that protect humans from CWD pathogens in deer, elk, moose and reindeer, the website post said.

The study authors note that previous attempts to develop vaccines against CWD in cervids failed to be protective, and, at least in one case, had the opposite effect, the post added. They speculate that one explanation for adverse vaccine effects could be that antibody binding to the sides, rather than the ends of prion fibril surfaces, promotes fragmentation  creating infectious particles rather destroying them.

Previous study

In May, scientists at the Hamilton lab published results of an experiment showing that even with prolonged exposure to CWD, cerebral organoids were not infected. It was the first study to use human cells to study transmission of the disease.

Human cerebral organoids are small spheres of human brain cells ranging in size from a poppy seed to a pea, the lab explained. Scientists grow organoids in dishes from human skin cells. The organization, structure and electrical signaling of cerebral organoids are similar to brain tissue.

Despite the results, the scientists cautioned that some people may be more genetically predisposed to infection, as seems the case with the mad cow disease outbreak, and that cerebral organoids do not reproduce all aspects of the human brain, which might make it more susceptible to CWD infection.

Caughey said scientists are also concerned CWD could someday infect livestock and that by passing through another species gain the ability to infect humans.

There's certainly precedent that there can be changes in species tropism, as we call it, when going through an intermediate species, he said. And so that's something that's being studied, and we don't really understand very well.

For now, however, the scientists will be looking at ways to use the new information theyve acquired to conduct future studies that can add to their understanding of CWD, Caughey said. That could include analysis of other prions like those found in infected sheep and cattle.

Wed love to solve all of these, he said, but resources are limited.
The majority of registered voters say they accept President-elect Trumps victory in the White House race, regardless of feelings, according to a recent exit poll.

The YouGov/Economist survey, released Friday, shows that 75 percent of registered voters said they believe Trumps win over Vice President Harris was legitimate. Broken down by party, 52 percent of Democrats, 77 percent of independents and 97 percent of Republicans said they accepted the outcome.

More than two-thirds of voters also said they believed that their voters were accurately counted and that the election was conducted fairly, according to the poll. In a similar survey counted in October, only 55 percent of respondents said they were a great deal or quite a bit confident that their votes would be reflected correctly.

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The Hill/Decision Desk HQ called the race for Trump early Wednesday, and Harris has publicly conceded the race. President Biden and the vice president have both encouraged a peaceful transfer of power and said the election was fair.

Still, nearly half of registered voters  46 percent  said protests over the results are very or somewhat likely to occur, the survey found. That number includes 55 percent of Trump supporters and 37 percent who backed Harris.

Just over a third, 36 percent, thought violence following the election outcome is very or somewhat likely, including 50 percent of the former presidents supporters and 21 percent who sided with the vice president, according to the poll.

Only 9 percent said they believe enough voter fraud took place to impact the results.

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Around 66 percent of voters also suggested Trump got more votes than they expected. Some 21 percent said the numbers were what they expected, the data shows.

The GOP nominee swept all seven battleground states  Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada, North Carolina, Georgia and Wisconsin. He also made gains in heavily Democratic states such as Illinois, New Jersey and Massachusetts.

The president-elect is also on track to win the popular vote  which a Republican has not won since former President George W. Bush in the 2004 race.

Nearly 6 in 10 registered voters, 58 percent, said Harris garnered fewer voters than they expected, while 14 percent said she received what was expected, according to the survey.

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The Economist/YouGov exit poll was conducted from Nov. 6-7 among 1,590 registered voters. The margin of error was around 3 percentage points.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Police said investigators were able to identify a suspect in the 1974 death of Mary K. Schlais though investigative genetic genealogy

Dunn County Sheriff's Office A photo of Mary K. Schlais, who was found deceased near the intersection in Spring Brook, Wisconsin, on February 15, 1974. A photo of Mary K. Schlais, who was found deceased near the intersection in Spring Brook, Wisconsin, on February 15, 1974.

An 84-year-old Minnesota man was arrested after new genetic technology linked him to a cold-case murder of a woman in the 1970s.

The Dunn County Sheriff's Office in Wisconsin announced in a press release that Jon K. Miller was arrested on Thursday, Nov. 7, for the murder of Mary K. Schlais, who was found dead on Feb. 15, 1974, near an intersection in Dunn County, Wis.

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Schlais, who was originally from Minneapolis, was believed to be hitchhiking from her hometown to an art show in Chicago, according to an initial investigation by police.

There was an eyewitness that observed a suspect and suspect vehicle that were believed to be connected to the homicide of Mary Schlais, police said in their statement.

However, despite investigators looking into tips and leads, and conducting interviews related to the case, they were not able to identify a viable suspect.

But later, thanks to advances in DNA technology and investigative genetic genealogy  which police worked on with a Genetic Genealogists team from Ramapo College in Mahwah, N.J.  they were finally able to identify Miller, from Owatonna, Minn., as a suspect.

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The Dunn County Sheriff's Office said in its release that Miller is in custody and awaiting extradition back to Wisconsin. It is not known if he has legal representation to comment on his behalf.

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While Dunn County Sheriff Kevin Bygd said during a press conference, per CNN, that cracking the case was a huge victory for our agency, he also explained that it didnt come without its challenges.

He said, in particular, that Millers genealogy threw the detectives in for a curveball, since he was adopted.

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It takes a lot more work that these guys have put in over the last couple of weeks to try and dodge that curveball  We were able to sit down with him and let him confirm his involvement in her homicide yesterday, Bygd said, per CNN.

The sheriff also said in the press conference that this was the first time their office used genetic genealogy to solve a case.

I was actually sitting in a deer stand when I got a text from investigator [Dan] Westland [who was working on the case] yesterday and I had a difficult time controlling my excitement, Bygd said, per CNN.

He added, Ive been through with every investigator thats picked this up and ran with it and got to a dead end."


ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Ontario County Sheriffs have arrested and accused a man of drunk driving, backing into woman at a higher rate of speed and leaving the scene.

According to OCSO, 27-year-old Blake Randolph was allegedly involved in a domestic dispute with another 44-year-old woman while driving. The woman left the vehicle on Lake to Lake Road, and at one point Randolph allegedly backed the vehicle up the vehicle at a higher speed, striking the woman.

The woman was transported to F.F. Thompson Hospital by Canandaigua ambulance and was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

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OCSO says Randolph was later found nearby and was drunk. Randolph was arrested and charged with Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated, Aggravated Unlicensed Operator (1st and 2nd), Leaving the Scene of a Personal Injury Accident, Reckless Driving, and Unsafe Backing and Assault (2nd).

Randolph was transported to Ontario County Jail and will appear at Gorham Town Court at a later date to face charges. Reds Auto also responded and towed the vehicle to Sheriffs impound.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 32-year-old man was arrested on a warrant for battery on a Border Patrol agent in New Mexico stemming from an incident back in September, according to the Office of the Third Judicial District Attorney.

Alexander Vargas-Meza, 32, was arrested on Thursday, Nov. 7 after he attempted to illegally re-enter the U.S., according to the District Attorneys Office in Las Cruces.

Vargas-Meza was charged with battery on a peace officer and is being held at the Dona Ana County Detention Center.

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On Sept. 24, a U.S. Border Patrol agent encountered three people on Anapra Road in Sunland Park, who had illegally entered the U.S., according to the District Attorneys Office.

As the agent approached the subjects to make their arrests, two of them attempted to flee and Vargas-Meza began to fight the agent, the DAs office said.

According to the District Attorneys office, Vargas-Meza began to kick and push the agent, all while he was trying to reach for something in his pocket.

The Border Patrol agent was able to place Vargas-Meza into handcuffs and searched him for any illegal contraband. The agent found a pocketknife in Vargas-Mezas possession, according to the DAs office.

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The New Mexico U.S. Attorneys Office declined prosecution of the September incident and had Vargas-Meza extradited back to Mexico, according to the District Attorneys Office.

According to the District Attorneys Office, The Vargas-Meza case will be accepted under the U.S. Border Patrol and the United States Attorneys Office agreement for consideration of appropriate state charges. The Third DA Border Prosecution team will coordinate and move forward with prosecution efforts to effectuate results and secure public safety.

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SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah (ABC4)  A man has been arrested by South Salt Lake Police and faces several charges that stem from a crash that happened on 3900 South at the State Street intersection.

Suspect arrested after robbing convenience store in Glendale neighborhood

Lutolofi Marcel Maama, 27, faces the following charges:

Assault on a peace officer/military force that produces death/injury

Receive or transfer of stolen vehicle

Fail to stop at command of law enforcement

Failure to stop or respond at the command of police

Providing peace officer false personal information  actual person

Possession of a controlled substance schedule I/II/analog

Failure to remain at accident involving injury

Negligently operating a vehicle resulting in injury

DUI  first offense in ten years

Driving on denied license

Use or possession of drug paraphernalia

Failure to comply duties at vehicle accident/property damage

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Officers observed a stolen Chevrolet pickup truck pull into a parking lot near 4000 S. Main Street. Police believe Maama to have been the driver. He reportedly put the truck into reverse and headed north toward 3900 South and State Street where he ran a red light and crashed into a Nissan Rogue. The driver of that Nissan Rogue was injured and taken to a local hospital for those injuries.

Maama fled the vehicle and ran from the scene on foot, before police eventually took him into custody not far from the scene of the crash. Police found his license to be revoked.

Maama told police that he had used fentanyl and methamphetamine and that he had fentanyl on his person. He also allegedly told police that he knew the truck was stolen.

Maama was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on the aforementioned charges.

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Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  A Salt Lake County man is behind bars after he was arrested Wednesday for reportedly wielding a hatchet inside of a convenience store while he attempted to rob the store.

James Michael Retic, 39, faces charges of attempted aggravated assault, a third-degree felony; attempted aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony; and attempted burglary of a vehicle, a class A misdemeanor.

SLCPD seeking tips after a 15-year-old injured in shooting at West High School

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According to an affidavit of probable cause from Salt Lake County authorities, officers in Salt Lake City were called to a 7-Eleven convenience store in the 800 block of East 400 South as Retic was wielding a hatchet and attempting to rob the store.

The victim stated to police that he raised the hatchet in a threatening manner and was screaming and yelling at the victim. The victim also told police that the suspect had attempted to open his car door to rob him.

Police came to the store and made contact with Retic. Police say that Retic admitted to them that he had pulled the hatchet from his backpack during the altercation.

Police detained him and upon further investigation found that Retic had reportedly committed this crime while on probation or parole or while free on bail and has multiple cases where hes been accused of similar crimes.

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He continually uses a hatchet to commit crimes. He has been arrested multiple times within the last few months on felony charges involving a weapon, the affidavit states.

He was arrested and booked into Salt Lake County Jail on the above-mentioned charges.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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Waco, Tx (FOX 44)  A man accused of sending a fraudulent business check in an attempt to buy a foreclosed property in Crawford has been arrested in Houston and brought back to McLennan County to face multiple felony charges.

The McLennan County Sheriffs Office has issued a statement saying Michael Lawrence Warren was arrested after a multi-state fugitive investigation. He was booked into the McLennan County Jail Wednesday. He who was the subject of an outstanding arrest warrant in McLennan County for forging a $1.8 million business check, and is facing charges for forgery, as well as numerous other felony offenses across multiple states.

A Sheriffs Office statement said the investigation began in April 2024, when Warren, acting as a trustee of The SoVo Trust Foundation, allegedly sent a fraudulent business check along with a real estate contract and memorandum to a local bank in an attempt to purchase a foreclosed property in Crawford, Texas. The check, which was later confirmed to be forged, prompted the local bank to notify McLennan County Sheriffs Office, sparking a formal investigation. Investigators said that Warren had mailed the forged check with the intent to defraud the bank.

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Woman held after victim attacked, stomped in face

Through coordinated efforts with the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, Texas authorities traced Warren to Houston, where he was found living under multiple aliases. On October 30, 2024, members of the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Violent Offenders and Fugitive Task Force arrested Warren at a hotel in southwest Houston. Upon his arrest, Warren was found in possession of several identification cards and multiple financial accounts under different names. A search warrant executed at the hotel room led to the discovery of additional evidence, prompting additional federal charges against Warren. Warren is currently in custody at the McLennan County Jail, facing charges of first degree felony forgery with an amount exceeding $300,000, as well as outstanding warrants for violations in several states. Federal authorities are investigating further criminal activity related to the items recovered during the search.

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A 23-year-old North Texas man who police say held a teenage girl from Frisco against her will was indicted this week on charges include sexual assault and human trafficking.

Frisco police had contacted Denton police for assistance in searching for the missing 15-year-old girl. The victim reported that she was in Denton with a man who would not let her leave his apartment, officials said in a news release.

Police officers from Denton, Frisco and the University of North Texas were able to locate the victim at an apartment in the 1700 block of West Oak Street using the information she provided, officials said.

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The suspect, Jordan Hagen, along with the 15-year-old victim were found at the apartment, Denton police said He was arrested without incident, while she was transported to a hospital for evaluation.

During the investigation, detectives learned that Hagen and the victim met on Chatib, an online chat room, and communicated through Session, a messaging app, officials said.

Hagen was indicted on Thursday, Nov. 7, on six felony charges: two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, human trafficking, indecency with a child, online solicitation of a minor, and possession and promotion of lewd visual material.

Hagen has remained in the Denton County Jail since his arrest in August, with bond set at $325,000.
A man had died after being shot in the head during a drug deal last weekend, according to the Rock Hill Police Department.

The shooting occurred on Saluda Street just after 12:10 a.m. on November 3.

At the scene, 21-year-old Christopher King Boyd and 19-year-old Demetris Franklin told police that the victim who was shot had allegedly tried to rob them while in the parking lot.

It was later determined that Boyd and Franklin were in the area to sell drugs to the victim. And when the victim pulled out a gun, Franklin used a gun to shoot him in the head, according to police.

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PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 2 arrested after shooting during drug deal, Rock Hill police say

Originally, Boyd and Franklin were both charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Franklin is also facing a charge of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, according to police.

On November 8, police announced that the victim had died from his injuries.

Since the victims death, police said murder warrants have been issued for Boyd and Franklin. A warrant for possession of a weapon during a violent crime was also issued for Boyd.

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Boyd was arrested and taken into custody. Franklin, who was still in the Moss Justice Detention Center, was transported back to the Rock Hill Law Center, according to police.

VIDEO: 2 arrested after shooting during drug deal, Rock Hill police say
DENVER (KDVR)  A man who was allegedly involved in several commercial burglaries and an auto theft in Boulder was arrested after a chase ended with the suspect crashing in a ditch and attempting to flee on foot.

The Boulder County Sheriffs Office described it as a crime spree and said the man, identified as 24-year-old Taurian Smith, was booked into the Boulder County Jail on over 30 counts after he was arrested and evaluated at a hospital Thursday morning.

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The sheriffs office said deputies began responding to several reports of commercial burglaries and an auto theft around 2:30 a.m. Thursday.

A local business owner reported a stolen vehicle, and around 8 a.m. the sheriffs office said the business owner helped law enforcement pinpoint where the suspect was driving by tracking the stolen vehicle.

Multiple law enforcement units from the sheriffs office, as well as Boulder Police Department, Lafayette Police Department, and Longmont Public Safety, responded to the area as the suspect continued to evade law enforcement, the sheriffs office said in a release.

The sheriffs office said the man drove the stolen vehicle into a ditch just west of Westview Drive and Meadowlark Drive, which is near the Arapahoe Ridge High School Campus.

Smith then allegedly fled on foot and the school was briefly placed on secure status. Officers pursued him and he was surrounded in the 6300 block of Arapahoe Road, about half a mile west of the high school.

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He remained uncooperative, and eventually a conductive energy device was utilized, the sheriffs office said.

Smith was evaluated at a local hospital before he was booked into the Boulder County Jail on over 30 counts, including these higher-level charges:

Second-degree burglary, forced entry (Three counts)

Second-degree motor vehicle theft, uses/attempts (Four counts)

Vehicular eluding (Two counts)

Theft  $5,000  $19,999

Criminal mischief  $1,000  $4,999 (Three counts)

Resisting arrest (Three counts)

Theft from building- $300 to < $1,000 (Three counts)

Criminal mischief  $300  < $1,000

Reckless endangerment

Theft from yard  $300  < $1,000

Possession of burglary tools

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The sheriffs office said more charges are expected as Smith is believed to be the likely suspect in similar cases in a neighboring jurisdiction.

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CHICAGO  A man is dead after a shooting on the citys Far South Side early Saturday morning.

Chicago police say officers were called to the 8400 block of South May Street, in Auburn Gresham, just before 3:30 a.m. after a report that a witness had found a wounded and unresponsive man outside her home.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

According to police, the witness told police that she heard gunshots coming from outside and left her home to discover the 68-year-old man unresponsive on the ground.

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The man was taken to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Currently, it is unclear what led to the shooting and an investigation is underway.

Authorities have not yet identified the individual killed.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

Anyone with information on the deadly shooting is asked to contact CPD Area Two Detectives at 312-747-8273 or dial 911.

Those with information that could help authorities in their investigation can also leave a tip at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously.

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Mickey Barreto lived in the New Yorker hotel for free for years before his recent arrest.

Barreto faces 24 charges, including felony fraud.

Doctors found Barreto unfit for trial. A judge ordered him to undergo treatment.

Doctors say a man who lived inside the iconic New Yorker hotel for free for more than half a decade is unfit to stand trial.

Mickey Barreto lived in the New Yorker hotel for years without paying a single cent in rent. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office said Barreto claimed ownership of the hotel building and even attempted to charge rent to another tenant. In February, police charged Barreto with filing fraudulent property records.

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Barreto now faces 24 charges, including 14 felony fraud counts.

Over the summer, two doctors concluded that Barreto didn't understand the criminal proceedings against him, and the court ordered him into outpatient treatment for mental health and addiction to see whether his mental condition would improve, The New York Times reported.

At a hearing on Wednesday, New York City Criminal Court Judge Cori Weston said she was unsatisfied with the rate of Barreto's treatment and ordered him into inpatient care, the Times reported. Weston gave Barreto until November 13 to find a suitable facility. His next court appearance is scheduled for the same date, court records show.

Brian Hutchinson, an attorney for Barreto, told the Times he planned to ask Barreto's current treatment provider, the Addiction Institute of Mount Sinai West, to accept him for inpatient care.

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"We're all sort of in agreement that the substance abuse is leading to some of these other problems and making it impossible to move forward with the case," Hutchinson told the outlet.

Hutchinson and the office of District Attorney Alvin Bragg didn't immediately return requests for comment from Business Insider about Barreto's mental evaluation.

Barreto dismissed the allegation that he was addicted to drugs as "partying" and said prosecutors wanted to hospitalize him because they didn't have a case against him, the Associated Press reported.

In June 2018, Barreto and his partner, Matthew Hannan, stayed in room 2565 at the New Yorker hotel for one night and paid $200.57.

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Armed with knowledge of New York City's Rent Stabilization Code, which grants tenants the right to request a six-month lease for individual rooms constructed before 1969, Barreto asked the hotel for a lease the next day.

He was promptly evicted. The next month, Barreto filed a lawsuit in housing court against the building's owner, the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity  which had purchased the hotel in 1976  saying he was illegally evicted.

Since no representative from the church appeared in court, the judge ruled in Barreto's favor, ordering the hotel to provide him with a key. With no agreed-upon lease terms and the hotel being unable to evict him, Barreto ended up living in the hotel rent-free.

But free rent at an iconic hotel wasn't enough for Barreto.

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The District Attorney's Office said Barreto later registered the hotel in his name with the Department of Environmental Protection to take control of its bank accounts and demanded rent from a commercial tenant.

The Unification Church filed a lawsuit in response. Though a judge ordered him to stop representing himself as the owner of the hotel, Barreto continued to live there for free.

When Barreto filed papers with the city claiming ownership of the building again in 2023, the District Attorney's Office finally got involved.

He faces several years behind bars if convicted, the Times reported.

Read the original article on Business Insider
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WSPA)  A man was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty to a 2023 shooting in an Asheville Sams Club.

27-year-old Tristin Bryce Joyner was sentenced to two to three-and-a-half years in prison after he was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury. An investigation was initiated February 17, 2023.

The Asheville Police Department responded to the shooting at the Sams Club on Patton Avenue. Investigators learned that two men were arguing which led to a fight. During the fight, it was reported that Joyner pulled out a gun and shot the victim in the hip.

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The shooter fled from the store after the shooting.

Due to the seriousness of the injuries to the victim and the risk to the public presented by the shooting, NC law officials argued that Joyner should receive an active prison term.

Joyner was sentenced to the maximum range term of imprisonment for an offender with no prior criminal history according to officials.

He was also ordered to pay $34,116.65 to the victim in restitution.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A man who attacked an elderly woman on a TriMet bus back in 2021 was sentenced to two years in prison, the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office announced.

A jury found Randy Sturdevant, 43, guilty of felony assault and disturbance of public transportation in October.

Former Blazers announcer Brian Wheeler dies at 62

On August 20, 2021, Sturdevant attacked a female passenger who was sitting with her granddaughter and attempted to reach for the child during the dispute. As the assault escalated, the woman protected her granddaughter as best she could, officials said.

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After TriMet personnel shared Sturdevants photo from the incident, authorities were able to identify him, and a few days later he was arrested at a neighboring hospital.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  An Amherst man who intentionally set fire to his girlfriends residence and killed her mother has been sentenced to five years in prison, the Erie County District Attorneys Office said Friday.

Daniel Martinez, 50, started a fire on the first floor of a multi-family home on Concord Avenue in Buffalo in the early morning hours of Sept. 30, 2020.

Martinezs girlfriend, who authorities said was the intended target, was not home at the time. However, her mother, Maria Galazka, was asleep and suffered multiple burns and smoke inhalation. She died over a month later on Nov. 5, 2020, her 66th birthday.

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Martinez was originally charged with second-degree murder, but the charge was later reduced to attempted murder, which he pleaded guilty to on July 11. Galazkas family consented to the reduced charge.

Prosecutors had asked Acting Erie County Court Judge Andrew LoTiempo to impose the maximum sentence of 25 years in prison, but Martinez was sentenced to the minimum of five years.

The family of Maria Galazka has waited a long time for justice and wanted the defendant to receive the maximum sentence, Acting DA Mike Keane said in a news release Friday. Unfortunately, the judge imposed the minimum prison term.

One Buffalo firefighter was injured in the blaze and was treated and released. A resident in the homes upper apartment was uninjured, but was displaced as a result of the fire.

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Martinez will also be subject to five years of post-release supervision once he is out of prison.

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Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here.

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BYRAM, Miss. (WJTV)  Byram police announced a man, who was wanted in other states on multiple charges, was arrested after a chase.

Byram Police Chief David Errington said James Beasley was arrested after a chase on Interstate 55 North around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 7.

Hinds County DA, Jackson councilman indicted in bribery scandal along with mayor

Errington said officers were informed that the vehicle driven by Beasley was stolen and used in a carjacking within the Capitol Complex Improvement District (CCID) in Jackson.

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The chase started in Byram and ended near the 2300 block of Terry Road in Jackson. Beasley was wanted through other states for robbery, carjacking and grand larcency.

Beasley was taken into custody by Capitol police.

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Sophia Arshad, a Merrillville attorney who works on immigration cases, said shes already received a dozen calls or emails from clients worried about the status of their cases following president-elect Donald Trumps win Tuesday.

It goes beyond nervous, its anticipation of whats to come, Arshad said. I have had a lot of already desperate emails and calls from current clients who are just very scared about what may or may not happen.

Jane Hartsock, a founding board member with The Good Trouble Coalition, said her nonbinary child woke up Wednesday morning feeling terrified and crying. As a mother, Hartsock has had to find a balance between reassuring her child that they are safe, protected and loved by their family while making sure to not provide a false picture of things.

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This administration is targeting them, is seeking to harm them. I feel the need to sort of know that and not deny their sense of reality. I dont want to tell them that things arent what they are, Hartsock said. I dont know that I have any easy answers in terms of what we should tell kids. That we love them. That were fighting for them. That theyre valuable. That they matter to their community.

Project 2025, a 900-policy manual crafted by the Heritage Foundation and many former Trump administration officials, would expand presidential power and impose ultra-conservative views on social issues and it shows how a second Trump administration would approach issues like public health and immigration, which impacts the most marginalized people, officials said.

Healthcare

Gabriel Bosslet, president and founding member of The Good Trouble Coalition, said the organization was created in 2022 and made up of more than 1,300 healthcare and public health stakeholders that aim to educate, empower and facilitate political advocacy in the areas of patient-centered care, public health and health equity.

Under a Trump presidency, the group will continue to do that work focusing on the Indiana statehouse, which is controlled by a Republican supermajority that often takes cues from Trump, Bosslet said.

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Project 2025s second goal for the Department of Human Health and Services states that the traditional nuclear family is the only way Americans should live, Bosslet said. Its clear the Trump administration believes the nuclear family is demonized and threatened and they want to remove that threat, he said.

I dont know why they are so interested in the way I decide to live my life within the walls of my home, or who I decide to love. I dont know how that affects anyone else, so I dont understand why thats the governments role at all, Bosslet said.

Overall, Hartsock, who is an attorney, bioethicist, and a medical humanities professor at Indiana University, said the group anticipates that the Trump administrations approach to health care would limit access for the LGTBQ community and womens reproductive rights.

Medicare funding was the way President Lyndon B. Johnson forced racial integration of hospitals in the South, Hartsock said. Now, Hartsock said shes worried that the same funding source will be used to ban gender-affirming care, abortion and certain forms of birth control.

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In the long term, this is going to harm the most vulnerable people within Indiana. Its going to harm people who already have difficulty accessing healthcare because public health infrastructure is the safety net there, Hartsock said.

Hartsock said one of her concerns is that Americans dont adequately appreciate the kind of power the Trump administration will have over departments like Heath and Human Services and the Department of Education. With that control, Trump will be able to push through an ideologically informed agenda that targets LGTBQ people, youth in particular, and reproductive rights, she said.

Through the Department of Education, Hartsock said the Trump administration will limit funding and resources to schools that dont adhere to his agenda. Hartsock anticipates that he will use health resources within schools, like nurses, counselors and teachers, to stop pronoun usage, name changes and addressing gender identity.

Further, the Trump administration will seek to ban books that target LGTBQ stories and narratives, Hartsock said. All those elements, she said, will negatively impact LGTBQ students mental health, she said.

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It isolates them from the human story, from the human condition, suggests that they are not part of a larger community and will overall worsen health, Hartsock said.

Trump has alluded to giving Robert F. Kennedy Jr. a role in public health administration. If Kennedy were nominated to secretary of Health and Human Services, Bosslet said that would set public health in the United States back centuries.

Not years, not decades, but centuries, Bosslet said.

Kennedy promotes himself as not an anti-vaxxer, but he is an anti-vaxxer, Bosslet said. If appointed to the Department of Health and Human Services, Bosslet said Kennedy would have the authority to get rid of directives for vaccines, which would allow states to roll back requirements for vaccines for kids going to public schools, he said.

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We will see a rise in diseases, and deaths from diseases, that I have never seen in my lifetime, Bosslet said.

Trump will strip public health-related agencies of their expertise, which is the whole point of the agencies, Hartsock said. That will impact public health on many levels, she said, from vaccine availability to vaccine requirements in schools.

Trump is a petty, small man. He uses revenge, he wields that sword rather generously, and he is mad, Hartsock said. He is going to be more than happy to see those regulatory bodies just crumble, irrespective of what it does to people.

Immigration

Arshad said about 50% of her practice focuses on family immigration and citizenship issues, which requires a lot of legal filings with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and not going before a judge. The only immigration cases she hasnt handled are deportations, Arshad said.

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Having worked as an immigration lawyer under a Trump presidency before, Arshad said she has some sense of what lies ahead.

Under the first Trump administration, there were many intentional delays and unconstitutional executive orders within the immigration process, Arshad said. Under those circumstances, Arshad said she worked with nervous clients and many lawyers left immigration law.

It was basically a daily battle with the administration, Arshad said. During the Trump administration, one of the things that they did is that they basically made a lot of different types of routine immigration fillings very burdensome. That is anticipated.

Under a second Trump administration, Arshad said she anticipates it will be equally challenging, if not worse. In his second term, Arshad said Trump has promised to eliminate various visa categories without restructuring the process.

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They call it a proposal. From my perspective, its more like a threat, Arshad said.

What people may not understand, Arshad said, is Trumps proposal for mass deportation would shift funding within U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services toward the deportation procedures, which means less funding and resources, like employees, for people seeking legal status within the U.S.

The ripple effect, Arshad said, would mean immigrants who are entitled to benefits and protections not receiving them in a timely manner. For example, if a client files a petition on behalf of their parents, Arshad said that process typically takes about nine to 12 months, but under the Trump administration, that took three to four years.

The ultimate impact, Arshad said, is that immigrants, who qualify for some form of immigration status, ultimately decide not to file and stay in the shadows because of fear of deportation whether or not they file for status.

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In the past, within the transition period between administrations, the departing administration has given a directive for the immigration agency to speed up the review of immigration cases. Its not yet clear how the Biden administration will respond, Arshad said.

Future support

People in marginalized groups could seek support from the helpers, like organizations and communities who are working to protect them and their rights, Bosslet said.

LGBTQ Outreach of Porter County issues a statement reaffirming its support for the LGBTQ community as the community faces a rise in harmful rhetoric and other risks.

Nevertheless, we assert that our community embodies resilience. We will continue to grow and cannot be marginalized. United, we are stronger, more resilient, and prepared to effect lasting change in the lives of those within the LGTBQ+ community, according to the statement.

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Chris Daley, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, said the national ACLU network has been preparing for the outcomes of the 2024 election for about the last year. The ACLU is prepared to push back against any unconstitutional action the Trump administration takes.

Any attempt to deport a large number of immigrants from the U.S., particularly at the level Trump promised on the campaign trail  to launch the largest mass deportation effort in U.S. history on his first day in office  would violate their due process rights, Daley said. The ACLU would file lawsuits to make sure immigrants had the right to due process, he said, but the fear is that Trump will deport people so quickly that their due process rights wont be respected.

Family separation is also a fear, Daley said, as children may have U.S. citizenship but their parents arent U.S. citizens.

Almost always immigration is a proxy for racial discrimination. We will see people who have legal status, including people who are U.S. citizens, get caught up in this when they dont have documentation on them or their name is similar to someone who has an immigration case, Daley said.

Daley said the ACLU of Indiana and its national network have already been filing lawsuits to protect reproductive rights following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which for nearly 50 years provided the constitutional right to an abortion. The ACLU has also been preparing to fight for access to contraceptives and in-vitro fertilization, he said.

On the campaign trail, Trump denigrated the dignity of transgender people, so Daley said the ACLU is anticipating his quick action against the rights of transgender people, from protections against employer discrimination to healthcare access. The ACLU will help protect the rights of transgender people, he said.

To anyone who feels uneasy following the results of the election, Daley said the ACLU understands.

We get it. Were afraid too. Youre not alone, Daley said. As heartbreaking as this election was, as a nation we have gone through challenging times before and if we continue to believe in the core values and principles of this country, which this election unfortunately did not reflect, we can get our country back on the right path.

akukulka@chicagotribune.com
(NewsNation)  NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ has called the race for Washingtons District 3 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in favor of incumbent Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. See the results of U.S. House and U.S. Senate races from around the country here.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez faced a rematch against Republican Joe Kent, who she narrowly defeated in 2022.

Their second face off in the 3rd Congressional District was one of the most competitive House races and drew national attention being one of the key seats that would determine the balance of power in the House.

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Washingtons 3rd Congressional District was one of 21 seats whose House representative is of the opposing party to the presidential candidate.

Gluesenkamp Perez, an auto repair shop owner, flipped the Republican seat two years ago beating Kent by just 2,629 votes, in a district that former president Donald Trump won in the last two elections. She became the first Democrat to hold the district seat in over a decade.

She had been regarded as one of the more purple or moderate Democrats breaking party lines on several issues which had increased her standing among more moderate Republicans, reported the Washington Standard. She had tiptoed around endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris during her campaign.

But she was still facing an uphill battle against Kent.

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Kent is an Army Special Forces veteran, who is known for his right-leaning stances and loyalty to former President Donald Trump who endorsed him in the race.

He beat six-term Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler during the Republican primary after Beutler faced backlash for voting to impeach Trump after the former presidents supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

See NewsNations election live blog with real-time analysis from our political experts and the latest race calls nationwide powered by Decision Desk HQ. Watch live results from the presidential election, important swing states and the balance of power in Congress. NewsNation will also be tracking your local state elections and impactful ballot initiatives around the country.

During the 2022 election, Kent was outspoken on election fraud conspiracies and against a national ban on abortion, the outlet reported.

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His approach shifted this time around and Kent focused more on economy and immigration, which had become a flashpoint in the election.

With so much attention on the 3rd District, the race became highly contentious with both candidates rolling out negative political ads.

Kent pushed for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants and ending birthright citizenship. He also accused Gluesenkamp Perez of not being tough on border security.

True to her moderate position, Gluesenkamp Perez has aligned herself on border security with many GOP lawmakers.

Heading into Tuesdays election, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election. Republicans control the chamber with a narrow majority of 220 seats while the Democrats occupy 212 and three vacancies.

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Authorities in Maryland cited nine hunters for illegally using bait during the states recent five-day season for black bears.

But it was the extent of baiting and variety of items that stood out in a news release issued Friday by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

One hunter was issued two citations after he admitted to hunting from a stand overlooking an area baited with bacon grease, chicken grease, corn, molasses, vanilla icing, and licorice.

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As if that werent enough, the hunter also possessed an illegal bear bomb spray to help lure bears to within shooting range.

In another case, two hunters were cited after hunting from separate stands over an area baited with cracked corn kernels and grease or lard spread onto a tree trunk near their stands.

Two other hunters, including an 84-year-old, hunted over a site baited with corn dispersed as close as 10 yards from their elevated blinds.

Another hunter was found to have used bacon grease, corn, apple peelings, and apple processing waste placed between 23 and 50 yards from his blind.

In yet another case, two hunters from Pennsylvania were cited for utilizing a site baited with dog food, animal carcasses, apples, syrup, strawberry jam, and shelled corn.

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It was made clear before this years hunt, which concluded Oct. 26, that the use of bait or hunting near previously baited areas was prohibited. (The use of bait while hunting white-tailed deer is legal on private property in Maryland.)

According to the Maryland DNR, 950 hunters were randomly selected via lottery to participate in the annual black bear hunting season.

The nine who were cited face fines of up to $1,500 for a first violation, and up to $4,000 if there was a second violation.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Maryland hunters go the extra mile to illegally bait bears
EDITORS NOTE: World War II ended 79 years ago. Officials with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs have reported less than 1% of the 16.4 million men and women who served are still living. Here in Montana, 57,000 men and women served in WWII, with, according to a graphic from the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, 379 Montanans still living. Nearly eight decades have passed and from the European Theater to the Pacific Theater, there are thousands of stories to be told. Four are featured below.

Shortly after the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Americas new commander-in-chief, President Harry S. Truman, in an April 17, 1945, address over the airwaves to the men and women serving in World War II, said Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. Because of these sacrifices, the dawn of justice and freedom throughout the world slowly casts its gleam across the horizon.

The freedom President Truman referred to would soon become a reality. Less than two weeks after his radio speech, German dictator Adolph Hitler would be dead, at his own hands, and days later, the Third Reich would formally surrender. While the fighting continued in the Pacific, the war in Europe was over.

Richard Navarro

That was certainly great news for American troops serving in Europe, including Lt. Richard Navarro.

The Butte man, a 1941 graduate of Boys Central High School, enlisted in the Army four months before the U.S. entered the war on Dec. 8, 1941, and after 10 months of rigorous training, graduated from the Air Corps Training Detachment in Glendale, California. From Glendale, he headed to Kingman, Arizona, where he completed gunnery training.

The Montana Standard reported on his newest accomplishment on July 18, 1943. Central Athlete Now a Gunner was the headline.

Navarro had more advanced classes to take, so it was off to Deming, New Mexico, to train as a bombardier. The intense instruction he received paid off.

Now a second lieutenant, he headed for the European Theater, assigned to a B-17 Flying Fortress, a long-range bomber. His accomplishments as a bombardier were remarkable. So much so, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, a medal given for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight.

On Aug. 13, 1944, The Montana Standard reported that Lt. Navarro had dropped his bombs in almost every corner of Nazi-occupied Europe, hammering virtually every type of target.

Those completed combat missions totaled 35 and it was a miracle Navarro survived. The reality was, according to Together We Served, a website devoted to veterans, crew members aboard a Flying Fortress had a 50-50 chance of making it out alive.

Navarro did make it out alive. Leaving the service on Oct. 13, 1945, he headed home to Butte and his wife, Alice. As the years passed, his family would grow with the addition of five sons and seven daughters.

For decades, opportunity was home to the Navarro family, where the patriarch worked for the Anaconda Job Corps. He was 90 years old when he died on Feb. 28, 2011.

Vivianna Viv Cronin

Peace at any Price was the quote Vivianna Viv Cronin chose to put next to her senior picture in the 1935 Butte High School annual.

The young woman wasted no time after her high school graduation. By August 1935, she was a nursing student at St. James School of Nursing. Prior to enlisting on July 10, 1943, she was teaching nursing at St. Marys Hospital in Minneapolis.

Lt. Cronin was attached to the 818th Medical Air Evacuation Squadron. She would end up paying the ultimate price when the Douglas C-54 Skymaster, a transport plane she was a passenger on, crashed just after 1 a.m. on Aug. 28, 1944, near Prestwick, Scotland.

Cronin had just been to Butte. Hoping to surprise John, her ill 14-year-old brother on his birthday, she arrived, instead, on Aug. 16, the day of his funeral. Five days later, she headed back overseas

Visibility was poor and the aircraft was flying low when it crashed into some homes. The 20 people aboard, including Cronin, were killed, along with five people on the ground.

The 27-year-old was the first Butte woman killed in WWII. Her final resting place is at Cambridge American Cemetery in Cambridgeshire, England.

R.J. Jack Kretzer

Capt. R.J. Jack Kretzer, a 1936 graduate of Anaconda High School, aspired to become a lawyer and was attending law school at the University of Montana when he joined the Army on June 10, 1941.

On Feb. 3, 1944, during the Battle of Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands, Kretzer, then a lieutenant with the 32nd Infantry Regiment, undertook a difficult and dangerous personal reconnaissance, returned to his company and personally led them across the island. . . Kretzers well-conceived actions, and disregard for his own life in consideration of his men undoubtedly saved the lives of many of his men.

Kretzers bravery would earn him the Silver Star.

According to the citation, Kretzers conduct was a constant inspiration to the officers and men of his command. On Jan. 13, 1945, he was also awarded the Bronze Star for heroic actions on the ground.

The war may have ended in Europe, but the battles waged with Japan continued in the Pacific. Lt. Kretzer had already fought in two major conflicts, the Battle of Iwo Jima and the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The biggest battle was yet to come.

The man who had dreams of becoming a lawyer was killed in action on June 10, 1945, during the Battle of Okinawa. The military conflict, which began on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945, and ended on June 22, 1945, was considered the bloodiest battle in the Pacific campaign. Kretzer was among the 12,520 Americans who died during the 12-week battle or were declared missing in action. Wounded military personnel reached more than 36,000.

It took more than four years, but Kretzers remains returned home to Anaconda, and on Aug. 5, 1949, his funeral and burial took place. Members of the American Legion, along with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, were his honor guards. More importantly, John Duncan and Jack Connors were in attendance. The Great Falls men apparently felt it was imperative they be there as the two were standing alongside Kretzer when he was fatally shot.

Jasper Dawson

Jasper Dawson never went into combat, but suffered horribly, nevertheless.

WWII began in Europe on Sept. 1, 1939, when German forces invaded Poland. Dawson, an honor student and 1934 Butte High graduate, was already serving in the Marine Corps, enlisting on Feb. 1, 1939.

Was he looking for adventure? Who knows, but war would become a reality for Dawson on Dec. 8, 1941, when he and 117 others were taken prisoner by the Japanese, in what is now Beijing, China.

Dawson spent the rest of the war as a POW, at various prison camps, and wasnt liberated until Sept. 17, 1945, from the island of Kyushu in Japan. He did manage, from time to time, to alleviate any fears his parents, Edward and Annie Dawson, had by sending letters home.

Dear folks: I am comfortable and well here he wrote in September 1942. My health is good, he assured them shortly before Christmas 1943.

In reality, Dawson was never allowed to share what was really going on. According to statistics from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Japanese interred 27,465 Americans during WWII, with 11,107 dying before wars end. There were several reasons for the high death rate. POWs suffered numerous atrocities while imprisoned, including torture and starvation.

Surprisingly, months after being liberated, Dawson reenlisted but would later be discharged. He married a couple of times, would become a father and would run his own business at 702 Utah Ave., Dawsons Electrosharp, for nearly 40 years.

On Sept. 21, 1986, the one-time prisoner of war died while a patient at Fort Harrison Veterans Hospital. He was 70 years old.
BOSTON, Mass. (WPRI)  Massachusetts lawmakers passed a bill on Monday that would require insurers to cover additional screenings for patients who have abnormal mammograms or dense breast tissue.

According to the National Cancer Institute, dense breast tissue can make mammograms more difficult to interpret. As a result, mammographers are more likely to miss cancer in women with dense breasts.

The National Cancer Institute also reports that nearly half of all women who are 40 or older have dense breast tissue.

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Diagnostic exams, MRIs and ultrasounds would all be covered by insurance if a patient has dense breast tissue under the legislation.

ALSO READ: RI cancer patient walking to raise money, support others

If Gov. Maura Healey signs the bill into law, it will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026. Healey is currently reviewing the legislation, according to a spokesperson.

The Dana Farber Cancer Institute applauded the state legislature, calling the bill a significant policy change that will make treatment more equitable.

We know that when health plans cover medically necessary screening and diagnostic breast imaging, we can detect breast cancer at an earlier stage which can make an enormous difference in outcomes, said Dr. Caroline Block, Dana Farbers clinical director of breast oncology. Indeed, this bill will improve health and save lives.

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By Nate Raymond

BOSTON (Reuters) - Massachusetts' top court on Friday ruled that a would-be bride must return a $70,000 engagement ring from Tiffany & Co to her former fiance in a decision that ended 65 years of courts in the New England state trying to sort through who is to blame when a relationship falls apart.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court sided with Bruce Johnson in his years-long legal battle with his former romantic partner, Caroline Settino, in his bid to reclaim the pricey remnant of their relationship after he called off their wedding.

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In making its ruling, the court said it was updating how it approaches lawsuits seeking the return of rings and join the "modern trend" of states that today treat engagements rings as gifts that must be returned to the donor regardless of fault.

Nicholas Rosenberg, Settino's lawyer, in a statement called the ruling disappointing, saying that "the idea of an engagement ring as a conditional gift is predicated on outdated notions."

Johnson's lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.

Lawsuits seeking the return of rings are essentially the last remaining type of litigation over broken engagements recognized by U.S. courts, after states in the 1930s started to abolish "heart balm" claims that women previously had been able to pursue when a marriage promise was called off.

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Most states initially followed the approach the Massachusetts court adopted in 1959, which held that the giver of an engagement ring is entitled to its return so long as that person was not "at fault" for calling off the nuptials.

That principle in the lower courts had governed the dispute between Johnson, a retired senior staff engineer at Siemens, and Settino, a former schoolteacher.

Johnson called off his planned wedding to Settino in 2017 after seeing messages on her phone with another man and suspecting she was having an affair. Settino denies Johnson's accusations, saying the man was a decades-old friend.

Johnson took Settino to court in 2018 to get the $70,000 ring he proposed with back, but a judge concluded he was mistaken about the affair and must bear fault for their separation. But an appeals court reversed the ruling, leading to the appeal to the state high court.

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Settino's attorney had asked the court to avoid the "highly gendered" approach of treating a ring as a gift conditioned on a marriage and instead follow the Montana Supreme Court, which adopted a no-take-backs approach in 2002.

But the 6-0 court declined to do so, with Justice Dalila Argaez Wendlandt citing the "near universal understanding of engagement rings as gifts inherently conditioned on a subsequent marriage."

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Leslie Adler)
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has overturned a 65-year-old rule that required judges to identify and give engagement rings to the wronged party in a break-up.

More than six decades ago, we recognized that an antenuptial ring generally is understood to be a conditional gift and determined that the donor may recover the ring following a failed engagement, but only if the donor was without fault, the court said, according to The Boston Globe. We now join the modern trend adopted by the majority of jurisdictions that have considered the issue and retire the concept of fault.

The new ruling states that the engagement ring must go to the party who purchased it regardless of fault.

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Earlier this year, Bruce Johnson sued his former fiancee Caroline Settino over which of them should keep a $70,000 Tiffany engagement ring. Under this ruling, Settino must return the ring Johnson presented her in 2017, even though a Plymouth Superior Court judge previously found Johnson at fault for the end of the relationship after he wrongfully accused Settino of infidelity.

Most states view an engagement ring as a conditional gift, and Massachusetts now joins them in returning that gift to the donor.

Johnsons attorney, Stephanie Taverna, said the ruling ends a legal standard that forced couples to reveal intimate details about their personal relationships.

They modernized the law in the right direction by removing fault, she said. Thats why its an important decision, because it helps parties settle issues among themselves without needing to litigate, just like the no-fault divorce statute did when that was enacted in 1975.

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  This weekend is all about music.

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At Kaimuki High School, the drums are out, the band members are doing rehearsals.

There is an exchange of music that will be taking place here at Kaimuki High School, leading up to the Mililani High School Trojan Bandfest tomorrow, Saturday.

So, to find out more about what is interesting here at Kaimuki High School today, KHON met with a few of their bandmembers.

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Andrew Hagel, I see a bunch of Maui High School band members who have just arrived here at Kaimuki.

What is taking place today?

So, today, we have an exchange with Maui High School. They flew all the way over here just to have this exchange with us, says Hagel.

Tulsi: A Hawaii woman with a former, future Presidents ear

We are going to perform for them our marching band show and hopefully they will perform some for us. Unfortunately, their show is a little too big for our small field so we will only hear their music but I am really excited here.

I think that is a great and interesting point.

For this band fest taking place tomorrow, there are about 15 local schools from across the state, Kaimuki being the small competitor.

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Maui High School is the largest competitor with nearly 120 members.

For you Kingston Hilongo Sefo, how is this for you?

Is there anxiety taking place with Kaimuki being the smallest competitor in Bandfest?

Not so much. Us coming from Kaimuki, it was never about size, says Hilongo Sefo.

Hawaiian Electric faces lawmaker scrutiny over wildfire mitigation plan, announces $1.99B settlement contribution

It was about how we play and I am pretty sure we are proud of how we play and despite even if some people didnt come, we are proud of ourselves and how we play.

I just heard a lot of pride and there will be the exchange of this pride.

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For you Sapphira Minugh, tell us of the music you guys are sharing.

You are from Kaimuki.

I am sure you will be showcasing the pride here in Kaimuki.

Yes, indeed we are because our show is call Opu Weuweu o Kaimuki which is suppose to show our home, our ohana here in Kaimuki, says Minugh.

And we have three movements. Each one has their own title. The first one is called Kaimuki Hila which is the opening. Movement two is Leahi and movement three is Kaimuki Hula.

How interesting is it for you to be able to bring together Hawaiian music and band into one?

I feel that it is really unique and special because for us, this is our home and this is who we are as people and for us to share that with everyone else, I feel like that will also bring out more people who are also from here, Hawaii, and the other islands to feel more connected to one another, says Minugh.

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We are Kaimuki. We are loud and we are proud and we will see you all there tomorrow.

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Again, that is going to be the Mililani High School Trojan Bandfest taking place, but what is taking place here is a beautiful exchange from the Kaimuki High School band and Maui High School band.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
NEW YORK  The Adams administrations $700 million lawsuit against bus companies that brought migrants up from the southern border was dismissed Friday, a judge decided, writing the case was based on an antiquated and unconstitutional law.

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Mary Rosado wrote in the six-page decision that the statute is sweepingly overbroad  and told the city to take it up with national lawmakers.

Instead of seeking resolution in Congress, the (administration) asks this court to enforce an antiquated, unconstitutional statute to infringe on an individuals right to enter New York based on economic status, Rosado said, adding that, if enforced, the law would even call into question interstate travel.

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Adams spokeswoman Liz Garcia said the city is reviewing its legal options to address the costs shifted to New York City as a result of the Texas busing scheme.

The suit, filed in January, alleged that 17 charter bus companies violated the states Social Services Law as part of a program by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to bus more than 30,000 migrants since 2022 to the Big Apple with no coordination with city officials.

The citys lawyers said the bus operators owe the city $708 million that was spent on providing food, shelter and health care to the migrants.

The law holds that it is illegal to bring someone into the state for the purpose of making him a public charge and is based on a 19th-century paupers law.

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Abbotts office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. When the suit was filed, Abbott said Adams administration should be sanctioned by the court for the baseless case.

Its clear that Mayor Adams knows nothing about the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution, or about the constitutional right to travel that has been recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court, Abbott said in a statement in January.

The Texas governor began sending migrants to New York and other liberal cities at the beginning of the asylum seeker crisis in 2022 to put pressure on Democratic leaders.

Mark Levine, lead attorney for 16 of the bus companies, slammed the statue as extraordinarily offensive, pointing out that his legal team could not find a single instance where the law had been enforced.

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It got dug up for the purpose of this political suit against a political action by the governor of Texas, Levine said in an interview.

Richard Hantman, attorney for Roadrunner Charters, the 17th bus company, said in an email the judge is to be applauded for a sound decision and great policy and response to a foolish lawsuit.

The judge had previously denied the citys request for a preliminary injunction against Abbotts bus convoys, calling the case dubious at best.

With this decision, the court rightly rejected Mayor Eric Adams cruel and morally repugnant attempts to bar immigrants from traveling to and making a home in New York City, Beth Haroules, senior staff attorney at the New York Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement. The NYCLU filed a brief in the case.

City Hall officials said Friday that the administration hasnt seen any buses chartered by the defendant companies arrive in New York since June.
State Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet monitors election results in her campaign for Congress during a primary election night watch party in Saginaw, Mich., on Aug. 6, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

State Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) has emerged victorious in her bid for Congress, defeating former prosecutor Paul Junge.

McDonald Rivet had an almost 7-point lead with 99% of unofficial returns in, and will replace U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Flint) in January to represent the 8th Congressional District.

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However, her win could place Michigan Senate Democrats next year in a precarious position, as theyll be left with a razor-thin, one-person majority over Republicans. The Senate is currently split 20-18.

Following McDonald Rivets resignation, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is charged with calling a special election to fill her vacant seat in the 35th Senate District. A Whitmer spokesperson did not return a request for comment about what timeline the governor is considering for the election.

As a swing seat, its expected to be a hotly contested race with the potential to split the Senate 19-19, leaving Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II as the tie-breaking vote on any legislation.

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There are a number of really strong [Democratic] candidates that I think are very interested. Obviously, we have to let the dust settle. Its not even an issue until I resign, which will not be until the end of the year, McDonald Rivet told the Advance on Thursday at the Michigan Capitol, saying she would do everything she could to elect a Democrat to that seat.

One person who doesnt appear to be interested is Kildees chief of staff, Mitch Rivard, a Bay City native.

Michigans 35th Senate District overlaps five State House Districts: the 93rd House District represented by Rep. Graham Filler (R-St. Johns), the 94th House District represented by Rep. Amos ONeal (D-Saginaw), the 95th House District represented by Rep. Bill G. Schuette (R-Midland), the 96th House District represented by Rep. Timmy Beson (R-Bay City) and the 97th House District represented by Rep. Matt Bierlein (R-Vassar). Next years special election could serve as an opportunity should any of these representatives seek to make the move into the upper chamber.

Former state Rep. Annette Glenn (R-Midland), who unsuccessfully ran against McDonald Rivet in 2022, is also eligible should she decide to run again.

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While reporters asked Schuette on Thursday if he was interested in seeking McDonald Rivets seat, Schuette demurred.

There will be a time for all these discussions about future elections. We just got [Minority Leader Matt Hall (R-Richland Twp.)] elected [House speaker], and then weve got deer [hunting] season coming up. We got lame duck. So therell be a time for those elections.

Michigan Rep. Bill Schuette (R-Midland) speaks at a press conference on October 18, 2023, on the state Capitol steps concerning state government action in response to recent deadly attacks in Israel by Hamas. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

Filler, who did not seek reelection to the House in 2024, told the Advance he had no comment as of right now.

ONeal told the Advance he was considering all options, but hadnt made any concrete decisions, though a bid for the seat could potentially be on the table.

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Gotta see how the landscape lays. You know, with this big wave of red all the way through the state, you have to consider all those things, ONeal said, in reference to Republicans taking the majority in the House, flipping four seats for a 58-52 majority in the 2025-26 Legislative session.

Sarah Schulz, who ran for state representative against Glenn in 2018 and 2020, told the Advance shed been asked multiple times if she would run in the special election, but that she was waiting to see how things played out with the Democratic Party.

This isnt something that I am sort of like, super ambitious for and yet, Im also kind of seeing what our community needs and if theres a need that I can fill, Schulz said.

Ive heard other names, and Im happy for the right Democrat to put their hat in the ring, and that doesnt have to be me, Schulz said.

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McLENNAN COUNTY, Texas (FOX 44)  The McLennan County burn ban has been lifted.

McLennan County Judge Scott M. Felton said Friday night that this is effective immediately, as authorized by the McLennan County Commissioners Court. This comes due to rainfall received throughout McLennan County, as well as the potential for additional rainfall.

However, citizens are still urged to use extreme caution when engaging in any outdoor burning activities.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44.
S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster is asking for $621 million from the federal government as the S.C. Department of Agriculture and S.C. Forestry Commission estimate the total damages from storms over the last year.

McMaster wrote a letter to the South Carolinas congressional delegation requesting its support in securing the funding. At a Friday press conference, McMaster, the forestry commission, an SC representative from FEMA and the Department of Agriculture commissioner spoke about the damage the state endured and what financial aid they need.

The damage totals nearly $621 million from Hurricane Helene, Tropical Storm Debby, and this summers flash drought, the agencies said.

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McMaster also announced the launch of Farm and Forest Recovery Resource Days for farmers who need to be connected with resources and information, starting Friday, Nov. 15.

Similar to South Carolina county days, the farm and forestry days will offer a one-stop shop, where farmers and communities can connect with South Carolina resources for help.

The federal system is the one that has the money, and we want to be sure that we take advantage of all of those resources to help our farms and forests, McMaster said. Many farms have been left incapacitated with downed trees in passenger roads and other storm related challenges making recovery efforts even more difficult.

2024 was a challenging year for farmers, Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers said noting that the drought in July had an impact of over $31 million for farmers and their crops. Tropical Storm Debby in August caused $133 million of crop and livestock loss with just under $5 million in infrastructure. And then Helene caused $65 million in crop and livestock loss. and $193 million in infrastructure law and $194 million in timber loss.

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There are also gaps in damage that are very hard to assess, such as the loss of pecan trees, where income from them will be missed for five-to-six years while the trees come back into production, Weathers said.

Scott Phillips, state forester, said over 210,000 acres of forest were damaged by Hurricane Helene and 78% of that land belongs to private individuals. He said $83 million of that is direct timber losses for landowners and $51 million of that is impacts to forest based businesses, such as loggers.

Private forest landowners and forest-based businesses lack the tools to recover from natural disasters, so federal funding is necessary to ensure they are not left vulnerable and able to recover and prepare for future storms, Phillips said. Recent mill closures also exacerbated this, resulting in poor market conditions, he said.

Phillips said there was a tremendous loss of urban canopy cover in upper Greenville area. These arent necessarily iconic trees, but they provide shade and are essential to some of those communities, he said. The estimate is hard to even total now without having started to replant and regenerate these areas, according to Phillips.

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Phillips said Helene was very different from other hurricanes, including Hurricane Hugo, which caused a billion dollar damage to forestry.

Brett Howard, the federal coordinating officer for Hurricane Helene, said about 750 federal staff are on the ground, 600 those of FEMA workers, and about 100 to 150 or so are from other federal agencies.

At FEMA we really understand the importance of the agriculture community in this region, Howard said. It is the lifeblood of this state. Its the lifeblood of our nation. If farmers dont work, we dont eat. Its that simple.
One alleged drug dealer has been arrested 20 times in two years for dealing crack, heroin, fentanyl and other drugs in Manhattan  but keeps getting let back out on the street, records show.

We call him the worst drug dealer in New York City, a police source said of Brandon Hunter, 20.

He just laughs. Hes like Im getting out anyway. It dont matter.

Brandon Hunter is notorious for dealing crack, heroin, fentanyl and other drugs. Obtained by The New York Post

Hunter was most recently arrested Oct. 27 for allegedly selling crack at 6:50 p.m. on West 37th Street and Ninth Avenue in Midtown, according to a criminal complaint.

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An alleged customer gave him cash and Hunter threw him a small plastic vial, which the unknown individual retrieved, according to the complaint.

When cops stopped Hunter, they found 84 vials of crack cocaine in his right jacket pocket and 39 glassines of heroine and a rock of crack cocaine in his left pocket, authorities said in the complaint.

Hunter received supervised release for the criminal drug possession charge, Special Narcotics Prosecutors Office spokeswoman Kati Cornell said.

The Special Narcotics Prosecutors Office has handled all narcotics cases made by patrol officers in the Midtown South Precinct for the past two years in response to serious concerns about open and disruptive street dealing in the area, as well as high rates of overdose, Cornell said.

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Its the second time Hunter has been arrested in the same area, records show.

The drug deals happen right in Manhattan. Stephen Yang

He was nabbed around 9 a.m. May 4, 2023 at the corner of Eighth Avenue and West 38th Street, after cops found him with found 10 empty vials and loose alleged crack cocaine in his jacket pocket, 51 vials of alleged crack in his pants pocket and $59 on him, according to an indictment.

He pleaded guilty to attempted drug possession with intent to sell on Feb. 7, and was hit with nine months at Rikers Island, which covered his other open cases, Cornell said.

He was out on July 25 after just five months behind bars  and busted again three weeks later, on Aug. 9, records show.

David Gonzalez, 41, does a shot of heroin in NYC on May 3, 2022. Stephen Yang

This time, Hunter, whose nickname is Peanut, had six blue glassines of alleged heroin inside a black baggie, one clear bag containing alleged crack cocaine and $146 on him, according to a criminal complaint.

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At his Aug. 9 arraignment, the notoriously lenient Judge Valentina Morales  who last year released a Venezuelan migrant without bail after he allegedly stabbed a tourist in Times Square  acknowledged Hunter had recently gotten out of jail.

I am concerned about the new allegations given that he was just released, she said, according to a court transcript.

Moralez freed Hunter on supervised release anyway. An attorney listed for Hunter didnt return calls seeking comment.

Hunter, who was busted again less than three months after his most recent arrest, is now being considered for a drug treatment program, court records show.

But hes not a drug user, the police source said. Hes a drug dealer!
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  The Sioux Falls Police Department is celebrating one of its biggest recruit classes ever.

This week, the city welcomed 17 new officers.

Jason Vultaggio is familiar with responding to emergencies.

Winner drive-by shooting sentences

He most recently worked as an EMT in Washington state.

But now hes preparing to wear a Sioux Falls Police uniform.

As a kid, I grew up coming back here in the summers to see family. I recently came back for the Fourth of July and realized how great the community is, a sense of altruism, I think is something really unique to Sioux Falls, Vultaggio said.

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Meanwhile, Seth Schincke of Tea is coming to the police department from the auto industry.

Getting to help people with buying a new car or fixing their new cars is great, but it just wasnt enough for me. I was looking for that bigger sense of purpose, somewhere where I could help the community as a whole, Schincke said.

Both men are part of a class of 17.

Police Chief Jon Thum says factors that help determine class size include upcoming retirements and meeting the demands of a growing city.

When I got hired back in 2005, it was a class of 16. You saw at that period we had classes of 16, 15, 14, kind of some bigger classes. Were in another cycle I think, as the growth of our community, we should see classes this size. Our hope is our next class will exceed that 17. Well probably set a new record, Thum said.

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Minnehaha Countys general election certified

This is the first week on the job for the officers.

It will take about nine months of training before they can patrol the streets on their own.

Vultaggio will be able to take important skills from his previous job to his new one.

Youre getting called on peoples worst days, on their bad days. Nobodys calling you so say, Hey, come hang out. Having to have that personable demeanor and being able to talk with individuals who arent necessarily in a calm headspace and helping bring them down, explain whats going on, and having that good interpersonal skill, I think thats vital, Vultaggio said.

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Both of the officers we talked with also have military backgrounds.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Over the last few days, meeting planners from across New York State have toured Rochester as a potential destination for business travel and conferences.

Visit Rochester, in partnership with the Upstate New York Chapter of Meeting Professionals Internation (MPI), invited these meeting planners to experience Rochesters restaurants, museums and more.

Li-Cycle secures $475M loan, CEO say its a step forward for Rochester Hub

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The goal is to bring them here to experience Rochester so that they have the opportunity to see what its like and host their future events here. Conferences, meetings or their special events, Vice President of Sales for Visit Rochester Wendy ODuffy said.

Those visiting got to experience everything from The Strong Museum of Play to the restaurant and bar scene of downtown Rochester. One of the meeting planners visiting is Executive Director for the New York Geothermal Energy Organization Christine Hoffer, who said theres more to business travel than just business itself.

My attendees want to come and learn, but they also want to have an experience, Hoffer said. Being able to come to a community like Rochester, it provides both. Im able to achieve my goals as a meeting planner, but Im also able to provide my attendees exactly what they need to enjoy the destination.

rue21 now open at Mall at Greece Ridge

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By encouraging more business for local establishments, it provides potential for further growth to Rochesters economy. While the tourism industry already attracts over $1 billion dollars locally each year, local organizations like Visit Rochester aim to grow that figure.

Overall, the professionals visiting have said they enjoy their stay so far, noting the friendly people that live here and its welcoming environment.

A big part of our role here at Visit Rochester is to bring these businesses to Rochester, and I think with our diverse culture, its a great opportunity for them to see all that we have to offer.

Visit Rochester hopes to host more events to attract tourism to the Rochester area in the future.

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OPELIKA, Ala. (WRBL)  Mercy Medical Ministry is breaking ground on a $3.8 million clinic along Dunlop Drive in Opelika, expanding its 25-year-old mission to deliver compassionate, affordable healthcare for the uninsured.

This ministry is dear to my heart. To have a place where people can receive care is truly a blessing and life-changing, said Pastor Clifford Jones, a founding board member.

Generously supported by a $600,000 land donation from East Alabama Health and an anonymous $1.5 million contribution, the facility is set to open in late 2025 and will nearly double Mercy Medicals capacity, increasing patient visits, exam rooms, and services that address the whole personphysically, emotionally, and spiritually.

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Weve seen a 36% increase in uninsured patients, said Marilyn Bopp, Steward of Development. Many work hard but are caught in the gapearning too much for Medicaid but too little for private insurance.

Dr. Dell Crosby, the ER doctor who founded Mercy Medical after a mission trip to Africa inspired him to serve his own community, noted the growing demand: In 2022, we had 2,400 visits; in 2023, that rose to 3,000. This year, were on track to see 4,500. we are growing at a 50% rate.

Mercy Medical relies on a dedicated team of 19 volunteer physicians, paid nurse practitioners, and support from local churches, civic groups, and individuals to offer specialties like neurology, dermatology, and OB/GYN services. Patients are asked to contribute $35, if possible, to cover a month of care, though donations help keep services accessible.

Dr. Crosby added, I love doing medical work because its what God called me to do, but I really love seeing people come to know the gospel.

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Mercy Medical Ministry is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing affordable, compassionate, and excellent healthcare to uninsured individuals in East Alabama. Through word and action, Mercy Medical shares the Good News of Jesus Christ, striving to uplift the body, soul, and mind of each patient they serve.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
Hello. Its the weekend. This is The Weekender 

Ive been thinking for a long time about the asymmetrical information ecosystem, and how Republicans dont just dominate  Democrats dont even compete. Im talking about cultural shows from which politics flow downstream  right-wing ideology wrapped in chatter about MMA and the stock market, or hand-making Cheerios and removing seed oils from food.

Democrats are clearly realizing the points/10s of millions of votes theyre leaving on the board; look at Kamala Harris forays onto popular podcasts this cycle.

But its not enough to make a guest appearance. Democrats need well-produced, well-funded, compelling content that can go punch for punch with the Rogans and the Theo Vons. Thatll require creativity, lots and lots of capital and a search for talent. This is, of course, more difficult because billionaires have a symbiotic relationship with right-wing ideology. Itll be harder to rustle up wealthy backers for an ideology that explicitly wants them to have less money.

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The lefty pods and streams already out there  shows in the Young Turks oeuvre  wont cut it, because most of them despise normie Democrats. This was the heart of the great Bernie-Hillary divide, and the dirtbag left that adored Sanders and saw Hillary as a figurehead for the institution of the party, which they abhor.

In that way, things are easier for Republicans and the media that supports them. Under Trump, the party has only become more homogenous. Anti-Trump Republicans have either been run out of the party, or self-selected out. Trump doesnt have to worry about the institutionalists vs. the radicals; there are no institutionalists left.

For Democrats, a serious saturation into this space wont look like the fawning conspiracy theories and repressive ideology of Ben Shapiro; and it wont be the irreverent, burn-it-all-down disgust of the far left. They need some other thing, creators that espouse a populist liberal ideology in a non-overtly political way, so as to attract back low propensity voters who would never tap on an explicitly political show.

Itll require some experimentation and some trial and error to shape this content. Luckily, Democrats have the next two and then four years to figure it out.

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 Kate Riga

Heres what else TPM has on tap this weekend

Josh Kovensky reports on the beginning of what looks like may be a very quick end to Jack Smiths prosecutions of Trump.

Khaya Himmelman checks in on those state-level ballot measures seeking to ban supposed non-citizen voting  a supposed problem that has been the target of Republicans voter fraud hysteria this cycle, even though it is already illegal for non-citizens to vote in federal elections.

Emine Yucel writes on the first round of defense being played by Democrats, both at the state level and in Congress, as they work to create a gameplan to fight Trump II policies.

 Nicole Lafond

Out With A Whimper?

Jack Smith gave his first public indication on Friday that hes planning on ending the Trump prosecutions before the government changes hands on January 20. He asked the judge to cancel deadlines in the January 6 case  she agreed  and asked for time until December 3. Then, hell provide a status report explaining his decision about what to do in light of DOJ policy that a sitting President cannot be prosecuted.

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Its the beginning of the end of the case. Theres some suggestion that Smith, in keeping with special counsel regulations, will submit a report. Its possible that this will include interesting new information about Trumps 2020 coup attempt, but lets be realistic: these events have been exhaustively investigated, including by TPM. I would be surprised to see anything dramatically new or significant emerge from that.

What does surprise me somewhat is that before the election, Smith hinted that he would try to continue the prosecution should Trump win. It would be a kamikaze mission, essentially asking Trump to fire him once he took office. Its pretty clear now that, after reported conversations with DOJ leadership, Smith is not doing that. It means that Trump wont have to fire him, as he promised. The DOJ will be his.

 Josh Kovensky

As Manufactured Hysteria Vanished With Trumps Victory, Eight States Passed Non-Citizen Voting Measures

On Tuesday, voters approved GOP-backed constitutional measures in 8 states to make it illegal for non-citizens to vote in state and local elections  something that is already illegal in those states.

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The measures were approved in Idaho, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Wisconsin, and will require that each of these states amend part of the state constitution to explicitly say that only citizens can vote in elections.

The fact that these measures were on the ballot in the first place this election was all part of a broader messaging effort by Trump-aligned Republicans to cast doubt on the safety and security of the election in the event of a Trump loss.

For months now, the false narrative of non-citizen voting has been a particular area of fixation for Republicans  a fear mongering tactic used to set themselves up to cry voter fraud if needed. Non-citizens rarely vote in elections, and its already illegal, which is why this narrative is widely understood as merely a way to sow distrust in the larger election system.

Eliza Sweren-Becker, senior counsel for the Voting Rights and Elections Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, previously told TPM that this narrative is yet another misrepresentation and falsehood about the integrity of elections that appears intended to spread mistrust in our election systems.

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But, suddenly, and unsurprisingly, with Trumps victory, discussions about non-citizens voting in this presidential election have completely disappeared. The passage of these amendments, which continue to stoke unnecessary fear about the security of the election system, is a way to keep the narrative alive, when it becomes convenient for Republicans to elevate the talking point again.

 Khaya Himmelman

Dems Across The Country Buckle Down To Fight Trump II

Just days after Donald Trump declared victory in the 2024 presidential election  securing himself a second term in the White House  Democrats across the country started sounding the alarm and laying out plans to fight back against what is expected to be an administration defined by far-right, dangerous policies.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) called back the state legislature for a special session on Thursday to ask for an increase in state funding for any litigation the state may need to bring against the incoming Trump administration. That funding will likely go toward helping California defend civil rights, climate change, access to abortion, disaster funding and other policies in the state from the far-right federal agenda the new administration is expected to set.

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The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack  and we wont sit idle, Newsom said in a statement. California has faced this challenge before, and we know how to respond. We are prepared to fight in the courts, and we will do everything necessary to ensure Californians have the support and resources they need to thrive.

Meanwhile, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) laid out a plan in a Time essay Thursday, arguing that Senate Democrats should do everything they can to fight radical Trump nominees, outlining tactics they used during his last presidency  like holding the Senate floor for hours to slow down confirmations, which can expose Republican extremism, doom some nominations or lay the groundwork for other Cabinet officials to later resign in disgrace.

The Massachusetts senator also emphasized Democrats must do all [they] can to safeguard our democracy before Trump takes office in January.

To resist Trumps threats to abuse state power against what he calls the enemy within, Pentagon leaders should issue a directive now reiterating that the militarys oath is to the Constitution. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer must use every minute of the end-of-year legislative session to confirm federal judges and key regulators  none of whom can be removed by the next President, she wrote.

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And New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a press conference on Tuesday that her office is prepared for a second Trump administration  and that they have been preparing for it for several months.

We will work with his administration, but we will not compromise our values or our integrity or our principals, James said. We did not expect this result, but we are prepared to respond to this result.

 Emine Yucel
The Villa Rica Police Department is asking for the publics help identifying a man accused of theft.

The department say the suspect has been seen stealing packages from Wildwood Apartments and in the surrounding area on what they are saying are multiple occasions.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Anyone who knows who he is are asked to contact Detective ONeal at 678-840-1320 or via email here.

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At Aventuras JW Mariott Miami Turnberry Resort and Spa this week, Black businessmen from around the country networked and traded advice during a three-day conference called Black Men XCEL.

For many attendees, the event could not have come at a more important time. During a panel discussion Thursday, former NBA player and HBCU alumnus Kyle OQuinn emphasized the need for the ballroom full of Black men and scattered Black women to focus on building community in the wake of a presidential election many of them were displeased with. Exit polls show 77% of Black male voters supported Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, compared to 21% for Republican Donald Trump. Black women voted even more overwhelmingly for Harris, who got 91% of their vote.

OQuinn pointed to that consensus to show unity in the Black community that he said will become more important than ever for conference attendees on a professional and personal level during the next four years.

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You dont know what the future holds, said OQuinn, 34. We dont know where the world is right now. I think we doubled down as Black people, household by household, and came together as a true community.

OQuinn said he hoped that sense of community would remain because were not protected based on what we have to be faced with in the White House.

The conference began Wednesday, mere hours after Trump was declared the winner of the 2024 presidential election, something that cast a shadow over an otherwise jubilant gathering at a beautiful hotel. Politics were not at the core of the event but were inextricable from the conversation for the Black business people in attendance as they considered their future work.

Entrepreneur Prince Trinidad, the owner of FLIGHT By Prin, a Little Haiti-based barber service, said that the outcome of the election was sobering. He believes that he has to be the best possible version of himself as a Black professional in order to make a difference in his community, and the election result only affirmed that.

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My mindset remains the same because Ive been extremely adamant about equal representation in our government, said Trinidad, 42. We definitely dont have equal representation there. We have to continue to work harder. Unfortunately for us, we have to be twice as good to get half as much. Its not a fair deck of cards that we were dealt with. But its the reality, and we have to face it.

Conferencegoers attend the Black Men XCEL Summit at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa in Aventura, Florida, on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024.

Fort Lauderdale entrepreneur David J. Castro II, the owner of headwear and apparel brand DungeonForward, does not see Black people as a monolith, yet he noticed a general sense of disappointment throughout the conference attendees Thursday.

I think it would be ridiculous to assume that every single person in this room has the same political beliefs, Castro said. However, I dont think it would be ridiculous to assume that the majority of these people in this room were disappointed with the results. I think thats a sentiment that has been shared and has been exclusively exchanged between people in private conversations and in open conversations.

While the presidential result somewhat recalibrated his mindset at the start of the conference, Castro said he appreciated the sense of camaraderie he felt with other Black men by making new connections.

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Whats been incredible is an identification of the idea around being each others keeper and really focusing inward on that and understanding that nobodys coming to save you, he said. And I think if you take ownership of that, then the way in which you do outreach, the way in which you connect with one another and the way in which you build business with one another, I think that changes. And I think its been refreshing to hear that and refreshing to hear a focus on really reaching inward to community to provide opportunities to folks that may have business to do with you.

Keynote speaker R. Donahue Peebles, a real estate developer and a former chairman of the board of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation who previously served on President Barack Obamas National Finance Committee, on Wednesday posted on Instagram that There will be great opportunities under President Trumps 2nd term and that America needs his presidency to be successful, a sentiment that was met by mixed responses from followers.

At the conference, he encouraged attendees to support the Black community through their work as best as they can and to be open to the possibilities for growth under a Trump presidency.

Im not championing Donald Trump, and Im not saying hes a wonderful person, but I am saying hes an incoming president of the United States and will be the most powerful man in the world for four years, he said Thursday.
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava walked right into her new political reality on election night, when the countys leading Democrat was stopped in her tracks while trying to join the stage for a victory speech with the countys newly elected Republican sheriff.

Multiple people who were there recounted seeing the mayor being stopped by security as she tried to join a mostly Republican crowd of supporters behind the winning sheriff candidate Levine Cava had tried to defeat, Rosanna Rosie Cordero-Stutz.

At first, the mayor thought security just didnt recognize her, one attendee told the Miami Herald. But she was quickly assured otherwise. They said: We know who you are.

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READ MORE: How did the Donald Trump red wave hit Miami-Dades blue cities? Check out our chart

President-elect Donald Trump delivered Republicans a landslide victory in Miami-Dade, foiling Levine Cavas plan to place Democratic allies in key posts in a government where shes now in a partisan minority.

Mayor Daniella Levine Cava on the campaign trail for fellow Democrats during a visit to the polls at the Joseph Caleb Center during a Souls to the Polls event on the last day of early voting on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024 in Miami.

Not only is the new sheriff a Republican, but so is the new elections supervisor, Alina Garcia, and the new tax collector, Dariel Fernandez. Each of them defeated Democrats backed by Levine Cava.

On Jan. 7, theyll take over county departments currently run by Levine Cava herself, leaving the position of mayor with diminished powers thanks to a change in Floridas Constitution requiring the offices to become independent.

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That change, approved in a statewide referendum in 2018, also requires Miami-Dade to transfer its financial oversight  including its 45-person auditing agency  to the court clerk. That position was won Tuesday by Republican Juan Fernandez-Barquin over another candidate Levine Cava campaigned for, Democrat Annette Taddeo.

I took the results to be a rejection of the mayors slate and the mayors vision, said Fernandez-Barquin, who was appointed to the open clerk post by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2023. It was the people expressing their want and need for checks and balances in county government.

Juan Fernandez-Barquin, Miami-Dade Countys clerk of the court, is a Republican and was elected to a full four-year term on Nov. 5, 2024.

He said hes planning to dive into accountability measures, including the potential for a dashboard tracking contract spending by the administration and other watchdog features. I want more transparency on where the funds are going, he said.

In an interview Wednesday, Levine Cava pointed out that, unlike sheriff and the other countywide positions created by the 2018 constitutional amendment, the office of mayor remains officially nonpartisan. She won reelection in the Aug. 20 county elections against a mostly Republican field of challengers and emphasized shes ready to work with the people elected by residents on Nov. 5.

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Obviously, the voters spoke. My plan is to work across the aisle, as I always do, she said.

Asked about the incident by the stage at the Cordero-Stutz party, Levine Cava responded: Its all good.

Cordreo-Stutz, an assistant county police director until Jan. 7, also minimized the incident, noting the mayor did make it up to the stage to greet her.

I actually said hello to her on stage, Cordero-Stutz said, adding that she would expect security to not let anyone join the stage once a speech had begun at the party at the EB Hotel near Miami International Airport.

A county police veteran endorsed by Trump in the Republican primary, Cordero-Stutz pulled off a 12-point victory despite being out-spent by Democrat James Reyes, a candidate Levine Cava had elevated with a senior county post and the backing of her fundraising operation.

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Once the countys corrections director, he was named head of public safety  overseeing police and fire, along with jails  just weeks before he filed for the Democratic primary as the instant favorite with Levine Cavas backing.

Like Taddeo and the other candidates Levine Cava backed, Reyes used the mayors campaign manager, Democratic political consultant Christian Ulvert.

Miami-Dade County sheriff candidates James Reyes, a Democrat, and Rosie Stutz-Cordero, a Republican.

During the campaign, Cordero-Stutz criticized Levine Cavas 2025 budget for reducing police overtime and scaling back money spent on training new officers.

Levine Cava said there are extra dollars reserved to accommodate spending requests by the new sheriff, which will still rely on money approved by the County Commission for a nearly $900 million budget.

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On Thursday, Cordero-Stutz suggested a confrontation is coming related to how Miami-Dade wants to fund police once the new sheriff takes over.

I do have concerns with the budget as the way it is written. But they did state there is a pot of money they set aside, she said. I believe at a minimum we are going to need to have conversations about how that money is allocated. I am hoping we can have that conversation sooner rather than later.

Trumps decisive win after losing the county in 2016 and 2020 means a changed political landscape for the 13-member County Commission, too. After the 2020 election, each of the seven Democrats on the commission represented a district that voted for President Joe Biden. Now, only three do: Oliver Gilbert, Marleine Bastien and Keon Hardemon, according to a Miami Herald analysis of precinct data.

Trump flipped the Biden districts represented by the other Democrats: Micky Steinberg, Eileen Higgins, Danielle Cohen Higgins and Kionne McGhee. Democrats have a one-seat advantage over Republicans on the commission, although the seats are officially nonpartisan.

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On Friday, McGhee said he didnt expect to see the presidential results change priorities for commissioners or alter how the board operates.

The dynamics and priorities there have been established over time and arent likely to shift due to a single election cycle, he said in a text message. I respect the diverse perspectives and voices within our community.

Even so, the shift has some Republicans picturing a more contentious phase of county government, where a Democratic mayor faces a newly empowered slate of GOP office holders taking power in a county thats now decidedly red.

Hialeah Mayor Esteban Steve Bovo  a former county commissioner and a Republican who lost to Levine Cava in the 2020 election for mayor when Biden carried Miami-Dade by six points  said he sees Tuesdays results as motivation for Republican commissioners to assert themselves more against Levine Cava.

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To my friends on the county commission, this is a clear message by residents, he said. Not just from Republicans but from independents who also voted for Trump and who want more accountability.

I think they need to use that wind behind their sails, he said of commissioners.  And I think they will.
DETROIT (AP)  A jury awarded more than $12 million Friday to a woman who lost her job at a Michigan insurance company after declining to get a COVID-19 vaccination.

Much of the award  $10 million  is for punitive damages against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, according to the verdict form.

Lisa Domski, who worked at Blue Cross for more than 30 years, said she was a victim of religious discrimination. The company in 2021 did not grant an exemption from its vaccine policy, despite her insistence that it clashed with her Catholic beliefs.

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Domskis attorney, Jon Marko, said she worked 100% remotely as an IT specialist during the pandemic; 75% before COVID-19 hit in 2020.

Even without the vaccine, she wasnt a danger to anybody, Marko said in an interview after the trial.

Besides punitive damages, the jury in Detroit federal court awarded Domski about $1.7 million in lost pay and $1 million in noneconomic damages.

Blue Cross denied any discrimination. In a court filing earlier in the case, the insurer said Domski lacked a sincerely held religious belief.

An appeal is possible. Blue Cross released a statement but didnt make anyone available for comment.

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While Blue Cross respects the jury process and thanks the individual jurors for their service, we are disappointed in the verdict, the health insurer said. Blue Cross is reviewing its legal options and will determine its path forward in the coming days.

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A walrus is seen in Alaska's Chukchi Sea in June of 2010. Research by a University of Alaska Fairbanks student found microplastics, mostly tiny fibers, were lodged in muscle tissue, blubber and livers of walruses harvested by hunters from St. Lawrence Island and Wainwright. (Photo by Sarah Sonsthagen | U.S. Geological Survey)

For the first time, tiny bits of plastic have been found in body tissue of Pacific walruses, lodged in the animals muscles, blubber and livers.

The findings, from a University of Alaska Fairbanks student research project, add to growing knowledge about the widespread presence of microplastics in the worlds natural environment, even in remote locations.

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Its a reflection of the plastic age we live in. Its ubiquitous, said Tony Blade, a UAF undergraduate who presented his findings in a presentation at last weeks Alaska Marine Science Symposium, a major science conference held annually in Anchorage.

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic, smaller than 5 millimeters  or one-fifth of an inch  in length, with some too small to be seen without microscopes.

Blades project, conducted under the supervision of UAF marine biology professor Lara Horstmann, examined body tissues of five walruses harvested by subsistence hunters. The samples were donated by hunters from Gambell and Savoonga, Siberian Yupik villages on St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Strait region, and from Wainwright, an Inupiat village on the Alaska mainland.

Every one of the 15 samples  muscle, fat and liver from each of the five walruses  held microplastics.

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In all, there were 73 microplastics isolated from the tissues, almost all of them fibers. In four of the walruses, muscle tissue had the highest concentration of microplastics, though in one walrus from Savoonga, blubber had the highest concentration. Most of those found were clear; black fibers were the second-most prevalent.

Blades research shows that the plastic bits, far too small to be seen with the naked eye, are somehow getting beyond stomachs and digestive tracts and lodging directly into body tissues  a process that scientists call translocation. Although his work is the first to make such a finding in Pacific walruses, emerging research elsewhere is turning up microplastics in body tissues of other marine mammals.

Exactly how the plastics are passing through biological barriers to get into tissues is yet unknown, Blade said. Also yet to be understood, he said, is what the presence of plastic in their bodies does to the walruses.

We dont know what that means as far as biological health of the animal, he said.

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Follow-up work by Blade and Horstmann is already underway, with samples from 20 walruses harvested by St. Lawrence Island hunters. That work will examine whether there are any age- or sex-related patterns to microplastics presence in body tissues, Blade said.

One reason that walruses were chosen for his project, he said, is that they are culturally important to Indigenous people of the region.

Another important reason is the way that they eat, he said. Walruses feed on clams, snails and other creatures that dwell on the ocean floor, the area of the sea known as the benthic zone.

Theyre digging through ocean sediment. And prior studies have shown that microplastics in the Bering Strait region are settling into the sediments of that area, as well as being taken up by organisms like mussels, crustaceans, invertebrates that walruses are eating directly, he said.

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The idea that walruses are more at risk for plastic consumption because of their benthic eating habits is consistent with recent findings by another UAF researcher who has focused on microplastics ingested by spotted seals in the Bering Strait region.

Alexandria Sletten, whose project was the thesis for her newly acquired masters degree, also presented her findings at the symposiums poster session in a follow-up to a presentation last year.

Of the 33 seal stomachs she examined, 32 had plastic. Those seals that fed more heavily at the benthic level  where walruses eat  had more plastics in their stomachs than the seals that fed on prey at the nearer-to-the-surface area known as the pelagic level, she found.

Blades walrus discoveries also fit with some groundbreaking findings by Duke University researcher Greg Merrill, who recently documented the presence of microplastics in body tissues of a variety of marine mammals.

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Merrill, in a presentation at the symposium, described his findings about tissues from 22 marine mammals of 12 species.

Animals tested ranged from bottleneck dolphins and whales found dead after strandings in North Carolina and California to mammals harvested by subsistence hunters or found stranded in Alaska: bearded, spotted and ringed seals and beluga, gray, minke and fin whales.

Two-thirds of the animals tested had microplastics, mostly fibers, in at least one type of body tissue, according to Merrills study.

Translocation is occurring. Plastic that is ingested, those microplastic particles, are moving around in the body and depositing into different tissues, Merrill said in his conference presentation.

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The marine mammals are consuming plastics indirectly, eating prey that acquired the microplastics at lower levels in the food web, Merrill said. But even if the consumption is indirect, the quantities can be staggering, he said.

Large filter-feeding baleen whales are taking in up to 10 million plastic particles a day, which is a pretty staggering number. While most are expelled out in feces, some are passing through to various body parts, he said.

Merrill was able to find microplastics in preserved samples dating back to 2001, indicating that microplastics have been finding their way into marine mammal bodies for decades.

Its a process that has been happening for quite some time, likely since plastics have been ending up in the environment, dating back to post-World War II, he said.

This story was originally produced by the Alaska Beacon which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network, including the Daily Montanan, supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT)  A local middle school is hanging dozens of American flags in preparation for Veterans Day.

The event featured Optimum Internet Services as they thanked the veterans working both for the school and their company as part of a flag replacement program.

They also educated students on the proper techniques for hanging a flag, removing it and putting it at half mast. Multiple guest speakers ranging from North Carolina General Assembly members to veteran teachers who spoke about what the flag means to them.

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I got to talk to them a little bit about my service and what the flag means to me during that and yeah it was good and I really appreciate what theyre doing replacing some of our flags so when you say the Pledge of Allegiance, you have a brand new flag for them, Army veteran and Social Studies teacher at Wellcome Middle School Frank Dembrowski said.

More than 35 flags at the school were replaced.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  It doesnt feel like it, but winter is right around the corner. Will this winter be cold and snowy or warm and wet?

Seasonal forecasts are extremely difficult to get correct. Its hard enough to make an accurate forecast for the next 7 days, let alone the next three months.

Meteorologists use several tools to make seasonal forecasts. The best tool for winter forecasting is the El Nino-Southern Oscillation.

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FORECAST: Middle Tennessee & Southern Kentucky Weather

The El Nino-Southern Oscillation is an ocean current along the equatorial Pacific. You have likely heard of it called El Nino or La Nina. El Nino is the warm phase and La Nina is the cold phase.

Sea surface temperatures during El Nino (Source: WKRN) Sea surface temperatures during La Nina. ((Source: WKRN)

Data going back to the 1950s shows the significant impacts that El Nino and La Nina have on the winters in North America.

Courtesy: NOAA

Here in Tennessee, the trends arent as clear as they are for other parts of the country. Typically we have cool and dry winters during El Nino and warm and slightly wetter winters during La Nina.

So what about this winter?

The current sea surface temperatures near the equator in the Pacific Ocean are slightly cooler than normal. This means we are currently in a weak La Nina.

Current sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. (Source: WKRN)

The Climate Prediction Center is forecasting the weak La Nina to continue this winter.

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Since we are expected to be in a weak La Nina, lets go back and look at all the winters when the pattern was similar. We can use trends from the previous winters to help make the forecast for the upcoming winter.

The Climate Prediction Center has El Nino and La Nina data going back to 1950. Since 1950 there have been 10 winters that coincided with a weak La Nina.

ALERTS | Weather advisories in Middle Tennessee

El Nino Southern Oscillation since 1950, (Source: NOAA) El Nino Southern Oscillation from 1950-1970. (Source: NOAA) Nino Southern Oscillation from 1971-1992. (Source: NOAA) Nino Southern Oscillation from 1992-2013. (Source: NOAA) Nino Southern Oscillation from 2013-2034. (Source: NOAA)

The slideshow above has those 10 winters circled.

To see if the weak La Nina has any impact on our winters in middle Tennessee, we need to look at the data from each of those 10 winters. We will use the data from Nashville International Airport (BNA) because it goes back far enough and includes temperature, rainfall, and snowfall data.

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Below is all the weather data from those winters.

Source: WKRN

The numbers highlighted in red are above normal and the numbers in blue are below normal.

There are some surprising trends. The most surprising is all 10 years had below-average temperatures. This is unexpected because during a typical La Nina winter this part of the country typically sees above-average temperatures.

Looking back at all the winters when there was a strong La Nina, nearly all of them did feature above-average temperatures. This means the strength of La Nina does have a significant impact on our winter weather.

RADAR | Track weather across TN live

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There is no visible trend in precipitation. Half of the winters had below-average precipitation and half had above-average precipitation.

There is a trend in snowfall. Eight out of 10 winters had above-average snowfall.

Using those trends, here is your 2024-2025 winter outlook.

Source: WKRN

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You can expect slightly cooler than average temperatures. Even though all 10 weak La Nina winters were below normal, the warming climate has caused our wintertime temperatures to warm. The warming climate makes it difficult for us to see well below-average temperatures.

With no clear trend in the precipitation, the forecast is for near-normal amounts.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Middle Tennessee can expect to see above-normal snowfall this winter. This goes against what we typically see during La Nina, but the data shows a clear trend with eight out of 10 weak La Nina winters recording high than normal snowfall.

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If youre a snow lover, the data is in your favor!

Dont forget to take the power and reliability of the WKRN Weather Authority with you at all times by downloading the News 2 Storm Tracker app.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)  Midland International Air & Space Port increased its parking fees by one dollar across all five parking lots at the beginning of October, marking the third time since 2021 the airport raised its prices. Justine Ruff, the director of the airport, said the change was to keep the facilitys funding self-sufficient.

We have our own fund that we fund our projects from, she said. There have been times where weve had to take subsidies from the general fund, and we dont want to be in that position again.

This comes as the airport is planning a $38 million expansion project, including a checkpoint expansion where the flagpoles currently stand. Ruff tells us they have received $10 million worth of funds so far.

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Currently, the airports parking spaces are being filled up. MAF earned over $8.27 million in parking revenue during its most recent fiscal year, with revenue particularly spiking after Delta added nonstop flights to Austin. Ruff said the passengers paying for parking are commonly business travelers.

Oil and gas is a huge factor in our traffic, she said. We have a lot of people flying out of here on Thursdays and Fridays. And thats when our parking lots fill up the most.

Midland-Odessa Transportation Alliance President James Beauchamp said those who work in the energy industry contribute to the airports growth in a different way.

One of the great things about being in the energy sector out here is people have higher disposable income, Beauchamp said. That makes it possible, whether theyre going to Disneyland with the family or taking a trip here or there.

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Whether for business or leisure travel, an increase of enplanements  or passengers paying to travel from the airport  is piloting the demand for airport parking. The number of enplanements at MAF increased by almost 12 percent during its most recent fiscal year, including a nearly 15 percent rise of enplanements between November and December.

RELATED: Funding plan approved for Midland International Airport expansion

With the airports fast growth, Ruff said travelers could see more parking updates on the way.

In 2019, we added 50% to our parking lot and we thought that would be enough, she said. In five years, weve learned its not enough.

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Ruff also said MAF is looking at further expansion of its parking area, including a possible parking garage. She said shell know within the next year if a parking garage, which would be in the current P1 lot, is coming to the airport.

Beachum is more optimistic a garage would help solve the parking issue at the airport.

People really want closed-in parking, he said. The only way you can really provide that type of close-in covered parking is ultimately looking at a parking garage structure to provide that sort of supply to meet the demand.

For now, the airport said it is planning for even more traffic as the holidays approach. MAF earned over $1.269 million in parking revenue in November and December 2023, which accumulated for roughly 15 percent of its total yearly revenue.

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MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)  A Midland man was arrested after shooting an alleged shoplifter in the back Friday afternoon.

According to MPD, at about 3:35 pm on Friday, November 9, officers responded to a shooting outside Mr. Puffs Smoke Shop in the 4300 block of Andrews Highway. MPD said witnesses described the male asking about items to purchase costing around $130.

The items on the counter were reportedly near the cash register when the male grabbed the items without paying and headed toward the front door of the store. An employee, 27-year-old Joshua Miller, walked from behind the counter, following the suspect. Miller then reportedly shot the suspect in the back, causing the male to fall to the ground outside the store.

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MPD said there were no reports of the victim making any threats or producing any type of weapon during the incident. The male was later identified as Deandre Jefferson.

MPD added the store employee placed the gun on the ground and was taken into custody by responding officers. The incident is currently being investigated as Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

Jefferson was transported to Midland Memorial Hospital with life-threatening injuries. This remains an ongoing investigation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo.  As St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell prepares to leave his current role for Congress, it appears theres some uncertainty as to who ultimately appoints the countys next prosecuting attorney.

On Wednesday, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page announced his administration would open applications for the position and take responsibility for filling the upcoming vacancy.

On Friday, Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced his office would open applications and would he would instead be responsible for appointing the countys next prosecuting attorney, not Page.

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Applications remain open on both websites as of Friday afternoon.

According to a report from our news partners at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey sent a letter to Page on Thursday expressing that Gov. Parson holds the power to name Bells replacement.

St. Louis eatery named LoveFood.coms most fantastic restaurant in America

Bailey also went as far as issuing a deadline of Tuesday at 5 p.m. to not interfere with the nominating process and claims any attempt for Page to appoint St. Louis Countys next prosecuting attorney would be a violation of Missouri constitution.

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A news release from the St. Louis County Executives Office says the county planned for an appointment process similar to what St. Charles County had in 2023 when the county appointed Joseph McCulloch following Tim Lohmars resignation.

Bell claimed victory in the election for Missouri District 1, a St. Louis-area Congress seat within the U.S. House of Representatives. He will take over in January, though a successor will need to take over the rest of his elected four-year term, which runs through the end of 2026.

After an eventual appointment, voters will have an opportunity to vote for Democrat, Republican or third-party candidates to serve the next full term of the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney in the November 2026 midterm 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 FOX 2.
Minnehaha County Auditor Leah Anderson speaks to county commissioners at the 2024 general election canvas meeting on Nov. 8, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

SIOUX FALLS  Minnehaha County Auditor Leah Anderson and her supporters defended the time it took to finalize election results at the countys official canvas meeting Friday.

Anderson and members of the public also used the meeting as a platform to pitch reform measures they said would speed things up, including moves that would reduce the number of absentee ballots cast.

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Andersons office didnt post final results until shortly after 3 p.m. on Wednesday  about 20 hours after polls closed. Minnehaha County was the last in the state to finish, drawing ire from some Sioux Falls lawmakers.

Anderson said Wednesday that nearly 30,000 absentee ballots cast in the county slowed the process. Resolution boards recreated ballots sent from overseas to run through the tabulators, she said, which took more time. Absentee ballots are time-intensive, she said, and involve verifying voter information, opening envelopes and preparing ballots for scanning.

Election workers count absentee ballots for Minnehaha County on Nov. 5, 2024 in the county administration building. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

Anderson said she worked 33 hours between Election Day and Wednesday to complete results.

Thirty-three hours straight is incredible and almost ridiculous, said Minnehaha County Commissioner Gerald Beninga. He said the commission would review the process in the coming weeks with Anderson to make more improvements if necessary.

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Our goal is to be accurate, not fast, Beninga said. If some people are concerned about the time it takes, we have to have priorities and that priority is not speed but accuracy.

Anderson told reporters after the meeting she needs more space to accommodate the growth in absentee ballots. Anderson could not constantly observe the entire process Tuesday and Wednesday because absentee ballot counting was split into two rooms, while the resolution boards and tabulating machines were in another.

Additionally, Anderson wants to stop allowing early, in-person voting on the Friday before Election Day. The break on Monday before the election would allow her staff to focus on organizing absentee ballots and preparing for Election Day, she said.

A Minnehaha County election worker transports a stack of uncounted absentee ballots to another room to be counted for the 2024 general election on Nov. 5, 2024 at the Minnehaha County Administration Building. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

Such a change would require legislative action. South Dakota state law currently allows for absentee voting until 5 p.m. the day before the election.

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At least 25 states, as well as Washington D.C. and territories Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, set a break between early voting and an election, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Indiana, Ohio and Kansas end early voting the day before an election, but before the end of the work day.

South Dakota has one of the longest in-person absentee voting periods in the country. The state allows residents to vote in-person or request a mail-in absentee ballot 46 days before an election. Delaware has the longest absentee mail-in voting period at 60 days ahead of a general election, but allows for in-person voting 10 days before an election.

Jessica Pollema is president of South Dakota Canvassing Group, which advocates for election changes such as hand counting ballots. She suggested to commissioners that ending the 45-day, no excuse absentee referral would yield faster results statewide because it would mean fewer absentee ballots

If we want to cast stones, I think the legislators should look at themselves, Pollema said, referring to criticism levied by some lawmakers about counting delays.

Jessica Pollema, president of South Dakota Canvassing Group, provides public comment at the Minnehaha County Commissions 2024 general election canvas meeting on Nov. 8, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

Sioux Falls Republican Rep. Tony Venhuizen was one of the most outspoken. Venhuizen posted his concern on X, formerly Twitter, and spoke to news outlets about it.

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He said Friday after the meeting that hed be reluctant to shorten early voting, saying the increased access makes it easier for South Dakotans to make time to vote.

Whats clear is theres a problem, and its a problem specific to Minnehaha County, Venhuizen said.

Pennington County Auditor Cindy Mohler told the Argus Leader her team counted ballots until 5 a.m. Wednesday. The states second-largest county had 48,663 ballots cast and reported a large share of absentee ballots. Minnehaha County had 80,071 ballots cast this election, with 28,707 absentee ballots.

Venhuizen said the states voting system has worked for decades and that it used to work totally fine in Minnehaha County.

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I think were all open to change, but we also want to understand what changed in the last election or two that its suddenly a problem, Venhuizen said.

Election workers scan ballots through a tabulator machine for the 2024 general election on Nov. 5, 2024 in Minnehaha County. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

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Minnehaha generally takes longer than other counties, but counting went into the daylight hours in the 2020 general election and in this years election. Both saw the largest statewide absentee ballot totals in history: 216,140 in 2020 before the election and 141,554 in 2024.

South Dakota is one of seven states, in addition to Washington D.C., that does not allow election officials to process absentee ballots until Election Day, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. South Dakota is one of fourteen states, and Washington D.C., that does not allow counting until polls close.

Commissioners said they plan to conduct an election review in the coming weeks.

The commission also drew its precincts and races for the post-election audit at its meeting. The post-election audit will be Nov. 21.

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Mishal Husain said shed experienced more racism in the past year than at any other point in her career.

The BBC Today presenter also said the summer riots had cast a doubt on her beliefs about Britain.

This year I think I have felt racism in a way that I probably havent at any point in my career before and thats in this country, she said at the Charles Wheeler Award ceremony this week.

That has been hard, and thats given me pause.

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Ms Husain recalled an interview she gave when starting out on the Today programme, in which she spoke about how she felt Britain was probably the only country in Europe where it was possible for her to have reached that point in her career with a very obviously Muslim name.

She continued: But I kind of always felt that the UK was way ahead of so many other countries on that and I dont feel as sure of that today, especially after this summer, than I have done in the past.

Ms Husain, who was born in Britain to Pakistani parents, collected an award for Outstanding Contribution to Broadcast Journalism at the event. She began presenting the Today programme in 2013.

You have to hold your nerve

The presenter said she was conscious that compared to other British Muslims she is incredibly privileged.

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Many of them are living in the most deprived postcodes in the country, so my life is very different from people with whom I share that aspect of my identity, the way that most live, she said.

But if were not honest about the way that those things do affect us at times then I think, you know, theres a, well, its just a lack of honesty.

She said that you do need to toughen up and accept what goes with the territory to some extent but said there are also times when she has felt shaken.

Ive been able to pull myself back together, but I think theres a hard climate personally around, she added.

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In a Q&A event at the award ceremony, Ms Husain also spoke about covering the ongoing Middle East war.

When youre in quite a combative moment, you have to hold your nerve. And the only way, the only thing that gives me courage to hold my nerve is when Im sure enough of my facts, and in the context of the conflict in Gaza at the moment that is made more difficult by not having the access that is normally the case, she said.



Even to the hardest of war zones your own colleagues who are, who have been trusted voices in so many different arenas for such a long time who are now in this arena, theres a whole different level of connection that our audiences have and we are missing that in this context.

I read the comments

Last month the BBC admitted, after complaints, that Ms Husain had not sufficiently challenged a guest who called Israel a genocidal regime during an interview.

I do generally read the comments and I think that there are times when they make you think about something that youve said or done in a way that is important. Sometimes people are sharing their knowledge and youll look at who they are and think that is a good point and next time I do an interview on that subject Im going to think about that.

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Earlier this year an Israeli government spokesperson, David Mencer, accused Ms Husain of pro-Palestinian bias during an interview on Radio 4. In response the BBC said Ms Husain was asking legitimate and important questions in a professional, fair and courteous manner.

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Ryan Borgwardt

GREEN LAKE  A kayaker who was reported missing for three months may very well be alive  just not in the country.

In a shocking turn of events, Green Lake County Sheriff's Office said Nov. 8 it believes 44-year-old Ryan Borgwardt staged his disappearance and has likely fled to Europe.

Sheriff Mark Podoll broke the news during a press conference after an investigation revealed Borgwardt had a second passport, replaced his laptops hard drive, inquired about moving funds to foreign banks and took out a life insurance policy worth $375,000 earlier this year.

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Due to the discovery of this new evidence, we are confident that Ryan is not located in Green Lake and we have ended all search efforts associated with Green Lake, Podoll said.

At this time, we believe that Ryan is alive and likely in Eastern Europe.

Animal abuse: 70 dogs removed from 'deplorable' conditions inside FDL County home. Shelter seeks help.

The news comes as a stunning development in a story that initially unfolded as a case of a missing kayaker on Aug. 12 when Borgwardt failed to return from kayaking on Green Lake.

Sheriffs deputies located his kayak overturned with a lifejacket that same day before Borgwardts wife told authorities she received a text message from him at 10:49 p.m. Aug. 11 saying he was heading to shore.

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An extensive search involving underwater drones, towable submersible sonar, divers and three K-9 cadaver teams did not turn up Borgwardts body after 54 days.

But a new investigation started Oct. 7 showed Borgwardts name had been checked by Canadian law enforcement Aug. 13 and revealed he had a second passport after reporting his original passport lost.

Deer poaching: Deer poaching probe across 3 Wisconsin counties results in arrest of 3 teen boys and 1 woman, all from Campbellsport

According to Podoll, Borgwardt's family easily located that first passport.

With help from Customs and Border Patrol, Homeland Security, the FBI, and the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigations, authorities were able to uncover the following:

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The replacement of the hard drive on his laptop.

The clearing of browsers on the day of his disappearance.

Syncing the laptop with iCloud Aug. 11.

Photos of passports.

Inquiries about moving funds to foreign banks.

Changed email addresses associated with financial accounts on the day of his disappearance.

Communication with a woman from Uzbekistan.

A new $375000 life insurance policy taken out in January.

A purchased airline gift card.

Our investigation has many more steps to take to put this puzzle together, Podoll said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Green Lake County Sheriffs Office at 920-294-4134, ext. 1162.

Contact Justin Marville at jmarville@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Missing Green Lake kayaker likely staged own death, fled to Europe
A woman from Michigan who was missing for over a week and was believed to have traveled to California has been located, local authorities say.

Lucy Silverman, 71, is a resident of Wyoming, Michigan  a city immediately southwest of Grand Rapids  and had last been seen at 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 1, according to the Wyoming Police Department and reports from KTLA sister station WOOD.

Her last known location was in the area of Clyde Park Avenue SW and Blanchard Street SW in the city of Wyoming, police said.

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$20,000 reward offered for information on suspect who fatally shot sea lion in Southern California

Investigators believed she was heading to California, although the exact location in California where she could have been going was not disclosed, nor was her reason for traveling to the Golden State.

Silverman was found safely on Saturday, Wyoming police said, eight days after she first went missing.

Where Silverman was located was not released.

Anyone with more information is asked to call 616-530-7300.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CANTON, Miss. (WJTV)  A new Mississippi Freedom Trail marker in Canton honors Flonzie Brown Wright.

The marker was unveiled on Friday, November 8 outside the Historic Madison County Courthouse on Peace Street.

Events to mark 150th anniversary of Vicksburg Massacre

Wright was the first African American female elected to public office in the State of Mississippi. In 1968, she was elected as Election Commissioner in Madison County.

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Too many heroes have been forgotten. With this marker today, itll become a permanent legacy to her memory and work here in this community, said U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.).

The Madison County Board of Supervisors collaborated in conjunction with the Mississippi Humanities Council to unveil the marker.

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MISSOURI  Late Tuesday night, voters in Missouri passed Amendment 3, overturning the states abortion ban. Missouri became one of seven states to legalize abortion during Tuesdays general election.

After every vote had been counted, 51.6% of Missouri voters approved the amendment, while 48.4% had rejected it, according to Missouris Secretary of State website.

Across Missouri, while there were more counties that voted no on the amendment, larger metropolitan areas with greater populations pushed the amendment into being passed with more yes votes.

Counties with greatest support?

Regarding Missouri counties that supported the amendment, here are the top counties with majority yes votes in their county:

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St. Louis County: 335,082 St. Charles County: 119,833 Jackson County: 112,822 Kansas City: 99,120 St. Louis City: 95,039 Clay County: 79,256 Boone County: 59,482 Platte County: 35,801 Buchanan County: 17,893

Counties with least support?

Regarding Missouri counties that rejected the amendment, these are the top 10 counties with majority no votes in their county:

Greene County: 72,651 Jefferson County: 62,589 Jasper County: 33,463 Franklin County: 33,417 Cass County: 30,175 Christian County: 26,792 Cape Girardeau: 25,162 Cole County: 23,017 Newton County: 20,074 Lincoln County: 19,789

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Monroe County Executive Adam Bello submitted his $1.5 billion 2025 budget proposal Friday, including funds for key investments across the region.

The proposal includes a reduced county tax rate at $6.03 per $1,000, which is a historic low.

Bello also touted investments in public health, quality of life, and public safety.

This is a responsive and a responsible spending plan, Bello said. The budget continues our community on a path forward while maintaining the programs and services that our residents depend on. And at the same time, this budget complies with the New York State tax cap, and it complies with the Monroe County Taxpayer Protection Act.

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The Monroe County legislature is set to consider this spending plan at its meeting on December 10.

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Gov. Wes Moore pledged to work with the Trump administration to advance the interests of Marylanders, but also vowed to push back if needed. Photo by Steve Crane.

Gov. Wes Moore (D) pledged Friday to work with the incoming Trump administration to advance the interests of Marylanders, even as he put down a marker and vowed to push back against the new Republican administration when necessary.

We will vigorously defend the interests of all Marylanders, and we are ready to push back on this new White House when necessary, Moore said. But where we can find common ground, we will, not only as a matter of principle but as a responsibility to the people we represent.

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The comments came during brief remarks at the start of a Cabinet meeting Friday in the State House, before reporters were ushered out of the room without the opportunity to ask questions.

It came just three days after President-elect Donald Trump, written off as a political pariah when he was voted out of the presidency four years ago, completed a stunning comeback, winning both the popular vote and the Electoral College votes that will put him back in the White House on Jan. 20, 2025.

A supposedly dead heat of an election, that experts predicted could take days or weeks to decide, had been called for Trump by 8 a.m. Wednesday morning.Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, conceded on Wednesday afternoon, and the latest tally showed Trump with 312 electoral votes to Harris 226; it takes 270 to win.

Harris easily won deep-blue Maryland and its 10 electoral votes, garnering 1.6 million votes to Trumps 961,215, according to the latest numbers Friday from the Maryland State Board of Elections. Moore, who spent a considerable amount of time campaigning for Harris in battleground states that the Democrat ultimately lost, acknowledged the sting of the election results, saying it was not a result that a majority of Marylanders hoped for.

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I know there are people in our state who voted for Donald Trump, and there are people in our state who voted for Kamala Harris, Moore said. The common denominator is that they are all Marylanders. And they will all be defended, they will be protected, and they will be heard.

Sen. Stephen S. Hershey Jr. (R-Upper Shore), the Senate minority leader, welcomed the governors commitment to find common ground with the incoming Trump/Vance Administration.

We are also committed to helping our Democratic colleagues navigate this relationship for the benefit of all Marylanders, Hershey said in a prepared statement. He then said that the message of the presidential election also applies in Maryland: Voters are worried about their daily lives and their budgets and dont want higher taxes or more government regulation.

While characteristically short on details, Trumps campaign promises included proposals for sweeping reductions to the federal government  including elimination of the Department of Education  and a crackdown on immigration that would include mass deportations beginning on day one of his administration.

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Trumps hand has been strengthened by Republican wins that gave the party control of the Senate and are on the verge of letting the GOP maintain control of the House.

Critics have questioned the feasibility of many of Trumps plans. But Maryland elected officials have already started worrying about what a second Trump administration could mean on federal projects like Baltimores proposed Red Line, the Francis Scott Key Bridge replacement, the relocation of the FBI headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Greenbelt and more. They are also expressing fears about the possible loss of federal jobs, a major factor in the states economy.

Moore ticked off an alphabet soup of acronyms for federal agencies housed in Maryland, including the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, NASA and more, before pledging to defend those agencies and the jobs they provide.

The federal government is our biggest employer, and we have around 140,000 federal employees in our state, he said. These Marylanders are essential to our national competitiveness, and they are the bedrock of our economy. Decisions made in Washington directly affect them, and we need to keep these Marylanders in the front of our minds in everything we do.

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Moore also pledged to protect the constitutional right to reproductive freedom that Maryland voters overwhelmingly approved on Tuesday. More than 74% of voters backed Question 1, which adds abortion protections to the state constitution.

Trump bragged on the campaign trail about appointing three of the six Supreme Court justices who voted in 2022 to overturn Roe v. Wade, the nearly 50-year-old ruling that recognized a federal right to an abortion. But he also said it should be left to states to regulate abortion, and said he would veto any attempt to pass a nationwide abortion ban.

But abortion-rights advocates in Maryland are already worried that Question 1 could be undermined by Trump and a Republican Congress, and Moore said Friday that his administration would push back against any federal attempts to weaken abortion rights.

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The people of our state voted resoundingly to codify the right to choose into the Maryland Constitution. That right will be honored and respected in the state of Maryland, he said.

Moore said his administration began planning in February for all possible post-election outcomes, whether it be Trump, Harris or President Joe Biden, who dropped his reelection bid this summer. He said his administration has run and pressure-tested countless scenarios and that the state is prepared for all possibilities.

In the meantime, he said, the state will continue working with the Biden administration, which has a little more than another 10 weeks in office before turning the government over to the Trump administration on Jan. 20.
Russia claimed on Nov. 9 that it shot down 50 Ukrainian drones in seven Russian regions overnight.

The claim comes as Ukraine, over the past several months, has intensified its efforts to strike deep into Russia using homemade drones, targeting arms depots, airfields, and oil refineries to weaken Russia's combat capabilities from a distance.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have thwarted Kyiv's "attempt" to target unidentified sites with drones in Bryansk, Kursk, Novgorod, Smolensk, Tula, Oryol, and Tver oblasts. It claimed that 28 drones were shot down over Bryansk Oblast just north of Ukraine.

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Ukraine has not reacted to the Russian claim as of publication time.

Despite being limited to the use of long-range kamikaze drones, Kyiv has scored some spectacular success in recent weeks.

One of the largest explosions of the full-scale invasion saw, in the words of a Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) source, an ammunition warehouse "literally wiped off the face of the earth" in Tver Oblast last month.

This came just days after Ukraine confirmed attacks on two other arms depots, with the U.K. Defense Ministry saying that the combined strikes caused "the largest loss of ammunition" in Russia during its all-out war against Ukraine.

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Read also: Ukraine expands long-range drone strikes target list, alcohol now on the menu

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Russia has stated that it is "ready to listen" to the proposals of US President-elect Donald Trump regarding its war against Ukraine.

Source: Sergei Ryabkov, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, as quoted by Interfax, a Russian news outlet

Details: Moscow is reportedly "absolutely" ready to hear Trumps proposals.

Quote from Ryabkov: "If there are any signals from the American side that they have ideas on how to move forward in terms of settlement, rather than continuing to pump the Kyiv regime with all kinds of assistance in the hope that it will eventually lead to Moscows strategic defeat, we will undoubtedly do everything we can to analyse this and come up with a response

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It is clear that there is no simple solution to this problem or these problems related to what is happening in Ukraine and around it."

Background: Media reports suggest that Trump may call on European forces to create a 1,200-kilometre buffer zone between Russian and Ukrainian troops as part of a plan to freeze the war between the two countries.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  An Oklahoma City mother received a gut-wrenching call from police last week concerning her daughter.

Your daughter was involved in a car accident and shes been killed, an officer told her over the phone.

I said, oh my God, how did this happen, said Esther Pollard.

Photo of Nina Pollard (KFOR)

Pollard says her 38-year-old daughter, Nina, has been missing for over a year. She thought the call provided a tragic answer to what happened to Nina and where shes been.

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LOCAL NEWS: Family says looter stole up to $50K in items from their tornado-damaged home

Police told Pollard, her daughter Nina was killed in a crash near I-240 and Penn.

We had been searching, I have pictures posted all over Oklahoma City, Pollard said.

When Pollard went to the morgue to identify Ninas body, it wasnt her.

I was very traumatized to go in there all week expecting to see my daughter, and it was a totally different person, said Pollard.

Also adding, It freaked me out, really. I was really upset, said Pollard.

Photo of Nina Pollard and her husband (KFOR)

She says the medical examiner tagged another body that had both Ninas name and date of birth.

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He [medical examiner] kept saying, thats her, he says, look at the structure of her face, said Pollard.

Pollard said she knew it wasnt Nina, adding that shed recognize her daughters features and a distinct tattoo she had.

She refused to believe and agree to the body being Ninas, so doctors took blood samples which proved a misidentification.

The Coroners Office called back the next day and said that was not Nina, Pollard said.

Pollard said this entire experience has traumatized her, as she still struggles with unanswered questions about her daughters whereabouts.

Now Im wondering, is she out there alive somewhere? If so, why hasnt she been found, said Pollard.

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Oklahoma City police did confirm to News 4, the body was misidentified. Authorities say they now know who that person is and have contacted the family.

When asking how a mix-up like this could happen, News 4 was told only the medical examiners office could answer those questions. So far, they have not responded to KFORs request for more information.

Ninas mother Esther says she did fill out a missing persons report months prior to receiving the call from police.

Pollard has asked if you recognize Nina anywhere in the OKC metro to please email her at estrelita.pollard@gmail.com.

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The warnings Wednesday morning were dire: Southern Ventura County was primed to be hit with the region's most ferocious Santa Ana wind event in years, creating extremely critical fire weather in the area.

And the conditions lived up to the billing, with 60- to 80-mph gusts slamming the foothills of Moorpark and Camarillo. Alone, the winds were dangerous. But once a small fire ignited in the wilderness north of Somis, the seeds for disaster were firmly planted.

"We're talking about the most volatile of volatile conditions that can come together to create the development of a large fire  fast," said Ariel Cohen, the lead meteorologist at the National Weather Service's Oxnard office. "And that's exactly what we saw with the Mountain fire."

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Within hours, the blaze had jumped over the 118 highway from the rugged Santa Susana Mountains and was tearing across neighborhoods in the hills above Camarillo.

Read more: In a few terrifying hours, the Mountain fire exploded into SoCal's most destructive in years

Fire officials are used to battling large fires this time of year, but a ruinous combination of extreme conditions and challenging geography hampered early efforts. The winds were so fierce that retardant-dropping aircraft were grounded, at least temporarily. The fire moved so fast that officials were forced to focus on evacuations rather than firefighting.

We were presented with very, very extreme Santa Ana conditions. That of course changes our tactics, said Capt. Tony McHale of the Ventura County Fire Department. So we go into a more defensive posture, and the number one priority in that is human life.

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Water pressure in some areas also became erratic, forcing crews to shuttle water up to some key positions in the firefight  though it is still not clear what effect that might have had. Officials have said it did not affect operations, but others on the ground called it a challenge.

It probably didn't help that much of southwest California was similarly on high alert for fires, included in that elevated red flag warning. At least one fire sparked at the same time in Malibu, which initially was also threatening homes.

The entire situation fueled what would become one of Southern California's most destructive wildfires in recent years. In less than 24 hours, the Mountain fire destroyed more than 130 structures, primarily homes in the foothills around Camarillo, and damaged 88 others, fire officials said.

Read more: Mountain fire's stunning toll: 132 structures destroyed, 88 damaged

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As winds started to subside Thursday night, firefighters made their first inroads against the blaze, reaching 5% containment. As of Friday afternoon, more than 20,600 acres had burned  the majority singed on Wednesday  and crews said the fire was 7% contained. By Saturday morning, containment was at 17%.

Officials are hopeful they've turned a corner in the fight, but both residents and crews remain stunned by the speed and force of the fire.

When a fire moves this fast and casts that many embers everywhere, it's extremely hard to fight or predict, said Kyle Ferris, fire behavior analyst with the Mountain Fire Incident Command Team. He said the houses that ended up falling victim to the flames were virtually chosen at random  at the mercy of wherever embers happened to land, some jumping up to a mile ahead of the main fire.

Linda Elmo, 75, watched as the winds picked up Wednesday morning, and though she was listening to the news, she didnt receive notice about an evacuation until a firefighter knocked on the door and told her and her husband to go, go, go!"

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It happened so fast, Elmo said. All of a sudden, the blaze was in this canyon by the house in the backyard.

Firefighters first responded around 9 a.m. to a large brush fire on South Mountain in the Santa Susana Mountains. Within an hour, officials had issued the first evacuation orders around Moorpark as they tried to respond to the fast-moving blaze.

By 11 a.m., widespread evacuations were ordered as the blaze marched toward the Camarillo foothills and higher into the mountains  where winds blew stronger, pushing stray embers even farther ahead of the blaze, officials reported. Around 3 p.m., about six hours after the fire was first spotted, it had exploded to almost 9,000 acres without any containment, burning dozens of homes to a crisp.

Karen Cihigoyenetche, 81, and her husband Raymond, 92, were warned about the fire by a serviceman from their cable company, who begged them to leave the house.

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She jumped into action, trying to call all of her elderly neighbors. She grabbed her emergency bag packed with cash, extra clothes and medicine.

The traffic was really bad, and a lot of emergency vehicles trying to get through the traffic," Cihigoyenetche said. "Unbelievable."

CaroleAnn Higa, 77, and a roommate escaped their home to the roar of helicopters overhead. She stuffed some clothes and her respirator into her purse, and her roommate loaded her oxygen tank into the car. When she exited the house, she said, the smoke was so thick she could barely see across the street.

You cant breathe, she said. It hits your chest and youre gasping for air," she said.

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Read more: Satellite photos show intense power, devastation of the Mountain fire

It still isn't clear how the fire started, but officials are focusing on at least one victory in this incident: No deaths or major injuries have been reported. Cohen said that's a testament that the warnings were adequately dire and messaging well coordinated, which allowed emergency officials to pre-position resources and residents to be as ready as possible.

"You can't completely stop something that has this much inertia, spreading this quickly with as much fuel burning as fast as it is. However, when we see the fire stops as a certain point  it didn't go all the way to the coast, for instance  ultimately, many lives were saved," Cohen said. "No one was caught off guard."

The Mountain fire could have been a second coming of the 2017 Thomas or 2018 Woolsey fires, but luckily it didn't pan out that way, said Mark Lorenzen, the Ventura County Fire Department chief from 2012 to 2022.

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The Thomas fire  which destroyed over 1,000 structures and burned more than 281,000 acres in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties  grew under similar circumstances as the Mountain fire, with low humidity, active Santa Ana winds and lots of dry brush in mixed urban and rural areas.

"All the conditions were perfect for a fire of this magnitude," the retired fire chief said. If the windy conditions had persisted longer, Lorenzen thinks it could have been much worse.

Read more: Satellite photos show intense power, devastation of the Mountain fire

"In spite of the homes that were lost there, there's a measure of success in avoiding loss of human life," he said.

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This region is one that has seen many fires over the years, especially in the autumn when Santa Ana winds pick up along this "favorable corridor" for the dry, blustery winds, Cohen said.

The fire danger has gotten worse with the impacts of climate change.

In the area of the Mountain fire footprint, six other wildfires have burned more than 1,000 acres since 1986. Most recently, the 2023 South and 2019 Maria fires burned thousands of acres in the western section of the current perimeter.

More frequent and larger fires create a dangerous cycle that burns through the more resilient brush and trees, making room for quick-to-dry invasive grasses. That phenomenon was particularly relevant this year, after two years of extreme growth were followed by record-setting late-summer heat.

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This was definitely an area with very high vulnerability, Cohen said. Consecutive 12-month periods with up to twice the normal amount of precipitation produced a lot of "smaller fuels" in the form of vegetation, brush and grasses, he said, "and that ends up being the foundation for fires to very efficiently spread."

Times staff writers Jireh Deng, Sean Greene, Noah Goldberg, Nathan Solis and Joseph Serna contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Former White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney weighed in on President-elect Trumps transition team and potential Cabinet Thursday, emphasizing the need for loyal members in order to ensure a successful term.

Loyalty is not the blind sort of, Oh, Ill do anything for Donald Trump. Its  are your interests aligned with the president and his agenda. Is your first loyalty to Donald Trump or do you have divided loyalty someplace? Mulvaney told The Hill host Blake Burman on NewsNation.

By the way, this should come as a shock to no one, Barack Obama, picked loyalists for his cabinet, he added. You have to have a loyal Cabinet because they are your most trusted advisers.

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After Trump was declared the the winner in the 2024 White House race over Vice President Harris, he and his allies began focusing on who would serve in key administrative roles. The former president announced his leadership team in August, anchored by former Small Business Administration administrator Linda McMahon and businessman Howard Lutnick. His vice president, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), is serving as an honorary chair along with his sons, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr.

Trump has already named Susie Wiles to be chief of staff. The widely respected Florida operative anchored the president-elects campaign for the past two years and will be the first woman ever to serve in that role.

During a 3-hour interview with podcaster Joe Rogan last month, Trump said the biggest mistake of his presidency was picking bad, disloyal people to join his administration. His remarks came after former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Mark Milley and another former White House chief of staff, John Kelly, painted him as a fascist and claimed he praised former Nazi leader Adolf Hitlers generals for their loyalty.

In his first term, the president-elect went through four chiefs of staff  Reince Priebus, Kelly, Mulvaney and former Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.). Former President Obama, as Mulvaney noted, had just as many. President Biden has only had two.

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Mulvaney described the position as fun, but not easy. He also praised the appointment of Wiles, predicting that she would excel in the role.

Ive heard nothing but really good things about Susie. I dont know her myself. I know a lot of folks in the campaign, a lot of folks in the transition, Mulvaney told Burman. And without exception, they think shed be really well suited to this.

NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group which also owns The Hill.

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Hundreds of foreign criminals convicted of murder, rape and child sexual abuse have been allowed into Britain from abroad, police figures show.

The violent foreign offenders are exploiting weaknesses in the UK visa system that enable them to enter the country despite post-Brexit rules that allow the Government to ban any overseas criminals jailed for more than a year.

They only have to self-declare that they have not committed any serious crime to secure a visa to enter Britain  and are only exposed if they get into trouble with police once in the UK.

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British police officers and law enforcement agencies can then check an arrested foreign suspects criminal background through the UKs ACRO criminal records office which applies for the information from officials in the persons home country.

Data from ACRO, released under freedom of information (FOI) laws, shows checks with officials in Romania have turned up more than 700 cases in the last three years where a suspect in the UK has a criminal record there for a murder or manslaughter, rape or a child sex offence.

The FOI request revealed that in the last three years officials working at ACRO have carried out 317,757 cross-border computerised criminal record checks on arrested foreign nationals.

Raimondas Jakstas had beaten a man to death in Lithuania before he came to the UK and threatened a neighbour

Based on a sample of just five nationalities, these checks uncovered details of 524 cases where a suspect had a conviction abroad for murder or manslaughter, 441 cases of a person with an overseas rape conviction and 592 incidents of child sex offences abroad.

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One of the most high-profile cases saw Michael Podlaszczyk, 33, come to the UK despite having served 12 years in jail for killing a man in a drunken rage in his native Poland. His conviction only emerged after he was jailed for life for raping and robbing a woman whom he attacked in a park in Leicester.

Another high-profile case was that of Vytautas Jokubauskas, 59, who murdered his partner before dismembering her and stuffing her torso into a suitcase. Jokubauskas, who was living in Peterborough, strangled his girlfriend Ramute Butkiene, 42, with a dressing gown cord before dismembering her body.

It emerged at the end of his trial, where he was convicted of her murder, that in 1992 he was jailed in Lithuania for a brawl in which he killed a man.

The issue was further highlighted in 2015 when Lithuanian Raimondas Jakstas, 26, was jailed for attacking his neighbour in Boston, Lincolnshire. Jakstas had come to the UK after his release from a Lithuanian jail where he had served five years of a nine-year sentence for beating someone to death.

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said the Government should consider whether the introduction of a US-style electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system for travellers to the UK next year could provide an opportunity to set up a new criminal background checks system. I would support it, he said.

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In the meantime, he said: It is vital where foreign nationals are found to have committed serious offences here or elsewhere that they are rapidly returned to their country of origin. We cant have known foreign criminals roaming our streets.

Under ETA, travellers to the UK will have to submit biographic, biometric and contact details and answer questions about their plans before being automatically checked against watchlists and criminal databases.

However, even ETA still only requires self-declaration on criminality and checks are only against UK databases and Interpol watchlists for terrorists and other serious international criminals. Officers would need prior suspicions about a traveller to check their criminal background through ACRO before their arrival.

A former senior Border Force and immigration officer told The Sunday Telegraph: It is a weakness in the current system but its difficult because individual countries criminal records databases are not networked. Even if they were to be, it raises quite a big privacy issue.

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It is understood that officials considered tougher visa requirements when the post-Brexit rules on criminal convictions were introduced. This included the possibility of requiring travellers to the UK to get a police certificate confirming they had no criminal record before getting a visa.

Its tricky because it would bring the visa system to a grinding halt in places like India and Pakistan because it would take so long to furnish those certificates. And then there would be forgeries, said the former officer.

Among those who have been banned from the UK are well-known people with convictions such as boxer Mike Tyson, who was barred due to his conviction for rape, and rapper Snoop Dogg for a previous case of violent disorder.

Most prolific countries

The ACRO data obtained by The Telegraph shows the top three nations for murder or manslaughter in the past three years were Romania (307 cases), Lithuania (93) and Poland (83). For rape, it was Romania (235), Poland (121) and Lithuania (41). For child sex offences, it was Romania (216), Poland (203) and the Czech Republic (77).

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A Home Office spokesman said: Those applying for a visa to come to the UK are required to declare any criminal convictions and are subject to checks against UK police databases, watchlists and immigration databases. They may be refused if they have a criminal conviction, a history of serious or persistent offending or have failed to declare convictions.

Our police also carry out routine checks for overseas criminal convictions on foreign nationals who are arrested, and where serious convictions are found, individuals are referred to Immigration Enforcement for deportation consideration.

A spokesman for ACRO said: The UK has well-established mechanisms for exchanging information on criminal records with other countries. This helps UK police pursue criminal investigations and safeguard communities.

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MANHATTAN (KSNT)  Cutting-edge art museums arent just for major cities.

After years of planning and construction, the Museum of Art and Light held its ribbon cutting ceremony in Manhattan Friday evening.

Kansas Lieutenant Governor, David Toland, said he knew from the first project meeting the museum would be a win for the Kansas taxpayer.

The fact you had such strong founders that were willing to step up and articulate a vision, Toland said, then be able to execute on that vision made it easy for us at the state.

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For co-founders Robert and Tracey DeBruyn, its about much more than money.

My mother was the catalyst for this, years and years ago, Tracey said. She took 3 little girls every year, year after year, to the Art Institute in Chicago to create this love of art.

The 100,000 square-feet museum features traditional art, as well as pieces that use modern light and technology. Its made to be an immersive experience for visitors.

Just before a dedication by the local Masonic Lodge that featured music and a formal ceremony, Robert DeBruyn told the crowd he comes from a long line of Freemasons.

Robert told 27 News the arts improve quality of life, and everyone should be able to enjoy them, regardless of wealth or where you come from.

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Thats what this is all about for us, he said. From birth til death, theres something in the arts for you.

Toland said the attraction, partially funded by taxpayers, is one-of-a-kind and will draw crowds, changing how people see Kansas.

This is really gonna be a beacon for those who are coming to Manhattan he said. It shows the new Kansas thats being built right before our eyes.

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President-elect Donald Trump added Elon Musk to a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday,The New York Times reports.

The SpaceX and Tesla CEO has played a key role in providing internet access to Ukraine via his Starlink satellite system as the country fights against Russia. Unnamed sources have confirmed Musks participation to both the Times and Axios.

The exact contents of their conversation, which took place the same day the presidential election was called in Trumps favor, arent clear. One unnamed source told the Times that Zelensky called the president-elect to congratulate him, and Trump afterward handed the phone to Musk. Zelensky then thanked the billionaire for his assistance with Starlink. The source described it as a good talk.

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Another source told Axios that Zelensky thought it was a positive sign that they had a call so soon after Trump secured a second term in the White House.

Zelensky last met with Trump in September.

Volodymyr Zelensky met with Donald Trump in September to discuss the Ukraine-Russia war (Getty Images)

We have a common view that the war in Ukraine must be stopped. Putin cannot win. Ukrainians must win, the Ukrainian president said at the time.

Musk was a central figure in Trumps second presidential bid, and even launched the America PAC to support him. He joined Trump when he made his return to Butler, Pennsylvania last month after Thomas Crooks assassination attempt.

The billionaire also launched a daily lottery last month that awarded $1 million to people who sign a petition supporting First and Second amendment rights.

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Musk and his PAC were later accused of launching an illegal lottery scheme to influence voters ahead of the presidential election. But, an attorney for the PAC revealed the winners were not randomly selected at all.

Swing-state voters who signed the PACs petition for a chance to be presented with a novelty-sized check were instead deliberately chosen to be paid spokespeople for the group, lawyer Chris Gober told a judge in Philadelphia on Monday.

This week, Musk also claimed Trump won because he went on Joe Rogans podcast and was a normal person.

He told right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson that if Kamala Harris had also gone on Rogans show, it would have been game over.

Nothing would do more damage to Kamalas campaign than going on Joe Rogan because shed run out of nonsequiturs after about 45 minutes, Musk said on a live broadcast from Mar-a-Lago on November 6.
The Solar System's little pocket of the Milky Way is, interestingly enough, exactly that. Our star resides in an unusually hot, low-density compartment in the galaxy's skirts, known as the Local Hot Bubble (LHB).

Why it's not called the Local Hot Pocket is anyone's guess; but, because it's an anomaly, scientists want to know why the region exists.

Now a team of astronomers has mapped the bubble, revealing not just a strange asymmetry in the pocket's shape and temperature gradient, but the presence of a mysterious tunnel pointing towards the constellation Centaurus.

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The new data about the shape and heat of the bubble supports a previous interpretation that the LHB was excavated by exploding supernovae that expanded and heated the structure, while the tunnel suggests that it may be connected to another low-density bubble nearby.

The LHB is characterized by its temperature. It's a region thought to be at least 1,000 light-years across, hovering at a temperature of around a million Kelvin. Because the atoms are spread so thin, this high temperature doesn't have a significant heating effect on the matter within, which is probably just as well for us. But it does emit a glow in X-rays, which is how astronomers identified it, years ago.

But characterizing something you're physically inside is a lot easier to say than do. Imagine a fish (if a fish had human-like intelligence) trying to describe the shape of its tank without moving from the center. It's tricky  but with the right tools, it becomes easier.

This brings us to eROSITA, the Max Planck Institute of Extraterrestrial Physics' powerful space-based X-ray telescope. Led by astrophysicist Michael Yeung of the Institute, a team of researchers has made use of eROSITA to probe the LHB in greater detail than ever before.

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We know, thanks to previous research efforts, that the LHB was likely the product of supernova explosions going off like a string of firecrackers, some 14.4 million years ago. The Solar System's position in the bubble's center is just a fun cosmic coincidence. But the LHB's shape remained poorly-defined  a sort of blobby, chubby knucklebone-like configuration.

One big advantage of eROSITA is its position. Wisps of our planet's atmosphere reach a surprising distance into space, with a large halo of hydrogen known as the geocorona extending as far as 100 Earth radii  over 600,000 kilometers (more than 370,000 miles)  from the surface. When particles blowing from the Sun interact with the geocorona, they create a diffuse X-ray glow very similar to the glow of the LHB.

eROSITA is aboard a space observatory positioned some 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. Sitting in a gravitationally stable position created by Earth's and the Sun's pull, the X-ray observatory is the first of its kind to observe the X-ray sky from completely outside of our glowing geocorona.

The researchers divided up eROSITA observations of the X-ray sky into around 2,000 sections, and painstakingly studied the X-ray light in each to generate a map of the LHB. Their findings revealed that the bubble is expanding perpendicular to the galactic plane, more than in a parallel direction. This is not unexpected, since the vertical directions offer less resistance than the horizontal.

The temperature gradient of the Local Hot Bubble, coded by color. (Michael Yeung/MPE)

The asymmetrical temperature gradient the researchers measured was consistent with the supernova theory for the bubble's creation, with the possibility that stars were exploding in our neighborhood until just a few million years ago.

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Their map also refined the known shape of the LHB, allowing for a model to be constructed in three dimensions. The result resembles the outflows of what's known as a bipolar nebula, if a little spikier and bumpier. And there was a hidden surprise.

"What we didn't know was the existence of an interstellar tunnel towards Centaurus, which carves a gap in the cooler interstellar medium," says astrophysicist Michael Freyberg of the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics. "This region stands out in stark relief."

We don't know, yet, what the tunnel connects to. There are a number of objects in the direction it trails off in, including the Gum nebula, another neighboring bubble, and several molecular clouds.

It could also be a clue that the galaxy consists of a whole connected network of hot bubbles and interstellar tunnels, an idea proposed in 1974, and for which little evidence has yet emerged. We might be on the brink of finding that network now  and this, in turn, could help us learn more about the recent history of our galaxy.

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The research has been published in Astronomy & Astrophysics.

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Kamala Harris should have faced a primary contest to succeed Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi has said.

The former House of Representatives speaker said Ms Harris could have emerged as a stronger candidate if she had taken on rivals for her partys nomination, instead of immediately being endorsed by Mr Biden.

The remarks from Ms Pelosi, one of the most influential voices in her party, came as the Democrats embarked on a process of soul-searching following Ms Harriss landslide election defeat this week.

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Had the president gotten out sooner, there may have been other candidates in the race, she told a New York Times podcast.

The anticipation was that, if the president were to step aside, that there would be an open primary.

She continued: I think she [Ms Harris] would have done well in that and been stronger going forward.

But we dont know that. That didnt happen. We live with what happened.

And because the president endorsed Kamala Harris immediately, that really made it almost impossible to have a primary at that time. If it had been much earlier, it would have been different.

Ms Pelosi, who was instrumental in ousting Mr Biden as the Democratic nominee, has also come in for her share of blame for Donald Trumps victory.

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The US president stepped aside in mid-July, following three weeks of pressure from senior Democrats after his disastrous debate performance against Mr Trump.

He swiftly endorsed Ms Harris, the vice-president, as his successor, prompting the rest of his party to fall in line.

There was speculation that Gavin Newsom, the California governor, or Gretchen Whitmer, the Michigan governor, could make a bid to replace Mr Biden, but neither ended up fighting Ms Harris for the nomination.

Own the outcome and fallout

John Fetterman, the Pennsylvania senator who opposed moves to force Mr Biden out of the race, urged the Democrats who ended his campaign to accept responsibility for the election defeat.

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For those that decided and moved to break Biden, and then you got the election that you wanted, its appropriate to own the outcome and fallout, he told Semafor.

The options: Double down on the only person thats ever beat Trump, or demand an alternative. When the outcome didnt support your thesis and actions, then own it.

He also appeared to suggest that Ms Harris harmed her election chances when she pandered to Left-wing Democrats while running for the presidential nomination in 2020.

The vice-president had supported prisoners having access to taxpayer-funded sex changes, said she was in favour of banning fracking, and mulled the idea of abolishing the immigration agency.

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If someone ran for president in 2020 and pandered to that Squad mentality, or to get likes on Twitter, and they made those kinds of statements about gender, they were going to be pretty hard to defend, Mr Fetterman said.

Tim Walz, Ms Harriss running mate, said on Friday that it was hard to understand why so many people had voted for Mr Trump.

However, he pushed back against suggestions that Mr Trumps supporters had voted out of cruelty or fear or self-interest and urged Democrats to swallow a little bit of pride and find common ground with them.

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Nancy Pelosi has slammed Bernie Sanders for his claims that Democrats have abandoned working-class families as the blame game over Kamala Harriss presidential election loss continues to ramp up.

The newly re-elected Vermont senator said in a statement after Donald Trump sailed to victory that it should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party, which has abandoned working-class people, would find that the working-class has abandoned them.

While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change, he said.

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In an interview with The New York Times, the former House speaker, a powerful force in Democratic politics, responded to his comments, saying she completely disagreed and does not respect his remarks.

Kamala Harris ran ahead of Bernie Sanders in Vermont, she said, before reiterating that the purpose of the Democratic party was to go to bat for Americas working families.

Asked why the majority of working class voters had flipped to the GOP, she replied: Go ask Bernie Sanders. Bernie Sanders has not won.

It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them.



While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change.



And theyre right. pic.twitter.com/lM2gSJmQFL  Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) November 6, 2024

She continued: Let me, with all due respect, and I have a great deal of respect for him, for what he stands for, but I dont respect him saying that the Democratic Party has abandoned the working-class families. Thats where we are.

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For example, under President Biden, you see the rescue package, money in the pockets of people, shots in the arm, children in school safely, working people back to work.... What did, whats his name? What did Trump do when he was president? One bill that gave a tax cut to the richest people in America.

Pelosi doubled down on her belief that the party does champion the working class and dismissed the theory pushed by Sanders and other progressives that it had ignored the concerns of voters this election cycle.

Pelosi has also torn into Joe Biden, laying part of the blame for Tuesdays election defeat at his refusal to drop out of the presidential race sooner (Getty Images)

In the same interview, Pelosi also tore into President Joe Biden, laying part of the blame for Harriss defeat at his refusal to drop out of the presidential race sooner  despite her having reportedly pushed him to do so  as Democrats continue to point fingers during a public postmortem on the failure of the VPs campaign.

Had the president gotten out sooner, there may have been other candidates in the race, she said. The anticipation was that, if the president were to step aside, that there would be an open primary.

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Pelosi also wondered whether a primary should have been held at which Harris or an alternate candidate could have been chosen to top the ticket. Instead, Biden endorsed Harris within an hour of backing out of the race on July 21, and within two days she announced she had secured enough DNC delegates to secure the partys nomination.

In a statement after the election, Sanders wrote that the Democratic party had abandoned working class voters (MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

And as I say, Kamala may have, I think she would have done well in [a primary] and been stronger going forward. But we dont know that. That didnt happen. We live with what happened, Pelosi told the paper.

And because the president endorsed Kamala Harris immediately, that really made it almost impossible to have a primary at that time. If it had been much earlier, it would have been different.

The former House Speaker, a powerful force in Democratic politics, also tore into Biden (AP)

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A gamut of reasons have since been offered for the cause of Harriss crushing defeat on Tuesday.

Some Democrats think swapping Biden for Harris was the mistake. Others agree with Pelosi and have blamed Biden himself, saying he took far too long to drop out.

Progressives, like Sanders, point to the Biden administrations stance on Israel and the Harris campaigns attempts to appeal to moderates and anti-Trump Republicans.
Brazilian nanny Juliana Peres Magalhaes and her boss Brendan Banfield are accused of plotting to kill Brendans wife Christine amid a secret affair

Fairfax County Police Department (2) Juliana Peres Magalhaes; Brendan Banfield Juliana Peres Magalhaes; Brendan Banfield

Already a dedicated nurse and patient advocate, Christine Banfield seemed to go above and beyond during the pandemic.

She was an angel for me, recalls Rodrigo Valderrama, a COVID patient at the suburban Virginia hospital where Christine worked.

He remembers waking up from a weeks-long coma to see Banfields kind face beside his bed:

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She shaved me; she helped me set up a Zoom call with my family. The construction project manager struck up a friendship with his nurse, inviting her and her husband, Brendan Banfield, an IRS criminal division special agent, and their then-3-year-old daughter Valerie to a party in a park near Washington, D.C., in the spring of 2021.

Christine told him she was planning to hire an au pair from South America to live with the couple and help with their toddler. She wanted me to recommend restaurants in the area, says the Colombian-born Valderrama. That was her personalityshe wanted the au pair to feel at home.

Yet it was the Banfields Brazilian au pair, 22-year-old Juliana Peres Magalhaes, who in two 911 calls on the morning of Feb. 24, 2023, first alerted police to what they described as an appalling scene at the familys home in Herndon, Va. In a second-story bedroom Fairfax County Police Department officers found Christine, 37, naked except for her socks, bleeding from fatal stab wounds to the neck; she died later that day at a hospital. Nearby was the dead body of Joe Ryan, 39who authorities say arrived at the house that morning for a prearranged sex datewith gunshot wounds in the head and chest. Also at the blood- smeared scene were Peres Magalhaes and Christines husband, Brendan, 38, according to police, as well as a bloody knife, two handguns and a bag filled with fetish sex accessories. Valerie, then 4 years old, was found unharmed in the basement.

Christine and Brendan Banfield with daughter Valerie

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During a nine-hour interview at the police station, Peres Magalhaes confessed to killing Ryan in the chaotic aftermath of a shocking assault on Christine. According to court documents, the nanny said she was in a car with the baby outside the house that morning when she saw a man carrying a bag enter the front door. She called Christine, who was alone inside. When Christine didnt pick up, Peres Magalhaes called Brendan, she said. He had already left for work but quickly returned. Then he and Peres Magalhaes walked into the bedroom to find Ryan standing over a kneeling Christine with a knife to her throat.



In Peres Magalhaess initial account of what happened next, Brendan, who carries a gun on the job, shot Ryan in the head with his service revolver and shouted to Peres Magalhaes to get another weapon from the bedroom safe. Fearful that Ryan would attack again, she said she pointed the gun at him and fired the bullet that pierced his heart and killed him. Police, however, were not convinced by Peres Magalhaess story about interrupting a home invasion and killing an intruder in self-defense.

Joe Ryan

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Investigators soon discovered evidence that Brendan and Peres Magalhaes were in a sexual relationship: text messages about her new love sent from Peres Magalhaess phone, photos of the couple on a trip to New York City and lingerie strewn on Brendans bed.

Records purportedly showed that the duo visited a firing range nearly two months before the double homicide, and that Brendan returned to the facility to buy a Glock 43Xthe gun used by Peres Magalhaes.

Related: Nanny Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in Double Homicide, Agrees to Cooperate Against Ex-Lover

On Oct. 13, 2023, Peres Magalhaes was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the death of Ryan. Nearly a year later, on Sept. 16, 2024, citing recently obtained information, Commonwealths Attorney Steve Descano announced that Brendan had been indicted for murder in the deaths of Ryan and Christine. I will ensure that my office puts forward the strongest case possible at trial, and that we continue to seek justice for the victims and their families, Descano said.

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By all appearances the Banfields were a happily married couple who doted on the daughter they both adored. Christine, who grew up on Long Island and graduated from Quinnipiac University with a nursing degree in 2007, and Brendan, who studied accounting at St. Josephs University on Long Island, launched a childrens math tutoring center in Moriches, N.Y. They moved with newborn Valerie to Virginia in 2019. When not working as an ICU nurse, Christine was active in a neighborhood Facebook group, seeking recommendations for a backyard landscaper, a doll hospital to repair her daughters toy and a dog-boarding facility for the familys husky.

Christine Banfield

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The couple, who had previously employed another Brazilian nanny, made contact with Peres Magalhaes in 2021. Juliana wanted to travel and learn English, says a friend from Brazil. She was excited because she just graduated from nursing classes and was coming to live with a nurse, so they had so much in common. In Virginia, Peres Magalhaes seemed so happy, says her friend. It was easy. Everything was working perfectly.

Or so it seemed. By August 2022 Brendan fell for the au pair and had begun expressing his desire to be rid of his wife, Deputy Commonwealths Attorney Eric Clingan said at an October hearing. In the weeks before the murders, Brendan allegedly created a profile on a website for bondage and role-play enthusiasts and began communicating with a fellow user, Ryan. Days before the killings, Clingan said, Brendan directed Peres Magalhaes, who posed as Christine, to call Ryan on an encrypted messaging app and confirm the details of a consensual sexual encounter involving restraints used on her, her clothing being cut off with a knife and other violent role play.

Fairfax County Police Department Police found several photos of Brendan Banfield and Juliana Peres Magalhaes in the Banfield home Police found several photos of Brendan Banfield and Juliana Peres Magalhaes in the Banfield home

On the morning of Feb. 24, 2023, Brendan and Peres Magalhaess carefully scripted plot to get Christine out of the way unfolded according to plan, authorities claim. At 7:17 a.m. Brendan was waiting at a nearby McDonalds for Peres Magalhaes to call when Ryan arrived at the house for the preplanned kinky sex date with Christine. Back at the house, Brendan and Peres Magalhaes entered through the basement and left Valerie there while they climbed the stairs to the second floor. Brendan allegedly called out police officer before shooting Ryan in the head and then stabbing Christine. Peres Magalhaes then shot Ryan after she allegedly saw him moving on the floor.

Julianna Peres Magalhaes

Related: Va. Man Accused of Killing Wife and Man Nearly a Year After Accusation Against His Au Pair

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In the months following Peres Magalhaess arrest, while Brendan continued to live at the familys house with his daughter and his mother, strains developed in the couples relationship. In a recorded jail call, Peres Magalhaes can be heard saying, I hope you are not just staying with me because you are afraid Im going to turn against you, according to prosecutors. In another taped conversation found on his mothers phone, prosecutors say, Brendan complained that the nanny cant keep her goddamn mouth shut on calls from jail.



Finally, on Oct. 29, just days before her murder trial was scheduled to begin, Peres Magalhaes struck a deal with prosecutors, pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter and agreeing to cooperate with authorities in exchange for potentially being released from custody on time already served.

Meanwhile, Ryans friend Zulu Bey says he is grateful the truth is coming out about his eccentric pals unwitting role in the twisted murder plot. I know he didnt do what they said he did, says Bey. He was just a pawn. Joe was the guy who took in the dogs that had no chance of being adopted and just loved the hell out of them. And Christine, says her friend Valderrama, will be remembered for her service to community: She was unique.
What happened to Track and Trace? I only ask because it might be needed. Theres a new lergy doing the rounds and it seems to be highly contagious.

Just like Covid, cases of Trump Derangement Syndrome are appearing everywhere. No great cause for alarm  its all in the head  but certain individuals in high places are frightening the pants off people.

Poor old Rory Stewart looked red-eyed and sniffly as he spoke of his pain and fears for future following Donald Trumps shock victory. The former Tory MP-turned-weeping Leftie says he is heartbroken that America has just voted for a multiple convicted felon and fascist who is about to sell out Ukraine.

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Judging from his ashen features, it will take him some time to recover from his affliction. Lib Dem leader Ed Davey is in similarly bad shape after what he calls a dark, dark day for people around the globe. The poor man sounds genuinely scared.

In an emotional Tweet, he frets about the worlds most powerful military being led by a dangerous, destructive demagogue (apparently forgetting that as 45th President, the only conflicts Trump started were trade wars).

As for Mayor of London Sadiq Khan  who allowed a giant blimp of Trump as a nappy-wearing baby to float across the city during a Presidential visit to the UK  he reports that fear is sweeping the city.

Over at the Guardian, the suffering is grievous. Editor Kath Viner is so concerned about the mental health of her staff in the wake of the US election result that she has written to them all offering counselling. Apparently, the atmosphere is much the same inside the BBC.

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At least it is easy to spot the superspreaders. On social media, some are trying to project positivity through their pain. A traumatised Chris Packham has been sharing his survival tactics. Keep calm everyone: the environmentalist says he is not going to give up on the beautiful and the good.

How to respond to this strange new virus? After all, is four long years till Americans return to the ballot box, bringing the prospect of a cure.

For the time being, I suspect the only option is to let it rip. With luck, this first wave will be as bad as it gets. As time goes by, and the crying Left realise they are not all going to die, they will begin to feel better. In the meantime, I recommend social distancing.



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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The Texas National Guard working in the El Paso area were shot at from across the border on Thursday evening, Nov. 7, and Friday morning, Nov. 8, according to the Texas Military Department.

The Texas Military Department sent the following statement to NewsNation:

The Texas National Guard continues to hold the line along the Texas-Mexico border to prevent, deter, and interdict transnational criminal activity between ports of entry. Late yesterday and again this morning, the Texas National Guard working in the El Paso area received indirect small arms fire from across the border. Personnel take appropriate force protection measures during these incidents. The Texas National Guard is postered to surge additional forces to maintain the security of the Texas border. Texas Military Department

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Theres no word yet if there were any injuries or arrests made.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  The North Carolina Attorney Generals Office and Clemson University Police say theyve received complaints about people getting racist text messages after the election.

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson had some strong words about the text messages that have come directly following Tuesdays election.

Wilson called the messages vile and deplorable saying the people who sent them are trying to divide us and we must stand together against the hatred.

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She sent that text to me, said Sharon Herring who told KXAN-TV in Austin, Texas, that her 13-year-old granddaughter received such a message.

FBI, Justice Department investigating racist mass texts sent following the election

The text was similar to this disturbing message:

Greetings, You have been selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation. Be ready at 1:00 pm SHARP with your belongings.

The message goes on to tell the people that they will be searched down and one says the person is in Plantation Group C.

I was terrified. I was like, Oh my God, I couldnt understand why somebody would send that, said Herring.

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N.C. Attorney General Josh Steins office says theyve received about eight reports of people getting these types of racist messages.

I was disappointed and disgusted quite frankly but Im not shocked unfortunately, said Corine Mack, President of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg NAACP.

Corine Mack hopes the mass-text victims arent hesitant to come forward.

Im hoping that the FBI and SBI deal with this issue fairly quickly and send a message to anyone that thinks its OK to be offensive and disrespectful, said Mack.

The FBI says its aware of the messages and is in contact with the Justice Department and other federal authorities.

Clemson University Police say theyre investigating after they began to receive reports from students on Wednesday that they received the text messages.

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Clemson Police say their investigation revealed the numbers associated with sending the texts came from online spoofing sites.

Police do not believe there is any credible threat to the university, but Clemson is providing counselors for students who are impacted.

Im hoping that people come forward and report any incident that may be racially motivated and racially threatening, said Mack.

Mack hopes victims wont be hesitant to come forward.

Im not sure theyre afraid to report this, said Mack. I think as Black people in this country, quite often we feel that theres no help for us, historically Black people have been harmed by law enforcement as well.

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What would proposed tariffs from Donald Trump mean for Charlottes economy?

The FBI encourages people to report any threats of violence to local law enforcement.

Wilsons office sent the following statement:

While we have not received any complaints from South Carolina citizens who were sent these racist text messages, we are aware of them and have been in touch with our federal law enforcement partners. The FBI is currently monitoring the distribution of these messages across the country and any complaints we receive will be forwarded to them. These messages are vile and deplorable. Whoever sent them is only trying to divide us and we must stand together against this kind of hatred.

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Stein, who was elected as North Carolinas next governor, sent the following statement:

Our office is working with federal and industry partners to investigate the source of these robotexts. We encourage North Carolinians who receive these abusive messages to report them to our office (1-877-5-NO-SCAM or ncdoj.gov/complaint) and/or local law enforcement.

Clemson University sent the following:

On Wednesday, the Clemson University Police Department (CUPD) began to receive reports of students receiving text messages containing racially disparaging and biased language from unrecognized numbers. CUPD immediately initiated an investigation and began working with state partners to identify the source of the messages. These numbers have been determined to be associated with online spoofing sites. CUPD has communicated with the State Law Enforcement Divisions Fusion Center and investigators have been made aware that Clemson University students are not the only individuals to have received such messages. The messages appear to have been broadly distributed, as a number of other states and institutions have also reported the same or similar communications. Based on the information available, there is currently no indication of a credible threat to members of the University community. CUPD takes all reports of concerning communication seriously and is committed to the safety of the University community. The department continues to actively investigate these incidents in partnership with state and federal agencies. If you receive suspicious messages from a number you do not recognize, report it to CUPD by calling 864-656-2222. Additionally, resources are available to students who may have been affected by these messages. If you wish to speak to a counselor, contact Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) by calling 864-656-2451. After-hours counseling is available by selecting option 2 from the menu. Clemson University

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The symbol of justice adorns one of the doors to the Nebraska Supreme Court. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  The Nebraska Supreme Court on Friday sustained a request to disbar a Bennington lawyer for dodging more than $400,000 in federal income taxes.

Thomas O. Campbell, who had been a practicing attorney since 2011, pleaded guilty in December to willfully filing false income tax returns from 2014 to 2018 that understated his income by $2.8 million.

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He was sentenced to serve one year and one day in federal prison and to pay $407,665 in restitution.

The U.S. District Court also ordered Campbell to be disbarred from practicing law in federal court.

Meanwhile, the Counsel for Discipline of the Nebraska Supreme Court also recommended that Campbell lose his license to practice law in Nebraska state courts for conduct that reflected poorly on attorneys and for conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.

Campbells lawyer, Clarence Mock, asked that a referee be appointed to review the discipline. Instead, the State Supreme Court allowed Mock and the Counsel for Discipline to provide additional arguments on the proposed disbarment.

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Campbell maintained that due to a very busy law practice, he had lacked time to address the business side of (his) practice, and that other lawyers sentenced for tax fraud received probation.

But the Supreme Court rejected any reconsideration of taking away his license to practice law.

The court, in a nine-page ruling, stated that generally, a finding of misconduct in one court is accepted as conclusive proof of guilt and not subject to relitigation in another court.

The judges said disbarment was appropriate given that Campbell had two prior private reprimands for misconduct and given the size and duration of the income tax violations.

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This article was originally published in Nebraska Examiner.

LINCOLN  Voters on Tuesday resoundingly rejected Nebraskas new school voucher or scholarship program, steering public dollars spent to public schools.

Supporters of using state tax dollars to offset the costs of a private K-12 education have argued that families unhappy with their public schools need more options.

But rural and urban supporters of public schools, the Nebraska State Education Association and private foundations supporting public schools won the day.

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Tim Royers, president of the Nebraska State Education Association, said he was proud to see right- and left-leaning counties agree that vouchers were the wrong choice.

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It confirms what we knew, the majority of Nebraskans dont want public dollars going to private schools, Royers said. What really stood out to me is the consistency.

Royers hopes state senators move on

Royers said he is hopeful that state senators will follow the will of the voters and move onto other more pressing issues in education that teachers and parents can work on together.

Support Our Schools argued that diverting even small amounts of public money toward private K-12 schools with a scholarship program or vouchers risked long-term support for public education.

They pointed to the experiences in other states with voucher programs, including neighboring Iowa, which has seen the national rankings of its public schools slide since that program began.

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They argued that school choice programs typically end up largely benefiting the people already making the choice to send their children to private schools.

And they said such programs risked creating greater concentrations of poverty in some schools by draining them of students who often act as stabilizing force.

Related

GOP Victories in Texas House Give Abbott a Path to Universal ESA

Lawmakers plan to keep working for choice

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha and other lawmakers backing opportunity scholarships have already said they plan to keep working for school choice regardless of the outcome of Tuesdays election.

Linehan, in a statement, said the teachers union and Support Our Schools spent two years and $7 million distorting the truth in their endless pursuit to keep opportunity away from kids.

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I am confident Nebraskans and the leaders in this state will continue fighting to keep kids first, Linehan said.

The first version of Nebraskas school choice law, passed in 2023, provided a tax credit for those donating to a scholarship fund for private K-12 education. After passage, those opposing the law launched a petition drive to put the issue before voters.

2023 law replaced in 2024

Linehan sidestepped that referendum by replacing the law in the 2024 legislative session.

She and other lawmakers transformed the program into a $10 million annual state appropriation for private school vouchers, to be run through the office of State Treasurer Tom Briese, a Linehan ally.

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The Support Our Schools campaign, with support from public school proponents, including Omaha Public Schools supporter Susie Buffett, collected the necessary signatures a second time to challenge the law on the ballot.

Royers, new president of the NSEA, and Jenni Benson of Support Our Schools, the previous NSEA leader, have said Linehan should not have tried to avoid letting voters weigh in on an unpopular program.

Families of some children attending private schools through the precursor program, Opportunity Scholarships, or through the latest version have said they cant afford private school tuition without such financial help.

State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, a Democrat who supports school choice, has said parents cannot afford to wait for public school systems to improve. They need help for their kids now, he said.

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Jeremy Ekeler, executive director of Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska, said his group and supporters of the program have focused on helping families who couldnt wait for school districts and systems to change.

While tonight we did not see the results that we hoped for, those thousands of Nebraska families who finally have access to the right educational fit for their children thanks to LB 1402 will make their voices heard for years to come, he said.

It remains to be seen whether other lawmakers will offer a similar proposal in 2025. Linehan and Wayne are both term-limited and wont return to the Legislature next year.

Nebraska Examiner is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Nebraska Examiner maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Cate Folsom for questions: info@nebraskaexaminer.com. Follow Nebraska Examiner on Facebook and X.
EAST LANSING Mich. (WLNS)  Human remains were found in a freezerand police are calling it a homicide.

Police said on Thursday they responded to a suspicious situation at an East Lansing townhome. On Friday they shared more details, sharing that police found a body and possibly remains of a second body in a freezer. The townhome is in Coolidge Place on the 1500 block of Wintercrest Street.

Police said the townhomes management let them know there was blood in the home. While searching, police said they found the dead body in the freezer, along with possibly finding human remains from a second individual. There are still a lot of unanswered questions as the investigation only began on Thursday but neighbors like Andrew Whitney are very disturbed.

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We were thinking last night, how many days have we been sleeping in bed near feet away from a corpse? Whitney said.

Whitney lives near the home now marked a biohazard. He is processing that at least one person was found dead in a freezer right by him.

Something violent and serious appears to have happened, Whitney said.

Whitney said he hadnt seen anyone enter or leave the townhome for months. Police said they believe this homicide happened a while ago. East Lansing Interim Police Chief, Chad Pride, said the pool of blood found was dried.

We dont believe this happened last night or within the last couple days, I believe this is something that happened further back, Pride said.

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Chief Pride said having a delay between finding the remains and the crime taking place will make the investigation harder. He said he has faith that detectives will get to the bottom of it though.

My hopes is we find something quickly that way the public can be at ease, family can be at ease, neighbors can be at ease, Pride said.

According to police, no arrests have been made yet and there is currently no person of interest. They also said there were no signs of forced entry into the home. This is very early on in the investigation and many questions remain.

Anything that the public can share if theyve heard anything, seen anything, they can contact us, Chief Pride said.

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You can contact the East Lansing Police Department with information at 517-351-4220.

Checking back with neighbor Andrew Whitney who is in shock, He said he knew something was very wrong last night when the Michigan State Police Forensics Team was at the townhome until around 4 A.M. His nose could tell too.

I havent smelled death, but if I had to guess it was the smell of death, Whitney said.

A spokesperson for the company that manages Coolidge Place said management is fully cooperating with the investigation. Since Police are still actively investigating, this situation is not something they want to comment on. Given it appears to be a tragic personal issue.

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NEOSHO, Mo.  Its been nearly six months since Davy and Natalie Lloyd, two missionaries working in Haiti, were murdered during violent gang riots that crippled that country.

Young missionary couple from US among 3 killed by gunmen in Haitis capital, family says

Since that time, their families tell us theyve been on a roller coaster of emotions.

Now, theyll have not just a place where their names will be remembered, but their passion for serving others can be passed down to the next generation.

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You know, as a parent, you want your children to be remembered, said David Lloyd, Davys father.

Parents reflect on grief four months after daughter and son-in-law killed in Haiti

Remembering Davy and Natalie Lloyd is a big part of the story behind this building.

From the parents side of it, I thought, well, if we could just have something that had their name on it, said Lloyd.

When David was first approached about the idea of building the Davy and Natalie Lloyd Academic Center on the campus of Neoshos Ozark Bible Institute, he envisioned four or five classrooms. But little did they know it will actually be double that size  with state-of-the-art technology.

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I mean, I was just blown away, took a step back to see the size and the vision that Pastor Tim and the staff here had for that, said Lloyd.

The Bible says where there is no vision, the people perish, said Ben Baker, Natalies father.

That became evident several years ago, when Davy was talking with friends, who asked if he would carry on his fathers work.

And Davy, without a pause, he just starts back, and he says, Man, Im going to do ten times what my dad has done,' said Lloyd.

Since their deaths, David says hes heard from people around the world, moved by the couples ultimate sacrifice.

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I look at it now, and he did way more than ten times what Ive ever been able to do, said Lloyd.

Remembering the lost missionary couple: Prayer vigil held in Neosho

Natalies father, Ben Baker, says there were a lot of reasons for supporting the project, like wanting Davy and Natalies memory to go on in any way possible.

And to have some tangible thing that you can see, said Baker.

But he says the most powerful component wont be something you can see or touch.

The character of Davy and Natalie is something that exudes, really, the very biblical definition of ministry, said Baker.

Helping to instill that character in the next generation is the task that will be undertaken in the facility named for his daughter and son-in-law inspiring them to carry on the work the couple began.

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To maybe even do more than Davy and Natalie did, which is hard for me to even fathom, how that could be, given their story and their sacrifice, said Baker.

It wont be just Neosho where the memory of Davy and Natalie Lloyd will carry on.

David says hes going back to Haiti to carry on the work Davy and Natalie were doing when they died.

They ask me in Haiti, Why do you keep doing this? When has Ben, Natalies family, Ben and Naomi Baker wanting to help Haiti so much? And I say, its to continue to honor Davy and Natalie, because that was their heart and their love, said Lloyd.

Theres little doubt, once its built, the building will bring up memories, something Baker doesnt want to hide from.

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I want to keep telling that story, and were committed to that, because I think its worthy of that, said Baker.

A story Ben says is centered around two people and their love for their fellow man.

That kind of love toward people is what will change the world, said Baker.

The school has already raised $400,000 toward the project, with plans to raise another $1.5 million, in hopes of having the center built in the next two years.

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Happy Saturday! Heres another edition of my weekend column for WPRI.com  as always, send your takes, tips and trial balloons to tnesi@wpri.com and follow me on Twitter, Threads and Facebook.

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Nesi's Notes

1. What to make of Donald Trumps performance in Rhode Island on Tuesday? Kamala Harris put the state in the Democratic column for the 10th presidential election in a row, but her 14-point victory margin was the thinnest since Mike Dukakis in 1988. She lost about 25,000 votes compared with Joe Biden four years ago, while Trump added over 13,000  making him the first Republican to crack 200,000 votes in the state since Ronald Reagan in 1984. True, turnout dipped. But not by much. And every single Rhode Island community  high-income or low-income, urban or rural, diverse or monolithic  shifted to the right. The biggest shifts were in cities with large Latino populations like Central Falls, Pawtucket and Providence, offering more signs of Trumps gains with that group of voters nationwide. All these facts have to be exciting to see for Rhode Islands long-beleaguered GOP. The question is, can Republicans capitalize on that? our political analyst Joe Fleming said on this weeks Newsmakers. At this point we havent seen that. U.S. Congress, State House races  they did not capitalize on that. Indeed, the same voters who increased the Republican share of the vote to the highest level in a generation on Tuesday at the same time also reelected every single Democratic incumbent to the General Assembly. Thats why its so unclear whether a breakthrough is ahead for local Republicans, or if Trumps performance was more a testament to the power of his own singular brand with many voters.

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2. Every elected Democrat in Rhode Island and Massachusetts who is unhappy about Tuesdays results should be asking themselves this: what are you doing to make blue-state governance look more appealing to the rest of the country, rather than less?

3. For evidence of how little Donald Trumps improved performance at the top of the ticket mattered down the ballot, look at Rhode Islands congressional races. Sheldon Whitehouse got 60% of the vote, down only slightly from his showing in the much better political environment for Democrats of 2018. Whitehouse also ran 4.4 percentage points ahead of Harris, the strongest overperformance of any New England senator, at the same time that Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren were failing to keep pace with their partys nominee. In the House, Seth Magaziner held the 2nd Congressional District with 58%, on par with Jim Langevins performance when he and Trump were both on the ballot in 2020. He also performed even better than Whitehouse when compared with Harris, topping her by roughly 5.9 points across the 2nd District. As for Gabe Amo, he got 63%, nearly matching David Cicillines showing in 2022. Amo also flipped the three municipalities that voted against him in last years special election, winning all 19 communities in the 1st District. Of course, the three Democrats must have found their victories bittersweet, since they came on the same night that their party lost its Senate majority and likely came up short in its bid for the House, too.

4. Good news for fans of Dwight Eisenhower and Lyndon Johnson: each has now retained his title as his partys all-time highest vote-winner in Rhode Island presidential contests. Ike set the GOP record in 1956 with 225,819 votes; LBJ set the Democratic record in 1964 with 315,463. It probably says something about the deepening polarization of the last half-century that those records were set less than 10 years apart, and still have never been matched.

5. And if you want even more analysis, I sat down with my colleague Ray Baccari the day after the election for a conversation about what we learned.

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6. Back in April, Senate Majority Leader Ryan Pearson had seemingly been banished to political Siberia. Senate President Dominick Ruggerio used the very public forum of a Kathy Gregg interview to telegraph his discontent with his No. 2 for using a private meeting to broach the delicate subject of his cancer diagnosis and his political future. Pearson had few, if any, public allies then; its rarely wise to cross a legislative leader on Smith Hill, and senators personal affection for Ruggerio ran deep. Clearly, much has changed. Ruggerios health has stayed precarious, leaving him unable to campaign for reelection and mostly absent from public view. And some senators blamed his absence for the fact that the House won many end-of-session negotiations on key legislation. It all culminated in Thursday nights tense Democratic caucus meeting at the Waterman Grille, where Ruggerios side only prevailed in a key vote by a 14-12 margin. Ruggerio eventually won the divided caucuss endorsement for another term, and in a show of unity, all but two senators backed Ruggerios choice of Val Lawson to replace Pearson as majority leader. But the meeting laid bare the degree of discontent inside the Democratic caucus, setting the stage for a potentially tense start to the legislative session. Ruggerios face was visibly bruised at the meeting, which a spokesperson said occurred when he turned a corner and banged his head on a cabinet. But he sounded sanguine when our Alex Torres-Perez spoke with him live on 12 News at 10 following the caucus. Regarding concerns about his health, Ruggerio said, They should be concerned. But I think everythings going to be OK, and well see what happens in the next couple of months.

7. The balance of power in the General Assembly wont look much different when January rolls around. Democrats picked up one seat in the Senate, giving them a 34-4 supermajority. Republicans netted one seat in the House, leaving Democrats with a 64-10-1 supermajority. Democrats were particularly enthusiastic about the easy reelection victory of state Rep. Megan Cotter, who hung on against former Rep. Justin Price even as every precinct in her district went for Donald Trump. I knocked on so many doors and talked to so many people that were voting for both me and Donald Trump, Cotter told Ian Donnis in a post-election interview. And they used to be Democrats. Now theyre independents; now theyre Republicans. The party failed these folks. Speaker Shekarchis team also noted that the threatened backlash to his pro-housing policies didnt materialize  Narragansett Town Council leaders whod opposed him lost their seats, and ADU law sponsor Rep. June Speakman easily saw off a challenger who campaigned against it. At a caucus of House Democrats on Friday night, Shekarchi and Chris Blazejewski were unopposed for another term as speaker and majority leader, positions theyve held since 2021.

8. House and Senate Republicans are sticking with the same leadership for 2025-26, with Reps. Mike Chippendale and David Place serving as majority leader and majority whip, and Sens. Jessica de la Cruz and Gordon Rogers serving in the same roles in their chambers. And unlike the last two sessions, all 10 House Republicans will be formal members of the House GOP Caucus next year. (Reps. Patricia Morgan and Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung hadnt been part of the group.)

9. Bristol Countys Beacon Hill delegation will look a bit different next year. The most notable local legislative result Tuesday was the defeat of state Rep. Pat Haddad, a prominent Somerset Democrat whod served in the legislature for more than 20 years; she lost to Republican Justin Thurber. And in Taunton, Republican Kelly Dooner managed to flip the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Democrat Marc Pacheco, who had held it since 1993. (Kamala Harris won Taunton, while Donald Trump won Somerset, both narrowly.) Other new faces will include Foxboro Republican Michael Chaisson, who won the House seat being given up by eight-term GOP Rep. Jay Barrows; Westport Democrat Steve Ouellette, who squeaked out a victory for the House seat currently represented by Democratic Rep. Paul Schmid; and Mattapoisett Democrat Mark Sylvia, who will succeed another retiring Democrat, Rep. Bill Straus. The New Bedford Lights Jack Spillane has some great analysis here on Tuesdays results locally.

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10. Rhode Island voters may express dissatisfaction with the states overall direction in opinion polls, but theyre apparently happy with their mayors. Every incumbent on the ballot Tuesday emerged victorious  Warwicks Frank Picozzi, Cranstons Ken Hopkins, Pawtuckets Don Grebien, Woonsockets Chris Beauchamp, and Cumberlands Jeff Mutter. Picozzi, an independent, won bragging rights among his peers with a landslide 73% victory. His prize: a four-year term, the first in Warwicks history following a recent charter change.

11. This is getting interesting: a Superior Court judge just upheld the R.I. Department of Educations move to withhold state aid from Providence in order to force the city to give more money to its school district.

12. Governor McKee has now paid lobbyist Bill Murphy for his legal advice during the ILO investigation, though the governors office wont say how much the bill was.

13. Exciting news: WPRI 12 and The Boston Globes Rhode Island bureau this week announced a new partnership that will kick off Monday with Rhode Map columnist Dan McGowans first weekly appearance on 12 News This Morning. I havent read the fine print yet, but I hope it also means I can start making McGowan write Nesis Notes some weeks, just like in the old days.

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14. Rest in peace, Quincy Jones. His Fly Me to the Moon for Frank Sinatra and Count Basie has to be one of the greatest musical arrangements of the 20th century.

15. Set your DVRs: This week on Newsmakers  a post-election political roundtable. Watch Sunday at 5:30 a.m. on WPRI 12 and 10 a.m. on Fox Providence, or listen on the radio Sunday at 6 p.m. on WPRO. You can also subscribe to Newsmakers as a podcast via Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. See you back here next Saturday.

Ted Nesi (tnesi@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter and 12 News politics/business editor. He co-hosts Newsmakers and writes Nesis Notes on Saturdays. Connect with him on Twitter, Threads and Facebook.

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By Isaac Anyaogu

LAGOS (Reuters) - Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu will call for an immediate ceasefire and peaceful resolution of the Israel-Palestinian conflict when he attends the upcoming Arab-Islamic summit in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh, his office said on Saturday.

"Nigeria will also advocate for renewed efforts to revive the two-state solution as a pathway for lasting peace in the region," said presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga.

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The yearly summit, due to start on Nov. 11, is held at the invitation of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Nigeria is a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and it is invited in that capacity.

Tinubu, whose administration is fighting Islamist insurgents in the northeast of the country, will be accompanied to Riyadh by a delegation of cabinet ministers, including those for foreign affairs and information, along with his national security adviser and the head of the security intelligence agency.

(Reporting by Isaac Anyaogu; Editing by David Holmes)
MARYLAND (DC News Now)  Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) charged nine men for illegally hunting over baited areas during Marylands annual black bear hunt this year.

NRP officials said that the black bear hunt was held from Oct. 21 to 26 in Allegany, Frederick, Garret and Washington counties. 950 hunters are selected by lottery to take part in the hunt and can hunt on either public or private lands.

During this hunt, hunters are not allowed to use bait to attract bears. This is allowed for white-tailed deer on private property.

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April McClain Delaney declares victory in Maryland 6th Congressional District race

Due to the nature of the hunt, targeting bears must take place 150 yards or more from a baited location, and if hunting a location previously baited for deer, 10 days must pass after all bait has been removed. Hunters that violate the baiting law for black bears can face up to $1,500 for a first offense and up to $4,000 for a second offense, an NRP release said.

NRP said that it charged the following individuals this year:

Oct. 21: Two men from Pennsylvania were hunting in separate blinds near a baited area on private property in Garrett County. The area had been spread with an oily substance (grease or lard) and cracked corn kernels.

Oct. 21: A man from Glen Burnie and a man from Arnold were charged after hunting on private land in Green Ridge State Forest in Allegany County. There was corn dispersed as close as 10 years from the hunters two separate blinds.

Oct. 21: A man from Myersville got two citations and six warnings after admitting to hunting over a baited area which included bacon grease, chicken grease, corn, molasses, vanilla icing, licorice candy, and a bear bomb spray in Frederick County.

Oct. 22: A man from Parkville was hunting on private property in Garrett County. NRP said that he had bacon grease, cob corn, apple peelings and apple processing waste near his hunting blind.

Bacon grease is considered bear-specific bait, and hunting over a property baited with bear-specific bait is prohibited in Maryland, officials said.

Oct. 25: A man from Frederick was found near corn piles and a tangerine on private property in Frederick County. He also got citations and warnings for not wearing fluorescent orange.

Oct. 26: Two men from Pennsylvania were caught hunting over multiple piles of bait, including dog food, apples, animal carcasses, syrup, strawberry jam, and shelled corn, located within 20 to 40 yards of the hunting blinds.

One of the hunters also was not wearing daylight fluorescent orange and received a citation.

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You can find more information about the black bear hunt online.

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NEW JERSEY (PIX11)  Portions of New Jersey are experiencing some of the worst drought conditions in the country, and the entire state is under a red flag warning.

Wildfires are currently burning in Bergen, Ocean, Gloucester, Burlington, and Camden counties.

More Local News

As of 2:45 p.m. Friday, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service reports that the wildfire in Englewood Cliffs has burned 39 acres and is 30% contained. No structures are threatened and no one has been evacuated.

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I cannot believe we have not had rain for the entire month, said Bashi Nierenberg, who lives near Bergen County.

Its inevitable that that would happen, said Beatriz Robles, who said her son in California is experiencing wildfires as well.

If God doesnt send the rain, were in trouble, said Robles. And Ive been praying for rain.

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service said residents should expect smoky conditions for several days because of the multiple wildfires currently burning.

Statewide, wood and charcoal fires are not allowed until the drought is over. Residents are also warned to be mindful when discarding cigarettes and operating machinery that could cause sparks.

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(COLORADO)  The Colorado State Patrol (CSP) said commercial trucks will not be allowed south of C-470 in Denver due to a lack of parking and resources between Denver and Colorado Springs.

According to CSP, beginning at 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8, Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMVs) will not be allowed south of I-25 Exit 194 (C-470).

200 semis parked due to I-25 closure south of Pueblo

CSP has already had to manage resources for CMVs stuck in the I-25 closure south of Pueblo, and due to a lack of sufficient parking in the gap, CSP urged commercial drivers to remain in the Denver metro area.

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CSP did not provide an approximate time that CMVs would be allowed back on the interstate.

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There is still no consensus among EU member states on the possibility of relocating a training mission for the Ukrainian military to Ukraine, Josep Borrell, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has said.

Source: Borrell at a press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in Kyiv on Saturday, 9 November, as reported by European Pravda

Quote: "About [...] the training mission to act in Ukrainian territory, yes, we still dont have a consensus among member states in order to make this request fulfilled, but it doesnt prevent the training mission from continuing doing [its work]," he said when asked whether European instructors could be sent to Ukraine in response to the involvement of North Korean troops in Russia's war against Ukraine.

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Details: Borrell noted that the EU military training mission for Ukraine will have trained 75,000 Ukrainian soldiers by the end of the year.

"We try to train Ukrainian soldiers as close as possible to the Ukrainian border, but this is not per se a defensive mission [...] There's currently no consensus on doing that on Ukrainian territory. I cannot exclude that this will happen. But my job is to ensure the mission works and increase the number of Ukrainian soldiers being trained," the EU chief diplomat added.

Background: Yesterday the EU Council extended the mandate of the EU Military Assistance Mission for training Ukrainian soldiers for a further two years, with a budget allocation of over 400 million.

For reference: The EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) was established on 17 October 2022 with an initial mandate of two years. The mission is funded by the European Peace Facility.

Since then, about 63,000 Ukrainian troops have undergone various forms of training in EU countries, which is equivalent to staffing ten brigades.

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ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo.  Its the end of the road for contractor Raymond Alexander. He had bolted from St. Charles County after being accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars from homeowners like Kathy McBee and Debbra Arndt.

Police bodycam video of his arrest in Quincy, Illinois, reveals his final moments in the free world before being sentenced to nine years in prison.

We showed the video of Alexanders capture to McBee and Arndt.

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Its amazing. My blood pressure just went completely down, Arndt said.

McBee added, It was absolutely wonderful to look at him and realize, this is your last time scamming anybody for a very long time.

The two women paid a combined $12,500 for work that never started. Its just a fraction of Alexanders theft, according to St. Charles County Prosecutor Joe McCulloch.

This is one of those cases that really affect a lot of people out here, he said.

OFallon police investigate shooting, suicide

Alexander pleaded guilty to felony stealing this weekfor crimes that happened when he was already on felony probation.

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McCulloch added, Within months, Im telling youwithin monthshe was back to his old tricks of conning other people.

Arndt and McBee also got the chance to face Alexander inside the St. Charles County Courthouse.

He sees me and another witness sitting on the bench and just kind of kept staring at us as if it were going to offend usand we just kept looking, Arndt said.

The judge then sentenced Alexander to nine years in prison.

It wasnt about the money. We all knew the money wasnt coming back. It was about making sure that we stopped him, McBee added.

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The peculiar North Korean Type 73 machine gun is getting new attention as a result of the Hermit Kingdoms expanding support for Russias war in Ukraine, which now includes the deployment of thousands of troops. The weapon, chambered in the Russian 7.62x54mmR cartridge, is a unique blending of Cold War Soviet and Czech designs.

Pictures showing Type 73s, which are said to have been taken in Russias Kursk region recently, first began circulating online yesterday. There are competing unconfirmed reports that North Korean troops may have brought the guns with them or that Pyongyang is supplying them as military aid to Russian forces. Russia is known to have received various weaponry from North Korea already, including KN-23 short-range ballistic missiles, Bulsae-4 anti-tank missile vehicles, and rocket-propelled grenades, along with millions of artillery round and various kinds of other ammunition.

Photos circulating on telegram this afternoon, of North Korean Type 73s said to be in Russia (the EMR trousers leg supports that). Various posts claiming A. Brought along with the DPRK troops sent to Russia. B. Provided to Russia by DPRK. Also possibly taken during past exercise. pic.twitter.com/9npC5N8WX7  Matthew Moss | Historical Firearms (@historicfirearm) November 7, 2024

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Whatever the provenance of the images might be, they clearly show Type 73 machine guns, which are distinctive in a host of different ways. The North Korean gun combines design elements from at least three different machine guns: the Czech 7.62x39mm Vz. 52/57 machine gun and the Soviet 7.62x54mmR Soviet RP-46 (itself a belt-fed version of the Soviet DP family) and PK series.

A Czech Vz. 52 machine gun in a museum in Israel. The main difference between the Vz. 52 and the 52/57 variant is the switch from the Czech 7.62x45mm caliber to the Soviet 7.62x39mm. Bukvoed via Wikimedia

A Soviet DP-27 machine gun in a museum in Finland. The RP-46 is a belt-fed version of this gun. MKFI

A member of the US Army fires a PK-type machine gun during training. US Army

What is most immediately notable about the roughly 22-pound (empty) and four-foot-long Type 73 is that it can feed from a top-mounted box magazine (like the Vz. 52/57) or a belt of ammunition loaded in from the right side (also like the Vz. 52/57, as well as the RP-46 and PK). When used with a box magazine, the gun has an especially archaic look reminiscent of designs dating back to even before World War II like the Czech ZB-26 and the British Bren. The Bren, as well as Vz. 52/57, were themselves derived from the ZB-26.

The Type 73s unusual features also include a muzzle device that allows for the firing of rifle grenades. When that capability isnt in use, a cover that includes a muzzle brake can be screwed onto the front end of the guns nearly two-foot-long barrel.

A picture of a Type 73 machine gun said to have been taken in Russia. This example has the screw-on cover fitted over the front end of the barrel. via X

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Believed to have entered North Korean service in 1973, hard details about the Type 73 and its development remain scant.

Frankly, this is the result of several of North Koreas previous leaders, Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung, both being  like actually gun guys. And they were both big fans of Czechoslovakian firearms in particular, firearms expert Ian McCollum, who runs the Forgotten Weapons website, said in a video on the Type 73 back in 2022, which you can watch in full below.

There is a certain logic behind the design. Ammunition belts can be cumbersome for units to carry during active operations or even localized patrols. A box magazine, while offering less immediate ammunition capacity, would help make the gun easier to handle on the move, including when firing from the shoulder. At 22 pounds empty, the Type 73 is just over two pounds heavier than a typical current-generation Russian PKM, but is substantially lighter than the U.S. Armys standard 7.62x51mm M240B light machine gun, which tips the scales at nearly 28 pounds before a belt of ammunition is even loaded.

A top-mounted magazine also allows the gunner to get and stay lower to the ground while firing from a prone position without sacrificing capacity.

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So the concept here was you would carry this with a box magazine in it for any sort of immediate action that might be necessary, for example, on a patrol or something, McCollum says in his 2022 video. And then, if you got into a position where you actually had to be using the gun for sustained fire, thats when you would instead start feeding it belts.

A North Korean soldier fires a Type 73 using the magazine feed option. North Korean State Media

Again, while information is limited, the Type 73 does not appear to have been overly popular in North Korean service.

Frankly, the Czech 52/57 wasnt really all that successful, either. The concept of belt or magazine dual-feed systems never really took off. As far as I can tell, its something that sounded better on paper than it actually was in practice. And it turned out people just always wanted to go with the belts, according to McCollum. And so having the magazine feed was sort of an extraneous complication to the gun. It made them more expensive to manufacture. It gives you extra openings for dirt to get in other potential malfunctions and all that sort of stuff.

By the 1980s, the North Koreans had developed a new Type 82 machine gun, which is a PK-series clone. The PK family has been and continues to be one of the most popular light machine gun designs globally. Variants of that design are in widespread service on both sides of the war in Ukraine.

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It seems that many Type 73s were moved to reserve or militia service, but nobody can be sure, Dan Shea and Heebum Hong wrote in an article for Small Arms Defense Journal in 2013. While it could sometimes be seen in 1970s propaganda and at military parades, from the early 1980s its been more and more difficult to see one in use.

North Korean soldiers fire Type 73 machine guns, including a silver-colored one, likely intended for parade or other ceremonial use. North Korean State Media

Before now, Type 73 has appeared outside of North Korea only in relatively small numbers and largely due to Iran, which acquired some number of the guns during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. The guns have since shown up in the hands of Iranian proxies in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, as well as with militant groups in Africa.

An Iraqi militiaman circa the mid-2010s with a Type 73 machine gun. via X

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Between 2016 and 2017, Australian and French forces seized a number of Type 73s during maritime interdiction operations in and around the Arabian Sea. Some official and other expert sources at the time described them as being variants or derivatives of the Soviet RPD light machine gun design, underscoring just how rare they are to see outside of North Korea.

A picture of a Type 73 seized somewhere in the Arabian Sea in 2016 mistakenly identified as an RPD-pattern light machine gun. Conflict Armament Research

For Russian forces, an influx of any additional machine guns, especially ones that use a widely available ammunition type, could be something of a boon. The conflict in Ukraine has already seen both sides make use of older and ostensibly obsolete weapons, including machine guns dating back to World War II or before, to help bolster their arsenals.

If North Korean Type 73s are indeed being fielded to Russian units or are otherwise being actively used in Russias war against Ukraine, new details about the guns, including how the design performs in actual combat, may now start to emerge.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com
Northern Gaza is at risk of imminent famine, the World Health Organization said on Saturday, as Israel continues its bombardment across Gaza amid threats by the Biden administration to limit military assistance to Israel if it did not allow more humanitarian aid into the enclave.

The Biden administration gave Israel a Nov. 12 deadline to take specific steps to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, but the continuity of U.S. policies towards Israel has become uncertain as President Joe Biden enters a lame duck period following Donald Trumps election on Tuesday.

While Biden's policies and weapons provisions have consistently supported Israel, his relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has at times been strained, including by some efforts to restrain Israel or nudge the country toward compliance with international law.

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Trump, meanwhile, has staunchly supported Israel's right to win its war on terror, and Netanyahu and other Israeli officials have greeted his election with enthusiasm. Netanyahu was among the first world leaders to congratulate Trump in a phone call, and in an effusive post on X, called Trump's victory historys greatest comeback.

Trumps election sparked celebrations in Israel, and has fueled concerns among observers of further escalation amid a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Palestinian children wait for food at Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza.

The WHO was citing a report by the Famine Review Committee that said that action was required within days, not weeks, to avert a catastrophic famine.

The Israel Defense Forces did not immediately respond to the statement, but said Friday they were preparing to open the Kissufim crossing into southern Gaza as part of efforts to "increase the volume and routes of aid into Gaza."

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The IDF said Saturday that 220 seriously injured and ill Palestinians and their caregivers were evacuated from Gaza last week.

It also said that 713 aid trucks were brought into northern Gaza since the beginning of October.

However, this amounts to an average of just 18 trucks per day, far short of what is required. On Saturday, the IDF reported that "11 trucks of food, water, and medical equipment were brought into the Jabaliya and Beit Hanoun areas in northern Gaza.

Before the current conflict began in October 2023, more than 500 trucks per day crossed into Gaza, according to the International Rescue Committee.

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Israel's parliament also voted in October to ban the operations of UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees. UNRWA is the primary agency delivering humanitarian aid in Gaza, that also provides essential services like shelter, health care, education and psychological support.

Scott Paul, director of peace and security for Oxfam America, told NBC News that the upshot of UNRWA not being able to work is that in the Gaza Strip, where more than 2.2 million people are barely hanging on  and many of them are already dying  their support system goes away.

Last week, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said the results of Israel's efforts to comply with U.S. demands on aid so far were not good enough," and that its recommendations had "not been met."

But some believe a Trump administration may lead to a shift in U.S. policy toward Israel.

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The countrys right-wing leadership was thrilled by Trumps victory, two officials in Israel told NBC News. However, they also said that excitement was tempered by concerns that the Biden administration would ramp up pressure in its final days.

Fawaz Gerges, a professor of international relations at the London School of Economics, feared Trump would give Netanyahu a green light to continue the war in Gaza.

The famine warning came on the same day that the United Nations Human Rights Office said nearly 70% of the deaths it has verified in Gaza were women and children, and that 80% of them were killed in residential buildings.

A Palestinian man carries a child injured in an Israeli strike on the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza on Thursday.

It said the highest number of deaths was among children ages 5 to 9 years old, closely followed by those ages 10 to 14, and then babies up to and including 4 years old.

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The report said it verified the details in a sample of 8,119 people killed in Gaza from November 2023 to April 2024. According to local health officials, at least 43,000 people have been killed since the start of the war, a number the U.N. considers reliable.

The IDF told NBC News British partner, Sky News, that it works to minimize harm to non-combatants prior to attacks, especially women and children.

Every military action is carried out in accordance with the principles of distinction and proportionality, and is preceded by a careful assessment of the potential for civilian harm. The IDF is committed to adhering to international legal obligations and operating under the laws of armed conflict, it said.

The Israeli army has also distanced itself from comments made by Brig. Gen. Itzik Cohen, who told Israeli reporters last week that there was "no intention of allowing the residents of the northern Gaza Strip to return."

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It said the statement was "incorrect and does not reflect the IDF's objectives."

Tens of thousands of people have fled northern Gaza to nearby Gaza City in the latest wave of displacement within the besieged territory.

A spokesperson for Gazas civil defense told NBC News that Israeli attacks had killed 25 people on Saturday, with dozens still trapped under the rubble. It accused the IDF of preventing medical crews and rescue team from working in northern Gaza for the past 2 1/2 weeks.

NBC News has reached out to the IDF for comment on the accusation.

Secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, Jan Egeland, who visited Gaza last week, said the population in the north was being pushed beyond breaking point.

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The complete destruction I have witnessed this week in Gaza City and other urban areas of northern and central Gaza is worse than anything I could imagine, he said in a statement.

A Palestinian child fleeing Beit Lahia in northern Gaza on Tuesday walks down Salah al-Din road toward Gaza City.

The blistering offensive in northern Gaza has raised fears among Palestinians that Israel is implementing a surrender-or-starve plan proposed by Giora Eiland, a retired major general and former head of the Israeli National Security Council, that laid out a radical strategy to force the evacuation of all residents from northern Gaza, or leave them labeled as a combatant.

The IDF has denied implementing what has come to be known as "the General's Plan," but 27 members of Israeli parliament and ministers, some from Netanyahu's party, publicly support it.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Donald Trump may have a different immigration talking point since becoming the president-elect: Americans wanting to move abroad.

As emotions ran high after Trump won the presidential election on Wednesday morning, the number of Google searches to leave the country increased by 1514 per cent, according to VisaGuide.World.

From Election Day through November 6, search traffic for immigration related pages on its site grew by 338 per cent, as disgruntled Americans looked up where they had the best shot of moving to, the website said.

Trumps recent victory has driven many Americans to search about moving abroad (REUTERS)

Pages with information about relocating to specific countries also gained traction. Norway was the most popular of those pages, followed by the UK, Ireland and Costa Rica.

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Germany-Visa.org also saw a 336 per cent uptick in traffic for pages related to immigration, with particular interest in the countrys Opportunity Card  a residence permit that allows anyone from a country outside of the European Union to live in Germany for up to one year to find a job.

Google searches in the US for migration topics are roughly 15 times higher this week compared to the week before the presidential election.

Moving to New Zealand from the US was the most-searched term, with searches for the phrase up 76 times from before Trumps victory. Similarly, moving to Germany from the US was 42 times more searched this last week, and searches for Moving to the Netherlands was searched 32 times more, the site found.

Americans most frequently searched for information about relocating to Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
NUTTER FORT, W.Va. (WBOY)  With Veterans Day coming up next week, first-grade students at Nutter Fort Primary School took time on Friday to greet their loved ones who served in the military and even put on a performance for them.

This is the second year the school hosted the event, with more than 40 veterans in attendance. The students performed several songs to and with their loved ones before the veterans introduced themselves and who they were related to and shared some about their time in service.

During their sharing time, there was lots of pride on their faces, they spoke very highly of our country, and very proud of their service to our country. There were also some tears, as anyone that knows anyone that has served in the military that they see a lot of things that we cant imagine so we were very thankful for all that they have done for our country, Nutter Fort Primary School First Grade teacher Terra Burnett said.

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Theres a lot of talk about appreciating veterans and this and that and the other, and when someplace like this actually does something to show that appreciation then thats kind of cool, Gulf War and OIF veteran Clint Kissner said.

The 9:57 Project looks to connect veterans with youth at Barrackville School

(WBOY image)

Kissner added he had never been to an event like this at a school, and it was a welcome program. Other veterans who served in the Vietnam War told 12 News this was emotional for them, and the type of welcome and honor they did not get when they originally arrived from the war decades ago.

We do a lot with our curriculum of Veterans Day, and the significance of Veterans Day and the importance of why we celebrate and the things that we do within our city and our country to honor our veterans and this is just another activity that we do as well as a celebration, and the kids get to learn about their family members that have served in the military, said Burnett.

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Students and their families also got a visit from the schools therapy dog, and officials said this event honoring veterans will continue for as long as it can and they hope to expand it to other grades in the future.

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OFALLON, Mo.  There are many broken hearts in the community after a 10-year-old girl was hit and killed by a school bus Thursday afternoon.

Condolences to the family and friends have been pouring in Friday. The victims neighbors are in shock and cant believe a young life was cut short so soon.

A make-shift memorial continues to grow where the tragedy all unfolded just before 4 p.m. Thursday near Lupine Court and Belleau Creek Road. Residents stopped by all day, bringing stuffed animals, cards and flowers to honor the young Fort Zumwalt student.

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Its really affecting the whole neighborhood, its so tragic. We are neighbors a couple houses down from the family and we just came to pay our respectswe feel helpless in this situation, neighbor Ava Whiteley said.

The OFallon Police Department reported the school bus driver is cooperating.

We dont have words for it; heart goes out to the family, and as a parent myself, I cant even imagine. Certainly, a heartbreaking, tragic accident. No one should have to go through that, resident Dan Vincent said.



The Fort Zumwalt School District released a statement following the accident, which reads:

On Thursday, Nov. 7, a Fort Zumwalt student passed away after suffering injuries in an accident involving a school bus. The whole of our community feels this loss. As a district and as a community, we are supporting the students family by respecting their privacy at this incredibly difficult time. We are cooperating with the OFallon Police Departments ongoing investigation and appreciate their partnership.

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Counselors, Mental Health Professionals, administrators and other staff have been on hand today for students and staff. They are available for anyone who needs to talk, or who just needs a few minutes to process how they are doing.

I know many families, friends and neighbors are looking for support at this time, too, Superintendent Dr. Paul Myers said. We have shared resources that might help families with the difficult conversations that lie ahead. I encourage any community member who finds themself struggling with this loss to reach out to professionals for assistance.

Myers added that there have already been inquiries as to how financial or other support can be provided for the family.

I am comforted in our communitys understanding that the family is asking for privacy, and we are going to give it to them, he said. Many have already asked about providing them support. When there is information that we can share, we will be certain to pass it on.

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OAKLAND, California  Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price are both leaving office after losing recall elections, the latest sign of voter frustration over local crime concerns.

Thao conceded the race late Friday while votes were still being tallied but showed her losing the recall by roughly 64 percent to 36 percent. It came just hours after Price lost her own recall vote by about 65 percent to 35 percent. Both Thao and Price are the first members of their respective offices to be recalled.

I am deeply proud of the progress we created together and I am committed to ensuring we stay on track by supporting a smooth transition, Thao said in a statement.

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The Oakland mayor had faced widespread criticism over the citys public safety and financial problems, as well as a series of negative headlines, including a June FBI raid on her home. Price similarly faced a sharp reversal in voter sentiment now favoring tough-on-crime policies, after she swept into office just two years ago with a progressive platform.

The recall results reflect the major role that crime rates played on this years California ballot as well as the swift change in voter sentiments. The state passed a measure to increase penalties for certain offenses, Proposition 36, while both San Francisco Mayor London Breed and Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon lost their reelection bids amid similar frustration over public safety.

Brenda Grisham, one of the leaders of the campaign to recall Price, said residents sent a clear message with the votes in Oakland and Alameda County.

[Voters] want to be safe, Grisham said. They want to feel safe. They want to get up and feel like they matter. Right now, thats not what's happening. The officials that are in office feel like they're running the show, and the citizens have nothing to say about it.

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Roughly two-thirds of voters in Alameda County also backed Proposition 36, which re-classifies certain misdemeanor drug and theft crimes as felonies. Huy Nguyen, president of the Oakland police union, said in a statement that voters recognized that Price and Thaos progressive leftist policies directly harmed and impacted residents, neighborhoods, working and middle class families and small businesses.

This mandate demonstrates residents value public safety over failed anti-police and anti-public safety policies, Nguyen said. It sends a national message that the public strongly supports the police and safety.

Leading Democrats including Gov. Gavin Newsom had also sought to distance themselves from Thao and Price before the election. Even before the results were called, Newsom on Friday announced he would extend an enforcement surge of California Highway Patrol officers to Oakland, citing concerns over leadership transitions.

California will continue to support East Bay local law enforcement in their efforts to address crime and lawlessness in the region, Newsom said in a statement. During these leadership transitions, Oakland families should feel secure knowing that the state will help maintain public safety and help keep their communities secure.

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Newsom also extended a directive for attorneys from the California National Guard to help prosecute certain drug crimes in Alameda County, following a back-and-forth with Price over the summer in which he claimed the district attorney refused an initial offer for help.

Both Thao and Price had sought to fight back the recall efforts in part by pointing to falling crime rates. In her concession statement, Thao also pointed to clearing encampments, improving technology infrastructure and paving a record amount of miles in Oakland.

It isnt about me, Thao said. It has never been. It has always been about Oakland.

Price made a last-minute pitch to voters on Tuesday before polls closed, contending that she had kept her promises to voters despite relentless opposition and over-the-top scrutiny and criticism of every decision, adding that the media thirst for a recall was obvious.

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I have not wavered in my commitment to racial justice, gender justice, youth rehabilitation, holding rogue police and prosecutors accountable, and ending both gun violence and mass incarceration, Price said in a statement.

Prices predecessor, Nancy OMalley, who served three terms as Alameda Countys top prosecutor, said her preferred replacement would be somebody who's honest, who isn't going to be throwing out false accusations and blaming everybody else for whatever is not working.

True leaders, if something's not working, they get in and they fix it, OMalley said. They don't throw this mud on anybody that they could think of and blame everybody else. So I hope that the board will select a person of integrity who understands the job, who is honest and ethical.

Thao has also blamed wealthy outsiders and opportunists for the recall push. Both campaigns were largely bankrolled by investment manager Philip Dreyfuss, who poured more than $1 million into the efforts and lives in Piedmont, a small city surrounded by Oakland.

The results now create a power vacuum. Oakland will have to hold a special election to replace Thao within 120 days, and the Alameda Board of Supervisors must appoint a temporary replacement for Price until the 2026 vote. Thao said that if she is recalled, she would likely vacate her office sometime in December, after it is certified by the city council.
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP)  A woman and a child are dead after an officer fired a weapon while responding to a domestic disturbance at an apartment in the Kansas City suburb of Independence, Missouri.

Heartbreaking is how Independence Police Chief Adam Dustman described it at a news conference Friday.

He said the woman was armed with a knife when officers responded Thursday afternoon to a 911 call about a possible assault. Dustman said there were attempts to de-escalate the situation and that a mental health provider was embedded with the unit. But such providers arent equipped to deal with armed suspects, and didnt engage with the woman before the situation escalated, he said.

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He said one officer, a long-tenured veteran of law enforcement, ultimately discharged a firearm.

As a result of that encounter, it resulted in two fatalities, one to the armed female and one to a child, Dustman said.

Asked whether the child was shot by police or injured before officers arrived, he said he didnt have that information and noted that an investigation is ongoing. He also declined to release the names of the two who died or their ages.

He said police had responded to the apartment at least once earlier, but had no details.

Carrie Lufkin, who manages the apartment, said she first knew something was amiss when she saw a woman sitting on a curb, crying. The woman told Lufkin that she was attacked by the woman when she went to the apartment to see her infant granddaughter so she called the police.

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Lufkin said she heard gunshots and then watched an officer carry the baby, who was only a few months old, out of the apartment.

I thought he was saving the baby. And so I was like, Are you bringing the baby to me? Ill hold the baby until this is over, Lufkin recalled.

Lufkin said the grandmother told her that child welfare services had been at the apartment earlier in the week but didnt get a response at the apartment. A spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Social Services, which oversees the Childrens Division, didnt immediately respond to an email message seeking comment.

Lufkin said a man on the lease left the apartment in handcuffs. Dustman said no arrests were made at the scene. He didnt answer a question about whether someone was taken in handcuffs.

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The officer who fired the weapon was placed on administrative leave, along with two other officers who responded to the scene, as is standard procedure while an investigation is underway. Dustman said their response was exactly as they were trained to perform.

The Jackson County Prosecutors Office said in a news release that its staff went to the scene and met with the independent team overseeing the investigation. But prosecutors and police in nearby Blue Springs, who are overseeing the investigation, didnt immediately release additional information.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Local police are looking for a suspect who fired shots on the far west side, Columbus police said.

The Columbus Division of Police (CPD) said it was asked to assist in a shots fired situation at the 4300 block of Westport Road around 5:15 p.m. Friday. Franklin Township police reported that shots were fired nearby an officer on duty, though no injuries were reported.

The suspect was wearing a blue plaid shirt at the time and is still considered at large.

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DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP)  Qatar has decided to suspend its key mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel, officials said Saturday, after growing frustration with the lack of progress on a cease-fire deal for Gaza.

It wasnt immediately clear whether the remaining Hamas leadership hosted by Qatar must leave.

However, Qatar is highly likely to return to the efforts if both sides show serious political willingness to reach a deal, according to an official with Egypt, the other key mediator.

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Qatar told Israel and Hamas that it cant continue to mediate as long as there is a refusal to negotiate a deal in good faith and as a consequence, the Hamas political office no longer serves its purpose in Qatar, a diplomatic source briefed on the matter said. Qatar told Hamas it will have to leave if it isnt ready to engage in serious negotiations, the source said.

In Washington, a U.S. official said the Biden administration had informed Qatar two weeks ago that the continued operation of the Hamas office in Doha was no longer useful and the Hamas delegation should be expelled.

A senior U.S. official said that after Hamas rejected the last proposal for a cease-fire, Qatar accepted the advice and informed the Hamas delegation of the decision 10 days ago.

A senior Hamas official said they were aware of Qatars decision to suspend mediation efforts, but no one told us to leave. Hamas has repeatedly called for an end to the war and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza as a condition for any cease-fire deal. Israel seeks the return of all hostages and insists on a presence in Gaza.

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The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. The Israeli prime ministers office had no comment.

There continued to be no end in sight to Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and the Israel-Hezbollah war in Lebanon, where Israels military said it struck command centers and other militant infrastructure overnight in Beiruts southern suburbs. An Israeli airstrike on the southern port city of Tyre late Friday left at least seven dead, officials and a resident said.

Hezbollah should continue (the fight) and we will continue to back them up even if we lose our families, our homes, and end up in the dirt, said one Beirut resident, Mohammed Mekdad, as people searched the smoking rubble.

In Gaza, three separate Israeli strikes killed at least 16 people, including women and children, on Saturday, Palestinian medical officials said, while Israel announced the first delivery of humanitarian aid in weeks to the territorys hungry, devastated north.

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One of the strikes hit a school-turned-shelter in Gaza Citys eastern Tufah neighborhood, killing at least six people, the territorys Health Ministry said. Two local journalists, a pregnant woman and a child were among the dead, it said. Israels army said the strike targeted a militant belonging to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, offering no evidence or details.

Seven people were killed when an Israeli strike hit a tent in the southern city of Khan Younis where displaced people were sheltering, according to Nasser Hospital. It said the dead included two women and a child. The Israeli army didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

And Palestinian medical officials said an Israeli strike hit tents in the courtyard of central Gazas main hospital, including one serving as a police point. At least three people were killed and a local journalist was wounded, Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir al-Balah said. It was the eighth Israeli attack on the compound since March.

Israel says aid trucks reach northern Gaza

The Israeli military body in charge of humanitarian aid to Gaza, COGAT, said Saturday that 11 aid trucks containing food, water and medical equipment reached the enclaves far north on Thursday. Its the first time any aid has reached the far north since Israel began a new military campaign there last month.

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But not all the aid reached the agreed drop-off points, according to the the U.N. World Food Program, which was involved in the delivery process. In the urban refugee camp of Jabaliya, Israeli troops stopped one convoy bound for nearby Beit Lahiya and ordered the supplies to be offloaded, WFP spokesperson Alia Zaki said.

Israels offensive has focused on Jabaliya, where Israel says Hamas had regrouped. Other areas affected include Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun just north of Gaza City.

U.S. deadline is looming for Israel

The aid announcement came days before a U.S. deadline demanding that Israel improve aid deliveries across Gaza or risk losing access to U.S. weapons funding.

The U.S. says Israel must allow a minimum of 350 trucks a day carrying food and other supplies.

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Meanwhile, a report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, issued Thursday said theres a strong likelihood that famine is imminent in parts of northern Gaza, the territorys most isolated area.

COGAT rejected the IPCs finding and said the report relied on partial, biased data and superficial sources with vested interests.

No emergency services functioning north of Gaza City

The U.N. estimates that tens of thousands of people remain in northern Gaza. Earlier this week, the Health Ministry said there were no ambulances or emergency crews operating north of Gaza City.

The conflict has left 90% of Palestinians in Gaza displaced, according to U.N. figures. Israels army has struck several schools and tent camps packed with tens of thousands of Palestinians driven from their homes by Israeli offensives and evacuation orders.

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The military has accused Hamas of operating from within civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including schools, U.N. facilities and hospitals.

More than a year of war in Gaza has killed more than 43,000 people, Palestinian health officials say. They dont distinguish between civilians and combatants, but say more than half of those killed were women and children.

The war began after Palestinian militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and abducting 250 others.

___

Samy Magdy reported from Cairo and Matthew Lee from Washington. Jack Jeffery contributed to this report from Ramallah, West Bank.

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___

Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Local leaders have a plan to combat dangerous fires in abandoned structures, with authorities warning these incidents tend to increase during the colder months.

These fires can spread quickly and become deadly, which is why local fire officials are urging residents to step up. 2 NEWS spent the afternoon speaking with officials in Dayton as they work to keep the city safe.

Woman dies from stabbing incident, homicide detectives investigating

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Dayton leaders say their concern for fires in abandoned homes and buildings is increasing as the temperatures begin to drop. Now, they are asking for the communitys help.

The risk of unhoused individuals staying in vacant and abandoned structures is simply too high, said Chief Mike Rice, Dayton Fire Department.

Since 2022, the Dayton Fire Department says they respond to about 100 fires on average in vacant or abandoned structures each year. In March 2023, a fire in a vacant home killed five people on North Broadway Street.

Authorities say, in some cases, these fires are started by individuals looking to stay warm.

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But many times individuals are using, again, nontraditional elements to stay warm, combustible materials and next to combustible furnishings and a structure, said Rice.

Now, city leaders want residents to help bring attention to abandoned structures that need to be addressed. Through the Dayton Delivers website or app, people can report vacant structures that need to be boarded up, or have begun structural deterioration.

Officials believe that these efforts will cut down on these fires  something Chief Rice and Mayor Jeffrey Mims say will help protect Daytons first responders and residents.

If theres a lot of damage to a structure and its become unstable, then its going to be a possible danger to the community, said Rice.

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The fire and police all working together to address these concerns, theyre putting their life at risk as well, said Dayton Mayor Jeffrey Mims, Jr.

The city encourages residents to continue to report any signs of illegal activity in vacant or abandoned homes to the Dayton Police Department.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  An Amber Alert issued Friday for a missing teenage girl from Columbus has been canceled, as she was recovered at 6:19 p.m. The suspect involved in her disappearance was arrested around 8:10 p.m. in Springfield.

Springfield police said the 13-year-old was found safely in Springfield. Springfield police also confirmed suspect Shane Smith, 48, is a Springfield resident, and Columbus dispatchers said he may have been armed and dangerous.

According to court documents, Smith was known to the girl and her family, and allegedly compelled her to run away with him to begin life as a couple in a new state. Court documents also allege the two have had a sexual relationship.

Smith was charged with kidnapping, according to court documents.

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According to Clark County court documents, Smith has two open court cases. Smith was indicted for felonious assault with a firearm in October 2023, and another indictment was filed in February 2024 for cocaine possession.

The alert was issued about 3:45 p.m.

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An Ohio group is looking to reintroduce lake sturgeon to Lake Erie and surrounding waterways.

The Ohio Division of Wildlife is placing 60 juvenile lake sturgeon with implanted transmitters into the Cuyahoga River.

$1M state grant awarded to fund Eries first residential hospice center

According to the division, its part of a pilot program to help reintroduce the endangered fish into the waterways.

And while the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission isnt doing the same in Erie, theyre hopeful programs like this can help make lake sturgeon plentiful once again all throughout Lake Erie.

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Stick the landing  Breeze Airways celebrates first flight into Erie International Airport

We saw a bunch of fish pass in 2001 due to the botulism outbreak, and ever since then, theres been a lot of work to reintroduce lake sturgeon back into its greatness that it was in Lake Erie. There are known populations on both ends, said Mark Haffley, unit leader of Lake Erie Research Unit, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Having lake sturgeon back in any sort of number is going to be really great for the ecosystem.

Haffley added Erie isnt a hotbed for sturgeon reproduction these days, but there have been reports of the fish surrounding Erie for years.

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(WJET/WFXP)  Head to Ashtabula County for the Great Lakes Science Centers new Dogs! A Science Tail exhibit!

Learn how to train a virtual dog to heed your commands, clock your running speed against the worlds fastest dogs, unearth replica fossils of wolves and dogs to reveal their surprising similarities and much more.

Visitors will also enjoy walking an invisible dog through a neighborhood maze, listening to hidden sounds that dogs can hear but humans cant, playing a special game of pup culture Jeopardy, and exploring the various careers that involve these intelligent animals.

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Great Lakes Science Center is one of the top 10 museums in the nation as celebrated by the 2024 USA Today 10Best Readers Choice travel award for Best Science Museum.

The Science Center is home to the NASA Glenn Visitor Center and makes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) come alive for more than 300,000 visitors a year through hundreds of hands-on exhibits, temporary exhibitions, the Cleveland Clinic DOME Theater, historic Steamship William G. Mather, daily science demonstrations, seasonal camps, and more.

Learn more about the exhibit and the science center by heading to their website.

Contact

Phone number: (216) 694-2000

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Email: glscinfo@glsc.org

Hours: For their fall/winter house, the center is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. They are closed on Monday.

Location

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OneCare Vermont, which leaders say aims to reform how healthcare is paid for in the state, announced it would end after 2025. CEO Abe Berman, says the decision comes after the organization learned the federal program it uses to accept payment, from both Medicare and Medicaid, will wrap up around the same time frame.

Absent a replacement of the program that we have, it may impact Vermonters access to primary care as well as post-acute care, however were working really diligently with the State of Vermont on what comes next, said Berman.

The organization works with primary care organizations across the state, offering funding for practices and collaboration across Vermonts healthcare systems. Dr. Toby Sadkin, a family physician and chair of Primary Care Health Partners, says she is worried about what this means for Vermont practices on the financial level.

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Without this enhanced payment we really do worry that some of these services that weve now become accustomed to having for our patients, we may not be able to support.

In spite of OneCares goals to stabilize healthcare costs, its own spending has faced some criticism over the past few years. Last year, the Green Mountain Care Board suggested spending cuts to OneCare, including limits to how much money its executives make. Even so, Berman says he is proud of what has been achieved.

I know that the work weve done has had meaning, he said.

The CEO says the program will continue to operate until December of next year. Berman also says he remains hopeful that a replacement, such as the state-led AHEAD program, will build on OneCares legacy for patients and providers alike.

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Elon Musk on Friday called for the punishment of special counsel Jack Smith in reply to a post on X from Reps. Jim Jordan and Barry Loudermilk calling on Smith to preserve all records. The exchange signals that while Smith may be winding down his cases against the president-elect, the Republicans are just starting to wind up their efforts to seek retribution.

Jack Smiths abuse of the justice system cannot go unpunished  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 8, 2024

That the special counsel is preparing to mothball his two prosecutions of now-President-elect Donald Trump is evident from reporting on Smiths conversations with Justice Department leadership, as well as Smiths motion this week asking the trial judge overseeing the Jan. 6 case to pause the courts deadlines. That motion was almost immediately granted by Judge Tanya Chutkan. In the filing, Smith characterized the circumstances of the case as unprecedented and said he intends to file a report with the court by Dec. 2 laying out how he plans to proceed.

The problem for Smith is a DOJ policy that prohibits the prosecution of a sitting president. That policy is a result of lawyers for presidents Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton successfully arguing to the Justice Department that prosecuting the sitting head of the executive branch would violate the Constitution. While other countries can and do prosecute their sitting heads of government and while scholars have questioned the binding power of a DOJ memo authored by its Office of Legal Counsel, there is a less-than-zero chance that Attorney General Merrick Garland revisits that analysis, given his fear of appearing partisan.

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This leaves Smith  and the DOJ  with basically two choices: They can dismiss the cases, or they can pause the cases until Trump is no longer president (again). Pausing the cases would be an exercise in futility since Trump will dismiss the cases as soon as he takes office. This would include giving up the pending appeal of Judge Aileen Cannons dismissal of the classified documents case  a dismissal based on Cannons outlier conclusion that the very appointment of the special counsel was unconstitutional. Dropping an appeal of a poorly reasoned decision that undercuts the use of a special counsel normally would not be palatable to the Justice Department. But this is not a normal time, and a Trump-appointed attorney general will not only drop the appeal but will also likely seek to do away with the use of special counsels altogether.

Another issue for Smith and the department is whether to try and rush out his report before Smith is fired. And the release of any such report raises the possibility of a conflict between Smith and the ever-cautious Garland. Under the regulations governing the conduct and accountability of special counsels, such a conflict could require Garland to report the disagreement to Congress.

Questioning the authority of the special counsel is exactly what Trump and his allies have done since the Mueller investigation. The most recent example, reported by The Washington Post, is the incoming Trump administrations plan to have the next Justice Department  look critically at what Smiths team did over the past couple of years to make sure nothing like this ever happens again. The Trump-led Republican Party has made a cottage industry out of investigating the investigators, with congressional investigations into the investigation of Hillary Clinton, Robert Muellers Russian interference probe, the Georgia election interference case brought by Fani Willis, the New York fraud case and the Hunter Biden prosecution, as well as, most famously, special counsel John Durhams own investigation.

Durham embodies the pinnacle of the Republican fetish for investigating investigations. He spent four years, much time in private dinners with former Attorney General William Barr and millions of taxpayer dollars to uncover exactly nothing, while also managing to lose two jury trials. But Durham could soon be unseated as reigning champ of the investigate the investigations game.

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The joint letter from Jordans House Committee on the Judiciary and Loudermilks Subcommittee on Oversight demanding Smiths team preserve all their documents signals the gleeful ramping-up of their investigation into the prosecutions. The request itself is modeled after what is called a preservation notice in litigation, which puts the recipient on notice not to destroy any potentially relevant or discoverable documents. Such requests are highly intrusive and usually overbroad  but directing such a notice to Smith is a meaningless, showboat action. Smiths team already needs to preserve its documents in the normal course of recordkeeping  not to mention the historical value of these particular records. Prosecutors are not in the habit of shredding their files upon the conclusion of a case.

The Jordan-Loudermilk inquiries would normally be frustrated, however, by the DOJs standard refusal to provide information or testimony about a pending criminal investigation or case. But if Smith dismisses the cases, then that argument is weakened. Moreover, a Trump-appointed attorney general is likely to order full disclosure of any and all information sought, without regard to protecting witnesses or sensitive information. Similarly, if called to testify, Smith and his team will not have the shield of a pending case with which to deflect inquiries.

Investigations carried out by Congress, however, can be a double-edged sword for Republicans. A probe in this case will involve testimony about and the disclosure of that evidence Jordan and Loudermilk want preserved. Such a proceeding may not be what Trump wants, given that it puts a renewed focus on acts that resulted in dozens of criminal charges against him, both federal and state. NBC News reporter Ken Dilanian raised the specter of a more Nixonian approach when he asked whether Trump might not just order all of the prosecutions accumulated evidence at the DOJ be destroyed. This more commonsense approach to erasing the history of the federal cases against Trump would now run afoul of the congressional notice of preservation.

Nor are congressional inquiries the only weapon available to Republicans. An attorney general fully committed to doing Trumps bidding could direct the DOJ to begin actual criminal investigations.

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Mike Davis, a former clerk to Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch who is now rumored to be a potential nominee for attorney general, illustrated this in a sexist rant directed at New York Attorney General Letitia James: Let me just say this to Big Tish James.  I dare you to try to continue your lawfare against President Trump in his second term. Because listen here, sweetheart, were not messing around this time, Davis said on a podcast. And we will put your fat ass in prison for conspiracy against rights, I promise you that.

This is the same Mike Davis who previously spoke of his wish to harm Trumps political enemies: I want to drag their dead political bodies through the streets, burn them, and throw them off the wall. (Legally, politically, and, financially, of course.) Its unclear what criminal charge Davis has in mind when he speaks about conspiracy against rights, but in other threats against Liz Cheney and Cassidy Hutchinson, Davis specified obstructing a congressional investigation and lying to Congress as charges he believes should be pursued.

Not only is there zero evidence upon which to open such investigations against James or Smith, much less on which to charge or convict, the motivation Davis expressed also violates the DOJ Manual. For example, Section 9-27.260 pertaining to Initiating and Declining ChargesImpermissible Considerations bars the use of political associations, activities or beliefs as a factor in the decision to bring charges. Section 9-85.500 of the manual also requires that federal prosecutors and agents may never select the timing of any action, including investigative steps, criminal charges, or statements, for the purpose of affecting any election, or for the purpose of giving an advantage or disadvantage to any candidate or political party.

However, such rules are of little value in the face of an attorney general whos determined to ignore and violate them.

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Smith and his team started late through no fault of their own. By the time Smith was appointed, it was always clear that getting the Jan. 6 case to trial before the election was a tall order. Against the odds, in the face of a conservative Supreme Court majority that seemed inclined to allow the clock to run out, Smiths team made speedy progress with the aid of Chutkans no-nonsense management of the case.

But almost in criminal prosecutions counts for nothing. History will judge Smiths efforts only by what in his report sees the light of day. And if an incoming Trump DOJ opens punitive criminal investigations, then Smith and many others will suffer the consequences of Garlands belief that justice must be blind to political realities  regardless of how much those political realities stand in the way of justice.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Like a second (or in his case, a third) marriage, the vote to award Donald Trump a second presidential term is the ultimate triumph of hope over experience. Americans decided to ignore his disastrous first term in anticipation that he is a changed man who might do better this time.

Good luck with that.

With Republican control of the White House, the Senate and probably the House, Trump is poised to do much more damage than he did during his first term when millions of Americans lost their jobs and 400,000 poor souls lost their lives because he dismissed the deadly pandemic as a hoax.

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The Trump-dominated Supreme Court gave him a get out jail free card with its tragic ruling on presidential immunity. The high court is in his back pocket and is likely to back up anything dangerous that he does. He is now set to cause even more destruction than he did the first time around.

Trump once boasted that he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue in New York City and not lose a vote. This was never more correct than it is now.

The flip side of the victors glorious story is the losers troubled tale. Vice President Kamala Harris failed to make herstory by becoming the first female president, but Trump made all sorts of history. He will be the first convicted felon to become president, and only the second president after Grover Cleveland to serve non-consecutive terms. The former and soon-to-be president has defeated two female candidates and lost to his only male opponent.

Harris lost because she did not aggressively confront the concerns of millions of hard-working families who suffered from the ravages of soaring prices over the last four years. James Carville was right. Trumps victory demonstrated that its the economy, stupid.

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To win, Democrats must get back to basics and embrace aggressive populist policies that address the financial struggles of working families. The most alarming fact in the national Election Day exit poll is that Harris barely won the bedrock Democratic constituency of low-income voters. FDR is likely spinning in his grave.

The 2028 Democratic presidential campaign began in earnest on Wednesday when Harris formally conceded to Trump in a speech at Howard University. She smiled bravely and her speech was inspiring, but no words could relive the disappointment of angry and aggrieved supporters.

The soon-to-be former vice president may very well run again and start the campaign as the Democratic frontrunner. She deserves credit for her ability to structure a national campaign effort and overcome an abbreviated 100-day election window. But her inability to defeat a felonious former and twice impeached president will hinder her hopes for another bite at the apple. She will encounter serious opposition to repeating as her partys standard bearer.

Harris ran behind Bidens 2020 performance in just about every demographic category. Incredibly, Biden even did better than she did with female voters.

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Democratic notables will soon make the long treks to Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina to jump-start their presidential campaigns in the early primary and caucus states.

Harriss fellow Californian, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), is champing at the bit to make a presidential race. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (D) wait in the wings for the opportunity to take center stage to challenge the new vice president, JD Vance in 2028. And there might be a wildcard candidate like Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D).

There is bound to be a candidate like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-N.Y.) from the Bernie Sanders wing of the party, who can offer a much-needed aggressive progressive populist economic perspective.

The threat Trump poses to our great republic and to democracy means Democrats dont have the luxury of taking time to lick their wounds. It is time for American patriots to be wise, get energized and organize.

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Brad Bannon is a Democratic pollster, CEO of Bannon Communications Research which polls for Democrats, labor unions and progressive issue groups. He hosts the popular progressive podcast on power, politics and policy, Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
If you're a Democrat worried about Donald Trump's return to the White House with a Republican-controlled Congress and Supreme Court, you might consider talking to Congressman Greg Landsman. He just might help keep you calm.

Landsman, a Cincinnati Democrat, easily won reelection to Ohio's 1st Congressional District on Tuesday, outperforming both Vice President Kamala Harris and incumbent U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown with voters. Landsman's win was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dismal election night for Democrats nationally.

More: Election 2024 recap: Who will control the House? Dozens of races not decided

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Landsman and the remaining Democratic representatives and senators in Congress now represent one of the last lines of defense for Americans afraid of Trump's worst impulses and most extreme policies. Landsman said he's up to the task but remains hopeful that pragmatic Democrats and Republicans like him can work together to pass bipartisan legislation that makes life better for all Americans.

The worst scenarios are not inevitable

U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman hugs supporters after declaring victory in the 1st Congressional district at Queen City Exchange in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

"I'm not naive. I'm a realist. I'm very aware of what's at stake here," Landsman told me in an interview on Friday. "An enormous amount of damage could be done (during Trump's presidency) and lots of people could get hurt, but that's not inevitable. There are other options."

Landsman said even though Republicans might control both the U.S. House and Senate, there remains a lot of ideological diversity within the GOP. For instance, some Republicans, he said, believe in NATO and are very determined to support Ukraine, push back against Russian President Vladimir Putin, and not allow a larger war to break out. Meanwhile, other Republican members support Trump's view to cut a deal with Putin.

"This is going to be a big discussion in their rank-and-file," Landsman said.

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Views also vary among Republicans about Trump's massive tax cuts, Landsman said. Many Republicans want to make sure tax cuts go to working and middle-class people, he said, adding those GOP members need to stand their ground and not waste trillions of dollars again on the super-wealthy. Landsman also said there are those within the GOP who want to protect Social Security and Medicare and who do not support Trump's tariffs and are reluctant to mess with the Affordable Care Act.

Landsman points out these ideological differences for good reason.

"My hope is the center-left and the center-right can work together to get things done and that we can protect the country from the worst of what the far-right would like to do," Landsman said. "There is a possibility some of these Republicans will work with those of us on the other side who are normal and pragmatic. Hopefully, that will be a firewall and an instrument to get things done."

Pragmatists in both parties must keep stepping up

U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman talks with supporters after winning his reelection against Republican Orlando Sonza for the 1st Congressional district at his watch party at Queen City Exchange in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Landsman's words might sound like happy talk or the well-intentioned but misguided musings of a delusional man to some. But Landsman stands on what he's seen work in Washington so far in his short career and what he believes won him reelection.

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"There are pragmatists on both sides of the aisle, and we were the only functional part of a dysfunctional Congress. We got a lot of things done," Landsman said. "Pragmatists on both sides got us out of the default crisis last year. The far-right wanted to crash our economy by not lifting the debt ceiling, but it was this pragmatic middle, this bipartisan majority that passed the budget. We passed the FAA reauthorization, the national security and global aid package, and we were the ones that brought forth the bipartisan immigration deal."

Landsman said pragmatic members of Congress will have to keep doing the heavy lifting, otherwise "the extremes take over and either nothing gets done, or what gets done is over the top and is damaging to too many people." But he's well aware that Trump and the Republicans could choose to close ranks and go it alone to pass legislation.

"The best option is to work across the aisle and get a tax cut that makes sense, get back to competitive markets where consumers aren't getting price gouged, pass the border security bill - all that could be done in a bipartisan way," he said. "That's the approach I'm pushing for. They can try to do it on their own and like a bull in a china shop, lots of things will get broken and people are going to get hurt."

Where is Landsman summoning his optimism for bipartisanship from?

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"It's important for people like me to maintain some optimism and throw ourselves into the fight instead of just throwing our hands up and saying this will be awful," Landsman said. "That would only make the 'awful' that much more likely.

"I'm choosing a particular disposition because I believe that's the right path," Landsman said. "I'm open to bipartisanship because there is too much on the line. I'm going to believe that folks can work together because that's how you produce better policy and that is what people want. But it's going to require a lot of hard work."

Election results reflect frustration with the status quo

I asked Landsman if he was surprised by Tuesday's election results, including his own, and what he thought they said about the state of our country. Landsman said he anticipated his race to be closer than it turned out to be and felt the presidential race was a toss-up, so Trump's win wasn't a surprise. While some Democrats are pointing fingers of blame in an attempt to explain why Vice President Kamala Harris lost, Landsman said it's important to listen to voters right now.

"Let the folks who made the decision tell us why," Landsman said, adding he thought Harris ran "an incredible campaign and would have been an incredible president."

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"But if you're asking me, I think people were frustrated with politics and the economy, and I think to some extent they were expressing their frustration by voting for Trump. People are stressed economically, their bank accounts aren't where they want them to be, and in every election when that is the case, voters blame the incumbent," he said. "She (Harris) was perceived as the incumbent. I don't think that was fair, but I only get one vote."

As for what electing Trump says about the state and psyche of our nation, Landsman declined to go there.

"I don't think this election is a reflection of anything other than people are frustrated by the status quo and they wanted change," he said. "I don't think we are any different than we were last week. Yes, a majority of people picked Trump, but I don't believe they want the chaos and extremism that comes from his rhetoric. I don't believe they want Project 2025, which is deeply unpopular among the American people in all the polls. Voters want change, and they want folks to be working together."

More: What's the future for Ohio Democrats after big election losses?

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Landsman said people on the far-right and the far-left have alienated a lot of Americans  something both parties have to reckon with. And if Trump goes too far by cutting programs that people depend on and hurt those most vulnerable among us, Landsman believes Americans will make their voices heard again.

"The American people will push back and say that's not who we are," he said.

Much of what President-elect Trump plans to do and how remains a mystery, said Landsman.

"I have not seen any clear plans yet on any of this stuff. He just says he's going to fix it," Landsman said of Trump's policies. "Well, now you (Trump and Republicans) have full control. Let's see what you are going to do. It was an effective sales pitch to voters, now what?"

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Landsman said his next steps are more clear: "Get as much done as humanly possible for Southwest Ohio, be part of any and all bipartisan efforts to make things happen, and be the firewall to protect our freedoms and those most vulnerable among us from the worst."

Opinion and Engagement Editor Kevin S. Aldridge can be reached at kaldridge@enquirer.com. On X: @kevaldrid

Kevin Aldridge, opinion editor for The Enquirer. Photo shot Thursday June 16, 2022.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Landsman hopeful 'pragmatic' Democrats, Republicans can get work done
Six short years ago, 10th District U.S. Rep. John James compared abortion to genocide. In a 2022 campaign mailer, 7th District U.S. Rep.-elect Tom Barrett declared himself 100% PRO LIFE  NO EXCEPTIONS.

That was then.

This year, candidates Barrett and James worked diligently, if improbably, to present themselves as no threat to the abortion rights a majority of Michiganders support.

The issue was settled in 2022, both men told voters, when 56% of Michigan voters approved Proposal 3 (in Barrett and James districts, 57%), amending the state constitution to protect abortion rights and womens bodily autonomy  and, coincidentally, illustrating that opposition to same was a non-starter.

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As states like Michigan moved to protect abortion rights, the prospect of a national abortion ban became a focal point of the 2024 election. Republicans like James and Barrett, once vociferously anti-abortion, have taken great pains to explain to voters that the problem was actually that abortion had become legal via the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling in Roe v. Wade. Not state-level legislation, a rationale that suggests the pro-life movements problem with abortion was procedural, not moral.

Barrett told the Free Press Editorial Board this fall that he doesnt even believe a congressman has the authority to overturn a provision of a state constitution; a nice sentiment, but not actually how the hierarchy of state and federal government works.

James, in an April interview on WDIV-TV, told Michigan voters that because of Prop 3, Democrats warnings that Republicans were angling to pass a national ban were fearmongering. Besides, James assured the interviewer, even if the Republican-controlled U.S. House passed such legislation, it would never pass the Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate.

Now, Republicans have unilateral control of the federal government.

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And you really have to wonder what will happen next.

Sen. Tom Barrett

Editorial: Trump wins; Harris concedes. Turns out you can go back.

Fading urgency

Democrats hoping for a repeat of 2022s blue wave warned that abortion was also on the ballot this year.

It did not work.

Democrats took a bath in Tuesdays election, losing the presidency, the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House, the state Legislature, and virtually ensuring that the U.S. Supreme Courts 6-3 conservative majority will last forever.

James, a Shelby Township businessman, won re-election with 51% of the vote. Barrett, a veteran and former state senator from Charlotte, won the open 7th District seat with 50.29% of the vote. Both men beat vocally pro-choice opponents.

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But I dont think Michigan voters care less about abortion rights or womens autonomy than they did two years ago.

After Roe, voters in states where most people are pro-choice, like Michigan, passed measures to protect abortion rights. Abortions are legal here, and most Michiganders are fine with that. States where most people are anti-abortion, like Alabama, didnt. Most abortions are illegal there, and most Alabamians are fine with that.

For a lot of Michiganders, Prop 3 took the urgency out of the fight for abortion rights and bodily autonomy. The question, as James and Barrett insist, feels settled.

John James, Michigan GOP Senate candidate, does an interview with a news media outlet before holding an election night event at his business, James Group International, August 7, 2018 in Detroit.

Opinion: I'm tired of political ads that assume I only care about abortion

They're not actually lukewarm on abortion

During his eight years in the state Legislature, Barrett sponsored or backed proposals to ban abortion after a fetal heartbeat could be detected  that's at roughly 5 1/2 or 6 weeks, when most women don't know they're pregnant  to ban D&E (dilation and evacuation), a procedure Barrett called "gruesome and barbaric. D&Es are most often performed as life-saving medical care for women who have miscarried, and are rarely used to end pregnancies. Barrett co-sponsored a 2021 resolution that urged criminal prosecution, if Roe were to fall, of doctors and nurses who performed abortions in Michigan.

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In a 2022 interview, Barrett said  incorrectly  that Proposal 3 would make Michigan "the most extreme in the entire world for abortion."

James praised the overturn of Roe v. Wade, and in 2018 said he opposes abortion even in cases of rape or incest.

A sign that reads 'Women's Rights Are Human Rights!' sits next to a megaphone during an abortion rights protest at Hart Plaza in Detroit on Saturday, April 15, 2023.

I think I know how this story ends

Four Republican men running for seats in the U.S. Congress this year told Michiganders that they wouldnt vote for a national abortion ban.

Two of them won.

Republicans have a 12-seat majority in the U.S. House, and a four-seat majority in the U.S. Senate.

Every vote counts.

Abortion rights aren't just about abortion. Most women, even most pro-choice women, will never terminate a pregnancy. But bodily autonomy is a necessary condition for personhood. If we cant choose what happens to our own bodies, women are something less than human.

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I expect it wont be long until we find out whether Barrett and James renaissance on abortion rights was sincere, or the sort of thing a candidate says when he really wants to win.

Nancy Kaffer is the editorial page editor of the Detroit Free Press. Contact: nkaffer@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: I'm skeptical of Republicans who oppose an abortion ban
The single most common principle of recovery programs is that the first step is to admit that you have a problem.

That first step continues to elude the politicians and pundits who unsuccessfully pushed lawfare and panic politics for years. That includes prosecutors like New York Attorney General Letitia James and politicians like Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who affirmed this week that they will be redoubling, not reconsidering, their past positions.

For its part, The Washington Post quickly posted an editorial titled The second resistance to Trump must start now. They may, however, find the resistance more challenging both politically and legally this time around.

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It is important to note at the outset that there is no reason Democratic activists should abandon their values just because they lost this election. Our system is strengthened by passionate and active advocacy.

Rather, it is the collective fury and delirium of the post-election protests that was so disconcerting. Pundits lashed out at the majority of voters, insisting that the election established that half of the nation is composed of racists, misogynists or domination addicts who long to submit to tyranny.

Others blamed free speech and the fact that social media allows disinformation to be read by ignorant voters. In other words, the problem could not possibly be themselves. It was, rather, the public, which refused to listen.

That does not bode well for the Democratic Party. As someone raised in a liberal politically active family in Chicago, I had hoped for greater introspection after this election blowout.

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Ordinarily, recovery can begin with a terrible experience when someone hits rock bottom.

After a crushing electoral defeat and the loss of the White House and likely both houses of Congress, one would think that Democrats would be ready for that first step to recovery. However, those hoping for a new leaf on the left do not understand the true addictive hold of rage.

In my recent book, The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage, I explore rage and our long history of rage politics. There is a certain release that comes with rage in allowing people to do and say things that you would never do or say. People rarely admit it, but they like it. It is the ultimate high produced by the lowest form of political discourse.

Over the course of the last eight years, the U.S. has become a nation of rage addicts.

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For months, Democratic leaders denounced Donald Trump and his supporters as fascists and neo-Nazis. President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and others suggested that democracy itself was about to die unless Democrats were kept in power.

Just before the election, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called those voting for Trump anti-American. By Hochuls measure, over half of the American electorate is now anti-American.

James is the face of lawfare. She may have done more to reelect Trump than anyone other than the president himself. She ran on nailing Trump on something, anything. In New York, she was joined by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in this ill-conceived effort. They fulfilled the narrative of a weaponized legal system. Every new legal action seemed to produce another surge in polling for Trump.

Yet there James was, soon after the election, with another press conference promising again to unleash the powers of her office to stop Trumps policies.

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Then there was Pritzker, doing the community theater version of The Avengers and declaring, You come for my people, you come through me.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) added that he too will fight to the death against Trumps agenda.

Rather than lower the rhetoric, these rage-addicts ran out for another hit.

Our prior periods of rage politics were largely ended by the public in major election shifts like the one this month. Things, however, are different this time around both politically and legally. The problem for the resistance is the very democracy that they claimed to be saving.

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Democrats lost after opposing policies supported by an astonishing share of the public at a time of deep political division. That effort included opposing voter ID laws favored by 84 percent of the public, among other things.

They are now committed to opposing policies central to this election blowout, including deportations of illegal immigrants, which is favored in some polls by two-thirds of Americans.

Likewise, Democrats have already doubled down on attacks on free speech, including blaming their loss on the absence of sufficient censorship. On MSNBC, host Mika Brzezinski blamed the loss in part on massive disinformation. Yet, according to some polls, free speech ranked as high as second among issues on Election Day.

According to CNN, Trumps performance was the best among young people (18-29 years old) in 20 years, the best among Black voters in 48 years, and the best among Hispanic voters in more than 50 years.

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Harris actually lost a bit of support with women, and Trump won handily among some groups of women.

None of that seems to matter this time. We have an alliance of political media and academic interests wholly untethered to the views of most of the public. Yet, with both houses of Congress under Republican control, the investigations and impeachment efforts that hounded Trump throughout his first term will be less of a threat in his second term.

For that reason, the center of gravity of the second resistance will shift to Democratic prosecutors like James, Bragg and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who was just reelected.

Various Democratic governors are also pledging to thwart Trumps policies despite the results of the election.

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The second resistance will try to use state power to oppose the very issues and policies that led to this historic political shift. That means that there will be a legal shift in the focus of litigation to inherent federal powers versus state powers. That battle will favor the Trump administration.

In fairness to these Democratic politicians, they are certainly free to go to the courts, as Republicans did under Biden to argue for limitations on federal powers. But the promise of California Gov. Gavin Newsom to Trump-proof the state is easier to make rhetorically than it will be to keep legally.

Indeed, Trump will be able to cite a curious ally in this fight: Barack Obama. It was Obama who successfully swatted down state efforts to pursue their own policies and programs on immigration enforcement. Obama insisted that state laws were preempted in the area and the Supreme Court largely agreed in its 2012 decision in Arizona v. U.S.

Congress may even seek to tie the receipt of federal funds to states cooperating with federal mandates. For this reason, Democrats, who campaigned on the promise to end the filibuster for the good of democracy, suddenly became firm believers in that Senate rule right around 2:30 a.m. last Wednesday.

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As the majority of the country walks away from the party shaking their heads, many activists are left only with their rage. Instead of reappraising the years of far-left orthodoxy and intolerance, some are calling to tear down the system or take drastic individual actions, including for women to break up with their boyfriends and husbands or to cut off their hair.

They will actually keep their rage and dump their relationships. Now that really is an addiction.

Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University. He is 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.
Many observers are ringing the alarm bells about Donald Trumps reelection, fearing a retreat from Americas role in the world. Critics insist that his approach to foreign policy will dismantle the rules-based international order that the U.S. has long championed.

But although Trumps approach is far from traditional, it is neither reckless nor isolationist. Instead, it represents a strategy of restraint aimed at addressing core threats without entangling America in endless global commitments.

To understand Trumps likely grand strategy, set aside the assumption that Americas primary role is to uphold a global order shaped entirely by its own ideals. Trump isnt likely to pursue that vision. Instead, hes preparing to face a world where rival powers like China, Russia and Iran are asserting their own interests. His approach is not about defending a bygone era of American-led global hegemony but about selectively engaging where it truly matters to our interests.

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This kind of realism, known as restraint in international relations, is a far cry from the image of an America that polices the world or attempts to reshape other societies. Restraint involves a focused, cost-conscious strategy, avoiding the overreach and entanglements that have marked American foreign policy in recent decades.

Restraint means limiting Americas role to selective blunting where it directly impacts our interests. At the same time, this approach doesnt signal a willingness to accommodate adversaries, and Trumps instincts would almost certainly rule out appeasement through extensive concessions.

Critics quickly brand any noninterventionist foreign policy as isolationist, fearing the U.S. will abandon its allies and retreat behind its borders. But restraint is not isolationism. It doesnt imply America disengaging from the world, but rather intervening only where Americas core security interests are directly at stake. This means focusing on regions of primary importance  such as Asia and Europe  and avoiding open-ended commitments in secondary theaters.

Trumps restraint strategy recognizes that America cannot be everywhere at once, nor should it attempt to be. The goal here isnt to shrink from responsibility but to channel Americas power where it counts most. While traditional allies might see a shift toward a more transactional approach, this doesnt mean abandonment. Selective engagement is not a shirking of duty; its a means of tailoring Americas commitments to align with todays realities rather than yesterdays ideals.

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Trumps foreign policy will likely be focused on blunting the influence of revisionist powers without transforming the world order. China, Russia and Iran are eager to reshape international dynamics in their favor, and Trumps strategy will push back  but only insofar as it is necessary for Americas core interests. In many ways, this approach mirrors the Cold War principle of containment, albeit without the ideological crusade. And, crucially, it avoids the rigidity of containment 2.0, which would demand broad commitments to oppose these powers on all fronts.

Take China. Trump is unlikely to pursue the kind of direct confrontation some hawks advocate. Instead, his administration will aim to blunt Beijings aggressive maneuvers in the Pacific, such as its militarization of the South China Sea. Rather than trying to convert the Indo-Pacific into a bastion of American ideals, Trumps restraint strategy will focus on maintaining a balance of power, ensuring that U.S. allies like Japan and Australia can hold their own. This approach acknowledges the reality of Chinas rise without committing America to a costly and prolonged campaign to reshape the region.

Russia is another case in point. Trumps relationship with Moscow is often seen through a lens of controversy, but a restrained approach here is not an endorsement of Russian behavior, its a recognition that the U.S. can push back against Russian influence in Europe through strategic support for allies without overcommitting itself to direct confrontation. The U.S. doesnt need to be on the frontlines of every Eastern European dispute; a carefully calibrated support for NATO allies and targeted deterrence measures are more than sufficient.

Then theres Iran. Critics may argue that a restrained approach gives Tehran a free pass, but thats a distortion. Trumps restraint doesnt mean hell ignore Irans destabilizing actions in the Middle East. Instead, his policy will likely aim to prevent Iran from extending its reach while avoiding the quagmire of a new Middle Eastern war.

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By supporting partners like Israel and Saudi Arabia and targeting specific threats, America can counter Iranian influence without becoming embroiled in endless conflicts. Restraint here involves blunting Iranian ambitions where necessary, without any illusions that concessions or overtures will alter the character of the Iranian regime.

While some may yearn for the U.S. to uphold the rules-based international order at any cost, this approach is increasingly out of step with global realities. The world has changed, and American hegemony is no longer the given it once was. Instead of insisting on maintaining every facet of a system that no longer fits, Trumps strategy recognizes the need to adapt.

Restraint doesnt mean abandoning the world to chaos, it means acknowledging that Americas resources are finite, and that they must be deployed judiciously to preserve core interests.

This realism should comfort, not alarm, those who worry about an unstable world. A restrained grand strategy makes America adaptable, prepared to face a multipolar environment where different powers have different interests. It accepts that other nations will pursue their own agendas, while ensuring that Americas security and influence remain intact where it truly matters.

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A Trump grand strategy does not spell disaster. Americas engagement with the world wont disappear. Yes, Trumps approach breaks with the tradition of liberal internationalism, but that isnt the same as recklessness. Restraint is a practical, sustainable alternative to the high-cost interventions of recent decades. Its a policy aimed at stability, not global transformation  and thats a good thing.

Lets not ignore the caveats. I dont agree with everything that Trump is likely to do on the world stage, but I reject the argument that his election will cause the sky to fall. The restrained approach to grand strategy isnt about a blanket endorsement of Trumps every move. It is about recognizing the merits of a foreign policy that prioritizes national interests without overstretching.

As we brace for the next four years, lets not panic. Lets assess the strategy on its own terms, not through the lens of the past. Restraint offers America a pragmatic way to maintain its strength and influence without succumbing to endless entanglements. And in todays complex world, that may be precisely the course the U.S. needs.

Andrew Latham is a professor of international relations at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minn., a senior fellow at the Institute for Peace and Diplomacy, and a non-resident fellow at Defense Priorities in Washington, D.C.

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Registrars of voters' offices in Orange and Riverside counties were evacuated Friday evening after receiving bomb threats, but no explosives were located at either site, authorities said.

All staff and members of the public at the Orange County Registrar of Voters were evacuated from the Santa Ana office 15 minutes before the facility was scheduled to stop processing ballots, officials said in a statement. Orange County sheriff's deputies were already on site and coordinated evacuating the building at 1300 S. Grand Ave.

Bomb detection dogs were used to search the entire building, and no explosives were found.

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"The Orange County Registrar of Voters is committed to ensuring equal access to the election process, protecting the integrity of votes, and maintaining a transparent, accurate and fair election system," Registrar of Voters Bob Page said in a statement. "We are working diligently to address this incident and keep all staff and members of the public who visit our office safe."

Read more: Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin report bomb threats originating in Russia as Americans cast ballots

A similar unfounded threat was also received by the Riverside County Registrar of Voters on Friday evening at its office in Riverside.

The Riverside County Sheriffs Department was immediately notified, and members of the public and staff were evacuated from the site at 2720 Gateway Drive within five minutes. Sheriffs deputies and bomb squad members conducted a thorough search and found no explosives, according to the registrar.

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"The county of Riverside Registrar of Voters remains committed to the safety of the public and our staff," officials said in a statement. "We continue to prioritize transparency and encourage the public to observe all processes as we ensure a fair, accurate and transparent election."

On election day, fake bomb threats were made at dozens of polling locations in swing states such as Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan and Arizona, but none were found to be credible.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Pennsylvania film commissioner made a stop in Erie discussing the future of the local film industry.

A first-of-its-kind event called the Greater Erie Film Industry Summit was held on Thursday.

Get your groove on this Saturday at the Disco Spectacular!

About 150 local filmmakers and leaders have a mission to grow the Erie film industry and believe this event was the first step in doing so.

The commissioner talked about the economic impact of filmmaking in the state and how erie could potentially play a major role.

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Erie Arts & Culture welcomes community to new location highlighting latest projects

This is the first time that the state of Pennsylvania has had a film commissioner and Gino has only been in this role for the past eleven months and hes already looking to see what the future could hold for Pennsylvania. What this means for Erie, weve had a film office established but it never really got off the ground and now that we actually have support from the state level we can look toward their guidance, said Jessica Taylor, executive director at Greater Erie Film Office & Film Society of Northwest Pennsylvania.

Taylor says they have inquiries for major productions who are interested in filming in the erie area and they are ready to support them.

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Lawyers for Palm Beach County Clerk Joseph Abruzzo have called on a judge to dismiss an unprecedented lawsuit that seeks to block him from investing county money in Israeli bonds.

Abruzzo's lawyers filed a detailed response to the lawsuit Friday. They called the complaint politically charged and fatally flawed, adding that it improperly asks the court to adjudicate political issues related to the Gaza conflict.

"The plaintiffs are merely dissatisfied citizens who disagree with the governments actions for political reasons," Abruzzo said in his response to the lawsuit.

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The anonymously filed lawsuit seeks more than a $100 million in compensatory and punitive damages allegedly sustained by several Palm Beach County residents whose relatives live in Gaza. They claim that they have been traumatized by the investments that they say are being used to kill their friends and family members.

Palestinian protesters rally in West Palm Beach in May calling on County Clerk Joseph Abruzzo to stop buying Israeli bonds.

But Abruzzo lawyers argue that allowing the case to move forward would open the floodgates to a virtually endless stream of disgruntled citizen lawsuits for every type of governmental investment or expenditure.

Abruzzo calls the lawsuit a political stunt that does not belong in the courts. He has thus far invested more than $700 million of county funds in Israeli bonds, the largest such investment of any county in the United States. The plaintiffs call the investments speculative, noting bond rating companies have downgraded the bonds from A to Baa1, heightening the possibility of a default. Abruzzo disputes the argument that there is a possibility of a default.

Joe Abruzzo

The county also calls on the court to deny the effort to allow the plaintiffs to remain anonymous. The pro-Palestinian plaintiffs say they fear for their lives if their identities are revealed. But the county notes that there is a strong presumption in Florida that "the public has a legitimate interest in knowing the identities of the parties and wholly ignores the Clerks due process rights in this case. The prejudice to Abruzzo far outweighs the unsupported assertions and alleged concerns stated by Plaintiffs counsel."

County: Abruzzo has discretion to invest county funds as he sees fit

When the lawsuit was filed six months ago, those opposed to the Israeli incursion in Gaza held a demonstration outside the courthouse. Abruzzo, a Democrat, has acknowledged to The Post that he has heard from the far left wing of his party about the purchase of the Israeli bonds.

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"But I would say to them, were not going to be deterred," he said. "They need to back off and we need to stand united with our greatest ally, Israel.

The plaintiffs challenge the investments simply because they run counter to the Plaintiffs pro-Palestinian views," according to the county. The lawsuit is an effort to bootstrap their (the Palestinians) feelings about the Middle East conflict into a legal action against the Clerk.

RELATED: Incumbent Joseph Abruzzo wins second term as Palm Beach County clerk

RELATED: Lawsuit seeks to stop county's purchase of Israeli bonds, saying it violates state law

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The county also argues that the pro-Palestinian plaintiffs lack standing to bring the lawsuit and that Abruzzo has the discretion to invest county funds as he sees fit.

David Pina, the attorney for the Palestinians, accused Abruzzo in a press release issued Friday of making poor financial decisions" with taxpayer money based on his own political beliefs. The County and its Comptroller have a duty to Palm Beach taxpayers to make well-informed, profit-generating investments with their money, and when their fiduciaries fail to uphold that duty, taxpayers right to seek relief from a jury of their peers must be respected.

RELATED: Chaos at FAU: Tension boils over with 3 arrests following pro-Palestine march on campus

The unnamed Plaintiffs argue that the Israeli bond investments come at a time when the county is struggling to cope with a housing crisis and a funding shortfall in Palm Beach Countys budget.

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The Plaintiffs say they have suffered various mental ailments such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression as a result of the bond investments but without knowing who they are, the county says it cannot verify those claims.

Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and issues impacting homeowner associations. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: County: Lawsuit questioning Israel investment 'politically charged'
The parents of a woman who was found dead in the stairwell of a South Loop luxury high-rise last month have been granted a temporary order preventing their daughters husband from retrieving her remains, alleging in court documents a pattern of abusive behavior.

The deceased woman was identified last week as 36-year-old Caitlin Tracey of New Buffalo, Michigan, according to the Cook County medical examiners office. The cause and manner of her death are still undetermined, pending an investigation by the Chicago Police Department, the office said.

In court documents, Traceys parents allege that her husband, Adam Beckerink, a tax attorney, physically and emotionally abused Tracey throughout their relationship. In a petition they filed in probate court in Berrien County, Michigan, which is where Tracey resided, her parents argued that based on the circumstances surrounding the death along with the abusive history, their family would not be psychologically or emotionally capable in participating in any services that are handled and arranged by Beckerink.

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Beckerink is currently facing two domestic violence charges in Berrien County for alleged physical attacks on Tracey in addition to felony charges including resisting and obstructing arrest.

On Thursday, the probate court judge in Berrien County set an emergency hearing date of Nov. 12 for Traceys parents petition for the authority to retrieve their daughters remains and arrange a burial.

The same day, a Cook County judge granted a temporary restraining order preventing the Cook County medical examiners office from releasing Traceys remains to Beckerink through Nov. 17, given that her parents Michigan petition is pending in probate court. The next status conference on the Cook County case will take place this coming Friday.

Chicago criminal defense attorney Todd Pugh, who is representing Beckerink, said Friday that there was no link between his client and Traceys death.

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Caitlin was the love of Adams life, theyve been married since April, her family has not had any contact with her in the several months since she married Adam, Pugh said. He wanted to include them in honoring her memory and wanted to do this at the funeral home that her family selected, but based on the filing that we just received, that wasnt sufficient.

Attorneys for Traceys parents, who reside in Chicago, declined to comment at this time.

As Traceys surviving spouse, Beckerink is presumed to have the legal right to control her remains, according to Thursdays Cook County filing. However, under Michigan law, that right can be revoked if the surviving spouse is shown to be incompetent or unsuitable.

The Cook County complaint notes that in the event that Beckerink is criminally charged with Caitlins death, he will be automatically disqualified from controlling her remains and funeral.

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Court documents list the South Loop apartment building where Tracey was found dead as Beckerinks home address.

According to the parents filing in Michigan, Law enforcement has advised the family that the Respondent is the primary suspect and he was immediately taken into custody by the Chicago Police Department  Violent Crimes Unit.

Traceys parents claim that Beckerink has refused to give Traceys remains to her parents and instead expressed his plans to keep personal possession of her ashes, according to the Cook County filing.

In an email from Nov. 4, an attorney with Breen & Pugh Attorneys at Law, the firm representing Beckerink, wrote to Traceys parents attorney that the remains will be released to our client, care of the funeral home, according to documents filed with the Cook County court.

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The parents alleged in their Wednesday petition in Berrien County that Traceys body was found directly below Beckerinks condominium after he contacted Chicago police the day prior to inform them about her disappearance. She was staying with him that weekend, the filing states.

According to a police report, Tracey was found dead at the bottom of the stairwell of the building at approximately 7:20 p.m. Oct. 27.

A resident of the building had found a severed foot near a railing in the east stairwell and reported it to a building manager, the report said. While responding officers searched the area, the manager spotted Traceys body at the bottom of the stairwell.

According to the Michigan court filing, Traceys parents claim that Beckerink had manipulated (Tracey) and purposefully isolated her from her family so that he could continue his campaign of abuse and terror unnoticed, and that Tracey had told them in September 2023 that Beckerink had held her hostage and physically brutalized her to the point where she required medical attention.

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Tracey filed an emergency protective order in Cook County against Beckerink in October 2023.

In her affidavit in support of the order of protection, Tracey detailed multiple occasions of physical and verbal abuse, alleging that Beckerink had strangled her, punched her, thrown objects at her and taken her belongings away.

In July 2023 at Traceys residence in New Buffalo, Beckerink allegedly threw a pickle jar at her head, stripped her out of her clothes, punched her and poured vodka on her wounds, taking her to the hospital approximately two days later to seek medical attention for (her) open head wound, according to Traceys affidavit.

In August 2023, at the same South Loop address where Tracey was found dead, Beckerink allegedly strangled her and slammed her head against a cabinet before taking her keys, wallet and phone, according to her affidavit. She filed a police report for aggravated domestic battery, according to the affidavit.

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In September 2023, Tracey filed another police report after Beckerink allegedly hit, strangled and attempted to sexually abuse her in a hotel room at The Ritz-Carlton, according to the affidavit.

The protective order Tracey obtained was extended by the court in late October. However, on Nov. 13, 2023, Tracey moved to vacate the order and dismiss the case, which her parents allege in the court filing was due to Beckerink threatening to sue her for defamation and libel.

Two domestic violence cases against Beckerink in Berrien County remain pending, both from 2024 and with Tracey listed as the victim.

On Oct. 21, a status conference was held for the most recent case regarding an August incident that took place in New Buffalo. Beckerink is alleged to have assaulted Tracey, interfered with her attempt to call 911 and then violently resisted arrest once police officers arrived, according to court records.

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A jury trial for the case, in which Beckerink faces felony charges for resisting arrest in addition to a domestic violence charge, was initially scheduled to begin on Oct. 29 but will now take place in January 2025.

The other case pending is from a January incident, with charges including multiple felonies  larceny over $20,000, larceny in a building and interference with an electronic communication device causing injury or death  and domestic violence.
CAPITOL HEIGHTS, Md. (DC News Now)  Police said a man was shot in Capitol Heights Friday evening.

Man killed in shooting, 4 others hurt in separate incidents in Southeast DC

Maryland National Capitol Park Police said a man was shot at the Walker Mill Park shortly before 6 p.m.

He was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  Some Albuquerque neighborhoods are still trying to get their power back on nearly two days after a winter snowstorm blanketed New Mexico. Probably the biggest problem that I have faced is Im not getting my morning cup of coffee. I didnt realize I had a problem, but apparently, Im a caffeine addict, said North Valley resident Michael Harding.

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PNM said most of the customers who are still without power in the Albuquerque area are centered in the North Valley and Corrales. Statewide, more than 5,000 PNM customers are still without electricity as of 4 p.m. on Friday. Those numbers were as high as 50,000 customers on Thursday.

We have a lot of elderly people that live in the neighborhood. My concern is if they know that this is going to be a problem with the electricity, why dont they send some people out to make sure that everybody is doing okay, said Ben, another North Valley resident.

Some of the affected neighborhoods, like near Rio Grande and Matthew, still had lots of downed tree branches on Friday. A lot of neighbors told KRQE News 13 they hope they dont have to go another cold night without power. PNM said they expect most customers to have power restored on Friday.

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PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ)  An employee of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Administration (PEMA) is facing charges after she allegedly taped a recording device to her coworkers desk in an attempt to get information.

Emily Houdeshell, 50, of Camp Hill is facing charges after she allegedly hid a recording device in an attempt to get information that she could use against a coworker, according to a criminal complaint. In August of 2023, officers from the Pennsylvania Capitol Police were informed of a PEMA employee who had discovered a USB-disguised recording device on her desk.

The employee was an administration officer for one of the departments and told police that she had come into work and found it duct-taped to her desk. She added that she checked her email to see if someone had messaged her about it leaving it on her desk, but found nothing. The woman then tried to plug it into her computer, but the computer failed to recognize it, according to the complaint.

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Former Pennsylvania city treasurer convicted of stealing $106k

The woman was able to find the device on her computer and realized it was an audio recording device and listened to a few clips. She noted that the few files she listened to were her coming into her office and having a work-related phone call. The woman then went to Houdeshell because she had previously mentioned using a similar device against her ex-husband.

Houdeshell allegedly denied putting it on her desk and then snapped it in half and threw it away, according to the affidavit.

In a preliminary interview with Houdeshell, she allegedly admitted that the device belonged to her and that she destroyed it because there were personal conversations on it.

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Police obtained a search warrant for the device and once that was granted they found it had 680 recordings on it, according to the affidavit. Among the recordings were conversations of both personal and professional nature. The coworker whose desk it was taped to was allegedly heard having work calls about presentations, audits, timekeeping, and personal ones which included making payments over the phone.

In October of 2024, officers spoke with Houdeshell again and this time she said that she probably did it, but claimed that she does not recall as she was drinking heavily at the time and taking medications for ADHD and anxiety, according to the complaint. She allegedly told officers she had frequent blackouts during that time and had trouble recalling certain periods of time.

In that interview, she again told police she probably did it as during that time she wanted to get her coworker to admit things that she could use against her, according to the affidavit. She allegedly told officers she did it because she was jealous and thought she was being treated unfairly.

Houdeshell was arraigned and released on unsecured bail. She is facing felony charges of intercepting communications and misdemeanor charges of tampering with evidence.

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She has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Nov. 21.

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Pennsylvanias red shift in the 2024 election wasnt isolated to the presidential race.

Statewide races for attorney general, auditor general and state treasurer all went to the Republican candidates, and the AP declared Republican David McCormick the winner against Democratic incumbent Bob Casey in the states U.S. Senate race  although the very tight margin, which could trigger an automatic recount.

Pennsylvania was and still is the swingiest of the swing states. In fact, going into the 2024 election, it was the only U.S. state to have a divided legislature. Republicans had a majority in the Senate, but Democrats held a one-vote majority in the House.

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Surprisingly, the composition of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, including its split control, has remained largely the same after the 2024 voting.

As a Philadelphia-based political science professor who focuses on state and local politics, I believe Pennsylvanias General Assembly remained so stable in the face of statewide electoral upheaval for three reasons: a lack of competitive state legislative districts, the small size of those districts and the fact that some Pennsylvania voters still vote for the representative and not the party despite the countrys stark political divide.

Republican David McCormick, right, appears to have beaten three-term Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey by about half of a percentage point. Matt Rourke/AP

Slight churn in PA Senate

Lets look at the light churn in the state Senate first.

Democrat Patty Kim won the 15th Senate district in Dauphin County, which had previously been held by a Republican who retired.

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Meanwhile, 29-year-old Republican challenger Joe Picozzi beat incumbent Democrat Jimmy Dillon in a tight race in the 5th Senate district in Northeast Philadelphia. Picozzi is poised to become the first Republican state senator to represent Philly in over 20 years.

The other senators who were up for reelection kept their seats. So, with one Democratic pickup and one for the Republicans, control of the state senate remains unchanged.

A few tough races in the PA House

All 203 seats were up for grabs in the House. While the vast majority had clear front-runners, there were some tough races. These were most notably in the collar counties that surround Philadelphia.

One was the 172nd House district, which covers a part of relatively Republican northeast Philadelphia but also extends into neighboring Montgomery County. This was the district where incumbent Kevin Boyle  the brother of U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle  lost the Democratic primary after he had an outburst at a bar that made news headlines. So there was no incumbent in the race. The Democratic candidate, Sean Dougherty, squeaked out a victory with a less than 500-vote margin.

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Then there was the 144th House district in Bucks County, a swing county that flipped red in terms of having more registered Republican voters than Democrats just a few months before the election.

Two years ago, Brian Munroe, a Democrat, narrowly won his seat  a seat that had been held by a Republican for over half a century. He faced another competitive race in 2024 and appears to have defeated his Republican challenger, Daniel McPhillips, by about 1,000 votes.

What clinched Democrats one-vote majority in the state House was the race in the 72nd House district in deep-red Cambria County.

Cambria is a county in the middle of the state that favored Trump by 36 percentage points. Yet in the 72nd district, Democratic incumbent Frank Burns beat his challenger, Republican Amy Bradley, by nearly 1,000 votes.

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This was a close race, but what is amazing is that it was competitive at all. In 2020, Burns won with 52.7% of the vote, despite more than two-thirds of voters in the county choosing Trump that year.

A voter casts his ballot in Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, the only county in western Pennsylvania that sided with Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. Rebecca Droke/AFP via Getty Images

Some voters still split their ticket

Probably since the 1960s, but definitely since the 1990s, Americans have become more partisan. This typically means that they are more likely to vote a party ticket and not split their ticket.

In 2020, for instance, survey data from the Pew Research Center found that only 4% of voters who supported either Biden or Trump supported a Senate candidate from the opposing party.

And, to a great extent, this was also the case in the election on Nov. 5 in Pennsylvania. In all of the statewide races, the winning and losing candidates percentages were within 4 percentage points of their fellow partisans up and down the ticket.

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But a few Democrats in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives won in their elections despite the fact that they are in relatively deep-red parts of the state. This includes Frank Burns in the 72nd district and also Robert Matzie in the 16th district in Beaver County. Beaver County sits on the western edge of the state between Allegheny County and Ohio in strongly Republican country  it voted for Trump by 21 points. Yet, Matzie beat his Republican challenger, Michael Perich, by more than 1,500 votes.

Small districts, microcommunities

Part of the explanation for why at least some Democrats can buck the red wave is Pennsylvanias relatively small state House districts.

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has 203 members in 203 districts. Since the state population is about 13 million, each district has close to 64,000 people in it. Compare that with the Ohio legislature, where each of the 99 state House districts has about 119,000 people. In New York state, each state House district has about 134,000 people.

As a result, Pennsylvanias small House districts can capture microcommunities that are politically distinct from their surrounding areas. Take, for instance, Matzies 16th district in Beaver County, on the border with Ohio. The district went overwhelmingly for Trump, but it also includes a small portion of the county that lies close to Pittsburgh and includes the old industrial town of Aliquippa. Its not a Democratic stronghold, per se, but its more Democratic than the rest of the county and elected a Democratic mayor, Dwan Walker.

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Similarly, the 72nd district is in Cambria County, which went to Trump by 36 points, but the district itself includes Johnstown, which is the largest city in the county. Johnstowns population of about 18,000 represents about a third of the district, and residents lean slightly more Democratic. Like Aliquippa, it also has a Democratic mayor.

A 203-member Pennsylvania House of Representatives is expensive, especially since each legislator has a reasonably generous budget that includes money for staff and a district office. But these smaller districts can provide more fine-grained representation for Pennsylvanians, who, despite the red shift, are more likely to be registered Democrats than Republicans  though Democrats certainly feel like a minority for now.

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: Richardson Dilworth, Drexel University

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Richardson Dilworth gave $25 to the Kamala Harris campaign.
CANTON, Texas (KETK)  The Elmo Fire Department confirmed that one person was injured in a crash involving three 18-wheelers on Interstate 20 west of Canton on Saturday.

Winnsboro man sentenced to 15 years in prison for 2020 garage killing

Photo courtesy of Jason L. Cook Photo courtesy of Jason L. Cook Photo courtesy of Jason L. Cook Photo courtesy of Jason L. Cook Photo courtesy of Jason L. Cook Photo courtesy of Jason L. Cook Photo courtesy of Jason L. Cook Photo courtesy of Jason L. Cook Photo courtesy of Jason L. Cook Photo courtesy of Jason L. Cook Photo courtesy of Jason L. Cook Photo courtesy of Jason L. Cook Photo courtesy of Jason L. Cook Photo courtesy of Jason L. Cook Photo courtesy of Jason L. Cook Photo courtesy of Jason L. Cook Photo courtesy of Elmo Fire Department.

Elmo Fire Department said the driver of one of the 18-wheelers was injured and flown to a hospital in Tyler after being extracted from the truck cab.

According to the department, eastbound traffic is moving but westbound traffic was only moving on the shoulder.

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Were at the intersection of Main and Church Streets in Jeffersonville, Mike Hoey said. Steve, this elaborate, massive monument brings us here.

Absolutely, Mike, Vermont Historical Society executive director Steve Perkins replied. So, as we know, there arent a lot of World War I monuments in the state of Vermont. This is a massive one, and its really fascinating how it was produced and how it was used throughout the years, and then ultimately how veterans are being remembered today. Weve asked Charlie Guyette, commander of the local American Legion post, to come join us.

Hoey asked, Perhaps the most unique thing about it is that it was carved out of a rock formation that was already here, so how did all that come about?

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In 1922, the town of Cambridge put together a committee to look at putting (up) some sort of monument to commemorate the veterans from Cambridge from World War I, Guyette answered. Harvey Varnum, who was a local civil engineer, had connections with Rock of Ages in Barre and got some of the best granite workers to come up here. Back then, this rock was considered an eyesore and Harvey Varnum had an artistic eye.

In 2001, they added to the monument; they added a plaque down in the front to commemorate all veterans from the town of Cambridge. They added a plaque (in 2002) to commemorate all the World War II veterans of Cambridge.

In 2023, for the 100th anniversary of the original dedication of this monument, the American Legion raised funds to restore and refurbish this monument. It was pitted on the top, here on this platform, and it became a trip hazard. Moss and all sorts of other stuff were growing on it. The moss was coming down over the top. We got Champlain Monuments to come out and they totally refurbished it, and you can see the marbling (in the stone) once again.

Charlie, I understand that you have something very exciting about to get underway here in the form of a flag project, Hoey added. What would that be?

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American Legion (Mt. Mansfield) Post 35 has 140 flags that were going set up in the silo area (off of Route 15), Guyette said. And you can sponsor (them) for veterans of past and current military service. We have a couple individuals  Hollis Unite (Keith), who is a World War I veteran. His family still lives in town; theres a flag out in the field to commemorate him. On this plaque here for World War I, it says Cambridge Remembers. Even today in 2024, were remembering our veterans and the sacrifice that they made (for) our country.

Perkins asked, How can they view the flag project?

The flag project will be up for Memorial Day, for July 4th and once again for Veterans Day, about a week before each of those holidays, Guyette answered. When we were setting up the flags last year for Veterans Day, people driving by (on) the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, Route 15, (were) honking their horns and it was a real patriotic thing. That should be out there November 8th through Veterans Day. They can find more information by contacting the American Legion Post.

Great  and you can come here to Jeffersonville and visit the monument, Perkins concluded.

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A production facility to manufacture TNT for the Army will be built in Western Kentucky.

Repkon USA has been awarded a $435 million contract to build the plant in the Graham community in Muhlenberg County, Sen. Mitch McConnell announced on Friday.

Its the first time since the 1980s that the Army has produced TNT in the United States.

This history making initiative underscores our commitment to strengthening our national security and reducing reliance on foreign sources for critical materials, Maj. Gen. John T. Reim, joint program executive officer for armaments and ammunition, said in the release.

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A domestic source of TNT is a crucial step in strengthening and building resilience in our Defense Industrial Base to ensure our armed forces have timely access to essential resources.

TNT, or trinitrotoluene, is an explosive the military uses in artillery shells, bombs and grenades.

The Muhlenberg County facility will utilize state-of-the-art technology, maximizing the use of automation and digitization, and a novel waste neutralization process, the news release stated.

The Army currently relies on sources overseas for its TNT.

This is a major step forward in rebuilding our industrial base and ensuring we have the critical capabilities to support our warfighters, Douglas Bush, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology said in a news release by the Army. Reshoring TNT production gives us the ability to control and secure our supply chain for this vital component, especially in an era of increasing global challenges.

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McConnells office said the senator was instrumental in securing this investment, a top strategic priority for the U.S. Army, through his work to shepherd the FY 2024 National Security Supplemental to Senate passage.

Through this partnership with the Army and Repkon USA, our state is proving once again that we have the infrastructure, workforce, and logistics edge to take on projects critical to our national defense, McConnell said in the release.

Muhlenberg County Judge-Executive Mack McGehee thanked McConnell for bringing the facility to Muhlenberg County, saying it will be a huge boost to our local economy by bringing construction jobs and high-quality permanent jobs.

The facility will bring more than 50 jobs to the community, Congressman Brett Guthrie said in the release.

Repkon provides metal-forming services and equipment for the defense industry, as well as the aerospace, mining and oil and gas sectors, according to the companys website.
After 43 monkeys escaped from a South Carolina research facility this week, one has been recovered, the Yemassee Police Department announced Saturday. The animal was unharmed.

The animals escaped an enclosure on Thursday when an employee doing routine cleaning and feeding failed to secure two doors behind her.

The rest of the 42 primates are still roaming free just a few yards from Alpha Genesis property, swinging from the trees and jumping back and forth over the facilitys fence. Facility staff are on site, feeding and monitoring the animals, police said, which is a good sign.

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Police are urging the public to refrain from entering the area surrounding the facility in Yemassee, because the monkeys are easily startled.

Alpha Genesis CEO Greg Westergaard said that efforts to recover all the animals will continue throughout the weekend and for as long as it takes. Alpha Genesis uses the monkeys for biomedical research.

Westergaard told The Hilton Head Island Packet that if they cant lure the monkeys with food, they will eventually use tranquilizing darts.

We love the monkeys, Westergaard said. Im just hoping we can get them back passively.

The escaped primates do not pose a public health risk, police say.

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It is not the first time monkeys have been loose in Yemassee, where there are more primates than people within the town limits. In 2014, 45 monkeys escaped.

Police will share more information when it is available. If you spot any of the monkeys, report it by calling the police and avoid approaching or interacting with the animals.
RUTHERFORDTON, N.C. (WSPA)  Police are investigating an early morning shooting at a restaurant which left one person dead.

According to the Rutherfordton Police Department, at around 1:45 a.m. Saturday, officers were called to Amendment 21 Grill on Main Street for a reported shooting.

At the restaurant, officers found an unidentified man with multiple gunshot wounds. The man was taken to Rutherford Regional Medical Center, then flown to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.

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The victim was later identified as 33-year-old Michael Darius Page.

Police have arrested Ricky Tyrone Camp, 36, with first degree murder in connection with the shooting.

Camp is being held in the Rutherford County Detention Center without bond.

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A use-of-force incident during an arrest that happened last month is being investigated by the San Diego Police Department.

On Oct. 24 around midnight, officers received a call about a man who threatened a woman with a gun at home on Duluth Avenue in the Valencia Park neighborhood, Ashley Nicholes with SDPD said in a news release Friday.

When police arrived on scene, they came up with a plan to contact the 31-year-old suspect who was wearing loose-fitting shorts.

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Officers called for the suspect to come out of the home, and he emerged a short time later. Officers repeatedly ordered the suspect to surrender. He did not, and officers used three less-lethal beanbag rounds and a police canine to take him into custody, Nicholes said.

The suspect, who was taken to a hospital for treatment, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest.

The suspect was not booked into jail after no firearm was found.

A formal complaint was filed in how the incident was resolved.

Multiple agencies are reviewing the case.

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ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  Police arrested Matthew Whitesel, 50, for allegedly strangling and attacking a woman.

On November 6, around 7 a.m., officers were called to the 2300 block of Rockwell for a domestic incident. The victim told authorities she was hit in the face and strangled.

The suspect strangled her with both hands and told the victim he was going to kill her, according to court records. The woman told police Whitesel threw her on the ground by her leg as well.

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The victim sustained bruising on her leg and red marks on her neck. A witness heard the victim screaming and her being slammed, according to court documents.

Whitsel is charged with aggravated domestic battery causing strangulation.

If you are a survivor of domestic or sexual violence, visit our Stateline Strong page for resources.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Raytown police are investigating an officer-involved shooting that left a man dead in a QuikTrip parking lot after he threatened people with explosives and firearms inside his car.

Police have now identified the victim as 32-year-old Grandview man, Kenneth R Williams.

According to the Raytown Police Department, just after midnight on Saturday, officers were dispatched to a QuikTrip gas station near East 63rd Street and Blue Ridge Cutoff on reports of an altercation.

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Neighbor describes confusion in Independence officer-involved shooting

Police said the fight had started between a security officer and a suspect. The suspect then left the scene on foot before officers arrived just after 12:15 a.m.

It was reported that the suspect had made threats and said he had explosives and firearms in his car, which was still in the parking lot.

As a result of these threats, police evacuated the area so the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) Bomb Squad could investigate.

While Raytown police waited for KCPD to arrive, officers saw the suspect return to the parking lot just after 12:30 a.m. Police said he started moving toward his car and ignored their commands.

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The suspect then tried to get into his vehicle, resulting in a Raytown officer shooting at him. The suspect was hit and taken to a hospital where he later died from his injuries.

Sister left just heartbroken after KC man is mauled, killed by dogs

Police said the KCPD Bomb Squad arrived on the scene shortly after and found explosive material inside the suspects car.

The suspects next of kin has been notified, and investigations are ongoing.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned at FOX4 News for the latest updates and information.

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Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will soon meet with French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and Nordic and Baltic leaders to discuss transatlantic cooperation and the war in Ukraine.

Source: Donald Tusk, quoted by European Pravda with reference to Reuters

Details: Future aid for Ukraine is one of the main issues facing the European Union after Donald Trump's victory in the US election. Trump has criticised the level of US support for Ukraine's fight against the Russian invasion of Ukraine and, before the election, promised to end the conflict before even taking the office; however, he never explained how he would actually do that.

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Quote from Tusk: "There is no doubt that this new political landscape is a serious challenge for everyone, especially in the context of a possible end to the Russian-Ukrainian war as a result of an agreement between, for example, the president of Russia and the new president of the United Statesin the coming days, we will very intensively coordinate cooperation with countries that have a very similar view on the geopolitical and transatlantic situation and situation in Ukraine."

Details: Tusk said that French President Emmanuel Macron and NATO chief Mark Rutte would soon visit Warsaw. The Polish PM will also meet his with UK counterpart Keir Starmer either in Warsaw or London and with Nordic and Baltic leaders in Stockholm.

Quote from Tusk: "Everything will, of course, be in the context of new challenges facing our homeland, the entire region, the European Union and the Western community."

Tusk reiterated what he said before the US election: regardless of the outcome, Europe must take greater responsibility for its security, and Ukraine's future cannot be decided without Ukraine.

Background:

Bloomberg reported that EU leaders at a meeting in Budapest on Thursday discussed the possibility of continuing to support Ukraine with military supplies if Donald Trump decides to cut off the US support.

Before that, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in a radio interview on Friday that Europe could not finance a "lost war" on its own and that the US would stop its support for Ukraine.

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Despite the recent collapse of Germany's centre-left coalition, there was little change in approval ratings for the country's political parties, according to an opinion poll seen by dpa in advance of publication.

The Sunday trend survey by the INSA polling institute, commissioned by Sunday's edition of the Bild newspaper, indicates that Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD) lost one point compared to the previous week, landing at 15%. The Greens remained unchanged at 10%.

The former junior partner in the coalition, the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP), also kept its previous week's rating at 4%, under the 5% threshold to be represented in the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag.

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The survey comes days after Scholz fired the FDP's Christian Lindner as finance minister, prompting the party to exit the three-party coalition that has ruled Germany since 2021.

The chancellor has announced his intention to hold a vote of confidence in the Bundestag on January 15, which could trigger elections in March.

Opposition parties are pushing for the timetable to be brought forward.

The conservative CDU/CSU bloc is seen as the favourite to lead the next government and remained the strongest force in the latest survey on 32%.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) gained one point and reached 19%, while the newcomer Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) declined by one point to 7%.

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The hard-left Die Linke (The Left) would also miss re-entering the parliament on 4%.

While no significant movements was recorded in the election survey, another INSA poll found that dissatisfaction with Chancellor Scholz has risen.

When asked if they were satisfied or dissatisfied with the chancellor's work, 72% of respondents reportedly answered dissatisfied, five points higher than in a mid-October poll.

A total of 58% were reportedly dissatisfied with Lindner's work.

More than half of those surveyed also indicated they viewed the chancellor's behaviour towards his political opponents, such as Lindner and CDU leader Friedrich Merz, as disrespectful.

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According to the poll, 53% said they considered Scholz's behaviour somewhat disrespectful while 30% saw it as somewhat respectful.

Regarding Scholz's conduct towards citizens, 59% of respondents reportedly rated it as somewhat disrespectful, and only 29% considered it somewhat respectful.

INSA surveyed a total of 1,001 people on November 8 on behalf of Bild.
The saying goes that it takes a village to raise a child, and new research out of Pompeii seems to showcase just how common this phenomenon might've been in the ancient Roman city.

A new study published in the Current Biology journal explains how new DNA research from body casts in Pompeii illuminates what family and community structures in the city might have looked like. This includes what appears to be non-traditional nuclear family units and gender roles and forms of dress that turn traditional ideas on their head. Simply put, the victims' sexes and family relationships don't necessarily line up with what we believe homes and neighborhoods back then might've looked like.

"The scientific data we provide do not always align with common assumptions," study author David Reich said in a statement. "For instance, one notable example is the discovery that an adult wearing a golden bracelet and holding a child, traditionally interpreted as a mother and child, were an unrelated adult male and child. Similarly, a pair of individuals thought to be sisters, or mother and daughter, were found to include at least one genetic male. These findings challenge traditional gender and familial assumptions."

Related: Unearthed Pompeii Skeletons Shed Light on Victims' Final Moments

The team examined the skeletal remains of 14 plaster casts at the site with only six of them able to provide genetic data. The findings came as quite a surprise given what anthropologists for centuries have thought about families in ancient Rome since the rediscovery of the Pompeii site in the 1700s.

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Our findings have significant implications for the interpretation of archaeological data and the understanding of ancient societies," study author Alissa Mittnik explained. "They highlight the importance of integrating genetic data with archaeological and historical information to avoid misinterpretations based on modern assumptions. This study also underscores the diverse and cosmopolitan nature of Pompeiis population, reflecting broader patterns of mobility and cultural exchange in the Roman Empire."

Moving forward, then, Mittnik warned researchers in the field to try not to impose their present-day ideas and assumptions about humans that lived in the past.

"While our findings allow us to challenge some of the traditional narratives, we must be careful not to repeat the same mistake," Mittnik told ScienceAlert. "Instead, our results emphasize the importance of integrating various lines of evidence and of not superimposing modern assumptions onto ancient contexts."
SAN DIEGO (Border Report)  About four blocks along Tijuanas famous Avenida Revolucion are now closed to vehicle traffic as the city tries to make the area more appealing to visitors and locals as well.

A recent survey found 80% of merchants were in favor of making the area more pedestrian friendly.

This will greatly help businesses in the downtown area, said Carlos Robles Literas, president of the Avenida Revolucion Business Association. Unfortunately, 20 percent of our membership disagrees with the move.

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Last month, the city decided to close the street from Fourth to Seventh avenues, adding a carousel, and a new sign welcoming people to the historic center of Tijuana.

500 Tijuana bars, restaurants face losing their liquor licenses

Robles Literas believes this will draw hundreds of tourists and locals to the area on a daily basis.

He also admits there are still many doubters afraid of stopping the traffic flow while minimizing access to the area.

There were many restaurants, microbreweries, cafeterias and shops against the move, but they are actually seeing sales have increased by 30 percent.

Safety concerns, traffic congestion keeping tourists away from Baja, official says

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Robles Literas said another concern many people share is that street vendors are going to move into the area taking business away from restaurants and other establishments, but he stated it has not happened.

Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border

We have not seen vendors setting up shop in the area as we feared, its being watched, we are actually seeing less of them, the police department has deployed six additional officers per block to patrol the area and crack down on illegal vendors.

Robles Literas added that they now have about 100 officers policing the area at one time.

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On Thursday, Kansas Citys only emergency overnight shelter for LGBTQ+ youth, Pride Haven, received the $400,000 earmarked back in 2022 on behalf of a Missouri representative. The funding allows Pride Haven to pay back the bank and other accounts, but it isnt enough to open its doors.

This evens us out. This basically gets our head to the surface of the water, with all of that accounts payable, said CEO of Pride Haven, Patrick McLaughlin.

McLaughlin said the money was just enough to pay off money borrowed from a bank and to pay other parties who did maintenance and other work for the organization.

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In 2022, U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, Missouris 5th Congressional district representative, was able to get the federal funds appropriated from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for Pride Haven, which gave Pride Haven the collateral to take out a line of credit to continue operating.

Since 2020, Pride Haven at 3109 Campbell Street has been a place where queer homeless youths between ages 18 and 24 could go to sleep, eat and find housing resources. In the 2022 fiscal year, Pride Haven provided nearly 150 LGBTQ+ homeless youth with housing, according to Pride Havens impact report.

At its inception, Pride Haven was able to operate with the help of COVID relief-und money and a three-year grant from the Hall Foundation.

In early October, the shelter had to close its doors due to lack of funding. As winter approaches, leaders say Pride Haven needs an additional $300,000 to reopen for six months.

McLaughlin said there are several fundraising events in the works and that Pride Haven is currently applying for more grants. Donations and fundraising events can be found on Pride Havens website and social media pages.
The priest at the center of the chastity vow scandal involving an Arlington nun has retired for medical reasons, according to a statement from the Diocese of Raleigh.

Reverend Philip G. Johnson, a priest in good standing of the Diocese of Raleigh, requests and is granted retirement for medical reasons with full faculties to exercise priestly ministry as his health permits, the statement from the North Carolina diocese reads.

Johnsons retirement was effective on July 31, according to the statement.

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The controversy came to light in 2023, when Bishop Michael Olson of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth accused Johnson of breaking his vows of chastity with the Rev. Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach of the Carmelite Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity in Arlington.

The Arlington monastery has maintained that the bishops allegations are false and sued Olson and the diocese, alleging theft and defamation. The suit was dismissed in June of last year, with a judge ruling that it was a church matter.

Last week, the nuns refuted a statement from the diocese that alleged they had been dismissed from the faith.

The Vows we have professed to God cannot be dismissed or taken away, the statement read. By virtue of them we belong to Him and are His.
JD Vance could serve as a de facto prime minister to Donald Trump, Republicans have suggested, becoming the most powerful vice-president to hold the office since Dick Cheney.

As the 40-year-old deputy to a 78-year-old president who cannot serve again, allies of Mr Vance believe he could use the next four years to act as Mr Trumps chief policy enforcer and consolidate his power base.

Since Mr Trump selected the Ohio senator as his running mate, Mr Vance has been viewed as the heir apparent to the Republican leaders MAGA movement, with rumours abounding that he will take on a role as powerful as Dick Cheneys, president George W Bushs vice-president.

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Mr Cheney is considered the most powerful vice-president in US history, playing a critical road in reshaping US national security law.

He played a major role in Mr Bushs decision to invade Iraq, as well as other major foreign policy decisions.

He famously commanded offices in the Senate, the Pentagon and steps from the Oval Office, in addition to the traditional vice-presidential office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

Donald Trump embraces his running mate JD Vance at his election night event - Evan Vucci/AP

One Republican insider said that while Mr Cheneys strength lay in his extensive experience in Washington, Mr Vances leverage lay in his status as Mr Trumps heir presumptive.

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He is expected to cement that status in the White House over the next four years, where GOP operatives have speculated he could wield an unusual level of power and influence.

Dennis Lennox, a veteran Republican strategist, said much would depend on how Mr Trump approached his second term.

He speculated that the president-elect could be a transitional president who focuses more on head of state functions like hosting and going on state visits, cementing his legacy, and laying the foundation for a presidential library  all the things a president typically pivots to in their second term.

Does he have confidence in the people around him to sit back and let JD Vance act as his de facto prime minister, heading the government on a day-to-day basis? Mr Lennox said.

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Its in Vances selfish best interest for him to exercise as much influence as he can and get as much delegated authority as he can, because presumably he is the heir presumptive who will run for president in 2028.

He added: Right now its very unclear what approach he is going to take.

But its hard to see a situation in which Vance does not exercise immense, if not virtually unprecedented, influence and delegated authority because Trump picked him to be his MAGA heir.

Vance impressed Trump

Mr Vance suggested as much himself in an interview with USA Today ahead of the election. I know the president wants me to be involved in everything, he said. My job is to help make him as successful as I can.

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A significant part of his role in the second Trump administration is expected to be serving as its chief public promoter.

Mr Vance impressed his boss with his attack-dog approach to the media during the campaign, doing more interviews than Mr Trump, Kamala Harris or Tim Walz.

He is a feisty guy, isnt he?, Mr Trump said during his victory speech. He and I have said, go into the enemy camp, and, you know, the enemy camp is certain networks and a lot of people dont like [them].

But Mr Vance, he said, was the only guy Ive ever seen [who] really looks forward to it. And then he just goes and absolutely obliterates them.

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In his own remarks on stage in Palm Beach, Mr Vance made clear it was the Trump administrations economic agenda that he was most eager to pursue.

Were never going to stop fighting for you, for your dreams, for the future of your children, he told the American public.

And after the greatest political comeback in American history, were going to lead the greatest economic comeback in American history under Donald Trumps leadership.

Creature of the Senate

Mr Vances former colleagues in the US Senate believe he will serve as a critical intermediary between the Oval Office and Capitol Hill to usher through Mr Trumps legislative agenda.

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It includes a dramatic set of tax cuts that could require considerable negotiation with deficit hawks within the GOP rank and file to be voted through both chambers of Congress.

A source close to a senior Republican senator told The Telegraph that Mr Vances Senate experience and his stature within the MAGA movement would make GOP senators more amenable to working with him than other members of the executive.

Despite being in his first term as the junior senator for Ohio, the source described him as a creature of the Senate, who would have the relationships needed with members on Capitol Hill to drive through legislation.

Mr Vance will also have half an eye on 2028. Given his youth, undeniable political skills and the GOPs enthralment to the America-first, grassroots movement Mr Trump has built, his second-in-command is best placed to claim control of the party once the second Trump term concludes.

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I think the Republicans have to worry about how they regroup themselves in an environment where Trumps not at the top of the ticket, said Jon Lieber, a senior analyst at the Eurasia Group. To me, JD Vance is unbelievably well positioned to do that.

Mr Lieber, speaking before Tuesdays election, added: I think hes the archetype [...] populist, not as shameless as Trump, more polished.

Vances temperament, his approach to the media, his policy orientation are all the direction of travel for the Republican Party.

That means anti-trade, anti-immigrant, anti-big business, which is a new feature in American politics.

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Mr Trump, notoriously superstitious, is said to have had limited involvement in planning for the transition ahead of the US election.

Mr Vance has followed that lead and gave little indication of what type of vice-president he planned to be on the campaign trail.

However, he signalled he would like to take an active role in implementing the Republicans border policy and Id basically do the exact opposite of what Kamala Harris did.

He has also told NBC News he would like to work on addressing substance abuse, an issue he has first-hand experience with having growing up with a heroin and alcohol addicted mother. She has been sober for the last decade.

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Mr Vance, one of the most outspoken sceptics of US aid to Ukraine, has also suggested he will take an active role in foreign policy.

Our adversaries are licking their chops and the world is in disarray because of weak American leadership, he told NBC News.

JD Vance with his wife, Usha - Brian Snyder/REUTERS

It is unclear what approach his wife, Usha, will take to the role of second lady.

Mrs Vance, the daughter of Indian immigrants, will be the first Indian American to hold the role as well as the first Hindu.

She maintained a low profile during the campaign, but her husband credited her with making it possible to do this following the victory.

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An independent school in Oxfordshire has said it is closing down because of Labours VAT and National Insurance tax raids.

In a statement to parents, the governors of Carrdus School in Banbury warned that the combination of Labours tax increases, including adding VAT to school fees, had left parents with no option but to withdraw their children from the prep school.

It also blamed the increase on employers National Insurance contributions announced by Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, at the Budget.

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As a result, the school is likely to close in spring next year unless a commercial solution can be found and its focus is now on securing places for children at other schools, it said.

In their statement, the governors of Carrdus said: The introduction of VAT on independent school fees mid-academic year, further compounded by the loss of charitable business rates relief and the increase in employers National Insurance contributions, has put a great deal of pressure on parents and schools.

Consequently, a number of Carrdus parents have been left with no alternative option but to give notice to withdraw their child from the school either at the end of the autumn term, or at the end of the academic year.

Carrdus is the latest independent school to announce it is being forced to close as a result of Labours tax raid on the sector.

If it closes next year, Carrdus will be the tenth school to shut since The Telegraph revealed the closure of Alton School in Hampshire in May.

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Fees at Carrdus range from 2,811 a year to 14,985 a year. Raising fees by 20 per cent to cover the tax increases would cost some parents an additional 3,000 annually.

In September, St Josephs Preparatory School, in Stoke-on-Trent, announced it was closing at the end of the year saying its working-class parents could not afford the Governments VAT raid.

Carrdus is a co-educational school for children aged 3-11. It is owned by Tudor Hall, an independent girls boarding and day school in Banbury.

Increased tax burden

Last weeks Budget confirmed that private schools would lose their VAT exemption and business rate relief, pushing up costs that will need to be passed on to parents via higher fees. The additional tax burden comes into place from Jan 1 2025.

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As a result, parents of private school children will see their fees rise by nearly 2,000 per year on average, analysis suggests.

Private schools lost more than 10,000 pupils in September ahead of the change. The number of students attending private schools fell by 1.7 per cent year-on-year in September, the equivalent of 10,540 fewer students, according to the Independent Schools Council.

Ms Reeves has said the money from the decision will fund 6,500 new teachers in the state sector.

Simply not going to work

Ahead of the Budget, Rachael Maskell, the Labour MP for York Central warned that the raid on private schools is simply not going to work as the changes would force out children with special educational needs and disabilities who have nowhere else to go.

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Laura Trott, the shadow secretary of state for education, said: This is further evidence that Labours ideological raid on private schools will just create more pressure for the state system. I am so sorry for the children who are being moved out of their school mid-year, disrupting their education because a Labour Government wants to make a political point.

Labour has repeatedly defended the policy, saying ending tax breaks on private schools will help to raise the revenue needed to fund our education priorities for next year.

A Government spokesman said: The Government has made difficult decisions on tax now to fix the foundations and increase investment in public services and the economy, to rebuild Britain and unlock long-term growth.

We want to ensure all children have the best chance in life to succeed. Ending tax breaks on private schools will help to raise the revenue needed to break down the barriers of opportunity for children and young people across the country.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  People gathered outside Portland City Hall Friday night, days after the 2024 presidential election.

Things remained relatively peaceful, though there was an occasional protester who got heated with police.

Man sentenced for assaulting grandmother on TriMet bus

Authorities said theyre hoping they can work with community members to keep things tame on the street.

The gathering outside city hall was organized by the International League of Peoples Struggle.

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Were here to say weve had enough, said organizer Cody Urban.

Urban said the group wouldve been outside the city hall regardless of who won the 2024 presidential election.

Were here to organize, to show them that we have a voice, and we are going to make a joint demand, and were not going to stop until our politicians listen to us, he said.

Protesters gather outside of Portland City Hall days after the 2024 presidential election. November 8, 2024 (KOIN). Protesters gather outside of Portland City Hall days after the 2024 presidential election. November 8, 2024 (KOIN). Protesters gather outside of Portland City Hall days after the 2024 presidential election. November 8, 2024 (KOIN). Protesters gather outside of Portland City Hall days after the 2024 presidential election. November 8, 2024 (KOIN).

Friday night represents the third peaceful gathering that happened across downtown this week. Despite the lack of any violence, businesses still remained vigilant about a worst-case scenario by keeping their storefronts boarded up.

Arctic fox found in Portland is now in great health

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Downtown workers and visitors said its been eerily quiet.

When KOIN 6 News asked the organizers to address the concerns from businesses, Urban said he and others are trying to change the narrative about how protesters are perceived, in general.

While we are doing whatever we can to make sure that protesting and raising our demands is as safe as possible, its clear that the business interests of this city are only trying to paint protesters who are angry, as no one but people looking to break things, and were trying to flip that narrative to say we all have a message to get across, Urban said.

Carolyn Pavlovic, another organizer, is encouraging people to reach out to the organizations at these rallies if they are feeling unsafe or unsure.

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I think its easy to be scared of people that you dont have connections with, right. So to business owners, you know, here in Portland and all over Oregon, I would encourage them to  to build with us, right, Pavlovic said.

Portland police have been a constant presence during this weeks gatherings. Police told KOIN 6 theyre there to protect free speech and keep things safe and peaceful. Theyre also out at the protests to prevent any violence or property damage.

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You have probably never heard of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI), much less worried about its possible abuse. Yet the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) wants to ban this synthetic psychedelic, a promising research chemical used in more than 900 published studies, by placing it in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), which defeated a previous DEA attempt to ban DOI in 2022, is determined to stop the agency's interference with science again.

A DEA administrative law judge has scheduled a 10-day hearing on the proposed ban, beginning on November 12. SSDP, which filed a prehearing statement on behalf of more than 20 scientists, argues that placing DOI in Schedule I would impose "onerous financial and bureaucratic obstacles on researchers." SSDP also opposes the scheduling of another psychedelic, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-chloroamphetamine (DOC), under the same proposed rule, which the DEA published last December.

"DOI and DOC are important research chemicals with basically no evidence of abuse," says SSDP alum and legal counsel Brett Phelps. Phelps is working with Denver attorney Robert Rush, who represents University of California, Berkeley, neuroscientist Raul Ramos.

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"The DEA's attempt to classify DOI, a compound of great significance to both psychedelic and fundamental serotonin research, as a Schedule I substance exemplifies an administrative agency overstepping its bounds," Rush says. "The government admits DOI is not being diverted for use outside of scientific research yet insists on placing this substance in such a restricted class that it will disrupt virtually all current research."

SSDP describes the two compounds as "essential research chemicals in pre-clinical psychiatry and neurobiology," noting that their unscheduled status has made them accessible as tools for studying serotonin receptors. It says DOI, in particular, has been "a cornerstone in neuroscience research" due to its selectivity for the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor, crucial for understanding the therapeutic effects of psychedelics. Scientists have used DOI to "map the localization of an important serotonin receptor in the brain critical in learning, memory, and psychiatric disease," SSDP notes, and DOI studies "have shown encouraging results in managing pain and reducing opioid cravings."

The DEA argues that DOI and DOC "have a high potential for abuse." While the two compounds "are available for purchase from legitimate chemical synthesis companies," the DEA concedes, "there is no evidence of diversion from these companies." But it notes that both drugs "have been encountered by law enforcement in the United States," indicating their "availability for abuse." Because "DOI and DOC are not found in FDA-approved drug products," the DEA says, people who use them must be doing so "on their own initiative, rather than based on medical advice."

Alluding to online accounts of DOI and DOC experiences on sites such as Erowid, the DEA notes "anecdotal reports" of individuals using these substances "for their hallucinogenic effects." From 2005 through 2022, the DEA's National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS) logged 40 reports of DOI and 790 reports of DOC. To put that in perspective, the NFLIS collected nearly 1.2 million drug reports in 2022 alone.

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Renowned biochemist Alexander Shulgin described the synthesis and effects of DOI and DOC more than three decades ago. Yet the DEA offers no evidence that recreational use of them is common, let alone that it has caused widespread harm. "To date," the DEA admits, "there are no reports of distressing responses or death associated with DOI in medical literature." It does cite three published reports of adverse events linked to DOC between 2008 and 2015, including "seizures, agitation, tachycardia, hypertension, and death of one individual."

The DEA notes that "DOI and DOC share similar mechanisms of action" with "other schedule I hallucinogens," such as DOM, DMT, and LSD, and "produce similar physiological and subjective effects." It says they therefore "pose the same risks to public health." Although those risks, such as "hallucinogenic effects, sensory distortion, impaired judgment, [and] strange or dangerous behaviors," are mainly "borne by users," the DEA says, "they can affect the general public, as with driving under the influence."

The fact that the DEA counts "hallucinogenic effects" and "sensory distortion" as "risks" underscores its hostility toward psychedelics and its refusal to recognize their potential benefits. In assessing DOI's "potential for abuse," Phelps and Rush note, the DEA "does not distinguish between use and abuse."

The post A Psychedelic Ban Would Disrupt Important Research appeared first on Reason.com.
(Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a treaty on the country's strategic partnership with North Korea which includes a mutual defence provision, according to a decree published on Saturday.

The accord, signed by Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June after a summit in Pyongyang, calls on each side to come to the other's aid in case of an armed attack.

Russia's upper house ratified the treaty this week, while the lower house endorsed it last month. Putin signed a decree on that ratification that appeared on Saturday on a government website outlining legislative procedures.

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The treaty galvanises closer ties between Moscow and Pyongyang since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Reports from South Korea and Western countries say North Korea has supplied Russia with weaponry. Ukrainian forensic experts say they have found traces of the weapons at sites of Russian attacks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday that North Korea has sent 11,000 troops to Russia and some of them suffered casualties in combat with Kyiv's forces Russia's southern Kursk region.

Russia has not confirmed the presence of the North Korean troops.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Russian ruler Vladimir Putin has presented his plan for "a new world order" that envisions a security system without security blocs or alliances.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Details: According to the concept proposed by Putin, the "new world order" should be based on openness among states for cooperation, the absence of universal doctrines, consideration of all countries' interests in global decision-making, the rejection of defensive alliances, justice for all, and sovereign equality.

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Analysts argue that such statements by Putin contradict the Kremlins actions. Russia is waging an illegal war against Ukraine, destabilising the situation in Moldova and Georgia, and actively cooperating with anti-Western regimes, including North Korea, China, and Iran.

Quote: "Kremlin likely aims to use this rhetoric to distract from and provide plausible deniability against the very real Russian efforts to undermine pro-Western governments and exert its influence internationally, as well as promote the expansion of BRICS and the so-called new Eurasian security architecture that the Kremlin has created to oppose NATO."

To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 8 November:

Russian ruler Vladimir Putin appears to be assuming that US President-elect Donald Trump will defer to the Kremlin's interests and preferences without the Kremlin offering any concessions or benefits in return.

Putin's proposed "new world order" emphasises an interconnected international system without great powers or security blocs, but the Kremlin's actions contradict and undermine his proposed ideals and principles.

Putin also acknowledged that Russia is dealing with a serious labour shortage and is largely reliant on migrants to address it.

Putin doubled down on an existing information operation falsely claiming that Ukraine violated its neutral status in an attempt to justify Russia's illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Putin notably attempted to downplay Russia's burgeoning relationship with North Korea during his 7 November Valdai Club statements, likely in an effort to maintain some semblance of a relationship with South Korea and discourage South Korean support for Ukraine.

The Kremlin continues to build its relationship with Venezuela as a means of consolidating and expanding its influence in the Western hemisphere.

The Ukrainian General Staff reported on 8 November that Ukrainian forces recorded 323 cases of Russian forces using ammunition equipped with chemical agents banned by the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in October 2024 alone.

Ukrainian forces recently advanced in northern Novoivanovka, Kursk Oblast.

Russian forces recently advanced south of Chasiv Yar, southeast of Kurakhove, and north of Vuhledar.

Regional Russian authorities continued to promote the expansion of newly established regional territorial defence formations by highlighting efforts to recruit women.

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Qatar has ordered Hamas to leave the country following pressure from the United States.

Doha reportedly told Hamas around 10 days ago it was no longer welcome after the US complained the group should not have refuge in the Gulf country.

In the final weeks of his presidency, Joe Biden had been urged to pressure Qatar over hosting the potential next generation of Hamas leaders.

Israel has repeatedly called on Qatar to impose harsher measures on the terror group who have a political office in the country.

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Qatar is a major non-Nato ally but has hosted Hamas political leaders since 2012 as part of an agreement with the US.

On Saturday, a senior Doha official told Reuters that Hamas office had been closed as it no longer serves its purpose.

The US is said to have made the demand for the offices closure around two weeks ago, amid frustration at Hamas repeated rejections of ceasefire and hostage deals.

Joe Biden had been urged to pressure Qatar over hosting the next generation of Hamas leaders - TING SHEN/AFP

After rejecting repeated proposals to release hostages, its leaders should no longer be welcome in the capitals of any American partner. We made that clear to Qatar following Hamass rejection weeks ago of another hostage release proposal, a US official told the Times of Israel.

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However, Qatari officials said they had come to the decision independently.

Israeli media reported that Hamass execution of American-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin along with five other captives in late August was also behind the change in approach.

The following month the US also announced charges against Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader, before he was killed, and five other leaders of the terror group over the Oct 7 massacre.

US officials believed Hamas showed no signs of budging from unrealistic positions in the negotiations, the Times of Israel reported.

It had insisted on a condition that would have ensured its ability to remain in power in Gaza which is something the US and Israel will never accept.

A woman holds a poster of a former Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israel in October - AFP

Qatar said it would stop trying to mediate a ceasefire deal until Israel and Hamas demonstrate a sincere willingness to return to the negotiating table.

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According to Reuters, three Hamas officials denied it had been told to leave.

It is unclear where Hamas will go next but potential options for the group include Turkey, Iran, Oman, Lebanon and Algeria.

News of the decision to oust Hamas came as 14 Republican senators wrote to Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, and the FBI calling for the assets of Hamas officials living in Qatar to be extradited and have their assets frozen.

They said that Qatar should end its hospitality of Hamas senior leadership and removing the safe haven that its leadership enjoys abroad is vital to defeating it.

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The move reflects how weak Hamas has become after the year-long war in Gaza. Hamas is still deciding on who to replace as leader after Sinwar was killed in Gaza last month.

Sinwar held both the positions of leader in Gaza and political leader. The groups religious Shura council will handle the recruitment. However, this could be a long process as most of the senior leadership has been killed.

Several of the potential replacements are in Qatar including Khaled Meshaal, the former leader of Hamas, who held the position until 2017.

He had represented Hamas from Syria until the Civil War before moving to Qatar and has continued to be involved with the group.

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Khalil al-Hayya is the deputy leader of Hamass regional politburo in Gaza but also lives in Qatar and has been the main contact in ceasefire negotiations and is one of the most senior figures still alive.

Moussa Abu Marzouk, the founder of Hamas, also resides in Qatar and the US had told Qatar that the presence of the groups officials was no longer acceptable.

Qatar, alongside the US and Egypt, has played a major role in rounds of so-far fruitless talks to broker a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages.

The latest round of Doha talks in mid-October failed to reach a ceasefire, with Hamas rejecting a short-term ceasefire proposal.

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Qatars foreign ministry said on Saturday that its efforts in mediating a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas were currently stalled.

The Gulf states efforts to broker a deal will resume when the parties show their willingness and seriousness to end the brutal war, the foreign ministry added.

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By Andrew Mills and Nidal al-Mughrabi

DOHA/CAIRO (Reuters) -Qatar has told Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel it will stall its efforts to mediate a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal until they show "willingness and seriousness" to resume talks, its foreign ministry said on Saturday.

The Gulf country has been working alongside the United States and Egypt for months on fruitless talks between the warring sides in Gaza and any disengagement from that process could further complicate efforts to reach a deal.

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The Qatari ministry also said press reports on the future of the Hamas political office in Doha were inaccurate without specifying how. Reuters had on Friday quoted a U.S. official saying Washington had asked Qatar to expel the group and that Doha had passed this message on to Hamas.

An official briefed on the matter also said on Saturday that Qatar had concluded that with its mediation efforts paused, Hamas' political office there "no longer serves its purpose."

But three Hamas officials speaking off the record said the group had not been informed by Qatar that its leaders were no longer welcome in the country.

Qatar has hosted Hamas political leaders since 2012 as part of a deal with the U.S., and the group's presence there has facilitated the progress of talks.

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The war erupted when Hamas gunmen attacked Israeli communities on Oct. 7 2023, killing around 1,200 people and seizing another 253 as hostages. Israel's military campaign has levelled much of Gaza and killed around 43,500 Palestinians.

"Qatar notified the parties 10 days ago during the last attempts to reach an agreement that it would stall its efforts to mediate between Hamas and Israel if an agreement was not reached in the round," Qatar's foreign ministry said.

"Qatar will resume those efforts with its partners when the parties show their willingness and seriousness to end the brutal war."

There was no official response from Hamas or Israel.

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The latest round of talks in mid-October failed to produce a deal, with Hamas rejecting a short-term ceasefire proposal. Israel has previously rejected some proposals for longer truces. Disagreements have centred on the long-term future of Hamas and Israel's presence in Gaza.

HAMAS IN QATAR

Washington had told Qatar that Hamas' presence in Doha was no longer acceptable in the weeks since the group rejected the October proposal, a U.S. official said on Friday.

Qatar has not set a deadline for Hamas' political office to close or for Hamas leaders to leave Qatar, the official briefed on the matter said.

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Qatar's foreign ministry said the Hamas office had been a channel of communication between the parties in Gaza and said it had contributed to a brief ceasefire and exchange of some hostages a year ago.

The official briefed on the matter pointed to a previous episode in April when Qatar had reconsidered Hamas' presence in the country, leading some Hamas officials to leave for Turkey.

"After two weeks, the Biden administration and the Israeli government asked Qatar to request their return," the official said, adding that Washington has said negotiations were ineffective when the Hamas leaders were in Turkey.

Qatar, designated as a major non-NATO ally by Washington, has long sought a role as a link between Western powers and their adversaries in the region.

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The country hosts the largest U.S. airbase in the Middle East but also allows Hamas and Afghanistan's Taliban to operate offices in Doha. It also helped negotiate a prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Iran last year.

It is unclear how many Hamas officials live in Doha, but they include several possible replacements for leader Yahya Sinwar, whom Israeli forces killed in Gaza last month.

They include Sinwar's deputy Khalil al-Hayya, who has led ceasefire negotiations for the group, and Khaled Meshaal, widely seen as Hamas' diplomatic face.

The group's previous leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Iran in July almost certainly by Israel, was also based in Doha. His body was flown to Qatar for burial in early August.

(Reporting by Andrew Mills in Doha and Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo; Writing by Maha El Dahan and Angus McDowall; Additonal reporting by Ari Rabinovitch in Jerusalem and Hatem Maher and Enas Alashray in Cairo; Editing by Mark Potter and Giles Elgood)
Qatar is suspending its role as a mediator in talks between Israel and Hamas after concluding that the two sides are no longer negotiating in good faith, its foreign ministry said Saturday.

Qatar, which has hosted Hamas political office in Doha since 2012, has alongside Egypt served as an intermediary for the two sides, which do not officially maintain direct contact.

A diplomatic source briefed on the matter told CNN that the Qatari government made the decision after concluding that both sides are now refusing to engage constructively.

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The State of Qatar notified the parties 10 days ago during the last attempts to reach an agreement, that it would stall its efforts to mediate between Hamas and Israel if an agreement was not reached in that round, Majed Al-Ansari, the spokesperson for the Qatari Foreign Ministry, said in a statement Saturday.

Except for a brief flurry of activity last month, there have been no real negotiations since six Israeli hostages were executed by Hamas and discovered in a Gaza tunnel at the end of August. During a temporary ceasefire mediated by Qatar and Egypt last November, Hamas released 105 hostages and Israel released 240 Palestinian prisoners.

The Qataris have concluded that there is insufficient willingness from either side, with the mediation efforts becoming more about politics and PR rather than a serious attempt to secure peace, save the hostages and Palestinian civilians, the diplomatic source told CNN. As a consequence, the Hamas political office no longer serves its purpose.

A separate diplomatic source told CNN that Hamas political office in Doha wont be operational so (Hamas) may leave. The office could open again if talks restart.

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Hamas has insisted that any agreement with Israel must lead to a permanent end to the war in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused that demand. In July he effectively spiked a draft hostage and ceasefire deal by introducing a raft of new, 11th-hour demands.

There are 101 hostages still held in Gaza. Israels military campaign, launched in response to Hamas October 7 attack, has killed more than 43,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health; the UN reported that 70% of the fatalities in the first six months of the conflict were women and children.

Relatives mourn over the shrouded body of a person killed in an Israeli strike that targeted areas in northern parts of the Gaza Strip on October 31. - Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP/Getty Images

The Israeli minister of economy, Nir Barkat, appeared to offer the first official Israeli reaction to the move, saying on X that Qatar was never a mediator, but Hamas defender, the one to fund and protect the terrorist organization. Netanyahu for years backed payments to Hamas through Qatar, in order to divide Palestinian politics and  detractors allege  prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state.

It is not the first time the Qatari government has expressed frustration  particularly with insinuations that it was too close to Hamas. In April, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said that Qatars efforts were being misused for narrow political interests by some involved in the conflict, which required the state of Qatar to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of its role.

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The Qatari government has now told the Biden administration that it is willing to restart its mediation efforts when both sides reach an impasse and demonstrate a sincere willingness to return to the negotiating table with the objective of putting an end to the war and the suffering of civilians.

A senior American official told CNN that while Qatar had played an invaluable role in helping to mediate a hostage deal last year, following Hamas repeated refusal to release even a small number of hostages, including most recently during meetings in Cairo, their continued presence in Doha is no longer viable or acceptable.

Alex Marquardt and MJ Lee contributed to this report.

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NewsVoir Manipal (Karnataka) [India], November 9: Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), an Institution of Eminence, deemed to be University, one of India's leading research focused educational institution, commenced its 32nd Convocation Ceremony on 8th November at KMC Greens, Manipal, celebrating the achievements of its latest graduating class. This prestigious event gathered esteemed faculty, distinguished guests, and families to honor the academic accomplishments of the students. Ceremony will take place over three days, starting from 8th of November till 10th of November. The chief guests for each day respectively will be Prof. Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, Chairman UGC; Dr. Indrajit Bhattacharya, Director General, National Institute of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (NIRA), New Delhi; and Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary to Government of India, Department of Health Research & Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The convocation will facilitate the graduation of 5767 MAHE students over the three-day event. Among the university delegates were Mrs Vasanti R Pai, Trustee, MAHE Trust; Dr H S Ballal, Pro Chancellor; Lt Gen (Dr) M D Venkatesh, VSM (Retd), Vice-Chancellor; Dr Narayana Sabhahit, Pro Vice Chancellor (Technology & Science); Dr Sharath K Rao, Pro Vice Chancellor (Health Sciences); Dr Dilip G Naik, Pro Vice Chancellor; Dr P Giridhar Kini, Registrar; and Dr Vinod V Thomas, Registrar, Evaluation. They were also accompanied by the heads of all the MAHE institutes. Addressing the students and guests at the 1st day of the convocation, Prof. Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, Chairman UGC- Chief Guest, said, "During my visit to the university, I witnessed remarkable innovations across departments, from cutting-edge research to entrepreneurial efforts. Institutions like MAHE play a vital role in shaping future leaders who will face significant global challenges, from rapid population growth to environmental sustainability. By 2050, our global population will approach 10 billion, with every individual striving for access to clean energy, safe water, nutritious food, and effective healthcare. These demands will place immense strain on our resources, highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions. For instance, India alone has only 4% of the world's freshwater supply, with nearly 80% allocated to agriculture. Addressing food and water security requires reducing our dependency on key crops, encouraging sustainable practices, and finding innovative ways to meet our rising energy needs. I am confident that the qualities I see in our students today--lifelong curiosity, problem-solving ability, and commitment to ethical leadership--will guide them in tackling these challenges. Together, they will contribute to building a world that is secure, sustainable, and prosperous for all." He further added, "Today, I urge you to embrace the present moment fully, without dwelling on the past or worrying about the uncertainties of the future. Focus on becoming the best version of yourself--a journey that involves continuous self-improvement, physical fitness, and mental resilience. With the excellent training you have received here and a commitment to your responsibilities as citizens, I am confident you will contribute to building a strong, united, and prosperous nation. Congratulations to each of you on this achievement, and may you move forward with purpose and pride. I would like to congratulate all of you for receiving degrees today. Wish you all the best in your future endeavors." Dr H.S. Ballal, Pro Chancellor, MAHE, said, "Today is a historic day as we honor the accomplishments of our graduating students who have demonstrated incredible perseverance and dedication throughout their academic careers. At MAHE, we're dedicated to fostering not only academic success but also the virtues of honesty, creativity, and civic duty. I encourage each of you as you start your careers to keep an open mind, aim for influence, and never forget that real success comes from making a positive contribution to society. We put a great deal of faith in your ability to effect significant change because you are the future's pillars. Make your alma mater proud, move forward with assurance, and maintain the best standards. Best wishes to all of you and your families who have." During the convocation, Lt Gen (Dr) M.D. Venkatesh, VSM (Retd), Vice Chancellor, MAHE, said, "We are not just celebrating the academic accomplishments of our students but also their resilience, adaptability, and passion for learning. This convocation is a testament to the dedication each student has shown, even in the face of unprecedented challenges. At MAHE, our mission is to foster a spirit of curiosity, innovation, and ethical responsibility, and I am incredibly proud of how our graduates have embodied these values. As they step into the next chapter, I am confident they will make meaningful contributions to society and uphold the reputation of MAHE worldwide. Congratulations to all!" Dr P Giridhar Kini, Registrar, MAHE, concluded the ceremony by delivering the vote of thanks. He added, "As we conclude this momentous convocation ceremony, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all who have contributed to the success of this event. To our esteemed Chief Guest, faculty, families, and, most importantly, our graduates, thank you for your commitment, support, and dedication. Today marks not just an end, but a new beginning, as our graduates set forth on paths that will make a difference in the world. Congratulations to each of you, and may you continue to uphold the values of MAHE with pride and purpose." Melin Mathew pursuing B.Sc Nursing from MCON, Manipal and Manaswi P S from MSIS, Manipal pursuing Master of Engineering - ME, were awarded the prestigious Dr. TMA Pai Gold Medal in 2024 for their exceptional contributions and achievements in their respective fields. This accolade honors their commitment to academic excellence and exemplary performance across diverse disciplines, reflecting MAHE's dedication to fostering talent and excellence in higher education. Dr Dilip G Naik Prochnacelloe Mangalore Campus welcomed all the dignitaries and Dr Suhas Kawshik C.S., Assistant Professor, MIT, Manipal was the master of ceremony on the 1st day of convocation. Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) is an Institution of Eminence Deemed-to-be University. MAHE offers over 400 specializations across the Health Sciences (HS), Management, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences (MLHS), and Technology & Science (T&S) streams through its constituent units at campuses in Manipal, Mangalore, Bangalore, Jamshedpur, and Dubai. With a remarkable track record in academics, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and significant contributions to research, MAHE has earned recognition and acclaim both nationally and internationally. In October 2020, the Ministry of Education, Government of India, awarded MAHE the prestigious Institution of Eminence status. Currently ranked 4th in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), MAHE is the preferred choice for students seeking a transformative learning experience and an enriching campus life, as well as for national & multi-national corporates looking for top talent. (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)
Qatar, one of the chief negotiators of a potential cease-fire between Hamas and Israel, said it will suspend its mediation efforts, according to officials.

The move comes amid growing frustration over the lack of progress in the yearlong war in Gaza and fear around widening conflict in the region, The Associated Press reported. Though, the outlet added, it is unclear whether remaining Hamas leadership hosted by Qatar will be required to leave.

If both Israel and Hamas show serious political willingness to reach a deal, Qatar could return to the negotiating table, according to an official from Egypt  another mediator alongside the U.S.  per the AP.

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Qatar explained to both sides of the aisle that it cannot continue negotiating if both sides refuse to seek a deal in good faith, the official said.

As a consequence, the Hamas political office no longer serves its purpose in Qatar, another diplomatic source familiar with the matter said, according to the news wire. The outlet added that the Hamas officials said they were aware of the withdrawal of Qatar, but not that they had to leave.

A U.S. official said the Biden administration had been in talks with Qatar about the Hamas office in Doha since the militant group rejected the last proposal for a cease-fire, informing them that the office was no longer useful. The official, AP reported, said the Hamas delegation was informed of the decision 10 days ago.

The news comes just weeks after Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar  the architect of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that sparked the war  was killed in a strike on Gaza late last month. It was unclear when, or if, cease-fire negotiations would continue after his death.

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Previous talks fell apart as some officials blamed Sinwars stonewalling, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also faced criticism for moving the goal posts on keeping his military forces in control of key territory in the Gaza Strip.

Netanyahu has also called for the return of more than 100 hostages still in Gaza before agreeing to a deal. More than 250 people were taken captive by the militant group at the onset of the war.

More than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict  many of them women and children  according to local health officials, but that number does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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LONDON  Princess Kate joined King Charles and other senior royals at a Remembrance Day event in London on Saturday, Buckingham Palace said, but Queen Camilla missed the occasion after falling ill with a chest infection.

Kate has slowly returned to public duties this year following treatment for cancer. In addition to attending the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday evening, she will be at a Sunday service at the Cenotaph monument.

Queen Camilla and Catherine, Princess of Wales, depart Buckingham Palace in a horse-drawn carriage in 2023.

The events form part of the United Kingdoms Remembrance Day commemorations as the nation pays tribute to those whose lives were affected by World War I, and remembers those who died.

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Kates attendance marks another step forward in her recovery after chemotherapy. She made her first public appearance after treatment in September, attending a Sunday service at a church near the familys royal Balmoral estate in Scotland.

The Princess of Wales described her "scary" health journey in a video message earlier this year.

King Charles, who is still receiving cancer treatment, has also returned to public duties since his diagnosis in February. He completed his first major foreign trip in October, which included a six-day tour of Australia alongside Camilla.

The king will lay a wreath of poppies at the base of the Cenotaph during Sunday's event.

Queen Camilla, King Charles III, Prince William and Princess Kate at Buckingham Palace in London in 2023.

Queen Camilla was forced to pull out of her public engagements last week after becoming unwell with a chest infection. Buckingham Palace said the Queen will "mark the occasion privately at home and hopes to return to public duties early next week.

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Camilla's is the latest in a series of illnesses to hit the royal family this year.

Prince William said the past year has been brutal as his wife and father announced their diagnoses with cancer.

Camilla and Kate share a laugh during an official engagement in London in 2022.

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Its been dreadful. Its probably been the hardest year in my life, William told NBC News international partner, Sky News, at the end of a weeklong tour in Cape Town, South Africa, for the fourth annual Earthshot Prize.

Neither Charles nor Kate has revealed what kind of cancer they were diagnosed with. Buckingham Palace said the king did not have prostate cancer.

Kate Middleton and Prince William attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Buckingham Palace announced on Nov. 5 that the Queen was ill not long after her return from a royal tour of Australia and Samoa with King Charles

Aaron Chown/Getty Queen Camilla in Apia, Samoa on Oct. 25, 2024. Queen Camilla in Apia, Samoa on Oct. 25, 2024.

Queen Camilla will not join the royals at key Remembrance events after getting sick with a chest infection.

This weekend, King Charles will lead the family at the Festival of Remembrance at Royal Albert Hall in London. The Royal British Legion's annual event commemorates the British and Commonwealth Armed Forces community, honoring those who have served and sacrificed.

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However, Camilla, 77, will not join the group, Buckingham Palace announced in a statement on Saturday, Nov. 9.

Following doctors guidance to ensure a full recovery from a seasonal chest infection, and to protect others from any potential risk, Her Majesty will not attend this weekends Remembrance events," the statement read.

"While this is a source of great disappointment to The Queen, she will mark the occasion privately at home and hopes to return to public duties early next week," it added.

Aaron Chown - Pool/Getty King Charles and Queen Camilla in Apia, Samoa on Oct. 26, 2024. King Charles and Queen Camilla in Apia, Samoa on Oct. 26, 2024.

Related: Queen Camilla Pulls Out of Outing Due to Chest Infection as Royal Family Member Steps in for Rare Appearance

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PEOPLE understands that there is no cause for concern for Camilla, who is spending the weekend at Ray Mill Wiltshire.

The royal didnt want to pass on any lingering infection to others and was worried that attending the events would set back her recovery.

When Buckingham Palace announced the cohort of working royals, including Prince William and Kate Middleton, who would attend the Saturday service and Remembrance Sunday, the Queen's name was not listed in the Nov. 8 update.

Days prior, on Nov. 5, the palace said in a statement, "Her Majesty The Queen is currently unwell with a chest infection, for which her doctors have advised a short period of rest."

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"With great regret, Her Majesty has therefore had to withdraw from her engagements for this week, but she very much hopes to be recovered in time to attend this weekends Remembrance events as normal," it continued at the time. "She apologizes to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result."

As Queen Camilla rested privately at home under the care of her doctors, two other family members stepped up in her stead.

On Nov. 7, Birgitte, the Duchess of Gloucester represented the Queen at the annual Field of Remembrance event at Westminster Abbey, showing support for The Poppy Factory charity that Camilla backs as patron.

Later that same day, King Charles, 75, hosted a reception for British athletes who received medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympic Games, appearing solo at an event he and his wife were originally due to attend together.

Paul Grover-WPA Pool/Getty King Charles meets Olympians during a reception for Team Great Britain athletes who medaled at the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympics Games at Buckingham Palace on Nov. 7, 2024. King Charles meets Olympians during a reception for Team Great Britain athletes who medaled at the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympics Games at Buckingham Palace on Nov. 7, 2024.

Related: Why Do Members of the British Royal Family Wear Red Poppy Pins in November?

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The Festival of Remembrance is a staple for the royal family. The King, the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince Edward, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, Birgitte and Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, are all expected to appear this year.

The Princess of Wales' attendance is especially anticipated, as it marks her first major event with the royal family after she announced on Sept. 9 that she completed chemotherapy treatment. Six months prior, on March 22, the Princess of Wales announced that she was undergoing treatment for cancer and reduced her working duties to prioritize her health.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

It has been a challenging year for the royal family, as King Charles was also diagnosed with cancer and began treatment in February.

The King and Queen recently returned from a long-haul, nine-day tour to Australia and Samoa, during which it was reported he would "pause" his cancer treatment.
Theres some uncertainty after the election, with several seats in Congress undecided across the country. That goes for Iowas First Congressional District.

Thats the race between incumbent Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Democrat Christina Bohannan. Results on the Iowa Secretary of States website have Miller-Meeks ahead by 796 votes, and she has claimed victory in the race.

Bohannan hasnt conceded.

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Some district residents question Miller-Meeks move without the Associated Press calling the race.

The rematch is a lot closer than two years ago when Miller-Meeks defeated Bohannan by 20,000 votes. Some voters think Miller-Meeks narrow lead will hold up in the end.

The election results are scheduled to be certified Wednesday. It isnt clear whether Bohannan will request a recount after that.

Our Quad Cities News confirmed there are at least 250 provisional ballots that havent been counted in this race.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A disturbing wave of racist text messages targets Americans across 20 states, as children, students, and professionals receives hateful messages from unknown numbers.

Greetings you and your family members have been selected to pick Cotton at the nearest plantation be ready at 12 AM November 13 sharp with your belongings our executive slaves will come get you in a brown van be prepared to be searched down and once youve entered the plantation, you are in plantation group D.

Thats what the message says, according to Vickie Terry, executive director of the NAACP Memphis chapter. She says the message was sent to her niece in Atlanta Wednesday night.

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This is spreading all over the country, Its not just here in Memphis, Terry said.

Law enforcement across the US say racist texts referencing slavery have been reported in several states, including Tennessee.

Selected to be a slave: Racist texts sent to Black Americans in multiple states

In Grand Rapids, Michigan, Frances Carmona says her 15-year-old niece was terrified after she received the message as well.

I just seen my nieces scared look, Carmona said. It was a scared look in her eyes.

A concerned school teacher in Austin, Texas, took action, asking his students if theyd received similar racist texts after discovering the disturbing trend.

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A student said, yeah I got one, saying something about youre gonna get deported, said Sean Hinton.

The FBI released a statement saying:

The FBI is aware of the offensive and racist text messages sent to individuals around the country and is in contact with the Justice Department and other federal authorities on the matter.

As always, we encourage members of the public to report threats of physical violence to local law enforcement authorities.

Regional One fires employee over social media post

Terry says these messages warrant serious attention.

Whoever shared these text messages they need to be prosecuted because these are terrorist threats, she said. They need to be prosecuted by the FBI.

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Law enforcement sources tell us no cases have been reported in Memphis or Shelby County.

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Racist text messages were sent to some Black students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, part of a nationwide wave of threatening texts in the wake of Election Day that has caught the FBI's attention.

The UW-Madison Police Department confirmed some Black students received the messages but wasn't able to quantify how many.

"The messages are unsolicited, harassing, and racist in nature," the department said in a statement. "We are committed to the safety of the UWMadison campus and community, and we take all reports seriously."

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The messages varied but generally followed the same script, summoning the recipient to pick cotton on a plantation and ordering them to show up at a specific time to be picked up by slave handlers.

The FBI said in a statement on Thursday that it was aware of the offensive and racist text messages and that it was coordinating with the Justice Department and other federal authorities. The agency's Milwaukee branch would not comment on any specifics of any complaints, nor would it confirm or deny a local investigation into the threats.

The messages have been reported across the country, including many universities. The elderly are being targeted, too. Even a 12-year-old Milwaukee girl received the message, according to WISN-12.

The Milwaukee Police Department said it was unaware of any reports. UW-Milwaukee also said it hadn't received reports.

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Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul encouarged anyone with information about the messages to contact local law enforcement.

"Anybody sending harassing or threatening text messages is completely unacceptable, and anybody making racist statements, bigoted statements in text messages is something we cannot tolerate," he said at a Friday news conference.

UW-Madison students can fill out a Harassment, Discrimination & Bias report or call 608-264-2677.

Reporters David Clarey and Natalie Eilbert contributed to this story.

Contact Kelly Meyerhofer at kmeyerhofer@gannett.com or 414-223-5168. Follow her on X (Twitter) at @KellyMeyerhofer.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Racist texts to Black Wisconsin college students part of national wave
PNN Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 9: Let the rhythm take over as Star Boy LOC returns with a sensational track that's sure to electrify the dance floors this season. Presenting "Mumbai Se Hai"--an irresistible party anthem that's set to be the heart and soul of every party in town! With lyrics, composition, and vocals crafted by the versatile Star Boy LOC, and beats by the renowned G SKILLZ, presented by 369 Records, this track is designed to make Gen Z and Millennials groove like never before. With dazzling visuals and a high-energy vibe, "Mumbai Se Hai" offers a lavishly shot video that captures the pulse of the city that never sleeps. Leading alongside Star Boy LOC is the stunning KOUKY, whose magnetic presence adds an extra layer of glamour and allure to the track. With her dynamic presence and captivating style, KOUKY embodies the fearless, party-loving spirit of the track, making this music video an unforgettable experience for fans. Together, they create a captivating chemistry that's both stylish and electric, embodying the vibrant spirit of Mumbai's nightlife. "I wanted to capture the heartbeat of Mumbai--the thrill, the glamour, and that unstoppable energy that keeps the city alive 24/7. 'Mumbai Se Hai' is an anthem for everyone who loves to live big, party hard, and embrace the night. I hope this song becomes the ultimate vibe for everyone out there ready to let loose and celebrate life" says Star Boy LOC From exclusive club gatherings to high-spirited house parties, this track is the perfect soundtrack to celebrate every unforgettable moment. Watch the song here- https://youtu.be/BRqEqydRoyE (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  Jackson residents are still processing the sweeping indictments against Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba, Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens and Jackson City Councilman Aaron Banks.

The three elected leaders pled not guilty to the charges against them, which include bribery.

The 32-page indictment outlined misconduct amongst the officials. According to the court document, pictures of Lumumba and Owens in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, allegedly exchanging hefty amounts of cash, unsuspecting of the fact that FBI operatives were present.

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Prosecutors said the trip occurred before the FBI raids in Jackson that happened in May 2024.

Second person charged in Jackson bribery scandal

With our elected officials, you know, we have to hold ourselves individually to a higher standard to make sure that were doing the right thing. Because when youre responsible for being a public servant, if youre doing things that youre not properly serving your people, we get to that. The issue of mistrust, said State Rep. Fabian Nelson (D-District 66).

Russ Latino, the CEO and founder of the Magnolia Tribune, said the case will be a difficult battle to fight.

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Given the facts that are out there, its incredibly difficult, even given the amount of a penalty that is hanging over their heads. You know, if youre if youre Jody Owens, my recollection is that the penalty is something like potentially up to 90 years and $2 million. If youre talking about Lumumba, the penalty is, I think, 70 years and $1.5 million thats hanging over his head. Those sorts of numbers and the facts that are out there typically yield at some point a guilty plea. Well see if that happens or whether or not they continue to fight, Latino stated.

Sentencing continued for former Jackson councilwoman

He said the defense will have to present an entrapment case for a possible chance at a win, but it will be extremely tough.

Banks, Lumumba and Owens are scheduled to appear in federal court again in January 2025.

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Alex Wagner shows how Elon Musk's many business entanglements with the U.S. government as well as foreign entities makes him a severely conflicted character. Donald Trump, however, seems eager to integrate Musk into Trump's new White House team, drawing accusations of kleptocracy. Investigative journalist Michael Weiss and Teddy Schleifer, reporter for the New York Times, discuss the early signs of Trump corrupting the U.S. government.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  If you see a smokey haze or smell something burning in the air, its likely because of wildfires burning in New Jersey.

New York City has extended its red flag warning through 6 p.m. Saturday, according to a notice on the NotifyNYC social media account.

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Exercise caution w/ outdoor flames. Immediately report fires to 911, the notice reads.

Multiple wildfires are currently burning throughout New Jersey, officials with the states Forest Fire Service say. Brush fires also ignited in Brooklyns Prospect Park and Highbridge Park in the Bronx on Friday night.

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Drought conditions in NYC: When will it rain?

The fires come amid dry weather, record temperatures, and drought watches in New York and New Jersey. Officials say these conditions have contributed to higher fire risk.

The National Weather Service warns there is a higher risk for brush fires on Saturday because of winds up to 15 to 20 mph, gusts up to 35mph, and temperatures in the mid-50s.

We urge all New Yorkers to stay vigilant and call 911 if they see a fire. Any fire that sparks will catch and spread quickly in these conditions, Mayor Eric Adams said Friday night.

Below are tips on how to stay safe during a red flag warning, as outlined by the New York City Health Department.

Red flag warning safety tips

Stay inside with windows and doors closed if temperatures allow

Use a portable air cleaner

Limit activities that can worsen indoor air, like frying or broiling foods, smoking or vaping, vacuuming, burning candles or incense, or using a fireplace.

Wear a well-fitting N95 or KN95 mask

Reduce physical activity outside if youre not feeling well

Monitor NYC alerts

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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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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
(Bloomberg) -- Just 10 days after delivering her first UK budget, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is already at risk of breaking Labours manifesto pledge to hold just one fiscal event a year.

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Rising borrowing costs and weaker growth both threaten to wipe out the 9.9 billion ($12.8 billion) of headroom Reeves has against her stability rule that day-to-day spending must be paid out of taxes in 2029-30.

If the Office for Budget Responsibility, the UKs fiscal watchdog, concludes the chancellor is set to break her rules at its update in spring, Reeves will respond with tax rises or spending cuts, according to a person familiar with the situation, who spoke on condition of anonymity about government thinking.

Its an unenviable position for Reeves, who has promised to restore stability to the management of the UK economy after what shes described as the chaos under successive previous Conservative administrations. Part of that was the pledge to give businesses and households more certainty and stability by making tax changes just once a year.

The market reaction to last weeks budget underlined the risk the chancellor is carrying. Investors repositioned their portfolios to reflect 142 billion of additional borrowing, leading to a spike in government bond yields that wiped out the margin Reeves had against her stability rule.

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Andrew Goodwin, chief UK economist at Oxford Economics, said Reeves took a gamble by leaving herself less fiscal space than almost every chancellor since 2010. If you leave yourself with very little headroom, you leave yourself a hostage to fortune, he said. There was always a risk of this.

Borrowing costs are 0.3 percentage points higher than forecast by the OBR at the budget on Oct. 30, which the watchdog said would remove her entire fiscal buffer. A growth downgrade poses another threat. Goldman Sachs this week cut its UK forecast for next year to 1.4% from 1.6% after Donald Trump won the US presidential election, because of the risk of a renewed trade war if he implements election pledges to levy tariffs on imports.

The OBRs forecast for 2% growth next year was already far more optimistic than Goldman Sachs and the consensus of other economists. Next weeks official third quarter GDP figures are expected to disappoint. Economists forecast growth to slow to just 0.2% from 0.5% the previous quarter, according to the median of responses collected by Bloomberg. The Bank of England expects growth of less than 0.4% a quarter on average over the next few years.

The Treasury said the OBR forecasts show the government is on course to deliver the biggest current-budget surplus in over 20 years. The chancellor has been clear that fiscal stability is the bedrock of this governments economic plans, it said in a statement, declining to comment on future forecasts.

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Reeves has built a safeguard into her fiscal rules to avoid having to return to Parliament for more money, but it will not apply until 2026-27. From then on, she will be able to run a deficit of up to 0.5% of GDP, about 15 billion, to support the governments commitment to a single fiscal event every year by avoiding the need for policy adjustment at forecasts outside of fiscal events, according to budget documents.

The buffer is triggered once 2029-30 becomes the third year of the forecast, at which point the binding year will roll forward annually. It will not apply next year and, as a result, Reeves faces the prospect of having to come back with measures to bring in more money, turning the OBRs forecast into another policy event despite promising in the Labour manifesto just one major fiscal event a year to stop the chaos with a strategic approach that gives certainty and allows long-term planning.

Reeves has also signaled that next years spending review, for 2026-27 and 2027-28, will not come alongside the OBRs forecast. It will be in late spring, she said at the budget, which suggests April or May. The OBR must produce its outlook before the end of March. Reeves will set out each departments spending budget at the review.

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BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  In July, the U.S. Department of Defense announced a plea deal for accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two other defendants.

They would not go on trial, plead guilty in exchange for life sentences at Guantanamo Bay, and escape the death penalty.

The outrage from the victims families was so intense, that U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin revoked that deal, reinstating the death penalty for the three defendants.

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Students faced minor injuries following Franklin County school bus accident

On Thursday, a military judge ruled the plea deals are valid and must go into effect.

I had no idea they could be reinstated. I thought that as the convening authority that the secretary of defense, he was the top dog in the DOD. That was it. He said it was done. It was an order. He outranks everybody in the military, 9/11 victims brother and advocate for 9/11 families Don Arias said.

Long-time Panhandle resident Arias has been a vocal advocate in the battle for justice. His brother, Adam Arias, was working on the 84th floor of the south tower of the World Trade Center when a hijacked jetliner flew into it. He was one of 3,000 people killed on September 11th.

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The whole overarching message of this thing, I think, is that you cannot kill 3000 Americans and not pay a price for it. I mean, how do you do that? How do you cop a plea? Because of all the thorny legal issues around military tribunals, theyve delayed this thing forever because of enhanced interrogation techniques, Arias said.

The three defendants have been in custody since 2003 but havent faced trial. Evidence against the men was collected through torture methods in secret CIA prisons. Although legal at the time, the US has delayed the court dates to determine if the evidence would be deemed admissible in court.

Those people were terrorists. They were caught on the battlefield in a time of war, and they were interrogated by our intelligence services legally. I know your family members dead, but boy, the CIA shouldnt have done that. Well, cry me a river. I dont care if Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was waterboarded. Big deal. Hes still around. My brothers long gone, so thats my position, Arias said.

Indiana man arrested after fleeing deputies in Holmes County

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Victims families were notified about the initial plea deals. This time Arias says he got nothing.

He hopes it brings some closure, but he still doesnt like the arrangement.

I want it over. I really do. And most people do want it over, but I want it to be over the right way, you know? I just dont want it swept under the rug. So going to trial would be long and painful for a lot of people. I understand that. But weve been waterboarded. Emotionally waterboarded by our own government for the last 23 years, Arias added.

The judge says the three defendants could be able to submit their guilty pleas as early as next week.

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Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz said Friday that local police in his Florida district notified him about a potential plot against his life and told him that an armed man had been arrested not far from his home.

The day before the election, I was notified by the Margate Police Department, located in my Congressional District, about a potential plot on my life, the congressman said in a statement. The individual in question was arrested not far from my home; he is a former felon who was in possession of a rifle, a suppressor, and body armor.

Found with him was a manifesto that, among other things, included antisemitic rhetoric and only my name on the target list, Moskowitz, who is Jewish, said. He noted that he did not want to share further details to avoid interfering with the investigation.

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The Margate Police Department said in a Friday news release that it arrested John Lapinski, 41, on November 2 for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and other firearms related charges.

During the investigation, officers also found several firearms and evidence that indicated he may have been planning some type of criminal act, according to the news release, which did not specifically mention the congressman.

CNN could not immediately identify an attorney for Lapinski.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is leading the ongoing investigation into the incident, the police department said.

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CNN has reached out to the ATF, US Capitol Police, US Marshals Service and Justice Department. The FBI declined to comment.

Moskowitz, who was reelected to represent Floridas 23rd District on Tuesday, said in his statement that he is deeply worried about security for members of Congress.

As someone who was appointed to the Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump, I understand the failures and importance of fixing the protection of our current and future Commander-In-Chief and Vice President, Moskowitz said. At the same time, I am deeply worried about Congressional member security and the significant lack thereof when we are in the district. Regardless of our political affiliations or differences, we all have families we want to keep safe.

CNNs Holmes Lybrand and Manu Raju contributed to this report.

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South Florida Congressman Jared Moskowitz said in a statement Friday that a man who was recently arrested in South Florida had his name on a target list and that there was a potential plot on (his) life.

Lt. Michael Druzbik, a Margate Police spokesperson, said he could not confirm or release any details about any alleged specific threats to the congressman. But the department responded to a request for information about Moskowitzs post with a release about the Nov. 2 arrest of John Lapinski, 41, of Margate.

There is no specific mention of a list or of Moskowitz in the probable cause affidavit for Lapinskis arrest on firearm-related charges, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

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The day before the election, I was notified by Margate Police Department, located in my Congressional District, about a potential plot on my life, Moskowitz said in a statement shared on X. The individual in question was arrested not far from my home; he is a former felon who was in possession of a rifle, a suppressor, and body armor. Found with him was a manifesto that, among other things, included antisemitic rhetoric and only my name on the target list.

Margate officers were called on Oct. 31 after someone heard gunshots in a residential area, the affidavit said. Officers responded to a home in that area where they noticed an open door on one side of the home. A woman told officers that she and her brother, Lapinski, lived there.

Lapinskis sister told officers she woke up that morning in her room because she heard what she believed were gunshots, the warrant said.

Officers attempted contact with John via loudspeaker and phone calls but were unsuccessful for a period of time until John ultimately surrendered himself without further incident, the affidavit said. It was later determined that John met the criteria for a Baker Act and was later placed into protective custody.

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The states Baker Act allows authorities to commit a person to a mental health hospital for up to 72 hours.

After Lapinski was in custody, officers completed a safety check inside his home and found in a bedroom a black bag that could hold a long gun or rifle next to a bed, gun-cleaning equipment, a tall safe used to store long weapons and a man-made target made out of a bucket and a vertical wooden plank, the affidavit said. They found three small-caliber spent shell casings.

Officers then received a search warrant signed by a judge that same day and found six different guns in his home, the affidavit said, and a large stock of ammunition. He also had numerous pieces of equipment and firearm parts, including silencers which appeared to be store bought as well as molded by the defendant. He also had molds, which the affidavit said are used to make guns.

Lapinski was prohibited from possessing any guns because he was previously convicted of two felonies. He also has an active restraining order against him in a 2017 case, according to the affidavit.

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During the investigation, our detectives located several firearms and evidence that indicated he may have been planning some type of criminal act, Margate Police said in their statement.

The day after officers Baker Acted Lapinski, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives examined the silencers, determining that one of them appeared to have been fired through. They found that Lapinski had not registered any of the silencers or any other firearms with the government, a violation of federal law. Many of them were manufactured outside of Florida.

Lapinski is now facing charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, violating a domestic violence injunction by possessing a firearm, and unlawfully possessing a firearm that is not registered to him.

ATF is the lead investigating agency, the news release said. A spokesperson for the agency referred comments to the U.S. Attorneys Office, citing the open investigation. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys Office did not immediately return an email Saturday.

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On Thursday, a judge ordered U.S. Marshals to bring Lapinski to federal court next Wednesday for his first appearance.

Moskowitz, a Democrat who represents parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, won reelection Tuesday against Republican Joe Kaufman.

Moskowitz said in his statement he would not release additional details because of the active investigation.

A spokesperson for Moskowitz did not return a voicemail Saturday.

This is a developing story, so check back for updates. Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.
Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Florida said Friday that police notified him this week about an arrest in connection with a potential threat on my life in his district, which covers parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Moskowitz, a Democrat, said in the Friday statement that the Margate Police Department notified him about an alleged potential plot on his life on Monday, a day before Tuesdays general election.

I am deeply worried about congressional member security and the significant lack thereof when we are in the district, Moskowitz said. Regardless of our political affiliations or differences, we all have families we want to keep safe.

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Margate police confirmed on Friday that officers had arrested 41-year-old John Lapinski of Margate in connection with the incident, after an investigation on Saturday.

During the investigation, our detectives located several firearms and evidence that indicated he may have been planning some type of criminal act, Maj. Alain Banatte wrote in an incident summary.

Lapinski was arrested on a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and other gun-related charges, police said.

Moskowitz said that a suspect was arrested not far from his home and had a rifle, suppressor and body armor.

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Found with him was a manifesto that, among other things, included antisemitic rhetoric and only my name on the target list, said Moskowitz, who is Jewish and a vocal defender of Israel.

The congressman, who NBC News projected was elected to a second term in Tuesdays elections, declined to disclose additional details in his statement, citing an ongoing investigation.

A Moskowitz spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives referred NBC News to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida. The U.S. Attorneys Office for Southern District of Florida and U.S. Capitol Police did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday evening. The FBI declined to comment.

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Rep. Carlos Gimenez, a Florida Republican, condemned the alleged plot.

Political violence has no place in our country, Gimenez said in a statement. This violent anti-Semitic hate is despicable and must be confronted to the fullest extent of the law.

Jewish lawmakers have faced growing threats of political violence in the year after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel.

Shortly after the attacks in October of last year, a Nevada man was charged after he was accused of leaving a series of antisemitic, profanity-laced voicemails at the office of Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen of Nevada, who is Jewish.

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In another instance of threatened political violence, President-elect Donald Trump also faced a pair of assassination attempts in July and September. Moskowitz was appointed to serve on a House task force convened in July to study the first assassination attempt.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China has issued a statement on the Philippines signing into law the so-called "Maritime Zones Act" and "Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act," and summoned the Philippine Ambassador to China to make serious protests, a foreign ministry spokesperson said Friday.

Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks in response to a related query at a daily news briefing.

Mao stressed that the so-called "Philippine Maritime Zones Act" illegally includes China's Huangyan Dao and most of the islands and reefs of China's Nansha Qundao, and their relevant waters into the Philippines' maritime zones.

The act also aims to further solidify the illegal arbitral award on the South China Sea in the form of domestic legislation, Mao said, adding that this move severely violates China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea.

"We strongly condemn and firmly oppose it," Mao said.

She said that China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea are solidly grounded in history and the law, comply with international law including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and will not be affected by the "Philippines Maritime Zones Act".

"The so-called arbitral award on the South China Sea is illegal, null and void. China does not accept or recognize it. We oppose and do not accept any claim or action based on the award," Mao said.

Noting that the Philippines seeks to justify its illegal claims and actions in the South China Sea by approving the so-called "Maritime Zones Act" in the name of implementing UNCLOS, Mao said that this is illegal, null and void. This so-called legislation seriously violates the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and will make the situation in the South China Sea more complex.

"China will firmly oppose any infringement activities and provocations by the Philippines in the South China Sea based on the act," she noted.

Mao added that China urges the Philippines to earnestly respect China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, immediately end any unilateral move that may escalate the dispute and complicate the situation, and keep the South China Sea peaceful and stable. China reserves the right of taking all measures necessary.

Noting that various parts of the Philippine "Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act" are not compatible with regulations of international law and resolutions of the International Maritime Organization, Mao said that we ask the Philippines to earnestly abide by international law and not to undermine other countries' lawful rights under UNCLOS and other international law.
SMPL New Delhi [India], November 9: Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies and Research (SICSR) is now accepting applications for its Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Information Technology (IT) and MBA in Digital Transformation (DT) programmes for the 2025-2027 academic session. Prospective students interested in a tech-focussed MBA that blends innovation, technology, and management can enrol via Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP). The deadline to register for SNAP is November 22, 2024. Prospective students can apply for the SNAP through its official website: snaptest.org. SNAP 2024: The Gateway to SICSR's Innovative Programmes The Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP) is the primary entrance exam for SICSR's prestigious MBA programmes. This year, the SNAP test will be held on December 08, December 15, and December 21, 2024. Each of these test dates offers students a chance to secure admission into SICSR's cutting-edge MBA programmes. Candidates are advised to complete their registration for the SNAP test by November 22, 2024, ensuring they don't miss the opportunity to be part of this esteemed institution. Prof. Dr. Jatinder Kumar R. Saini, Director, SICSR, commented on the significance of these programmes, "We are excited to welcome new applicants who are passionate about leveraging technology to drive business innovation. Our MBA in IT and MBA in Digital Transformation are designed to meet the evolving demands of the digital world, equipping students with both managerial and technical expertise. With SNAP being the gateway, we encourage all aspiring students to register and take the first step toward a transformative education." MBA (Information Technology): A Perfect Blend of Technology and Management SICSR's MBA in Information Technology (IT) programme offers a comprehensive blend of technology and management, preparing students for the rapidly evolving business landscape. The programme features four key specialisations: Banking and Financial Markets, Data Analytics, IT Infrastructure Management, and Software Process Management. The curriculum is meticulously designed to prepare students for critical roles such as Business Analysts, IT Management Consultants, IT Architects, Data Processing Managers, Systems Software Managers, and Product Managers. The focus on both management principles and technological competencies allow students to bridge the gap between business operations and technology-driven solutions. Moreover, the MBA (IT) curriculum at SICSR emphasises experiential learning through pilot projects that allow students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios. To facilitate deeper understanding, faculty members employ a variety of pedagogical methods, including case studies, role-plays, quizzes, and flipped classrooms. Additionally, students are encouraged to explore online learning resources through Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), further enhancing their educational experience. MBA (Digital Transformation): Shaping the Future of Business Aligned with the Government of India's Digital India initiative, MBA in Digital Transformation (DT) at SICSR equips students with the tools to manage digital transformation projects, making them valuable assets to organisations navigating the complexities of the post-pandemic business world. As industries across the globe rapidly adapt to digital processes, the demand for professionals skilled in digital transformation is at an all-time high. This programme offers a unique mix of management education, digital technology, and business acumen. With its focus on the strategic use of technology to transform business operations, the MBA in DT caters to sectors such as Social Media, Healthcare, International Business, and Software Development. Why Choose SICSR's MBA Programmes? SICSR's MBA programmes stand out due to their strong emphasis on industry connections, practical learning experiences, and placement support. Every year, over 50 renowned companies, including corporate giants like VERITAS, Accenture, Deloitte, EY, PwC, Veritas, UBS, Morgan Stanley, Colgate, YARDI, Lentra, participate in SICSR's placement activities. These organisations actively seek out SICSR graduates for their expertise in business management as well as technology. Additionally, SICSR offers comprehensive training to prepare students for group discussions, personal interviews, and technical assessments. Furthermore, through industry-focused workshops, guest sessions by startup experts, and placement-driven training, students receive hands-on experience in real-world business scenarios. For students eager to carve out a successful career in the tech-driven business world, SICSR's MBA programmes offer the perfect blend of academic rigour and practical industry exposure. By enrolling in an MBA (IT) or MBA (DT) programme, students can position themselves at the forefront of business innovation and technology transformation. For more information, please visit: https://www.sicsr.ac.in/ (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by SMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Florida Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D) said Friday in a post on social platform X that the Margate Police Department, which is in his district, informed him the day before the election about a potential plot to threaten his life.

In the statement, Moskowitz said a man was arrested near his home with a rifle, suppressor and body armor. Moskowitz, who is Jewish, also said the man had a manifesto that included antisemitic rhetoric and only Moskowitzs name on the target list.

He added that there were many other details he wouldnt disclose due to an ongoing investigation.

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In the letter, Moskowitz expressed gratitude toward local law enforcement, the U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI, the U.S. Capitol Police and the U.S. attorneys office.

As someone who was appointed to the Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump, I understand the failures and importance of fixing the protection of our current and future Commander-in-Chief and Vice President, Moskowitz said in the statement.

At the same time, I am deeply worried about Congressional member security and the significant lack thereof when we are in the district. Regardless of our political affiliations or differences, we all have families we want to keep safe, he added.

In a press release from the Margate Police Department, it said that it will not be providing further comment since the investigation is active and ongoing.

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The police department said in the release that it had contacted the Broward Sheriffs Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI to assist with the investigation. The ATF is the lead agency for the investigation, the department said in the release.

Updated at 5:05 p.m. EST

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Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Florida disclosed Friday that he was notified by authorities on Monday about a "potential plot on my life" by a convicted felon in possession of firearms.

Moskowitz, who represents the 23rd Congressional District that includes portions of Palm Beach and Broward Counties, posted the allegation on X, which was later collaborated by police in Margate, a city located in the Miami metropolitan area.

The freshman congressman was elected to a second term on Tuesday.

Jared Moskowitz was elected to the U.S. House in 2020. / Credit: CBS News Miami

John Lapinski, 41, of Margate, was arrested Oct. 31 at his home after police responded at about 6:30 a.m. to reports of shots fired. He was subsequently detained under the Baker Act, also known as the Florida Mental Health Act and taken to Broward Health Imperial Point in Fort Lauderdale. He was then moved to the Broward County Jail in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday.

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When arrested, Lapinski was also found to be in possession of several guns and ammunition, as well as body armor, police said.

He faces three firearms charges relating to a convicted felon and a domestic injunction.

"During the investigation, our detectives located several firearms and evidence that indicated he may have been planning some type of criminal act," police said in a news release.

The Margate Police Department contacted the Broward Sheriff's Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the FBI to assist with the investigation. The ATF is currently the lead agency for this investigation, Margate Police said.

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Moskowitz claimed that Lapinski was arrested near the House member's home in Parkland.

"Found with him was a manifesto, among other things, included antisemitic rhetoric and only my name on the 'target' list," Moskowitz, who is Jewish, wrote in his social media post. "There are many other details that I will not disclose as I do not want to interfere with an ongoing investigation."

Lapinski has two prior felony convictions of resisting an officer with violence and grand theft in Lake County.

Moskowitz, 43, serves on the bipartisan House task force investigating the attempted assassination of President-elect Donald Trump on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania.

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"I understand the failures and importance of fixing the protection of our current Commander-in-Chief and Vice President," Moskowitz wrote. "At the same time I am deeply worried about congressional member security and the significant lack thereof when we are in the district. Regardless of our political affiliations or differences, we all have families we want to keep safe."

On Tuesday, Moskowitz was elected to a second term, securing more than 52% of the vote against Republican challenger Joseph "Joe" Kaufman, which was a margin of about 17,500 votes.

Moskowitz has touted his ability to work with Republicans. He was elected to the House in 2022 after serving in the Broward County Commission in an appointment by Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Previously, he was Florida's emergency operations manager under DeSantis, including during the pandemic in 2020. Before that, he was a Florida state representative from 2012 to 2019. His first election was in 2006 as a member of Parkland City Commission, which he served in until 2012.

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Republican U.S. Rep Carlos Gimenez, also of Florida, said in a statement: "Political violence has no place in our country. This violent anti-Semitic hate is despicable and must be confronted to the fullest extent of the law. I commend local and federal law enforcement in acting swiftly to ensure the safety of my dear colleague."

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A report from airport police reveals new information about the Oct. 31 death of a 63-year-old woman aboard a commercial jet at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

Mahasen Mohamed was traveling with her husband and son on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha, according to the report. She collapsed while the plane was en route to DFW Airport.

A medical doctor traveling on the same flight was notified of the emergency. He told officials that he found Mohamed at the back of the aircraft and performed CPR on her for about an hour, the report states.

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Mohamed was pronounced dead shortly after 9:45 a.m., according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner.

Officers from the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport Department of Public Safety met the aircraft at Terminal D, Gate 11 after receiving reports of a CPR in progress, the report states.

The Medical Examiners Office ruled that Mohameds death was natural, and the primary cause was pulmonary thromboembolism.

Mohameds husband and son told officials that the 63-year-old had previously suffered from blood clots, according to the report. She had been seated on the plane for around 10 hours before attempting to get up.

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Mohamed was a resident of Garland, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiners website.

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Arizona Republicans are in line to pick up a third new seat in the state House of Representatives  and are on the verge of adding a fourth to that haul, an unexpected outcome in a year when Democrats pulled out all the stops in a bid to end 60 years of GOP control of the chamber.

After Maricopa County tallied 123,000 ballots on Friday, Democratic state Rep. Seth Blattman saw his razor-thin lead over Republican Kylie Barber in west Mesas Legislative District 9 evaporate. When the days counting ended, Blattman went from sitting in second place in the four-person race with a less-than-100-vote lead to sitting in fourth place, trailing both Barber and Republican Mary Ann Mendoza.

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Barber is now positioned to take the second seat, though Mendoza is nipping at her heels and is just 150 votes behind Barber. Blattman trails Barber by about 280 votes.

A GOP victory in the district would add to what is already an unexpectedly terrible outcome for Democrats, who marshaled record resources to flip the legislature, including more than $10 million from outside groups for an onslaught of mailers, ads and paid canvassers who spent months knocking on doors and speaking to voters.

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Before Fridays counting, Republicans were already expected to nab two seats held by Democrats. Defeating Blattman would add a third, increasing their majority in the 60-member chamber to 34 seats.

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And they may not be done. In Legislative District 2 in north Phoenix, Democrat Stephanie Simaceks lead has crumbled, with Fridays count taking her from leading the three-way field to barely clinging to the second seat. After Thursdays ballots were tallied, Simacek led GOP Rep. Justin Wilmeth by 400 votes and Republican Ari Daniel Bradshaw by about 700 votes.

But now Wilmeth is sitting at the top of the contest. Simacek is 160 votes behind him, and just 34 votes ahead of Bradshaw.

Simacek had hoped to maintain Democratic control of a seat currently held by Judy Schwiebert, who mounted a challenge for the state Senate but appears certain to fall short of victory.

There were no lead changes in Senate contests, but Republicans have inched closer to capturing two seats held by Democrats, and to retaining control of another seat.

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In the District 9 Senate race, Sen. Eva Burch saw her lead over GOP challenger Robert Scantlebury shrink from 1,300 votes to a bit more than 1,000. And Sen. Brian Fernandez is nursing a 1,300-vote lead over GOP newcomer Michelle Altherr in Legislative District 23, a heavily Democratic district that stretches from the southwest Valley to Yuma.

And in Tucsons Legislative District 17, Republican Vince Leach, a former state legislator, clawed back 1,000 votes against Democrat John McLean, trimming his lead from more than 1,300 votes to 355.

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As President-elect Donald Trump doubles down on his mass deportation plan, some Republicans are trying to assuage fears amid growing questions of who will be forced out of the country.

In an exclusive interview with NBC News on Wednesday, Trump said, Its not a question of a price tag, we have no choice ... When people have killed and murdered, when drug lords have destroyed countries, and now theyre going to go back to those countries because theyre not staying here.

But in prior interviews and on the campaign trail, Trump and others have not targeted the deportations to just those who have committed violent crimes.

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In an April interview with Time magazine, he said his mass deportations would "start with the criminals that are coming in" and added he may deploy the military for an "invasion" of what he said was already 15 million immigrants  and could be 20 million  by the end of President Joe Biden's term.

The prospect of mass deportations is generating fear and apprehension among families with noncitizen members and businesses that employ undocumented workers.

But some Republicans' readings of Trump's policy  which he has promised would bring about deportations at a scale never before seen in the U.S.  are more limited in scope.

Republicans in immigrant-heavy states have been suggesting hell prioritize or only focus on the worst criminals.

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I am sure that the Trump administration is not going to be targeting those people who have been here for more than five years that have American kids, that dont have criminal records, that have been working in the economy and paying taxes, Florida Republican Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar said in a PBS interview. Her Miami-Dade district is home to about 200,000 undocumented people.

I am sure that theyre going to hone in on the criminals who arrived less than four years ago, she added.

Asked in the interview whether she got those assurances from Trump or someone in his potential administration, Salazar didn't directly answer, but said she is "going to be one of those voices making sure within the GOP to make that distinction."

And Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said in an NBC News interview Wednesday that Trump has made clear that his priority is to deport dangerous criminals. People that are in this country and are criminals in their home country, or are committing crimes here, they will be the priority for removal from this country."

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NBC News reached out to the Trump campaign and to Salazar's and Rubio's offices to request more details and clarify the scope of the deportation plan.

Focusing on deporting immigrants convicted and charged with crimes, or considered a danger to the U.S., was already done in the Obama and Biden administrations. Trump undid Obamas deportation priorities, broadening the pool of immigrants who could be targeted for removal and giving more power to immigration enforcement officers to make those judgments, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Administrations have used different mechanisms for deportations, such as making agreements with local police to enforce federal immigration laws through the so-called 287(g) program, allowing them to help stage workplace raids or conduct other arrests.

Some states have shared names of people they stop for certain traffic violations with the Department of Homeland Security to check immigration or citizenship status. Others have checked every person booked into jail against DHS databases.

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But Trump has said repeatedly that he would conduct the largest deportation operation in U.S. history on the first day of his administration.

Without naming it, Trump has invoked the 1950s deportations conducted by the Eisenhowers administration, dubbed with the racist label Operation Wetback. Trump has also previously pledged to use the Alien Enemies Act of 1789. That would authorize him to detain and deport noncitizens in the United States older than 14.

The president-elect has also said he would withhold federal grants to police that dont cooperate in his mass deportation plan as well as use the National Guard to carry it out.

In a news conference, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Trump "has made it perfectly clear that this is a process and you have to have a priority list." He said Trump would first pursue all the criminals who are here who crossed the border illegally and committed a crime in the United States or had a criminal background before they entered the United States.

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But unlike Salazar and Rubio, Abbott said Trump would go further: "You begin with are the criminals and after you get done with that, hell look elsewhere."

The Texas governor also said that it would take time for Trump to undertake the deportations, because hell need to rebuild Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

But not long ago, some Republicans have resisted Democratic administrations' attempts to prioritize certain immigrants over others for deportation.

Texas and Louisiana sued the Biden administration when DHS announced it would focus on noncitizens who are a threat to national security, followed by those who are a threat to public safety, then those who are a threat to border security. The attempt was stopped by the Supreme Court.

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Artemio Muniz, chairman of the Federation of Hispanic Republicans, an arm of the Texas GOP, told NBC News on Wednesday that the discussion ahead on mass deportations is going to be hard.

With Trumps victory sealed, Muniz said he would begin work making sure hard-working Mexican immigrants are not deported.

This is going to be a situation where you are going to have some Republicans push for mass deportations of everybody, but I believe President Trump, I believe Republican Congress, senators and even the grassroots to a degree  are going to say, OK, lets make sure those who are deported are those who have committed violent crimes, transnational gangs and so forth,' he said.

He said Trump would not be falling short of his campaign pledge if the hardworking immigrants he seeks to protect are not included in the deportations.

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If he deports violent criminals, gang leaders and drug leaders, people who committed violent crimes like rape or murder, isnt that mass deportation? Muniz asked.





This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Australian researchers have discovered a new way to track endangered wildlife species. The best part is that the tech involved is simple and non-invasive, allowing for more effective wildlife detection in a much more cost-efficient way.

In a recent study published by the University of Queensland and shared by Phys.org, a team of researchers led by Associate Professor Celine Frere from UQ's School of the Environment assembled and deployed into nature two types of particle collection systems, which consisted of sterilized cheesecloths, a mechanical fan, and a waterproof lithium battery pack.

The battery-pack-powered fan sends floating particles of organism DNA in the air and environment (e.g., cells, mucus, and waste), also known as environmental DNA or eDNA, into the cheesecloth for data analysis at a later time.

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The "cheesecloth was selected as it allowed for air to flow through the fabric with little force, potentially allowing it to collect and retain particles easily," the study reads.

Collecting organism eDNA and tracking wildlife in this manner provides crucial information for wildlife conservation, and this method addresses many of the challenges posed by existing wildlife tracking tools.

Thermal drones, used to save small animals from their demise in farmers' fields, and camera traps, for example, run continuously to capture data. This calls for frequent and costly device maintenance for regular functioning. These gadgets may also emit noises during operation, which can interfere with wildlife.

The brilliance of this eDNA method is that this tech is minimally invasive to wildlife, low maintenance, cost-efficient, and, most importantly, highly effective.

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The study researchers successfully documented the many wildlife species present and determined a "robust estimate of the mammalian community in the area of study." In other words, this eDNA collection method not only showed which animals roamed the study areas but also gave an estimate of the quantity of each species.

This data can lead wildlife conservation efforts to target the protection of endangered species, supporting a balanced and diverse ecosystem.

"This technology can significantly improve the detection and tracking of endangered species, aiding in conservation efforts and the development of effective management strategies," Dr. Frere said, per Phys.org.

With a lower cost of operation as well, surplus resources can possibly be diverted to other conservation projects that could use additional funds  for example, these solar-powered devices in space that also help track wildlife species.

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"I am very excited about the potential application of this research. Monitoring cryptic species and monitoring at scale is a challenge which airborne eDNA may be able to address," Liz O'Brien, CEO of Queensland Trust for Nature, commented on a LinkedIn post about the research.

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There are some cases that stick with a detective long after they leave the job.

For retired NYPD Det. Christine Casilla, the brutal October2014 murder of a 3-month-old newborn in the Bronx  by a caregiver who slammed the baby boys head against a bedpost twice  is the case that still haunts her.

It was horrible, Casilla, now 49, told The Post. It broke my heart.

Mom Barbara Greer with her son Joemill, who was murdered by a caretaker in 2014. Courtesy of Christine Casilla

Casilla was one of the first to respond to a call of a baby at Presbyterian Hospital barely breathing.

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The baby had a skull fracture from one side of the ear to the other, said Casilla, who retired in 2020 and lives in Orange County. He was on life support for a little while.

After a while, it was determined there was no brain activity.

The same type of baby blanket Joemill was swaddled in the night he was beaten to death. Courtesy of Christine Casilla

The baby, Joemill, was taken off life support on Nov. 5, 2014.

The day they pulled him off life support the mom gave me a little Ziploc bag with a little piece of his hair in it, Casilla recalled.

Since then, Casilla and the mom, Barbara Greer, have kept in touch. At one point, Greer asked Casilla if she could get her the blanket her baby was swaddled in  but the detective couldnt find it.

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When they met Oct. 27, on the 10th anniversary of Joemills tragic beating, at the cemetery where the boy is buried, Casilla gave her a replica of the blanket she had found on eBay.

Mom Barbara Greer with her 3-month-old son Joemill. Courtesy of Christine Casilla

I wasnt expecting something like that, Greer said. I was just expecting to see her. I went all the way to the ground and she went with me.

We were both crying.

Greer had recently moved to the Big Apple in 2014 from Puerto Rico when she told Casilla she had to head to work and was expecting her then-boyfriends sister to watch Joemill.

But the sister called and asked Greer if it was OK if her husband watched the infant instead.

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The mom felt she didnt have any other option.

She was new to the city and needed her factory job to keep the one-bedroom apartment where she lived with her boyfriend, who was the babys dad, and her daughter.

When I got home, unfortunately, my son was laid out on my bed, the mom told The Post, vividly recalling the unimaginable tragedy like it was yesterday.

He said, I was burping him and he hit the head on one of the bed posts, Greer tearfully recalled. And then he said, He also hit the other side of his head. My son was covered up, like he didnt want us to see what was done.

Retired NYPD Det. Christine Casilla was one of the first to respond to a call of a baby at Presbyterian Hospital barely breathing. Courtesy of Christine Casilla

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The mom pulled the cover off and saw Joemills face and body had turned a shade of blue. She immediately jumped in her car and rushed the newborn to the hospital.

Cops who arrived at the hospital, including Casilla, arrested Luis Cartagena, who was responsible for watching the baby.

Greer said she broke down crying that night when she met Casilla, who offered the grieving mom heartfelt words of compassion.

When I saw her the first time, I just started crying, Greer, now 42, said.

Cartagenas story kept changing as cops pressed him for answers, Casilla said, so she went into sleuth mode, watching hours of surveillance footage from the moms building.

The retired NYPD detective gifted Greer a replica of the babys blanket. Courtesy of Christine Casilla

[Cartagena] said he didnt know what happened, Casilla recalled. I watched eight or nine hours of video and nobody went into the apartment. He never came out.

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He eventually copped to the crime, pleading guilty to second-degree attempted murder. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Cartagena, now 42, is doing time at Eastern Correctional Facility in Ulster County with a release date of 2030, state records show.

I wish it was longer, Casilla said about the sentence. This was evil. The baby had a skull fracture from one side of the ear to the other.

Today, Greer lives in Massachusetts and has a 6-year-old son. Her daughter is an adult.

My purpose with telling this is that I want other moms to follow their instincts, Greer told The Post, breaking down as she spoke. If you feel that you dont want to go to work or you dont trust that person  do what youve got to do, stay home.

Ill live with this forever.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A retired Army combat medic was sentenced in federal court in San Antonio to 50 years in prison for two counts of sexual exploitation of children, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas.

According to court documents, Eric Scott McCants, 47, produced sexually explicit videos involving prepubescent children and shared them in a child exploitation group on a social networking application in July 2021.

FBI agents seized his phone and discovered additional sexually explicit videos, some of which depicted a second minor female and dated back to as early as October 2018, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

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McCants was arrested on Aug. 13, 2021, and indicted on Sept. 1, 2021, for four counts related to the production, possession and distribution of child pornography. He pleaded guilty Aug. 7 to two counts of sexual exploitation of children, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

On Wednesday, he was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for each count. He will also pay $100,000 in restitution to the two victims.

McCants was stationed at Fort Bliss from 2011 to 2016 before being transferred by the Army to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. The charges cover a period of time beginning in 2018.

This 50-year sentence sends a clear message that the sexual exploitation of children has lasting traumatic effects on vulnerable victims and will not be tolerated in the Western District, said U.S. Attorney for West Texas Jaime Esparza. Thank you to our federal law enforcement partners at the FBI for their diligence in this investigation and their dedication to protecting the children of our communities.

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The details of this case and McCants exploitation of minors are horrific, and we hope this sentence will allow his victims some measure of comfort in knowing he will never be able to hurt another child, said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for the FBIs San Antonio Field Office. We are dedicated to stopping predators who harm our most vulnerable citizens and want to thank the U.S. Attorneys Office for their continued assistance in keeping our communities safe.

The FBI investigated the case.

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has reportedly taken on a role as a hiring manager for top jobs across the U.S governments health agencies in signs that President-elect Donald Trump has allowed him to  go wild on health as promised.

The former independent presidential candidate, who joined Trumps team in late August, has been reviewing candidate resumes for leading roles across the Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration, Reuters reported.

Kennedy has a long history of making up wacky theories about public healthcare.

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Among the most outlandish claims are that water chemicals turn children transgender, vaccines cause autism in children, Anthony Fauci was paid billions of dollars to make bioweapons and that 5G networks could damage human DNA.

He claims he is not an anti-vaxxer despite being the founder of Childrens Health Defense, one of the largest national organizations which has been accused of producing  deadly  misinformation campaigns on COVID-19 vaccines.

As early signs suggest, many of these theories are likely to inform policy making during the incoming Trump administration.

Two days before Americans went to the polls, Kennedy appeared to formally announce that fluoride would be removed from U.S water systems.

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Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease, he said in a post on X.

The move would end 80 years of fluoridated water to more than 200 million Americans, despite the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention celebrating its introduction as one of the greatest public health interventions of the century.

Trumps campaign team told Reuters that Kennedy would be a key player in Washington DC.

The American people re-elected President Trump by resounding margins because they trust his judgment and support his policies, including his promise to Make America Healthy Again alongside well-respected leaders like RFK Jr, Trump-Vance Transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in an email.

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No confirmation has come from Trumps presidential team on which position Kennedy will fill. He may only become an adviser, according to the Kennedy campaigns former director of communications, Del Bigtree.

President Trump is giving him two years to show success, Bigtree said. President Trump is keenly interested in the selections that Bobby Kennedy thinks would get the job done.

He also said that Kennedy would recommend doctors who have no conflicts of interest with Big Pharma companies involved in vaccine and drug production.

Bigtree is involved in proposing appointees to Kennedy, having become the chief executive of the Make America Healthy Again Action organization, which seeks to follow on Kennedys healthcare campaign pledges.

Kennedy, a former environment lawyer who does not hold any degree in medicine or science, is also being assisted by his daughter-in-law Amaryllis Fox Kennedy and the investor Omeed Malik.
VMPL New Delhi [India], November 9: We are delighted to announce that Mukesh Sharma, CEO of Assurance Intl Limited, has been honoured as the "Inspiring Businessman of the Year" at the recently held The Economic Times Young Industry Leaders Awards 2024. This accolade was presented by Bollywood Actor Sonu Sood, who graced the event as the Chief Guest. This award recognizes Sharma's outstanding & exceptional leadership and vision in steering Assurance Intl towards remarkable growth and innovation within the automotive industry. Under Sharma's dynamic guidance, Assurance Intl has expanded its product lineup to include premium automotive essentials like lubricants, batteries, filters, car accessories and car care products in collaboration with renowned brands like Goodyear, STP and other global brands. Sharma's leadership has transformed Assurance Intl into a recognized industry leader, setting benchmarks through strategic partnerships, forward-looking growth plans, and market expansion efforts. With the upcoming IPO on the horizon, Assurance Intl is poised for continued growth, targeting new markets, enhancing its digital presence, and leading with sustainable, customer-focused solutions. The company's journey forward is set to redefine standards in the automotive industry. Mukesh Sharma brings over 24 years of extensive experience across multiple industries, including Iron & Steel, FMCG, and Petrochemicals. With a decade of expertise in FMCG and nine years in the Petrochemical sector in the UAE and GCC, he has developed a well-rounded skill set in Marketing, Sales, Technology, and Management. As an accomplished leader, Sharma has a proven track record of successfully launching and expanding global brands in India and Overseas. He played a key role in rapidly establishing Goodyear Auto Parts in both India and international markets, demonstrating his ability to drive growth in competitive sectors. Currently, he is leading the establishment of 2 more global brands in the automotive sector across the Asia and African regions, further solidifying his expertise in market expansion and strategic growth.The Economic Times award celebrates his commitment to excellence, reflecting the company's significant strides and impact in the automotive sector. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR)  Roanoke Police arrested 28-year-old Dominique Devon Campbell of Roanoke on Saturday afternoon in connection to a homicide they were investigating that occurred in the 800 block of Hunt Avenue.

He has been charged with second degree murder.

Just before 3 a.m. Saturday morning, RPD received a call about a man with a gunshot wound being dropped off at the hospital by a private vehicle. Police say, despite life-saving measures, 23-year-old Brian Keith Stone Jr. died of his injuries.

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If you have any information, youre asked to call police at (540) 344-8500 or text your tip to the Departments TEXT TIP LINE at274637. Please start your message with RoanokePD to ensure it is properly sent.

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(NEXSTAR)  The U.S. Secret Service has confirmed that robotic dogs are being utilized to secure President-elect Donald Trumps home at Mar-a-Lago after a unit was spotted patrolling the area on Thursday.

The high-tech hound, as the Secret Service has been known to call it, was filmed walking the perimeter of the Palm Beach property alongside an agent, video shared by Reuters shows.

A robot dog patrols Mar-a-Lago, the residence of US president-elect Donald Trump on November 8, 2024, in Palm Beach, Florida. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/Getty Images)

Anthony Guglielmi, the chief communications officer for the Secret Service, did not say how long the robots had been in use at Mar-a-Lago, but told Nexstar that they boast technology that can aid the services security goals.

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Safeguarding the President-elect is a top priority, Guglielmi wrote in a statement shared with Nexstar. While we cannot get into the specific capabilities, the robotic dogs are equipped with surveillance technology, and an array of advanced sensors that support our protective operations.

FBI: Trump was target of Iranian murder-for-hire plot

The Secret Service had also highlighted the robots abilities in a video shared from Julys 2024 NATO Summit in Washington, D.C. A Secret Service official explains that the units are part of its ASTRO program, which stands for Autonomous Systems and Technical Robotic Operation.

The official said the dogs can be outfitted with technology to detect bombs and chemical threats, and features cameras with thermal technology and high-res zoom capabilities.

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Im kind of excited to see whats going to come out [of the ASTRO program] it continues to progress forward, an official explains. With just a quick download, the robot just continues to get better with every software update.

The robotic dogs, meanwhile, were merely a part of the security measures observed at Mar-a-Lago since Election Day: A Coast Guard boat mounted with rifles was also pictured in the Lake Worth Lagoon just outside the property.

A boat from the U.S. Coast Guard patrols the waters near Mar-a-Lago on Nov. 7, 2024, in Palm Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

The emphasis on security at Mar-a-Lago comes amid Trumps victory in the 2024 presidential race, during which time he was the target of two assassination attempts. The FBI also said Friday that Trump was the target of an Iranian murder-for-hire plot. Three people have been charged in connection with the alleged scheme.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Rochester City Council released a new report Friday, offering a refined version of the Good Cause Eviction legislation that was initially introduced back in June. It also revealed new recommendations to move forward, should it be formally approved.

In April, New York State enacted its Good Cause Eviction law, which essentially prevents landlords from evicting a tenant without a good reason. Advocates hoping to see its implementation in Rochester said it would ultimately protect renters from rate hikes, unfair evictions and guarantee lease renewals to those who pay rent on time.

Good Cause Eviction advocates speak out in Rochester

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So, landlords who arent evicting tenants for no reason, who arent trying to, like, hike up rents more than 8.45% a month, they really dont have to worry about this law because theyre already not doing things that would affect them, City Wide Tenant Union Spokesperson Lisle Coleman told News 8.

Coleman said the City-Wide Tenant Union said at its core, Good Cause Eviction gives families a sense of stability.

All of us want to feel like we are stable in our housing. Its where we lay our head for the night. Its where we celebrate holidays that are coming up and its getting colder, Good Cause Eviction is a measure that were very excited to see, Coleman said.

About a month after the initial legislation was introduced, some city councilmembers and advocates called it the weakest version of Good Cause Eviction protections.

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Months of public input helped to form City Councils newest report on the matter. It included feedback from 102 people who attended the several public forums put on by city leaders. A majority of speakers (90.2%) were in favor of Good Cause Eviction legislation.

City Council President Miguel Melendez admitted that the process was tedious, but necessary. According to Melendez, Rochester is much bigger than the cities around the state whove passed Good Cause.

If Good Cause is going to work as many hope, we need to fully understand it and be sure we get it right from the start, began Menendez in a statement. This has led us to be very deliberate and methodical in our process, which I know can be frustrating to those who want to see immediate action.

Several cities outside of New York City have implemented the states law, which considers a small landlord exempt. In the state, a small landlord is defined as someone who owns 10 units or less. When Rochesters initial proposal came through City Council, that exemption was criticized by some advocates who said it would leave a good percentage of the city out of these protections. The new report recommends dropping that number from ten to one.

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Landlords in Monroe County argue Good Cause Eviction is not a homegrown policy and does not address Rochesters unique housing issues which stem from a lack of income, rather than demand.

We need to figure out, you know, how to reactivate these housing units, utilizing people that are already good at renovating and reactivating and renovating vacant housing, to then direct those housing units towards people that need them, Freedom First Real Estate Investors Association President Matt Drouin said. This policy does not do anything that actually makes it work. It makes it worse.

Drouin called Good Cause Eviction a distraction and said a housing conference needs to be assembled in Rochester amongst all of the stakeholders.

At the end of the day, I dont have a horse in the race. All right, if they pass Good Cause, Eviction, I can sell my properties. I have the option of doing no problem. Im going to be okay at the end of the day, where it bothers me, as Im a resident of the city, we all benefit from having high quality housing options. So, lets get our heads together and spend and put in the work, which Im willing to put in the work, and collaborate in a very nice way, Drouin said.

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For the law to move forward, the report recommends officials begin an educational campaign about Good Cause Evictions, and further create a task force to oversee its implementation in Rochester.

You can read the full report here:

Report-to-Council-GCE-FINALDownload

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  The Winnebago County Sheriffs Office arrested Jonathan Washington, 35, after a search warrant where deputies recovered guns and drugs.

On November 7, around 9 a.m., Winnebagos Narcotics Unit and Detective Bureau searched the suspects residence in the 2100 block of Green Street. Officials had to break down the door due to no one answering when they announced themselves.

Police detained Washington when he arrived after they broke down the door.

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During the search, deputies found two handguns, ammunition, cannabis, MDMA, oxycodone and money. The suspect told authorities he had been delivering cannabis for around two years.

He continued to tell officials he also delivers MDMA pills, has had possession of oxycodone pills and was given one handgun as a gift and the other as payment. He said he keeps them to protect his family because they have been robbed in the past.

The suspect also had a warrant out for his arrest for driving with a revoked license.

Washington is charged with 2 counts of felon possession of a firearm, manufacturing and delivering cannabis, possession of narcotics and possession of controlled substances.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.
Rome has built a footbridge over the Trevi Fountain to allow tourists to visit the world-famous attraction while it undergoes restoration work.

The fountain has been emptied and the lower section of the water basin has been cordoned off, threatening to leave tourists disappointed.

In order to allow visitors to continue to access the fountain, which was completed in 1762 and features elaborate sculptures of mythical sea creatures, the city council in the Italian capital has set up a walkway, and also set up a small temporary pool for tourists to throw their coins into.

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City authorities are also hoping to use the footbridge to count the number of tourists visiting the attraction after years of overcrowding.

The results are to be used to develop measures to resolve the problem, such as limiting access to the steps of the fountain and introducing a small fee.

Admission to the footbridge is free, but tourists are being warned that the traditional act of tossing coins into the main fountain is banned during the renovation work, carrying the threat of a 50 ($54) fine.
Ancient Roman architecture and history have long impacted artists, but the Italian capital is having a cinematic resurgence, inspiring the set design and storylines of three of this years film juggernauts.

Paramounts Gladiator II picks up 25 years after the events of the original film and follows Lucius (Paul Mescal), son of Russell Crowes Maximus in the 2000 pic, who becomes a gladiator after his home is invaded by the Roman army (led by Pedro Pascal). Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi reprise their roles from the first installment, and Denzel Washington comes aboard as a former slave who oversees a stable of gladiators while plotting to overthrow the empire.

Original Gladiator production designer Arthur Max  whos nabbed four Oscar nods for his film work with Ridley Scott over the last 27 years  reteams with the director for the sequel, out Nov. 22.

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We wanted the production design to reflect that the Empire had increased in its opulence, exoticism [and] decadence, says Max, who visited landmarks like the Colosseum, the Capitoline Museums and the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, and channeled the work of 18th and 19th century artists Jean-Leon Gerome and Lawrence Alma-Tadema. They returned to original filming locations in Morocco and Malta, using the latters Fort Ricasoli to re-create Rome  but expanding the scale and scope of our sets.

For Focus Features thriller Conclave, about a cardinal (Ralph Fiennes) tasked with selecting a new pope, production designer Suzie Davies (Mr. Turner, Saltburn) teamed with director Edward Berger. Their goal: to honor both the well-known parts of the Vatican while imagining its private areas. Where does that door at the back of the Sistine Chapel go? Davies wonders. They used real locations like the Villa Medici and Palazzo Barberini alongside studio builds, contrasting light and dark, modern and ancient, to design the view the public [has] and the private aspects of the Conclave.

In Megalopolis, Francis Ford Coppola parallels the fall of the Roman Empire with the decline of U.S. cities as an architect (Adam Driver) clashes with a corrupt mayor (Giancarlo Esposito) over how to rebuild the metropolis of New Rome in modern New York.

So much of New York City architecture was influenced by the Romans, it wasnt difficult to embellish it further for our fictitious, timeless city and incorporate Roman architecture, says production designer Bradley Rubin. The movie filmed in Atlanta, but Rubin notes Coppola incorporated artistic footage from Italy and Japan, as well as footage hed taken over the 42 years hes been writing and thinking about this film.
Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen at an election night watch party at the Aria. (Photo: Michael Lyle/Nevada Current)

Nevada Democratic U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen held off an unexpectedly strong challenge from Republican Sam Brown to win a second term by a narrow margin.

The Associated Press decision desk called the race for Rosen Friday night.

Brown, a West Point graduate and Army captain who was badly burned by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan, had been shown trailing Rosen by as much as 10 points in some polling leading up to the election, though in the the last days of the campaign he expressed confidence the the gap was narrowing.

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Rosen, who raised $46.5 million through the third quarter, pummeled Brown in television ads over his inconsistent record on reproductive freedom. Before moving to Nevada in 2018, Brown managed the Texas congressional campaign of a candidate who opposed abortion without exceptions for rape, incest, and health of the mother. As a legislative candidate in that state, Brown said hed support a ban on abortion with no exceptions after 20 weeks.

Brown raised $20 million through the third quarter. He also received a last-minute boost of $6 million in late October from the Senate Leadership Fund, a Republican super PAC, NBC reported.

Rosen, billing herself as the most bipartisan member of Congress, led Brown in polling throughout the race. The former president of a synagogue in Henderson, Rosen served one term in the House of Representatives before her election to the Senate in 2018.

The race is Browns second for the U.S. Senate. In 2022, he lost the Republican primary to former Attorney General Adam Laxalt, who was defeated by the incumbent, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto.

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Brown, who was endorsed by former Pres. Donald Trump, declined to register support for Trumps plan to deport millions of undocumented immigrants and voiced support for a more simple path to citizenship. His campaign focused on the economy, cutting the federal budget, and easing prices for Nevadans.

The Nevada race was one of a handful of competitive contests nationwide expected to determine which party would control the Senate. But the Senate map strongly favored Republicans throughout the cycle, with Democratic incumbents defending seats in several Trump states, including a seat in West Virginia which was being relinquished by Democrat Joe Manchin and won Tuesday by Republican Gov. Jim Justice. The Democratic loss of that seat was a foregone conclusion.

Then on election night, Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown was defeated by Republican Bernie Moreno, and Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester lost to Republican challenger Tim Sheehy. When Nebraska incumbent Republican Sen. Deb Fischer was declared the winner over independent candidate Dan Osborne, that sealed Republican control of the Senate.
By multiple measures, Democrat Ruben Gallego appears to have performed better compared to Vice President Kamala Harris than four key Senate candidates did in presidential swing states.

Gallegos better standing with Arizona voters is more than a mirror image of Republican Kari Lakes relatively weak pull with GOP voters and will invite extra scrutiny as Democrats ponder their future after an electoral beating.

Gallego, a five-term member of Congress, pulled in about 5.6% more votes in Arizona than Harris, based on unofficial returns as of Friday evening.

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In Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, the Democratic Senate candidates each got about the same number of votes as Harris.

Gallegos extra appeal owes at least in part to Lakes notably weaker standing with Republican voters. So far, she has pulled in 90.4% of president-elect Donald Trumps vote share.

In the same four other states, only Nevadas Sam Brown rivaled Lake in drawing votes. In Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, the Republican nominee drew about 96% of Trumps vote share.

But Gallegos relatively better standing with voters has at least one more aspect to it. Republicans in the other states were likely hampered by third-party alternatives in a way that didnt exist in Arizona.

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The only other option on the ballot in Arizonas Senate race was the Green Partys Eduardo Quintana.

Green Party candidates generally appeal to left-leaning voters who are more likely to vote for Democrats, if they vote for a major-party candidate.

As of Friday evening, Quintana had pulled just over 2% of the vote.

Quintana may have benefited from $342,000 in spending by a shadowy Texas-based organization called the Progressive Century Project that divided its spending advocating for Quintana and opposing Gallego. It made no mention of Lake.

In an October mailer, for example, the organization described Gallego as Pro-Israel, Pro-Genocide, Pro-War and urged voters to end the genocide in Palestine, a message designed to appeal to left-leaning voters.

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Arizona politics: Trump victory raises questions about Justice Department probe into Phoenix PD

In a social media post, Quintana rejected the support and the tactic.

We were not aware of these mailers, and my campaign did not authorize or approve them, he wrote. As a #GreenParty candidate, I denounce and reject all support from super-PACs & dark money.

By contrast, there were seemingly greater headwinds for GOP candidates from third-party choices in the other four states.

In Pennsylvania, a Libertarian Senate candidate received at least 88,000 votes, about 1.3%. Libertarians generally appeal to conservative voters who may vote Republican in the same way Green Party candidates draw from Democrats.

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The Constitution Party is considered a far-right group that similarly pulls from the GOP, if anything. The Senate candidate in Pennsylvania received at least 23,000 votes, or 0.3%.

The Green in Pennsylvania received at least 64,000 votes, nearly half the totals for the Libertarian and Constitution nominees.

Republican Dave McCormick is the projected winner in Pennsylvania, defeating incumbent U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr., D-Pa. McCormick got 96% of Trumps winning total there, and Casey got 99% of Harris vote total.

In Michigan, U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., narrowly defeated former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., and may have also gotten at least some help from third-party alternatives.

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Candidates from the Libertarian and U.S. Taxpayers parties pulled in a combined 98,000 votes in Michigans Senate race. A Green Party candidate received 54,000, while the far-left Natural Law Party candidate got nearly 19,000.

In Wisconsin, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., narrowly held off Republican Eric Hovde by about 29,000 votes.

The Progressive Century Project that was active in Arizonas Senate race also spent $247,000 opposing Baldwin in its only other expenses.

But Baldwin also benefited from a libertarian independent and a conservative America First Party candidate who combined for 71,000 votes. There were no other third-party options in that race.

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And in Nevada, there was a totally different option completely.

That state uniquely includes a none of these candidates option that drew nearly 41,000 votes in the Senate race in Nevada.

The state also had a Libertarian and an Independent American Party candidate whose website touts her once receiving a Conservative of the Year award and notes her advocacy for homeschooling. Her credentials suggest she appealed to potential Republican voters if anything.

Together, those candidates received 39,000 votes. Combined with the none option, Nevadans had 80,000 votes that likely drew siphoned more from the GOP than the Democrats.

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Incumbent U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., defeated Republican Sam Brown and was leading by about 21,000 votes Saturday.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: AZ Senate race: Ruben Gallego doing better than other swing-state Dems
Rudy Giuliani has alleged that he doesnt have enough money to feed himself after a federal judge ordered him to start paying the $148 million judgment he faces for defaming Georgia poll workers in the wake of the 2020 election.

The former New York City mayor and close ally of President-elect Donald Trump took to X to whine about his fiscal woes, and to beg followers to donate to his fundraising campaign.

Wilkie Farr Law firm and Judge Liman are trying to inhibit me from making a living, he wrote . They seized my measly checking account so I cant buy food. Help me fight.

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The post linked to Giulianis campaign, hosted on GiveSendGo, a Christian alternative to GoFundMe favored by white nationalists. Giuliani, in about half a day, had raised nearly $100,000and received over 250 prayers.

Americas Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, has been persecuted to the highest level through lawfare due to his support of President Donald Trump, the campaigns description reads. Therefore, we are raising funds to go directly to his legal defense.

Giuliani was ordered to pay $148 million for defaming two Georgia election workers.

Giuliani has so far failed to pay up on the eye-popping figure he owes to Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, the mother-daughter Georgia ballot-counting duo who sued Trumps former attorney for falsely accusing them of election fraud.

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman scolded Giuliani and gave him a week to hand over the valuable property he still owns.

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Although he turned over access to his Manhattan apartment, Giuliani is on the hook for a list of luxury items that includes a signed Joe DiMaggio jersey, watches given to Giuliani by European leaders after 9/11, and a vintage Mercedes once owned by the actress Lauren Bacallamong other assets.

Of particular contention are four Yankees World Series rings that Freeman and Moss laid claim to as fulfillment of the judgment. When they tried to collect the rings, Giuliani said he had given them to his son Andrew as a gift.

On Saturday, though, the judge ruled that attorneys for Freeman and Moss could serve a subpoena on Giulianis accounting firm to review his tax returns in an effort to verify whether Giuliani was telling the truth about the gift.

The rings are estimated to be worth about $200,000.
JD Vance invoked a fictional serial killers words to explain why Donald Trumps critics shouldnt be surprised he won the presidency.

Vance shared in a post to X that the best people he knows constantly reevaluate assumptions, adding that liberals and detractors shocked by Trumps win should question what else [they] 'know' about him.

The comments were some of Vance's first since he completed his journey from a staunch Trump critic to his right-hand man and vice president-elect.

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Ultimately, Vance left followers with a message from Anton Chigurh, a hitman in Cormac McCarthys bloody borderlands noir No Country for Old Men.

In the words of Cormac McCarthy, If the rule you followed brought you to this, of what use was the rule? Vance wrote.

Vance attributed the words of wisdom to McCarthy himself, not the fate-obsessed contract killer he created in the 2005 novel, adapted by the Coen Brothers into a 2007 Best Picture winner.

The cash-hungry hitman's quote may seem an odd choice for someone soon to take the second-highest office in the land, especially one that essentially reads as a critique of any system of morality. Perhaps the fictional killer quote-drop is Vances attempt to align himself with President-elect Trump, who spent his summer raving about the late, great Hannibal Lecter.
ATK Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 9: Akbar Travels, the pioneer in online visa services, launched India's first 100% online visa portal in 2018, transforming the way Indians apply for visas. With services spanning over 200+ countries, Akbartravels.com offers an eco-friendly, streamlined approach to visa applications. Since its launch, this online portal has saved approximately 1,080 trees by eliminating traditional paper-based processes--a feat that highlights Akbar Travels' commitment to sustainability. Online Visa Services for 200+ Countries: Redefining Convenience and Efficiency In a world where convenience is key, Akbar Travels' online visa services have become the preferred choice for travelers across India. By digitizing the application process for over 200+ destinations, Akbar Travels has eliminated the need for physical paperwork. This digital-first approach not only speeds up the application process but has saved around 10.8 million sheets of paper, equating to over 1,080 trees preserved in the last six years. With online visa applications now accessible across devices, Akbar Travels has simplified obtaining visas for key travel destinations such as the UAE, US, UK, Schengen area, and more. The platform offers a 99.8% visa success rate and provides specialized support for Canada PR visas and other immigration categories. Travelers can apply for the visa online from the convenience of their home or office without the requirement of visiting the branch or visa application centre. Why Choose Akbar Travels for Your Visa Application Needs? 1. Comprehensive Visa Coverage: Akbar Travels offers online visa services for 200+ countries, making it a one-stop destination for travelers seeking visas to various global destinations. 2. 99.8% Visa Success Rate: With a high success rate since 1978, Akbar Travels has become a trusted choice for visa processing services, particularly in high-demand destinations. 3. Environmentally Responsible: Akbar Travels' paperless process has resulted in over 1,080 trees saved, positioning the company as a leader in sustainable business practices. 4. Exclusive Travel Benefits: Customers using Akbar Travels' visa services enjoy discounts up to Rs. 20,000 on flight tickets, providing added value for their travel needs. Simplify Your Visa Process: Apply Online with Akbar Travel As a top visa consultant in India, Akbar Travels has transformed the visa application landscape by offering an easy-to-use online portal with a 99.8% success rate. Their digital process has set a new benchmark for eco-friendly travel solutions, while also delivering unmatched convenience. To start your application, visit Akbar Travels' online visa services for 180+ countries. Experience hassle-free applications, top-tier customer service, and exclusive travel deals on not only visa and flights but also on your hotel bookings, family tour packages etc --all while contributing to a greener planet. Akbar Travels makes it simple to apply for visas online, from tourist visas to Canada PR visas. Choose Akbar Travels for your online visa application needs, and join the movement towards sustainable travel. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
SOCHI, Russia (AP)  Russia on Saturday opened the first ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in the city of Sochi, seeking to deepen ties with African nations and dispel a notion that it's isolated by Western sanctions.

The conference is billed as building on last summers Russia-Africa summit, where Russian President Vladimir Putin courted leaders from Africa and offered to expand political and business ties.

The two-day ministerial conference, which is attended by government and business leaders from Russia and Africa, will continue in the same format regularly, said Anton Kobyakov, an adviser to Putin.

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Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova was quoted as saying by Russian state news agency RIA Novosti that the conference dashed dirty hopes for Russias isolation.

Zakharova said that dozens of bilateral meetings were taking place between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and African representatives, hailing the multipolarity demonstrated by the event.

Lavrov is due to speak at the plenary session on Sunday.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has destroyed over 1,000 cultural heritage sites in Ukraine, including those under the protection of UNESCO, according to the Culture Ministry.

Moscow destroys cultural monuments not only with missile or drone strikes. Several historical monuments are under occupation, where Russian occupation authorties carry out so-called restorations, changing the authentic appearance of sites or destroying them completely, erasing all possible references to Ukrainian or Crimean Tatar culture.

As of Oct. 16, UNESCO confirmed the damage to 457 sites, including 143 religious sites, 231 buildings of historical or artistic interest, 32 museums, 33 monuments, 17 libraries, and one archive.

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"It's not only the killing of children, elderly people, or soldiers, not only the occupation of our land and expropriation of our assets, but the destruction of our cultural heritage and built environment and immovable heritage," Jenia Gubkina, a Ukrainian architect and architectural historian from Kharkiv, told the Kyiv Independent.

Read also: Faith under fire: Russias war on religion in Ukraines occupied territories

Lviv Old Town

Lviv, a city in Ukraine's west known for its splendid architecture, lies just about 70 kilometers (approximately 43 miles) east of the Polish border and has become a relative safe haven for internally displaced Ukrainians.

Yet, Lviv saw a number of Russian drone and missile attacks, with at least two strikes damaging buildings located in the citys historic area and the UNESCO buffer zone.

In early September, Russia struck Konovaltsia Street, which hosts buildings dating back to the late XIX-early XX century.

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One of the residential buildings hit by a Russian Kinzhal ballistic missile was home to the Bazylevych family, a husband and wife and their three daughters.

The attack killed six people, including six-year-old Emilia Bazylevych along with her 43-year-old mother, Yevhenia, and two sisters, 21-year-old Daria and Yaryna, aged 18 and 21. Only their father, Yaroslav, survived.

Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a missile attack in Lviv, Ukraine on Sep. 4, 2024. (Yuriy Dyachyshyn/AFP via Getty Images)

Yaroslav Bazylevch visits the graves of his wife and their three daughters, who were killed in a Russian missile attack on Sept. 4, 2024, that hit their home, at a cemetery in Lviv, Ukraine, on Sept. 15, 2024. (Oksana Parafeniuk/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)

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Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa

The historical center of the southern city of Odesa was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in January 2023. In July of that year, a Russian missile strike damaged more than 20 architectural monuments in this part of the city and heavily damaged the Transfiguration Cathedral.

One person was killed and at least 22 injured, according to local authorities.

The Transfiguration Cathedral, Odesa's foremost Orthodox church, was built in 1794. The Soviet regime destroyed the original building in 1936, and the new cathedral was built in the early 2000s.

Italy and UNESCO signed an agreement under which Rome allocated 500,000 euros (about $542,000) for the restoration of the cathedral in Odesa.

Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa, Ukraine in early XX century. (Wikimedia)

The ancient city of Chersonesus

A number of Ukrainian cultural heritage sites have been in peril since Russias invasion in 2014.

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Over the years, Russia has excavated huge areas in occupied Crimea and appropriated the found artifacts. It also demolished several cultural heritage sites that have been around.

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Russia has partially destroyed the city of Chersonesus, an ancient Greek colony founded over 2,500 years ago, located within the city limits of occupied Sevastopol. The ancient city of Tauric Chersonesus were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2013.

Throughout Russia's occupation, the original sights were replaced with new buildings.

Derzhprom in Kharkiv

Derzhprom, or the State Industry House, is the latest cultural site attacked by Russia.

An iconic 13-story building is located in the very heart of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, and was hit by a guided aerial bomb on the evening of Oct. 28. The site was first damaged during a Russian attack in early January.

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Read also: Kharkivs historic Derzhprom skyscraper becomes latest victim of Russian bombardments

Completed in 1928, Derzhprom was one of the first skyscrapers built in Eastern Europe and is internationally renowned for its constructivist design using reinforced concrete and glass.

In 2017, Derzhprom was added to UNESCO's preliminary list, and after Russia's full-scale invasion, was placed under provisional enhanced UNESCO protection.

"It is the city's hallmark, so we will officially apply to UNESCO (to help recover the building). Our international department is working to get this process started," Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said.

The Derzhprom building (also known as the State Industry Building or the Palace of Industry), an example of constructivist architecture, in Freedom Square, Kharkiv, Ukraine, Soviet Union, circa 1935. Completed in 1928 and designed by architects Sergei Serafimov, Samuil Kravets, and Mark Felger, the building's name is a shortening of two words meaning 'State Industry.' (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

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Biosphere reserve Askania-Nova

The nature reserve was founded in 1898 and has been under Russian occupation since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Askania-Nova in the Kakhovka district of Kherson Oblast is a member of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program, and its area is 333.08 square kilometers (128.6 square miles).

The reserve was home to 3,500 animal species before the start of the all-out war. Before the all-out war, Askania-Nova was visited by about 150,000 tourists a year.

Ukraine is currently unable to monitor the territory of the facility and take care of the animals, some of which have already been illegally transported to Russia and the Russian-occupied Crimea. The Russian military also hunts rare species, according to reserve's director, Viktor Shapoval.

"Firstly, some species are kept in small enclosures and require daily care. Secondly, there are heat-loving animals that are moved to winter quarters for the winter. It is clear that without proper support, these animals are simply doomed to die," Shapoval said.

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Bakhchysarai Palace

The Bakhchysarai Palace or Khan's Palace, listed on the UNESCO Tentative World Heritage List, is the only preserved example of Crimean Tatar palace architecture worldwide. It was the main residence of Crimean khans, the leaders of the Crimean Khanate (14411783), and the state's administrative and political center from the the mid 16th century.

The palace in Bakhchysarai is a unique Crimean Tatar architectural monument.

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Russian forces had been destroying the Khan's palace in Bakhchysarai, calling it "repair and restoration work," former director of the Bakhchysarai Historical and Cultural Reserve Elmira Ablialimova told Ukrinform in January 2023.

The monument had undergone "irreversible changes," and Russians were carrying out repair and restoration work even where there was no need, Ablialimova said.

As a result of the actions of the Russian proxies, the roof of the Khan's Mosque was dismantled, causing severe damage to the building and destroying its authentic appearance. The frescoed walls and stained glass windows were also damaged, and a huge crack appeared on the wall of the Secular Building of the Khan's Palace due to violations of restoration requirements, according to the Ukrainian Institute.

For years, Russia has blocked all appeals and attempts by Ukrainian authorities and activists to allow specialists and the UNESCO monitoring mission to participate in the restoration.

Exterior of the Khan's Palace in Bakhchysarai, Crimea, Ukraine.(Prisma/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Damage on the exterior of the Khan's Palace in Bakhchysarai, Crimea, Ukraine. (X)

The Genoese fortress

The Genoese fortress in occupied Sudak, Crimea, like the Khan's Palace, has been under Russian occupation since 2014.

The construction of the Genoese fortress, which is on the UNESCO Tentative World Heritage List and is part of the National Reserve "Sophia of Kyiv," lasted about a hundred years, from 1371 to 1469. The fortress stands on a 157-meter-high mountain called Kyz-Kule-Burun, an ancient fossilized coral reef. Due to its location, the fortress is almost unassailable.

In November 2015, a part of the ancient tower of the Genoese fortress collapsed, a local media QHA reported, citing its undisclosed source close to the committee for the protection of the cultural heritage of the Russian-occupied Crimea.

The alleged reason for the destruction is that Russian occupation authorities were building hotels and toilets on the territory of the site.



Nelia Kukovalska, director general of the National Reserve "Sophia of Kyiv," told Crimea.Realities, a project of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, in May 2019 that the Genoese fortress was also at risk of landslides.



"Since the annexation of the peninsula, illegal and unprofessional work has been carried out at the site, and no one is monitoring the landslide situation... We observe an increase in seismic activity there, and there is a danger," Kukovalska said.

The Genoese fortress (14th-15th century) in Sudak, Crimea, Ukraine in Dec. 24, 2013. (DeAgostini/Getty Images)

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Russia will be able to produce 30% more artillery shells than all EU member states combined next year, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said at a press conference in Kyiv on Nov. 9.

"According to Ukrainian intelligence, using the information we have, if there is no proper response or prevention, Russia will be able to produce 30% more artillery shells than all countries of the European Union combined," he said in comments reported by Ukrinform.

Sybiha called for international action to constrain Russia's industrial capacity.

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"First of all, here I am referring to the shadow fleet, which helps Russia circumvent sanctions and continue to trade energy resources, oil. It is very important that the further strengthening of the EU's sanctions policy of our allies focus on this aspect," he said.

An ammunition shortage has long been a cause for concern in Ukraine but has escalated this year. The EU failed to deliver on its promise to produce 1 million artillery shells between March 2023 and 2024 while disputes in Washington led to a severe delay in a $61 billion aid package.

Several countries have backed a Czech-led initiative to procure 800,000 shells for Ukraine proposed in February this year. In March, the EU allocated 500 million euros ($544 million) to bolster the EU's ammunition production capacity to 2 million shells per year by the end of 2025.

Ukraine has long tried to ramp up its own domestic ammunition production to become more independent from Western partners.

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In the summer of 2023, Ukroboronprom said that it had already mastered the production of 82 mm mortar mines, 122 mm, and 152 mm artillery rounds, as well as 125 mm tank shells.

Earlier media reports cited Ukrainian officials hoping to begin producing "desperately needed" NATO-standard 155 mm artillery rounds in the 'second half' of 2024 at the earliest.

Despite domestic efforts, the Ukrainian army still mainly depends on supplying 155 mm shells from partners, as European countries join forces to buy the rounds outside Europe.

The U.S. also opened a new factory last May to produce 155 mm munitions for Ukraine and significantly increased production in some existing factories.

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Read also: Crimea is gone  Senior Trump advisor says Ukraine needs to have realistic war aims

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Russia attacked 12 communities in Sumy Oblast on Nov. 8, injuring eight people, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported.

The communities of Sumy, Khotin, Yunakivka, Bilopillia, Krasnopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, Novoslobidsk, Putyvl, Shalyhyne, Druzhbivka, Seredyna-Buda, Znob-Novgorodske were targeted.

In total, Russian forces fired 57 times and caused 129 explosions.

Five people were injured in Krasnopillia, where strikes damaged private homes, pharmacies, a school, a shop, and multiple cars.

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Three people were injured in Sumy as a result of a ballistic missile strike.

Throughout the day, Russia assailed the border communities with mortar, artillery, missile, and drone attacks. Several mines were also dropped.

The town of Bilopillia experienced the most attacks, with 65 explosions recorded in the area. Bilopillia, which had a pre-war population of about 15,600 residents, lies just eight kilometers south of the Ukraine-Russia border.

Russian strikes against Sumy Oblast have become increasingly destructive in recent months, amid fears that Russia may launch a new attack on Sumy Oblast in the coming months.

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Shelling is a daily occurrence for the communities near Ukraine's northeastern border with Russia, with residents in the region's vulnerable border settlements experiencing multiple attacks per day.

Read also: Russian drone damages Estonian ambassadors apartment building in Kyiv

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A Russian military court sentenced two soldiers to life in prison for murdering a family of nine in occupied Donetsk Oblast, the Russian state-controlled news outlet Kommersant reported on Nov. 8.

The Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office reported on Oct. 30 that Russian forces in occupied Volnovakha entered a home and murdered nine civilians, including two children aged five and nine. The victims were identified as the Kapkanets family, who were reportedly celebrating a birthday.

The Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don handed down life sentences to both soldiers, Anton Sopov, 21, and Stanislav Rau, 28. The case marks a rare instance of Russian authorities holding its own troops accountable for war crimes perpetrated in Ukraine.

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The trial was held in secret due to military secrecy, and both men pleaded not guilty, Kommersant claimed.

Sopov and Rau were arrested in Russia on the same day Ukraine released its report of the killings. The Russian Investigative Committee identified the two soldiers as contract personnel from Russia's far east.

According to Ukraine's investigation, the family was murdered after refusing to vacate their home after being threatened by Sopov and Rau.

Russian soldiers reportedly approached the Kapkanets home several days before the murders and demanded that the family leave so that they could reside there. The residents refused and the soldiers left.

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They returned on Oct. 27, the Prosecutor's Office said, and shot all nine members of the family while they slept.

Russia has repeatedly denied that its forces commit crimes in Ukraine.

Ukraine has accused Russian forces of 137,000 war crimes carried out as part of its full-scale invasion. Crimes include the mass abduction of Ukrainian children, the torture of residents in occupied territories, and the murder of civilians.

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One woman was killed and 13 other people injured, including two children, in a Russian drone attack on the Ukrainian port city of Odessa during the night, the regional prosecutor's office announced on Saturday.

It said two high-rise buildings, several private residential buildings and the storage rooms of a company had been damaged during the attack.

Investigations have been launched into suspected war crimes, the prosecutor's office said.

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Since the launch of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has been systematically bombing cities and other civilian targets, in particular targeting the country's energy facilities.

A man stands on the roof of a damaged house after an overnight Russian attack in Odesa, southern Ukraine. -/Ukrinform/dpa
Russian troops launched "a massive" drone attack on Odesa and its suburbs, killing one person and wounding 13, the Odesa Oblast Prosecutor's Office reported on Nov. 9.

Among the wounded in the drone attack in the early hours of Nov. 9 were two boys aged four and 16, according to the report.

The report comes as Ukraine's Air Force said that Russia attacked Ukraine overnight with 51 drones, and the southern Odesa Oblast was the "epicenter." Shahed drones and drones of an "unspecified type" were used in the attack, according to the Air Force.

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The attack on Odesa damaged multi-story buildings, private houses, warehouses, and cars, the regional prosecutors reported.

"The inspection is ongoing, the full list of destruction and damage is being established," the Odesa Oblast Prosecutor's Office said in its Telegram post.

Russia has ramped up its drone attacks across Ukraine, including on the capital of Kyiv, where civilians suffer drone attacks almost daily.

A Russian drone strike on Nov. 7 damaged the apartment building where Estonia's ambassador to Ukraine lives, Estonian Foreign Affairs Minister Margus Tsahkna said on Nov. 8. Ambassador Annely Kolk "was lucky not to be harmed," Tsahkna said in a post on social media.

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Russia launched over 2,000 attack drones targeting both civilian and military sites across Ukraine last month, Kyivs military reported on Nov. 1, as Russian forces continue their offensive in eastern and southern Ukraine.

Read also: Kyiv hit by surging drone attacks as Russia adapts tactics, increases production

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Russian General Pavel Klimenko, who commanded troops in occupied Donetsk Oblast and allegedly ran camps torturing his own soldiers, died in Ukraine on Nov. 7, according to his sisters.

Anton Geraschenko, former adviser to Ukraine's Interior Minister, said that Klimenko was killed by a drone strike while riding his motorbike near the front-line city of Krasnohorivka, but the circumstances of his death have not been independently confirmed.

Pro-war Russian bloggers first reported the death of Klimenko, 47. His sisters confirmed his death in the comments to those posts, and the Russian investigative outlet Important Stories verified that the accounts in fact belonged to Klimenko's siblings.

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Klimenko led Russia's 5th Donetsk Motorized Rifle Brigade. Members of this brigade were accused of torturing pro-Kremlin U.S. blogger Russell Bentley to death in April 2024.

Bentley, a pro-Russian sympathizer who fought against Ukraine during the 2014 invasion of Donbas, was reportedly abducted and tortured by Russian soldiers after being mistaken for an American spy.

According to the Russian news organization Astra, Klimenko also set up torture camps in occupied Donetsk for Russian soldiers. Klimenko reportedly forced soldiers to hand over their salaries in exchange for moving them from the front lines. He also allegedly used torture to coerce injured soldiers to join assault groups.

Klimenko is the eighth Russian general killed in the war against Ukraine whose death has been independently confirmed by journalists and researchers.

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Read also: Russia again suffers 2nd deadliest day since start of full-scale invasion, Ukraine claims

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The Russians have struck the city of Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast with Grad multiple-launch rocket systems, injuring a 50-year-old man and damaging premises belonging to an industrial business.

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "The Russians struck Nikopol with Grad MLRS. A 50-year-old man was injured and taken to hospital in a moderate condition. Premises belonging to an industrial business were damaged."

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Details: Lysak also reported on the situation in the Synelnykove district, where a fire had broken out due to a Russian attack, damaging infrastructure facilities. No one was killed or injured.

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Ukraines Parliamentary Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets has reported that Russian troops have shot a Ukrainian soldier who was unarmed and likely wounded.

Source: Lubinets on Telegram

Quote: "The occupiers have no limits to their ruthlessness and brutality! Russians shot an unarmed Ukrainian soldier who was probably wounded.

They filmed it, and the video is being shared online.

I am sending a letter to the ICRC and the UN regarding this case. This is a violation of the Geneva Conventions, international humanitarian law, and the laws and customs of war."

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VMPL Nagpur (Maharashtra) [India], November 9: The 7th edition of the Local Startup Meet (LSM) recently concluded in Nagpur, Maharashtra, organized by the Entrepreneurship Cell of IIT Kharagpur. The event successfully brought together a diverse group of entrepreneurs, CEOs, and startup founders to engage in meaningful discussions about the evolving startup ecosystem. A key highlight of the meeting was the panel discussion titled "How Funding Choices Shape Company Culture and Values," which featured contributions from several esteemed industry leaders. Among the panelists were: Ashutosh Naik, Group CCO at GrowwNikhil Jathar, Co-founder and CTO of AvanSaberKrishna Pandya, Founder & CEO of V21 CAPITALMayuresh Phadke, Co-founder at Lemma TechnologiesKush Mehrotra, Vice President at MapMyIndiaThe panelists shared valuable perspectives on the critical role that funding sources play in shaping a company's culture and long-term objectives. Key Insights from the Panel Discussion: Impact of Funding Sources: Panelists explored how different types of investors, such as venture capitalists and impact investors, influence a company's priorities, whether it be growth and profitability or social and environmental impact. Values Alignment: Emphasis was placed on the importance of aligning a startup's values with those of its investors to maintain a cohesive and motivated organizational culture.Inclusive Growth: Strategies for fostering diversity and creating equitable opportunities within startups were discussed, highlighting the significance of inclusive growth in building sustainable businesses. In addition to the discussion, the panelists played a pivotal role in evaluating and providing feedback to participating startups. They assessed funding eligibility, offered strategic suggestions, and recommended improvements to help startups refine their business models and growth strategies. This interactive judging session provided entrepreneurs with actionable insights to enhance their ventures and align them with best practices in the industry. Reflecting on the event, Nikhil Jathar shared, "It was inspiring to see passionate entrepreneurs building sustainable, value-driven businesses. Aligning culture with growth strategies is essential for long-term success." Vinay Raut, Shivraj Gulve, and Khush Duggar, a few event organizers, remarked, "The participation of experienced leaders added immense value to our discussions. Their real-world experiences gave our attendees actionable insights to navigate the complexities of building and scaling their startups." The Local Startup Meet 2024 also featured interactive sessions and networking opportunities, allowing entrepreneurs to connect with potential mentors, investors, and peers. Organizers expressed their gratitude to all speakers and participants for making the event a success. About Local Startup Meet (LSM) The Local Startup Meet is an annual event organized by the Entrepreneurship Cell of IIT Kharagpur, aimed at fostering a vibrant startup community by facilitating knowledge exchange, networking, and collaboration among entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and aspiring startup founders. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
A total of four civilians have been injured in Russian attacks on Sumy Oblast on Saturday, 9 November.

Source: Sumy Oblast Military Administration

Details: As of 21:00, the Russians have fired 74 times at the border areas and settlements of Sumy Oblast.

In the Myropillia hromada, an airstrike destroyed the premises of an educational institution and damaged more than ten residential houses and a community arts centre. There was also an attack by FPV drones (8 explosions), with one civilian injured. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]

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In the Khotin hromada, two civilians were injured as explosives were dropped from a Russian UAV. There was also an attack by an FPV drone (1 explosion), with one civilian injured.

The Russians also reportedly conducted an airstrike on the Sumy hromada, using guided aerial bombs.

The consequences of the attack are being clarified.

No casualties were reported in other hromadas.

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Russian troops have dropped a guided aerial bomb on Kharkiv, with hits being recorded in the Slobidskyi district near a high-rise building.

Source Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration; Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov on Telegram

Quote from Syniehubov: "According to preliminary data, there was a hit of a guided aerial bomb in the Slobidskyi district of Kharkiv.

Specialised services have arrived at the scene, and information about the damage is being clarified."

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Quote from Terekhov: "We have information about a strike in the Slobidskyi district. The hit occurred near a multi-storey building.

The blast wave smashed some of the windows. There is no information about the dead or injured at the moment".

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(FOX40.COM)  While conducting highway enforcement this week, deputies with the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office seized around 80,000 counterfeit fentanyl pills.

After stopping a Honda CRV for a traffic violation, a search of the vehicle found seven large vacuum-sealed bags totaling 17.8 pounds, according to the sheriffs office.

The driver, a 34-year-old Oregon woman, was arrested and booked into the Sacramento County Jail and had her bail set at $1 million. She was released days later on her own recognizance.

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Sacramentos Law and Legislation Committee will discuss a proposed state of emergency over pedestrian and cyclist safety Tuesday, six days after the 31st traffic death on city streets in 2024.

The public meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. at City Hall. If the committees members approve the proposal, they may ask to review it again at a future meeting, possibly with changes, or they may send it to the full City Council for a vote.

The man who was fatally struck in North Sacramento at Bell and Norwood avenues Wednesday evening joined a list of 18 other cyclists and pedestrians to die in the California capital this year: Mattie Nicholson, 56; Kate Johnston, 55; Jeffrey Blain, 59; Aaron Ward, 40; Sam Dent, 41; Terry Lane, 55; David Rink, 51; James Lind, 54; Tyler Vandehei, 32; Jose Valladolid Ramirez, 36; Larry Winters, 76; Sau Voong, 84; Johnnie A. Fite, 82; Robert Kohler Jr., 50; Edward Lopez, 61; Muhammad Saddique, 64; Azure Amonti Daniels, 48; and Jordan Nicolas Rodriguez, 38. Two more people  Geohaira Geo Sosa, 32, and Kaylee Xiong, 18  were killed this summer while riding electric scooters.

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The remaining 10 people who have died this year were motorists.

UC Berkeleys Transportation Injury Mapping System shows that since Sacramento leaders Vision Zero promise in 2017 to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries on city streets by 2027, vehicle crashes have killed more than 250 people.

Vice Mayor Caity Maple submitted the initial paperwork for the state of emergency declaration in September, shortly after the death of Daniels, who was fatally struck Sept. 12 while she crossed Sutterville Road outside of Sacramento City College. If the City Council passes the resolution, it would reaffirm elected officials commitment to Vision Zero.

The initial draft contains language directing the city manager to identify funding for a public awareness campaign. Echoing Councilwoman Katie Valenzuela, the draft also calls for a quick-build program, which could help Sacramento reach its safety goals through the use of targeted lower-cost interventions in the aftermath of dangerous crashes.

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However, the draft does not direct City Manager Howard Chan to allocate money for such a program. Currently, amid a city budget shortfall of $77 million, the Department of Public Works relies almost entirely on unreliable grant funding for its road safety projects.

Some urge infrastructure changes over police

The draft stipulates that the Sacramento Police Department should ramp up its enforcement of traffic violations that particularly endanger pedestrians, which has received significant criticism from the public. At a news conference Sept. 16, Maple said that element was an interim measure.

The built environment is a really important component of this, and thats where were gonna need the money  we do have to make sure that our streets are designed in a way that actually forces people to go slower and to make different decisions, she said. But in the interim, we also really need people to know that they will be held accountable.

Alena Wong, 17, said that increased policing would be an ineffective strategy.

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Wong was almost killed while using a Land Park crosswalk on her way to her middle school in 2019. She hit the button to trigger the pedestrian crossing beacon on Sutterville Road at Mead Avenue. Because she was on her bicycle, Wong, then 12, was technically subject to vehicle codes and did not have the right of way. Meanwhile, the driver who hit her was obeying the speed limit: 35 mph, a speed that Sacramento officials consider lethal. The United Nations and the World Health Organization have jointly said that 20 mph should be the maximum speed limit in urban centers.

Wong said she hoped Sacramento would invest in changing roads to coax or force drivers to slow down. Five years after the crash, she and her parents are still advocating for the city to install a roundabout at the intersection where she almost died.

Kiara Reed, executive director of the transportation advocacy group Civic Thread, agreed that funding for improvements was essential. Without that money, she thought the emergency declaration could amount to just a statement that doesnt really have any teeth.

This year, the City Council declined to earmark $10.7 million in the 2024-2025 fiscal year to fund the Active Transportation Commissions recommendations, which were largely geared toward people navigating the city by bicycle or on foot.

The pedestrian killed in North Sacramentos Robla neighborhood was identified by the Sacramento County Coroners Office as a 64-year-old man, but his name has yet to be released.
BENTON, Ark.  According to the Arkansas Secretary of States Office, Saline County voter turnout was 71.66%, a nearly 7% increase from the state average of 64.94%.

County officials say it took a lot of planning and initiative.

That is just something that we celebrate that we are excited about, thats something that speaks to our election officials, our county clerk, our election commissioners, our fantastic poll workers and of course the voters, Saline County communication director Trevor Villines said.

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Which states have the highest and lowest voter turnout in presidential elections?

Villines accrediting the hard work and dedication of the county clerk, Doug Curtis for the turnout rates.

I put up signs all over the county advertising the county for early voting, our early voting was phenomenal, just phenomenal, Curtis said.

During the 2024 General Election, a total of 80,850 people were registered to vote of those 57,927 ballots were cast, generating the 71.66% voter turnout rate.

Of the total for ballots cast 46,668 of those were early voting, 10,285 people voted on election day, and 974 absentee ballots were submitted.

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Hand counted vote in Searcy County aims to increase turnout through transparency

Curtis believes the turnout was due to the extensive amounts of communication efforts. $20,000 was spent from the election fund for signs, billboards, and his fan favorite was the mailouts.

The mail out, I think thats one of the big things, people get that and put it on their refrigerator, and you know its a daily reminder for them, Curtis said.

Another thing Curtis says helped was being able to vote at any polling site on election day, to help the traditional election-day or last-minute voter.

Looking at the demographics, people vote closer to where they worked than where they lived, Curtis said.

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Unofficial election results indicate Sherwood alcohol sales ballot issue expected to pass

A billboard was placed right on the county line for everyone to see the announcement as they come and go.

County officials say they are proud of their voters.

You know people have fought and died so we have this opportunity to press that button on that machine and have that ballot in our hand and look at it, its a gift, Villines said.

The top three according to the secretary of state database include Saline County (71.66%), Grant County (71.04%), and Calhoun County (71.03%).

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WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWTI)  The holiday season is fast-approaching at that means the return of the Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign.

A number of locations, including stores and other businesses in the Watertown area will have bell ringers brining in the sound of the holidays.

NNYCF awards $10,000 grant to help Massena Salvation Army expand kitchen

Last year, the organization was able to raise $86,00, but they are looking to raise more this holiday season.

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The organization is always looking for volunteers to help ring bells in front of local businesses.

Anyone looking to volunteer with the Salvation Army can do so by calling them at 315-782-4470, visit signupgenius.com/go/WatertownKettles, email Joshua.morales@use.salvationarmy.org, or reach out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SalvationArmyOfWatertown/

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SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN)  A man was arrested Friday in connection with the sexually motivated crimes at a San Marcos apartment complex.

The San Marcos Police Department said 31-year-old Patrick Mendoza was arrested on charges of burglary of a habitation with intent to commit other felonies, sexual assault, indecent assault, felony evading in a motor vehicle, two counts of evading on foot and possession of marijuana.

PAST COVERAGE | San Marcos police search for suspect in reported apartment sexual assaults

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Mendoza was identified as the primary suspect during SMPDs investigation, and detectives collaborated with probation officers in Bexar County. SMPD said Mendoza was on probation in the county related to previous indecent exposure charges.

San Marcos Police Chief Stan Standridge said at approximately 2:30 a.m. Friday, a license plate reader notified police that it spotted Mendozas vehicle.

We suspected he may be going back to the apartment complex, Chief Standridge said. Our suspicion was confirmed. When officers got there, they set up a perimeter.

SMPD said he was found by officers hiding in bushes.

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According to the department, Mendoza attempted to run away before getting into a vehicle. Following a vehicle pursuit, Mendoza was arrested and evidence related to the reported incidents was collected.

The department will continue to work with the victims and we ask that anyone with knowledge of Mendoza or these incidents to please contact us, said San Marcos Police Chief Stan Standridge.

As of Friday afternoon, Mendoza remained booked in the Hays County jail.

SMPD said it would continue to urge residents to report suspicious activity and ensure doors and windows were secured.

A huge boost

Standridge said the department incorporated license plate readers about two years ago.

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We have had to leverage technology in light of increasing workload and typically fewer human resources, and so weve used technology a lot to combat violent crime in San Marcos, Standridge said.

APD: License plate readers helping to solve crimes

The chief said the technology acts as extra eyes to investigate crimes.

You cant put people at every Ingress, egress route to a city, but if you have cameras that can capture images of vehicles that were looking for, that is a huge boost. San Marcos Police Chief Stan Standridge

Standridge said the license plate technology worked so well in this case, because Mendoza did not live in San Marcos and was driving into the city.

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SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO)  The Dakota Angler Ice Institute features all the latest and greatest in the ice fishing industry. Its taking place at the Sioux Falls Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and includes tips from experts, plus portable and permanent ice shacks, augers, electronics, plus jigs and lures. Sundays hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $7.

The Sioux Empire Arts & Crafts Show features nearly 280 exhibitors from throughout the Midwest selling handcrafted items in the Expo Center of the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds in Sioux Falls. There will also be holiday music and food trucks. The hours are are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $8. Free for ages 12 and under.

The Pipestone Senior Citizens Center is hosting a Holiday Vendor, Craft Fair & Silent Auction. Its taking place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Pipestone High School Commons. Admission is free.

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A Craft Fair taking place at the Ramona, SD Gym features vendors, silent auction baskets, a 50/50 raffle, door prizes and a baked potato bar. The hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free.

Childs Play Toys is hosting Neighborhood Toy Store Day that includes a day of games, crafts treats and give-away. The event is taking place at both locations in downtown Sioux Falls and The Bridges at 57th from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Kanaranzi Creek in Ellsworth, MN is hosting a Country Christmas that includes re-purposed home decor, painted furniture, rustic and one-of-a-kind treasures for your winter decorating and Christmas gifts. The hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

JJs Coffee Spot in Flandreau, SD is hosting a Paint Party. Families are invited to a hands-on painting extravaganza where people of all ages can unleash their creativity and bond together from 10 a.m. to noon.

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Pawliday Pet Portraits is a fundraiser for the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society hosted by Schulte Subaru. The cost is $50 for a 15-minute photo shoot with your pets. You can book sessions from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Christmas at the Homestead is a holiday tour of the decorated Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve located near McCook Lake, west of North Sioux City, South Dakota. Its taking place from 12-4 p.m. and includes homemade goodies and a visit by Santa Claus. Admission is free.

Public skating has returned to the SCHEELS IcePlex in Sioux Falls. The sessions are 1-3 p.m. and 7 to 9:30 p.m. Admission is $9 for adults and $7 for children. Skate rentals are $4.

The Worthing Community Fire Department is hosting a Chislic & Pork Feed. Serving time is 4-8 p.m. The cost is $10 a plate, or $15 for two plates. Proceeds will purchase new fire hoses for the department.

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Homestead Orchard near Parker, SD is hosting a free Chrysanthemum Show. Take a relaxing stroll through the greenhouse to see more than 80 varieties of mums from 1-5 p.m. You can also enjoy a free cup of coffee and sample some apples.

Movies playing at the historic State Theater in downtown Sioux Falls include We Live in Time, Didi plus Will & Harper, all rated R.

The Wells Fargo CineDome & Sweetman Planetarium features T. Rex, Cities of the Future and Unseen Universe.

New in theaters this weekend, Anora, rated R.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Keith Swank has won the election for Pierce County sheriff, an upset over a decades-long veteran of the department favored by the countys political establishment, and a chance for Swank to remake the departments leadership.

The results of the election will not be certified by the county auditor until Nov. 26, but Swank had 50.89 percent of the votes on Friday, and Patrol Chief Patti Jackson would need more than 82 percent of the 10,000 ballots left to be counted to overtake him. She has captured 48.73 percent of votes.

Swank, 56, retired from the Seattle Police Department in June last year as a captain after 33 years on the force. Reached by phone Friday, Swank said he believed the outcome showed that voters wanted change and safety. He said the public would see how terribly Sheriff Ed Troyer had behaved during the election and that they would realize that they hadnt had a good sheriff the past four years. He said he would bring honesty, integrity and real leadership to the department.

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Theres been a lot of things talked about, said about me being a certain way or this way or that way, Swank said. I want everybody to know that, as the sheriff of Pierce County, everybodys going to be treated with dignity and respect, and thats going to be treated under the Constitution and color of law.

People will be treated fairly, and were going to crack down on crime to the best of our ability, he added.

Pierce County Sheriff candidate Keith Swank chats with a guest during a GOP watch party, on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Lakewood, Wash. Brian Hayes/bhayes@thenewstribune.com

Troyer can remain in his position until his term is up Jan. 1, 2025. But Swank said he planned to see if Troyer would be willing to retire before then so he can take the reins. Lt. Cynthia Fajardo, who he plans to appoint as undersheriff, is working with him to put together a leadership team.

As of now, he said, he planned to choose his command staff from within the department, and he said people would be surprised by his pick for a strategic advisor, who he wasnt yet ready to make public. He said he was putting together a bipartisan group to lead the department.

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Of Jackson, he said she had the right to return to the rank of lieutenant in the Corrections Bureau, or she could work as a patrol deputy.

Theres a couple different places for her on the agency still. So I hope she stays, Swank said.

Troyer told The News Tribune on Friday that he wont retire before his term ends, but he said he will help Swank with the transition and would reach out to him the week following the election. After his term ends, Troyer said he would turn his attention to nonprofit work. Hes been a longtime organizer for Toys for Tots Pierce County and Charlies Dinosaur, which helps foster kids and underprivileged youth in the county. Troyer has worked for the Sheriffs Department for 40 years, and he said he loved the job and Pierce County, but it is time to move on.

Asked if he thought the department was in good hands with Swank, Troyer said hed have to wait and see who is appointed to command positions.

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Its a large department; its more than about one person, Troyer said.

Jackson said in a phone call that she was proud of her campaign as a first-time candidate, and she didnt have the words to express her gratitude to the supporters involved, the people she has met and their time, effort, money and advice.

She said she thinks the department would have been in better hands under her leadership, but she is hopeful about Swank. She added that she wanted members of the Sheriffs Department to know that regardless of the outcome of the election or their feelings along the way, she loves them, and it has been an incredible honor to grow up with the agency for the last 35 years.

I am hopeful that the community will continue to love and support the individuals across all bureaus of the department that every day show up to selflessly safeguard a community, Jackson said.

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Jackson said she had no comment on what her plans were after Swank is sworn in.

Swanks win breaks a history of electing sheriffs who carried the endorsement of their predecessor. When Troyer was elected in 2020  at the time the first contested race in 48 years  he had the support of former Sheriff Paul Pastor, who had served in the role for nearly two decades as an appointed and then elected sheriff. After Troyer opted not to run for reelection, he endorsed Jackson.

Jackson, 60, was also backed by County Council Chair Ryan Mello, a Democrat who appears poised to be elected County Executive, a position that implements the councils policy decisions and proposes the biennial budget, which for 2024-2025 earmarked about $377 million for the Sheriffs Department.

Swank had the support of the Pierce County Republican Party and received donations from other local Republican clubs. Neither he or Jackson earned endorsements from the unions that represent Sheriffs Department employees in patrol and corrections.

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As sheriff he will provide law enforcement services to unincorporated Pierce County, Pierce Transit and cities that contract for police services, Edgewood and University Place. His pay will be about $191,099.85 annually. That was Troyers annual pay rate for 2023, according to The News Tribunes salary database.

Voters have chosen a sheriff who has vowed to use his use his experience as a street cop and time teaching law enforcement de-escalation techniques to take a tough-on-crime approach to enforcing the law. They have also chosen someone who has said more than once that he ran for sheriff because God told him to, has stood by his social-media posts expressing conspiracy-minded beliefs about Democratic leadership being behind the assault on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 and has repeatedly used his X account to mock transgender people.

Swanks retirement as a Seattle police captain came a month after the Seattle Office of Police Accountability reviewed his accounts on X and Facebook for violations of SPDs social-media policy.

Investigators flagged posts where Swank said Democrats hated the American people and said politicians wanted to murder babies. He also tweeted that a trans legislator from Montana, Democratic Rep. Zooey Zephyr, was a man with mental health issues who should be referred to by her given male name. An investigation report noted that PublicCola reported finding a March 24, 2023 tweet where Swank referred to a Black man accused of paralyzing a woman in a robbery as a violent animal.

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Swank has made four failed attempts to win a seat in U.S. Congress as a Republican, but he has previously told The News Tribune that he would treat everyone equally under the law and that he wants to be a nonpartisan sheriff. About the posts, he said hes a supporter of free speech.

He has cast himself as a change from Troyers leadership style. In an interview with the Family Policy Institute of Washington in July, he said morale was at an all time low in the department and that there was a lot of nepotism and cronyism going on.

Troyers single term as sheriff was a turbulent one. He was tried and acquitted of misdemeanor false reporting in relation to a 2021 confrontation in which he called the police on a Black man delivering newspapers in his neighborhood. And he was placed on Pierce County prosecutors so-called Brady list of witnesses with credibility issues.

Swank has said he doesnt have any friends in the department, and he could bring a fresh perspective to review policies and procedures.

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One policy he might review is the departments use of vehicle pursuits. Recent changes in state law have given police discretion to pursue people suspected of any crime, so long as the risk of letting them go is greater than the risks of giving chase, but Swank has said he believes pursuits should only be used for violent crimes.

He has also said he would fully enforce immigration laws and work with federal partners, something that might be relevant if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on his promise to carry out the largest deportation program of criminals in the history of America.

Swank said Friday that he would be focused on putting bad people in jail for crimes going on in the county, which he said were mostly committed by U.S. citizens. He said hes be looking at regular things like quality of life issues, violent crime and juvenile crime.

How much Swank is able to work with Trump might not be up to him. Governor-elect Bob Ferguson said this month that he would take on a second Trump administration if he overreaches on that issue or others, and the state Legislature in 2019 determined that a persons immigration status is not a matter for police action when it passed the Keep Washington Working Act.

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Of the presidential election, Swank said he found out about Trumps win on the morning of Nov. 6. Asked if he was excited by the result, he said hes been more concerned about his own election.

All I would say about the presidential election, it seems like the American people have spoken, Swank said. So well see what happens over this next four years in the administration.
New Delhi [India], November 9: The Delhi High Court has ruled in favour of Ambuja Cement Limited, setting aside a show cause notice and an order demanding Rs218.87 crore in stamp duty along with a Rs69 crore penalty. S&A Law Offices acted for Ambuja Cement Limited (ACL), wherein ACL had challenged the order passed by the Collector of Stamps, Delhi, directing ACL to pay stamp duty of Rs218,87,81,917.26 along with a penalty of Rs69 crores on the merger order dated 14.11.2011.

Amongst the various grounds of Challenge, the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi, while holding that an order of amalgamation under Sections 391 to 394 of the Companies Act, 1956 was an instrument exigible to stamp duty, was pleased to hold that ACL was covered under Notification No. 13 dated 25.12.1937.

The Hon'ble High Court also noted that the show cause notice issued by the Collector of Stamp was beyond the prescribed period of limitation. Consequently, the High Court allowed the Writ Petition and set aside the show cause notice and the order passed by the Collector of Stamps, Delhi.

Ambuja Cement Limited was represented by a team from S&A Law Offices, led by (Senior Partner) Vijay K Singh, along with (Partner) Adhip Kumar Ray, (Principal Associate) Kumar Shashwat Singh Sawno, and (Senior Associate) Simran Sakunia.

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
After a rejected financial recovery plan, some members of the Richland 1 school board say that the state Department of Education and Superintendent Ellen Weaver are not cooperating with the district as it seeks to move forward with a contentious $31 million construction project.

Richland 1 was placed on fiscal caution, the second-most severe state designation of budgetary concern, in August, which required the Columbia school district to submit a recovery plan to the state education department. The state imposed the designation after the state Inspector General issued an audit critical of the project and the districts procurement procedures.

But the state would not approve the plan, calling it deficient, and ordered another audit of the district.

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Some of the Districts seemingly cursory responses have amplified the Departments concern regarding the Districts apparent failure to grasp the gravity and full implications of the SIGs findings, Kendra Hunt, the departments chief financial officer, wrote in an Oct. 31 letter.

A frustrated school board met Friday to discuss the recovery plan. Administrators argued that the plan had addressed recommendations and concerns, and said that when they asked for clarification from the state department, they did not receive it. Instead, the plan was flat out rejected.

Sherri Matthews-Hazel, chief financial officer for Richland 1, told the board that the district had worked with a team from the state department to develop the recovery plan. She said she was surprised when she learned it had not been approved.

One board member, Barbara Weston, made the observation that the district seemed to be going around in circles with the state department, and another, Tamika Myers, who lost reelection on Tuesday, said that Weaver simply did not want the district to invest in Lower Richland.

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This superintendent does not want this facility to be built in the Lower Richland area, so theres no need to even sit at this table like we dont understand why, Myers said.

Lower Richland is a rural area in southeast Richland County with a large Black community.

The board asked Superintendent Craig Witherspoon if he requested a meeting with the state education department to discuss the districts issues, rather than communicate through email and written correspondence alone.

Witherspoon said he had indeed made that request, but in the 11 months that Richland 1 has fallen under the departments critical eye, no meeting has been held. The superintendent would not speak with The State on Friday, and did not clarify if the department had ignored or declined requests for a meeting.

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Richland 1 wants the meeting, board chair Aaron Bishop said. He declined to comment further.

A spokesman for the education department said that the Oct. 31 letter from its CFO speaks for itself.

The public should not be confused by diversionary tactics, the spokesman said. The Department looks forward to working closely with the new Board to implement necessary fiscal improvements and rebuild the trust that the Richland One community deserves.

Two newcomers  Richard Moore and Ericka Hursey  were elected to the seven-member board on Tuesday. Both raised questions about the center during the campaign. Weston and fellow incumbent Robert Lominack have been skeptical about moving forward with the center.

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Richland 1 was required to submit a recovery plan after the department placed the district on fiscal caution following the critical report from the state Inspector General. The report raised concerns about the districts efforts to build an early learning center in Lower Richland and about the districts procurement practices.

The recovery plan had shared intentions to better train staff, but denied the claim that it has mismanaged $31 million since beginning to build the Vince Ford Early Learning Center.

The plan said that while officials believe they complied with the districts own guidelines, they intended to implement training and professional development courses on procurement code, follow state requirements and update how procurement records are digitized and secured.

In response to the finding that the district had mismanaged $31 million for the Vince Ford Early Learning Center, the district said there was not criminal activity or indication of fraudulent activity and did not provide plans on how to rectify it.

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The state Department of Education first raised concerns about the districts financial practices in 2022. That year, an audit discovered significant deficiencies and material weaknesses that could affect the financial well-being of the district and improper use of procurement cards  or p-cards. Richland 1 attempted to appeal the departments decision, but it was denied. That year, the district was placed on fiscal watch, the least severe level of financial concern.

Further criticism from the education department stemmed from the scathing report from the state Inspector General in July. It determined that while Richland 1 had not committed any criminal activity in its conception and construction of the early learning center, the district had broken state and local building and zoning codes and cost taxpayers more than $350,000 when it began construction on the early learning center without the proper permits.

Weaver asked the Inspector General to investigate Richland 1 after the district failed to obtain permission from Richland County and the state Education Department before beginning construction on the Ford center on Caughman Road.

After construction started, the Education Department said that because the center would serve children as young as infants, it could not be considered a school, which meant the Education Department couldnt approve it. Richland 1 continued construction anyway, and the county issued a stop work order in January.
SMYRNA, Delaware (WJW)  Three school employees face charges after investigators say they allegedly abused and neglected students with special needs at a Delaware elementary school.

The investigation, led by the Smyrna Police Department and Delaware Department of Justice, started back in February.

According to Smyrna police, the investigation revealed an alleged pattern of troubling behavior in a special needs elementary classroom in the Smyrna School District.

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Employees in the classroom allegedly threw things at the students, called them names and yelled at them, according to investigators.

University Heights mayor under fire after controversial political post on Facebook

One of the suspects named in the investigation, 31-year-old Makayla Lomax, is accused of hitting a student in the face and spraying them with a water bottle to discipline them.

Investigators say the other suspects, 26-year-old Marrisa Johnson and 21-year-old Morgan Donahue, allegedly fed hot sauce and hot Takis to a special needs student, who they knew had digestive issues, in the fall of 2022.

From left to right: Marrisa Johnson, Makayla Lomax, Morgan Donadue (Courtesy of Smyrna Police Department)

The three women were arrested this week.

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Lomax faces nine counts of endangering the welfare of a child and offensive touching. She was handed a $12,500 bond.

Johnson faces 10 counts of endangering the welfare of a child. She was handed a $10,000 bond.

Donahue faces one count of endangering the welfare of a child. She was handed a $500 bond.

WATCH: 103-year-old woman injured after large buck gets trapped in senior home

The Smyrna School District released a statement on social media after the arrests, stating that those employees havent worked with students since the allegations came to light in February.

We have worked diligently with our law enforcement partners throughout the investigation. The community and school system have been patiently waiting the conclusion of those extraordinary efforts, the statement said, in part. We appreciate the diligence and thoroughness of law enforcement in bringing closure to this troubling matter.

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The Smyrna Police Department said in a press release that the school district cooperated throughout the investigation.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
If you thought this year's hurricane season was bad, you might want to fasten your seatbelt. Scientists at Oregon State University say there are more climate surprises on the way.

What's happening?

A team of researchers at OSU released an annual report that says we're entering a "critical and unpredictable phase of the climate crisis." This could include stronger hurricanes and more extreme droughts, according to KGW, which reported on the paper.

For instance, "We could have never predicted that a hurricane was going to hit a mountainous region that we thought was a climate refuge," Jillian Gregg, study co-author, told the station in reference to Hurricane Helene.

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The storm hit Asheville, North Carolina, in September, leading to intense flooding and at least 42 deaths in Buncombe County.

Why is this report important?

"We are on the brink of an irreversible climate disaster," the report reads. "This is a global emergency beyond any doubt."

In 2024, the world experienced a number of extreme weather events. For instance, the report calls out a July heatwave in the Mediterranean that led to at least 23 fatalities and Hurricane Debby, an August storm that caused extensive flooding in the Southeastern United States and killed at least 10 people.

While hurricanes, droughts, and floods are nothing new, scientists say that our overheating planet is making weather catastrophes more frequent and intense. According to the United Nations, extreme weather threatens people in many ways. For instance, heatwaves decrease worker productivity and can lead to heat-related illnesses. Meanwhile, more severe storms can destroy communities, causing deaths and huge economic losses.

What's being done about rising global temperatures?

The main culprit behind rising global temperatures is the burning of dirty energy sources such as coal, natural gas, and oil. To help, a number of governments across the world have taken on projects that reduce dependence on these fuels. For instance, India is putting solar panels over canals, and Scotland is turning urban neighborhoods into "20-minute cities" to give residents better access to public transit.

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Meanwhile, big companies including Microsoft, Walmart, Apple, and Meta are investing heavily in solar energy, while the Presbyterian Church is cutting its financial ties with dirty energy.

You can help by changing the way you get around. Ride a bike or use public transit when possible, walk, or make your next car an EV. There are also a number of simple changes you can make at home, including signing up for community solar, unplugging energy vampires, and using an induction stove.

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.
A seaman who fell off a cargo ship survived almost 20 hours at sea before being rescued off Australias southeastern coast on Friday, according to emergency services.

The man in his 30s drifted several kilometers in the open sea before he was pulled from the water by a recreational angler, local rescue authorities have said.

He had last been seen aboard Double Delight, a Singapore-flagged bulk carrier, at 11:30 p.m. on Thursday. Details on how he fell from the cargo ship are not immediately available.

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The ambulance service in New South Wales state responded to reports that a seaman had been found at 6:20 p.m. Friday, a spokesperson said. They added that it came from Boatrowers Reserve, near Blacksmiths Beach south of the city of Newcastle.

The patient, a man in his 30s, was conscious, breathing and alert when assessed by NSW Ambulance paramedics and treated for suspected hypothermia before he was transported to John Hunter Hospital in a serious but stable condition, NSW Ambulance said in a statement on Friday.

NSW Ambulance paramedic Erin Laughton told CNNs affiliate 9News that the man was about three-and-a-half kilometers out to sea waving his arm around and bobbing around in the water, when he was found.

Marine Rescue NSW vessels were deployed to search for a seaman who had fallen off a cargo ship. - Marine Rescue NSW/Facebook

He was wearing a life jacket, he was conscious, he was able to communicate with us, he was very cold, he was hypothermic and exhausted  he was absolutely exhausted, she added.

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The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said local officials told them earlier in the day the sailor had reportedly gone overboard the previous evening, about 8 kilometers southeast of Newcastle.

The authority said it had deployed water police and marine rescue units for the rescue, as well as two sea vessels and two helicopters.

Jason Richards from NSW Marine Rescue told 9News that they had no idea how long the man was in the water for in the beginning.

We later found out hed been missing since 11.30 p.m., so it sort of increased the search efforts a little bit. he said, adding that hearing that he was found alive was just fantastic.

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Sean Spicer, immortalized as the cantankerous Spicy by Melissa McCarthy on Saturday Night Live, wont be returning to the White House press briefing room in the second coming of Donald Trump.

But he has thoughts on who will and wont be the first press secretary in the incoming 47th presidents second administration. Spoiler alert: Sorry, bros.

If I had to put money on the next press secretary, I bet on it being a woman, Spicer told the Daily Beast on Friday.

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On Thursday, on his show The Morning Meeting, he said the diversity thing wasnt an issue in 2016 for Trump, nor will it be this time around. But if youre not a woman, youre not going to be press secretary, Spicer said.

The Biden Administration cared deeply about diversity. Donald Trump, I believe, doesnt have the same concern, says @MarkHalperin. I think youll see a lot of white men in a lot of big jobs. Says @seanspicer, a veteran of the first Trump White House, The diversity thing pic.twitter.com/mM0D30gXea  2WAY (@2waytvapp) November 7, 2024

Which brings a bevy of Fox News faces to the talent pool.

One viable candidate is Laura Ingraham, the veteran Fox News host who has spent considerable time rehearsing the script. She was passed over for the job in 2016. But during the past four years that Trump and his MAGA movement spent in the wilderness, Ingraham became a leading voice on the right attacking Joe Bidenand his familyand fighting for Trump and his family to return to power.

On Wednesday morning, just hours after Trumps stunning victory over Kamala Harris, Ingraham, 61, said, It wasnt just a personal triumph for President Trump and his family, who have all gone through hell, by the wayit was a complete and a total political vindication of his first-term record and of his current agenda.

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These past nine years have been a total blur, because from the day that Donald Trump came down that golden escalator back in 2015 right up until yesterday afternoon, the elites counted him out, she said.

Another name that rises to the top of the heap is Trump World darling Heather Nauert, who served as the State Department spokesperson in the first Trump administration. When Trump spotted Nauert on Fox News, he immediately wanted her in his orbit, a source told the Daily Beast.

He wanted her that bad, the source said. Trump later announced he would nominate Nauert as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations to succeed Nikki Haley, though it never came to pass.

Nauert, 54, would bring a strong familiarity with foreign policy issues at a time when China, Iran and Russia pose particular threats to U.S. national security, with war raging in the Middle East.

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Trump loves Fox and Friends, and the shows blonde co-host, Ainsley Earhardt, 48, which makes her an instant candidate. Twice divorced, she also happens to be Sean Hannitys girlfriend; Hannitys show is where Trump regularly turns for a warm-bath interview, even more so than the Fox & Friends sofa.

After Trump Victory, Hamas Calls For Immediate End to War https://t.co/1Ir1BwoknJ  Ainsley Earhardt (@ainsleyearhardt) November 7, 2024

The morning after Americans chose Trump to be their next president, she blamed the mainstream media for getting it all wrong and declared on the show, This is the end of the legacy media.

Middle America loves God, they love country, they dont want a handout, she said. They want to work hard and have their dollar go as far as it did four years ago.

Trump has already chosen a woman for the top job in the White House when he assumes power on Jan. 20. His first staffing announcement was that his campaign chair, Susie Wiles, will become the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff.

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Having portrayed himself as the protector of women whether they like it or not on the campaign trail, Trump will have plenty of them to protectand boss aroundin the White House.

A long-shot candidate, who also happens to be another blonde, for the job of White House press secretary is Kellyanne Conwaythe woman who got Trump elected the first time. Conway was Trumps 2016 campaign manager and served as an adviser in the White House during his first term. (Her ex-husband, the Never Trumper Republican, George Conway, will most certainly not be working in the Trump White House.)

A dark horse candidate who is qualified for the job of White House press secretary is Christina Pushaw, the spokesperson for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who also worked on his presidential campaign. Pushaw is a prolific social media attack dog on behalf of conservative causes, whose tweets of late have been conspicuously pro-Trump.

Agree. The "Disinformation" industry has (fortunately) failed to achieve its goals and cannot justify its own existence. Continuing to fund "disinformation" NGOs = lighting money on fire. Can't stop leftist billionaires from wasting their money on it, but the federal gov can and https://t.co/0JP8iysPYE  Christina Pushaw   (@ChristinaPushaw) November 8, 2024

Dont assume a DeSantis ally makes a Trump foe: Trump hired Wiles, after all, and she worked for DeSantisthough she has publicly said she regrets working for the former Trump rival.

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But there are two strong male contenders: Scott Jennings, an aide to former President George W. Bush, and Marc Lotter, who served as press secretary to Vice President Mike Pence.

Jennings, 47, is a longtime token Republican analyst on CNN, where he translates MAGA to the networks liberal-leaning audience.

Lotter, 54, the chief communications officer at the America First Policy Institute, a right-wing think tank affiliated with Trump, has been auditioning for his long-shot bid on Fox, Newsmax and CNN but faces an uphill struggle on more than gender grounds: Trump ended up publicly repudiating Project 2025 during his campaign as it became an attack vehicle for Democrats, and MAGA World has feuded with some of those involved in drawing it up.

Kamala didnt lose because of her race or gender. Their policies dont work! @NEWSMAX @SharlaMcBride pic.twitter.com/fHhJMOosVv  Marc Lotter (@marc_lotter) November 7, 2024

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Sadly, for those who found comic relief in Spicers gum-chewing daily freak-outs on the press corps, theres been some banter in the ultra conservative wing of the transition team about doing away with the televised briefing altogether.

For one key reason: To deprive the press of grandstanding, crisis communications specialist Jim McCarthy of CounterPoint Strategies tells the Daily Beast.

But a lot of top comms pros think that would waste a huge opportunity, he said. Public antipathy for the press is at an all-time high and whats needed is an appealing speaker with the rhetorical debate chops to leverage that advantage and rebuke the worst actors in the White House press corps on a regular basis.

Think about it as a daily WWE smackdown, McCarthy said, but with Kelly ODonnell as the heel.

The Daily Beast Podcast episodes are released every Thursday. Like and download on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app. And click here for email updates as each new episode drops.
POLKTON, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  The Polkton Police Department is searching for several individuals who allegedly shot at police near South Piedmont Community College.

Around 10 p.m. on Friday, an officer with the Polkton Police Department received a suspicious person call in the area of the Wyndsor Down Apartments. While en route, the officer spotted several individuals walking through the small wooded area at the entrance of South Piedmont Community College.

Officials say the officer made his way to the individuals because they were coming from where an attempted car theft happened earlier. As the officer approached, the individuals ran towards the college.

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The officer followed and said he noticed that one of them had a handgun. The officer observed the subjects run around the building as he called for backup. As the officer stepped out of his patrol vehicle, officials say, he was met with a barrage of gunfire from one of the subjects. The officer took cover and no shots were exchanged.

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The patrol vehicle had been struck multiple times, but the officer was not injured.

The police are offering a reward for any credible information in this investigation.

This is a Developing Story . Check back 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 Queen City News.
The Polkton Police Department is searching for suspects who shot at a police officers vehicle near South Piedmont Community College Friday night.

Police said they received a call around 10 p.m. about a suspicious person in the Wyndsor Down Apartment area.

While en route to the call, a deputy noticed several suspects walking through a small wooded area near the main entrance of the community college.

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The deputy said the suspects started running into the college when he attempted to engage with them.

ALSO READ: Sources: Marshal killed, officers shot while serving warrant in east Charlotte

As he was following them, the deputy noticed one of the suspects had a gun. He called for backup, according to reports.

The deputy then said as they were stepping out of their patrol car, gunshots were fired in their direction by one of the suspects.

They immediately took cover and did not return fire. However, his patrol car was struck multiple times, according to reports.

ALSO READ: Suspect rams car into CMPD police station

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Channel 9 spoke with a resident at the Wyndsor Down Apartment who said he thought the men looked suspicious, and that is what initially brought police to the area.

We saw them because I told her to look at those guys trying to get around that silver car on the end; thats where they were at. So you think they were trying to break in trying to steal it? Yeah, said the resident.

Another community member, Sabrina Watts, said the area is usually peaceful, but after this incident, she will have to be more safety conscious.

Well, I always keep my car locked, but I dont always keep my doors locked, and I will, sometimes during the day, I dont have it locked, but I will start making sure its locked all the time now, Watts expressed.

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The Polkton Police Department said the investigation into this shooting is active and ongoing. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 704-272-0130.

VIDEO: Sources: Marshal killed, officers shot while serving warrant in east Charlotte








Much has been said about my uncle, Rohit Bal, or Guds chach as he was known to me, over the past few days. Papers are replete with tributes lauding his artistic capability, intelligence, exuberance, and dedication to the Indian artisan. At the heart of these qualities was his empathy - a defining trait that has possibly seen less discussion in the media. I experienced Guds chach's empathy as child. Being a child around adults is not easy, not least because there is a tendency to either patronize, ignore, or shoo away. But my uncle always engaged us like we were people. He was never dismissive, always kind, and made us feel like he enjoyed our company - and that is how he treated the people who came into his life. He approached the living world with no judgment, embracing it for what it was, not what he wanted it to be. When I was younger, I asked him how he tolerated some of the more vacuous individuals I had encountered around him. He argued that there were many kinds of intelligence, and we must be able appreciate all its forms. Reflecting back on that conversation now, along with my other experiences with him, I understand that he did not see kindness as a transaction, but a way of seeing and honouring the humanity in others. In other words, he was not infected by the cynicism that often accompanies adulthood, where kindness becomes conditional, measured, or given only when there's something to gain. Or where it is perceived as weakness, even though experience dictates that it takes far more strength to be kind than it does to be cruel. Guds chach's empathy wasn't limited to family or close friends; he often extended it to strangers who soon became like an extension of family to him. It was this empathy that contributed to the greatness of his craft. It gave him a profound ability to understand different perspectives, enriching everything he created. He approached his work not with an agenda, but with a willingness to listen, observe, and capture the complexities of human experience. This capacity to feel with others--to see beyond the surface--allowed him to imbue his work with authenticity and depth. Guds chach's empathy as an artist likens him to another Indian great who passed away too young, Amrita Shergil. Like Shergil, who felt that art reflected the very psyche of its people, Guds chach's work mirrored India's spirit during a transformative period. His rise as a designer unfolded during the economic liberalization of India, a time when the country was redefining its identity, reaching out to global influences while grappling with its own traditions. In his work, Guds chach captured this duality of modern India--the rush of newfound aspirations and freedoms alongside a deep respect for cultural heritage. His designs carried forward the stories of his people, and his country, merging traditional motifs with contemporary forms, creating something distinctly and unabashedly Indian yet universal. Amrita and Guds chach would likely be kindred spirits, bound by their love for India and its untapped artistic treasures. I imagine them now, wandering together through the after-life, recounting visions of vibrant landscapes, people, and crafts, finding joy in every overlooked detail and marvelling at the potential that still lies hidden in the folds of Indian art and design. They would be immersed in stories of ancient art forms, recalling how each region, each craft, carries its own heartbeat, a distinct rhythm shaped by centuries of tradition and adaptation. They would also be excitedly discussing the diversity of India's aesthetic wealth--and the wonders yet to be explored. And yes, perhaps they would also lament that too few set out on these artistic pilgrimages, that many are drawn instead to more marketable, less rooted paths. They would see, perhaps, a growing trend toward homogenization and a narrowing of vision in the world of art and design, a hesitance to reach into the depths of India's cultural reservoir. Yet, I imagine them also feeling hopeful, for they would know that the well of India's creativity is inexhaustible and that there will always be those who are ready to dive headlong into it, to carry the torch and revive what might be overlooked. Guds chach was a visionary who carried the spirit of India in his heart and his work. Though his journey ended too soon, his legacy endures, woven into each garment he crafted and life he touched. In honouring his memory, we remember not just a talented designer but a person who saw beauty in every corner of life, whose spirit continues to invite us to look closer, feel deeper, and create with purpose. (ANI) Disclaimer: Meghna Bal is a lawyer and Director of the Esya Centre, a tech-policy focussed think tank. The views expressed in this column are her own.
A new five-story housing development is taking shape at the site where the iconic Tower Records building used to stand in the Land Park neighborhood of Sacramento.

Drone video taken earlier this week by The Sacramento Bee gives a glimpse of the future at Land Park Drive and Broadway.

The construction work now resembles what the buildings final shape will look like, with floors and walls framed. Next to it, the landmark Tower Theatre remains much taller than the new structure.

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In April, crews began preparing the site at 2500 16th St. to prepare for the multi-use building that will combine apartments and retail space.

Considered a local landmark, the single-story brick building once neighbored Tower Cafe, Tower Liquor and Tower Real Estate.

After Dimple Records took over the storefront, the Tower Records building was demolished in 2019.

The Tower Records store stands at 16th Street and Broadway across from the Tower Theatre in 2006. It is being replaced by a five-story mixed use building.

Plans to develop a mixed-use real estate building at the Broadway site had been in the works for years, The Bee reported in 2019.

Kelli Trapani, spokesperson with the city of Sacramentos Community Development Department, told The Bee the building will have five stories and include 68 apartment units, ranging from studios to one and two bedrooms.

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There will be a ground floor with three spaces for retail, as well as two restaurant areas with outdoor dining patios.

Tower Records began in 1960 when Russell Solomon opened the first store in Sacramento. The company grew to 160 locations across the country and the world. In its heyday, Tower Records achieved annual sales of $1 billion.

The company closed in 2006, but announced its return as an online retailer in 2020.

Solomon died in 2018 at the age of 92.
Bryan Lanza, a senior adviser to President-elect Donald Trump, has announced that the new administration will focus on achieving peace in Ukraine rather than helping the country regain the territories occupied by Russia.

Source: Lanza on the BBC World Service's Weekend programme; BBC

Details: Lanza, a Trump adviser since 2016 and a Republican strategist, indicated that the incoming Trump administration plans to ask Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to detail his own "realistic vision for peace."

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Quote from Lanza: "And if President Zelenskyy comes to the table and says, well we can only have peace if we have Crimea, he shows to us that he's not serious...

When Zelenskyy says we will only stop this fighting, there will only be peace once Crimea is returned, we've got news for President Zelenskyy: Crimea is gone... And if that is your priority of getting Crimea back and having American soldiers fight to get Crimea back, you're on your own."

Details: He refrained from mentioning the occupied territories in Ukraine's east but asserted that Ukraines liberation of Crimea was unrealistic and "not the goal of the United States".

Importantly, Ukraine has never requested that the United States send troops to engage against Russia  only for military aid and support.

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Lanza expressed deep admiration for the Ukrainian people, describing them as having "the hearts of lions". However, he emphasised that the United States' primary focus was "peace and to stop the killing".

"What we're going to say to Ukraine is, you know what you see? What do you see as a realistic vision for peace. It's not a vision for winning, but it's a vision for peace. And let's start having the honest conversation," he said.

The Trump adviser also criticised the support that the Biden-Harris administration and European countries have provided to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

"The reality on the ground is that the European nation states and President Biden did not give Ukraine the ability and the arms to win this war at the very beginning and they failed to lift the restrictions for Ukraine to win," Lanza said.

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SOCASTEE, S.C. (WBTW)  A Marion man will spend almost another full year in jail before going to trial on capital carjacking and firearm charges.

Jaremy Smith, 33, has seen his trial delayed multiple times since an original June 10 date stemming from allegations that he set a roadside ambush along Interstate 40 in New Mexico that led to the death of Ofc. Justin Hare.

A scheduling order filed Monday in U.S. District Courts Albuquerque district show a new trial date of Sept. 22 with a pre-trial hearing on Aug. 12.

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Jaremy Smith scheduling orderDownload

Smith is accused in the roadside killing of Hare along Interstate 40 west of Tucumcari on March 15.

Hare pulled over to help Smith who was stranded along the highway when Smith shot him, according to court documents. Smith then fled in Hares police unit and crashed it.

Smith is charged with carjacking resulting in death and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

In August, attorneys said Smiths case involves 20,000 pages of discovery including law enforcement reports, photographs, videos, phone records, GPS data and other material.

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If convicted, Smith wont face the death penalty.

Smith also faces 17 charges related to the death of Phonesia Machado-Fore, a Pee Dee paramedic whose body was found March 15 outside of Lake View in Dillon County.

Officials say he was driving Machado-Fores white BMW when Hare stopped to help him.

* * *

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.

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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 WBTW.
COLUMBIANA, Ohio (WKBN)  For weeks, volunteers have been hard at work making sure every light is lit for the Joy of Christmas holiday light display in Columbiana.

This is the 16th year of the festival which includes more than a million lights, attracting visitors from across the area.

Work starts roughly the third week in October to make sure that everything is set up and ready to go for opening night.

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Volunteers work four hours each day stringing lights, setting up displays and testing bulbs. This year theyve got a new Iwo Jima display donated by the American Legion. They say its great to see how much the show has grown over all these years.

I think when we first started it was, Lets see whats going to happen here, and as the years progressed it just naturally took hold. Now its got a lot of roots and every year, a couple more displays get added, said Joy of Christmas volunteer Skip Liston.

The Joy of Christmas begins on Friday, Nov. 22 at Firestone Park in Columbiana.

Outside of Firestone Park, there are more Christmas preparations underway throughout Columbiana.

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Workers were busy Friday morning putting together the 35-foot tree that highlights the holiday display in the center of town. This is the fifth year for this version of the tree thats decked out in colored lights, bulbs and holiday bows.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Seven people have been killed and more than 40 injured in Israeli airstrikes on the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, the Lebanese Health Ministry said on Saturday, as Israel rejected claims that famine is imminent in northern Gaza.

Rescue workers were continuing to search for victims in the rubble, the ministry said.

The Lebanese state-run National News Agency (NNA) also reported around a dozen severe airstrikes in the southern suburbs of the capital city Beirut during the night after Israeli evacuation warnings.

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The reports came after the Israeli military said it hit "command centres and a weapons manufacturing site, along with additional terrorist infrastructure belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization" in Beirut's southern suburb of Dahiyeh, considered to be a stronghold of the Iranian-backed militia.

Lebanese authorities have recorded more than 670 Israeli airstrikes across the country in the last seven days, which the Health Ministry said have killed more than 230 people and injured more than 800.

The count does not distinguish between civilians and members of Hezbollah.

Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging fire since the October 7, 2023, attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, with Israeli forces launching a ground offensive in southern Lebanon in late September of this year.

Further deaths in Gaza amid famine dispute

Israel's assault on northern Gaza also continued on Saturday, with Palestinian sources reporting at least 11 killed in attacks on Gaza City and Beit Hanoun.

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Medical organizations in the sealed-off coastal territory said five people were killed in the Shuja'iyya neighbourhood of Gaza City while waiting for aid.

The humanitarian situation in northern Gaza has deteriorated significantly in recent weeks amid a renewed Israeli offensive, with one resident telling dpa on Saturday: "No one cares about us."

"We don't know if we'll survive," Om Mohammed said.

A group of global food security experts has warned that famine is likely imminent in northern Gaza.

However, the Israeli military has rejected the claims, arguing that 11 trucks with food, water and medical equipment arrived in the area in recent days.

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The aid, it said, was destined for remaining civilians in Beit Hanoun and the Jabalia refugee camp, which has seen heavy fighting.

In the latest fighting, Israeli ground troops "eliminated dozens of terrorists" and destroyed "a weapons storage facility" in Jabalia in northern Gaza, according to a post by the Israeli military on Telegram.

Israeli attacks were also reported from around the southern city of Rafah, where troops targeted militants and "terrorist infrastructure."

At least 43,000 Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing war so far, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority in Gaza, which began after Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people in Israel and abducted some 250 more to Gaza.

Palestinian killed in West Bank

Also on Saturday, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Ramallah said Israeli forces killed a 25-year-old Palestinian man in the West Bank, adding that the Israeli army has not yet released his body.

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According to Palestinian media, Israeli soldiers surrounded the man's family house during the raid.

The Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that Israeli forces shot the man dead, while another was seriously injured by bullet wounds to the chest.

The Israeli military said it had killed a terrorist in the operation.

The tense situation in the occupied West Bank has dramatically worsened since the outbreak of the war in Gaza.

Israeli military operations, armed clashes and attacks by extremists have since killed 746 Palestinians in the West Bank, according to the local Health Ministry.

A man walks past rubble of destroyed restaurant that was targeted by an Israeli strike on the ancient city of Baalbek, amid ongoing conflict between Israeli forces and Hezbollah. Stringer/dpa
Seven people have been killed and more than 40 injured in Israeli airstrikes on the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, the Lebanese Health Ministry said on Saturday, as Israel rejected claims that famine is imminent in northern Gaza.

Rescue workers were continuing to search for victims in the rubble, the ministry said.

Meanwhile an airstrike on Deir Qanoun Ras al-Ain in the Tyre district killed eight people, including seven paramedics, and injured 12 more, the ministry said.

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The raids targeted gatherings of paramedics belonging to associations connected with Hezbollah, the ministry added.

The Lebanese state-run National News Agency (NNA) also reported around a dozen severe airstrikes in the southern suburbs of the capital city Beirut during the night after Israeli evacuation warnings.

The reports came after the Israeli military said it hit "command centres and a weapons manufacturing site, along with additional terrorist infrastructure belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization" in Beirut's southern suburb of Dahiyeh, considered to be a stronghold of the Iranian-backed militia.

Lebanese authorities have recorded more than 670 Israeli airstrikes across the country in the last seven days, which the Health Ministry said have killed more than 230 people and injured more than 800.

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The count does not distinguish between civilians and members of Hezbollah.

Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging fire since the October 7, 2023, attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, with Israeli forces launching a ground offensive in southern Lebanon in late September of this year.

Further deaths in Gaza amid famine dispute

Israel's assault on northern Gaza also continued on Saturday, with Palestinian sources reporting at least 11 killed in attacks on Gaza City and Beit Hanoun.

Medical organizations in the sealed-off coastal territory said five people were killed in the Shuja'iyya neighbourhood of Gaza City while waiting for aid.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The humanitarian situation in northern Gaza has deteriorated significantly in recent weeks amid a renewed Israeli offensive, with one resident telling dpa on Saturday: "No one cares about us."

"We don't know if we'll survive," Om Mohammed said.

A group of global food security experts has warned that famine is likely imminent in northern Gaza.

However, the Israeli military has rejected the claims, arguing that 11 trucks with food, water and medical equipment arrived in the area in recent days.

The aid, it said, was destined for remaining civilians in Beit Hanoun and the Jabalia refugee camp, which has seen heavy fighting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the latest fighting, Israeli ground troops "eliminated dozens of terrorists" and destroyed "a weapons storage facility" in Jabalia in northern Gaza, according to a post by the Israeli military on Telegram.

Israeli attacks were also reported from around the southern city of Rafah, where troops targeted militants and "terrorist infrastructure."

At least 43,000 Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing war so far, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority in Gaza, which began after Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people in Israel and abducted some 250 more to Gaza.

Palestinian killed in West Bank

Also on Saturday, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Ramallah said Israeli forces killed a 25-year-old Palestinian man in the West Bank, adding that the Israeli army has not yet released his body.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to Palestinian media, Israeli soldiers surrounded the man's family house during the raid.

The Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that Israeli forces shot the man dead, while another was seriously injured by bullet wounds to the chest.

The Israeli military said it had killed a terrorist in the operation.

The tense situation in the occupied West Bank has dramatically worsened since the outbreak of the war in Gaza.

Israeli military operations, armed clashes and attacks by extremists have since killed 746 Palestinians in the West Bank, according to the local Health Ministry.

A man walks past rubble of destroyed restaurant that was targeted by an Israeli strike on the ancient city of Baalbek, amid ongoing conflict between Israeli forces and Hezbollah. Stringer/dpa
AMHERST COUNTY, Va. (WFXR)  The Amherst County Sheriff reports the arrest of a man connected to an extensive drug investigation that allegedly ended with a standoff in Evington on November 7.

On Monday, November 4, a search warrant was served at a home on Timberlake Road in Lynchburg after information was received by the Amherst County Sheriff regarding an already active investigation.

During the search, around 4 pounds of methamphetamines, 2 ounces of fentanyl, an unknown amount of powdered cocaine, a large amount of Xanax pills, 4 handguns, and 1 assault rifle were allegedly recovered.

(Photo Credit: Amherst County Sheriff)

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Following the search, arrest warrants were obtained for Ardrius K. Dews.

On Thursday, November 7, it was learned that Dews was located at an address on Lawyers Road in Evington. A search warrant was then obtained and executed at that residence. However, Dews allegedly refused to surrender to law enforcement, resulting in an extended standoff.

Two charged in connection to meth investigation in Franklin County

It wasnt until around 8:02 p.m. that Dews was finally taken into custody.

Ardrius K. Dews has been arrested and charged with the following:

Violent Felon in Possession x2

Possession With Intent to Distribute Meth, 3rd or Subsequent

Possession With Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, 3rd or Subsequent

Possession With Intent to Distribute Schedule I/II Controlled Substance, 3rd or Subsequent

Possession With Intent to Distribute Meth over 100 grams

Possess Firearm in Possession of Schedule I/II Narcotics

Possession With Intent to Distribute Schedule III Controlled Substance (Xanax)

Attempted Terrorism  Fentanyl

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The sheriff says the investigation is ongoing and further charges are pending. If you have any information regarding the incident(s), please contact the Amherst County Sheriffs Office Investigations Division at 434-946-9373 opt.2. You can also leave an anonymous message with the Central Virginia Crime Stoppers at 1-888-798-5900.

The Amherst County Sheriffs Office would like to thank all the assisting agencies and special response teams, including the Lynchburg Police Department, the Lynchburg Police Department Tactical Team, the Virginia State Police, the Virginia State Police Tactical Team, the Campbell County Sheriffs Office, the Lynchburg Commonwealth Attorneys Office, and the Central Virginia Drug/Gang Task Force.

WFXR News will update you with more information 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 WFXRtv.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The El Paso County Sheriffs Office said its deputies have arrested a wanted fugitive on charges of intoxication manslaughter.

On Wednesday, Oct. 30, the El Paso County Sheriffs Office Fugitive Apprehension Unit investigated the whereabouts of 36-year-old Alden Arturo Amaro.

Deputies found him along the 4800 block of Alameda Avenue and took him into custody without incident.

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Amaro is wanted for two counts of intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle and two counts of intoxication assault with a vehicle, the Sheriffs Office said.

The Sheriffs Office did not offer any other details.

Amaro was subsequently booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility with a $160,000 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 KTSM 9 News.
Mescal is in talks to star in Scott's next film. The shooting is about to start in 2025.

The Dog Stars will have Scott working with Steve Asbell and 20th Century Studios.

The project, based on Peter Heller's 2012 Apocalyptic thriller, which Mark L Smith is adapting, takes place in near future after an unknown disease decimates American society.

"However, a civilian pilot lives a lonely life on an abandoned Colorado airbase with his dog and a tough ex-marine, according to a synopsis from the producers. The two men, though mismatched, depend on each other to fend off roaming invaders. And when a random transmission beams through the radio of the pilot's 1956 Cessna, the hope of a better life opens up and the pilot follows its static-broken trail," as per The Hollywood Reporter.

Smith, Cliff Roberts, and Scott Free are producing 'The Dog Stars', which follows Scott's 'Gladiator' sequel.

Mescal plays Lucius Verus II in Gladiator II, the nephew of Joaquin Phoenix's ruler Commodus from the first film.

Lucius returns to Rome after being thrown into slavery to fight not as a ruler, but as a gladiator seeking vengeance and power, and attempts to restore the grandeur of Rome to its people, according to The Hollywood Reporter. (ANI)
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Plans to sell off the former Chill Can property on Youngstowns east side are on hold for now.

The property, which has been vacant and unfinished for several years, was scheduled to go up for a sheriffs sale next week but those plans were postponed after city leaders were unable to obtain appraisals of the propertys value.

Lawyers will now ask the judge overseeing a foreclosure case against Chill Can if they would be able to use the value placed on the property by the county auditor.

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If the judge approves, the site could be placed back on the auction block later 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 WKBN.com.
A businessman was killed in an apparently targeted shooting at Sao Paulos international airport on Friday, CNN Brasil reports.

Three others were also injured in the incident, which saw around five assailants exit a black vehicle and open fire on businessman Antonio Vinicius Gritzbach, CNN Brasil said citing military police.

A vehicle matching that description was later found abandoned near the airport, and investigators are determining if it was used in the attack, CNN Brasil added.

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Videos circulating on social media show the businessmans body at the airport entrance, while other footage captures travelers scrambling for cover in the terminal. CNN has not been able to independently verify the footage.

In a statement, Sao Paulos Guarulhos Airport confirmed that police and medical teams were immediately alerted.

Military police, civil police, and highway patrol responded to the scene, and the Homicide and Personal Protection Department of Sao Paulo is leading the investigation, according to CNN Brasil.

The Sao Paulo Secretary of Public Security said authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the homicide. Further details will be released upon completion of the incident report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Law enforcement officers have launched a pre-trial investigation into another war crime committed by the Russians.

Source: Office of the Prosecutor General

Details: Ukraines Office of the Prosecutor General clarified that on 9 November 2024, a video appeared on a Telegram channel showing representatives of the Russian Armed Forces capturing a wounded Ukrainian serviceman.

The Russian shot the unarmed defender of Ukraine, who was lying on the ground, with automatic weapons  point-blank.

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Quote: "Investigative actions are underway to establish all the circumstances of the incident, as well as the time and place of the crime.

The execution of a prisoner of war is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and is defined as a serious international crime. The investigation is being conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts."

Background: Ukraines Parliamentary Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets has reported that Russian troops have shot a Ukrainian soldier who was unarmed and likely wounded. The ombudsman sent a letter to the ICRC and the UN.

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  A recount has confirmed that incumbent Republican Elijah Pierick defeated Democrat Corey Rosenlee by just 20 votes in the race for House District 39.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

However, uncounted ballots due to signature issues could still impact the final outcome.

Elections officials said the automatic recount, triggered by the razor-thin margin, upheld Piericks victory.

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But they also revealed that approximately 2,500 ballots on Oahu remain uncounted because of signature problems  either voters failed to sign the envelope, or the signature did not match what is on file.

Of those, 75 are tied to District 39.

Honolulu Council looking to condemn Queen Theater if owner doesnt renovate

Voters with signature issues have until November 13 to correct their ballots.

Honolulu elections officials are urging residents to track their ballots to ensure they are counted.

In a separate race on Maui, 1,069 voters have been notified of signature discrepancies, a number significant enough to potentially affect the outcome of the Maui Council race between Tom Cook and Kelly King.

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That race was decided by just 117 votes.

Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

Voters can check the status of their ballots and make any necessary corrections by visiting HawaiiBallotTrax.net.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
(Bloomberg) -- On election night at Mar-a-Lago, once and future President Donald Trump milled around a gala with supporters who included Elon Musk, and a handful of loyalists from normally deep-Blue Silicon Valley. Palantir Technologies Inc. adviser Jacob Helberg, who attended, described the mood as electric.

Most Read from Bloomberg

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People are hopeful for the future. Theres a sense that its morning in America again, he told Bloomberg in a phone interview from Florida on Wednesday. Theres so much important work to be done ahead of us right now.

Venture capitalists and technologists who bet early on Trumps campaign are celebrating, and imagining a Republican presidency that could benefit them in a number of ways. The new administration could provide clearer and more favorable cryptocurrency regulations, skip tax increases on capital gains and take a lighter touch approach to antitrust  a top VC priority that would allow for more startup acquisitions and investor payouts.

Tech leaders also have ideas about who should staff the incoming Trump Administration. In a TV interview Friday, investor Joe Lonsdale said that while he would not join, I have a lot of friends going in full-time. Anduril Industries Inc. founder Palmer Luckey, a supporter of Trump since before he officially announced his candidacy the first time around, told Bloomberg Television Thursday that hes in touch with the transition team charged with selecting people to fulfill positions including the next Secretary of Defense.

Luckey declined to discuss whether Trump mega donor Musk or others were leading candidates, but added, Theres not a single name Im unhappy with.

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Printing money

Silicon Valley once kept Washington at arms length, but this election the industry made a series of multimillion-dollar donations and a litany of endorsements to both presidential campaigns. The surge of GOP support and contributions set records in the largely left-leaning tech industry, splintering once-clubby relationships. Meanwhile, many VCs reasoned that Trump would be good for startups, even some who didnt explicitly endorse him.

Absolutely Im going to be printing money in a Trump administration, said venture investor Jason Calacanis, co-host of All-In, a weekly podcast, last month. It is going to be obscene how many M&A deals and IPOs are going to occur. Crypto industry investors in particular are celebrating the election results. Tatiana Koffman, general partner at Moonwalker Capital, said that if Trump lost, we were bracing ourselves for a major correction. Now, she predicts, a lot of new capital will flow into funds and startups.

Theres no guarantee tech will thrive under a Trump administration. Peter Thiel, who famously backed Trump in 2016 walked away frustrated. Both Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance have a history of changing positions on policies and some of Trumps political goals, like increasing tariffs on China and other countries, could have negative effects on young companies.

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Many venture capitalists, including LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and Khosla Ventures Vinod Khosla, were significant backers of Trumps opponent, Kamala Harris. Hundreds of VCs, including several billionaires, signed a VCs for Kamala pledge.

But the tech leaders who backed Trump are preparing to help him where they can, and could wield substantial influence. Helberg, who helped raise $4.5 million for Trumps campaign along with his husband investor Keith Rabois, described his experience at Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida as filled with enthusiasm for bold moonshot projects, involving space technologies and reforms to reduce government waste and inefficiency.

Christian Garrett, a partner at venture capital firm 137 Ventures based in San Francisco, became a Trump supporter in 2020. Garrett was thrilled when Trump tapped Vance, who he said was a longtime friend and co-investor in Anduril. VCs, who invest over years or even decades instead of months, were already looking toward the next election, he said.

A lot of people in our industry are very forward-thinking, so a lot of us would be very excited about his run in 2028.

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VCs for Vance

Vance, who spent time as a venture capitalist working for Thiel, has fervent support in conservative corners of the tech industry. He will 100% be the candidate, Rabois wrote Wednesday on X. Delian Asparouhov, an investor at Thiel-backed VC firm Founders Fund, posted a meme-ified picture of Vances face, and wrote, The next 12 years  a reference to Trumps term and two terms for Vance.

Thiel, who gave Vance his first job in venture capital and bankrolled his Ohio Senate run, is a supporter, as is Texas-based VC Lonsdale. Lonsdale is effusive in conversations about a presidential run for Vance, a friend with whom he co-invested in weapons company Anduril. Id love to work closely with someone of my generation [who is] more intelligent, more data-driven, Lonsdale told Bloomberg.

Helberg said the possibility of a Vance run would hinge on the Trump administrations accomplishments. The outcome in 2028 will be the outcome of what we do over the next four years.

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--With assistance from Katie Roof.

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Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has said that the situation on the battlefield tends to worsen.

Source: Syrskyi on Facebook, following a conversation with the Commander of the US Armed Forces in Europe, Christopher Cavoli

Quote: "At the beginning of the conversation, I informed my American colleague about the situation on the front line. The situation remains difficult and tends to escalate. The enemy, using their numerical superiority, continues to conduct offensive actions and focuses their main efforts on the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove fronts.

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We have numerous data on the training of North Korean servicemen to participate in hostilities on the side of Russian troops."

Details: Syrskyi said that during the conversation, the US confirmed its strict adherence to its commitments to provide the Ukrainian defence forces with the declared range of weapons and military equipment.

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The elections office released the latest vote totals for races around San Luis Obispo County on Friday, adding another 15,690 to the running count.

Fridays batch was the first since Election Night and has whittled the remaining ballots down to about 53,000, based on the last estimates on Thursday.

The elections office will continue counting ballots throughout the month and was expected to release new updates at least once a week until Dec. 3, when it is required by the state to certify the results of the election.

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Heres a look at how the latest numbers have affected local races for city councils and mayors, school boards and more.

Atascadero City Council candidate Tori Keen joins Roni De Coster, center, and Matt Pennon at an election night party at Wild Fields Brewhouse in Atascadero on Election Night, Nov. 5, 2024.

Who is leading in SLO County mayor and city council races?

With the first ballot release since Election Night, a number of tight races flipped, while other candidates rested easy on their early leads.

In the Paso Robles City Council race, Kris Beal and Sharon Roden remained locked in one of the tightest races anywhere in SLO County, in the battle for the District 1 seat.

The pair were separated by a mere 13 votes with Beal in the lead at 41.82% and Roden right behind at 41.14% as of the 5 p.m. ballot drop on Friday. In raw numbers, it was 785 to 772.

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Thats slightly closer than the total after Election Night, when the gap was 16 votes.

Meanwhile, Steve Gregory maintained his early lead in the race for the District 3 seat with 44.2% of the vote to Michael Riveras 34.1. Jeff Carr was third at 21.7%. Gregorys lead stood at 229 votes as of Friday.

Paso Robles City Council candidate Kris Beal held an Election Night watch party at The Backyard on Thirteenth on Nov. 5, 2024. Beal, left, checks results with friends Melissa Chavez and Linda Wilson and Glenna Thompson, all of Paso Robles.

In Atascadero, the initially close race started to show more clear front-runners for two open spots on the City Council.

Previously separated by less than 2 percentage points, Seth Peek and Mark Dariz took a more significant lead over Tori Keen, who trailed by 318 votes in the most recent ballot drop. Peek was at 34.1%, Dariz at 34.0% and Keen at 31.85%.





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Both cities proposed sales tax measures, I-24 and L-24, continued to lead with 54.8% of voters approving in Paso Robles and 70.8% in Atascadero.

In the South County, newcomer Kassi Dee widened her narrow early lead over Debbie Peterson in the race to become Grover Beachs next mayor. Dee had 42.5% of the vote to Petersons 37.3%, a difference of 189 votes and up from 118 after Election Night.

In the race for the District 3 seat on the City Council, Kathy McCorry had 52.3% of the vote to Marsha Bolyanatzs 47.7%, but that amounted to only 28 votes.

Notably, the recall of District 2 Councilmember Dan Rushing continued to garner support, with 56.6% of voters approving the recall as of the latest release.

Kassi Dee took a slight early lead in the race for Grover Beach mayor on Nov. 5, 2024. Dee, pictured above, celebrated early returns at an Election Night party at Jimmy Ds Spaghetti Joint.

The citys Measure G-24, which would repeal increased water and wastewater rates passed by the council to help fund the now defunct Central Coast Blue project, was also on its way to victory as of the Friday vote count, with 65% of the ballots cast voting yes.

Arroyo Grande Mayor Caren Ray Russom and City Council candidates Jamie Maraviglia pick up after a party at Humdinger Brewing on Election Night on Nov. 5, 2024

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In the Arroyo Grande mayoral race, incumbent Caren Ray Russom was headed to reelection after taking a lead of more than 30 points on Election Night. As of Friday, she led challenger Gaea Powell 65% to 35%, or a difference of more than 2,000 votes.

The same was true for newcomer Jamie Maraviglia, who also took an early 15-point lead in the race for the citys District 3 seat. She was ahead of Marlea Harmon 56.8% to 41.2% with the latest update.

In Pismo Beach, incumbent Mayor Ed Waage and city councilmembers Scott Newton and Marcia Guthrie continued to dominate the race to retain their seats as of the Friday evening count.

Waage maintained his wide lead over Kevin Kreowski by a margin of 65% to 35%. In the council race, Newton had 47.7%, followed by Guthrie with 37% and challenger Gianni Scangarello with 15.3%.

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Both cities sales tax measures were still passing as of 5 p.m. Friday, with 65.3% approving in Arroyo Grande and 62.3% saying yes in Pismo Beach.

Cal Poly professor and SLO City Council candidate Mike Boswell smiles as early results start to be posted. He attended an Election Night party hosted by the SLO Dems at Bennys Pizza Palace and Social Club on Nov. 5, 2024.

Finally, the San Luis Obispo City Council races already seem to be decided.

As of the most recent count at 5 p.m. on Friday, Mayor Erica Stewart secured an easy win over Donald E. Hedrick, 85.6% to 14.4%.

Jan Marx remained the top vote-getter for council at 39.2%, followed by newcomer Mike Boswell at 34.3% in the race for two open seats. Trailing the frontrunners and well out of the race were John Drake at 16.7% and Felicia Lewis at 9.8%.

Will Morro Bays battery storage facility measure pass?

With no contested city council or school board spots, the only decision on Morro Bay voters ballots this election was over Measure A-24.

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As of 5 p.m. on Friday, the measure was heading toward approval with 59% of voters saying yes.

If passed, the measure would freeze the land use on the long-since used Morro Bay Power Plant property as visitor-serving commercial, essentially blocking the city from approving a battery storage facility proposed to be built at the site.

However, the measure may no longer help in blocking the project. Vistra Corp., the company heading up the proposal of the new facility, recently paused its application with the city and announced plans to pursue a new state approval process that would bypass local jurisdiction.

Voters fill out their ballots at the San Luis Obispo County elections office on Nov. 5, 2024.

School board results across SLO County

As for school boards, multiple closely fought races saw updates in who claimed front-runner status in the most recent vote update.

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In Atascadero, candidate Joey Arnold was the top vote-getter with the new vote totals added in, at 22.2%, followed by Corinne Kuhnle at 21% and Jodi Taylor at 19.9%, in the race for three open seats. Following the leaders were Veronica DeCoster at 19.8% and Matt Pennon at 17.2%.

In Paso Robles, Nathan Williams, Laurene D. McCoy, Leo Castillo and Kenney Enney held their leads for the four open seats.

Williams had 64.6% to 35.3% for Hunter Breese in Trustee Area 3.

McCoy was at 56.3% to 43.7% for Tim Gearhart in Trustee Area 5.

Castillo had a 47-vote lead over Adelita Hiteshew in Trustee Area 6, 51.7% to 48.3%.

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And Enney maintained his solid advantage over Tracy Dauterman, 58.4% to 41.6% in Trustee Area 7.

In Templeton, Ted Dubost at 27.9%, Cheryl Parks at 27.3% and Matt Allison at 26.7% held similarly solid leads over Jason Tesarz, 18.1%, in a race for three open seats.

In the San Luis Coastal school district, Erica Flores Baltodano was poised to unseat Eve Hinton, 72.1% to 27.9%.

In the Cayucos Elementary School District, Peter Schuler and Dan Puett remained ahead for the two open board seats. Schuler had 54.2% of the vote to Scott Smiths 45.8%. Puett led Susan Brownell, 78% to 22%.

In the South County, the three Lucia Mar school district incumbents continued to hold comfortable leads in their bids for reelection with Don Stewart leading Paul Bischoff 54% to 46% in Trustee Area 1, Dee Santos ahead of Paul Hively 53% to 47% in Trustee Area 3, and Vicki Meagher leading Mike Fuller 51.2% to 48.4% in Trustee Area 4.

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Atascadero, Lucia Mar and Templeton school districts also had school bonds on the ballot. Each measure must be approved by a threshold of 55% yes votes.

As of 5 p.m. on Friday, only Atascaderos Measure B-24 was in positive territory  but barely  with 55.3% of voters approving it.

Templetons school bond continued to trail with only 54.2% approving, while Lucia Mars measure was in the worst shape at 53.5% saying yes.

Latest results from CSDs and Port San Luis Harbor District

In the race for two seats on the Oceano Community Services District board, Shirley Gibson held a 73-vote lead over Charles Varni in Division 5, which narrowed a bit from a 61-vote lead after Election Night but still amounted to a 57% to 43% advantage. Linda Austin continued to lead handily in Division 1 with 78.1% of the vote to opponent Angela Smiths 21.9%.

In the Nipomo Community Services District board, John Joyce at 49.8% and Philip Henry III at 39.2% maintained their strong, early leads for the two open seats on the board as of 5 p.m. Friday, beating out challenger James Wejrowki at 11.1%

One seat was up for grabs in Division 2 of the Port San Luis Harbor District, which Richard Scangarello is set to fill with 60% of the vote to Katie Lichtigs 40% at the latest ballot drop.

On the North Coast, the Cambria Community Healthcare Districts Measure C-24 to improve the districts facilities was still garnering huge support as of Friday evening, with 75.8% of voters in favor.

The measure requires a two-thirds vote and the simultaneous approval of Proposition 5 to pass.

Who is ahead in state races?

All six state races up for election appear to have been all but won by their incumbent candidates.

For Congress, Jimmy Panetta will represent District 19 with 69.9% of the vote, while Salud Carbajal claimed an early victory in District 24 with 62.7%, as of 5 p.m. Friday. Both races were called by the Associated Press.

In the state Legislature, the incumbent representatives claimed and maintained early leads for all four seats up for grabs.

Dawn Addis attended an Election Night party hosted by the SLO Dems at Bennys Pizza Palace and Social Club on Nov. 5, 2024.

In the State Senate, John Laird is cruising to victory in District 17 with 66.2% of the vote, while Monique Limon is well ahead in District 21, earning 62.4% of the vote by Friday at 5 p.m.

In the State Assembly, Dawn Addis was heading for a smooth win in District 30 with 64.1% of the vote, while Gregg Hart remained ahead in District 37 with 61% of the vote on Friday evening.

Did SLO County voters favor Harris or Trump?

Contrary to the elections nationwide results, San Luis Obispo County voters significantly favored Vice President Kamala Harris over former President Donald Trump, according to the vote count.

As of 5 p.m. on Friday, 55.7% of ballots counted were cast for Harris, compared to Trumps 42%.

The totals were a near match to 2020, when President Joe Biden took home 55.3% of the San Luis Obispo County vote, while Trump garnered 42.2%.

When will results be finalized?

After Fridays update, about 53,000 ballots remain to be counted, and voters can expect continued updates for the coming weeks.

With an unprecedented number of provisional ballots, San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder Elaina Cano said the election tallying may take more time to certify than usual.

Ballots received by the county up to a week after Election Day are still eligible to be counted as long as they are postmarked no later than Nov. 5.

According to Cano, the county must certify its election results by Dec. 3.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, in his first public remarks since the election, promised to find common ground with those who voted for the Republican ticket, while also sticking to the principles that have guided him while governor.

Walz, who isnt term-limited, could run for a third term in two years, though he gave no indication either way. But he vowed to make sure his state would continue to protect reproductive rights and unions, work to mitigate climate change and prevent school shootings, and be a welcoming place for immigrants, among other goals.

Its hard to lose, Walz told supporters at a high school in Eagan, Minnesota. Its hard to understand how so many of our fellow citizenspeople Democrats have long fought to helpwound up choosing the path they did. And its hard to reckon with what that path looks like over the next four years.

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Walz also detailed some of what he learned from his travels across the country since his selection as Vice President Kamala Harris running mate. Everyone wants the same basic things, he said: meaningful work, safe neighborhoods, good schools, affordable health care, in addition to security, freedom, and opportunity.

Walz: So if you are feeling deflated, discouraged today, I get it. Take some time. Take care of yourselves. And get back in this fight when you are ready. And know that whenever you are ready to get back in that fight, I will be standing right here, ready to fight with you. pic.twitter.com/mi8s2JXDNN  Acyn (@Acyn) November 8, 2024

That freedom is supposed to be everybodys birthright, no matter how much money you make or where your family came from, he explained, no matter who you love or how you pray or what you think about the issues of the day.

Addressing the incoming Trump administration, Walz said what has been accomplished in Minnesotacutting taxes for the working class, making breakfast and lunch free for public school children, and instituting paid family and medical leavemust be protected.

We know whats coming down the pike, he said, and were going to have to be ready to defend the process in Minnesota.

The moment they try and bring a hateful agenda into this state, Im going to stand ready to fight, Walz said. Minnesota always has, and always will, be there to provide shelter from the storm.
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's border authority said on Saturday it had partially reopened its main crossing with neighbour Mozambique, where last month's disputed election sparked protests, raising safety concerns.

Opposition supporters in Mozambique have been demonstrating against what they say is a fraudulent win by Frelimo, the party that has ruled the southern African country since 1975.

South Africa closed the Lebombo port of entry in its Mpumalanga province earlier this week after receiving reports of vehicles being torched on the Mozambican side.

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"The port is now open for cargo movement, after the Mozambican authorities managed to address challenges with their systems to facilitate processing through the Ressano Garcia port of entry into Mozambique," the Border Management Authority said.

It said in a statement that the initial reopening of the port was to manage the movement of people, adding: "but this morning, the Mozambican authorities worked tirelessly to address cargo systems for smooth border processing".

At least 21 people have been killed in Mozambique and scores injured in protests in which demonstrators have burned tyres, blocked roads and marched to Frelimo offices.

Authorities have responded with tear gas and live ammunition, human rights groups said, and restricted access to the internet.

(Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by Alexander Smith)
GREENVILLE S.C. (WSPA)  State education leaders visited Legacy Early College on Friday to present a $45,000 donation from the South Carolina Childrens Fund.

Legacy school founder, William Brown, said with the investment the school has plans to expand to welcome more children in Greenville.

Brown said they hope to take enrollment from 1,700 to 3,000, and why the school plans to expand.

There has to be a need,  Brown said. There is a dramatic need in this community and we do it the same way we deal with every one of our 1700 students today. We do it one day at a time, one scholar at a time with absolute faith and belief in that scholar.

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Brown said they have been successful with a particular goal in mind after serving children in the Upstate for fifteen years.

We have a vision here at Legacy, Brown said. That is every scholar is too and through college. He said the current focus will be getting students debt-free.

Among those in attendance was State Superintendent of Education, Ellen Weaver. She described Legacy as life changing.

We know we have a treasure here in Legacy, Weaver said. What Legacy is doing to transform thousands of students lives here in the west side of Greenville and across the entire upstate, taking them all the way from K-4 and through college is really amazing. Its changed the entire life cycle of families here in the upstate, and I couldnt be prouder of the work happening here.

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A common theme among leaders was teamwork. South Carolina Public Charter District Superintendent, Chris Neely said it takes teamwork to provide the opportunity.

It takes a lot of people working together, and it takes a lot of resources and money, Neely said. The fact that we can bring together our states legislative leaders, State Superintendent of Education, and the South Carolina Childrens Fund to provide this enormous gift, its going to expand opportunity for many more kids.

He said through this school, children can climb a ladder to success.

Now in America we like to talk about the ladder of success, Neely said. That success looks different for everyone. I really call it the ladder of opportunity, and what William [Brown] and the school has done, is it come to this community, and it planted a ladder here and the ladder is open and available to everyone.

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Brown said with Legacys plan of expanding they have plans of adding another building. He said plans and fundraising for that will be released soon.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
He was spotted wearing an all-black ethnic outfit - kurta, pyjama and stole.

Ram Charan is currently following Ayyappa Deeksha, which is a sacred vow observed by devotees of Lord Ayyappa. During this period, Ram Charan pledges to follow strict rules and regulations, including wearing only a black kurta and the Ayyappa Mala.

The teaser launch was also attended by his 'Game Changer' co-star Kiara Advani and director S. Shankar.

'Game Changer' will be released in cinemas on January 10th, 2025.

As per the makers, the film is set in the world of politics and centres around the story of an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.

The officer, in a bid to reform the system, takes on corrupt politicians and fights for fair elections to overhaul the governance system.T

The film, which was announced in 2021, has generated considerable buzz given its gripping narrative and star-studded cast. (ANI)
Eighty-six years ago, one night of terror in Nazi Germany changed the course of history for Jews everywhere.

Beginning on Nov. 9, 1938, Nazis set fire to synagogues, vandalized thousands of Jewish homes and businesses, and killed nearly 100 Jews. Around 30,000 others were arrested and sent to concentration camps in the aftermath. Many see it as the night that marked the start of the Holocaust.

That spectacle of violence is known today as Kristallnacht, or the Night of Broken Glass named after the smashed glass from Jewish-owned shops and synagogues that covered the streets after the violent attacks subsided. Before Kristallnacht, the discrimination of Jews in Nazi Germany had been primarily nonviolent. But, the night of November 9th forever changed that, foreshadowing the horror and murder that would soon come.

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Its considered a major turning point in Nazi Germanys treatment of the Jews, transitioning from social discrimination, propaganda and economic boycotts to outright violence and terror, said Sheri Zvi, the CEO and executive director of the Holocaust Memorial in Miami Beach.

This year, a community commemoration of Kristallnacht will take place at Temple Israel of Greater Miami on Sunday November, 10 to mark the tragedy with prayer, songs and testimonies from Holocaust survivors. The Kristallnacht event normally takes place at the Holocaust Memorial in Miami Beach, but due to major construction, the committee decided to relocate to Temple Israel.

The annual commemoration not only honors those who lost their lives to senseless violence, but serves as a solemn reminder to counter prejudice and antisemitism early, before it turns to acts of violence.

Its just always been a time for our community to reflect and to unite, and maybe to mobilize and wake up a little bit too, said Jessica Katz, Holocaust Memorial Committee Chair.

At last years Kristallnacht commemoration, attendees paid tribute to the Israelis that were murdered in the Hamas attacks on October 7, as the Jewish community of South Florida marked the 85th anniversary of Kristallnacht, The Night of Broken Glass at The Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach.

Kristallnacht, though its honored every year in South Florida, takes on new relevance in light of the ongoing war in the Middle East. Its been just over one year since October 7, when Hamas militants stormed into Israel on horrific raids that left 1,200 people dead and another 240 taken hostage. In the aftermath of the tragedy, South Florida leaders showed unwavering support for Israel and vowed to fight back against acts of antisemitism.

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During a time when anti-Jewish sentiments are on the rise, Zvi said its important now more than ever to educate the larger public, not just Jews, about what lead up to the Holocaust.

For us its a reflection of the past, but also taking a stand against antisemitism and hatred with a hope for a more inclusive and compassionate society, Zvi said.

Their stories bear repeating

Kristallnacht is one of many programs organized by the Holocaust Memorial in Miami Beach to help educate the public on the history of the Holocaust. Known for its striking sculpture of an enormous bronze outstretched arm, the center serves as a permanent memorial dedicated to the 6 million Jewish people who perished in the Holocaust.

But, the Memorial also doubles as a hub for Holocaust education. There are programs where students can meet with Holocaust survivors to ask questions, tours and free curriculum resources for teachers. The Memorials goal is to educate the masses on the how the Holocaust happened, to help ensure it never happens again.

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Especially as we get farther and farther away from the Holocaust, its taught less so and in different ways, and young people now are less aware of it than they were a few decades ago, said Memorial Committee Chair Katz.

Recently, the Memorial acquired an organization called 3GMiami  its a project that helps third generation descendants of Holocaust survivors research and share their grandparents survival stories in classrooms  many which are non-Jewish  and community centers.

It took incredible courage for our grandparents to talk about their own stories and to face each day with any shred of optimism. So for that alone, I think their stories bear repeating, said Katz, who is a 3G speaker and one of the groups founders.

Katz said the experience of researching her grandparents stories was challenging but transformative for her own understanding of her familys past.

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It really propelled me to dive deep into my own grandmothers story, which I only really knew about peripherally, she said. I got to dive deep into all these documents and records that my family had on file and nobody did anything about.

The Jewish community of South Florida commemorates the 85th anniversary of Kristallnacht, The Night of Broken Glass, and in memory of the Israelis that were murdered in the Hamas terror attacks that began on October 7. The commemoration took place at The Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach, on Sunday November 5th, 2023.

Uncovering a Holocausts survivors story can be difficult. Its not uncommon for a survivor to be silent about their experience for most of their life to avoid reliving the pain, said Katz. Plus, historical records on concentration camps can be limited. So every detail Katz learned, like the fact that her grandmothers fear of dogs stemmed from the use of attack dogs by German soldiers, is important to her.

It was really intense learning about it. It was intense talking about it throughout the training ... it was just very, very emotional. But it did feel closer to her, even though shes not alive, Katz said.

Katz said the current climate in America  the increasing divisiveness in politics and emboldened hate groups  has some resemblance to the past. She said synagogues and Jewish businesses, though on a much lesser scale, are still targets for vandalism today. A fact that, in 2024, scares her.

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We cant deny that there are parallels, and that there is still a very real danger out there, Katz said. Its such a weird time right now in our world and in our country, and I think we all just really need to look out for one another.

This story was produced with financial support from Trish and Dan Bell and from donors comprising the South Florida Jewish and Muslim Communities, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.
South Korean military officials said flight GPS signals were disrupted by North Korea for the second day in a row, according to the Associated Press.

Kim Jung Un, the neighboring countrys president, increased hostility toward the nation last month after sending balloons by the thousand to drop trash and propaganda leaflets in cities across the South, as reported by the AP.

North Korea has also provided nearly 10,000 troops to help Russia in its war with Ukraine. Heightened tensions are raising concerns for the U.S. and South Korea as further escalation could result in global conflict.

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Jung Un boasted about North Koreas intercontinental ballistic missile developments in November, citing it as the worlds strongest according to the AP.

President-elect Trump spoke with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol by phone Thursday to map out a peaceful solution to Russia and North Koreas growing alliance.

Throughout the U.S. general election cycle, the former president promised he could end Moscows aggression within 24 hours.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(Bloomberg) -- North Korea is causing GPS disruptions for South Korean airplanes and boats in its latest cross-border provocation, according to the Defense Ministry in Seoul.

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Several South Korean boats and dozens of commercial airplanes have experienced disruptions due to North Koreas moves that began Friday, the ministry said in a text message. Yonhap earlier reported the disturbances.

Tensions between the two Koreas remain high after the Kim Jong Un regime sent thousands of balloons across the border this year, dumping trash and propaganda leaflets. North Korea is also sending troops to aid Russias war against Ukraine, officials in South Korea and the US say, condemning the move.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said earlier this week he discussed the presence of North Korean troops in Russia and its neighbors ballistic missile development in a phone conversation with US President-elect Donald Trump.

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Nearly 200,000 South Shore voters cast a ballot for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in 2020. But the momentum in the region did not return Tuesday for Harris and Tim Walz, resulting in thousands of fewer Democratic presidential ticket votes comparatively.

Unofficial results from 21 municipalities that make up the South Shore show that 173,936 voters cast a ballot for the Harris-Walz ticket. This is about 58% of the votes captured between the two major-party candidates. In 2020, the Biden-Harris ticket received 62% support from the South Shore, or 196,400 votes, according to certified results.

To be sure, this 23,000-vote deficit did not move the needle in a state that reliably votes blue. The Harris-Walz ticket still captured 18,000 more votes on the South Shore than Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine did in 2016.

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More: 2024 US election results: Which states did Trump, Harris win? See Electoral College map

Trump gained 66,000 votes in Massachusetts, compared to 2020

The 2024 presidential race was called for former President Donald Trump early Wednesday. While he did not win Massachusetts, he gained at least 66,000 additional votes in the state compared to 2020, with 98% of votes counted. Harris received about 310,000 fewer votes in Massachusetts compared to Biden in 2020.

The South Shore Democratic turnout in 2020, which grew by 41,000 votes from 2016, could be chalked up to an "anomaly," the reasons for which still need to be analyzed, said Rachael Cobb, an associate professor in Suffolk University's Political Science and Legal Studies Department.

A wide range of issues drove South Shore voters to the polls Tuesday. Those who spoke to The Patriot Ledger said motivations included democracy and the war in Gaza. One voter said they did not vote for Trump or Harris because they felt either presidency would result in more Palestinian deaths. A voter who used to identify as Republican could not vote for Trump over a difference in ideology.

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Other voter issues included the economy and an unpopular incumbent, Cobb said.

How the Democrats fared on the South Shore

Every South Shore municipality had fewer votes for the 2024 Democratic presidential ticket than 2020. The deficit this year ranged from 145 fewer votes as seen in Plymouth to as many as 5,755 fewer votes in Quincy.

The region turned out in nearly identical percentages  58% Democrat and 42% Republican  as it had in 2016, a similarity that struck Cobb.

More: Results for the South Shore Massachusetts 2024 general election races

How the Republicans fared on the South Shore

One in three South Shore towns had a Trump majority vote. Those towns were Carver, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Pembroke, Rockland and Whitman. The majority vote differences were as little as 17 votes, as was the case in Kingston, to as high as 933 votes in Carver.

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The regions support for Trump, regardless of his vice presidential running mate, steadily grew with each presidential election cycle.

This election cycle, Trump received 127,918 votes on the South Shore, which amounted to a gain of 8,300 Republican votes from 2020. The increase in support between 2016 and 2020 was around 5,600 votes.

In all but three South Shore towns  Duxbury, Norwell and Randolph  more Republicans turned out to vote for the 2024 Trump-JD Vance ticket than the Trump-Mike Pence ticket in 2020. Plymouth had the largest increase in Trump support with 2,407 more votes this year. The difference in Republican support between the two elections was as narrow as five votes, as was seen in Randolph.

More: Kennedy family members, including RFK Jr. and Kerry Kennedy, react to Trump election win

Four South Shore towns flipped from blue to red

Four South Shore towns that were red in 2016 but flipped blue in 2020 had gone back for Trump in 2024: Hanover, Kingston, Pembroke and Whitman. Rockland, which saw higher Democrat turnout in 2016 and 2020, had a 31-vote Republican majority this year.

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Voter registrations on the South Shore grew by about 25,000 voters between 2020 and 2024, with the increase seen largely in unenrolled voters. At the same time, the number of registered Democrats and Republicans in the region both decreased, by 11,000 and 3,600, respectively.

All in all, Republicans on the South Shore and Massachusetts saw a "healthy turnout," Cobb said. "This was a good year for Republicans."

In the state legislature, Democrats flipped one seat while Republicans flipped three, according to WBUR.

"If your goal is to try to turnout higher, then Democrats didn't do as well," she said. "For whatever reason, this was not a mobilizing election."

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Efforts to get more of Massachusetts' Democratic voters to the polls may have been different, Cobb said, had incumbent Sen. Elizabeth Warren faced a tougher re-election challenge. But mobilization efforts were focused largely on the presidential election and swing states, she said. Democrats' energy level "wasn't as high" compared to Republicans who may have "wanted to make a statement" with their vote, Cobb noted.

Heres a breakdown of how the South Shore voted for president in 2024.

Which way South Shore voters went on Massachusetts 5 questions for 2024

When it comes to the five ballot measures that Massachusetts voters decided, there was no question when it came to Question 5.

Roughly three in four South Shore voters rejected a bid to increase the minimum wage for tipped workers.

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Another easy question for the regions voters to decide was allowing the independently elected state auditor to audit the legislature. Roughly 73% of the 291,300 votes cast were in support.

More: Teachers unions cheer passage of Question 2, ending MCAS graduation requirement

A narrower decision was for Question 3, which asked whether rideshare drivers should be allowed to unionize. While the state passed the measure with 53% in support, voters on the South Shore were more split, but leaning toward rejecting the measure by less than 7,000 votes.

Nearly 59% of South Shore voters supported getting rid of MCAS tests as a high school graduation requirement, and 58% didnt want to legalize psychedelic substances.

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Hannah Morse covers growth and development for The Patriot Ledger. Contact her at hmorse@patriotledger.com.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: 2024 presidential election South Shore MA voter turnout breakdown
MAGNOLIA, Ark.  Prospective Southern Arkansas University students now have a new scholarship program to help reduce costs.

The university announced the introduction of its SAU Difference scholarship program on Friday. The program will support incoming freshmen by bridging the gap between tuition, fees and existing financial aid.

US News best colleges in 2025: 4 Arkansas universities among best in south

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School officials said the program means incoming freshmen who are Pell-eligible and recipients of the Arkansas Challenge Scholarship can attend SAU without the weight of unmet financial needs, allowing students to focus on education without undue worries.

Higher education is a powerful engine of social mobility and economic opportunity, but costs can often be a barrier for students, SAU president Bruno Hicks said. We need to eliminate as many obstacles as possible to provide our brightest Arkansas students with access to higher education.

Officials said eligible students must be U.S. citizens and residents of Arkansas entering SAU in the fall of 2025, be Pell-grant eligible and be a recipient of the Arkansas Challenge Scholarship.

University of Arkansas at Little Rock makes digital map detailing citys history

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For details about the program, head over to SAUMag.edu/Difference.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
Federal authorities are looking into the source of racist mass text messages sent to Black people  including children  across America days after the presidential election.

The anonymously sent hateful messages, which were reported in more than two dozen states, were sent to Black college, high school and middle school students and referenced slavery.

Many of the texts started with this message (or something similar): You have been selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation.

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The Associated Press reported that the messages varied somewhat but they all instructed recipients to board a bus that would transport them to a plantation to work as slaves.

The NAACP condemned the hateful messages and said they represent an alarming increase in vile and abhorrent rhetoric from racist groups across the country.

The unfortunate reality of electing a president who, historically has embraced and at times encouraged hate, is unfolding before our eyes, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson stated. These messages represent an alarming increase in vile and abhorrent rhetoric from racist groups across the country who now feel emboldened to spread hate and stoke the flames of fear that many of us are feeling after Tuesdays election results.

A screenshot of a racist mass text sent out to Black students across America in the wake of the 2024 election. The AP reports that the texts varied somewhat, but all instructed recipients to board a bus that would transport them to a plantation.

Students in several local communities, including L.A.s Brentwood neighborhood, the San Fernando Valley and parts of the Inland Empire, received the texts, prompting outrage from students, their parents and school staff.

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Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho released a statement regarding the messages, calling them racist and incendiary.

We are aware of the racist and incendiary texts that are being sent out to students nationwide, including some of our students. We unequivocally condemn this hateful and threatening rhetoric, Carvalhos statement read. We are investigating this situation. If you receive one of these messages, contact your school for support.

LGBTQ+ youth crisis hotline calls jumped 700% after presidential election

Several Santa Monica High School students also received the derogatory message; they immediately reported the situation to school administrators and their parents.

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I sent it to my family group chat and was like Oh my god, someone sent me this message, and [my mom] was like This is not okay, said Aubrielle Gomez. I was shocked and I kind of started laughing because I thought it wasnt real.

Ericka Lesley, whose children attend Santa Monica High School and were sent the text, says that the hateful messaging underscores a much larger issue not only plaguing California but all of America.

My son wants to leave the country; he doesnt feel safe here, Lesley told KTLA. There are other people who say Oh, were in California, were okay,  weve become too comfortable. We have to remain vigilant, we have to remain alert and we have to make sure our children pay attention.

Local Black leaders, such as Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable President Earl Ofari Hutchinson, are now calling on school officials to not only condemn the hateful mass texts, but to take action.

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The L.A. Unified School District, with their great concern about protecting students and safeguarding students, now is a good chance for a show of force, Hutchinson said at a press conference Sunday. Have your security force out there in big numbers with one goal in mind: we take violence and potential threats of violence very seriously, and were going to protect the students.

The racist mass texts come in the wake of President-elect Donald Trumps victory over Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. An investigation into the hateful messages is being led by state Attorneys General and the FBI.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(This story has been refiled to fix a typo in paragraph 1)

PAIPORTA, Spain (Reuters) - The water was already knee-high on the ground floor of the hotel where Aitana Puchal had taken refuge when she received a text alert from the regional government of Valencia at 8 pm on Oct. 29 warning people to shelter in place from severe flash floods.

"We could have done with (the warning) about six hours earlier," said the 23-year-old, who had fled with other local residents and guests to the first floor of the hotel near the town of Paiporta. "We were all calming down a little from the panic and drying our feet."

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Others were not so fortunate.

Carlos Martinez, another Paiporta resident, told local television the flood alert came when he was stranded in a tree "seeing bodies floating past."

Dozens of inhabitants of flooded communities told Reuters that by the time they received the regional government's alert, muddy water was already surrounding their cars, submerging streets of their towns and pouring into their homes.

After days of storm warnings from the national weather service since Oct 25, some municipalities and local institutions had raised the alarm much earlier. Valencia University had told its staff the day before not to come to work. Several town halls across the region of eastern Spain had suspended activities, shut down public facilities and told people to stay home.

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But the mixed messages and confusion cost lives, dozens of local residents and experts told Reuters. More than 220 people died and nearly 80 are still missing in what is the most deadly deluge in a single European country since 1967, when floods in Portugal killed around 500.

The national weather service AEMET had raised its threat level for heavy rains to a red alert at 7.36am on Oct 29, following heavy rains in mountainous areas west of the city of Valencia from the early morning. In the 12 hours it took for the regional government's shelter-in-place order to come through, waters running through the usually dry Poyo ravine - the epicentre of the flooding - had surged to more than three times the flow of Spain's largest river, the Ebro.

As climate change exacerbates weather patterns along Spain's Mediterranean coast, floods are becoming commonplace and some previous incidents have been deadly. But after at least five decades without a major catastrophe, many people in Valencia were unaware of the grave dangers posed by flash flooding or how to respond.

Puchal, the 23-year old who sought refuge in the hotel, said she had never received much information about the risks of floods.

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"At school, they gave talks about fires," she said. "But not floods."

That, combined with poor coordination among regional and national authorities as well as political decisions taken years ago not to invest in waterways infrastructure, worsened the calamitous loss of life, seven experts consulted by Reuters said.

"It was foreseeable that we would have catastrophic flooding here," said Felix Frances, professor of hydraulic engineering and environment at Valencia Polytechnic University.

Deaths were recorded in 14 of the 24 towns that had already been identified in environment ministry reports as at high risk of flooding, a Reuters review found.

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Experts including hydraulic and civil engineers, geologists, urban planners and disaster relief specialists said successive failures - to conduct flood mitigation work on nearby rivers, better protect houses built on flood plains, educate people and warn residents quickly - added to the fatalities.

With better infrastructure, "those deaths would have been infinitely less," said Luis Banon, an engineer and professor of Transportation Engineering and Infrastructure at the University of Alicante.

One central government source said they expect multiple judicial enquiries to examine decisions made and to attribute responsibility for the high death toll.

As more of the world's population settles on flood plains, climate events become more extreme and Europe warms faster than the global average, what happened in Valencia underscores the need for strategic, coordinated measures to protect people in European cities, said Sergio Palencia, professor of urbanization in Valencia Polytechnic University.

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Frances said he had helped draw up a plan 17 years ago to build flood works for the Poyo ravine at a cost then of 150 million euros ($162 million). On Nov. 5, a week after the floods, the national government earmarked 10.6 billion euros to help victims.

The plan Frances worked on expired in 2017 because "no work had been initiated," Spain's State Secretary for the Environment Hugo Moran told Reuters. The government had to start from scratch and some works are underway, he said.

Frances said some people were so unaware of the risk they didn't know, for example, that it would be unwise to go down to a basement "to save the car."

MULTIPLE ALERTS

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AEMET had already warned of a storm known locally as DANA -- a high-altitude isolated depression -- on Oct. 25. In following days, its warnings became more specific until Oct. 29, when the alert was upgraded to red -- the highest level, meaning high risks for the population.

At 8.45 am, the regional branch of AEMET posted footage on the social media platform X showing cars being swept down roads by a tide of brown water.

Just after noon, the public body managing the region's river basins, the Jucar Hydrographic Confederation (CHJ) emailed regional authorities saying the flow of water through the Poyo ravine had reached 264 cubic meters per second. That's stronger than the average flow of the Guadalquivir river, one of Spain's largest.

The CHJ said it can only feed the information to regional emergency services, which are responsible for issuing alerts to citizens. Three experts told Reuters that once water started rising, it would take less than nine hours to reach the towns.

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Over the next eight hours, officials from the regional and national governments, environmental authorities and emergency services exchanged phone calls, emails and held emergency meetings.

For some time that afternoon, the data from the CHJ suggested the flow was declining.

Carlos Mazon, the region's president and the main person responsible for issuing a shelter-in-place alert, has become a focus for anger over authorities' reaction to the storm. Despite signs of severe flooding, he did not change his schedule.

At a news conference at lunchtime, he cited a national weather forecast saying the storm's intensity would decrease around 6pm, according to a tweet he later deleted.

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As the day went on Mazon, a member of the conservative People's Party that sits in opposition to the Socialist-run national government, appeared in photos tweeted by his staff receiving a sustainable tourism certification, and discussing budgetary matters.

His office did not respond to requests for comment on his handling of the disaster. Mazon told reporters on Thursday that he had a "work lunch" on Oct 29 and was constantly in touch with his team handling the situation.

At 5pm, as the authorities met again, the CHJ gave "verbal notification" of a generalised increase in water flows running through or near the towns, according to a statement.

At 6.43pm, CHJ sent another email warning that the flow of water through the ravine had reached 1,686 cubic metres per second -- more than triple the pace of the Ebro, Spain's largest river by volume.

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Twelve minutes later, the CHJ said the Poyo flow had risen to 2,282 cubic meters per second before destroying the sensor that measured it.

"That could fill an Olympic pool every second," said Nahum Mendez, a geologist at Valencia University.

By 7pm, many towns were without power, making it difficult to send alerts immediately to phones or radio stations, officials said.

Maria Isabel Albalat, the mayor of Paiporta, which lies in the outskirts of the city of Valencia, said she called the national government delegate in the region to tell her that "my town was flooding" and "people were already dying." Police drove through the town with sirens, lights and loudspeakers telling people to stay off the bridge and leave the streets.

At 8 pm, Spain's environment secretary Moran, who was travelling in Colombia, called the regional official in charge of the emergency services Salome Pradas to say there was a risk a dam would fail.

Pradas told local television on Thursday that a technical advisor then suggested the services send a text alert.

"How is it possible that with all the information that was available ... the agencies responsible for activating the alarms did nothing?" Moran said.

Mazon, the regional head, later said the CHJ data showing water flows declining had added to the confusion and delays. Moran, whose department oversees the CHJ, told Reuters its task was just to provide real time information to emergency teams, not to make decisions on their response.

Paiporta mayor Albalat said that by the time the alert came, "we had been up to our necks in water for more than an hour and a half."

FLOOD PROTECTIONS

Political decisions to not invest earlier in better flood defences to protect a wider area have multiplied the economic cost "by 200," said Banon, the Alicante professor.

"This type of works aren't sexy, don't give political profitability until something happens," he said.

"Now they have no choice but to undertake the works."

In other countries such as the United States and Japan, natural disasters are more commonplace so people have a better sense of how to respond, said Maria Jesus Romero, 50, Professor of Urban Planning Law at the Polytechnical University of Valencia.

Some Valencia residents remembered past floods, including a major one in 1957. After that, the city of Valencia was protected by hydraulic works completed under dictator General Francisco Franco in 1973.

Paiporta residents Rosario Masia, 84, and her husband Cristobal Martinez, 87, said past floods were "nothing" compared with this one.

"We had a hard time, but not like now," said Masia. "We are in pieces."

Many properties hit by the floods were built before 2003 when revised guidance on building in flood zones was issued, experts said. The new guidance either bans construction or includes strict pre-requisites including that properties built in flood zones should not have basements.

In the largely working-class suburbs of Valencia, the car is vital to get to work. Many of those interviewed by Reuters in the flood zone said their first move when it rains is to move their cars out of underground car parks of their apartment blocks so the engines aren't damaged by flooding.

($1 = 0.9267 euros)

(Reporting by David Latona in Paiporta, Corina Pons, Pietro Lombardi and Aislinn Laing in Madrid, additional reporting by Emma Pinedo and Andrei Khalip; Edited by Sara Ledwith)
One friar is dead and several more are injured after a man attacked a Spanish monastery, officials said.

The man entered the Monastery of Santo Espiritu del Monte in Gilet, Spain around 9:30 a.m. local time on Saturday, the Province of the Immaculate Conception of the Franciscan Order said in a statement. He "burst into the premises with a violent and defiant attitude" and carrying a blunt object, the statement said.

The friars had just finished breakfast and were in their rooms at the time of the attack, the order said.

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One of the monks at the monastery, identified as Brother Angel Ramon, managed to get the attacker away and called the authorities, the statement said. The country's Civil Guard and the Gilet Local Police responded and provided immediate aid.

An agent of Spain's Civil Guard. / Credit: Europa Press News

The order did not identify the injured friars or release information about their condition.

There are 48 convents throughout Spain under the Province of the Immaculate Conception of the Franciscan Order. The Monastery of Santo Espiritu del Monte is in the province of Valencia, which has been grappling with the aftermath of floods that left more than 200 people dead.

Authorities continue to search for the attacker, the statement said. He was described as middle-aged.

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This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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Spanish King Felipe VI is to visit the country's eastern Valencia region, which was severely affected by the recent storms and flooding, again on Tuesday, the royal office announced.

The king, who is also the head of state, is to oversee the ongoing rescue and clean-up operations in Valencia, his office said on Saturday.

On his first visit to the region last Sunday, accompanied by Queen Letizia, the king was met with angry crowds, who threw mud and insulted the royal couple.

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On October 29, as much rain fell in a few hours in some Spanish towns as would normally fall in a year.

According to the latest figures from the Spanish government, the heavy rainfall, landslides and flooding at the end of October killed at least 220 people. Authorities recovered 212 bodies in the Valencia region alone.

There were eight deaths recorded in the neighbouring regions of Castile-La Mancha and Andalusia. The official number of missing people has been reduced from 78 to 50.

The regional authorities in Valencia said 29 bodies have not yet been identified.

Around 8,500 military staff members and 10,000 officers from the national police forces have been deployed in the approximately 80 affected municipalities.

Many buildings are still partly or completely inaccessible because wrecked cars and household items are blocking the entrances.
Union Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday ensured that no harm will be caused to any employee regarding the privatisation of power services in Chandigarh. He said that the welfare of the employees will be taken care of and it will be ensured that during privatisation, there is no threat to their jobs. "...Regarding the privatisation of power services in Chandigarh, the matter was in the High Court. Two days ago, the High Court has given its verdict that privatisation can be done. The UT administration has to take further steps on this. Either it will start or there is an option to go to the Supreme Court. UT administration is pleading for privatisation. It will be ensured that no harm will be caused to any employee. The welfare of the employees will be taken care of and it will be ensured that during privatisation, there is no threat to their jobs...," said Khattar. Notably, the Punjab and Haryana High Court approved the privatization of the power distribution in Chandigarh on November 7, paving the way for private companies in the state to take over the distribution of electricity in the UT. The move to privatise the UT power distribution services was taken by the administration in 2020 following a union government's directive. (ANI)
SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  A man is being held in the Spartanburg County Detention Center without bond on charges related to the sexual abuse of minors in North and South Carolina.

According to the Spartanburg County Sheriffs Office, in September investigators with the Spartanburg County SVU assisted the Cleveland County N.C. Sheriffs Office in serving warrants on Ian Mitchell Farnsworth, 62, of Spartanburg.

Farnsworth was wanted in Cleveland County for felony warrants for indecent liberties with a minor.

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After his arrest, the sheriffs office said it determined Farnsworth committed sexual offenses with an additional victim in Spartanburg County.

On September 25, Farnsworth was charged with two counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor in Spartanburg County.

The continued investigation led investigators to an additional minor victim.

While at the Childrens Advocacy Center, the minor victim reportedly disclosed ongoing sexual abuse by Farnsworth within the last year.

On November 7, 2024, Farnsworth was charged with an three additional counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor.

The sheriffs office said if you are a victim or know of additional victims of Farnsworth, contact Investigator Sarah Arms at sarms@spartanburgcounty.org or 864-503-4534. There is no statute of limitations on sex offenses in the State of South Carolina.

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SPRINGDALE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Two men from Springdale were sentenced Nov. 8 in Washington County Circuit Court to 40 years in prison, with 20 years suspended, after pleading guilty to charges related to a 2022 shooting.

Jamie Castro-Trujillo, 20, and Michael Adief Figueroa, 20 faced initial charges of attempted capital murder but accepted a plea deal, resulting in convictions for first-degree battery and committing a terroristic act, according to court documents.

Jamie Castro-Trujillo, 20.

UPDATE: Second man arrested for attempted murder in Springdale shooting

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The incident occurred on Aug. 13, 2022, around 1:30 a.m. when Springdale police responded to a 911 call about gunfire near George Park. Officers arriving at the scene found 12 spent .223 shell casings in a field off Hylton Road, just south of the park, according to court documents.

Michael Adief Figueroa, 20

They also learned that a nearby residence on Butterfly Avenue had been struck by bullets, though no injuries were reported inside.

Around 5:30 a.m., police received a call from a local hospital about a 15-year-old boy being treated for a gunshot wound to his knee.

Detectives interviewed the boy, who told them he had arranged to meet Castro-Trujillo at the park for a fight.

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As he drove up, he saw a red Nissan nearby, then heard gunshots hitting his pickup truck. While attempting to escape, he was struck in the knee by a bullet.

Former Lowell officer pleads guilty to sexual assault, gets 120 days in jail

Springdale police located Castro-Trujillo at his apartment later that day. The SWAT team was called in, and he was arrested without incident and held on a $250,000 bond.

According to court documents, Figueroa was also taken into custody after admitting to detectives that he fired a Glock pistol at the truck.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(NEXSTAR)  Brace yourselves, people with difficult-to-spell names: Starbucks baristas might be manually writing on the cups again.

The practice of writing a customers name or drink modifications on their Starbucks beverage with a marker  a normal part of the Starbucks experience before the pandemic  was mostly phased out in favor of adhesive printouts bearing any names or specifications.

Now, new Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol is looking to restart the tradition as a way to entice guests into the coffee shops. He also said Starbucks will be buying hundreds of thousands of Sharpie markers to give to employees.

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Starbucks is trying to help your baristas hear your order

During a recent earnings call, Niccol briefly discussed the plan while responding to a question about the companys efforts to revamp the cafe experience, with Niccol naming Sharpies as just one the touches that will hopefully drive more customers to the counter.

One of the other things were going to be bringing back, too, is bringing the Sharpies back to our baristas and its going to give them the opportunity to put that additional human touch on every coffee experience as well, Niccol said.

Speaking with CNBC, Niccol later estimated that Starbucks will need to purchase 200,000 Sharpies as part of the plan. He also indicated that baristas may use the markers to write little notes on the cups rather than customers names.

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It may not be everybodys name  but we will definitely be getting back to writing on cups again here, in the not-too-distant future, Niccol said.

A representative for Starbucks could not confirm whether the Sharpies would be used in conjunction with the newer adhesive printouts, or whether they could be replacing the printouts. In the earnings call, however, Niccol brought up the Sharpie idea after discussing plans to separate the in-store experience from the mobile-ordering experience, suggesting the Sharpies may be reserved for in-store guests.

The Starbucks spokesperson also could not say when the Sharpies might be re-implemented.

A little boy drinks a cup of Starbucks coffee. (Zhang Peng/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Nevertheless, Sharpies parent company Newell Brands was excited by the news.

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We are thrilled to hear that Starbucks will re-introduce hand-writing on cups, and are honored that theyve chosen Sharpie to create special and personalized moments for consumers, Kris Malkoski, a segment CEO for Newell Brands, wrote in a statement obtained by Nexstar. At Sharpie, we are committed to empowering people to unleash their creativity, and we look forward to partnering with Starbucks to bring a human touch to their consumers experience.

Having a child? These are the popular baby-naming trends to know  or avoid

In addition to writing on customers cups again, Niccols plans to revitalize the Starbucks brand include more warm and welcoming interiors, ceramic mugs for in-store guests, faster counter service and easier customization options for drinks.

I think theres a lot of just simple things that go a long way of saying, You know what? This is a community place, this is a special place where people are here to connect, said Niccol, a man whose own surname might easily be misspelled by the strangers who make his coffee. And I think we can do that in a really meaningful way.

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The Starbucks community has since responded to the Sharpie idea on social media, with many attempting to theorize how the operations at Starbucks would be affected by the change. Some self-identified employees also claimed their own shops still used markers  but they werent exactly thrilled about it.

I use them every day at my licensed store, one self-proclaimed Starbucks worker wrote. Its always fun trying to decode what a fellow barista has written. Endless fun.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
State Attorney General Letitia James will not pursue charges against a city cop who struck and killed a 20-year-old Bronx woman in a caught-on-camera collision while trying to nab a speeding suspect, officials said.

Given the results of a thorough review, a prosecutor would not be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that criminal charges are warranted in the Oct. 5, 2020 crash, James said in her decision released Friday,

The decision comes amid renewed concerns that the NYPD  which last year decreed it was done letting suspects routinely speed away from police  is often too aggressive in chasing after vehicles.

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Sofia Gomez Aguilon was on her way home from work when a marked police car, responding to an officers call for help, blew a red light and hit her in a crosswalk on Pelham Parkway South at Wallace Ave. in Allerton, cops said.

Medics rushed the Guatemalan immigrant to Jacobi Medical Center in critical condition. She died three days later.

At the time, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said the police cruiser, which had its sirens and turret lights activated, was going about 60 miles-per-hour when it rammed into the young woman.

If you actually get into the car itself you can accelerate and decelerate in a short period of time pretty rapidly, Shea said on NY1. Its just a tragic, tragic incident.

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The speeding cop was racing to help a colleague nab a motorist trying to evade arrest after he was clocked speeding 75 miles per hour on the Clearview Expressway near Northern Blvd. in Queens, authorities said.

The urgency of the situation ramped up after a report came over the radio saying shots were fired, although it was later revealed that this transmission came from an unknown source, the report notes.

The 23-year-old elusive motorist initially stopped for police but then hit the gas and zoomed away in his black Mercedes Benz across the Throggs Neck Bridge into the Bronx, police said.

He was zipping in and out of traffic at more than 100 miles per hour before cops caught up and charged him with reckless endangerment, unlawfully fleeing a police officer and driving on a suspended license.

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According to New York law, a police officer who injures or kills someone while responding to an emergency in a marked vehicle cannot be charged with a crime unless the officer acts recklessly or intentionally, the AG report said.

While the officer is responsible for Ms. Gomezs death, the evidence does not establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers conduct was a gross deviation of the standard that would have been observed by a reasonable officer in the same circumstances, or that the officer consciously disregarded a substantial and unjustifiable risk of death, the AG report said, noting that the cop slammed on the brakes after seeing Gomez.

There was no evidence that the officer was impaired by drugs or alcohol, or was texting or on a phone call or otherwise distracted. Therefore (it was) concluded that there was insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges, the report stated.

While this fatal crash happened more than four years ago, NYPD car chases have surged in the Adams administration as police try to curtail the use of ghost cars, which are vehicles with fake license plates, NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said last year.

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People thinking they can take off on us  those days are over, he said at a July 6, 2023, news conference.

While the policy shift has drawn criticism from police watchdogs who say the risks outweigh the potential upsides, the NYPD insists high-speed chases are sometimes necessary.

However, after getting strong criticism about police pursuits, the NYPD switched gears, implementing new policies in which supervisors must approve police pursuits based on a number of factors, including if the decision to pursue could harm the public.

Yet fatal police pursuits still occur, critics warn. On Oct. 22, an NYPD van was pursuing an escaping burglary suspect in Queens when the Dodge Ram they were chasing struck and killed bicyclist Amanda Servedio at 37th St. and 34th Ave, cops said.

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Three people have been killed in NYPD pursuits this year, and many more have been injured, said Transportation Alternatives Co-Executive Director Elizabeth Adams.

Following the Gomez investigation, the Attorney Generals office recommended every NYPD officer receive Emergency Vehicle Operator Course (EVOC) training once per year to prevent future collisions between police cars and civilians.
This week, the United States elected Donald Trump to be the countrys 47th president. Despite Trump previously bragging about appointing some of the Supreme Court judges that overturned Roe v. Wade via the Dobbs decision, which led many states nationwide to restrict abortion access, many people who voted for him also voted to expand access to abortion in their respective states. It might be a bit confusing when taking a closer look at this peculiar detail, as Harris made expanding access to abortion a key part of her platform. Trump did not.

Most of his base believes that Trump will not pass more restrictions on abortion, Gretchen Borchelt, vice president for reproductive rights and health at the National Womens Law Center Action Fund, said in a press conference. That is what they voted for.

Trump has indeed said he doesnt support a nationwide abortion ban. At the same time, during the presidential debate with Harris, he declined to say yes or no when asked whether he'd veto such a ban. Later, on his social media platform, he said that he would veto a federal abortion ban if legislation reached his desk. But Project 2025, which was developed to replace the traditional policy arm for Trump's presidential campaign by the Heritage Foundation, says otherwise.

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There's still every reason to believe that Trump and those he surrounds himself with will attempt to restrict access to abortion and other reproductive health care, Borchelt said. It is all laid out in Project 2025, but people are going to be watching.

Exploring the reasoning why some Trump voters voted to expand access to abortion will be further dissected in the weeks to come, but another question remains: Will the states that just voted to protect access to abortion have protection in a Trump presidency? Or are these enshrined amendments in state constitutions a sense of false security?

This one's pretty easy: federal law  all federal law  trumps all state law, David S. Cohen, a professor of law at Drexel Kline's School of Law, told Salon.

In the wake of the presidential election news, the Guttmacher Institute outlined 10 ways the Trump presidency could restrict access to reproductive rights. When it comes to blocking abortion access, it likely wouldnt happen through an explicit nationwide abortion ban. Instead, the Trump-Vance administration could leverage the Comstock Act, an 1873 anti-vice law that bans obscene articles being used for abortion from being mailed. As explained by KFF, a literal interpretation of this could mean that material to produce all abortions would be prohibited from being mailed, which could affect other medical care, like miscarriage management, and stop medication abortion from being mailed.

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State constitutions provide no protection whatsoever against Comstock Act, against the Trump national abortion ban, against fetal personhood within the 14th Amendment," Cohen explained. "Which is why there were many of us who were trying to get the word out before the election, that if you really do care about reproductive freedom and vote accordingly in state ballot initiatives, there's only one candidate to vote for.

Cohen said everyone who voted to expand access to abortion via state ballot initiatives and for Trump nullified their vote on the abortion amendments.

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The U.S. Supreme Court has already signaled that it has eyes on such an interpretation of the Comstock Act. During arguments in FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, a case that would have restricted nationwide access to mifepristone, conservative Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas both brought up the Comstock Act. In questioning, Thomas said to a lawyer for Danco Laboratories, the manufacturer of mifepristone, that the Comstock Act is "fairly broad, and it specifically covers drugs such as yours."

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History has already shown that the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States will have devastating consequences for sexual and reproductive health and rightsand far beyond, said Destiny Lopez, acting co-CEO of Guttmacher Institute, said in a statement. Should his administration attempt to impose the dangerous Project 2025 agenda, it will unleash an all-out assault on rights and freedoms, using every lever of government  from attacks on abortion and contraception in the United States to reimposing the global gag rule and gutting U.S. international family planning aid.

In the Republican Partys Make America Great Again policy platform released last summer, it stated that the 14th Amendment guarantees that no person can be denied life or liberty without due process and that the states are, therefore, free to pass laws protecting those rights. As Alexa Kolbi-Molinas, deputy director of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project, previously told Salon, this statement signals that embryos and fetuses are persons under the 14th Amendment, which is simply not true.

If that were the case, if embryos and fetuses had constitutional rights under the due process clause, states would be required to ban abortion, she told Salon. This would mean states that have already enshrined abortion rights into their state constitutions would still have to pass abortion bans.

Seema Mohapatra, a law professor at the SMU Dedman School of Law, told Salon, that when state law and federal law are in conflict, to expect this to play out in litigation in the courts, arguing it might not be such a clear-cut answer on how much protection state amendments can provide.

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Theres going to be a conflict between federal and state law, Mohapatra said. We're going to have to wait and see how the court interprets it.

But Cohen pointed to lessons from the Civil Rights Era, when "all these segregated states pointed to their state law and state Constitution to justify continuing to segregate, Cohen said. But ultimately the federal law and federal Constitution prevail, because that's how it works.
HOOPESTON, Ill. (WCIA)  A Hoopeston man has been charged with possession and dissemination of child sexual abuse material.

On Nov. 7, Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 5 agents arrested 24-year-old Connor S. Gilonske on these charges. Officials said that after receiving a cyber tip, ISP agents started an investigation into the possession and dissemination of child sexual abuse material by Gilonske.

On Thursday, ISP agents located and arrested him in Danville.

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ISP arrests Christian Co. man for possessing child sexual abuse materials

A subsequent search warrant was then executed at Gilonskes home in Hoopeston. He is being held at the Vermilion County Public Safety Building pending his first court appearance.

This ongoing investigation is a collaborative effort between ISP, the Illinois Attorney Generals Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Vermilion County Metropolitan Enforcement Group, the Vermilion County Sheriffs Office, the Danville Police Department and the Vermilion County States Attorneys Office.

ISP is asking anyone with information about crimes to contact Crime Stoppers of Vermilion County at 217-446-TIPS. Anonymous tips of child sexual abuse material can also be reported through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Childrens Cyber Tip Line.

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HONOLULU(KHON2)  The state is looking to increase the cost of a vehicle safety inspection. KHON spoke to one safety inspector who said the state should increase the price more.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

It will soon likely cost a little more to get your vehicle safety inspection.

The Department of Transportation is proposing an annual increase from $25 to $25.75. The 75 cent increase will cover fees paid by inspection stations to the vendor who handles the electronic safety check forms.

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Scott Williams, vice president at Lex Brodies Tire Company, said they do between 20 to 40 safety checks a day.

The time it takes to bring vehicles in and do safety checks properly, especially if theyre older vehicles where they really need to be checked thoroughly, the $25 is not a lot, Williams explained. For shops that do it, in most cases, when you factor in the personnel that does the safety check theyre really not making much money on them.

And the price hasnt gone up in years.

Hawaiian Electric faces lawmaker scrutiny over wildfire mitigation plan, announces $1.99B settlement contribution

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If you ask us, we would say you should add at least $5 a safety check, maybe eve $10, Williams said.

Even then he said they wouldnt really make any money off of it.

And getting certified to do vehicle safety inspections is a process.

I brought the paperwork, Williams said holding a thick stack of pappers up. This is the law that we have to study and have to apply when we do an inspection for safety checks and this manual was put out by the DOT  its 36 page policy and procedure of doing a proper safety inspection.

Williams said that a few years ago DOT changed the procedure to where we needed to do it with an iPad. Going digital has made things more efficient but he said it also had a downside.

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A lot of mom-and-pop shops actually stopped doing safety checks at that time cause there was amount of technology that they had to bring their shop up to that they just decided not to do it and they just bowed out, he explained.

Now there are fewer shops doing safety checks.

So the shops that are still doing safety checks get flooded, he added, And we try to help as many customers as we can.

Regardless of price, Williams said he does believe safety inspections help keep our roads safer.

We do find a lot of customers that have bald tires, and light bulbs that are out, wipers that are just falling apart so the process is good, he said.

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DOT will be holding a public hearing on December 10th to discuss the prince increase.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)  Unsolicited texts with messaging regarding slavery have hit the phones of several people in the Lowcountry, according to a state leader.

South Carolina State Representative Tiffany Spann-Wilder (D) of District 109 said in the last few days she has been contacted by constituents who reported racially motived texts, mostly targeted at black college students.

Some say youve been selected to go to your nearest plantation. A van will pick you up. The van has been noted to be brown in some messages, Rep. Spann-Wilder recalled.

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She sent News 2 several screenshots of the messages which all contain similar wording. For example, you have been selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation, before claiming, Executive Slaves will come get you in a brown van.

The Clemson University Police Department announced they investigated and said the numbers have been determined to be associated with online spoofing sites.

Rep. Spann-Wilder said she took the texts to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the Charleston County Sheriffs Office and encouraged anyone who receives the messages to do the same in their respective jurisdictions.

I would tell anyone to do a screenshot, Rep. Spann-Wilder. You want to take a screenshot so that one, for the basis of evidence, if these folks are identified and prosecuted to see where that number came from.

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CCSO confirmed to News 2 they have received the representatives report and said their intelligence unit is aware and is investigating.

We reached out to SLED but have not heard back.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
OSKALOOSA, Iowa  The 1st Congressional District Race remains close between Marianette Miller-Meeks and Christina Bohannan. Just 800 votes separate the two candidates. Miller-Meeks has claimed victory despite the AP not calling the race and Bohannan has not conceded.

The First District had the same scenario just four years ago, when Miller-Meeks was leading Democratic candidate Rita Hart by 7 votes. Hart used a rule through the U.S. house to have the votes recounted in the entire First District. Miller-Meeks prevailed.

3 stabbed in Ames, search for suspect underway

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Now, residents of the first district are seeing the possibility of a recount again. Eva Ford, a Democrat from Mt. Pleasant thought it was odd that Miller-Meeks claimed a win before the race had been called.

Because there is a bigger margin than even the last time that Miller-Meeks ran, it was like, oh I didnt like it, but I thought well maybe shes right, said Ford. As it comes down to it, you know such a small difference last time but this time it was a bigger one.

What I understand from roughly 800 votes spread, thats enough, said David Dixon, of Oskaloosa. I would assume that a recount would not recoup that many.

Im surprised actually that its kind of in limbo, said Richard Countryman, of Oskaloosa. I dont know if its really solid for a candidate to come out and claim victory when it hasnt been called by the Associated Press.

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CLARKSBURG, W.Va.  Here are some of the top stories this week on the WBOY 12News Facebook page.

West Virginia voters approved a constitutional ban on physician-assisted suicide.

For the second time in 2024, voters in Preston County rejected a school board levy.

West Virginia is under a statewide outdoor burning ban after a proclamation from Gov. Jim Justice.

The Native American Studies Program at West Virginia University commemorated the planting of a Peace Tree on campus.

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Restaurants in north central West Virginia are offering free Veterans Day meals.

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Union Minister Shobha Karandlajeat an election campaign in Singarajipura on Friday urged voters to support NDA candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy in the upcoming election, emphasizing that this election is for a "good cause" and is focused on positive change and development. "In the past, elections here have been held amidst sorrow and losses due to members leaving the party," Karandlaje remarked. "This time, however, it's different; it's a positive election." Karandlaje highlighted the importance of strong representation from Karnataka in the Union Cabinet, noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally inducted HD Kumaraswamy in his cabinet to serve in his ministry. "Modi ji wanted Karnataka's leader in his cabinet, recognizing Kumaranna's capabilities, called him to the centre," she said. "He ranks among the top in the cabinet, showing his influence and commitment." Encouraging voters to elect Nikhil Kumaraswamy, she added, "To support Kumaranna, Nikhil must win. He's not new to this field. Nikhil is a bright young leader with experience in public service. His victory is essential to further Modi and Nikhil's vision for this region and to inspire youth into politics to shape India's future." Karandlaje also criticized Congress, accusing the party of rampant corruption. "Despite having 136 seats, Congress is embroiled in corruption in every department. They make hollow promises and fail to deliver any grants," she alleged. "The Congress simply puts its sticker on the rice provided by Modi for the 80 crore people across the country. The rice reaching your homes is provided by Modi's government, not Congress," she added. Karandlaje pointed out that even Congress leadership has doubts about fulfilling their "guarantees." "They had once promised to fund everything, and now they admit they can't fulfill their own guarantees," she said, emphasizing that such promises are a disservice to the people. Karandlaje called on the people of Channapatna to vote for NDA's Nikhil Kumaraswamy to strengthen Modi's vision for India and to deliver a warning message to what she described as "a corrupt, anti-Hindu, anti-farmer Congress government." "This constituency and the future of JD(S) depend on Nikhil's victory. Give him a larger win than Kumaraswamy himself had. Let's counter Siddaramaiah's caste and religion-based politics, which undermines our dignity. Corruption has stunted development, but with Modi and Kumaranna's partnership, Karnataka can have a solid foundation for progress," she emphasized. Addressing BJP leader Yogeshwar's defection to Congress, Karandlaje explained that the BJP had treated him fairly, even appointing him as an MLC and minister despite his previous electoral loss. "Even though he lost, we made him an MLC and minister. He came to us empty-handed, and we supported him fully. Now he's left for Congress. The Congress was floundering, and now he has joined them. That's why it's crucial to support Nikhil." The rally in Singarajipura village showcased Shobha Karandlaje's unwavering support for Nikhil Kumaraswamy as she concluded her speech with a call to voters to secure his victory in Channapatna and ensure Karnataka's prosperity under NDA leadership. This development comes ahead of the upcoming by polls in Channapatna, scheduled for November 13, where NDA candidate, Nikhil Kumaraswamy is in the electoral fray against Congress candidate CP Yogeshwara, who had recently jumped ship to the Congress from BJP. The by polls on 48 constituencies are spread over 15 states - Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal. (ANI)
Everett Stubbs will be the next South Carolina state senator in the Rock Hill area, our partners at The Charlotte Observer reported.

Recount likely in SC Senate District 17 race

Democratic incumbent Mike Fanning conceded Friday in a race that looked like it was headed toward a recount.

Only 29 votes separated Stubbs from Fanning for the District 17 seat. Which covers part of York, Chester, Fairfield and Lancaster counties.

The Observer reported Fanning alerted election officials that a recount was not needed.

Fanning held the seat since 2016.
In 1963, Roy Kerr, a New Zealand-based mathematician proposed a set of equations that explain the properties of rotating black holes as per Einsteins theory of general relativity.

These equations are collectively called the Kerr solution, and to this date, they represent one of the most accurate descriptions of rotating black holes.

However, a new study reveals that black holes are filled with instabilities, and what Kerr proposed is possibly not 100 percent accurate, especially about the internal structure of black holes.

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Our study implies that a black hole cannot stabilize in Kerr geometry, at least over long timescales, the study authors note.

Kerry geometry refers to the mathematical description of the warped spacetime around a rotating but uncharged black hole.

The inner instability of a black hole

The Kerr solution considers a black hole as a structure with a power circular current that has two horizons. The first is the outer boundary known as the event horizon where the gravitational effect is so strong that it doesnt let anything escape, not even light.

The second inner horizon, called the Cauchy horizon has a core called ring singularity, a region that becomes infinitely strong, and space and time break down. Its unique ring shape comes from the black holes spin, which stretches the singularity into a ring rather than collapsing it into a point.

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This model aligns well with observations, as deviations from Einstein's theory outside the black hole are regulated by new physics parameters, which govern the core's size and are expected to be quite small, the study authors said.

Kerr's geometry suggests that black holes can store a vast amount of energy. However, according to the new study, as the energy inside black holes increases, it can bring drastic changes in their structure, leading to instability over longer timescales and even in short timeframes.

This instability is due to an accumulation of energy that grows exponentially over time until it reaches a finite, but extremely large, value, capable of significantly influencing the overall geometry of the black hole and thus altering it, the study authors explain. This further indicates that black holes are not as stable as proposed by the theory of general relativity.

A need for new theoretical models

Scientists are still not sure what happens when the energy buildup inside a black hole reaches its peak, but if such an event happens it clearly means that the Kerr solution doesnt fully explain the science that governs black holes.

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"This result suggests that the Kerr solution, contrary to previous assumptions, cannot accurately describe observed black holes, at least on the typical timescales of their existence," Stefano Liberati, one of the study authors and a professor at the International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) in Italy, said.

They also believe that further studies focusing on the inner world and the above-mentioned instability of black holes could give rise to new theoretical models that might overcome the limitations of the Kerr solution.

The internal dynamics of black holes, which remain largely uncharted, could radically transform our understanding of these objects, even from an external perspective, Raul Carballo-Rubio, first author of the study and a postdoc researcher at the University of Southern Denmark, said.

The study is published in the journal Physical Review Letters.
Lets get the obvious query out of the way: Why is landlocked Utah State University (elevation above sea level: 4,500 feet) now offering a minor in marine science?

Yes, its a question were often asked, said USU watershed sciences professor Trisha Atwood, laughing. Its part of the preconceived notion that you need to be close to the ocean to study it.

Decades ago, marine researchers actually needed to, well, get their feet wet to study oceans and other large waterways. But today, oceans are managed and studied at sprawling national scales and often far from the nearest beach.

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Atwood, for example, works with National Geographic helping to design new marine protected areas.

For my job, I dont ever go in the ocean, she said. I do computer modeling; working with big data sets that have been collected by thousands of researchers across the globe. To study marine science, you dont necessarily need to be there.

So, yes, Logans USU, with its well-established watershed sciences bachelors degree program, is actually a natural fit for a Utah student to claim a marine science minor.

Starting this academic year, USU students earning a watershed sciences degree can pursue the new minor introducing them to marine ecosystems, marine biota, the chemical and the physical properties of the ocean and the seafloor  along with the conservation and management of marine resources.

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The curriculum for the new marine science minor was designed to ensure that participating USU students receive a rigorous program of study with several opportunities for experimental learning.

No surprise, the new minor is proving popular in Logan.

Students love the idea of marine science, said Atwood. Thats nothing new. If you look at YouTube or Google for How to be a marine biologist you will find tons of videos on, say, talking to your children about being a marine biologist.

Expect USU to become even more involved in marine science study in the future. Plans are in the works to offer a freshwater and marine ecology bachelors degree. And then we can open up the minor for all other majors, said Atwood.

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Even prior to the school offering a marine science minor, USU students enjoyed study abroad opportunities to the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Queensland in Australia. And were also looking into creating a similar trip to Laredo, Mexico, that would be a much cheaper option.

Administrators, educators and scuba divers from Utah State University and Loveland Living Planet Aquarium celebrate a new partnership between the two educational organizations in Draper on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. | Levi Sim, Utah State University

Partnering with the Living Planet Aquarium

Most Utahns already know they can observe several varieties of sharks, rays, clownfish, sea turtles and other ocean wildlife without leaving the Beehive State at Drapers Loveland Living Planet Aquarium.

Fueled by their shared interest in all things water, the popular aquarium and USU recently signed a partnership allowing students to enrich their marine science studies just inches away from living ocean sea creatures.

We will work together to partner on education and research and community events, said Atwood. The aquarium is building out a new learning center, and Utah State University has been offered lab space.

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Well have opportunities to teach some of our courses at the aquarium and integrate our courses with the aquarium.

Brent Anderson, the aquariums founder and chief executive officer, said the facilitys mission extends beyond simply showcasing marine life.

This partnership with USU is a testament to our commitment to fostering a deeper understanding of the intricate connections between our worlds ecosystems, said Anderson in a university release. By partnering with USU to provide students hands-on learning opportunities, were not only enriching their education, but also empowering them to become the next leaders in marine science and conservation  right here in Utah.

Atwood said USU students are already at the aquarium conducting research on subjects such as shark behavior and veterinary care for marine animals.

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Educators at Utah State are certain marine science study will only grow in one of the countrys most arid states. Already, theres wide interest in the oceans across arid Utah.

Several local high schools and counties are inquiring about becoming feeder schools to the program, said Atwood.

And weve already had tons of students contacting us and wanting to know when the bachelors degree will become available  they say they want to come right now.
Off the coast of Chile and Peru, along the entire western length of South America, the seafloor takes a sharp, steep plunge deep into the Pacific Ocean. Known as the Chile margin, the region is defined by three tectonic plates sliding underneath the continental plate of South America.

This process generates some interesting activity. At the junctions where the plates meet, volcanic activity bubbles up from below the seafloor, infusing the deep ocean with warmth and chemicals. And where such hydrothermal activity runs rampant, so too does an entire ecosystem, far beneath the waves.

From aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel Falkor (too), a team of marine scientists led by Jeffrey Marlow from Boston University in the US, Patricia Esquete from the University of Aveiro in Portugal, and Eulogio Soto from the Universidad de Valparaiso in Chile, has ventured to explore these ecosystems, mapping the diversity and distribution of marine life that swarms the depths below.

The 55-day expedition commenced on 11 October, and already the wealth of data is jaw-dropping. And, as part of their data collection, the researchers are obtaining spectacular videos of sights usually off-limits to humans, using the remotely-operated underwater vehicle, SuBastian.

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"As marine organisms die, they sink to the seafloor, where they are buried in the sediment  decomposing and enabling the slow buildup of methane. Eventually, the gas escapes upward through cracks and fissures, forming methane seeps," the Institute explains.

"Tiny single-celled organisms, chemosynthetic microbes, convert methane into energy to grow, forming carbonate rocks in the process. These seeps are known to be essential habitats, and the microbes consuming methane ensure this greenhouse gas remains locked in the seafloor and out of our atmosphere."

Since the expedition is still underway, science results may be some time away yet, but we are being treated to some of the videos. An incredible compilation hints at much more treasures to come.

Highlights include a seafloor absolutely teeming with spider crabs; Lamellibrachia tubeworms so abundant they form a reef-like structure around which entire food webs thrive; skates, sea stars, and anemones; and a mother Gonatus onyx squid, carrying her eggs around on a membrane like a blanket, which after months of careful incubation is shaken vigorously to help her young hatch and swim free.

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A separate video posted to Instagram shows a polychaete worm rippling along the seafloor, its bristles shimmering with iridescence. These invertebrates are extremely diverse and fill important ecological roles, serving as predator, prey, and clean-up crew for ocean detritus.

The expedition is set to continue until 5 December. Until then, the researchers will look for previously undiscovered seeps and vents, with a focus on the region called the Chile Triple Junction. This is the point at which the Nazca and Antarctic plates are subducted beneath the South American plate.

Where the two former plates meet a ridge runs perpendicular to the subduction zone; it's the only place in the world where an ocean ridge is being subducted beneath a continental plate. This means even more ocean life discoveries await in some of the ocean's most dynamic geophysical environments.

You can follow along with the expedition on the Schmidt Ocean Institute's YouTube and Instagram pages.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  State Superintendent Ryan Walters issued a memo on Thursday addressing the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education proposed by President-elect Donald Trump.

In the memo, Walters outlines five areas that he says would restore authority to the states if the U.S. Department of Education is eliminated: Championing parents rights, ending social indoctrination in classrooms, protecting patriotism in curriculum, stopping illegal immigrations impact on schools, and blocking foreign influence in our schools.

I look forward to working hand in hand with the Trump Administration to help dismantle the decades of damage the fed govt has inflicted on public education, Walters said in an X post on Thursday afternoon.

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The full memo can be read here.

Governor Stitt files brief with SCOTUS in support of St. Isidore case

The U.S. Department of Education, founded in 1980 during former President Jimmy Carters administration, is primarily responsible for issuing federal grants and loans; providing research findings and statistics to parents, teachers, and lawmakers; and enforcing federal statutes to prevent discrimination in federally-funded programs and activities.

The Oklahoma Education Association posted a statement on social media on Friday afternoon in response to the memo.

State Superintendent Ryan Walters released a memorandum to school districts stating that he is preparing Oklahoma schools for the elimination of the United States Department of Education. We believe this is a premature announcement; however, we are in discussions with our legal team and legislators to ensure that funding for valuable Special Education services, etc. continues without disruption. Oklahoma receives almost $1 billion from the federal government for education. How do we make sure our students continue to receive the resources they need? OEA stands with the parents of students with disabilities who would be disproportionately affected by any loss of funding and protections from the USDE. The OEA will continue to advocate for a robust education, safe classrooms, and quality teachers for all Oklahoma students, and that starts with funding and support for our schools. Oklahoma Education Association

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
PLEASANT HILL, Iowa  The suspect accused of hitting a Southeast Polk student and stealing the students car in October has been arrested.

State librarian accused of sending explicit photos, videos to minor

On October 24 the Pleasant Hill Police Department responded to the high school parking lot on a report of a car jacking. According to school officials, a suspicious individual was seen loitering in the parking lot. The individual came in contact with a staff member and then struck a student and stole the students vehicle. The suspect fled from the scene.

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Pleasant Hill Police announced on Friday that the suspect has been arrested in Illinois. Elijah Sack, 20, has been charged with first-degree robbery and third-degree attempted burglary in connection to the case. Sack is also facing additional charges in Illinois.

Latest Metro News:

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  A robbery suspect was arrested on Friday afternoon by Salt Lake City Police after wielding a knife in a convenience store, stealing cash and a pack of cigarettes.

Man arrested for wielding hatchet inside of a convenience store during robbery

The 58-year-old man has been identified as Scott Hunt. Officers say he reportedly entered a 7/11 convenience store in the 1300 block of W. Indiana Ave., with a knife.

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Hunt faces the following charges:

Two counts of aggravated robbery

One count of aggravated assault

Two counts of unlawful possession, purchase or transfer of a dangerous weapon

One count of tampering with evidence

As Hunt went to leave, he experienced difficulty leaving and got stuck inside. Hunt is accused of chasing the store clerk inside. The chase ended when the clerk hit Hunt over the head with a stool, a press release from SLCPD said.

He eventually left the store and ran toward Indiana Ave. where an officer took him into custody.

Before he entered into the 7/11, bystanders reported to police that Hunt was allegedly stashing what appeared to be evidence inside of a trash can.

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Paramedics took Hunt to a local hospital for injuries he received when the clerk hit him with the stool. He is expected to be taken to the Salt Lake County Metro Jail and booked in on charges that include aggravated robbery and aggravated assault, SLCPD says.

Hunt was later booked into the Salt Lake 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.

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SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  A murder suspect wanted out of Arlington, Texas is arrested in Shreveport.

According to the Arlington Police Department, U.S. Marshals arrested Robert Kelly, 31, on Thursday in the Shreveport area.

Shreveport police looking for suspect in alleged hit-and-run

They say Kelly shot and killed Marquis Holliman, 38, following an argument at an apartment complex on June 6, 2024.

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Kelly had been on the run since the murder. A warrant out of Tarrant County charging Kelly with murder was issued in the days following the fatal shooting.

According to Shreveport Police, Kelly sits in the city jail awaiting extradition to Texas.

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A man involved in a June homicide in northwest Atlanta was arrested in DeKalb, Illinois on Friday and is set to be extradited back to Georgia.

The Atlanta Police Department said 23-year-old Kevin Fox shot and killed a man at the Reserve at Hollywood Apartments in northwest Atlanta.

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The shooting occurred just after 11 p.m. and when police arrived at the apartments, they found the victim with multiple gunshot wounds. He was not alert, conscious, or breathing and was pronounced dead by medical personnel on scene.

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Fox was arrested by the Dekalb Police Department in Dekalb, Illinois on Friday and is set for extradition. He was arrested on charges unrelated to the homicide investigation in Atlanta.

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Chinese, Italian presidents meet representatives from cultural conference, university dialogue

Xinhua) 09:12, November 09, 2024

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Italian President Sergio Mattarella pose for a group photo with representatives attending the China-Italy Cultural Cooperation Mechanism Conference and the Dialogue between Chinese and Italian University Presidents prior to their joint meeting with the representatives in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

BEIJING, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Friday jointly met with representatives attending the China-Italy Cultural Cooperation Mechanism Conference and the Dialogue between Chinese and Italian University Presidents in Beijing.

The two heads of state heard reports from representatives of the two sides on China-Italy cultural and university cooperation.

Xi pointed out that the friendly exchanges between China and Italy which date back over a thousand years have nourished endless bilateral cultural and people-to-people exchanges, setting a fine example of equal dialogue and common development among different civilizations.

In recent years, the China-Italy Cultural Cooperation Mechanism has promoted the launching of the Year of Culture and Tourism in each other's countries, and pioneered the model of twinning relationships between the two countries' UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Universities of the two countries have conducted extensive academic and youth exchanges, and expanded joint research in emerging disciplines, with fruitful results, Xi said.

The world has entered a new period of disorder and transformation, Xi said, calling on the two sides to work together to encourage more people of vision to practice China-Italy friendship and cooperation, promote mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations, and participate in the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, so as to make a joint contribution to world peace and development.

Mattarella spoke highly of the important contributions made by the Italian-Chinese cultural cooperation mechanism and the University Presidents Dialogue to promoting mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation between the two peoples, saying that both Italy and China are ancient civilizations with splendid cultures.

The two peoples appreciate and respect each other, and the story of Marco Polo is a portrayal of mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations, said Mattarella.

The two sides should sum up experience, carry forward friendship, build more bridges for people-to-people exchanges, strengthen unity and oppose confrontation, so as to provide a solid foundation and support for the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Italy and China, he said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Italian President Sergio Mattarella jointly meet with representatives attending the China-Italy Cultural Cooperation Mechanism Conference and the Dialogue between Chinese and Italian University Presidents in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Italian President Sergio Mattarella jointly meet with representatives attending the China-Italy Cultural Cooperation Mechanism Conference and the Dialogue between Chinese and Italian University Presidents in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

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Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Italian President Sergio Mattarella in Beijing on Friday, saying the two countries should make joint efforts to build a world of harmonious coexistence.

Mattarella is in China for a state visit at the invitation of Xi.

Noting that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the China-Italy comprehensive strategic partnership, Xi said China and Italy, both ancient civilizations, should uphold their traditions of openness and inclusiveness, and encourage the international community to resolve differences through dialogue and rise above conflicts through cooperation.

Noting that mutual respect and trust, and win-win cooperation should always be the defining feature of China-Italy relations, Xi said the two sides should fully leverage the role of the China-Italy Government Committee and dialogue mechanisms in various fields, strengthen exchanges, consolidate mutual trust, continue to understand and support each other on issues of core interests and major concerns, and be strategic partners of mutual support.

China-Italy cultural cooperation has yielded fruitful results and is full of vitality, Xi said. He urged the two sides to continue to strengthen people-to-people exchanges, implement the new round of cultural cooperation action plans, deepen cooperation on culture and art, cultural relics' protection, translation of classical works, tourism and education, and make cooperation on cultural heritage sites a new highlight of China-Italy people-to-people exchanges.

Xi called on the two sides to support language teaching and youth exchanges, and remain cooperative partners helping each other to succeed. China is willing to import more quality Italian products, support mutual investment by enterprises of the two countries and continue to advance cooperation on science, technology, environmental protection, clean energy and aerospace, Xi said.

Xi said that China and Europe are major forces for peace and constructive action, and should stick to the right direction of strategic communication, open cooperation and mutual learning, which is in the interests of both sides and the world at large.

Xi said that China takes Europe as an important partner on the path toward realizing Chinese modernization. He urged the two sides to seek win-win cooperation and manage their differences properly to ensure that bilateral relations are more mature and stable, as duly expected.

"China is willing to strengthen cooperation with the European side to cope with global challenges, and hopes that Italy can play a positive role in this regard," Xi said.

Mattarella said this year marks the 700th anniversary of the death of Marco Polo, whose connection with China epitomizes the long-standing friendship between the two countries and the mutual success of the two civilizations. He added that Italy and China should further enhance people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in such fields as culture, education, language teaching and cultural heritage cooperation, and make new contributions to promoting the dialogue and mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations, as well as the progress of human civilization.

Mattarella said Italy firmly adheres to the one-China policy and always considers China as an important partner. Italy looks forward to working with China to take the opportunity of celebrating the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership to strengthen cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, and science and technology, and push bilateral relations to a new height.

Italy shares similar positions with China on many major issues. Both sides oppose protectionism, advocate mutual openness, and stand for strengthening constructive communication, solidarity and cooperation to jointly meet various challenges. Italy is willing to work closely with China in multilateral collaboration and contribute the wisdom of the two civilizations to promoting world peace and stability, Mattarella said.

After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of culture, science and technology, education, and the protection of world heritage sites.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan pose for a group photo with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and his daughter Laura Mattarella in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 8, 2024. Xi held talks with Mattarella, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Friday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its actions in Maharashtra, claiming that the party has "looted" the state instead of addressing its issues. While speaking to ANI on Friday, Thackeray stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should answer why the BJP looted Maharashtra instead of entangling them in the pages of history. Thackeray further questioned the BJP for not providing employment to the youth of the state. "I think it would be better for the Prime Minister to answer why the BJP looted Maharashtra instead of entangling us in the pages of history. Why did the BJP not employ the youth here and take it to Gujarat? They should answer this," he said. Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate from Worli, who was campaigning in the lead-up to the state elections, also accused the BJP of not prioritising the welfare of Maharashtra's people, suggesting that while the BJP may focus on history, the state is looking at the future. In a direct challenge to the BJP, Thackeray asserted that the BJP thinks bad for Maharashtra and that the state would decline the BJP and would accept Maha Vikas Aghadi. "Maybe they are busy with the pages of history but Maharashtra is looking at the future. BJP thinks bad about Maharashtra. Maharashtra will decline the BJP; it will only accept MVA," he said. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde slammed the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, stating that it would be remembered as an "anti-development government, reiterating that the voters of Pune would stand with the Mahayuti during the upcoming Maharashtra assembly polls. Addressing a public rally in Pune on Friday, Shinde accused the MVA of stalling major development projects and prioritising power over public welfare and criticised the MVA for forming an "unnatural alliance" driven by the "greed of power." "I have come here after six public rallies throughout the day. Pune is an IT and manufacturing hub. It is the cultural city of the state. I know voters of Pune will stand behind Mahayuti. If you compare the work done by MVA and Mahayuti, they just stalled all projects like Jalyukt Shivar Yojana, Samruddhi Mahamarg, metro projects and others. MVA will be known as an anti-development government... They made an unnatural alliance for the greed of power," he said. The Maharashtra assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with votes for all 288 constituencies to be counted on November 23. The opposition MVA coalition, comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Nationalist Congress Party (SCP), seeks to reclaim power in the state, challenging the Mahayuti alliance, which includes Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Ajit Pawar-led NCP. In the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena secured 56, and Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP won 122 seats, Shiv Sena 63, and Congress 42. (ANI)
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  The Hopkinsville Police Department is searching for a suspect following a shooting that left one person dead.

Officers responded to the area of East 1st Street and North Virginia in reference to a person who had been shot.

EMS provided medical treatment to 27-year-old Jacorey Majors on scene, but was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

At this time, detectives are requesting the publics assistance with locating a person of interest. Police are searching for 27-year-old Tavarious Mathews. Authorities say he should be considered armed and dangerous, and should not be approached.

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Any information on Mathews whereabouts should be directed to 270-890-1300

This is a developing story.

Tavarious Mathews (Courtesy: Hopkinsville Police Department)

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Milwaukee Elections Commission Executive Director Paulina Gutierrez addresses news media on election night. On Friday, the commission delayed certification canvassing until Monday after receiving a suspicious package. (Henry Redman | Wisconsin Examiner)

The Milwaukee Elections Commission put off certifying election results Friday after receiving a suspicious package that the commission said was later determined not to be hazardous.

Commission staff reported the package, a bubble-wrapped envelope wet with an unknown liquid that arrived at the commissions City Hall office Friday morning. The Milwaukee Fire Department responded to the report, sending a hazardous materials team

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According to a statement released by the elections commission, the envelope emitted an unusual odor. The statement said that firefighters were contacted out of caution and that, after thorough testing, all results were clear, and [Milwaukee Fire Department] confirmed the area was safe.

The Wisconsin Examiner contacted the Milwaukee Police Department for more information and was referred to the Milwaukee Fire Department, who said to contact the mayors office. The citys spokesman, Jeff Flemming, could not be reached, but the mayors office referred the inquiry to the elections commission.

The commission statement said the body rescheduled its certification of the election to Nov. 11, at 8 a.m.

Once certified by the City of Milwaukee Board of Election Commissioners, the results will be transferred to the county and continue through the process to the state, said the commissions statement.

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First responders gave the all clear to the commission to accept the curing of provisional ballots until 4 p.m. Friday.

The Wisconsin Election Commission website has details on the certification process.

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Ukrainian drones "destroyed or damaged" over 52,000 Russian targets in October, highlighting the increasing impact of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on the battlefield, Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Nov. 9.

Syrskyi said that the targets included 129 artillery systems, 221 pieces of radio equipment, and more than 4,000 Russian troops.

"Drone technology is developing rapidly, and we must be one step ahead of the enemy," the general said after a monthly meeting with commanders of drone units.

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Syrskyi's statement comes as Ukraine intensifies its attacks both in Russian-occupied territories and in Russia. On Nov. 9, Ukrainian drones struck the Aleksinsky chemical plant, which produces gunpowder and ammunition for the Russian military, in Russia's Tula Oblast, sources at the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) told the Kyiv Independent.

Ukraine is using drone technology to gain an advantage on the battlefield, where its outnumbered and outgunned troops are gradually pulling back.

But despite being limited to the use of long-range kamikaze drones, Kyiv has scored some spectacular success in recent weeks.

One of the largest explosions of the full-scale invasion saw, in the words of a Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) source, an ammunition warehouse "literally wiped off the face of the earth" in Tver Oblast last month.

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This came just days after Ukraine confirmed attacks on two other arms depots, with the U.K. Defense Ministry saying that the combined strikes caused "the largest loss of ammunition" in Russia during its all-out war against Ukraine.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
MATTESON, Ill.  A teachers aide was arrested Friday after reportedly assaulting a student at Marya Yates Elementary School.

Police said just before the end of the school day, an 8-year-old boy was running in the hall when a 26-year-old teachers aide grabbed him and slung him to the ground. The teachers aide reportedly dragged the student about 20 feet into the classroom.

She even partially dropped the student in the doorway and used her foot to forcefully nudge the student further into the room so she could close the door, according to investigators.

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Federal charges filed against 2 suburban men accused of storming U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6

Police said the student made a complaint to school officials, which prompted an immediate investigation among school staff, the School Resource Officer and Matteson Police Department. Authorities reviewed the schools security footage which corroborated the students claims.

The teachers aide was arrested and charges of battery and endangering the life and health of a child are pending, according to police.

The student did not report any injuries.

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Americans cast their ballots today in the presidential race between Republican nominee former President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as multiple state elections that will determine the balance of power in Congress. (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)

Advancements in AI technology, and the changing information environment undoubtedly influenced how campaigns operated and voters made decisions in the 2024 election, an elections and democracy expert said.

Technologists and election academics warned a few months ago that mis- and disinformation would play an even larger role in 2024 than it did in 2020 and 2016. What exactly that disinformation would look like became more clear in the two weeks leading up to the election, said Tim Harper, senior policy analyst for democracy and elections at the Center for Democracy and Technology.

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I think a lot of folks kind of maybe prematurely claimed that generative AIs impact was overblown, Harper said. And then, you know, in short order, in the last week, we saw several kinds of disinformation campaigns emerge.

Harper specifically mentioned the false claims that vice presidential nominee Tim Walz was alleged to have perpetrated an act of sexual misconduct, and a deep fake video of election officials ripping up ballots, both of which have been shown to be Russian misinformation campaigns.

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AI also played a role in attempted voter suppression, Harper said, not just by foreign governments, but by domestic parties as well. EagleAI, a database that scrapes public voter data, was being used by a 2,000-person North Carolina group which aimed to challenge the ballots of suspicious voters.

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Emails obtained by Wired last month show that voters the group aimed to challenge include same-day registrants, US service members overseas, or people with homestead exemptions, a home tax exemption for vulnerable individuals, such as elderly or disabled people, in cases where there are anomalies with their registration or address.

The group also aimed to target people who voted from a college dorm, people who registered using a post office box address and people with inactive voter status.

Another shift Harper noted from the 2020 election was a rollback of enforcement of misinformation policies on social media platforms. Many platforms feared being seen as influencing the election if they flagged or challenged misinformation content.

Last year, Facebook and Instagrams parent company Meta, as well as X began allowing political advertisements that perpetuated election denial of the 2020 election.

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Youtube also changed its policy to allow election misinformation, saying In the current environment, we find that while removing this content does curb some misinformation, it could also have the unintended effect of curtailing political speech without meaningfully reducing the risk of violence or other real-world harm.

But there are real-world risks for rampant misinformation, Harper said. Federal investigative agencies have made clear that misinformation narratives that delegitimize past elections directly contribute to higher risk of political violence.

Platforms with less-well-established trust and safety teams, such Discord and Twitch also play a role. They experienced their first rodeo of mass disinformation this election cycle, Harper said.

They were tested, and I think were still evaluating how they did at preventing this content, he said.

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Podcasters and social influencers also increasingly shaped political opinions of their followers this year, often under murky ethical guidelines. Influencers do not follow ethical guidelines and rules for sharing information like journalists do, but Americans have increasingly relied on social media for their news.

Theres also a lack of transparency between influencers and the political campaigns and candidates theyre speaking about  some have reportedly taken under-the-table payments by campaigns, or have made sponsored content for their followers without disclosing the agreement to viewers.

The Federal Election Commission decided late last year that while campaigns have to disclose spending to an influencer, influencers do not have to disclose such payments to their audience.

In terms of kind of the balkanization of the internet, of the information environment,  I think this election cycle may end up being seen kind of as the influencer election, Harper said.
Voters cast their ballots at the Salt Lake County Government Center in Salt Lake City on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

Advancements in AI technology, and the changing information environment undoubtedly influenced how campaigns operated and voters made decisions in the 2024 election, an elections and democracy expert said.

Technologists and election academics warned a few months ago that mis- and disinformation would play an even larger role in 2024 than it did in 2020 and 2016. What exactly that disinformation would look like became more clear in the two weeks leading up to the election, said Tim Harper, senior policy analyst for democracy and elections at the Center for Democracy and Technology.

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I think a lot of folks kind of maybe prematurely claimed that generative AIs impact was overblown, Harper said. And then, you know, in short order, in the last week, we saw several kinds of disinformation campaigns emerge.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Harper specifically mentioned the false claims that vice presidential nominee Tim Walz was alleged to have perpetrated an act of sexual misconduct, and a deep fake video of election officials ripping up ballots, both of which have been shown to be Russian misinformation campaigns.

AI also played a role in attempted voter suppression, Harper said, not just by foreign governments, but by domestic parties as well. EagleAI, a database that scrapes public voter data, was being used by a 2,000-person North Carolina group which aimed to challenge the ballots of suspicious voters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Emails obtained by Wired last month show that voters the group aimed to challenge include same-day registrants, US service members overseas, or people with homestead exemptions, a home tax exemption for vulnerable individuals, such as elderly or disabled people, in cases where there are anomalies with their registration or address.

The group also aimed to target people who voted from a college dorm, people who registered using a PO Box address and people with inactive voter status.

Another shift Harper noted from the 2020 election was a rollback of enforcement of misinformation policies on social media platforms. Many platforms feared being seen as influencing the election if they flagged or challenged misinformation content.

Last year, Facebook and Instagrams parent company Meta, as well as X began allowing political advertisements that perpetuated election denial of the 2020 election.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Youtube also changed its policy to allow election misinformation, saying In the current environment, we find that while removing this content does curb some misinformation, it could also have the unintended effect of curtailing political speech without meaningfully reducing the risk of violence or other real-world harm.

But there are real-world risks for rampant misinformation, Harper said. Federal investigative agencies have made clear that misinformation narratives that delegitimize past elections directly contribute to higher risk of political violence.

Platforms with less-well-established trust and safety teams, such Discord and Twitch also play a role. They experienced their first rodeo of mass disinformation this election cycle, Harper said.

They were tested, and I think were still evaluating how they did at preventing this content, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasters and social influencers also increasingly shaped political opinions of their followers this year, often under murky ethical guidelines. Influencers do not follow ethical guidelines and rules for sharing information like journalists do, but Americans have increasingly relied on social media for their news.

Theres also a lack of transparency between influencers and the political campaigns and candidates theyre speaking about  some have reportedly taken under-the-table payments by campaigns, or have made sponsored content for their followers without disclosing the agreement to viewers.

The Federal Election Commission decided late last year that while campaigns have to disclose spending to an influencer, influencers do not have to disclose such payments to their audience.

In terms of kind of the balkanization of the internet, of the information environment,  I think this election cycle may end up being seen kind of as the influencer election, Harper said.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  A teen was shot on Randolph Street overnight Saturday, Rochester Police confirm.

According to the Rochester Police Department, officers responded to Randolph Street around 12:30 a.m. and found a 15-year-old with at least one gunshot wound to the upper body.

The teen was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital by AMR and was treated for what police say was a non-life-threatening injury.

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RPD says they are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to call 911.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
A Tennessee woman said she was feeding her cats when she was nearly attacked by a different animal: a monkey.

The incident occurred on Thursday as the anonymous woman was giving her pets food when a monkey  wearing a leash  tried to attack her, News Channel 9 reported. Police dont know where the monkey came from or who it belonged to.

Startled, the woman grabbed a shotgun and struck the vervet monkey.

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The severely injured creature was taken to the Chattanooga Zoo, where veterinarians tried in vain to save it.

Jake Cash, Director of Marketing and Communications at Chattanooga Zoo, told the outlet: Every animal care professional we spoke to, and that was in the room, decided that the best, obvious course of action was just a humane euthanasia, due to the severity of the animals injuries.

A vervet monkey. One vervet monkey, wearing a leash, allegedly tried to attack a woman at her home when she was feeding her cats. (Getty Images)

This monkey was male and not an adult, Cash said, adding that while people are allowed to own monkeys in Tennessee, he doesnt recommend it. Housing a primate like that comes with a lot of risks and challenges that people definitely need to fully understand before they undertake something like that, he said.

Soddy-Daisy Police are trying to determine who owned the monkey, the outlet reported.

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This monkey isnt the only one to make headlines this week.

Police are on the hunt for 40 monkeys that escaped a research facility in South Carolina.

The monkeys reportedly escaped from a business called Alpha Genesis, which provides nonhuman primate products and bio-research services, according to its website.

Just dont try to take these things home or pet them, Yemassee Police Chief Gregory Alexander said, per the Post and Courier. Were getting a lot of that on our social media. Thats a felony because they dont belong to you.

There is no indication that the vervet monkey in Tennessee is related to the escaped monkeys in South Carolina.
A Tennessee woman shot a vervet monkey she said tried to attack her, according to police. The monkey later died from its wounds at the Chattanooga Zoo.

The woman, whose name was not released, went to feed her cats Thursday afternoon in Thrasher, Tennessee, when the monkey approached her and tried to attack her, a spokesperson from the Soddy-Daisy Police Department told CBS News. The woman said she recently had hip surgery and tried to get away from the monkey.

She told police she went to get her shotgun from her house to defend herself.

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Officers found the wounded monkey in the driveway and transported it to the Chattanooga Zoo to be treated. A zoo spokesperson said the monkey arrived Thursday evening and was moved into the animal hospital.

"Unfortunately, due to the severity of the monkey's wounds, the best course of action for the animal was humane euthanasia," Jake Cash, the spokesperson for Chattanooga Zoo, confirmed to CBS News. He added the zoo consulted with an animal shelter, Humane Educational Society, and thoroughly examined the monkey's condition before it was euthanized.

The Soddy-Daisy Police Department did not say whether the vervet monkey was a pet or if it had an owner, but local media reported the monkey had a collar.

Animal advocacy group PETA has kept a list of incidents with captive primates since 1990 that have resulted in the deaths of over 60 animals and one human. Ownership of exotic pets has jumped in recent years, with 13 percent of households owning such an animal by 2016, according to research conducted by the International Fund for Animal Welfare. Between 2014 and 2019, 48,793 individual live specimens that were refused clearance by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service needed care and placement.

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Common in East Africa, vervet monkeys are small, black-faced monkeys weighing between 6 to 11 pounds. These monkeys are hunted for their meat and can be trapped and kept as pets. Experts like to remind people that monkeys are wildlife and should not be kept as pets.

"They are loud, messy, difficult to care for, and can be aggressive," the San Diego Zoo warns in its website.

Shantel Guzman contributed reporting.

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In a heartwarming story from Tumkur, pre-term twins were born at 23 weeks, each weighing around 500 grams and were saved in what is a highly skilful medical feat in recent memory. The parents, who were part of a farming family, had been struggling to conceive for a long time before deciding to undergo fertility treatment. When the mother became pregnant with twins, the family was overjoyed. The happiness of the family however was short-lived as it was revealed that the mother had experienced a shortening of the cervix, leading to premature labor and the birth of the babies 17 weeks early. The twins are part of the 0.3% of babies born with a birth weight of less than 600g worldwide, weighing 550g and 540g each. Nevertheless, doctors with their expertise and deployment of advanced technology ensured that the babies were delivered at the Aster Women and Children Hospital, Whitefield in Bangalore. The babies were later admitted to the NICU at the hospital for around three to four months for further care. This case is striking if one takes into consideration data on preterm twins. According to recent data recorded in a reputable medical journal, while the survival rate of a singleton neonate (a single baby without a twin) born at 23 weeks is approximately 23.4 per cent worldwide, very few such cases have been reported in India. However, the survival of neonate twins at a gestational age of 23 weeks has never been observed or recorded before in the country. The doctors faced numerous challenges during the almost 4-month long recovery period. The advanced medical support provided to the twins helped them combat risky medical conditions such as intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH), infections and cardiovascular instability, which could have potentially been fatal. The babies also had underdeveloped lungs, making them highly susceptible to respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). To prevent this, prolonged ventilation or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) support. Precautions were taken to manage infections, as premature infants are highly susceptible to them due to their frail immune systems. Feeding premature twins with extremely low birth weight can also be challenging, as their underdeveloped gastrointestinal systems increase the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Fortunately, both babies did not have major feeding problems. A specialized medical team comprising doctors with expertise in women's and children's care treated both the mother and the twins. The team, led by Srinivasa Murthy C L, Lead Pediatrics, Consultant - Pediatrics and Neonatology, Lathiesh Kumar K, Lead Neonatology, Consultant - Pediatrics and Neonatology, Sandya Rani, Senior Consultant - Obstetrics & Gynaecology, along with the team of NICU nurses and doctors, worked tirelessly to ensure a successful outcome for this complex case. Srinivasa Murthy C L, Lead Pediatrics, Consultant - Pediatrics and Neonatology, Aster Women and Children Hospital said"A case such as this has never been seen in India before. Studies have recorded that 2.5 out of every 1000 deliveries occur during the 23rd week of gestational age and more than 50% of these babies die within the first 72 hours of being born. But we did not lose hope and, with state-of-the-art neonatal ventilators, incubators, and cardiac monitors, managed this case and ensured successful treatment of the babies". The parents were kept informed about all the developments and treatment plans daily. When they first heard the news, they were devastated and feared that they might lose both of their babies. They even asked the doctors to save at least one child if saving both was not possible. However, the medical team's reassurances kept their hopes high during this difficult time. The family also faced significant financial difficulties. The hospital, empathizing with this circumstance, ensured financial support by raising almost five lakh rupees through the Rotary Club and a crowdfunding platform. A few doctors also extended their help within their capacity. "Now that the babies have been discharged, we are conducting a comprehensive long-term follow-up, which is crucial for infants who have been in the NICU. Our main focus at present is on providing early stimulation to help normalize their developmental skills", added Lathiesh Kumar K, Lead Neonatology, Consultant - Pediatrics and Neonatology. The father of the babies said, "A local hospital referred us to the doctors here. We had not expected the process to be so expensive, but we are very thankful to our friends, family and especially the doctors, who extended financial help to us. The hospital had become our home for those months with the whole staff treating us as their family". The exceptional case not only showcases the remarkable progress in neonatal care but also exemplifies the power of hope and perseverance. It demonstrates how compassionate support, advanced medical progress, and community solidarity can help overcome challenges and achieve success. (ANI)
Authorities said Melonie Ballenger was found on Friday, Nov. 8

Wylie Police Department Melonie Ballenger Melonie Ballenger

Melonie Ballenger, the Texas woman who disappeared from her home without her phone or car, has been found safe, according to authorities.

The Wylie Police Department said in a Facebook post that Melonie, 46, was found on Friday, Nov. 8, around 5:15 p.m. local time near Abby Lane and Tyler Trail  a couple of miles from her home in Wylie.

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Police said that a resident found Melonie "severely dehydrated but otherwise in good health." She was then "taken to a hospital for treatment" and was "being reunited with her family," according to authorities.

"We want to thank everyone who worked day and night trying to find her. Please respect the privacy of the family as they reunite with their loved one," police wrote in their statement, adding that the investigation into her disappearance is still ongoing.

Related: Husband Speaks Out After Wife Left Home Without Phone or Car, Says He Woke Up and She Was Gone

Police previously said that Melonie was last seen at home at 10 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3. She was then reported missing by her husband Daniel Ballenger around 6:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 4.

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Her husband previously told CBS affiliate KTVT that he and his wife went to sleep, but when he woke up the next morning, she was gone. He said he called police after he and the couple's daughters tried to find Melonie, but were unable to do so.

Daniel also told ABC affiliate WFAA that his wife also left without her wallet, money or necessary medication. He added to KTVT that Melonie was scheduled to have heart surgery, while family members said she stayed home on Nov. 3 because she felt sick.



Related: Woman Reported Missing by Husband After She Was Last Seen at Texas Home, Leaving Without Phone or Car

On Nov. 7, Wylie Sgt. Donald English told PEOPLE that the Texas Department of Public Safety had issued a Coordinated Law Enforcement Adult Rescue (CLEAR) Alert and was "searching various locations and following up on tips" for Melonie.

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He added that authorities went through footage from several Ring cameras while attempting to retrace Melonies steps.

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A prayer vigil for Melonie was held at Gateway Community Church on Tuesday, Nov. 5, according toWylie News.

I think she's been kind of surprised how many people are here, but I think she'd have been moved, Daniel told WFFA at the time. Ive probably gone through a month's worth of emotions in the last day and a half  a lot of crying, a lot of praying."


SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Good morning its Saturday, Nov. 9. Heres the latest in news and weather with KELOLAND On The Go.

Theres been a big shakeup in leadership at the South Dakota legislature ahead of next years 100th legislative session.

CO2 pipeline opponents sweep top House posts

Karr chosen as Senates new president pro tem

It took longer than expected to count nearly 100,000 in Minnehaha County But it didnt take long to make the results official.

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Minnehaha sets audit date, post election review

A Sioux Falls man is facing charges after allegedly holding police at bay during a standoff.

Man arrested for aggravated assault in SWAT situation

THC drinks have become a popular alternative to alcohol in Sioux Falls.

THC drinks becoming more common in Sioux Falls

Whats ahead in weather?

Storm Center AM Update: Spotty Showers; Drier into Veterans Day

The second largest ice fishing show in the country is underway in Sioux Falls.

Class is back in session at the Ice Institute

Follow the latest in news and weather with the KELOLAND News app.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
By Graham Keeley

VALENCIA (Reuters) -Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in the eastern Spanish city of Valencia on Saturday over regional authorities' handling of devastating floods that killed more than 220 people in one of Europe's worst natural disasters for decades.

In the latest demonstration over the floods, protesters filled the centre of Valencia demanding the resignation of regional government leader Carlos Mazon and chanting "Killers!".

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"Our hands are stained with mud, yours with blood," read one banner. Some demonstrators dumped dirty boots outside the government building while others plastered it with mud.

Residents in stricken areas accuse Mazon of issuing an alert too late, at 8 p.m. on Oct. 29, well after water was already pouring into many nearby towns and villages.

The Valencian leader has said he would have issued an earlier alarm earlier if authorities had been notified of the seriousness of the situation by an official water monitoring body. Mazon did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

"We want to show our indignation and anger over the poor management of this disaster which has affected so many people," said Anna Oliver, president of Accio Cultural del Pais Valenciano, one of about 30 groups that organised the protest.

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Though the demonstration was largely peaceful, police charged stone-throwing protesters at one point and objects hurled at the city council building caused minor damage.

Following days of storm warnings from the national weather service from Oct. 25 onward, some municipalities and local bodies raised the alarm much earlier than the regional government.

For example, Valencia University told its staff on Oct. 28 not to come to work. Several town halls suspended activities, shut down public facilities and told people to stay home.

Weather service AEMET raised its threat level for heavy rains in the area to a red alert at 7:36 a.m. on Oct. 29.

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Nearly 80 people are still missing in what is the most deadly deluge in a single European country since floods in Portugal in 1967 killed around 500.

(Reporting by Graham Keeley, Horaci Garcia, Ana Beltran, Eva Manez and Michael Gore; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
VALENCIA, Spain (AP)  Tens of thousands of Spaniards marched in the eastern city of Valencia on Saturday to demand the resignation of the regional president in charge of the emergency response to last weeks catastrophic floods that left more than 200 dead and others missing.

A group of protestors clashed with riot police in front of Valencia's city hall, where the protestors started their march to the seat of the regional government. Police used batons to beat them back.

Regional leader Carlos Mazon is under immense pressure after his administration failed to issue flood alerts to citizens cellphones until hours after the flooding started on the night of Oct. 29.

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Many marchers held up homemade signs or chanted Mazon Resign! Others carried signs with messages like You Killed Us! Upon arrival at the regional government seat, some protesters slung mud on the building and left handprints of the muck on its facade.

Earlier on Saturday, Mazon told regional broadcaster A Punt that there will be time to hold officials accountable, but that now is time to keep cleaning our streets, helping people and rebuilding.

He said that he respected the march.

Mazon, of the conservative Popular Party, is also being criticized for what people perceive as the slow and chaotic response to the natural disaster. Thousands of volunteers were the first boots on the ground in many of the hardest hit areas on Valencias southern outskirts. It took days for officials to mobilize the thousands of police reinforcements and soldiers that the regional government asked central authorities to send in.

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In Spain, regional governments are charged with handling civil protection and can ask the national government in Madrid, led by the Socialists, for extra resources.

Mazon has defended his handling of the crisis saying that its magnitude was unforeseeable and that his administration didnt receive sufficient warnings from central authorities.

But Spains weather agency issued a red alert, the highest level of warning, for bad weather as early as 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning as the disaster loomed.

Some communities were flooded by 6 p.m. It took until after 8 p.m. for Mazons administration to send out alerts to peoples cellphones.

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Mazon was with Spains royals and Socialist prime minister when they were pelted with mud by enraged residents during their first visit to a devastated area last weekend.

Sara Sanchez Gurillo attended the protest because she had lost her brother-in-law, 62-year-old Candido Molina Pulgarin. She said his body was found in a field of orange trees after he was trapped by the water in his home in the town of Cheste, west of Valencia.

She wanted Mazon to go, but also had harsh words for the country's leaders.

Its shameful what has happened, Sanchez said. They knew that the sky was going to fall and yet they didnt warn anyone. They didnt evacuate the people. We want them to resign!

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The central government should have taken charge. They should have sent in the army earlier. The king should have made them send it in. Why do we want him as a symbolic figure? He is worthless. The people are alone. They have abandoned us.

The death toll stood at 220 victims on Saturday, with 212 coming in the eastern Valencia region, as the search for bodies goes on.

Thousands more lost their homes and streets are still covered in mud and debris 11 days since the arrival of a tsunami-like wave following a record deluge.

___ Joseph Wilson reported from Barcelona.
The 2024 legislative candidates who appeared on the Nov. 5, 2024, general election ballot. (Photos courtesy of the candidates/campaigns. Nebraska Capitol photo by Rebecca S. Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner)

OMAHA  The latest batch of votes counted in Douglas County narrowly extended the lead for one legislative candidate in a northeast Omaha race.

Two candidates are vying for the Legislatures District 13 seat in northeast Douglas County, including northeast Omaha. From left, Nick Batter and Ashlei Spivey. (Photos courtesy of the candidates; Capitol photo by Rebecca Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner)

But the final outcome for that race and two others, in Grand Island and Bellevue, remained too close to call Friday evening, with final provisional ballots set to be counted the week of Nov. 11 or beyond. Republicans have maintained at least 33 seats in the Legislature, the number of votes often needed for contentious legislation to end debate and advance proposals.

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In Omahas District 13, Ashlei Spivey, a Democrat, now leads nonpartisan Nick Batter by 65 votes. The difference is within 1%, which could lead to an automatic recount depending on those final ballots.

Spivey told her supporters Friday on Instagram that theyll need to continue waiting until about Nov. 18 for about 335 remaining provisional ballots to be counted.

I am remaining excited and optimistic and appreciate the continued prayers, affirmations and support, Spivey wrote.

Two candidates are vying for the Legislatures District 35 seat in Grand Island. From left, State Sen. Ray Aguilar (incumbent) and former State Dan Quick. (Photos courtesy of the candidates; Capitol photo by Rebecca Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner)

Batter did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.

In Grand Islands District 35, former State Sen. Dan Quick leads incumbent State Sen. Ray Aguilar by 125 votes. Four years ago, Aguilar challenged Quick and won. Aguilar previously represented the legislative district from 1999 to 2009.

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Tracy Overstreet, Hall County election commissioner, said her office wont have final race tallies until Nov. 15.

State Sen. Jen Day, a Democrat, was the other candidate in 2020 to beat an incumbent: then-State Sen. Andrew La Grone, a Republican, for the District 49 seat in Sarpy County.

This year, Day conceded to Bob Andersen on Tuesday, writing that she is honored to have been the District 49 senator, but the voters have chosen a different path and it is time for me to step aside.

Two candidates are vying for the Legislatures District 3 seat of northeast Sarpy County, including Bellevue and Papillion. From left, Victor Rountree and Felix Ungerman, both of Bellevue. (Photos courtesy of the candidates; Capitol photo by Rebecca Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner)

Andersen wrote on X, formerly Twitter: It will be a great honor to serve you in the Nebraska Legislature.

The other close race also came in Sarpy County: District 3 in the Bellevue-Papillion area. Victor Rountree, a Democrat, leads Felix Ungerman, a Republican, by 181 votes.

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The Legislature is officially nonpartisan, though members sometimes vote along party registration on critical votes. This was the first year for newly drawn legislative districts for this set of candidates.

Nebraska Examiner senior reporter Cindy Gonzalez contributed to this report.

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The Boney Courthouse building in Anchorage holds the Alaska Supreme Court chambers. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

The Alaska Judicial Council has nominated an Anchorage judge, an assistant attorney general and an expert in utilities law for an upcoming vacancy on the Alaska Supreme Court.

When Gov. Mike Dunleavy picks one of the three, he will create the first majority-female Supreme Court in Alaska history.

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Kate Demarest, Josie Garton and Aimee Oravec were each nominated in unanimous votes by the six-member council, which will forward their names to Dunleavy for a final selection within 45 days. One member of the council recused themselves from voting on Oravec, who was nominated 5-0.

One of the three nominees will replace Justice Peter Maassen, who is scheduled to retire at the start of 2025. Maassen currently serves as chief justice, a position thats elected by the courts five members to a three-year term.

As chief justice, Maassen sits on the judicial council but votes only in case of a tie. That rare occurrence happened Thursday when the council split 3-3 on approving attorney Holly Wells as a fourth nominee. Maassen voted no, and Wells nomination was rejected.

Neither the council members nor Maassen explained their votes on Thursday. The council opened public testimony on Wednesday afternoon, but no one spoke for or against any of the nominees.

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Demarest, an Alaska resident for 14 years and attorney for 16, is a senior assistant attorney general with the Alaska Department of Law, and has frequently represented the state in high-profile cases dealing with environmental and social issues.

She has a degree in chemical engineering, was a Peace Corps volunteer in South Africa, and worked as a commercial whitewater rafting guide in Utah.

As a pro bono attorney, she worked on behalf of the Fairbanks Four.

Garton has been an attorney and an Alaska resident for 24 years and was named to a seat on the Anchorage Superior Court in 2018 by then-Gov. Bill Walker.

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Before working as a judge, she was an assistant public defender and an attorney representing low-income victims of domestic violence in rural Alaska. In one pro bono case, she represented a torture victim who successfully applied for asylum in the United States through Catholic Social Services.

Oravec, an attorney and Alaska resident for 25  years, is the lead attorney for Doyon Utilities LLC in Fairbanks. Shes the only one of the three nominees to live outside Anchorage.

She served for six years on the Judicial Council as an attorney member, ending her service in 2018. She was nominated by the council in 2022 for a prior opening on the Alaska Supreme Court, but Dunleavy declined to select her at that time.

As part of the review process, the council commissioned a statewide survey of registered attorneys, who are asked to rate the nominees fitness to serve as a judge.

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Garton received the highest overall rating  4.6 out of 5.0  and had the most respondents to the survey, indicating that the score wasnt the result of a low turnout.

Oravec scored a 4.2, and Demarest a 4.1.

Kate Vogel, who applied but was not selected as a nominee, scored a 4.3, the second-highest overall rating. Vogel is the first assistant United States attorney at the U.S. Attorneys office in Anchorage.

When Dunleavy names Maassens successor, it will end a wave of retirements on Alaskas high court. Between 2020, when the wave began, and February 2025, four of the courts five members will have been termed out by the Alaska Constitutions requirement that judges retire at age 70.

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SAN DIEGO (Border Report)  The Tijuana Police Department will begin equipping its patrol cars with GPS systems and dashboard cameras, and the mayor says the first units featuring the new technology will go into service by the end of the year.

We have to make use of available technology, we have to take this step, Tijuana Mayor Ismael Burgueno Ruiz said.

The mayor told reporters on Thursday the city currently leases 262 patrol cars as a way to save money, something he plans to continue doing.

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Tijuana police offer to inspect vehicles at border to expedite crossing times

This guarantees necessary repairs as well as recommended maintenance, he said.

He also said the city will increase its leasing budget for trash trucks to provide more trash collection throughout the city.

Were looking for more trash trucks so we can initiate new routes and provide consistent service, he said. I dont think we should charge anyone for trash collection, my objective is to guarantee public services to all.

City treasurer, Victor Ramos Gomez, said the city has budgeted 365 million pesos, about $19 million, to pay for the 262 police patrol cars and another 200 million pesos ($10.5 million) to lease trash trucks.

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He and the mayor added that they are looking into reports about many police cars parked at stations and city yards that are not being used, wasting money.

Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border

Both also said they are also investigating the number of companies and property owners that fail to pay property taxes, stating the number could be as high as 46 percent throughout the city.

Ramos Gomez also stated there are no current plans to lease or purchase police helicopters, something to which the previous mayoral administration alluded.

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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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav mocked BJP National President JP Nadda's visit to Bihar on Friday on the occasion of Chhath Puja festival and said that the latter had come to check on CM Nitish Kumar. Speaking to reporters in Patna, Tejashwi Yadav said, "They are here to see whether the CM (Nitish Kumar) is fine or not." Yadav also took a dig at the ruling BJP at the Centre in the backdrop of the eighth anniversary of demonetization on Friday, November 8. Calling it a "big day", the RJD leader offered "tributes to those who lost their lives during demonetization." "You all might have forgotten but today is the demonetization anniversary. We pay tribute to all those who lost their lives during demonetization," he said. He accused the BJP of corruption and alleged that "nothing has happened" even after the promises to stop black money. "Big talks were made when demonetization was implied in the country. They said corruption, politics and black money would end, but today even after such a long time nothing has happened. Today, BJP has made big buildings with their money, it is probably black money," Yadav said. On November 8, 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an unprecedented move announced the government's decision to scrap the then-existing Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes with immediate effect. New Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes were introduced during this period. The decision of demonetization was taken to weed out the black money in the country and nudge people to change their method of payment from cash to digital. The sudden decision to scrap the currency notes led to several issues including a liquidity shortage with people standing outside banks in queues for long hours. This resulted in several people being jobless and created a devastating unemployment situation in the country with the informal sector being the worst hit. Since 2016, several opposition parties have been highly critical of the government's move, however, BJP members and its allies have backed the decision. (ANI)
On Nov. 14 at 9 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors chambers, the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) will consider annexation of the Dana Reserve project in Nipomo.

Prior county decisions have justified overriding 19 unmitigable impacts, the largest number in county history. Failure to account for the projects cumulative impacts and newly available information is essential to make the right decision. Below are four key reasons to reconsider approving annexation of this project:

Protection of unique biological resources

Opinion

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One purview of the commission is to balance the protection of unique biological resources along with the need for housing. The Dana Reserve project holds the largest remaining intact oak woodland in private hands on the Nipomo Mesa, including a number of rare and endangered plant species. One example is the Nipomo Manzanita, dismissed by the developer and county planners as not worthy of special attention beyond the most basic required mitigation measures. This action is premature because a soon-to-be-published, peer-reviewed study by researchers at the University of California, Riverside has established the Nipomo Manzanita as a completely new species of Arctostaphylos, with fewer than 750 individuals remaining anywhere, some being centuries old.

This project site is home to over a third of the plants entire remaining population. This discovery is an opportunity for LAFCO to request a supplemental EIR to review the cumulative biological impacts and assess the risks of irreplaceable habitat loss. In addition, the project requires removal of over 3,000 oaks, while posing risks to the long-term survival of federal and state-listed endangered species like the Pismo Clarkia. The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) has identified the projects mitigation plans as grossly inadequate, as well as being inconsistent with the countys oak ordinance.

Legal provision of water in question

LAFCOs General Policy 2.1.11 mandates that any proposal requiring water service demonstrate a reliable, sustainable water supply. Yet questions remain regarding the Nipomo Community Services Districts (NCSD) legal capacity to provide water for the Dana Reserve project. The NCSD has not formally assessed the environmental impact of extending water service beyond its current boundaries or renegotiated terms with other water providers. Golden State Water, another Nipomo Mesa purveyor, correctly points out that the 500 acre feet of supplemental allocation of water from the Santa Maria basin was intended only for existing customers and future infill within NCSDs current service area, not for new development outside its area. As such, the NCSD cannot lawfully commit to supplying water for this project.

There is also an issue of fairness regarding those with prior existing requests within the district, who have been denied water.

Lacking assessment on cumulative impacts

The Dana Reserve project alone is expected to increase Nipomos population by approximately 25%, yet the countys review did not evaluate the cumulative impacts of the current projects in the pipeline. The five formally approved projects, including the Dana Reserve total 2,151 new units. Add the 624 units with pending applications and the total is an approximate 40% increase in population. This is an unimaginable overextension of Nipomos current infrastructure capacity.

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The Dana Reserve development is outside the urban area requiring new infrastructure, increasing vehicle miles traveled and reducin job/housing ratio and with many unaffordable, market-rate homes.

Contrast this with almost 900 wise infill new housing units in the pipeline. These are affordable, within existing water district boundaries, walking distance to schools, shops, park, and have the widespread support of the community. With many undeveloped parcels remaining in the urban area, consider LAFCO policy 2.3.2, which states, Prior to annexation of territory within an agency sphere of influence, the commission encourages development on vacant or underutilized parcels, already within the boundaries of its jurisdiction.

Consideration of community-driven concept

LAFCO commissioners should allow time to explore the viable modifications to the current Dana Reserve plan presented by a broad-based community coalition, supported by the South County Advisory Council. We also urge LAFCO commissioners to look beyond the developer-funded study declaring the community proposal infeasible.

Two county supervisors during the Board of Supervisors hearing questioned the developers approach targeting the communitys sound concepts for negotiation as a fixed plan, thus untenable and non-negotiable.

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A review of these concepts would ensure LAFCO has a comprehensive understanding of the viable, professionally vetted, widely supported community compromises that aim to protect critical resources, embrace sustainable growth and provide a better ratio of affordable housing, per the needs identified in the countys own Regional Housing Needs Allocation.

A no vote or a recommendation for a supplemental EIR before approving the annexation would uphold LAFCO policies that seek to promote sustainable community growth, as well as signal to the developer the need for a reasonable compromise in project size to reduce unacceptable impacts.

Herb Kandel was the coalition liaison to the county for the Nipomo Community Alternative Map. He is an executive member of Nipomo Action Committee and the Nipomo Oak Alliance and a former South County Advisory Council member.
The child was left in the backseat of his dad's vehicle in Florida as temperatures hit 91 degrees, according to local reports

Tom Penpark/Getty A stock image of a car in a parking lot A stock image of a car in a parking lot

A Florida dads world changed forever when he went to pick up his 1-year-old son from daycare, and staff revealed that the toddler had never arrived. The child, who had actually been in his fathers car the entire day, was pronounced dead just moments later.

On Wednesday, Nov. 6, the unidentified man went to Bayfront Child Development Center in St. Petersburg after work to pick up his kid, according to reports from local outlets ABC Action News, ABC 7 Sarasota and FOX 13 Tampa Bay.

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After arriving at the center around 5 p.m. local time and speaking with employees, the man came to the distressing realization that he had never actually dropped off his child.

Yolanda Fernandez, a spokesperson for the St. Petersburg Police Department, told FOX 13 that at that point, then the father kind of realized what was going on and went back out to the car.

The young boy was found unresponsive in the backseat of his dads car, where he had been all day, as temperatures hit a record high of 91 degrees, the outlet reported.

GoogleMaps Bayfront Health Child Development Center in St. Petersburg, Florida Bayfront Health Child Development Center in St. Petersburg, Florida

Related: Prevent Hot-Car Deaths: A Checklist for Parents

Emergency responders were then called to the parking lot, where they tried to perform CPR to save the 1-year-old. He was pronounced dead on the scene, however, according to FOX 13. Investigators believe he spent the entire day in the hot vehicle.

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The dad forgot to drop off his son that morning because he had brought him along to an appointment, which was not part of their usual routine, Fernandez told FOX 13.

After the appointment, he was supposed to drop the toddler at Bayfront, before heading back home, where he works, the outlet reported.

Related: What to Know About Hot Car Deaths and How to Avoid Them

Lindsay Judah, a division chief with St. Petersburg Fire Rescue, told FOX 13 that in just ten minutes, it can become 20 degrees hotter inside a vehicle with the doors closed. The toddler spent hours in his dads car.

An autopsy is being performed, and police are actively investigating to determine the exact details surrounding the childs death, and to see if charges can be filed, according to ABC Action News and ABC 7 Sarasota.

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The St. Petersburg Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.

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Judah told FOX 13 that the last time St. Petersburg Fire Rescue saw a death like the young boys was in 2017.

To prevent further tragedies, she said drivers should create reminders for themselves when a child is in their vehicle  specifically, a reminder that prompts them to look in the back seat.

Options the fire chief suggested include putting the child's shoe or stuffed animal in the front seat.

That is our action that we're asking our parents and caregivers to take, Judah told the outlet. Take action.


Legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin said that if special counsel Jack Smith were to talk publicly about President-elect Trumps federal court cases, he doubt[s] it would go so well for President Trump.

Smith currently has two cases against Trump: one for conspiring to overturn the 2020 election leading up to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, and the other for retaining classified documents in his Florida estate and obstructing justice.

What you could do is call him in to testify. And there I would say to the Republicans, be careful what you ask for, because if Jack Smith has a forum to talk about these cases, its  I doubt it would go so well for President Trump, Toobin told CNNs Anderson Cooper on Friday.

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Since Trumps victory in the presidential election, Smith had been weighing how to wind down the two cases against Trump, a move that would align with Justice Department policy barring the prosecution of sitting presidents. A Trump-led Justice Department was widely expected to shutter the charges, but Smiths team is discussing pulling back the cases ahead of the inauguration.

On Friday, a federal judge granted a special request from Smith to suspend deadlines in Trumps election interference case.

When asked during the interview if Smith could be jailed, Toobin offered reassurances, saying that as long as the rule of law exists in something like its current form, there is no way you can imprison Jack Smith.

Though, Trump has long signaled he plans to immediately dismantle special counsel Jack Smiths office upon retaking the White House, telling conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt during an interview in October, Its so easy. I would fire him within two seconds.

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Trumps civil cases, however, could move forward. Trump could be facing more than $500 million in penalties between judgments in the New York attorney generals civil fraud case and two defamation suits brought by columnist E. Jean Carroll.

Justice Department policy precludes criminal prosecution against sitting president, though civil lawsuits against the Oval Office have been permitted to continue before, and New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) said Wednesday that her office is prepared to take on a second Trump administration.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Gov. Jim Pillen and a state delegation are on a trade and diplomatic mission to the Czech Republic and Germany. Pillen shown speaking at a reception at the residence of U.S. Ambassador Bijan Sabet. Sabet is second to the left, standing at the television screen. (Courtesy of NE Governor's Office)

LINCOLN  Gov. Jim Pillen wraps up the first part of a trade and diplomatic mission to Central Europe this weekend with meetings in the Czech Republic  including with Czech alumni who studied at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln  before heading to Germany.

Pillen and a state delegation arrived Thursday in the Czech Republic, welcomed with a reception at the home of U.S. Ambassador Bijan Sabet.

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Friday, the governor went from the U.S. Embassy in Prague to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he and leaders of the Nebraska National Guard discussed Nebraskas 30-year military partnership with the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic.

The Czech Republic is easily one of our strongest allies, said Col. John Williams, director of joint staff. They were with us immediately after 9/11 and have proven themselves time and again to be resourceful, competent soldiers and airmen.

He said the Nebraska National Guard engagements with the Czech military range from mission planning to cybersecurity.

Gov. Jim Pillen, Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Sherry Vinton, delegation representatives and guests at an evening reception held at the residence of U.S. Ambassador Bijan Sabet. Sabet is in the first row, next to Pillen. (Courtesy of Governors Office)

The Nebraska straveling delegation includes representatives from the Nebraska Departments of Agriculture and Economic Development, the Nebraska National Guard, the University of Nebraska and the agriculture and banking industries. Their mission goes through Nov. 14.

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Pillen and state agricultural leaders also participated in a roundtable discussion with Czech Ministry of Agriculture representatives, who signed a letter of intent to collaborate with Nebraska on veterinary measures, livestock production and scientific research exchange.

Czechs see the world similarly as we do in Nebraska; were both very pragmatic, straightforward people, Pillen said in a media release. Our conversations here have been about creating partnerships, asking how can we make each other better?

Pillen said he wants to build relationships all over the world to open markets to Nebraska products.

The state delegation is to wrap up the first leg of its trip with a reception featuring Czechs who have studied at UNL. The NU flagship began offering Czech language instruction in 1907, Pillens office said, becoming one of the first U.S. universities to do so.

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UNL continues to offer a Czech Studies minor and has collaborative partnerships with Czech universities. The reception was an opportunity to explore additional educational and cultural exchange opportunities.

The Governors Office noted Nebraskas longstanding cultural ties to the Czech Republic. From the mid-1850s to the 1910s, an estimated 50,000 Czechs settled in Nebraska. By the early 20th century, Nebraska had welcomed more Czech immigrants, per capita, than any other state.

Earlier this year, Pillen signed Legislative Bill 140, creating Czech Heritage license plates.

On Sunday, the Nebraska delegation heads to Germany, where members are to promote Nebraska agricultural products, equipment and technologies.

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The delegation will take part in EuroTier, the largest international trade show for animal agriculture, where Pillen is to give the keynote address at EuroTiers International Cattle & Pig Event Nov. 11.

In 2023, Nebraska exported $111 million of beef to the European Union, more than any other U.S. state, the Governors Office said.

European consumers place a high value on sustainability, Pillen said in the release. Nebraskas low-carbon production of food, feed, and fuel can help meet this demand.

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Travel Center of America truck stop is a split decision in Mahomet

MAHOMET, Ill. (WCIA)  Mahomet may be changing even more, but it all depends on the village boards vote on a major project proposal.

Mahomets Planning and Zoning Commission did not recommend adding the Travel Center of America truck stop. The vote was close, with three members voting no and two saying yes.

This is a great community to live in, I absolutely love it here, said Mahomet resident Sherry Hodges. [Ive] raised my children here, raising grandchildren here, so we welcome all the changes.

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She thinks a Travel Center of America facility would make Mahomet even better.

Central IL police team up in foodbank benefit competition

I think itll add to the community, Hodges said. Its being placed in a position on the east side of the community thats growing anyway.

On the other hand, Mahomet residents like John Januszko dont really see the need for the addition.

Having another gas station in the area, unless theyre paying a heck of a lot of taxes, I dont know what the purpose would really be, he said.

The truck stop would be located off I-74 on E. Clark St. and Prairie View Road. Hodges has lived in the village for 30 years and is a fan of this potential project.

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Champaign Co. Auditor position to remain, Danos feeling good about future

I dont think its going to really affect us in a negative way. Hodges said. I think well see a lot of income from it, and I think its a good growth factor for our town.

Hodges thinks the location is in the right spot to not have traffic come into neighborhoods and downtown. Despite her opinion, Januszko disagrees.

[As] an older driver, Im speaking for the older clientele here in town, Januszko said. I dont know that we need more trucks, making it a bit more difficult for us to get around.

However, Januszko does acknowledge that the taxes the truck stop would generate would be helpful for the community. Mahomet native Bryan Williams said thats one of the main reasons hes in favor of the project.

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Mahomet after-school program receives $50K donation at anniversary celebration

I think it would help our taxes tremendously, Williams said. I think theyre too high now, so anything that helps the taxes out would be great.

During a meeting this week, the village administrator said there were several concerns brought up during the public comment portion. These included the noise, fumes, lighting and safety issues a truck stop could bring into town.

The village board currently does not have a date set for the vote. They will discuss the project at their upcoming study session on Nov. 19 and go from there.

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We want to see Mahomet move forward in every way, shape or form, Januszko said. But we want to do it the right way.

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NEW YORK (PIX11)  President-elect Donald Trump has reaffirmed one of his first priorities from the campaign: the mass deportation of non-citizens.

He told NBC News there is no choice and its not a question of a price tag.

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Trump has yet to outline his deportation plan in detail, meaning his intentions could apply to the nearly 200,000 migrants who have come to New York in the last two years claiming asylum, or undocumented people who have been in the country for decades, including DACA recipients.

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However, the American Immigration Council, a pro-immigrant advocacy group, said if Trump truly means to deport everyone, there are 13.3 million undocumented people in the United States.

The American Immigration Council said in a report published in October that deporting so many people would incur a one-time cost of $315 billion.

New York City to end debit card program for migrant families

The report also said about 4.6% of the U.S. workforce would be gone, with particularly big impacts on construction, agriculture and hospitality. Plus people working without legal authorization pay tens of billions of dollars each year in taxes and funnel billions more into Social Security.

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On a human level, fear is growing in immigrant-friendly cities like New York, where there was a rally Thursday night.

New York is a sanctuary city, meaning the NYPD and other city agencies cannot by law cooperate with federal immigration officials. However, under the weight of a migrant crisis that has strained his administration, Mayor Eric Adams has lamented the lack of cooperation with the feds, especially when it comes to migrants who commit crimes.

Adams has been hesitant to criticize Trumps immigration rhetoric, and would not say if he discussed deportations with Trump when they spoke by phone after the election.

When pressed for specifics in the week about what would happen at the extensive network of migrant shelters, NYPD Chief of Department Jeff Maddrey said little would change for now.

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We provide security out there already and were going to stay in the same posture, Maddrey said. As things progress, Im sure the mayor will give us directions and well address those things as needed.

Trump was at an event in New Jersey about a month before the election when he said local police would cooperate with a mass deportation. However, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are all sanctuary states, meaning at a minimum immigration detainers are not honored.

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  The trial date for two pro-Palestinian protesters arrested at a Bakersfield City Council meeting in March has been postponed to next year.

Gabriela Lynn Mota and Lorena Salinas appeared in court Friday where their trial  which had been set for later this month  was moved to Feb. 24.

Mota, who is accused of spitting on a police officer, is charged with felony resisting or obstructing a peace officer, and misdemeanor counts of battery on a peace officer, remaining at the scene of a riot and resisting arrest.

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Salinas faces felony charges of resisting or obstructing a peace officer and vandalism causing damage of $400 or more. Shes also charged with misdemeanor counts of remaining at the scene of a riot and resisting arrest.

According to a probable cause declaration, Mota ignored repeated commands to leave the March 27 council meeting and continued to incite the crowd around her after Mayor Karen Goh ordered chambers cleared.

Mota stood in a city hall doorway, blocking officers from shutting the door, according to the declaration. She was taken into custody, after which she spit on the officer, the declaration says.

Salinas is accused of pulling hard enough on the doors of Bakersfield City Hall South that she shattered glass  causing more than $2,000 in damage.

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Also arrested at the meeting were two other protesters  Lance Mack and Ashley Vega  who have a hearing in January on misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and remaining at the scene of a riot.

At a city council meeting in April, another protester, Riddhi Patel, was arrested after telling the council, Well see you at your house, well murder you, during public comment. Shes charged with multiple felonies and is due back in court next month, when a trial date is expected to be set.

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DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN)  Investigations are underway after students in several states, including Alabama, received anonymous, racially motivated texts over the past few days.

The Associated Press reported that the texts began appearing on Wednesday, one day after the presidential election, and included messages to Black men, women, and children, saying they had been chosen to work as slaves on a plantation.

A statement from Troy University posted Friday night said some of its students were victims of the racially abusive texts. Students at the University of Alabama and Samford University in Birmingham also received similar messages, the statement claimed.

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As a university that embraces a diverse campus, and proudly serves as home to John Robert Lewis Hall and the Rosa Parks Museum, I find these messages to be deeply upsetting and totally opposed to the values and mission of TROY, said Troy Chancellor Jack Hawkins in the statement.

Chancellor Hawkins continued, saying, It is unclear who is behind these disturbing texts, and the incidents are under investigation by law enforcement. Troy University will cooperate with agencies that are investigating this situation, and we hope those responsible face consequences.

The Chancellor encouraged any students who received similar texts to report them to the Dean of Student Services, Herbert Reeves.

The varying texts prompted an investigation by the FBI.

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The Chhattisgarh Police on Friday gunned down rogue Amit Josh in a police encounter in Bhilai city of Durg district. He was absconding for four months after shooting two people in the city's Rail Globe Chowk, the police said. Gangster Josh was being trailed by the police after his criminal stint a few months ago and was killed in a quick operation carried out by the police. This comes after the police received information that the absconding accused Josh was in Bhilai. The police crime branch team reached near Jayanti Stadium while trailing Josh who was seen riding a motorcycle with one of his associates. The absconding accused opened fire after spotting the police after which Crime Branch Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Hem Prakash Nayak indulged in retaliatory fire, officials said, adding that the accused was injured in the leg and chest during the operation. Durg SP Jitendra Shukla said that Gangster Amit Josh had fired at two people four months ago in Sector 10's Globe Chowk after which he was absconding. The police were engaged in tracking the accused. However, he was in hiding and changing places," the SP said. The police were tipped off about his arrival in Bhilai two days ago, officials said, adding that the absconding accused died on the spot during an encounter. (ANI)
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (Reuters) -Donald Trump's presidential transition effort said on Saturday that a Republican operative who outlined some potential contours of a U.S.-backed peace plan in Ukraine earlier in the day was not speaking on behalf of the president-elect.

Bryan Lanza, a long-time Republican strategist who was a contractor on Trump's 2024 campaign, said in an interview with the BBC that Trump's administration would be asking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for a "realistic vision for peace."

He said the new administration's priority in Ukraine would be establishing peace and not restoring lost territory, including Crimea.

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"And if President Zelenskiy comes to the table and says, well we can only have peace if we have Crimea, he shows to us that he's not serious. Crimea is gone," he said.

Responding to Lanza's comments, a spokesperson for the transition denied that Lanza spoke for Trump. Trump's transition effort is currently vetting personnel and drafting the policies that Trump could adopt during his second term.

"Bryan Lanza was a contractor for the campaign," said the spokesperson, who declined to be named. "He does not work for President Trump and does not speak for him."

During the election campaign, Trump said he would find a solution to end the war "within a day," but did not explain how he would do so.

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Zelenskiy and Trump spoke by telephone this week after the U.S. election in a conversation joined by billionaire Trump supporter Elon Musk, according to media reports.

Trump himself has declined to rule out the possibility that Ukraine may have to cede land to Russia and has been notably vague when discussing the conflict. Some high-profile allies have put forth peace proposals that would in practice result in long-term Russian rule over areas that are internationally recognized as Ukrainian territory.

Russia annexed the Crimea peninsula in 2014 after an uprising that prompted Ukraine's Russia-friendly president to flee. More than 2 1/2 years after launching its full-fledged invasion, Russian forces hold just under 20% of its territory.

Zelenskiy has repeatedly said peace cannot be established until all Russian forces are expelled and all territory captured by Moscow, including Crimea, is returned. His "victory plan" presented last month maintains that provision as well as an invitation for Ukraine to join NATO, long denounced by Russia.

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Ukraine has sought modern weapons from the United States as well as authorisation to use them on Russian targets but it has never called for U.S. forces to be deployed on its territory.

Russian troops failed in their initial advance on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv but in recent months have been capturing a string of villages on the eastern front.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in June that conditions for peace talks included Ukraine abandoning the four regions Moscow has annexed, though it does not have full control over them.

(Reporting by Gram Slattery and Ron Popeski; Editing by Mark Porter and Chizu Nomiyama )
A federal judge overturned an Illinois assault weapons ban Friday, contending that the law enacted in response to the 2022 mass shooting at a Highland Park parade violated the Second Amendment in its entirety.

The 168-page ruling, by Donald Trump-appointee Stephen McGlynn, deals a sharp blow to reformers and marks the latest major court ruling to expand gun rights in the wake of the conservative-dominated U.S. Supreme Courts sweeping reinterpretation of the Second Amendment two years ago.

The decision boosts the likelihood that the Supreme Court will eventually weigh in on whether states can restrict the sale of semiautomatic rifles, such as AR-15s and AK-47s, without running afoul of the Constitution.

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While the Court is sympathetic to those who have lost loved ones to gun violence, such tragedies are not an excuse to restrict the rights guaranteed to the Illinois public by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, McGlynn wrote in his opinion.

A Springfield Armory AR-15-style rifle on the wall at Voodoo Firearms on Jan. 24, 2023, in Minooka, Illinois. Chicago Tribune via Getty Images

The Protect Illinois Communities Act, or PICA, restricted the sale or possession of semiautomatic rifles and shotguns, commonly called assault weapons, as well as large-capacity magazines after a 21-year-old gunman killed seven people and left 48 injured at a Fourth of July parade in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park. Several blue states, including California, New York and Maryland, have enacted similar laws that have withstood constitutional scrutiny.

But a series of Supreme Court decisions since 2008 have extended Second Amendment protections beyond the well-regulated militias in the Constitutions text to encompass individuals seeking to defend themselves and now require states to show that any restriction in the name of public safety fit within a historical tradition of firearm regulation dating from some time between the signing of the Bill of Rights in 1791 to the end of the Civil War in 1865.

McGlynns ruling found that the arms covered by the Illinois law are purchased for the lawful and protected purpose of self-defense and therefore fall under the Second Amendments protection. Though the state of Illinois argued that rifles like AR-15s made poor choices for self-defense compared to handguns, McGlynn ruled that several of its features  including the ease of shooting a light-kicking gun and the ability to easily attach optics and pistol grips  made it ideal for the purpose, especially for smaller or less-strong people.

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In a self-defense scenario, every second matters and this Court will not fault individuals who are not able-bodied for choosing weapons that enable them to more carefully defend themselves and their families, McGlynn wrote.

The ruling contemplates a multitude of self-defense scenarios that the modern American may face, such as multiple attackers invading the home of the elderly or infirm who must defend children.

McGlynn cites the story of David and Goliath to highlight the point that some people may need to shoot rifles from a distance to neutralize an attacker.

David selected an arm that allowed him to fire a projectile from a safe distance to impose lethal force on his opponent before the giant closed within an adequate distance to slay David with his sword, McGlynn wrote.

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The judge also noted that, in a movie, Indiana Jones shot a large man with a pistol because he couldnt reach him with his sword.

Considering the above discussion, it is clear that an individuals choice of arms is a critical facet of the concept of self defense, McGlynn wrote, after the Indiana Jones analysis.

The Firearms Policy Coalition, one of the groups challenging the Illinois law, applauded the decision.

We are gratified that the Court properly found that these bans violate the constitutionally protected rights of Illinois residents and visitors, FPC President Brandon McCombs wrote in a statement. We will continue to fight forward until we eliminate every unconstitutional ban like this throughout the country.

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Opponents planned to appeal the case.

These weapons and accessories of war have absolutely no place on our streets or in the hands of civilians, Bill Taylor, deputy director of Second Amendment litigation at Everytown Law, wrote in a statement. Not only are laws prohibiting them constitutional, they are effective  and they save lives. We look forward to supporting Illinois in appealing this extreme and unfounded decision to the Seventh Circuit.

The case could have major repercussions.

Groups that favor expanding gun rights have repeatedly challenged assault weapon bans without success. Conservative justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito have written that they want to examine the question of whether the Second Amendment confers protection on an individuals right to access weapons like AR-15s and AK-47s.

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But most legal observers agree that the Supreme Court is unlikely to take up such a case unless two separate federal appeals courts reach opposing conclusions.

That hasnt happened yet largely because assault weapon bans have mostly been enacted by states in more liberal circuits with a higher likelihood of upholding such laws. States in more conservative circuits are less likely to ban assault weapons in the first place.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, which includes Illinois, is somewhere in the middle of the liberal-conservative spectrum.

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Vice President Kamala Harris won her home state of California, and its 54 electoral votes, in Tuesdays presidential election, but results show voters werent as enthusiastic about her as they were about President Joe Biden in 2020.

With at least 58% of the ballots results reported, Harris received more than half the vote, about 58%, in the Golden State, while President-elect Donald Trump secured nearly 40%.

The red wave that took over the electoral map also bled into California as Trump performed better this election year compared to 2020 by at least 6 percentage points. As Fox 5 San Diego reported, he flipped at least 10 counties that previously chose Biden in 2020, including Butte, Nevada, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Inyo, Fresno, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange.

Is California experiencing the red wave?

Paul Mitchell, the vice president of Political Data, in an interview with ABC 10, said the result is surprising, but Democrats are going to pick up a couple of these House seats once all the ballots are processed.

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He noted the key group disillusioned by the Democratic Party are Latino voters. Registration rates for Latinos have gotten more Republican. Now, theyve gone from 17% or 18% Republican to 21% or 22% Republican, said Mitchell.

Christian Grose, a professor of political science at the University of Southern California, told CalMatters the state is largely still trending Democratic even though one of the House races, between Republican incumbent Michelle Steel and Derek Tran, a veteran and city commissioner, is still a toss-up. With an estimated 69% of the votes in as of Thursday, Steel was in the lead by about 9,360 votes.

The state in general seems like its still going Democratic, and might swing the U.S. House to the Democrats, he said, while also supporting policies sometimes that are a little bit more conservative and a little bit more liberal.

The last time California turned red was under George Bush. Some Republicans found great success in the state in the late 20th century, as per the Desert Sun. Richard Nixon turned it red twice in the 60s, and Ronald Reagan did the same in the 80s. During those decades, California was known as a swing state before becoming a Democratic stronghold during the early 2000s.
President-elect Trump is looking toward North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) as a potential energy czar, a source with knowledge of the matter confirmed to NewsNation on Friday.

The source said the position could entail increasing the nations fossil fuel production, per NewsNation. Burgum is a potential choice for several roles.

The Hill reported earlier this year after it was confirmed Burgum wouldnt be Trumps vice presidential pick that the governor could take on an energy related role in the former presidents administration if elected.

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Trump has publicly and privately praised Burgums acumen, saying at a rally earlier this year that Burgum probably knows more about energy than anybody I know.

Burgum has said that he wont seek another term as governor, a position he has held since 2016. In that role, he set a goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2030  not by reducing the use of fossil fuels, but by capturing and storing their carbon emissions.

Burgum was in the news last year during his Republican primary bid. Although he suspended his campaign in December 2023 after struggling to gain traction.

In his own campaign, Burgum made energy one of his top priorities  saying he wanted to dramatically increase energy production on his campaign website.

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Former President Donald Trumps return to power is setting off a flurry of speculation and interparty bickering about potential retirements on the Supreme Court, underscoring how even a single departure by one of the nine justices can shape the law for generations.

Conservatives are preparing for Justices Clarence Thomas or Samuel Alito  both in their mid-70s  to step down within the next two years, whether the justices are ready to quit or not.

On the left, meanwhile, Trumps election has relit far flung hopes among some for a sudden retirement by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the courts senior liberal, and for President Joe Biden to nominate and confirm a replacement by the end of December.

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Even if any of those retirements take place in coming weeks or months  a big if, given that justices have often waited until their 80s to step down  none would change the current balance of power on the 6-3 conservative court. But by installing one or two younger and like-minded conservative justices into lifetime appointments, Trump would solidify the courts rightward turn for decades to come.

Alito is gleefully packing up his chambers, Mike Davis, a conservative legal operative who could play a key role helping Trump choose judicial appointments, predicted on social media this week.

The attention on potential Supreme Court vacancies has so far been driven entirely by forces outside the court  and rampant speculation based on a series of murky clues and past practices. That has even inspired a debate within Republican legal circles that spilled into public view Friday over whether such speculation is appropriate.

There is also a real chance that it could backfire.

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Progressive groups leaned heavily on Justice Stephen Breyer to step down during Bidens first year in the White House, at one point driving a billboard truck around Washington, DC, that urged him, in capital letters, to RETIRE. The Bill Clinton nominee ignored the truck  and the demands  and stuck around another year, ultimately announcing his departure in 2022.

No one other than Justices Thomas and Alito knows when or if they will retire, and talking about them like meat that has reached its expiration date is unwise, uninformed, and, frankly, just crass, conservative judicial activist Leonard Leo, who was instrumental in helping Trump fill out judicial vacancies in his first term, said in a rare public statement on Friday.

Washington lawyer Charles Cooper, a longtime friend of Alito who has also known Thomas for decades, scoffed at some of the speculation on social media.

Its unseemly for members of the conservative legal movement to be mounting any type of campaign to pressure these two historically great justices into retirement, Cooper said. No questions could even be raised about their physical or mental health.

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Ed Whelan, a former Supreme Court clerk and legal commentor, said he agreed with Leos take.

Its one thing to guess what a justice will decide to do, Whelan told CNN. Its quite another to try to tell a justice what to do.

Whelans expectation, he wrote in the National Review this week, is for Alito to retire this spring and Thomas in 2026.

But Davis, who is president of the conservative Article III Project, rejected the criticism from Leo.

Its amusing to watch DC conservatives pretend to care about Supreme Court justices now, after they sat on the sidelines with all the money during the years of vicious attacks against conservative justices, Davis said.

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Behind much of the anxiety, on both the left and the right, is the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. When the liberal icon died in September 2020 at 87, Trump named then Judge Amy Coney Barrett, more than 35 years her junior, to replace her. The past four years have seen several historic precedents overturned as a result, most notably Roe v. Wade in 2022.

Age and health were bigger factors for Ginsburg than they are for Thomas, Alito or Sotomayor. Ginsburg had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2009  during President Barack Obamas first year in office. While Sotomayor has been public about living with type 1 diabetes, she has showed little sign of slowing down. The same goes for Thomas, who is increasingly celebrated on the right after becoming the courts senior associate justice six years ago.

Thomas was hospitalized for nearly a week in 2022 for what a court spokesperson described as an infection.

Talk of Sotomayor stepping down so that Biden could name a successor and ensure the seat remains a reliable vote for the liberal wing has simmered for months and has gone nowhere.

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The process of moving a Supreme Court nominee takes considerable time  often several months. Even assuming no hiccup, there is not likely enough time for Biden to secure a confirmation before the GOP takes control of the Senate in early January.

Thomas, at 76, is the oldest of the current nine justices, followed by Alito, at 74, and Sotomayor, who is 70. Chief Justice John Roberts, a George W. Bush nominee, will turn 70 next year. Breyer was 83 when he stepped down. Justice Anthony Kennedy, nominated by Ronald Reagan, had just turned 82 when he left the bench in 2018.

Trumps impact already is being felt

One of Trumps most significant accomplishments during his first term was flooding the federal judiciary with nominees  not just the three justices he placed on the Supreme Court  but also more than 200 judges he named to federal district and appeals courts. In his single term, Trump was able to flip three circuits from majority Democratic appointees to majority Republican nominees.

Biden has managed to flip just one of those circuits back.

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The surge of nominees during his first term will give Trump a large crop of potential candidates to choose from for the Supreme Court if an opening occurs. Judge Andrew Oldham, who Trump named to the New Orleans-based 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals in 2018 and who previously clerked for Alito, is often mentioned as a possible candidate. So, too, is Judge Neomi Rao  a former Thomas clerk who Trump put on the DC Circuit in 2019. Judge James Ho, another former Thomas clerk who Trump put on the 5th Circuit in 2018, is another.

All three are in their late 40s or early 50s.

A secret recording of Martha-Ann Alito revealed earlier this year fueled speculation that the justice was fed up with Washington  and considering retirement  after revelations that several controversial flags were flown at his homes in Virginia and New Jersey. But Martha-Ann Alitos remarks were vague and Alito himself has given no public indication that he is preparing to step down.

On the one hand, justices almost always retire when a president of the same party who appointed them takes power  in part because it increases the chances their replacement will bring a similar judicial philosophy to the court. That often happens in the spring, just before the end of the Supreme Courts term. And next year, Republicans will also control the Senate with a firm majority, easing Trumps ability to confirm nominees.

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But the Supreme Court is also an institution that rewards seniority, including in the crafting of opinions. As the senior liberal justice, Sotomayor is often in the position to assign herself the lead dissent in the courts highest-profile cases. As the most senior associate justice, Thomas has recently been afforded the opportunity to ask the first question at oral arguments and he is the first to speak after Roberts when the justices meet in private to discuss cases.

Friends of Thomas, Alito and Sotomayor told CNN earlier this year that while the justices have, at times, mused about retirements the tenor reflected casual thoughts rather concrete plans.

The Supreme Court did not respond to a request for comment.

Given the importance of the Supreme Court, I dont think this is avoidable, Josh Blackman, a professor at the South Texas College of Law Houston who has also publicly speculated about judicial vacancies on a popular conservative legal blog. To be fair, it is crass to talk about a justice making the decision to step down. It is also fairly common when a new administration comes to town to talk about these things.

CNN Chief Supreme Court Analyst Joan Biskupic contributed to this report.

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Theres a whole lot more to Susie Wiles than meets the eye.

She looks like a grandma straight out of central casting. But when Donald Trumps demure campaign operative becomes the first female White House chief of staff in January, shell also be the most powerful the president-elect has ever had.

He trusts her more than any adviser. And she knows how to manage him. As his campaign chair who got him elected in 2016 and propelled him to a stunning landslide victory over Kamala Harris this week, Wiles is someone Trump counts on and appreciates.

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Susie Wiles just helped me achieve one of the greatest political victories in American history, and was an integral part of both my 2016 and 2020 successful campaigns, Trump said in a statement. Susie is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected. Susie will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again.

Trump thanked Susie Wiles during his Election victory speech early Wednesday morning.

Their close relationship fuels Wiles incredible authority. Her command over Trumps agendamass deportations, tax cuts, tariffs, slashing federal jobs, and morewill extend all along Pennsylvania Avenue, from the Oval Office to the Capitol.

Theres also no guesswork involved for Trump as there was in his first Oval Office rodeo, when he blew through four different chiefs of staff, including one who recently labeled the former and incoming president a fascist with no regard for the Constitution or rule of law.

Wiles, a 67-year-old grandmother, is a formidable woman who has put many a man in his placeof power, that is.

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A campaign strategist who prefers winning behind the scenes, away from the limelight, her successes include Florida Gov. Ron DeSantiswith whom she later had a public falling outand Sen. Rick Scott, a former two-term Florida governor who won re-election to his Senate seat on Tuesday.

Scott is now running to become Senate majority leader, and Wiles stealthy influence is already being felt. The Florida senator immediately congratulated Wiles when Trump announced shed be coming to Washington as his chief of staff.

Congratulations to Susie! She is the perfect person for this role. Shes been a friend since I ran back in 2010 when she ran my first race for Governor.



She knows how to build a great team, is a true leader, a trusted advisor, and a brilliant tactician. https://t.co/CLOUHfkxBj  Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) November 7, 2024

Soon enough, Scotts competitors to replace Mitch McConnell as the powerful Senate GOP leader, called on Trump to stay out of the race. Predictably, that didnt work.

On Friday, Trump appeared to be pushing a get-out-the-vote campaign for his next chief of staffs former client and ally.

Give this post a  if you support Rick Scott for Senate Leader! pic.twitter.com/0DpqWDtZpB  Donald Trump  News (@realDonaldJNews) November 8, 2024

Susie Wiles combines being a strategist with a shrewd tactician, which has made her formidable, Doug Heye, a Republican operative, told the Daily Beast on Friday. She is also a steady hand for a ship that sometimes steers itself off course.

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Trump pollster Tony Fabrizio told Politico last spring that Wiles touches everything.

There is nobody, I think, that has the wealth of information that she does. Nobody in our orbit. Nobody, Fabrizio said.

Wiles knew her way around the White House way before Donald Trump ever arrived. She was Ronald Reagans executive office scheduler after working on Capitol Hill for New York Rep. Jack Kemp in the 1970s.

And from January 2025, shell be overseeing the entire White House staff. Serving as chief of staff to a president can be a brutal job, especially at times when an Oval Office regime is besieged by chaos and competing interests.

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Ron Klain, who served an unusually long stint as chief of staff to former Vice President Al Gore and then to President Joe Biden, had this to say when asked what advice he would lend to Wiles:

I wish her the very best, Klain told the Daily Beast. I think its important not to view the job as a process job or a neutral arbiter of competing views but rather as being the person in charge of delivering on the presidents agenda in the face of entropy and the demands of others.

The Daily Beast Podcast episodes are released every Thursday. Like and download on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app. And click here for email updates as each new episode drops.
President-elect Trump is expected to deploy his trademark mix of belligerent threats and friendly relations with some of the worlds dictators as he seeks to break up the deepening partnerships between U.S. adversaries China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.

Whether that coheres into an effective policy  given Trumps impulsive approach to global relations and contrasting views among his likely advisers  remains an open question.

The president-elect is antagonistic toward European allies and NATO, chastising them as relying too much on the U.S. for military support, and brags about his personal rapport with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un.

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Well have a very good relationship, and theres reasons for them to want to like us, theres big reasons, Trump said during a campaign appearance in Arizona in late October, referring to Putin, Xi and Kim  in the context of dismantling their alliance.

Look at what these stupid people have done, theyve allowed Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and others to get together in a group, this is impossible to think, he said.

This grouping of countries has been described in foreign policy circles as an axis of aggressors, axis of upheaval, and CRINK (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea).

The war in Ukraine has served as an accelerant for these relationships, with Putin turning to Beijing, Pyongyang and Tehran to fund and equip his war machine, and each country, in turn, seeking rewards in return, either economically, militarily or politically.

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Foreign policy experts say the CRINK countries are not natural allies and still have plenty of conflicting national interests. But unity in opposing American supremacy on the world stage is a powerful convening force.

I do think that the relationship between these actors is deeper and more durable than many people believe and such that each of these leaders would probably be willing to pocket concessions from the United States, but not fundamentally alter the extent that theyre cooperating with one another, said Andrea Kendall-Taylor, senior fellow and director of the Transatlantic Security Program at the Center for a New American Security.

Trump is approaching each of them bilaterally, and without the strong backing of our allies. Because they are in many ways acting as a collective  and we are more isolated and alone without our allies  then the balance of power really shifts to them, she added.

Advocates for the U.S. supporting Ukraines fight against Russias invasion argue it is the best way to confront the deepening relationships between these adversaries.

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CRINK is watching what we do.  It is a threat to all of us, and the best way to confront CRINK is to help Ukraine to achieve victory, said David Kramer, executive director of the George W. Bush Institute and a former deputy assistant secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs.

And these Ukraine hawks are now trying to convince Trump that the best way to break from Bidens policy is to ensure Kyivs defeat of Moscow.

While President Biden is credited with uniting allies in Europe and from Asia in arming Ukraine and isolating Russia diplomatically and economically, critics say the U.S. has held back giving Kyiv the tools it needs to defeat Russia over fears of escalation with Putin.

This is an opportunity for the incoming Trump administration to stand in stark contrast to the current Biden administration, which is to help Ukraine to victory. That is something the Biden administration never clearly enunciated. Its something the Trump administration could help Ukraine achieve, Kramer said.

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He added that the Europeans can and should do more, a common refrain among Trump and his supporters.

But Trump has refused on the campaign trail to commit to helping Ukraine achieve a decisive victory over Russia and some of his closest confidants  Tucker Carlson, Elon Musk, Vice President-elect JD Vance and others  have either denigrated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, raised concern over Putins nuclear weapons threats, or argued that helping defend Kyivs sovereignty is a not a worthy cause.

Musk joined a call between Trump and Zelensky that took place Wednesday. The Ukrainian president wrote on social platform X, which Musk owns, that he had an excellent call with Trump and agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our cooperation. Strong and unwavering U.S. leadership is vital for the world and for a just peace.

But Hungarys Prime Minister Viktor Orban, an outlier in Europe for his close ties to Putin, has predicted that the U.S. will pull out of this war under Trump. Orban visited Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida in July, and Trump cited the Hungarian leaders support during his debate with Vice President Harris in September.

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Look, Viktor Orban said it. He said the most respected, most feared person is Donald Trump, Trump said at the debate, defending his own standing among world leaders.

Robert OBrien, who served as Trumps national security adviser between 2019 and 2021, has described Trumps unpredictability as a strategy to keep Moscow off balance.

In an article published in Foreign Affairs over the summer, OBrien described Trumps preference for a negotiated settlement between Russia and Ukraine as one that ends the killing and preserves the security of Ukraine.

He called for Europe to admit Kyiv to the European Union immediately and for Europe to finance U.S.-provisions of lethal aid to Ukraine.

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This strategy is part of confronting what he described as an axis of anti-American autocracies, referring to Russia, China and Iran. The article was published before North Korea began aiding Russia in earnest, sending thousands of troops to join the fight.

Hanging over this global realignment are threats of nuclear weapons use. Putin and Xi control major stockpiles, while Kim and Irans leaders have ambitions of becoming nuclear powers and are pressing ahead with nuclear weapons programs.

The U.S. is spending billions on modernizing its own nuclear triad as a continued deterrant, spurring fears among arms control advocates of a new nuclear arms race.

Daryl Kimball, executive director of the nonpartisan Arms Control Association, raised alarm that Trumps supporters  like OBrien, some Republican senators, and conservative think tanks  are calling for resuming nuclear weapons testing, increasing production and expanding deployment.

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This is what we expect many on the Hill are talking about, many in the Trump administration are going to be thinking about, but there are hard questions they need to ask. And the other part is, does Trump want this? Kimball asked.

Trump has repeatedly raised alarm over the wars raging in Europe and the Middle East tipping into World War III or nuclear obliteration.

Trump, during his first administration, talked about renegotiating the New START treaty governing arms control between the U.S. and Russia to include China  something that Beijing resisted. The treaty expires in 2026.

But Kimball also pointed out that its unlikely the U.S. can get far on addressing nuclear threats without consultations or cooperation with key allies, like Europe and NATO when it comes to Russia; South Korea and Japan when it comes to North Korea and China; and Israel when it comes to Iran.

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Trump is not going to have carte blanche to make deals with this rogue dictator or that rogue dictator, there will be some real-world constraints on what hell be able to do, he said. But exactly what those are and where they wind up applying, yet to be seen.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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As President Biden prepares to host President-elect Trump at the White House Wednesday, democrats are coming to grips with a stinging election loss. MSNBC political analyst Alexi McCammond and NextGen America President Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez break down Trumps mass deportation plans and how Democrats can gain ground back among lost voting demographics.
President-elect Donald Trumps transition team is considering ending two Biden administration programs that have allowed more than 1.3 million immigrants to enter the U.S. legally, making those who entered but have not yet received asylum eligible for deportation, two sources familiar with the plans told NBC News.

The exact number of people who could face deportation after arriving in the U.S. legally is not known, but it is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands.

Trumps plan to end the two Biden programs comes as the president-elects promised plan to carry out mass deportations is taking clearer shape. Trumps transition team is considering plans designed to maximize the scope of the deportations and prioritize certain immigrants as among the first to be forced to leave.

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While those who entered under the programs may be eligible for deportation, the first people likely to be targeted are those considered to be threats, possibly including Chinese men who are deemed to be of military age living illegally in the United States, the two sources and a third source familiar with the plan told NBC News. This group would also include convicted criminals who are in the U.S. illegally and those with final orders of deportation, the officials said.

Migrants who arrived in the U.S. legally under the two Biden administration programs  CBP One and the Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela (CHNV) parole program  may be immune from deportation if they have already been granted asylum or are on the path toward it, or have another legal status to stay in the United States.

If not, they may be deported as part of Trumps plan to dramatically increase the number of migrant deportations.

The sources cautioned, though, that they may not be considered top priorities for deportation after Trump takes office, but could still be deported eventually.

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The programs have been a critical part of Bidens strategy to increase the number of legal pathways for migrants to enter the U.S. while disincentivizing illegal border crossings.

Since the migrants entered the U.S. legally, any attempt by Trump to deport them will likely be challenged in court by various groups.

A spokesperson for the Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

Legal battles expected

Immigration advocates have applauded the Biden administration programs and will likely ask judges to block any deportation plan, just as they asked judges during Trumps first term to stop his plan to end the DACA program for immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.

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The Supreme Court struck down the Trump administrations attempt to end DACA in 2020, but that was before the court switched to a conservative supermajority.

One immigration advocate, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they did not want to discuss potential litigation, said the new administration should expect legal challenges.

If [Trump] cancels the [CHNV] parole program, what does that mean for people who are already here to revoke their parole? We expect that to be legally difficult, the advocate said.

Over 531,0000 nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela have entered the U.S. through the CHNV parole program, which was created to allow migrants from those countries to apply for entry from their home countries with the help of a U.S.-based sponsor.

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Over 852,000 migrants have entered through CBP One, a cellphone application program for migrants who have already left their home countries and are waiting in northern Mexico. Through the app, they can apply for an appointment to be considered for asylum, though they do not necessarily qualify.

Two officials said targeting migrants who have applied to enter the country through these programs will be easier than finding others living in the U.S. because they had to provide addresses where they planned to live and other information to apply.

Who will be targeted for deportation?

Chinese nationals deemed of military age and considered to be illegally living in the U.S. will be among those targeted first because they may pose a national security risk, sources close to the Trump campaign said.

In recent years, the number of Chinese nationals crossing into the U.S. has soared. Prior to 2021, the number of Chinese nationals crossing illegally averaged less than 1,000 per year.

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The number of undocumented Chinese nationals crossing both northern and southern borders into the U.S. nearly tripled from just over 27,000 in fiscal year 2022 to over 78,000 in fiscal year 2024.

Of those who crossed in 2024, over 65,000 were single adults, per Customs and Border Protection data. It is not clear how many of them were male.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has had a difficult time deporting migrants from China, as well as Nicaragua, Venezuela, Haiti and Cuba, because those countries often refuse to take back their nationals.

Two sources familiar with the incoming administrations plans said the Trump administration may consider sending migrants to third countries if their home country refuses to accept them. Trump used a similar policy at the end of his first term when the U.S. deported migrants from third countries to Guatemala.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Tripura minister Sudhanshu Das has called for the establishment of a Sanatan Dharma Board like the Waqf Board to protect Hindu temples. Speaking to ANI Das said, "Why there is no board for our Sanatan Dharam when there is a Waqf board for the Muslim community...Our demand is there should be a board for our Sanatan Dharam, to protect the temples. We have seen what happened in Tirupati. So there should be a broad for us." "We must have a board (Sanatan board) to protect all our temples... If it is not given to us then don't give it to anyone else, this is our demand," he added. A Waqf board is essentially a legal entity that has the power to acquire, hold, and transfer property. The government established Waqf Act, 1995, to regulate waqf properties, but it 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. Meanwhile, the Joint Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is undertaking a study tour of five cities in India. 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. In a related development, the Waqf land and properties row has recently intensified in Karnataka, with JPC Chairperson Jagdambika Pal visiting various districts and meeting farmers' organizations in Huballi, Vijayapura, and other districts, accompanied by Tejasvi Surya. Pal announced that a fact-finding report would be presented in the upcoming winter session of Parliament. "We will submit the report in the upcoming winter session of Parliament," Pal told ANI. The BJP has alleged that Waqf designations were added to land records for 44 properties in Indi and Chadachan taluks of Vijayapura district without proper notification, following a meeting between Karnataka Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan and district officials. However, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has instructed officials to stop issuing notices to farmers and withdraw those already issued. (ANI)
Could it happen here? Why does that seem to be a subject of even more interest than the urgent issue of how much the Trump presidency will affect our national prospects? Because it is a fascinating and profound question.

Whatever the consequences of Trumps policies on trade or war turn out to be, they are practical matters which will be dealt with in concrete terms. But the really big thing  the ultimate challenge of our time for anyone interested in the governing of free societies  is whether the mass popular uprising that Trumps victory embodies is a pattern for other Western countries, or a peculiarly American event. In fact it is both, but the differences between the two are critically important.

First, the sense in which Trumpism can be translatable into British or European terms. That is pretty obvious and was instantly noted by commentators who can justifiably claim to have seen this reckoning coming for a long time.

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That overworked epithet liberal elites has never been so totally vindicated. The contempt with which the resentments and fears of ordinary people have been dismissed, not merely as inconsequential but as positively evil, was a crime against democracy.

Not only did those infamous, self-regarding elites reject the anxieties of whole swathes of the population but, most specifically, they scorned the very people that the Left was designed to speak for: the struggling working classes who do not have the advantages of higher education and the social confidence it provides.

There is something distinctly decadent about this political fashion: something almost perverse in its interpretation of the word tolerance which has been stretched to mean, not forbearance, but the elevation of minorities to be super-protected, specially favoured categories who must be given preference over those born into privilege however absurdly that word is construed.

Much of this was familiar snobbery, of course: a fresh excuse for dismissing (in Britain) working class yobs and (in America), redneck oiks. Somehow even these groups of clearly disadvantaged people came to be classified as privileged but that was a contradiction which nobody bothered to get to grips with.

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When Trump stole Franklin Roosevelts phrase the forgotten man for his early campaigns, this is what he was trying to evoke. So yes, that is something that the British scene apparently has in common with the circumstances that produced the Trump victory. Even the terms in which those American voters described their decision to vote for a man they often claimed to dislike, spoke of the anger with which they condemned the mainstream establishment for its abandonment of them.

In the UK, and indeed much of Europe, this has a special resonance. It is the parties of the Left that have enthusiastically embraced this elitist cult which denigrates the very classes of society which they were created to represent. That acknowledgement of a class system  and the historic guilt of an entitled bourgeoisie  still runs through European and British politics. The debt that is owed to those who had nothing but their own labour to live by, and the responsibility owed to them from everyone who is initiated into the advantages of middle class life by family or education, is still embedded in the political conscience.

Now, quite suddenly that whole moral edifice has collapsed. Working people, whatever their hardships, are accused of casual bigotry as well as global selfishness. When Labour politicians tell them that they must willingly cut back their energy use to set an example to the world, they obviously think they are being enlightened idealists but to their traditional audience they sound like Marie Antoinette. How on earth has it come to this? And is it so different from the conditions that produced Trump in America?

Well yes, it is. As a nation, the United States has a unique historical mission which many European observers fail to take into account. In a country without any aristocratic class, there is very little sense of inherited guilt (except about slavery, which is a different matter).

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With few exceptions, the forebears of todays Americans arrived with nothing. Most of them are only a couple of generations away from migrants not unlike those who are now flooding their borders in such alarming numbers. The only thing that all these disparate, displaced people had in common was a willingness to work, to aspire, and to make their own way to prosperity and proud independence. All that they asked of their government was to maintain the rule of law and to stand back and let them get on with building their new lives.

What follows from this is that there is no guilt attached to being wealthy and successful. You  or your family  earned that money through their own industriousness or talent.

Americans do not regard making a profit from what you do, or taking responsibility for your own future and that of your family as selfish. They see it as doing the right thing and giving a purpose to life. Many Europeans who do see this rather brutal work ethic and individual determination still do not necessarily understand what follows from it: there is no Old World feudal paternalism in America, and no noblesse oblige.

So there was a simple question for US voters to answer: which leader and political party respects my values  which I believe are the central values which made this country what it is? And we know what most of them decided. But what was unexpected is that a huge number of the Latino voters who might have been offended by Trumps comments about Hispanic migrants, gave the same answer. That is a point which illuminates this chapter in the countrys history.

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The Latino voters who have settled in the US were as concerned about the state of the economy as other voters. They wanted to work, to prosper, to make their way in life  just like everybody else. They did not come to America to be poor, or dependent on the state: they came to make a better, independent future for themselves.

Even for those observers who are appalled by the election result, that should be good news.

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Donald Trump is preparing to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement when he returns to office in January.

The president-elects team has already prepared an executive order that would see the US leave the international treaty, which commits countries to cutting their greenhouse gas emissions.

More executive orders have been prepared for Mr Trump to sign when he re-enters the White House that would shrink the size of national monuments to allow more drilling and mining, The New York Times reports.

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It is one of the first signs of how Mr Trump plans to undo the legacy of Joe Biden, who has frequently touted his administrations green credentials and spent billions of dollars on renewable energy projects.

Mr Biden signed the US up to the Paris accord on his first day in office after Mr Trump withdrew from it during his first term in 2017.

Mr Trumps election victory on Tuesday gave him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail, Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for the transition team, told Reuters.

She added: He will deliver.

End pause on LNG

On the campaign trail, Mr Trump repeatedly pledged to unleash oil production, telling rally crowds that he would drill, baby, drill. The policy will see energy prices halved within 12 months of his taking office, he claimed.

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Mr Trump is also expected to end the pause on permitting new liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to big markets in Asia and Europe, and revoke a waiver that allows states like California to have tighter pollution standards.

Mr Biden paused approvals of new LNG exports in January in order to complete a study on their environmental and economic impact.

Gavin Newsom, the California governor, said on Thursday that he would fight any attempt by the incoming president to slash his states environmental regulations in the courts.

Whether it be our fundamental civil rights, reproductive freedom, or climate action  we refuse to turn back the clock and allow our values and laws to be attacked, he said.

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Donald Trump has rehired the highly controversial immigration official Tom Homan, considered one of the key architects of the zero tolerance family separation policy during his first administration.

The immigration hardliner served as the acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) between 2017 and 2018.

The president-elect wrote on his Truth Social platform overnight that Homan would be in charge of the Southern Border, the Northern Border, all Maritime, and Aviation Security.

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Homan will be involved in Trumps stated goal of carrying out the largest deportation operation in American history through federal, state, and local law enforcement by invoking the same 1798 law used to carry out mass Japanese internment during the Second World War.

Under the separation initiative, immigration officials broke with the longstanding practice of keeping migrant families together and out of detention, instead sending parents to immigration court for removal proceedings and children to the care of a separate agency.

Immigration offenses are considered civil violations, not criminal ones, and many of the families first presented as asylum-seekers, but they were soon on the fast track out of the country.

Trump will bring former ICE chief Tom Homan back into his administration (REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)

The practice separated at least 5,000 families, many permanently, as parents were sent abroad and the Trump administration initially declined to keep track of where they ended up. As of this May, an estimated 1,400 families remained apart.

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Trump has been eager to bring Homan, a Project 2025 contributor, back into the fold, telling a radio host during the campaign, Hes coming on board.

As Homan boasted during a conference in July, They aint seen s*** yet...Wait until 2025.

When asked in a recent 60 Minutes interview about whether that operation would entail returning to family separation, Homan suggested it needs to be considered absolutely.

"Their parent absolutely entered the country illegally, had a child knowing he was in the country illegally, Homan explained. So he created that crisis."

According to reporting from The Atlantic, Homan may have been the first government official to seriously propose intentional family separation back in 2014, though officials dismissed this at the time as heartless and impractical, given both the moral and logistical costs of separating children from their families.

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The proposal later found a receptive ear in Trump, who launched his 2016 campaign demonizing Mexican migrants as drug dealers and rapists and made cracking down on immigration a signature issue.

Homan told The Atlantic he was inspired to propose the family separation idea after witnessing the aftermath of grisly trafficking and violence on the border.

The goal wasnt to traumatize, he told the magazine. The goal was to stop the madness, stop the death, stop the rape, stop the children dying, stop the cartels doing what theyre doing.

Tom Homan was one of the key backers of the zero tolerance family separation policy, and will assist with the Trump administrations plans for mass deportations (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Since then, hes taken on a more belligerent tone.

Im sick and tired of hearing about the family separation, Homan said at a conference last year. Im still being sued over that.

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I dont give a s***, right? Bottom line is, we enforced the law.

Since retiring from the Trump administration, Homan has been a fixture on Fox News, where he describes immigration as an invasion. Border states like Texas have pushed to declare immigration an invasion to free up additional military-style powers to police the border, which experts have told The Independent is a view unfounded in the law.

Homan has also served in a group of border experts called Border911, which has traveled the country promoting the idea, which many argue is racist, that Democrats are intentionally encouraging illegal immigration to secure political power.

Border911 has backed initiatives like Prop 314 in Arizona, which passed this year, allowing state and local officials to act as immigration officials, normally the duty of the federal government.

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The group, according to reporting from the Texas Observer, was previously part of the America Project, a group founded by pro-Trump election deniers Patrick Byrne, former CEO of Overstock.com, and Michael Flynn, Trumps disgraced, QAnon-following former national security adviser.

People affiliated with the border group have private businesses that receive government contracts and provide consulting on immigration issues and could stand to gain from a new administration promoting hardline immigration policies.

The Biden administration indeed presided over record levels of migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border in late 2023, but levels have since returned to less than half of their peak during the Trump administration.
It may be horrific and redefine the world order. Or it may be underwhelmingly bluster over substance. But US President-elect Donald Trumps second term will certainly be disruptive. And even the most severe American isolationism - the greatest amount of doing little - will likely herald significant change.

We really know staggeringly little about Trumps foreign policy. He says he likes it that way. We know hes against wars that drag in America. He seems fond of dictators, or at least strongmen. He likes what he sees as good deals and destroys what he thinks of as bad ones. He dislikes American allies that he thinks take advantage. He doesnt believe in global warming. His first term highlighted a man keen to be at the very heart of every matter.

But the president-elect is unique also in how little hes had to articulate his foreign policy positions. Recall the horror that met George W. Bush being unable to name Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in a 1999 campaign interview? Trump would never be asked such a gotcha question.

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The mainstream media is chewing glass over how it got this election so wrong. A similar exercise in assessing Trumps likely foreign policy is perhaps in order. To be clear: Trump does not inherit a world at peace, where Americas unquestioning role as a beacon of freedom and moral superiority has brought enduring calm.

The incumbent Biden administration leaves a series of global crises at best unsolved  at worst raging. The current White House may have done the very best anyone could have in meager circumstances. But is it possible that some disruption could be fruitful? Could a chaotic rethink work? At risk of toadying towards an incoming administration, lets develop that thought for a moment.

Trump meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago estate on July 26. - Alex Brandon/AP

Trumps first term was of itself relatively uneventful compared with the four years that followed. The end of ISIS; immigration bans and odd insults; leaving the Iran deal while making another one with the Taliban; letting Turkey invade northern Syria; and all that weird coziness with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Biden term encompassed a comparative deluge: the sudden yet inevitable collapse of Americas longest war in Afghanistan; the Russian invasion of Ukraine; and then October 7 in Israel, then the spiral of Gaza, Iran and Lebanon. Trump may have set some of that in motion, but undoubtedly Biden had the busier watch.

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Did Trump have any hand in his own calm first term? If youre looking for a bright spot in 2017 to 2021 - where erratic, angry gestures might have paid off - the assassination of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in January 2020 is a glaring case in point. I recall hearing the news that Soleimani - not just the commander of the Quds force in Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps, but at that time the regions most eminent military personality - had been killed by a US drone strike in Baghdad.

Even one US official involved in the operation expressed surprise to me about the moves audacity. It felt like the wheels might come off the region, if Iran went to the mattresses to seek revenge. But, in the end, remarkably little happened. And the limits of Iranian power - fanned by years of its role in fighting Syrian rebels and then ISIS - became evident. The US could suddenly kill Irans most prominent commander whenever it wanted, without major comeback.

Did that lead to Irans growing sponsorship of proxies who slowly walked the region into the crises that followed October 7? Possibly. Or did the strike simply curtail Iranian ambitions? We wont ever know; but it was the first of many occasions in the years to come when Iran looked weak.

Trumps clear alliance with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks set to benefit the Israeli incumbent. Yet the president-elects broader instincts may limit Israels options. The endless funding and arming of Israels multiple conflicts is anathema to Trumps wider goal of reducing US global involvement.

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He may also be mindful of the damage supporting the war in Gaza did to the Democrats in the election that he won. Netanyahu must surely have completed much of his regional to-do list, after the horrific assaults on Lebanon and Gaza, and may find his victorious US counterpart less willing to bail him out of any new assaults.

The ongoing war of attrition with Iran will need urgent attention. Yet Tehran now has experience of Trump as someone willing to be wildly incautious and unafraid of international norms. If Iran seeks a nuclear weapon, it can expect a very violent US response. Trump may also pre-empt that Iranian decision by attacking Iran, with Israeli backing. As President Joe Biden - who did all he could to avoid war with Iran - leaves power, Iran looks incredibly weak. Tehran must now deal with a US president it allegedly tried to kill and who has shown - four years ago when Iran was more powerful than it is now - he is unafraid of a war with them.

Trumps mixture of erraticism and pride may have the most impact on China, whose leader, Xi Jinping, congratulated him on his victory while warning the US would lose from confrontation and gain from cooperation. A damaging tariff war may be avoided through deal-making. But above all China must confront the heady mixture of a US president who would deeply resent having to fight to defend Taiwan from a Chinese invasion, but probably dislike as much being labeled weak if he backed down from such a fight.

Beijing must have frustratingly few signals it can study about the intentions of such a singular and irrational decision-maker, and therefore struggle with knowing when, and if, a potential move on Taiwan would encounter the US boots on the ground that Biden promised.

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The earliest, and most risky decision Trump will face is over the continued US support for Ukraine. Any deal will likely involve Kyiv accepting territorial concessions and provide a pause in fighting that allows Moscow to regroup. That will, in of itself, prove hugely dangerous for European security.

But in the current moment we are at in the war, Ukraine is equally in need of time to regroup and rearm. It is losing territory at the fastest pace perhaps yet since the invasion, and would immediately benefit from the frontlines being frozen. It also finds itself at the sharp, bleeding end of Bidens biggest foreign policy paradox: give Kyiv enough support to not lose, but not enough to let it defeat Russia. Ukraine will one day run, eventually, out of troops willing to fight.

Residents gather next to their destroyed cars and a damaged apartment building in Odesa, Ukraine, on November 9. - Nina Liashonok/Reuters

President Volodymyr Zelensky has known the day would come when the idea of another forever war became unappealing to NATO, and the worlds largest military alliance eventually sought to wind down its involvement. Everything Trump has said suggests he wants that same exit very soon.

Trumps grotesque and incomprehensible fondness for Putin makes the details of any deal highly dangerous for Europe and the NATO alliance, founded to confront Russia. But it is a moment Ukraine would - short of a Russian domestic revolt or collapse - have arrived at eventually anyway. Does Moscow accept a better deal hatched with a US president who has been less confrontational and personally offensive towards Putin? Does Putin risk Trump taking greater personal offense if that same deal is later betrayed, and their entente exposed as a sham?

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The answers to these questions are for now unknowable. But it would be naive to think they necessarily bode well for Kyiv.

Yet Trumps ascendancy has not brought with it a new set of global crises and problems. Instead, it means the US and its allies must ready themselves to deal with the same issues with different focus, means and priorities.

That may prove catastrophic for the current world order, and Western democracies as a whole. Or it may force tired societies and alliances to adopt a new spirit of enlightened compromise and impassioned defense.

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As the last Congressional races start to wind down, the country is starting to get a sense of what the federal government will look like for the next two years. MSNBC political analyst Brendan Buck and former speechwriter for former President Obama Jesse Moore join Alex Witt to discuss problems with the Democratic party and more.
A version of this story appeared in CNNs What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here.

Donald Trump can claim a lot out of his 2024 election win:

 Its a comeback for the ages for a president to go from a pariah after trying to overturn one election to president-elect after the next.

 A rightward shift in election results gives him a mandate to start trying to remake the US government like he promised he would.

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 If Republicans win control of the US House of Representatives, hell have control of the entire US government to help him enact change.

What Trump cannot claim is a landslide victory, although thats how he will describe it.

As of Saturday, Trump is winning the popular vote with a little more than 74.5 million votes, although millions of votes have yet to be counted in California, Washington and Utah, among others. The final 2024 popular vote tally likely wont be known until December.

When he lost convincingly in 2020, Trump got a little more than 74 million votes. So while its true that much of the country moved to the right in this election, its also true that there was some voter apathy if, at the end of the day, turnout is down from 2020.

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That doesnt mean this will end up being a low turnout election. The University of Florida Election Lab estimates as of Friday that turnout in 2024 will be about 62.3% of the voting-eligible population, down from the high-water mark of the modern era of more than 66.4% in 2020 but still above other recent elections. Turnout in 1996 and 2000 was not much over 50% of the voting-eligible population.

In terms of the Electoral College, Trump won 312 electoral votes. Its a solid win, but in the lower half of US presidential elections.

It was a better showing than either his or Joe Bidens 306 electoral votes in 2016 and 2020, respectively. It also outperformed both of George W. Bushs electoral victories in 2000 and 2004. But it was far short of Barack Obamas 365 electoral votes in 2008 and 332 in 2012.

Bill Clinton never reached 50% in the popular vote because both of his presidential elections featured a strong third-party candidate in Ross Perot. But Clinton did run away with the Electoral College vote, winning 370 electoral votes in 1992 and 379 in 1996.

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Even those strong victories are dwarfed by Ronald Reagans 1984 win, a true landslide. Reagan lost only Washington, DC, and Minnesota, the home state of his Democratic rival, Walter Mondale, thereby securing 525 electoral votes and more than 58% of the popular vote.

Both Richard Nixon in 1972 and Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 exceeded 60% in the popular vote for their reelection campaigns, something that seems impossible in todays political climate. Its also incredible to think that two such massive landslides would occur within eight years. Nixons reelection rival in 1972, then-Sen. George McGovern, lost even his home state of South Dakota and won only Massachusetts and Washington, DC.

Voters were much more likely to split their tickets in those years. While Johnson, a Democrat, enjoyed a strong Democratic majority in the House after his 1964 landslide, voters who gave both Nixon and Reagan all but one state also checked them with a Democratic-controlled House.

The more recent trend is for voters to align their votes for House, Senate and the White House. That trend has led to a period during which the White House and Congress change hands more frequently, although Democrats will keep Senate seats in multiple states won by Trump this year.

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Trumps 2024 win marks the third straight presidential election in which voters have thrown out the incumbent party. The last time that happened in three straight elections was in the late 1800s when Grover Cleveland became the first president to be elected to nonconsecutive terms. Trump is the second.

Trump will never be on a presidential ballot again, because the 22nd Amendment limits presidents to two terms. But voters will get an opportunity to weigh in on how he and Republicans use their power in two years, during the 2026 midterm elections.

The past three presidents, including Trump in his first term, all lost control of the House after their first two years in office. If Trump does end up with a friendly Republican majority this year, hell have to work hard to keep voters on his side two years from now.

This story has been updated with additional developments.

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LGBTQ advocacy organizations have reported a flood of calls and chats to their crisis communication hotlines after Donald Trump won the election this week, following a campaign that was rife with anti-trans attacks.

The Trevor Project, a nonprofit that provides mental health crisis services to LGBTQ people, reported a nearly 700% increase in reach-outs to its crisis services on Nov. 6, the day after the election. The organization said it saw significantly high outreach from LGBTQ+ young people needing support in direct response to election results. One-third of those who contacted its crisis services after the election identified themselves as Black, Indigenous or people of color, the organization said.

The day after the election, The Washington Post reported that the Rainbow Youth Project, a nonprofit advocacy group for LGBTQ youth, had received more calls in the first six days of November than it receives in an average month.

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Trumps vow to strip trans people of their rights was a big part of his election pitch. He flooded airwaves with ads targeting trans rights and vilifying trans women in sports. Republicans have also spent much of the past few years enacting legislation to curtail trans rights and demonizing trans people.

NBC News exit polls show that a huge majority of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender voters surveyed supported Harris in this election, while fewer LGBT voters cast their vote for the Republican candidate in this race than in any of the three previous presidential elections. Yet after a stinging defeat, some Democrats have suggested that the party should not be pandering to the far left  a proposal that my colleague Hayes Brown called an instinct based on fear that should be rejected loudly and firmly from all corners of the party.

Transgender Americans have said the president-elects relentless attacks on their community are taking a toll. A high school senior in North Carolina told the Post on Monday that it was hard seeing so much hatred for my community. Austin Johnson, a research director at the Campaign for Southern Equality and a sociology professor at Kenyon College, told The New York Times of the Trump-backed anti-trans ads, Theres a bit of shame, or embarrassment, like a loss of dignity, when Im watching one of those ads, knowing my friends or my colleagues are also watching it.

Research has shown that trans adults experience higher rates of suicide and suicide attempts than their cisgender counterparts. A study by the Trevor Project found that between 2018 and 2022, there was a significant increase in suicide attempts among transgender and nonbinary youth in states where anti-trans laws were enacted, with those younger than 18 years old experiencing the sharpest increase in suicide attempt rates.

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If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.

If you are an LGBTQ young person in crisis, feeling suicidal or in need of a safe and judgment-free place to talk, call the TrevorLifeline now at 1-866-488-7386 or the Rainbow Youth Project at 1-317-643-4888.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
(NewsNation)  Call them Gen Z, young millennials or bros. They went bigger for Donald Trump than they did four years ago.

Young men like me, we dont want to be feminists, said conservative influencer and self-described bro Christian Hodges in an appearance on NewsNations On Balance. We want to be able to have a family, get married  have a family and live the American dream.

We believe in America, but does Joe Biden and Kamala Harris believe in America? They dont. But we know that Donald Trump does, Hodges said.

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5 takeaways from the 2024 exit polls

Podcasting may have also been part of the secret sauce in Trumps decisive victory.

Barron Trump encouraged his father to go on podcasts like Joe Rogan and Theo Von  and Logan Paul, said College Republicans of America President Will Donahue. These are mediums that reach out to a type of voter that are typically apolitical. They ended up voting for Trump because they identified with him.

On the other hand, Donahue told CUOMO, Kamala Harris went on Call Her Daddy and Stephen Colbert. She made zero attempts to reach out to 18-to-29-year-old males.

Pod Save America: Dems refused to believe Biden unpopular

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Social media influencer and immigration activist Carlos Eduardo Espina believes it wasnt neglect but ignorance of the bros that cost Harris.

I think they just fundamentally misunderstand Gen Z, particularly Gen Z men, adding that her campaign advisers should have put Harris on podcasts and just let her be herself.

She was very protected, very insulated. They took a while to get her in front of the press (and) in front of these nontraditional media, Espina said.

Kristi Noem: Democratic governors should work with Donald Trump

But Donahue said, in the end, it was about more than just outreach.

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Gen Z thought President Trump was a better pick, he said.

Whatever the opinions, the vote count confirms that Trump vastly improved his standing among males between 18 and 29.

In 2020, he lost that age cohort by 24 points to Joe Biden. On Tuesday, he lost them by only 13 points, wrote NewsNation contributor Chris Cillizza.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Donald Trump scored a comprehensive victory Tuesday, improving his numbers across several key demographics, possibly sweeping every swing state and clinching the popular vote, which no Republican had done since 2004.

The president-elect, however, says he has run his last race. Term limits will bar him from running again in four years, and Republicans will need to show similar strength in 2026 to maintain their Senate majority and key House seats they were able to secure this year, not to mention the White House again in 2028.

Yet Trump remains a singular figure in Republican politics, and while some lawmakers have been able to find success with their own coalitions, past Trump emulators have failed to capture the same kind of appeal across the political spectrum that he holds -- an appeal that appears to be the dominant force in the modern GOP.

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When asked by ABC News whether Trump's coalition can be replicated by others, more than a half-dozen Republican operatives responded with one answer: a resounding maybe.

"Love him or hate him, Trump is a generational candidate," said Tricia McLaughlin, a GOP strategist who worked on Vivek Ramaswamy's presidential campaign. "That is something in the next three years we have to grapple with."

"I think we're yet to see who that might be," she added of who can emulate Trump's 2024 path, "and I think part of the reason we might not be able to see who that is now, and it might take us a while, is because Donald Trump is the name of the game."

MORE: 3 charged in Iran-linked murder plots, with one targeting Donald Trump as revenge for killing Qassem Soleimani: DOJ

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The thoroughness of Trump's win left Democrats scratching their heads and gave Republicans a path forward beyond his final term in office, if they're able to capitalize on it.

PHOTO: Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump dances accompanied by Melania Trump after speaking during an election night event, Nov.6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Carlos Barria/Reuters)

He appeared on track to take all seven swing states, while staying competitive in deep blue states like New Mexico and New Jersey. He was able to clinch 46% of the Latino vote, won Hispanic men outright and kept his loss to single digits among female voters even amid furor over abortion access, according to exit poll data. And while he expanded the Republican coalition to include more voters of color, he maintained his dominance with white voters.

Now, it's contingent on Republicans, likely with Trump's support, to continue those successes as they work to defend their new Senate majority in 2026, remain competitive for the House and elect another president in four years.

One way, strategists said, is to try to be as legislatively productive as possible while Trump is in the White House. He was elected to change things, they argued, and making those changes will help reinforce the perception of the Republican Party that handed the GOP victories up and down the ballot, benefiting others hitting the campaign trail in their own races.

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"This is not a squeaker of a win, it's a landslide, he has a mandate on the policies he's running on. So, it would be wise for our party to achieve all of that sooner than later, in the first 100 days for Congress to get that together," said GOP strategist Kristin Davison. "To keep the coalition, the first step is to deliver."

"And then, moving forward, we have four years here, and elections during that time and following, to take that message that meets voters where they are," Davison added. "I think where we might make a mistake is where candidates copy and paste. Nobody will be able to be TrumpBut to take that message and apply it to their specific state and district and community will be the best way to continue and grow that."

To do so, Republican candidates might have to break from traditional GOP orthodoxy in the same way that Trump did. Out are support for free trade and big business benefits, in are "fair trade" and policies beneficial to workers.

"I think it's important to remember that this coalition is built on policy over anything else. Yes, personality helps him build it. But the policy is what builds this coalition," said Nick Trainer, a former Trump administration official. "You have to find your way in, whether that's increased child tax credits or pro-labor stances or whatever it may be, you have to find your way into it. But it's not something where you can be a PowerPoint Republican of yesteryear."

PHOTO: Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives at an election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Evan Vucci/AP)

It won't be easy.

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Past emulators have failed. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' presidential bid flamed out as Trump remained the party leader, and Arizona GOP Senate candidate Kari Lake is trailing in a state that favored Trump.

MORE: Elon Musk joined Trump's call with Zelenskyy: Sources

Trump has undoubtedly brought more voters into the fold, including some who are thought to not be motivated to vote for anyone besides him. And if there is any hope of Trump's coalition living on in other races, his involvement could be key.

"There's this fascinating voter out there that is uniquely keyed for Donald Trump, and we may never see them again. They may never vote again in their lives, because I'm convinced that a lot of them never voted before Donald Trump," said one GOP strategist who worked on several down-ballot races this year.

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"How do we keep them engaged? How do we keep them motivated to keep coming around?" the person added. "I don't know, but that would be one way to replicate it, is if he took an active role in kind of playing kingmaker from this point forward."

PHOTO: Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump depart the stage at an election night watch party, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Evan Vucci/AP)

To be certain, there are other coalitions to be had.

GOP governors like Mike DeWine in Ohio and Brian Kemp in Georgia have won as more traditional Republican lawmakers, at times with margins even more expansive than those Trump won in their states.

But Trump and his coalition are clearly the 800-pound gorilla in Republican politics, and while replicating the president-elect's appeal will be key to Republican success, doing so won't come as naturally to others.

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"It will be extremely difficult," the Republican strategist said. "Doesn't mean we shouldn't try. Doesn't mean that there won't be efforts to do it. But I do think there will be a limit to how successful you're going to be without your name being Donald Trump."

Trump won a comprehensive victory. Can other Republicans replicate it? originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
John Bolton on The Source With Kaitlan Collins.

John Bolton imparted some words of wisdom for Donald Trumps next national security adviser.

Trump is currently in the process of putting a varied team together for his second term, with his son Don Jr. implying that admission to the cabinet relies on blind adherence to the soon-to-be presidents message.

Bolton held the post of national security adviser to Trump before being fired in 2019, and shared his list of must-dos on CNN on Friday.

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Despite agreeing with comments that Trump is a f---ing moron earlier this year, Bolton was far more diplomatic in his advice to prospective White House employees.

Well, I think the first thing is to remember that the national security adviser really should do whatever he canhe or she canto put information in front of the president that is helpful in making decisions to make sure the president has the options laid out before him and can make the best selection of policy he wants. And then to make sure the presidents decisions are followed through," he told Kaitlan Collins.

If the president doesnt take your advice, then that goes with the job. You are the national security adviser and not the national security decision-maker, Bolton said.

The former United States Ambassador to the United Nations then directly disagreed with Don Jr.s hunt for yes-men, hinting that the job description should require a bit more backbone.

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But most assuredly, what your job is not is simply to say, Yes, sir when the president says something, he said.

You have to do what you can, and you are obviously dealing with a human being, but you need to do what you can to make sure that all of the information is available and all of the feasible options are laid out.

If you fail to do that by saying, Yes, sir, every time the president speaks, youre not serving the president, youre not serving the country.

Bolton may have failed to say Yes, sir enough during his own time in the role considering his firing, having previously spoken about Trumps suggested inability to tell the difference between whats true and false.

If it happens to comport with what everybody else sees. Well, thats fine. And if it doesnt comport with anybody else, he doesnt really care, and hes had decades of getting away with it, Bolton said of Trump back in August.
The Wada police in Maharashtra's Palghar seized over Rs 3.70 crore from a car on Friday ahead of state assembly polls, police said. According to Wada police, the seizure was carried out as the alleged cash did not have necessary documentation under the model code of conduct guidelines amid the polls. The driver and the car were taken into custody and an investigation into the matter is underway, they said. "The car was going to Wada, Vikramgarh from Airoli, Navi Mumbai, the car belongs to a company and they claimed that cash was to refill ATMs but they didn't have the necessary documentation for such a huge amount so we seized the cash and processed it as per Model code of conduct guidelines," the police said. Speaking to ANI, Police Inspector Dattatray Kindre said, "We received information from one of our squads engaged in the blockade that they have stopped a vehicle in which cash has been recovered but it does not have the QR code and other documents required by the Election Commission." The Model Code of Conduct was enforced in the state on October 15 ahead of the polls scheduled to be held on November 20. Voting for the 288-member Maharashtra assembly will be held on November 20 and counting on November 23. (ANI)
Members of Donald Trump's team are rejecting the possibility of US troops being deployed to secure an 800-mile (1,200-kilometre) buffer zone between the Russian and Ukrainian armies as envisaged by one of the plans to freeze the war between the two countries.

Source: The Telegraph with reference to sources close to Trump

Details: The plans details appeared after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that any attempt to achieve peace by appeasing Russia would be "suicidal" for Europe.

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This plan is one of several options Trump is considering. Before his election, Trump stated that he would start peace talks before assuming office in January.

The plan, outlined by three members of Trumps staff, suggests that the current front line would be frozen and Ukraine would agree to postpone its NATO aspirations for 20 years.

In exchange, the US would provide Ukraine with sufficient weapons to deter Russia from resuming hostilities.

However, the US would not deploy troops to patrol or secure the buffer zone, nor would it fund it.

Quote from Trumps team member: "We can do training and other support but the barrel of the gun is going to be European."

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"We are not sending American men and women to uphold peace in Ukraine. And we are not paying for it. Get the Poles, Germans, British and French to do it."

Background:

On 8 November, former UK Chancellor George Osborne stated that it would be unrealistic for the UK to continue supporting Ukraine without US backing under a Trump presidency.

Trump himself has never clarified the specific terms of the peace deal he is envisaging to end the war.

While congratulating Trump on his victory, Zelenskyy expressed appreciation for Trumps commitment to a "peace through strength" approach, believing it could help bring a just peace to Ukraine.

Following the European Political Community summit, Zelenskyy said he believes Trump wants a swift end to the war, but this could entail sacrifices for Ukraine.

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U.S. President-elect Donald Trump may call on British and European troops to enforce a buffer zone that he would try to impose over the current front line in Ukraine, the Telegraph reported on Nov. 7, citing three Trump staffers.

Under one of the peace plans being considered by Trump, the current front line in Ukraine would be frozen, the Telegraph reported.

The U.S. would supply weapons to Ukraine to prevent Moscow from re-launching the war, according to the Telegraph. In exchange, Ukraine would agree not to pursue its ambition to join NATO for 20 years, the sources said.

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Trumps plan does not include deploying U.S. troops to patrol the 1,200-kilometer buffer zone or providing U.S. financial support for the mission, the Telegraph reported.

We can do training and other support but the barrel of the gun is going to be European, a member of Trumps team said, as cited by the Telegraph. We are not sending American men and women to uphold peace in Ukraine. And we are not paying for it. Get the Poles, Germans, British and French to do it.

The findings from the report come amid speculation on how Trump will try to fulfill his promise to end the war quickly.

"If we have a win, long before Jan. 20, before I would take the presidency, long before that, I think we could work out something that is good for both sides," Trump said, standing alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in New York in September.

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It remains unclear why Russia would want to pause at the current phase since Moscow's forces are currently at the height of their offensive in 2024 and reportedly still have the resources to keep pushing further.

On Nov. 9, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that Russia was "ready to listen" to Trump's proposals but added that there would be no "simple solution."

Trump defeated Democratic candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris in the Nov. 5 presidential election, adding further uncertainty for Ukraine as it struggles to envision its future. Trump previously served as president from 2017 to 2021, before Joe Biden took office.

Ukraine's leadership has said publicly that it plans to restore the country's 1991 borders, which includes the liberation of Crimea and parts of the Donbas occupied by Russia since 2014.

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Read also: Before Trump begins, Biden has 6 weeks left to help Ukraine  heres what he could do

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
In 2016, Donald Trump shocked the world by defeating Hillary Clinton to win the presidency.

Some called it a fluke.

But now, eight years later, Trump has come back stronger than ever despite a failed reelection bid in 2020, a second impeachment after his supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol and a conviction on 34 felony counts that made him the first former president to be found guilty of a crime.

MORE: Donald Trump wins 2nd term in historic return to White House

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While votes continue to be counted, Trump was projected the winner in the early hours of Nov. 6. He captured six of seven swing states (ABC News has not yet projected Arizona, where Trump is also leading in the vote count); overperformed in blue states like Virginia and New York; and could be the first Republican candidate to win the popular vote since George W. Bush did so in wartime.

It is a capstone to his singular stamp on American politics, one that's been defined by his relentless defiance of institutional norms.

What many Americans now expect of a president has changed dramatically. And by winning them over, some experts argue, Trump has changed America.

PHOTO: Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump depart the stage at an election night watch party, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Evan Vucci/AP)

A new coalition

Trump won, in part, by building an unprecedented multiracial coalition within the Republican Party. White working-class men, as they did in 2016, fueled his success but Trump also drew in Black and Latino voters -- two demographics that traditionally vote for Democrats.

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First-time voters also flocked to Trump 54-45% -- a reversal from 2020 when the group overwhelmingly went for President Joe Biden.

"It's hard to imagine another Republican doing that well, but Trump was able to capture this sentiment from people who felt they weren't getting ahead despite having worked hard and played by the rules," said Brandon Rottinghaus, a presidential historian and professor at the University of Houston.

"There's a difference in politics between being looked at and being seen," Rottinghaus said. "And the Trump campaign made people feel like they were seen."

Trump, when he declared victory, argued he had received a "powerful mandate."

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"This is a movement like nobody's ever seen before and, frankly, this was, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time," he said.

How Trump flipped the script

Trump was shunned by much of his party after putting democracy to the test with his election denialism, which culminated in his supporters violently attacking the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Then when an anticipated "red wave" never materialized in the 2022 election as many of Trump's hand-picked candidates lost, his influence over the party was seriously questioned. When he announced his third campaign for president that same year, it was a relatively lackluster affair that prompted a tepid response from GOP leaders like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

A turning point, according to Republican strategist Mark Weaver, were the criminal investigations and indictments against Trump in 2023.

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"So many Republicans were put off by the weaponization of the legal system against one person that their anger sparked the rise of Trump, not quite from the ashes, but close to it," Weaver said.

At his first campaign rally, held in Waco, Texas, Trump's message to supporters was that the "deep state" was also coming after them and their way of life. He said he would be their "retribution."

That theme remained the undercurrent of the campaign even as Trump turned to focus heavily on immigration and the economy. He painted Democrats as out of touch on cultural issues like transgender rights. America was broken on all fronts, he said, and only he could "fix" it.

In the process, he leaned into authoritarian rhetoric at a level that alarmed critics and even some of his former staff, including a retired general who said in his view Trump fit the description of a fascist.

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Both President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spent a large portion of their campaigns hitting Trump as a threat to democracy. They pounced on his suggestions to expand executive power, gut the civil service, use the military to go after U.S. citizens and more policies that flout the guardrails of the Constitution.

PHOTO: Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris delivers a concession speech after the 2024 presidential election, Nov. 6, 2024, on the campus of Howard University in Washington. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

But it appears most voters either didn't believe he would carry out such extremes in office, voted for him in spite of it or even liked the idea of Trump's "strongman" style in the White House.

ABC News exit poll results showed among candidate qualities, voters rated "has the ability to lead" as most important. A close second was whether the candidate "can bring needed change."

Trump trounced Harris in both categories. Among those who cited leadership ability as the top candidate attribute, Trump beat Harris by a whopping 33 points. On bringing about change, the gap widened to 50 points.

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And even though democracy ranked high as an issue of importance to voters, with a vast majority (73%) viewing democracy as threatened, it didn't automatically translate into success for Harris as some thought it would.

"Democracy polls well, but the threat to democracy is in the eye of the beholder," said Weaver, who asserted Trump's projection that Democrats were the actual danger (accusing them of weaponizing the government and censorship) must have resonated.

'They think, 'He's angry like I am''

For all the debate around democracy or abortion rights or Trump's dark and inflammatory rhetoric, the economy was the issue of the day for the electorate.

More than two-thirds of voters, according to ABC News preliminary exit polls, said the economy was in bad shape. Forty-five percent said their own financial situation was worse now than four years ago, exceeding the level of those who said the same during the "Great Recession" in 2008. Much of the dissatisfaction was attributed to Biden, and by association to Harris.

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Key to Trump's political staying power, strategists on both sides of the aisle said, is the way he's managed to reorient the GOP's image from "Country Club Republicans" to the party of the working class despite being a billionaire himself and despite some of his proposals, like tariffs, being frowned upon by economists.

"He has completely remade the party and remade its appeal so that now non-college voters of multiple races are much more likely to consider voting Republican than they ever have in the past," said longtime Republican pollster Whit Ayres.

Democrats, amid finger-pointing over who is to blame for the loss, are reckoning with how these voters slipped from their grasp. Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders eviscerated the party, saying it "abandoned" those Americans. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, hitting back, suggested they spent too much time on cultural issues rather than easing economic anxieties caused by high prices.

MORE: Exit poll analysis 2024: Trump leverages economic discontent, extends his appeal -- and breaks the mold

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Elaine Kamarck, a political scientist at the Brookings Institution who served in the Clinton administration, said the economic chasm between Americans with four-year degrees and those without is one of the biggest forces in modern politics, with the latter feeling increasingly left behind.

"It's a very difficult public policy problem, which is why Trump will probably not solve the problem either, but at least he talks to them in a way that they understand and they feel he understands their lives," she said.

"He's an angry man and they think, 'He's angry like I am,'" Kamarck said.

PHOTO: Robin Galbraith walks near the entrance as Vice President Kamala Harris delivers a concession speech for the 2024 presidential election, Nov. 6, 2024, on the campus of Howard University in Washington. (Nathan Howard/AP)

That anger, experts said, doesn't just apply to the economy. Trump has tapped into a greater feeling of discontent among Americans who are hyper polarized and disillusioned with the political establishment.

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"It's become clear that our country has divided itself into two completely separate Americas, and neither one of those Americans understands much about the other or seems to have much interest in learning about the other, whether Trump or Harris had won this week," said Daniel Schnur, a political analyst at the University of California Berkeley.

Trump's ascension to the White House in 2016 was considered a symptom of a resentful and distrustful country, Schnur said. Those divisions have only intensified since then, in no small part because of Trump stoking the flames.

"We've had eight more years to reinforce them and to let them fester," Schnur said.

ABC News exit poll results found Trump prevailed by a wide margin among so-called "double haters" -- a small voting bloc but one that has an unfavorable opinion of both candidates.

"What strikes me is that the issues, the candidates, the ideology was perhaps less important than just people's flat-out unhappiness with the present state of American politics," said Rottinghaus.

"You can call it the economy. You can call it immigration or the border. There's a lot of reasons that you could tab this election to a particular issue, but the underlying nature of people's preferences led them to reject the status quo and side with Donald Trump."

Trump's political comeback is complete. What it says about American voters: ANALYSIS originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office on Sept. 17, 2020, in Washington, D.C. Credit - Oliver ContrerasGetty Images

Despite the handwringing angst of global leaders, the returning Trump Administration has the potential to accomplish something far more balanced and lasting in the Middle East: to ultimately bring to life the dream of a more peaceful and prosperous future for the entire region, benefitting Muslims and Jews alike.

Here are three specific areas where Trumps return could help advance a much-needed, new vision for stability in the Middle East and usher in a new era of peace and prosperity in the region.

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We dont mean to imply that Trump has a magic wand or a messianic approach to compel, as prophesied by Isaiah 11:6, the wolf to immediately lay down with the lamb; in fact, the immediate next steps will involve some forceful, decisive actions.

Read More: How Trump Won

Choke Iranian revenues and funding of regional terrorist groups through the long overdue re-enforcement of oil sanctions

Irans brutal theocratic government is a malignant influence on its neighbors and on its own people, and the single largest threat to regional harmony as the biggest funder of terrorism in the Middle East. Oil sales are the most crucial source of funding for the Iranian regime, representing up to 70% of all government revenues. During the first Trump Administration, under the leadership of Iran Special Envoy Brian Hook, a heightened focus on U.S. government enforcement  including directly seizing countless Iranian oil tankers and even emailing ship captains directly  reduced the volume of Iranian oil exports by 95%, from 2.5 million barrels a day in 2018 to a low of only 70,000 barrels a day in 2020, cutting Iranian oil revenues by approximately $50 billion. The lost oil supply was easily replaced by increased production from the Gulf countries, led by Saudi Arabia, so global oil prices fell, ensuring the cost was borne by Iran alone and not by consumers.

However, enforcement of these highly effective sanctions lapsed during the Biden Administration, for a variety of reasons, which has led Iran to reap windfall profits from near-record oil production, doubling from less than 2 million barrels per day in 2019 to nearly 4 million barrels per day now, and with oil exports increasing from practically zero to nearly 2 million barrels per day  equivalent to over $100 billion in profits.

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Trump comes in with substantially stronger relations with key Gulf oil producing countries and with the U.S. domestic energy industry, and as such, he will have a much stronger hand to enforce sanctions without driving up global energy prices, and the days of Iran reaping windfall profits from oil sales are clearly over. There is simply no way for Iran to replace any of this lost revenue, which means less money for the Ayatollah to fund Irans terrorism and antisemitic jihads.

Helima Croft/RBC Capital Markets

Stop Irans pursuit of a nuclear weapon, which is the gravest long-term regional security threat facing the Mideast

A nuclear Iran remains the gravest long-term regional security threat facing Israel, the Middle East, and the United States, and the returning Trump Administration will have to make stopping Irans pursuit of a nuclear weapon in its tracks one of its highest priorities.

Over the last four years, Iran has drawn dramatically closer to nuclear breakout capability  even as western diplomats unsuccessfully pursued a renewed Iran nuclear deal. When those talks finally, predictably collapsed, even top Pentagon officials candidly conceded that Iran could soon assemble a crude nuclear device within weeks. Indeed, Iran stands today as essentially a nuclear threshold state, with a stockpile of several bombs worth of highly enriched uranium to 60%, which is very close to weapons grade. In one case, the Iranians said they supposedly mistakenly enriched a small amount of material to 83.7%. For comparison, the Hiroshima bomb was based on 80% enrichment.

The returning Trump Administration is poised to re-prioritize Iranian nuclear disarmament, in place of a diplomatic approach which paradoxically enabled Irans march to the bomb. While the Iran nuclear deal may still be hotly debated in some circles, what is not remotely debatable is that over the last few years, Iran has both drawn closer to a bomb and reaped the benefits financially of weaker sanctions enforcement.

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Read More: What Donald Trumps Win Means for the Economy

That said, there is another important development: Israel has dramatically weakened Irans proxies and Irans strategic defenses. It is now largely unshackled from the key restraints which had previously constrained its ability to take direct action against Irans nuclear facilities despite weak air defense systems  the presence of Hezbollah, Hamas, and other Iran-backed proxies as threats on Israels borders. With these proxy groups having been significantly degraded now thanks to the ingenuity of the Israelis, sometimes in defiance of western governments, countering Irans nuclear program becomes much more readily achievable.

The timing is perfect for the Trump Administration and for the U.S.; Iran is already de facto at war with Israel, and together, the U.S. and Israel have the tools it needs to complete the disarmament of Irans nuclear program by any means necessary; or at the very bare minimum, that threat to Irans nuclear infrastructure should give the Trump Administration significant leverage.

Helima Croft/RBC Capital Markets

Extend the Abraham Accords to build a strong coalition of allies to counter the Axis of Evil and facilitate a better life for the Palestinian people

On top of the horrific slaughter of over 1,200 innocent civilians in Israel and hostages dragged through the streets of Gaza, plus the tens of thousands of innocent Palestinian and Israeli civilians who have been killed in reprisals since then; there is another underappreciated if less vivid tragedy arising from October 7th. The subsequent regional conflict which has engulfed the Middle East derailed the planned next phase of the Abraham Accords: Saudi Arabia  the home of Mecca, the spiritual and symbolic center of Islam  would have followed Bahrain, UAE, Morocco, and Sudan in normalizing relations with Israel and in consecrating a new, transformative alliance to counter the malignant influence of Iran and its Axis of Evil.

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It's not that the Biden Administration didnt try to get a deal done. In fact, Hamass attacks on October 7th were driven, in part, by the Hamas objective of derailing planned normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel. The death and destruction in Gaza subsequently altered the environment for peace making and gave the Saudis a need to show that they are delivering a better future for the Palestinians.

With the return of Trump, there is, this time, the very real chance that Saudi Arabia will eventually recognize Israels existence, even if not right now. In the meantime, the transformative economic, social, and diplomatic fruits of the Abraham Accords are already paying off in plain sight, in stark juxtaposition to a defanged, struggling Iran and Iran-backed terrorist infernos largely extinguished. As Jared Kushner, the architect of the Abraham Accords, put it, Iranian leadership is stuck in the old Middle East, while their neighbors in the GCC are sprinting toward the future by investing in their populations and infrastructure. They are becoming dynamic magnets for talent and investment while Iran falls further behind. Simply put, the more the people of the region accept Israels existence; the more economic ties are formed between Israel and Arab nations, which leads to shared prosperity for all inhabitants of the region, and the harder it becomes for Tehran to assert dominance.

Read More: What Donald Trumps Win Means For Immigration

That shared prosperity extends to the Palestinian people, who have been deprived of economic opportunity for too long. Moving forward, no political peace will be sustainable without economic prosperity. As outlined in Jared Kushners original Peace to Prosperity conference in Bahrain in 2018; public and private partnerships could unleash conservatively $50 billion in economic development for the Palestinian people, including a $5 billion highway and economic development corridor connecting Gaza and the West Bank. Private sector leaders and top Arab investors told us that they would never invest in Gaza as long as Hamas remained in power, despite their enthusiasm for the potential of Gaza and its potential economic advantages, but the substantive elimination of Hamas promises new opportunities for Palestinian prosperity through public-private investment alongside the political stabilization of the Palestinian territories, possibly through a joint Arab stabilization force  something that can create the basis for an interim administration in Gaza for the period after the war.

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In short, the simplistic narrative that the return of Trump will merely equate with fortification of Netanyahus militarism to the detriment of regional stability in the Middle East misses the greatest opportunity of all. The weakening of Irans axis of evil creates the opportunity for the Trump Administration to firmly turn the entire Middle East towards a more peaceful and prosperous future, benefitting all the inhabitants of the region, Muslims and Jews alike, while advancing US interests.

Some pundits wondered how Arab-American voters in Michigan and elsewhere could vote in droves for Trump despite his staunch support for Israel, but perhaps they should have remembered Quran 8:61: If they incline to peace, then you should incline to it; and put your trust in God; He is the All-hearing, the All-knowing."

A new dawn and a new era of peace and prosperity could be on the horizon in the Middle East with Trumps return.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
As the reality of President-elect Donald Trumps victory begins to settle, LGBTQ+ rights groups and individuals are grappling with the realities of what that meansespecially now that he has a GOP-majority Senate to back him on his policies.

Throughout his campaign, Trump showcased an anti-trans rhetoric across his speeches, ads, and written platform policies. One of his advertisements stated that his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, is for they/themnot you.

Republicans spent nearly $215 million on anti-trans ads this election cycle, according to data released by Ad Impact. Trumps inflammatory words against LGBTQ+ Americansmost notably aimed at trans personsis not new. In his first term as President, Trump put forth several policies that attempted to repeal protections for LGBTQ+ Americans.

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Now that he has won a second term, LGBTQ+ Americans are wondering what policies are most likely to affect their rights once he returns to the White House in January.

On Trumps official website, he outlines a 20-point platform, his roadmap to Make America Great Again, called Agenda 47. There, he states his priorities to roll back LGBTQ+ rights, including his plans to keep men out of women's sportstargeting the small number of trans women who choose to join teams that match their gender identityand cut federal funding for any school pushingradical gender ideology. Beyond that, through his speeches, Trump has laid out his plans to roll back particular President Joe Biden-era discrimination laws and enact new laws targeting especially trans individuals.

TIME has reached out to the Trump campaign about its proposed policies and how they might impact the LGBTQ+ community.

Katie Eyer, a professor at Rutgers Law School, emphasizes that Trumps presidency could lead to more conservative court appointments, and thus difference in how courts interpret cases on the federal level. So, while appeals courts have often been ruling in favor of transgender people fighting discrimination, this may change during a Trump presidency.

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Constitutional law is the backdrop to discriminatory laws, Eyer tells TIME. But of course, if you have a court that is unwilling to enforce equality rights vis-a-vis LGBT people, then that backdrop stops being a meaningful one.

Here are three key areas in which Trumps presidency could impact LGBTQ+ rights.

A ban on transgender persons in the military

During Trumps first term in office, he formally instructed the Department of Defense to reverse a 2016 order allowing transgender individuals to serve openly in the military, something he blamed on the cost of gender-affirming surgeries. The policy immediately triggered a slew of lawsuits against the Administration.

The Biden Administration overturned this order in 2021, but experts like Eyer believe that a reinstatement is very likely to happen early on in Trumps presidency, and a similar slew of lawsuits are bound to follow.

Health care restrictions

In the past few years, there have been a number of state-led initiatives to ban gender-affirming care for transgender and gender nonconforming minors. In August, the Human Rights Campaign reported there were 26 states with a ban or policy against gender-affirming care for minors and that 39% of transgender youth lived in states that have passed bans on gender-affirming care.

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Trump has expressed that his Administration would follow the lead of these states, and attempt to halt gender-affirming medical care for adolescents nationwide, particularly by threatening to deny federal funding for hospitals that provide this care. This would make it incredibly hard for youth with gender dysphoria to access what many doctors and psychiatrists consider life-saving care.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has already brought multiple cases to court, challenging these state law bans, and in their press release regarding Trumps potential plans for LGBTQ+ issues, they have stated they will continue to litigate this issue in courts across the country should a second Trump Administration further restrict this care.

Donald Trump speaking at an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center on Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Chip SomodevillaGetty Images

According to Tara McKay, co-founder and Director of the Vanderbilt LGBTQ+ Policy Lab, this could also just heighten the issue and lead to more bans on the state level, especially since much health care and policy is decided and implemented by the state level, despite being partially federally funded.

States have control over health care, so if [Trump] pursues a full federal ban [on gender-affirming care for minors], your progressive states will immediately challenge it, and it will be in court, McKay says. I think very similar to the abortion landscape, we will end up with states that are mobilizing protections and states that are becoming incredibly hostile and life threatening for folks who are targeted. California Governor Gavin Newsom has already called a special session, which he has confirmed is in part due to a desire to protect the LGBTQ+ community upon the news of Trumps victory.

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Trumps plans will also significantly depend on the outcome of Tennessees ban on gender transition care for minorsUnited States v. Skrmettiwhich is about to be decided by the Supreme Court. The ruling could establish a larger precedent not only on transgender medical care but also on broader issues of civil rights, including access to public facilities and participation in sports.

McKay also emphasizes another aspect of health care that is already being affected by Trumps upcoming return to power: LGBTQ+ mental health. She points to new research in her lab, showing that exposure to negative news and media coverage on LGBTQ+ people and policies increases suicidal ideation among LGBTQ+ teens and young adults. Since the election was called in the early hours of Nov. 6, the Trevor Project has also reported a 700% increase in call volume to its crisis hotline.

According to Imara Jones, an American political journalist and transgender activist, the main question in relation to transgender health is how are people going to stand up?

Are states like New York, states like California, going to push back against some of the administrative rules that are changing? she says. How much do groups that say they are trans allies actually stand up and support? How are trans people going to work to form community and form support for people who are going to be hardest hit by these laws?

Dismantle Title IX protections, education standards, and identification options

Trump has specifically latched onto language against trans women competing in sports. During a rally in Virginia on Nov. 2, Trump said he will of course keep men out of womens sports. His Agenda 47 also states that he will ask Congress to interpret Title IX as prohibiting trans women from participating in womens sports. He already worked to rollback Title IX protections for LGBTQ+ students in his first term in office.

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Biden worked during his term to expand Title IX protections to LGBTQ+ youth, reforming changes from Trumps first term that narrowed the scope of the 1972 law but sidestepped issues regarding transgender athletes. He has said that on day one of his presidency he plans to reverse these Title IX protections. If Trump were to rollback Bidens expansions which did protect transgender students, he would not need Congress to do so.

According to Simone Chriss, a civil rights attorney and the Director of Transgender Rights Initiative at Southern Legal Counsel, the fear here is not just about transgender athletes, but rather restrictive Title IX definitions of sex and gender that could affect large portions of the LGBTQ+ community.

I think the overarching goal is redefining sex across the board in a way that excludes transgender people, Chriss says. And we're seeing states like Florida redefine sex for purposes of our entire K-20 education code to make sex determined by, you know, reproductive function.

This dovetails with Trumps plans referenced to shift funding for schools based on how they teach about gender identity and sexual orientation. In a filmed address in January 2023, Trump vowed to cut federal funding to schools that discuss gender ideology.

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For Chriss, one of the major fears is that Trump could follow Floridas lead in redefining sex, and that this could affect transgender peoples abilities to access identification services that allow them to utilize their correct gender.

Earlier this year, a memo from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shared that Florida residents would no longer be allowed to change the listed gender on their drivers licenses or state ID. If this is expanded federally to passports, Chriss says the ramifications could be devastating for the transgender community.

Lack of access to identification documents that reflect who you are is something that impacts every interaction a person has, and ability to get employment and housing and all these things, she says. Every transgender client I have, if they don't have a passport, or if their passport still says the wrong gender marker or name, I'm like, Update it as fast as you can, because we have till January.

More from TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com.
A Tucson man has been accused of murdering his infant son, who died after spending two weeks in a hospital.

Jimmy Torre McElroy, 28, faces a second-degree murder charge in connection to the Nov. 5 death of his 10-month-old son, according to the Tucson Police Department.On October 21, Tucson firefighters were called to an apartment complex near East Pima Street and North Swan Road for an infant experiencing seizures, according to police. The child was found in critical condition and was rushed to a hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery, police reported.

Detectives initially spoke with the infant's father, McElroy, and later learned Oct. 30 that the boy's injuries were caused by blunt force trauma. McElroy was subsequently arrested and charged with two counts of child abuse.

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Following the child's death, the Pima County Attorney's Office upgraded the charges against McElroy, police said.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Tucson man faces second-degree murder charge after son's death
First Nations Australians have called for TV chef Jamie Oliver to withdraw his childrens book from sale, saying it includes a damaging stereotype of First Nations people and experiences.

The British TV chef and author has apologised for the offence he has caused to indigenous Australians with his childrens book Billy and the Epic Escape.

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The Guardian newspaper reports that the the books subplot has a young First Nations girl living in foster care in an indigenous community near Alice Springs who is stolen by the books villain.

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation (Natsiec) has called the story damaging, disrespectful, accusing Oliver of contributing to the erasure, trivialisation, and stereotyping of First Nations peoples and experiences. They have called for the withdrawal of the book.

Oliver has told The Guardian he is devastated by the offence he has caused and has issued an apology, as have his publishers Penguin House Random House UK (PRH UK). However, they have not yet committed to withdrawing the book from sale.

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Officials identified the passenger killed when a boat overturned Saturday off Key Largo as a 21-year-old from Boynton Beach.

Eytan M. Genoune was identified as the person killed when a 34-foot Nor-Tech with three people aboard took a sharp turn, launching everyone into the water, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The two other people on board  the boats operator and another passenger  were hospitalized. They were rescued from the water by good Samaritans, the FWC said.

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All three were airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospitals Ryder Trauma Center, according to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. Fire officials responded to the scene around 10:30 a.m.

This is an active investigation; no further information is available at this time, the FWC said Sunday.
Credit: Carmen Henshaw and BBC

Two double-decker buses collided in Manchester on Saturday morning, leaving 17 people injured.

The buses crashed on Rochdale Road, on the outskirts of the city centre, at 8.34am.

Emergency services attended the scene, with North West Ambulance Service sending nine ambulances, an air ambulance, two response vehicles and an advanced paramedic to the scene.

All those injured in the collision were taken to hospitals in and around the Manchester area. No serious injuries have been reported.

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Images from the crash site showed significant damage to the front of the second bus, which made contact with the rear of the first. A spokesman for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said one passenger had been rescued from the upper deck of the bus.

Crews arrived quickly and worked with Greater Manchester Police and North West Ambulance Service to make the area safe. Firefighters extricated one person from the upper deck of the bus and 13 casualties [later reported as 17] were transferred to North Manchester General Hospital under the care of North West Ambulance Service. Fire crews were in attendance for just over an hour, they said.

The crash happened on Rochdale Road, on the outskirts of the city, at 8.34am on Saturday - MEN Media

Residents reported hearing a loud bang at the time of the incident. Harry Yearsley, a witness, told the Manchester Evening News the incident unfolded outside the home he shares with his partner.

We knew it was something bad because it was just a really loud bang that literally woke us up. We started to get dressed and then within five minutes we heard the air ambulance. It was the biggest bang weve ever heard, he added.

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Greater Manchester Police confirmed that no serious injuries have been reported.

The road was re-opened by police shortly before midday. Both buses were towed away by recovery vehicles and emergency responders have cleared debris from the tarmac.

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Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials announced on Friday that an elk in southeast Montana tested positive for chronic wasting disease. (Photo by Montana FWP)

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials announced on Friday that an elk in southeast Montana tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease. The elk was located on private land in Hunting District 704 north of the Custer National Forest.

This was only the fourth elk across the state to test positive for the always-fatal neurological disease since 2017. However, also in October, a fifth elk tested positive in Hunting District 322 in the Ruby Mountains east of Dillon, a region with the highest concentration of the disease in Montana. This hunter-harvested animal was the first CWD-positive elk in the Ruby Mountains.

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According to FWP biologists, the bull elk in southeast Montana was showing symptoms of the disease in mid-October and appeared very thin and lethargic. It was hanging out at a water tank for several days, allowing people to ride horses and drive vehicles close by. When it appeared the elk was showing neurological symptoms and couldnt pick up its head, FWP officials euthanized it and submitted samples for testing.

Chronic Wasting Disease affects members of the deer family, including elk, moose, mule deer, and white-tailed deer, and is caused by a malformed prion protein. Symptomatic animals can exhibit neurological and behavioral changes and emaciation. The disease always results in death and there is no known cure.

The disease is present in cervid populations in at least 24 states and two Canadian provinces and first appeared in Montanas wild herds in 2017.

In Montana, the vast majority of cases  99%  have been detected in white-tailed deer and mule deer, though officials say that could be a matter of sampling.

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My theory on why were just now seeing it in elk is simply the smaller number of samples collected from elk, FWP biologist Emily Mitchell said. Due to the ease of pulling a whole deer carcass out, it is more likely for folks to get their deer sampled at an FWP sampling station. However, elk are so much bigger that hunters usually only bring the quarters or meat out of the field, and so they dont get tested. I think we have such a small sample size of elk that it isnt that its new on the landscape, we just hadnt gotten enough samples to detect it yet.

Since CWD appeared in the state in 2017, nearly 40,000 deer have been sampled, compared to just 4,800 elk and 268 moose. There have been three positive cases detected in moose since 2017.

A map showing where positive CWD cases have been found in Montana since 2017. (Montana FWP)

CWD-infected animals may not show significant symptoms until the late stages and typically die in 18 to 24 months.

I would remind people that just because an animal looks healthy, that doesnt mean it doesnt have CWD, Mitchell said. Since it takes so long for CWD to kill an animal, it can be in early stages of the disease and look just fine.

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So far this year there have been 50 positive CWD cases out of 1,284 samples tested in Montana. Testing is voluntary for hunters everywhere in the state except for the Libby CWD Management Area, where approximately 2,000 white-tail deer tags and 13 mule deer permits in the region are subject to mandatory testing requirements due to the prevalence of CWD there.

With confirmation of CWD in elk is southeast Montana, FWP is encouraging hunters to have both deer and elk tested so it can get a better idea of disease prevalence in both populations to help guide management decisions. In both species, the lymph nodes in the neck area are extracted and submitted to state labs, with results available within about two weeks.

FWP provides assistance with CWD sampling at all regional headquarters during business hours, and at CWD sampling stations located around the state. Hunters can bring animal heads with a portion of the neck attached and FWP will cover the cost of these samples. Hunters also may follow instructions to collect samples themselves and mail them to state labs at their own cost.

FWP now has a policy that any hunter whose animal tests positive for CWD will receive replacement tags as long as they turn over the entire animal including the head.

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There is no known transmission of CWD to humans. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that hunters harvesting a deer, elk, or moose from an area where CWD is known to be present have their animal tested for CWD prior to consuming the meat and not to consume the meat if the animal tests positive.

To learn more, visit Fish, Wildlife and Parks CWD website.
Rajya Sabha MP and AAP leader Sanjay Singh is scheduled to campaign for Maha Vikas Aghadi candidate Jitendra Awhad in Mumbai on Saturday. Taking to his official handle on X, Sanjay Singh said, "On November 9, I will be campaigning for Maha Vikas Aghadi candidate Jitendra Awhad in Mumbai. I will also address a meeting and press conference with AAP workers." NCP(SP) leader and former Maharashtra minister Jitendra Awhad is contesting from Mumbra-Kalwa in the November 20 Assembly polls. Awhad, an OBC leader, has been winning from this Muslim-dominated seat for consecutive three terms since 2009. This time, he is facing a stiff challenge from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP's candidate Najeeb Mulla. Earlier on Wednesday, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) announced five guarantees ahead of Maharashtra assembly polls at a joint rally here including Mahalakshmi Yojana for women under which Rs 3,000 will be given per month to one woman in every family and free bus travel for women. The rally was attended by the Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Udhav Thackeray, Congress chief in Maharashtra Nana Patole, party leader Ramesh Chennithala and some other leaders of the alliance. Rahul Gandhi announced the Mahalakshmi Yojana for women. Under this scheme, Rs 3,000 will be given per month to one woman in every family. Besides, every woman will be entitled to free bus travel under the scheme. The MVA promised to waive off all farmers' agriculture loans up to Rs 3 lakhs. Besides, the alliance government will provide a Rs 50,000 incentive for regular loan repayments. The alliance also announced plans to carry out a caste census and promised that it would work towards removing the 50 per cent bar on reservations. The MVA government will also provide health insurance of Rs 25 lakh to all families and essential medicines will be provided free from hospitals. The fifth guarantee includes Rs 4,000 monthly assistance to the unemployed youth in the state. The Maharashtra assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with votes for all 288 constituencies to be counted on November 23. The opposition MVA coalition, comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Nationalist Congress Party (SCP), seeks to reclaim power in the state, challenging the Mahayuti alliance, which includes Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Ajit Pawar-led NCP. In the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena secured 56, and Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP won 122 seats, Shiv Sena 63, and Congress 42. (ANI)
Residents of northeastern Connecticut seeking urgent care will now have two more options to get treatment.

Hartford HealthCares  GoHealth Urgent Care has opened new urgent care centers in Willimantic and Ellington on Friday. With the expansion, GoHealth Urgent Care clinics now number 35 locations across the state, according to Hartford HealthCare.

Hartford Healthcare said in a statement that the recent openings are aimed at providing greater health care access in more rural areas of Connecticut.

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Our newest locations allow more patients easy access to affordable health care where they live, said Eric Walsh, M.D., medical director, Hartford HealthCare-GoHealth Urgent Care, in a statement. Hartford HealthCare-GoHealth continues to invest in patient-centered, neighborhood locations like these, and we look forward to serving more communities across Connecticut.

Hartford HealthCare-GoHealth Urgent Care centers offer treatment for non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries, onsite X-ray services and diagnostic testing, the health system said. The urgent care centers are open 365 days a year, including holidays, officials said. The Willimantic clinic is located at 1315 Main St. and the Ellington clinic is located at 135 West Road.

Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com
In a major policy change, the Biden administration will now allow U.S. contractors on the ground in Ukraine to help its military maintain and repair some of the $61 billion worth of weapons donated by America, CNN reported. In particular, the shift is designed to help keep F-16 Vipers and Patriot air defense batteries in working order.

Until this decision, the Biden administration has allowed only a small number of U.S. troops in Ukraine, mainly to help keep tabs on U.S. donated equipment, but no Defense Department (DoD) civilian contractors. However, there are a number of U.S. contractors working in Ukraine directly for that country.

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The move was approved earlier this month, CNN reported, citing an official with direct knowledge.

In order to help Ukraine repair and maintain military equipment provided by the US and its allies, DoD is soliciting bids for a small number of contractors who will help Ukraine maintain the assistance weve already provided, a defense official told the network.

Continuing its sensitivity toward escalating the conflict and angering Moscow, the Biden administration wont allow those contractors anywhere near the fighting.

These contractors will be located far from the front lines and they will not be fighting Russian forces, the official told CNN. They will help Ukrainian Armed Forces rapidly repair and maintain U.S.-provided equipment as needed so it can be quickly returned to the front lines.

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The change of heart came about because several of the systems provided to Ukraine  particularly F-16s and Patriots  require specific technical expertise to maintain, the defense official said.

The U.S. has not provided any F-16s to Ukraine, but has signed off on allowing a coalition of nations to transfer upwards of 85 of the U.S.-made fourth-generation fighters. The Pentagon has provided three U.S.-made Patriot batteries to Ukraine. Other allies have as well.

Ukrainian personnel remove camouflage netting from a Patriot launcher, which is loaded with missile canisters associated with older interceptors like the PAC-2-series. Ukrainian Air Force

After nearly three years of extremely heavy fighting, much of the equipment provided to Ukraine has worn down or been damaged, and is in need of repair. The Biden administrations refusal to allow experienced U.S. contractors to work in Ukraine meant the equipment had to be hauled out of the country and repaired in Poland, Romania or other NATO nations, or fixed with remote help via video chat or secure phone.

Both situations are suboptimal, creating delays in getting the weapons back into the fight or limiting the work that could be done in-country remotely. This is especially true for F-16s and Patriots, two very complex systems that require a high degree of maintenance by skilled technicians.

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Though these contractors will be far from the front lines, being in Ukraine has risks as Russia rakes the whole country with missiles and drones. To address that, companies bidding on contracts will be required to develop robust risk mitigation plans, officials told CNN, to reduce threats to their employees.

The Department made this decision after careful risk assessment and in coordination with interagency stakeholders, the defense official said. Each US contractor, organization or company will be responsible for the safety and security of their employees and will be required to include risk mitigation plans as part of their bids.

An aircraft mechanic works on the underside of an F-16 Falcon on December 20, 2017, at Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images) George Frey

Unlike the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq where thousands of contractors lived in those countries on sprawling bases, this effort will be limited to between a few dozen and a couple of hundred personnel at a time.

It is worth noting that there already are a wide array of American companies who have personnel in Ukraine fulfilling contracts for the Ukrainian government, so this will not lead to a substantial increase of employees of U.S. companies working on the ground in Ukraine, the defense official told CNN.

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The officials said this new plan was launched before Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris was trounced in Tuesdays election loss to now-President-elect Donald Trump. A huge wildcard here is whether the incoming administration continues this policy, something that is not a given considering Trumps reticence about continuing support for Ukraine and, in general, keeping the U.S. involved in overseas conflicts. This move also comes as the lame-duck Biden administration is rushing to move some $6 billion worth of military aid to Ukraine before it has to pack up on Jan. 20.

You can read more about what Trumps second administration could mean for the war in Ukraine in our deep dive here.

Whether these contracts can make it through the various hoops required for spending tax dollars for war efforts before Trump is sworn in remains to be seen. Trumps ultimate decision on risking the injury or death of U.S. personnel in Ukraine  or incurring the wrath of Russian President Vladimir Putin  is the biggest factor in how far this new program can progress.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
LONDON (AP)  Britain's police watchdog said it is assessing complaints from two women over how the Metropolitan Police handled sex crime allegations they made against the late Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed.

Police have been reviewing multiple allegations of rape or sexual assault against the billionaire owner of the famed London department store. Al Fayed was never prosecuted and died last year at 94 years old.

The Metropolitan Police said late Friday that it referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct after two women came forward in recent weeks with concerns about how their allegations were handled by officers when first reported in 2008 and 2013.

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Although we cannot change the past, we are resolute in our goal to offer every individual who contacts us the highest standard of service and support," said Stephen Clayman, from the police force's specialist crime team.

The police watchdog said it will assess the information provided before deciding if further action is needed.

Allegations against Al Fayed have grown since the BBC broadcast claims by several former Harrods employees in September.

Police and Harrods executives have faced questions about why action wasnt taken against Al Fayed while he was alive. He was questioned by detectives in 2008 over the alleged sexual abuse of a 15-year-old, and in 2009 and 2015 police passed files of evidence about him to prosecutors. He was never charged.

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Clayman said police are actively reviewing 21 sex crime allegations against Al Fayed that were made to police prior to his death to determine whether any more investigations are possible.

The force said last month that in addition to those claims, 40 more women have made allegations of rape or sexual assault against the tycoon since September.

The Egypt-born businessman moved to Britain in the 1960s and bought Harrods in the mid-1980s. Al Fayed sold Harrods in 2010 to a company owned by the state of Qatar through its sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority.

The current managing director of Harrods, Michael Ward, has apologized to former employees who said they were sexually assaulted by Al Fayed. Ward said it is clear Al Fayed presided over a toxic culture of secrecy, intimidation, fear of repercussion and sexual misconduct.
Nov. 9 (UPI) -- Ukraine used drones to strike the Aleksinsky chemical plant in Tula, Russia, late Friday and into early Saturday as part of a larger aerial offensive.

The chemical plant produces ammunition and gunpowder for the Russian military and produced orange smoke after at least 13 Ukrainian military drones struck the facility during the overnight hours, the Security Service of Ukraine told the Kyiv Independent on Saturday.

The Ukrainian Special Operations Forces and SBU Security Service specifically targeted the gunpowder production facility, which is located about 120 miles south of Moscow.

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The drone strikes caused alarms to sound at about 9:30 p.m. Friday and were part of a comprehensive military strike against multiple facilities in Russian territory that contribute to Russia's war against Ukraine.

Residents in the Tula area reported hearing explosions at 3 a.m. followed by another explosion at 1 p.m., which Ukrainian officials say was caused by chemicals catching fire at the Tula facility.

Other facilities targeted include weapons depots, military airfields and other enterprises that contribute to Russia's military effort against Ukraine, which started in February 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine.

The Russian Defense Ministry did not acknowledge a successful military strike in Tula by Ukraine but on Saturday said 50 Ukrainian military drones targeted seven regions in Russia.

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Ukraine's military drones are one-way attack aircraft, which sometimes are referred to as "suicide drones."

The Russian military said it downed all 50 drones, including two in the Tula Oblast area.

The drone attacks occurred after Ukraine successfully targeted munitions facilities in Russia in October.
An electricity import of 5,215 MWh with a capacity of 784 MW is scheduled for 9 November.

Source: Ukraines Energy Ministry

Details: The imports will come from Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary and Moldova.

The country's energy system remains balanced. However, the Energy Ministry urges consumers to use electricity rationally, especially during peak hours from 16:00 to 21:00.

Over the day from 8 to 9 November, energy workers successfully restored power for 1,861 consumers.

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Ukraine has produced its first 100 missiles, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during his daily address on Nov. 9.

Ukraine began actively developing its missile program after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. In late July, Zelensky said the program had "good dynamics."

He then announced in August that Ukraine had carried out a successful test of its first domestically-made ballistic missile.

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Ukraine has been developing a ballistic missile for a number of years now, the Hrim-2. While nothing has been confirmed, there has been speculation that this was the ballistic missile test Zelensky was referring to.

Zelensky also previously revealed that Ukraine had developed another domestic-made weapon, a missile-drone Palianytsia.

Speaking on Nov. 9, Zelensky said he would give "no further details" about the type of missiles he was referring to, but hailed Ukraine's domestic weapons production.

"This year we have achieved significant results in a variety of sectors. There is our Ukrainian artillery  our ammunition and guns," he said.

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"There are drones  various types, for various missions  that not only assist the battlefield in defending positions and destroying the occupier, but are also striking deeper and deeper into Russia. We'll continue to build on this."

Domestically produced long-range weapons are of key importance to Ukraine's defense strategy, as Western partners refuse to authorize deep strikes in Russia with foreign-made missiles.

Despite Zelensky's appeal to Washington during his recent White House visit, the U.S. has not yet altered its policy on long-range strikes.

Read also: Ukraine says it has a new ballistic missile  heres what they do

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The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has emphasised its deep appreciation for the contributions of volunteers, including blogger Serhii Sternenko, in the fight against the Russians. However, it recalled that defending the homeland is a constitutional duty of all Ukrainian citizens and stressed that decisions regarding the mobilisation of individuals are the responsibility of military recruitment centres.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda

Quote: "The Armed Forces of Ukraine deeply appreciate the contributions and support of Ukrainian volunteers in the fight against Russian occupiers. In the face of an enemy that outnumbers us in both personnel and equipment, this assistance is crucial, especially in providing combat units with drones of various types. This includes the effective cooperation with the defence forces, notably with volunteer and public figure Serhii Sternenko.

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At the same time, the mobilisation of individuals is carried out by military recruitment centres, which have the authority to issue notices for updating records, medical examinations and mobilisation."

Details: The General Staff recalls that defending the homeland, independence, and territorial integrity is a constitutional duty of every Ukrainian citizen under Article 65 of the Constitution of Ukraine.

Citizens serve in the military in accordance with the law. If a conscript has health issues, their fitness for service is determined by the military medical board, the General Staff notes.

The General Staff also highlights that many public activists and volunteers have joined the Armed Forces and are fulfilling their constitutional duties.

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Quote: "Only through unity and consolidation can Ukrainians find strength and ensure victory over the insidious, long-standing Russian enemy," concludes the press service for the General Staff.

Background:

Sternenko stated that he had been placed on the wanted list for failing to appear at the Prymorskyi Recruitment Centre in Odesa Oblast upon receiving a call-up notice, linking this to his criticism of the army system and calls for military reforms.

The Odesa military recruitment centre has responded to say that they act "exclusively within the law" and stated that Sternenko failed to report several important details, including the fact that he had apparently already visited the Primorskyi Recruitment Centre, where he paid an administrative fine for breaching military registration rules, and that he had been referred to a military medical board.

Sternenko accused Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, of personally instigating a Territorial Recruitment Centre persecution against him as revenge for criticising the military command system.

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Drones of the Security Service of Ukraine and Special Operations Forces have struck the Alexin Chemical Plant in Russias Tula Oblast, which produces gunpowder and ammunition for the military.

Source: Ukrainska Pravda source within the security services

Details: From 21:30, various Russias oblasts issued air-raid warnings because of drones flying over these areas. At 03:00, residents of Tula Oblast started reporting an attack on the chemical plant, explosions, and the movement of fire engines.

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It is known that the Alexin Chemical Plant is part of the Russian state-owned defence company Rostec and manufactures ammunition, gunpowder and materials for the Russian military industry.

Background: The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that 50 drones were supposedly shot down over Russian territory on the night of November 8-9.

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Ukrainian drones have struck the Aleksinsky chemical plant, which produces gunpowder and ammunition for the Russian military, in Russia's Tula Oblast, sources at the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) told the Kyiv Independent on Nov. 9.

The SBU sources said at least 13 drones flew at the plant overnight, and orange smoke erupted due to the gunpowder at the site.

"The plant itself was shut down, and personnel evacuated," the sources said, adding that a 110 kV was damaged and confirming that the gunpowder production facility was the target.

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The Russian Defense Ministry reported on Nov. 9 that Ukraine had attacked seven Russian regions  including Tula Oblast  with 50 drones. Moscow claimed that it had shot down all 50 drones, including two over Tula Oblast, which is located south of Moscow.

According to the SBU sources, air alerts began at 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 8, and local residents started reporting explosions at 3 a.m. There was another explosion at around 1 p.m. due to the chemicals catching fire, the source added.

"The destruction of weapons depots, military airfields and enterprises that are part of the Russian military-industrial complex reduces Russia's ability to terrorize our country, the SBU sources said.

Despite being limited to the use of long-range kamikaze drones, Kyiv has scored some spectacular success in recent weeks.

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One of the largest explosions of the full-scale invasion saw, in the words of a Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) source, an ammunition warehouse "literally wiped off the face of the earth" in Tver Oblast last month.

This came just days after Ukraine confirmed attacks on two other arms depots, with the U.K. Defense Ministry saying that the combined strikes caused "the largest loss of ammunition" in Russia during its all-out war against Ukraine.

Read also: Kamyshin: Drone and missile deep strikes into Russia  Ukraine has know-how, needs money

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Nov. 9 (UPI) -- The United Nations Human Rights Office says Hamas and Israeli forces should face a "reckoning" for war crimes committed since Oct. 7, 2023.

The HRC report says 70% of the verified casualties in Gaza through April were women and children.

The U.N. Human Rights Office on Friday published a 32-page report assessing potential war crimes and human rights violations by Israel, Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups in Gaza and during the war on Israeli civilians.

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"It is essential that there is a due reckoning with respect to the allegations of serious violations of international law," U.N. Human Rights Chief Volker Turk said.

"The rules of war, in force now for 160 years, were designed to limit and prevent human suffering in times of armed conflict," Turk added. "Their wanton disregard has led to the current extremes of human suffering, which we continue to see today."

The report urged an "immediate cease-fire."

Israel's diplomatic mission to the U.N. in Geneva criticized the report, writing: "Once again, OHCHR fails to accurately reflect the realities on the ground, and disregards the extensive role of Hamas and other terrorist organizations in deliberately causing civilian harm in Gaza."

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Turk said the international community is obligated to support the International Criminal Court and efforts to hold respective parties accountable for alleged violations of international law during the war between Hamas and Israel.

The U.N. report accuses Israel of violating international law by requiring the "Gaza's entire destruction and the exodus of the Palestinian people."

The deaths of women and children "demonstrates an apparent indifference to the death of civilians," the report says.

The report acknowledges Israel has issued evacuation warnings before engaging Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups in targeted areas but says those warnings amount to a forcible transfer of civilians to other locations in violation of international law.

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"Civilians have borne the brunt of attacks, including through the initial 'complete siege' of Gaza by Israeli forces," according to the U.N Human Rights Office.

The U.N. report says Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups used civilians as shields, writing they "intentionally co-located military objectives and civilians with the specific intent of trying to prevent the targeting of those military objective, exposing civilians to high risks of harm and damage from the hostilities."

The U.N. agency said of verified 8,119 people killed in Gaza from November 2023 to April 2024, 80% were killed in residential buildings or similar housing. That included 44% children and 26% women.

OHCHR had verified 200 families that lost between five and nine family members, 172 lost between 10 and 19 members, 69 lost between 20 and 29 family members and 43 lost more than 30 members.

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Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry has reported a death toll of more than 43,300 people over the past 13 months. As of April, Israel Defense Forces identified 75 targeted Palestinians killed.

The report noted more than 1,124 were killed in the attacks on Israel, including 295 military personnel, and 4,834 injured. Also more 250 civilian hostages were seized, which "is a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions and a war crime," the report read.

"The accounts of hostages released described extremely harsh conditions of captivity, including a lack of food, water and poor sanitary conditions, and a lack of fresh air and sunlight," according to the report.

In addition, "there are also serious accounts of members of Palestinian armed groups and other armed and unarmed Palestinians committing rape, sexual assault and torture," the U.N. report says.

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"Projectiles that are inherently indiscriminate continued to be launched towards and into Israel by Palestinian armed groups," according to the report.

The report also noted "severe restrictions imposed by Israel on the entry and distribution of goods and services necessary for the survival of the civilian population brought the risk of famine and starvation to Gaza."

At the beginning of April 2024, over 1.1 million people in the Gaza Strip were facing an extreme level of food insecurity. The report noted starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is prohibited by international humanitarian law. And hospitals were attacked.

"The IDF has made allegations that 'Hamas terrorists' were operating inside some hospitals, which has not been independently verified," the report read.

And 1.7 million people, which is 75% of Gaza's population, had been displaced through April "to cramped, overcrowded shelters without access to basic necessities." At least 17,000 children were reportedly unaccompanied or separated from their families in Gaza, the report said.
After terrorists killed two Village Defence Guards in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, security near their residences has been heightened to prevent any further mishap. Security forces have cordoned off the area after the brutal attack by the terrorists. The Village Defence Guards were residents of Ohli-Kuntwara village of the Kishtwar district. Earlier, the mortal remains of village defence guards Nazir Ahmad and Kuldeep Kumar were brought to their residences in the Ohli-Kuntwara village. On Friday, the bodies of both the deceased were recovered by the police in the forested areas of Ohli Kuntwara following an intensive joint search operation by the Jammu Kashmir Police along with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Army. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the killing and said that he was "deeply" saddened and concerned by the attack. He further said that security forces should ensure that such attacks are stopped "completely." "Deeply saddened & concerned by the attack that resulted in the deaths of Kuldeep Kumar & Nazeer Ahmed Padder of Kuntwara in Kishtwar, members of the local village defence committee. The terrorists killed two innocent men who had taken their livestock to graze. I condemn this attack unequivocally & send my condolences to the families. At the same time, I expect the security forces to move quickly to plug any gaps in our counter-terror grid & ensure that attacks like this stop completely," Abdullah posted on X. J-K Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha also condemned the terrorist attack in which two village defence guards were killed in the Kishtawar district. The LG paid homage to the two deceased Nazir Ahmad and Kuldeep Kumar who were killed in the attack and reiterated the government's resolve to destroy all terror outfits and avenge the barbaric act. On Thursday, terrorists killed two Village Defence Group (VDG) members in Kishtwar. The deceased were identified as Nazir Ahmed and Kuldeep Kumar. They had gone to graze their cattle in the forest. (ANI)
The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon on Friday accused the Israeli military of "deliberate and direct destruction" of its property.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said two excavators and one bulldozer belonging to the Israeli army destroyed part of a fence and a concrete structure in a UNIFIL position in the border area of Ras Naqoura on Thursday.

The mission called the incident a "a flagrant violation" of international law.

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The "incident, like seven other similar incidents, is not a matter of peacekeepers getting caught in the crossfire, but of deliberate and direct actions by the IDF [Israeli military]," UNIFIL added in a post on X.

"We again remind the IDF and all actors of their obligation to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property and respect the inviolability of UN premises at all times," the mission said.

On Thursday, UNIFIL said five peacekeepers were slightly injured in an Israeli drone strike in Sidon in southern Lebanon.

Northern Israel hit by missiles from Lebanon

Elsewhere on Friday, northern Israel was hit by missile fire from Lebanon, the Israeli military reported.

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Five missiles were fired at the majority-Arab community of Kafr Yasif north of Haifa, it said.

Four were intercepted, while one hit a house. Nobody was injured, but the Times of Israel published videos of the strike on X.

In total, around 80 missiles were recorded, slightly fewer than in previous days.

The Hezbollah militia has been firing missiles at northern Israel for more than a year.

Israel bombs Hezbollah in residential area

Later on Friday, the Iran-backed Hezbollah commando centres located in residential areas in Lebanon's southern coastal city of Tyre, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.

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Israel accused the Shiite militia group of embedding its fighters in civilian areas "to plan and carry out terror attacks, putting Lebanese civilians in harms way."

Three people were killed and about 30 others injured, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Tyre is about 25 kilometres north of the de facto border with Israel.

The IDF said through the course of the day, it destroyed launch pads for rockets that had been fired at Israel, killed dozens of Hezbollah fighters and destroyed weapons caches and terrorist infrastructure. The information cannot be independently verified at this stage.

Israel wants to drive the Hezbollah militia northwards out of the border area, so that around 60,000 civilians evacuated from the north of Israel can return to their homes.

Houthi militia targets military airbase in southern Israel

Meanwhile, the Houthi militia in Yemen, which is allied with Iran, said on Friday it had attacked the Nevatim military airbase in southern Israel.

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The group had also intercepted a US drone over western Yemen, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said.

Israel's army said it had intercepted a missile fired from Yemen.

There have been repeated attacks on Israel by the so-called "Axis of Resistance" of Iran's allies since the beginning of the Gaza war over a year ago.

In addition to Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the "Axis of Resistance" includes militias in Iraq and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

US and Israeli military forces have repeatedly bombed targets in Yemen in response.
(WHTM)  The Pennsylvania Lottery is urging players to check their tickets, as an unclaimed winning Powerball with Power Play ticket worth $150,000 is set to expire soon.

According to the Pennsylvania Lottery, the unclaimed winning ticket was sold by Weis Markets, 2186 State Route 54 in Montgomery Borough, Lycoming County for the Monday, December 11, 2023, drawing.

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The ticket matched four of the five white balls drawn, 1-24-27-31-62, and the red Powerball 20 to win $150,000, less applicable withholding. Without the $1 Power Play option, the ticket would have been worth $50,000. The Power Play multiplier drawn was three.

To claim the ticket, a prize claim must be filed with the PA Lottery, either by mail or at a Lottery Area Office, by Wednesday, December 11, 2024.

The Pennsylvania Lottery encourages claimants to sign the back of the ticket, call the Lottery at 1-800-692-7481, and file a timely claim at any of the Lotterys seven area offices. The Lottery says appointments are recommended and all PA Lottery area offices are open to the public between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., however their headquarters in Middletown is closed to the public.

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WIAT)  For the University of Alabama Museums 2024 John S. Steiner Endowed Lecture, UA will host a free public presentation on Cherokee Cave Inscriptions on Saturday, Nov. 9.

The presentation will be given by Dr. Jan Simek in room 1001 of the universitys Math and Science Education Building at 11 a.m.

Simek and his team have made national news following their cave art discoveries in north Alabama caves. Their discoveries include written Cherokee inscriptions and Cherokee art in Alabamas Manitou Cave, which mark the first Cherokee inscriptions to ever be found in a cave.

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Following the presentation, guests are invited to attend a reception at the Alabama Museum of Natural Historys Grand Gallery.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  After COVID-19 and a return to in-person classes, now, more than ever, students are looking to improve their mental health.

The University of Iowas Scanlan Center for School Mental Health is expanding its services to provide psychiatric care to students aged 10 and older anywhere in Iowa. Using telehealth, students will be able to receive psychiatric evaluations and short-term treatment for ADHD, anxiety and depression.

Morningside students finishing harvesting crops for the year

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This new resource will allow students in the smallest of Iowas communities to receive mental health care without needing to drive several hours to the nearest professional psychiatrist.

When were able to get referrals from the schools and coordinate with families to provide those services in the school setting, were really working to eliminate as many of those barriers as possible for students to get the mental health care that they need, said Amanda Elliott, associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Iowa.

In the past year, the Scanlan Center has provided more than 1,000 counseling appointments for students in 72 districts across Iowa.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
The US has sent Ukraine and Israel billions of dollars worth of ammunition in recent years.

The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East show the US how much ammo it will need for its next big war.

Former US military officers say this demand has been a surprise, urging a boost in production.

From Ukraine to Israel, the US has sent billions of dollars worth of ammunition to its key partners as they fight two grinding  and vastly different  conflicts that appear to show no signs of slowing down.

These two wars, and the US Navy's demanding counter-Houthi mission in the Red Sea, offer the American military a taste of what would be needed in a high-end fight: a lot of firepower.

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"The volume of weaponry  the number of missiles and other systems that are going to be required to deal with a high-end conflict  are just much more than we had planned," Bradley Martin, a retired Navy surface warfare captain, told Business Insider.

"We also lack the industrial base to rapidly expand," he added. "So it's really important that we start addressing those sets of issues quickly."

Billions of dollars in ammo fired overseas

The Biden administration has outfitted Ukraine with over $60 billion in security assistance since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

A Ukrainian soldier installs a fuse for a 155 mm artillery shell, which has been a key munition during the war. AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka

According to publicly available information provided by the Pentagon, this lethal aid includes tens of thousands of rockets and missiles, hundreds of thousands of mortar rounds, and millions of artillery shells and bullets. 155mm shells have been in particularly high demand, and stockpiles have been strained.

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Beyond the ammunition, the US has also sent Ukraine a significant amount of armored vehicles, air-defense systems, drones, anti-tank weapons, small arms, and more.

The Biden administration has been far less transparent about the security assistance it has sent to Israel, but the Costs of War Project, a research initiative at Brown University, found last month that the US had approved at least $18 billion in security assistance to Israel since war broke out after Hamas' October 7, 2023 massacre.

Weapons deliveries since then have consisted of heaping amounts of ammunition, including thousands of anti-tank missiles, tens of thousands of artillery shells and cannon ammunition, as well as tens of thousands of air-dropped bombs.

Meanwhile, the US military has spent the past year actively engaged in combat operations against the Houthis, the Iran-backed rebels in Yemen that have been using missiles and drones to attack merchant shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

An F/A-18 Super Hornet lands on the flight deck of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in April. US Navy photo

US warships and aircraft have fired hundreds of munitions to shoot down Houthi threats and strike the rebels in Yemen, including a wide range of land-attack missiles, surface-to-air missiles, air-to-air missiles, and air-to-surface weapons.

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The Navy also fired interceptor missiles to defend Israel from Iranian attacks in April and October. These two instances, along with the counter-Houthi operations, have seen the US expend nearly $2 billion worth of munitions.

On the low end, the US has contributed some $80 billion in weaponry  including the transfer or expenditure of a significant amount of munitions  to support the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, which aren't showing any sign of winding down.

Production woes  and improvements

Former US military officers who have taken part in war-gaming exercises for various research institutions say the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East underscore the high munitions expenditure needed in a major fight.

"We have seen the munitions demands of a major war, which are not a surprise  everybody knows that protracted great-power wars use a lot of munitions," Mark Cancian, a defense expert and retired US Marine Corps colonel, told BI.

A Navy destroyer fires an interceptor missile to defend Israel from an Iranian ballistic missile attack in October. US Navy video/Screengrab

"We never really thought we would be in such a position, and these events have shown us what the demands could be, combined with a strategy that now recognizes we could end up in a great-power conflict that might go on for a long time," said Cancian, now a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

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Martin, the former Navy captain, said that backfilling the US stockpiles of ammunition that have been transferred to partners or fired overseas is important, but it's crucial that the defense-industrial base actually has the capacity to manufacture new munitions when the demand spikes.

"What we are seeing from the real-world examples is that munitions expenditure will be very high," said Martin, now a senior policy researcher at RAND. "If there was ever a wake-up call, it would be the campaigns in Ukraine and in the Middle East."

Indeed, a US Army official previously told BI that "the Army is looking very closely at the war in Ukraine" and "investing to better prepare for potential conflict." But that preparation is a substantial undertaking.

One kind of weapon that would be needed in great numbers for a potential conflict with an adversary like China, the Pentagon's "pacing challenge," is air-defense interceptors, particularly those from the Standard Missile family.

The US has sent three Patriot batteries to Ukraine, along with associated interceptor missiles. US Army photo by Sgt. Alexandra Shea

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A US-China war could largely be fought in the maritime domain. Given Beijing's formidable arsenal of anti-ship missiles, Navy vessels would need to be well-armed with interceptors to take down these threats and defend American assets in the Pacific.

Officials and analysts have expressed concern over stockpiles of these interceptors, especially given their use during high-tempo Middle East operations. They argue that the US needs more key interceptors for future conflicts. However, these munitions come with a hefty price tag, and production has dropped.

Land-based air defenses have also proven their worth in major conflicts in recent few years. The US has transferred Patriot batteries and their associated interceptor missiles to Ukraine, where they have gotten a workout against Russian missiles. This advanced system was also used to defend Israel from Iranian missiles in April. Lockheed Martin is boosting PAC-3 interceptor production, but there are questions as to whether it is sufficient.

Beyond air defense, air-launched standoff weapons like the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) and AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) would also be critical for US forces in a major conflict, especially against China.

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The Tomahawk Land-Attack Cruise Misisle, a premier Navy long-range strike asset that the military has been relying on heavily would also be needed in significant quantities for a high-end conflict, which, given stronger ties between US foes, may not be a fair fight.

Read the original article on Business Insider
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.  South Florida Congressman Jared Moskowitz said in a statement Friday that a man who was recently arrested in South Florida had his name on a target list and that there was a potential plot on (his) life.

Lt. Michael Druzbik, a Margate Police spokesperson, said he could not confirm or release any details about any alleged specific threats to the congressman. But the department responded to a request for information about Moskowitzs post with a release about the Nov. 2 arrest of John Lapinski, 41, of Margate.

There is no specific mention of a list or of Moskowitz in the probable cause affidavit for Lapinskis arrest on firearm-related charges, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

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The day before the election, I was notified by Margate Police Department, located in my Congressional District, about a potential plot on my life, Moskowitz said in a statement shared on X. The individual in question was arrested not far from my home; he is a former felon who was in possession of a rifle, a suppressor, and body armor. Found with him was a manifesto that, among other things, included antisemitic rhetoric and only my name on the target list.

Margate officers were called on Oct. 31 after someone heard gunshots in a residential area, the affidavit said. Officers responded to a home in that area where they noticed an open door on one side of the home. A woman told officers that she and her brother, Lapinski, lived there.

Lapinskis sister told officers she woke up that morning in her room because she heard what she believed were gunshots, the warrant said.

Officers attempted contact with John via loudspeaker and phone calls but were unsuccessful for a period of time until John ultimately surrendered himself without further incident, the affidavit said. It was later determined that John met the criteria for a Baker Act and was later placed into protective custody.

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The states Baker Act allows authorities to commit a person to a mental health hospital for up to 72 hours.

After Lapinski was in custody, officers completed a safety check inside his home and found in a bedroom a black bag that could hold a long gun or rifle next to a bed, gun-cleaning equipment, a tall safe used to store long weapons and a man-made target made out of a bucket and a vertical wooden plank, the affidavit said. They found three small-caliber spent shell casings.

Officers then received a search warrant signed by a judge that same day and found six different guns in his home, the affidavit said, and a large stock of ammunition. He also had numerous pieces of equipment and firearm parts, including silencers which appeared to be store bought as well as molded by the defendant. He also had molds, which the affidavit said are used to make guns.

Lapinski was prohibited from possessing any guns because he was previously convicted of two felonies. He also has an active restraining order against him in a 2017 case, according to the affidavit.

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During the investigation, our detectives located several firearms and evidence that indicated he may have been planning some type of criminal act, Margate Police said in their statement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is the lead investigating agency, the news release said.

Moskowitz, a Democrat who represents parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, won reelection Tuesday against Republican Joe Kaufman.

Moskowitz said in his statement he would not release additional details because of the active investigation.

A spokesperson for Moskowitz did not respond to an email late Friday.

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The United States plans to send Ukraine interceptor missiles for the Patriot and NASAMS air defence systems, which should be enough to last until the end of the year.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Over US$7 billion in funds allowing the Pentagon to transfer weapons and ammunition to Ukraine from its stockpile remain unspent, as do over US$2 billion in funding for long-term equipment contracts for Kyiv.

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US officials from President Joe Biden's administration aim to provide Kyiv with as much military assistance as possible before January to bolster Ukraine's negotiating position and enhance its defence capabilities. A Pentagon official disclosed that, prior to the election, the administration planned to deliver the remaining aid to Ukraine by April.

This timeline has gained new urgency following the US presidential election results.

In response to increased Russian attacks, the Pentagon is preparing to send over 500 interceptors for the Patriot and NASAMS missile defence systems to Ukraine. These supplies are expected to arrive in the coming weeks, according to a senior administration official.

A US official said these shipments should cover Ukraine's air defence needs until the end of this year.

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The administration announced on Friday that it would send "a small number of contractors" to assist Ukraine in repairing and maintaining F-16 fighter jets and other systems. The Pentagon official confirmed that the contractors will arrive in the coming months and will be stationed away from the war zone.

The Biden administration had rejected such a move in August, but since then, the number of systems failing due to a shortage of skilled workers for repairs and maintenance has grown.

"Ensuring these weapon systems remain mission capable is critical for Ukraines defence against Russian aggression," the Pentagon said in a statement.

Another senior official said the impact of the planned increase in arms transfers on US military stockpiles, particularly air defence, is "a big concern". According to the official, the US is considering options such as buying weapons from other countries to transfer them to Ukraine.

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Ukrainian officials are pushing for additional ATACMS missiles, which have a range of over 300 km. They say these would allow them to strike far behind the front lines in Russia.

The Pentagon has been reluctant to provide additional ATACMS missiles, citing that Russia has relocated aircraft and other valuable assets beyond their range. Additionally, the Biden administration has maintained its position of not allowing Ukrainian forces to use the missiles for strikes inside Russia.



Background:

Earlier, reports indicated that US President Joe Biden's administration planned to use all remaining funds allocated for military assistance to Ukraine by the day of Donald Trump's inauguration on 20 January 2025.

During the election campaign, Trump made it clear that he would cut or drastically reduce military aid to Ukraine if he won on 5 November. He also refused to say that he wanted Ukraine to win the war.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A man is in custody after an American woman who was declared missing in Budapest was killed earlier this week, Hungarian police said.

Mackenzie Michalski, 31, who had gone to Hungary as a tourist, was last seen at a nightclub on Tuesday, according to a translated announcement released by Budapest police.

Investigators have arrested a 37-year-old man from Ireland that Michalski was seen with at several clubs that night. Police said the man confessed to the killing and showed police where he hid her body. No further details about the exact cause of death were released.

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Some of Pompeiis victims were not who they seemed to be, DNA suggests

Her family confirmed her death in a statement on Friday.

We would like to express our profound and heartfelt gratitude to the U.S. and Hungarian authorities and local police for their prompt attention, diligence, care, and consideration, they said. And we would especially like to acknowledge and thank members of this grassroots community at home and abroad for contributing to such a remarkable search effort. We are deeply appreciative of our Hungarian friends and locals for raising awareness on social media, distributing flyers, offering translation services, and mobilizing a boots-on-the-ground mission to find Kenzie.

A native of West New York, Michalski worked as a neurosurgery nurse practitioner and lived in Portland, Ore.

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Nexstars KOIN 6 News spoke briefly with Michalskis brother, who wasnt available for a full interview but said his sister loved Portland and made it her home.

Officials at Providence St. Vincent where Michalski worked mourned her death in a statement to KOIN:

Those who worked with her and knew her best say Kenzie was kind and loving  a great friend and a valued caregiver who lived out our Providence mission and values in her daily life. This loss of a beloved member of our Providence family is especially difficult, as it follows the death of Melissa Jubane in September.

This is a developing story.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  The United States Postal Service is looking to hire for various positions within the five boroughs, as listed on its careers site.

The full-time career positions include technician and mechanic roles with starting salaries of about $56,000.

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Some positions may have an exam requirement that prospective candidates will be invited to take after applying.

Among some of the open positions are maintenance mechanics needed in Manhattan and Jamaica, Queens. Applicants will be required to take a test and must be able to demonstrate mechanical comprehension. The starting salary is $56,830 paid bi-weekly.

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The agency is also looking for an automotive technician in Staten Island and a lead automotive technician in Brooklyn. Both positions require applicants to have a valid state drivers license and at least two years of experience driving passenger cars or larger.

The automotive technician job starts at $63,658 while the lead position starts at $71,056.

All career positions include insurance, 401K benefits, paid federal holidays, vacation, and sick leave. Applications for the positions will close on Nov. 15.

For more information on how to apply and to find more job opportunities click here.

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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A series of deaths of migratory birds in Sambhar Lake have put health and administrative officials under alarm. 520 migratory birds have died and 235 are ill in Rajasthan's Sambhar Lake. Ill birds, predominantly because of Avian botulism disease are being rescued and treated. Jeetu Kulhari said, "In 2019, a very large number of birds had died in Sambhar Lake. The day we got to know about it, we started working so that the disease does not spread among the birds. We keep a close watch on them every day. 520 birds have died. 235 birds are ill - we have rescued them and all of them are being treated. There is a team at the veterinary hospital as well. The team is also continuously engaged there. During this transportation of injured birds, about one or two of our birds who were in serious condition died during primary treatment." She further said that 10 teams were formed and sent for rescue operations in the lake. "Our teams are working very hard. It is our responsibility to save the birds which migrate here covering thousands of km. We need the support of locals," she added. The bodies of dead birds are being continuously taken out from the lake and disposed of, while the sick birds are being rescued and treated. The death of birds has now reduced, and the condition of sick birds is also improving rapidly. The death of migratory birds due to botulism has been confirmed in the investigation report from Bareilly lab. Botulism is a disease in which birds get paralyzed. Botulism is a serious neuromuscular disease, which is caused by a toxin produced by a bacterium called Clostridium botulism. This disease affects the nervous system of birds, causing paralysis of their wings and legs and the neck starts touching the ground. The bird gets paralyzed and is not in a position to stand, which leads to its death. Subdivision Officer, Navan Jeetu Kulhari said, "The process of finding dead birds in Sambhar Lake has been going on for the last 15 days. More than 1000 birds have fallen ill due to botulism. 50 members divided into 10 teams of SDRF, Animal Husbandry, Forest Department and Administration are engaged in rescue and relief operations in the lake area. Intensive rescue operations are going on in Mohanpura, Khakarki, Jabdi Nagar, Gudha Salt and Sambhar Salt areas of the lake area." Surveys are also being conducted using drones to rescue the birds. Dr. Rajendra Prasad veterinarian said, "Yesterday, 38 birds who had fully recovered were freed and released back into the lake. Currently, the treatment of 50 birds is going on in the rescue center." (ANI)
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  The Department of Public Safety at the University of Dayton is looking for a vehicle involved in an aggravated assault Friday night.

Students reportedly notified UD Public Safety at approximately 11:20 p.m. that a black Chevy Cruze with unknown occupants stopped in front of a residence in the 400 block of Kiefaber.

An occupant of that vehicle reportedly threw a firework, which burst among the students in the front yard once the vehicle fled the scene. One student suffered minor injuries.

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Area teacher placed on leave over alleged social media content

A similar incident involving the same black Chevy Cruze was reported in the 200 block of Kiefaber on Monday, Nov. 4, at approximately 7:20 p.m.

Around 6 p.m., UD Public Safety identified the vehicle involved with Fridays incident. The University reports they have issued a criminal trespass order to the alleged occupants.

If you have additional information regarding this incident, or are aware of similar incidents, please contact the Department of Public Safety dispatcher at 937-229-2121.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
This is a KFF Health News story.

On a warm autumn morning, Roger Brown walked through a grove of towering trees whose sap fuels his maple syrup business. He was checking for damage after recent flooding. But these days, his workers' health worries him more than his trees'.

The cost of Slopeside Syrup's employee health insurance premiums spiked 24% this year. Next year it will rise 14%.

The jumps mean less money to pay workers, and expensive insurance coverage that doesn't ensure employees can get care, Brown said. "Vermont is seen as the most progressive state, so how is health care here so screwed up?"

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Vermont consistently ranks among the healthiest states, and its unemployment and uninsured rates are among the lowest. Yet Vermonters pay the highest prices nationwide for individual health coverage, and state reports show its providers and insurers are in financial trouble. Nine of the state's 14 hospitals are losing money, and the state's largest insurer is struggling to remain solvent. Long waits for care have become increasingly common, according to state reports and interviews with residents and industry officials.

MORE: California becomes first state to offer health insurance to all undocumented immigrants

Rising health costs are a problem across the country, but Vermont's situation surprises health experts because virtually all its residents have insurance and the state regulates care and coverage prices.

For more than 15 years, federal and state policymakers have focused on increasing the number of people insured, which they expected would shore up hospital finances and make care more available and affordable.

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"Vermont's struggles are a wake-up call that insurance is only one piece of the puzzle to ensuring access to care," said Keith Mueller, a rural health expert at the University of Iowa.

PHOTO: Roger Brown, co-owner of Slopeside Syrup, inspects the maples that supply his business. These days his big worry is not the health of his trees but the increasing cost of his worker's health insurance. (Phil Galewitz/KFF Health News)

Regulators and consultants say the state's small, aging population of about 650,000 makes spreading insurance risk difficult. That demographic challenge is compounded by geography, as many Vermonters live in rural areas, where it's difficult to attract more health workers to address shortages.

At least part of the cost spike can be attributed to patients crossing state lines for quicker care in New York and Massachusetts. Those visits can be more expensive for both insurers and patients because of long ambulance rides and charges from out-of-network providers.

Patients who stay, like Lynne Drevik, face long waits. Drevik said her doctor told her in April that she needed knee replacement surgeries -- but the earliest appointment would be in January for one knee and the following April for the other.

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Drevik, 59, said it hurts to climb the stairs in the 19th-century farmhouse in Montgomery Center she and her husband operate as an inn and a spa. "My life is on hold here, and it's hard to make any plans," she said. "It's terrible."

Health experts say some of the state's health system troubles are self-inflicted.

Unlike most states, Vermont regulates hospital and insurance prices through an independent agency, the Green Mountain Care Board. Until recently, the board typically approved whatever price changes companies wanted, said Julie Wasserman, a health consultant in Vermont.

MORE: JD Vance and Tim Walz battled over health care during the debate. Here's where they stand

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The board allowed one health system -- the University of Vermont Health Network -- to control about two-thirds of the state's hospital market and allowed its main facility, the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, to raise its prices until it ranked among the nation's most expensive, she said, citing data the board presented in September.

Hospital officials contend their prices are no higher than industry averages.

But for 2025, the board required the University of Vermont Medical Center to cut the prices it bills private insurers by 1%.

The nonprofit system says it is navigating its own challenges. Top officials say a severe lack of housing makes it hard to recruit workers, while too few mental health providers, nursing homes, and long-term care services often create delays in discharging patients, adding to costs.

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Two-thirds of the system's patients are covered by Medicare or Medicaid, said CEO Sunny Eappen. Both government programs pay providers lower rates than private insurance, which Eappen said makes it difficult to afford rising prices for drugs, medical devices, and labor.

Officials at the University of Vermont Medical Center point to several ways they are trying to adapt. They cited, for example, $9 million the hospital system has contributed to the construction of two large apartment buildings to house new workers, at a subsidized price for lower-income employees.

PHOTO: The Phineas Swann Inn & Spa in Montgomery Center, Vermont, owned by Lynne Drevik and her husband, Darren. Lynne is waiting over nine months for knee replacement surgeries. (Phil Galewitz/KFF Health News)

The hospital also has worked with community partners to open a mental health urgent care center, providing an alternative to the emergency room.

In the ER, curtains separate areas in the hallway where patients can lie on beds or gurneys for hours waiting for a room. The hospital also uses what was a storage closet as an overflow room to provide care.

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"It's good to get patients into a hallway, as it's better than a chair," said Mariah McNamara, an ER doctor and associate chief medical officer with the hospital.

For the about 250 days a year when the hospital is full, doctors face pressure to discharge patients without the ideal home or community care setup, she said. "We have to go in the direction of letting you go home without patient services and giving that a try, because otherwise the hospital is going to be full of people, and that includes people that don't need to be here," McNamara said.

Searching for solutions, the Green Mountain Care Board hired a consultant who recommended a number of changes, including converting four rural hospitals into outpatient facilities, in a worst-case scenario, and consolidating specialty services at several others.

The consultant, Bruce Hamory, said in a call with reporters that his report provides a road map for Vermont, where "the health care system is no match for demographic, workforce, and housing challenges."

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MORE: What a 2nd Trump term may look like for health care issues including ACA, abortion

But he cautioned that any fix would require sacrifice from everyone, including patients, employers, and health providers. "There is no simple single policy solution," he said.

One place Hamory recommended converting to an outpatient center only was North Country Hospital in Newport, a village in Vermont's least populated region, known as the Northeast Kingdom.

The 25-bed hospital has lost money for years, partly because of an electronic health record system that has made it difficult to bill patients. But the hospital also has struggled to attract providers and make enough money to pay them.

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Officials said they would fight any plans to close the hospital, which recently dropped several specialty services, including pulmonology, neurology, urology, and orthopedics. It doesn't have the cash to upgrade patient rooms to include bathroom doors wide enough for wheelchairs.

On a recent morning, CEO Tom Frank walked the halls of his hospital. The facility was quiet, with just 14 admitted patients and only a couple of people in the ER. "This place used to be bustling," he said of the former pulmonology clinic.

Frank said the hospital breaks even treating Medicare patients, loses money treating Medicaid patients, and makes money from a dwindling number of privately insured patients.

PHOTO: Andy Kehler, a co-owner of Jasper Hill Farm, inside a vault in the caves where the farm ripens its cheeses. (Phil Galewitz/KFF Health News)

The state's strict regulations have earned it an antihousing, antibusiness reputation, he said. "The cost of health care is a symptom of a larger problem."

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About 30 miles south of Newport, Andy Kehler often worries about the cost of providing health insurance to the 85 workers at Jasper Hill Farm, the cheesemaking business he co-owns.

"It's an issue every year for us, and it looks like there is no end in sight," he said.

Jasper Hill pays half the cost of its workers' health insurance premiums because that's all it can afford, Kehler said. Employees pay $1,700 a month for a family, with a $5,000 deductible.

"The coverage we provide is inadequate for what you pay," he said.

In Vermont, where almost everyone has insurance, many can't find or afford care originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
CADDO PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  Its a time to honor veterans this weekend.

Two ceremonies are taking place that recognize the service of military members from the across the Arklatex. The Veterans Honor Ceremony takes place at the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium beginning at 5 p.m. Eleven veterans will be awarded for their careers in the military and throughout the community. Fox 33s/NBC 6s Alexandra Meachum will serve as emcee for the second year.

The celebrations continue on Sunday with the Veterans Parade rolling through the Louisiana State Fairgrounds starting at 2 p.m. The large-scale public event features bands, ROTCs, organizations, and top military members from the region. Fox 33s/NBC 6s Dan and Jacque Jovic serve as emcees. The anchor-couple has been doing so for the past decade.

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Veteran Voices: Caddo commissioner reflects on military career

The events are supported by the Veterans Celebrations Committee. Chairman Ken Epperson shares its catchphrase, Veterans. Americas First Heroes. Everyday should be Veterans Day in America. The Caddo Commissioner of District 12 is also a U.S. Army Veteran who served during the Vietnam era.

We should never forget our veterans. If it were not for veterans of the Continental Army established June 14, 1775 under General George Washington who defeated the British, gained our independence and from that point on weve been all over the world helping not only the United States of America but other countries maintain their independence, Epperson said.

Both events are free and open to the public. City and parish leaders attend and encourage community support.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck on Saturday said Germany must assume a strong leadership role in Europe after Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election.

"In order to be strong, Europe must be able to count on Germany," said Habeck, who also serves as economy minister. "That has not always been the case in the recent past."

Giving a speech to the Neuhardenberg Castle Foundation, Habeck added: "Germany has too often taken special paths against the warning of our friends."

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The speech came one day after Habeck announced he will run to become the lead candidate for chancellor for his Green Party in the upcoming national elections, which could be held early next year after the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-party coalition.

Habeck's comments also came as Germany and the European Union came to terms with Trump's return to the White House, which could have major implications for trade and security.

Germany and Europe are not completely dependent on the United States, Habeck argued: "They need us too - as an ally in NATO and as a partner on economic policy."

He said Germany and Europe must seek cooperation with the US. "But we are not really defenceless either," he argued.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen suggesting replacing Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) with U.S. exports in a phone conversation with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Nov. 8.

Von der Leyen spoke with Trump three days after his victory in the Nov. 5 presidential election.

Replacing Europe's supplies of Russian LNG was "one of the topics" the two leaders discussed, von der Leyen told reporters in Budapest.

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"We still get a whole lot of LNG via Russia, from Russia," she said.

"And why not replace it with American LNG, which is cheaper, and brings down our energy prices?"

The European Union imposed its first major restrictions on Russian gas, including LNG, in its 14th sanctions package in June. Russia still remains Europe's second-largest importer of LNG, after the U.S.

The phone call with Trump did not involve details on the future of LNG shipments, von der Leyen clarified.

"That is something where we can get into a discussion," she said.

Other topics of the call included E.U.-U.S. relations, defense, and the war in Ukraine, von der Leyen said on X.

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Trump's re-election has sparked fears that the new administration in Washington may reduce cooperation with Europe and support for Kyiv, opting instead to pursue a deal with the Moscow favorable to the Kremlin.

Read also: Opinion: Trumps election marks the death of Transatlanticism

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
MOUNT CARMEL, Ill. (WEHT)  Rolling Thunder is a nonprofit that makes sure prisoners of war and those missing in action are remembered for their sacrifice.

This is a long-standing mission that Rolling Thunders Illinois Chapter 3 President Tony Schmidt holds close to his heart. So, when he got a call that Wabash Valley Colleges POW/MIA Memorial was in need of some care he jumped at the opportunity to replace it.

That is what we aim to do is bring families some closure, says Schmidt.

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You can see the memorial for yourself on Wabash Valley Colleges campus.

Watch the video above to learn more.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
Gov. Tim Walz made his first official appearance in Minnesota since his loss in the general election on Nov. 8, 2024, at Eagan High School. Photo by Michelle Griffith/Minnesota Reformer.

Gov. Tim Walz made his first official appearance in Minnesota since he lost his bid for vice president on Tuesday, and in a pep-rally-like speech, said hes going to try to keep an open mind to people who disagree with him politically  a nod to the reality that the Democratic trifecta is gone and the governor will again have to navigate a split Legislature.

During a 20-minute speech at Eagan High School on Friday, Walz  reading off a teleprompter  touted Minnesotas progressive agenda, similar to the way hes been a cheerleader for Minnesota in the three months hes been campaigning with Vice President Kamala Harris.

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He said while campaigning across the country, he learned the policies that Minnesotas Democratic-Farmer-Labor trifecta passed in the last two years are widely popular: universal school meals, paid leave, abortion protections and expanding labor rights.

The agenda we heard from the other side in this campaign was very different from the one we know is right for our state and our country, Walz said. Were going to have to be ready to defend the progress that we made here in Minnesota  the moment they try to bring a hateful agenda in this state, Im going to stand up  and fight for the way we do things here.

Walz will now need to make decisions about his political future. He could run for Minnesota governor again in 2026 for an unprecedented third, four-year term, or he could try for a 2028 presidential run.

Walz is skilled at the retail campaigning that is a staple of early state presidential nominating contests. Hes a proven fundraiser with a newly fat Rolodex, and he has a long list of legislative victories that will excite the progressive base that tends to turn out in Democratic primaries.

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I love this state. I love this job, and Im not done fighting for Minnesota, not by a long shot, Walz said.

The governor didnt take questions from the media on Friday, but is expected to do so in the coming days.

Walz didnt appear downtrodden after being rejected on a national stage. Going forward, Walz said its time to listen to others and come to compromises.

Nobody has a monopoly on good intentions or good ideas, and now that this election is behind us, Im going to try even harder to keep an open mind, open heart, and really listen to folks who dont support me or my policies, Walz said. To work with everyone in the Legislature, to seek compromise and common ground, because thats how we come back together after such a long time spent fighting each other. Thats how we heal the rips in the fabric of our civic society.

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The Minnesota House is divided 67-67 between Republicans and Democrats after Republicans on Tuesday successfully flipped three DFL seats.

Walzs speech consistently brought applause among those in attendance, including DFL legislators, Attorney General Keith Ellison, U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum and DFL Party Chair Ken Martin.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz delivered his final speech of the 2024 campaign on Friday from suburban Minneapolis, joining a chorus of fellow Democratic governors who've said over the past few days that they'd protect their states from what they call threats from Donald Trump to reproductive freedom and immigration and regulatory policy.

But the vice presidential nominee notably added that he'd work to find common ground with swaths of people who voted "for the other side" on Tuesday and that "there should be a place in our politics for everyone to be heard."

"I think sometimes we can be quick to judge people who don't agree with us, to assume that they act out of cruelty or fear or self interest. I don't think that kind of judgment is helpful right now, and I don't think it's right," he said, noting that he'd "try even harder" to keep an open mind and listen to people who don't support his policies.

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"Maybe when we get a little break from this campaign that we're in, we'll be able to look at each other and see not enemies, but neighbors, and maybe we'll be able to sit down over coffee or a Diet Mountain Dew and just talk." he added.

PHOTO: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks at Eagan High School in Eagan, Minn., Nov. 8, 2024. (Ayrton Breckenridge/Star Tribune via AP)

MORE: Pelosi blames Harris' loss on Biden's late exit and no open Democratic primary

Walz's remarks, which capped off his whirwhind three months spent on the campaign trail as Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate, come as many high-profile Democratic governors already have gone on offense against Trump's coming presidency.

"As long as I'm governor of Minnesota, we will protect a woman's right to make her own health care decisions. As long as I am governor of Minnesota, we will welcome immigrants with gratitude for their contributions to our communities," Walz said. "As long as I'm governor of Minnesota, we will stand with the rest of the world in fighting climate change and developing new clean energy solutions. As long as I'm governor of Minnesota, we'll be a state that respects democracy, a place where we're proud of our civic debate and where we don't demonize people who disagree with us," he said.

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro have all come out with official stances or proposed ways to counter Trump.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper also made similar statements amid changes to the balances of power within their states following Tuesday night.

MORE: Harris campaign leadership urges staffers not to speak with reporters: Sources

PHOTO: Governor Gavin Newsom attends a press conference in Beijing on October 25, 2023. (Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images)

Newsom and Hochul take preventative actions

Newsom on Thursday called a special session of the state Legislature to increase funding for the California Department of Justice and other agencies in order to support their ability to "immediately" file litigation to challenge actions taken by a second Trump administration.

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The special session -- which will begin Dec. 2, when the Legislature convenes -- will also focus on protecting abortion access, climate and immigration policy and civil rights.

"The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack -- and we won't sit idle. California has faced this challenge before, and we know how to respond. We are prepared, and we will do everything necessary to ensure Californians have the support and resources they need to thrive," Newsom said in a statement.

In New York, Hochul on Wednesday announced a new 'Empire State Freedom Initiative,' which she said started prior to Election Day and has already begun developing plans to address any impending Trump Administration policies on reproductive rights, civil rights, immigration, gun safety, labor rights, LGBTQ rights and environmental justice, among other topics.

"The safety and wellbeing of New Yorkers are my top priorities," Hochul said. "I'm committed to working with anyone on policies that make our state stronger, safer and more livable  but my administration will also be prepared to protect New Yorkers' fundamental freedoms from any potential threats."

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Appearing on Thursday to announce New York's strategy with Attorney General Letitia James, Hochul also said her administration would have a strengthened relationship with AG's office, which will have new dedicated staff to address potential federal legal threats.

"We faced this challenge before, and we use the rule of law to fight back. And we are prepared to fight back once again, because as the attorney general of this great state, it is my job to protect and defend the rights of New Yorkers and the rule of law, and I will not shrink from that responsibility," James said.

MORE: US climate leader calls Trump's threatened IRA rollbacks 'a fool's errand'

PHOTO: Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump attends a town hall meeting in Cumming, Georgia, Oct. 15, 2024. (Elijah Nouvelage/AFP via Getty Images)

Healy, Moore and Murphy float possible measures against Trump policies

In Massachusetts, Healey, who as Massachusetts' attorney general during the first Trump administration filed dozens of lawsuits against it, told MSNBC on Wednesday that she expects litigation will be filed if Trump proceeds with his mass deportation proposals but that there's also "regulatory authority and executive powers and the like -- there's legislation also within our state" that could work against potential threats.

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"Some realities need to be noted and that is in 2016, we had a different situation in the courts, and I am sure there may be litigation ahead, there is a lot of other ways people are going to act and need to act for the sake of their states and residents," she said.

She also said that her state police will "absolutely not" be cooperating with mass deportations, but that she would use "every tool in the toolbox" to "protect" residents.

"I do think it is important that we all recognize that there is going to be a lot of pressure on states and state officials. I can assure you we're going to work hard to deliver," she said.

In New Jersey, Murphy told reporters during a press conference on Wednesday that his team had recently held a meeting to "war game" the possibility of a second Trump administration.

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He highlighted that his administration had broken with Trump's during the former president's first term on issues like "defending a woman's right to choose, advancing common-sense gun safety policies, and protecting our immigrant communities" but that he was willing to work closely with the Trump Administration on things like infrastructure and public health.

"If it's contrary to our values, we will fight to the death," Murphy said on Wednesday. "If there's an opportunity for common ground, we will seize that as fast as anybody."

Murphy also told the New Jersey Globe on Wednesday that he would "fight fiercely" if Democratic interests are being attacked, "using all available weapons: legal, bully pulpit, legislation, executive order, you name it."

In Maryland, Moore held a meeting Friday with his Cabinet, where he said they'd been "prepared for this moment" and over the past ten months have brought together agency leaders, government officials, and public servants from all parts of our state and have "run and pressure-tested countless scenarios based on policy changes that might happen in Washington."

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"In February, I convened my advisers to begin scenario-planning for possible outcomes of the 2024 presidential election," Moore said, according to prepared remarks released by his office.

"Our goal has been to secure Maryland's transition under a new federal administration -- in the event of any outcome. We have worked tirelessly for months, analyzing how Donald Trump's plans might impact Maryland."

Moore said he was ready to work with the new White House but would protect the state from a reversal of things like abortion or other constitutional rights.

"We will vigorously defend the interests of all Marylanders, and we are ready to push back on this new administration where necessary," Moore said. "And over the next two and half months, we will ALSO prepare for the incoming Trump-Vance Administration, in a way that ensures we can, again, leave no one behind."

PHOTO: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker speaks alongside Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton about the results of the election, Nov. 7, 2024, at Illinois state government offices in Chicago. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

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Walz, Pritzker and Shaprio commit to protecting their state agendas

While the overall tone of his closing speech on Friday leaned inclusive, Walz didn't shy away from saying he'd "stand up" against a possible "hateful agenda" imposed by Trump.

"I know there's a lot of folks that are worried about the next four years and what they're going to look like. I'm one of them. The agenda we heard from the other side in this campaign was very different from the one we know is right for our state and our country," Walz said.

"Look, we know what's coming down the pike. We know it because they told us and we're going to have to be ready to defend the progress that we've made here in Minnesota. The other side spent a lot of time campaigning and talking about and promising that they would leave things up to the states. Well, I'm willing to take them at their word for that. But the moment they try and bring a hateful agenda in this state, I'm going to stand, ready to stand up and fight for the way we do things here." he added.

Pritzker, also said on Thursday that his state would advance an agenda to protect residents against "the possible reversion to an agenda that threatens to take us backward" on the national level.

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"While I was certainly surprised by Tuesday's results. I was not unprepared, having fought through the headwinds of the first Trump administration, the General Assembly and I took proactive steps to plan for the potential of a second Trump presidency and protect our residents from the damage that it may attempt to cause," Pritzker said during a press availability on Thursday, noting that Illinois had enshrined reproductive rights into the state constitution, reaffirmed labor rights, and advanced climate policy, among other items.

"Over the years ahead, we'll do more than just protect against the possible reversion to an agenda that threatens to take us backward, we will continue to advance a positive, productive and inclusive agenda of our own, one that brings opportunity to Illinois and helps uplift the nation as a whole," he added.

"To anyone who intends to come take away the freedom and opportunity and dignity of Illinoisans, I would remind you that a happy warrior is still a warrior. You come for my people, you come through me." Pritzker added.

Shaprio released a statement on Thursday stating that he'd work with the incoming administration to "continue to get stuff done for Pennsylvania."

But he also made clear: "I will never back down from standing up for the freedoms I was elected to protect. I will continue to defend our democracy, defend our fundamental rights, and ensure we continue the legacy of William Penn by building a Commonwealth that is warm and welcoming for all - and where all Pennsylvanians have the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed."

Whitmer and Moore tease paths forward amid changes in state leaders

In two of the toughest battleground states of the cycle, Michigan's Whitmer and North Carolina's Cooper spoke to their paths forward amid structural changes to power in their respective states.

Whitmer said in a thread on X that "As governor of the great state of Michigan, my job remains the same no matter who is in the White House."

She also noted the shift in the balance of power within her state. On Tuesday, Michigan Democrats lost their historic trifecta after Republicans gained a majority in the state House of Representatives. This change will almost certainly stall Whitmer 's agenda in the final two years of her term.

"I am focused on getting things done that make a real difference in people's lives. With the new majority in the Michigan State House, that work will continue," she said.

In North Carolina, Cooper said in a statement that while the "presidential results weren't what we wanted" a bright spot for the state was in state races: "we beat back extremism and chose strong NC leaders," he said.

With a Democratic governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general elected and the breaking of the GOP supermajority in the state House, Cooper said they'd "leverage good bills and help stop bad ones."

"We will never stop fighting for our country, our democracy and our freedoms," he added.

Walz, other Democratic governors, vow to fight against Trump's agenda originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
ABINGDON, Va. (WJHL)  On Thursday, Washington County Public Schools (WCPS) in Virginia announced that traces of lead were discovered in five schools water fixtures.

Superintendent Keith Perrigan said the discovery was made following testing encouraged by the Washington County Service Authority (WCSA).

The folks at the Washington County Service Authority contacted me about new regulations that would require additional lead testing in our schools, Perrigan said. So we worked with the service authority to have samples taken at all of our schools.

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In a statement released by Perrigan, the regulations mentioned by the WCSP stated that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) required that school water be tested for lead by 2028. The encouragement from the WCSA led Perrigan to move forward with the testing.

There were three possible results for testing:

Non-detect: Practice good water habits

Less than ten parts per billion (ppb): Consider risk mitigation such as flushing before use

Greater than ten parts per billion (ppb): Stop using the water source and take remediation steps

All schools in the system had five fixtures tested. The results showed:

Meadowview Elementary  two fixtures less than ten parts per billion (consider risk mitigation such as flushing before use)

Watauga Elementary  one fixture less than ten parts per billion (consider risk mitigation such as flushing before use)

Glade Spring Middle School  one fixture less than ten parts per billion (consider risk mitigation such as flushing before use)

Holston High School  two fixtures less than ten parts per billion (consider risk mitigation such as flushing before use)

Greendale Elementary  two fixtures above ten parts per billion (stop the use of water source and take remediation steps)

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Although only Greendale was required to stop using its fixtures, Perrigan took extra precautions.

We decided that out of an abundance of caution, anywhere that we had positive tests, we were going to quit using those fixtures, Perrigan said. [And] only use for consumption in those schools fixtures that had been tested and tested negative.

Since only one or two fixtures at each school tested positive, officials said the traces werent coming from the water but from the plumbing.

FEMA, Red Cross members speak at Johnson City District of Church Women United meeting

The countys public water utility did the sampling, and they also sampled in their lines entering the school buildings, and they were all below detection, said David Dawson, engineering field officer for the Abingdon Field Office for the Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water. No lead showed up in those samples. So any lead would be from the plumbing within the school.

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Dawson adds that testing for lead before 2028 could be beneficial in addressing any issues.

The sooner, the better, said Dawson. That allows more time to get the funds to replace piping if needed or the fixtures themselves.

Perrigan said they plan to test all fixtures within the five schools, continuing to stay ahead of any future issues.

Hopefully, over the next couple of weeks, well be able to identify all the issues if there are more that we need to address and fix, Perrigan said. And well begin our plan to do that as soon as we have that information.

Perrigan said bottled water was provided to the schools to work around the closed fixtures.

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(Bill Oxford/Getty Images)

As supporters celebrated Fridays passage of a ballot measure blocking Washingtons efforts to phase out the use of natural gas in homes, opponents vowed to continue their fight in court.

Initiative 2066 targets the states combination of regulations and laws to move swiftly away from natural gas toward technology like electric heat pumps. It was passing with 51.5% of the statewide vote.

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It is winning in 33 counties, including Snohomish, Pierce, Spokane and Clark. The strongest opposition is in King County where roughly 60% of voters are rejecting it.

A coalition led by the Building Industry Association of Washington drew up the measure and enlisted Lets Go Washington, a conservative political committee, to gather signatures between mid-May and early July to get the measure on the ballot. They submitted nearly 550,000 signatures.

Brian Heywood, left, of Lets Go Washington hands a box of signed Initiative 2066 petitions to Greg Lane, executive vice president of the Building Industry Association of Washington on July 2, 2024. (Jerry Cornfield/Washington State Standard)

Greg Lane, BIAWs executive vice president, called the effort truly inspiring.

Together, they have sent a thunderous message to policy makers at every level of government that natural gas service must be maintained as we address the energy demands in Washington state, Lane said.

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The initiative would repeal provisions in a new state law, House Bill 1589, intended to accelerate Puget Sound Energys transition away from natural gas. It would prevent approval of utility rate plans that end or restrict access to natural gas, or make it too costly.

And it would erase changes to the energy code, approved by the Washington State Building Code Council, that offer builders incentives in the permitting process for choosing electric heat pumps  which provide both heating and cooling in the same unit  instead of natural gas furnaces.

Elements in the initiative are set to take effect when election results are certified on Dec. 5.

Opponents contend many voters skipped over the measure because they were confused by what it would do.

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If it is allowed to stand, I-2066 would guarantee higher energy costs in the coming years by rolling back tools that help utilities plan for the future. This poorly written initiative would have a host of consequences for energy affordability, clean air and the climate, said Molly Gallagher, communications coordinator for the Statewide Poverty Action Network

Those who worked to defeat the ballot measure said it is likely unconstitutional. They intend to sue and will likely try to get the initiative put on hold until the legal questions are resolved.

There is significant likelihood that the Initiative violates at least two provisions of the Washington Constitution and would be struck down entirely or at least significantly limited in a post-election legal challenge, concludes an analysis prepared for the No on 2066 coalition. Attorneys Paul Lawrence and Kai Smith of the Pacifica Law Group, and professor Hugh Spitzer, a constitutional scholar, are the authors.

Their analysis argues the measure violates provisions limiting citizen initiatives to no more than one subject and requiring them to contain the full text of the portion of state laws it would alter.

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Lane said Initiative 2066 was carefully crafted with such a challenge in mind and that every section addresses protecting the choice to access and use natural gas.

Those who want to ban natural gas have been clear in their intent to use every avenue available to undermine Washingtons democracy and the people of Washingtons right to initiative, Lane said in an email.
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Saturday hit out at the previous YSRCP government and alleged that the drug mafia has flourished well under the previous regime. In a post on X Pawan Kalyan said, "Drugs have become a menace in the state. Another legacy issue our NDA govt inherited from previous corrupt and criminal regime. A special focus is needed to curb drug mafia, ganja cultivation and related criminal activities in the state." He further said that a comprehensive action plan is required to tackle this menace. "Sometime back, seizure of a cocaine shipment in Visakhapatnam port and drugs seized elsewhere in the country had the links to a trading company in Vijayawada, shows that drug mafia has flourished well under previous regime. A comprehensive action plan is needed to tackle this criminals," he further added. Earlier former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had dismissed any connections to the seizure of a huge consignment of narcotics at the Visakhapatnam port in March. Stating that the opposition has falsely accused YSRCP, he alleged that the company belongs to the father-in-law of the state BJP President, Purandeshwari's sons. Former Andhra Chief Minister said, "Recently, the CBI caught a drug container in Visakhapatnam, which arrived from Brazil. All opposition parties are falsely accusing the YSRCP. However, the company belongs to the father-in-law of the state BJP President, Purandeshwari's sons. They were previously associated with the company." "If any crime occurs, they falsely accuse the YSRCP. Even NTR was betrayed," said Reddy. The YSRCP chief also said, "Chandrababu and his associates have received direct support from one national party and indirect support from another. They have even managed to gain support from my sister against me. I am alone. All these parties have allied to fight against me. I only have the support of the public and God." The seizure of a huge volume of drugs from a container at Visakhapatnam port sparked controversy in the state during the elections. While opposition parties blamed the YSRCP, then the ruling party in Andhra Pradesh charged that the management of the company involved in the import of the suspected contraband had links with the BJP and TDP leaders. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) detained a shipping container containing 1000 bags of inactive dried yeast of 25 kg each, totalling 25000 kg, at the Visakhapatnam Port. (ANI)
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Monroe Countys annual Veterans Day Parade is set to kick off Saturday for its third year.

The parade started at 10:30 a.m. at the corner of South Goodman Street and Highland Avenue.

The parade route ran up Highland Avenue to the Greater Rochester Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Gary Beikirch Park on South Avenue.

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, the Grand Marshal of this years parade was The Vietnam Veteran. Members of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 20 were featured on a float during the parade.

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Salvatores Pizza is the official sponsor this year.

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DILLON, Colorado (KMID/KPEJ)  The honorary four-legged mayor of a Colorado mountain town, a Bernese mountain dog named Parker, gave his paw of approval at Loveland Ski area on Thursday, ahead of its official opening on Saturday.

WATCH: New DNA results questions long-time assumptions regarding Pompeii victims

Parker, seen examining fresh snow at Loveland, was named honorary mayor of Georgetown in February 2020 and is also the official mascot of the ski resort, according to his official website.

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Republican candidate Jill Koford and Democrat Rep. Rosemary Lesser. (Photos courtesy of Jill Koford and Utah House of Representatives)

Utah Democrats are poised to gain a new House seat in Salt Lake County, but lose a House seat in Weber County, with Ogden Democrat Rep. Rosemary Lesser trailing her Republican opponent Jill Koford by 205 votes.

The race for House District 10, which encompasses much of South Ogden east of Interstate 15, was one of the tightest in the state this year. Lesser took an early lead, but as updated results from Weber County continued to roll in, Koford closed the margin, overtaking the incumbent Thursday evening.

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And although its still too early to definitively declare a winner  results in Weber County wont be officially finalized until two weeks after election day  county clerk and auditor Ricky Hatch said the current tally probably wont change much.

As of Friday afternoon, Koford had 7,578 votes, or 50.69%; Lesser had 7,373 votes, or 49.31%.

I dont see that margin shifting much at all, right now, Hatch said on Friday. He told Utah News Dispatch that about 95% of ballots would be counted by the end of the day. Most of the outstanding ballots are provisional, meaning there are still outstanding questions about the ballot or voters eligibility.

That could mark the end of Lessers tenure in the House. An Air Force veteran and OB/GYN, Lesser joined the Legislature in 2021, selected by Utah Democrats after the death of her predecessor, Rep. LaWanna Shurtliff. Koford challenged Lesser the following election cycle in 2022, losing by about 500 votes.

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House District 10 has historically been a competitive district, Lesser told Utah News Dispatch on Friday. Making sure that every vote is counted is critical to this important process. I am patiently awaiting the count of the provisional ballots and the curing of 170 ballots.

Koford, a lifelong Weber County resident and small business owner with a masters degree in education, was cautiously optimistic Friday.

We are very happy with the trend of the results, look forward to having every ballot counted and are optimistic, Koford said in a text.

If the results stand, Utah Democrats will go into the 2025 General Legislative Session with the same number of House Representatives as last year, after Democrat Jake Fitisemanu, a two-term West Valley City Council member, appears to have flipped a Republican district in Salt Lake County.

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Fitisemanu had nearly 52% of the vote Friday afternoon, holding onto a slim lead over his Republican challenger Fred Cox.

That means the current House makeup, which consists of 14 Democrats and 61 Republicans, will likely remain the same.

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The planned Nov. 13 execution of Thomas Creech, Idahos longest-serving death row inmate, has been delayed, giving members of a local anti-death penalty group a little more time to state their case.

A new group, Idahoans Against the Death Penalty, held a small gathering Friday afternoon in front of the Idaho State Capitol.

There is a group of us from across the state of Idaho that recognizes that execution is not the only way to keep Idahoans safe from murderers, the Rev. Karen Hernandez, of the United Methodist Church, said at the gathering of about a dozen people.

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Hernandez noted that the state plans to spend nearly $1 million to build a facility that would accommodate death by firing squad, a method for execution approved by the state Legislature in 2023 in case lethal injection is not possible.

This money could be much better spent supporting the families of crime victims or the victims themselves, Hernandez said. That money could be better spent intervening in the lives of youths who are headed toward a life of crime or violence.

Hernandez was joined by Bishop Meggan Manlove, of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, who noted that her church passed a resolution last year opposing not only the use of the firing squad, but all forms of state-implemented executions.

My family of Lutheran Christians believes we are called to respond to violent crime in the restorative way taught by Jesus and shown by his actions, Manlove said. Restorative justice involves addressing the hurt of each person whose life has been touched by violent crime. This approach makes the community safer for all.

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I tend to buy into the arguments that the state should not have the power and authority to take the life of a human being, that our criminal justice system has proved to be imperfect, and those imperfections can lead to  and have led to  innocent people landing on death row.

There is also ample evidence of botched executions that easily qualify as cruel and unusual punishment. The seemingly peaceful drug cocktail used to kill people by lethal injection may actually cause suffering not seen by outside witnesses.

I also welcome the Christian argument, as was raised by a woman at Fridays gathering who identified herself as a Catholic who believes in the sanctity of life  a belief that she noted is contrary to the death penalty.

But this group has an uphill climb, especially in Idaho, which identifies as overwhelmingly Christian, but by most accounts is also heavily in favor of the death penalty.

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The group has a website, idahoansagainstthedeathpenalty.org, and is urging the public to sign a letter to Gov. Brad Little and the state Legislature calling for an end to the death penalty in Idaho.

The group also is asking members of the public to sign petitions calling on the governor to grant clemency to Creech and another death row inmate, Gerald Pizzuto. Creechs petition has more than 11,000 signatures and Pizzutos has more than 12,000.

Hernandez said the group isnt working with any legislators at the moment, but present at Fridays gathering was Amy Dundon, legislative strategist for the ACLU of Idaho.

She noted legal concerns about drug secrecy, botched executions and the failed execution of Creech in February, when the prison team failed to find a vein suitable to establish an IV for the lethal injection.

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We know that there is no method of execution that doesnt carry an intolerably high risk of cruel and unusual punishment, Dundon said.

What about the victims families?

Coincidentally, the Idahoans Against the Death Penalty event was at the exact same time as an event taking place inside the Capitol marking the 30th anniversary of the passage of the Crime Victims Rights Amendment to the Idaho Constitution.

The backdrop of Fridays anti-death penalty event was a line of police cars in support of the amendment.

I asked about the victims and victims families.

One of my last hurdles that I have in fully opposing the death penalty is empathy with victims families and the recognition that if my wife or two sons  or any other family member  were brutally killed by someone like Joseph Duncan or Thomas Creech, Id be hard-pressed to not want the death penalty.

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Brandi Jensen, the daughter of Creechs last victim, David Dale Jensen, has unreservedly supported execution for Creech.

Thomas Eugene Creech is a manipulative serial killer  with a fan club  and he murdered my dad, David Dale Jensen, Brandi Jensen wrote in a prepared statement in February in support of executing Creech. My dad was more than just a father to me. He was a gentle Idaho man loved by many, he was kind, smart, fun, handsome and talented in so many ways. He was a father cheated from a life, a man who loved a simple life and simple things. He was the kindest, most generous, and most loving person.

Other family members of other victims of Creech provided impact statements and letters supporting Creechs execution, according to Brandi Jensen and the Ada County Prosecuting Attorneys Office.

So I still struggle with the idea of telling family members that the death penalty is off the table. If it were me, would I be willing to accept that?

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But a couple of things resonate with me.

One member of the Idahoans Against the Death Penalty who was at Fridays event said that a victims family calling for the death penalty is an emotional response, not necessarily a moral one.

Indeed, you often can still hear the anger when victims families call for the death penalty, even some 40 years later.

My dad did not deserve to die in such a brutal and senseless way, Brandi Jensen wrote. He was taken away from me and from everyone who loved him by a cowardly and evil act of violence. I am devastated and angry that someone could do this to him Its time to end this 43 year-long nightmare.

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Hernandez said an execution doesnt necessarily bring closure, and it doesnt change the fact that a loved one was brutally murdered.

Once theres been one death, theres no justice that can fix that, Hernandez said. Instead, we have to go forward seeking compassion and grace.

Hernandez said not all family members of victims support the death penalty.

Accountability is absolutely appropriate, Hernandez said. And were holding murderers accountable, but there are ways to do that without resorting to execution.

As one member suggested, it should be death by incarceration, rather than death by execution.

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I, myself, was hoping to get more clarity on the death penalty when I signed up to be a witness to Creechs execution in February, thinking that if I watch a person die at the hands of the state, I would decide one way or the other.

Ive signed up again to be a media witness at the second attempt at executing Creech, but it remains to be seen when or whether that might happen, and whether I would be selected.

In the meantime, Im increasingly persuaded by the arguments presented by Idahoans Against the Death Penalty, even while I keep in mind the victims families.

When the state is seeking to execute someone for a second time, that is no longer about his crimes, that is about us, Hernandez said. Thats not about justice, thats about Idahoans, those of us who are taxpayers and who are the state seeking to be cruel and carry out vengeance. Thats not who I am. Thats not the Idahoans I know. We can do better.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed a bill that will provide women veterans the opportunity to display their service to our country by creating a woman veteran license plate.

The bill, sponsored by state Senator Sylvia Santana, allows a woman veteran to apply to the Secretary of State for a woman veteran special license plate, increasing recognition for women veterans.

Today, I signed a bill that recognizes the more than 46,000 brave Michigan women veterans who served our nation in uniform, defending our freedoms abroad and here at home, said Governor Whitmer in a press release sent to WLNS.

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These special license plates give these brave servicewomen the opportunity to share their stories and build community through their shared experience as women veterans. Together, let`s continue to celebrate our veterans and fight for those who fought for us, added Whitmer.

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Photo: Chip Somodevilla (Getty Images)

Donald Trump has secured a second presidential term and will most likely enact Project 2025, a 920-page policy document devised by the conservative Heritage Foundation that outlines a far-right Christian agenda. The plan will dismantle educational opportunities for Black people, go after LGBTQ+ protections, cut Medicare and stop anti-white racism, among other things. - Candace McDuffie Read More

Photo: SAUL LOEB (Getty Images)

After a shocking loss and an emotional concession from Vice President Kamala Harris, were all asking what will come next. Harris supporters on social media are calling for a recount in many of the battleground states, but can that even happen two days after the election? - Phenix S Halley Read More

Photo: izusek (Getty Images)

Halloween may be over, but for many Black people around the country, the nightmares have not stopped. The combination of the stakes of the 2024 presidential election and the fact that polls show a statistical dead heat between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump is keeping plenty of us up at night worrying about what a second Trump term might mean for the country  and more specifically for communities of color. - Angela Johnson Read More

Photo: Ron Galella (Getty Images)

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President-elect Donald Trump spent the last day of his previous presidency issuing a whopping amount of pardons to everyone from racketeering lobbyists to weapon wielding rappers. Given his support for some celebrities, we wonder if Trump would lend his presidential power to the biggest celebrity case pending right now: Sean Diddy Combs. - Kalyn Womack Read More

Screenshot: X

Black people are still processing everything that happened in (or maybe to) this country on Nov. 5. Those who were optimistic about the idea of a Black woman in the Oval Office are now left feeling disappointed, confused and even angry that the rest of the country didnt turn out in support of Vice President Kamala Harris. - Angela Johnson Read More

Photo: Stephen Maturen (Getty Images)

As if wannabe Vice President JD Vance didnt say enough heavily viral, meme-worthy things during his campaign trail, the film he claims is extremely influential to his entire political worldview might actually top the list - Kalyn Womack Read More

Photo: Roy Rochlin (Getty Images)

Trumps latest presidential victory has sent shockwaves through Black America and for good reason. The Heritage Foundation outlined their plans for his administration with Project 2025, an extreme far-right Christian agenda. Here are the five reasons why Black folks should be worried about what Trump will do next. - Candace McDuffie Read More

Photo: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS (Getty Images)

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On Wednesday, former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama released a statement congratulating Donald Trump and JD Vance on their presidential victory. - Candace McDuffie Read More

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On Wednesday afternoon, Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the nation from Howard University in Washington, D.C., after losing the 2024 presidential election to Donald Trump. - Candace McDuffie Read More

Photo: CHARLY TRIBALLEAU (Getty Images)

More than 80 percent of Black Americans voted for Vice President Kamala Harris, which might be why so many of us woke up feeling numb and betrayed. In modern fashion, Black folks took to social media to express their frustrations, and one Tiktok users response perfectly summed up how so many African Americans feel this morning. - Phenix S Halley Read More

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Thurston County has agreed to help pay for increased dredging in West Bay if the Deschutes Estuary is restored.

The county commission voted 3-1 to approve an interlocal agreement for that purpose, citing wider community benefits.

The vote occurred after a two-week delay and despite opposition from a few vocal opponents who questioned why the county would commit to spending more than $7.6 million through 2050 to help manage sediment in West Bay waters in the heart of Olympia that are frequented by recreational boaters.

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Sediment in those waters will need to be dredged in the decades to come once the estuary is restored, according to the agreement with the Washington state Department of Enterprise Services and several local jurisdictions.

The state intends to restore the estuary by removing the 5th Avenue dam at the mouth of the Deschutes River. Mock-ups of the area show a more natural scene with a new 5th Avenue bridge in Olympia.

What concerns are there?

Barry Halverson, a Thurston County resident, has repeatedly voiced his opposition to the agreement at county meetings. At an Oct. 15 meeting, he said this agreement does not serve the best interests of unincorporated Thurston County taxpayers.

Why should county taxpayers pay to access areas to private marinas and yacht clubs, arguably the richest people amongst us? Halverson said. This is wrong and I think you know it.

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Halverson said he supports the estuary project, but he does not believe the county should be paying for dredging. He called for the state to take on the burden because Capitol Lake and the estuary project is their responsibility.

At an Oct. 29 meeting, Halverson reiterated his opposition and said the county does not have the means to meet this obligation.

Heres an idea: this ILA is a non-essential activity, Halverson said. You have no legal obligation to this ILA and you cannot afford it.

Still, most of the county commissioners voted to approve the agreement despite some lingering legal and financial uncertainty.

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Commissioner Gary Edwards, who is leaving the County Board in January, was the only commissioner who opposed the agreement. Though hes not against the estuary project, Edwards said the county has not yet figured out how to pay for their contribution.

I think we should make sure we get it right before we move forward with something.  Edwards said. This has been going on for years and I think it can continue to go on, but we should get it right.

How did the majority justify their votes?

Commissioner Carolina Mejia said this project will benefit the environmental health of the whole county as well as local businesses.

A restored estuary with public access will draw eco-tourism, recreational fisheries, bird watchers and outdoor enthusiasts to the area, boosting the economy of Thurston County, Mejia said.

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She said the project is of significance culturally, important to local tribes, and it will further the countys climate goals. Lastly, she said the agreement fosters a spirit of unity and shared purpose that should serve as a foundation for tackling future issues.

Most importantly, a formal interlocal agreement provides an opportunity for Thurston County to advocate for regional collaboration and equitable distribution of resources, Mejia said.

Commissioner Emily Clouse said she heard constituent concerns about how the county will pay for dredging. However, she still supports the agreement, primarily due to its cultural significance to the Squaxin Island Tribe.

I just dont feel like, in good conscious, I could hold something back thats been going on for such a long time, based on a funding mechanism thats our responsibility to figure out. ... Clouse said.

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She said the county has several years to determine how to pay, and the agreement includes a clause to back out if necessary.

Commissioner Tye Menser said the agreement is part of a strategically designed process that includes leveraging local dollars to get hundreds of millions of dollars from the state and potentially other sources.

I think this is a very carefully designed effort to bring money into this community to solve a problem at a fairly modest price tag, Menser said.

Menser also said the county commission has a responsibility to serve residents across the county, not just in unincorporated areas.

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Commissioner Wayne Fournier was absent the day of the vote. When reached for comment, Fournier said he supported the ILA.

My biggest pro in favor of this is this is an economic development project, Fournier said. This is a big construction project thats going to create a lot of jobs and its going to bring in hundreds of millions of dollars into Thurston County.

How is this all being paid for?

Under the agreement, the state DES, City of Olympia, LOTT Clean Water Alliance, Port of Olympia, City of Tumwater and Thurston County are all expected to contribute money for increased sediment management resulting from the estuary.

Most of those parties will be expected to contribute an equal 15.4% to the total, except for the City of Olympia which has a 23.1% allocation under the agreement.

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Payments are expected to begin in 2027 and rise 4.5% each year, but only if the state goes forward with the project.

Private marinas are expected to contribute a total of $15.5 million through the ILA term for baseline sediment management and no money for increased sediment management.

The Squaxin Island Tribe is also party to the agreement, but they are not expected to contribute financially to sediment management.

Dredging will be done once the criteria for the dredge event is met and only when it is determined that is necessary to prevent significant adverse impacts to the surrounding marinas, County Manager Leonard Hernandez said.

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The county commission took longer than leaders from other local jurisdictions to approve the interlocal agreement so they could get answers to legal and logistical questions, including whether they had the authority to use money collected from stormwater utility rates on property taxes for their contribution.

The morning of the vote Hernandez told the commission that their legal counsel advised that using the stormwater fund was allowable, but the county was still checking with the state Auditors Office to make sure all our bases are covered.

Hernandez said the stormwater fund has two parts, one for capital projects and another for operations and maintenance.

He warned the board the agreement may cause the latter component to run out of money quicker than expected.

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So, because the ILA payment increases over time, when we add that into the operation and maintenance component fund, it just causes that fund to go into the red sooner, which would necessitate either dialing down the contribution to capital projects or increasing fees to cover some of those costs.

Karen Weiss, assistant director of Thurston County Public Works, told the commission the county brings in just under $7 million in stormwater fees annually. About $1.85 million are specifically earmarked for the capital projects fund.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping and Italian President Sergio Mattarella pose for a group photo with representatives attending the China-Italy Cultural Cooperation Mechanism Conference and the Dialogue between Chinese and Italian University Presidents prior to their joint meeting with the representatives in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Friday jointly met with representatives attending the China-Italy Cultural Cooperation Mechanism Conference and the Dialogue between Chinese and Italian University Presidents in Beijing.

The two heads of state heard reports from representatives of the two sides on China-Italy cultural and university cooperation.

Xi pointed out that the friendly exchanges between China and Italy which date back over a thousand years have nourished endless bilateral cultural and people-to-people exchanges, setting a fine example of equal dialogue and common development among different civilizations.

In recent years, the China-Italy Cultural Cooperation Mechanism has promoted the launching of the Year of Culture and Tourism in each other's countries, and pioneered the model of twinning relationships between the two countries' UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Universities of the two countries have conducted extensive academic and youth exchanges, and expanded joint research in emerging disciplines, with fruitful results, Xi said.

The world has entered a new period of disorder and transformation, Xi said, calling on the two sides to work together to encourage more people of vision to practice China-Italy friendship and cooperation, promote mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations, and participate in the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, so as to make a joint contribution to world peace and development.

Mattarella spoke highly of the important contributions made by the Italian-Chinese cultural cooperation mechanism and the University Presidents Dialogue to promoting mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation between the two peoples, saying that both Italy and China are ancient civilizations with splendid cultures.

The two peoples appreciate and respect each other, and the story of Marco Polo is a portrayal of mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations, said Mattarella.

The two sides should sum up experience, carry forward friendship, build more bridges for people-to-people exchanges, strengthen unity and oppose confrontation, so as to provide a solid foundation and support for the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Italy and China, he said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan, together with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and his daughter Laura Mattarella, view Chinese artifacts returned by Italy at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his 'Ek hai toh safe hai' remark in the Dhule rally, questioning the need for the statement and, emphasizing that the people of Maharashtra are already "safe" and would prefer to be safer by ousting the BJP. Speaking to ANI, Sanjay Raut said, "Why has the need arisen for the PM to say things like these. 'Batenge toh katenge' did not work here and the people of Maharashtra threw it out. Now 'ek hain toh safe hain', who is he trying to unite and who is he trying to save? Are all the people of the state and country not yours? We are safe in Maharashtra and we want to be safer so we will throw BJP out." This comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a jab at the opposition on Friday, likening the Maha Vikas Aghadi to a vehicle without wheels or brakes and called them out for "misgovernance" and "looting" the people of the state. Addressing a gathering in Dhule ahead of the November 20 Assembly elections, the Prime Minister said, "MVA's 'gaadi' has neither wheels nor brakes and there's a fight as to who will sit on the driver's seat. Their only aim in politics is to loot people. When people like MVA form government, they cause hindrances in every government policy and development." Further taking a hit at the Congress party, PM Modi said that the party's agenda is to create a rift between all the tribal communities of the country. "Congress' agenda is to create a rift between all the tribal communities of the country. When Congress tried this conspiracy with religious groups, it led to the partition of the country. Now Congress is inciting SC, ST, and OBC categories against each other. There can be no bigger conspiracy for India. You will stay strong as long as you stay united. 'Ek hai toh safe hai," said PM Modi. PM Modi further said the people of Maharashtra have already seen MVA's misgovernance for two and a half years. The Prime Minister lauded the development works carried out by the Mahayuti government in the state and said the momentum will continue once their government is formed again in the state. "BJP, Mahayuti, and each candidate of Mahayuti needs your blessings. I assure you that the speed of development in Maharashtra in the last 2.5 years will be continued. We will take the growth of Maharashtra to new heights in the next five years. It is only the Mahayuti that can provide the good governance that Maharashtra needs," said PM Modi. The Maharashtra assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with votes for all 288 constituencies to be counted on November 23. The opposition MVA coalition, comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Nationalist Congress Party (SCP), seeks to reclaim power in the state, challenging the Mahayuti alliance, which includes Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Ajit Pawar-led NCP. In the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena secured 56, and Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP won 122 seats, Shiv Sena 63, and Congress 42. (ANI)


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Queen Camilla will not be attending any Remembrance events this weekend, the Palace announced.

On Saturday, a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace told Bazaar that the queen consort was unwell with a chest infection. Subsequently, she will not join her fellow royal family members today at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, nor the Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph on Sunday.

Chris Jackson

The events are each part of the United Kingdoms Remembrance Day commemorations, which see the nation pay tribute to those whose lives were affected by World War I, and honors those who have served and sacrificed. Though Queen Camilla will not join the group, King Charles will lead the royal family throughout the Remembrance Day events, and will lay a wreath of poppies at the base of the Cenotaph during Sundays event.

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Princess Kate will also be present, as she slowly returns to public duties following her treatment for cancer. She made her first public appearance after recovering from chemotherapy in September, attending a Sunday service at Crathie Kirk, a church on the royal familys Balmoral estate in Scotland.

King Charles, who is still receiving cancer treatment , has also returned to public duties since his diagnosis in February. He recently completed his first major foreign trip in October, embarking on a six-day tour of Australia alongside Camilla. Buckingham Palace has also made it known that he is ready for more next year, signaling his health is improving with plans for a normal-looking schedule of overseas tours for 2025.

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In the hours and days since it became clear that Donald Trump would be re-elected president of the United States, theres been a surge of interest in the US for 4B.

Young liberal women across TikTok and Instagram are discussing and sharing information about the South Korean feminist movement, in which straight women refuse to marry, have children, date or have sex with men.

These women say they are enraged and fed up after a majority of their male counterparts voted for a candidate who was found liable for sexual abuse and whose appointment of three conservative Supreme Court justices led to the overturning of national abortion rights protections.

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In response, they say theyre swearing off men  and theyre encouraging others around the country to join them.

We have pandered and begged for mens safety and done all the things that we were supposed to, and they still hate us, Ashli Pollard, a 36-year-old in St. Louis, told CNN.

So if youre going to hate us, then were going to do what we want.

What is the 4B movement?

4B is a shorthand for the four Korean words bihon, bichulsan, biyeonae and bisekseu, which translate to no marriage, no childbirth, no dating and no sex with men.

The 4B movement emerged in South Korea around 2015 or 2016, per Ju Hui Judy Han, an assistant professor in gender studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. Mostly popular among young women in their 20s, she described it as a fringe offshoot of #MeToo and other feminist movements that arose in response to stark gender inequality in the country.

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In 2016, a woman was brutally killed near a Seoul subway station  the perpetrator reportedly said he killed her because he felt ignored by women. The incident prompted a national reckoning around how women are treated in the country, expanding to include conversations around femicide, revenge porn and digital sex crimes.

A woman places a flower for a South Korean woman who was stabbed to death at an exit of Gangham subway station in Seoul on May 21, 2016. - Ahn Young-joon/AP

Feminism and the gender divide have been hot button issues in South Korea. Women in the country are paid about one-third less than men, according to data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development  the highest wage gap among OECD nations. And despite being one of the worlds most advanced economies, women there are scarcely represented in senior and managerial roles.

The 4B movement was decentralized and existed in various iterations online and offline, making it difficult to assess its true size and scale. Over the years, the movement has diminished and splintered over disagreements about the role of queer and trans women, according to Han. But she says 4B and other South Korean feminist movements drew attention to gender inequality in the country and emphasized collective action.

Its not a very widespread movement, but the sentiments behind it I think a lot of people empathize with, Han says.

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When there is such widespread violence against women, there is such systemic discrimination and inequality, when theres so much that make marriage, childbirth and child rearing  difficult, why and how could anyone imagine getting married and giving birth?

Though South Koreas 4B movement mostly faded from media headlines in recent years, the US election has renewed interest.

A lot of us  straight or not, queer or not, whether youre in a marriage or not  are going to be in the same boat, dealing with an oppressive and violent institutions, Han says. And we see each other.

The US election is inspiring conversation around 4B

Its far too early to tell whether the 4B movement might seriously catch on in the US. But so far, at least, its generated a lot of online discussion among young women.

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Some women are discovering the movement anew and are vowing to join. Others who are already married or partnered up say they plan to protest in other ways, such as boycotting male-owned businesses or refusing to do emotional labor for men.

Pollard says she learned about South Koreas 4B movement a few years ago, inspiring her to examine what a life looks like without centering men so deeply. Since 2022, she says she hasnt dated or slept with men and has realized that shes better off on her own. She has the resources to support herself without marriage, and she plans to have a child alone.

Her decision to disengage from men wasnt necessarily an act of vengeance, she says. Rather, it was about putting herself first. Now that other women around the country have taken an interest in 4B, she says she wants them to realize that they have other options.

You push people far enough and theyre done, she says. How will that affect politics? Well see  but I think that women and their joy is going to be something that cant really be overlooked anymore. Women are choosing themselves in droves.

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Alexa Vargas, a 26-year-old from Boston, says she stopped engaging with men a few years ago after a series of unhealthy relationships that included abuse and assault, and it wasnt until earlier this year that she realized there was a movement and language that aligned with her actions. Though she says that men need a wake-up call, her decision is more about herself and other women.

I dont know if men are going to change their ways. I dont know how this is going to pan out, she says. My goal in life and in this movement is to protect young women and girls.

Women who have been talking about 4B online say the way some men have responded to their posts are already proving their point.

Abby K., a 27-year-old from Florida, recently broke up with her boyfriend over dismissive comments he made about Trumps history of sexual abuse. When she posted a video about that and her decision to join the 4B movement, she says men flooded her DMs with death threats and hateful comments about her appearance.

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It doesnt exactly entice you to re-enter the dating pool, she adds.

Some are skeptical 4B will catch on

In Hans view, the 4B movement is unlikely to become mainstream in the US.

She says it relies too heavily on the gender binary and that those inspired to join it as a result of the election are overlooking the fact that plenty of women voted for Trump, too. (Though Vice President Kamala Harris maintained an edge with women, exit polls indicate that her lead was smaller than President Joe Bidens or former Secretary of State Hillary Clintons during their respective presidential campaigns.)

Hadia Khanani, a 24-year-old from Florida, also has reservations about 4B in the US. Though she hasnt engaged with men romantically for several years in an effort to prioritize herself, she wants women to dig deeper and examine their own role in upholding patriarchy. She also worries about the consequences of further isolating men.

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The conversation online has been centered around sleeping with men and dating men, obviously to protect yourself, but I just feel like misogyny and patriarchy is much deeper than that, she says. I think a lot of it is rooted in the way that men are raised in society.

Even if large numbers of women dont adopt the strict tenets of 4B, those who are taking part for now hope the recent conversations around it lead women to think about themselves and their circumstances differently.

I dont ever expect everyone in America to hold hands and agree not to date men, Abby K. says. I could definitely see it fueling change in some way.

Han predicts that American interest in the 4B movement will subside quickly. Still, she hopes that the recent discourse around it will help women understand that they arent alone in their struggles and build solidarity with others around the world.

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I think a lot of American women are  trying to find ways to seek empowerment and find a way to survive, Han says. And I hope what they find is not necessarily a particular movement like the 4B movement, but a recognition that struggles for reproductive justice and gender equality are certainly not just American concerns.

CNNs Leda Joy Abkenari contributed to this report.

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Rod Ashby was desperate to find his wife Kim Ashby after their newly built home in Elk Park, North Carolina, was swept away by Hurricane Helenes floodwaters in late September and she went missing.

His daughter, Ansley Ashby, told CNN her father needed a four-wheel drive pickup to navigate the roads along the Elk River that had been largely decimated by the storm so he could search for Kim. His Ford F-350 had been lost to the raging water and mud.

Rod, a US Navy veteran, began shopping for a new vehicle with the insurance payout he received, Ansley said.

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He was really just trying to find a truck that didnt break the bank with everything else going on that he could get fairly quickly, she said.

Rod Ashby's Ford F-350 was destroyed in the raging water and mud during Hurricane Helene in September. - Courtesy Ashby Family

Ansley said Rod - who is not speaking with the media  came across a website that claimed to be a Colorado auto dealer selling repossessed vehicles for prices lower than market value. After having multiple phone conversations and exchanging emails with the supposed seller, Rod decided to purchase a 2020 Ford F-350 listed on the site. He received a contract and bill of sale from the seller, and wired nearly $40,000 to the sellers bank account.

It seemed legit, to be honest, Ansley said.

But 36 hours after Rod sent the money and received confirmation that the car would be delivered by October 30, Ansley said she discovered the F-350 was still listed for sale on the site.

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Ansley called the seller from a phone number not associated with their original account and pretended to be a new buyer interested in that same truck. The seller told her the truck was available, she said. It was then that Ansley said she realized they had been scammed.

She did further research and learned the scammer was impersonating a real car dealership in Colorado and had even made a copycat version of its website, Ansley said.

The scam has only made matters worse for a family already reeling from the devastation of Hurricane Helene and desperately looking for Kim, a 58-year-old teacher who her daughter, Jessica Meidinger, calls the glue that holds everyone together.

Its just another gut punch, said Ansley, Kims stepdaughter. You just feel so helpless.

The red flags of a scam

Ansley said she and her father have contacted their bank and the scammers bank to report the fraud but have had no luck yet recovering the money they wired.

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The family filed a police report with the Chatham County Sheriffs Office in Pittsboro, North Carolina, where Rod is currently living with Ansley, Meidinger and her wife, Ansley said.

The familys fraud case is under investigation, according to Randall Rigsbee, a spokesman for the Chatham County Sheriffs Office.

Ansley said the scammers website has been taken down. CNN affiliate ABC 11 in Raleigh reported that it emailed the company but the message was returned as undeliverable, and it could not reach anyone via phone.

The owner of the legitimate Colorado car dealership told CNN he received calls from several people in recent months who fell victim to the same scam. The owner asked not to be named for fear of his business being unfairly targeted by scam victims.

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They are taking the money and people arent even seeing the cars (in person) or anything, the owner said. They are blindly transferring the money.

Melanie McGovern, a spokesperson for the Better Business Bureau, said its best to work with local car dealers that allow you to come in and view the vehicle and test drive it.

McGovern advises doing thorough research on the car seller to make sure the business is legitimate. The Better Business Bureau has a tracker on its website that lists scams that have been previously reported to the organization.

Red flags for scams include websites that look poorly designed with spelling errors and sellers rushing you to make a purchase by saying they have other buyers waiting, she said. McGovern advises people to make vehicle purchases with credit cards or checks because they are more likely to have fraud protection, unlike bank wires.

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When you wire something, you are authorizing that transaction and its harder to get that money back, she said. People really need to be patient and stop and pause and say, Does this sound legitimate?

A family left devastated

Ansley Ashby said her father is struggling to cope with his new reality: his wife and three dogs are missing, his home was destroyed in the hurricane and he doesnt know if he will get his nearly $40,000 back.

Rod Ashby and Kim had spent the last two years building the house along the Elk River that they planned to make their retirement home.

They had visited regularly to apply the finishing touches, according to the family. The couple live in Sanford, about 45 miles southwest of Raleigh, but went to the house near the Tennessee state line to handle a few things before the storm.

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The couple constructed the house 20 feet above the historic flood lines on the river. Meidinger previously told CNN its foundation was no match for Helenes destructive tide.

Kim Ashby and her husband Rod Ashby were at their home in Elk Park, North Carolina, on Friday when it was swept away by floodwaters. Kim Ashby is still missing. A neighbor took a photo of the home as it floated in the river. - Meidinger Family

On September 27, the couple was eating breakfast when Rod realized something was wrong. Within seconds, the house was swept away into the river.

Meidinger said Rod grabbed her mom and their three dogs, held onto a mattress and then a wall, as their house floated down the river. They were eventually separated in the fast-moving waters.

Thats the last time that he saw my mom, Meidinger previously told CNN. The last time anyone has seen my mom.

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Avery County Sheriffs Office Chief Deputy Van Williams said police and volunteer search crews have spent the last six weeks combing the Elk River for Kim, without any luck. She is among two people still missing in the county after the storm, Williams said.

More than 200 people died across the southeast region of the country in the hurricane, CNN previously reported.

Ansley said her father had shared his struggles with the scammer during several phone conversations before wiring the money.

He definitely took advantage of our situation, she said.

CNNs Ray Sanchez and David Williams contributed to this story.

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WILDWOOD, Mo.  The city of Wildwood, the St. Louis regions largest in square mileage, is preparing for its second deer culling season to address concerns around high deer density and public safety.

Deer culling is defined as the selective removal of presumably inferior deer in order to improve the quality of the remaining population, according to DeerAndDeerHunting.com. Essentially, it involves reducing the deer population and addressing a surplus through methodical hunting practices.

Wildwood City Administrator Thomas Lee tells FOX 2, according to the citys latest deer population study, the city has around 72 deer per square mile. The Missouri Department of Conservation considers around 20 deer per square mile to be an adequate population level.

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Lee says deer culling operations are designed to reduce competition for environmental resources available to deer and decrease the number of car accidents involving deer that attempt to cross rural roads and highways.

OFallon police investigate shooting, suicide

He notes there have been around 250 deer-related crashes each year in Wildwood over the last several years, most notably along Missouri Routes 100 and 109. The city hopes culling operations will reduce the volume of crashes, and in turn, hopes to reduce the risk of people being exposed to chronic wasting disease or tickborne illnesses.

This didnt come out of nowhere, said Lee in a phone call with FOX 2 on recent deer culling efforts. We were getting quite a few calls from residents over the years. [The deer population] is a problem the city has been talking about for the last 10 years. Its just finally getting to a point where were addressing it.

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The city of Wildwood has partnered with nonprofit White Buffalo, Inc. and the Missouri Department of Conservation since its first deer culling season, which ran nearly a month from January to February 2024. Lee says around 300 deer were culled in the first season.

City officials are hopeful to cull around 1,000 deer over the course of five years through 2028 in its population management efforts.

Once the deer are culled, they are either donated to the Saint Louis Zoo or Missouri Department of Conservation for processing and distribution to local food banks or conservation programs, in accordance with state laws.

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They [White Buffalo] never miss their mark, they immediately get [deer] removed, and get them donated to the right place, said Lee.

Wildwoods first year of its deer culling program reportedly cost around $216,000. Lee says funding for the first year came from the citys public works operating budget.

To support its ongoing deer management efforts, the Wildwood city council established a deer management fund, allocating $1 million from excess funds previously acquired by the city.

After five planned years of deer culling operations, the city will review data and hope to reach a more manageable 40 deer per square mile density mark. The city says there will be deer population counts after each planned season to monitor signs of progress.

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The goal, Im hoping [to reach] in 2025 when we get the 2024 report, is to see a slight decrease overall in number of deer-vehicle collisions in which we culled, seeing a significant reduction [in the long-term], said Lee. If thats the case, you know the program is working.

St. Louis Cardinals secure new TV deal: What to know and whats next?

Wildwoods second season of deer culling operations are scheduled from January 15 to March 1 of next year. Lee says the goal is to cull around 355 deer in the upcoming season.

Much of the planned deer culling efforts will take place in northern and eastern sections of Wildwood city limits. For a map that outlines areas of planned culling operations, click here.

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The City is also hosting a virtual open house event at 7 p.m. on Nov. 19 for Wildwood property owners interested in learning more about the citys deer management efforts. People will have the opportunity to ask questions and hear from law enforcement and representatives of White Buffalo on the deer management efforts.

Lee says Wildwoods deer culling operations are somewhat similar to plans carried out in St. Louis suburbs Town and Country and Des Peres in recent years.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
VESTAL, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  A local car dealership is increasing its support for breast cancer survivors through its annual Drive Pink campaign.

Williams Auto Group presented the UHS Foundation with a check for nearly $17,000 on Friday to go to support women undergoing breast cancer treatment at the UHS Breast Center in Vestal.

Williams, which is based in Sayre, Pennsylvania, purchased Jack Sherman Toyota in Binghamton three years ago and Feduke Ford last year, has been supporting the breast center ever since entering the market.

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Vice President Dalton Williams says charity is a core value of the business.

Just the dedication that we have to give back to such an important cause that impacts so many. It means so much to our team members and even more, we hope it resonates with our customers that we truly care about the people in our community, said Williams.

This is its largest donation to date and represents $50 for every vehicle sold and $1 for every vehicle serviced at its two Greater Binghamton dealerships during the month of October.

Employees also wore pink ribbons to show their support throughout the month.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34.
NEW BERN, N.C. (WNCT)  A Williamston man was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for trafficking firearms from North Carolina to Washington, D.C.

Court documents showed Jakil Deandre Bond, 28, of Williamston, organized buying and trafficking firearms through validated gang members. According to a press release, Bond conspired to traffic more than 50 guns from N.C. to Washington, D.C.

On Jan. 24, 2023, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) agents served Bond with a federal arrest warrant at his Greenville apartment. The arrest warrant was in connection with the gun trafficking conspiracy.

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ATF agents searched Bonds apartment and found 731 grams of cocaine, 33 grams of cocaine base, 64 grams of fentanyl, three firearms, assorted ammunition, and other drug paraphernalia items.

We are targeting the violent gangs and reckless gunrunners fueling violence in our cities, said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. This gun trafficker formed an iron pipeline of firepower from North Carolina to Washington, D.C., where shootings fueled further gang violence.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The Senate race in Arizona remains undecided three days after Election Day, and it could be weeks before the race is called.

The candidates have remained within a few percentage points of each other. As of Friday afternoon, Rep. Ruben Gallego, a Democrat, was ahead in the race to replace Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an independent who is not seeking reelection, with 49.7% of the vote. Republican Kari Lake is right behind him, with 48.2%.

So far, approximately 2.7 million ballots, or 78% of the estimated vote, have been counted.

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According to the Arizona secretary of states website, an estimated 758,409 ballots are still uncounted, a majority of these ballots, about 450,000, from Maricopa County.

In the three days since Election Day, Lake has led at times, as has Gallego, but it may be weeks before the winner emerges.

Turning Point Action works to give Kari Lake an edge in close Senate race

Elections officials are also curing ballots during this time. Thats when a county allows voters to verify their ID should there be any problems with their ballot.

Lacey Nagao, the Chase the Vote director for Turning Point Action, in a social media post said over 1,000 supporters have signed up to help cure ballots since Wednesday.

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They have been trained and ready to take action. We have cured as many as possible the moment we receive data, she said. Nagao noted TPA is struggling to receive the data of voters who needed their ballots cured from the Arizona Republican Party. Tyler Bowyer, the chief operations officer of TPA, said, There will be no stone left unturned in Arizona, while urging others to help cure ballots in a post on X.

Lake, a prominent Donald Trump surrogate, previously ran for governor in 2022 and lost. But Lake refused to concede, alleging election fraud and entering into an unsuccessful years-long legal battle over the election results.

Unlike Gallego, who received financial support from his potential Democratic colleagues in the Senate, Lake did not get help from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell or allies, as the Arizona Republic reported. Despite the lack of support, Lakes final campaign push helped her close the gap in the polls. President-elect Trump appears to be heading for a victory in the state, but Lake has had trouble gaining traction with all of those who voted for Trump.

While Trump is ahead, the race between him and Vice President Kamala Harris, who conceded Wednesday, is also too close to call in Arizona. In 2020, President Joe Biden won this state by less than 100,000 votes. According to The Associated Press tracker, as of Friday Trump had 52.7% of the vote and Harris has 46.3%, as votes continue being counted.

Dont expect Arizona results for few more weeks

Arizona is known to take time in reporting its election results. In 2020, the state took more than three weeks to certify election results and nearly a month in 2022. But county official Taylor Kinnerup disputed the claim that the Grand Canyon State, including Maricopa County, takes too long to count votes.

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We are actually faster than most counties, said Kinnerup, the communications director at the Maricopa County Recorders office, as the Deseret News previously reported. The difference is, our votes come down to the wire. Our contests are separated by sometimes less than 300 votes.

Arizona law is also particular on ballot processing, which includes signature verification. Mail-in ballots sent on Election Day are required to be counted, which also adds to the delays.

Arizona state Rep. Justin Heap, who won the race for Maricopa County recorder, said he thought this years election was smoother, but he is still interested in introducing some changes.

It looks like Election Day went much better, he told Arizonas Family Thursday. We still have an issue that may be according to the secretary of state, it might be 13, 14 days before we have final results. We need to deliver those results faster. I think a long delay just makes people begin to question the system. We need to improve that, he said.

As a state representative, he has voted to do away with early and mail-in voting. Heap won against Democratic candidate Tim Stringham with more than 44,000 votes. He is unseating Stephen Richer, who he defeated in the Republican primary earlier this year. Richer has defended the integrity of Arizonas elections and earned the title of defender of democracy from Time magazine.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A woman is facing attempted murder charges after Memphis Police say she shot at a family after an argument in the Oak Court Mall parking lot.

Denise Norris, 38, was arrested and charged with attempted second-degree murder for the incident.

Denise Norris. (SCSO)

On Sunday, Memphis Police responded to a shooting at Oak Court Drive and Southern Avenue.

A male victim told them that he was driving his black 2019 Dodge Durango which was occupied by a woman in the front passenger seat and his juvenile daughter in the back seat.

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He claimed he and other family members were occupying two other separate vehicles as they exited the Oak Court Mall parking lot and turned northbound on Oak Court Drive when they were shot at multiple times.

He said his vehicle was struck once on the drivers side fuel door.

He said that the alleged shooter was an unknown woman driving a white GMC Yukon XL.

According to the victim, the shooter continued southbound on Oak Court Drive toward Southern Avenue.

One killed in shooting at Southland Casino in West Memphis

On Tuesday, investigators spoke with the male victim again who said that he and other family members had gotten into a verbal altercation with the unknown woman in the south parking lot of Oak Court Mall before the shooting.

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He also said that shed been following them out of the lot before she fired the shots.

The victim described the suspect as an approximately 59 woman with a medium build.

Surveillance cameras in the area captured the white GMC Yukon XL traveling southbound on Oak Court Drive and after checking its tags, learned it was registered to Denise Norris.

Investigators presented a six-person photo lineup to the male victim and a female witness. They both positively identified Norris as the woman driving the Yukon and the person who shot at them.

Norris is being held on $30,000 bond. She is due to appear in court on Monday.

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A Florida woman was arrested in Connecticut on Wednesday and accused of killing her roommate after reporting her missing two years ago, Orlando police announced.

Gisselle Victoria-Gonzalez, 42, was taken into custody on charges of second-degree murder, tampering with evidence and grand theft.

The charges come about two years after the disappearance of Runyleidy Medina-Pacheco, then 42.

Runyleidy Medina-Pacheco. Orlando Police Department

Medina-Pacheco was from the Dominican Republic and was in Orlando on an extended vacation, NBC affiliate WVIT reports. Victoria-Gonzalez reported Medina-Pacheco missing to Orlando police on Dec. 27, 2022 and stated that she had not seen her since Christmas.

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During the course of her interview, detectives found a number of inconsistencies in Victoria-Gonzalezs version of events, according to police. A search of their shared home also revealed significant evidence that a violent incident had occurred, but no suspect was named at the time.

Orlando police said that authorities had tracked Victoria-Gonzalez to her new home in Hartford, Connecticut after a comprehensive investigation and interviewed her again, before arresting her. Medina-Pachecos body has still not been located.

Victoria-Gonzalez is currently being held on $1 million bond and is awaiting extradition to Florida.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The family of Dalia Olivas, the woman who was killed by an alleged drunk driver last week along with her partner, spoke out on Friday, Nov. 8, talking about who Olivas was and the consequences that can result from drinking and driving.

2 dead in crash in far East El Paso

As we have previously reported, Juan Francisco Del Valle, 23, assigned to the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, is facing two counts of intoxication manslaughter after allegedly driving drunk on Nov. 2 and crashing into a vehicle, killing both Rick Ballard, 29, and Dalia Olivas, 28.

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Olivas brother-in-law, Juan Villalobos, thanked the community for donating to their GoFundMe account and also thanked FitFam, Operation HOPE, and Cesar Ornelas Injury Law.

Villalobos also asked the community for their help in sharing any information as to what happened that night.

Rick Ballard and Dalia Olivas. Photo: Dalias GoFundMe.

Villalobos also talked about the type of person Olivas was, stating that towards the end of her life, she was seeking God.

She was consistently going with us to church on Sundays. Every single Sunday and it really gives me a sense of relief that she started seeking God recently and I know shes with him now but she was such a beautiful person, Juan Villalobos said.

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Olivas sister, Diana Villalobos, also thanked the community for their donations and talked about the consequences of drinking and driving.

We know that this is not going to bring my sister back but we wanted to be as an example for people. The lives of two innocent people who had a life to still go on was taken without deserving it and its not fair for the person at fault to just receive a slap on the hand. We need more justice we need better laws and we hope this makes people conscious when theyre out there drinking and driving, Diana Villalobos said.

Here is a link to a GoFundMe account set up by the family of one of the people killed in the crash, Dalia Olivas.

Here is a link to a GoFundMe account set up by the family of the other person killed in the crash, Rick Ballard

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The press conference was held at Cesar Ornelas Injury Law and Operation Hope was also present.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah will launch the Bharatiya Janata Party's Sankalp Patra (manifesto) for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Congress has already released its manifesto, promising five key guarantees for Maharashtra. These include -- Rs 3,000 per month to women and free bus travel for women and girls under Mahalakshmi Yojana, loan waiver of up to Rs 3 lakh to farmers and an incentive of Rs 50,000 for regular loan repayment, caste-wise census, removal of 50 per cent reservation limit and health insurance up to Rs 25 lakh and free medicines and assistance up to Rs 4000 per month to unemployed youth. However, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, questioning the sincerity of Congress's manifesto promises. "Congress has made such promises in many places like Karnataka, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, but later they say that there was a printing mistake and then they say that they do not have money. They ask for money from the Centre, these are liars and deceitful people, they are not trustworthy people. Rahul Gandhi said that they will give 'Khata Khat'. They did not do that but we gave Pat Pata pat," he said. As the election date nears, political campaigning is gaining momentum in Maharashtra. The opposition MVA coalition, comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Nationalist Congress Party (SCP), aims to reclaim power in the state, challenging the Mahayuti alliance, which includes Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Ajit Pawar-led NCP. One of the most closely watched contests will be in Baramati, where NCP leader Ajit Pawar is set to face his nephew, Yugendra Pawar. Yugendra is the son of Ajit Pawar's younger brother, Shrinivas Pawar. Baramati was also a high-profile constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where Sunetra Pawar contested against Supriya Sule. The latter emerged victorious, winning by a margin of 1.5 lakh votes. The Maharashtra Assembly elections will take place on November 20, with the counting of votes for all 288 constituencies set for November 23. In the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena secured 56, and Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP won 122 seats, Shiv Sena 63, and Congress 42. (ANI)
The body of a Pennsylvania woman was found buried in a shallow grave in the woods on Thursday, and police are now searching for her ex-boyfriend.

According to Philadelphia police, Melody Rivera, 29, was last seen in the Summerdale section of the city on Halloweenand was considered an endangered person at the time.

Maritza Garcia, Riveras mother, told NBC affiliate WCAU that she last spoke to her daughter over Facetime on the night of Oct. 31, and reported her missing the following day.

Melody Rivera via Facebook Facebook

An anonymous police source told the Philadelphia Inquirer that Rivera was driving with her girlfriend when Riveras ex, 29-year-old Geovanni Otero, attacked them. The source said Otero threw Riveras girlfriend out of the car and drove off with Rivera.

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The car was found outside a junkyard days after the alleged abduction, according to a Facebook post by one of Riveras relatives.

The police source also told the Inquirer that Otero was out on parole at the time Rivera vanished and that his GPS ankle monitor led detectives to Riveras body, which was covered with twigs and leaves.

Philadelphia Police Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore confirmed at a press conference on Friday that Riveras body was found in a shallow grave in the woods, according to ABC affiliate WPVI.

He added that police were informed that Otero had a dispute with Rivera before she went missing, and that is why authorities are looking for him.

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Riveras body was taken to the medical examiners office to determine the cause of death, a spokesperson for the Philadelphia Police Department told HuffPost.

The spokesperson confirmed with HuffPost that as of Saturday, Otero is considered a person of interest. He has a warrant out for his arrest for a parole violation unrelated to Riveras case.

In a statement announcing Riveras death on Facebook, her sister described her sibling as a devoted mother who left a daughter behind.

For six agonizing days, we searched for her, hoping for a miracle, the statement read. Tragically, Melody was found in a shallow grave in a local park, taken from us far too soon.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Going into the 2025 Nevada Legislature, women are on a hot streak.

Since 2019  when Nevada had the first female-majority state legislature in the nation  women have held the majority of seats. They continued the trend coming out of election season this year and hold 60% of the seats in the Senate and Assembly combined. Some legislative races have not been called, but heres how it currently looks.

Democratic Sen. Nicole Cannizzaro appears poised to lead the Senate again this year. She is currently leading Republican challenger Jill Douglass, 51.6% to 45.6% with 95% of the vote counted.

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Shell have a dozen women with her in the Senate, where 13 women will serve with 8 men.

In one of the tightest Senate races coming down to the wire, Republican Lori Rogich appears headed for victory over incumbent Democrat Sen. Dallas Harris  a woman wins even if that race swings. Currently, Rogich is 962 votes ahead with 50.6% to Harriss 49.3% (95% reporting).

In the Assembly, 25 of the 42 seats are held by women. Three races remain extremely close:

Democratic incumbent Max Carter is 223 votes ahead or Republican Nancy Roecker (96% reporting)

Democratic incumbent Sandra Jauregui is 278 votes ahead of Republican Rafael Arroyo-Montalvo (96% reporting)

Democratic incumbent Elaine Marzola is 452 votes ahead of Republican April Arndt (96% reporting)

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If every one of the closest four races flipped, women would still hold 60% of the seats.

Democrats will hold majorities in the Senate and Assembly, but not by enough to override a veto by Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo. In the 2023 session, Lombardo vetoed a record 75 bills and called two special sessions.

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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  U.S. Army veteran Quatrina Trafford joined the military in 1992.

Once I graduated from High School, I went on to serve active duty. I just knew I was made to serve in the United States military, Trafford explained.

Madison Superintendent: Communication protocols not followed in Liberty Middle gun incident

Trafford retired in 2004.

Trafford served abroad before coming home to Huntsville Alabama to attend college. On Friday her service career was celebrated along with other women veterans for the first time by the Alabama Department of Veteran Affairs at the Vets Center in Huntsville.

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Its just a joy to stand out here and be amongst other veterans and also take part in an event like this, said Trafford.

The idea of the event is to link our women veterans with vendors representing health and womens services, as well as, and more importantly, to each other while building a sisterhood in arms.

They network, get resources and have refreshments and just be in a safe environment where they can fellowship with other veterans, said Latoia Linebarger, Director of the Huntsville Vets Center.

The Veterans enjoyed the special day, but its a celebration that they say should continue.

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We need to things like this more often, said U.S. Navy veteran Grace Major. There are veterans that feel like they are forgotten, they dont know what the resources are when youre doing events like this it helps to educate the community.

Birmingham, Mobile and Montgomery were also the cities that took part in the celebration.

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Donald Trumps election win has some American women turning to a fringe South Korean feminist movement known as 4B.

In the days since the president-elect declared victory and three key abortion rights referendums failed, social media and Google searches related to 4B have surged in the United States as young American women consider refusing to interact romantically or sexually with men.

These women are reportedly enraged by the majority of their male counterparts voting for Trump, who was found liable for sexual abuse, faces multiple sexual assault allegations, and created a path for the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade.

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The 4B movement, which began in the 2010s, stands for the Korean words bihon, bichulsan, biyeonae and bisekseu, meaning no marriage, no childbirth, no dating and no sex with men. In 2019, 4B gained momentum in South Korea as the nations women reckoned with longstanding gender rights disparities in the country.

South Korean women are paid approximately one-third less than men, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. And, even though the country has one of the worlds most advanced economies, women are few and far between in senior and managerial roles.

Demonstrators rally in support of reproductive rights and Kamala Harris during the National Women's March in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Nov. 2, 2024.

For women in the U.S., the 4B movement centers heavily around individual resistance against a conservative political sphere and the dismantling of reproductive rights. These main points of issue are coupled with online misogyny touted by the manosphere and incel culture.

We have pandered and begged for mens safety and done all the things that we were supposed to, and they still hate us, Ashli Pollard, 36, told CNN. So if youre going to hate us, then were going to do what we want.

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Other women like Jada Mevs, 25, said it was all about taking the power back.

If we cant control what they do in terms of legislation and abortion rights, we have to do something for ourselves, she told The New York Times. Starting with cutting out the male influence in our life, and making sure were taking the safety precautions as well, visiting OB-GYNs and making sure we are best prepared for when January comes and the years after that.

Mevs sentiment was echoed by Michaela Thomas, 21, who said she first heard of the 4B movement about a year ago.

Young men expect sex, but they also want us to not be able to have access to abortion, Thomas told The Washington Post. They cant have both. Young women dont want to be intimate with men who dont fight for womens rights; its showing they dont respect us.

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The decision to join the 4B movement, however, has not come without consequences. Having broken up with her boyfriend over his dismissive response to Trumps history of sexual abuse, Abby K., a 27-year-old from Florida, told CNN she posted a video about her decision to join the 4B movement. The video, she said, prompted men to spam her DMs with death threats, insults, and hate comments.

While the popularity of the 4B movement remains unknown, critics say it is unlikely to become mainstream. They point to the fact that 52% of white women voters cast their ballots for Trump.

Regardless, Abby K. said I could definitely see it fueling change in some way.

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA)  Women voters were key in this years election both on the national and local scale.

Out of the early voting and mail-in ballots counted so far, women in the state of Florida shined through.

So what issues were causing the female force to drive the polls?

According to NBC news, 55% of Florida ballots were cast by women, though the exact head count of all voters wont be known until the election has been certified.

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Citrus County already reported a rise in female voters from the 2020 election.

General 2020: Male: 42,894 | Female: 49,231

General 2024: Male: 45,185 | Female: 52,035

Political analyst Tara Newsom said despite the high turnout of women voters, abortions measures passed in nine out of 10 states, but not here in Florida.

Whats interesting about this election is that we thought women would come out in this large gender divide. We thought women would tip the thumb on the scale for Harris and for abortion amendments across the 10 states that they were being considered, Newsom said.

U.S. Representative Lois Frankel shared that the greatest concern shes hearing from her constituents is on abortion, voters may have been focusing on themselves this election and not the two candidates at play.

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It was more how they felt about themselves and people were feeling pinched in their pocketbook, and I think thats what thats the obvious explanation, Frankel said.

U.S. Representative Laurel Lee is however not surprised by the results of the election and shares, women care about good jobs, being able to pay for groceries and securing our borders.

Men and women just have more confidence that Republicans are the ones who are going to deliver results on those key economic and security issues, Lee said.

Both representatives Lee and Frankel agree the economy was top of mind for many voters, no matter the gender.

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And even with the higher number of female voters voting in this election, the public has to wait until after Nov. 18 when those numbers are certified in Florida.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  A post-election audit was held at the Woodbury county courthouse on Friday for Tuesdays general election. They were counting Precinct 38 for the presidential and sheriff races from the city of Cushing.

While all precincts have been counted, the Iowa Secretary of States office randomly selected one precinct from Woodbury County to be hand counted again. Its to ensure all ballots were accurately counted. State election officials randomly selected 3 election officials from Woodbury County to do the counting, as well as two auditor clerks to monitor the counting.

Public input sought for South Lakeport, Sergeant Road improvements

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When they first started talking about it I didnt think it was really necessary but in todays age with the integrity of elections being questioned all the time, said Woodbury County Commissioner of Elections Pat Gill. This is just another transparent thing to preform so voters can feel good about the outcome of the election.

This years count was accurate and has been each year since the extra count started nearly five years ago.

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Russia's hybrid warfare tactics against the US and Europe are reaching new levels.

The disinformation efforts seek to influence elections and stir chaos in domestic politics.

Those efforts are in some respects being thwarted.

Russian disinformation and interference  hybrid warfare tactics  are on the rise and again showed up in the US presidential election, but this is a problem for more than just America.

Earlier this week, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that Russia was conducting "an intensifying campaign of hybrid attacks across our allied territories, interfering directly in our democracies, sabotaging industry, and committing violence," echoing long-standing concerns.

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Russian tactics were on full display in the 2024 US presidential election. On Tuesday, various polling sites in five battleground states were the targets of hoax bomb threats from Russian email domains, the FBI said, and that was only part of Russian actions.

Georgia's Secretary of State accused Moscow of being "up to mischief," saying that "they don't want us to have a smooth, fair and accurate election, and if they can get us to fight among ourselves, they can count that as a victory."

The Russian embassy in Washington denied the accusations as "malicious slander" and said "Russia has not interfered and does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries," including the US, but such activities are well documented.

Rising levels of interference

US intel concluded Russia sought to sabotage the Clinton campaign and destabilize the US election in 2016. Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

Experts and officials began to seriously take note of efforts by Russia and other US adversaries, such as China and Iran, to disrupt US politics in 2016, and it's continually gotten worse.

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"Undoubtedly we've seen an uptick in the scope and scale and, really, the kind of brazenness of Russian election interference in the information environment," Doug Livermore, a member of the US special operations community and the director of engagements at the Irregular Warfare Initiative, told Business Insider.

Hybrid warfare covers a range of tactics, such as assassinations, espionage, cyberattacks, electoral interference, and disinformation, intended to deniably influence or disrupt national security and domestic affairs.

2016 saw the rising influence of Russian bot farms and mass disinformation while the 2020 election saw major efforts by Russia and other US foes to stoke violence and unrest, particularly as then-President Donald Trump contested the results and inspired the January 6th insurrection on the US Capitol.

A month prior to the 2024 election, the National Intelligence Council released a report warning that Russia, China, and Iran were better equipped to influence the election and undermine confidence in the results due to lessons from 2020; the council cited a range of tactics that could be used, including cyberattacks, artificial intelligence, and encouragement of electoral chaos and violence.

Russia, China, and Iran capitalized on the January 6 insurrection to denigrate the US political system, US intel said. Lev Radin/Getty Images

Then, on Monday, the head of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said disinformation was being spread by US adversaries "at a greater level than ever before."

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The efforts were designed to prompt distrust, fear, and misunderstanding in American voters and raise doubts over the integrity of US democracy. The 2024 presidential election was likely of particular interest to Russia, though, because of what was on the line: US support for Ukraine, of which Trump has been less supportive.

More than an American problem

This hybrid warfare is a broader problem for other Western countries, too. In recent months, Russia was accused of attempting to undermine Moldova's election in favor of a pro-Moscow candidate, using tactics such as a vote-buying scheme, organizing transportation to get Russians to vote at Moldovan missions in other countries, and cyberattacks and fake bomb threats to out-of-country voting operations.

Russia was also recently accused of attempting to interfere in the Republic of Georgia's parliamentary election, as well as elections in France, the UK, Germany, and others.

The big difference between how Russia engages in hybrid warfare in the US versus some European democracies comes down to the political systems that exist in those countries, Livermore said. In the US' two party system, Russia's focuses on creating discontent within a certain party or between the parties.

Moldova's pro-EU incumbent president, Maia Sandu, won reelection despite Russian efforts to sway the election. Daniel MIHAILESCU / AFP

In European democracies, Russia's focus often appears to be creating cracks within how the various parliamentary parties interact and form coalitions. Pro-European Union or NATO groups or candidates are often targeted, too, as was the case in Moldova's election.

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Across the board, Russia is opportunistic. "They don't really care about the ideology of the organizations," Livermore said, so long as it "advances the Kremlin's interests."

These interference efforts also undermine democracy more generally, working in favor of autocratic governments. In the run-up to the US presidential election, Chinese state media emphasized deep divisions, dysfunction, and fears of violence in the US.

The state-run Beijing Daily, for example, wrote: "the US election, once considered a highlight of the so-called 'beacon of democracy,' may now become the starting gun of 'social unrest.'"

Livermore said such efforts allow Russia and China to indict democracy in favor of their authoritarian governments. Notably, experts have assessed Russia, China, and Iran are growing increasingly closer in efforts to challenge the US-led world order. North Korea, too, is right there with them.

Weakening the intended effect

Harris' concession speech emphasized the need for a peaceful transition of power and accepting the election results. Xinhua News Agency/Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images

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After Trump won the presidency, Vice President Kamala Harris conceded quickly. Her call for a peaceful transfer of power was echoed by President Joe Biden.

"For over 200 years, America has carried on the greatest experiment in self-government in the history of the world," he said, "where the people, the people vote and choose their own leaders and they do it peacefully. And where in a democracy, the will of the people always prevails."

Livermore said that because this election's results, unlike in 2020, aren't being contested, that could mean failure for any hybrid warfare tactics from US adversaries in the months ahead of Inauguration Day.

He said Russia, China, and Iran were likely "hoping that they were going to have a couple of months of chaos in the US," but that is now much less likely.

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US stability in the transition of power can be attributed to lessons learned from 2020, from local and federal governments to law enforcement, on how to maintain trust in the election process and suppress post-election violence.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The prosecution of the worst Jan 6 rioters is to be prioritised before Donald Trump takes office, according to reports.

The worst alleged offenders, including those who are accused of assaulting law enforcement officers, will be brought before the courts in the remaining 72 days before Mr Trump is inaugurated, NBC news reported.

Once in office the 78-year-old has the power to pardon those who took part in the insurrection over the 2020 presidential election, which he has repeatedly said he will absolutely do.

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The president-elect is also currently under investigation over his alleged part in the attacks on Washington DC.

Following Joe Bidens presidential victory, Mr Trump repeated the claim he had won himself, and told hordes of his supporters near the White House to march to the Capitol and fight like hell to stop the steal.

Following Mr Trumps election victory on Tuesday evening, prosecutors are said to have been advised that there is a societal interest in quickly dealing with the cases, according to NBC.

Most egregious

They have been told to focus on the most egregious conduct and cases until the end of the administration.

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The news network also reported that it was unlikely that there would be any further arrests.

More than 1,500 people have been charged with an array of offences for their part in the riots, including using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious bodily injury to a police officer.

Among those who have already been jailed for their part in the violent scenes is Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the Proud Boys, a far-Right organisation.

Although Tarrio was not present on the day of the attack  having been ordered by a court to leave Washington DC  a judge decided he played a critical role in what took place.

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He was jailed for 22 years after prosecutors said he organised things from afar, revealing to the court hundreds of messages exchanged by Proud Boys in the days leading up to the storming of the US Capitol by supporters of then president Trump

In one message on social media, Tarrrio wrote: Do what must be done.

Make no mistake, he wrote in another message. We did this.

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(Bloomberg) --

Most Read from Bloomberg

World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will run for a second term unopposed, the organization said, raising questions about whether shell receive support from a new US administration under President-elect Donald Trump.

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Listen to the Heres Why podcast on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen.

The month-long period for nominations closed on Friday with the incumbent, a former Nigerian finance minister and the first woman to hold the job, emerging as the only candidate for the role, Ambassador Petter lberg of Norway, chair of the WTOs General Council, said in a statement on Saturday.

Okonjo-Iweala, 70, is seeking a second four-year term running the Geneva-based trade body when her current term expires on Aug. 31. She took office in March 2021.

The Big Take: A Guide to Trumps Day-One Agenda

Her candidacy, announced months before the US election this week, sets up a potential showdown with the incoming Trump administration. The WTOs mission of fostering lower trade barriers is at odds with Trumps threats of universal tariffs and its lurch toward protectionism.

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In the previous presidential election year of 2020, the first Trump administration supported a different candidate  then-South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee, to run the WTO, slowing the selection process. In early 2021, the White House of newly elected Joe Biden backed Okonjo-Iweala and she got the job.

Last Resort

The appointment process is done by consensus among the WTOs 166 members, typically starting nine months before the expiration of the current leaders term.

According to the timetable for the selection process, Okonjo-Iweala will have until Feb. 8 to lobby membership for support. The final two-month period, ending April 8, will be devoted to a process of consultations to allow the General Council ultimately to arrive at its choice for appointment.

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US Inauguration Day is Jan. 20.

According to the WTOs procedures for appointing a director-general, there may be a route for her to secure a second term without Washingtons blessing  though it would mark a major break from the organizations consensus-driven decisions.

Trump Threat

Trump has threatened in the past to withdraw the US from the WTO, , and both the Trump and Biden administrations paralyzed the organizations appellate body  its supreme arbiter for resolving trade disputes  by blocking all new appointments to the panel.

In his book No Trade Is Free, Trump trade adviser Robert Lighthizer calls Okonjo-Iweala Chinas ally in Geneva.

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If a candidate fails to gain countries support through consensus, members should consider the possibility of recourse to a vote as a last resort, the procedures state. Such a step shall be understood to be an exceptional departure from the customary practice.

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BJP leader Kirit Somaiya on Saturday supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Ek hai toh safe hai' remark, citing concerns over the growing number of Rohingya and Bangladeshi infiltrators in Mumbai. Somaiya claimed that if this trend continues, the Hindu population in the city could shrink to just 54 per cent. Speaking to ANI, Kirit Somaiya said, "PM Modi says 'Ek hai toh safe hai', UP CM Yogi Adityanath says 'Batenge toh katenge'. I have a report from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. According to this report, the way the number of Rohingyas and Bangladeshi infiltrators is increasing in Mumbai, the Hindu population in the city will be reduced to 54 per cent. That is why we (BJP) say 'Ek hai toh safe hai." "Mumbai Congress President says they will recognise all illegal mosques in Mumbai. Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole says they will not allow a law to be formed to curb 'love jihad' and take back all the love jihad cases. That is why voters have decided 'Ek hai toh safe hai," said Somaiya. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his 'Ek hai toh safe hai' remark in the Dhule rally, questioning the need for the statement and, emphasizing that the people of Maharashtra are already "safe" and would prefer to be safer by ousting the BJP. Speaking to ANI, Sanjay Raut said, "Why has the need arisen for the PM to say things like these. 'Batenge toh katenge' did not work here and the people of Maharashtra threw it out. Now 'ek hain toh safe hain', who is he trying to unite and who is he trying to save? Are all the people of the state and country not yours? We are safe in Maharashtra and we want to be safer so we will throw BJP out." This comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a jab at the opposition on Friday, likening the Maha Vikas Aghadi to a vehicle without wheels or brakes and called them out for "misgovernance" and "looting" the people of the state. Addressing a gathering in Dhule ahead of the November 20 Assembly elections, the Prime Minister said, "MVA's 'gaadi' has neither wheels nor brakes and there's a fight as to who will sit on the driver's seat. Their only aim in politics is to loot people. When people like MVA form government, they cause hindrances in every government policy and development." Further taking a hit at the Congress party, PM Modi said that the party's agenda is to create a rift between all the tribal communities of the country. "Congress' agenda is to create a rift between all the tribal communities of the country. When Congress tried this conspiracy with religious groups, it led to the partition of the country. Now Congress is inciting SC, ST, and OBC categories against each other. There can be no bigger conspiracy for India. You will stay strong as long as you stay united. 'Ek hai toh safe hai," said PM Modi.PM Modi further said the people of Maharashtra have already seen MVA's misgovernance for two and a half years. The Prime Minister lauded the development works carried out by the Mahayuti government in the state and said the momentum will continue once their government is formed again in the state. The Maharashtra assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with votes for all 288 constituencies to be counted on November 23. The opposition MVA coalition, comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Nationalist Congress Party (SCP), seeks to reclaim power in the state, challenging the Mahayuti alliance, which includes Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Ajit Pawar-led NCP. In the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena secured 56, and Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP won 122 seats, Shiv Sena 63, and Congress 42. (ANI)
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY)  As a way to ensure every patient receives the best care possible, WVU Medicine is uniting its surgeons and specialists to better understand the growing field of robotics surgery.

On Friday, WVU Medicine held a conference at the Morgantown Marriott Waterfront Hotel inviting WVU Medicine surgeons and specialists from all over the state to learn more about robotics surgery, which has expanded to be a popular practice as its minimally invasive.

Scotts Run Settlement House hosting online art auction fundraiser

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12 News spoke with Kristy Ward, WVU Medicines chair of robotics surgery and division director of gynecologic oncology on why the organization chose to educate one another in this way.

We expanded so rapidly; we literally went from having 3 systems in 2018 to having 28 systems in 2024, Ward said. We realized that we want to make sure were providing the best care throughout the entire state and the entire system. Weve created this system-wide committee so that we can start protocols and procedures and do information sharing so that were sure that were all on the same page, so that all patients throughout the state can get the best care closer to home.

Ward stated that holding in-person meetings allows expansion of new perceptive and ideals among one another and hopes to expand these meetings to be once a 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 WBOY.com.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A York County woman pleaded guilty Friday to embezzling more than $1.7 million from her employer.

According to court documents from the U.S. Attorneys Office, 54-year-old Kristin Turney, of Catawba, South Carolina, executed a scheme to defraud her employer, a Charlotte-based company, between 2016 and 2023. She was in charge of the companys financial matters, including bank accounts, payroll, accounts payables and receivables and tax filings.

Man charged in North Carolina highway shootings will remain in jail for now

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Court officials say Turney caused at least 1,000 fraudulent and unauthorized deposits totaling more than $1.7 million to be made from the bank account of the victim company to her account. She then covered up the fraud by, among other things, reportedly making false accounting entries in the companys books and records, providing false information to the companys tax return preparer, and giving false information to the companys owner and employees.

Turney generally spent the funds to pay for personal expenses, that included hundreds of thousands of dollars in shopping trips, car payments, mortgage payments, tuition payments, and vacation expenses.

The wire fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley of the U.S. Attorneys Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.

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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 Queen City News.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY)  With the election of Donald Trump as president, many are wondering if he has plans for Virginias governor in his administration.

After a tumultuous election season, could we expect changes in Richmond?

In a Zoom call with Gov. Glenn Youngkin, he talked about the fentanyl crisis and a recent seizure of over 550 pounds of it in Virginia alone. The governor said he expects the new administration to be instrumental in slowing down the wave of drug trafficking.



Sadly, there is such a problem with fentanyl coming over the border, Youngkin said. I think President Trump is going to make a giant statement about stopping fentanyl and thats when he secures the border. But weve got to interrupt and disrupt the drug trafficking within Virginia.



Touching on the recent election, he said hes proud of the way Virginia handled the returns and believes that our election process can be trusted  both locally and nationally.



And yes, this election was fair and the outcome was a resounding statement across America that we want strength back in America, Youngkin said.



Of the newly-elected president, Youngkin said they have a great relationship. But its one that will continue long-distance throughout the new administration.



He also knows that I am committed to finishing my term as governor and thats exactly what Im going to do, Youngkin said. And Ive committed to him to be a great ally to him from my seat as governor of Virginia.



Looking ahead, Youngkin said there isnt just one policy hes looking to see enacted in a new Trump Administration, but rather, hes looking forward to changes he expects down the road.



Theres many things, but to have a strong economy, a secure border and a strong America are at the top of the list of things that I know he will stand for and deliver, Youngkin said.

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Youngkins term will be up at the end of 2025. He is ineligible to run for re-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 WAVY.com.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticised Ukraines partners for failing to provide Ukraine with a sufficient amount of air defence systems, claiming they are "just standing idle".

Source: Zelenskyy in his video address on 9 November

Quote: "Unfortunately, this week saw devastating Russian attacks on Kharkiv, Donetsk, Sumy, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. In fact, there are daily drone and missile strikes. And every meeting, every negotiation with partners that have appropriate air defence systems inevitably includes a discussion about additional protection for Ukraine from Russian terror.

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There are enough air defence systems in Europe, on the continent, to provide Ukraine with truly solid protection. And it is incomprehensible that air defence systems are just standing idle when each system has the potential to save hundreds, if not thousands, of lives. We will continue to try to convince our partners."

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In the backdrop of NCP leader Baba Siddique's murder, the Mumbai Crime Branch has revealed that another Pune leader was on the radar of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which was planning to eliminate the latter and had given the responsibility of carrying out the crime through its shooters. According to the information received from a senior officer of the Mumbai Crime Branch, the investigation of the Mumbai Crime Branch has revealed that after the murder of Baba Siddiqui, a big leader of Pune was also on the radar of the Bishnoi gang. "The Lawrence Bishnoi gang was planning to kill the Pune leader too and the responsibility of carrying out the crime was given to the shooters involved in Plan B," said the official. As per the official, the matter came to light after the Mumbai Crime Branch recovered a pistol which was going to be used to carry out the crime. The Crime Branch has not disclosed the name of the leader. After the Bishnoi gang's plan was exposed, the Crime Branch shared the inputs and information with Pune Police. The police are also investigating whether the recce was done by the accused in this case or not, said the senior police officer. The Mumbai Crime Branch on Friday arrested a shooter identified as Gaurav Vilas Apune in the murder case of Baba Siddique. The investigation of the Mumbai Crime Branch revealed that Gaurav Vilas who was involved as a shooter in the Plan B made by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang for the murder of Baba Siddique had gone to Jharkhand to practice his firing. In further interrogation, Apune revealed that Plan B was prepared for backup in case Plan A failed. Additionally, one of the accused Rupesh Mohol arrested earlier had also gone to Jharkhand with Apune to practice firing. In further interrogation, it was revealed that the mastermind of the murder, Shubham Lonkar had sent both Mohol and Apune for their practice to Jharkhand on July 28 along with necessary weapons. Both had practised their firing for a day in Jharkhand and returned to Pune on July 29 after which they got back in touch with Shubham Lonkar, as per the Mumbai Crime Branch. The Mumbai Crime Branch officials are also trying to locate the exact location in Jharkhand where the exercise was carried out. Further investigation is underway. (ANI)
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Manoj Pandey questioned the "motive" behind the raids carried out by the Income Tax department on Saturday with the polling date for the state assembly nears. Speaking to ANI on Saturday, Pandey said, "At whose behest is this happening? What is the motive behind this? People are not coming to BJP rallies while they are coming to the rallies of Hemant Soren and Kalpana Soren, this has caused frustration among them (BJP)." Earlier in the day, the Income Tax department raided the residence of Sunil Srivastava, allegedly a close aide and personal secretary of Jharkhand CM Soren. Pandey further questioned the timings of the raid and said only some days are left in the elections and "creating problems" at such time raises questions about the central agencies. He added that Srivastava, being close to CM Soren, has taken up several responsibilities for the assembly elections. JMM leader said, "A central agency is conducting a raid, let's wait for the output. At what time, this is happening? This is why questions are raised about these agencies. Only some days are left in the elections. The raid is conducted at the residence of that person who is close to CM Soren and is involved in the election preparation, he has participated in the election preparations and he has taken several responsibilities. Creating problems at such time raises questions on the central agencies." Attacking the BJP, JMM candidate Mahua Maji said that people of the state have made up their mind to not give any chance to 'jumlebaaz' here. "Even they had made agencies to arrest CM Soren during the Lok Sabha elections. Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other leaders had come here during the Lok Sabha elections, but the results were in our favour. People have made up their mind that 'jumlebaaz' will not get a chance here..." she said. Notably, this comes days ahead of the assembly elections in Jharkhand. CM Soren-led Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), in alliance with Congress, RJD and left parties is facing major competition from the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA alliance in the state. The 81-member Jharkhand Assembly will go to polls in two phases on November 13 and 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23. (ANI)
Every year on November 9, World Freedom Day unites people worldwide to honor the enduring values of freedom, democracy, and the courageous efforts of those who fought for liberation and fundamental human rights. This day serves as a powerful reminder of resilience and the relentless pursuit of justice across generations and cultures.

World Freedom Day is particularly symbolic of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, a historic event that marked the beginning of the end for oppressive regimes across Eastern Europe. This landmark moment symbolizes the victory of freedom over fear and division, embodying the spirit of liberation.

History of World Freedom Day

World Freedom Day calls on citizens everywhere to remember the sacrifices of those who struggled for independence, self-determination, and freedom. From revolutions to peaceful protests, history is rich with stories of individuals and movements dedicated to creating a just future. This day reminds us of the responsibility to protect these hard-won freedoms, encouraging us to value and defend them for future generations.

Significance of World Freedom Day

The importance of World Freedom Day lies in its emphasis on a world where everyone can live freely, make choices, and express themselves without fear of persecution or oppression. It highlights the need to create societies where human rights and dignity are respected and protected.

Beyond commemoration, World Freedom Day also draws attention to ongoing struggles for freedom across the globe. In places facing political repression and civil unrest, people continue to fight for their fundamental human rights. This day reinforces that freedom is a universal right, inspiring global solidarity and a shared vision of a world where freedom and justice prevail.
TCS Variable Pay Q2 2024: India's largest IT services company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has slashed down the variable pay for many of its senior employees for the July-September 2024 period (Q2 FY25) reportedly.

The cuts have hit even those who have complied with the company's work-from-office policy. However, the sources familiar with the development said that negative business demand, driven by uncertainty, was a key factor.

According to a report, TCS employees received only 20-40 per cent of their expected variable pay, others saw no payout at all. This marks a significant drop from the 70 per cent payout in the previous quarter.

How TCS Pays Variable To Employees

TCSs variable pay structure takes into account both employees in-office attendance and the performance of each business unit. This approach reflects the challenges in market demand and the economic uncertainties impacting Tier-I IT companies, which saw modest growth in Q2. TCS recorded a 5.5% year-on-year revenue increase in Q2 FY25 in constant currency, reaching Rs 64,259 crore, with a net profit of Rs 11,909 crore.

In April 2024, TCS updated its attendance policy, requiring employees to achieve at least 85 per cent office attendance to qualify for their full variable pay. Those with 75-85 per cent attendance receive 75 per cent of the variable pay, while employees with 60-75 per cent attendance receive 50 per cent. Employees attending less than 60 per cent of the time do not qualify for the quarterly bonus.

TCSs Statement on Variable Pay Reduction

According to a TCS spokesperson, junior employees received their full quarterly variable allowance (QVA), while employees in other grades received variable pay based on their units performance, a standard practice within the company.
Rajasthan Bypolls: The poll campaigning for two states - Jharkhand and Maharashtra at their peak. Senior party leaders from both - Congress and the BJP are leaving no stone unturned to woo the voters. Meanwhile, seven assembly seats are also going to the bypolls in Rajasthan - Dausa, Dungarpur, Alwar, Jhunjhunu, Tonk, Nagaur and Salumbar. While the BJP is campaigning with all its might in the Rajasthan bypolls, the state Congress unit is facing a peculiar situation.

The party insiders have alleged indifference from the Congress High Command toward the Rajasthan unit. They argued that the Rajasthan unit has been left on its own to manage the bypolls. "Why isnt Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, in-charge of Rajasthan, actively involved in these elections? Meanwhile, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot have been given significant responsibilities in Maharashtra, and Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully seems focused only on the Ramgarh seat. State Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra is left standing alone, waving the party flag," a leader, who didn't wish to be named, told Zee News TV.

Other party leaders also rued the lack of financial support saying that the Rajasthan Congress unit has not been given any funds, leading to a lack of effective campaign. They claimed that the lack of resources is having a major impact on the by-elections.

"No prominent leader has visited the Chauraasi and Salumber seats, leaving the campaign to local leaders. In Jhunjhunu, serious questions are being raised about the partys strategy as Muslim voters have openly expressed their discontent, but no steps have been taken to address this issue. Meanwhile, in Khinwsar, even the Congress MLA from Nagaur has distanced himself, and in Dausa, the Congress is relying solely on the 'Pilot magic'," said the leader.

Notably, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge are busy in Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections while Priyanka Gandhi is busy in Wayanad Lok Sabha bypolls from where she has made a political debut. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra is leading the party's campaign in Khimsar on Saturday. The seven seats will go to the polls on November 13 and the counting of votes will take place on November 23.
NEW DELHI: Senior AAP leader and Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Saturday attacked the BJP over twin firing incidents in Delhi, saying the city has given the party seven MPs but it thinks it is not responsible at all for law and order in the city.

A man was killed and another injured in two incidents of firing carried out by three people in separate areas of northeast Delhi in a span of 10 minutes during the early hours of Sunday.

Addressing a press conference here, Bharadwaj said the BJP thinks it has no responsibility as far as Delhi's law and order is concerned. "That is why we do not see any statement by any of their leaders or the LG (lieutenant governor) on such incidents." "The BJP thinks that they have no responsibility of law and order in Delhi. The people of the city give them seven MPs, but still they don't issue any statement regarding such incidents or any plan to improve law and order," he said.

The common people and businessmen are living in fear in the national capital, the minister added.
JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Saturday said that Congress has been in government the most in the last 70 years since independence, making "owners of the country beggars as the beggars became prosperous". "Whenever elections come, the Congress spreads lies, wants to divide people on the basis of caste and religion," he said while addressing an election rally in JhunjhunuJhunjhunu assembly constituency where bypoll will be held on November 13. He was seeking votes for party candidate Rajendra Bhamboo.

He said that the BJP came to power in Rajasthan 11 months ago and started working on the promises made in the election manifesto from day one. "Congress has been in power for most of the 70 years but Congress made the owners of the country beggars and those who were beggars became prosperous.

"You, the owners of the country, wake up and identify who can do good for you," he said.

The CM said that the state government will fulfill all the promises made to the people. "BJP does what it says." "We formed SIT for paper leak cases after coming to power. Today, about 200 people who are accused in paper leak cases are in jail," he said.

BJP state president Madan Rathore, also part of the rally, said that the party is committed to welfare of the people and the development of the state and the nation.
Maharashtra Assembly Elections: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday lashed out at the Congress alleging that division among Dalits, Adivasis, and Backward Classes suits the politics of the grand old party. Accusing the Congress of divisive politics, PM Modi claimed that the party hates OBCs as it cannot come to terms with the fact that a person from backward classes has been the Prime Minister of the country for the last ten years.

While speaking at a campaign rally in Nanded, the Prime Minister said that division among Dalits, Adivasis, and Backward Classes suits Congress' politics, but due to their unity, it is losing its support base. "It suits the Congress' politics if Dalits, Adivasis, and Backward Classes are divided. Its game plan is to divide you into different groups and communities,'' he said.

"Congress hates the OBCs because it cannot digest the fact that an OBC is the prime minister for ten years and working by taking everyone along, the Prime Minister said. Claiming that the Congress wants to take away the power of unity between the OBC communities, PM Modi alleged that the grand old party wants to snatch reservation. "They want to divide the OBC communities into small castes and snatch the power of their unity. If it happens, Congress will snatch the reservation," he alleged.

Efforts to divide people on caste lines and deprive them of reservation were made by leaders from Jawaharlal Nehru to Rajiv Gandhi, he claimed. Echoing the goal of `Viksit Bharat,' the Prime Minister exuded confidence that there is a wave in favour of the `Mahayuti' alliance of the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP.

"Hence, the BJP and its allies are chosen by the people again and again. In the Lok Sabha elections, Nanded did not vote for us. I hope you will bless me now,'' he said, referring to the defeat of the saffron partys Pratap Chikhlikar by Congress' Vasant Chavan.

Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly will be held in a single phase on November 20, and the counting of votes will take place on November 23.
The Indian Army has organised a motorcycle expedition from Mipi to Meshai in Arunachal Pradesh to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the battle of Walong fought during the 1962 Indo-China War. The expedition was flagged off on November 8 by Major General VS Deshpande, General Officer Commanding, Dao Division, Mopi Mihu, MLA of Anini and officials of the Arunachal Pradesh government. The participants in the biking expedition include members of the armed forces and people from Arunachal Pradesh. The expedition will conclude on November 11 at the historic Walong War Memorial. "Commemorating the Battle of Walong and paying tribute to the valiant soldiers, the Indian Army organized a motorcycle expedition from Mipi to Meshai on 62nd Anniversary of Walong Day," as per an official statement. The expedition with participants from Armed Forces and enthusiasts from Arunachal was flagged off on 8th November 2024 by Major General VS Deshpande, General Officer Commanding, Dao Division along with Shri Mopi Mihu, MLA of Anini and officials of the Govt of Arunachal Pradesh. "The inauguration event included cultural events and a martial arts display. With two scheduled halts at Roing and Hayuliang, the biking expedition will culminate at the historic Walong War Memorial on 11th November 2024," the statement read. The Motorcycle Expedition will honour the brave soldiers who fought for the nation during the 1962 conflict. During the challenging ride over the Mishmi Ranges and astride the pristine Dibang and Lohit Valley, the participants will ride to commemorate the resoluteness of the people of Arunachal Pradesh who stood by their Armed Forces in War. "The route, tracing a historic path through the beautiful landscapes of Arunachal Pradesh, symbolizes the Indian Army's commitment to fostering unity and promoting adventure tourism in border areas. Each halt enroute will be an opportunity for the riders to connect with the local communities highlighting the strength, resilience and solidarity that define the spirit of the region and promoting national integration," the statement read. The closing ceremony at the Walong War Memorial on 11th November will be marked by a flagging-in ceremony, where the motorcyclists will pay homage to the brave hearts of Walong. This initiative stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of the Battle of Walong and the Indian Army's commitment to safeguarding the nation's heritage, values and connecting with the frontier villages of Arunachal Pradesh, as per the statement. (ANI)
Jharkhand Assembly Polls: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday trained his guns at senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi and accused him of insulting the Constitution and making a mockery of it by showing a "fake" copy of it. The former BJP chief also claimed that the saffron party will never allow the Congress to implement reservations for minorities. While addressing a BJP rally in Palamu, Shah attacked the former Congress chief, saying that he insulted B. R. Ambedkar and the Constituent Assembly.

"Rahul Gandhi displays a copy of the Constitution." He was exposed two days ago. Someone got a copy of the Constitution he has shown. The Constitution of India was written on the cover of that copy, which was void of any content. Dont make a mockery of the Constitution. It is a question of faith and trust. By waving a fake copy of the Constitution, you have insulted B. R. Ambedkar and the Constituent Assembly. The Congress party has made the Constitution a mockery, the Union Minister said.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to observe November 26 as Constitution Day. Shah alleged that Congress was hell-bent on snatching reservations from OBCs, tribals, and Dalits and "planned to give it to minorities." "The Congress is against the OBC quota; it promised 10 percent reservation to minorities when a delegation of Ulemas met Congress leaders in Maharashtra. Under PM Modi's leadership, the BJP will never allow religion-based reservations, the senior BJP leader said.

He also attacked Congress for its alleged attempts to restore Article 370 in Kashmir." Kashmir is an integral part of India. I warn Rahul Gandhi that even your fourth generation cant bring back Article 370," he claimed. During the rally, Shah also lashed out at the JMM-led dispensation in Jharkhand, terming it the "most corrupt government" in the country.

Training his guns on Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, he said: The CM says infiltration is the BJPs political agenda. I say it is CM's bank. Corrupt leaders will be hanged upside down." Elections to the 81-member Jharkhand assembly will be held on November 13 and 20, and the counting of votes will take place on November 23.

(With PTI Inputs)
A Haryana Civil Services (HCS) officer, Kulbhushan Bansal, has been arrested in Hisar after facing serious allegations of sexual exploitation leveled against him by a male Dalit worker.

According to the media reports, the accused officer was suspended by the state government earlier this week and is facing charges of sexual assault and caste-based discrimination.

According to the victim, Bansal sexually assaulted him at gunpoint while he was posted in Fatehabad in 2020. The victim, who currently works under the Haryana Kaushal Rojgar Nigam, also claimed that Bansal made casteist remarks during the incidents.

The worker reported that when he resisted Bansal's advances, the officer allegedly threatened him with a pistol, claiming that he would be killed or dismissed from his job if he did not comply with his demands.

Legal Action and Suspension

Following the filing of the complaint, the victims statement was recorded in court, and the police initiated an investigation. On Saturday, Bansal was arrested after a raid on his residence, carried out by a team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Sunil Kumar. His arrest came after the state government suspended him on Thursday.

The victim had previously sought justice by lodging formal complaints with multiple authorities, including the chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, senior officials of his department, and even the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The man also sent a video recording of the alleged assault to the chief justice and the states chief minister.

According to the complainant, Bansal had helped him recruited as a peon on a contractual basis with the public health department. The worker claims that he was initially sexually exploited by Bansal during his tenure in Fatehabad in 2020. When he resisted the officers advances, the officer reportedly used threats of violence to coerce him into compliance.
Kerala Lottery Results Sunday 10-11-2024 LIVE: The Kerala Lottery Department, on behalf of the Keralan government, announces the "AKSHAYA AK-676" Lucky Draw Result today Akshaya AK-676, November 10, 2024. The draw will be held at Gorky Bhavan near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. The Kerala Lottery Result 2024 for "Akshaya AK-676" 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 Akshaya AK-676 results right here to see if youre the first-place winner of 70 Lakhs. Stay tuned to this website for the live update of Kerala Lottery Akshaya AK-676 results today.

Kerala Lottery Result 10-11-2024 November: FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR AKSHAYA AK-676 Draw

LUCKY NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE OF RS 70 LAKHS IS: AR 117591

LUCKY NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE OF RS 5 LAKHS IS: AP 625333

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 3RD PRIZE OF RS 1 Lakh ARE: AN 325264 AO 845519 AP 245305 AR 690155 AS 568385 AT 615615 AU 878392 AV 946635 AW 529537 AX 240634 AY 755674 AZ 430190

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE OF RS 8,000 ARE: AN 117591 AO 117591 AP 117591 AS 117591 AT 117591 AU 117591 AV 117591 AW 117591 AX 117591 AY 117591 AZ 117591

(For The Tickets Ending with The Following Numbers below)

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE OF RS 5,000 ARE: 0282 0562 0717 0869 1564 2319 3070 3222 3676 4199 5448 5526 5687 7329 7911 7936 8305 9329

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE OF RS 2,000 ARE: 0152 0467 2032 4146 4644 9597 9775

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE OF RS 1,000 ARE: 0210 0237 0560 0563 0569 1187 1971 2012 2567 2898 3053 5446 5467 6135 6243 6449 6798 6943 7083 7263 7513 7930 8458 8839 9268 9327

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE OF RS 500 ARE: 0378 0397 0760 0979 1154 1243 1513 1520 1631 1690 1691 1928 1955 2370 2443 2592 2866 3125 3194 3243 3295 3541 3693 3778 4126 4239 4297 4657 4880 5009 5112 5490 5546 5792 5843 5877 5967 5972 6018 6038 6071 6117 6134 6246 6437 6843 6847 6924 6934 7029 7286 7288 7379 7448 7525 7579 7941 8026 8081 8218 8232 8257 8366 8430 8685 8858 8916 8977 9308 9325 9394 9749

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 8TH PRIZE OF RS 100 ARE: 0101 0135 0260 0290 0539 0545 0549 0589 0622 0749 0978 1140 1262 1378 1403 1556 1567 1617 1674 1681 1729 1772 1855 1948 2056 2128 2129 2758 2867 2921 3006 3140 3190 3297 3445 3487 3491 3810 4001 4026 4036 4084 4231 4247 4269 4274 4313 4447 4517 4814 4827 4842 4890 4896 4999 5041 5079 5083 5149 5271 5429 5494 5741 5749 5932 5956 6003 6033 6045 6131 6323 6378 6440 6536 6558 6576 6982 6998 7045 7119 7124 7177 7184 7238 7414 7437 7447 7469 7505 7537 7543 7549 7643 7732 7801 7825 7888 7925 7994 8117 8120 8127 8128 8315 8374 8719 8771 8793 8879 9055 9237 9315 9319 9509 9690 9770 9771 9791 9805 9811 9889 9901 9964

KERALA LOTTERY RESULT 10-11-2024 November TODAY: AKSHAYA AK-676 LOTTERY PRIZE DETAILS

1st Prize: Rs 70 Lakhs

2nd Prize: Rs. 5 lakhs

3rd Prize: Rs. 1 Lakh

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Renowned sarangi virtuoso Pandit Ram Narayan passed away on November 9 at the age of 96, leaving a profound impact on Indian classical music. Tributes poured in from across the nation, celebrating his unmatched contributions to the world of music.

Pandit Ram Narayan, born in 1927, was widely revered for his mastery of the sarangi, a traditional Indian string instrument. He received some of Indias highest honors, including the Padma Vibhushan and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, in recognition of his artistic excellence.

Maharashtras Governor CP Radhakrishnan expressed his grief on X, writing, "Deeply saddened to know about the demise of internationally acclaimed Sarangi maestro Pt Ram Narayan Ji. Pt Ram Narayan took Sarangi to global heights through his masterly performances. The sound of his Sarangi touched hearts and heavens (sic)." He added, "In the true Indian tradition, Pt Narayan passed on the knowledge of Sarangi to numerous disciples from India and abroad. His divine music will live on for centuries. With his demise, an era in Sarangi has come to an end (sic)."

In the true Indian tradition, Pt Narayan passed on the knowledge of Sarangi to numerous disciples from India and abroad. His divine music will live on for centuries. With his demise, an era in Sarangi has come to an end. November 9, 2024

Sangeet Natak Akademi also shared a heartfelt tribute on X, saying, "Sangeet Natak Akademi and its associate bodies deeply mourn the sad demise of Ram Narayan, the renowned Hindustani musician and sarangi virtuoso. A recipient of the Padma Vibhushan and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, he passed away today. Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved ones and prayers to the Almighty to give them enough strength to bear this irreparable loss (sic)."

Sangeet Natak Akademi and its associate bodies deeply mourn the sad demise of Ram Narayan, the renowned Hindustani musician and sarangi virtuoso. A recipient of the Padma Vibhushan and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, he passed away today.



Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved pic.twitter.com/6Ku8tPEyUZ  Sangeet Natak Akademi (@sangeetnatak) November 9, 2024

SPIC MACAY, an organization dedicated to Indian classical music, expressed their sorrow, stating, "SPIC MACAY family is deeply saddened at the passing away of legendary Sarangi player Pt Ram Narayan at the grand age of 96 last night. His artistic prowess was such that he had become almost synonymous with his instrument in the world of classical music (sic)."

SPIC MACAY family is deeply saddened at the passing away of lengendary Sarangi player Pt Ram Narayan at the grand age of 96 last night. His artistic prowess was such that he had become almost synonymous with his instrument in the world of classical music.#ptramnarayan #sarangi pic.twitter.com/Hvx7r4NYMO  SPIC MACAY (@spicmacay) November 9, 2024

Pandit Ram Narayan's pioneering work elevated the sarangi from its traditional accompaniment role to a distinguished solo instrument on global stages. His artistry and dedication to his craft inspired generations of musicians, leaving a legacy that will resonate in the world of classical music for years to come.
Mumbai: A 35-year-old television actor allegedly committed suicide at his house in the western suburb of Goregaon here, police said on Friday.

Actor Nitin Kumar Satyapal Singh was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his apartment in the Yashodham area on Wednesday, an official said.

Singh had been suffering from depression for the last couple of years, as he was unable to find work in television and films, he said, adding that he was undergoing treatment for the condition.

Singh's wife had taken their daughter to a park. She found the flat locked from the inside, and she didn't get any response from him, the official said.

She eventually managed to enter the flat and found him hanging, he said.

The actor was rushed to a hospital in an ambulance, but doctors declared him dead, the official said, adding that a case of accidental death was registered.





(Discussions on suicides can be triggering for some. But suicides are preventable. If you are looking for help, some suicide prevention helpline numbers in India are 011-40769002 from Sanjivini (Delhi-based, 10 am - 5.30 pm) and 044-24640050 from Sneha Foundation (Chennai-based, 8 am - 10 pm), +91 9999666555 from Vandrevala Foundation (Mumbai-based, 24x7).
PM Internship Scheme Last Date: The PM Internship Scheme provides a crucial opportunity for young Indians to gain hands-on experience with leading companies in the country. However, the registration for the PM Internship Scheme 2024 will close on November 10, 2024.

Interested candidates can apply for one of the 80,000 internship roles available across 24 different sectors by visiting the official PM Internship Scheme website at pminternship.mca.gov.in.

Companies Registered Under PM Internship Scheme 2024

Around 200 companies have registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, which is overseeing the scheme aimed at offering over 1.2 lakh internships during the current financial year.

Top companies such as Mahindra & Mahindra, L&T, the Tata Group, and Jubilant FoodWorks are leading the way, offering the highest number of internships on the portal. Adding further, the Adani Group, Coca-Cola, Eicher, Deloitte, Mahindra Group, Maruti Suzuki, PepsiCo, HDFC, Wipro, ICICI, Hindustan Unilever, Samsung and Hewlett Packard are among 500 firms to have listed themselves under the PM Internship Scheme 2024.

The PM Internship Scheme 2024 provides a 12-month opportunity to intern with Indias top 500 companies, offering valuable learning experiences from industry leaders.

PM Internship Scheme 2024 Stipend:

Candidates will get Rs 5000 as a monthly assistant for the entire duration of 12 months of the internship. Out of the total amount, the company will pay Rs 500 to each intern from the Company's CSR funds, and the government will pay Rs 4500.

The government has also confirmed that reservation policies will be followed for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes candidates in this scheme.

PM Internship Scheme Eligibility:

Candidates should have passed High School or Higher Secondary School, have a certificate from an ITI, hold a diploma from a Polytechnic Institute, or are graduates with degrees such as BA, B.Sc, B.Com, BCA, BBA, B.Pharma etc. The scheme is open to Indian nationals between the ages of 21 and 24 as of November 10.

How To Apply In PM Internship Scheme 2024 In Last Minute

Step 1: Visit the official website of the PM Internship Scheme at pminternship.mca.gov.in.

Step 2: Click on the "Register" link to open a new page.

Step 3: Fill in the registration details and click on "Submit."

Step 4: A resume will be generated by the portal based on the information you provide.

Step 5: Apply for up to five internship opportunities, selecting preferences like location, sector, functional role, and qualifications.

Step 6: After applying, click on "Submit" and download the confirmation page.

Step 7: Keep a hard copy of the confirmation page for future reference.
WhatsApp License Fee: In a recent regulatory move, the Zimbabwean government has mandated that all WhatsApp group administrators must register with the Postal and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) and obtain a license to legally manage their groups in the country.

The development, introduced by Tatenda Mavetera, Minister of Information, Communication Technology, Postal, and Courier Services (ICTPCS), aims to address misinformation and align with the national Data Protection Act (DPA).

Purpose Of Regulation

The directive targets the growing spread of misinformation on social platforms. With WhatsApp often used for sharing news, discussions, and business activities, the government believes that making group admins accountable can prevent the circulation of false information.

This policy aligns with Zimbabwes DPA, which classifies phone numbers and other data that can identify individuals as sensitive information. Admins, having access to this data, are therefore required to register and pay a licensing fee to POTRAZ, amounting to at least $50 (approximately 4,219 rupees).

Implications Of Licensing Fee

According to Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa, the licensing process will help authorities track the origins of false information and ensure better data protection.

The directive also extends to various institutions, including religious and commercial organizations, impacting how entities use WhatsApp for communication. While officials argue this measure enhances national security and data protection, there is notable concern among critics.

Concerns And Criticism

Moreover, the critics argue the policy could restrict free speech, limit privacy, and add financial burdens on individuals and businesses that rely on WhatsApp for marketing and communication.

Many fear that this regulation could affect small businesses and local communities that depend on the platform to operate efficiently. While the government sees the directive as essential for safeguarding information, the debate around its implications on freedom and privacy continues to unfold in Zimbabwe.
In an unprecedented move, US President-elect Donald Trump asked billionaire Elon Musk to join a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who called him to congratulate him on becoming President once again. This again raised speculations over the possible inclusion of Musk in the Trump administration.

According to reports, Zelenskyy and Musk spoke during the call with Trump. However, the conversation between Trump, Zelensky and Musk was not long as the billionaire business was not on the line for the entire conversation. During the brief discussion, Zelenskyy thanked the SpaceX and Tesla owners for assisting Ukraine by providing access to the Starlink satellite internet platform amid the ongoing war with Russia.

Elon Musk's participation in the call underscores his significant influence within the president-elect's inner circle. Trump has hinted at the possibility of Musk taking on a formal role in his administration to improve government efficiency. This prospect, however, raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest, especially given SpaceX's substantial government contracts, reproted AP.

Trumps interactions with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy are under close scrutiny as he prepares to assume office on January 20, signalling a potential shift in the U.S. stance on Ukraine amidst Russias nearly three-year invasion. Trump has pledged to swiftly broker an end to the conflict, suggesting that Kyiv consider ceding some territory to Moscow in exchange for peacean idea Zelenskyy firmly opposes.

During Trumps previous term in 2017, the U.S. supplied Ukraine with Javelin anti-tank missiles, which were instrumental in helping Ukraine repel the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. The Biden administration has since provided tens of billions in military and economic aid to Ukraine, a policy that Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance have criticized, arguing that such funds would be better invested domestically.

Trump, who has often touted his positive relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has referred to him as pretty smart for launching the invasion. He has also called Zelenskyy the greatest salesman on earth for securing U.S. support. Since his election victory, Trump has been meeting with numerous global leaders, business figures, and political allies at his private club in Florida, including Zelenskyy.
The FBI has disrupted an Iranian plot to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump, according to an announcement from the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday. The agency has charged Farhad Shakeri, 51, an alleged asset of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who is believed to be residing in Iran, while two American citizens, Carlisle Rivera, 49, and Jonathon Loadholt, 36, were arrested in New York on Thursday in connection to the plan.

Investigations reveal that Shakeri was allegedly tasked by Iranian officials on October 7 to devise a scheme to kill Trump, who had been re-elected as the U.S. president earlier in the week. However, according to recorded interviews, Shakeri claimed he did not plan to act within the IRGCs set timeline.

Shakeri, previously deported to Iran in 2008 after serving 14 years for robbery, stated that his assignments also included surveilling two Jewish American citizens in New York City. The Iranian regime, he noted, offered him $500,000 to assassinate either target, while also directing him to monitor Israeli tourists in Sri Lanka.

The DOJ highlighted the gravity of Irans plots against U.S. citizens, with Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stating, There are few actors in the world that pose as grave a threat to the national security of the United States as does Iran. Garland explained that Shakeri's role included managing a network of criminal associates to further Irans assassination goals, including targeting President-elect Trump.

Alongside Shakeri, Rivera and Loadholt were arrested and charged for their alleged involvement in a network tasked with silencing and killing an American journalist critical of Iran. According to the DOJ, the two individuals conducted months of surveillance on an American citizen of Iranian origin at Shakeris direction. "We will not stand for the Iranian regimes attempts to endanger the American people and Americas national security, Garland added.

The arrests took place in the Southern District of New York, where Rivera and Loadholt were detained following their initial court appearance on Thursday, pending trial.

The DOJs revelation underscores Irans ongoing threats to U.S. security, with FBI Director Christopher Wray noting, The IRGC  a designated foreign terrorist organization  has been conspiring with criminals and hitmen to target and gun down Americans on U.S. soil and that simply wont be tolerated.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York reinforced this, saying, Todays charges are another message to those who continue in their efforts  we will remain unrelenting in our pursuit of bad actors, no matter where they reside, and will stop at nothing to bring to justice those who harm our safety and security.
NASA is closely monitoring the health of astronaut Sunita Williams, who has experienced noticeable weight loss during an extended mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) alongside fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore.

Originally scheduled as an eight-day mission, Williams stay has now exceeded 150 days due to unexpected technical issues with the Boeing Starliner, which returned without the crew. Recent images showing her visibly thinner appearance have raised concerns about the impact of prolonged space travel on her physical health.

A NASA source familiar with the mission told the New York Post that Williams condition is a cause for concern. "I gasped when I saw the latest photo," the source shared, adding that Williams has lost a lot of weight and now appears skin and bones. NASA is focused on stabilizing her weight, making it a priority to address any health challenges she faces in the demanding conditions of space.

Sunita Williams went to space on an 8-day mission, but now she has been stuck there for the last 153 days and has become very weak



It has become very difficult for her to come back now pic.twitter.com/JJnELJgKwc November 8, 2024

Challenges of Weight Maintenance in Space

Upon launch, Williams weighed approximately 140 lbs and has since struggled to reach the daily recommended calorie intake of 3,500 to 4,000 calories, essential for meeting the physical demands of space life. The high-energy requirements, compounded by the two hours of exercise necessary to prevent muscle and bone loss in microgravity, have made it difficult for her to maintain her weight. When you start falling behind on calories, your weight drops fast, a NASA employee explained.

NASA doctors have been closely observing Williams' weight loss for over a month. Research suggests that female astronauts may experience muscle loss more rapidly than male astronauts due to specific metabolic shifts in space. Reflecting on her condition, a NASA physician noted, "the natural stresses of living at a high altitude, even in a pressurised cabin for extended periods," can impact weight maintenance and overall health.

NASAs Assurance on Health Monitoring

NASA has emphasized that regular health evaluations are conducted for all ISS astronauts. A spokesperson reassured the public that the crew remains in good health with "dedicated flight surgeons monitoring them," helping to address any concerns as Williams continues her mission on the ISS.
Enforcement Directorate (ED), Srinagar Zonal Office has filed a Prosecution Complaint (PC) against 'conman' Kiran Patel before Special Court (PMLA), Srinagar under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. As per the ED, Kiran Patel, a conman, impersonated himself as Additional Director (Strategy and Campaigns), PMO and fraudulently created/ printed fake visiting cards for faking his identity to fulfil his ulterior motives to dupe people and generate proceeds of crime. "Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Srinagar Zonal Office has filed a Prosecution Complaint (PC) against Kiran Patel S/o Jagdish Bhai Patel R/o Ahmadabad, Gujarat before the Hon'ble Special Court (PMLA), Srinagar on October 28, 2024, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The Hon'ble Court has taken cognizance of the PC and notice has also been issued to the accused, Kiran Patel to appear before the Hon'ble Court on 27/11/2024," as per an official release. ED initiated investigation on the basis of FIR registered by Nishat Police Station, Srinagar, against Kiran Patel and others for the offences under various sections of IPC, 1860. ED investigation revealed that Kiran Patel, a conman, impersonated himself as Additional Director (Strategy and Campaigns), PMO and fraudulently created/ printed fake visiting cards for faking his identity to fulfil his ulterior motives to dupe people and generate proceeds of crime. Further, by using the said fake visiting cards and impersonation, not only did he (Kiran Patel) illicitly availed the security from the administration of the UT of J&K Government which has caused a loss of resources and monetary loss to the state exchequer but also, he duped gullible Gujarat based businessmen and secured/ got undue advantages by making a false promise to provide business opportunities in the Valley of Kashmir, the agency said in the release. "Earlier, ED had conducted search operations under PMLA, 2002 on 19-05-2023 at various premises linked with Kiran Patel & Others resulting in seizure of incriminating documents/ records & electronic devices," the release read. Further investigations are in progress. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court has directed the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) to enable the online registration of Muslim marriages on its official portal within a specified time frame. In its order, the bench of Justice Sanjeev Narula also instructed the Chief Secretary of GNCTD to personally oversee the implementation of directive and ensure timely compliance. The Court was hearing a petition filed by a couple who married under Islamic Sharia law on October 11, 2023. The couple, intending to travel abroad, sought to register their marriage as required by certain countries for visa issuance. However, due to the absence of an effective online registration mechanism for marriages solemnized under Muslim Personal Laws, the petitioners were forced to register their marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954. The court has now ordered the GNCTD to create the online registration system within a specified timeframe Appeared for the petitioner couple, Advocate M. Sufian Siddiqui submitted that "The Petitioners were subjected to an exclusionary marriage registration system mandated by the GNCTD, which allowed only two options--registration under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, or the Special Marriage Act, 1954--on its online portal. The absence of an offline alternative or a suitable online option under the Delhi (Compulsory Registration of Marriage) Order, 2014 effectively coerced the Petitioners into a statutory regime antithetical to their faith and intent thereby causing grave infraction of their constitutional rights under Articles 14, 21, and 25." Court noted that the petitioners were married in accordance with Islamic Sharia law. They later executed a Mubarat Nama on July 9, 2024, a form of divorce by mutual consent recognized under Islamic law. The present petition is supported by affidavits from both petitioners, with their signatures verified by their counsel. The petitioners' counsel pointed out that, in light of these circumstances, the Special Marriage Act, 1954, should not apply, and that the petitioners, due to the absence of an effective online mechanism for registering marriages solemnized under Muslim Personal Laws (as mandated by the Delhi (Compulsory Registration of Marriage) Order, 2014), mistakenly registered their marriage under the Special Marriage Act, further noted the court. While passed the order on November 6, 2024 the Court has annulled the registration certificate issued by the Revenue Department, GNCTD, and directed that appropriate changes be made to their records by Concern SDM. Regarding the implementation of the Court's judgment dated 4th July, 2024, the Respondents have not provided any concrete steps towards compliance. Therefore, the Court has directed that the Chief Secretary of GNCTD personally oversee the matter and ensure timely compliance with the judgment. (ANI
The Delhi Police, on the direction of a Delhi court, has registered an FIR against former employees of fashion designer Pallavi Mohan on charges of criminal breach of trust. Mohan, known internationally for her brand "Not So Serious," filed a complaint alleging misconduct by her ex-employees. The legal action follows allegations made by Mohan, who claims that the said individuals misappropriated resources and betrayed the trust placed in them during their employment. While speaking to the media, Pallavi Mohan stated on October 4, that the court gave direction to Delhi Police to register FIR immediately, however, Delhi Police registered the FIR after a delay of 13 days on October 17. Even now, no meaningful investigation has been done by the Police and none of the accused has been arrested despite the finding by the Court that a field investigation is required. For unknown reasons, the Police are shielding the accused. She added that, despite this, they have been in regular contact with the designated investigating officer and have already provided all necessary documents and information to support the case. Mohan also informed the media that the accused individuals had previously approached the Sessions Court for a stay on the Magistrate Court's order, but they did not receive any favourable ruling. Pallavi Mohan's complaint alleges that her former employees, Manu Uniyal and Surender Kumar, secretly accepted orders from her clients and reportedly manufactured high-end ladies' garments using the "Not So Serious" brand name, design, and materials, diverting payments to their accounts and those of their family members and associated companies, including Kalpana Uniyal and Manusmriti Ayurveda Pvt Ltd. The complaint also includes allegations of forgery and record fabrication. The complaint further alleges that the proceeds from the illicit activities were transferred to accounts belonging to relatives. It accuses them of conspiring to defraud Pallavi Mohan and her family-owned firms, Not So Serious Trading LLP and Magnolia Martinque Clothing Pvt Ltd. Pallavi Mohan alleged that, despite her initial complaint to the Delhi Police, no FIR was registered. Consequently, she filed a petition under Section 156(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code through her Advocates, Sumit Gehlot and Nikhil Bhalla of Fidelegal Advocates & Solicitors, requesting the court to direct the police to register an FIR in the matter. On October 4, Judge Akshay Sharma of Saket Court noted in his order that the accused, as permanent employees of Pallavi Mohan, had begun a parallel business during their employment and a field investigation is required in the matter. They allegedly designed and manufactured garments under the same label as the complainant and sold these products to her clients. The court observed that the police inquiry, along with bank statements of the accused and the complainant's vendors, supported Pallavi Mohan's claims, Sharma noted in his order. As a result, the court determined that a cognizable offence of criminal breach of trust by a servant, punishable under Section 408 of the IPC, had been committed. The court directed to the concerned SHO to register an FIR against the accused. Mohan is represented by Advocates Sumit Gehlot and Nikhil Bhalla from Fidelegal Advocates & Solicitors, he noted in the order. (ANI)
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav slammed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath saying that this was the first time in the country that the Supreme Court has imposed a hefty fine of Rs 25 lakhs on the Uttar Pradesh government against the bulldozer action. Akhilesh Yadav said, "Fights are being instigated among the saint community. Those who do not consider anyone greater than themselves, people in the government are creating a rift within saints. It is said that the bigger the saint the lesser he speaks and whenever he speaks he speaks for benefit of humanity." He further said that the kind of language being used raises doubt about capabilities of the person in power. He said that this is not the Amrit Kaal of freedom but destruction. "A person is a yogi, not by his clothes but by what he says. Those whose job is to run the government are driving bulldozers and the symbol of development has become the symbol of destruction. This is the first time in the country that the Supreme Court has imposed a hefty fine of Rs 25 lakhs on the Uttar Pradesh government against the bulldozer action," he further said. Earlier the Supreme Court slammed the Uttar Pradesh government authorities for the illegal demolition of houses for road widening while terming the action by the state as "high-handed" and without authority of law. A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra also directed the UP government to grant punitive compensation of Rs 25 lakhs to persons whose house was demolished. "You can't come with bulldozers and demolish houses overnight. You don't give time family to vacate. What about the household articles? There has to be due process followed," said Justice Pardiwala during the hearing. The bench further directed the Chief Secretary of the state to conduct a disciplinary enquiry against officers responsible for the illegal demolitions. The apex court was hearing a suo motu case registered in 2020 based on a letter complaint sent by Manoj Tibrewal Aakash, whose house was demolished in 2019 by state authorities. He claimed that his house was demolished without any prior notice or explanation for allegedly encroaching on a highway. (ANI)
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha attended 'Sanatan Dharma Sammelan' in Udaipur on Saturday. Referring to recent attacks on the Hindu community in Chittagong Bangladesh he said that there have been many atrocities in the past but no one could destroy Hinduism. CM Manik Saha said, "Today 'Sanatan Dharma Sammelan' is being held in Udaipur, Tripura and people from all over the country have come here. There will be a discussion about our Hindu religion, and the value of our Sanatan Dharma. All these things will be discussed here. Sanatan Dharma is a very ancient religion of the world. There have been many atrocities in the past too but no one could destroy Hinduism." He further said that the way Ram Temple has been built in Ayodhya, Sanatan Dharma is being revived. Notably, in Bangladesh's port city of Chittagong, a clash between the Hindu community and the law enforcement forces took place during a tense situation over a Facebook post criticising ISKCON. Due to this, the joint forces of police and army conducted an operation there on Tuesday night. "A local youth named Osman posted on Facebook demanding the banning of ISKCON. Law and order forces went there when tension arose. It has been alleged that something like acid was thrown at the law enforcement agencies," said a Hindu community leader. Earlier Tripura minister Sudhanshu Das called for the establishment of a Sanatan Dharma Board like the Waqf Board to protect Hindu temples. Speaking to ANI Das said, "Why there is no board for our Sanatan Dharam when there is a Waqf board for the Muslim community...Our demand is there should be a board for our Sanatan Dharam, to protect the temples. We have seen what happened in Tirupati. So there should be a broad for us." "We must have a board (Sanatan board) to protect all our temples... If it is not given to us then don't give it to anyone else, this is our demand," he added. A Waqf board is essentially a legal entity that has the power to acquire, hold, and transfer property. (ANI)
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday attacked the Congress for its vision for a nationwide caste survey and termed it as a 'dhoka' to the people of the country, citing the non-success of a socio-economic caste census in 2011. The Union Minister also questioned Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge asking him to present a blueprint or a roadmap for the welfare of the thousands and lakhs of castes in the country. Addressing a rally in Jharkhand's Khunti, Rajnath Singh said, "These days you must be seeing that Congress is claiming to conduct a caste-based survey after they come into power. I want to say this is 'dhoka'. I want to remind Congress that in 2011, a socio-economic caste census was conducted. In this 46 lakh castes, tribes and lineage came to the fore. This statistic was so wide that the people who had prepared this report back then did not even make it public." "According to the Ministry of Social Welfare, the Scheduled castes were more than 1,200 Scheduled Tribes were more than 7,500 and OBC castes were around 2,500. I want to ask Kharge ji, 'Do you have a blueprint or a roadmap for the welfare of the thousands and lakhs of castes? Please answer this question in front of the country," said Rajnath Singh. "Kharge ji should answer how lakhs of castes, lower castes, gotra and how will they be given reservation facilities, which caste will get how much reservation. Please tell the people of the country," he said. "Congress made the country poor. In 2014, India was in the 11th position, in 7 years of BJP governance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it has risen to become the 5th economy," said the Union Minister. Rajnath Singh highlighted the BJP's track record of fulfilling its manifesto commitments, stating, "From 1951 till now, since the formation of BJP, if anyone looks at our manifesto, we have fulfilled everything we have promised. In 2014 also I was BJP national president and even then whatever we promised, we fulfilled it." "I want to ask the Congress also which promises they have not fulfilled. I challenge them to come to the 'Janta ki Adalat' and tell us about it," he said. "Danke ki chot par I would like to say whenever Congress has made promises to the people of the country, to the people of Jharkhand, they have never fulfilled it. Congress has tried to always deceive the public and gain their support," said Rajnath Singh. 'Janta ki aankho mai dhul jhonkkar unka samarthan lene ki koshish kia hai Congress ne," he said. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also announced, "Two LPG cylinders will be given free in a year. 2,27,000 government posts will be filled in a transparent manner. Rs 2,000 per month will be deposited in the accounts of unemployed graduates for 2 years so that they can find employment." Earlier on Tuesday, Rajnath Singh on Tuesday took a swipe at the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand government, accusing it of corruption and likening the BJP and its NDA allies to "powerful rockets" poised to propel Jharkhand towards speedy progress. Singh had also highlighted the government's initiative for tribal villages across the country. The 81-member Jharkhand Assembly will go to polls in two phases on November 13 and 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23. (ANI)
Targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in poll-bound Jharkhand, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Saturday that the former is trying to divide the country and he insults India when he visits other countries. Addressing a public gathering here today, Chouhan said, "This Congress believes in divide and rule and has opened a 'Nafrat ki Dukaan'. He is trying to divide the country. He insults India when he visits other countries. He says something else here but talks about abolishing reservation in the country when he visits America." The Union Minister also said that the people of the state should be "cautious about this divide-and-rule policy." "That is why I am saying that we should not get divided because if we unite, we will win," Shivraj Singh added. Earlier today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticized the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Congress government in Jharkhand, calling it the most corrupt in the country and urged the people to remove them from power to stop corruption. Addressing a campaign rally in Jharkhand Amit Shah said, "The Congress, JMM government is the most corrupt government in the entire country. It needs to be changed... If you want to stop this corruption, then uproot the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and Congress government. Those who have stolen your money will not be spared." The 81-member Jharkhand Assembly will go to polls in two phases on November 13 and 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23. A total of 2.6 crore voters are eligible to participate, including 1.31 crore male and 1.29 crore female voters, as well as 11.84 lakh first-time voters and 66.84 lakh young voters. In the 2020 Assembly elections, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) won 30 seats, the BJP won 25 seats, and the Congress won 16 seats. In 2014, the BJP won 37 seats, JMM won 19 seats, and Congress won just 6 seats. (ANI)
Chairman of Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Amendment Bill Jagdambika Pal has slammed Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh over his remarks about the parliamentary panel and said its work is being discussed and lauded by people. Jagdambika Pal said JPC has held regular meetings and opposition MPs have participated regularly and that the panel is trying to reach out to large number of people before it finalises its report.. "With his statements, he (Sanjay Singh) is commenting on Parliamentary democracy and himself... We have held 25 8-hour long meetings in Delhi and the opposition is actively asking questions and all these things are on record. An MP calling this Parliamentary democracy a drama is unfortunate and condemnable... A JPC is formed so that the government can know the will of the people by going among them and visiting all regions of the country to pass a better resolution... These days we are in the north-east and will visit many cities... This is a very serious exercise," Jagdambika Pal told ANI. The Joint Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is conducting a study tour from November 9 to November 14 during which it will visit Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Patna, and Lucknow. Earlier today, AAP leader Sanjay Singh called the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) tour a drama and a medium to divert attention from the issues. "If the opposition does not go to a meeting, the quorum remains incomplete. I do not know whether the quorum is being completed or not in today's Guwahati tour. This JPC is a drama. The JPC was just a medium to divert attention from the issues. In reality, the Modi government does not want any discussion in JPC," Singh said. The committee plans to present its report on the bill to the House by the end of the first week of the Winter Session of Parliament, which will be held from November 25 to December 20. (ANI)
The Indian Navy is set to demonstrate its formidable maritime capabilities and operational strength at the 'Operational Demonstration' (Op Demo) scheduled at Blue Flag Beach, Puri, Odisha, on December 4 (Navy Day). President Droupadi Murmu has consented to be the Chief Guest for the event. This event showcases the Navy's multifaceted competencies, enhances maritime awareness among citizens, and honors India's rich seafaring heritage, a release said. The 2024 Op Demo to be held against the backdrop of the pristine Blue Flag Beach, symbolizes the connection between the Indian Navy and the maritime legacy of the State of Odisha. The Indian Navy is working closely with the Odisha Government and local authorities to ensure the smooth execution of the event. Seating arrangements would be made to accommodate local spectators and tourists, offering everyone a chance to witness the live demonstration from the beach. The event will also be broadcast live on National television and streamed via the Indian Navy's YouTube channel to reach a wider audience. Earlier, President Droupadi Murmu boarded the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant on November 7 and witnessed an operational demonstration by the Indian Navy at sea. Droupadi Murmu arrived at INS Hansa, the Naval Air Station in Goa, on Thursday, where she was received by Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, and Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command. A ceremonial 'Guard of Honour' comprising 150 personnel was paraded in her honour upon arrival. In her address, President Murmu praised the Indian Navy's capabilities and strategic reach. "The Indian Navy units are deployed across vast areas for extended durations, showcasing their capabilities and strategic influence. Your positive, proactive, and swift actions have saved countless lives at sea. It was a special moment for me when the President of Bulgaria called to express gratitude for rescuing the Bulgarian crew from a hijacked vessel earlier this year," the President said. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday held a roadshow in support of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Jamshedpur East, Purnima Das Sahu and JDU (NDA) candidate Saryu Rai from Jamshedpur West Assembly constituency. Earlier in the day, Amit Shah criticized the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Congress government in Jharkhand, calling it the most corrupt in the country and urged the people to remove them from power to stop corruption. Addressing a campaign rally in Jharkhand Amit Shah said, "The Congress, JMM government is the most corrupt government in the entire country. It needs to be changed... If you want to stop this corruption, then uproot the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and Congress government. Those who have stolen your money will not be spared." He also said that the money seized from the house of Congress leader Dheeraj Sahu belongs to the youth and backward classes of Jharkhand and it has been stolen by Congress and JMM. "Congress leader Dheeraj Sahu's house was raided and Rs 350 crore was seized. Alamgir Alam's PA's house was raided and Rs 30 crore was seized. 27 machines were brought to count the notes but they overheated and stopped working. The counting went on for two days. This money belongs to the youth of Jharkhand, to the backward classes and it has been looted by the Congress-JMM. Those who have stolen your hard-earned money will not be spared," he said. The 81-member Jharkhand Assembly will go to polls in two phases on November 13 and 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23. A total of 2.6 crore voters are eligible to participate, including 1.31 crore male and 1.29 crore female voters, as well as 11.84 lakh first-time voters and 66.84 lakh young voters. In the 2020 Assembly elections, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) won 30 seats, the BJP won 25 seats, and the Congress won 16 seats. In 2014, the BJP won 37 seats, JMM won 19 seats, and Congress won just 6 seats. (ANI)
Junior doctors on Saturday took out a protest march over the recent alleged murder and rape incident at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata city of West Bengal. The protestors took out the march at College Square and expressed their outrage over the incident which sent shock waves across the country. TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said that the trial process in the case is on. "It has been three months since the incident took place. Junior Doctors Front is organising a rally here and the Junior Doctors Association is organizing a convention. The incident that took place was really bad. The accused was arrested by Kolkata Police within 24 hours...The trial process is going on. The process of justice is underway. These people are saying when will we get justice? The left and the ultra-left are doing this to create disturbance here. The real thing is that the process of justice is smooth. This process is going on in the trial court, the Supreme Court is monitoring it and the status report of the CBI which was submitted to the Supreme Court, there were no irregularities," he said. 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 solidarity with the junior doctors in Kolkata. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Thursday refused the plea seeking to transfer the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape case out of West Bengal. A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and other justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra turned down the plea made by a lawyer. The top court said that it has transferred the trial outside in some cases like Manipur violence but declined to do such things in the present matter. "No such transfer," the Court said. However, the lawyer insisted the court for it but the top court was not convinced. When the lawyer said that the people of West Bengal were losing faith in the police and judiciary, the top court pulled him to make such a general statement. The top court also observed the Central Bureau of Investigation had clarified that the probe was a continuing one and they may file further supplementary chargesheet if they found further evidence. The top court said that such aspects would be considered by the session judge handling the matter. The top court was hearing a suo motu petition on the rape and murder of a doctor in state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal. The top court took note of the CBI status report which stated that Sealdah's Session Court has framed charges against the accused. SC asked CBI to file the updated status after four weeks. Meanwhile, an advocate apprises the Supreme Court that the Centre has filed the report of the National Task Force. SC is pursuing the report by NTF. Supreme Court noted that NTF has formulated recommendations in two categories - prevention of physical violence and prevention of sexual violence against medical professionals. The Supreme Court ordered that a copy of the report be provided to all counsels involved in the matter, as well as to the Chief Secretaries of all states and union territories, so they can make appropriate recommendations. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravinder Raina on Saturday met the families of the Village Defence Guards (VDGs) who were killed by terrorists on November 7. "Coward Pakistani terrorists have killed humanity with barbarism... The terrorists not only killed the VDG members, they also mutilated their bodies... They will have to pay a heavy price for this... Indian Army, J&K Police, and Paramilitary forces have cordoned off the area. Terrorists and their helpers will not be spared... The LG and CM have announced that the government will provide all possible help to the victim families..." said Ravinder Raina. The bodies of the two VDGs, who were abducted and killed in a recent terror attack in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, have been recovered, police said on Friday. The bodies were recovered from the forested areas of Ohli Kuntwara following an intensive joint search operation by the Jammu and Kashmir Police along with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Army. Earlier on Thursday, terrorists killed two VDG members identified as Nazir Ahmed and Kuldeep Kumar, both residents of the Kuntwara area in Kishtwar. They had gone to graze their cattle in the forest, police said. Condemning the killing of two village defence guards in Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had said that he is "deeply" saddened and concerned by the attack, Abdullah further said that security forces should ensure that such attacks are stopped "completely." J-K Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha also condemned the heinous terrorist attack and paid homage to the two deceased and reiterated the government's resolve to destroy all terror outfits and avenge the barbaric act. Sinha stated no words are strong enough to condemn the heinous terrorist attack on VDG members in Kishtwar. I convey my heartfelt condolences to the families of brave sons martyred in this cowardly attack. We are firmly resolved to destroy all terror outfits & avenge this barbaric act. (ANI)
Claiming "historic victory" for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Wayanad, Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Saturday said she alongwith Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in the Parliament will be "tough days" for the BJP and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Pilot, who arrived in Wayanad on Friday to campaign for Priyanka Gandhi said that there is a lot of positivity among the people. "From the feedback I received, the Congress and UDF cadre are united and there is a lot of positivity among the public. There is a resounding sentiment that there will be a historic victory for Priyanka Gandhi. She, from the last 2 decades, has proved herself as an astute politician. She will be a strong voice in the Parliament for the Wayanad people," he said. "Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi in the Parliament will be tough days for the BJP and NDA," Pilot added. Further, the Congress leader asserted that their target within the party is that Priyanka Gandhi should win by over five lakh votes. Wayanad, a Congress stronghold, will see a contest between Priyanka Gandhi of Congress, Navya Haridas of the BJP, and Sathyan Mokeri of the Left alliance in the upcoming by-polls. The election was necessitated after Rahul Gandhi vacated the seat, choosing to retain Rae Bareli following his victory in both constituencies in the general elections earlier this year. The by-election for the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency is scheduled for November 13. Further, speaking on the Jharkhand and Maharashtra Assembly polls, Sachin Pilot said that both the elections will be a resounding victory for the INDIA bloc. "The agencies of the government of India are being misused to suppress the voice of opposition. Maharashtra and Jharkhand elections will be a resounding victory for the INDIA alliance. The sentiments are in our favour and we will win the elections and form a strong government. The double-engine government of the BJP has tried to sell false hopes to the public but people are now smart and have realized that these kinds of politics are not acceptable...We will form the government in Maharashtra and Jharkhand," he said. The 81-member Jharkhand Assembly will go to polls in two phases on November 13 and 20 while the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly will go to polls on November 20, with counting for votes in both states on November 23. (ANI)
"A call of a cylinder blast was received from Q - Block, near RD Public School, Krishan Vihar. Two fire tenders were sent to the spot. There was blast in an LPG cylinder," Delhi Fire Service said in a statement.

The LPG cylinder explosion caused the collapse of half of the house '(G+1 floor)', it said.

Aa 24-year-old woman identifeid as Rajni died on the spot while another woman Renu (20) suffered 18 per cent burn injuries and was taken to Sanjay Gandhi Hospital by a CATS ambulance, the statement said. (ANI)
As part of its capacity-building engagements with friendly foreign nations of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), India has gifted two water-jet propelled Fast Interceptor Craft (FIC) to Mozambique. The FICs were transshipped from India by INS Gharial. The handing over ceremony on November 8 was attended by the High Commissioner of India in Mozambique, Robert Shetkintong, India's newly appointed Defence Adviser at Maputo, Col Puneet Attri, and the Commanding Officer of INS Gharial, Commander Rajan Chib. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of National Defence, Augusto Casimiro Mueio, formally accepted the vessels on behalf of the Government of Mozambique. These water-jet-propelled boats have a top speed of 45 knots and a range of 200 nautical miles at 12 knots. They can carry a crew of five personnel and are equipped with machine guns and bullet-resistant cabins. The two FICs will significantly aid the Government of Mozambique in its effort to combat maritime terrorism and ongoing insurgency in the Cabo Delgado province. Earlier, to bolster the efforts of the Government of Mozambique for maritime security, the Government of India had gifted two large Interceptor vessels in 2019, followed by two FICs of the same class in Jan 2022. The Indian Navy has been seen by several nations in the IOR as the preferred partner for maritime security. The Indian Navy has been collaborating with several friendly littorals of the IOR to equip and train their maritime security forces to counter maritime security challenges like piracy, drug and human trafficking, Illegal Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, maritime terrorism, etc. The Indian Navy has also been the first responder to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) support to several nations in the region during natural calamities and other contingencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2019, Indian Naval Ships Sujata & Shardul and Indian Coast Guard Ship Sarathi were diverted from their deployment to assist Mozambique when Cyclone Idai struck its Sofala province. Over a period of two weeks, the ships rescued more than 200 civilians, provided emergency medical treatment to over 2,300 people and supplied 10 Tonnes of food material by boats and helicopter to flood-affected areas. In March 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, The Government of India donated 100,000 doses and supplied over one million doses of the COVISHIELD vaccine to Mozambique under the COVAX programme. India has provided training opportunities for the Mozambique Armed Forces in various professional institutions of the Indian Armed Forces. India also gifted an Infantry Weapons Training Simulator to Mozambique in November last year to be installed at the Army Practicing School Manhica, near Maputo. On-job training on operating and maintaining the Indian-gifted vessels is also provided by the resident Indian Coast Guard Afloat Support Team at Maputo. The Interceptors vessels gifted by India have played a pivotal role since 2019 in anti-insurgency operations, maritime patrol & interdiction, and logistics support missions. In the last two years, Indian Warships have made regular port calls at Maputo, Beira and Nacala. Indian Naval Ships Tir and Sujata participated in the 2nd edition of the India-Mozambique-Tanzania (IMT) Trilateral Exercise at Nacala, held in March 2023. Previously, Indian Naval Ships Sujata, Sunayna and Sumedha undertook Joint EEZ Surveillance missions with the Mozambique Navy to strengthen maritime security in the region and undertake harbour and sea training for Mozambique Navy personnel. India and Mozambique share a robust strategic partnership that has grown even stronger with each passing year in multiple realms. India is thus fully committed to helping and supporting its maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region in line with the vision of security and growth for all in the region (SAGAR) advocated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI)
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday said that the state government is committed to creating a comprehensive medical hub in Tripura, aiming to make the state self-sufficient in healthcare services and giving top priority to improving healthcare services in the state, with initiatives underway to build high-quality hospitals and infrastructure. During the 18th annual state conference of the Association of Surgeons of India (Tripura Chapter), Saha emphasised the importance of healthcare, noting that it is a primary asset of the state. The Chief Minister highlighted that the state government, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guidance, is working on strengthening Tripura's healthcare sector, including increasing medical staff such as specialists and super-specialists--a development once unimaginable in the state. Saha noted the recent advancements, stating that healthcare modernisation over the past six years has brought the state to par with others, with surgeons now able to perform various advanced procedures locally, reducing the need for patients to seek treatment outside the state. Saha shared that eight organisations have expressed interest in setting up high-standard hospitals in Agartala, with land allocation in prime city areas offered by the government. However, these hospitals must recruit their own doctors, as government doctors are not permitted to serve in these private institutions. Saha mentioned the government's broader vision, which includes establishing a medical hub in Tripura that encompasses allopathic, homoeopathic, and ayurvedic healthcare. Additionally, medical education in the state will also be expanded, with three medical colleges offering nearly 400 MBBS seats. Tripura now also has a government dental college with 63 seats and a dialysis unit and female medicine ward were recently inaugurated. He added that faculty quality in the state's medical colleges is high, with students achieving excellent results. Remarkably, kidney transplants are now possible in the state, with plans to introduce liver transplants in the future. The Seha Hospital in Manipur had proposed establishing a hospital and medical college in Tripura, with an investment of around Rs. 700 crore pending cabinet approval. Further expansions include trauma care centres in Shantirbazar, Udaipur, and Ambassa, as well as plans to open similar centres in North Tripura. Additionally, a cardiac care centre was inaugurated in Ambassa, and de-addiction centres are being set up in all districts, each with a budget allocation of Rs. 20 crore. The AGMC offers 85 seats for PG courses across 20 departments, and the number of beds in Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital has also increased from 727 to 1,413. The Chief Minister assured that more advancements in healthcare will be made, including Rs 515 crore allocated from the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region, designated for various health departments and projects in Tripura. (ANI)
Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate from Worli, Aditya Thackeray said on Saturday that the Maharashtra Assembly election is not an election of the family, but it is for the development of the people of the state whom he is fighting for. Speaking to ANI, Thackeray also alleged that there were no elections of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Thane Municipal Corporation for the last two years in the state. "This is not an election of the family, this is an election for the development of the people of Maharashtra and we are fighting for them. The beginning of disrespecting the Constitution was done in Maharashtra. There were no elections of BMC, Thane Municipal Corporation for the last two years in the state. An unconstitutional government has been made to rule the state," he said. Further, Aditya Thackeray said his vision is to work for the farmers, and youth. "There are 10 more contestants with me, all of them are important. Every candidate comes with hope and the public will decide who will emerge victorious. The redevelopment of BDD NM Joshi was done when Uddhav Thackeray was the Chief Minister and that is why we are getting so much love from the public. The BJP is looting the nation and Maharashtra, the farmer is upset, youth is unemployed. My vision is to work for them," the Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate said. The Worli constituency will see a high-profile contest between Mahayuti candidate Milind Deora and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has also announced its candidate, Sandeep Deshpande from the seat. Milind Deora is currently a Rajya Sabha member and is a three-time MP from South Mumbai. The Maharashtra assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with votes for all 288 constituencies to be counted on November 23. In the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena secured 56, and Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP won 122 seats, Shiv Sena 63, and Congress 42. (ANI)
The Bangladeshi national is a resident of Cumilla district and was apprehended by BSF troops of BOP Kamlasagar under Sepahijala district at around 12:30 pm, said BSF.

In another operation, BSF troops of Panisagar Sector apprehended three Rohingya illegal migrants including one woman and two men, added the release.

Preliminary questioning is underway. More updates on the matter are awaited.

BSF is maintaining a high level of alertness on the international border to prevent infiltration, said the release. (ANI)
On Saturday, MNS workers organized a conference at Ram Mandir Hall in Mumbai's Kumbharwada, expressing their support for Mahayuti candidate Shaina NC.

Shaina NC thanked MNS officials and workers, including MNS President Raj Thackeray, for their support in the assembly constituency.

Shaina NC, a former BJP spokesperson, joined the Shiv Sena after the Eknath Shinde-led party fielded her from Mumbadevi. She is contesting against incumbent Congress MLA Amin Patel, who has represented the Mumbadevi constituency since 2009.

The Raj Thackeray-led MNS, which stayed away from the Lok Sabha elections this year, is contesting 25 of the 36 seats in Mumbai this time. During the Lok Sabha elections, MNS had offered unconditional support to the Mahayuti; however, for the upcoming Assembly elections, the MNS has fielded candidates in over 100 seats.

Earlier on Friday, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Shiv Sena leader and actor Govinda, and Shaina NC visited the Mumbadevi Temple, seeking blessings for victory in the upcoming polls.

Kiren Rijiju expressed confidence in a Mahayuti alliance victory in the assembly elections.

"We have come here to take the blessings of Devi (Mumbadevi). Seeing the atmosphere here, I can say that the Mahayuti alliance will get a clear majority," Rijiju said.

Govinda also expressed his support for Shaina NC, saying, "I pray to Mumbadevi that our candidate Shaina NC wins the election from here."

Speaking to the media, Shaina NC emphasized her commitment to "work for the people."

The Maharashtra assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with votes for all 288 constituencies to be counted on November 23.

The opposition MVA coalition, comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Nationalist Congress Party (SCP), seeks to reclaim power in the state, challenging the Mahayuti alliance, which includes Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Ajit Pawar-led NCP.

In the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena secured 56, and Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP won 122 seats, Shiv Sena 63, and Congress 42. (ANI)
The Israel Defence Forces said they, along with Israeli agency COGAT (Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories: Judea and Samaria and towards the Gaza Strip) said it is preparing to open the Kissufim crossing. In a statement on Friday, it said as part of the effort to increase the volume and routes of aid to Gaza, the IDF via COGAT and the Southern Command, is preparing to open the Kissufim crossing. In a post on X, the IDF said, "In accordance with the directive from the political echelon and as part of the effort to increase the volume and routes of aid to Gaza, the IDF via COGAT and the Southern Command, is preparing to open the Kissufim crossing. The introduction of humanitarian aid through the Kissufim crossing was made possible following engineering work carried out in the area over recent weeks by the IDF. As part of the work, the forces built inspection facilities and protective infrastructure, and paved roads both in Israeli territory and within Gaza to allow the transfer of aid to the southern part of Gaza. This was done while ensuring the safety of the Israeli communities along the border with Gaza." https://x.com/IDF/status/1854893166257648081 Kissufim is a small border crossing into southern Gaza near Kibbutz Kissufim, one of the sites attacked by Hamas in its terror assault on Israel on October 7, 2023 that sparked the crisis, VOA reported. The opening came as the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin in a letter delivered on October 13 gave Israel 30 days to boost its humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza or face the possibility of cuts in US military aid, as per VOA. The letter called for Israel to enable a minimum of 350 trucks a day to enter Gaza through four crossings and to open a fifth humanitarian entry point. Spokesperson Matthew Miller in a US State Department briefing on Thursday said that Israel has made the new crossing, that they made efforts to stop looting from humanitarian trucks and expanded the Mawasi humanitarian area within Gaza, VOA reported. Miller said US officials have seen almost 229 humanitarian trucks enter Gaza two days ago, which he described as an improvement. (ANI)
US President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday held a telephonic conversation with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, The Times of Israel reported, quoting a statement from Abbas's office. Abbas congratulated Trump on his election victory this week and wished him good luck as he prepared for his second term in the White House, The Times of Israel reported. Abbas said he was ready "to work with President Trump to achieve a just and comprehensive peace based on international legitimacy," The Times of Israel quoted the statement. Trump told Abbas that he "will work to stop the war" and that he looks forward to working with the leader and all concerned parties to "promote peace in the Middle East," as per The Times of Israel. Bishara Bahbah, who was the national chair of Arab Americans for Trump, told The Times of Israel he spoke with Abbas shortly after the call and he characterized the conversation as "excellent." "They discussed the issue of peace and the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities," Bahbah told the Times of Israel. Bahbah insisted that Abbas is looking forward to working with Trump, despite a very rocky relationship during the US president-elect's first term when Palestine severed relations with the US after Washington recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital in 2017. The two had not spoken since. "We're in a different year now. We all graduate from positions that we have taken. There is a need for an immediate cessation to the hostilities and a return to the negotiating table for a lasting peace," Bahbah said, as per Times of Israel. Earlier in the day, The Israel Defence Forces said they, along with the Israeli agency COGAT (Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories: Judea and Samaria and towards the Gaza Strip) said it is preparing to open the Kissufim crossing. https://x.com/IDF/status/1854893166257648081 Kissufim is a small border crossing into southern Gaza near Kibbutz Kissufim, one of the sites attacked by Hamas in its terror assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, that sparked the crisis, VOA reported. Spokesperson Matthew Miller in a US State Department briefing on Thursday said that Israel's situation has improved, as per VOA. However, these developments came during US President Joe Biden's rule. (ANI)
The US Department of Justice on Friday (local time) charged an Iranian citizen who was tapped by Iran to allegedly assassinate Donald Trump before the presidential election. Farhad Shakeri, 51, of Iran was charged as an asset of the Iranian regime who was tasked by the regime to direct a network of criminal associates to further Iran's assassination plots against its targets, including President-elect Donald Trump, according to United States Department of Justice statement. "The charges announced today expose Iran's continued brazen attempts to target U.S. citizens, including President-elect Donald Trump, other government leaders and dissidents who criticize the regime in Tehran," said FBI Director Christopher Wray. The Justice Department has charged an asset of the Iranian regime who was tasked by the regime to direct a network of criminal associates to further Iran's assassination plots against its targets, including President-elect Donald Trump. "We have also charged and arrested two individuals who we allege were recruited as part of that network to silence and kill, on U.S. soil, an American journalist who has been a prominent critic of the regime. We will not stand for the Iranian regime's attempts to endanger the American people and America's national security," read the statement. Farhad Shakeri, Carlisle Rivera, also known as Pop, 49, of Brooklyn, New York; and Jonathon Loadholt, 36, of Staten Island, New York, were charged in a criminal complaint in connection with their alleged involvement in a plot to murder a US citizen of Iranian origin in New York. Rivera was arrested in Brooklyn, New York, and Loadholt was arrested in Staten Island, New York. Shakeri remains at large and is believed to reside in Iran. Rivera and Loadholt made their initial appearance in the Southern District of New York yesterday and were ordered detained pending trial. "There are few actors in the world that pose as grave a threat to the national security of the United States as Iran," Attorney General Merrick B Garland said. "Actors directed by the Government of Iran continue to target our citizens, including President-elect Trump, on US soil and abroad. This has to stop," US Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York said. As per the statement, Iran targets US and its allies in a bid to avenge the death of then-Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Qods Force (IRGC-QF), Qasem Soleimani, who was killed by a US drone strike in Baghdad in January 2020. Shakeri is an IRGC asset who immigrated to the United States as a child and was deported in or about 2008 after serving 14 years in prison for a robbery conviction. In recent months, Shakeri has used a network of criminal associates he met in prison in the United States to supply the IRGC with operatives to conduct surveillance and assassinations of IRGC targets, the statement said. Notably, ahead of the 2024 US presidential elections, a reported gunfire incident disrupted former President Donald Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, CBS News reported. Following the incident, Trump was immediately escorted off stage by US Secret Service agents. (ANI)
The US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin while addressing the media following a change of command ceremony at US Southern Command in Doral, Florida highlighted the significant expansion of the US-India relationship. "We have a great relationship with the Philippines, and we continue to work together in ways that we should be working together .... Our relationship with India is much expanded from what it was," he said, also adding that Japan has greatly increased its investment in defense over the past four years," said Austin as per a statement by the US Department of Defence. He was recounting the progress achieved by the Defense Department during his four-year tenure as the Pentagon's top official while also praising DOD leadership. Donald Trump created history by winning the US presidential elections on November 5, becoming only the second leader to serve non-consecutive tenures. The Republican Party also gained control of the House and Senate. He secured over 300 electoral votes, well ahead of the 270 mark needed to win the presidency. On the other hand, outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris could only win 224. In a major takeaway, Trump won all seven battleground states as well as the popular vote. After a resounding victory in the US Presidential Elections, Donald Trump took to the stage and in his speech, said, "America's future will be bigger, better, bolder, richer, safer and stronger than it has ever been before. God bless you and God bless America". https://x.com/SecDef/status/1854658132355825684 "Today, I was in Miami where the colors of @Southcom passed from Gen. Richardson to Adm. Holsey. It was an honor to celebrate the men & women of this command & thank them for contributing to this Department's efforts to strengthen partnerships & counter the security challenges throughout our hemisphere," posted Austin on X. Austin also commented on progress made in other regions. "Despite supporting and managing security assistance to Ukraine, and also [supporting] Israel's efforts to defend its sovereign territory, we've been able to maintain a focus on the Indo-Pacific as well," he said. Austin commented on the progress made in Europe and the Middle East since the 2022 start of the war in Ukraine and the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. "We strengthened NATO. We've pulled NATO together. We've kept 50 countries focused on providing security assistance to Ukraine," Austin said, referencing the alliance of more than 50 nations comprising the Ukraine Defence Contact Group. Regarding the situation in the Middle East, Austin said that providing adequate humanitarian relief to Gaza remains a high priority, and that he had spoken earlier that day about that priority topic with Yoav Gallant, during his last days as Israel's defence minister, the statement added. "Today, when I talked to [Gallant] for the final time in his position, I emphasized again how important [the humanitarian aid issue] is and thanked him for what he did to help us move things along," Austin said, adding that more progress on the issue needs to be made. https://x.com/SecDef/status/1854614997730836522 In terms of the overall situation in both Europe and the Middle East, Austin said he's glad those conflicts have stayed relatively contained, as per the statement. "I think we've done a magnificent job there in terms of managing things and not allowing things to blossom into a full-blown regional war," the statement quoted him as saying. When pressed on whether he has any concerns about how the new commander in chief will use the military once the new administration takes over in 2025, Austin said that he wouldn't speculate on such a topic, but that he has full faith in the military leadership. "I will tell you that we have an incredibly professional group of leaders in the military, and they are absolutely focused on doing the right things to maintain the competitive edge in the battlespace," Austin said. "These senior leaders will stay focused on the task at hand: defending this country, taking care of our troops [and] succeeding through teamwork," he added. "This is what they're made of. This is what they do. I have 100% confidence in them going forward," Austin said. (ANI)
Chandra Arya, Member of Parliament of Canada in a statement condemned the attack by Khalistani extremists on Hindu devotees at the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton that took place on November 3 and criticized politicians for misrepresenting the incident as a Hindu-Sikh issue. Arya argued this framing is misleading and divisive. In a statement shared on the social media platform X, Arya wrote: "On behalf of Hindu-Canadians and the vast majority of Sikh-Canadians, I again strongly condemn the attack by Khalistani extremists on Hindu devotees at the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton. Politicians are deliberately avoiding recognizing and mentioning Khalistanis as responsible for this attack or are shifting the blame to other entities. They are misleading Canadians by framing this as an issue between Hindus and Sikhs. This is not true." https://x.com/AryaCanada/status/1854934028006117676 He said that throughout history, Hindus and Sikhs have been connected through family relationships and shared social and cultural ties and urged both communities to prove politicians wrong. Hindus and Sikhs have been united throughout history, are united today, and will continue to be united in the future. We, as Hindus and Sikhs, will not and should not allow vested interests to divide us for their political gain," added the post. The Canadian MP said that politicians are portraying Hindus and Sikhs as opposing sides regarding the attack on the temple by Khalistani extremists. "This picture is simply not true. The two sides are actually Hindu-Canadians and the vast majority of Sikh-Canadians on one side, and Khalistanis on the other," he said. Arya's post also highlighted the influence Khalistani supporters wield over certain Canadian Gurudwaras, quoting Sikh community leader and former British Columbia Premier Ujjal Dosanjh. According to Arya, Dosanjh noted that a "silent majority of Sikhs do not want to have anything to do with Khalistan and that they just don't speak out because they're afraid of violence and violent repercussions. Dosanjh also mentioned that many Gurudwaras in Canada are controlled by Khalistani supporters." Arya further said that he understands that fear may prevent the silent majority of Sikhs from speaking out in Gurudwaras, but urged them to use the power of voting over which politicians get elected. "Due to the deliberate actions of some politicians and the influence of Khalistanis, Canadians now mistakenly equate Khalistanis with Sikhs. Hindus and Sikhs alike must educate Canadians that we stand united in our fight against Khalistani extremists and their political backers," added the post. The Canadian MP called on Hindu and Sikh brothers and sisters across Canada to do two things: First, let politicians know that Hindus and the vast majority of Sikh-Canadians stand united on one side, while Khalistanis are on the other. Second, and importantly, I call on all Hindus and Sikhs in Canada to urge community leaders not to provide a platform at any of our events or temples to politicians unless they publicly recognize and expressly condemn Khalistani extremism. Khalistani extremists attacked Hindu-Canadian devotees within the Hindu Sabha temple premises in Brampton, Canada, on November 3. Following the attacks, the Hindu Canadian Foundation, a non-profit organisation working for the Hindu community in Canada, shared a video of the attack on the temple and said that the Khalistani terrorists attacked kids and women. PM Modi in a post on X also condemned the attack. https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1853442198575952031 The Indian High Commission in Canada condemned the "violent disruption" by 'anti-India' elements outside a consular camp. (ANI)
The third edition of India and Australia's joint military exercise commenced at the Foreign Training Node in Pune on November 8. The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from November 8 to November 21. The exercise AUSTRAHIND was started in 2022 in Rajasthan and has since then become an annual event which is conducted alternatively in India and Australia. The aim of the exercise is to foster a collaborative partnership between the two nations and share best practices between the two sides The last edition of the same exercise was conducted in Perth, Australia in December 2023. For the 2024 exercise, yhe Indian contingent comprising 140 personnel will be represented mainly by a battalion of the DOGRA Regiment and 14 personnel from the Indian Air Force. The Australian Army contingent comprising 120 personnel will be represented by the 13th Light Horse Regiment of the 10th Brigade of 2nd Division. The aim of Exercise AUSTRAHIND is to promote military cooperation between India and Australia through the enhancement of interoperability in the conduct of joint sub-conventional operations in a semi-urban environment in semi-desert terrain under Chapter VII of the UN mandate. The exercise will focus on a high degree of physical fitness, joint planning and joint tactical drills. The exercise will be conducted in two phases namely, combat conditioning and tactical training phase and validation phase. Drills to be rehearsed during the exercise will include response to a terrorist action of capturing a defined territory, establishment of a Joint Operations Centre, the conduct of joint counter-terrorism operations like Raid and Search and Destroy Missions, securing of a helipad, employment of drones and counter-drone measures and Special Heli-Borne Operations, amongst others. Exercise AUSTRAHIND will enable the two sides to share their best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures for conducting tactical operations. The exercise will also facilitate developing bonhomie and camaraderie between soldiers on both sides. The details of the opening ceremony were shared by the Additional Directorate General of Public Information of the Indian Army on X. It was noted, "The objective of the exercise is to strengthen interoperability between the #IndianArmy and the #AustralianArmy in conducting Sub-Conventional Operations under the #UN Mandate". https://x.com/adgpi/status/1854883829124563382 India and Australia have significant cooperation in the defence sector. This includes a 2+2 Defence and Foreign Minister's Dialogue, Defence policy and Defence service staff talks. Other exercises between the two countries include AUSINDEX which is a bilateral maritime exercise and PITCHBLACK, a multi-national exercise by Australia where the Indian Air Force has routinely participated. AUSTRAHIND exercise 2024 comes at the heels of the recently concluded trip of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to Australia from November 3 to November 7. The visit saw the EAM foster deeper ties with Australia across varied fronts. Positive cooperation in various aspects has given a boost to the India-Australia relations.(ANI)
At least 16 people were killed and 30 got injured in a blast at the Quetta Railway Station on Saturday morning, as reported by Dawn. Quetta's Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations, Mohammad Baloch confirmed the death toll while speaking to media. According to Dawn, he further said that the incident "seems to be a suicide blast" but it would be too early to say for sure, adding that an investigation was underway to ascertain the nature of the blast. Speaking to reporters, Baloch further said that "around 100 people" were present at the site, according to footage seen by him. He added that at the time of the explosion, a train was reportedly ready to depart from the platform for Peshawar. Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the blast. Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind, in a statement, said police and security forces had reached the site of the incident. According to Dawn, Rind said the nature of the blast was being investigated as the Bomb Disposal Squad was collecting evidence from the site and a report had been sought on the incident. An 'emergency' has been imposed in hospitals there, the government official stated, adding that the "injured were being provided with medical aid". Ameer of the Jamaat-e-Islami Naeem ur Rehman said the incident raised serious concerns on secirity in the country. "The tragic bomb blast at Quetta Railway Station has claimed 21 precious lives. The recurring incidents of terrorism in Balochistan are not only deeply disturbing but also raise serious concerns about the country's security. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the affected families. We urge the government to take immediate and decisive actions to restore peace and stability in Balochistan," he said in a statement on X. Militant group, Baloch Liberation Army has taken responsibility of the blast at Quetta's railway station, calling it a suicide attack Footage run by Dawn News of the incident site showed rubble at the railway station's platform. Speaking on the blast, Balochistan's Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the incident, saying it was a "continuation of targeting innocent people". In a statement, Bugti said, "The terrorists' target now are innocent people, labourers, children and women. Those targeting innocent people do not deserve mercy", Dawn reported. According to the statement, the chief minister has ordered an investigation into the blast and contacted top officials in Balochistan. He also vowed that the perpetrators behind the railway blast would be caught. (ANI)
Prominent activist Mahrang Baloch and members of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) visited Mastung to pay condolence to the families who lost their children in the recent bomb blast, reported by the Balochistan Post. The tragic bomb blast that occurred near the Girls' High School in Mastung town of Balochistan has created fear in the minds of Baloch people. According to the Balochistan Post, Baloch criticised the government and expressed her grief over the loss of innocent lives. She highlighted that the brave people of Balochistan are being punished for raising their voices. She said that enemies are now even afraid of children. She further stated, "The Mastung bombing is a continuation of the ongoing genocide against the Baloch people, in which the enemy has become so blinded that even innocent children are not being spared". Baloch claimed that the BYC supports the family and would stand in solidarity with them. She lamented that the bomb blast took place to curb the students from joining educational institutions. This was done to hamper education in the town of Mastung so that these children were unaware of all the oppressions and injustices meted out by the Pakistan forces. Recently, Baloch pro-independence leader Allah Nazar Baloch has also expressed his rage over the Mastung bomb blast. He termed it a heinous and cowardly crime against humanity. He said, "This horrific incident forces us to confront the uncivilized, savage nature of an enemy that does not even spare our children." The Baloch National Movement's Human Rights Department, Paank, has also condemned the attack and urged the government to end all support to extremist groups. The bomb blast that occurred in Mastung reportedly killed eight individuals including three children. The officials claimed, "Dead children included two brothers and a girl and her younger brother who were going to school in the school van." (ANI)
In a concerning escalation of China's assimilation policies in Tibet, authorities have forcibly removed young monks from the Taktsang Lhamo Monastic School in Dzoge County, Sichuan, in recent months, pressing them into state-run boarding schools as part of a broader effort to erode the Tibetan culture and language. This marks the latest chapter in Beijing's long-standing campaign to suppress Tibetan identity and education in favour of a "sinicized" version of national unity. The Taktsang Lhamo Monastic School, which has been a centre for Tibetan cultural and Buddhist education for over two decades, has been a frequent target of Chinese authorities. Although the school had survived multiple closures and restrictions in the past but under the administration of President Xi Jinping, its future remains uncertain. Over 500 young monks were enrolled at the school before Chinese authorities initiated a forced transfer of minor students to state-controlled educational institutions in a bid to further "modernize" Tibet's education system and promote Chinese nationalism. The International Tibet Council has condemned the forcible removal of young monks, calling it a deliberate effort by Beijing to eradicate Tibetan culture and suppress religious freedoms. According to the Council's statement, the Chinese government is methodically rolling out policies aimed at assimilating Tibetans into the broader Chinese population, under the guise of a "universal" education system. The laws, including the 2006 amendment to China's compulsory education law, mandate that all children attend state schools and prohibit enrolment in private or religiously affiliated schools. While these laws ostensibly apply to all ethnic groups, their impact on Tibetans has been disproportionately harsh, as the state imposes restrictions on Tibetan language and culture, and forces children into state-run institutions that prioritize Chinese language and ideology over traditional Tibetan education. Parents who wish to educate their children in Tibetan culture, or who request to keep their children in monasteries, are increasingly subject to legal pressure and state surveillance. The pushback against these policies has been met with harsh repression. In one instance, on October 2, four young monks from Taktsang Lhamo were detained for "political re-education" after resisting their forced transfer to a state boarding school. Following their detention, the monks were forcibly placed in a state-run institution against their will. The distress of these young students highlights the severe psychological toll of Beijing's educational policies, as many report feelings of imprisonment and even suicidal ideation. Earlier in a disturbing incident in September 2024, government employees were seen on video forcibly shoving a young monk from Muge Monastic School into a vehicle, intending to transport him to a state boarding school. In another tragic case, three young monks from the same school, unable to endure the abusive conditions at a state-run institution, attempted suicide by jumping into a river in a desperate bid to escape. These incidents are part of a growing trend in Tibet, where young monks are being separated from their religious communities and sent to government-run schools that many describe as "prison-like," citing corporal punishment, inadequate food, and harsh disciplinary measures. Tibetan monasteries have traditionally been vital centres of education for Tibetan children, providing not only religious teachings but also important cultural and language education. For centuries, young Tibetans would begin their monastic education at an early age, a tradition that has been under increasing threat as Chinese policies restrict the operation of Tibetan schools. In the case of Taktsang Lhamo, the school was first established in the 1990s to provide Tibetan children with cultural education before they embarked on Buddhist studies. Despite facing multiple closures, the monastery managed to maintain its educational activities until July 2024, when the latest crackdown intensified under Xi Jinping's government. Since 2008, following widespread protests in Ngaba, local authorities have continuously targeted religious institutions and cultural centres, but Taktsang Lhamo's resilience has made it a symbol of Tibetan resistance. The systematic suppression of Tibetan educational institutions is drawing increasing international concern. Advocacy groups like the International Tibet Council have denounced China's actions as part of a broader strategy to assimilate Tibetans into the Chinese state by eliminating their language, culture, and religious identity. These policies, while officially framed as part of a nationwide educational reform initiative, are seen by critics as a tool for cultural genocide. The ongoing repression of Tibetan culture through forced school closures, detentions, and the systematic dismantling of religious education is a reminder of the high price Tibetans continue to pay for their cultural survival. As the Chinese government continues its push for "sinification," the international community's response will be crucial in determining whether Tibetans can preserve their unique cultural heritage in the face of Beijing's relentless policies. (ANI)
Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) have sent letters to major semiconductor manufacturing equipment (SME) companies regarding their business dealings with the People's Republic of China (PRC). The companies receiving the inquiry include KLA, Applied Materials, Lam Research, Tokyo Electron, and ASML. In the letters, Moolenaar and Krishnamoorthi express concern over the increasing sales of SMEs to China, which they say could provide a significant advantage to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in the development of advanced semiconductors. The lawmakers highlight that China is now purchasing more semiconductor manufacturing equipment than the United States, South Korea, and Taiwan combined, which could not only support China's military activities but also further its ambitions in critical sectors like artificial intelligence. This, they warn, could weaken U.S. strategic competitiveness in relation to China. The lawmakers also address concerns voiced by some SME companies about the impact of stricter U.S. export controls on their competitiveness. They argue that enhanced export controls can coexist with a strong and thriving SME industry. Lawmakers are requesting detailed data from semiconductor equipment companies regarding their business with China for FY2022, FY2023, and YTD FY2024. These include questions on total revenue from PRC transactions, revenue from sales subject to U.S. export licenses, and details about transactions with entities on U.S. sanctions lists. They also seek information on revenue from PRC government-affiliated entities, distributors outside China and the company's top PRC distributors if their revenue exceeds 1 per cent of total revenue. Other requests include data on U.S. export license applications, the volume of SME equipment shipped to China, the top 30 PRC customers, and information on employees involved in export compliance in China. Companies are also asked to report their global manufacturing footprint and any plans for expanding or offshoring production. Additionally, the lawmakers asked for data on the annual volume of SME equipment shipped to China, including the most advanced technology nodes, as well as a list of the companies' top customers in China by revenue. They also inquired about the companies' global manufacturing footprint, their plans for any new or expanded offshoring of production, and the number of employees dedicated to export control and trade compliance work in China. The letters are part of a broader investigation into the role of semiconductor manufacturing equipment companies in China's semiconductor sector and the potential national security implications. (ANI)
Front Line Defenders have condemned the arrest of human rights defender Idris Khattak, demanding his immediate release due to safety issues and deteriorating health. According to Front Line Defenders, Idris Khattak was abducted on November 13, 2019, and was later tried by the military court under the Official Secrets Act. In December 2021, he was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment. In the 5 years of imprisonment, the human rights defender has gone through unsanitary and unsafe conditions in the jail. In a post on X, the Front Line Defenders stated, "We urge Pakistani authorities to immediately end the persecution and incarceration of HRD Idris Khattak, especially given his age and underlying health concerns. Following his enforced disappearance, and 5 years of unjust imprisonment for his human rights work campaigning for religious and ethnic minorities, we call for his immediate and safe release to his family." https://x.com/FrontLineHRD/status/1854931264597631126 Idris Khattak is a prominent human rights advocate in Pakistan. His activism has focused on defending the rights of religious and ethnic minorities, often in the face of systematic state repression. Khattak has been particularly vocal about abuses carried out by military and intelligence agencies, especially in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, which has experienced ongoing conflict and instability. United Nations human rights experts also lamented the conviction and said, "Mr. Khattak's reported sentencing is an attack against the human rights community in Pakistan and sends a chilling message to civil society activists monitoring and reporting on alleged violations, committed by the military and security forces or with their consent or acquiescence, such as systematic or widespread enforced disappearances." Pakistan is known for violating human rights by forcibly disappearing the activists and defenders. The people who are abducted by the Pakistan military forces are not given medical assistance and are not allowed to meet their families. (ANI)
The family of Babul Baloch, a coal miner, demanded justice after he was forcibly abducted by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Pakistan. Naik Mohammad, brother of Babul Baloch, has expressed his grief while speaking at a press conference in the Quetta Press Club, as reported by Balochistan Post. According to the Balochistan Post, Naik Mohammad addressed that the locals of Killi Satakzai have to depend upon coal mining for livelihood. He said that Babul was abducted while working during the evening shift. The Balochistan Post reported that on the day of his disappearance, Babul left for his evening shift as usual. However, upon arriving at the mine, he was informed that the mine was overstaffed and was told to return the next day. After marking his attendance, Babul made his way back home to Killi Satakzai. While returning home, he was forcibly disappeared by the CTD near Jamia Masjid Killi Satakzai. Naik Mohammad further expressed his frustration over the rejection of an FIR at the nearest police station and no investigation was done for his brother's disappearance. He also criticized the pro-government social accounts that claimed his brother was a member of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and was at a marriage in Mastung during the time of "arrest". Naik Mohammad rejected such claims and said that his attendance at the mine was marked on the day of the abduction. Naik urged the journalists at the press conference and said, "We hope you will become our voice and help us bring our brother home". Earlier, four abducted men were reportedly killed in a "staged encounter", allegedly planned by the Counter Terrorism Department. These killings have created an atmosphere of outrage among the Baloch people. There has been a rise in cases of abduction in recent days. This continuous rise highlights the violation of the human rights of Baloch people by the Pakistani forces. (ANI)
In a bold move, Shafi Burat, Chairman of the Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM), has formally presented the case for the independence of Sindh, also known as Sindhudesh, to the foreign ministers of 119 countries. The letter, sent via email, outlines the political, economic, and cultural grievances of the Sindhi people under the rule of Pakistan which it decries as an "irresponsible" and "fascist" state. The statement opens with an appeal to the global community, calling attention to the ongoing oppression and human rights abuses faced by the Sindhi people under Pakistan's rule. Burat asserts that Sindh, a region with an ancient cultural legacy home to the Indus Valley Civilization is suffering from "forced occupation and slavery" by Pakistan, a state described as a "rogue" entity that sponsors terrorism and extremism both within its borders and abroad. The document cites Pakistan's support for extremist groups like the Haqqani Network, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Jaish-e-Muhammad, and Al-Qaeda, noting that these groups are destabilizing the region and contributing to global terrorism. Burat goes on to emphasise the systemic violence carried out by Pakistan's military and intelligence services, accusing them of forcibly disappearing, torturing, and extrajudicially executing political activists from Sindh and other marginalised regions. The letter also raises serious concerns regarding the Pakistani military's activities in Sindh, particularly its alleged involvement in the storage of nuclear weapons in the region. Local reports suggest the military is constructing tunnels in the mountainous areas of Sindh, potentially to conceal nuclear materials or hazardous waste, posing a grave risk to both the human population and the environment. Burat further warns of a cultural genocide underway in Sindh, where the Pakistani state is allegedly funding the construction of over 35,000 Islamic madrassas aimed at indoctrinating Sindhi children into extremist ideologies. The letter underscores the alarming scale of religious indoctrination being imposed on the Sindhi population, which Burat argues is an attempt to erase the region's rich secular and democratic traditions. In addition to the human rights concerns, Burat highlights the economic exploitation of Sindh, particularly the controversial China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The Sindhi nation condemns this project, which it argues is a form of economic imperialism, as it further entrenches Pakistan's control over the resources of Sindh and Balochistan. Burat appeals to the international community to investigate why the Pakistani state is pursuing these projects without the consent of the people of Sindh and Balochistan, despite widespread protests and opposition. Burat concludes the letter by demanding international recognition of Sindh's right to self-determination. He calls on the United Nations and global powers, including the US, UK, Germany, and France, to take action to stop Pakistan's support for terrorism, its exploitation of Sindh's natural resources, and its ongoing repression of the Sindhi people. (ANI)
Dozens of enthusiastic cosplayers gathered at the Nepali annual festival of "Otaku Jatra," embracing the pop culture in the Himalayan Nation by dressing in various anime characters. 'Otaku Jatra' is the occasion when enthusiasts and fans see their favourite anime characters come alive. The annual cosplay fest brings in thousands of footfalls and enthusiasts from Nepal to embrace the pop culture. This festival started lately in the Himalayan Nation, setting a large impact and vigorous presence only after 2016, although it has been in existence since the early 21st century. Starting small in 2010, the festival now has turned into a mega gathering which is slowly transforming from a fan art competition to cosplay and gaming. "This sort of event helps people understand more about the pop culture. People are curious about the cosplays, anime characters and what kind of characters they are and they come here to understand more about it. My elder sister also isn't aware of anime and pop culture but she came to attend the event and got the introduction. This sort of event is a platform to give them knowledge and understanding about it," Arun Limbu, one of the cosplay fans told ANI. A portmanteau of "Costume Play," cosplay is an activity and performance art where participants wear costumes and fashion accessories to represent mostly a fictional character seen in anime. People dressed as characters often interact to create a subculture and also perform role-playing tasks in venues apart from the stage. Anime, cartoons, comic books, Mangas, TV series and video games are the main source for cosplays. "It's pretty free fun actually. It makes me feel like I am in an anime community and has brought a lot of things together and I really like it," Prapti Aryal, a cosplayer attending the fair told ANI. It is believed that the tradition of cosplay came out of the practice of fan costuming at science fiction conventions in New York in the early 20th century. The word cosplay is said to have been coined in Japan in mid-20th century. Computer-generated animation originating from Japan, Anime has continued to influence youngsters and now has become an integral part of their lives. Most youngsters, especially millennial and Generation Z are fond of the animated characters which drove them to the event. "It gives ideas about anime and not only anime, you can find novel-related stuff here. I could see a character from a novel that I read- Heaven Official's Blessing. There are lots of stuff that are present here plus it gives an insight about why people are crazy about anime. It gives insights and closure into how the characters are rather than what we just see...," Aryal further added. Cosplay events are common features of fan conventions and today, there are many dedicated conventions and competitions, as well as social networks, websites, and other forms of media centred on cosplay activities. Cosplay is very popular among all genders, and it is not unusual to see crossplay, also referred to as gender-bending. The Japanese version of the animation -- Anime is generally perceived as cartoons which has multiple genres of romance, sci-fi, horror and many others. Drawing a distinct difference between the normal cartoons which has been playing over channels, anime mostly focusses on real-life issues or human emotion. While being closer to humans, some of its contents are more violent and sexually explicit. Connecting stories from one episode to the other like in the series, the stories of anime progress while the cartoons are made with an intention to make the people laugh. The first anime ever released on TV -- Astro Boy was released in Japan around 1963. Since then, many American and European countries have come forward with anime which has become the blockbuster. Generation Z (the generation reaching adulthood in the second decade of the 21st century) has started accepting and adapting anime as a source to learn real-life skills, hardships, friendship, courage and determination to pursue the dream, time management and teamwork. This distinct feature has driven the youth towards anime. (ANI)
The Sindh Thinkers Forum hosted a seminar on Friday to discuss the issues facing the Indus River, titled "Survival of the Indus River: Threats and Challenges." The event was hosted at the Pakistan American Cultural Centre and drew the participation of writers, intellectuals, lawyers, and civil rights activists. During the seminar, speakers strongly criticised proposed amendments to the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) Act and the federal government's plans to construct six additional canals diverting water from the already stressed Indus River, Dawn reported. The speakers urged the provincial government to take a proactive stance at every federal forum to prevent these plans and projects from moving forward. They emphasised the importance of ensuring Sindh's rightful water share is not compromised by Punjab. Pointing out that Sindh is already facing a severe shortfall in its water allocation under the Water Accord, the speakers firmly rejected the concept of corporate farming, calling it a threat to both the environment and local livelihoods. They urged the provincial government to avoid granting land for such projects, which are being promoted under the guise of economic reforms and development. Syed Zain Shah, president of the Sindh United Party (SUP), condemned the proposal to create additional canals, particularly the Cholistan Canal, warning that it would exacerbate the already critical water shortage in the province, according to Dawn. He pointed out that millions of acres in Sindh had already become barren, and a significant portion of the population in districts like Umerkot, Badin, and Thatta was suffering due to the ongoing water crisis. Shah vowed that the Sindh United Party, along with its allies, would continue to fight for the rights of the people of Sindh, resisting any attempts to divert the province's water share. Advocate Shahab Osto criticised the performance of IRSA, the body tasked with ensuring equitable water distribution among the provinces, claiming that it had failed to effectively carry out this mandate. He reminded the audience that, according to Article 155 of the Constitution, any disputes over water distribution should be addressed by the Council of Common Interest (CCI), reported Dawn. Osto also accused the federal government of unlawfully redistributing Sindh's land to favoured companies under the pretence of Green Initiative Pakistan. Comrade Hussain Bux Thebo argued that the Cholistan Canal is essentially an extension of the Greater Thal Canal, a project that has long been a point of contention between the provinces, and warned that its construction would further exacerbate the regional imbalance in water distribution. (ANI)
Qatar has agreed to expel Hamas leaders from its capital, Doha, following a request from the United States, marking a significant development in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, CNN reported citing sources. Qatar has been hosting Hamas officials in Doha since 2012, providing a place for the group's leadership after they fled Damascus due to the Syrian civil war. Interestingly, this was facilitated by successive US administrations, both Democrat and Republican, which encouraged Qatar to act as a conduit to the Hamas group, as reported by the Times of Israel. The US officials informed their Qatari counterparts about two weeks ago that they must stop providing refuge to Hamas in Doha, to which Qatar agreed and subsequently gave Hamas notice about a week ago. "Hamas is a terrorist group that has killed Americans and continues to hold Americans hostage. After rejecting repeated proposals to release hostages, its leaders should no longer be welcome in the capitals of any American partner," a senior official told CNN. However, a senior Hamas official dismissed the reports of Qatar expelling Hamas leaders from Doha as "baseless" and a mere "pressure tactic." The Hamas official pointed out that similar allegations have surfaced in the past without any concrete evidence. "What was reported in the Israeli media about Qatar agreeing to expel Hamas from Doha following a US request has no basis and is merely a pressure tactic. This has been repeated without any evidence," the Hamas official told CNN on Saturday. The exact timeline for Hamas operatives to leave Qatar remains uncertain. Notably, the latest development comes after the conclusion of the US presidential elections in which Donald Trump has been declared the winner. Earlier on October 24, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha, where they discussed renewed efforts to secure the release of the hostages and end the war in Gaza, as well as ongoing work to provide for security, governance, and reconstruction in Gaza after the war. Notably, Hamas launched a massive terror attack on Israel on October 7 last year, killing over 1200 people and holding over 250 as hostages. Around 100 of them are still in captivity, many are feared dead. In response, Israel launched a strong counteroffensive targeting Hamas units in Gaza. The Israeli operation, however, has reportedly killed over 45,000 Palestinians in Gaza. The mounting civilian toll has raised global concerns and increased the call for a ceasefire. (ANI)
The Balochistan Home Department has requested the suspension of mobile phone services to ensure the security and integrity of the upcoming by-election in the PB-8 constituency.

The by-election for PB-8 is scheduled to take place on November 14, with the Balochistan Home Department taking precautionary measures to ensure a secure and orderly voting process. Alongside the suspension of mobile services, the department has also recommended a temporary shutdown of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) services, Geo News reported.

However, the Ministry of Interior has still not decided on the Balochistan Home Department's proposal to suspend mobile phone services in Sibi and Kachhi districts.

The upcoming by-election in Balochistan's PB-8 constituency follows the demise of Sardar Sarfaraz Chakar Domki, the province's municipal minister. Domki passed away in Karachi on October 17, 2024, after battling lung and kidney disease for quite some time. He was 55 years old.

A prominent leader in Balochistan and the chief of the Domki tribe, Domki was elected to the Balochistan Assembly from PB-8 as a candidate of the Pakistan Peoples Party-Parliamentarians (PPP-P), and garnered more than 27,000 votes in the last election, Geo News reported. (ANI)
Kuwait City [Kuwait], November 9 (ANI/WAM): Dr. Matar Hamed Al Neyadi, UAE Ambassador to Kuwait, affirmed that the upcoming visit of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to Kuwait on Sunday, at the invitation of Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, will open new avenues for cooperation across various sectors. Al Neyadi highlighted that the visit follows two months after the 5th session of the Joint Higher Committee, which resulted in the signing of several agreements, including those on tax avoidance, defence, infrastructure, cybersecurity, environment, and information technology. These agreements aim to enhance collaboration and coordination, capitalising on the opportunities and resources of both nations for mutual benefit. He noted that the historical visit of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is being met with significant official and public enthusiasm, reflected in widespread media coverage and the decoration of streets and official buildings across Kuwait, showcasing the strong ties between the two countries. Al Neyadi added that reciprocal visits in 2024, starting with the significant visit of the Emir of Kuwait to the UAE, have furthered cooperation between the two nations. This is followed by high-level visits in September and October, including those by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, and Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Minister of Interior of the State of Kuwait, which have focused on strengthening ties across all sectors. He concluded that the relationship between the UAE and Kuwait remains a model of cooperation and solidarity, rooted in deep historical bonds and driven by the leadership's commitment to further development, benefiting both nations and supporting the Gulf Cooperation Council's progress. (ANI/WAM)
The United States Secretary of Defence Lloyd J Austin III has reaffirmed America's "ironclad commitment to Israel's security and support for its right to defend itself." Austin also congratulated Israel's new Minister of Defence Israel Katz on his recent appointment. Sharing a post on X, Austin wrote, "I held an introductory call yesterday with the new Israeli Minister of Defense, Israel Katz, and congratulated him on his recent appointment. I reaffirmed the United States' ironclad commitment to Israel's security and support for its right to defend itself." The conversation between the two also addressed regional issues, including the need for a "diplomatic arrangement" in Lebanon to ensure the safe return of Israeli and Lebanese civilians to their respective homes on both sides of the border. "I reiterated US commitment to a diplomatic arrangement in Lebanon that allows Israeli and Lebanese civilians to return safely to their homes on both sides of the border. I also emphasized the US commitment to securing the release of all hostages, including US citizens, and the need to improve the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza," Austin said. The Secretary of Defence also "expressed concern and extended sympathies" for the recent attacks on Israeli citizens in Amsterdam and "offered any necessary assistance." Notably, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on November 6 fired his Defence Minister Yoav Gallant citing a lack of trust, Times of Israel had reported. Gallant, who was a longtime rival from within the Likud Party, was replaced by Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz and Minister without Portfolio Gideon Sa'ar will replace Katz. Times of Israel quoted a statement from the Prime Minister's Office which stated that Netanyahu informed Gallant that his tenure as the Defence Minister would end "48 hours from the receipt of this letter." Following the dismissal, Gallant had said in a post on X that the security of Israel would always be the mission of his life. "The security of the State of Israel was and will always remain the mission of my life," he had said. Gallant later elaborated that there were three reasons for his dismissal - The need to draft Haredi men to the IDF, the imperative to bring back the hostages from Gaza, and the need for a state commission of inquiry in the October 7 Hamas terror attack and resulting conflict. Gallant said that the ultra-orthodox Haredi parties which are a part of the coalition threatened to topple the coalition if a law was not passed. The law exempted Haredi males from participating in the war. He further stressed that 101 Israeli hostages must be brought to Gaza even if it means letting Hamas stay in the strip. (ANI)
The Ministry of Tourism of the Government of India, in collaboration with the High Commission of India in the UK, hosted the 'Chalo India' cultural evening at the historic Cutty Sark, UNESCO Heritage, Clipper ship in London, which was designed to celebrate the vibrancy of Indian culture, heritage, and hospitality, while promoting the Ministry's new initiative, Chalo India. This initiative, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, invites the global Indian diaspora to encourage their non-Indian friends to explore the grandeur and diverse experiences that India offers. The event brought together prominent dignitaries, cultural performers, and members of the Indian community in the UK, underscoring India's ongoing commitment to deepening cultural ties and enhancing tourism outreach in one of its largest source markets. The event witnessed dignitaries including Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Tourism; Vikram Doraiswami, High Commissioner; and tourism ministers from Telangana, Uttarakhand, and Goa as well as the Deputy Chief Minister of Odisha. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also shared a video of the 'Chalo India' event on X and wrote, "Glimpses from the "Chalo India" evening that was held on the sidelines of World Travel Market 2024 in London. Addressed the gathering and spoke of this unique Chalo India initiative that was launched by our PM @narendramodi in March this year." He added, "Urged all our Diasporic Bharateeyas in the UK to be brand ambassadors of this initiative and to invite their non-Indian friends to witness #NewIndia in all its glory. We also announced one lakh e-tourist visas to the foreign guests, who would be travelling under the referral program of Chalo India, till March 31, 2025. Together, let's say #ChaloIndia and bring the world to witness the grandeur, the glory and the growth story of #ViksitBharat." https://x.com/gssjodhpur/status/1855211584575930821 In his address, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat highlighted the deep-rooted ties between London and India, noting the historic significance of launching "Chalo India" amidst the well-established Indian diaspora in the UK. Traditional Indian dance performances like Bharatnatyam and Garba enthralled guests, showcasing India's rich heritage through captivating storytelling and movement. In the event, British author Monisha Rajesh shared her travel experiences in particular her four-month journey around India by train, inspiring guests to explore India's diverse landscapes and cultural depth. The event also marked the launch of the "Chalo India" portal, a platform through which the Indian diaspora can refer up to five friends for a free e-Tourist visa, valid until March 31, 2025 to experience India's unique attractions. The evening concluded with a vote of thanks by Mugdha Sinha, Director General of Tourism, encouraging support for the "Chalo India" initiative. This memorable event underscored India's commitment to enhancing tourism ties with the UK and fostering cultural connections. (ANI)
Lawyers in Gilgit-Baltistan have united to boycott all court proceedings until November 16, protesting a controversial land reform act. This collective action involves several bar associations, including the High Court Bar Association, the Gilgit-Baltistan Bar Council, the Supreme Court Bar Association, and district bar officials. As reported by the Pamir Times, the bar association decided to boycott the courts because the land reform act violates the fundamental rights of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. The association termed the act unacceptable. They demanded several amendments to the proposed legislation and demanded a revised version of the law. The lawyers have also raised concerns regarding the plots case that has been pending since 2011. Both lawyers and journalists have demanded the immediate release of the plots. The Pamir Times reported that the associations have also demanded the implementation of the Lawyers Protection Act to provide welfare and protection to the legal community. They have also addressed the grievances of the people and demanded the government to fill vacancies in Gilgit-Baltistan courts, especially in the Supreme Appellate Court for a fast and secure judicial process. They further demanded the eradication of baseless FIRs and criminal charges against the lawyers. They also appealed to remove their names from Schedule IV. The association warned the government to escalate their protest if the demands are not accepted. Recently, renowned lawyer Ashfaq Ahmad has criticised the land reform act as it is against the interests of the people, violating their basic rights. He claimed that the "bill is against natural justice" and would only benefit rich people and the government. This boycott will remain in effect until November 16, and any violations of the boycott will result in disciplinary action, as reported by the Pamir Times. The continuous problems in PoGB in connection with infrastructure and services have signified the violation of the basic rights of people as they are deprived of basic needs. (ANI)
The Biden administration has lifted a de facto ban on American military contractors deploying to Ukraine to help the countrys military maintain and repair US-provided weapons systems, particularly F16 fighter jets and Patriot air defense systems, an official with direct knowledge of the plan told CNN.

The new policy, approved earlier this month before the election, would allow the Pentagon to provide contracts to American companies for work inside Ukraine for the first time since Russia invaded in 2022. Officials said they hope it will speed up the maintenance and repairs of weapons systems being used by the Ukrainian military.

It is not clear whether Donald Trump will keep the policy in place when he takes office in January. Trump has said he hopes to end the war between Ukraine and Russia within 24 hours of returning to power.

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In order to help Ukraine repair and maintain military equipment provided by the US and its allies, DoD (Department of Defense) is soliciting bids for a small number of contractors who will help Ukraine maintain the assistance weve already provided, a defense official said.

These contractors will be located far from the front lines and they will not be fighting Russian forces. They will help Ukrainian Armed Forces rapidly repair and maintain US provided equipment as needed so it can be quickly returned to the front lines.

The defense official confirmed that the US is moving forward with the plan because several of the systems the US has provided Ukraine, particularly F-16s and Patriots, require specific technical expertise to maintain.

The shift marks another significant change in the Biden administrations Ukraine policy, as the US looks for ways to give Ukraines military an upper hand against Russia. The Pentagon is expected to start listing the contracts online soon, the official said.

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Over the last two years, Biden has insisted that all Americans, and particularly US troops, stay far away from the Ukrainian frontlines. The White House has been determined to limit both the danger to Americans and the perception, particularly by Russia, that the US military is engaged in combat there. The State Department has explicitly warned Americans against traveling to Ukraine since 2022.

As a result, US-provided military equipment that has sustained significant damage in combat has had to be transported out of the country to Poland, Romania, or other NATO countries for repairs, a process which takes time. US troops have also been available to help the Ukrainians with more routine maintenance and logistics, but only from afar via video chat or secure phonean arrangement that has come with inherent limitations, since US troops and contractors are not able to work directly on the systems.

Allowing experienced, US government-funded American contractors to maintain a presence in Ukraine means they will be able to help fix damaged, high-value equipment much faster, officials have told CNN. One advanced system that officials say will likely require regular maintenance is the F-16 fighter jet, which Ukraine received earlier this year.

Companies bidding for the contracts would be required to develop robust risk mitigation plans to reduce threats to their employees, officials told CNN.

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The Department made this decision after careful risk assessment and in coordination with interagency stakeholders, the defense official said. Each US contractor, organization or company will be responsible for the safety and security of their employees and will be required to include risk mitigation plans as part of their bids.

Current and former officials familiar said the policy change will not result in the kind of major American contractor presence that existed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Instead, it would likely result in anywhere from a few dozen to a couple hundred contractors working in Ukraine at a time.

It is worth noting that there already are a wide array of American companies who have personnel in Ukraine fulfilling contracts for the Ukrainian government, so this will not lead to a substantial increase of employees of US companies working on the ground in Ukraine, the defense official said.

This story has been updated with additional details.

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Temu continues to be a target in the European Union.

The EUs Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network notified the e-commerce platform Thursday that it has infringed upon EU consumer laws, following an investigation of the companys practices.

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The watchdog alleged that Temus business model promotes practices that may mislead consumers or unduly influence their purchasing decisions.

The allegations come just days after the European Commission announced it had launched a formal investigation into Temu over potential violations of the EUs Digital Services Act (DSA), under which the low-priced goods purveyor must comply with the strictest rules due to its status as a Very Large Online Provider (VLOP). That investigation centers around the companys potential sale of illegal goods, as well as its purported addictive design. According to the CPC Network, its findings complement the launch of the investigation around the DSA.

This time around, Temu has been accused of violating consumer laws. According to the Commission, Temus problematic practices include fake discounting, forced gamification, missing and misleading information, fake reviews and more.

The CPC Network found that Temus mechanisms for preventing fake reviews dont go far enough; stated that it uses false claims about limited supplies or false purchase deadlines to convince consumers to purchase items; claimed that it gives consumers the illusion of a discount when no such deal exists; noted that it deceives consumers with incomplete and incorrect information over their rights on returns and refunds and more.

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According to the CPC Network, it will continue to evaluate Temus compliance with obligations around information disclosure.

Vera Jourova, vice president for values and transparency, said that the EU Commission will continue pursuing actions for consumer protection, no matter the size or scope of the company in question.

Ensuring safety of consumers in the EU is a priority for the Commission. Therefore, adherence to our consumer protection standards by the trading companies is non-negotiable. The dedication and coordinated efforts of national authorities play a vital role in ensuring a fair and secure market for everyone. We have shared today our concerns with Temu and we urge Temu to promptly bring its practices into full compliance with EU consumer protection rules, Jourova said in a statement.

As a result of the alleged breaches of EU law, Temu will be required to submit more information to the relevant consumer protection regulators and to come up with a plan to fix its issues with consumer laws. It must do so within the next month, and if it fails to adequately address the Commissions concerns, it could face fines and other forms of forced compliance from the bloc or its member states.

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A spokesperson for the company said Temu acknowledges the concerns raised by the European Commission and national consumer authorities and plans to work with the Commission on compliance.

Although we have gained popularity with many consumers in a relatively short time, we are still a very young platform less than two years in the EUand are actively learning and adapting to local requirements. We will fully cooperate with this investigation, as we believe that such scrutiny benefits consumers, merchants and the platform in the long term, the spokesperson said.

The findings of this investigationand the ongoing investigation into Temus compliance with the DSAare not the only regulatory scrutiny the company currently faces. It was recently banned by the Indonesian government, which cited threats to both consumers and local business owners, and Germany has been considering new laws that would impact both Temu and its competitor, Shein.

Simultaneously, U.S. regulators have put both companies in the hot seat, issuing questions over their business practices and import policies. As President Joe Bidens term comes to a close, those close to him have noted that he plans to take action on the U.S.s de minimis exemption, which Shein and Temu use to ship items into the U.S. without tariffs or scrutiny. Germany has considered doing the same, and other countries, like South Africa, have already enacted change.
Germanys governing coalition has collapsed after disagreements over the countrys weak economy led Chancellor Olaf Scholz to sack his finance minister.

Christian Lindners dismissal prompted him to withdraw his Free Democrats Party (FDP) from a coalition with Scholzs Social Democratic Party (SPD), leaving Scholz in a minority government with the Green Party.

Scholz said he would now call a confidence vote for January 15, which, if he lost, could allow elections to be held by the end of March next year  six months earlier than the elections planned for September 2025.

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Germany now faces turmoil at a time of broader uncertainty. The political crisis was triggered just hours after it was announced former US President Donald Trump will get a second term  an election outcome that could bring further woes to Germanys economy as well as threaten Europes united front on key issues. Heres what we know.

Is a snap election unusual for Germany?

Political stability is the norm for Germany, with power largely moving between the SPD and conservative rival, the CDU. The countrys previous leader, Angela Merkel, held power for 16 years and was a steady presence on the European stage as others came and went. She had a famously testy relationship with Trump.

Germanys last snap election was in 2005. They were called by then-Chancellor Gerhard Schroder, who subsequently lost to Merkel.

Merkel retired from her position as German chancellor in 2021.

Finance Minister Christian Lindner leaves the Reichstag building after his dismissal. - Christoph Soeder/AP

The center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) stepped up to fill the gap she left when it emerged as the largest party in Germanys parliament, or Bundestag, in the 2021 federal election. Following the all-powerful and ever-popular Merkel was always going to be fraught with difficulties.

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The SPD cobbled together a government with the FDP and the Greens, which have ruled as a traffic light coalition since December of that year, referring to the different parties colors.

How successful has Germanys traffic light coalition been?

Bringing together three ideologically different parties into one coalition has not always made for a comfortable alliance, and the SPD-led coalition has faced challenges from the start.

The alliance brought together the FDP, a business-focused party that advocates for a free market and a fiscally conservative approach, with the SPD and the Greens, two left-wing parties that require government spending for social and environmental policies.

The coalition has been at loggerheads over how to revive Germanys economy. It has also been under pressure from burgeoning far-right, as well as more recently, far-left forces.

CDU leader Friedrich Merz gives a statement after Scholz sacked Lindner. - Liesa Johannssen/Reuters

The Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) made significant gains in recent years, becoming the first far-right party to win a state election since the Nazi era in September, when it emerged as the strongest in the eastern state of Thuringia.

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In efforts to counter the AfD, Scholzs government was spurred into action on migration, announcing new security measures aimed at speeding up the deportation of rejected asylum seekers and shoring up border controls.

Why have things collapsed now?

Months of tensions over Germanys budget policy and economic direction boiled over on Wednesday. Essentially, Scholzs demands for investment have clashed with Lindners more prudent approach to government borrowing.

Scholz said he fired Lindner for blocking his economic plans, telling reporters, Lindner showed no willingness to implement any of our proposals and, therefore, there is no trust basis for any future cooperation.

Lindner meanwhile accused Scholz of having asked him to pause the debt brake  a constitutional article that prevents the government from borrowing excessively and amassing debt  something Lindner said he was not willing to do.

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The rhetoric coming from Scholz and Lindner was uncharacteristically pointed. The chancellor told reporters Wednesday night that Lindners egoism is totally incomprehensible.

Still looming over the government is the thorny issue of how to plug next years budget, which has a multi-billion-euro gap. With the FDP now not in the picture, its passage is even more complicated.

Carsten Brzeski, a senior economist at Dutch bank ING, cited never-ending tensions within the German government as well as clear disagreement on how to get the German economy out of its current state of stagnation and structural weakness as reasons for the collapse.

What problems is Germanys economy facing?

Germanys economy, Europes largest, shrank last year for the first time since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Over the last five years, it has grown only 0.2% , compared with 4.6% growth in the 20 countries that use the euro, 4.1% in France and 5.5% in Italy.

There are a number of reasons for Germanys economic stagnation. The countrys energy-intensive businesses have suffered from the lingering impact of the energy crisis sparked by Russias war in Ukraine. Germanys problems are also structural, ranging from high labor costs, a rapidly aging population and red tape to outdated physical and digital infrastructure.

It faces competition from China in the manufacturing of some of its main exports, which has delivered high-profile damage to Germanys famous automobile industry. Volkswagen, Germanys largest manufacturer, is considering factory closures in its home country for the first time in its 87-year history.

Robert Habeck and Annalena Baerbock of the Greens address media on Wednesday. - Annegret Hilse/Reuters

What happens now?

Scholz is expected to head a minority government. He would have to rely on cobbled-together parliamentary majorities to pass legislation, until the vote of confidence in January.

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He will likely turn to Merz and the CDU  Germanys most popular party  for support to pass legislation in the short term.

But piling pressure on Scholz, CDU leader Friedrich Merz, the leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) opposition party, has meanwhile said this is too long, and demanded a confidence vote by the beginning of next week at the latest rather than early next year.

The collapse of the governing coalition and political uncertainty may serve to bolster support for the far-right as people increasingly lose faith in the mainstream parties. Party leader Alice Weidel has already hailed the coalitions collapse as a liberation for Germany.

The end of the traffic light coalition is a liberation for our country. The end of the self-proclaimed progressive coalition that took Germany to the brink of economic ruin was more than overdue, Weidel wrote on X.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Providence Superintendent Javier Montanez, left, and Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) Commissioner Angelica Infante-Green, right, are shown speaking to the news media on Aug. 29 2024. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

A Rhode Island Superior Court judge on Friday ruled in favor of the state education department, which has withheld $8.5 million in aid from Providence for failing to meet funding obligations for city schools, widening the rift between city leaders and state education officials.

Rhode Island Superior Court Associate Justice Jeffrey A. Lanphear issued two rulings in favor of the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), backing the state-run Providence Public School Department (PPSD)declaring that the city is not paying its fair share to the school department.

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This court, in everything that it does, somehow always seems to apply principles of fairness, Lanphear said at an afternoon bench motion that followed the release of written decisions Friday morning. But frankly, balancing the equities is simply not an element of this motionHere, the only issue is whether or not the city can pay its obligation to the state department. Otherwise, the state can freeze the money.

The first ruling partially denied the citys appeal to stop RIDE from withholding over $7 million in state aid from the Distressed Communities Relief Fund in fiscal year 2024. The judges decision underscored the states authority over municipalities when they fall short of fulfilling the Crowley Act  the statute that authorized the 2019 state takeover of Providence schools and also prescribes how much funding a state-controlled district must receive from local sources.

Lanphears second ruling concerned an October request from RIDE Commissioner Angelica Infante-Green to state Treasurer James Diossa to withhold $8.5 million in car tax payments, claiming Providence owed nearly $30 million to the district overall. The city then filed a legal complaint. The disputed funds remain in escrow  which is where theyll stay for the time being, as just how much the city will owe is still unclear.

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Lanphear scheduled a hearing for Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 9:30 a.m. to help complete what he called a simple mathematical calculation that will determine the citys debt to its schools. Lanphear said he didnt trust his own mathematics and would be leaving that to experts at next weeks hearing.

I am disappointed that the wasteful, irresponsible spending of the Providence Public School District and the historical lack of sufficient State funding for our highest need students has led us to this point today.

 Providence Mayor Brett Smiley

While the judge didnt trust his math, he was more confident in his reading of the Crowley Act. The state could probably fund the entirety of the budget shortfall on its own, Lanphear thought, but the Crowley Act compels the city to increase financial support for the school district each year, regardless of the states financial health. RIDE and the citys wildly different interpretations of the act have formed the terra firma of the ongoing legal contest.

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Lanphear rejected the foundation of the citys argument: That the act requires municipal aid to state-run school districts to mirror the increase in state aid to that particular district.

Since the statewide total school aid increased, the City must increase the amount of funding to the PPSD with an equal percentage increase, Lanphear wrote in his first decision. The increase in aid to the particular district is not a factor in this calculation.

Infante-Greens request to withhold funds followed Providence Mayor Brett Smileys public feud with Providence Superintendent Javier Montanez. Montanez called Smiley ahead of a school board subcommittee meeting on Oct. 9, and requested nearly $10.9 million in emergency funding. Without the money, there could be cuts to winter and spring sports, student bus passes and numerous other areas, the superintendent warned.

Smiley responded with a $1 million offer the following day, promising to use money from not-yet-finalized payment in lieu of taxes agreements recently struck with nonprofits in the city. The City Council promised an additional $1.5 million from the final reserves of pandemic relief money. Both mayor and council agreed that the school district would be subject to a third-party audit before they could get any funds. The school department has yet to take any action on the offers, and the City Council earlier this week canceled a meeting that would have authorized the funds, due to the court battle.

Rhode Island Superior Court Associate Justice Jeffrey A. Lanphear ruled in favor of the Rhode Island Department of Education, backing the state-run Providence Public School Department in an ongoing budget battle. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

Consequences may be very costly

A deeply disappointed Smiley issued a statement Friday, arguing that the decision could have expensive consequences for residents across the capital city, including students and their families.

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This decision puts the Citys finances at risk and in the days ahead, we will need to make difficult decisions that we had hoped to avoid, including the potential to increase taxes, cut programs and stop future borrowings, the largest of which is for the future development of new school buildings for our students, Smiley wrote.

The mayor then echoed his previous skepticism about the districts budgeting skills: I am disappointed that the wasteful, irresponsible spending of the Providence Public School District and the historical lack of sufficient State funding for our highest need students has led us to this point today, Smiley added.

Providence City Council President Rachel Miller issued a statement Friday lamenting the judges striking decision, saying it may endanger the citys financial health. RIDE, Miller argued, sacrificed collaboration and transparency to pursue an adversarial route that ignores city needs beyond the school department.

While RIDE does not have to consider the impacts of cuts to critical city services or tax increases on a struggling community, we do, and the families of PPSD students do as well, Miller wrote. Why should Providence taxpayers be forced to bankroll an opaque and irresponsible budgeting process that treats students and families as collateral damage?

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On the greener side of the grass were the victorious Infante-Green and Montanez, who celebrated the ruling in a joint statement.

Todays Court ruling is a win for our kids, they wrote. Our priority throughout this legal dispute has been clear: making sure Providence students, teachers, and school communities have the proper resources they need and deserve.

Jennifer Wood, executive director of Rhode Island Center for Justice, said after the bench motion that she would be meeting with Providence students and parents to consult further about the new developments.Even from preliminary conversations I know that they are tremendously relieved that further immediate cuts to their schools may be avoided based on the two rulings today, Wood said.

Wood also highlighted Lanphears argument focusing on the harm to students and their families without a great school system.

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There are so many small decisions that can make a difference in what a student learns and how they develop and become adults, Lanphear said at the bench motion.

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Missouris Planned Parenthood clinics filed a lawsuit Wednesday seeking to strike down the states current abortion restrictions, less than 24 hours after an amendment enshrining reproductive rights in the constitution was approved by voters.

The news was announced Wednesday afternoon by coalition members of Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, the organization behind Amendment 3.

The Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Louis on June 24, 2022.

Leaders with both Planned Parenthood Great Plains and Planned Parenthood Great Rivers said if the court grants their injunction, they plan to start providing abortions the day the amendment goes into effect on Dec. 5 at the health centers in Columbia, the Central West End in St. Louis and the Midtown neighborhood of Kansas City.

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A series of targeted regulation of abortion providers laws enacted by the legislature, including a mandatory 72-hour waiting period between the initial appointment and a surgical abortion and mandatory pelvic exams for medication abortions were parts of a web of impenetrable, onerous, and medically unnecessary restrictions targeted at abortion providers, that limited access for Missourians for years prior to the states abortion ban, the lawsuit reads.

The restrictions were challenging today do not actually help patients. They hurt them, Richard Muniz, interim President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, said during a press conference Wednesday. The ripple effects of these overreaching policies can be felt throughout the state. Missouri continues to have high STI rates and poor pregnancy outcomes, and providers do not want to train or practice in Missouri, creating even further scarcity and gaps in coverage for thousands of women and pregnant people throughout Missouri.

The constitutional amendment, which won with 51.7% of the nearly 3 million votes cast Tuesday, goes into effect in 30 days and prohibits the legislature from regulating abortion prior to the point of fetal viability  generally seen as the point at which a fetus can likely survive outside the womb without extraordinary measures.

More: Abortion is once again legal in Missouri. Here's what people are saying about it

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But both proponents of and those opposed to Amendment 3 have warned that abortion access would not be immediate, as a bevy of challenges to current law must first make their way through the courts.

The lawsuit, which was filed in Jackson County, challenges a number of current state laws, including the states current abortion ban, a trigger law enacted in June 2022 that only allows abortions exceptions in cases of medical emergencies.

Among the TRAP laws targeted by the new lawsuit include:

Requirements that abortion clinics be licensed as ambulatory surgical centers.

A 72-hour waiting period between a patients initial visit with a doctor and their abortion procedure.

Mandates that abortion clinics be located within 30 miles of a hospital where they have admitting privileges.

The requirement that all tissue removed during an abortion be submitted to a pathologist.

Rules requiring abortion providers report all abortions and abortion complications to the state.

Requirements that the same physician who initially sees a patient must also be the physician who performs the abortion procedure.

Current law requiring only physicians can perform abortions, excluding physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses.

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The lawsuit also addresses access to medication abortion, asking that a judge lift the current restrictions that would make it difficult to prescribe, including a telemedicine ban that requires the physician who prescribes the medication to also be in the room when the patient takes the first dose of the medication.

It also seeks to end criminal penalties for abortion providers, who currently face loss of their license and up to 15 years in prison if they perform an abortion that doesnt fall under the current exception for medical emergencies.

The lawsuit does not challenge Missouris current law requiring parental or guardian consent for minors seeking abortions. Muniz did not specifically say whether this will be challenged in the future, but rather noted this is only the first lawsuit.

Court challenges can take months, if not years. In Ohio, where citizens voted to protect abortion rights one year ago, a county judge just struck down that states heartbeat law.

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Freda Levenson, legal director for the ACLU of Ohio, said while the payoff is worthwhile, the road can be long to reach widespread access.

They shouldnt engage in magical thinking or fiction that these restrictions will fall away on their own, she advised Missourians who voted in support of Amendment 3. This is going to take hard work.

More: Missouri's abortion amendment made it to the ballot but GOP attacks expected to continue

Tori Schafer, director of policy and campaigns at the ACLU of Missouri, said while she hopes the legislature will respect the will of the people, those who supported Amendment 3 stand ready to hold them accountable.

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Missouri lawmakers including state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman and U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley have said they intend to give Missourians the opportunity to vote on abortion again.

When asked in September what GOP lawmakers might do if Amendment 3 passed, Coleman pointed to a 2018 citizen-led amendment that would have required legislative districts be drawn to ensure partisan fairness. This amendment, known as Clean Missouri, was repealed two years later through a legislature-proposed amendment.

On Wednesday morning, Mary Catherine Martin, an attorney with the Thomas More Society who previously argued against the amendment before the Missouri Supreme Court, promised to defend Missouri against Amendment 3.

Theyre not going to stand back and give up, Levenson said. Theyll fight around the edges to keep any restrictions in that they can.

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Former President Donald Trumps victory means Missouri abortion-rights organizations may have more than just state anti-abortion forces working against them. It could soon also be the federal government.

One example is federal enforcement of the Comstock Act, an 1873 law that bans mailing obscene material, including for the use of abortion.

Hawley, who was re-elected to a second term on Tuesday, was among a number of senators who signed a letter in 2023 asking the U.S. Attorney General to enforce the Comstock Act and make illegal the mailing of abortion medication, which has increasingly become popular and accessible across the United States over the last two years.

We are being thoughtful about what a change in the federal administration could mean, said Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains. I think more than anything, it will be the time for Missourians and individuals in other states who may have crossed political lines to hold accountable national leaders who have said they think this should be an issue decided by the states.

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Kellie Copeland, executive director of Pro-Choice Ohio, which led that states successful abortion-rights ballot measure last year, noted that it also takes time to rebuild health care infrastructure that had been limited or eliminated with abortion restrictions.

While abortion wasnt outlawed in Missouri until the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion two years ago, Missourians have long lacked access to the procedure as TRAP laws whittled away at abortion clinics abilities to stay open.

For clinics near the Kansas and Illinois borders, providers began sending Missourians across state lines where laws were less restrictive.

A decade ago, more than 5,000 abortions were performed in Missouri, according to the health department. By 2020, that number dropped to 167 as a result of the TRAP laws.

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Between June 24, 2022 and July 31, 2024, 74 abortions were performed in Missouri under the states emergency exemption, according to data from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

Despite facing additional hurdles to care, including the time and financial costs of travel, time off work and childcare, many Missourians have continued accessing abortion in the post-Roe era.

In 2023 alone, approximately 2,860 Missourians traveled to Kansas last year for abortions, and 8,710 traveled to Illinois, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights research group that closely tracks abortion data.

Abortion access in Missouri will likely have ripple effects across the Midwest and south, opening up another access point for those in states with bans like Iowa, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

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Copeland said Missouris first step toward legal action is nothing short of momentous.

That the Missouri team did it this year of all years in this political climate is astounding, she said. It shows what an incredible campaign they waged, but also how deeply people feel about abortion access and reproductive freedom regardless of the party they identify with.

This story was first published at missouriindependent.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Lawsuit targets MO abortion restrictions after Amendment 3 approval
MADISON, Wis. (WFRV)  Depending on where you live in Wisconsin, it might feel like more out-of-towners have moved in.

A new analysis from personal finance site SmartAsset reveals that Madison, Eau Claire, and Appleton are among the states fastest-growing cities, with Madison ranking 54th nationally in population growth.

Tammy Baldwin wins Wisconsin Senate race, pledges to work with Trump when possible

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The analysis, based on recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, studied over 600 cities across the country, measuring both one- and five-year changes in population.

Among these, five cities saw their populations grow by more than 10% between 2022 and 2023, but none of those cities are in Wisconsin. However, Madison led the state with a 2.71% population increase, bringing its total to 280,307 residents in 2023, up from 272,907 in 2022a five-year growth rate of 8.63%, the highest in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Cities with Population Growth Rates:

Rank City One-Year Population Change Population (2023) Population (2022) Five-Year Population Change 54 Madison 2.71% 280,307 272,907 8.63% 81 Eau Claire 2.02% 70,469 69,073 3.24% 155 Appleton 1.12% 75,861 75,018 2.04% 272 Oshkosh 0.38% 66,184 65,934 -0.83% 306 Racine 0.20% 76,608 76,455 -1.07% 351 Waukesha -0.02% 70,452 70,465 -2.89% 415 Kenosha -0.28% 98,210 98,490 -1.94% 426 Green Bay -0.34% 105,734 106,096 0.81% 427 Milwaukee -0.34% 561,369 563,306 -5.17%

Nationally, population trends varied widely, with only Houston and Phoenix among the five largest U.S. cities posting population growth from 2022 to 2023, at 0.31% and 0.34%, respectively.

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Meanwhile, New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago all saw population declines, with New York experiencing the most significant one-year drop of 0.93%.

Examining a broader five-year period, each of these major cities experienced population decreases, with Los Angeles seeing the sharpest decline at -4.25%.

Two Leinenkugels brewery locations in Wisconsin to be shut down by Molson Coors

Despite the growth in cities like Jacksonville, Florida (9.07%) and Fort Worth, Texas (8.68%), both Florida and Texas still recorded thousands of residents moving out in 2023, according to recent Census data.

These population shifts reflect broader trends in urban migration, as people explore different regions based on factors such as affordability, employment opportunities, and quality of life.

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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 WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
Nov 09 (NHK) - Popular Japanese comedian Matsumoto Hitoshi has dropped a defamation lawsuit against a publisher and one of its magazine editors over an article accusing him of sexually assaulting two women.

Matsumoto took the move on Friday after the two sides reached an agreement.

He sued publisher Bungeishunju and the editor of the weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun after it carried accounts of the two women in December 2023. In the article, they said they were sexually assaulted by Matsumoto at a Tokyo hotel in 2015.

Matsumoto denied the allegations and sought damages worth 550 million yen, or about 3.6 million dollars.

Lawyers for both sides said their agreement involves no payment of money.

Matsumoto released a comment on the homepage of a talent agency he belongs to, saying he has confirmed that there is no direct material evidence of forced sexual acts. It also said he decided to withdraw the suit because he wants to avoid causing a burden and trouble to many people.

The comment added that Matsumoto used to join meetings with women, and that he apologizes if people felt uncomfortable or hurt.

The magazine also issued a statement, saying it was informed from the plaintiff's side that Matsumoto wants to apologize to those who suffered psychological pain. The statement said the magazine decided to agree to Matsumoto's withdrawal of the lawsuit after discussing the matter with the two women.

In January, Matsumoto said he would suspend his show business activities to prepare for the lawsuit.

His talent agency, Yoshimoto Kogyo, says it will announce his future activities after discussing the issue with related parties.
OSAKA, Nov 09 (News On Japan) - The founder of video-sharing site FC2 was arrested Thursday upon returning to Kansai Airport on suspicion of posting obscene videos on the site in 2013.

FC2 founder Takahashi Yoshihiro, 51, is suspected of conspiring with four other men in 2013 to upload obscene videos to the site, making them accessible to a broad audience.

Takahashi, thought to have been living overseas since the time of the alleged incident, was arrested upon his return from South Korea to Kansai International Airport on October 7th.

In questioning, Takahashi reportedly partially denied the charges, stating, I thought it would not violate Japanese law as it was done by an American company.

Police are continuing the investigation, believing that Takahashi directed the site's operations.

Source: YOMIURI
By Seun Opejobi

Irans foreign ministry on Saturday distanced Tehran from plot to assassinate the United States, US, President-elect, Donald Trump.

The spokesman of the ministry, Esmaeil Baghaei described the plot to assassinate Trump as totally unfounded.

A few months ago, 20-year-old Thomas Mathew Crook had attempted to assassinate Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Crooks shot severally at Trump during his presidential campaign but missed.

Still on the campaign ground, a Secret Service agent shot and killed Crooks.

Following the incident, Trump had accused Iran of attempting to assassinate him.

However, Baghaei denied countrys involvement after US prosecutors announced charges over the alleged plot.

In a statement, Baghaei rejected allegations that Iran is implicated in an assassination attempt targeting former or current American officials.

US prosecutors announced charges on Friday in an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate former president Donald Trump and a prominent dissident Iranian-American journalist.

The foiled assassination plot on Trump was allegedly directed by Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to avenge the death of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in 2020 in a US strike ordered by then-president Trump, the Justice Department said.

Farhad Shakeri, 51, an Afghan national who is believed to be in Iran, was tasked by the IRGC with providing a plan to kill Trump, the department said in a statement.

Shakeri and two other men, Carlisle Rivera, 49, and Jonathon Loadholt, 36, both of New York, were charged separately with plotting to kill an Iranian-American dissident in New York.

The charges announced today expose Irans continued brazen attempts to target US citizens, including President-elect Donald Trump, other government leaders and dissidents who criticize the regime in Tehran, FBI Director Christopher Wray said.

Trump, who defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in Tuesdays US presidential election, faced two other separate assassination attempts this year, including a shooting at a campaign rally when a bullet grazed his ear.

Irans foreign ministry on Saturday called the allegations that Tehran was behind a plot against Trump totally unfounded.
Okonjo-Iweala

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the first woman and first African to head the World Trade Organization, is uncontested in seeking another term, the groups chair announced on Saturday.

The 70-year-old director-general of the WTO  whose first mandate was blocked for months by US president-elect Donald Trump during his first stint in office  announced in September that she was running for a second term.

The WTO chair, Norwegian Ambassador Petter Olberg, told members that no further nominations for the position had been received by Fridays deadline, leaving Okonjo-Iweala as the only candidate for the role, according to a statement.

Her current term ends in August 2025.

Director-generals are chosen by consensus from the entire 166-member WTO.

Okonjo-Iweala, who took over in March 2021, has hinged her leadership on breathing new life into the sclerotic organisation.

The former foreign and finance minister of Nigeria sold herself as someone who can bang heads together and get business done.

Although she had broad support, her first mandate was initially blocked by Trump who favoured a South Korean candidate, a move that was reversed when US President Joe Biden took office.
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I miss this dumb show.

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>Buck finds out his boyfriend of six months, Tommy, is the very same Tommy who ran out on Abby Clark (Connie Britton's character from season one), Buck's first love.



this is so stupid lmao

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it really was. Those writers need to stop taking inspiration from bizarre fan theories. Like no way did they even think of this until fans started blowing this up online based on nothing more than both characters being named "Tommy". There was zero point to this, especially when that screentime could have gone to fleshing out the breakup/relationship between those two characters.

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when this theory first started i thought it doesn't make sense because abby hadn't showed signs of dating another firefighter at all and writers just browsing the internet for weird theories to put in the script is not a good look

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So dumb atleast give them an actual reason to break up

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This is so dumb. I dont even remember season 1 plot points. This is not a show where I need to recall the past mythology.

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Some straight up middle schooler fanfiction bullshit. How lazy and contrite.

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counter point, it was extremely funny and the hardest Ive laughed since Tuesday. that does not take away from the dumbness though

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The whole plotline/breakup in this episode was so badly written. Like, I don't think they should have broken up at all, but if that's what the writers decided to do, at least have it be something that makes sense!

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I like hot priest. Can they do that thing where they recast somebody as somebody else. And make him a love and interest for Eddy. lol.



I have to laugh at people saying that Oliver is biphobic because he wants his character to date more/have sex. I get that season one buck used sex in an unhealthy way. But sex is not inherently bad. You can have a lot of sex and it be good and not a sign something is wrong with you.



Also have to laugh at the people that say that the writers room is homophobic because they broke up. Lol. Tommy got the same treatment as multiple loving interest in this show. I personally am just upset that buck can never break up with someone. Can he be the one to initiate it next time?



That glee little speech was so heavy-handed.

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Lol the fact that the only people saying Oliver is biphobic are Tommy fans says to me that they dont actually care about this (its also stupid, how is it biphobic to want him to be single and explore his sexuality), they were just waiting to turn on him because he never supported the ship like he should have. Let Buck fuck!

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They wanted Oliver to mourn with them, I think. Maybe the "let Buck fuck" could have waited a week but they fooled themselves, there were definitely some previous interviews w/Oliver that strongly suggested this was not his endgame

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What's so obvious is that these were never BuckTommy fans, they were Tommy fans and they seem to have inflated his importance (also due to Lou baiting them too) and now they're having a complete meltdown. It's hilarious but also really sad. They truly got taken for a ride and cannot deal with it.

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the way some fans instantly latched onto tommy is so bizarre, especially because they missed all the blatant signs that the relationship was never going to be a long term thing. it was all there from the beginning! buck acting like a jealous weirdo bc he was misplacing his feelings for eddie, tommy having this long history with the other characters but only ever interacting in meaningful ways with buck and eddie. eddie literally being in 80% of all the bucktommy scenes!



writing was always on the wall!

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At this point I hope Buddie happens solely because the Buddie shippers have been INSUFFERABLE since Tommy showed up. And sure there were a few crazy Buck/Tommy stans but them complaining about this is like that spiderman meme. Nobody's more toxic than the Buddie shippers right now, unfortunately.



so long Tommy, we hardly knew ye. I will say the actor actually did some good work in the breakup ep, he sold that. Before that I wasn't too impressed.

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The actor who plays Eddie keeps giving interviews talking about how Eddie is straight and that he thinks it's great to show a straight guy and a bi guy (Buck) being best friends and not having Buck's coming out arc change that. I really don't see Buddie happening, and tbh with how unhinged some of the stans are, I hope it never does.

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oh god, i really hope you're right because i really don't want ryan fucking guzman involved in a queer relationship on any show ever. oliver handles this all so well and ryan would for sure show his goddamn ass.

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The Glee stuff was so funny. You got to come out in a post-Glee world like as if we have marriage equality because of Glee or something.



Glee wasnt Will and Grace.

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By this show's own timeline Tommy did all that (the racist workplace behavior towards Chim and Hen as well as knowingly using Abby as a beard) in a post-Glee world. So what was the point of that all lol



That speech had me legit googling if they were gonna reboot Glee bc it was just a little Too Much for Ryan Murphy shows mentioning each other.

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Was glee some massive thing for gays in the us because what the hell was that stupid speech

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Maybe just a throwback bc Ryan Murphy (and 2 more) is the creator of the show.

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The only good thing that happened was he shaved that thing off his face. Praise be.

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Ive been waiting for this day LOL



I couldnt take much more of this no chemistry, struggle acting (on Tommys part) relationship. I never felt like Tommy even liked Buck that much. Im glad that Tommy was the one to be like SLOW DOWN lol after Buck pulled his usual move of asking someone to move in with him.

Anyway its happening now!! Oliver talking about wanting a slow burn relationship, talking about how its best if he dates a fellow first responder

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Truly the best thing to happen this week. We needed this win.



Edited at 2024-11-10 03:46 pm (UTC)

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YES. thank you, 9-1-1. we needed this JOY

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So glad Tommy is gone! 

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I was so happy about the breakup scene that I literally missed Maddies pregnancy announcement lol I had to rewind it after. Bye Tommy! 

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Lol same!

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I can't stand the actor who played Tommy so good riddance. I'll admit, the breakup scene was slightly bizarrely written - Buck had no reason to over correct so much??? He reacted like that when asked if he loved Tommy and then was like "Let's move in!" after that insane speech from Josh jfc



I'll give Tommy credit for being like, whoa, that's not happening.



Maddie and Chimney were so  this episode. I loved Maddie wanting to treat this as joy and not like she's broken.



I loved Eddie this episode, but I really hope they don't act like he's fully over everything? It sounds like, from interviews, there's still a lot of self-exploration but they lie a lot so lol I also need this Chris storyline resolved :(



I don't wanna talk about the ending, it's a classic shot but I don't wanna jinx it lmaooo

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I feel like I'm the only one that's pissed off?



I liked Tommy and I hate how lack of development they made that relationship. They didn't really have chemistry, but I liked his character. The breakup was dumb and I hate the idea of BUDDIE. But the episode solidified my fear of it happening. It's for sure happening and I don't like it. LOL What the fuck are the writer's thinking

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I'm also pissed off, they really phoned in everything for Buck & Tommy in S8 and then gave them a nonsense breakup imo.



I'm still not thinking Buck/Eddie is happening, though. Stans have been saying it's going to happen for like 5 seasons now. I don't buy it 

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It feels more real now imo



Like they keep dropping hints. I dont think they wouldnt have made Buck bi just to have him end his relationship with his first bf so quickly. Theyre setting it up

Imo

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yay buck and tommy are done! hopefully tommy is gone-gone.

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I'm watching this show from afar, and I've been thinking about dipping a toe in. Athena's crazy saves/exploits are tempting. But ngl, there's a part of me that sees the shipping on this show and understands why Louisa May Alcott did not want to appease her fans with Jo/Laurie.



Anyway, I've seen some fans upset, and some fans not upset and that Buck is apparently a Brad Pitt type person that molds himself to whomever he's dating. I don't actually know!

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the shipping on the show is over the top and the fandom is extremely annoying but if you can watch it w/o engaging in the fandom it's such a dumb fun smooth brain show to watch.



Edited at 2024-11-09 02:26 pm (UTC)

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shipping is a fandom problem, for my money this show has the best canon ships and is really good with writing for them. very much second chance romance and though they have problems it isnt will they, wont they



outside of Eddie and Bucks relationships but thats bc 1. Eddies love interests are barely there and 2. Bucks relationship problems are literally always plot fodder. which is why shipping is a fandom problem

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The fandom is honestly pretty toxic (the actor who plays Tommy has talked about getting death threats from fans), so I say watch but don't engage with the fandom lol

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that one user who has downvoted every single post here that doesn't endorse Buddie is certainly not helping their reputation lol

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I think Im the only one but I hate Eddie. Literally nothing about the character is interesting and the guy does nothing for me. They could kill him off and nothing would be lost in my mind (except I do like Christopher without Eddie).

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you're not the only one. i do not like the actor, the character is bland and annoys me idk why. this is my problem with the show and the fandom because everyone and their mothers seem like buddie shippers and i'll be honest, this is pissing me off

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i don't like him either. more hate for ryan but it also bleeds over into a dislike for eddie too. he was really only good to have around for christopher and with him gone, it's like ooooooh so that really is the only reason you were likeable, wow...

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nyxk lmao, leave my comments alone. i stand by saying ryan and eddie suck.

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I'm not an Eddie hater but he's just sort of...there to me. His relationship with his kid was the only interesting part and now that he's not there, he's just very bland.



Edited at 2024-11-09 08:51 pm (UTC)

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the scene with Buck, Maddie and Josh was hilarious lol



Im glad Buck and Tommy are done. They were ok in the beginning but I do not get the instant love some people had for Tommy and the couple. Sometimes it felt like we were watching a different show lol



Maddie and chimney were cute, if they have a girl I totally expect them to name her Joy

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I think a lot of the streamers *cough* HBO/Zaslav *cough* are betting on the premise that if actors want to keep working, they will take this deal, and for a lot of actors, TV shows are where they make their money. Even if they're not a star on one at the present, being a featured guest on one episode or a small arc is where the primary money they make for the year comes from. It diminishes the power of the actors to negotiate based on what they bring to the table, but at the same time, many jobs  particularly nonprofit ones  are moving to this model to eliminate "systemic bias". It's just weird. I get it for nonprofits, but not so much for inherently capitalistic film and TV production. At the end of the day, some roles require more effort/work, and just forcing everyone to be on set even when they're not working to even out the pay structure is just weird.

If they want to work, they will take it, even if they're not gonna get raises or are making less than they used to. Like many things in late-stage capitalism, it is less about "saving money" than it is about pushing more profits up the ladder into shareholder wallets. Should actors become shareholders in the companies that employ them if they want to get their voices heard more? Should pay packages come with shares in the company? It's just a lot to wrap your head around, but in this case, I think it's inherently about increasing profit margins at the expense of unionized labor.
The reopening of Three Mile Island could mark a turning point in the perception and utilization of nuclear power in the U.S.

Three Mile Island, the site of one of the worlds most famous nuclear accidents, is set to reopen several years after its closure. On September 20th, Baltimore-based Constellation Energy and Microsoft announced that they had reached a deal that would mean the reopening of the 835 MW Three Mile Island Unit 1 nuclear plant in Pennsylvania. Unit 2 has been shut down since its partial core meltdown in 1979 and is currently being decommissioned. However, as Unit 1 was not damaged during the accident, it continued operating until 2019, when it eventually closed for financial reasons.

At 4 am on March 28, 1979, an automatically operated valve in the Unit 2 reactor mistakenly closed, which shut off the water supply to the main feedwater system  the system that transfers heat from the water circulating in the reactor core. This prompted the reactor core to shut down automatically. However, a series of equipment and instrument malfunctions, human errors in operating procedures, and mistaken decisions over several hours led to major water coolant loss from the reactor core, which resulted in a partial core meltdown.

Constellation expects the refurbishment of the plant to cost around $1.6 billion. When operational, Three Mile Island is capable of powering over 700,000 homes and employs around 700 or more people. Microsoft has signed an agreement to buy the facilitys entire output for twenty years, for $800 million a year. Following the announcement, Constellations stock rose 22 percent.

The nuclear company hopes the plant will be ready to relaunch in 2028. To achieve this, the firm must gain approvals from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the PJM grid manager for transmission access. The sites name will be changed to the Crane Energy Centre, and it is expected to receive a license to extend operations to 2053.

For decades, following three prominent nuclear disasters  Three Mile Island, Chornobyl, and Fukushima, the public perception of nuclear plants was extremely poor. People worried that the accidents of the past could happen again, and they might be even worse next time. However, thanks to improvements to nuclear safety and the strengthening of international industry regulations in recent years, people are once again seeing the potential for nuclear power, particularly as part of a green transition.

Joseph Dominguez, the CEO of Constellation Energy, is confident that the company will get Three Mile Island back up and running. Dominguez stated, Twelve months from now, Constellation will have started on the path towards building new reactors. This move has the potential to wave in a new nuclear era, as no reactor that was set to close permanently has been brought back online in the U.S. before. In addition, only three new reactors have been developed in the past 25 years.

Nuclear power continues to contribute around 19 percent of the U.S. electricity mix, and it is increasingly being viewed as the best clean energy source for meeting the rising electricity demand spurred by the rollout of complex technologies, such as artificial intelligence. Just like Microsoft, other tech giants are looking to work with nuclear energy companies to ensure their access to abundant clean energy to power operations. Google and Amazon recently struck deals with start-ups developing smaller nuclear reactors, in the hope that they will provide them with clean power by the 2030s.

Microsoft committed to being carbon negative by 2030, but its emissions rose by 29 percent between 2020 and 2023. The growing demand for electricity to power data centres is making it increasingly difficult for tech companies to stick to their ambitious climate pledges. While many are increasingly using renewable energy sources to power operations, they require such vast amounts of energy that nuclear power would make a much bigger dent in the demands of these companies.

In mid-October, Constellation ordered a $100-million main power transformer to support the reopening of Three Mile Island. The transformer is expected to be the largest single piece of equipment needed to be replaced to restart the plant. Other major renovation investments include the reactor's turbine, generator, and cooling systems.

Despite being mainly untouched since it shut down in 2019, the plant is said to be well-maintained. Constellations Vice President of Generation, Bryan Hanson, stated, I have walked the facility top to bottom, every floor The plant is in great condition. The company believes that the reactor vessel does not require any repairs, and the steam generators, which can be very costly, were replaced about 15 years ago.

The renovation and planned reopening of Three Mile Island could wave in a new nuclear era in the U.S., encouraged largely by the increase in electricity demand brought about by the commercial deployment of advanced technologies. As U.S. companies aim to decarbonise operations, they are looking for innovative ways to ensure a steady supply of clean electricity to support data centre operations, and nuclear energy companies are more than happy to support the reinvigoration of the nuclear power sector.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Fulani herdsmen on Sunday (Nov. 3) ambushed and killed a Christian in Plateau state, Nigeria, a week after a Christian and his mother in the Jos North area were slain, sources said.

In Daika village, Mangu County south of Jos, 30-year-old Fwangshak Lesun was ambushed and shot death on Sunday as he rode his motorcycle on an area highway, sources said.

Fwangshak Lesun was returning to Daika from Mangu town at about 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, 3 November, when he was ambushed by armed herdsmen who shot and killed him, area resident Christopher Luka told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News.

Lesuns family recovered his body near the Mangu-Daika bridge and buried it on Monday (Nov. 4) in Daika, Luka said.

In the Jos North area, Muslim Fulani herdsmen on Oct. 27 just after 1 a.m. attacked the home of a Christian family in Hwollaza village off the Jos-Zaria highway, killing a woman and her adult son and wounding a third member of the family who was in critical condition at a clinic in Jos, said area resident John Dauda.

The herdsmen killed a Christian woman, Mrs. Mary Jonathan, and her son, Mr. Mark Jonathan, while Dickson Timothy, another member of the household, was shot and injured, Dauda told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. The victim is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Jos. The two Christians have been buried.

Yusuf Gagdi, a member of Nigerias National Assembly and an in-law to the Jonathan family, issued a statement about the killing.

Myself, alongside my wife, Jemimah, laid to rest her mother, Mrs. Mary Jonathan, and brother, Mark Jonathan, who were tragically taken from us by violent and senseless acts, Gagdi said. We honor their memories, pray and seek justice. Rest well, Mama and brother Mark. May God Almighty expose the perpetrators of this heinous crime.

Alfred Alabo, spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News that Commissioner of Police Emmanuel Olugbemiga Adesina visited the site and directed officers to investigate.

In May 2023, hundreds of Fulani herdsmen invaded Christian communities in the Mangu area, killing more than 200 Christians.

Nigeria remained the deadliest place in the world to follow Christ, with 4,118 people killed for their faith from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023, according to Open Doors 2024 World Watch List (WWL) report. More kidnappings of Christians than in any other country also took place in Nigeria, with 3,300.

Nigeria was also the third highest country in number of attacks on churches and other Christian buildings such as hospitals, schools, and cemeteries, with 750, according to the report.

In the 2024 WWL of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria was ranked No. 6, as it was in the previous year.

Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani do adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdoms All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a 2020 report.

They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity, the APPG report states.

Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigerias Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds.
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

Nations will meet next week to hammer out agreements on climate action at the 29th UN climate change conference, COP 29, held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Dr. Simon Donner, professor in the department of geography and the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, and the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries at UBC, will be attending his third COP. He outlines the hopes and challenges of this year's conference.

What do you hope to see out of this COP?

I'd like to see some signals as to what countries are going to be planning for their next targets. By February, countries are due to submit their next national climate plans, and COP29 will be a window into what individual nations are planning in terms of transitioning away from fossil fuels, reducing emissions, and adapting to climate change. Some countries may announce their 2035 emissions reduction targets at COP29, including Canada.

Second, I'd like to see whether nations can agree on a new goal for climate finance, the money mobilized by developed nations to help developing nations respond to climate change. This meeting is being called the "climate finance COP" and there's a lot of debate about this goal.

Canada is at an interesting point politically, with the threat of an election and climate policy, particularly carbon pricing, at the forefront of political discussions. At the same time, Canada has a commitment by the end of this year to set an emissions target for the year 2035. The advisory body I co-chair has advised the government that this target should be a 50 to 55 percent reduction below 2005 levels.

How will this conference be different?

Unfortunately, for the third year in a row, the UN climate conference is being hosted by a major fossil fuel-producing state that is not that interested in transitioning away from fossil fuels. This does influence what happens in the negotiations and in the final text.

How might a Trump presidency affect the negotiations, and global climate action?

The U.S. election result is like receiving news of an incoming hurricane. At COP29, negotiators will be scrambling to protect the shoreline for when the storm hits, and deciding how to rebuild after the storm passes. Major fossil fuel producers like the host country and Russia will feel emboldened to try and water down text about shifting away from fossil fuels. That could seriously undermine progress and what little public faith there is in the UN process.

However, other nations, including the EU countries and possibly China, will look to further claim the mantle of global leadership on climate action, and in general. The world has been through President Trump withdrawing from the Paris Agreement before. If it happens again, the world will be more than ready to move on without the U.S. President Trump should be careful about what he wishes for.

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What are some 'green flags' ahead of the conference?

There has been incredible progress on transitioning toward low-carbon forms of energy. We've seen the cost of solar power decrease by 90 percent in the past 10 years, battery storage by about 90 percent, and wind energy by about 65 percent, to the point that the vast majority of wind and solar installations around the planet are now cheaper than coal. The world has also pledged to triple renewable energy sources by the end of this decade.

As well, a number of countries have reduced their emissions in recent years. China's greenhouse gas emissions are projected to peak and then begin to decline before the end of the decade.

What issue isn't getting enough attention right now?

Something that never gets enough attention is international climate finance. Developed, industrialized nations who are mainly responsible for climate change have agreed to help developing nations respond to climate change by mobilizing money. There's a debate currently about who should contribute to climate finance and the total amount of money that should be provided over time.

What most concerns me is whether this accounting will incorporate climate change adaptation. We need to reduce emissions, but we also need to make sure there's enough money for climate change adaptation in the developing world. We have no choice but to adapt to climate change. The impacts are already being felt around the world. And adaptation is expensive because it is so localized. I'm hoping that the nations set a separate sub-goal specifically for adaptation finance and I hope that it's a big portion of the total.
China summons Philippine ambassador over so-called "Maritime Zones Act" and "Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act"

Xinhua) 09:19, November 09, 2024

BEIJING, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China has issued a statement on the Philippines signing into law the so-called "Maritime Zones Act" and "Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act," and summoned the Philippine Ambassador to China to make serious protests, a foreign ministry spokesperson said here Friday.

Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks in response to a related query at a daily news briefing.

Mao stressed that the so-called "Philippine Maritime Zones Act" illegally includes China's Huangyan Dao and most of the islands and reefs of China's Nansha Qundao, and their relevant waters into the Philippines' maritime zones.

The act also aims to further solidify the illegal arbitral award on the South China Sea in the form of domestic legislation, Mao said, adding that this move severely violates China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea.

"We strongly condemn and firmly oppose it," Mao said.

She said that China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea are solidly grounded in history and the law, comply with international law including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and will not be affected by the "Philippines Maritime Zones Act".

"The so-called arbitral award on the South China Sea is illegal, null and void. China does not accept or recognize it. We oppose and do not accept any claim or action based on the award," Mao said.

Noting that the Philippines seeks to justify its illegal claims and actions in the South China Sea by approving the so-called "Maritime Zones Act" in the name of implementing UNCLOS, Mao said that this is illegal, null and void. This so-called legislation seriously violates the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and will make the situation in the South China Sea more complex.

"China will firmly oppose any infringement activities and provocations by the Philippines in the South China Sea based on the act," she noted.

Mao added that China urges the Philippines to earnestly respect China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, immediately end any unilateral move that may escalate the dispute and complicate the situation, and keep the South China Sea peaceful and stable. China reserves the right of taking all measures necessary.

Noting that various parts of the Philippine "Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act" are not compatible with regulations of international law and resolutions of the International Maritime Organization, Mao said that we ask the Philippines to earnestly abide by international law and not to undermine other countries' lawful rights under UNCLOS and other international law.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Wu Chaolan)
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

As we tidy away the Dracula capes and glow-in-the-dark plastic fangs for another winter, one notorious blood sucker has had a particularly good year.

For the first time the medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis has been bred in captivity at London zoo, part of a longer-term project to help this fascinating if unloved creature. Once widespread in the UK, the medicinal leech is now rare due mainly to habitat loss and historic collecting for medical use.

In Ireland, the leech was driven to extinction in the 19th century. Their vulnerability is recognized in international conventions and biodiversity audits.

You may have heard about leeches being used indiscriminately to treat all kinds of illnesses, from cancer to mental illness in the 19th century. The discrediting of general "bleeding" as a treatment for everything from hysteria to syphilis in the 19th century largely put an end to this history.

However, in 1884 leech saliva was identified as an anticoagulant, called hirodine.

Surgeons still use leeches to improve the success rates of surgery, such as when reattaching severed fingers as their saliva prevents post-surgery blood clotting inside veins.

The leeches' medical comeback

The medicinal leech was once widespread in Britain and Ireland. Their popular use in medicine resulted in a lucrative international market in the 18th and 19th centuries. They seem to have been a bit of a luxury treatment, too expensive for the poor. The use of leeches to treat all sorts of ailments goes back to at least 1500BC, appearing in Egyptian tomb decorations.

Leeches were imported in Britain and Ireland from Europe, Russia and Africa, but some of these leeches weren't what they seemed. For example, the less effective leech, Hirudo decora, was passed off as the more effective medicinal leech. H decora, which was imported, does not bite as deep and so was less effective at draining blood.

Declining leech numbers and increasing prices led to attempts at leech farming, which seem to have failed although commercial stock are farmed today and at least one Welsh leech merchant has survived since 1812 and still supplies the NHS and vets.

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At the same time as their population declined so did their medical use in Britain, fading away in the early 20th century due to cost, rarity and changing medical treatments.

Leeches made a medical comeback as "hirudotherapy", starting in the 1960s and widely used since the 1980s. Researchers have found over 100 substances in leech saliva useful to medicine, such as anti-inflammatory agents, antibiotics and pain relievers.

The main focus though is plastic surgery, where tissues are being reconnected, such as skin grafts or detached ears, noses (and other bodily extremities prone to variations in blood flow).

Sometimes in reconstructive surgery, blood pools in the veins and can't flow back to the heart and lungs, which can cause tissue death. That's when leeches would be applied straight to the wound site. When they bite, their saliva transfers anticoagulants into the patient's bloodstream, which helps increase blood flow.

The comeback is the result of the leech's remarkable ability to take a blood meal without the blood coagulating inside it, which would be fatal to the leech.

Other chemicals increase blood flow to the bite area and the person bitten often does not notice as the leech releases anti-inflammatory and pain-killing substances. Leech saliva also has anti-microbial properties, which protect the wound it leaves from infection.

Hopefully I have convinced you it is a good thing that 40 baby medicinal leeches were born this year at London zoo, a modest number but a breakthrough given these are from one of the remaining native populations in the UK. The baby leeches offer hope of boosting fragmented wild populations.

As a slithery, blood sucking creature of pools and wetlands, leeches can be a hard sell to the public. And humans have long distrusted the mud and ooze of its wetland home.

There was even a 1959 black-and-white horror film, called "Attack of the Giant Leeches," playing on our fear of them.

But I would argue leeches have a sense of mystery and excitement.

I suspect anyone who has ever run a pond dip (trawling a pond with a small net) with children will have heard a similar shriek of delight as a leech is spotted in the catch, although these are more likely to be one of the 16 other freshwater leeches that live in the UK that the medicinal leech. And our aversion to them is misplaced as most of the 600 species worldwide are not bloodsuckers, at least not the blood of humans.

These fascinating creatures have tiny sensory structures all over their body called sensilla that are thought to help them detect water motion and light. Some leeches, including medicinal leeches, have as many as five pairs of eyes on their head although some have just one pair.

They are more caring than most invertebrate parents and some pass nutrients to their young across their bodies a bit like a placenta. Some even starve themselves to feed their babies when food is hard to come by.

So, remember that appearances can be deceiving and leeches are our friends. Humans have a complicated history with leeches but it looks like they are here to stayif we let them.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The oceans play a pivotal role in drawing down atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO) and have so far acted as a brake on the full impact of climate change. Current estimates of the CO from the atmosphere that disappears in the ocean, commonly referred to as the ocean CO sink, suggests that around 25% of all human CO emissions have been taken up by the oceans.

In our recent journal paper in Nature Geoscience, we show that a thin layer at the ocean surface called the "ocean skin," a layer thinner than a human hair, increases this ocean CO uptake by about 7%. That sounds like a small difference, but this additional uptake is equivalent to the CO absorbed by the entire Amazon rainforest each year.

This long-term uptake of carbon into the ocean has negative implications for ocean health. It is slowly causing the acidification of the oceansas sea water takes up more CO it is altering the ocean chemistry and lowering its pH, and this cannot easily be reversed.

Since the 1990s, scientists have suggested that a cooler skin would enhance CO uptake by the oceans. As such, estimates of CO absorption that ignore this effect would be inaccurate.

Since then, the sea surface temperature researchers have shown that the ocean skin is slightly cooler than the waters just below. This surface skin is, on average, ~0.17C cooler. A temperature change like this increases the concentration of CO in this tiny sliver of water. This matters because it's this water that is in direct contact with the atmosphere.

Because the exchange of CO between the ocean and atmosphere is controlled by the concentration difference between the surface and the layer of water below, this cooler skin increases the absorption of CO into the ocean.

European researchers confirmed these concentration-driven processes in 2007. They used equipment similar to a powerful microscope with a camera to visualize oxygen gas concentrations within these tiny layers in a laboratory. In recent years, the impact of the surface layer on global ocean carbon has been evaluated using theory, modeling and satellite-based observations, but until now, nobody had actually measured this effect in the sea.

To carry out our research, the European Space Agency helped us put specialist measurements on board two research ships taking part in the annual Atlantic Meridional Transect scientific cruises that each year hosts UK and international scientists.

In 2018, we collected data from our kit on board the royal research ship James Clark Ross as it traveled approximately 9,000 miles (14,500km) from Harwich in south-east England to Port Stanley on the Falklands.

In 2019, the equipment was installed on the royal research ship Discovery which went from Southampton, UK, to Puntas Arenas, Chile. This ship sailed through very rough seas in the North Atlantic and near the Falklands, but experienced a mirror glass ocean with no real waves near the Equator, so our measurements reflected a wide range of different sea conditions.

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Up, up and away?

On each voyage, two sets of measurements were taken. For one set of measurements, we used a micro meteorological system to measure wind speed and air temperature, combined with atmospheric gas measurements. Collectively, this is known as the "eddy covariance system" and it tracks how much CO gas is in the air moving up (away from the surface) as opposed to that moving down. This tells us how much CO is being absorbed or emitted by the ocean.

The second set of measurements sampled water collected from an inlet pipe on the ship. From this, we measured the gas in the water and its temperature. We then combined this with a high specification thermal camera that measures the temperature of the ocean skin.

Together, both sets of measurements should provide the same result if the ocean skin had no effect. Any differences between them revealed how the ocean skin was affecting the ocean's CO sink.

Accurate estimates of the CO absorbed by the oceans are critical to calculating global carbon budgets. These budgets quantify how carbon moves around global systems and are used to guide international policy on reducing emissions.

The ocean and atmosphere are the two primary reservoirs of carbon that can be accurately observed. Accurately estimating these, constrains all other parts of the global carbon budget and allows us to assess what is termed the "remaining budget." This identifies how much more carbon can be emitted before a specific climate target is breached. Importantly, we cannot estimate the carbon absorbed by all the land on Earth without first estimating the carbon absorbed by the oceans. Therefore, the ocean CO uptake being approximately 7% higher will have implications for the whole global carbon budget and Earth's carrying capacity for further emissions.

As the UN's climate summit, Cop29, approaches in Azerbaijan, this research helps define the problem of CO emissions more accurately. Climate experts will need to reassess the global carbon budget to reflect our new findings and this additional ocean uptake will cause an imbalance in the budget, potentially indicating that the land-based carbon sink is smaller than currently thought, so less effective in helping remove atmospheric emissions.

The oceans sucking up more of our carbon emissions than previously thought sounds positive. But this news means that climate change, along with other human activities, such as over fishing and pollution, are putting increased pressure on ocean health. It could also imply that the land's capacity to absorb CO has been overestimated, and that more attention should be paid to conserving ocean ecosystems.

As the need to reduce emissions and meet reduction targets ramps up, insights about how the ocean skin works will help scientists understand how the ocean will respond to our emissions. Unfortunately though, it won't let anyone off the hook.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Simulation of a light echo from the region of a black hole. Location of observed emission relative to the time delay between n = 0 and n = 1 geodesics connecting that location to the observer. Credit: The Astrophysical Journal Letters (2024). DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ad8650

This week, researchers hypothesized that human culture is distinguished from cultures of other species like whales by unique open-endednessthe ability to communicate and understand an infinite number of possibilities. An ancient unicellular organism provided evidence that embryonic development evolved before actual animals. And researchers reported that the Earth experienced a massive, rapid melting period following the last ice age. Additionally, we reported on the sociological implications of blowing deadlines, a method to calculate the mass and spin of a black hole, and the evolution of species coloration.

Work faster, not better

I was playing some Fallout 4 this week, and while I was passing by a farmstead, a settler said, "If you work, you eat. It's as simple as that." I hear you loud and clear, post-apocalyptic non-player character with a tenuous relationship to collision surfaces. We might not live in a society where soda bottle caps are currency, but we do live in a capitalist society where we complete tasks in exchange for money, and a lot of those tasks are time sensitive. What happens when you miss a deadline?

According to a study by researchers at the University of Toronto, missing a deadline often causes others to view you as less competent, in turn impacting their perception of the quality of the work you turned in.

They surveyed thousands of people in the U.S. and the U.K., including managers, human resources personnel and people whose jobs entailed evaluating others. In the field experiment, respondents were presented with examples of work and asked to rate it. Before their evaluations, the researchers told them whether the work was submitted early, on time or late.

Respondents who were told that the work was turned in late evaluated the work as qualitatively worse than in the other two conditions. "Everyone saw the exact same art contest entry, school submission or business proposal, but they couldn't help but use their knowledge of when it came in to guide their evaluation of how good it was," says Sam Maglio, professor of marketing in the department of management at U of T Scarborough and the Rotman School of Management.

For the record, I submitted this blog post one day before my deadline.

Wavelengths perceived

A new statistical analysis by researchers at the University of Arizona suggests that color vision evolved in animals around 500 million years ago, long before the evolution of colorful fruits and flowers, which started sprouting 200 to 350 million years ago. The researchers focused on what they term "conspicuous colors"basically, the ones kids are likeliest to select in a 16 pack of Crayolasred, orange, yellow, blue and purple.

Around 150 million years ago, presumably to capitalize on the well-established prevalence of color vision, species began evolving warning coloration. And 50 million years later, there was an evolutionary explosion of both warning and sexual coloration. Although the reasons behind this evolutionary burst are still unclear, the researchers identified three warning signal animal vectors behind it: ray-finned fishes, birds and lizards.

Additionally, warning coloration is much more widespread among species than sexual coloration, likely because colorful animals do not themselves need to have color vision to signal the danger they pose to other, color-sensitive species. Sexual color signals, on the other hand, are confined to vertebrate and arthropod species that have well-developed color vision.

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Simulated wavelengths perceived

Black holes have basically three characteristics: mass, spin and charge. So distinguishing them from one another in a police lineup would be difficult, even after resolving all of the obvious practical issues of getting them into the precinct. But calculating the mass and spin of a black hole out in space is fraught for a number of reasons.

A new study published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters proposes a method to observe light bent by the gravitational influence of a black hole. The researchers were interested in finding black hole light echoes, a theoretical phenomenon in which gravitational lensing bends the path of a photon and allows the light to take multiple paths from a source back to an observer on Earth. The effect is that the light from the original source arrives at different times, resulting in an echo. Observing echoes could provide measurements of the mass and spin of the black hole.

The technique captures faint echo signatures that are otherwise drowned out by stronger direct light. The researchers tested the method with computer simulations, taking thousands of snapshots of light traveling around a supermassive black hole and toward earth, and could directly infer the echo delay period in the simulated data. The results suggest that astronomers could detect echoes in the future using two telescopes, one in orbit and one ground based, together performing very long baseline interferometry.

 2024 Science X Network
While the outside world races towards higher education and advanced degrees, those trapped in the prison system find themselves shackled to a grimmer reality.

According to a study from New America, one in three incarcerated adults (33%) lack even a high school diploma, a stark contrast to the general population, where only 14% face the same educational hurdle.

This chasm widens further in the realm of higher education, where 15% of inmates manage to earn a college degree or certificate compared to almost half of all free adults.

This education inequality within the incarcerated population is often due to the lack of resources and opportunities inmates are given before incarceration, Pennington County Jail teacher Kayla Quenzer said.

Sometimes it is the cards were dealt. Many of the people in here had a lack of resources such as a stable home or food, when they were growing up, Quenzer said. "Its hard to learn when youre hungry."

According to a study from Literacy Mid-South, there is a strong correlation between literacy levels and involvement in the criminal justice system. Research indicates 85% of young people encountering the juvenile court system struggle with basic reading and writing skills.

Furthermore, individuals who do not complete high school face a substantially higher risk of arrest compared to those who graduate. Specifically, high school dropouts are 3.5 times more likely to be arrested in their lifetime than high school graduates.

This risk increases dramatically when compared to individuals who obtain a college degree, with dropouts being 63% more likely to be incarcerated than their peers with four-year college degrees.

New America is a platform that provides research and policy recommendations on five key areas: education and work, family economic security, global politics, political reform and civic engagement.

Literacy Mid-South is a volunteer organization that provides literacy programs for learners of all ages and backgrounds.

A need within the community

Despite this, Pennington County Jail is taking a proactive stance against this national trend.

The Pennington County Sheriffs Office IGNITE program is an initiative to provide education and job skills training to incarcerated populations at the Pennington County Jail, Western South Dakota Juvenile Services Center and Care Campus.

IGNITE (Individual Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education) began in Genesee County, Michigan. Sheriff Christopher R. Swanson started the program, and now the National Sheriffs' Association helps other jails replicate it.

The initiative aims to offer the judicial system more flexibility in sentencing, allowing individuals initially facing 30 to 90 days in custody to maintain employment, develop valuable skills, pursue education and facilitate their entry into the workforce.

Since joining the IGNITE program, Quenzer has expanded the GED program from a self-study to four in-person classes for inmates to participate. Additionally shes helped establish literacy, life skills and creative writing courses.

The in-person education program started in June 2024 and Quenzer said enrollment for inmates has gone up 50% over enrollment in the jail's GED self-study program. Quenzer said education programs such as IGNITE are the key to breaking the cycle of crime for the incarcerated population.

Inmates who participated in correctional education programs had 43% lower odds of recidivating than inmates who did not. This represents a reduction of 13% on the risk of recidivism, Quenzer said.

In a study by RAND, participation in prison education programs increased the likelihood of post-release employment by 13%.

A teachers dream to help

Drawing upon her own experiences growing up in a low-income area, Quenzer possesses a deep understanding of the challenges faced by her inmate students. She recognized the systemic barriers and lack of opportunities that often contributed to their circumstances.

I chose to teach inmates because I knew I wanted to go on an alternative education path at some point. I grew up in a low-income area where crime was pretty frequent I understand where a lot of my students come from and being that role model for them is my goal, Quenzer said.

Quenzer said if it wasnt for the support of her husband, mom, friends and teacher, her life would look very different. One of the biggest pushes that led Quenzer to teach for the incarcerated population was witnessing one too many friends go down the wrong path.

Since taking on the role, Quenzer has built a genuine connection with her students at the Pennington County Jail. Quenzer said though it is her goal to help each of her students to graduate, it's much more rewarding helping her students navigate personal obstacles, discover a sense of purpose and assist them to forge a new path forward.

It's really fun to watch them go through the steps It's rewarding to be that person that helps them navigate through this path and navigate over those roadblocks so they can graduate, Quenzer said.

Quenzer said she wants to continue to inspire her students to strive for a better tomorrow and continue to grow the IGNITE program.

A student striving for change

Like many incarcerated individuals, the weight of the world fell on one female inmates shoulders when her parents passed away. Forced to abandon her education in the 11th grade, she found herself adrift, struggling to make ends meet.

The woman and the jail asked that her name not be used.

Without a support system or a high school diploma, the woman stumbled into a cycle of crime, each misstep leading her deeper into the system. The jail cell became a grim substitute for a graduation ceremony she never had, a stark reminder of the life that could have been.

That is until the IGNITE program was offered. As a student for 51 days, the inmate said she is finally able to achieve her dreams in becoming a nurse practitioner and make her parents proud.

Ive always wanted to be a nurse practitioner so I could take care of (my parents). But since theyre not here, I can still take care of other people and help the world out, she said.

The woman said once she graduates, she hopes to set a good example for her 8-month-old son.

I really want him to excel. So if he sees me do it, hell learn what to do down the road. Itll become routine for him, it would be natural for him to go to school and be something, she said.

Quenzer said the inmate has grown exceptionally through the program and is a shining example for the other students.

PHOTOS: Raising awareness for youth in need at annual Rapid City Glow Walk Attendees participate in the Glow Walk for youth homelessness awareness on Thursday, Nov. 7, in downtown Rapid City. The event is held during  Lolita King, a peer navigator at the Family Connections Center in Rapid City, speaks ahead of the 10th annual Glow Walk on Thursday, Nov. 7 at Members of the Rapid City Police Department Community Engagement Division participate and provide traffic safety during the Glow Walk. Kia Overturf with Youth and Family Services and co-chair of the Youth Task Force speaks to Glow Walk attendees outside the WAVI house. Overtur A pit stop on the Glow Walk was a break for hot chocolate outside the WAVI house in downtown Rapid City. Participants make their way along downtown streets during the Rapid City Glow Walk on Thursday, Nov. 7. Hunter Herzog with WAVI talks about the organization's services outside its facility during a stop for hot chocolate on the Glow Walk. The annual Glow Walk drew a total of about 40 people, including those pictured here. Glow Walk attendees cross Main Street at Fifth Street. Representatives from a number of organizations that serve those in need spoke during the hot chocolate break. Speakers at the 2024 Glow Walk on Thursday, Nov. 7 in downtown Rapid City. Walkers stay below the speed limit while making their way along Fifth Street. Kanin Booth of the Youth Task Force poses with Rapid City Councilwoman Lindsey Seachris at the Glow Walk. Glow Walk attendees make their way along Omaha Street on Thursday, Nov. 7 in Rapid City. Glow Walk attendees walk along Omaha Street on Thursday, Nov. 7 in Rapid City.
The Ravalli County veteran community is tight knit and well-represented, according to Corvallis resident and Navy veteran Kevin Holyfield.

Theres tremendous support from the community, Holyfield said. Because of the size of the veteran community here, I dont think theres anybody who doesn't have someone or know someone whos served  and thats up and down the Bitterroot.

Holyfield, 58, works in conjunction with the Ravalli County Veterans Service Center. He spoke to the Ravalli Republic ahead of Veterans Day on Monday about his experience in the military and the centers significance within the Bitterroot Valley veteran community.

When I was about 13 or so I knew that I wanted to do the military thing, Holyfield said. I hadnt planned on making it a career, I just knew that I wanted to serve.

Holyfield, who is originally from Houston, joined the Navy when he was 18 and served in various divisions of the Navy until he retired in 2005.

I had a good time and I thought to myself, Well if it stops being fun, Ill go ahead and get out, and it never did, he said.

Holyfield started as a non-designated Navy fireman in San Diego and was quickly shipped off to Sasebo, Japan in 1987. For his next decade of service, Holyfield continuously bounced around both sides of the Pacific Ocean, working with aircraft engineers and torpedo technicians in distant parts of the world like Hong Kong, Singapore and Korea.

Ive never liked being stable, just doing one thing, Holyfield said. About halfway through my career I had a midlife crisis where I woke up and wanted to do something extra.

When Holyfield was 32, he got involved with Naval Special Warfare Command and was sent to the Middle East, where he worked as a special warfare combatant craft crewperson in Kuwait.

I didnt know that it was gonna kick off in the Middle East, Holyfield said chuckling. We were actually in Kuwait operating when 9/11 happened.

Service center support

Holyfield moved to Corvallis in 2021 after he retired. He said he got in contact with the Ravalli County Veterans Service Center after he moved up to the Bitterroot. He was initially looking for information relating to a knee injury he had sustained.

Being a veteran, a lot of time you will receive injuries or have service-connected disabilities, Holyfield said. Its not just missing a leg or an arm or an eye, you can have PTSD or kidney disease or mesothelioma.

Organizations like the service center streamline support for veterans by helping individuals sort through paperwork and better understand what kind of compensation theyre entitled to, Holyfield said.

After becoming better acquainted with the Ravalli County Veterans Service Center, Holyfield and service center Director Jaime Smothers husband Sean started the Bitterroot Valley Military Program, which provides youth in the county with military training.

We serve veterans as well as serve the community, Holyfield said.

Theres a lot of outreach among the Ravalli County veteran community, according to Holyfield, who said local veterans do a great job supporting one another.

Theres huge community support and I really cant think of anything more that the community could do, Holyfield said.

Were trying to reach as many people as we can, said Aubrey Clark, lead veterans service officer at the Ravalli County Veterans Service Center. Clark listed a number of services provided by the service center, as well as upcoming events geared toward veterans.

Clark said that one of the most prevalent issues pervading the veteran community is cost of housing. The service center provides veterans help in accessing resources allotted to them from organizations like the Department of Veterans Affairs.

We help people try and find housing and we help people try and get help with the suicide hotline, counseling and really any kind of rehabilitation that we can help them with, Clark said. We are really just a centrally located place that tries to reach out to people and get them the help that they need.

In addition to reaching out to veterans in the community to help find housing over the phone, Clark said the service center encourages veterans to visit and utilize the computers at the center so that they can get direct help accessing resources.

They also provide people with showers downstairs at the Salvation Army, she added.

The full scope of resources provided by the Ravalli County Veterans Service Center is available on their website at https://ravallivvsc.org/.

As Veterans Day approaches, local groups and government organizations are encouraging the community to show their support for the valley's veteran population.

Ravalli County Commissioners voted at a recent meeting to designate Nov. 4-11 as Operation Green Light, where residents and local business owners are encouraged to display a green light in their windows to honor veterans within the community.

Operation Green Light is a project put on by the National Association of Counties and the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, who invited over 3,000 counties across the country to participate.

On Nov. 16 the Ravalli County Veteran Service Center is partnering with SW Montana Veterans Food Pantry and Services to host a veteran food donation and giveaway at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds.
The city of Richmond wants to officially designate a plot of land on North Fifth Street as a cemetery, in an effort to remove a billboard on the property and better honor the human remains believed to exist under the ground.

For years, Richmond paved over and forgot that thousands of Black residents were buried in the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground in the 1800s. Developers built a road and gas station on the site.

Now, researchers and city leaders aim to mark the land adjacent to Interstate 64 as sacred and historically significant. On Tuesday, the City Council will consider an ordinance to make the site at 1305 N. Fifth St. an official cemetery.

Doing so would seemingly force Lamar to remove its billboard. It is unclear if the advertising company would challenge the city. Richmond officials have not heard recently from Lamar, a city spokesperson said, and a lawyer representing the company did not respond to requests for comment.

The Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground has been under assault since its closing in 1879, said Mayor Levar Stoney. It is time we formally redesignate this sacred space as a cemetery and bring peace to the many souls who rest there.

Richmond closed cemetery in 1879





Beginning in 1799, free Black Richmonders were buried in Shockoe Bottom in what was called the Burial Ground for Negroes. The spot was later renamed the First Municipal African Cemetery.

But the spot flooded frequently, and Black residents petitioned for a new cemetery. In 1816, the city created the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground a mile north, which became the final resting place for free and enslaved Black residents. Eventually, the cemetery held the remains of 22,000 people, making it one of the largest cemeteries for African Americans in the United States at the time, the city said.

Richmond closed the cemetery in 1879 and, in the years to follow, treated the territory with little regard. In 1883, Richmond extended North Fifth Street through the burying ground, bringing up human bones in the process. Builders used the human remains as fill material to make the street level, the city said.

The digging and building continued for years. In the 1880s, the city sold a portion of the burying ground to the adjacent Hebrew Cemetery. In 1890, developers built a viaduct across the valley, exposing and destroying human remains. Later, the city replaced the viaduct and once again dug into the ground. In the 1950s, Richmond converted a corner of the site into a dog pound. In 1960, the city sold the land to the Sun Oil Co. for $25,000.

At some point, a billboard facing the interstate was erected and a gas station and two-car garage were built. Lamar has a permanent easement for the billboard, which has displayed no advertisements since February, The Washington Post reported. Although the city has asked Lamar to remove the billboard, the structure remains standing.

The actions taken after the closure of the cemetery reveal a disregard for this resting place and the systemic erasure of a community, the city said.

Richmond bought a 1.2-acre portion of the cemetery in 2021 through a tax-delinquent judicial sale. The spot has since received a historical highway marker, and the National Park Service listed it on the National Register of Historic Places.

The back of the garage is painted with red, black and green stripes resembling the Pan-African Flag and the words Beneath this old gas station, that billboard and I-95/64 is Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground, Active 1816-1879.

One of Virginias most endangered historic places

Last year, archaeologist Paul Martin used ground-penetrating radar to locate what he believes are more than 125 intact graves. Martin recommended the city memorialize the space by limiting parking to areas that do not have graves, fencing off portions of the grass and repurposing the garage as a monument.

Lenora McQueen, a Texas resident, has researched the cemetery and believes her enslaved ancestor Kitty Cary was interred there. She supports the ordinance to preserve the space.

The passage of this ordinance will do an incredible thing for this burial ground and provide it much needed recognition and protection in that specific location, McQueen said in a letter to the council.

She noted that the actual cemetery extended far beyond the 1.2-acre plot now owned by the city. It stretched downhill, under the highway and to the railroad tracks at the bottom of the valley. In its entirety, the cemetery was 31 acres, she said. It is unclear what is under the ground in those areas.

The rest of the burial ground remains one of Virginias most endangered historic places, she said.
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President-elect Donald Trump made abolishing the U.S. Department of Education a key part of his platform and, if the plan were realized, it would have significant impacts on schools in Virginia and across the U.S.

Virginia officials in both parties said its unlikely to happen, though many were reluctant to comment on the record. Eliminating the agency would require approval from Congress.

Trump, who also discussed his idea at rallies, said in a campaign video: One thing Ill be doing very early is closing up the Department of Education in Washington, D.C., and sending all education and education work and needs back to the states. We want them to run the education of our children, because theyll do a much better job of it. You cant do worse.

Virginia receives significant federal funding for low-income families and special education. Such programs are administered by the federal education department and have been congressionally popular.

The federal education departments main role in K-12 education is ensuring that states comply with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which requires states to monitor school progress and intervenes in underperforming schools in exchange for federal funding.

This year, Virginia identified 247 schools that need support under ESSA, and those schools receive additional support from the state education departments Office of School Quality.

The U.S. Department of Education also makes states comply with federal civil rights and disability laws in schools. The Office for Civil Rights, an arm of the federal Education Department, determined last year that the Virginia Department of Education excluded some students with disabilities from taking a field test of the new integrated reading and writing assessment. The state is under an agreement with the office to resolve the issue.

In 2017, the Office for Civil Rights under the federal Education Department investigated whether Henrico County Public Schools discriminated against Black students by failing to provide them with comparable resources and educational opportunities that are provided to white students. The probe led to an overhaul of the countys gifted program.

Asked about Trumps proposal, Gov. Glenn Youngkins press secretary, Christian Martinez, said in a statement: We dont recall the Richmond Times-Dispatch ever asking the Governors position on Biden-Harris administration policies.

The governor continues to believe we need to overhaul education in America. At the federal level that means allowing states to freely innovate without unnecessary interference from federal bureaucracies because the quality of education is driven at the state level, and thats why the Governor has worked so hard on empowering parents, increasing teacher pay, raising standards, creating multiple pathways to success for our students, and emphasizing transparency and accountability.

State Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, a member of the Senate Committee on Education and Health and a public school teacher in Henrico, said abolishing the federal Education Department is a really dumb idea.

It would hurt kids, he said. We should be in the business of helping kids. Lets have a productive conversation about raising student performance rather than a culture war fight about right-wing talking points.

Eliminating the U.S. Department of Education isnt a new idea  even for Trump.

In his 2016 campaign, Trump called for dismantling or reducing the Education Department as part of an effort to foster local control of education. In 2018, Trumps administration proposed combining the Department of Education with the Department of Labor to create one agency focused on career development.

Trumps education secretary, Betsy DeVos, said at the time: President Trump campaigned and won with his promise to reduce the federal footprint in education and to make the federal government more efficient and effective. Todays bold reform proposal takes a big step toward fulfilling that promise.

The plan did not materialize.

Rep. Bobby Scott, D-3rd, said at the time: The Trump administrations plan to reorganize the federal government is a hastily concocted proposal that uses the false promise of streamlining to cut investments in our future.

On Friday, Scott said in a statement that Project 2025, a proposed Republican agenda published by the Heritage Foundation, clearly lays out the Trump-Vance Administrations intentions to effectively dismantle many of the programs Virginians rely on.

We can anticipate the Trump-Vance Administration will want to abolish the Department of Education, make it harder to offer students free and reduced-price school meals, eliminate Title I funding (which funds schools in low-income areas), and reverse the progress the Biden-Harris Administration made to forgive student loan debt, said Scott, the ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Moreover, the Trump-Vance Administration has vowed to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at a time when, according to the Government Accountability Office, schools are as segregated today as they were in the late-1960s. As Governor Walz said, if you are going to take the time to draw up a playbook, you plan on using it.

Republican presidents have proposed abolishing the U.S. Department of Education since not long after its creation under President Jimmy Carter in 1979.

In his first State of the Union address in January 1982, President Ronald Reagan called for abolishing the department as part of what he termed a plan to cut out more nonessential government spending. The budget plan I submit to you ... will realize major savings by dismantling the Departments of Energy and Education and by eliminating ineffective subsidies for business, Reagan told members of Congress.

In January 1985, Reagan backed off the idea of abolishing the Education Department. In a letter to Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, he wrote: While I still feel that this is the best approach, that proposal has received very little support in the Congress.
Sedena secures land in Felipe Carrillo Puerto Ejido dispute

Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Q.R.  The Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena) has secured Expo Maya land in the midst of an Ejido dispute. The dispute arose earlier this week when Sedena personnel began the construction of a new base.

Ejidos say they own the land. Sedena says they own it.

On Monday, Sedena arrived with heavy machinery to start construciton of a new 200-room army base, however, the Felipe Carrillo Puerto Ejidos say they own the land and that their construction is illegal.

Elias Beh, one of the Ejidos, stated that the Expo Maya land was loaned to a military party and later recovered with the condition of ceding another 20 hectares during the presidency of Carlos Salinas de Gortari. He said that documents from the Public Property Registry support that the land remains communal.

However on Friday, State Police along with personnel from the Mexican Army, National Guard and the State Attorney Generals Office, closed the property. Signs prohibiting access were placed.

Authorities secured the property Friday.

The operation resulted in the complete closure of Benito Juarez Avenue and Constituyentes Avenue, forcing motorists to take alternate routes. In retaliation, the Ejidos blocked the highway to prevent vehicle passage. It is not clear if the property was secured for litigation purposes or for continued construction of the 200-room military base.
At first glance, the pairing of Aquarius and Cancer may seem like an unlikely match, as their core values and approaches to life appear to be at odds. Aquarius values independence, innovation, and intellectual pursuits, while Cancer seeks connection, security, and a nurturing environment. However, when these two signs come together, a captivating dynamic emerges, one that challenges the very notion of compatibility.

Navigating the Differences

One of the primary hurdles in an Aquarius-Cancer relationship is the stark contrast in their communication styles and emotional needs. Aquarians, with their detached and analytical approach, may struggle to understand the depth of Cancer's emotional landscape, while Cancers may feel frustrated by Aquarius' apparent lack of empathy. Bridging this divide requires a willingness to step outside of one's comfort zone and embrace the unique perspectives that each partner brings to the table.

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Balancing Autonomy and Intimacy

Another key challenge in this relationship is finding the right balance between Aquarius' need for freedom and Cancer's desire for emotional closeness. Aquarians may feel stifled by Cancer's need for constant affection and quality time, while Cancers may interpret Aquarius' aloofness as a rejection. Navigating this delicate balance requires open and frequent communication, as well as a mutual understanding and respect for each other's needs.

Harnessing the Strengths

Despite the apparent differences, Aquarius and Cancer possess complementary strengths that, when harnessed effectively, can create a truly remarkable partnership. Aquarius' forward-thinking nature can inspire Cancer to explore new horizons, while Cancer's nurturing spirit can provide the emotional support and stability that Aquarius craves. Together, they can create a dynamic synergy, where each partner's unique qualities enhance and enrich the other.
Slate Plus members get more Care and Feeding every week. Have a question about kids, parenting, or family life? Submit it here!

Dear Care and Feeding,

My husband and I have been helping raise his niece and nephew for the past four years. Their mother is unstable and unsuitable to be around children, and my mother-in-lawwho is their main guardianisnt in the best health. We have done a lot of the heavy lifting. I just gave birth to my son, and I am exhausted and territorial. I just want peace and quiet with my baby. Instead, I am dealing with the stomping, the screaming, the fighting, and the constant mess.

My nephew has hit his preteens with a vengeance. He will not do a chore unless you physically watch him, and he will not wake up on time. It has been dicey going on one income. The school has free breakfast. My husband works early. When the kids stay over, I have to physically drag them out of bed, usually while trying to console my baby. Well recently, things took a serious turn.

My nephew decided to kick me when I got him out of bed. It was hard enough to leave a bruise on my hip. I came home and found my niece had left the toilet unflushed, the bathroom a mess, and kicked over two baskets of clean folded clothes.

I just sat down and bawled. When my husband came home, we had a huge fight. I dont want the kids here unless he is home to deal with them. They just ignore me. It took me threatening to take the baby and stay with my mother to get him to see reason. Now, the kids rarely come over, and my mother-in-law blames me for being selfish and cruel. I cant deal with them. My patience is gone, and my resentment is simmering. I need help here. Please.

End of Rope

Dear End of Rope,

While it is unfortunate that your ailing mother-in-law has to care for these children most of the time, you did the right thing. You just had a baby; the post-partum period is very difficult, and you deserve peace and quiet now more than ever. You must focus on your recovery and your adjustment to motherhood, period. You were more than willing to take care of the kids more often, but they couldnt do their part. You got kicked by a pre-teen hard enough to leave a bruise; what if he had done that when you were pregnant, or while you were holding the baby? You have to protect yourself and your child. If your husband cant do the heavy lifting when these kids are visiting, then they should not be allowed to come. Dont let your MIL get to you; shes in a terrible position, and I can understand why shes resentful. However, you had no other choice.

Jamilah

More Advice From Slate

I have a question about classroom equity and favoritism. I have a fourth grader whose teacher continually calls on the same four students, despite other students wanting to participate. Should I say something?
This article is adapted with permission from Sweet Land of Liberty: A History of America in 11 Pies by Rossi Anastopoulo. Copyright  2022 by Rossi Anastopoulo. Published by Abrams Press.

Moe Howard of the Three Stooges supposedly had his own secret recipe for the pies he famously threw in peoples faces. A vat of whipped cream, marshmallow sauce and pumpkin filling, the executive director of the International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center claimed in an article for the Washington Post. That made it very gooey. It really stuck to the targets face.

The Stooges werent the only pie-throwing experts with a favored recipe.

Decades later, the San Francisco-based Biotic Baking Brigade (BBB)who described themselves as flan-archistsstarted throwing pies at people, becoming one of the most prominent and prolific pastry protest groups of the late 20th century and early aughts. The group cautioned against using cherry pies because the effect could look like blood, which might cause unnecessary alarm. (Such a result could sometimes be desired, though; it was specifically recommended as a great choice for a homophobic preacher or neo-Nazi Klansman.)

Instead, using some variation of a cream pie is your best bet, they recommended in their 2004 cookbook Pie Any Means Necessary. Leaving the pie-ee with a face full of light-colored goop not only accomplishes your goal more effectively, it also communicates whats going on better. This can also help avoid situations where you get your ass kicked.

Ah, pie-ing people. You just dont see it as much as you used to. For a while there, practically anyone who was anyone in power got pied in protest at one point or another. Famous pie-ees include Bill Gates, Sylvester Stallone (reportedly a good sport about it), San Francisco mayor Willie Brown (reportedly not), Andy Warhol (simply because he had met the Shah of Iran) and Phyllis Schlafly.

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The BBB was a big part of this political pieing movement, which began in 1970 and grew to involve activists around the world, until it petered out around 2011. The group pied people whose greed and corruption ran unchecked (so-called titans of power), a cohort that included politicians, executives, government officials, and assorted capitalists. The philosophy was simple: use pieing as a way to hold people that the BBB saws as destructive accountableand raise awareness of their misdeeds. Members emphasized homemade pies whenever possible, and preferred them to be vegan and organic, in alignment with broader counterculture protest ideals of the 80s and 90s. Their tofu cream pie recipe, specifically meant for throwing, is made with ingredients including sucanat, almond butter, and maple syrup. It pointedly rejects whipped cream, which members described as that late-twentieth-century, nutritionally void, environmentally wasteful decorative product.

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The modern-day pie protest movement was launched (literally and figuratively) by counterculture guru and drug culture mastermind Thomas King Forcade. Most prominently known as the founder of High Times magazine, a drug-culture magazine read by four million people at its height, Forcade was also involved with the Youth International Party of the late 1960s, whose members were known as Yippies. One of Forcades most publicized stunts came in May 1970, when he spoke before the Presidents Commission on Obscenity and Pornography on behalf of the Underground Press Syndicate, a network of countercultural media outlets that he ran. Taking the stand, Forcade denounced the commission, then proceeded to launch a custard pie (some accounts have described it as a cottage cheese pie) into the face of Otto N. Larsen, a professor at the University of Washington who was part of the commission. He capped things off by shouting, Pie power!

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Forcades actions inspired others to raise their pie plates in protest. One such activist was Pat Small, a man referred to in a 1972 Miami Herald article as the worlds most celebrated pie-thrower. Small was a member of Forcades Underground Press Syndicate and the leader of the Zippie faction of the Youth International Party, a breakaway group in Miami. His most prominent hit was throwing a pie at Miami Beach councilman Harold Rosen (the weapon itself was alternately identified as a pumpkin tart and a cream pie) in protest of a decision to deny protestors a campsite during the Democratic National Convention in 1972an action that was later described by the press as the splat heard round the world. Small was subsequently sentenced to ninety days in jail for creating a disturbance, and as a result of his sentencing, a group of local Zippies organized a pie-in at Miami Beach municipal court that featured an assortment of peach, cherry, and banana pies to communicate their outrage.

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It wasnt just Small who took up the pie plate from Forcaderadical activists around the U.S. seized on pieing as their newest form of protest, inspired by the ridiculous, humorous stunts by other Yippie leaders like Abbie Hoffman as well as other modes of guerrilla theater. Rex Weiner, a buddy of Thomas Forcades who was also involved with High Times, decided to put his own spin on the pie-in-the-face genre and started a service through which people could pay for pie hits on the victim of their choice. When it came to flavors, his agents offered several choices including chocolate cream and lemon meringue.

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From Weiners business, which he called Agents of Pie-Kill, came one of the most prominent pie-tossers in history: Aron Pieman Kay. He was deliberate about his pie selection, often tailoring the pie itself to the target or occasion. The first pie he ever threw was a cherry pie (as he later said, Get it? It was my pie virginity.) When he hit New York mayor Abraham Beame, it was with an apple crumb pie because he was a crummy politician in the Big Apple, said Kay. As for former CIA director William Colby, he got a Bavarian chocolate and blueberry cream cheese pie because he was the big cheese of the CIA, Kay recalled. And lastly, there was Edward Teller, the Father of the A-Bomb. In 1983, he got a face full of pastry that was a mushroom and tofu piemushroom for all the mushroom clouds.

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There is a science to selecting which type of pie to throw at someone, and the British grocery chain Tesco tested their pies in 1999 for this express purpose after pie-tossing reached a fever pitch in Britain. The grocery chain organized a whole excursion to a school gym outside of London, where employees launched pies at each other to see which varieties were the best for throwing. Criteria for evaluation included how well they flew through the air and the mess they left upon impact. The ultimate goal, according to a Tesco spokesperson, was to not make an absolute mess, but a nice, polite mess. Their final recommendations after such extensive scientific research? Egg custard, lemon meringue, and fruit pies.

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Of course, the prominence of this movement begs the question: Why pie?

American history professor Alexander Bloom told the New York Times in a 2000 story on the uptick in pieing: Pies defuse the anger and identify the target as a clown. If someone dumped feces or blood or mock toxic waste on you, that would be a lot more threatening. This idea echoes a term once used to describe pieing: carnival humor.

But theres a deeper element to the whole joke that pie, by its very nature, gets at. Pie is goopy, a treat, and meant to be served in moderation, wrote Ben Paynter in his 2017 deep dive on the history of pieing for Fast Company, How Pie Became a Powerful Punchline in Political Provocation. As Paynter pointed out, When weaponized, it becomes a comedic way to exert power over someoneyou just gave them too much of a good thing, in a way they cant controlmaking it clear that not everyone takes that person or their agenda so seriously.

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In addition, some pie-tossers cited the activist handbook Rules for Radicals to explain their reasoning behind pie, citing author Saul Alinskys assertion that ridicule is [hu]mans most potent weapon. It is almost impossible to counter-attack ridicule. It also infuriates the opposition, who then react to your advantage.

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Nothing, it seems, is more ridiculousand humiliatingthan the surprise of a custard-covered face.

Powerful people have been pied for all kinds of political reasons. But there is an underlying message to the actionno matter the intended statement.

One prominent member of the Canadian pie protest group Les Entartistes, who went by the codename Pope-Tart, summed it up nicely in 1999 to a reporter for Montreals Gazette: The pie gives power back to the people because so many feel powerless in the face of big politicians and industrialists. He added: The pie delivers a human political message. What were trying to say is, You work for us. You cant be too big for your britches or youll get a pie in the face.

The BBB also explained that pies provide a certain visual punctuation in their book Pie Any Means Necessary: If we hold a rally in demonstration-jaded San Francisco, the media usually will not cover it. If we write letters to the editor, they dont get printed. However, the visual of a pie in the face makes a sizable chink in the media armor through which we can then put forth the reasons why a figure deserved to be pied in the first place. It allows us to communicate our message beyond what traditional means allow.

Slate receives a commission when you purchase items using the links on this page. Thank you for your support.

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Perhaps that explains how an absurd comedy routine became a dearly beloved activist tool. Opponents of the current system are disillusioned with traditional channels of dissentwriting letters, voting, complaining, and being ignored, the BBB wrote. The usual means of raising ones voice and being heard by people in power had become ineffective, so if it took a pastry crust and some whipped cream to garner attention instead, then so be it.

Though pie-throwing has somewhat fallen out of favor, it has never fully left us. The recent rise of food-as-protestfrom tomato soup tossed at Van Gogh paintings to cake mashed on the Mona Lisadraws on the legacy of pie-ing and expands it. And who knows? Perhaps this old pastry trick will make a reappearance in society. If it does, I hear theres a Three Stooges recipe thats extra-sticky.
This piece was originally published on State Court Report , a hub for reporting, analysis, and commentary about state courts and constitutions. State Court Report is a project of the Brennan Center for Justice.

Voters in 41 states considered ballot measures in Tuesdays election, most of which would amend their state constitutions on issues including abortion, marijuana, and changes to their election procedures.

Ballot measures give citizens a direct way to influence policy and legal frameworks in their states. They can also provide a more granular window into the policy preferences of voters than presidential or congressional results.

This is how some of the most closely watched measures fared.

Seven States Voted in Favor of Abortion Rights

Voters in 10 states considered abortion-related amendments. Missouri became the first state to undo a strict abortion ban; its amendment would allow abortion through viability, generally around 23 weeks. Abortion was legal in Arizona up to 15 weeks, but its new amendment will also protect access until viability.

Amendments in Florida and South Dakota failed, leaving bans in place. Results as of Friday morning show Floridas amendment receiving around 57 percent of the vote, but constitutional amendments in Florida require 60 percent of the vote to pass.

Nebraskans approved a measure that would amend the state constitution to ban abortion after 12 weeksthe same threshold as current state lawwith limited exceptions. A dueling measure that would have protected the right to abortion until viability failed.

Colorado, Montana, Maryland, and New York all passed measures that would solidify the already existing abortion rights in those states by incorporating them into those state constitutions. Nevada voters approved a similar measure, but state law requires voters to approve constitutional amendments in consecutive elections, so it will need to pass again in 2026 before taking effect.

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Eight States Added Language to Constitutions Saying That Only Citizens Can Vote

Voters in eight states considered ballot measures to amend their state constitutions to add language that only citizens can vote in their elections. The measures were adopted in all eight states: Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. The measures received significant supportabove 60 percentin each state.

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It is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal and state elections. Election experts say such initiatives are largely meant to spread the false narrative that noncitizen voting is an ongoing problem in order to sow doubt about the security of American elections. Conspiracy theories that noncitizens vote illegally in elections in numbers of any impact have been repeatedly debunked. In some states, these measures may prevent local governments from allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections, as a small number of cities do.

Most Proposed Changes to Election Procedures Failed

Ballot measures calling for nonpartisan primaries or ranked choice voting, or both, were largely unpopular, with measures in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and South Dakota failing. A competing measure that would have amended Arizonas constitution to require partisan primariesthe system the state currently uses and will continue toalso failed.

A measure to ban nonpartisan primaries and ranked choice voting, meanwhile, passed in Missouri. Similarly, as of Thursday evening, Alaskans were on track to repeal those systems of votingjust four years after they were approved by voters there.

Washington, D.C., however, adopted ranked choice voting and allowed citizens not registered with either party to vote in primaries. Connecticut will amend its constitution to allow no-excuse absentee voting. Nevada approved its measure that would require all in-person voters to present identification and mail voters to include the last four digits of an identification number. Like that states abortion amendment, the measure will again go before voters in 2026.

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Ohio voters opted not to establish a citizen-led independent redistricting process to replace its politically driven map-making system for legislative and congressional maps. (The Brennan Center had endorsed the proposed amendment.)

Results of Minimum Wage and Workers Rights Measures Were Mixed

Californias proposition that would raise the minimum wage over time to $18 was on pace to fail as of Friday morning, while voters in Missouri approved both a minimum wage hike to $15 an hour and paid sick leave. Nebraska and Alaska also passed measures allowing for paid leave.

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Massachusetts allowed ride-share drivers, like gig workers for Uber or Lyft, to unionize. The state also refused to increase, over time, how much employers have to pay tipped workers.

Voters Largely Opted to Increase Criminal Penalties

Nevada voted to remove language from its constitution that allowed involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime, becoming the eighth state to do so since 2018. A similar measure in California is on track to fail.

Californians passed a proposition to increase penalties for repeated theft and certain drug crimes, while Arizona voted that anyone convicted of child sex trafficking must receive a sentence of life imprisonment. Voters in Arizona also approved including a $20 fee as part of any criminal conviction, with the money to be used toward a benefit payment for the families of first responders killed in the line of duty as the result of a criminal act.

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School Choice Was Unpopular

Measures in Colorado, Kentucky, and Nebraska about whether public funds could be allocated to private schools, known commonly as school choice, were unpopular with voters. Colorados would have established that each child from kindergarten through high school has a right to school choice. Nearly 65 percent of Kentucky voters disapproved of a measure that would have enabled its Legislature to provide state funding to students outside of public schools. And Nebraskans voted to repeal authorization of a program to provide education scholarships to be used by students to attend private institutions.

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Voters Repealed Language Discriminating Against People in Same-Sex Relationships

Voters in California, Colorado, and Hawaii all approved removing currently inoperable language from their constitutions that limits the availability of same-sex marriage. Proponents of the measures are concerned the U.S. Supreme Court could overturn its 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges recognizing a federal constitutional right to marriage equality.

Measures Making It Harder to Amend State Constitutions Failed

Legislatively referred ballot measures in Arizona and North Dakota that would have made it harder for future proposed amendments to get on the ballot were defeated.

Arizonas measures would have allowed individuals to challenge proposed initiatives before final approval and added additional hurdles to the signature-gathering process by requiring a threshold of signatures from each legislative district, rather than statewide.

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North Dakota voters also said no to increased signature requirements to place initiatives on the ballot and to requiring approval twice, first in the primary and then in the general election.

Voters Disapproved of Recreational Drug Legalization

Voters in Massachusetts opted not to approve a measure that would have legalized some psychedelic substances.

An initiative that would have legalized recreational marijuana use in Florida received 56 percent of the vote, failing short of the 60 percent threshold needed to pass. Similar initiatives in North Dakota and South Dakota failed to receive the simple majority of votes needed in those states.

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Meanwhile, two measures to legalize and regulate medicinal marijuana in Nebraska passed.

Measures About Judiciaries Had Mixed Results

Arizonans voted against eliminating term limits for its state Supreme Court justices, while voters in New Hampshire appear to have approved an increase to its judges mandatory retirement age from 70 to 75. Coloradans approved the establishment of a new board to handle judicial ethics proceedings.

Direct democracythe ability of citizens to enact statutes or constitutional amendments by popular vote or to reject recently enacted legislation via a referendumgives many Americans a say in state and local policies. But after measures pass, it is up to state courts to interpret them. The true impact of this years measures will become clear over the coming years as courts determine the scope of any new rights.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20241109/death-toll-from-israels-operation-in-gaza-since-october-2023-tops-43500---health-ministry-1120826729.html

Death Toll From Israel's Operation in Gaza Since October 2023 Tops 43,500 - Health Ministry

Death Toll From Israel's Operation in Gaza Since October 2023 Tops 43,500 - Health Ministry

Sputnik International

The death toll from Israel's military operation among the population of Palestine's Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023 has exceeded 43,500 people, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

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"As a result of the ongoing Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, the number of people killed has reached 43,508 and 102,684 were wounded," the ministry said. On October 7, 2023, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. In addition, fighters of Palestinian movement Hamas infiltrated the border areas, opened fire on the military and civilians and took hostages. Israeli authorities say that about 1,200 people were killed during the raid. In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords in the Gaza Strip and announced a complete blockade of the enclave.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241109/german-president-loses-cool-over-criticism-of-his-stance-on-nato-nord-stream---report-1120829285.html

German President Loses Cool Over Criticism of His Stance on NATO, Nord Stream - Report

German President Loses Cool Over Criticism of His Stance on NATO, Nord Stream - Report

Sputnik International

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier lost his temper after being criticized for his stance on NATO exercises on the eastern flank and the Nord Streams gas pipelines, German writer Marko Martin has said.

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During an event marking the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, held at the presidential residence, Bellevue Palace, Martin sharply criticized Steinmeier for calling NATO exercises "sabre-rattling" as foreign minister and for viewing the Nord Stream pipeline as a potential "bridge" between Europe and Russia while president in 2022. Other attendees told the newspaper that Steinmeier seemed to be struggling to control his emotions during Martin's speech. Eventually, the president lost his temper and yelled at Martin, saying that such "intellectuals" have no idea how difficult a politician's work is, the writer said. The Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, built to deliver gas under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Europe, were hit by explosions on September 26, 2022. Germany, Denmark and Sweden have not ruled out deliberate sabotage. The Russian Prosecutor General's Office has opened an investigation into it as an act of international terrorism. Russia has repeatedly requested data on other countries' investigations into the explosions, but never received it, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241109/musk-says-bloodshed-in-ukraine-will-soon-end-thanks-to-trumps-plan-1120826839.html

Musk Says Bloodshed in Ukraine Will Soon End Thanks to Trump's Plan

Musk Says Bloodshed in Ukraine Will Soon End Thanks to Trump's Plan

Sputnik International

US entrepreneur Elon Musk said the bloodshed in Ukraine will end soon thanks to the plan of US President-elect Donald Trump.

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"The senseless killing will end soon. Time is up for the warmonger profiteers," Musk wrote on X, commenting on a post about Trump's plans on Ukraine. Trump previously said he would be able to achieve a settlement of the Ukrainian conflict through talks. He has repeatedly stated he would be able to resolve the conflict in Ukraine in one day. Russia believes this is too complex a problem for such a simple solution. Trump has repeatedly criticized the US approach to the conflict in Ukraine, and has also criticized President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Wall Street Journal reported November 6, citing sources, that Trump's team proposed freezing the conflict in Ukraine, creating a demilitarized zone along the frontline, and supplying new arms to Ukraine in exchange for Kiev's pledge not to join NATO for about 20 years. A presidential election took place in the United States on November 5. Republican candidate Donald Trump, who served as the US president from 2017-2021, was declared the winner by all leading race callers and networks, namely the Associated Press, Decision Desk HQ, Fox News, and CNN, NBC, ABC and CBS from the National Election Pool consortium, as he secured enough votes in the Electoral College to win the election. Democratic candidate Kamala Harris conceded defeat in an address to her supporters, and US President Joe Biden congratulated Trump. The Electoral College, the group of presidential electors from the states, will vote for the candidate whom each states voters have chosen on December 17, and the results will be approved by Congress on January 6. The presidential inauguration will take place on January 20. Trump became the first US president since the 19th century to be elected to nonconsecutive terms.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241109/negotiating-trade-with-trump-will-not-be-easy-for-eu---orban-1120827204.html

Negotiating Trade With Trump 'Will Not Be Easy' for EU - Orban

Negotiating Trade With Trump 'Will Not Be Easy' for EU - Orban

Sputnik International

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban warned fellow EU leaders on Friday that the European Union would have tough time negotiating with US President-elect Donald Trump, who is expected to put "America first" in his trade policies.

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"It will not be easy to negotiate with the president of the United States. It will be a tough negotiation because it is obvious that he will come up with trade ideas, surely serving the interests of the United States more than the European interests," Orban said after an informal meeting of EU leaders in Budapest. A presidential election took place in the US on November 5. Republican candidate Donald Trump, who served as the US president from 2017-2021, was declared the winner by all leading race callers and networks, namely the Associated Press, Decision Desk HQ, Fox News, and CNN, NBC, ABC and CBS from the National Election Pool consortium, as he secured enough votes in the Electoral College to win the election. Democratic candidate Kamala Harris conceded defeat in an address to her supporters, and US President Joe Biden congratulated Trump. The Electoral College, the group of presidential electors from the states, will vote for the candidate whom each states voters have chosen on December 17, and the results will be certified by Congress on January 6. The presidential inauguration will take place on January 20. Trump became the first US president since the 19th century to be elected to non-consecutive terms.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241108/trumps-return-terrifies-a-europe-already-wracked-by-self-inflicted-crises-1120823342.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241109/palestinian-leader-tells-trump-he-is-ready-for-joint-work-to-achieve-peace-1120826610.html

Palestinian Leader Tells Trump He is Ready for Joint Work to Achieve Peace

Palestinian Leader Tells Trump He is Ready for Joint Work to Achieve Peace

Sputnik International

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in a phone call congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential election and expressed readiness to work jointly to achieve a just peace in the Middle East, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

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According to the report, Trump in turn reaffirmed that he will act to stop the conflict in the Middle East and is ready to work together with Abbas and all parties involved in the region and on the international stage to achieve regional peace. A presidential election took place in the United States on November 5. Republican candidate Donald Trump, who served as the US president from 2017-2021, was declared the winner by all leading race callers and networks, namely the Associated Press, Decision Desk HQ, Fox News, and CNN, NBC, ABC and CBS from the National Election Pool consortium, as he secured enough votes in the Electoral College to win the election. Democratic candidate Kamala Harris conceded defeat in an address to her supporters, and US President Joe Biden congratulated Trump. The Electoral College, the group of presidential electors from the states, will vote for the candidate whom each states voters have chosen on December 17, and the results will be approved by Congress on January 6. The presidential inauguration will take place on January 20. Trump became the first US president since the 19th century to be elected to nonconsecutive terms.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241109/pentagon-lifts-ban-on-presence-of-us-contractors-in-ukraine-to-repair-us-weapons---reports-1120826269.html

Pentagon Lifts Ban on Presence of US Contractors in Ukraine to Repair US Weapons - Reports

Pentagon Lifts Ban on Presence of US Contractors in Ukraine to Repair US Weapons - Reports

Sputnik International

The US Department of Defense has lifted a ban on the presence of US defense contractors in Ukraine to repair weapons supplied by Washington to Kiev, Reuters reported on Friday.

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In June, CNN reported, citing US officials, that the White House was working to lift the de facto ban on the presence of US military contractors in Ukraine, adding that the White House had not yet received President Joe Biden's approval. CNN reported later on Friday, citing an official familiar with the situation, that US military contractors would help maintain and repair F16 fighter jets and Patriot air defense systems, adding that these systems required "specific technical expertise to maintain." The report also read that the Pentagon was expected to start listing contracts online. Contractors will be reportedly deployed far from the front lines and will not be involved in fighting. The Foreign Policy journal reported earlier that Ukrainian companies were not permitted to repair US weapons in accordance with US export laws, while US contractors could not go to the front lines to assist with repairs of US-made equipment without a White House permission.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241109/rfk-jr-could-pose-existential-threat-to-big-pharma-if-he-joins-trumps-cabinet-heres-why-1120834692.html

RFK Jr. Could Pose Existential Threat to Big Pharma If He Joins Trump's Cabinet: Here's Why

RFK Jr. Could Pose Existential Threat to Big Pharma If He Joins Trump's Cabinet: Here's Why

Sputnik International

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is primed for a possible senior job in Trumps White House, promising to "Make America Healthy Again" by reining in big pharma's enormous influence on US health policy, and by improving food standards. Here's why the pharmaceutical lobby is going to have a hard time accepting that.

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Hes going to have a big role in health care, a very big role. He knows it better than anybody, Donald Trump said last week when asked about RFK Jr.'s possible future in his administration. "He's got some views that I happen to agree with very strongly and I have for a long time."Sources told media Saturday that Kennedy has already been asked to make recommendations to the Trump team on appointments to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration.Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies have already prepared for the worst, with some execs reportedly hoping Trump and and RFK Jr. have a falling out before Kennedy can do any damage to their respective bottom lines.We need to have somebody who is going to be grounded by science and evidence and not somebody who rejects it, John Maraganore, former CEO of Boston-based biotech firm Alnylam, told FT in a story published Friday, commenting on Kennedys prospects.Kennedy's poor reputation with pharmaceutical companies is understandable, given the attention he's gotten on the campaign trail during his 2024 presidential run, and before that - for his work as an environmental lawyer, Children's Health Defense chairman and author of the 2021 book The Real Anthony Fauci: Bill Gates, Big Pharma, and the Global War on Democracy and Public Health, which spent twenty weeks on NYT's bestseller list.Kennedy used the national attention he got over the past three years to promote his favorite causes - vaccine safety and public health. His stinging remarks on these issues, and ability to now have the president-elect's ear, explain why big pharma finds him so dangerous. Here's a selection:Anti-Vaxxer?Smeared, throttled and censored by legacy media as an anti-vaxxer in virtually every article that mentions him, Kennedy has said repeatedly that hes never been anti-vaccine.'Criminal' Drug CompaniesThe pharmaceutical industry is  I dont want to say because this is going to seem extreme  a criminal enterprise, but if you look at the history, that is an applicable characterization. For example, the four biggest vaccine makers, Sanofi, Merck, Pfizer and Glaxo make all of the 72 vaccines that are now effectively mandated for American children. Collectively, those companies have paid $35 billion in criminal penalties and damages in the last decade, he told Lex Fridman in 2023.And the problem is that theyre serial felons," Kennedy said, citing the example of Merck's non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx. "They killed people by falsifying science. And they did it. They lied to the public. They said, this is a headache medication and an arthritis painkiller. But they didnt tell people that it also gave you heart attacksWe found when we sued them the memos from their bean counters saying were going to kill this many people, but were still going to make money, Kennedy said.Big Pharma's Role in Hooking Americans on OpioidsThe opioid epidemic is a perfect example of big pharmas corrupting influence, Kennedy believes, recalling the latters lobbying the FDA to tell doctors oxycodone isnt addictive, and getting a whole generation addicted to oxycodone. And when they got caught, and we made it harder to get oxycodone, now all those addicted kids are going to fentanyl and dying."Kennedy vs. Mutilation of ChildrenRFK Jr. has stepped out against gender-affirming care and hormone therapy for children, referring to the former as surgical mutilation and the latter as castration drugs.Thats more bad news for the pharmaceutical industry, which has walked lock-step in support of the trans rights movement, and profited immensely from hormone therapy drugs and surgical procedures from the late 2000s onward.RFK Jr. on Chronic DiseaseKennedy has also vowed to end the chronic disease epidemic facing America, another potential blow to big pharma, this one possibly the most serious.There is nothing more profitable in our society today than a sick child, RFK Jr. told Tucker Carlson in August.RFK Jr.'s Solution? Sweeping ReformsRFK Jr. has pointed to statistics suggesting that effectively half of the FDAs budget comes from the pharma companies theyre supposed to be regulating, and said this needs to stop. He's also said that "entire departments" at the federal agency should be "cleared out," and that many of the problems caused by big pharma could be "fixed" with effective regulation, tougher penalties for harmful products, taking a page from the regulatory and health care environments of other countries, and a change in the overall culture of the US health care system.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241108/who-is-spitballed-for-top-trump-cabinet-posts----1120820837.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231220/thats-not-a-real-democracy-rfk-jr-says-voters-should-choose-trumps-fate-not-courts-1115693844.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240330/ukraine-was-testing-ground-for-western-big-pharma---documents-1117653804.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230729/what-is-russias-ban-on-gender-change-1112224377.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230405/big-pharma-giant-reaches-landmark-settlement-with-women-who-got-cancer-after-using-jj-powder-1109135141.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241109/russia-africa-forum-shatters-hopes-of-russian-isolation---moscow-1120832109.html

Russia-Africa Forum Shatters Hopes of Russian Isolation - Moscow

Russia-Africa Forum Shatters Hopes of Russian Isolation - Moscow

Sputnik International

The holding of the first ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum showed the importance of multipolarity and shattered the 'dirty hopes' of Russia's isolation, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik.

2024-11-09T13:40+0000

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forum

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"Without exaggeration, there are dozens of bilateral meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, [and our] African colleagues are meeting each other [too]. All this is taking place on the sidelines of the event... And these talks are full of current and practical agenda," she said.Zakharova pointed out that by holding the event, someone's dirty hopes of isolating our country have been dashed. The economy will be discussed, business contacts will be discussed, humanitarian exchanges will be discussed, that is, culture, education, science, and promising projects in all areas. In other words, this is an event that not only demonstrates multipolarity itself, but also has a practical impact, it is filled with concrete substance, Zakharova concluded.Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Central African Republic (CAR) counterpart, Sylvie Baipo-Temon, signed an agreement on the abolition of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and service passports on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa ministerial conference, Zakharova said.The two-day ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum is taking place in Russia's Sirius Federal Territory.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241109/first-ministerial-conference-of-russia-africa-partnership-forum-1120828049.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241109/ukraine-loses-over-300-troops-attempting-to-attack-russias-kursk-region-1120830911.html

Ukraine Loses Over 300 Troops Attempting to Attack Russia's Kursk Region

Ukraine Loses Over 300 Troops Attempting to Attack Russia's Kursk Region

Sputnik International

Russian troops in boundary areas of the Kursk Region have eliminated more than 300 Ukrainian servicepeople over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

2024-11-09T11:25+0000

2024-11-09T11:25+0000

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"The Ukrainian armed forces have lost more than 300 soldiers over the past day. A total of two infantry fighting vehicles, one armored vehicle, six mortars, two electronic warfare stations and four cars have also been destroyed," the statement read. The ministry also said that military operations to destroy the enemy were ongoing. Since the fighting started in the Kursk direction, Ukraine lost more than 30,800 troops and 189 tanks, according to the ministry.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241108/russian-troops-repel-11-ukrainian-counterattacks-near-kursk-thwart-border-breakthrough-1120819394.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241109/what-promises-has-trump-made-on-ukraine-1120828687.html

What Promises Has Trump Made on Ukraine?

What Promises Has Trump Made on Ukraine?

Sputnik International

What promises has Trump made on Ukraine?

2024-11-09T10:32+0000

2024-11-09T10:32+0000

2024-11-09T10:32+0000

us

donald trump

ukraine

ukraine crisis

russia

vladimir putin

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As President-elect Donald Trump begins work on assembling his Cabinet, a process that will lay the foundation for his administrations agenda, there's no better time to recall some of his statements on the Ukraine crisis.This is a war that never should have started [] the money that were spending on this war, and we shouldnt be spending, it should have never happened I will have that war settled between Putin and Zelensky as president-elect before I take office on January 20. Ill have that war settled, Trump said during his presidential debate with Biden in June 2024. Here's a look at some of Trump's campaign statements: Peace Deal in 24 Hours "I will say this [] I would have a peace deal negotiated within 24 hours, you could make a peace deal for both right now, 24 hours, that deal is waiting to be done," Trump said at a rally in January 2023. "Before I even arrive at the Oval Office, shortly after we win the presidency I will have the horrible war between Russia and Ukraine settled," Trump touted during a rally in Philadelphia in June 2024. Trump claimed during an interview with Fox News in early March that if he had still been president, the Ukraine crisis would not have spiraled, as he could have negotiated." "At worst, I could've made a deal to take over something, there are certain areas [in Ukraine] that are Russian-speaking areas, frankly, but you could've worked a deal." At a North Carolina rally in September 2024, Trump described Ukraine as demolished, and argued that Any deal  the worst deal  wouldve been better than what we have now If they made a bad deal, it wouldve been much better. First Two Calls to Putin, Zelensky You have Ukraine and Russia, and that's out of control. I met with President Zelensky, and I got along very well with President Putin," Trump said in Milwaukee in October. "I think I would like to be able to solve, well if I get elected, I'm going to work on that immediately. It's going to be my first two phone calls." Trump argued he would get people in a room, knock heads and get it done That would mean saying things to Putin and saying things to Zelensky that theyre not going to want to hear, and getting them into a room, and getting it done. Guaranteed No to US Boots Trump vowed to not put US troops on the ground in Ukraine if he returns to the White House during an interview on the podcast All-In in June 2024. I would guarantee it. I wouldn't do it. No. He added that for 20 years, I heard that NATO, if Ukraine goes into NATO, it's a real problem for Russia. I've heard that for a long time. And I think that's really why this war started. "We're giving away so much equipment, we don't have ammunition for ourselves right now," Trump said during CNN's town hall event in May 2023. Trump slammed US aid to Ukraine at a campaign rally in Detroit on June 15, 2024, saying he would "have that [US aid to Ukraine] settled prior to taking the White House as president-elect."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240508/nato-no-boots-on-the-ground-ukraine-strategy-meant-to-silence-wests-loudmouths--1118336759.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241107/trump-considering-helping-ukraine-in-return-for-its-temporary-refusal-to-join-nato--reports-1120802942.html

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A recently retired Air Force major and aerospace engineer from Manassas is bringing to life the varied stories of veterans who rest amid the rolling hills of historic Culpeper National Cemetery.

Jeff Joyce, son of an Air Force pilot, since 2022 has researched and written around 125 profiles of the men and women fighting forces buried in the hallowed grounds. His vignettes are posted weekly on FacebookWreaths Across America Culpeper National Cemetery.

The fascinating, interesting and sometimes tragic biographies, of varying lengths, with photos if available, are also shared with Veterans Legacy Memorial, an online Veterans Administration program honoring veterans lives.

Joyce got into developing the profiles through his volunteer work with Wreaths Across America, at Arlington National Cemetery and then Culpeper National Cemetery, located off of U.S. Avenue. Its about as close as Arlington, but easier to get to and smaller.

Joyce feels like he can make more of an impact and he often makes personal connections with the families of more recent veterans buried in Culpeper. In his research, he has uncovered tales of valor and excellence as well as struggle and loss.

Joyce uses sites like ancestry.com, newspaper.com and Find A Grave to compile his research that also includes phone calls and messages with family to get approvals and information for the profiles. Hes come across family rifts, lost sons and daughters, heroism and heartbreak in his endeavor to publish histories of Culpeper National Cemetery inhabitants.

Joyce did a presentation in May on his notable finds, Stories Beneath the Stones, for the Museum of Culpeper History and is developing a cemetery walking tour of the same name for around Memorial Day with the museum.

Joyce finds new subjects strolling the cemetery once a month, snapping photos of headstones that catch his eye for his next vignette.

I will walk back and forth and look for any markers that stand out because of the name, the service, particularly if they have a PH, SS, BSPurple Heart, Silver Star, Bronze Staror if I know its a combat veteran, he said in an Oct. 8 meeting at the burial ground.

Born in Texas while his dad was going through pilot training in the early 60s, Joyce was an Air Force brat whose father was a career officer who served a year in Vietnam. His younger brother was in the Army.

Joyce served 1983 to 2003 and then did another 20 years as a defense contractor in Northern Virginia responsible for military satellites. He retired last summer and was looking for something else to do besides yard work.

I have always had a love of history, particularly military history and also my aunt, my late fathers sister, is a professional genealogist, so I got the bug from her to walk cemeteries and learn about the history of these individuals that are buried here, Joyce said.

He is a Civil War reenactor with the 7th Maryland Volunteer Infantry, a unit that spent time in Culpeper during the famed winter encampment.

A half dozen members of that unit died of disease and were buried in Culpeper so I kind of started researching them and expanded that to be profiles for veterans anywhere from the Civil War to the modern era, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Joyce said.

Wreaths Across America likes to remind people when they come to visit a cemetery to stop, place a wreath on the grave, and then take a moment to read the name, he said. People die twice, Joyce said.

When you die physically and then you die when no one remembers your name. What Im trying to do is help people remember these individuals, many have been resting here for decades, he said.

Its kind of a way to just remember like I would hope to be remembered myself if and when my time comes.

Walking through the cemetery with him one hears stories right from the pages of history. Joyce stopped at the gravesites of some of his profile subjects, like Staunton M. Brown.

Hes from Virginia, look at the date, June 6, 1944, D-Day, he was killed on the beach at Omaha Beach as part of the second wave of soldiers going ashore on D-Day.

Another, Union Col. Gurden Chapin, was born in Virginia and was attending West Point when the Civil War broke out. Chapin fought for the north, Joyce said, as far away as New Mexico.

His younger brother enlisted in the Confederate Army and was killed in action in late 1863. So heres an example of an actual family that was divided by the Civil War, Joyce said. Its not clear if he ever reconciled with his family, but he moved back here to Culpeper, with his wife, Julia, maybe to be back in Virginia.

Another individual profiled, Michael Edward Stuart, was a Marine Corps lance corporal killed in Vietnam in 1967 at the age of 19. Stuart attended high school in Culpeper before enlisting.

A year later he was killed in action, a firefight. He was trying to rescue some of his fellow Marines when he was injured and was awarded the Navy Cross, the second highest award for valor, Joyce said.

1st Lieutenant D. J. V. Martin with the South Carolina Palmetto Sharpshooters is the only known Confederate buried in Culpeper National Cemetery. Joyce believes he was mistakenly buried there.

He was mortally wounded at 2nd Battle of Manassas, buried out there near a field hospital and for some unknown reason he was probably misidentified as Union and its possible that he might have been wearing a Union uniform.

A recent profile subject, 1st Lieutenant Michael Lawless, was born in Ireland and immigrated with his sister to New York City in February 1849, at the height of the deadly Irish Potato Famine. Lawless joined the Army and later served in the Civil War.

On June 11, 1864, during the opening phase of the Battle of Trevilian Station, Michael was killed leading a charge by Company A  In his report on the battle, Union Brigadier General Wesley Merritt wrote that Michael was a fearless, honest and eminently trustworthy soldier, Gods truth being the standard by which he measured all his actions.

Another recent profile was Vietnam veteran Chestly Williams.

Probably a draftee, got the Purple Heart, was wounded, Joyce said. Sad story he was actually murdered on the street corner in Richmond, stabbed and died.

Joyce picked him to profile because he was a Vietnam veteran and a Purple Heart recipient. Williams unit was an ammunition company in South Vietnam attacked by the Vietcong a number of times, said Joyce.

Several soldiers were killed and injured so its likely he was injured in one of those attacks on that ammunition depot. I have to make some assumptions.

Joyce walked over to the memorial section at the cemetery housing veterans whose bodies were never recovered. Hes done a couple profiles of some of those people, including a Civil War private, Patrick Reagan, originally from Ireland who fought for the Union, taken prisoner and died at sea.

Another was a WWII fighter pilot with the 79th whose plane disappeared after the war off the coast of Virginia on a training mission. He was never recovered. Joyce has been in touch with his son in developing the story.

Joyce has also done profiles through Missing in America Project, a group that buries unclaimed veterans remains from funeral homes, including at Culpeper National Cemetery.

He did a profile on local longtime firefighter, Army Corporal Jeremiah Peyton Dickie Atkins III, of Culpeper.

It meant the world to our family that Jeff chose Dad, said his daughter Kim Atkins, a Wreaths Across America Culpeper organizer. Jeff is a great person and a friend to me as well. I think its amazing that he does this for veterans and their families.

Along the way, Joyce has also worked with local VA leaders to correct misspellings hes discovered on headstones.

There have been several corrections made since I have been here to veterans profiles and headstones, said Culpeper National Cemetery Director Lynette Parker, in a phone call.

Our historians respond to him as soon as he has documents, and they quickly agree on the change. Its really pretty cool because he can get things done a lot faster than we normally do because of his supporting documents. He is able to dig a lot deeper than we do and is able to come up with more accurate information.

Information gets updated through the Veterans Legacy Memorial and a few new headstones have been ordered and replaced, with the corrected information, she said. Parker said she sees Joyce in the cemetery from time to time collecting his names.

He will stop in the office to see how we are doing and sometimes I get inquiries from families trying to do research, to look back into their history, the cemetery director said.

If I cant give them enough information, I will take their name and numberwe have a resourcereach out to Jeff, see if he can help, hes been successful.

Parker said she was going to attach the profiles hes developed on the back end of veterans records through so its there in the decades to come for others seeking history. I love it, she said of the work Joyce is doing. It does cause some extra work, we have to order headstones, but all in all were excited about what he does.

Sharon Croushorn and Jennifer Smith, coordinators of Wreaths Across America Culpeper National Cemetery, recalled Joyce approached them a few years ago about doing the profiles. It fit the goal of the effort.

"Wreaths Across America's mission is to never forget our veterans. The profiles Jeff writes each week helps us to get to know the person whose name is on the stone," they said.

Wreaths Across Americas mission is to remember the fallen, honor those that serve and their families, and teach the next generation the value of freedom.

"This mission is yearlong, not just on Wreaths Across America Day and carried out by volunteers like Jeff Joyce," said Croushorn and Smith. They said it is an honor to work with Jeff weekly posting his profiles.

Joyce has profiled women, African Americans and couples who served together during WWII.

Its just such a cross-section of America, he said. I love the opportunity to share the stories. It brings the individuals alive again.

For information about his project, contact jeffreyjoyce@sprintmail.com
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

The World Health Organization and some 50 countries issued a warning Friday at the United Nations about the rise of ransomware attacks against hospitals, with the United States specifically blaming Russia.

Ransomware is a type of digital blackmail in which hackers encrypt the data of victimsindividuals, companies or institutionsand demand money as a "ransom" in order to restore it.

Such attacks on hospitals "can be issues of life and death," according to WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who addressed the UN Security Council during a meeting Friday called by the United States.

"Surveys have shown that attacks on the health care sector have increased in both scale and frequency," Ghebreyesus said, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation to combat them.

"Cybercrime, including ransomware, poses a serious threat to international security," he added, calling on the Security Council to consider it as such.

A joint statement co-signed by over 50 countriesincluding South Korea, Ukraine, Japan, Argentina, France, Germany and the United Kingdomoffered a similar warning.

"These attacks pose direct threats to public safety and endanger human lives by delaying critical health care services, cause significant economic harm, and can pose a threat to international peace and security," read the statement, shared by US Deputy National Security Advisor Anne Neuberger.

The statement also condemned nations which "knowingly" allow those responsible for ransomware attacks to operate from.

At the meeting, Neuberger directly called out Moscow, saying: "Some statesmost notably Russiacontinue to allow ransomware actors to operate from their territory with impunity."

France and South Korea also pointed the finger at North Korea.

Russia defended itself by claiming the Security Council was not the appropriate forum to address cybercrime.

"We believe that today's meeting can hardly be deemed a reasonable use of the Council's time and resources," said Russian ambassador Vassili Nebenzia.

"If our Western colleagues wish to discuss the security of health care facilities," he continued, "they should agree in the Security Council upon specific steps to stop the horrific... attacks by Israel on hospitals in the Gaza Strip."

 2024 AFP
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As governments worldwide move to restrict teenagers' access to smartphones and social media, a fierce scientific debate has erupted over whether these digital technologies actually harm young people's mental health.

The controversy, sparked by an influential recent book blaming phones for rising youth anxiety, has exposed deep uncertainties in the research evidenceeven as policymakers from Arkansas to Australia forge ahead with sweeping bans and restrictions.

A timeline of the controversy

In March, New York University social psychologist Jonathan Haidt published a popular science book called "The Anxious Generation." This blames a rise in youth mental illness over the past 15 years or so on the advent of smartphones and social media.

One early review of Haidt's book by Duke University psychological scientist Candice Odgers, published in Nature, voiced a common criticism among expert readers: while social media is sometimes associated with bad outcomes, we don't know if it causes those bad outcomes.

In April, Haidt responded that some recent experimental studies, where researchers get people to reduce their social media use, show a benefit.

In May, Stetson University psychologist Christopher Ferguson published a "meta-analysis" of dozens of social media experiments and found, overall, reducing social media use had no impact on mental health.

Next, in August, Haidt and his colleague Zach Rausch published a blog post arguing Ferguson's methods were flawed. They said doing the meta-analysis in a different way shows social media really does affect mental health.

Not long afterwards, one of us (Matthew B. Jane) published his own blog post, pointing out issues in Ferguson's original meta-analysis but showing Haidt and Rausch's re-analysis was also faulty. This post also argued properly re-analyzing Ferguson's meta-analysis still does not provide any convincing evidence social media affects mental health.

In response to Jane, Haidt and Rausch revised their own post. In September and October they came back with two further posts, pointing out more serious errors in Ferguson's work.

Jane agreed with the errors Haidt and Rausch found and has set out to re-construct Ferguson's database (and analyses) from scratch.

The discussion and further work is still ongoing. Yet another team has recently published an analysis (as a preprint, which has not been independently verified by other experts) disagreeing with Ferguson, using similarly unreliable methods as Haidt and Rausch's first blog post.

The evidence is variedbut not very strong

Why so much debate? Part of the reason is experiments where researchers get people to reduce their social media use produce varied results. Some show a benefit, some show harm, and some show no effect.

But the bigger issue, in our opinion, is simply the evidence from these experimental studies is not very good.

One of the experiments included in Ferguson's meta-analysis had some German Facebook users reduce their use of the social media platform for two weeks, and others continue using it normally. The participants then had to self-report their mental health and life satisfaction.

People who were asked to use Facebook less did report spending less time on the platform. However, there was no detectable impact on depression, smoking behavior, or life satisfaction at any time point between the two groups. There was a difference in self-reported physical activity, but it was very small.

Another famous study recruited 143 undergraduate students and then randomly assigned them to either limit their Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram use to ten minutes per day for a month, or to make no changes. The researchers then asked participants to report their anxiety, depression, self-esteem, autonomy, loneliness, fear of missing out and social support.

At the end of the month, there was no difference between the two groups on most measures of mental health and well-being. Those who reduced social media use showed a small decrease in self-reported loneliness, and there was also a small improvement in depression scores among people who reported high levels of depression to begin with.

Existing social media experiments can't answer big questions

Studies like these address narrow, specific questions. They are simply unable to answer the big question of whether long-term reduction in social media use benefits mental health.

For one thing, they look at specific platforms rather than overall social media use. For another, most experiments don't really define "social media." Facebook is obviously social media, but what about messaging services such as WhatsApp, or even Nintendo's online gaming platform?

In addition, few if any of these studies involve interventions or outcomes that can be measured objectively. They consist of asking peopleoften undergraduate studentsto reduce their social media use, and then asking them how they feel. This creates a range of obvious biases, not least because people may report feeling differently based on whether they were asked to make changes in their life or not.

In a medical study assessing a drug's effect on mental health it is common to administer a placeboa substitute that should not have any biological effect on the participant. Placebos are a powerful way to mitigate bias because they ensure the participant does not know if they actually received the drug or not.

For social media reduction studies, placebos are virtually impossible. You cannot trick a participant into thinking they are reducing social media when they are not.

Individual changes and a social problem

What's more, these studies all work at the level of changes to the behavior of an individual. But social media is fundamentally social. If one college class uses Instagram less, it may have no impact on their mental health even if Instagram is bad, because everyone around them is still using the platform as much as ever.

Finally, none of the studies looked at teenagers. At present, there is simply no reliable evidence that getting teenagers to use social media less has an impact on their mental health.

Which brings us back to the fundamental question. Does reducing social media improve teen mental health? With the current evidence, we don't think there's any way to know.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
This paper is based on the field surveys conducted by the first author at the Institute of Economic Growth, New Delhi as part of the research study Rise of Organised Retailing and Sustainability of Small Farm Agriculture: A Multi-state Study funded by the Indian Council of Social Science Research, New Delhi under the Sponsored Projects Category 5(2) The Post-Liberalisation Rural Transformation.

Using endogenous switching regressions to calculate transitional heterogeneity, we built counterfactual scenarios to identify the treatment effects for sellers to supermarkets and sellers to traditional markets. The results support neither a story of strong inclusion of small farmers participation in the supermarket channel nor a story of sharp exclusion. Rather, the results show weak inclusion conditioned on farm size, specialisation in vegetables, and irrigation assets. Participation yields net income increases of 14% after controlling for self-selection bias.

In the past three decades, there has been a rapid rise of supermarkets in Asia. The first wave of supermarket diffusion was in East Asia outside China; the second in China and Southeast Asia; and the third in South Asia (Reardon et al 2012). India has seen the emergence and rapid spread (by global historical standards) of supermarkets in the past two decades, although the majority of food retail tends to be still small-scale and fragmented (Reardon and Gulati 2008; Reardon and Minten 2011; Singh 2012; Narayanan and Saha 2021; Barrett et al 2022; Pingali and Abraham 2022).

The rise of supermarkets in Asia, and in developing countries in general, has generated hope as well as controversy with respect to their effects on fresh produce farmers. On the one hand, it has been hoped that supermarkets would pay farmers a premium over the traditional market price to attract farmers as suppliers and thus assure their procurement of the needed quality produce, and would expand the market for quality produce from farmers; and that their innovations such as dotting the countryside with direct procurement centres would reduce farmers transaction costs and allow small farmers easy access to markets (Nuthalapati et al 2017, 2020). This is echoed in studies in other countries, such as Kenya (Rao and Qaim 2011; Chege et al 2015) and Nicaragua (Michelson et al 2012).

On the other hand, it has been feared that supermarkets requirements, such as quality, consistency, and volumes would exclude small farmers who might lack the training, irrigation, and growing area to meet these requirements. Or, if they met the requirements, it would cost farmers more than meeting the requirements of traditional markets so that their net incomes might not increase by selling to supermarkets (Singh 2012). The not increase result is found in some other countries such as Guatemala (Hernandez et al 2007).

The mix of hopes and fears of helping or excluding small farmers and of paying well or negligibly mirrors the literature on this subject in developing regions over several decades (for example, Reardon et al 2009) and the emerging literature on this in India.

With respect to the exclusion versus inclusion of small farmers, the findings in India have been mixed. For example, Nuthalapati et al (2017, 2018) in Telangana found that small farmers were included if they had irrigation. By contrast, Mangala and Chengappa (2008) and Pritchard et al (2010) in Karnataka found that small farmers were excluded.

With respect to the payoff to farmers while selling to supermarkets (versus traditional channels), the results have tended to show that if a farmer can be included, they get better prices than in traditional channels. For instance, the Karnataka studies cited above found that the farmers selling to supermarkets received higher prices; Nuthalapati et al (2020) for four regions in India also found higher prices.

Moreover, several studies have shown that farmers selling to supermarkets had higher net incomes in produce farming than those selling to traditional channels: Mangala and Chengappa (2008) in Karnataka; Singh and Singla (2011) in several states; Singla et al (2016) in Punjab; Bathla (2016) in Haryana; and Nuthalapati et al (2018) in Telangana.

Though useful emerging research, these studies have left important gaps that we address in the present paper. On the one hand, studies of inclusion in and net income effects of supermarket channel participation in India have been state-, agroclimatic zone-, and often just district-specific, and not easily generalisable. There is a need for a pan-India view to assess small farmer inclusion or exclusion with respect to farm size as well as non-land assets such as irrigation, and tests for net income effects.

On the other hand, studies have not examined counterfactuals concerning (in particular) whether given the farms characteristics, farmers that now sell to supermarkets and gain in terms of net income would also gain had they sold to the traditional channels, and if so, do they gain more from the supermarket channel? A converse question, and the gap in the literature, would ask whether farmers who currently sell to traditional channels would, given their characteristics, gain from switching to selling to supermarkets.

In this paper, we address those two gaps and those research questions. Addressing these is of policy relevance in contemporary India because many states, as well as at the central level, are debating and trying various policies and strategies with regard to supermarket chains and other modern retail forms that have emerged, especially in the past decade, such as e-commerce. Moreover, understanding which category of farmers wins and which loses, and which is included or excluded, helps orient agricultural policy to enable farmers to avail themselves of emerging market opportunities where they can gain.

We use data from our own detailed survey of 795 farm households (about half supermarket-channel sellers and half only-traditional-market sellers) in four regions. This unique data set allows us to address the above questions with a sample of unprecedented size and heterogeneous conditions. We use endogenous switching regressions (ESRs) because single output production functions do not capture the possibility of switching marketing channels, biasing the estimated impact of market participation. Also, the analysis uses heterogeneity effects to construct counterfactuals and transitional heterogeneity to estimate treatment effects.

The paper begins by discussing the data, characteristics of the sample, and patterns in behaviour and outcomes. This is followed by the regression model and method of estimation. Then we provide regression results and a comparative discussion followed by a summary and policy implications.

Data

We used data from our primary field survey implemented in the 201314 agricultural year. The survey was done in four states in the north, south, west, and eastern regions, representing different agroclimatic and socio-economic regions. The survey was implemented in all villages at once. We used questionnaires translated into the local languages.

We used multistage random sampling. First, clusters of vegetable-growing villages were identified in the selected blocks where there were procurement centres of supermarkets. To have a mix of both supermarket-supplier villages and control villages, the survey of vegetable grower households was undertaken in villages close to and farther away from the procurement centres.

Second, we undertook a census of farm households in those villages. Farmers were selected randomly from the villages to have an equal proportion of farmers selling to supermarkets and those selling only to the traditional market channels. This yielded 795 vegetable-growing households of which 379 sold to the supermarket channel (supermarket procurement centres near their villages) and the others only to traditional market channels. From here on, for brevity, we call farmers who sell to supermarket channels supermarket farmers and those who sell only to traditional channels, traditional farmers.

Characteristics of Sampled Vegetable Growers

Table 2 shows the characteristics of the sample households. First, supermarket farmers have more farmland. Overall, landownership in sample households averages 3.76 acres. Supermarket farms are larger, averaging 4.04 acres and traditional farmers average 3.46 acres. On their farmland, supermarket farms have a higher share of vegetables. Supermarket farmers are also more likely to lease in land for vegetable crops.

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Second, supermarket farmers have higher non-land asset holdings. They are closer to input and output markets and to the state-run markets called Rythu bazaars. Supermarket farmers participate less in social safety-net programmes (such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme [MgNREGs]).

Third, supermarket farmers are much more likely to have our definition of supermarket-related social capitalfriends and relatives who work for supermarket chains. They are also more likely to be near supermarket collection centres.

Fourth, supermarket farmers use more intensive farm technology. They spend more on vegetable seeds, have a higher share of their land under irrigation, and are more likely to use sprinklers and drip irrigation.

Figure 1 (p 62) shows that supermarket farmers have higher incomes per acre compared to traditional farmers using a non-parametric measure, the KolmogorovSmirnov (KS) test statistic (which relaxes the normality assumption). In Figure 1, Panel 1A shows the cumulative distribution of the net incomes of farmers selling to a supermarket and traditional market for the total sample. The significant KS statistic shows that the incomes of the supermarket farmers are significantly higher. Further, Panel 1B shows that the farmers with less than 5 acres (small farms) are participating in supermarket chains (71%, Table 2) and receive higher net farm incomes than those smallholders selling to traditional markets.

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Regression Model and Estimation Method

The sampled vegetable growers sell their produce to supermarket procurement centres as well as traditional channels, such as regulated markets (mandis). We use an ESR model to compare the expected net household incomes of those selling to the supermarket channel versus the traditional channel, separated into two different regimes (Fuglie and Bosch 1995; Di Falco et al 2011). This model accounts for observable and unobservable variables apart from considering the heterogeneity between supermarket versus traditional channel participants.

Participation in the supermarket channel can be expressed in a probit model as:

M c * = Z+ c , M c = 1 if M c * > 0 and M c = 0 if M c *  0  (1)

where M c * is the difference between marginal utility or net returns (net income) from participation in the supermarket channel M s and the traditional marketing channel M t . Z includes control variables at the household-, farm-, and market channel-level that influence farmers abilities and costs of adjusting to the requirements of participation in the supermarket channel as well as the potential net returns from participation;  is the parameter to be estimated;  c is a random error with zero mean and variance  c 2.

The channel participation decision affects net income and farm production technology. For example, prices, inter-season volume consistency, and quality criteria (implying the use of different technologies) differ by market channel. Let Y = f(X) represent the relationship between net income (Y) and a vector of socio-economic and farm characteristics (X). In the switching regression model, a separate net income function is specified for supermarket farmers versus traditional farmers, as:

Y s = X  s + s if M c = 1  (2)

Y t = X  t + t if M c = 0

where Y s and Y t denotes net income from supplying to the supermarket and traditional market channels, respectively. Only Y s or Y t is observed for any given household depending on the criteria function M c = Z +  c . This implies that ordinary least squares (OLS) estimators of  s and  t suffer from sample selection bias because conditional on a sample selection criterion,  s and  t have non-zero expected values (Maddala 1983). The error terms,  c ,  s , and  t are assumed to have a tri-variate normal distribution with zero mean and non-singular covariance matrix.

The above endogenous switching model can be estimated by the full information maximum likelihood (FIML) method (Lokshin and Sajaia 2004). The FIML method simultaneously determines the probit criterion or selection equation and the regression equations to yield consistent standard errors.

The ESR model provides counterfactual scenarios when the households sold to supermarkets and when they did not sell to them (Table 1, p 61).

This can be represented as:

(a) E(Y s |M c = 1) = X'  s + sc  s  (3)

(b) E(Y t |M c = 0) = X'  t + tc  t  (4)

(c) E(Y t |M c = 1) = X'  t + tc  s  (5)

(d) E(Y s |M c = 0) = X'  s + sc  t  (6)

In addition, we calculate the effect of the treatment on the treated (TT) for supermarket farmers as the difference between (i) and (iii). Similarly, we calculate the effect of the treatment on the untreated (TU) for households who did not participate as the difference between (iv) and (ii). We define the effect of base heterogeneity for the supermarket farmers as the difference between (i) and (iv),

BH 1 =E(y si |M c =1, x 1i )  E(y si |M c = 0, x 1i )  (7)

Similarly, we estimate the base heterogeneity for the traditional farmers (who did not participate in the supermarket channel) as the difference between (iii) and (iv).

BH 2 =E(y ti |M c =1, x 2i )  E(y ti |M c = 0, x 2i )  (8)

Finally, we estimate the transitional heterogeneity (TH) as the difference between BH 1 and BH 2 , as shown in Table 1. BH 1 indicates the gap between the gains obtained by supermarket farmers and the likely gains if the current traditional farmers also participated in the supermarket channel. BH 2 represents the likely gains in traditional markets, specifically the net income gained by traditional farmers while selling to traditional markets and the likely gains the current supermarket farmers would have received if they were only to sell to traditional markets without switching to supermarkets.

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Regression Results

The determinants of the farmers decision to sell to supermarket chains versus traditional market channels: Table 3 shows the regression results. These can be interpreted as correlates or associates as we are not positing strict causality. Several points stand out.

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First, the more the farm is specialised in vegetables (measured by the share of farmland under vegetables), the greater is the probability that the farmer sells to supermarket channels. A complementary result is that the greater the share of farmers growing vegetables in the set of all farmers in the village, the more likely a household is a supermarket farmer. The regressions also show what we showed in the descriptivessupermarket farmers use more hybrid seeds and irrigation.

Second, farm size is not significant in determining market channel choice (even though the descriptives showed a modest difference in land size between the groups). However, the positive effect of the share of land allocated to vegetables indicates that only those who have managed to generate sufficient vegetable output participate in supermarket marketing channels.

However, the coefficient of small farms is negative and significant, indicating that small farmers (< 5 acres) are less likely to participate in the supermarket channel. Since the land size coefficient is insignificant, small farms may not participate due to the lack of resources, like capital, to cultivate vegetables. The study used a meso level variable, the supplier ratio (the share of of supermarket farmers in the total number of vegetable growers in the village), in deciding farmer participation in the supermarket channel and found it positive and significant. Similar results are reported by Narayanan (2014) in a study on contract farming in India.

Third, the greater the human and social capital of the household, the more likely it is to be a supermarket farmer. The results show positive coefficients on the education of the head of household and the number of friends and relatives working in supermarket chains. However, that network does not significantly influence net income (Table 4).

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Fourth, the greater the distance to a wholesale market, the more likely the farmer is to sell to the supermarket procurement centre. This might be because more intensive vegetable farmers are located further from the cities where the wholesale markets are, or that procurement centres are set up in areas where there is less direct competition with the mandis.

Fifth, the negative effect of distance to procurement centres reveals the importance of having buying centres closer to the villages. One of the advantages of supermarket procurement centres is overcoming market failures (Fafchamps et al 2008; Reardon et al 2009), especially transportation costs and travel time for fresh produce. Also, the procurement centres in India are located in villages, unlike in Kenya (Rao and Qaim 2011) or China (Michelson et al 2018).

Relation of selling to supermarket chains and net farm income: The FIML estimates of production functions for supermarket farmers versus traditional farmers are shown in Table 4. The significant negative correlation coefficient ( sc ) in the switching regressions indicates positive selection bias. This implies that the results would have been biased without a switching regression because better-off farmers are self-selected and would outperform their counterparts. The model enables an understanding of the pattern of sorting between supermarket farmers and traditional farmers.

Both the correlation terms,  sc and  tc are negative, indicating hierarchical sorting (Fuglie and Bosch 1995); farmers selling through supermarket channels (regime 1) have better than average net incomes in both markets (regimes) but are better off in the supermarket channel (regime 1). Further, farmers selling to the traditional market channels (regime 2) have below-average net incomes in both regimes but would be better off in the supermarket channel (regime 1).

The determinants of net income are different in the two production functions for supermarket farmers and traditional farmers. Possessing advanced irrigation facilities, like drip/sprinkler irrigation systems, increases net income for smallholders, regardless of their marketing channel, albeit with higher income effects for supermarket farmers. The vegetable farmers selling to both markets face the same situation regarding working capital spent on crucial farm inputs: seeds, manures, fertiliser, pesticides, herbicides, hired labour, and irrigation. Results reveal that an increase in working capital decreases farmers net income, regardless of the marketing channel they use. Having a Kisan credit card increases, and the distance to a wholesale market decreases, the net income of traditional farmers. The share of land allocated to high-value crops has a negative effect on the net income of supermarket farmers. This may be because these farmers face limits in knowledge and labour availability to meet labour-intensive farmings supervisory requirements beyond a threshold level.

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Counterfactual scenarios through transitional heterogeneity: Table 5 presents the treatment effect of participation in supermarket channels on net income under actual and counterfactual conditions. Cells (i) and (ii) represent the expected values of the outcome variables. Net incomes of supermarket farmers in (i) are higher than those of traditional farmers in (ii). We conclude that the expected net income is `83,461 for supermarket farmers (Column 2) and `71,169 for traditional farmers (Column 3) with a net impact of `12,292.

The ESR model shows additional counterfactuals. On the one hand, if the supermarket farmers had not marketed to supermarkets and only sold to traditional markets, they would have earned `74,654 per acre, as shown in (iii). Hence, the treatment effect on the treated (TT) is `8,807 per acre. In other words, the farmers selling to supermarkets get `83,461 per acre in supermarkets and would have got `74,654 per acre had they sold only to traditional markets, leaving a treatment effect of `8,807 on the treated. On the other hand, traditional farmers would have earned `83,352, as shown in (iv), if they had sold to supermarkets. Hence, the treatment effect on the untreated (TU) is `12,183 per acre (Column 4, Table 5).

An important result is that the farmers who self-selected into supermarket selling do well in both markets and are better off in the modern market scenario. This was manifest from the negative correlation terms  sc and  tc , as explained above. It is also shown in Table 5, (i) and (iv), the net incomes of supermarket farmers and traditional farmers when they sell to supermarkets reveal that the current supermarket farmers earn higher incomes in the modern markets indicated as base heterogeneity 1. Here, (iv) is a counterfactual scenario generated by the model application for traditional farmers when they switch to supermarkets. The opposite scenario where both groups sell to traditional markets in base heterogeneity 2 [(iii)-(iv)] also indicates higher net incomes for supermarket farmers.

Finally, the model yielded the magnitude of the average treatment effect (ATE) of `10,200, a 14% increase in the net income of farmers using supermarkets over traditional marketing channels. The percentage increase in net income of 14% due to participation in supermarket procurement systems in the present paper is smaller than in other studies (Rao and Qaim 2011; Nuthalapati et al 2017; Ton et al 2018). The average share of vegetables sold to supermarkets for the participating farmers was just about 50%. Higher gains might be expected as the chains scale up their operations. Our estimates are smaller than 48% of income gains found in Kenya (Rao and Qaim 2011) and 38% from a meta-analysis by Ton et al (2018). Our estimates are also smaller than the 23% increase in net income obtained by Nuthalapati et al (2017) for Telangana farmers. It may be because the supermarkets in their nascent development stage have been procuring only a part of the vegetable output of individual farmers and are likely to enhance the same as direct procurement systems develop further.

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Robustness checks: We also used a propensity score matching technique to find out the average treatment effect and compare it with the results of ESR (Table 6, p 65).

The lower segment of Table 6 gives the details of pseudo R2and log-likelihood ratio tests that become insignificant and significant, respectively, after matching. The results indicate that the common support measure is achieved. The resultant treatment effect from PSM is `13,032 per acre vis-a-vis `10,123 per acre in the switching regression and 22% lower. Despite this lower income, switching regressions and correcting for endogeneity and sample selection bias do not remove the significant additional gains from supermarket participation for farm households in the study regions.

Conclusions and Policy Implications

Supermarkets have emerged rapidly (from a comparative perspective of global food retail history) in the past several decades in India. As they spread, they developed various procurement systems, including direct procurement centres in rural areas. These centres, as well as the spread of supermarkets, have spurred a debate: (i) the optimists posit that small farmers would be included in supplying supermarkets and that they would earn more doing so than by the traditional market channels; (ii) the pessimists argue that small farmers would be excluded because they would be unable to make the grade and if they did participate, they would not earn more than traditionally because of the costs to meet the requirements.

The empirical tests of these positions have mainly been with small-sample surveys in particular locations. There had not yet been a test with a larger sample of farmers and an inter-regional perspective to take into account Indias large heterogeneity. We set about addressing that gap by surveying 795 farmers in four regions. We examined the determinants and effects of sales to supermarket procurement centres versus traditional channels.

The analysis had several key findings that we think introduce nuance and differentiation into the debate on supermarkets and farmers. The data do not tell a sharp inclusion or exclusion story but rather one of weak inclusion with various forms of conditionality on participation. We found farm size had no significant effect on selling to supermarket procurement centres, although the smaller farm category tended to be less likely to participate; and more specialised vegetable farms and those with irrigation were more likely to participate. Hence, the smallest, asset-poor farmers participate less, and the smallmedium and asset-endowed farmers tend to participate more. Moreover, participation yields net farm income increases of 14% after controlling for self-selection bias. The supermarket-selling farmers obtain higher than average net incomes in both markets and are better off selling to the supermarkets. The findings suggest that smallholders who did not participate in supermarket procurement would benefit the most from adopting modern value chains.

Policymakers can focus on two points: (i) modern retail can be helpful to at least that set of farmers who are ready to take advantage of it, which implies policies allowing modern retail to grow and to invest in rural procurement centres; (ii) farmers who have the basics such as irrigation tend to be the participants, which points to policies that include help with investment in irrigation and vegetable production extension. The study findings are particularly relevant as the analysis addresses alternative private markets for highly perishable fruits and vegetables at a time when Indian policymakers explicitly recognised marketing inefficiencies and the need to foster competition between players (Chand 2020).

The survey was only for one year. The research agenda should be to pursue panel surveys of the kind presented here and track changes over time, including smallholder entry and exit and investment dynamics. Moreover, this sort of analysis can and should be applied to other debated topics related to market reforms, which appears to us to be a theme in the continuous and increasing need for careful field survey research with an interregional perspective and adequate samples to test hypotheses.

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Wells Fargo Bank has settled a lawsuit brought by 17 current or former employees who alleged discrimination against them and Spanish-speaking customers. Shown is a Wells Fargo sign in front of a branch in Florida. Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Wells Fargo Bank has settled a federal lawsuit brought by 17 current and former workers who alleged the bank discriminated against them and Spanish-speaking customers.

The plaintiffs, who are of Hispanic ethnicity and from Mexico or other Spanish-speaking countries, work or worked as mortgage sales consultants on the banks bilingual team in its customer service center in San Antonio.

They alleged Wells Fargo forced them to offer predatory lending options to Spanish-speaking customers.

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The complaint originally was filed in June 2023 by four workers as a proposed class action with the size of the class estimated at more than 20. The lawsuit was later amended to add 13 more people as plaintiffs.

The settlement is only with the 17 plaintiffs because the case never got far enough to address the issue of class certification. The terms of the settlement were not included in court papers.

A Wells Fargo spokeswoman said it had no comment on the deal.

Unfortunately, I am not able to share any details other than to say that the matter has been resolved, said Lawrence Morales II, a San Antonio lawyer representing the plaintiffs.

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The parties participated in a mediation with San Antonio attorney Michael Holland on Oct. 10. The next day, they announced that a global settlement of all 17 Plaintiffs claims is possible. The parties informed U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia on Oct. 15 that theyd reached a resolution on all issues.

The plaintiffs had sued for unspecified actual, compensatory and punitive damages alleging discrimination and disparate treatment based on national origin and race.

In their complaint, the plaintiffs alleged bank management had created a mandatory program that directed bilingual sales consultants to steer Spanish-speaking customers away from home equity lines of credit  which have no closing costs  and into refinancing because the latter generally had closing costs that ranged from $5,000 to $10,000. The plaintiffs added they were told not to disclose those costs.

They also alleged Wells Fargo has a long history of charging higher fees to Hispanic borrowers or improperly placing minority customers into subprime loans, according to the complaint.

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FILE PHOTO - Women protest in support of access to abortion medication in March 2023 outside the Federal Courthouse in Amarillo. David Erickson, FRE / Associated Press

LUBBOCK  Amarillo voters on Tuesday resoundingly rejected a proposal that would have effectively made it illegal to use local streets and highways to obtain an out-of-state abortion  a stunning rebuke in a deeply conservative portion of the state for anti-abortion advocates that first proposed the idea.

The proposal, known as Proposition A, lost by about 20 percentage points Tuesday night, according to unofficial votes.

Amarillo became the first Texas city to reject an anti-abortion ordinance placed on a citywide ballot.

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The vote shuts the door on the yearlong debate in Amarillo, which began when city leaders hesitated to pass the ordinance after several conservative cities and counties passed similar laws. The issue upended the Panhandle capital, home to more than 203,000 people. Residents waited hours to voice their opinions on the ordinance at tense city council meetings, digital billboards in favor and against illuminated roads, and both sides held extensive campaigns to sway undecided or uninformed voters.

Abortion activists  who called the ordinance unconstitutional and far-reaching  celebrated the rare win Tuesday night.

Lindsay London, co-founder of the Amarillo Reproductive Freedom Alliance, a local advocacy group that led the opposition against the ordinance, said abortion is not a partisan issue, and the results show that.

Its something that touches all our lives, and we reject extremist government overreach, London said. Particularly when it comes to penalizing support for travel, it violates our constitutional rights.

London said theres a possibility the ordinance could pop up again in the future  when a new city council is voted in.

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So we are going to take a breath, rest, and prepare for whatevers to come next, London said.

Supporters promoted the ordinance as a way to stop abortion trafficking. Mark Lee Dickson, the activist from East Texas behind the measure, defined the term as the act of helping any pregnant woman cross state lines to end her pregnancy or other forms of support.

Dickson, who led the push for the proposal in Amarillo and other cities and counties, said the fight in Amarillo is far from over.

It should disturb many that an ordinance in line with the Republican Party of Texas 2024 Party Platform faced such a defeat in the City of Amarillo, Dickson said in a text message to the Tribune. Especially when such a measure had the support of state and national pro-life organizations.

The crux of the debate was how the law would be enforced. Amarillo residents would have been able to sue another person for violating the ordinance, with awards beginning at $10,000. Some said it pits neighbor against neighbor. Tom Scherlen, a city council member who is also Republican, drew similarities to how Nazis enforced their laws in World War II. People would have been accused of violating it for several reasons, including by providing transportation, donating to abortion fund networks anywhere, offering any information that would lead to an abortion regardless of where the person giving instructions is located, or donating to someone who was sued under the ordinance. Residents would have also been able to sue any person or entity who intends to violate the ordinance.

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Amarillos vote is one of few times where Texas voters had a say on abortion since Roe v. Wade was overturned. State law rarely allows for direct democracy on such issues except at the city level.

The council, led by Mayor Cole Stanley, publicly doubted if they have the jurisdiction to enact a far-reaching ordinance such as this, which he said pushes their power more than the other ordinances passed by Conservative cities and counties in Texas.

Stanley could not be reached for comment.

After the Amarillo City Council balked at passing the ordinance last year, residents began collecting signatures to petition to have the council consider the measure, and to place it on a local ballot if it wasn't passed by the council. The council rejected both the original ordinance and an amended version, leading the petitioning committee to seek the ballot measure.

According to KFF, a nonpartisan nonprofit that focuses on health policy, abortion was on the ballot in 10 states this election cycle. In nine of those states, ballot measures seek to protect abortion access while Nebraska has two measures  one to protect abortion rights and one to curtail abortion after the first trimester except for medical emergencies or if the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest.
Ricardo Delgado covers the Hill Country for the San Antonio Express-News. He can be reached at ricardo.delgado@express-news.net.

He previously worked for The University Star at Texas State University.
Officials, experts call for high-quality construction of national parks

Xinhua) 09:22, November 09, 2024

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 26, 2023 shows a view of the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, in Wuzhishan City, south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

HAIKOU, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Officials and experts from home and abroad have called for the high-quality construction of national parks at an international symposium in south China's Hainan Province.

The 2024 International Symposium on Tropical Rainforest National Park opened Thursday in Baisha Li Autonomous County of Hainan, under the theme "Conserving Tropical Rainforests: Harmonious Coexistence with Nature."

The event saw the attendance of more than 130 delegates, who conducted in-depth discussions on topics such as the protection and restoration of national parks, the path to realize the value of ecological products, the protection and research of flagship species and more.

Setting up national parks is "a major measure for China to promote natural and ecological protection, build a beautiful China, and promote a harmonious coexistence between man and nature," said Deng Weiqiang, secretary of the Baisha Li Autonomous County Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Theresa Mundita Lim, executive director of ASEAN Center for Biodiversity, said that Hainan is home to rich tropical rainforests and mountainous landscapes where biodiversity thrives. However, she also noted that it "shares the vulnerability to climate change impacts experienced by Southeast Asian neighbors."

This symposium "provides a valuable opportunity for us to engage in discussions on best practices in rainforest conservation and national park management," she said. "Facing the intertwined challenges of climate change and biodiversity gives us more reasons to learn from each other and work together."

Jonathan Jarvis, former director of the U.S. National Park Service, talked about the diversified categories of funding for national parks around the world and shared his thoughts on funding and finance for China's national parks.

"China has a very long history of urban parks and understanding the value of nature," he said. "This could be a significant source of funding for the parks in China."

In 2021, China established its first batch of national parks, spanning a protected land area of 230,000 square km. These parks, including National Park of Hainan Tropical Rainforest, are home to nearly 30 percent of the country's key terrestrial wildlife species.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Wu Chaolan)
A postcard that dates from after 1968, on the evidence of the completed Tower of the Americas, shows the extensive Lone Star brewing plant south of downtown, where CEO Harry Jersig added tourist attractions to reinforce the brands image in Texas pride and the great outdoors. Courtesy www.thealamocity/Joseph A. Cooper

First of two columns

This is a story told in my family and I wonder how true it is.

My father worked at Southwest Research (Institute) for over 30 years, and one of his best friends was George McKinney. George and his wife lived on a beautiful ranch on the Balcones Creek where Bexar, Kendall and Bandera counties converge. The ranch had been in his family for decades, and

George raised cattle. The McKinney Ranch (now the Dodge Ranch) shared its western boundary with the Double D Ranch, owned by Harry Jersig of Lone Star Beer. Mr. Jersig was an avid hunter and would often go on safari in Asia and Africa to hunt exotic game.

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Mr. Jersigs wife, Mildred, was not a big fan of the safari hunts and suggested that her enterprising husband figure out a way to bring the animals to them, rather than going to the animals. Mr Jersig thought this was an excellent idea and imported several axis, fallow and sika deer, as well as some Russian boars, and released them on the Double D Ranch. This was in the 1960s.

George McKinney said that the (Jersig) ranch fencing was not modified to contain the new residents, and the animals eventually roamed onto surrounding ranches and began to populate. Today, the Russian Boar DNA is evident in many feral hogs that are harvested in the Hill Country.

 Angela Overley

Harry Daniel Jersig (1902-86) was a true Texas character, who lived a big life in multiple environments  the beer business, civic life, the social whirl and outdoor recreation, which tended to overlap as he pursued his interests separately and together.

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Originally from Comfort, he attended Main Avenue High School (covered here May 23, 2010, and Nov. 27, 2021). His first wife was Kathleen Willis (1904-27), a fellow Main Avenue graduate with whom he had his first child, also named Kathleen. The first Mrs. Jersig died in 1927 of complications from surgery, and Jersig remarried. His second wife was Mildred Lauraine Miller (1897-1990), who went by her more glamorous middle name  and had a second daughter, Laurene, with her.

Young Harry Jersig, left, was born in Comfort but moved with his family to San Antonio, where he attended Main Avenue High School. Jersig, shown on the right in April 1964, headed the Lone Star Brewing Co. from 1940 until his retirement in 1976. Courtesy Charlie Staats/UTSA Special Collections Young Harry Jersig, top, was born in Comfort but moved with his family to San Antonio, where he attended Main Avenue High School. Jersig, shown above in April 1964, headed the Lone Star Brewing Co. from 1940 until his retirement in 1976. Courtesy Charlie Staats/UTSA Special Collections

Young Jersig first worked as a salesman for the Marucheau-Griggs Candy Co. before starting his own H.D. Jersig Wholesale Candy Co., as well as a soft-drink distributorship. In 1939, he joined the Lone Star Brewing Co. (not to be confused with San Antonios first Lone Star Brewing Co., covered here Jan. 3, 2018) as vice president of sales and was soon promoted to president and later chairman of the board.

From then on, Jersig was Mr. Lone Star, the face of the growing company that went through six expansions in its first 10 years in business. He was a good brewery president  top-notch schmoozer (and) all-around good marketing fellow, said Charlie Staats, president of the Lone Star chapter of the National Association of Breweriana Advertising, who credits Jersig with a lot of good ideas that put Jersigs Texas-rooted, outdoorsy vision for the brand in front of increasingly larger audiences.

Lone Star CEO Harry D. Jersig, center, cuts the cake for the brewery's 20th anniversary celebration in 1940. During that time, the brand became a regional bestseller and was identified with the outdoor pursuits Jersig himself enjoyed. Courtesy Charlie Staats

S.A. BEER HISTORY: 1898 beer posters depict children tapping a keg

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On its way to becoming the national beer of Texas, Jersigs Lone Star embraced an image of the states past and the CEOs own pastimes. He acquired the old-timey Buckhorn Saloon, founded in 1881, with its collection of hunting trophies. He restored it on the brewerys campus in 1956, where it was joined by a Hall of Fins in 1964 and a Hall of Feathers in 1973.

The Buckhorn Saloon, founded in 1881, was moved to the Lone Star brewery grounds and restored in 1956, founding the brewerys collection of hunting trophies. UTSA Special Collections

These exhibits, along with a small exotic game farm started in 1953, became a popular tourist attraction, along with Lone Stars 2-acre lake stocked with bass and perch and picnic grounds that could be booked by local groups. From 1952, the brewery also sponsored a series of aquacades or water-sports spectacular on the lake during the summer.

At HemisFair 68, the Lone Star Pavilion contain(ed) a refreshment center and the Texas Hall of History, a one-of-a-kind exhibit of memorable events in the states history, according to the 1968 worlds fairs official Souvenir Book.

Participants in the Lone Star aquacade pose for an early 1950s publicity photograph. Swimmers and divers auditioned for a role in the summer aqua spectacular at the brewerys lake. UTSA Special Collections

The Lone Star Pavilion at HemisFair '68 was one of the largest and most popular corporate pavilions at the worlds fair. The restaurant served beer by the stein and pitcher, as well as robust fare such as everybodys favorite, the Baron of Beef sandwich. UTSA Special Collections

The company also advertised in newspapers, Life magazine and on radio and television, with slogans such as Clear Across Texas and From the Big Country, with visuals of unspoiled Texas scenery. A Texas Parks and Wildlife commissioner, Jersig gave back to the wide open spaces when he provided funding through Lone Star for Operation X-Bow in 1966. The project that introduced rainbow trout to the Guadalupe River below Canyon Lake Dam continues to this day, stocking the original site and other sites.

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S.A. BEER HISTORY: Beer provides clues to site of old photo

Meanwhile, in his not-so-private life, Jersig and his wife became socially prominent, involved with charities and civic organizations. They entertained a lot, often for hunting weekends at their Auerhahn Ranch west of Boerne.

Their 1,500-acre ranch was named for a game bird, also known as a wood grouse, that fascinated Jersig.

Theres a silhouette of the beautiful bird on the gate and a silver statuette and a couple of fine paintings in the ranch house, says the San Antonio Light, March 5, 1955. Jersig, who hunted them in Germany, eventually had three stuffed auerhahns, one displayed at the ranch, one at the brewery and another that was donated to the Witte Museum.

Most people in Texas had never heard of an auerhahn, but the rare bird (in these parts, at least) would be a symbol of Jersigs plans to manage the environment  on the ranch, at the brewery and in the great outdoors.

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Elizabeth Zavala covers federal courts for the Express-News. She can be reached at ezavala@express-news.net.

Zavala is a veteran reporter who has been a journalist for nearly 40 years. She joined the Express-News in 2013 and covered the Bexar County criminal courts for nine years. Liz grew up on the near West Side. She graduated from Fox Tech High School and Texas Womans University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in journalism.

Liz has worked in various reporting and editing positions at five daily newspapers in Texas, including The Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram and the Denton Record-Chronicle.
AI Can Help Educators Avoid the Mistakes of the Past or Repeat Them Generative AI is already shaping the future of education, but its true potential is only beginning to unfold.

ReDesign Updates 9 Essential Competencies for K-12 Students ReDesign, a provider of support and resources for competency-based education, has updated its Future9 Competency Framework to reflect the essential skills K-12 students need today to thrive in their education and workforce journeys.

Partnership Brings AI Teaching Assistant to SchoolsPLP Course Library SchoolsPLP, a provider of PreK-12 digital curriculum and learning solutions, has partnered with Agilix Labs to integrate the latter's BusyBee AI teaching assistant into its K-12 course library.

Innovate Tech X Launches Certified AI Engineer Pathway Program for High School Students Tech training provider Innovate Tech X has introduced a new Certified AI Engineer Pathway Program designed to help high school students attain in-demand skills and certifications in artificial intelligence.

Using Video Game Design to Teach Literacy Skills The Max Schoenfeld School, a public school in the Bronx serving one of the poorest communities in the nation, is taking an innovative approach to improving student literacy.

What AI Gets Right and How It Will Be Used in the Year Ahead AI has tremendous potential to do good in education while honoring and upholding the essential role of teachers. However, its success will depend on how we choose to use it.

New Training Program Focuses on Transforming Education Through High-Quality Project-Based Learning The Buck Institute for Education/PBL Works has launched a new year-long professional development program designed to help educators and administrators in New York City transform education using project-based learning (PBL).

2025 Young Scientist Challenge Seeks Students Using Science to Solve Everyday Problems The entry period is now open for the 2025 3M Young Scientist Challenge, a science competition from 3M and Discovery Education for students in grades 5-8 recognizing individuals across the United States who have "demonstrated a passion for using science to solve everyday problems and improve the world around them."

Partnership Brings AI Credentialing Product to Minecraft Education Platform Prodigy Learning and Minecraft Education have partnered to bring credentialing in AI skills to the Minecraft learning environment. "AI Ready Skills" is the third learning, assessment, and credentialing product from the two companies.

Ed Tech Wishes and Worries for 2025 How will evolutions in education technology impact schools and districts in the coming year? Here's what the experts told us.

New Resource Offers Guide to AI Instruction Across Grades PreK-12 The School Library Systems Association of New York has created a free resource for PreK-12 educators on building student understanding of artificial intelligence.
Gia vang the gioi sang nay ap sat moc 3.000 USD/ounce  muc ky luc chua tung co trong lich su. Trong nuoc cung khong ngoai le, khi lan luot tang tu 700 en 1 trieu ong/luong. "Vang ang trong thi truong tang gia dai han. Chung toi du bao gia se giao dich trong khoang 3.000-3.200 USD trong nam nay", Alex Ebkarian, giam oc ieu hanh tai Allegiance Gold cho biet.
Leading Abu Dhabi real estate developer Aldar has awarded a tender to Kuwait-based Combined Group Contracting and its Emirati subsidiary for carrying out infrastructure facilities work at Delma Industrial Area in Abu Dhabi.

As per the contract, the KD13.3 million ($43.2 million) project will be completed in 578 days.

This comes close on the heels of CGC's contract win from Kuwait's Ministry of Public Works for carrying out general maintenance of Abdali Road and Jahra road.

As per the KD23.5 million ($76.4 million) contract, the Kuwaiti group will provide maaintenance to the vital road for a period of three years.-TradeArabia News Service
Global investment in energy efficient technologies surged by 4% in 2024  and is on course to reach a record $660 billion, according to a new analysis by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Doubling global rate of improvement will require countries to accelerate policy implementation, which would improve energy security, reduce energy costs and lower emissions, stated IEA in its report, titled 'Energy Efficiency 2024.'

The IEAs annual report on energy efficiency developments around the world finds that global primary energy intensity  a measure of efficiency  is set to improve by around 1% in 2024. This is the same rate as in 2023, and around half of the average rate between 2010 and 2019.

At the COP28 climate change conference in Dubai last year, nearly 200 countries agreed to the goal of doubling the rate of progress, which would mean increasing it from 2% in 2022 to 4% by 2030.

The new IEA report shows that governments worldwide are making policy progress, with those representing more than 70% of global energy demand implementing new or updated efficiency policies in 2024.

The European Union, for example, revised regulations to achieve a zero-emission building stock by 2050; China overhauled appliance standards and strengthened national targets for efficiency; the US tightened its fuel economy standards for heavy-duty vehicles; and Kenya made its building code mandatory to ensure all new buildings are more efficient.

However, to align with global targets, fresh policies need to arrive more quickly around the world, and many existing ones need to be tightened, according to the report.

"Energy efficiency is a key pillar of secure, affordable and inclusive energy transitions. The IEA is working closer than ever with governments around the world to ensure that it remains a top policy priority," remarked its Executive Director Fatih Birol.

"Fortunately, the policies and technologies to accelerate efficiency progress are readily available today, and many governments are taking important steps forward. What we hope to see now is faster and stronger policy responses across the globe," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
The UAE's automotive aftermarket industry is poised for solid growth over the next four years and is likely to hit $1.91 billion by 2028, mainly due to the increasing involvement of Southeast Asian automotive companies, according to a report by Glasgow Research & Consulting.

Automechanika Dubai highlighted the expected growth of the UAE's automotive aftermarket industry during an official networking event held under the theme Strengthening Collaborations: Southeast Asia and UAE.

The report stated that the UAE was on track to experience substantial growth as a result of rising vehicle ownership, technological advancements, and robust demand for vehicle parts and services across the region was fuelling the growth.

A key driver is the increasing involvement of Southeast Asian automotive companies, which now contribute 5% of the market share.

These companies are becoming increasingly important in the UAE's automotive aftermarket, bringing a wealth of expertise, cost-effective solutions, and high-quality products that are transforming the sector, it added.

"As vehicle ownership continues to rise in the UAE, driven by economic recovery and infrastructure development, the demand for aftermarket parts and services is expected to surge," remarked Vishal Pandey, the Director of Glasgow Research & Consulting, while chairing the networking event.

Speaking at the event, Pandey said: "With Southeast Asian companies playing a critical role, the market is well-positioned to address the needs of the evolving automotive landscape. The focus of these companies on sustainability and advanced technologies will also help shape the industry's future, aligning with the UAEs vision for a greener, more efficient automotive sector."

Other presentations included an opening keynote speech by Mohammad Al Kassim, Investment Attraction Director, Dubai Chambers, where he addressed strengthening the economic corridor between the UAE and Southeast Asia for sustainable growth and innovation.

Bakri Bin Alias, Senior General Manager, Malaysian Automotive, Robotics & IoT Institute, provided insights into the regions expertise and sustainability focus as part of a session outlining Southeast Asias innovation within the automotive market.

As part of Automechanika Dubai this year, visitors will have the opportunity to experience Southeast Asias automotive landscape as part of the exhibition's regional focus event, said the organiser Messe Frankfurt Middle East.

To be held from December 10 to 12, Automechanika Dubai is a leading exhibition for automotive aftermarket industry in the wider Middle East region that will be co-located with Logimotion, a pioneering event for the global logistics industry from Messe Frankfurt Middle East.

The event covers ten specialised product categories, Parts & Components, Electronics & Connectivity, Accessories & Customising, Tyres & Batteries, Car Wash & Care, Oils & Lubricants, Diagnostics & Repair, Body & Paint, Management & Digital Solutions and Innovation4Mobility.

More than 100 exhibitors will be on show covering a range of verticals, including manufacturers, suppliers, and industry experts from the region, showcasing the latest products, technologies, and solutions, it stated.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the latest emerging trends, market insights, and business opportunities shaping the future of the automotive sector in the region, it added.

Commenting on the market, Mahmut Gazi Bilikozen, Portfolio Director at Messe Frankfurt Middle East, said: "Southeast Asian companies are renowned for their innovation and competitive pricing and have established a solid foothold in the UAE market."

"With strategic partnerships and regional synergies, they are enhancing the availability of automotive components, including tyres, batteries, and mechanical parts. Their presence caters to the growing demand for aftermarket services and contributes to the local economy by fostering job creation and skills development within the industry," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Abu Dhabi Ship Building, an Edge Group entity, said it has partnered with OSI Maritime Systems, a key provider of integrated navigation and tactical solutions, to build competitive vessels and equip its fleet as per todays maritime landscape demands.

The Rabdan FA-400 is ADSBs newest fast attack vessel, boasting 45-m in length and designed to perform a range of territorial and coastal duties.

The collaboration aims to deploy OSI Maritimes Integrated Navigation Bridge System into the existing warship systems and enhance naval operations across multiple warfare domains, said David Massey, the CEO of Abu Dhabi Ship Building, after signing the deal with Jim Hawkins, the Director of Business Development at OSI, at the Euronaval 2024 Exhibition held in Paris.

The Rabdan FA-400, newly equipped with OSIs navigational systems is set for presentation at the Naval Defence Exhibition & Conference (Navdex), which will be held in Abu Dhabi next year from February 17-21.

"The agreement with OSI equips the Rabdan FA-400 with cutting-edge navigational systems, reinforcing our drive to build highly competitive vessels and equip our fleet for the demands of todays maritime landscape," remarked Massey.

"Partnerships like these advance ADSBs objective of establishing UAE-made vessels that integrate world-class systems, showcasing our commitment to excellence on a global scale," he added.

Ken Kirkpatrick, President and CEO of OSI Maritime said: "Integrating OSIs advanced navigation technology into Rabdan FA-400 will significantly elevate its operational capabilities across diverse warfare domains."

"We look forward to positioning this vessel at the cutting Edge of modern maritime defence solutions," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
The Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company (ASRY) said it has successfully concluded its participation in one of the largest gatherings in the global energy sector, Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (Adipec 2024) held in the UAE capital.

Headquartered in Bahrain, ASRY is the Arabian Gulfs most experienced maritime repair and fabrication facility founded in 1977.

It operates in four sectors - Ship repair and conversion; Rig repair and conversion and Naval repair and conversion as well as fabrication and engineering - which combined cover all types of vessel repair including jack-up rigs and other offshore assets, as well as fabrication of onshore and offshore industrial components.

Speaking at the leading energy event, CEO Dr Ahmed AlAbri highlighted the significance of Adipec as a vital annual platform for international companies.

The event, he stated, enhances communication with clients worldwide, expands strategic partnerships, and promotes the exchange of diverse experiences, all of which contribute to a sustainable industrial future aligned with technological advancements.

The 40th edition of Adipec attracted key players from the maritime, oil, gas, and energy sectors. It brought together top professionals and industry leaders, providing unique opportunities to discuss the future of energy in the region and explore practical, sustainable alternatives vital for the growth of these essential sectors.

Dr AlAbri pointed out that ASRY's participation was instrumental in exploring and fostering co-operation with several major institutions.

The focus, he stated, was mainly on developing initiatives that enhance energy efficiency within maritime industries.

Dr AlAbri also underscored the importance of technological innovation and the integration of artificial intelligence in the global industrial landscape to create comprehensive technical solutions with a lasting impact.

During the event, ASRY signed a co-operation agreement with Mack Services FZ and Beinit Energy Group Services.

These agreement aims to strengthen both commercial and technical collaboration and attract significant marine and engineering projects, further solidifying ASRY's position as a leading global maritime, industrial hub, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
James Val Lee Cotter, the business partner of Brad Simpson, seen on Nov. 4 during a pretrial hearing on Nov. 4, was released on Friday. His bail was significantly reduced on Thursday. Christopher Lee / Staff Photographer James V. Cotter, a former business partner of Brad Simpson, was released on bond Friday. Cotter is accused of hiding a weapon for Simpson, who is accused of killing his wife, Suzanne Simpson. Bexar County Sheriff's Office

The business associate of missing real estate agent Suzanne Simpson's husband was released from the Bexar County jail on Friday.

James "Val" Cotter, Brad Simpson's longtime business partner, posted bail a day after Judge Miguel Najera significantly reduced it from $1 million to $100,000.

Bexar County Sheriff's Office officials said he was released at 3:25 p.m. after posting bond.

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Cotter, who is accused of hiding Brad Simpson's gun, was arrested on Oct. 21 at his home in the Dominion. Authorities charged him with tampering with evidence and possessing a prohibited weapon, both third-degree felonies.

Cotter's case is related to the investigation of Suzanne Simpson's disappearance. The 51-year-old mother of four was last seen alive on Oct. 6 and was reported missing the following day.

Cotter's bail conditions bar him from possessing firearms or having contact with Brad Simpson, according to a court record shared with the Express-News by state District Judge Ron Rangel, the administrative judge for Bexar County's district courts.

Cotter, who is on a GPS monitor, is under house arrest. Other bail conditions also require him to surrender his passport to law enforcement, and submit to drug and alcohol testing.

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During a bail reduction hearing, prosecutor Casey Sandoval said Cotter's original bail amount was necessary. She said Cotter lied to authorities twice about the weapon to try to shield Brad Simpson.

"He has shown he is going to do everything it takes to protect (Brad Simpson)," Sandoval said.

But Cotter's attorney, Robert Maurer, told Judge Miguel Najera that Cotter's bail amount was unusual and oppressive. He said he had never seen a judge set bail so high for a third-degree felony charge.

I find it stunning that the bonds would be set so high,  Maurer said. "Its clearly oppressive and merely meant to keep him in jail.

Over the years, Cotter ran a home construction business, worked as a property manager for his father's company, Cotter & Sons Inc., and served as an executive for nursing homes in Lytle and Fredericksburg, court records show. He and Brad Simpson have been friends for 25 years, investigators said.

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Several family and friends of Suzanne Simpson showed up to the courtroom during Cotter's hearing to show support for this missing mother. They held up her missing person poster during the hearing.

Brad Simpson, 53, has been in custody since Oct. 9. On Thursday, he was charged with murder in connection with his wife's disappearance.

He is also charged with unlawful restraint and assault causing body injury to a family member. He is at Bexar County jail where he is being held in lieu of $5 million bail.

According to an arrest affidavit for Brad Simpson, a neighbor allegedly heard him screaming at Suzanne Simpson on the night of Oct. 6. A short time later, the neighbor heard screams in a wooded area near his home.

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The neighbor also told police he saw Brad Simpsons black GMC pickup leave the Simpsons home. The truck returned an hour or two later.

The couples youngest child told a teacher her parents had been fighting, and her father had struck her mother in the face and taken away her cell phone.
I imagine by the time readers get through todays column, the Peoples National Movement (PNM) will have completed its processes and revealed its full slate of candidates minus Dr Keith Rowley, who, as far as I can translate what is happening, will not be prime minister but will remain political leader of the party.

Yeah, I know: Ive just burdened you with a long-winded sentence; bear in mind that the narrative reflects what is actually happening on the ground. So, if people are confused by what is happening, hopefully they will not be confused by my writing.
The Maa Festival celebrates one of the best-known parts of Kenya's culture, which has been remarkably resilient even as it is strained by modernization and climate change.

At this week's festival, which brought members of Maa tribes from across Kenya to the Samburu national reserve in the north of the country, modern technology sits comfortably alongside ancient culture.

In a straw-topped dung-walled hut, a group of women pass around smartphones and a tablet to share pictures of members of other sub-tribes they have met.

On a main stage, groups combine contemporary beats with the hypnotic guttural throb of Maa chants, while elsewhere people in dazzling beads and headdresses leap and dance in circles that speak of much older traditions.

Kenya has dozens of tribes, but it is the pastoralist Maa communities -- named after the language they share -- that have held on to ancient dress and customs the longest, becoming beloved symbols of the country as a result.

'A disconnect'

The Maasai are the best-known to tourists, but the family includes the Samburu, Laikipiak, Njemps and many others.

"The Maa lived very communally," said Stella Napanu of the Northern Rangelands Trust, a conservation group run by local indigenous communities.

"That strengthened them and helped protect their culture from outside influences."

Climate change is a threat to the Maa, however.

Dwindling water resources have forced herders to travel further from their families, straining community ties.

"There's a disconnect between elders and young people because of this and it has weakened our government structures," said Napanu.

Other changes have been more positive.

Maa musicians have new outlets like YouTube to foster pride in their culture. Some travel as far as France and Australia to perform.

"God has given us this culture, so we must preserve it for our children," said a woman who recently travelled to Germany to show off her beadwork.

But communal living is unlikely to survive the lure of the city.

"Some parts of our culture will not last much longer," said Nasieku Letipila, 42, who runs Samburu county's culture department.

"For the Maa, if I have 10 cows and my neighbor has none, I have to share -- I cannot eat if they cannot eat -- that is the most beautiful part of our culture," she said.

"It sustained us, but it is the most difficult part to maintain. Now I live in a city in a gated community and I don't know my neighbors."

The Maa festival, which is becoming an annual affair since its launch last year, is a chance to reconnect with that older way of being.

"I always have to go back to the village and live like that for a while," said Letipila.

"Our culture is the strongest in Kenya. It's a religion to us, we cannot live without it."
Vietnam and Australia jointly held an experience sharing session in Hanoi on Friday on the theme of women, peace, and security in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

The event was co-chaired by Colonel Nguyen Nhu Canh, deputy head of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, and Colonel Michael Jansen, Australian Defense Attache to Vietnam.

Vietnamese peacekeepers who are on duty at the UN Mission in South Sudan and the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei also attended the hybrid event.

The exchange was aimed at advancing gender awareness and supporting the UN Security Councils agenda on women, peace, and security.

This event offered an opportunity for both sides to assess lessons learned from preparation and field experiences in UN peacekeeping missions, emphasizing womens contributions to peace and security.

It also strengthened bilateral cooperation on UN peacekeeping and fostered networking among Vietnamese and Australian experts in this field.

Participants join an experience sharing session co-chaired by Vietnam and Australia on the theme of women, peace, and security in United Nations peacekeeping operations, Hanoi, November 8, 2024. Photo: Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations

Speaking at the event, Canh highlighted the significance of the session following a new peacekeeping partnership agreement signed by both nations in March this year, underlining their substantive, effective cooperation in UN peacekeeping.

This marks the fifth time that Vietnam and Australia have exchanged insights on women, peace, and security.

Both countries previously conducted similar exchanges in 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023, successfully promoting womens roles and effective participation in UN peacekeeping operations.

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Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has visited the Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park in China, calling for expanding bilateral cooperation to help Vietnamese firms raise exports to China and other countries.

PM Chinh made the visit on Friday as part of his trip to China for the eighth Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit and other meetings from November 5 to 8 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang.

Located in a total area of 17.93 hectares in southwestern Chinese province of Chongqing, the Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park has long been chosen by 30 international transport companies as a gateway to penetrate into mainland China.

Its Chongqing dry port is linked with 14 bonded warehouses in different Vietnamese localities, including Hanoi, northern Hai Phong City, central Da Nang City, and southern Ho Chi Minh City, among others.

Hailing the parks strategic location and significant role in international trade connection, PM Chinh suggested it to expand business cooperation with Vietnamese partners by road, waterway, and railway, especially the international railway line from Vietnam through Chongqing to Central Asia and Europe.

The Vietnamese government leader urged both sides to enhance railway connectivity to facilitate transport of their goods to Central Asia and Europe.

He also called on the Chinese side to closely coordinate with Vietnamese partners in developing logistics, trade and related industries to create more access for Vietnamese goods to enter not only the Chinese market but also third countries, especially in the Middle East and Europe.

PM Chinh hoped that the Chinese side would provide Vietnam with financial support, technology transfer, human resources training, and experience sharing.

During his visit, the PM took a sightseeing tour of the park, visited a Vietnamese product booth, and listened to a brief on routine activities of the parks operating center.

He welcomed an ASEAN fast train coming to the park from Hanoi, carrying containers of exports to Europe, including Vietnamese goods and those in transit through Vietnam from some other ASEAN countries.

These containers will be connected to Asia-Europe trains departing from Chongqing to European cities, a representative of the Vietnam Railways Corporation, the state-owned operator of the railway system in Vietnam, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

Rail transport helps shorten goods delivery time compared to sea transport while having much lower freight rates than air transport, the representative commented.

In recent years, Vietnam Railways Corporation has cooperated with China and other countries to promote international cargo transport by rail to Russia, Mongolia, Europe, Central Asia and other markets.

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Vietnam's Party General Secretary To Lam, State President Luong Cuong, and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent congratulatory messages on Thursday to Donald Trump on his election as U.S. president, emphasizing that Washington is Hanoi's strategically important partner.

Vietnamese leaders voiced their confidence that with the solid foundation built by generations of leaders of the two countries over the past nearly three decades, along with the strong support from President Trump in both his first and new terms, the Vietnam-U.S. comprehensive strategic partnership will continue to grow intensively, extensively, effectively, and sustainably, for the benefit and aspirations of the peoples of both countries, as well as for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

On the same day, Vietnamese Vice State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan extended congratulations to Vice President James David Vance.

On Wednesday, U.S. media reported that Republican Donald Trump claimed victory in the 2024 presidential election after defeating Democrat Kamala Harris.

Harris later acknowledged President-elect Donald Trump's win. She said she had called Trump, congratulated him on his triumph in Tuesday's presidential election and promised to engage in a peaceful transfer of power, Reuters reported.

Trump will be the second U.S. president to serve two non-consecutive terms after Grover Cleveland, who was elected in 1884 and 1892.

US President Trump during his first term came to Vietnam twice, one for attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit and a state visit in 2017, and another for a historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in 2019.

Vietnamese leaders sent their regards to Trump following his injuries from a failed assassination attempt in Pennsylvania in July.

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Ho Chi Minh City is subsiding by around 2-5 centimeters annually, doubling that of sea level rise, according to research findings revealed at a recent seminar in the city.

The seminar, which focused on existing subsidence issues and their impacts on sustainable economic growth in the city, was hosted by Ho Chi Minh City University of Natural Resources and Environment on Friday.

At the event, the citys Department of Natural Resources and Environment reported that citywide ground sinking has been ongoing since the 1990s.

According to a Japan International Cooperation Agency survey, the citys subsidence rate ranges between two and five centimeters annually, with some commercial zones sinking by 78 centimeters yearly.

In 2013, the Vietnamese government tasked the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment with assessing national elevation benchmarks and flood prevention projects in Ho Chi Minh City.

Data comparisons between 2005 and 2014 indicated an average subsidence rate of 10 centimeters during 10 years, with some areas sinking even more.

Subsidence has hit various areas across the city, including the outlying district of Binh Chanh, southern Binh Tan District, District 8, western District 7, eastern District 12, northwestern Nha Be District, and parts of Thu Duc City  an administrative district under Ho Chi Minh City, with approximately 239 square kilometers of land being affected.

In Binh Tans An Lac Ward, the districts cultural center recorded 73.3 centimeters of subsidence over ten years, and the Tan Tao Industrial Park sank 73.2 centimeters.

In Binh Chanh, its medical center in Tan Tuc Town subsided by 44 centimeters in the 10-year period.

The ministry continued to monitor the phenomenon of land subsidence in the city after 2014, with results showing that the subsidence rates in Binh Tan and Binh Chanh have risen to 81.8 centimeters and 48.8 centimeters, respectively.

Experts at the event attributed the citys land subsidence to four main causes that are both natural and human-induced, including weak geological foundations, high traffic volumes, construction projects, and excessive groundwater extraction.

Research findings indicated that in areas with weak geological foundations, soil naturally subsides over time, even without human activity.

Commenting on the remaining three human-induced causes, the experts argued that areas with heavy traffic, especially trucks, experienced faster subsidence.

Besides, temporary sinking took place during the implementation of civil construction projects, but the ground would stabilize or experienced little subsidence afterward.

Before 2010, groundwater extraction contributed significantly to subsidence, particularly in Go Vap District, Tan Binh District, District 12, Cu Chi District, and Hoc Mon District.

The city has since restricted groundwater extraction to prevent further land subsidence.

According to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the combination of subsidence, high tides, and rising sea levels has put the southern metropolis at risk of further widespread flooding that could disrupt its socio-economic growth and daily life.

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Police in Ha Tinh Province, north-central Vietnam, have initiated legal proceedings against 43 individuals for their involvement in the illegal manufacturing, storage, purchase, sale, and use of military-grade weapons, as well as the unlawful possession of narcotics, following the successful dismantling of a transnational arms trafficking ring.

Their investigation led to the identification of six key individuals involved in the operation: Vu Anh Tu, 31, from Ninh Binh Province; Mai Van Dong, 32, from Tay Ninh Province; Le Cuong, 26, from Dong Nai Province; Nguyen Thanh Tien, 31, from Hau Giang Province; and Tran Quoc Cuong, 23, from Ho Chi Minh City.

These individuals coordinated a closed network, with each responsible for different stages of the operation, and they recruited additional participants to expand their ring.

Once the arms trafficking ring was exposed, police in Ha Tinh Province deployed 15 task forces across 15 provinces and cities.

They collaborated with the Ministry of Public Security and local public security departments to swiftly detain, summon, and raid the homes of 45 individuals linked to the syndicate.

In total, authorities seized 532 firearms, 36,824 rounds of ammunition, 211 grams of illicit drugs, and two grenades.

Investigators have confirmed that the network had sold over 1,000 firearms throughout Vietnam, and even smuggled weapons into Laos and Cambodia.

This is one of the largest illegal arms trafficking rings ever dismantled by the Vietnamese authorities.

During their investigation, detectives uncovered that several criminal groups in Ha Tinh Province had procured military-grade weapons through various social media platforms operated by a professional arms trafficking syndicate.

Nearly 37,000 bullets seized by police in Ha Tinh Province, north-central Vietnam, in the case of a transnational arms trafficking ring. Photo: Supplied

The operation spanned multiple regions across the country, prompting the creation of a special task force to combat it.

The criminal network sold a significant number of weapons to various groups, fueling violent crimes nationwide.

Using social media channels, members of the syndicate purchased military-grade firearms -- many of which had unknown origins -- and other firearms with military-grade specifications.

The group also imported additional parts from overseas to complete the weapons.

The arms dealers advertised and facilitated illegal transactions through fake social media profiles, providing non-registered phone numbers for potential buyers to make contact.

Buyers could easily select the type of weapon they wanted, provide their details or reach out directly via phone or virtual nicknames, and transfer money to the seller.

Once an order was placed, the traffickers would disassemble the weapons, pack the parts into multiple parcels, and ship them through various channels, including express delivery services, motorbike couriers, passenger vehicles, and trains.

According to investigators, this network operated with considerable sophistication, involving high-ranking individuals who were both reckless and often armed.

Furthermore, members of the ring maintained close ties to foreign contacts and had escape routes planned, including potential flight to Cambodia, Laos, or China.

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Tan Lak Tho, general director of Wilhelm Hauffmann, based in Singapore and the producer of Eagle Brand Medicated Oil, on Thursday visited the police headquarters in Long An Province, southern Vietnam to present a letter of appreciation to Colonel Lam Minh Hong, director of the Long An police department, thanking him for overseeing the investigation and handling of a case involving 30,000 counterfeit oil bottles being sold on e-commerce platform Shopee.

Colonel Nguyen Van Hoa, deputy director of the provincial police department, received Tho and got the letter from him under the authority of the director of the department.

Tho said the seizure and takedown of a fake medicated oil production and trading ring helps protect the interest and benefits of customers and safeguard the reputation of the manufacturer.

The economic police division under the provincial police department had previously discovered a shop selling foreign-branded medicated oil on the e-commerce platform Shopee.

The shop, called Mum Shop - Chuyen Dau Gio (Mum Shop - Specializes in Medicated Oil), was followed by 3,200 Shopee users.

After launching an investigation into its business operations, the police found that some non-residents had rented a house in Long Trach Commune in Can Duoc District to produce counterfeit medicated oil.

In late September, police officers raided the house and caught Truong The An, a 30-year-old resident of Tien Giang Province, a neighbor of Long An Province, Hoang Van Hung 19, who lives in Dong Nai Province, and Nguyen Gia H., 17, resident of Tra Vinh Province, red-handed producing fake medicated oil.

The police confiscated 30,000 fake Eagle brand medicated oil bottles, 110,000 empty bottles, 1.8 metric tons of packaging, 600 kilograms of bottle lids, 183 kilograms of labels, and 217 kilograms of usage instruction paper, as well as several tools and equipment.

An admitted that he bought chemicals and fragrances for the mixture and hired Hung and H. for his counterfeit medicated oil production.

Individuals caught red-handed producing counterfeit medicated oil in Long An Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: Supplied

These counterfeit medicated oil bottles were delivered to Hoang Thi Hue, 31, who resides in Dong Nai Province, to sell on Mum Shop - Chuyen Dau Gio on Shopee.

The investigative police charged An, Hung, and H. with fake goods production.

An and Hung were held in custody, while H., under 18, was granted bail.

The police are expanding the investigation into the case.

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Syed Ali Mujtaba,TwoCircles.net

New Delhi: In a landmark judgment the Supreme Court of India overruled its judgment taken in the Azeez Basha case of 1967 that denied minority status of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), on grounds that AMU is a Central University funded by the Central government.

The Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud who led the seven members Constitution Bench said that a regular Bench should decide the question of the minority status of the AMU.

The regular Bench would also decide the correctness of the Allahabad High Court decision in the 2006 that struck down the 1981 amendment conferring minority status on the AMU.

Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) enjoyed the minority character from 1920 to 1951, when the controversy erupted after compulsory religious education to the Muslim students was withdrawn.

In 1967 a five-judge Constitution Bench looking into Azeez Basha ruled that AMU, being a Central university, cannot claim to be a minority institution.

In 1981 the Parliament, by virtue of the Aligarh Muslim University (Amendment) Act, 1981 conferred minority status on the AMU.

In 2006 the Allahabad High Court, struck down the Parliamentary order 1981 amendment that conferred minority status on the AMU.

The seven members Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court was dealing with a reference arising out of the 2006 decision passed by the Allahabad High Court.

In the seven member bench, four members ruled in favor of revoking the 1967 judgment that revoked the minority status and the three members wanted to uphold the 1967 judgment.

The majority opinion, concurred by Justices Sanjiv Khanna, J.B. Pardiwala, Manoj Misra, and SC Sharma, said that the regulation of minority educational institutions is permissible under Article 19(6), however, those regulations should not impinge upon the minority character of the institution.

It said, Regulations, which may be justified on grounds stipulated under Articles 19(6) and 26, may fall foul to Article 30 if they infringe upon the minority character of the institution. This is a special right/protection which the Constitution guarantees to minority educational institutions.

It further said, An educational institution established by any citizen can be regulated under Article 19(6). An educational institution established by a religious denomination without any element of profit can be regulated on grounds of public order, morality and health. As opposed to these two provisions, Article 30 does not circumscribe the right on any grounds. However, the right guaranteed under Article 30 is not absolute.

The majority opined that Article 30 guarantees minority educational institutions the right not to be discriminated against and in fact, Article 30(2) is the facet of the non-discrimination of minorities.

Those who had contrarian views are Justices Surya Kant, J.B. Pardiwala, Dipankar Datta and SC Sharma wrote separate and dissenting opinions.

The short of the long story is Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), remains to be a minority institution. It has taken 70 years to close the legal wrangles.

Syed Ali Mujaba is a journalist. He did his BA & MA from AMU during 1978  1984. He can be contacted at [email protected]
Rhyma Castillo is a trending reporter for the Express-News and a member of its Digital Go Team. She can be reached at rhyma.castillo@express-news.net.

A native of San Antonio and a Texas A&M University graduate, she is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience. She has reported on politics, immigration, climate change, gun violence, and workers rights. Additionally, she excels in lifestyle and entertainment writing, covering music, television, video games, technology, and relationships.

In her free time, she enjoys painting, drawing, cooking, hiking, climbing, gardening, playing video games, cuddling with her cats, and making music with her band.
Two years after reviewing Vinegar Syndrome's excellent 4K release, I return to the depths of the Sawyer Family Chili Factory for another crack at Tobe Hooper's weird, wild, gory, and hilarious sequel. In truth, I don't have anything new to add to this film. I still love it despite how much of a tonal shift this entry is from the 1974 original. Here's what I had to say about this film two years ago:

For years, former Texas Ranger Lieutenant Lefty Enright (Dennis Hopper) has hunted all across Texas for the madmen who killed his nephew Franklin and drove his niece Sally insane. Everyone in law enforcement believes hes a cracked-up cop, but he knows the truth and when a pair of partying high schoolers end up as buzzed-up road kill while calling into a radio show, he knows hes getting close. Convincing rock radio DJ Stretch (Caroline Williams) to play the tape of the boys demise on the radio, he hopes to drive the killers out into the open, but he only unleashes another chainsaw-fuelled nightmare of mayhem when Chop-Top (Bill Moseley) and Leatherface (Bill Johnson and Tom Morga) come calling into the radio station - in person.

Since weve covered three other releases of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 on Blu-ray already, Ill ultimately be letting my colleague M. Enious Duarte have the final word on the quality of the film. For my part, I too dearly love and enjoy this film. Of the sequels, remakes, reboots, retcons, requels, and several prequels its easily the best of the franchise. The original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is and will always remain one of the most visceral and shocking horror films of its era and sets a near-impossible quality benchmark to topple for any future Chainsaw film.

While it took me a number of viewings to warm up to this sequel, its still a hell of a fun and darkly hilarious film. The first film too had its share of dark giggles but it was far less overt. Tobe Hooper was under the Yorum/Globus Cannon gun to deliver a sequel starting in on this mere weeks after finishing Invaders From Mars and he was smart enough not to try to redo his original masterpiece and instead go in a completely different direction. Among those changes was the presentation of gore. The first film hid the gore making it all the more shocking because you had to imagine the horror. This time around with the help of monster gore effects maestro Tom Savini, every flood of blood or sliver of liver is on screen for you to digest.

Ive seen this movie many many times, but this outing I found the sight of Leatherface using a teeny tiny turkey carver on a body to slice up a snack to be one of the funniest images in the film. Dennis Hopper may have declared it one of the worst films he was ever in (he had a long list of those actually), but I find it delightfully effective and creepy and he's very good in it. It was also one of the few movies of the 80s to be ballsy enough to be released Unrated after initially getting an X-rating rather than making numerous cuts to secure an R for a more commercial break in theaters. The film was already heavily cut to meat the runtime nixing several important plot threads. Id love to see a fully restored version someday, but to that end, I appreciate a film like this that sticks to its saws rather than give in to the pressure of a nutty ratings board.

You can read our man Mr. Duartes excellent previous Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 Blu-ray Reviews listed below:

Vital Disc Stats: The 4k Ultra HD Blu-ray

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 sharpens for a second cut on 4K UHD thanks to German label Turbine Medien. For this review we were supplied with an advance check disc, so we dont have a full retail edition, but when we do, well update this review ASAP with all of the trimmings and details. This 4K edition is pressed on a Region Free BD66 disc. This set will also include a BD50 disc for the film in 1080p and an additional disc reserved for the bonus features. The discs will come housed in a 32-page mediabook - of which there are five different covers available. The disc loads to an animated main menu with standard navigation options. The menu titles are in German, but its easy enough to figure out whats what. NOTE: All images and the video sample were sourced from this new 4K disc. [UPDATE 11/30/24] This review has been updated to include pictures of the packaging and more details about the bonus features package.
HAI PHONG -- A.P. Moller  Maersk (Maersk) recently opened its first bonded warehouse in Viet Nam at SLP Park, Nam inh Vu Industrial Park in the northern city of Hai Phong.

Operated by Maersk Contract Logistics, this bonded warehouse marks an important milestone for the company in its journey of footprint expansion and development in northern Viet Nam in the context of facilitating imports and exports.

The bonded warehouse is strategically located in the Hai Phong seaport area, along the main logistics axis of the Northern region, making it a pivotal logistics hub in north Viet Nams international transportation network.

The warehouse connects with Maersks current fulfilment centre in Hai Phong and the upcoming terminal at Lach Huyen port, which is being developed through a strategic partnership between APM Terminals and Hateco. This connection is expected to strengthen Maersks capabilities to provide enhanced storage solutions and operational efficiencies, further streamlining customers supply chains and unlocking local opportunities for growth.

The warehouse is equipped with cutting-edge technology that ensures the efficiency and safety of operations. The interior of the warehouse is standardised with a modern racking system, sorting processes, inventory control, and an automatic barcode system with high accuracy.

Additionally, the warehouse prioritises minimising electricity and energy consumption. This includes using spot-shaped skylight panels to maximise natural light, energy-saving LEDs, and installing motion and occupancy sensors in office and public areas.

Kevin Burrell, Area Managing Director of Maersk Mekong (Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar), shared: Maersk always aims to bring the most optimal logistics solutions to our customers. We believe that running our own bonded warehouse directly helps us to synchronize processes for our clients. It also improves service quality and cost control.

As the first customer for this new facility, Amazon Vietnam, a cross-border e-commerce service provider, will start its operations in October.

Maersk partners with one of the leading industrial and logistics infrastructure developers in Southeast Asia, SLP, reaffirming its commitment to meeting the comprehensive needs of its customers.

Attending the inauguration ceremony, Edwin Chee, chief operating officer, SLP, shared: This partnership underscores our shared commitment to providing top-tier logistics solutions. Together, we look forward to driving growth and setting new benchmarks for the industry and the region's development.

Viet Nam is affirming its position as an important logistics hub in the region with outstanding development in production, import-export, and attracting foreign direct investment.

Through this, Maersk has been leveraging its strengths and finding new opportunities to drive success for customers and partners in Viet Nam, while contributing positively to the development of the logistics industry and the economy.  VNS
HCM CITY  The collaboration between Taiwan and Viet Nam in the water treatment sector will provide energy-efficient equipment as well as smart water management systems that can effectively support Viet Nam's water sustainability goals, said Hank Han, director general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in HCM City.

Han made his comments at a product launch event themed Watering a Sustainable Future: The Collaborative Potential of the Water Treatment Industry Between Taiwan and Viet Nam during the VIETWATER 2024 exhibition, which is being organised in HCM City.

At his speech, Han emphasised that, as we move forward, the promise of collaboration between Taiwan and Viet Nam in the water treatment sector is bright. Together, we can pave the way for innovative solutions that benefit our communities and the environment.

At the event, the organiser not only unveiled a range of advanced water solutions that won a Taiwan Excellence Award but also served as a testament to the growing partnership between Taiwan and Viet Nam. By sharing expertise and fostering collaborative initiatives, both sides aimed to address pressing water concerns and ensure access to clean and sustainable water resources for future generations.

Le Hung Anh, vice president of the Viet Nam Association For Safe Water and Environmental (AWATEN) in HCM City said, Taiwan boasts significant technological advantages, particularly in industrial manufacturing and information technology. The Taiwan Excellence Award recognises outstanding Taiwanese products, which have gained international acclaim and are increasingly favoured in Viet Nam.

He added: We appreciate TAITRA's commitment to clean water technology and support initiatives that recognise technological advancements and facilitate trade. As Viet Nam and Taiwan enhance co-operation, we support programmes that connect businesses and promote expertise exchange in clean water treatment.

During the product launch, four leading Taiwanese brands including Ever-Clear, Assoma, Fenri, and Mbran presented their innovative solutions tailored to the Vietnamese market.

Ever-Clear introduced its advanced technology for efficient wastewater treatment and water reuse. This innovative membrane technology offers a compact, modular solution, minimising environmental impact while maximising resource utilisation.

Assoma showcased its impressive range of high-efficiency pumps designed to significantly reduce energy consumption and operating costs in water management systems.

Fenri, a pioneer in AIoT water management, presented its comprehensive suite of smart solutions.

Mbranfiltra showcased a diverse product portfolio, ranging from compact portable filters for personal use to robust industrial-sized filters for large-scale applications.

Taiwan and Viet Nam share a strong production and supply chain relationship. As of September this year, Taiwan ranks as Viet Nams third-largest import source.

Bilateral trade reached US$20.71 billion, reflecting a 20.9 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. The southern region of Viet Nam, which attracts the most foreign investment, is home to more than 50 per cent of Taiwans total investment in the country.

In line with Taiwan's growing influence in the global market, the Taiwan Excellence Awards have recognised outstanding products for more than three decades. These products demonstrate "Innovative Value" and are "Made in Taiwan."  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam's wine market is projected to reach US$382.2 million from 2024 to 2029, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.5 per cent, according to the latest data from Strategy Helix Group.

The Group notes that Viet Nams expanding middle class is driving higher purchasing power and increased demand for premium and imported wines. Currently comprising 15 per cent of the population, the middle class is expected to double by 2026.

Whereas wine was traditionally favoured by those over 50, the market has seen growing interest from consumers aged 35 and up over the past five years. Young consumers are also showing an increasing preference for wine over traditional alcoholic beverages.

President of the Provincial Council of Ciudad Real (Spain) and the Spanish Wine Fair (FENAVIN 2025) Miguel Angel Valverde Menchero assessed Viet Nam as a high-potential and rapidly growing market.

Spain, through FENAVIN 2025, seeks distribution partners in Viet Nam. Although not enormous, it is a very attractive, fast-growing market and we have a strategic focus on Viet Nam, he said.

Despite this, challenges remain, especially the prevalence of counterfeit wines. According to representatives from Ciudad Real, the fraudulent bottles closely resemble authentic wines, making it crucial for Spain to find reliable partners to bring quality products to Vietnamese consumers.

Viet Nam's wine market is highly competitive, with French, Italian, Chilean and Australian wines firmly established through effective marketing.

According to Menchero, convincing Vietnamese consumers, who are familiar with renowned brands, to switch to Spanish wines will not be easy.

However, with a diverse selection and competitive pricing, Spanish wines are confident in their potential to capture the Vietnamese market, he said.  VNS
Experts believe that enterprises in the domestic processing and manufacturing industry need more solutions to further penetrate the global supply chains.

Dr Nguyen Minh Phong, an economist, says that the processing and manufacturing industry is a large industry with many small groups and sub-industries. Of which, there are eight groups of industries contributing greatly to the development of the processing and manufacturing industry, including chemicals, rubber, plastics, textiles, footwear, food and beverage, forestry, and electronics.

In the context of declining exports to major markets, the processing and manufacturing industry has diversified into new markets such as African countries, northern and eastern Europe and west Asia, Phong says.

The structure of export goods continues to improve in a positive direction. The country has reduced raw exports and increased exports of the processing and manufacturing industry's goods, creating conditions for Vietnamese goods to participate more deeply in the global supply chains, he says.

However, according to Phong, the processing and manufacturing industry has not yet fully exploited its potential. For some key export items to major markets such as the EU and US, expanding markets for industrial enterprises continues to face difficulties.

The scale of Vietnamese supporting industry enterprises is mainly small and micro, so most of them have low technology and management levels and limited human resources, leading to difficulties in meeting high requirements of partners in terms of standards, quality, price and delivery time.

In addition, Phong points out that the annual innovation rate of machinery and equipment has only reached about 10 per cent in the past five years, while that rate in other regional countries was about 15-20 per cent.

The localisation rate of many industrial sub-sectors has been low, depending heavily on the import of raw materials, machinery and equipment. Key export industries, such as textiles, footwear and electronics, have imported 60-70 per cent of raw materials.

"The lack of connection between enterprises is also hindering the development of supporting industries. So, the domestic enterprises have not yet deeply participated in the ecosystem and value chains of large enterprises and foreign firms," Phong says.

In addition, domestic enterprises have implemented only the processing and assembly stages, not focusing on new and high-tech industries. They have lacked integration capacity and used outdated technologies.

Chu Viet Cuong, director of the Centre for Industrial Development Support (IDC), under the Department of Industry of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, says that one of the enterprises' difficulties today is high costs across many fields.

Of which, the issue of high input material costs is due to many reasons, such as dependence on foreign supplies. Many manufacturing companies have to import raw materials and components due to the lack of domestic supplies.

This dependence increases costs due to higher raw material prices, especially in the context of global economic instability, diseases and geopolitical crises, Cuong says.

In addition, transport, warehousing and logistics costs relating to the raw material imports have also increased, especially during periods of fuel price increase and disruptions in global supply chains.

The prices of raw materials such as metals, chemicals and agricultural products have also risen because of high demands from many major producing countries, especially China and developing markets, he says.

The cost of complying with international standards is high because international markets, especially the US, EU and Japan, require businesses to comply with standards on quality, labour safety, environment, and social responsibility.

Compliance with these standards requires businesses to make large investments in infrastructure, equipment and inspection processes.

At the same time, high costs have made it hard for export industrial enterprises to expand production scale or invest in new technology, leading to delays in penetrating new markets and diversifying products.

Meanwhile, Cao Van Hung, director of International Market Development of Smart Vietnam Precision Mechanical JSC, says that, the first difficulty for the domestic enterprises is high-quality human resources.

Meeting the needs of the market and customers at present requires a large human resource, especially those directly involved in production activities.

In addition, foreign partners have very high demands for quality, requiring businesses to know how to connect with related partners to create a finished product. However, finding suitable partners is a difficult task.

Vietnamese enterprises also lack information about markets, customers and policies of partner countries, Hung says.

Regarding solutions, he says the businesses need to have a mechanism for investment in human resources and supportive policies of material and spirit for workers, especially skilled workers.

Vietnamese enterprises also need to directly research the market and listen to feedback from partners, thereby being able to improve products and expand the market.

Regarding policies, Hung also proposes that the Government, ministries, branches and associations need to support the businesses in exporting goods to demanding markets. They should regularly organise seminars, forums and exhibitions, to give the businesses the opportunities of securing market update, partner information and new business activities.

According to Cuong, the State has been offering financial support packages or tax incentives to help businesses reduce costs in complying with international standards.

They have established domestic quality inspection centres meeting international standards to reduce costs and time for the businesses and built training programmes on quality management and compliance with international standards.

Cuong has also recommended that the businesses invest in research and development (R&D) to find and develop alternative domestic raw material sources, reducing dependence on imports.

They should optimise the supply chain to reduce transport costs and delivery times and use advanced production technologies to minimise material waste and improve production efficiency.

In addition, the businesses should invest in product innovation, increase the value of products by improving quality and features and cooperate with FDI enterprises to access resources and advanced technology, Cuong says.

To support processing and manufacturing enterprises to promote exports in the global supply chains, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Vietnamese trade offices abroad should strengthen trade promotion and expand the market for products of this industry. VNS
First SEMIExpo Vietnam

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Viet Nam is positioning itself as a major player in the global semiconductor industry by hosting its inaugural event in Ha Noi, SEMIExpo Vietnam 2024. The two-day expo, from November 7, features more than 5,000 delegates, including big global companies, experts, associtaions and universties. Watch the video to learn more about the first and biggest semiconductor expo in Viet Nam.
Endangered langurs protected in central region

A NANG  Positive results on the conservation of nature and endangered wildlife species have been recorded in field surveys at reserves and national parks in the central provinces of Quang Nam and Quang Ngai by experts from the Centre for Conservation and Research (GreenViet) and international NGOs.

GreenViet reported that more than 300 individuals of the Critically Endangered (CR) grey-shanked douc langurs (Pygathrix cinerea) were found living in forest area of Quang Nam and Quang Ngai Provinces.

Biodiversity protection and forest patrols have been working well in the area, creating safe shelters for the CR primates species and other endangered animals.

It recorded five groups, a total of around 30 individuals, in a survey during 32 treks in the Ba To protected forest zone in Quang Ngai Province in 2024.

Meanwhile, a population of nearly 30 grey-shanked douc langurs from 1997 have been increased to 77 individuals, in a small area of primary forest in Tam My Tay commune in Nui Thanh district of Quang Nam province.

A group of 95 CR individuals was reported living in the protected National Song Thanh Park in Quang Nam Province, according to the parks director inh Van Hong.

Hong said rangers and conservationists had trekked in the jungle between January to August of 2024, over a total route of 979km, to check on the critically endangered species and their natural habitat.

The conservation of endangered species and biodiversity in the park was funded by the Project on Sustainable Forest Management and Biodiversity Conservation in Viet Nam (VFBC) and Species Conservation Fund (SCF) under the USAID, Hong explained.

More surveys and supervision activities on the species will be expanded in four new communes of La Dee, ak Toi, ak Pring and ak Pre in conservation plan in 2025-30, he added.

According to the central provincial peoples committee, the 77,000ha Song Thanh National Park is one of the biggest carbon stores in central Viet Nam, with 38 species listed in the Red Book of Viet Nam and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Hoang Van Mat, a member of the VFBC Project, said a further conservation research would help identify a full data of the CR primate species in the park.

The park is considered to have the third largest population of the CR primate species after Ba To district in Quang Ngai and Kon Ka Kinh National Park in the Central Highlands Gia Lai Province.

In a recent trek in jungle of Ba To district, 60km south of Quang Ngai Provincial centre, Ba Trang commune recorded a crowd population of the grey-shanked douc langurs with four troops and 27 individuals, according to GreenViet.

The 46,000ha primary forest area in Ba To District was reported as a safe shelter to 169 grey-shanked douc langurs in two surveys by Fauna & Flora International (FFI) and GreenViet in 2022, the conservationists reported.

The primary forest area could build links with the neighbouring Binh inh Provinces An Toan Nature Reserve, and Gia Lai provinces Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve in creating a great corridor in the world biosphere reserve.

Quang Ngai is one of five provinces in Central Viet Nam  including Binh inh, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, and Quang Nam  where about 1,000 CR primates species are found living in nature.

Last year, two conservation projects on protection of two endangered primates species  red-shanked douc langurs (Pygathrix nemaeus) and grey-shanked douc langurs (Pygathrix cinerea)  of Synchronicity Earth from the UK, a charity focusing on global environmental conservation  were approved by the central city of a Nang and Quang Ngai province in improving biodiversity protection central Viet Nam in 2024-26.

GreenViet has been providing awareness improvement communication programmes for local communities in protection of endangered species in Quang Nam, Quang Ngai provinces and a Nang City.
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.
Ha Noi National University -- formerly the Indochinese University, located in the heart of the capital, boasts stunning French colonial architecture that reflects its historical significance.

Since its establishment the university has graduated a host of talented students who later made invaluable contributions across diverse sectors in national development.

Revered as a "Temple of Knowledge", the university has been transformed into a dynamic artistic space for the Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2024, which will take place from November 9 to 17.

The main building of the Indochinese University was completed in 1927 by French architect Ernest Hebrard. Nearly a century later, the building retains its classic appearance, with a main hall featuring striking stone flooring, a high vaulted ceiling, and a distinctive wrought-iron entrance.

The building's design includes many decorative motifs characteristic of the Indochina architecture, blending European academic influences with local elements suited to the tropical, monsoon climate. This fusion reflects the craftsmanship of Vietnamese builders of that period.

Among the most notable Vietnamese elements in the building is the large oil painting in the lecture hall adjacent to the main lobby.

Created by French painter Victor Tardieu between 1921 and 1927, the 77-square-metre painting, done in the style of Western mural art, depicts an entirely Vietnamese scene. Its centrepiece portrays a village gate shaded by a lush green canopy, with over 200 figures representing early 20th-century Vietnamese society.

In November 2013, Ha Noi authorities recognised the university building as an architectural landmark constructed during colonial era, marking it for preservation and cultural enhancement.

Art avenue

Ha Noi National University will host a variety of activities, including workshops, discussions, exhibitions, and guided tours, according to the organisers of the Hanoi Creative Design Festival.

The highlight of these events will be the interactive art exhibition titled Cam Thuc ong Duong (Indochina Sense), featuring 22 light installations.

The exhibitions collection of interactive installations is expected to evoke nostalgic memories of Indochina architecture and aesthetics, interpreted through contemporary architects, painters, and artists.

It will be a vibrant fusion of architecture, art, imagery, sound, and interactive elements, offering an experience that often transcends verbal expression.

In the main hall, a harmonious blend of light, interaction, and reflections will illuminate purposefully arranged sculptures and paintings. Extending from the first-floor surface to the double-layered vaulted ceiling, the neoclassical architecture here incorporates decorative motifs inspired by Indochine aesthetics.

Busts of the esteemed artists Victor Tardieu, the founding principal of the Indochina School of Fine Arts in 1924; and To Ngoc Van, the first Vietnamese principal of the Vietnam School of Fine Arts in 1945, are displayed in the hall.

Also on display are busts of two prominent scientists, Nguy Nhu Kon Tum and Le Van Thiem, late rectors of the university. This arrangement highlights the rich legacy of artistic and scientific achievements in Viet Nams educational history.

High above the vaulted ceiling, a collection of decorative artworks, including a chandelier and an illuminated mica installation of a doctoral stone tablet, draws inspiration from the original design of the Indochina University building. At the ceiling's apex, a 3D mapping projection vividly recreates the image of two phoenixes, their forms subtly fading over time.

The arrangement of these artworks offers a profound and unique perspective on Indochine and Vietnamese architecture and aesthetics, creating a bridge between historical and contemporary art.

Visitors will also encounter various sculptures and clay artworks, including an installation featuring research books on Indochinese decorative motifs and photographs of Indochina architecture by photographer Ngo Xuan Phu. Also displayed will be a collection of large-format film photography created using early 20th-century techniques by artist Pham Duy.

The exhibition extends beyond the building, where the artwork LETTERS - SCIENCES - ARTS, inspired by Indochina Universitys interdisciplinary educational philosophy, will be re-enacted.

In addition, many other remarkable collections of artworks await visitors at the interactive art exhibition Indochina Sense, with each installation offering a unique insight into the rich artistic heritage and contemporary creativity inspired by Indochine culture.

The Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2024, themed Giao Lo Sang Tao (Creative Intersection), will run from November 9 to 17, featuring over 100 activities along the main route surrounding August Revolution Square in front of Ha Noi Opera House in Hoan Kiem District. VNS
HCM CITY  The Kim ong Publishing House, the countrys leading publisher of childrens books, has released a picture book series encouraging children to learn more about traditional crafts in Viet Nam.

The series, Vang Danh Nghe Co (Honouring Traditional Crafts), consists of six books that feature the history, cultural values, and development of traditional craft villages.

The books tell stories about a trip of a little girl named An and her grandparents and parents to explore traditional craft villages across Viet Nam. The seven-year-old girl has a chance to meet and talk with local artisans to learn about craft production and the changes in traditional craft villages in today's society.

They highlight Lanh My A silk coming from Tan Chau Silk Village in the southern province of An Giang, which flourished during the 1950s and 1960s, the Chang Son carpentry village in Thach That District of Ha Noi, which is famous for wood engraving and wood joinery, and the 600-year-old ong Xam silver carving village in Kien Xuong District of Thai Binh Province.

The works also introduce the 700-year-old Van Chang blacksmith village in Nam Truc District of Nam inh Province established 700 years ago, the art of making fish sauce in Phu Quoc Island of Kien Giang Province, and the Bau Truc Pottery Village in Ninh Phuoc District of Ninh Thuan Province, one of the oldest pottery villages in Southeast Asia.

All the books are compiled by cultural researchers Thanh Nguyen, Phuong Bui, Kim Dung and Liber.

Thanh Nguyen, editor-in-chief of the series, emphasised that each craft village had its history and culture.

He said, When working on this series, we wanted to not only discuss the crafting process but also help young readers appreciate local artisans talent and understand the culture, belief and traditions of different regions across the country.

The publications are illustrated by painters Bui Xuan Quynh, NGART, and Ruoc ang, who spent time researching and reading documents to ensure the accuracy of the pictures and help children easily understand the books and provoke their interest and respect for Vietnamese traditional crafts.

According to the publisher, they will soon publish four more books in the series, depicting the Phu My basket boat weaving village in Tuy An District of the central province of Phu Yen, the oi Tam drum-making village in Duy Tien Commune of Ha Nam Province, the bronze casting village in Hue City, and the art of making traditional do (poonah) paper of the Dao ethnic minority group at Sung Village of Hoa Binh Province.

Six books from the Vang Danh Nghe Co series are now available at bookstores nationwide.  VNS
VIENTIANE  A delegation from the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) took part in an international forum on socialism entitled Marxism in the 21st century in Vientiane on Friday.

Hosted by the Lao Academy of Social and Economic Sciences (LASES), the event also drew representatives from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), and Lao and world experts and scholars.

The forum included three sessions featuring 22 presentations, where scientists and representatives exchanged insights and experience in scientific research. It also clarified the profound values of Marxism, as well as the creative application of Marxism to the practical construction of modern societies within the specific development contexts and conditions of each country.

At the same time, scholars also discussed not only the successes but also challenges faced by Laos, China, and Viet Nam, both in theory and practice, as well as offering solutions to further revitalise Marxism in the 21st century.

In his speech at the forum, VASS Vice President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ta Minh Tuan said that Marxism, with its profound theoretical foundation, has created a plentiful reality. Social models built on Marxist principles, he explained, are highly adaptable and capable of meeting the stringent requirements of reality. Tuan emphasised that socialism is not only a path to material prosperity but also aims to establish a harmonious and sustainable society where people cooperate with each other, live together in harmony, and are environmentally friendly.

He shared that the research and discussions in the three sessions offered fresh, practical perspectives on the development of Marxism and socialism today, as well as on current conditions in Laos, China, and Viet Nam.

The development of socialism in the new era requires the three nations to continuously innovate and integrate Marxist theory with practical solutions tailored to each historical period and specific condition of each country, he noted.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuans official visit to Sweden from November 10-13 will help consolidate and deepen the sound traditional friendship between the two nations, according to Vietnamese Ambassador to Sweden Tran Van Tuan.

In an interview with the Viet Nam News Agency, Tuan underscored the significance of Xuans trip, the first ever by a Vietnamese Vice President, saying it will come at a crucial moment as both nations are celebrating the 55th anniversary of their diplomatic relations (1969-2024).

During her stay, Xuan will meet with Swedens top parliamentary and government leaders to discuss measures to enhance mutual understanding, deepen the relations between the two countries' people as well as develop bilateral cooperation in a more practical fashion. Several Memoranda of Understanding between the two ministries and sectors will be signed on this occasion.

The Vietnamese diplomat stressed that Xuans trip showcased Viet Nams commitment to creating a stable and favourable environment for investment and business activities of Swedish enterprises, adding a centrepiece of the economic agenda would be the Viet Nam  Sweden Business Roundtable focusing on digital transformation and sustainable development  the areas of the European countrys expertise and Viet Nams demand.

The trip, he said, was expected to give fresh impetus to bolster collaboration between businesses of both sides in those domains, with the highlight being the announcement of a direct maritime route connecting Vung Tau port in Viet Nam's southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Sweden's Gothenburg port, which is set to advance two-way trade in the coming time.

Besides, Xuan was scheduled to meet with the Vietnamese community in the European nation during which she would affirm the Party and States consistent policy of considering the overseas Vietnamese an inseparable part of the nation and encouraging them to make contributions to the development of the homeland, he stated.

According to Tuan, Viet Nam and Sweden have enjoyed a time-honoured relationship and cooperation, with Sweden being the first European nation to recognise and set up diplomatic ties with Viet Nam in 1969. Sweden has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Viet Nam during the latters struggle for national independence, freedom, peace and reunification as well as its current construction and development. Over the past 55 years, the two countries have nurtured and deepened their ties and carved out noble achievements across sectors.

He laid stress on the robust political confidence between the two countries, with Viet Nam seeing Sweden as a good friend and a trustworthy partner in Northern Europe, and Sweden considering Viet Nam an important partner in Southeast Asia. He highlighted regular political consultations and delegation exchanges, particularly those at high levels, had created important momentum to enhance the traditional ties across politics, economy, trade, investment, science-technology, culture, education and health care, among others.

As many as 107 pacts and 12 bilateral agreements were signed between the two countries, 42 of which are still valid, serving as an important basis to step up their cooperation in the new era  the era of science-technology and sustainable development, according to the ambassador.

Sweden is one of the largest ODA providers for Viet Nam, helping the country with its poverty reduction efforts and socio-economic development. Sweden has assisted Viet Nam in training experts in various domains such as agro-forestry, health care, electricity, press and communications.

Additionally, the two countries have witnessed robust trade ties, with two-way trade reaching some US$1.3 billion in 2023, and $966.77 million in the first eight months of this year, a year-on-year rise of 11 per cent. Currently, Sweden is Viet Nams largest trading partner in Northern Europe while Viet Nam is the biggest importer of Sweden in Southeast Asia.

As of June 2024, Sweden registered $743.65 million in 111 projects in Viet Nam, ranking 29th among 143 countries and territories landing investments in the Southeast Asian country. Meanwhile, Viet Nam has funneled around $5.2 million into Sweden since 2019.

Tuan said the two countries enjoyed strong culture-education cooperation over the recent past, with major cultural events held to mark the 55th anniversary of the diplomatic relations, helping tighten the friendship between their people. VNA/VNS
HA NOI  The 8km elevated section of Ha Noi Metro Line 3 Nhon-Ha Noi Station has been officially inaugurated after three months of commercial operations at a ceremony held by the Ha Noi People's Committee on Saturday.

The construction works of the underground section (4 additional stations connecting to Ha Noi Station) have also started last July.

Vice Chairman of Ha Noi People's Committee Duong uc Tuan said that the reality shows that where transport infrastructure goes, development follows.

Urban metro is a high-quality, environmentally friendly transport method that many countries have been prioritising to resolve congestion and pollution, Tuan said, adding that the urban metro development is a key task for the capital city in the new era.

Following the ceremony, which affirmed the commitment to developing the capital's urban railway system towards the Net Zero target by 2050, the delegates carried out the plaque attaching ceremony for the project in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Capital's Liberation (October 10, 1954 - October 10, 2024).

This milestone marks an important step in a project heralded as a prominent example of international cooperation in sustainable urban transport, involving Viet Nam, France and global financiers  the French Development Agency (AFD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), while also supporting Viet Nams green transition in line with the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) by promoting low-carbon, public transportation options to reduce urban emissions.

Line 3 benefits from significant financial support from France, which, through the Directorate General of the Treasury (Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty) and the AFD, has provided concessional financing to Viet Nam totalling over 500 million euros.

The ADB and the EIBs global arm, EIB Global, also contributed widely to its funding, with ADB providing $407.8 million and EIB Global contributing 141 million euros.

Line 3 is expected to continue its route under Tran Hung ao Street (Hoan Kiem District) near the Ha Noi Station and then southwards to Hoang Mai. For this extension, Viet Nam expects to receive financial support from the Team Europe, including AFD, and KfW Development Bank, and the ADB.

The inauguration of the elevated section of Ha Noi Metro Line 3  the second line to become operational in Viet Nam  demonstrates the capability of Vietnamese and international teams to successfully undertake complex and ambitious urban transport projects. It also reflects the commitment of partner countries and international financial institutions to support Viet Nam in combating climate change by providing the country with technical solutions that meet the highest international standards. Upon its completion, the Metro Line 3 is expected to contribute to reduce 33,150 tons of CO2 equivalent per annum.

Olivier Brochet, Ambassador of France to Viet Nam, said that The opening of this section of Ha Noi Metro Line 3, the second line in the country to become operational, demonstrates the ability of Franco-Vietnamese teams to successfully undertake ambitious infrastructure projects in the rail transport sector. It also underscores our countrys commitment to supporting Viet Nam in its transition to a low-carbon economy, notably by providing the country with technologies that meet the highest international standards."

"French companies and institutions will build upon the knowledge gained during this project and will continue to participate in various ongoing rail mobility projects in the country. This way, we hope to play an instrumental role to the decarbonisation of Vietnamese transport. As a Comprehensive Strategic Partner, innovation and sustainable development are core priorities of our bilateral relationship. Through such projects and other, we hope to play an instrumental role to the decarbonization of Vietnamese transports and be on Viet Nam's side for other innovative projects," the diplomat stressed.

Julien Guerrier, Ambassador of the European Union to Viet Nam, remarked that under the EUs Global Gateway initiative, we look forward to further strengthening our cooperation with Viet Nam and continuing to support impactful projects that make a tangible difference in peoples lives. The EU stands committed to working together with Viet Nam to curb CO emissions, including through sustainable transport means, while also accelerating the energy transition.

Herve Conan, AFD Director in Viet Nam, shared that the new line 3 "combined with adequate bus network will be a game changer for the sustainable urban transport in Ha Noi."

"Beyond low carbon transition, such infrastructure will have a huge impact on the living conditions in Ha Noi. It will profit to the Ha Noi people and modify their daily mobility in a safer, cleaner and more comfortable way.

EIB Vice-President Nicola Beer, who is in charge of Banks operations in Southeast Asia: The development of Ha Noi Metro Line 3, including the newly inaugurated elevated section, marks the first delivery under the Just Energy Transition Partnership and underscores our commitment to sustainable transport in Viet Nam. Once fully operational, Line 3 is expected to serve up to 90 million passengers annually, helping to boost public transport usage in Ha Noi from 15 per cent to 40 per cent and bringing Viet Nam closer to its net-zero emissions goal by 2050. It has been a great opportunity to collaborate with our Vietnamese and international partners on such an impactful project, combining our expertise to bring effective sustainable mobility solutions along with leading European technologies.

Shantanu Chakraborty, ADB Country Director for Viet Nam, said that urban vehicles in Asias cities are doubling every six years, and are a major source of greenhouse gas.

"Many of these cities, including Ha Noi, suffer from very high air pollution, with as much as 80 per cent of such pollution attributable to transport. To address this, ADB is working extensively with its member countries to develop comprehensive and integrated transport systems. Ha Noi metro line 3 will provide affordable, reliable, and safe public transport. In addition, it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and cut travel time along the project corridor by 25 per cent."  VNS
Every year, between mid-October and mid-November, the Khmer ethnic community in southern Viet Nam enthusiastically organises the Kathina festival (or Buddhist monks' robe offering ceremony).

It is held to pray for the peace and safety of villages and families, while also offering robes and necessities to the monks in Khmer pagodas.

A cherished cultural tradition of the followers of Theravada Buddhism, the event, one of the biggest Buddhist festivals of the ethnic Khmer community, embodies the spirit of giving within this rich spiritual practice.

The Khmers believe that the Kathina robe offering ceremony brings significant merit, ensuring the monks' achievements in their practice. Alongside the robes, which are the most important offerings, worshippers also present other essentials like daily necessities, household items, medicines, and food to the monks.

This heartfelt tradition not only supports the monks but also strengthens the spiritual bonds within the community.

Traditionally, the pagoda abbots announce the date of the ceremony to the local Buddhist followers, allowing them to prepare. The worshippers then solemnly arrange their offerings, presenting them on their heads as a sign of deep reverence. This practice reflects the community's profound respect for and devotion to their spiritual traditions.

In Viet Nam, the Kathina festival is organised by the ethnic Khmer communities living in Southern provinces and cities, including HCM City, Bac Lieu, ong Nai, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Tay Ninh, and Ca Mau. VNS
With Donald Trump's presidential election win and Republicans' victory in the Senate, concerns are growing that millions of Americans could lose their health insurance as subsidies that have helped many afford coverage are set to expire at the end of 2025.

Thus, the renewal of the subsidies introduced under the 2021 American Rescue Plan falls to the new Congress and president to decide. According to an NBC News report, the president-elect and Republican leaders have hinted that they are not in support of extending the program.

"If Republicans end up winning the House, in addition to the Senate and White House, having a GOP sweep, I think the odds are less than 5% they get extended," Chris Meekins, who was a senior HHS official in Trump's first term, told NBC, adding that even if Democrats take control of the House, that too would not likely save the subsidies.

As of early Friday, House Republicans had won 211 seats, just seven short of the majority, according to an NBC News Tracker.

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, in 2024, over 20 million people obtained health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare.

Without continued financial support, estimates suggest nearly 4 million people could reportedly lose their coverage in 2026.

Cynthia Cox, the director of the program on the Affordable Care Act at KFF, a nonpartisan health care policy research group, said that it is "much less likely" after the election results that the subsidies would be extended.

"And what we're looking at is significant increases in what people pay for their premiums. It's going to average more than 75% increase. For some people, it will be more than double," Cox added, according to NBC.

With Trump and Republicans in Congress planning "massive" changes in the health care law, Lawrence Gostin, director of the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University, said that these could be quite significant. The current uninsured rate, around 8%, could increase.

"President Trump will likely cut funding for outreach for ACA plans," Gostin reportedly said. "This means fewer people will know their rights under the law and many will not sign up for ACA health care plans. Trump is also likely to cut Medicaid funding and support states that refuse to expand Medicaid coverage."

Gostin also added that "challenges to the ACA's preventive services mandate are under way in the courts."

In February, KFF cited polls indicating growing public support for the ACA, particularly for provisions that protect those with preexisting conditions and allow young adults to stay on family health plans until age 26.

Supporters of Trump and former administration officials say the former president aims to improve the ACA by implementing changes to reduce costs. They highlight his previous efforts to drive down high healthcare prices, citing his administration's push for price transparency in medical billing as an example of his commitment.
US President-elect Donald Trump will pull his country out of the Ukraine conflict, leaving EU leaders in an uncomfortable and difficult position, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said.

The situation on the front line is obvious. Its a military defeat. The Americans will get out of this war, he told Kossuth Radio on Friday. Europe alone cannot finance this war.

https://www.rt.com/news/607345-orban-funding-ukraine-war/
Andrew RT Davies reprimanded for misleading social media posts in Senedd

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Nov 9th, 2024

The leader of the Conservative opposition was given a slap on the wrists after a committee found his false social media posts brought the Senedd into disrepute.

Andrew RT Davies was formally reprimanded by fellow Senedd members following an investigation into a tweet describing 20mph as a blanket policy.

Douglas Bain, the standards commissioner, concluded Mr Davies breached the code of conduct by continuing to use the term despite a ruling it was imprecise and inaccurate.

The Tory was found to have brought the Senedd into disrepute but cleared of breaking rules on honesty, with Mr Bain saying: I am satisfied it was not his intention to deceive anyone.

In his report, Mr Bain wrote: When he posted the tweet the member knew  or ought to have known that  although it was not untruthful or dishonest, it was false.

Misleading

The politician, who has led the Tory group in two stints since 2011, did not attend the debating chamber or Siambr on November 6 as his peers agreed to censure him.

Hannah Blythyn, who chairs the standards committee, raised concerns about a steady increase in complaints about Senedd members conduct on social media.

She said: I would like to take this opportunity to remind members: while we recognise that social media is a tool that has the potential to be used effectively for communication and debate, it is for members to determine the accuracy of information they are posting.

Senedd members backed the motion to endorse the committees recommendation with no objection from the Conservative benches, doing away with the need for a vote.

Mr Davies was also found to have breached rules following a separate complaint about a misleading and dangerous tweet but the Senedd agreed to take no further action on this.

Contempt

Labours Lee Waters, who introduced the default 20mph policy, expected better from a Senedd member, let alone the leader of the opposition in our national parliament.

He said: A censure by this Senedd is a solemn thing, none of us should take lightly a rebuke by our peers or a finding against us by the independent standards commissioner.

But Im bound to note a pattern of behaviour by the leader of the opposition  and the fact hes not here this afternoon.

Im not aware if hes offered any explanation but it speaks of a contempt about our standards. This is not the first time his words and conduct have been questioned.

Mr Waters added: Describing the change in speed limit as a blanket one, when it only applies to a minority of roads, is clearly deliberate and intended to mislead. But this isnt some jolly jape, lives are at stake, and confusion is sowed by inaccurate use of language.

Desperate

In September, Natasha Asghar, the Tory shadow transport secretary, was similarly given a ticking off by the Senedd for depicting 20mph as a blanket policy.

She refused to back down, saying: To say that I brought the Senedd into disrepute by using the word blanket is purely absurd.

I make no apology whatsoever for standing up for my constituents and residents across Wales when it comes to the Welsh Governments 20mph scheme.

The complaint against her was submitted by Mr Waters and Ms Asghar vowed to continue campaigning despite desperate attempts to stop her.

Mr Bain accused Ms Asghar of saying one thing and doing the opposite, writing: I have no doubt that such conduct is unacceptable and  brings the Senedd into disrepute.

By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter
John Gambles appointed chairman of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Nov 9th, 2024

A retired education officer, teacher and a volunteer with the Eisteddfod since 1987 has been appointed their new chairman of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

John Gambles, affectionately known throughout the town as Mr Gambles, as former Deputy Head at Dinas Bran School in Llangollen previously served as Vice-Chairman, Chaired the Boards Executive Committee and much more.

I am immensely proud to have become the new Chairman of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, said John Gambles.

Since 1947, the festival has played a leading role in promoting peace and internationalism through music and dance.

Every year, we welcome the world to our beautiful part of North East Wales and to play a leading role in delivering the festival is an enormous privilege.

We are lucky to have over 600 active volunteers, many who work all year round to deliver our unique peace festival  people from all walks of life I count as friends.

Together, we deliver something truly special and precious to all of us. Sadly, many festivals are no longer, victims of the pandemic and economic pressures and we have found the last few years extremely challenging.

As Chairman, I will work hard to help lead our strategy to become more resilient and self-sufficient and become less dependent upon on government grants by moving towards becoming an all-year-round organisation.

This will also help to strengthen the local economy and ensure that Llangollen, a town with a big voice, continues to play its part in modern Wales.

John also paid tribute to his predecessor Professor Chris Adams, who will remain on the Board of the festival. John said: Chris took over as Chair at a time of great difficulty and navigated us through tough times.

His commitment to the legacy of the Llangollen Eisteddfod continues and he will play a key role in our heritage and peace offerings.

Our message of peace and internationalism is as relevant today as it was in 1947. Our partnership with Cuffe and Taylor has been a significant step forward and has added an important new dimension to our festival.

As the new Chair, I will continue to support this partnership and also ensure that our core offering and message of peace continues.

The new Vice-Chairman will be Llangollen resident Grant Calton, business founder and investor in the music, film and television industries in Europe and Australia.

Grant is a partner at Ironbridge Capital and business mentor to the Princes Trust and Guild of Mercers.

New members of the board elected are Fiona Brockway and Morgan Thomas. Former Chair, Popular GP, Dr Rhys Davies, a former Chair also makes a welcome return to the board.
Save Our Surgeries: Calls for fair funding for GPs in Wales amid healthcare crisis

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Nov 9th, 2024

Senedd members added their voices to a chorus of calls for fair funding for GPs after more than 21,000 people across Wales signed a petition.

Carolyn Thomas led a debate on the petition submitted by the British Medical Association (BMA) as part of the professional bodys Save our Surgeries campaign.

The Labour politician, who chairs the petitions committee, attended a meeting with GPs and told the Senedd their message was clear: the current funding model is unsustainable.

She said: Over the last two decades, while the number of face-to-face appointments, digital contacts and phone calls has risen, the complexity of the work has been transformed, expenses have risen, and the cost of premises has leapt up.

Yet the share of the health budget spent on GP services has shrunk..

Crumbling

Ms Thomas, who represents North Wales added: In some areas, recruitment and retention is the main worry but in others its the crumbling fabric of buildings. In others, it is the rapidly ageing population or a growing workload that isnt matched by an equivalent rise in capacity.

But underlying all of these is money to pay for the services that we all want to see.

Sam Rowlands, the Conservatives shadow health secretary, said 8% of NHS Wales funding goes to GPs which is lower than levels from 2005/6.

Mr Rowlands pointed out that more than 100 surgeries have closed in the past 12 years.

Plaid Cymrus Heledd Fychan criticised huge underinvestment over the past decade, telling the Senedd that Wales remains 500 GPs short of the OECD average.

She said: There were 372 GP services in Wales at the end of June, which is 14 fewer than when the BMA launched the Save Our Surgeries campaign.

It is clear, therefore, that these consistent warnings about a shortage of provision  have fallen on deaf ears.

Madness

Ms Fychan, who represents South Wales Central, raised concerns about big companies, often located outside Wales, stepping into the market for GP services.

She said: In the Aneurin Bevan area, eHarleyStreet is a clear example of this. T

his continues with the damaging trend of profits being taken out of the health system into private pockets, and also makes the provision vulnerable.

Her Plaid Cymru colleague Luke Fletcher raised a BMA survey that found nearly four out of five locum GPs cannot find work despite patient waiting times hitting record highs.

He said: Thats in England but here in Wales the symptoms of the same crisis have been visible for a while, yet the data doesnt seem to be available.

Anecdotally, Ive been told of locums in Wales looking to other fields. Some are considering jobs in retail and driving taxis. At a time when were crying out for GPs and we all accept that theres a shortage of GPs  this situation is madness.

Outdated

Warning services are in chaos, the Conservatives Laura Anne Jones raised concerns about a survey showing 37% of Welsh GPs may leave the profession within five years.

Julie Morgan said she has heard the same story from surgeries in her constituency: Theyre struggling to maintain safe levels of service and worried about being able to continue.

The former minister told the Senedd that Cardiff North is in the bottom 1% of funded practices in the UK due to the outdated Carr-Hill formula used to calculate funding.

Jenny Rathbone, a fellow Labour backbencher, highlighted the Deep End Cymru project, which aims to support 100 practices in the most deprived areas.

Jane Dodds, the Liberal Democrats leader in Wales, raised concerns about staff welfare and reiterated calls for a premium to recognise the significant challenges for GPs in rural areas.

Imbalance

Responding to the debate on November 6, Jeremy Miles said surgeries in Wales see an astonishing number of patients with around 1.5 million every month.

Wales health secretary stressed: I want to reassure GPs that we have heard the messages about the huge demands and the pressure on staff welfare.

Mr Miles said ministers have chosen to commit 1bn over this Senedd term to clear the backlog and reduce waiting times following the pandemic.

He told the Senedd: By necessity, this means that a larger proportion of funding has gone to secondary care. Redressing this imbalance will be a priority for future funding decisions.

And we are committed to the principle of providing more care closer to home.

By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter
A suspect is in custody in California following an alleged burglary in south Reno on Thursday morning.

Just after 4:45 a.m. on Thursday Reno Police responded to a commercial burglary on South McCarran Boulevard.

A suspect, later identified as Gabriel Fuoco, had allegedly stolen a large amount of jewelry and fled before officers arrived.

An investigation determined the suspect's truck matched a truck involved in a different commercial burglary a month prior.

Reno Police Burglary Detectives put out a broadcast to partnering law enforcement agencies identifying the car.

A Douglas County Sheriffs Office Deputy located a truck that matched details of the car driven by Fuoco at Highway 50 and Sewer Plant Road in Stateline and was able to identify him.

An address for Fuoco was found in Citrus Heights, California and the Citrus Heights Police Department was contacted.

Detectives with the Citrus Heights Police Department saw the truck arrive at Fuoco's home and him getting out with a bag that they believed held the stolen jewelry.

About an hour later Fuoco left his home still carrying the bag.

His truck was stopped, and he was detained while the truck was seized.

RPD Burglary Detectives responded to Citrus Heights to assist with search warrants and to interview Fuoco.

Upon searching the vehicle, detectives located the stolen Jewelry.

Fuoco is currently in custody in Sacramento County jail for possession of stolen property. RPD Detectives are currently working on an arrest warrant for Gabriel to be extradited to Reno.

The investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Reno Police Department's non-emergency line at (775) 334-2677, or Secret Witness at (775) 322-4900 or secretwitness.com.
Inaugural world classics conference embraces mutual learning among civilizations

Xinhua) 09:27, November 09, 2024

BEIJING, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- During her recent tour of southwest China to explore the ancient Shu culture, Valery Rees was surprised at the resemblance between a gold mask she saw in a museum in Sichuan Province and the mask of Agamemnon from ancient Greece -- both dating back over 3,000 years.

"They are absolutely stunning finds and interesting parallels," said Rees, head of Renaissance Studies at the School of Philosophy and Economic Science in Britain, ahead of the inaugural World Conference of Classics in Beijing.

"We have so much in common," she said, adding that she would like to know more about the ancient culture in China. She was among over 400 experts and scholars in classical studies from around the world who visited the Asian country for the conference.

The opening ceremony of the World Conference of Classics is held in Beijing, capital of China, on Nov. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Li He)

STRIKING SIMILARITIES

"Similarity" and "connection" are among the conference's keywords, with many attendees emphasizing the commonalities between Chinese and Western cultures and calling for efforts to emulate each other.

Hans van Ess, vice president for research and chair at the Institute for Sinology of Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich in Germany, shared his views on the parallels between the cardinal virtues of Aristotle and Mencius.

He explained that "justice" in Greek philosophy is akin to "Yi" in Chinese thought, "moderation" corresponds to "Li," and "wisdom" aligns with "Zhi."

He also noted a key difference between the two sets of virtues: "Courage" is a cardinal virtue in Greek philosophy but not in Chinese thought, whereas "Ren," or empathy, is central in Chinese philosophy but not in Greek.

For Imre Galambos, emeritus professor of Chinese and faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Cambridge, the similarities between the philosophies of the East and West are "striking."

For example, the Silver Rule in the West says "Don't do unto others as you would not want others to do unto you," and meanwhile, Confucius expresses essentially the same idea in Lunyu (The Analects of Confucius), said Galambos in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.

Guests visit an exhibition titled "Origins of Chinese Civilization from an Archaeological Perspective" at the Chinese Archaeological Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Li He)

Although it is the first time for Georgia Xanthaki-Karamanou to come to China, the professor at the University of Peloponnese in Greece knows a lot about Chinese culture, such as Confucianism.

"Because I'm a professor of ancient Greek culture and theology, I have the possibility compared to my job with ancient Greek culture just to have a general idea of the Chinese culture and literature," she said. "We have very similar ideas such as morality, self-confidence and restraint, social justice and love for people."

At the opening ceremony of the conference on Thursday, Audrey Azoulay, director-general of UNESCO, expounded on the connection of different cultures in her written speech.

"The wisdom shared by Confucius and Socrates bridges Mount Tai and the Acropolis of Athens," Azoulay said, calling for more dialogues among civilizations.

Musicians perform Greek classic music pieces at the National Museum of China in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

MUTUAL LEARNING

The fusion and clash of ideas were palpable at every turn throughout the conference and the event was widely hailed by participants as a cross-cultural platform for mutual learning.

Christoforos Charalambakis, professor emeritus of linguistics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, called the conference "unique and innovative," saying that it combines diversity to bring unity and respect for different viewpoints.

Martin Kern, a sinologist and professor at Princeton University, believes that cross-cultural dialogues are essential. He called for creating institutions where scholars of different ancient civilizations could come together and learn from one another.

"Just as the ancient civilizations influenced one another across long distances, so must our scholarly pursuit be informed by that of other civilizations," he said. At the opening of the conference, which was co-organized by China and Greece, the Chinese School of Classical Studies at Athens was established as a new platform for civilizational exchange and mutual learning between China, Greece and other nations around the world. It is the first research institute of classical civilizations to be set up in Greece by an Asian country.

The school is expected to promote academic research and exchanges on classical civilizations across the world through engaging in archaeological excavation, organizing academic activities and launching training programs, among other functions.

"Magnificent! (The school is of) very great significance because in this way, we shall have the opportunity to be in touch with our Chinese scholars and to discuss things and questions of common interests," said Xanthaki-Karamanou.

A staff member shows an interactive screen with classic books during an exhibition on classical studies achievements in Beijing, capital of China, on Nov. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Li He)

SOBERING REMINDER

Classical wisdom was highlighted at the conference, which concluded on Friday. Azoulay views revisiting classical works as "an invitation to self-reflection." She argues that dialogues remain the only way to address the monumental challenges humanity has faced across generations and advance the mission of ensuring lasting peace.

For Lou Lin, vice director of the Center for Classical Civilization at Renmin University of China, classical studies have the power to revive the profound philosophies and cultural values embedded in ancient classics, serving as a "sobering reminder in an overly modernized society" and offering a sense of balance.

Shen Yi, a professor of international studies at the Shanghai-based Fudan University, underscored the vital role of classical studies in promoting harmony and peace at a time when the world is fraught with uncertain and unforeseen risks and challenges.

"The harmonious coexistence among civilizations can bring greater certainty and stability to today's world, guiding it toward harmony, peace and prosperity in a community with a shared future for humanity," he said.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Wu Chaolan)
CenterPoint executives are seen at a Houston meeting of the Public Utility Commission of Texas on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

CenterPoint Energy will no longer withdraw from a required review of its rates, a win for cities and consumer advocates who argued a withdrawal would deny them the opportunity to push for a rate decrease they say is justified.

The Houston-area electric utility notified the Public Utility Commission of Texas of its plans to continue settlement talks with cities and consumer representatives late Friday afternoon. Those negotiations have been paused since CenterPoint first tried to withdraw its rate case in August following scathing criticism of its Hurricane Beryl response.

CenterPoint had fought to withdraw its rate case as recently as two weeks ago. Its executives have argued for months that continuing rate case negotiations would distract the company from its ongoing efforts to improve the resiliency of its Houston-area grid and restore public trust.

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But in the last few weeks, CenterPoint has had a number of discussions with stakeholders in the process, leading to Fridays decision to no longer pursue a withdrawal, said Jason Ryan, the companys executive vice president of regulatory services and government affairs, in an interview.

CenterPoint now aims to resolve rate case negotiations before it files a $5 billion proposal to strengthen its grid against extreme weather, known in the industry as a resiliency plan, Ryan said. The company previously said it would file this plan, which could add more than $3.50 to the average residential customers monthly bill, in January.

The Friday announcement concludes a monthslong fight over the continuation of CenterPoints rate case after an administrative law judge denied the companys initial motion to withdraw in August. CenterPoint appealed the judges decision to the PUC, which has final say. The PUC was supposed to make a final decision on the issue at its open meeting next Thursday.

Since August, city coalitions and the Texas Consumer Association have testified that CenterPoint overcharged customers by $100 million in 2023 and that there is overwhelming evidence supporting a rate decrease. Those groups won allies in Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Houston Mayor John Whitmire, whove both publicly opposed CenterPoint withdrawing its rate case so the PUC can ensure it's not overcharging.

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CenterPoint has strongly contested claims that its overearning. It points to $75 million the company spent in 2023 on system improvements and vegetation management that it didnt pass on to customers.

The companys initial rate case application, filed in March, sought a rate increase of $1.25 per month for the average residential customer. The final rate wont be any higher than that as CenterPoint resumes negotiations with cities and consumer groups, Ryan said.

I can tell you that, having done this for 25 years, settlements always result in the proposed rates being lower than the initial application, Ryan said. But we know that we need to work through issues and make our rates as affordable as possible.

EARLIER COVERAGE: CenterPoint seeks rate increase to cover costs of infrastructure investment

Sandra Haverlah, president of the Texas Consumer Association, said she welcomed the news that CenterPoint would continue with its rate case.

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The fight over rates certainly isn't over, but this is at least for us a step in the right direction, she said.

CenterPoint took a major loss in its last rate case in 2020, which slashed its $161 million rate increase request to just $13 million. Its CEO at the time was replaced days after the settlement was approved.

Also late Friday, CenterPoint announced that it filed the first phase of its plan to recover approximately $450 million of its costs from the May derecho. It plans to spread out these costs across 15 years.

The company is seeking approval from the PUC to issue bonds to recover these costs, a process known as securitization. If approved, customers would see an approximately $1 per month surcharge on their bills to pay down the debt, which carries interest, according to the Friday statement.

CenterPoints business model, like that of other transmission and distribution utilities in Texas, allows it to recover its operating and maintenance costs from customers. It can also recover its capital investments and earn a 9.4% return, essentially profit.

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Using securitization to recover the May derecho costs, rather than through a traditional rate increase application, is expected to save customers more than $50 million in interest charges over the 15-year period, Ryan said.
Update (11/8, 11:50 p.m.)

Following calls from CBS News and the Associated Press for Jacky Rosen in Nevada's U.S. Senate race, Republican challenger Sam Brown issued a statement on social media.

"Nevada is still counting an estimated 50,000+ ballots going into this Saturday after Election Day," said Brown in a post on X. "This is both LEGAL, according to Nevadas COVID-era voting laws, and UNACCEPTABLE."

Brown thanked volunteers for being engaged in the voting process but said the Nevada legislature needs to revise current laws to provide rapid reporting, transparency, and accountability. His full statement can be read below.

Rosen has yet to issue a statement following calls in the race.

Update (11/8, 9:25 p.m.):

The Associated Press has called Nevada's Senate race for incumbent Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen.

The AP has Rosen up by more than 20,000 votes as of 9:25 p.m. on Friday, leading republican challenger Sam Brown 47.8% to 46.4%.

No statement has been made by either Rosen or Brown following the calls from CBS News and the AP.

Update (11/8, 7:50 p.m.):

CBS News has projected that Senator Jacky Rosen will retain her seat in the U.S. Senate.

Update (11/8, 1:37 p.m.):

The Nevada Senate race remains too close to call but Jacky Rosen's lead is growing.

According to the latest numbers from the Nevada Secretary of State, Rosen now hold a lead of more than 17,000 votes over challenger Sam Brown which is about a percentage point.

Now - 96% of the votes have been counted so far, however, The Associated Press has yet to declare a winner in this race.

ORIGINAL STORY:

The race between incumbent Democrat Senator Jacky Rosen and Republican challenger Sam Brown remains too close to call - days later.

The race remains extremely tight, but with numbers being so close, both candidates still feel that they will win.

"I am confident because of all of you because of all the work you've done because of all the heart you've put into it that we will win when all the votes are counted," Sen. Rosen said on Election night. We've asked for an updated comment from her office.

In a statement Thursday, Sam Brown's campaign said, "There are still tens of thousands of uncounted ballots in the race for U.S. Senate and the candidates are separated by less than 1 percent. There are also thousands of ballots which need to be cured. Sam Brown is committed to ensuring every legally cast, valid vote is counted."

View the latest race results here.

Earlier, The Associated Press declared Democratic Reps. Susie Lee, Dina Titus and Steven Horsford the winners in their races for reelection to the U.S. House. It was the second election in a row that Titus defeated Republican Mark Robertson to keep her seat in the Las Vegas district she has represented for more than a decade. Horsford beat former North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee. Susie Lee prevailed over conservative policy analyst Drew Johnson. Nevadas lone Republican Congressman, Mark Amodei, cruised to victory Tuesday night.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough poses for a portrait in his office in 2020 in Conroe. Keough has filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against a former administrative assistant at The Woodlands Bible Church who has accused him of sexual harassment and who he says demanded he pay $6.5 million to resolve the issue. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough has filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against a former administrative assistant at The Woodlands Bible Church who has accused him of sexual harassment and who he says demanded he pay $6.5 million to resolve the issue.

Keoughs 27-page lawsuit claims the allegations were fabricated by Susan Kenningham, Chad Pinkerton of Houston-based The Pinkerton Law Firm, and Wayne Dolcefino to extort money from him and ruin his standing in the community. The suit also names the church and several of its elders as defendants. It references a demand letter Keough says was sent to him by Pinkerton on Sept. 10, according to court documents.

Keough founded the church more than a decade ago. He was first elected as county judge in 2018 and won a second term in 2022.

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Dolcefino, a former broadcast journalist, founded Dolcefino Consulting in 2012. The company consults on crisis management, ethics reviews, informational marketing, and media relations and offers production, investigative services, and expert testimony in litigation.

Keough's lawsuit, filed Oct. 14 in Montgomery County by Chris Hilton with Austin-based Stone Hilton, claims allegations in the letter and in a Dolcefino report are completely baseless and false.

Kenningham has fabricated sexual harassment and related claims against Keough. Pinkerton has sent Keough an extortionate demand letter premised on those fabricated claims, along with other false, malicious, and defamatory statements that Pinkerton plans to publicize should Keough not acquiesce to their demands, the lawsuit states.

Additionally, the suit claims the church violated the law and secretly recorded Keough during a meeting in January where he addressed the allegations and ultimately resigned. Keough claims that meeting should have been confidential.

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On Sept. 10, Dolcefino released a 10-minute report that included the recording, detailing alleged sexual harassment by Keough and that Kenningham had rebuffed the sexual advances.

As of this moment, neither Keough nor his lawyer have told us a single thing that is false in our story, Dolcefino said Thursday.

In a statement to the Houston Chronicle, Hilton called the allegations and demands a "shameful attempt" to extort Keough based on "lies." He said recording and releasing Keough's meeting with church elders was a "shocking breach of sanctity."

Their allegations against Judge Keough are shameful and false, the defendants know that they are false, and we are confident that the truth will prevail over the course of this litigation. Judge Keough will not let this ridiculous conspiracy against him distract from his important work on behalf of Montgomery County," Hilton said.

Keough declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing pending litigation.

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Kenningham and Pinkerton declined to comment.

Demand letter seeks $6.5 million

The same day Dolcefino released the report, Keough claims in court documents that he received a letter from Pinkerton seeking $6.5 million from Keough and $3.5 million from the church for not intervening. The letter also demands Keough step down as county judge. The letter gave Keough and the church until Sept. 26 to respond, according to the lawsuit.

Keough claims in court documents that if he did not respond, Pinkerton threatened to file a lawsuit seeking $100 million in damages to Kenningham.

According to the Harris County District Clerks Office, Pinkerton has not filed a lawsuit against Keough.

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Sexual harassment allegation

According to the demand letter referenced in court documents, Kenningham was hired as the administrative assistant in May 2023. Over several months, the letter claims, Keough made inappropriate comments to Kenningham and tried to arrange times to visit with her. The letter claims that Kenningham reported Keoughs behavior to the church elders.

While Keough resigned in January, the letter claims Kenningham remained at the church until June and faced continued harassment by Keoughs wife, Kim, who continues to attend the church, and would, the letter claims, frequently call her a whore and liar.

Officials with the church could not be reached for comment.

Meeting with church elders

According to Keoughs lawsuit, he met with the church elders on Jan. 24 and provided two letters regarding his resignation from the church.

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One he read aloud to the elders, but he did not give them a copy. In it, he confessed to behaviors and words that disrupted his marriage, and he confessed to having lusted for another woman, but he made clear that he had never acted on that feeling, the suit states.

Keough provided the elders with a second letter he asked to be read to the congregation, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit claims Keoughs meeting with the elders should never have been recorded without Keough's knowledge and should have been kept confidential, framing it a a religious confession.

As is the case in most faith traditions, these confessions are kept strictly confidential; no clergyman would in good conscience consider violating the sanctity of the clergyman-parishioner relationship, let alone for personal gain, the lawsuit states.
Marion Spann is the new Houston Fire Department Fire Marshal. Chief Spann is the first Black woman to serve in the role in Houston. The Houston Fire Department

The Houston Fire Department has named Marion Spann the citys new fire marshal, making her the first Black woman to serve in that role in Houston.

Spann, formerly the departments assistant chief over recruitment, said she learned of her new role last week from Fire Chief Thomas Munoz. Munoz said in a statement that the position would benefit from her strengths.

"When Mayor John Whitmire appointed me as fire chief, he told me to make sure we have the right people in the right place to protect citizens and care for our firefighters," Munoz said. "Chief Spann has the experience and credentials to get the job done. Her time as an inspector and her leadership and team development will serve this city well."

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Spann called the appointment "a proud day for me and my family" in a statement.

As news of Spanns appointment traveled fast  with friends, family and colleagues sending waves of congratulations on her history-making history milestone  Spann thought of her late mother, Myrtle Williams, and couldn't help but laugh.

Mom's church people would have found out first (before the announcement), said Spann. I never had to worry about telling anyone anything because she would call and tell everybody after every promotion or new position. Mom was very proud of her daughter, and she would have been ecstatic now."

FIREFIGHTER REMEMBERED: Firefighter Marcelo Garcia remembered as son of Houston's East End

Growing up in Houstons South Park community, Spann, 63, never aspired to become a firefighter. While working at an oil field company, a friend at Houston Fire Department suggested she consider joining.

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Spann was never one to stagnate. The room for advancement at the department presented opportunities to take on new challenges, she said, so she enrolled in a training academy.

Spann joined the department in 1994 and she said something immediately clicked for her.

The fellowship associated with being a first responder made her realize she belonged there, even with all the inherent risks in the work, she said.

"I really liked being a firefighter, being at the station and the camaraderie, and when I joined, I wasnt thinking about becoming the fire marshal, she said.

Spanns colleagues were predominantly male, but she said she never experienced anything but mutual respect and trust.

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Spann, who holds an Executive Master of Public Administration from Texas Southern University, worked her way up the ranks. She fought fires in the field, worked in communications and served as chief inspection officer, where she enforced state laws and regulations pertaining to fire prevention and protection. Later, she served as the citys master fire inspector.

In 2000, Spann became the first Black woman appointed as engineer operator. She was responsible for driving, operating, and maintaining fire vehicles, machinery and other equipment while ensuring the safety of crew members arriving and returning from emergencies.

The fire marshal wears several hats, including overseeing of the Arson Bureau, which includes arson, origin and cause, intelligence, and prosecution; and serving with the departments Life Safety Bureau, which encompasses inspection, education, enforcement, and code development, according to the department's website.

Having spent more than 20 years working in prevention at the department, Spann sees her new role as a natural progression".

It just made sense, she said. Spann assumes the position as the department shifts to new leadership under Munoz. She said she hopes to "streamline" some of the organizational processes of her job.

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She wears a new uniform and badge as the citys fire marshal, but Spann said she plans to serve the public with the same urgency she began with when she was wearing bunker gear and fighting fires.

Its good to know that when you leave a building and they are up to code, that it's as safe as it could possibly be without human error, she said. Our goal is to make sure that those places  especially schools and where people sleep  are as safe as possible. This is what you work for."

Mayor Whitmire said in a statement that Spanns appointment sends a strong message to all Houstonians that we recognize leadership and experience, certainly during my administration and that the hire demonstrates his commitment to diversity.

Spann said she has been too busy to commemorate her new role and spent the Tuesday after the official announcement monitoring election day crowds for potential fire hazards in crowded buildings.

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She said she might have a quiet dinner with her husband, her friends and family at some point, and then get back to work.
Google has announced the promotion of Mansi Khanna to the role of Director, Ads, Brand, and Reputation Marketing. In her new position, Khanna will oversee a range of responsibilities, including leading ads marketing for large businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMBs) in India. She will also focus on enhancing Google's brand reputation and contributing to a more informed and engaged society in the country.

Prior to her promotion, Khanna served as the head of ads marketing for large customers and SMBs at Google. Before joining Google, she held roles at Inductis and Strategic Decisions Group. Her career at Google began as a product marketing manager for SMB global marketing in the US.

Also Read: Will Trump stop the DOJ plan to break up Google?
Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation India (HSBC India) for inventory funding. This new alliance will empower over 4000+ Maruti Suzuki sales outlets across the country, with comprehensive inventory funding options for their working capital requirements.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Mr. Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer Marketing & Sales, Kamal Mahtta , Vice president  Allied Business and Mr. Vishal Sharma, General Manager  Maruti Suzuki Finance & Driving School from MSIL; from HSBC India - Mr. Hitendra Dave, CEO, Mr. Ajay Sharma, Head - Commercial Banking, Mr. Amitabh Malhotra, Head Global Banking, Mr. Gaurav Sahgal, Country Head - Business Banking and Ms. Runa Baksi, Head Global Trade Solutions.

Speaking on the partnership, Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said, We are committed to support our dealers in ensuring their readiness as per evolving customer and market needs. Our collaboration with HSBC India will focus on innovative financing solutions for inventory funding for our dealer partners. This strategic alliance will leverage the combined strengths of MSIL and HSBC India to offer comprehensive working capital solutions for our dealer partners.

Commenting on the partnership, Ajay Sharma, Head - Commercial Banking, HSBC India, said, We are pleased to collaborate with MSIL, a leader in the countrys automotive sector, as a financing partner to their extensive dealer network. Our deep understanding of the business dynamics and the evolving needs of dealers coupled with our tailored product offerings will enable us to support dealers through every stage of their business growth.

Also Read: Sidharth Malhotra takes the wheel as brand ambassador for Maruti Suzuki
Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Under-Secretary-General of the UN, had a conversation with prominent young Indian entrepreneur and advocate for women empowerment Navya Naveli Nanda for a special video podcast (vodcast) titled "When Navya meets Natalia."

The vodcast, filmed at the UN House in Delhi, provides a candid and inspiring conversation between Dr. Kanem and Navya, touching on key issues such as reproductive rights, gender-based violence, and the role of youth in shaping a more equal world. Both leaders emphasized the importance of immediate action in empowering women and girls, creating an environment where they can make decisions about their lives and futures without fear or constraint. Dr. Kanem highlighted how India's youth257 million strongare at the forefront of global change, driving progress not just in their own country but around the world.

Navya Naveli Nanda, a social activist, co-founder of Project Naveli said,

The UNFPA has worked extensively towards empowering women around the world, aligning closely with the work we do at Project Naveli in India. It was a lovely experience speaking to Dr Kanem about her vision for the youth of India, who I believe are the true force behind the growth story of our country in the coming years!

The podcast covers a range of critical topics, including UNFPA's efforts to ensure that every woman and girl has the right to make decisions about her body, and the role of India's vibrant youth in shaping global change. Navya Naveli Nanda's work through her various platforms, be it 'What the Hell Navya' or Project Naveli is highlighted for addressing stigmatized social issues, from mental health to gender equality.

When Navya Meets Natalia is available on UNFPA Indias YouTube Channel. The vodcast is a call to action for all generations to engage in meaningful dialogue and work together to create a more equitable future for women and girls in India and beyond.

Also Read: Navya Nanda launches "What The Freakins Hell, Navya" merch with Freakins
Samsung TV Plus, a free ad-supported streaming service, is making its debut in Southeast Asia. The service is now available on millions of Samsung Smart TVs in Singapore and the Philippines, with Thailand set to join in late November.

This expansion brings a diverse range of global live TV channels to Southeast Asian viewers. The lineup includes popular shows like "MythBusters," "Survivor," "Don't Tell the Bride," "Deal or No Deal," "River Monsters," and "Come Dine With Me." International news will be covered by Euronews.

"Across Southeast Asia, the appetite for ad-supported TV is soaring, with TV viewing time doubling in the last 12 months across APAC," said Ed Love, head of Samsung TV Plus for Southeast Asia and Oceania (SEAO). "Now is the right time to carve our own path within the region's thriving ad-supported market by delivering hugely popular global and local content that provides something for everyone, for free."

Alex Spurzem, managing director for Samsung Ads for SEAO, commented, "The success of Samsung TV Plus around the world has enabled us to build a robust blueprint for Southeast Asia. We're dedicated to offering viewers and advertisers more premium content, completely free on the big screen, all at the unmatched scale only Samsung can deliver."

Also Read: TV Today and Samsung join forces to revolutionize workplace wellness
Vedang Raina made a remarkable Bollywood entry with The Archies, followed by his recent big-screen release Jigra. Within a span of delivering two major projects, Vedang Raina has emerged as the audiences favorite, who is constantly ruling their hearts. His boyish charm and social media presence have quickly added to his rising stardom. Beyond being one of the most in-demand actors among his contemporaries, Raina has also emerged as a top choice for renowned brands. Take a look!

So far, Vedang Raina has associated himself with some of the trendy brands including Mochi Shoes, Crocs, Suzuki Avenis, Sprite, Bumble India, and several others. He has also been a part of campaigns for esteemed brands such as 'Calvin Klein' and 'Magnum' and others. He also is the first Male Actor to be the Face of Garnier. His mass appeal and social media presence sheds light on his knack of attracting crowd towards his work. Being a pivotal part of such huge brands not only adds to Vedang Rainas growth as a film personality, but also plays a key role in attracting mass attention towards brands! Well, this proves how The Archies star has emerged to be the fresh face, in-demand and bankable actor for top brands. Win-win, must say!

Meanwhile, on the theatrical front, Vedang Raina is currently basking in the overwhelming response for Jigra. The actor played the male lead in the Vasan Bala directorial, and received positive reviews from the critics as well as masses. His choice of work and magnetic appeal has now left the audience waiting to see what else does he have in store for them!
Trump made inroads with Latino voters in Texas and beyond, a reminder that Latino voters are not monolithic or tied to one party. Democrats also did a poor job of understanding key issues for many Latino voters. DOUG MILLS /NYT Shyer and more reclusive than the common hippo species, pygmy hippos are also a few thousand pounds lighter and smaller. The Houston Zoo

Thumbs twiddled: In case you havent heard, more than half of Texas Latinos and nearly half nationwide voted for Donald Trump for president. Even some Republicans seem surprised at this and we suspect folks in right-wing circles are already pondering how to gerrymander The Great Replacement theory to their benefit. The phrase demographics is destiny is no longer so scary if the destiny is MAGA! And Trump, never one to miss a sketchy business opportunity, will no doubt try to disrupt the Democrats alleged monopoly on importing migrants for future voting purposes. Will Trump skedaddle to the border to summon his own caravan of future voters? Is a path to citizenship suddenly on Trumps agenda? Amnesty? Will Attorney General Ken Paxton drop his lawsuits against Dreamers and undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens so they can vote Republican, too? Nah, thats crazy. Then again, we remember when Republicans were anti-union, pro-free-trade, war hawks who ridiculed the idea of electric cars. With Trump at the helm and Elon Musk by his side, theyve apparently become pro-union, pro-tariff, Tesla-loving peaceniks. The worlds turned upside down. And to paraphrase another line from Hamilton: Immigrants  they get the job done.

Thumbs twiddled: Texas could soon smell a lot more skunky. Over two-thirds of voters in Dallas, Lockhart and Bastrop passed measures banning police from making arrests for possession of under four ounces of pot, unless its part of a felony investigation, and from counting the smell of marijuana as cause for search and seizure. Paxton has sued five other cities where residents can already openly carry doobies. But, um, Trump seems fine with legalizing pot. So will the Big D get hit with a lawsuit, or will Paxton just join the fun and take a hit?

Thumbs down: Even the iconic shape of our state is wobbling in these uncertain times. Texas borders are changing, and not because theres some immigrant invasion. Up north along the Red River, a pump station that supplies water to Texas was shut down after zebra mussels were found in Lake Texoma. Transporting the invasive creatures across state lines is prohibited by federal law so Texas had to figure out exactly where the pump sits. Turns out it straddles the Oklahoma border because the boundary was adjusted in 2000 after the pump was built in 1989. Fortunately, no water war ensued. Instead, a joint commission of the two states arranged a land swap without any shots fired. Sadly, Texas didnt get any bigger. Down south on the Gulf Coast, University of Houston geologists found that Hurricane Beryl took out several chunks of the coastline. Last we checked, though, fracking-induced earthquakes havent broken off the Panhandle.

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Thumbs down: On Election Day, Elon Musk reposted a conspiracy theory that Google was sending Trump voters away from the polls. His proof? A search for where can I vote for trump brought up news articles but "where can I vote for harris" yielded a map of polling locations  in Harris County. To his credit, Musk admitted his error when Google posted an explanation and noted that where can I vote for vance yields a similar result for Vance County in North Carolina. Even so, the mega-billionaire should have checked his facts before posting to his over 200 million followers. Hes a genius but he doesnt know everything, apparently not even the name of the biggest county in his adopted state of Texas.
Tensions Escalate in Mahayuti Alliance as Yogi Adityanath's 'Batenge Toh Katenge' Remark Sparks Controversy 2

Yogi Adityanaths provocative batenge toh katenge (if divided, will be divided) slogan, delivered at election rallies in Maharashtra, has stirred tensions within the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which includes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawars Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The Uttar Pradesh Chief Ministers statement, widely seen as a call for aggressive political rhetoric, has drawn sharp criticism from BJP ally and NCP chief Ajit Pawar, who insisted that such remarks do not resonate with the people of Maharashtra.

Reacting to Adityanaths comments, Pawar made it clear that the people of Maharashtra have always valued communal harmony and secularism, emphasizing that the state does not tolerate divisive statements. Maharashtra has a long history of maintaining communal peace, and people here will not accept any attempt to stir division, Pawar said, adding that external leaders should not impose their views on the state. He also referenced Maharashtras legacy of social reform, invoking icons like Shahu Maharaj, Jyotiba Phule, and Babasaheb Ambedkar, who promoted unity and secularism.

The controversy comes as the NCP attempts to distance itself from Adityanaths divisive remarks, fearing it could alienate Muslim voterswho are a key constituency for the party. With the potential for minority votes to shift towards Congress or Uddhav Thackerays UBT Shiv Sena, the NCP is wary of further political fallout.

NCP Distances Itself from Yogis Comments

The NCP, particularly concerned about its Muslim vote base, has distanced itself from the remarks made by the UP Chief Minister. Such statements could negatively impact the partys position and push away the consolidating minority votes, said a senior NCP leader. Pawar himself was quick to underline that the people of Maharashtra have always maintained peace and that no outsider should undermine the states secular values.

In the same breath, Pawar also defended party candidate Nawab Malik, who is contesting the Mankhurd-Shivajinagar seat despite being embroiled in a money laundering case. Malik, currently out on bail, is a key NCP candidate, but the BJP has declined to campaign for him, backing Shindes candidate in the same seat. Pawar reaffirmed Maliks innocence, stating, No allegations against Nawab Malik have been proved.

Thackeray Takes Aim at Yogis Maharashtra Visit

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray took the opportunity to slam the BJP for bringing in leaders from outside Maharashtra to campaign. The Maharashtra Assembly election is a contest between those who love Maharashtra and those who betray it, Thackeray declared. He also accused the Mahayuti government, led by Eknath Shinde, of being the most corrupt in the states history, citing the controversy surrounding the collapse of the Shivaji Maharaj statue in Sindhudurg, which was unveiled last year by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Thackeray was quick to criticize the lack of unity within the Mahayuti alliance, pointing to Ajit Pawars disapproval of Adityanaths remarks as evidence that the coalition is fractured. If the Deputy CM himself is objecting to what Yogi Adityanath is saying, it shows the complete lack of cohesion within the ruling alliance, Thackeray said, suggesting that such divisions only harm the BJPs campaign in Maharashtra.

As election day draws closer, the rhetoric surrounding the campaign has intensified, with the Mahayuti alliance grappling with both internal discord and external criticism over its leadership and ideological direction.
Fans of Dog the Bounty Hunter can meet the reality TV star in Alabama this weekend, but hes not here chasing fugitives or corralling criminals.

Duane Chapman  who earned fame for an A&E series that chronicled his life as a bounty hunter and bail bondsman  will be in Guntersville on Saturday for the second annual Dog the Bounty Hunter Festival. The festival started Friday with a worship night and continues on Nov. 9, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., at Marshall County Park 1, 19348 U.S. 431 North at Lake Guntersville.

Folks who attend on Saturday can expect live music, food trucks, vendors, and all the outlaw energy you can handle, Chapman says on his Facebook page. He also promises meet-and-greets, photos and autographs, Dog the Bounty Hunter merchandise and guest appearances from family members Leland Chapman and Cecily Chapman. (Thats Dogs son with his first wife, La Fonda Sue Darnall, and his adopted daughter with his fourth wife, Beth Chapman.)

Tickets are $25 for general admission on Saturday, $175 for a VIP dinner on Saturday at 7:30 p.m., available via Ticketleap. Perks for the dinner include face time with Chapman and his wife, Francie Frane Chapman; a Q&A session with Chapman; an autographed photo; and an autographed copy of Chapmans book, Nine Lives and Counting: A Bounty Hunters Journey to Faith, Hope and Redemption.

According to organizer Micah McCreary of TruX-TV, proceeds from the festival will raise money for Marshall Countys Shop With a Cop, a program that matches police officers with needy kids and helps the children to shop for Christmas presents. TruX-TV, based in Northeast Alabama, has a YouTube channel with videos on fishing, hunting and other outdoor activities.

In September, Chapman became involved in the search for Sebastian Rogers, a missing teen who disappeared in February from his home in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Part of the proceeds from the Dog the Bounty Hunter festival will be donated to Rogers biological father, Seth Rogers, Chapman said in an Instagram video. The goal is to establish a college fund for the teen when hes found or help with whatever he needs in the future, Chapman said.

The Dog the Bounty Hunter Festival made its debut in Alabama in August 2023 at Guntersville Civitan Park. Chapman visited the state that month for another reason: to see his son Garry Chapman graduate from the Northeast Alabama Law Enforcement Academy. Garry Chapman is now a police officer in Guntersville, according to his Instagram page.

Duane Chapman posted photos on Facebook and Instagram on the day of his sons graduation, showing Garry posing in uniform with his father and other family members. Garry is Dogs son with the late Beth Chapman, who co-starred on the Dog the Bounty Hunter TV series. She died in 2019 after a battle with cancer.

READ: Dog the Bounty Hunter is in Alabama  and heres why
The estate of a late college professor from Alabama has donated more than $1.5 million to a community college and hospital system in Marshall County.

Snead State Community College and Marshall Medical Centers each received $793,000, according to a news release from the school.

Bobbie Glassco was a professor and administrator at Snead State and served on the board of directors of the Marshall County Health Care Authority. She and her husband, Truman, organized the Alabama School of Gospel Music at Snead State in 1987. Snead hosted 100 students at its recent gospel event.

They were generous with time and talents to provide help in any needed situation, said the Glassco family in a news release. They took the talents God gave and multiplied them greatly to help others. Countless individuals will benefit from the generosity of Truman and Bobbie Glassco.

The school plans to use the gift for scholarships and campus upgrades.

Truman Glasco passed away in 2004 and Bobbie Glasco died last year.
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, is reportedly on a short list of candidates being considered by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as Secretary of Defense.

Efforts by AL.com to reach Rogers office for comment were not immediately successful Friday evening.

Rogers is being considered along with U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz, R-FL, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and U.S. Sen Tom Cotton of Arkansas, according to Politico.

First elected in 2002, Rogers in 2023 became the first member of Congress from Alabama to chair the Armed Services Committee. His east Alabama district includes the Anniston Army Depot and is near Fort Moore -- the Georgia military post once known as Fort Benning.

Our nation faces unprecedented threats from China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. In order to deter these threats and remain the most feared force in the world  we must ensure that our military focuses on lethality and capability, Rogers said at the time.

Over the next two years, the House Armed Services Committee will provide our warfighters with the resources and weapons they need to deter and, if necessary, defeat any adversary anywhere in the world.

The Politico report noted that while Rogers has supported U.S. assistance for Ukraine Trump has called for negotiating an end to it war with Russia.

Trump and Rogers align most closely on a policy issue near and dear to both of them: space. Rogers advocated for a new military service dedicated to space and defending U.S. satellites, which became the Space Force. Trump, who pushed lawmakers hard to establish the Space Force, has called creating the first new military branch since the 1940s one of his top achievements, Politico reported.

Rogers has in the past criticized the Biden administration for keeping the U.S. Space Command headquarters in Colorado and said that was a political move to keep the state blue in the election.

Trump endorsed Rogers for re-election.

As the first chairman of the House Armed Services Committee from Alabama, Mike is rebuilding our great military, fighting woke ideology, and defending our country, Trump wrote.

Current Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is a native of Mobile.

Rogers in January 2023 made national news for confronting Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-FL, on the House floor following the 14th vote for Speaker. Rogers was held back by Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.).

Rogers has apologized to Gaetz publicly since the incident. Months later, Gaetz backed Rogers in calling for an investigation into the decision to move the Space Command headquarters.
A Federal Emergency Management Agency worker has been fired after she directed workers helping hurricane survivors not to go to homes with yard signs supporting President-elect Donald Trump, the agencys leader said in a statement Saturday.

This is a clear violation of FEMAs core values and principles to help people regardless of their political affiliation, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said. This was reprehensible.

The agency did not identify the employee, nor did it say where it happened.

But Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, calling it targeted discrimination of Florida residents who support Trump, said it happened in Florida.

DeSantis said he has directed the Florida Division of Emergency Management to begin an investigation into the matter.

The blatant weaponization of government by partisan activists in the federal bureaucracy is yet another reason why the Biden-Harris administration is in its final days, DeSantis said on social media.

New leadership is on the way in DC, and Im optimistic that these partisan bureaucrats will be fired, he said.

There were no details in FEMAs statement or DeSantis comments about the time frame or community where the incident occurred. FEMA workers have been in the state helping residents recover from Hurricane Milton, which devastated many Florida communities last month.

Criswell said she is determined to hold employees accountable.

I will continue to do everything I can to make sure this never happens again, she said.

Alabama Sen. Katie Britt, the ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, issued a news release Saturday evening, saying she wrote to Alejandro Mayorkas, the Homeland Security secretary, and the FEMA administrator to demand answers.

It is simply outrageous that any FEMA personnel, let alone a supervisor, would condition aid to victims based on their political views, Britt said. I appreciate that Administrator Criswell has condemned these actions and fired the supervisor, but the American people need answers regarding how this happened and if anyone else was complicit, as well as assurance it will not happen again.

Britt demanded that Mayorkas and Criswell respond by Nov. 15. She is seeking the policies in place to protect against the politicalization of aid, including what policies and circumstances would allow an individual to forgo aid to specific homes; if additional delays have taken place due to political affiliation; whether any whistleblowers have come forward; and the number of personnel aware of the FEMA supervisors actions prior to press reporting.

AL.com staff contributed to this report.
Bribery and conspiracy charges against the mayor are the latest shock to Mississippis capital, where a federally appointed official is running the water system after it nearly collapsed and state police are patrolling parts of the majority-Black city because of white legislators concerns about crime.

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and two other Democratic elected officials  Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens and Jackson City Council member Aaron B. Banks  pleaded not guilty to federal charges Thursday. They will remain free while awaiting trial in a case tied to the proposed development of a long-vacant downtown property.

I am not guilty, and so I will not proceed as a guilty man, said the mayor, who is seeking a third term in 2025.

Lumumba is Black and has described himself as a radical who is uncomfortable with oppressive conditions. Both he and his sister, Rukia Lumumba, say they believe he is facing a political prosecution, even with the Justice Department still being led by a Democratic administration.

First Trump wins, now they are trying to indict my brother, Rukia Lumumba posted on Facebook. As Spike Lee says, WAKE UP! They come for the best of us because we are threatening their power.

Distrust of government runs deep in Jackson, from people who say the state has blocked efforts to help the city and those who say the city has stumbled in providing basic services.

City Council member Kenneth Stokes, a fellow Democrat and frequent critic of the mayor, said the indictments sharpen the skepticism.

Youre drinking dirty water. You cant get your streets paved. You already lost trust, Stokes, who is also Black, told media outlets.

Do not say you are running for office to help people when youre trying to help yourself, Stokes said. If youre going to help people, help people.

Jacksons population peaked at about 203,000 in 1980, a decade after the integration of public schools, and has since fallen to around 143,700. More than 80% of residents are Black, the highest percentage of any major U.S. city, and about 25% live in poverty.

The city struggled for years with water quality problems and understaffing at its two treatment plants.

A cold snap in early 2021 froze some treatment equipment and left many people with low pressure or no running water at all. For weeks, thousands of people collected water in buckets from distribution sites so they could flush toilets and bathe, and the National Guard helped distribute drinking water.

Tens of thousands had little or no water for weeks in August and September 2022 after heavy rains exacerbated problems at one of the plants. The city had already been under a boil-water notice for a month because the state Health Department found cloudy water that could cause digestive problems. The federal government put an independent administrator in charge of the system in late 2022, over objections from the mayor and his political allies.

A conflict over law enforcement developed in 2023, when the majority-white and Republican-controlled Legislature voted to expand the territory of the Capitol Police, a division of the state Department of Public Safety. State officers previously patrolled around government buildings in downtown Jackson and now do so in a significantly bigger area.

People who protested against the expansion said it would give white state officials disproportionate power in Jackson. Early this year Republican Gov. Tate Reeves and Mayor Lumumba announced " Operation Unified," a federal, state and local effort to fight violent crime the city.

Indictments were filed against the mayor, Owens and Banks after two people working for the FBI posed as real estate developers wanting to build a hotel near the downtown convention center and provided payments, including $50,000 for the mayors reelection campaign, according to court documents.

Two others were previously caught up in the bribery investigation.

City Council member Angelique Lee, a Democrat, resigned in August and pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges. Her sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday.

Sherik Marve Smith  an insurance broker and a relative of Owens, according to court documents  waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a federal bribery charge in the case on Oct. 17. He agreed to forfeit $20,000, and his sentencing is set for Feb. 19.

In May, FBI agents raided Owens' office and a downtown cigar bar he owns. Among the items found in the office was a lockbox made to look like a book labeled as the U.S. Constitution; inside was about $20,000 in cash, with about $9,900 of it with serial numbers confirming it was paid by the purported developers to Owens, according to the indictment.

Owens boasted to the purported developers about having influence over Jackson officials, saying he had information on all the city councilmen and could get votes approved, according to the indictment. It also said Owens told the purported developers that Mississippi politicians live off campaign contributions, that he knew how to clean outside money by putting it in an in-state bank and that he didnt care about the source of the money.

Owens facilitated over $80,000 in bribe payments to Lumumba, Banks and Lee in exchange for their agreement to ensure approval of the multimillion-dollar downtown development, according to the indictment.

Outside the courthouse Thursday, Banks declined to comment. Owens called the FBI investigation flawed, adding: We think the truth has to come out, that cherry-picked statements of drunken, locker-room banter is not a crime.
Several Alabama residents have reported finding freshwater jellyfish in a local lake  raising questions about the origin of the unusual creatures.

Every year when the water starts to drop we hear of people seeing these cool little freshwater jellies at the lake, said Lake Martin Life in an Oct. 22 Facebook post.

According to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama), the jellyfish are sometimes seen in high quality static waters in the state.

The post had over 600 comments, with many people perplexed about not having previously seen the jellyfish.

Did freshwater jellyfish just come into existence, one person asked on the post.

I was shocked. I didnt know we had jellyfish, commented another person. They are mesmerizing.

What are freshwater jellyfish?

Craspedacusta sowerbii are the only known species of freshwater jellyfish, according to the National Park Service.

The small jellies  no bigger than a quarter  originated in the Yangtze River in China but have been seen in North America since the 1900s, experts said. However, not much is known about the species.

Some are important indicators of water quality, and their presence, abundance, and diversity reflect the overall condition of the water body, the NPS said.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the jellyfish can be found across the United States, especially in the Northeast region. They were first observed in Alabama in 1995, records show.

Claire Kozal, a graduate student at Eastern Michigan University who studies freshwater jellyfish, told McClatchy News the creatures have populated quickly. In Michigan, freshwater jellies were first spotted in 1933, and now theyre in 236 bodies of water throughout the state, she said.

Thats kind of a crazy number, if you think about it, Kozal said. Even in just less than 100 years, theyre in just so many freshwater bodies.

Researchers arent exactly sure how the creatures are being transported, but they think a primary reason is through aquatic plant spread.

In the state, freshwater jellyfish can be observed in both the medusa, or moving, stage and the polyp or hydroid, or fixed, stage, according to Outdoor Alabama.

The medusa stage happens in the late summer through fall, the agency said.

The only time where youre going to see the actual Medusas of the jellyfish, or the jellyfish that people usually think of, is going to be from usually around late August through November, Kozal said. Usually by that point, people arent really looking in the water or swimming at that point.

Are they dangerous?

While most jellyfish stings are not dangerous, there are some species of jellyfish that can be deadly.

According to Outdoor Alabama, freshwater jellyfish are not one of those species.

Though the jellyfish do sting, it is not strong enough to impact  or be felt by  humans, the agency said.

At this time researchers arent concerned with how quickly the jellyfish are spreading, Kozal said.

Its just kind of a new, exotic species, but theres not an exact harm that can be measured at this point, she said.

2024 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A Tennessee man died in a crash in north Alabama on Friday morning, according to law enforcement officials.

Richard L. Taylor, 41, was driving a 2018 Jeep Wrangler that crashed near Meridianville in Madison County, according to a news release from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Taylor was from Kelso, Tennessee.

The crash happened around 10:45 a.m. on Walker Lane near Jimmy Fisk Road, state troopers said.

The Wrangler struck a fire hydrant and a fence, then overturned, said Senior Trooper Brandon Bailey. Taylor was not wearing a seat belt and died at the scene.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is investigating the crash.
Alabama Congressman Mike Rogers is reportedly being considered to serve as the secretary of defense when President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House for a second term in January.

Rep. Rogers, a Republican, was first elected to represent east Alabama in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002. He sailed to victory in an uncontested re-election bid this week, with an endorsement from Trump, saying Rogers was doing a fantastic job.

Last year, Rogers became the first Alabama representative to chair the Armed Services Committee.

Politico reported on Friday that Rogers is among four Republicans being considered to lead the Defense Department. Others on the list are U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz of Florida, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and U.S. Sen Tom Cotton of Arkansas, according to Politico.

Rogers is a relatively low-key lawmaker despite his seniority, the Politico report said. And though hes not as personally close to the former president as other contenders for the Pentagon or other top national security jobs, Rogers is nonetheless a strong political ally and Trump defender.

Rogers office did not respond to requests for comment.

When Trump burst onto the national political scene in 2015, Rogers initially threw his support behind former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush in the GOP primary. After Trump clinched the nomination, Rogers said he would vote for him.

I have pledged from the beginning to support the Republican presidential nominee even if it was not one of the candidates I initially preferred, Rogers said in 2016.

The Politico report said that Trump and Rogers align most closely on a policy issue near and dear to both of them: space.

Rogers, 66, has criticized the Biden administration for keeping the U.S. Space Command headquarters in Colorado, rather than relocating it to Huntsville.

Rogers found himself in the news last year over a confrontation with Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, who was not supporting the reappointment of Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the house. Rogers later apologized, saying he lost his temper amid 14 failed votes to elect a speaker.

If Rogers became the secretary of defense, he would likely succeed another Alabama native in the job. The current secretary is Lloyd Austin, a Mobile native who became the first Black person to hold the position.

Rogers district in east Alabama includes the Anniston Army Depot. It is near Fort Moore, the Georgia military post once known as Fort Benning.

Rogers grew up in Calhoun County, according to his website. He graduated from Saks High School, earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science and Master of Public Administration at Jacksonville State University, and graduated from the Birmingham School of Law.
In the digital epoch, the United States stands at a critical juncture. The virtual expanse is not merely a domain of innovation and connectivity but also a battleground where the stakes are nothing less than the nation's security, economy, and the very essence of its democratic ethos. The issue at hand, cybersecurity, transcends the realm of IT departments and enters the arena of national policy, public consciousness, and global diplomacy. Herein lies an exploration of why cybersecurity should be at the forefront of American priorities, presented in a manner that transcends the ordinary discourse.

Cyber warfare, unlike traditional warfare, knows no borders, operates in silence, and can strike at any moment. The United States, a beacon of technological advancement, finds itself both a pioneer and a prime target. From state-sponsored cyberespionage to crippling ransomware attacks on critical infrastructure, the threats are multifaceted. The 2021 Colonial Pipeline attack, which led to significant fuel supply disruptions, serves as a stark reminder of this vulnerability. Cybersecurity, therefore, isn't just a matter of protecting data but of safeguarding the lifelines that run through the veins of modern America -- energy, finance, healthcare, and beyond.

The economic implications of cyber negligence are profound. The cost of cybercrime is projected to reach trillions annually, affecting not only direct victims but the broader economy through loss of confidence, decreased investment in technology, and the ripple effects of disrupted services. For instance, the financial sector, a pillar of economic stability, could be decimated by a coordinated attack on its digital infrastructure. The cost of recovery, both in terms of money and time, can be astronomical, not accounting for the intangible loss of consumer trust and the potential for long-term economic downturns if cyber resilience is not prioritized.

National security in the 21st century is inexorably linked to cybersecurity. The digital domain is where battles for intellectual property, military secrets, and even election integrity are fought. Consider the implications of a cyberattack on military communications during a time of heightened international tension. The potential for such an event to escalate conflicts or lead to miscalculations is chilling. Moreover, the theft of sensitive data by foreign adversaries could compromise defense strategies, thus weakening the nation's posture on the global stage.

Despite these clear dangers, there exists a gap in public perception and policy action. Cybersecurity often lurks in the shadows, overshadowed by more visible crises. This underestimation stems partly from the nature of cyberthreats -- silent and often invisible until damage is done. The public, while aware of high-profile breaches, might not grasp the pervasive nature of the threat. Policy responses, while improving, sometimes lag behind the rapid evolution of cyberthreats. There is a pressing need for a strategic shift where cybersecurity is seen not as an IT issue but as a national imperative that demands comprehensive policy reform, significant investment, and a cultural shift towards digital vigilance.

To address this, the United States must embark on a multifaceted approach:

Education and Awareness: Cultivating a national dialogue on cybersecurity from an early age will foster a culture of security. This includes public campaigns, educational reforms, and corporate training to make cybersecurity everyone's business.

Legislative and Regulatory Overhaul: Legislation must evolve to empower agencies like CISA while ensuring privacy isn't compromised. Incentives for businesses to exceed basic compliance through innovation in cybersecurity practices should be considered.

Investment in Resilience: Beyond defense, resilience is key. This involves not just preventing attacks but ensuring systems can recover swiftly. Investment in technologies like quantum encryption, AI-driven threat detection, and robust backup systems is non-negotiable.

International Collaboration: Cyberthreats are global, necessitating international treaties, shared intelligence, and collaborative defense strategies. The U.S. should lead in setting global cyber norms, promoting a secure and open internet.

Public-Private Partnerships: The synergy between government and private sectors can accelerate cybersecurity advancements. Shared threat intelligence, joint R&D ventures, and collaborative response drills are crucial.

The path forward requires acknowledging that cybersecurity is not a static challenge but a dynamic, ongoing battle. It demands vision, where leaders see beyond election cycles to the security of future generations. It calls for an America where digital literacy is as fundamental as reading and writing, where cybersecurity is woven into the fabric of national strategy, and where resilience is not an afterthought but a core design principle of our digital infrastructure.

In conclusion, the essence of this discourse is not to instill fear but to ignite a proactive, informed response. Cybersecurity in the United States must transition from a niche concern to a national priority. By fostering a culture of digital resilience, investing in cutting-edge defense and recovery technologies, and navigating the geopolitical complexities of cyber governance with wisdom and foresight, America can secure its digital frontier. This is not merely a technical challenge but a call to redefine what national security means in the age of information. The time for action is now, for in the digital realm, a proactive stance is the only defense against becoming a relic in the annals of history, overtaken by those who adapted to the realities of the cyber age.

Image: RawPixel.com
Outside an early-voting location in October, Ivonne Aguirre and Christine Anderson wore Halloween gear to campaign against the HISD bond. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer

HISD bond rejection

Regarding 'Its not a referendum on me: ' HISD Superintendent has no plans for changes after $4.4B bond failure, (Nov. 7): Oh Mike Miles, bless your heart. The misinformation you blame came from you. The failure of the bond was a referendum on your leadership, and the lack of information and secrecy that seem to define your leadership.

Molly Sullivan, Houston

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As president of the HISD board in 1996 when we lost a much-needed bond election, I understand the frustration experienced by this bonds supporters. I was sick about our failure because of the tremendous need at that time. I am sure the need is great now, as well.

The day after our loss, rather than blame voters, we began to work on a strategy to rebuild the trust that we obviously had lost in the community. Led by Superintendent Rod Paige, we examined the concerns that were raised. We brought in peer review committees to go over each of the district departments, personnel, transportation, food service, academics and administration. We invited the state comptroller to review our operations and offer advice for improvements. We listened, we adapted, and we communicated to a much greater degree about where the bond funds would be directed. Thats what it takes to come back two years later and win by 70% of the vote.

My deep concern about the expedited election voted on by this inexperienced board was a belief that Miles wont be willing to do what it takes to turn the public around and, as Paige would say, put the public back in public schools.

Paula Arnold, Jersey Village

Presidential election result

Regarding Kamala Harris officially concedes presidential election to Donald Trump, (Nov. 6): Ive only slept about four hoursscratch that, maybe three hours. I was planning on taking the day after the election off. When Hillary Clinton lost in 2016, I was devastated, and the prospect of the repeat of that day was unbearable. Not sure if it was wise, but I decided to not take the day off (as I type this Im trying to figure out if I have enough concealer to cover the circles under my eyes).

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Everyone in my house went to sleep, and I stayed in our living room, watching CNN and the mesmerizing magic wall. The allure of the county-by-county nuances was intoxicating enough, caffeine not needed. Yes, I am that nerd who actually tries to follow the math. I often find comfort in numbers and statistics.

At 5:05 a.m. Wednesday, my TV was back on. My husband had left for work already, and in about 10 minutes my kids would start waking up to get ready for school. I didnt want them to go, and I didnt want to work. I just wanted to curl up with them and finish eating the tortillas de harina that I made earlier in the day. I read somewhere that its OK to use food for comfort, so I cooked all day. Everyone loved the Election Day meal, even as I tried to hide my anxiety about the results. Coffee and tortillas de harina with butter sound good right now. Its hard to focus.

Irene Gonzalez, Houston

It was reported that both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris called Donald Trump to congratulate him on his victory. In addition, Biden invited him to the White House.

Both promised a peaceful transfer of power. One late night talk show host quipped that VP Harris conceded the election but had to explain that term to Trump.

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Interestingly, there are no lawyers running around the country filing lawsuits and claiming election fraud. There were no false claims of victory and no calls for supporters to come to Washington for a rally to take back our country.

Donald Trump called them both gracious. The hypocrisy is obvious but is not surprising. Some only support our democratic process when they win. I am readying myself for four years of hypocrisy and much worse. I am hoping and praying that our country will survive four more years of Trumpism.

Gary Blumberg, Houston

I am disgusted with both political parties. The Republican Party has three times nominated a pathological liar and con artist. The Democratic Party nominated Hillary Clinton, a person no one liked. Then the Party concealed Bidens declining mental state until it was too late to mount the Harris campaign. The Democratic Party proclaimed it essential to recoup the non-college-educated white male vote, but the party believed those very voters, who refused to vote for a white woman, would vote for a Black woman. It was ludicrous. Neither party is doing our country any good whatsoever.

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The 2024 landmark election has concluded with a resounding victory for the Grand Old Party. With the newly acquired Republican majority in Congress and Donald Trump as President-elect, the United States is facing a pivotal moment that promises to bring long-awaited changes.

Interference Anxiety

In the months and days leading up to the election, the outcome was far from certain. Polls showed a dead heat between Trump and Harris, with only a marginal difference, and even prominent pundits were unable to predict a winner. Having experienced election interference controversies in 2016 and 2020, Americans were fearful that this years voting process would be marred by similar issues. This anxiety was further fueled by numerous statements from high-ranking politicians and government agencies alleging attempts to influence the presidential election.

Back in May, Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, claimed that the 2024 election would likely be the most targeted by malicious foreign actors in American history. He warned that our adversaries would be increasingly aggressive and sophisticated in their influence operations.

Despite the committee hearings broad examination of foreign actors potential election interference, the discussion was largely focused on Russias efforts. Such reasoning raises questions as the 2016 allegations on Russia-Trump connections turned out to be baseless. Furthermore, a thorough investigation on Putins meddling found there was little or no real effect. Considering Russias significantly diminished capabilities following its troubled invasion of Ukraine and the technological and financial limitations imposed by sanctions, its possible that Russias potential is overestimated.

Later, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) together with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) issued numerous statements about suspicious online activity aimed at soiling the Democrat partys presidential effort. In September and October those claims concerned controversial videos soiling particular candidates and raising issues like illegal voting. Specifically, they accused Tim Walz of sexual misconduct and showed non-citizens casting early votes. According to authorities, the content used either fabricated information or deepfake technologies. The videos allegedly originated from Russia-linked actors.

A day before the general election, November 4, a joint statement from the FBI, and the ODNI, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) reported on detecting influence operations aimed to undermine public confidence in voting integrity. Just like months before, Russia was declared the most active threat.

One-Sided Threat

Now, when the pivotal election has resulted in a win for the country-saving force, the consistent accusations of meddling look more unusual than before. Certainly, these warnings played an important role hours before the decisive voting and encouraged people to go to polling places and cast a vote in person. However, there is a strong feeling that something is wrong.

Suddenly, it raises concerns about why government agencies doubled down on interference allegations? Why does the FBI and others focus on Russias efforts, paying less attention to other dangerous actors like China and Iran? These adversaries of ours are actually mentioned in numerous reports, but still their activities seem to be lacking thorough investigation.

On November 3, Tulsi Gabbard (now officially a Republican), accused the FBI of covering the Iranian interference effortsa prominent GOP female politician claims Tehran attempted to undermine Trumps campaign by cyber and information operations, and the responsible American agencies did insufficient work (if any) to investigate.

This year, the FBI, top Democrat lawmakers, and mainstream media sounded the alarm over Russias meddling, often exaggerating its significance while devoting less attention to equally pressing threats from other countries. One possible explanation for this disparity is that the controversy surrounding Russian interference, which has been extensively discussed since 2016, has become a more familiar and tangible concern than the less visible efforts of China and Iran. Its possible that the widespread perception that Russias malicious activities are intended to support Trump has become an ingrained narrative, an idea which has been refuted many times now.

What the Meddling Accusations Really Hide

One might think that constant warnings and reports on interference are not meant to strengthen the election integrity. It looks as if somebody relentlessly wants us, the people, to believe the voting could have been compromised because of foreign actors activities. In that case, those who spread the meddled election narrative might mean the outcome of the vote is wrong and the winner is wrong too.

The 2024 Democrat campaign proved to be too aggressive toward both the GOP standard-bearer and his supporters. Recall the terrible Nazi and garbage rhetoric that is openly offensive and discriminatory. Ironically, that all comes from the party claiming it is dedicated to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion ideas. Harriss overwhelming confidence in success, with unbelievably massive financial capabilities of $1 billion received donations, endorsements from top-tier artists as well as media and tech corporations, and still the Dems suffered a devastating defeat.

After having created a virtual sense of landslide victory among supporters, the Democrats failed to change the reality, where at least half the country voted Republican. There is a feeling that Harriss HQ was fooled by its own rhetoric, underestimating the level of support for Trump. However, when reality defies expectations, it can be difficult to accept what you have been relentlessly denying. Maybe this is the real reason the Democrat-supportive FBI and other agencies made consistent claims on the election interference to lay the groundwork for one more explanation why the things went wrong and the voting proved America is tired of that kind of BLUE and now has drastically turned RED.

Image: Tim Evanson, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, unaltered.
While Kamala Harris is asking for the number of the truck that hit her, Donald Trump should put that trash truck in gear. And dont tell me hes not inaugurated, so he doesnt have any power. Not so fast! What would this not-so-humble pundit suggest that he do promptly?

First, even though he is not yet behind the Resolute Desk, he can start the ball rolling by demanding that all federal employees preserve all their emails and other records. That can be accompanied by a reminder that hes only telling them to do what the Federal Records Act already requires. This includes all communications between federal employees and media companies of any description. Failure to do so will be regarded as obstruction of justice. The use of encrypted apps to communicate will also be regarded as obstruction.

Next, he should announce that because the Supreme Court rejected racial preferences in the Harvard case (Eliminating racial discrimination means eliminating all of it.) such preferences are not legal anywhere in the federal government. Any federal employees in DEI (Didnt Earn It) jobs who wish to resign on January 20 will be paid through the end of the fiscal year. Of course, any other federal employees who wish to resign on January 20 will get the same deal. Ditto for LGBTQIA alphabet soup instructors.

Image by AI.

By the way, we will use pronouns according to your sex at birth. And just in case you cant define a woman, its a person with two X chromosomes and inside plumbing. A man has XY chromosomes and outside plumbing (h.t. Mom). Now that weve made a couple of things clear for those in Rio Linda, lets finish that subject by noting that Title IX funds are for programs with biological women, not trans-whatevers. Girls bathrooms and locker rooms are for girls.

Continuing with education, any educational institution that continues with DEI programs will lose all eligibility for FISL or Pell Grant money. Research grants will go away as well. In the military, all officers who promoted or worked in DEI-type programs will be cashiered. The military must be staffed with warfighters, not wimps.

His next step should be to announce that any non-citizens who participated in protests that included property damage or personal injuries will have their visa/green card/etc. canceled. They know who they are and would be better off if they removed themselves from the country before January 20. If not, they can expect the same detention as the current J6 political prisoners. They have been admitted to our country as guests. Misbehavior makes them scofflaw schlemiels, who are just as welcome as a party guest who deliberately spills red wine on the hostess white dress.

Continuing in this vein, college-coddled aliens who participated in any protests whatever have made themselves into fetid foreigners. They are here because we graciously extended a privilege, and they are not entitled to any favors when they misbehave.

As you can tell, the list of possible announcements is long and distinguished. Please do not complain if I missed your favorite. Well have more time later.

Now, we can make things a bit more fun. Any illegal alien who turns himself in will go to the back of the deportation line. It may take a few days to ramp up the photo ID, fingerprinting, and so on at Post Offices, but the program should start as soon as it becomes possible. Because there are fewer than 34,000 post offices, perhaps some of those departing DEI lowlifes can be put to work managing the registration kiosks. Of course, if a bodega or three chose to volunteer for the job, they could be paid for every confirmed registration.

On the government side, we could shift some of those extraneous IRS employees Biden/Harris paid for into doing live verification of each record. That way, the kiosk can print out a laminated ID card for each registered alien. And by the way, the feds wont be paying for you to stay here. Thats up to you to figure out. In the meantime, well be detaining any illegals who commit crimes of any description. Misdemeanors get deported, while felonies will be a bit more entertaining. We should be able to find a closed, remote northern facility to house them and make them productive.

Next on the chopping block should be NGOs. Simply announce that every Non-Governmental Organization is not properly part of the government and will be cut off from the taxpayers wallet. I dont care what good or evil they do. They dont belong on the government bread line. Good ones will get plenty of money from private donations.

This list would not be complete without key shout-outs to Congress. Getting elected should not be a feather bed. People like Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, and other federal fungi should not exist. But unlike the presidency, these positions do not have term limits. My home state of Florida is flourishing under term limits. We seem to get tax cuts and bigger surpluses every year, with hundreds of thousands of people U-Hauling their cats and squirrels south every year. The same medicine should be good for Congress.

Why should AOC be a multimillionaire after a handful of terms in Congress? She makes less than $200k per year and was broke when she arrived. Rinse and repeat for dozens of others. The answer is simple: term limits. But Congress wont exercise its Article V option to propose a term limits Amendment because that would cut off its gravy train. So, its time to bypass the roadblock at Mordor on the Potomac.

Article V allows states to call a convention to propose amendments. VP-Elect Vance has already announced his support for one. Right now, the number of states calling for one seems to be nineteen, with thirty-four needed. If Donald Trump were to announce his support for such a convention, its likely wed get enough in no time. So what would we ask them to do?

The two most obvious Amendments would be Term Limits and Balanced Budget. If thats all we got, it would be a success. Suppose members of the House and Senate were limited to twelve years in either chamber. The fossils who run the show now would be long gone. Institutionalized corruption would be very much reduced. And members would actually have to convince their constituents that they were somewhat more useful than a rubber crutch. Ideally, wed repeal the Seventeenth Amendment, returning the Senate to its original function as a body that directly represents state governments while the House directly represents the people.

Just to allay any fears about a runaway convention, consider this. No amendment proposed by the convention can become part of the Constitution until three-fourths of the states ratify it. So if a proposal comes to outlaw red-headed stepchildren, thirty-eight states have to say Yes before it becomes law. So thats not happening.

Im sure that there are lots of other good bits that might come out of a convention, but for today, lets get our movement moving. There isnt any need to wait for January 20.

Ted Noel is retired physician who posts on social media as Doctor Ted. His Doctor Teds Prescription podcast is available on multiple podcast channels.
Its been largely under the radar until now, but third-place cable news channel CNN is facing a new problem: a potential jury trial to defend itself against charges that it libeled Project Veritas with a fake news report in 2021.

The long-simmering news finally broke wider on Thursday when Reuters reported the most recent developments in CNN must face Project Veritas' defamation lawsuit, US appeals court rules:

A U.S. federal appeals court on Thursday revived a defamation lawsuit accusing CNN of defaming Project Veritas in its explanation of why the conservative group, which is often accused of using deceptive tactics, was suspended from Twitter in 2021. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta said Project Veritas could sue over CNN journalist Ana Cabrera's on-air statement that it was suspended for "promoting disinformation," rather than for publishing private information, or "doxxing." Without ruling on the merits, the three-judge panel also said Project Veritas plausibly alleged that CNN acted with actual malice, meaning it knew Cabrera's statements were false or acted with reckless disregard for their truth.

Screenshot CNN Feb. 15, 2021 of the broadcast that figures in the Project Veritas lawsuit

Project Veritas was founded by James OKeefe in 2010. He left the organization in 2023. Over the years, it has produced and released newsmaking undercover videos documenting a wide range of corruption and cover-ups in the media and government entities.

Currently, the organization describes itself as a 501(c)3 nonprofit funded solely by the American people:

We are journalists exposing corruption in government, media, big tech, politics, education, and beyond through undercover video.

The full text of the legal filing VERITAS v. CABLE NEWS NETWORK INC (2024) United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit is online here.

On February 11, 2021, Twitter 1 suspended from its platform Project Veritas (Veritas)an investigative journalistic organization most well-known for its undercover reporting. Veritas's suspension made headlines. On February 15, Ana Cabrera and Brian Stelter, Cable News Network's (CNN) then-on-air talent, discussed Twitter's ban of Veritas during a broadcast. Their discussion, and specifically comments made by Cabrera during their discussion, is the basis of this defamation lawsuit. Cabrera suggested on-air that Twitter banned Veritas for promoting misinformation. Veritas disagreed with this characterization and demanded correction, contending that Twitter banned Veritas for violating Twitter's publication of private information, or doxxing, policy. When CNN refused to issue a retraction, Veritas sued for defamation. The district court granted CNN's motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim, finding that Cabrera's statements were substantially true and thus not actionable under applicable New York defamation law. Veritas appealed. After careful review and with the benefit of oral argument, we conclude that Veritas plausibly alleged a defamation claim under New York law. And although the district court did not reach the issue, we also hold that Veritas plausibly alleged that the statements were published with actual malice, an additional requirement imposed by the First Amendment in a defamation suit involving public figures.2 Accordingly, we reverse the district court's decision and remand for further proceedings.

If this lawsuit goes to trial, the discovery and the testimony may reveal the questionable inner workings of CNN which  despite its being the original cable news network (1980)  has adopted a consistently left of center (and in this reporters view, biased) stance in recent years. President-elect Trump, for example, has derided CNN as fake news on numerous occasions for its biased reporting on him, his first administration, Republicans, and the MAGA movement.

Now, with the tide turning after the results of the election of 2024 and the fact that this lawsuit is moving forward, the chickens may finally be coming home to roost.

Brain Flood, writing at Fox News dot com, added this to his comprehensive account of the Veritas-CNN lawsuit:

CNN is also facing a high-stakes defamation suit from a U.S. Navy veteran who alleges that CNN smeared him by implying he illegally profited when helping people flee Afghanistan during the Biden administration's military withdrawal from the country in 2021. A civil trial in that case is scheduled to begin on Jan. 6 in front of Judge Henry in the Circuit Court for Bay County, Florida.

Peter Barry Chowka, a venerable investigative journalist, has been a frequent contributor to American Thinker since 2007.
One of the big reasons voters galvanized around President Trump this past Tuesday was a persistent, continuous perception that the Harris-Biden administration was targeting political opponents.

According to a Daily Wire report, one of them has just proved it:

A federal disaster relief official ordered workers to bypass the homes of Donald Trumps supporters as they surveyed damage caused by Hurricane Milton in Florida, according to internal correspondence obtained by The Daily Wire and confirmed by multiple federal employees. A FEMA supervisor told workers in a message to avoid homes advertising Trump as they canvassed Lake Placid, Florida to identify residents who could qualify for federal aid, internal messages viewed by The Daily Wire reveal. The supervisor, Marni Washington, relayed this message both verbally and in a group chat used by the relief team, multiple government employees told The Daily Wire. The government employees told The Daily Wire that at least 20 homes with Trump signs or flags were skipped from the end of October and into November due to the guidance, meaning they were not given the opportunity to qualify for FEMA assistance. Images shared with The Daily Wire show that houses were skipped over by the workers, who wrote in the government system messages such as: Trump sign no entry per leadership.

So someone could have been dying in a house from injuries related to a massive hurricane blowing through, and this federal team paid for by their taxes would have walked right on by and gone to the next house. They might have even ignored cries for help, as they had their orders. The FEMA denizens even wrote in their notes that they were ignoring the wrecked homes based on the Trump signs, which, who knows, may have blown in from somewhere else.

Journalist Josh Breslow ran some photos of Lake Placid from the Highlands County Sheriff's office on his Twitter, such as this one:

What's more, they discouraged others from helping, too:

Under "How to Help," on FEMA's website, FEMA tells those who want to help in a disaster zone that they should not "self-deploy" but instead leave the job to them or their trusted NGO networks, meaning, not only did they illegally discriminate against residents over political signs, they tried to stop others from helping, too. You're either in their political club or you're out:

Image: Screen shot FEMA website // U.S. government

Up until now, most Americans had thought that Trump flags were legal as part of their First Amendment inheritance.

And that puts paid to Kamala Harris's ridiculous claim that she would be president of "all the people" as she claimed in her last ads, or that she wouldn't dream of discriminating against Republicans based on her experience as district attorney, telling CNN's Hallie Jackson:

This is my lifes work. As you know, I started as a prosecutor, I never asked a victim of crime, a witness to crime, are you a Republican or Democrat. The only thing I ever asked them is, are you OK?

As usual, she was lying.

But it does confirm that Joe Biden's claim about all Trump supporters being "garbage" pretty well was the sentiment of his entire government.

In the Washington, D.C. area, 92% of the votes went for Democrats, the deepest blue area of the country which bested even San Francisco.

And it's definitely on their leadership that this happened.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris both hollered at fever pitch in ads and speeches that President Trump was "dangerous." With Kamala calling Trump 'dangerous' all the time on the television set, it's not hard to think of this goober applying it to hurricane aid distribution. Can't be giving aid to someone dangerous, see, which is what she will probably claim at her firing board if it ever happens.

It raises questions as to what the culture was like at FEMA that they could have a supervisor comfortable enough to hand out that kind of order in writing and employees writing back that that was exactly what they did to 20 damaged houses? How far up did this go? Where else was it employed -- North Carolina? Hawaii? Northeastern California? Most of those places have a lot of Republicans and Democrats during the North Carolina disaster gloated that they would be unable to vote, which didn't happen.

Why did this wretched, malevolent, hate-filled person think she could get away with it, hidden from public view until a whistleblower came forward?

Oh, sure, now they claim it was just one bad apple among their rescue crews. Nothing to see here, move along. FEMA claimed they transferred their employee from operations in Florida to some place else.

But why is this person still employed at all? This naked politicization of federal disaster money, first for foreign nationals illegally present, and now for Democrats only, is outrageously illegal, given the agency's mission. We have yet to hear that this person is out on her ear, disgraced and pension yanked, which is the only thing that would stop the next one.

Are they all so implicated they are covering up for her, handing out a slap on the wrist, that they don't dare punish her, for fear of what she might tell Congress or others once she's on the outside? Why are they protecting her?

Their claim that it's just a tiny little thing, a single rogue actor has about as much credibility as the one about all those rogue Cincinnati IRS agents, who were falsely blamed for an Obama-era targeting of Tea Party dissidents, or more recently, the FBI blaming its Richmond office alone for its targeting of Catholic Latin Mass enthusiasts as potential terrorists in need of intense surveillance Can we hear again about how former Democrat Rep. Tulsi Gabbard was targeted as a potential terrorist by the TSA, forcing her to undergo intense security scrutiny before she could board a flight, even as illegals sailed right onto commercial jets without any identification whatsoever? How about the draconian prosecutions of Jan. 6 protestors, many of whom didn't know they were trespassing at the Capitol, given that the Capitol police led them in -- the prosecutions were excessive, but the draconian sentences were even worse, even for one guy who wasn't there. Worst yet, the prison conditions were fourth world which should have drawn a U.N. visit, but of course, didn't. Former prisoners have stated that guards taunted them specifically for their political beliefs which ought to be a firing offense, too.

It also raises questions about Biden's FEMA response to North Carolina's victims in the wake of Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina and Tennessee. Might that delayed and absent response have been intentional, too? It's funny how Democrats gloated at the time that western North Carolina's voters simply wouldn't be able to vote in time for the upcoming election. Might that be related to a selective distribution of aid?

This person needs to be not only fired but prosecuted, with an offer to turn state's evidence on how high up this went. Behavior like that requires jailtime, particularly with all the lawsuits that will need to be paid out for illegal discrimination of victims. It would be nice if the victims could sue her personally, which would really get the attention of this kakistocrisy. But as that probably won't happen, a full airing of that agency's records, all internal correspondence related to its politicization, its system of rewards, its violations of its mission and the law, and its change of leadership by the incoming Congress will probably have to do. President Trump will have his hands full demonstrating a new standard of leadership beyond this slimy politicized spoils system and it can't come too soon.

Image: Twitter screen shot
In the wake of the U.S. presidential election, which saw a return to power of Donald Trump, European leaders at the Political Community summit in Budapest this week reiterated their stance that the EU must stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes. Irelands prime minister, Simon Harris, said this in a resolute statement:

The US had its election, and it made its decision but that doesnt change European values, and European values around the importance of the UN Charter, the importance of territorial integrity remain.

However, if championing the importance of territorial integrity was a paramount European value, should not that principle have been applied equally to all members of the European community? If my memory serves me well, two decades earlier, the European Union consented to NATO bombing of Serbia in support of secessionists in Serbias Kosovo region. The grievances of warring parties in Kosovo prior to the conflict in 1998 seem to closely mirror those leading up to war in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine in 2014. Donbas secessionist claims of an ethnic purge by Ukrainian nationalist forces were as credible as Kosovan secessionist claims of the same type by Serbian nationalist forces.

If it is not just an unwavering adherence to the principle of territorial integrity that is driving the European Unions decision to support Ukraine in its prosecution of a war, what is really motivating their determination? It is their vision that nothing should stand in the way of Western liberal hegemony. It is not so far-fetched to say that this generation of European leaders adheres to a doctrine of historical determinism. They see Western liberal hegemony as inevitable and Putins vision of pan-Slavic brotherhood as an impediment to that goal.

This same generation of European leaders, which champion Western liberal hegemony, are not only contemptuous of Putin. They are also scornful of populist leaders in the West that do not march in lockstep with their globalist agenda. They make no secret of their displeasure with the American electorates decision to restore Donald Trump to power. Trump is not an adherent to the globalist agenda and regarding the war in Ukraine, he is pragmatic. He believes that a deal can be brokered. He is not intimidated by shouts that appeasement will only lead to Putin ratcheting up his demands on the West.

After all, it was Western liberal delusions that provoked Putin. Putins pushback should have come as no surprise. The West had been encroaching on Russias sphere of influence and jeopardizing its key strategic interests, a concern that Putin consistently and forcefully highlighted. U.S. and European leaders made a critical error by trying to transform Ukraine into a Western foothold on Russias border. With the consequences now clear, persisting with this misguided policy would be an even graver mistake.

Image generated by AI.
It happens every four years and we post about election results. For me, election day brings back memories of talking with my late father about one specific election that impacted our lives like no other.

Many years ago, Senator John F. Kennedy defeated Vice President Richard Nixon to win the 1960 election.

Down in Cuba, this election was followed closely by my father's generation because of the communist radicalization of the Castro regime. I recall my father telling me stories of sitting around his Phillips short wave radio and listening to the debate. I can add that there was a lot of cigar smoke in our living room that night. Talking politics over my mothers Cuban coffee and big Cuban cigar must have been a charm.

VP Nixon conceded the next day despite this election being very close. Wonder how many people know how close that JFK-Nixon election was? The two men were separated by about 113,000 votes, or 49.72% to 49.55%!

The Kennedy mystique is such that many people assume that he was elected by a landslide. On the contrary, it was a very close election and one wonders what would have happened if Nixon had insisted on a recount.

Down in Cuba, the election was followed with great interest, especially the second debate when they spoke about the situation in the island.

In less than six months, now-president Kennedy dropped the ball at the the Bay of Pigs. It changed Cuban history forever. Of course, it gave me a memory of talking to my father. He left us in 2015 and I remember him every election night as we catch results on TV. That election meant a lot to him.

P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.

Image: Library of Congress
Watching my (just turned) 28-year-old daughter go through this election has really been something. Shes had quite a rude shock. Nearly everyone in her peer group believed the hype about Trump taking away their reproductive rights. Fortunately, my girl found the whole thing too hysterical by half and starting looking into things. She described the propaganda as extremely POWERFUL. (And gave me permission to use her texts and write about her experience.)

Shes married, with one child and another on the way, and has never particularly cared about politics, being, as she was, extremely and understandably consumed with finishing school and starting her two careers. (She has a good career job related to her college major but also a really thriving side hustle which she may jump into with both feet now that Trumps back in the White House.).

Anyway, the point is, we raised her to think for herself. We did not indoctrinate her at all. We merely asked common sense questions of her and her sisters as they were growing up which made them think and reason. For instance, when they were doing middle school homework on the Second Amendment, I asked them, If you knew, to a certainty, that everyone around you was lawfully armed, would you be more or less likely to misbehave? (An obvious corollary to an armed society is a polite society.) Their answers were what youd expect of anyone with reasoning skills and a functioning survival instinct. Less likely to misbehave. Duh. They did their reasoning on their own and reached their own conclusions. We didnt need to talk much more about the meaning and intent of the Second Amendment after that. We did, a bit, to round out Original Intent, but once theyd arrived at the answer to the misbehave question, everything flowed quite seamlessly and logically. And once you have logic operating in harmony with ones survival instinct, the matter is pretty well settled in stone. They are all, to this day, ardent believers in Second Amendment rights. Thank God.

The series of texts which inspired this article are of a piece thats been going for weeks now, but this mornings started this way: I LOVE that Hamas called an immediate end to the war because of the election results but all these liberals who have been crying about Palestine all this time are SILENT about it lol. She went on: They are also SILENT about the fact that theres a female as a chief of staff for the first time.

She mentions a very dear friend here. (Name withheld) said the other day Trump and his followers divide the crap outta the country. But I only see one side telling the other to do everything from simply unfriending them to wishing ectopic pregnancies upon them. In my feed lately, I have seen LGBTQ people coming to our side and being welcomed with open arms and as hurt as we are that the other side is spewing such hatred.

It hurts my heart to see her having to navigate all this from her peers, but here we are. For my part, Ive tried to simply affirm her reasoning without rancor because shes upset enough, I dont want to increase her stress (since she is, after all, pregnant with our second grandchild!).

Shes already identified one to two among them she thinks might be persuadable to which she may come out and then try to gently nudge away from the crazy but shes reticent to try at all and honestly, who could blame her?

We can only hope.

Image: AT via Magic Studio
In his second inaugural address, Abraham Lincoln told Americans they must have malice toward none and charity toward all. At least 620,000 died in the Civil War. It was unimaginably personal. Without that generosity of spirit the republic would not have long endured.

With the re-election of Donald Trump, many Normal Americans of good will are not quite that generous, but are coming close. We have to be kind toward and accepting of the people who not only called us Nazis, fascists, haters, garbage, insurrectionists, domestic terrorists, racist, sexist, every sort of ist or phobe, people who canceled us, tried to bankrupt us, jail us even kill us. People who threw open the borders knowing the economic havoc it would cause, knowing they were unleashing vicious criminals, and welcoming and funding terrorists. People who flooded America with drugs and who condemned children and women to sex trafficking. People who want to abolish the Constitution the better to abolish us. People who wouid do worse if they could.

Graphic: X Screenshot

Now, various talking heads are trying to emulate Lincoln. We must not do to them what they gleefully and maliciously did to us. We must strive to unite, to become one, with the people who refuse to admit the wrongs they forced on us and our republic in the name of our democracy, a tyranny of the majority, a one-party state for which they yet long. A few are beginning to sort of admit error, fewer still recognize our common humanity and the need to become, once again, Americans. Cant we all just get along?

The hell with thatmostly. Theres no question if the republic is to survive Americans must once again come together as Americans, but that means willingly embracing the Constitution, the rule of law, and acknowledging our individual liberties do not impose a duty on others to accommodate our every whim, neurosis or psychosis. The social pathologies of leftists do not require Americans to hamstring their police and to accept rampant crime, nor do they require us to accept and praise the whims of the sexually deranged. They certainly dont require us to embrace open borders and the horrors that insanity brings.

America must be united, but wed be smart to take the advice of wise Americans of the past, like John Fitzgerald Kennedy, who said:

Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.

And Ronald Reagan who said:

Trust but verify.

Graphic: X Screenshot

More politically canny leftists are beginning to argue for a return of their Party to the political center. Is this a frank and humble admission they have gone too far? Do they truly recognize the damage theyve so willingly done to so many, to America? Or is this merely cynical, political calculation, an attempt to trick Americans into thinking theyve changed and are suddenly willing to put America and Americans first? Will they, should they again gain power, immediately revert to their true nature? Do they, after decades of hating the Constitution, the rule of law, embracing Americas enemies and damaging her allies, of despising every American not slavishly in their camp, really intend to repudiate that hatred, all that evil?

As Ricardo Montalban said in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn:

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

It would be satisfying, and perhaps the very definition of justice, to do to them what theyve done to Americans and America, but thats a suboptimal solution for a moral people. Wed be foolish to blindly accept rhetorical promises of sudden Americanism.

If we truly want to preserve the republic, we cant engage in lawfare. We must restore the rule of law and adherence to the Constitution. But we must also prosecute those who have, and who will, commit legitimate crimes. There can be no made up crimes, no political prosecutions, and everyone, no matter how undeserving, gets full due process. We must identify every attempt to damage our sovereignty and national security, expose every plot, every American working for foreign enemies, and prosecute them

Graphic: X Screenshot

We must identify and prosecute/expel every spy, every terrorist. We must deport illegal aliens, beginning with criminals and the insane, and we must prosecute every American who willingly helped them break our immigration laws. Defund anti-American NGOs. Fire every bureaucrat who betrayed the trust we put in them to serve the American public. Make clear the elected and appointed are our hired hands, not our rulers.

If they truly want to unite, to be American again in more than name only, they ought to be willing to take as long as it takes to prove their intentions and sincerity with deeds, not words. That alone will restore the republic. That alone will avoid a second civil war.

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 accidentally posted a leak of the Performance Loop band for its Pixel Watch lineup recently. This isnt the first leak of the smartwatch accessory and its not even the first time Google showed off the band. It was featured in marketing for a short period when the Pixel Watch 3 was launched earlier this year. It was also leaked through Best Buy Canada, with all colors being showcased, before Google had the listings pulled.

This is because the band still hasnt been released and Google hasnt officially announced it. Chances are though, that a release is close at hand, given that its been leaked by retailers already. This most recent leak of the Google Pixel Watch Performance Loop band was published in a Pixel Watch Help community forum post, which was spotted by Droid Life. The post itself wasnt about the Performance Loop band but the featured image that was used showed off the band in two of the available colors.

Google has since pulled that image and replaced it, but not before it was grabbed.

The Pixel Watch Performance Loop band leak shows off two colors

The band may not have been officially announced but you still get a look at two of the colors Google will offer it in. Although the image has been pulled, while it was up, both the Light and Mojito color options were displayed. As noted by 9To5Google it will also be coming in two other colors. Before the Best Buy Canada listing was removed back in September, all four colors of the band were shown off, and included the names of each color.

In addition to Light and Mojito, the Performance Loop band will also come in Dark and Cosmic options. These will all no doubt hit the Google Store once theyre released. Google also recently started selling third-party bands in the store as of this week. At the moment there is only one option though.

Google wants to know what your favorite Pixe Watch band combination is

The community forum post where the band was briefly on display was mainly about which band combinations people like to use with their Pixel Watch. Google lists off a variety of combinations that include specific bands with a certain style of watch face. Almost like a recommended wine pairing for food at a fancy restaurant. For example, Google suggests trying out the Duo watch face with a leather band. Calling it bold and bright.

It also suggests a bright color band with a themed watch face if you want something fun and funky. Of course, the Performance Loop band isnt mentioned. But, you can see it in the image above.
A major topic in AI is how AI companies gather data to train their models. Companies like The New York Times are suing OpenAI and Microsoft for scraping its content to train ChatGPT. While these companies extract the majority of their data from publicly available sources, it seems that they gather data from more premium publishers than wed think.

AI companies using pay-walled content to train their models is still in a legal gray area. Its debated whether this is technically copyright infringement. If the chatbot in question reproduces entire sections of the paid content, then that could be grounds for a lawsuit. This is one reason for the New York Times lawsuit. Its also why AI companies are looking to cut deals with so many publishers. This is to avoid legal troubles among other reasons. The only issue is that these AI companies were most likely scraping pay-walled data long before the publications knew about it.

AI companies scrape more data from premium publishers than many think

A new report from the News Media Alliance (via Axios) has just shed some light on how much premium content AI companies have scraped. For the report, co-authors George Wukoson and Joey Fortuna analyzed several LLMs and the content used to train them. What they found was that a large amount of the data used to train some of the largest models came from 15 premium publications.

One major example was GPT-2, which was trained by OpenAI. The researchers took an open-source replica of the OpenWebText dataset, which OpenAI used to train the model. They found that about 10% of the information in that dataset came from premium websites. Other datasets used to train older models also used a ton of data from premium sites.

This means that some of the older LLMs (probably models that never powered user-facing chatbots) consisted of a significant amount of information from premium sites. While thats the case, the report found that some of those older datasets are still being used to train newer models. This means that models could still be using pay-walled material.

So, while several publications have been making deals with AI companies, the AI models powering many of the most powerful chatbots on the market are still using information taken from pay-walled content.
"Zozobra" is the soul-sickness that comes from cracks in the frameworks of meaning that we rely on to make sense of our world  the shared understanding of what is real and who is trustworthy, what risks we face and how to meet them, what basic decency requires of us and what ideals our nation aspires to. ryasick/Getty Images

Thats zozobra, the peculiar form of anxiety that comes from being unable to settle into a single point of view, leaving you with questions like: Is it a lovely autumn day, or an alarming moment of converging historical catastrophes?

After the recent election, it is a condition that many Americans may be experiencing.

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Now, in 2024, as crisis fatigue and disorientation are eroding many peoples capacity to believe that life will ever return to normal again, we believe these insights from Mexican philosophy are more relevant than ever.

Ever since the conquest and colonization of the valley of Mexico by Hernan Cortes, Mexicans have had to cope with wave after wave of profound social and spiritual disruption  wars, rebellions, revolution, corruption, dictatorship and now the threat of becoming a narco-state. Mexican philosophers have had more than 500 years of uncertainty to reflect on, and they have important lessons to share.



Zozobra and the wobbling of the world

The word zozobra is an ordinary Spanish term for anxiety but with connotations that call to mind the wobbling of a ship about to capsize. The term emerged as a key concept among Mexican intellectuals in the early 20th century to describe the sense of having no stable ground and feeling out of place in the world.

This feeling of zozobra is commonly experienced by people who visit or immigrate to a foreign country: the rhythms of life, the way people interact, everything just seems off  unfamiliar, disorienting and vaguely alienating.

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According to the philosopher Emilio Uranga (1921-1988), the telltale sign of zozobra is wobbling and toggling between perspectives, being unable to relax into a single framework to make sense of things. As Uranga describes it in his 1952 book Analysis of Mexican Being:

Zozobra refers to a mode of being that incessantly oscillates between two possibilities, between two affects, without knowing which one of those to depend on  indiscriminately dismissing one extreme in favor of the other. In this to and fro the soul suffers, it feels torn and wounded. What makes zozobra so difficult to address is that its source is intangible. It is a soul-sickness not caused by any personal failing, nor by any of the particular events that we can point to.

Instead, it comes from cracks in the frameworks of meaning that we rely on to make sense of our world  the shared understanding of what is real and who is trustworthy, what risks we face and how to meet them, what basic decency requires of us and what ideals our nation aspires to.

In the past, many people in the U.S. took these frameworks for granted  but no longer.

The gnawing sense of distress and disorientation many Americans are feeling is a sign that at some level, they now recognize just how necessary and fragile these structures are.

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The need for community



Another Mexican philosopher, Jorge Portilla (1918-1963), reminds us that these frameworks of meaning that hold our world together cannot be maintained by individuals alone. While each of us may find our own meaning in life, we do so against the backdrop of what Portilla described as a horizon of understanding that is maintained by our community. In everything we do, from making small talk to making big life choices, we depend on others to share a basic set of assumptions about the world. Its a fact that becomes painfully obvious when we suddenly find ourselves among people with very different assumptions.

In our book on the contemporary relevance of Portillas philosophy, we point out that in the U.S., people increasingly have the sense that their neighbors and countrymen inhabit a different world. As social circles become smaller and more restricted, zozobra deepens.

In his 1949 essay, Community, Greatness, and Misery in Mexican Life, Portilla identifies four signs that indicate when the feedback loop between zozobra and social disintegration has reached critical levels.

First, people in a disintegrating society become prone to self-doubt and reluctance to take action, despite how urgently action may be needed. Second, they become prone to cynicism and even corruption  not because they are immoral but because they genuinely do not experience a common good for which to sacrifice their personal interests. Third, they become prone to nostalgia, fantasizing about returning to a time when things made sense. In the case of America, this applies not only to those given to wearing MAGA caps; everyone can fall into this sense of longing for a previous age.

And finally, people become prone to a sense of profound vulnerability that gives rise to apocalyptic thinking. Portilla puts it this way:

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We live always simultaneously entrenched in a human world and in a natural world, and if the human world denies us its accommodations to any extent, the natural world emerges with a force equal to the level of insecurity that textures our human connections. In other words, when a society is disintegrating, fires, floods and tornadoes seem like harbingers of apocalypse.

Coping with the crisis



Naming the present crisis is a first step toward dealing with it. But then what is to be done?

Portilla suggests that national leaders can exacerbate or alleviate zozobra. When there is a coherent horizon of understanding at the national level  that is to say, when there is a shared sense of what is real and what matters  individuals have a stronger feeling of connection to the people around them and a sense that their society is in a better position to deal with the most pressing issues. With this solace, it is easier to return attention to ones own small circle of influence.

Uranga, for his part, suggests that zozobra actually unifies people in a common human condition. Many prefer to hide their suffering behind a happy facade or channel it into anger and blame. But Uranga insists that honest conversation about shared suffering is an opportunity to come together. Talking about zozobra provides something to commune over, something on which to base a love for one another, or at least sympathy.

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TSMC is currently the largest semiconductor manufacturer in the world. Many big players in the tech industry rely on its factories, especially for flagship products, as they offer the most efficient and reliable production processes. However, it seems that companies in China will have to forget about getting chips manufactured by TSMC for AI hardware.

The discovery that Huawei used chips made in TSMCs factories sparked a significant controversy in the United States in October. Huawei is one of the companies sanctioned by the US government. This prevents them from obtaining technologies from American companies, whether hardware or software. However, TechInsights, a Canadian research firm, warned TSMC that they found chips manufactured by them in Huawei hardware.

TSMC reportedly canceling AI chip manufacturing for Chinese companies due to Huawei incident

More specifically, TechInsights found TSMC-manufactured chips in Huaweis AI accelerators. TSMC notified the US government of the situation so that they could start an investigation and take appropriate measures. Now, with the controversy still relatively fresh, TSMC has canceled the production of AI chips for clients in China, according to the Financial Times. With this, the company may want to show that they are not acting against US interests.

TSMCs alleged move could seek to avoid any kind of sanction from the US government. Essentially, it appears to be a gesture of goodwill to demonstrate that they were unaware of the situation. They may also want to show that their priority is to maintain good relations with the US government rather than with China. Meanwhile, recent reports suggest that Huawei is luring TSMC engineers with astronomical salaries to switch sides.

Trumps arrival to the presidency could have been the driving force behind the decision. The new US president will uphold a protectionist economic policy, positioning China as the trade enemy. This means that Trump will not hesitate to implement tariffs on products and technologies from Chinese companies. He could also push for new trade restrictions, just as he did in his previous term.

TSMC continues to investigate the situation

Meanwhile, TSMC continues to investigate the incident. However, the company claims that it has also cut ties with the company through which Huawei allegedly obtained its chips. TSMCs reported move could seriously affect the plans of big Chinese companies in the AI field. This includes Baidu, which was reportedly planning to use chips made by TSMC for artificial intelligence-based developments.
A shed for bats that is costing more than 100 million is the tip of the iceberg in the failure of HS2s delivery, Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has said.

Ms Haigh has said that the shocking example epitomises the complete lack of efficiency that has been found on the rail project.

Earlier this week it was reported that HS2 Ltd is spending more than 100 million building a shed for bats to appease Government adviser Natural England, despite there being no evidence that high-speed trains interfere with bats.

All bats are legally protected in the UK, Ms Haigh said on Saturday that while she recognises the importance of meeting legal obligations there must be a sensible balance when it comes to costs.

She said in a statement: This shocking example epitomises the complete lack of efficiency we have uncovered on HS2 and is yet another example of why Ive launched an urgent, independent review to get a grip on costs.

Since becoming Transport Secretary, I have seen up close the scale of failure in HS2s project delivery and this is just the tip of the iceberg.

While I fully recognise the importance of meeting legal obligations we must strike a sensible balance, and I will not standby and allow costs to spiral in this way.

I have reinstated direct ministerial oversight of the project and will be looking at what other systemic reforms we can put in place to ensure public money is put to good use and not wasted.

Through this tighter control, we will remove barriers that lead to project delays and eye-watering additional costs to taxpayers.

Artists impression of The Sheephouse Wood bat protection structure in Buckinghamshire (HS2/PA)

HS2 Ltds chairman Sir Jon Thompson told a rail industry conference earlier this week about the bat protection structure in Buckinghamshire.

He said: We call it a shed.

This shed, youre not going to believe this, cost more than 100 million to protect the bats in this wood.

The curved structure will run for around one kilometre (0.6 miles) alongside Sheephouse Wood, creating a barrier allowing bats to cross above the high-speed railway without being affected by passing trains.

After receiving the go ahead from Natural England for the design, HS2 Ltd was forced to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on lawyers and environmental specialists because the local council did not approve the work, Sir Jon said.

He said he won the planning permission by going over the heads of the local council and claimed this is an example of the UKs genuine problem with completing major infrastructure projects.

Last month it was announced that ministers will oversee the building of the rail line and there will be regular meetings that she will attend alongside Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones that will examine the progress of the project and its costs.

There will be reports on HS2 every six months to ensure complete accountability and transparency.
Former defence secretary Sir Ben Wallace has claimed that momentum has dropped back on Ukraine.

Sir Ben told the BBC that the UKs leadership on Ukraine has started to drop back into the pack and said that in order to drive change while in government you have to really do it every single day.

The former army officer  who served in the Ministry of Defence under the last three Conservative prime ministers  said that Britains stance had brought lots of Europeans with us.

His comments come amid uncertainty over the future of US backing for Kyiv after Donald Trumps election victory this week

Sir Ben told Radio 4s Today programme: What has happened is the leadership that Britain showed right from the start has started to drop back into the sort of pack.

He claimed that officials during his time in government had been reluctant to get ahead but cross-party consensus in Parliament meant that the UK took a position to lead.

And the leadership did bring lots and lots of Europeans with us, he said.

He added: I definitely have a sense that that momentum has dropped back, and my experience of government is if you want to really drive things, you have to really do it every single day.

You cant just do a statement and then float around.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said that allies must step up support for Ukraine as he met President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to Sir Keir Starmer (Denes Erdos/AP)

He told Mr Zelensky the UK had an unwavering commitment to help the country defend itself against Russias invasion during bilateral talks at a European Political Community summit in Hungary.

Meeting Mr Zelensky one-to-one on the fringes of the event in Budapest, Sir Keir said: As you know, our support for Ukraine is unwavering.

And I strongly believe that not only should it be unwavering but we need to step up, and I was very pleased to be able to say that (today).

Its very important that we see this through. Its very important that we stand with you.

The Ukrainian leader replied: Were very thankful. Were very proud that we have such bilateral relations between our nations.
The days are finally getting cooler and everyone seems more than ready for some nice fall weather. It doesnt seem right that we should be well into November and still wearing shorts and t-shirts. But though it hasnt gotten very cold out, there have been enough chilly nights that the trees have gotten the memo. All around me, they are turning red, yellow, orange and brown, and drifting down from the branches. Its times like these, Im glad I no longer have a yard I have to rake. I can just enjoy the autumn leaves as a spectator.

And Im not alone. Along with every dog, squirrel, wild turkey, and wilder toddler, this zoo tiger in the Bronx is enjoying the feeling of fall leaves.

Who can resist playing in a big pile of leaves in the fall?



Certainly not an Amur tiger! Senior Keeper Jennifer sprayed the leaf pile with perfume as part of an enrichment activity. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/RkRAUgv9ed  Bronx Zoo (@BronxZoo) October 30, 2024

In this video, a Siberian or Amur tiger at the Bronx Zoo is taking in a little seasonal enrichment and playing in a pile of leaves. According to the post, the zookeepers have sprayed perfume on the leaves to make it especially enticing for the tiger to roll around in the fallen leaves.

Related: Tiger Cub Supervises Window Washing at Nashville Zoo and Its the Cutest

This tiger enjoys rolling in the pile to rub the smell of the perfume over himself as this enrichment stimulates his natural behaviors, writes the zoo on their Twitter account. You are never too big to enjoy a fresh pile of leaves!

The Plight of the Amur Tiger

The Amur tiger was previously known as the Siberian Tiger. Apparently, the name change is meant to reflect their actual habitat. They do not live all over Siberia, but rather in the Amur River valley in far eastern Russia and also northeast China. There are only about five hundred Amur Tigers surviving in the wild, although there are several thousand more who are bred in and living in captivity. The fact that there are even this many in the wild is thanks to a massive conservation effort over the last century, as at their lowest point there were fewer than twenty.

Amur tigers, like all tigers, are endangered due to human hunting and habitat destruction. Amur tigers are the biggest cats in the world, and are distinctive from Bengal tigers due to their thick fur coats, which are darker in color and only have white markings on their bellies. Bengal tigers tend to be lighter in color and have thinner coats due to living in a more temperate climate. Additionally, Bengal tigers can sometimes be white, whereas this coloring does not exist for Siberian tigers.

Enrichment for Zoo Animals

One of the difficulties of keeping animals healthy in captivity is finding things for them to do all day. In the wild, most of these creatures would have massive ranges, but they are kept in small spaces in zoos, and usually not in the same kind of family makeup or living arrangement they would enjoy in the wild. In the wild, their days would be spent hunting or foraging for food whereas in captivity, they are served regular meals.

Good zoos try to find challenging ways to feed the animals or activities to keep them not only physically healthy, but also to entertain them. Like all cats, tigers enjoy strong scents and tactile stimulation, so scenting a pile of leaves with perfume is an excellent choice for this tiger.

Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos.

Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.
Billy Bob Thornton starred in Bad Santa in 2003. (AFP via Getty Images) (VALERIE MACON via Getty Images)

What did you miss?

Billy Bob Thornton has admitted he thought his hit movie Bad Santa was going to be a career ender.

The 2003 film saw the Hollywood star play Willie, a professional crook dressed up as a department store Father Christmas, with a plan to rob malls. With the tagline He doesnt care if youre naughty or nice, it saw Thorntons sex addict and alcoholic Santa swearing, smoking and generally behaving badly.

It went on to become a success, acquiring cult status, which Thornton said on The One Show was a shock to him.

What, how and why?

Thornton was on the BBC programme on Thursday, 7 November to talk about his news series Landman, along with co-star Jon Hamm, and presenter Alex Jones said she had to ask about Bad Santa.

My manager talked me into that, he talked me into doing it, he confessed. He told me the story and I said, Thats going to be a career ender there.

Billy Bob Thornton in Bad Santa. (PA Images/Alamy) (Cinematic Collection, Cinematic)

However, everything changed when the star got his hands on the script.

I read about a third of it," he said. "I called him immediately and I said, Ive got to do this! It was so hilarious. I mean, I was laughing so hard I cried and I could hear all that coming out of me.

Thornton said it was thought the film would do fairly well but he didnt expect it to become as popular as it did.

Read more: The One Show

One way or the other, we expected it to do OK, he said. I mean, we thought people would think it was funny and everything but then we thought a lot of people would think it was way too dark and everything.

"So when it became iconic it was quite a shock.

What else did Billy Bob Thornton say on The One Show?

The same year the actor was also in a very different Christmas film, Love Actually. He said: "The other thing is, I have two movies every Christmas that, one, Love Actually, which is like a very romantic movie and all this kind of stuff.

Billy Bob Thornton on The One Show. (BBC screengrab) (BBC screengrab)

Well I wasnt as romantic in it, he joked, referring to his role as a US President who acts inappropriately towards a junior staff member at No 10 (played by Martine McCutcheon).

But one way or the other, every Christmas its like, you have the Love Actually people and you have the Bad Santa people and sometimes they, actually theres a little overlap.

The One Show airs on BBC One at 7pm on weekdays.

Landman is on Paramount+ on Monday, 18 November.
Jamie Lynn Spears quit I'm a Celebrity's 2023 series early. (ITV/Shutterstock) (ITV/Shutterstock)

I'm a Celebrity's duty of care was under the microscope in 2023 when Grace Dent and Jamie Lynn Spears both quit the ITV reality show early.

The 2024 I'm a Celebrity line-up is looking exciting with stars Coleen Rooney, Maura Higgins and Oti Mabuse tipped to be heading to the jungle  although all names at this point are speculation.

Behind the scenes of the ITV series set deep in the Australian bush, the producers work hard to support the stars taking part on the reality show, but after last year's much-talked about exits, it begs the question can they do more?

Former I'm a Celebrity 2022 star Scarlette Douglas told Yahoo UK of her experience: "TV bosses will probably just be as aware as possible, because they really are hands on on that show. That's the one thing I'll give them, is they're bloody brilliant with that."

The A Place in The Sun presenter has shared the guidance the celebrities receive before, during and after the show. This includes on-hand help from psychiatrists, a secret connection to the outside world, one chosen person to keep producers informed on personal lives and more.

Preparing for I'm a Celebrity's jungle

Scarlette Douglas starring on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here in 2022. (ITV)

Before appearing on the show, celebrities must undergo psych testing. Psychological testing has become an important onboarding process for reality shows including Big Brother and Love Island to name a few.

"You don't want anybody to quit," Douglas said. "You want everyone to get through the whole experience for themselves but obviously for the show as well. To a certain degree, [quitting] adds to the drama but so much goes into the show. So much goes into getting the celebs over there and making sure they're OK. Doing psych tests and everything, I don't think bosses ever want anybody to drop out."

Once they're in Australia, the celebrities are kept in isolation to ensure there is some element of surprise when they appear on the reality series. The whole time the TV crew are checking in on the welfare of the stars, according to Douglas.

She said: "We're isolated in the house before we get into the jungle, and they will come and check on us and make sure we're OK, or we'll go for a walk once a day and just to make sure our mental health is clear. And there's always a psychiatrist on hand if you want to speak to anybody. I'm not really sure what what more they can do."

I'm A Celebrity returns to TV on 17 November. (ITV)

The psychiatrists are always available to speak to via a secret telephone. Douglas explained the stars are given a "basic" phone with only two numbers  one for the producer and one for a psychiatrist.

She added: "Before they give you one phone, the most basic phone you've ever seen with two numbers: the producer and the psychiatrist. If you ever feel in that week of isolation that you need to speak to anybody you've got that phone."

In the jungle

There is a secret connection to the outside world we don't see on TV, according to the former campmate. The celebrities get to choose one person to be their point of contact who will relay any important information to the production team, Douglas revealed.

The stars taking part in the show get to hear little snippets from the outside world in the Bush Telegraph.

She explained: "I'm very close with my family, and I speak to my mum and dad probably three or four times a day. What they do is if there's an important message from here, they pass it on, or every day they will say we checked in with your selected person. So that was one of my brothers.

I'm A Celebrity's Ant and Dec are the hosts. (ITV) (ITV)

"They tell you, 'We've checked in with your person. Everything's fine back home. Is there anything you want to pass back home?' So at least you've always got one little bit of connection a day."

When she was in the jungle, Douglas's mum had an eye operation She asked producers to let her know the operation had gone OK. "Because I know my mum was really worried about it," she said. "I was obviously nervous about it, and I wanted to know that she was fine."

"If anything serious happens back home, they will call you into the Bush Telegraph," she added. "With my mum, I remember the day she was having it, and I hadn't heard anything. I was like, 'Hi producer, I was going to check if my mum is OK?'"

Scarlette Douglas revealed how celebs hear about the outside world while inside the jungle. (Getty) (Variety via Getty Images)

She added: "I'm panicking and worrying something has happened, and they don't want to tell me but obviously they have to tell you if it's something serious. When they did call me in, they said, 'Your mum's eye appointment had been postponed but everything is fine. She's OK'.

"When she did have the operation, they told me it happened, it was fine and she's OK. I just needed to know that."

What you do see on the show is where the stars receive the letters from home. "That's great because you get to hear what's happening back home," she said. "If anything major happens they call you in and they let you know anything specific that you want to know about before you've gone into the jungle. You can let them know and they will keep you informed."

Watch I'm a Celebrity's 2022 campmates get emotional as they receive letters from home

Post-jungle

After the celebrities are evicted or the series comes to an end, the celebrities still have the support of the show.

Douglas said: "The minute you are out you speak to the psychiatrist. Obviously there's press everywhere. You get into the hotel and everyone's trying to speak to you about stuff. But the team are always there."

I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here returns to ITV on 17 November.

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org

This article originally appeared on Yahoo TV UK at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/im-a-celebrity-stars-quitting-100759303.html
Former President Donald J. Trump shakes hands with Texas Governor Gregg Abbott while coming onto stage after receiving Abbotts's endorsement for President during a rally at the South Texas International Airport in Edinburg, TX, on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Marvin Pfeiffer/Staff Photographer

Speculation is running rampant that President-elect Donald Trump could pick Texas Republicans, such as Gov. Greg Abbott or Attorney General Ken Paxton, for various roles in his next administration.

Much of those backroom discussions are hard to confirm, but what is certain is what the Texas Constitution says about potential vacancies if Trump starts calling up elected officials with whom hes built a deep relationship with over the years.

READ MORE: Which Texans could be in the running for Trump administration roles?

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The biggest name is Abbott, who Trump singled out earlier this year as a spectacular man who had done a great job in Texas. Trump said Abbott was one of the people he would consider for a running mate, though he ultimately picked Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance.

Abbotts experience on border security issues and his past as Texas' attorney general could make him an option for all kinds of roles  if he wants it. Trump has more than 4,000 political appointments to fill.

Abbott has been pretty consistent in telling reporters that he wants to help Trump but from Texas. Abbott has already said hell run for re-election in 2026.

Im staying in Texas, Abbott said at a press conference earlier this year.

If he changes his mind, the Texas Constitution is pretty clear about what happens next. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who oversees the Texas Senate, would become the governor for the remainder of Abbotts current term in office, said Brandon Rottinghaus, a University of Houston political science professor.

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Texas has seen this play out before. On Dec. 21, 2000, then-Lt. Gov. Rick Perry became the states governor for the remainder of Gov. George W. Bushs term after he went to the White House.

Even if Abbott stays put, Patrick could get an offer to join Trumps administration in some capacity. Not only was Patrick Trumps campaign chair in Texas, but the two built a close relationship during Trump's first term in office as Patrick offered advice on immigration and border security issues.

Before Trumps first televised national address from the Oval Office in 2019, the White House was in frequent communication with Patrick and flew him to D.C. to help craft the statistics-heavy speech about the border.

Like Abbott, Patrick consistently has shot down talk about going to Washington. On Friday he posted on the social media platform X that while he would be honored to serve in Trumps Cabinet, hes staying in Texas.

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My best opportunity to serve the people is right here, Patrick wrote. I love what I do.

But if Patrick did leave his post to either replace Abbott or go to D.C., the state constitution temporarily gives the job to the Senate Pro Tem, which is selected by members of the Texas Senate before each session. In January, Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, will be next in line for that post.

The assignment would be only be temporary, and give him the power to convene the Senate within 30 days so they can pick a replacement to serve as lieutenant governor until the next election in 2026. The law says they must choose from one of their members. In 2000, senators used a secret ballot to make Northeast Texas Republican Bill Ratliff, then the Senate Finance Chair, the leader after Perry moved up to the governor's office.

READ MORE: Donald Trump flipped these Texas counties to help propel presidential victory, maps show

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton are also showing up on short lists for potential jobs with Trump. If either leaves state government, the governor would have the power to choose a replacement until the next election in 2026.

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Finally, Trump could come calling for a member of Congress like he has done before. U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Houston, has been one of Trumps most trusted surrogates, traveling to 15 states during the campaign season to advocate for his re-election.
Three patients in the UK have received a 'groundbreaking' treatment for lupus, including Katie Tinkler, who received the treatment at University College London Hospital in London. (PA) (Alamy Stock Photo)

A new "groundbreaking" treatment for lupus has given doctors and patients hope that it could end the need for lifelong medication.

Three patients have received CAR T-cell therapy for the most serious form of lupus, which can affect many parts of the body including internal organs, joints and skin, and puts people at risk of life-threatening complications.

The new treatment works by genetically modifying a person's cells to fight the disease. It has been used on patients in Germany, who are now in remission and do not need to take lupus medication.

It is believed that around five million people around the world have the chronic condition, with an estimated 50,000 in the UK, according to Lupus UK. It disproportionately affects women and people of Black African, Caribbean and Asian ethnicities.

Patients usually have to take medication for the rest of their lives in order to manage the condition, including anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen, steroid tablets, and hydroxychloroquine.

Here's everything you need to know about lupus:

What is lupus?

Lupus can cause symptoms like extreme fatigue, no matter how much rest you get. (Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Lupus (more properly known as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) is an autoimmune disease.

"That means that, the immune system, which is meant to fight infections, starts to attack the body's own tissues," explains Dr Ed Vital, specialist lupus clinician and researcher at Leeds University.

"This results in white cells in the blood causing inflammation in different organs."

According to Dr Adam Friedmann, Consultant Dermatologist at The Harley Street Dermatology Clinic lupus can affect the whole body (systemic lupus) or, far more commonly, just the skin.

"It is autoimmune in nature i.e. the body's immune system causes inflammation and damage in the skin and in systemic lupus, in the joints, muscles and other organs," he explains.

What are the symptoms of the condition?

Dr Arun Thiyagarajan, Medical Director UK Health Clinics, from Bupa UK says the most common symptoms associated with the condition are fatigue, swollen or painful joints and skin rashes or irritation, affecting the hands, wrist or face.

"Other less common symptoms include: fever, headaches or migraines, swollen glands, stomach pains, sensitivity to light causing skin rashes, unexplained weight loss and poor blood circulation in your fingers and toes," he adds.

Watch: Halsey is suffering from Lupus and a rare lymphoproliferative disorder

What causes it?

No one really knows why a person may suffer from it, but it is more common in women, and in people with a family history of auto-immune diseases.

"Although its not clear exactly what causes lupus, experts have agreed that there are multiple factors at play, including genetics," explains Dr Thiyagarajan.

"Its also thought that hormones can influence the development of lupus, as its most common in women that are of child bearing age," he adds.

"Lupus isnt contagious, so it cant be passed from one person to another. The condition occurs when antibodies - which are usually part of the bodys natural defences - mistakenly attack healthy cells or organs."

How is lupus treated?

According to Dr Vital once lupus has begun, as a rule it is a lifelong illness.

"Although some of the symptoms can be severe, fortunately treatments are getting better all the time. In most cases we are able to control the symptoms well with the right drugs," he explains.

"Your doctor can test your blood for lupus and prescribe medications that can help manage the conditions symptoms," Dr Thiyagarajan adds.

"Anti-inflammatories or medicines that can help to suppress your immune system are known to help lessen the day-to-day impact of lupus."

However, the new treatment offers some hope that patients may not have to continue taking medication for lupus for the rest of their lives. CAR T-cell therapy is usually used in cancer patients, but doctors hope it can treat other diseases, including lupus.

Dr Eleni Tholouli, director of the adult stem cell transplant unit at Manchester Royal Infirmary, told The Guardian: "It is an incredibly exciting time to now offer this mode of treatment to lupus patients through this clinical trial."

"We hope [it] will provide positive outcomes and revolutionise treatment options for patients with the disease."

The treatment requires patients to stay in the hospital for 10 days. Possible side effects includes their immune system becoming very vulnerable to infection for several weeks, or another condition that causes the immune system to overreact.

However, patients with the most severe form of lupus could experience organ failure, and may decide the risks associated with the treatment are worth it.

Read more about autoimmune disease:
Despair is not an option. It helps no one  Margaret Atwood. Photograph: Mark Blinch/Reuters

Books about democracy, dystopia, tyranny, feminism and far-right politics rapidly climbed bestseller charts in the wake of Donald Trump winning the US presidential election.

The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood, set in a totalitarian society in which women are forced to reproduce, moved up more than 400 places, and is currently third in the US Amazon Best Sellers chart.

On Tyranny by historian Timothy Snyder now sits at spot eight, after climbing hundreds of places over the past day. Readers are also turning to George Orwells totalitarian dystopia Nineteen Eighty-Four, which has moved up to 16th place.

Democracy in Retrograde by Sami Sage and Emily Amick is near the top of the Movers and Shakers chart  which ranks the books with the largest sales increases over the past 24 hours  after the book saw a more than 30,000% boost in sales.

Rebecca Solnits Men Explain Things to Me is also among the biggest gainers, having climbed more than 40,000 places over the past day. The 2014 collection of feminist essays now sits in the mid-300s on the bestseller chart.

Related: Our mistake was to think we lived in a better country than we do | Rebecca Solnit

Writing on the election in a Guardian column published on Thursday, Solnit said that our mistake was to think that racism and misogyny were not as bad as they are, whether it applied to who was willing to vote for a supremely qualified Black woman or who was willing to vote for an adjudicated rapist and convicted criminal who admires Hitler.

Defectors by Paola Ramos, about the rise in far-right sentiment among Latinos, has moved up thousands of places since Trump emerged as the winner. The 2024 election saw him making significant gains with Latino voters, particularly men.

The sequel to The Handmaids Tale, The Testaments, has also experienced a spike in sales. Despair is not an option, Atwood wrote in a post on X following the election result. It helps no one.

Men Who Hate Women  a book about misogyny and the radicalisation of young men online  by British writer Laura Bates is also trending. Trump won nearly half of young men, according to exit polls.

A memoir by Kamala Harris, The Truths We Hold, has climbed nearly 2,000 places over the past day  to spot 345 in the Best Sellers chart. Meanwhile memoirs by Melania Trump and JD Vance remain popular, with the incoming first ladys book sitting at the top of the chart, and the vice president-elects Hillbilly Elegy at No 7.
A Trump supporter makes their allegiance known in Las Vegas. The president-elect has now taken Nevada - Reuters/Eloisa Lopez/File Photo

Donald Trump won his sixth battleground state of the 2024 election when he took Nevada early on Saturday.

The president-elect was declared the winner by the Associated Press after it concluded there were not enough uncounted ballots in the state to overcome the former presidents 46,000-vote lead over Kamala Harris.

It marks the first win by a Republican presidential candidate in Nevada since 2004, when George W Bush defeated John Kerry.

Mr Trump had already clinched his second presidential term on Wednesday, when Wisconsin pushed him past the 270 electoral votes needed to win.

He now has 301 electoral votes and has won six of the seven battleground states.

The only swing state left to be called is Arizona, where Mr Trump holds a dominant 200,000 vote lead with 82 per cent of ballots counted.

As well as Wisconsin, Mr Trump had already claimed victories in the swing states of Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan  all of which voted for Joe Biden in 2020.

He also won North Carolina, where he was thought to hold an advantage over his opponent.

Nevada is a diverse working-class state where the economy has been the number one issue on voters minds, according to New York Times/Sienna polling data.

One fifth of the state is also made up of Latino voters, among whom Mr Trump made gains in this election despite coming under fire last month after a warm-up act comedian at his New York rally referred to Puerto Rico as a pile of garbage.

Ms Harris visited the state on four occasions during the campaign, making one of her final pitch to voters with a rally in Las Vegas, where she was joined by Jennifer Lopez.

Donald Trump, meanwhile, made five stop-offs in the state on the campaign trail, in his bid to claw back victory after narrow losses there in both 2016 and 2020.

He announced his no tax on tips pledge in the state, where a significant number of residents work for tips in the hospitality industry.
The Worshipful Company of Farmers parades through London - Heathcliff O'Malley for The Telegraph

Rebel farmers are threatening to target ports and disrupt supermarket supply chains in protest against Labour tax rises.

A number are also plotting to withhold produce and livestock in a bid to trigger food shortages, The Telegraph has learnt.

It is a significant escalation in what has been a fierce backlash to plans announced by Rachel Reeves.

The Chancellor placed a 20 per cent inheritance tax on farmers assets worth more than 1 million in her first Budget. Previously, tax breaks designed to allow family farms to pass down the generations were exempt from the divisive 40 per cent duty.

Some farmers are now openly discussing plans to take a more radical course of action. The discussions are understood to be taking place among farmers who have previously organised tractor go-slows on roads as well as protests in February which saw 5,000 farmers gather at the Senedd to voice dissent over environmental targets.

One farmer with knowledge of the plans confirmed discussions of possible blockades of ports and food distribution centres.

They will block every port in the UK if they have to, they said. [This] could be a possibility to slow down the supply in the supermarket. The Government and supermarkets need to realise the control we have as farmers. The good thing with that is you have farmers everywhere so you can cover all the ports.

The move to blockade ports would mirror widespread protests across Europe earlier this year, where farmers used their tractors to barricade the Belgian port of Zeebrugge, as well as the routes to several ports in Germany.

European farmers have been involved in widespread protests - Getty/Vincent Jannink

Clive Bailye, the founder of the Farming Forum, the UKs biggest agricultural online forum, said that some farmers were looking at other actions, from not taking sewage sludge to not letting food leave the farm or sending livestock to market.

I can see produce being withheld.

He said that although they were very worried about going to prison he felt his position as founder of the Farming Forum put him in a strong position to help, adding: We know we need to do something but we are not sure what it will look like yet. But Ive got thousands of messages from farmers asking me how, when, where.

The Telegraph revealed last week that some farmers were threatening to stop spreading sludge on their land in protest at plans to impose inheritance tax on their estates.

They are discussing plans for a co-ordinated sewage strike in a move that risks causing chaos for water-treatment companies and creating a mountain of waste.

Biosolids  commonly known as sewage sludge  are what remains of human waste after liquids have been removed, and are a highly effective fertiliser. Every year, farmers in the UK take about 3.6 million tonnes of sewage sludge from water-treatment plants and spread it on agricultural land.

The arrangement between farmers and water companies is mutually beneficial, saving sewage processors the cost and environmental impact of disposing of it.

Tom Bradshaw, president of the National Farmers Union (NFU), said that his members felt betrayed by Sir Keir Starmer, whose charm offensive with countryside voters led to Labour winning dozens of seats in rural constituencies.

Mr Bradshaw said that farmers who expected to live longer than five years were now pinning their hopes on Labours defeat at the next election, particularly now that the Conservatives have promised to reverse the policy.

The NFU has organised a lobbying event later this month in Parliament where members will hold meetings with their MPs  but the union declined to back a mass demonstration in the capital on the same day, telling its members that unless they have registered for the parliamentary event they should stay away.

This has led to farmers planning a breakaway protest in a sign that they are feeling frustrated with their unions ability to make their voices heard.

Before the general election, Labour promised to build a new relationship with the countryside.

But Mr Bradshaw said that now it feels anything but. By his count, up to a quarter of Labours 402 MPs represent rural or semi-rural constituencies, having convinced voters that the party could work in genuine partnership with countryside folk.

I had a meeting with farmers this week and they are absolutely irate, he said.

If they hadnt said they werent going to do it, there would still be dismay but not the sense of betrayal.

Anyone living longer than five years is thinking, will a future government do something different? The leader of the opposition has said they will overturn it.

He also said he is concerned by talk of militant action by some farmers, saying: The bit that really worries me is that there is a part of the industry that is talking about more militant action.

That is not the farming industry  we are a peaceful, respectful industry. But I understand the strength of feeling.

A government spokesman said: With public services crumbling, a 22 billion fiscal hole inherited from the previous government and 40 per cent of Agricultural Property Relief going to the 7 per cent of the wealthiest claimants, we made a difficult decision to ensure the relief is fiscally sustainable.

Around 500 claims each year will be impacted and farm-owning couples can pass on up to 3 million without paying any inheritance tax  this is a fair and balanced approach.
Debris on the streets after Hurricanes Helene and Milton in Treasure Island, Florida. Photograph: Mike Carlson/AP

A employee at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) has been fired from her job and is being investigated because she told a disaster relief team she was directing in Florida after Hurricane Milton to avoid homes displaying election campaign signs supporting Donald Trump, conduct that the agency head on Saturday called reprehensible.

Deanne Criswell, the administrator of the federal agency, posted on X: More than 22,000 Fema employees every day adhere to Femas core values and are dedicated to helping people before, during and after disasters, often sacrificing time with their own families to help disaster survivors.

She continued: Recently, a Fema employee departed from these values to advise her survivor assistance team not go to homes with yard signs supporting President-elect Trump. This is a clear violation of Femas core values and principles to help people regardless of their political affiliation.

Related: Activists fear Florida enshrining right to fish and hunt will lead to trophy hunting

Hurricane Milton roared across the Gulf of Mexico and hit Florida last month, crossing the state before reaching the Atlantic Ocean, just two weeks after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida and then curved inland on a lethal path through Georgia and the Carolinas before dissipating in Tennessee. It killed 35 people.

The Fema employee has not yet been officially identified, but Criswell said of the actions: This was reprehensible. I want to be clear to all of my employees and the American people, this type of behavior and action will not be tolerated at Fema and we will hold people accountable if they violate these standards of conduct.

The agency has said it understood the conduct to be an isolated incident. The Daily Wire was the first to report on the actions of the employee, a supervisor, which it said it uncovered from internal correspondence.

The employee reportedly sent a message to workers who were going door to door in Lake Placid, Florida, to plan federal assistance, telling them to avoid homes advertising Trump.

Creswell further posted on Saturday: We take our mission to help everyone before, during and after disasters seriously. This employee has been terminated and we have referred the matter to the Office of Special Counsel. I will continue to do everything I can to make sure this never happens again.

During the aftermath of the highly destructive Hurricane Helene, which affected 10 states and killed more than 230 people, Trump went campaigning in North Carolina and accused the Biden administration of holding aid back from Republican-voting areas, even though the government and prominent Republican leaders on the ground disputed that.

But after the report of the Fema employee emerged, Floridas Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, posted on X: The blatant weaponization of government by partisan activists in the federal bureaucracy is yet another reason why the Biden-Harris administration is in its final days.

He said he was launching his own investigation into what happened.
Aberdeen Art Gallery is home to one of the finest collections in the country. - Jim Allan / Alamy Stock Photo

Artworks with offensive titles will be renamed under a new gallery policy.

Curators with the council-run Aberdeen Archives, Gallery & Museums will rebrand paintings if their original names are found to be ones they would no longer choose to use.

Artworks from the first half of the 20th century have already been renamed to avoid offending modern visitors, and the term African has been removed from the title of one sculpture.

The policy is understood to be a first for art galleries in the UK.

The renaming decision was made as part of the Re-Framing the Gallery project, which was launched to erase language that might be racist, offensive, and discriminatory.

Aberdeen Galleries has issued a Renaming Statement, which pledges to take action on offensive language, stating: Some language in the titles of artworks in our collection is racist, offensive, and discriminatory.

We will remove this language where it appears in titles and replace specific terms, or amend whole titles as necessary, as we come across it in the course of working with the collection.

Five pieces in the Aberdeen Art Gallery have so far been renamed as part of the commitment.

Art UK, the charity which receives funding from Arts Council England and other sources, carried out an investigation to establish more precisely what the culture depicted, and this work informed the new name.

A bronze sculpture by Belgian artist Arthur Puyt, depicting several Congolese men working with a small metal foundry in the Katanga province, was known as African Group. Now, it has been renamed to A Copper Foundry, Katanga.

Claude Rogers, the British artist, created a 1938 painting held by Aberdeen which depicts a black lady sitting in her Sunday best. This had been titled a negress, but under the new policy, this was changed to a woman.

Following further research, it was found that the sitter looked like another contemporary sitter known as Imogen, so the painting was renamed a second time after her.

Other works from the early 20th century by Gwenda Morgan, Neville Lewis and Esther Blaikie Mackinnon have also been retitled to remove racial terminology.

Openness, fairness and transparency

In a pledge to rename artworks deemed offensive, Aberdeen Archives, Gallery & Museums said: We seek to create a culture that values all the differences that communities bring, and which values openness, fairness and transparency.

We will continually strive to maintain an environment in which people from all backgrounds can live and work together harmoniously by challenging unlawful or unfair discrimination, prejudice, stereotyping, harassment, and undignified and disrespectful behaviour.

The renaming policy is part of a broader project by the council-run service launched in 2022 to recognise the integral role of empire and colonialism in museums. This included identifying and sharing details of individuals and Aberdeen-built ships and their connections to the legacy of slavery.

To make what is held by the galleries more diverse, the service also pledged to spend the next 5 years prioritising the acquisition of objects across the collections that fairly and equitably reflect the society we live in.

Affirmative action

Several institutions across Scotland took action in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, and the SNP Government sponsored the creation of a steering group on Empire, Slavery and Scotlands Museums (ESSM), investing 150,000 in the committee tasked with tackling historic legacies.

The committee, headed by Sir Geoff Palmer who led reviews of Edinburghs contested statues, told the Scottish Government that a new museum would be needed to address our role in the empire.

As part of the review of Edinburgh monuments which he led, Adam Smiths grave was included in a dossier of sites linked to slavery and colonialism, despite the economists opposition to slavery.
President Donald Trump smiles at an election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Centre. (AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Donald Trump's election victory over Kamala Harris will be one for the history books for more than one reason.

He is only the second US president to win two non-consecutive terms, the only president in history to be impeached twice, and on taking office will become the oldest person to do so.

Moreover, in a complete first for the United States, Trump, 78, is the first convicted felon to win the keys to the White House, and has four criminal indictments hanging over him.

This uncharted territory has raised questions over what happens to his impending cases, the likelihood of the president-elect going to jail, and whether or not he would be able to run the most powerful country in the world from within a prison cell.

Here, Yahoo News explains the legal challenges Trump is currently faces, and hears from legal experts on what is most likely to play out now he has secured a second term in the Oval Office.

What has Trump been convicted of?

In May, Trump became the first former US president to be convicted of a felony crime after a jury in New York found him guilty of all 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree.

These charges relate to the payment of $130,000 (around 100,115) in so-called "hush money" to adult film star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election to prevent her discussing an alleged sexual encounter she had with Trump in 2006.

Paying hush money isn't illegal on its own. Instead, the Manhattan District Attorney's office alleged that Trump broke the law by improperly recording the reimbursements he made to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, as "legal expenses".

Trump's sentencing was pushed back to 26 November  after the election  and he could face up to four years in prison, at least in theory.

What other cases is Trump still facing?

Trump faces four charges in federal court in Washington accusing him of spreading false claims of election fraud to try to overturn to results of the 2020 election, which was won by Joe Biden.

Jack Smith, the special counsel behind the case, alleged Trump "fuelled" an insurrection on 6 January 2021, which saw a mob of rioters storming the Capitol building.

Smith had also charged Trump with unlawfully holding onto classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida after his first term ended in 2021, and obstructing efforts by the US government to retrieve the records.

Donald Trump's mugshot after his arrest in Atlanta over the Georgia case. (Alamy) (ARCHIVIO GBB)

Florida-based US District Judge Aileen Cannon, who was nominated to the bench by Trump, dismissed all charges in July after finding that Smith was improperly appointed to the role and did not have the authority to bring the case. The Justice Department filed an appeal, and the case is currently pending.

In Georgia, Trump faces eight counts related to alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in the state, with 18 other defendants also charged.

"The indictment alleges that rather than abide by Georgia's legal process for election challenges, the defendants engaged in a criminal, racketeering enterprise to overturn Georgia's presidential election results," said Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. The case has been stalled pending legal arguments.

Will Trump go to prison?

Trump's existing convictions "can absolutely stand", and there is "nothing about being an elected president that would undermine a felony conviction", American professor of law Jessica A. Levinson tells Yahoo News.

"Having said that... I think its extremely unlikely that the judge is going sentence a president elect to time in prison," she said, in relation to the New York hush money case.

"Based on the crimes that Trump was convicted of, it wasnt all that likely he was going to face prison time anyway, these are the lowest level felonies. Even if he wasnt elected I think its entirely possible that he was never going to be behind bars for that set of convictions."

Given that Trump's sentencing for this case is due for the end of November, before he is sworn in as president at the end of January, Levinson says it is "possible" Judge Juan Merchan could jail him for a short amount of time, say for 24 hours, to "send him a message", but thinks this is "unlikely", although he "absolutely" could face monetary damages.

Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani agrees, claiming Merchan "doesn't have the stomach to imprison a former president or president-elect", adding that it would not "be appropriate for a defendant with no criminal history convicted of Class E felonies (the least serious under New York law)".

A court sketch of Donald Trump as final jurors are sworn into the hush money trial. (Alamy) (Jane Rosenberg, Associated Press)

Wayne Unger, professor of law at Quinnipiac University, said an alternative outcome is that Trump's sentencing will be postponed until after his term, which will end in January 2029.

"If he is sentenced and New York attempts to imprison him, the United States Supreme Court will almost certainly postpone any term of imprisonment until after his term because the duties of the presidency supersede.

"It is also possible that Donald Trump uses the power of the presidency to force the New Yorks Governor, Kathy Hochul, to pardon his convictions in New York by withholding federal funds."

Moreover, Professor Emily Berman, a constitutional scholar at the University of Houston Law Centre, points out that the judge is currently reviewing whether and how the Supreme Courts decision in June that presidents have criminal immunity for their official acts applies to this case.

"The Supreme Court immunity decision also bars official acts from being used as evidence to prosecute presidents for unofficial acts. So, its possible that case will be dismissed or that the judge will require a new trial... I expect to see Trumps lawyers ask to postpone that indefinitely, given his new status as president-elect."

What will happen to Trump's other cases?

On the Washington D.C federal interference case, Levinson believes Trump will "order his attorney general to seek to dismiss the case".

Thats a long way of saying Trump will be head of the federal executive branch and he will use his powers to make that case go away," she says.

In theory, the Georgia case should be tricker for Trump, says Levinson, because (like the hush money case in New York) it is a state prosecution, rather than a federal one.

A president does not have power over state process," she says.

"Having said that, I think he will make a likely successful argument to the state prosecutor. The argument will be that it would be the state government interfering with the Presidents constitutional duties. It would undermine the presidents ability to do his job if the state was able to move forward with a criminal prosecution."

Rahmani adds: "Trump, like any criminal defendant, has a right to a speedy trial, so staying or putting the cases on hold for four years until he is out of office would not be an option either."

Donald Trump leaving court in Manhattan in February. (Alamy) (Mary Altaffer, Associated Press)

"Its well established that a sitting president cant be prosecuted, so the election fraud case in D.C. District Court will be dismissed," he says, arguing the same would apply to the classified documents case. "If for some reason Jack Smith refuses to dismiss the cases, Trump can direct his attorney general to fire Smith," Rahmani says.

On Trump's two outstanding federal cases, Unger says it is "very unlikely they will progress". He adds: "First, he could pardon himself. The president holds conclusive authority to issue pardons, and while no president has attempted to pardon himself, in theory, he could.

"Second, even if he doesnt pardon himself, he can order the Justice Department to drop the charges. In the January 6 case, the trial judge may not permit the Justice Department to drop the charges, but almost certainly, any appeal to the United States Supreme Court on this would result in the dropping of the January 6th charges.

"At bottom, it is a near certainty that Donald Trump will never face any criminal consequences for the alleged wrongdoing."

Read more
Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Donald Trump won the presidency (again). Republicans won the Senate. But theres one more big political prize to be awarded after Tuesdays election: the House of Representatives, which could still break either way depending on what happens in the roughly 28 races that remain too close to call as of Thursday afternoon.

How many of these seats  the vast majority of them concentrated in slower-counting Western states such as California, Colorado, Arizona and Nevada  does each party need for a 218-seat majority? So far, Democrats have won 197 seats; Republicans have won 210. If Democrats were to win all of the remaining districts where their candidate is ahead, even narrowly, they would end up with 212 seats. Republicans would end up with 223  and continued control of the House.

But nearly half the vote remains uncounted in some places, and eight races are currently showing leads of 1 percentage point or less. So things could change.

As America awaits the House call, its worth gaming out both scenarios. What would it mean for Trumps second term if he secures a so-called trifecta  the presidency, the Senate and the House? On the other hand, what would it mean if Democrats flip the lower chamber of Congress?

There are some big differences.

If Democrats win the House

Republicans will have at least 52 seats in the next Senate. With that majority, theyll be able to confirm all of Trumps judicial nominees regardless of what happens in the House, including younger Supreme Court justices who could ensure a conservative majority for decades to come. Theyll be able to confirm Trumps Cabinet officials as well.

But if Democrats control the House  and remain unified  they could block Trumps Senate allies from passing any laws they deem objectionable. This could include efforts to restrict or even repeal the Affordable Care Act; expand oil and gas drilling; extend tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans; and slash taxes for corporations.

Trumps presidency will end the multiple criminal cases brought against him, at least for the four years he occupies the Oval Office. But a Democratic House would be able to continue investigating the Trump administration the way they did from 2019 to 2023 (when they probed Trumps allies ties to Russian interference in the 2016 election and scheme to overturn his 2020 loss). House Democrats impeached Trump twice during this period, and they could do so again. But a Republican Senate would almost certainly keep voting against conviction and removal from office.

If Republicans win the House

During the 2024 campaign, Trump focused less on his congressional agenda than on things he could do on his own  imposing huge tariffs on foreign goods, deporting millions of immigrants, rethinking Americas commitment to NATO and allowing Russia to annex parts of Ukraine.

So Trump will have the power to implement any or all those policies regardless of what happens in the House.

Unified control of Congress would allow Republicans to chair committees, launch investigations and, mostly importantly, pass legislation. How much legislation  and how far that legislation will go  would depend on the size of their majorities, the composition of their leadership and the ambition of Trump himself.

For instance, the GOP would likely try to pass tax cuts for wealthy Americans and corporations without any Democratic support. How? Through a process called budget reconciliation that only requires 51 Senate votes for measures related to taxes and spending. Republicans could possibly unravel the ACA and crack down on the border through reconciliation as well  ideas that senators such as Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina are already discussing. Trump also wants to eliminate the tax on tips, overtime and Social Security benefits for seniors.

Yet any policies that dont involve taxes and spending still need a filibuster-proof majority of 60 votes to pass  and Republicans wont have 60 votes.

One big question, then, is whether Republicans would eventually push to end the legislative filibuster (after previously deciding to end its judicial counterpart). So far, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has said the filibuster is very secure. But McConnell also plans to make way for a new majority leader when the Senate is sworn in next year. Will his replacement feel as protective of the filibuster  especially under pressure from Trump and MAGA lawmakers who are eager for sweeping change?

If not, and if the filibuster falls, there would be little to stop a GOP trifecta from implementing Trumps most controversial plans. During Trumps first term, conservatives such as House Speaker Paul Ryan checked the presidents ambitions; recently, House Republicans have struggled to keep their narrow majority unified amid challenges from the hard-right Freedom Caucus. But with Trump back in the White House, and Republicans in charge of the Senate, a Republican House would be more emboldened  and united  than before.
Ancient DNA challenges prevailing interpretations of the Pompeii plaster casts of four figures in the House of the Golden Bracelet. Photograph: Archeological Park of Pompeii

It is a tragic moment, frozen in time: a family of four shelters beneath a staircase as ash and pumice rains down on Pompeii. But scientists studying DNA of the victims say this famous scene is not what it seems: the mother of the group is actually a man.

When Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD79, the Roman town of Pompeii was destroyed, and its remaining inhabitants were buried beneath a thick blanket of ash and pumice. These victims were later immortalised by archaeologists who used plaster to fill the voids left by their bodies.

Now researchers say DNA evidence debunks long-held assumptions about the identity and relationships of those captured by some of the most famous casts.

Writing in the journal Current Biology, scientists in Italy, Germany and the US report how they extracted ancient nuclear and mitochondrial DNA from samples of bone fragments mixed with plaster taken from 14 casts that were undergoing restoration, five of which were studied in detail.

Among them were three of the four individuals found at the foot of the staircase within a richly decorated building named the House of the Golden Bracelet. The moniker refers to the jewellery worn on the arm of one of the two adults who was found with a child on their hip  circumstances that led to the idea this victim was the mother of the two children within the group, with the other adult identified as the father.

However, the new analysis reveals the bracelet-wearing individual was male, and that he had black hair and dark skin. In addition, the team found no evidence he was related to the two infants  both of whom were boys. Indeed, the data suggests the ancestors of these three victims had origins in different eastern Mediterranean or north African populations. The researchers suggest there are genetic clues hinting the other adult may also have been male.

The study also offers fresh insights into the relationship of two victims, preserved in an embrace, found in a building known as the House of the Cryptoporticus. While some archaeologists have suggested these casts could represent a mother and daughter, two sisters, or a pair of lovers, the new analysis rules out the first two interpretations, revealing one of the victims was a male and that the pair were not related through the female line.

These discoveries challenge longstanding interpretations, such as associating jewellery with femininity or interpreting physical closeness as an indicator of biological relationships, the researchers write. They believe it is possible restorers in the past manipulated the poses and relative positioning of casts to aid storytelling.

However, the analysis did not overturn every narrative: the teams analyses confirmed a victim found alone in a room within a large building known as the Villa of Mysteries was male, as was previously thought, and revealed he may have been a local to Pompeii.

Andrew Wallace-Hadrill, a professor at the University of Cambridge not involved in the work, said the Pompeii DNA study had enormous potential. Inescapably, this sort of new evidence turns some older interpretations, especially those based on rather romantic assumptions, on their head, he said.

But he said the most interesting question was where the people came from. One would predict, in a society heavily based on slavery, a significant diversity, he said. It is very interesting for instance that they have identified an individual with dark skin and black hair, which strongly points to an enslaved person from Africa.

Phil Perkins, a professor of archaeology at the Open University, said the study suggested the victims found under the stairs could have been, or were descended from, migrants to Italy.

The research shows that scientific analysis can provide new insight into the lives of the victims of Pompeii, and provides further evidence of human mobility around the Mediterranean in the Roman period, he said. The people of Pompeii were not Romans from the city of Rome, but people of the Mediterranean.
In two and a half months, President-Elect Donald Trump will enter the Oval Office as the 47th president of the US.

The Biden Administration is now in a mad dash to Trump-proof their accomplishments and enact any reforms they may wish to make a reality.

But how much can Joe Biden realistically achieve in this short window, particularly when his successor is likely to make sweeping changes to government when he returns to the White House? s

Below we look at some of the subjects Biden could tackle before his time is up:

Marijuana

Biden began a review of the status of cannabis as a Schedule I drug earlier this year, despite having long opposed legalizing the drug. Other Schedule I drugs include heroin, LSD, and ecstasy.

While its up for debate how much power a president has to change the status of a Schedule I drug, Biden could very well end his administrations review process and issue an official recommendation to federal agencies that the drug be de-scheduled, The Nation noted.

Biden could also pardon those behind bars in federal prisons for nonviolent drug offenses, a disproportionally Black group.

Five percent of illicit drug users are African American, yet African Americans represent 29 percent of those arrested and 33 percent of those incarcerated for drug offenses, the NAACP states on its site.

Biden, speaking at the White House after Kamala Harriss election loss, could take action on several issues before the second Trump presidency begins (AP)

Normalizing relations with Cuba

Building on the Obama administrations work on the issue, the Biden White House could normalize relations with the island nation by restoring diplomatic connections, removing the country from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, and adhering to the 22 bilateral agreements signed by the Obama administration and ended by the first Trump White House.

Normalizing relations would also include the lifting of sanctions that have hampered the Cuban economy, providing aid to those affected by fuel shortages and food rationing, and possibly closing down the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base.

Biden could allow the private sector to begin making investments on the island, making it more difficult for a second Trump White House to roll back any diplomatic achievements.

Israel, Gaza, and Lebanon

While an Israeli official has told NPR that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may take steps to end the wars in Gaza and Lebanon as a gesture of goodwill to the new Trump administration, Biden still has time to place tougher conditions on weapons shipments or end them altogether.

Israels wars with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon mean that its unlikely to be able to weather delays in shipments of arms and other resources, Foreign Policy noted. Iran has also threatened to launch a third missile attack on Israel. Biden could push for an end to the war in Gaza by increasing the pressure for a hostage deal and for Israel to leave the area where Gaza borders Egypt.

Then-President Barack Obama chose not to veto a UN Security Council resolution opposing settlements in the West Bank during his final days in office, something Israel is still grappling with.

Biden could use the upcoming meeting of the council to discuss the war, where he can choose not to veto a resolution calling for sanctions on Israel if it doesnt accept a ceasefire deal.

Iran

Biden could impose further sanctions on Iran, which backs both Hamas and Hezbollah and has exchanged direct strikes with Israel.

No longer having to worry about gas prices, Biden could once again put the squeeze on Iran, with the Eurasia Group estimating that he could put in place measures that could decrease Iranian oil exports by 150,000 barrels a day to 700,000 barrels a day.

Biden may use tighter sanctions on Iran to try to convince Israel to not take further military action against the country.

Russia

Several allies of Ukraine have called for the price cap on Russian oil to be set as low as $30, which could cause a supply shortfall that could increase prices at the pump for Americans. That would now be easier to do with the election no longer a factor.

Some Biden officials have also called for fresh sanctions to make it more difficult for Russia to ship oil, Yahoo Finance noted.

Biden with Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky (Getty Images)

Ukraine

The last large aid package sent to Ukraine was a $61bn program passed by Congress in April, and more aid that requires congressional approval may be difficult since Republicans look likely to retain the House and take the Senate.

But Ukraines allies on Capitol Hill have called for further aid anyway, and there are things Biden could do without Congress, such as removing restrictions on how American weapons are used in the war against Russia and allowing strikes on military targets inside the country.

Many analysts believe Russia may begin to run low on resources next year, meaning that continued Western support will be vital for Ukraine to hang on.

Trump, for his part, has promised to end the war quickly, which would likely mean sustained Russian control of Ukrainian territory.

Immigration

Biden could attempt to get ahead of Trumps severe immigration policies, which include deporting millions of undocumented immigrants and once again separating families at the southern border, by speeding up citizenship applications, handing out more work permits, or reversing an executive order limiting asylum.

Appointing judges

Biden could avoid an even further rightward shift of the judiciary by filling the 47 vacancies in the federal courts.

Climate

Biden could declare a climate emergency since about 3.2 million Americans have moved because of the increasing risk of flooding, according to a First Street Foundation report.

The president said last year that he has practically declared a climate emergency, but no official declaration has been made. Doing so would allow him to go around Congress and allocate more funding to the issue.

Biden could also put in place multiple executive orders, such as instituting a ban on offshore drilling.
Houston Police Department Executive Assistant Chief Ban Tien watches Houston Mayor John Whitmire speaking during a press conference Sunday, July 21, 2024 at The City of Houston Office of Emergency Management in Houston. Metro has appointed Tien to lead the nearly 300 officers that make up its police department, according to a Friday news release. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

Metro has appointed a new chief to lead the nearly 300 officers that make up its police department.

Ban Tien will replace Chief Vera Bumpers, who was the first woman to hold the rank and has been in the position since 2014, as chief of the Metro Police Department. In a post on X, Texas Rep. Gene Wu congratulated Tien on his appointment, stating the newly-appointed Metro Police chief was a pillar in the Houston Asian American community.

Congratulations to Chief Ban Tien on his new appointment as @METROHouston Chief of Police! pic.twitter.com/7h8wJIiYKe  Gene Wu (@GeneforTexas) November 8, 2024

A news release about the appointment did not state why Bumpers was replaced, or when Tien would officially take over the department. Tien currently serves as an executive assistant chief with the Houston Police Department.

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"It has been an honor to work alongside Chief Bumpers, said Santiago Osorio, Metro Executive Vice President of Safety, Security and Facilities. We are grateful for her 43 years of dedicated service to the Metro Police Department and wish her the best in her next chapter.

Metro Board Chair Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock said the move came as a part of Mayor John Whitmire's goal to improve safety throughout Houston's public transit system.

POLICING IN HOUSTON: Meet 5 trailblazing women leaders of Houston law enforcement

"This appointment reaffirms that Metro is no place for crime, and Chief Tien is the proven leader we need to safeguard the system, Brock said. The decision to entrust him with this role furthers Mayor John Whitmire's mission of better coordination between MPD and HPD. This departmental alliance is a huge step forward for a safer Houston and a safer region."

Whitmire has previously signaled his intent to merge the Metro Police Department with HPD. In January, Whitmire said he was in negotiations to bring the two entities under unified leadership, but former Metro board chairman Sanjay Ramabhadran stated at the time that the move would be more complicated than it may seem.

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The mechanics of it is complicated when you are talking about departments and policies and labor matters, Ramabhadran said. When the timing is right, we as an agency are committed to see what all we can do.  There is the decision to say we should collaborate and merge and partner, and then there is the nuts and bolts of it.

Ramabhadran, who was replaced by Brock less than a month after he spoke with the Chronicle, said one major concern was that HPD does not police areas like Bellaire, West University Place and Katy, which are currently covered by the Metro Police Department for matters related to public transit.
Renaissance men  who out of (left to right) Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael comes out on top? Photograph: Getty Images; Alamy

Leonardo

By Charles Nicholl, biographer of Leonardo da Vinci

The Royal Academys new show brings together three Renaissance masters whose paths first crossed in Florence in 1504, their physical proximity causing a force-field of mutual influences and bitter rivalries. Leonardo da Vinci was in his early 50s, celebrated as a painter, engineer and multidisciplinary explorer in the realms of science and philosophy. Michelangelo Buonarroti was half his age, a rising star, brash, truculent and already sporting the famous boxers nose, smashed in a fight with a rival sculptor. Raffaello Sanzio, better known in English as Raphael, was a talented young unknown scouting for new inspiration and patronage.

Leonardo was the central figure of this redoubtable trio, his eminence eliciting very different responses from the other two. It is abundantly clear that he and Michelangelo disliked one another. There is an eyewitness account of a public spat between them, somewhere near the Ponte Santa Trinita: Michelangelo hurled insults before stalking off to leave Leonardo with his face red because of these words. Michelangelo wanted to tear him down; the more peaceable Raphael just wanted to learn from him.

In 1504 Michelangelo completed his David, while Leonardo was painting the Mona Lisa. Even just as objects, these creations epitomise the distance between them  a monumental six-tonne statue of a biblical warrior king, and a lightweight rectangle of poplar wood bearing the shadowy image of a well-to-do Florentine housewife. They are both great works, but Michelangelos is literally huge, a statement of power and prowess, while Leonardos is great by virtue of its reticence, its oddity, its elusiveness.

These secretive qualities are the magic that sets Leonardo apart: the way his most characteristic paintings float like chimeras beyond the edge of interpretation. This was the Romantic, femme fatale perception of the Mona Lisa  this sphinx of beauty posing a yet unsolved riddle in the words of the writer Theophile Gautier  but it was already hinted at in the paintings original title, La Gioconda, which means The Joking Lady, perhaps even The Tease, though it is also a pun on the name of her husband, Francesco del Giocondo, who was footing the bill for the maestros services.

This edgy levity is a quality Leonardo had from the beginning. His earliest surviving brush-strokes are some additions to Andrea del Verrocchios Tobias and the Angel, now in Londons the National Gallery. It is dated 1469; he was a 17-year-old-apprentice in Verrocchios studio. One of his contributions is a little dog, a bolognese terrier. It skips along beside the angel, alert and alive, but its silky white fur is painted with such finesse that the dog is diaphanous: you can see the line of the previously painted landscape behind it. It hovers like a hologram just above the picture surface: a fairytale dog.

His trademark sfumato technique, in which (by his own definition) shadows and highlights fuse without hatching or strokes, as does smoke, is already evident in his portrait of Ginevra de Benci (1476) and the mesmerising Virgin of the Rocks (1483), and reaches its apotheosis in the Mona Lisa, where it becomes something more than a rendering of light and shade; more an atmosphere, a mood of transience and regret. The gradations of sfumatura are also a way of depicting distance. Faraway objects, he writes, have smoky, blurred boundaries, while those closer have evident and sharp boundaries. He calls this the perspective of loss.

This points up a paradox in Leonardo. His paintings are full of these poetic blurrings, but much of his intellectual life was devoted to the evident and sharp requirements of scientific research. He was a hard-nosed empiricist who described himself as a discepolo di sperientia, a disciple of experience (or of experiment); a sceptic who believed that received ideas should be rigorously tested before they are accounted truths.

His autodidacts haul of knowledge is logged in his voluminous notebooks and manuscripts, but is also there in his art. The dream world of his paintings is filled with precise and learned details, and is shaped by what art historian Giorgio Nicodemi called his serene and accurate habits of thought. The wild flowers in the grotto of The Virgin of the Rocks are botanically exact. Lisas smile can be found in a sheet of studies of the musculature of mouths and lips. His depictions of the human figure draw on data collected arduously, indeed nauseously, from the more than 30 postmortem dissections he performed, and are therefore  he claimed  much better than Michelangelos figures, whose extravagantly muscled torsos Leonardo said look like sacks full of walnuts.

Charles Nicholls Leonardo da Vinci: The Flights of the Mind is published by Penguin.

***

Raphael

By Caroline Campbell, director of the National Gallery of Ireland

Until the 19th century, Raffaello Sanzio, better known in English as Raphael, was the undisputed exemplar for every artist trained in the western academic tradition. His name is inscribed on the walls of most public art galleries erected before 1900. In the mid-16th century, when the pioneering art historian Giorgio Vasari wrote his influential Lives of the Artists, he singled out Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael as the gods of the artistic pantheon. But it was Raphael whom Vasari urged aspiring artists to take as their model.

This was not simply because of his exceptional achievements as a painter, designer and architect in a short life that ended at just 37. For Vasari, Raphaels personal qualities gave him the edge. He was endowed with exceptional tenacity as well as talent, and possessed legendary charm. Raphael was remarkably able to deal with notoriously demanding patrons who were often far above him in social status.

Unlike Leonardo and Michelangelo, Raphael did not claim Florentine citizenship. He was born and brought up in the city of Urbino, among the vertiginous hills of the Marche. His father Giovanni, who died when Raphael was a boy (by which time he had already lost his mother) was court artist to the ruling Montefeltro family. For all Urbinos sophistication, it was a small place for one of the most precocious talents of all western art. It was soon evident to Giovanni that his sons abilities were in another league to his own. From a very early age, the young artist played an important role in his fathers workshop. He later became a close associate of the Umbrian artist Pietro Perugino, the most celebrated painter in central Italy.

The stimuli that Raphael encountered later in Florence enabled him to take his art to another level. When the artist first visited the city in late 1504, it was one of Europes richest and most innovative centres, home to many celebrated artists, including the Dominican Fra Bartolommeo, Michelangelo and Leonardo. Raphael observed and was inspired by their ideas.

Looking at Raphael can give you the feeling that there is no doubt, that everything is right with the world

And we can almost immediately see the impact on his art. Take the Madonna of the Pinks, a tiny devotional picture painted on yew for a private patron. It seems to be based on a work by Leonardo, the Benois Madonna, painted almost 30 years before in the late 1470s. Similarly, in the remarkable Saint Catherine, painted just before Raphael left Florence, you admire the complexity of her pose. Catherines left leg is pushed before her right, a detail copied from Leonardos drawing of Leda, so that your eye moves in a diagonal from the bottom right to her upturned eyes in the top left of the image. This, and the turn of her body, was taken from Michelangelos unfinished statue of St Michael. Raphael assimilates what hes learnt from both artists so brilliantly that this unnatural contortion seems effortless.

In 1508, Raphaels ambition took him from Florence to Rome. This was an even more energetic city, home to the papacy, which wielded power in central Italy and spiritual authority over Europe and increasing parts of the world. Raphaels first project propelled him into the very seat of power. He was commissioned to decorate semi-private spaces for the Pope and his court: the so-called Stanze, or rooms.

The Stanze are near Michelangelos Sistine ceiling, but its hard to think of two great works of art that are more different in feeling. Michelangelos paintings are dramatic and surprising, while Raphaels delight and beguile because he uses his close observation of people and society  he was a wonderful portraitist  to make the unbelievable and imaginary tangible and real. In the so-called School of Athens, Raphael collects together many of the greatest non-Christian philosophers (of whom two-thirds are not Athenian), with Plato and Socrates at the centre, debating whether wisdom is achieved through understanding. Their different philosophies appear united by the harmonious Roman architecture in which they stand. This is a dry, intellectual debate, but Raphael brings it alive, movement and facial expressions to show the philosophers distinct points of view.

The same is true of the remarkable tapestries he designed for Pope Leo X, to hang underneath the Sistine ceiling. They depict episodes from the lives of Saints Peter and Paul, as they travelled the Mediterranean coast, preaching, administering and converting. In the Gospel narrative, the saints sometimes question Jesus. They are bewildered, and dont always understand whats going on. But, looking at Raphael can give you the feeling that there is no doubt, that everything is right with the world. Even if there is a problem, a happy resolution is never far away. We want to follow the narrative to its neat conclusion because, in Raphaels mind, there always is one. You can see why Michelangelo both disliked and was jealous of him.

Raphael also increasingly worked as an architect. In 1514 he was appointed chief architect of St Peters Basilica, and although much of his work was destroyed after his death, drawings give a sense of what he wanted to achieve. As the prefect of antiquities, he argued for a visual survey of all monuments within Rome, and against the destruction of ancient monuments. He collaborated with leading printmakers so that his designs could be diffused throughout Europe  and soon they were. Rubens, Rembrandt, the Carracci brothers, Poussin, Ingres and so many more knew and were inspired by his work.

Raphaels legacy persists down to this day, his place in the artistic canon hard won. Although it is impossible not to wonder: what could he have achieved if hed had another 37 years?

Caroline Campbells first book, The Power of Art, was published in 2023.

***

Michelangelo

By Eliza Goodpasture, art historian

There is no other name so associated with titanic artistic genius than Michelangelo, so much so that it has become divorced from the vast reality of his work. Space, and how we move through it, was Michelangelos defining concern. He was the original Renaissance man, working as a sculptor, painter, architect and poet, but all his work circles the same questions about how it looks and feels to move our heavy human forms through this mortal life (and beyond). No one has so defined the pinnacle of visual culture in the west since antiquity, for better or worse.

Michelangelo was a person of intense paradox. Although he always called himself a sculptor, his paintings and buildings have equalled or surpassed the fame of his sculptures. Born in Florence and a proud Florentine throughout his life, his work came to define another city: Rome. The key works that epitomise his legacy there  including the Sistine Chapel frescos, the Pieta, the dome of St Peters Basilica, the Piazza di Campidoglio  were made across the end of the 15th century and the first half of the 16th and, together, represent not only a redefinition of the city of Rome, but also a redefinition of the way space itself should function.

Michelangelos early works of sculpture depict bodies occupying space: his Pieta, finished when he was just 24, tenderly imagines a timeless moment of sorrow, impossibly bringing together a youthful Mary and her adult son, as if in acknowledgment of the eternity of their divine relationship. Christ seems to melt into his mothers arms in death, emerging from the stone with breathtaking grace.

The Sistine Chapel ceiling, completed 14 years later, seems to create space in its use of trompe loeil architectural details and seemingly sculpted bodies that appear to lift off the plaster into the cavernous heavens of the ceiling. It is not a static thing, despite being two-dimensional. For the viewer on the ground, there is no one place from which to see it all: one must move through the chapel and look from various angles to appreciate the totality of the creation. By the age of 4o, not even halfway through his long life, Michelangelo had become a legend.

What makes Michelangelos work truly breathtaking is that it is the product of one man, burdened by the joys and torments of real life

The invitation to move through space is expanded in his later architectural creations. The Piazza di Campidoglio was not completed until after his death, supervised by his great love, Tommaso dei Cavalieri. But the plans were completed by the artist, and they represent a sort of pinnacle of the artistic questions that governed his life.

The piazza is located on the Capitoline Hill, one of the seven hills of Rome, and overlooks the Roman Forum. It has been the seat of civil government of the city since antiquity, through ever-changing cycles of leadership and systems of governance. Michelangelos plan for the piazza reoriented it towards the Vatican, rather than the Forum, reflecting the shift in Romes purpose from the ancient to the papal. He redesigned the square itself and the three buildings that surround it in an architectural system of symmetry and High Renaissance perfection.

Related: It took genius to chisel these buttocks  the top 10 bottoms in art, chosen by our critic

Two buildings already existed, and were given new facades, and a third, the Palazzo Nuovo, was built to complete the trio that surrounds the 12-pointed star on the pavement of the piazza itself, with an antique bronze statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius at the centre. They all stand atop ancient Roman buildings, layering the stones of previous eras, like most of Rome. The proportions are flawless, the balance superb, and the ideal of government is given a space that is both reverential and open.

Architecture is about enclosing space, sculpture is about excavating it, and painting, at least for Michelangelo, is about creating the illusion of it. In all three arts, he transcended the limits of what had been imagined by those before him. It is always tempting to elevate him above mere mortality, but what makes his work truly breathtaking is that it is the product of one man, burdened by the joys and torments of real life. His work continues to be a beacon of the paradoxes of the Renaissance: driving humanism butting heads with the fraught power dynamics of the papacy, the imperfect beauty of human physicality against the inevitability and incomprehensibility of the divine, and the weighty legacy of history meeting the alluring novelty of the present.

Eliza Goodpasture is an art historian and commissioning editor at Art UK; Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael is at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, 9 November to 16 February.
Optibac Probiotics was founded by siblings (L-R) Farah, Jalal and Soraya Janmohamed in 2004.

Soraya Janmohamed still feels warm and nostalgic when she imagines walking back through the doors and the perfume smells which pervaded her fathers chain of local community chemists.

She has good reason to. It was where she, along with her sister Jalal and brother Farah, learned the pharmacy ropes before the co-founding trio went global with their family-owned company Optibac Probiotics, the UKs best-selling brand in its field.

After the siblings finished university and garnered external business experience, they have since learned on the job at Optibac, growing the firm to projected turnover of more than 24m.

Read More: The rise of Neom Wellbeing: 'The true story is hard graft'

The Hampshire-based firm, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, has around 100 employees, with the business made up of 82% women and gender equality on its board.

Weve had amazing people come in and teach us things, says Soraya. An HR consultant came a decade ago, who suggested we pay six-month maternity leave. We felt that was what we should do. We dont wave about the term feminism but we do consider ourselves quite a feminist business.

Soraya Janmohamed along with her co-founder siblings has grown Optibac Probiotics over 20 years.

Employee benefits also include 500 worth of free probiotics annually, an increase in holiday days and reduced hours, as well as a weeks extra pay at Christmas.

The latter dates back to their father Ferozes business outlook. He taught us things right from the get go, says Soraya. He wasnt a big marketer but for the first five years all our focus was on sales. That was what was going to bring in the revenue.

She says the best advice handed down by their father, who is retired but sits quietly on the Optibac board, was to hire people smarter than you. He was also a community staple. People all knew dad and from all walks of life, she adds.

Having started with his much-loved Coopers Chemist on Andover high street, he grew 11 more local pharmacies in the South East over 35 years, with his offspring acting as fledgling sales reps.

Read More: Meet the 'jokers from London' who sold 100,000 blocks of butter in first 10 weeks

We used to get on the phones to independent pharmacies and we were so focused that people would know that, if they wanted to sell us something like utilities or advertising space, they would have to call us after 5pm, recalls Soraya.

From 9 to 5, our shops were open and we were calling our customers.

Focus shifted when their father's pharmacist friend in New Zealand first told the siblings about probiotics, after recommending them to customers alongside antibiotic prescriptions.

He would say I am recommending a probiotic alongside it, explaining that this was your good bacteria, says Soraya. Antibiotics kill your bad and good bacteria and he told customers to take it as a top up and they wont get the side-effects.

Jalal Janmohamed pictured with King Charles.

After their father sold his business in the early 2000s and helped launch the trios venture  Optibac wasn't registered as a trademark for a few years  they began contacting partners at biological institutes and researched types and strains behind probiotics. It formed their gold-standard science policy today.

Its daunting speaking to these big guys but we wanted to work with the best, recalls Soraya. Different strains of friendly bacteria do different things. There is clear research on it, scientifically proven, that one is for pregnancy, this one is for vaginal microbiome or diarrhea. Nobody had done that and we had a unique angle.

Their natural alternative to traditional over-the-counter medicine was born. Twenty years on, Optibac, which has given over 2m to charity, is now also seen as the most recommended brand of friendly bacteria supplements, stocked by major UK retailers and operating in over 25 international markets. Over the last five years, they have also received both Queens and Kings Awards for enterprise.

Read More: How 300 jars of mayonnaise launched a 10m 'real food' business

When we started there was a sense we were behind in probiotics as opposed to Australia and New Zealand, says Soraya, an Optibac director. There is a lot of competition out there now and we need to make sure we secure and keep hold of that [best-selling brand].

We are still not there in the UK but we have seen a huge interest over the last 10 years in gut health. You would have to be living under a rock not to have heard that, 'wow, 70% of the immune system is based in the gut'.

Behind the brand: Soraya Janmohamed on...

Being a most trusted firm

Our senior leadership team have challenged us at times. They have seen that skin health is huge or people are googling probiotics for weight loss. I think theyve felt we have held back at times and it may be frustrating from a marketing point of view.

We do have integrity and we are excited about probiotic for weight loss but to date the research isnt good enough. Weve always been about the science and probiotic.

Optibac's founders were inspired by their father, Feroze (R).

Probiotic growth

Its so important there is enough research before we launch it. Microbiome has been linked to many different areas of health such as the brain, skin and immune system, as well as vaginal microbiome. People have understood about the gut over the last 10 years, but this has been linked not just to obvious health concerns like thrush and cystitis but endometriosis and even fertility. We are really watching that research.

Watch: Five reasons why you should prioritise gut health

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The Metropolitan Police received allegations of Al Fayeds conduct (PA Archive)

The Metropolitan Police has referred itself to the police watchdog over complaints from two women about the handling of investigations into allegations made against Mohamed Al Fayed.

The two women made complaints about investigations from 2008 and 2013.

According to the Met, they have raised concerns about the quality of police response and, in the case of the 2013 investigation, how details came to be disclosed publicly.

Commander Stephen Clayman, from the Mets Specialist Crime team, said: We are actively reviewing 21 allegations reported to the Metropolitan Police prior to Mohamed Al Fayeds passing, as well as the related police investigations, to determine if any additional investigative steps are available or there are things we could have done better.

This process remains active, and we are committed to assessing all new allegations, pursuing justice where possible and transparently addressing any failings.

In recent weeks, two victims-survivors have come forward with concerns about how their allegations were handled when first reported, and it is only appropriate that the IOPC assess these complaints.

Although we cannot change the past, we are resolute in our goal to offer every individual who contacts us the highest standard of service and support.

I encourage anyone with relevant information, whether you were personally affected or have knowledge about others who may have facilitated Al Fayeds actions to contact us.

Our priority remains to ensure that no stone is left unturned in the pursuit of justice.

It comes as more than 400 people have come forward to lawyers concerning allegations of sexual misconduct against former Harrods owner.

The Justice for Harrods Survivors group said last month the majority of the 421 inquiries they were dealing with were in the Harrods context, but said others had contacted them from Fulham FC, the Ritz hotel in Paris and elsewhere.

The 421 figure is a combination of alleged victims and witnesses. While the majority are from the UK, 12 women are from America and six from Australia, with others from the United Arab Emirates, Denmark, Spain, Thailand, New Zealand, Italy, Romania and Malaysia.

A number of women made allegations against Fayed in a BBC documentary earlier this year.

The BBCs Al Fayed: Predator At Harrods documentary reported the claims of five women who said they were raped by Fayed, with a number of others alleging sexual misconduct.

Following the programme, more than 250 people are now in the process of claiming damages from Harrods. Fayed died in 2023, aged 94.

The Metropolitan Police asked prosecutors to decide whether to charge the former Harrods and Fulham FC owner in relation to only two out of 21 women who made allegations, including of rape and sexual assault, between 2005 and 2023.

Evidence was shown to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in 2009 and 2015, but it decided not to go ahead with either because there was not a realistic prospect of conviction.

Fayed acquired Harrods for 615 million in 1985. In 2010, after 26 years in charge, he sold the department store to the Qatari royal family for a reported 1.5 billion.

Harrods said in a previous statement: These were the actions of an individual who was intent on abusing his power wherever he operated and we condemn them in the strongest terms. We also acknowledge that during this time as a business we failed our employees who were his victims and for this we sincerely apologise.

The Harrods of today is a very different organisation to the one owned and controlled by Al Fayed between 1985 and 2010, it is one that seeks to put the welfare of our employees at the heart of everything we do.
Alan Milburn, pictured in 2016: People have got to stop thinking that the answer to the NHS problem is simply more and more money. Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian

The NHS is drinking in the last-chance saloon and needs to change, the former health secretary Alan Milburn has said as he prepares to take up a senior role in the Department of Health.

Milburn, who brought about radical changes, such as the introduction of NHS foundation trusts, when he was a minister for Tony Blair, called for cultural change in the health service and said big reforms will be needed to make it fit for the future.

People have got to stop thinking that the answer to the NHS problem is simply more and more money, the former Darlington MP said in a paywalled interview with the Times, adding that the crisis in the NHS was a million times worse than when he was in office.

The NHS is in the worst state Ive ever seen and Ive been around health policy now for 30 years. I genuinely think its drinking in the last-chance saloon.

The Guardian revealed in October that Milburn was being given a lead role in the running of Wes Streetings health department, reigniting the row over Labour figures with private interests having access to the government.

On Saturday, Streeting confirmed Milburns appointment as lead non-executive director of the department, praising him for his previous changes which helped deliver the shortest waiting times and highest patient satisfaction in the history of the NHS and welcoming his advice on turning the NHS around once again.

The NHS was given 22.6bn of extra funding in the budget.

When you put that amount of money in, you better make sure that every pound of it is working to produce better outcomes for patients, Milburn said, adding that the prime minister agreed with him. Keir [Starmer] has got religion on public-service reform, he said.

Streeting would go further and faster than New Labour had under Blair, Milburn said, because delivering on the NHS was the acid test for this government.

The NHS has got to be weaned off the more, more, more culture, and its got to recognise that if youre going to do big dollops of resources, then that has got to be matched by a massive dose of reform.

Linking money to change was the only game in town, because otherwise in the end what will happen is well end up breaking the NHS on the mantra of Its always got to be more, more, more.

He said there was a different fiscal climate now compared with when he was health secretary between 1999 and 2003. If youve broadly got less resourcing than then, youve got to do more reforming than then.

Milburn was an MP from 1992 to 2010. Between 2012 and 2017, he chaired the social mobility commission and since 2015 he has been the chancellor of Lancaster University.

Announcing his appointment on Saturday, the department confirmed that due to the requirements of the role Milburn was appointed directly by the secretary of state.

Streeting said the government had inherited a broken health service. Building an NHS fit for the future was one of Labours five missions laid out in its election manifesto.

The party promised to cut waiting times by offering 40,000 more appointments every week, doubling the number of cancer scanners, employing 8,500 additional mental health staff, forming a new dentistry rescue plan and bringing back the family doctor.
The five samples of honey sent for testing by UK beekeepers were all authentic Photograph: Chris Rout/Alamy

The honey industry faces new demands to overhaul its supply chain after more than 90% of sampled products bought from large British retailers failed pioneering authenticity tests.

The UK branch of the Honey Authenticity Network sent 30 samples last month from Britain for a novel commercial test based on the DNA profiles of genuine honey. Five were from UK beekeepers and 25 from big retailers, including supermarkets.

The tests found that 24 out of the 25 jars of honey from retailers were considered suspicious. All five samples from UK beekeepers were considered to be genuine.

Honey importers in the UK and some experts challenge the reliability of such testing, but this is the latest batch of tests suggesting what may be widespread adulteration in the honey supply chain, with some products suspected of being bulked out with cheaper sugar syrup.

Related: Bee aware: do you know what is in that cheap jar of honey?

The British Honey Importers and Packers Association (BHIPA) said a weight of evidence assessment must be used to safeguard the supply chain. It said the vast majority of UK-sold honey was of very high standard.

An EU investigation published last year found 46% of imported sampled products were suspected to be fraudulent, including all 10 honey samples from the UK.

The EU is working on advanced testing techniques to detect honey fraud and has passed new legislation to provide improved labelling of country of origin on jars of honey.

Lynne Ingram, a Somerset beekeeper and the chair of the Honey Authenticity Network UK, said: The market is being flooded by cheap, imported adulterated honey and it is undermining the business of genuine honey producers. The public are being misinformed, because they are buying what they think is genuine honey.

The UK is one of the biggest importers of cheap Chinese honey, which is known to be targeted by fraudsters. Honey importers say supply chains and provenance are carefully audited, but there has been no consensus on how technical tests should be applied, or which are most reliable.

The Celvia research institute in Estonia, which is partly owned by the University of Tartu, developed its novel methodology for honey DNA test with support from the EUs European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. The DNA composition of the honey is compared against a database of more than 500 genuine honeys, with about half of these from Estonia.

Kaarel Krjutskov, director of the Celvia laboratory, said he considered the testing was robust, in the face of criticism from other experts that the honey database was not sufficiently comprehensive and that one test was not enough to establish adulteration.

The Celvia analysis examines between 10m and 20m DNA sequences in honey samples, with machine learning used to detect deviations from profiles of authentic reference honeys. It is surprisingly easy to distinguish between the fake and authentic products, said Krjutskov. It is a huge gap.

Paul Horton, a beekeeper and the owner of Apidae Honey in Lincolnshire, was among the producers whose honey was tested by the Celvia laboratory and confirmed to be genuine. He said a better testing regime was required and the UK should introduce country of origin labelling on all honey.

He also said more supermarkets should promote British honey: We used to sell our honey in bulk to packers who would supply the supermarkets. That market has dwindled because the supermarkets arent stocking so much British honey. Horton said he was concerned that shoppers would lose trust in supermarket honey. He said: We just need to signal to them what is genuine quality British honey.

The Celvia laboratory has also recently tested honeys collected from German stores by the European Professional Beekeepers Association (EPBA). In those tests, 25 out of 30 samples failed, and there was widespread publicity in Germany about the findings.

Bernhard Heuvel, president of the EPBA, said: Consumers are paying for a product that is not even close to being honey. We are sending the results to the police because this is a crime and has to be treated as a crime.

The association has analysed the cost of some of the honey being imported into Europe, which is traded for as little as 80p a kilogram. The association does not consider it is possible for beekeepers in any country to produce honey at such low prices.

It also supports an initiative, Clean Up the Honey Market, which recently filmed undercover at an international food exhibition in Paris. Its investigators were told by foreign honey sales representatives that the lowest priced product was for the UK market, because it was less likely to be subjected to rigorous testing.

The Food Standards Agency in the UK has acknowledged that honey has become a target for adulteration, but says testing protocols are frequently contested. It is working with researchers, the honey industry, retailers and international bodies to improve authenticity testing methods.

The BHIPA said: It is our strong belief that the vast majority of honey consumed in the UK is of a very high standard and is not fraudulent.

We have in the past raised significant concerns over the veracity of tests being deployed as they are not independently administered and continue to be based on questionable, unverified datasets from commercial laboratories, which discriminate against honeys from certain geographies.

It said it had considered similar previous claims, which it said had been found to be entirely without merit. It added it considered the previous EU study to have lacked veracity and that the tests deployed were not recognised for enforcement.

The BHIPA said: We remain supportive of any tests that help eliminate the potential sale of any substandard honey in the UK market, but their methodology, scientific basis and application needs to be fit for purpose and independently validated before they can be recognised for enforcement.

Devina Sankhla, a food policy adviser at the British Retail Consortium, said: Our members work with suppliers to ensure the authenticity of their honey, conducting regular checks to ensure all honey they sell is as described. Retailers continue to support the development of improved techniques to detect any adulterated honey, so they can continue to ensure customers get the best products on the shelves.

A government spokesperson said: There is no place for adulterated honey. We work closely with enforcement authorities to ensure honey sold in the UK is not subject to adulteration.
The Princess of Wales arrives at the Royal Albert Hall - Chris J Ratcliffe/Reuters

The Princess of Wales has joined the Royal family at the Royal Albert Hall to honour Britains Armed Forces, in her first major event since finishing her chemotherapy.

The Princess, who is making a gradual return to the public eye after serious illness this year, joined her husband the Prince of Wales and the King for the annual Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance on Saturday evening.

Wearing a black dress with a clutch bag, high heels, pearl earrings, her distinctive engagement ring and a poppy brooch, the Princess smiled as she entered the Kensington venue with Prince William just before 7pm on Saturday evening.

Members of the Royal family inside the royal box - Chris J Ratcliffe/Reuters

Queen Camilla was absent as she recuperated from a chest infection at home.

The King was applauded as he took his seat in the royal box, announced by a fanfare by state trumpeters of the household division under the direction of trumpet major Julian Sandford MVO.

The Princess Royal sat next to her elder brother, with the Prince and Princess of Wales seen deep in conversation further along the aisle.

The Royal family stood to applaud Second World War veterans as they entered the hall, in the 80th anniversary year of D-Day.

The Princess was wearing a black dress with a clutch bag, high heels, pearl earrings, her distinctive engagement ring and a poppy brooch - Chris J Ratcliffe/Reuters

The Prince and Princess of Wales applauded a performance by Sir Tom Jones of I Wont Crumble With You If You Fall with the central band of the Royal Air Force.

The Princess smiled and spoke to the Prince after Sir Tom finished.

The King smiled and spoke to the Princess Royal as he joined in with a clap for the Chelsea Pensioners as they made their entrance.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer joined the crowd in applauding as The Old Brigade was performed.

The Princess of Wales was at her first major event since finishing chemotherapy - Chris J Ratcliffe/Reuters

Before the event began, Sir Keir kissed his wife Lady Victoria Starmer and waved to Defence Secretary John Healey after taking his seat.

The Prime Minister and Defence Secretary were seated on either side of the royal box at the Royal Albert Hall.

The King waved to the audience following the singing of the national anthem.

The Prince and Princess of Wales joined in the singing of the national anthem, which was followed by serving personnel on the floor of the hall removing their headwear and giving three cheers to the King on the instruction of Garrison Sergeant Major Andrew Stokes.

The Royal family stood in silence as the Last Post was played and poppy petals fell from the ceiling.

King Charles arriving at the Royal Albert Hall - Chris J Ratcliffe/Reuters

The Royal British Legions Festival of Remembrance is an evening event at the Royal Albert Hall, where the Armed Forces, those who lost their lives in service, and their families are celebrated and commemorated.

This year, it marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day, with a further focus on Kosovo 25 years after the deployment of Nato peacekeeping force and Afghanistan a decade after the end of Operation Herrick.

The Princess of Wales will also attend the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph, London, on Sunday and will watch the ceremony from a balcony overlooking the monument.

The King, who is undergoing his own cancer treatment, and the Prince of Wales will lay wreaths.

The Queen is expected to be absent again in line with doctors advice.

Buckingham Palace said missing the ceremonies was a source of great disappointment for the Queen, whose father served in the 12th Lancers and won two military crosses during the Second World War before being taken prisoner.

The Prince and Princess of Wales keenly applauded those on stage - Chris J Ratcliffe/Reuters

A Palace spokesman said: Following doctors guidance to ensure a full recovery from a seasonal chest infection, and to protect others from any potential risk, Her Majesty will not attend this weekends Remembrance events.

While this is a source of great disappointment to the Queen, she will mark the occasion privately at home and hopes to return to public duties early next week.

It is understood there is no cause for alarm and no downturn in the Queens condition. As well as heeding doctors advice to avoid setting back her recovery, she is said to be mindful of the risk of passing a seasonal infection on to others.

The service at the Cenotaph is one of the most important fixtures of the royal calendar.

Princess Anne, Princess Royal arrives at the event - Chris J Ratcliffe/AFP

Kensington Palace sources signalled the Princess of Waless intention to attend Remembrance events when she made her Sept 9 video announcing that she had finished her chemotherapy.

It was confirmed on Friday that she would be well enough to go.

It marks the next significant step in the Princesss measured return to public royal duties, following appearances at Trooping the Colour, Wimbledon and in a visit to bereaved families in Southport in October.

Prince William this week spoke of the toll that both his father and wifes illnesses have taken on the family, saying 2024 had been brutal and had probably been the hardest year in my life.

Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Lady Victoria were in attendance - Chris J Ratcliffe/PA

The Queen is continuing to rest at Ray Mill, her Wiltshire home, and plans to return to London early next week if royal doctors give her the go-ahead.

She has several engagements in her diary, including a Booker Prize event at Clarence House on Tuesday, a palace reception celebrating the TV and film industry and a night out with the King at the star-studded global premiere of Gladiator II on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the King will celebrate his 76th birthday.
Major S, an Israeli F-16 pilot who took part in the Israeli attack in Iran in October - Matan Golan

Major S had carried out hundreds of complex operations during his 10-year stint in the Israeli air force but nothing was as daunting as the one launched against Iran last month.

The air force pilot, flanked by dozens of F-16 fighter jets and refuelling planes, descended into a dark space in the Middle East on Oct 26.

The mission had two clear goals: hitting Irans air defence systems and ballistic missile production sites.

Guiding his F-16 through Iranian airspace, Major S  like all Israeli fighter pilots - knew he could be shot down or taken as a hostage in enemy territory but did so anyway with pride.

Sitting directly behind him, his wingman inserted the targets coordinates into the jets system as Major S flew the plane and scoured the airspace for any threats.

Major S then pulled the trigger to release the bombs, marking the first major aerial operation against the Islamic Republic in Israels history.

A general view of Tehran after several explosions were heard in Tehran on Oct 26 - Atta Kenare/AFP

As he flew his jet into enemy territory, Major S said he couldnt help but think about his family and the millions of Israelis who had run for shelter during attacks by Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthi rebels.

The pilot is unable to disclose which areas were hit in the attack but Iran confirmed that military bases in Tehran, Ilam and Khuzestan were targeted. Strikes were also reported in Karaj, Isfahan, and Shiraz.

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Major S told The Telegraph from the Ramon Air Base in the Negev Desert that the operation was straightforward, and that every pilot had fulfilled their mission.

We train for these, for these situations. You are as mentally prepared as you can be, he said, adding that the thought of being captured in Iran, Iraq or Syria is frightening.

But I also have a lot of faith in my capabilities and of course, my wingmans, he said.

That doesnt mean the operation came without nerves.

Its a lot of time that youre waiting on the runway, he explained. All that youre doing is fighting the thoughts in your head, thinking about what will happen.

As Major S explained how he tried to calm his nerves and focus on the mission, a huge roar from a fighter jet a few hundred metres away drowned out the sound of his voice.

Benjamin Netanyahu gave the command to launch a wave of air strikes on Iranian military sites

The fighter jets take off every 15 minutes or so, some of which head to Gaza and others to the north, which has faced an increasing number of attacks by Iran-backed Hezbollah in recent months.

Given the complexity of the operation, the air force had prepared for mistakes to be made along the way, which could have affected the outcome of the attack.

But its fighters had trained and prepared for long-distance operations like this for years, and after a year of the most intense war in Israels history, the air force personnel believe they have a major advantage gained from their tactical experiences.

I think that one of the things that really helps was that we have experience from the war. If I think about my operational strikes three years ago in Gaza, I was very excited and tense before taking off, he said.

A fighter jet being prepared ahead of Israeli armys attack on Iran - Anadolu

Major S explained how the operation against Iran was by far the most significant in his decade-long career in the air force.

It was a very special night, and Ill always remember it. But the minute I landed, I was already planning my next mission and my next flight, he said.

And Major S might very well be on his way to Iran again soon, as the Islamic Republic has vowed to retaliate.

Ayatollah Khamenei, Irans supreme leader, warned last week that Israel and the US would definitely receive a crushing response to what they are doing to Iran and the Iranian nation and to the resistance front.

According to Axios, the news outlet, Washington has warned Iran that it wont be able to hold Israel back if Iran launches another attack.

A congratulatory billboard in Tel Aviv on Nov 7, celebrating Donald Trumps victory - Amir Levy/Getty Images

Donald Trump, the US president-elect, has also expressed strong support for Israel, even if he appears frustrated with how long the war has gone on.

In April, he urged Israel: Youve got to get it over with, and you have to get back to normalcy.

But its no secret that the regime in Tehran would have preferred Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate, to win.

Mr Trumps last stint in office saw him rip up the nuclear deal, kill Qassem Soleimani, an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) chief, and pursue a maximum pressure policy that threw Irans economy into chaos.
A 32-year-old man has been arrested after a teenager was found dead in Sydney bushland. Police closed Wilton Park Road. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP

A man is in police custody as detectives continue their inquiries into the death of a teenage boy in Sydneys south-west.

The 15-year-olds body was found in bushland in Wilton at about 7.25am on Saturday.

Following a public appeal for information, a 32-year-old man was arrested after presenting himself at Narellan police station shortly after 4pm, New South Wales police said.

No charges had been laid and inquiries were ongoing.

Acting Supt Tim Calman earlier said police were unsure what happened but the boy had been at a camping area with about a dozen associates.

In this early stage, the timeline we believe [is that] something happened on the Friday evening, but the exact time is still under investigation, he said.

The information we have at this stage is they may have been camping in that area.

Asked how many people were at the campsite alongside the alleged victim, Calman said he was not sure.

I do not have the exact number. Perhaps a dozen of them.

He said police were speaking to witnesses and canvassing the local area.

Calman added that there was evidence at the scene that indicated the death occurred close to the campsite.

Emergency services responded to reports that a body had been located in the area. Officers from Camden police area command secured the area as they awaited the arrival of specialist police.

Police closed Wilton Park Road and established a crime scene, as investigations continued.

The boys family had been informed, but formal identification was due to be completed in the coming days. Calman confirmed that the boy was local to the Picton area.
Prince William said he was proud of his wife and father for handling the things that they have done. Photograph: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Prince William has described the past year as brutal and probably the hardest year in my life as he dealt with his wife and father having cancer.

In a video interview to mark the end of his week-long visit of Cape Town in South Africa for the Earthshot prize awards ceremony, William was asked about his year. Honestly, its been dreadful, he said. Its probably been the hardest year in my life. Trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult.

But Im so proud of my wife, Im proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done. But from a personal family point of view, its been, yeah, its been brutal.

Buckingham Palace announced that Williams father, King Charles, had cancer in February. In March, Williams wife, the Princess of Wales, disclosed her own diagnosis.

Catherine appeared in a video with her family in September to confirm her return to public duties after completing a course of chemotherapy.

The princesss message about her cancer journey was spoken over images showing the family and their children enjoying the outdoors, and she said her focus now was doing what I can to stay cancer free.

Charles has been receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of the disease as an outpatient, but will return to fuller duties and greater overseas travel next year.

In the wide-ranging discussion with the British media, William also said he did not like the added responsibility that now comes with being heir to the throne.

Do I like more responsibility? No, he said. Do I like the freedom that I can build something like Earthshot? Then yes.

And thats the future for me. Its very important with my role and my platform that Im doing something for good, that Im helping peoples lives and Im doing something that is genuinely meaningful.

So, the Earthshot is a culmination, if you like, of all that put together.

William staged his Earthshot prize ceremony in an eco-dome on Wednesday night. He called his environmental awards a movement for change and called on the world to join.

He said Earthshot carried out due diligence on finalists, enabling companies to come in and poach what they want but there was a reluctance from some firms to get involved as they waited for something better round the corner.
The Chancellor said the Budget met Labours pledge because the NI increases fell on employers, not on employee payslips - Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images

The Chancellor has been accused of covering up the impact of her National Insurance raid on workers.

While all tax policy changes are accompanied by an impact assessment known as a Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN), the Government did not publish one alongside the 25 billion National Insurance raid on employers announced in the Budget, it has emerged.

TIINs assess the probable impact of a policy change on the economy, families, individuals and those who have protected characteristics under the Equality Act.

Before the general election, Labour repeatedly pledged not to increase taxes on working people, including in its manifesto.

The Chancellor said the Budget met Labours pledge because the NI increases fell on employers, not on employee payslips.

However, the independent Office for Budget Responsibilitys forecast said 80 per cent of the NI rise would be passed on to workers through lower wage increases, while the other 20 per cent would be felt through higher prices.

Last week, the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank warned that the policy would disproportionately impact women in the workforce because they are over-represented among the lowest earners likely to be most affected by the change.

Mel Stride, the shadow chancellor, said: It is unacceptable that Labour are withholding this critical analysis of the impact of yet another of their pernicious policies.

An impact assessment of the policy is expected to be published in the coming months when legislation to implement the National Insurance change is drafted.

Government sources claimed the long delay between the policy being announced and the impact assessment being published is a result of the changes not coming into effect until spring 2025.

It comes after the Government was accused of breaking rules by not publishing its equality impact assessment of the winter fuel allowance changes.

The Government was forced to release the document after a Freedom of Information request. It showed that according to its own forecasts, seven in 10 disabled pensioners stood to lose out on winter fuel payments because of the Chancellors cuts to the allowance.

The Conservatives described the debacle as appalling and suggested Ms Reeves may have broken the ministerial code.

In the Budget, the Chancellor announced a raid on employer National Insurance contributions projected to raise 25 billion for the Exchequer.

Ms Reeves raised the rate of employer NI from 13.8 per cent to 15 per cent while also lowering the threshold at which employers started to pay it. The salary threshold dropped from 9,100 a year to 5,000 a year.

In a further tax-raising measure, the Chancellor increased the employment allowance, which helps firms reduce their NI liability, from 5,000 to 10,500.

Business leaders from some of Britains biggest hospitality groups are writing to the Chancellor this weekend warning of closures and job losses as a result of her NI changes.

An early draft of the letter seen by Sky News reads: The changes to the NICs threshold are not just unsustainable for our businesses but inevitably regressive in their impact on lower earners Unquestionably they will lead to business closures and job losses within a year.

The letter has reportedly been circulated among execs from Stonegate Group, Britains biggest pubs operator, along with other major hospitality companies.

The Chancellor is sending a clear message to pensioners, farmers and small business owners that she does not know, or care, about the damaging impact her policies will have, said Mr Stride.

To govern is to choose and Labour must come clean about the true impacts of the choices they are making.
Lieutenant Governor of Texas Dan Patrick was seen giving remarks to republican delegates from Texas on the first day of the Texas GOP Convention on May 23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Christopher Lee

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said Friday he has no interest in joining President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet, amid speculation he could be considered for a spot in the new administration.

"I have stated clearly many times before: while it would be an honor to serve in President Trumps cabinet, I am staying in Texas," Patrick, a two-term Republican, wrote on the social media site X. "My best opportunity to serve the people is right here. I love what I do."

The social media post came shortly after Patrick issued a statement saying his top priority after the election is pushing private school vouchers in the next legislative session, which starts in January.

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Patrick is close to Trump and served as his Texas campaign chairman. He was also a regular visitor to the White House during Trump's first term.
Poppies are one of the most iconic symbols of remembrance. (PA) (Scott Barbour via Getty Images)

In the build-up to Remembrance Sunday this weekend, the red poppy has started to be seen on TV screens and attached to people's coats.

The remembrance poppy has been part of British society for more than 100 years and has its roots in the end of the First World War.

As people began over time to wear them as a sign of respect to those who had died, charities began to sell them to raise funds for veterans, with several commemoration organisations using it as their logo.

Poppies have been used for over 100 years. (PA) (Cole Bennetts via Getty Images)

The enduring popularity of the poppy and its connection to war has led to it being politicised over the years, which in turn has led to the growth of different poppies with their own meaning.

The red poppy

By far the most common poppy is red. It is the most common form of remembrance symbol in much of the Western world and in many Commonwealth nations.

According to the Royal British Legion, the idea to use a red poppy came from a poem written by Canadian doctor Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae in 1915.

He called the poem 'In Flanders Fields' and wrote it after losing his friend in Ypres.

It opens: "In Flanders fields, the poppies blow / Between the crosses, row on row. / That mark our place; and in the sky / The larks, still bravely singing, fly / Scarce heard amid the guns below."

Poppies would often be the only things that would grow fields destroyed by the First World War. (PA) (Panama)

The image of poppies being the flower that grew over the graves of the war dead became a powerful image and prompted American academic named Moina Michael to adopt the poppy in memory to those who had fallen.

In the years after the war, the popularity of the poppy in the UK, Canada, America and several other allied nations grew. The creation and sale of poppies quickly became a huge fundraising opportunity for veterans charities and it was adopted as the de facto official image of remembrance.

Although it has declined in popularity in the US, it remains a powerful symbol elsewhere and millions are produced in the UK each year.

In France, a blue poppy, or the 'Bluet de France', is worn as a symbol of remembrance in connection with the blue uniforms French soldiers wore during the First World War.

The white poppy

The white poppy has been adopted as an alternative to the red poppy by various groups. It symbolises peace and is used as both a replacement and an addition to the red poppy at commemoration events.

It was designed by pacifists in the 1920s who wished to show their respects to all those who died in war, not just soldiers, and to symbolise the hope to end all wars.

The white poppy has been controversial in British politics. (PA) (Larina Elena)

Proponents of the white poppy also argue the red poppy only remembers the soldiers who died from the home nation rather than their opponents, creating a political divide even after the war is over.

The wearing of a white poppy has been politically controversial for decades in the UK, with people accusing wearers of not respecting members of the Armed Forces.

Politician Jeremy Corbyn, after laying his wreath at the Cenotaph. (Harald Joergens)

Former veterans' minister Johny Mercer said in 2018 that he thought they were "attention-seeking rubbish."

During the early months of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership of the Labour Party, he sparked controversy when he refused to rule out wearing a white poppy at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday in 2015. He wore a red poppy on the day.

The purple poppy

The purple poppy is a symbol of remembrance for animals that served in wartime in the UK. It was created in 2006 by Animal Aid at a time when historians and the public were re-examining the contribution animals made to the First World War.

The purple poppy remembers the animals who died in war. (PA) (Yorkshire Pics)

Around eight million horses and donkeys died during the conflict as well as countless dogs and pigeons.

Animal Aid sold the poppy to be used alongside the red poppy until 2015 but it has since been picked up by other organisations.

Black and Khadi poppies

Several poppies have also been created to recognise the contribution made by specific groups during the First World War.

In the centenary year of 2018 the Khadi poppy was introduced by the Royal British Legion to recognise the contribution of Indian and Commonwealth nations to the First World War.

They were identical to red poppies except they were made of a spun cloth called khadi that originates from India. The poppy was worn by Theresa May when she was prime minister in 2018.

King Charles wearing a black poppy pin alongside the red poppy in November 2023. (PA) (amanda rose)

Black poppies have also been used to represent contributions made by African and Caribbean communities during various wars since the 16th century.

King Charles was seen wearing the poppy in 2023.

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The new clinic, Gender Plus, seeks to prescribe hormone treatment to trans youths aged 16 and over, a service no longer available at the Tavistock - Guy Smallman/Getty Images Europe

The health regulator is being sued over its decision to approve a private trans clinic for children which has been set up by former Tavistock staff.

Gender Plus was registered by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to prescribe hormones for those aged 16 and over despite a crackdown on such treatment by NHS England.

That decision will now be reviewed in the High Court after the judge granted permission for judicial review in a case brought by a Tavistock whistleblower and the mother of a trans teenager.

Paul Conrathe, Senior Consultant Solicitor at Sinclairslaw, said: Despite well-known concerns about gender medical treatment for children with gender dysphoria, the CQC registered the first hormonal clinic run by ex-Tavistock clinicians.

The High Court has ordered that a full trial should take place which could result in the clinics licence being revoked.

The clinic was set up by Dr Aidan Kelly, a clinical psychologist who previously worked at Tavistock - Yoav Pichersky

It comes amid concern that young people will turn to private clinics for gender-affirming treatment following a crackdown on puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones by NHS England.

Gender Plus opened in the wake of the announcement that the NHSs only Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) for children at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust would be shut down amid safety fears.

The private clinic was set up by Dr Aidan Kelly, a clinical psychologist who worked at the Tavistock for five years, and it employs a number of former GIDS staff members.

It was registered with the CQC in January, making it the first of its kind to be approved by the health regulator to prescribe cross-sex hormones to over-16s. It is an offence for providers of regulated healthcare activities in the UK to operate if they are not registered.

The CQC made the decision despite previously publishing a highly critical inspection report which was instrumental in the closure of the Tavistock.

It approved Gender Plus just months before the publication of the long-awaited Cass review.

The report by Dr Hilary Cass, a paediatric consultant, made 32 recommendations, including calling for the unhurried care of those under 25 who think they may be transgender and an end to the prescribing of powerful hormones to under-18s.

In the wake of the report, the Government banned the use of puberty blockers on under-18s and confirmed that cross-sex hormones would only be provided where strict eligibility and readiness criteria had been fulfilled, including sign-off by a multidisciplinary team.

Gender Plus does not prescribe drugs to suppress puberty but uses GnRH medication  known as puberty blockers  as part of a gender-affirming hormone pathway to patients aged 16 years and above. The Health Secretary confirmed that this was allowed, the clinic says.

Sometimes irreversible consequences

Susan Evans, a psychotherapist who was one of the first whistleblowers at the Tavistock and the mother of a 15-year-old who is currently seeking private trans treatment, has now been given permission to challenge the CQC decision.

Ms Evans told The Sunday Telegraph: My concern is that this area of mental health work has been politicised and operates outside of the normal framework of good clinical practice.

The CQC has now approved a private clinic that will pursue experimental hormone treatments on young people who are still developing and maturing.

Gender Plus clinic is operated by some of the staff who worked for the now-discredited GIDS at the Tavistock and they have publicly disagreed with the Cass review findings.

Hormones are a powerful intervention, potentially harmful, which interfere with the bodys natural development. Teenagers cannot give informed consent to a physical treatment which lacks an evidence base and has long-term, sometimes irreversible, physical consequences.

In legal papers seen by this newspaper it is argued that the CQC should not have registered the clinic to treat teenagers when it is widely acknowledged, including by the NHS and the World Health Organisation, that there is insufficient evidence to support the safety or efficacy of puberty blocker and cross-sex hormone treatments in the case of under-18s.

They say that the decision is irrational and means that whilst these drugs are strictly controlled by NHS England Gender Plus is licensed to provide those hormones to children aged 16 or 17 in the private sector without any other condition.

Ms Evans and the mother are calling for the High Court to quash the decision of the CQC to register Gender Plus.

Mr Justice Foxton ruled on Friday that a judicial review could go ahead, noting that it should look at whether there was sufficient evidential basis for the decision and the rationality of the [CQCs] decision.

The CQC said that it could not comment on ongoing legal proceedings.

Dr Kelly has previously said: Gender Plus is already working in line with much of what is described in the Cass Review.

Compassionate healthcare

On the judicial review, a spokesman for Gender Plus said: In line with NHSE policy, for a young person to be accepted into the hormone pathway at GPHC, they must first pass through a multidisciplinary team review. This includes an independent consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist, in addition to other mental health and paediatric specialists not directly involved in the formation of the individuals care plan.

Successful CQC registration has meant that Gender Plus and GPHC offer a pathway to safe effective healthcare for transgender young people under-18 years of age in the UK, which is in line with current NHSE policy and international best practice.

This is at a time when access to this essential care on the NHS is extremely limited. Indeed, a recent FOI demonstrates that NHSEs Children & Young Peoples gender pathway saw only eight new patients for assessment between January 2023 and July 2024. In contrast, during the same time period, Gender Plus saw 388 new young people.

Like any other patient population, transgender young people deserve access to timely compassionate regulated healthcare. Without access to regulated services, those under 18 years of age and their families will be forced to seek out medically unsafe and unregulated means of accessing the healthcare they need. This would present a significant safeguarding risk.
Campaigners say Remembrance Sunday events gloss over the history and violence of colonialism - ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Remembrance Day should be decolonised, campaigners say as they call for an end to nationalist narratives that whitewash and glorify the British Empire.

Ceremonies to commemorate members of the Armed Forces who have fallen in service gloss over the history and violence of colonialism, according to the Peace Pledge Union (PPU).

The PPU, which distributes white poppies, says that Remembrance Sunday events should examine the human cost of colonial conflicts such as the Amritsar massacre in Punjab, India, and the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya, both of which took place when the territories were under British colonial rule.

Launching their new campaign aimed at decolonising Remembrance Sunday, the PPU said: To remember the victims of colonial wars, we must actively challenge nationalist narratives that whitewash or glorify colonialism.

We also need to oppose the racist legacies of colonialism that continue to influence who is remembered and whose histories and experiences are erased.

Their campaign was launched this week ahead of the weekend of Remembrance which will begin on Saturday evening with the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.

On Sunday, the King will lead the annual Remembrance Day Service at the Cenotaph in London  his first since his cancer diagnosis.

Diversion from Remembrance Sunday benefits

Colonel Richard Kemp, the former commander of the British Forces in Afghanistan, accused the PPU of trying to hijack Remembrance Sunday.

Frankly, if they have a genuine interest in commemorating or making a statement about people who died as a result of British colonisation - by all means, do it, but do it on a different day, he said. Dont do it on the day that we commemorate people who died to give us the freedoms that we have today.

Thousands of people from the British colonies from the First and Second World Wars voluntarily served to fight for the British Empire - they werent forced to, they wanted to do it. And those who lost their lives are commemorated alongside British people on Remembrance Sunday.

If people want to wear the white poppy that is entirely up to them but one of the problems is that the money donated to do white poppy goes to propagandising their political cause, it doesnt go to helping wounded servicemen and their dependents as the red poppy does. It is a diversion from some of the benefits of Remembrance Sunday.

London Poppy Day, the flagship event for the Royal British Legions annual Poppy Appeal, launched on Thursday, with about 2,500 volunteers and Armed Forces personnel selling poppies and collecting donations at Network Rail and TfL stations across the capital.

The Royal British Legion distributes about 30 million poppies a year. Last year, the Poppy Appeal raised 49.2 million for members in need of the Armed Forces. This year, the charitys target is 53.1 million.

James Cartlidge, the shadow defence secretary, said: The point about the festival of Remembrance is that it is to remember those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in order to defend the freedom of our nation and all freedom-loving nations.

I will be proud to wear the traditional red poppy because we must never forget the sacrifice of those who gave their lives so that we can be free.

He said that the PPUs campaign to decolonise Remembrance Day would completely undermine that message adding: I would encourage everyone to continue to support the poppy appeal and to observe all the traditional facets of Remembrance weekend.

As the war in Ukraine has shown, if you want to have peace, you have to be ultimately prepared to fight for it by deterring your adversaries.

White poppies have been worn since 1933. They stand for remembrance for all victims of war, both civilian and military, of all nationalities, as well as challenging militarism and a commitment to peace.

They differ from red poppies, which were designed specifically to commemorate and support the British and allied Armed Forces personnel.

Geoff Tibbs, the PPUs Remembrance Project Manager, said: When we still see politicians openly celebrating the British Empire, it is vital that we remember the impacts that colonial wars and violence have had - and continue to have - around the globe.

We need to make space for the victims of colonial wars on Remembrance Day. This involves listening to the voices of those affected by that history and the ongoing impacts of colonialism, both in the UK and elsewhere. It involves actively challenging the racist legacies of colonialism that continue to influence whose lives are valued and whose are not.

He said that a number of official Remembrance Sunday events around the country are making use of white poppies in their ceremonies.

This year, Haringey Councils Remembrance Sunday ceremony will feature a white poppy wreath for the first time - a move which is supported by the Mayors Office of the north London borough, which coordinates the event.

It joins several other events including Sale Town Hall, South Manchester where white poppies will be included in the official event for the second year running, as well as ceremonies in Leicester and Aberystwyth.
New restrictions have been placed on a central London pub after a man living nearby repeatedly complained about faint giggles and murmuring from customers preventing him falling asleep.

The Globe, opposite Baker Street station, was told it must make its managers phone number public to residents and close businesses and supervise patrons drinking outside following a hearing at Westminster council on Thursday.

The large 18th century pub will also have to produce a management plan for its outside area and a dispersal policy to ensure people leave the premises quickly and quietly as part of six new restrictions on its licence.

However, it avoided having its opening hours stripped back to 11pm from 12.30am.

It comes after a single resident living nearby made a flurry of complaints about noise outside the bar between midnight and 12.45am.

Michael Zelouf told the licensing committee: Imagine you've just dozed off and you are woken up by a faint giggle.

You dozed off again to be woken up by a murmur from a distant conversation. Would your adrenaline spike? Would you struggle to fall back asleep?

That's what happens to me each time I'm forced to complain about the licensing after 12am. Each time rendering me unable to sleep before 1 or 2am. Is that acceptable?

As evidence, he submitted a series of WhatsApp messages between himself and the manager.

In one dated March 27, 2024 and sent at one minute past midnight he says: This is not ok. They are now screaming happy birthday.

The manager replies: Moving them as best we can and have told to be quiet.

In a message dated Saturday April 6 at 11.54pm, he complains that doormen are not moving customers away or asking them to respect the residents.

The same complainant called a licensing review against The Globe in 2022 citing the excessive pinging of beer barrels when they were being transported to and from the premises.

It resulted in the pub agreeing not to accept deliveries before 7am.

Mr Zeloufs latest application was supported by councillor Karen Scarborough.

She said: We know it's a very busy pub. It's very popular...But the outside clearly is a problem and we have had, although they may not have made complaints, we have had complaints from residents at Portland Mansions to us [saying] it gets out of hand, it's too noisy.

A legal spokesman for the Globe, which is owned by brewer Greene King, acknowledged that there were a handful of other residents who had supported the licensing review.

But he pointed out that council officers said that no nuisance was detected during multiple visits to the pub and the police had not raised any issues of antisocial behaviour.

We say this is a good pub, doing good work that is well received....It does not undermine any of the licensing objectives...This is not a premises that merits a review, he said.

He added: "Murmuring and occasional bouts of laughter, when did that become a nuisance? I don't accept, respectfully, that that can fairly be described as nuisance.

There have been numerous visits from the noise team and a plethora of WhatsApp messages.

What it ends up really boiling down to is that there is a loitering on the pavement space outside these premises late at night about which this individual complains.
Disgraced breast surgeon Ian Paterson told an inquest he fought very hard for a mother-of-two he operated on to have the treatment she wanted, while medics who disagreed with him were a bit dysfunctional.

The third of 62 inquests being held for patients of Paterson, who is serving a 20-year sentence for wounding, has been told Christine Baker died aged 59 in 2015 after putting her trust in his advice to have a skin-sparing mastectomy in 2005.

Paterson told the inquest on Wednesday that the possibility he had not removed some of the procedure was vanishingly small and he disagreed with two experts views that Ms Bakers death was linked to him leaving some excess breast tissue.

The hearing has been told secondary school assistant headteacher Mrs Baker, from Balsall Common, near Solihull, was advised that there was no additional risk to a reconstructive element of a skin-sparing mastectomy in 2005, but saw her cancer return in 2007 and underwent a second mastectomy.

Her husband, Stephen Baker, previously told the inquest that when the cancer returned in 2007, Paterson again suggested reconstructive surgery.

Christine Baker, who died in 2015 (Family handout)

He said the couple were never made fully aware that a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) who discussed the case believed delaying reconstruction until after the second mastectomy was the safest option, and Patersons recommendation had a higher risk of local recurrence.

Giving evidence via video link from prison on Thursday, Paterson, 66, told Birmingham and Solihull Coroners Court he remembered the disagreement in the MDT.

He said: I have got a recollection of this process and how protracted it was and how sorry I felt for the patient.

One of the things this does demonstrate is that I fought very hard for this lady to have what she wanted.

I was the patients advocate for what she seemed to want. She had all her options put to her.

Asked by counsel to the inquests Jonathan Jones KC whether he told Mrs Baker about the disagreement over her treatment options, Paterson said: Yes, Im sure I would have told her.

Paterson said he could not remember if he knew at that point whether he was being investigated, but said the MDT was a bit dysfunctional, claiming his whistleblowing accusations against another doctor had become public knowledge.

He told the inquest: I felt that a lot of decision making in the MDT was factional rather than clinical.

This was one of those cases where whatever I said was going to be disagreed with, not purely on clinical grounds.

Asked about the 2005 mastectomy, Paterson said he had intended to remove all the breast tissue he could, and it was not his intention to leave any.

He was questioned about medical records showing the amount of tissue removed during the procedure had weighed 209 grams.

Asked by Mr Jones whether he considered that was light for someone with 34B cup breasts, Paterson said: No, not really. The weight is the weight.

If you have done the operation and theres nothing remaining, which is what youre insinuating, and there wasnt  we know that from subsequent pathology  the weight is the weight.

Worrying about whether its too light or too heavy is not going to change the fact the operation was complete.

When told that the normal weight for 34B cup breasts is around 350 grams, Paterson replied: An average is the middle part of what is sometimes much higher and sometimes much lower.

Mr Jones asked Paterson about another document showing Mrs Bakers tumour went right to the excision margin  the edge of tissue removed during the procedure, saying: Is this something the patient should know, that the tumour has not been completely removed?

Paterson said: You are speculating that the tumour has not been completely removed and I think it was.

He told the inquest that Mrs Baker did not relapse at the mastectomy site.

Asked by Mr Jones if he agreed with two experts views that Mrs Bakers death was linked to him leaving excess breast tissue during the 2005 mastectomy, Paterson said: Not only do I disagree with it, theres a lot of evidence in the disclosure that completely disproves it.

Paterson, originally from Glasgow  who was living in Altrincham in Greater Manchester when he was tried and convicted, was employed by the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust and practised in the private sector at Spire Parkway and Spire Little Aston.

He was appointed as a consultant at Solihull Hospital in 1998 and practised there until May 2011.

The inquest continues.
Prince of Wales enjoys a fish barbecue with models Heidi Klum and Winnie Harlow, and rapper Tobe Nwigwe in Cape Town - GETTY IMAGES

The Prince of Wales has revealed that he is trying to take a more modern approach to royal duties with a smaller R in the royal.

The Prince said the world needed more empathetic leadership, suggesting that he had made a deliberate decision to focus less on the pomp and pageantry and more on helping people.

Speaking shortly before he returned home from his four-day visit to Cape Town last week for the fourth edition of the Earthshot Prize awards, he also said he was hopeful that his wife, the Princess of Wales, would join him on overseas trips next year as she begins a phased return to work.

When the Princes grandmother, then Princess Elizabeth, was heir to the throne, she too travelled to South Africa, delivering a landmark radio address in 1947 in which she pledged to serve for her whole life, be it long or short.

Almost eight decades on, the Prince followed in her footsteps but with a notably different message. Dressed down in trainers and open-necked shirts, he aimed to connect with young people, to inspire them to protect the planet and to instigate change.

Prince chats with Megan Taplin, manager of Cape Towns Table Mountain National Park - CHRIS JACKSON COLLECTION

He said: I can only describe what Im trying to do, and that is, Im trying to do it differently and Im trying to do it for my generation.

And to give you more of an understanding around it, Im doing it with maybe a smaller R in the royal, if you like  thats maybe a better way of saying it.

The Prince said that both he and his wife wanted to use their roles to be the empathetic leaders they felt the world was lacking.

While he did not directly refer to either his grandmother or his fathers reign, he is understood to consider certain protocols and strategies previously adopted by the Royal family no longer reflective of the modern world.

Its more about impact, philanthropy, collaboration, convening and helping people, he said of his own approach.

And Im also going to throw empathy in there as well, because I really care about what I do. It helps and impacts peoples lives. And I think we could do with some more empathetic leadership around the world.

So thats what Im trying to bring  thats what Catherine is trying to bring as well.

The Prince has sought to focus on a handful of key issues that he feels passionate about, launching the Earthshot Prize to save the environment, Homewards, to eradicate homelessness, and various initiatives on mental health.

Who knows whats going to come next, but it all centres around those values of trying to help deliver change and make those lives better, he added.

The Prince appeared relaxed throughout the trip, despite still feeling the pressure of the brutal past year, which he admitted had probably been the worst of his life.

Prince and actress Nomzamo Mbatha pose for a selfie during the Earthshot Prize awards - CHRIS JACKSON COLLETION

Sources close to him confirmed that the outlook was more positive now that both his wife and his father have moved into the next phase of their cancer journeys. As such, the Prince is relishing the chance to get his teeth back into his work.

Having not been on an overseas tour with his wife since March 2022, he expressed a hope that they might soon undertake some short foreign visits together.

I think hopefully Catherine will be doing a bit more next year, so well have some more trips, maybe, lined up, he said.

It was during their ill-fated visit to the Caribbean two-and-half years ago that the Princes determination to take a different approach first became apparent.

Even then, as Duke of Cambridge, his reaction to a slew of criticism about the tours colonial overtones, protests about slavery and the demand for reparations, was telling.

William acknowledged that he might not succeed his grandmother and father as head of the Commonwealth and vowed not to tell people what to do.

Aides let it be known that he considered the familys never complain, never explain mantra to be outdated.

Sources said the Prince had done a lot of thinking about what kind of King he wanted to be, when the time came, and how certain traditions would need to evolve.

The lessons learnt on that tour proved pivotal. Just eight months later, shortly after the death of Elizabeth II, Kensington Palace revealed that the Prince and Princess intended to break with the classic mould of royal engagement.

Rather than ribbon cutting, they wanted to focus on generating money for local communities, creating change. Legacy and impact became their oft-repeated buzzwords.

Similarly, the Waleses have opted to focus on a smaller number of key organisations than their predecessors.

Prince talks to young people at the Earthshot Prize awards with Table Mountain in the background - CHRIS JACKSON COLLECTION

Earlier this year, following a major review of royal charitable affiliations, the King adopted about 300 new patronages, taking his total to 669.

As Prince of Wales, he held 441 but his son is believed to have about 22 and his wife, a similar number.

They are likely to take on only a handful of new charities, if any, in the coming months.

The Prince has said that he intended to go a step further than his family has done previously by creating change rather than simply raising awareness about good causes.

His visit to Cape Town was perhaps indicative of his future reign.

He had ditched his tie, wore trainers and second-hand jackets and accessorised with a beaded bracelet made by Princess Charlotte.

He spent the majority of the week talking to people; young environmentalists, conservationists, fishermen, lifeboat crews and of course, Earthshot finalists past and present.

He travelled with a relatively small entourage and was relatable, chatty and engaged.

The two speeches he delivered focused on the legacy he hoped to leave behind, including a game changing package of financial support for the wildlife rangers who put their lives on the line to protect the planet.

And he issued a rallying cry to all nations, to people from all walks of life, to join his movement for change, and help alter the trajectory of climate change.

As he ploughs on with his mission to help people and planet, it is a message he hopes to echo for many years to come.
Russell Brand has been charged by police over allegations he was twice caught speeding and did not respond to legal letters about the alleged offences.

Separately the comedian and actor, 49, is under investigation by the Metropolitan Police over allegations of sex crimes made against him by multiple women.

A file on the complaints has been handed to the Crown Prosecution Service to determine if Brand should face charges.

The Standard has discovered that Brand is also facing separate legal troubles over alleged flaws in his driving.

He has been charged with two allegations of speeding and two counts of failing to tell police if he or someone else had been driving the car.

Brand has hired the law firm of Nick Mr Loophole Freeman to represent him to police and in the magistrates court hearings over the driving charges.

His case was initially dealt with in the notoriously secretive Single Justice Procedure where magistrates sit in private, but now appears to be heading to a hearing in open court.

At the height of his fame, Brand was a star of Hollywood films, a Radio 2 host, and a sought-after stand-up comedian and TV presenter.

Russell Brand (James Manning/PA) (PA Archive)

But 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.

Brand denies all the claims, saying all his sexual relationships were absolutely always consensual.

And in a video statement posted online, he says he faces 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?

Russell Brand presenting outside the Big Brother House in 2006 (Getty Images)

Brand, the former Big Brother host, has converted himself in recent years from mainstream celebrity to online conspiracy theorist and influencer, with millions of followers on YouTube.

He made an appearance at the Republican National Convention to support Donald Trump in the summer.

According to court papers obtained by The Standard which relate to one of the speeding charges and one allegation of failing to answer a police letter, it is said a Mini registered to Brand was caught out on a speed camera on March 23.

The vehicle was allegedly going at 37mph in a 30mph zone in Shiplake, near to his Oxfordshire home, Thames Valley Police say.

It is further alleged that Brand was written to at his 3.7 million thatched retreat in Henley-on-Thames in April and a reminder letter was also dispatched, but there was no response.

Thames Valley Police say Brand's Mini was caught speeding near to his Oxfordshire home (TVP)

In a letter to the court, Brands lawyer from Freeman & Co Solicitors asked for no pleas to be entered against any of the charges.

We would respectfully request that the Single Justice take no pleas at this stage and that the cases be listed for a mention hearing so that representations can be made to the police in relation to a swift resolution of the matter, he wrote on October 10.

Should the court not be satisfied with no pleas being entered then we would ask for preliminary not guilty pleas to be taken for ALL FOUR charges.

We would ask that a trial date is not fixed and that the case is listed for either mention or case management hearing.

Court records show the case came before a magistrate sitting in Oxford on October 25, with no pleas being recorded.

The cases were adjourned to a future date for a hearing in open court.
Portos old town, on the north bank of the Douro River. Photograph: Chunyip Wong/Getty Images

If you walk along the south banks of the Douro River in Vila Nova de Gaia, opposite Porto city, towards the sea, the scene will be classic Portugal for a while: a lot of waterside restaurants, a lot of grilled chicken, some stalls selling unlikely items made of cork (aprons?). A little further back are the showcase port houses: Sandeman, Fonseca, Taylors  well come back to those.

Keep on walking westwards along the river, away from the pretty Dom Luis I Bridge and towards the sea, and you reach Afurada, a fishing village. Its famous for people grilling fish in the street and because its apparently not possible to eat badly there, the fish being so fresh and all the restaurants so close together, theyre in a race to the top. Or do we just call that a race? A Margem restaurant has a funny, boxy front like an Amazon drop-point and serves incredible polvo a lagareiro (octopus, olive oil, potatoes and garlic).

Anyway, carry on walking: youll pass an estuary and you might see a white flamingo, but that will depend on the migration patterns for the time of year. You will reach Praia do Cabedelo do Douro, a sweet beach in a half-moon shape with water sports.

You could probably find all this information on the worldwide wondernet, but I cant really get excited about a white flamingo unless I can see the light in the eyes of the person who has seen it. Some recommendations really have to be word of mouth. This is charm number one of a nations second city: people talk to you. How many times in Lisbon  or Berlin, Paris or London  have you had a sense that, welcome as you are, people have had enough of your tourist nonsense? Its not that theres anything wrong with you. Its just that there are so many of you.

While the city (and the wider Porto district of which Vila Nova de Gaia is part) is often mentioned for its great value (a pint in the stunning Esplanada do Teleferico bar, with views over the Dom Luis I Bridge and into the historic old town on the other side of the river, was 4), Lisbon is actually cheaper, according to the Post Offices annual city costs barometer.

But Porto has a less excitable property market, which means fewer chains, a more idiosyncratic atmosphere in the bars and restaurants, and a lot more chatting. Lara Salt, who runs Porto Feio, a bar right by the river, is the one who saw the white flamingo. She also has a passion for 90s grunge, despite being not yet born in its heyday, and I know that because so do I, and I hung out in Porto Feio quite a bit.

Porto has fewer chains, a more idiosyncratic atmosphere in the bars and restaurants, and a lot more chatting

There is space for difference, architecturally, in the second city. Theres heritage all right (the mad, melodramatic tiles of Sao Bento railway station; and Livraria Lello, the beautifully ornate bookshop) but Porto hasnt been manicured down to the cuticles, and there is still room for dereliction, for artists in garrets.

As you leave the centro historico and walk up to the Bonfim neighbourhood, it feels much more like Shoreditch in east London in the 20th century than the 21st  open studios crop up (though at random; you have to take your chances). Donau is a cafe that makes its own schnapps, but its also a collective that runs club nights and does linocut workshops to raise money for Gaza. In places, Porto is beautiful, geared up for leisure, everything angled towards a view of the waterfront, and none of these areas are further away from each other than a quarter of an hour stroll. In other places, its a working city where people live.

A countrys second city always has A Thing. Milan has fashion, Hamburg has its nightlife, Porto has port. The big houses loom spectacularly over Vila Nova de Gaia, so grand they look as if they might have their own militias. It is somehow unbelievable that youre allowed in, let alone that once inside you can do what you like, treat it as an educational experience with a tour, or more like a bar. You can turn white port into more of a session drink by adding tonic. You can turn port into an everyday aperitif, rather than a special occasion digestif, by drinking tawny not vintage, starting earlier, and eating salted almonds with it. Its still not really a lunchtime drink.

Its always going to be stronger than wine, because of its origin story, fortified with extra alcohol to survive the journey to Britain, when our links to Bordeaux were severed by the hundred years war. Its probably because of the port that the war lasted the full century, creating that impossible dilemma: seek a diplomatic solution, or drink more port? Huh, turns out I did learn quite a lot, and I definitely didnt do the tour.

You can, of course, go extremely high-end for food (Patio 44 is mid-priced but very inventive; Euskalduna Studio is a kind of dark, Portuguese version of the dining room in The Menu film), because, however idiosyncratic Porto is, there will always be a tasting menu these days.

Related: Where people who love good food come to holiday: Vila Nova de Milfontes, Portugal

But there is an abiding simplicity to a lot of the food. It is perfectly plausible for a proprietor-run place to serve nothing but cheese, ham and wine. In the tiny, four-cover Morro dAmores, whose owner loves Bob Marley and sometimes doubles his trade by throwing some cushions on the doorstep, the ham and cheese seem to exist just to be polite, as in: I would never suspect you, madam, of being the kind of animal that drinks white wine on its own.

Further towards Bonfim, Queijaria Amaral does Portuguese cheeses across the whole range, from those young, sheepy, squidgy, one-note cheeses that are nice but a bit bracing, to aged hard cheeses that are sharp, rich, distinctly herby. If you want a regular meal, with all the food groups, there are standout places for sure: Adega Sao Nicolau is one, but its extremely hard to go wrong. Rip-off restaurants seem to be a late-stage evolution that only beset capital cities. Or maybe I just got lucky.

We stayed right on the riverfront, at Pestana Vintage Porto hotel, overlooking a square in which four bars backed on to each other. Basically, it was the Times Square of the city. It could have been chaos; it wasnt. All the drama is in the scenery  the holiday hedonism is the quiet kind.
Paramedics move an injured blast victim into a hospital after an explosion at a railway station in Quetta - BANARAS KHAN/AFP

A suicide bomber killed at least 25 people and wounded at least 50 others in an explosion at a crowded railway station in Pakistans Balochistan province on Saturday.

Nearly 100 passengers were on the platform at about 8.45am local time for the Jaffar Express train to Peshawar from Quetta, which is the capital of the turbulent province.

Belongings, including bloodied clothes, were seen scattered across the devastated platform, which had its steel roof blown apart by the force of the blast. Six of the wounded were in a serious condition and three are in intensive care.

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the suicide attack, which targeted soldiers. Fourteen soldiers, five civilians and six railway workers were killed.

The platforms steel roof was blown off by the explosion and passengers belongings were scattered - BANARAS KHAN/AFP

Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister, said the armed separatist group will pay a very heavy price for it.

He added his security forces were determined to stamp out the menace of terrorism.

Commissioner of the Quetta Division, Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat, confirmed the death toll, and that the incident was a suicide bombing. Railway authorities were told to suspend train services, he said, and appealed for blood donations to help the wounded.

He warned the public not to use the railway station because in such incidents, there is a risk of twin attacks.

Right now, we have cordoned off the city and are conducting snap-checking, he said, Gatherings have been banned.

Balochistan, which borders Afghanistan and Iran and is Pakistans largest province, has had many attacks from armed separatist groups in the poor but resource-rich region.

The BLA, which wants independence from Pakistan, is the biggest of several ethnic groups fighting the Government, which it accuses of exploiting its oil and gas reserves.

In August, the banned BLA claimed responsibility for coordinated attacks that killed 39 people. It is designated a terrorist group by the UK and the US.

Security forces collect evidence and investigate the scene in Quetta - Anadolu

Train services between Quetta and Peshawar were restored on Oct 11 after they were suspended for more than a month and a half when a key railway bridge was destroyed by the BLA.

Pakistan has seen an increase in terrorist attacks this year. Last week, a bomb blast near a school and hospital in Balochistans Mastung district killed eight people, including five children.

Previous attacks have targeted energy projects with foreign, mostly Chinese, financing because the terrorists believe residents dont benefit from the profits.

The governments military operation to suppress the rebellion has led to accusations of human rights abuses, including torture, disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

Since the beginning of 2024, weve really seen a surge of violence in Balochistan. So many attacks on security forces, journalist Saadullah Akhter, who witnessed the aftermath of the attack, told Al Jazeera.

But this is the first time that the centre of Quetta has been targeted and it is very shocking to many people.
Donald Trump meets with Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, at Trump Tower on 27 September 2024, in New York. Photograph: Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

A senior adviser to Donald Trump said that the incoming US administrations priority for Ukraine will be achieving peace rather than helping it regain territory captured by Russia in the almost three years of the war.

In an interview with the BBC, broadcast on Saturday, Bryan Lanza, who has been a political adviser to Trump since his 2016 presidential campaign, began to elaborate on the strong signals the now president-elect had been sending to the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on the campaign trail.

Lanza said: When Zelenskyy says we will only stop this fighting, there will only be peace, once Crimea is returned, weve got news for President Zelenskyy: Crimea is gone.

A spokesperson for Trumps presidential transition effort said later on Saturday that Lanza had not been speaking on behalf of the president-elect.

Trumps transition effort is currently vetting personnel and drafting the policies that Trump could adopt during his second term.

Bryan Lanza was a contractor for the campaign. He does not work for President Trump and does not speak for him, said the spokesperson, who declined to be named.

During the election campaign, Trump said he would find a solution to end the war within a day, but did not explain how he would do so.

Russia is open to hearing Donald Trumps proposals on ending the war, an official said on Saturday. Sergei Ryabkov, Russias deputy foreign minister, said Moscow and Washington were exchanging signals on Ukraine via closed channels, according to the AP. He did not specify whether the communication was with the current administration or Trump and members of his incoming administration.

Russias readiness depends on whether Trumps proposals are ideas on how to move forward in the area of settlement, and not in the area of further pumping the Kyiv regime with all kinds of aid, Ryabkov said on Saturday in an interview with Russian state news agency Interfax.

In Kyiv, Ukraines foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, told reporters that Ukraine is ready to work with the Trump administration.

The comments came as Russia advanced across the eastern Ukrainian battlefield at the quickest rate since its February 2022 invasion of its neighbor, while also attacking cities including the capital, Kyiv, with munitions carried by drones. In 2022, Russia built on the assault it made on the south-eastern Ukrainian Crimean peninsula that juts into the Black Sea  which it launched in 2014  and now holds control there.

Lanza had also said: And if that is your priority, of getting Crimea back and having American soldiers fight to get Crimea back, youre on your own.

Read more of the Guardians 2024 US election coverage

Zelenskyy came to the United Nations general assembly gathering in New York and to the White House in September touting what seemed like a last-ditch victory plan that involved winning permission to use long-range US weapons to fire deep into Russia. But he was rebuffed, with the US and its Nato allies wary, as they have been since 2022, of the conflict escalating into a war between Russia and the west.

Lanza added: What were going to say to Ukraine is, you know, what do you see? What do you see as a realistic vision for peace? Its not a vision for winning, but its a vision for peace. And lets start having the honest conversation.

There are fears that Trumps boasts that he would very quickly end the war in Ukraine mean no more than essentially forcing Ukraine to give up by withdrawing support, handing the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, victory and further emboldening him.

Following Trumps latest election victory, Zelenskyy congratulated him, saying: I recall our great meeting with President Trump back in September, when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-US strategic partnership, the victory plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Axios reported that Trump and Zelenskyy had had a call with each other. The call, which Zelenskyy described as excellent, also featured a surprise appearance from staunch Trump ally Elon Musk, who initially provided Starlink satellites to Ukraine for free in 2022. In 2023, Musks SpaceX prevented the satellite from controlling Ukraines surveillance drones, triggering outrage among Ukrainian officials.

On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly attacked Zelenskyy, accusing him of making nasty aspersions toward your favorite president, me. Trump added: We continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refuses to make a deal: Zelenskyy.

In September, Zelenskyy gave an interview to the New Yorker in which he cast doubt on Trumps ability to end the war while describing JD Vance as too radical.

A few weeks later, Trump called Zelenskyy one of the greatest salesmen Ive ever met, telling a conservative podcast: Every time he comes in, we give him $100bn. Who else got that kind of money in history? Theres never been. And that doesnt mean I dont want to help him, because I feel very badly for those people. But he should never have let that war start. That war is a loser.

Trump was impeached in 2019 during his first term for essentially trying to extort Zelenskyy over weapons supplies. He was acquitted by the US Senate.
The friendship between TWICE Tzuyu, Elkie, and (G)I-DLE Shuhua often delights fans. However, this time, some raised their brows after they kissed on the lips, accusing them of queerbaiting.

On November 7, former CLC Elkie took to SNS to share that she celebrated her 26th birthday with her close friends Tzuyu and Shuhua.

In one photo, her fellow Chinese K-pop idols garnered attention for kissing Elkie on the cheeks, but what really captured fans' attention was when the Hong Kong-born idol also unveiled a clip where the three of them kissed on the lips, then laughing among themselves afterward.

TZUYU KISSING SHUHUA AND ELKIE ON THE LIPS???  pic.twitter.com/EkhgTP1LPH  minaron (@godmitzu) November 7, 2024

When this clip circulated online, their three fandoms were sent into a frenzy, celebrating the friendship of these women.

In addition to this, some allies of the gender minorities rejoiced, seeing how same-sex K-pop idols are now slowly showing intimacy, which can open opportunities for other idols to show their true sexualities once the general public becomes more accepting of it.

Still, some raised their brows against the three, particularly Tzuyu, as some accused TWICE members of "queerbaiting," a term that describes straight idols appealing to the LQBTQ+ community without explicitly depicting it.

when they giggle like that you know it's straight https://t.co/3Cr3PK4xSp  ki  (@yumyerim) November 7, 2024

gotta do what u gotta do when the music aint selling https://t.co/ckKfEjLPN2 pic.twitter.com/lSib6mIVve  t (@chcbvby) November 7, 2024

READ ALSO: TWICE Nayeon & Sana Kiss on the Lips  And Momo's Reaction Truly Represents ONCEs

Just recently, Nayeon and Sana also kissed while on stage, setting the K-pop scene abuzz. Since then, there have been fans who are looking forward to this kind of fanservice.

Others are doubting if it is still just fanservice or queerbaiting now, due to its frequency.

With these allegations, ONCEs (TWICE fandom) are quick to defend the group and insist that the members are just really affectionate with each other and even to friends that they are close with. Also, they are still real human, who can kiss whoever they want, thus, the accusation is forced hate.

not queer baiting if theyre real people

also its j a bit of fun

gay girls kiss their friends and straight girls kiss their friends



u dont have friends. https://t.co/AnsCfOwnGp  BLU (@pinkponyclubbng) November 7, 2024

yall calling this queerbaiting. THESE ARE HUMAN BEINGS??? not cartoons in a fcking show. they can kiss whoever they want. they can kiss each other DAILY if they damn well pls and they dont owe you an explanation as to why or an explanation on their sexuality. leave them alone https://t.co/Ze49hLkgGt   (@pharitaville) November 7, 2024

Some day we're gonna have an honest conversation about how weird people treat women who are femme presenting sexuality and how y'all's concept of being sapphic revolves around stereotypes because the qrts are annoying asf man. https://t.co/yaE4ykZrbl  I |  (@Check_Later0) November 7, 2024

people taking this as fanservice and queerbaiting but if this was their faves would be already twitching their feet like

stop acting like this isnt a normal thing some ppl do with their friends and stop being annoying not everything has to be serious. https://t.co/R5gQRCaDYM  achimiwa (@haosinterpol) November 7, 2024

RELATED ARTICLE: These Idols Openly Support The LGBTQ+ Community

For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Eunice Dela Cruz
Composite: Angelica Alzona/Guardian Design; Source images via Getty Images

In the first Trump term Richard Moore, then the political director of the UK Foreign Office and now the head of MI6, admitted half of Britains diplomats woke up each morning dreading what they might read on the presidents Twitter feed.

The sheer unpredictability of Trumps caprice, and his faith in his quixotic charisma, made it hard for diplomats to operate. It would often taken feverish consultations with Trumps senior aides, including some in the Pentagon, before a plan  such as a premature withdrawal of 2,500 US troops from Afghanistan  could be finessed.

Now, for all the pro-forma congratulations, that sense of foreboding is back. Although only 4% of the American electorate said foreign policy was the most important issue to them in the election, for those watching from abroad it was the all-consuming preoccupation.

That is hardly surprising, as Trump represents an injection of highly combustible material into an already explosive world. Two wars are raging, one now including North Korean troops fighting alongside Russia, and the other still capable of pitting Iran against Israel. And a third with China is looming. In the eyes of Republican foreign policy thinkers, that is at least two wars too many.

Yet, extraordinarily, Trumps campaign left few clues as to how he would conduct foreign policy. Often the proposals he referenced were mere headlines  such as ending the war in Ukraine in 24 hours; outlandish, such as deporting 10 million migrants; or contradictory, concerning committing to Nato and suggesting Russia does whatever it wants to European freeloaders.

Apart from that, there is a broad intent to make tariffs as much as sanctions the central part of the US foreign policy armoury.

It is hard to claim it amounted to a serious prospectus.

At one level, this is surprising, as so much of Trumps analysis of Americas domestic ills derives from his analysis of the failures of US foreign policy. Indeed, the link between foreign and domestic policy is a preoccupation of the small group of foreign policy experts closest to him, not least the vice-president-elect, JD Vance.

Vance, for instance, has argued: From Iraq to Afghanistan, from the financial crisis to the Great Recession, from open borders to stagnant wages, the people who govern this country have failed and failed again.

He went on: Furthermore, they failed because they bought into a theory of the world that forgot to put the interests of the US front and centre. No longer. As Trump famously declared back in 2016 when he first won the White House, Americanism, not globalism, will now be our credo.

* * *

Peace through strength?

How Trump intervenes in the world now is a matter of debate within his circle of foreign policy specialists. Jeremy Shapiro from the European Council on Foreign Relations has put them into three tribes  the restrainers, who want the US to do as little as possible, the prioritisers, who argue that distractions such as Ukraine must be removed to focus on the Great Power competition with China, and the primacists, who insist the US must remain the hegemonic power throughout the globe, and ceding any status to the rising powers in Brics would be fatal.

But they all agree Trumps second term has to be different, because the challenges have changed.

Nadia Schadlow, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute thinktank in Washington, said: He will step into a more hazardous geopolitical arena than the one he left four years earlier. Simply resuming the foreign policy of his first term will not be sufficient to navigate a complex environment in which US rivals are arming at a rapid pace and, in the case of Russia and Iran, are engaged in regional wars. This is no longer just a competition; todays conflicts could be a prelude to a wider war.

A second Trump administration, she argued, would need to adjust its mindset to ensure that the US can protect itself and restore deterrence in an increasingly dangerous world.

The US would need to adopt a strategy of overmatch, a military concept that refers to combining capabilities in sufficient scale to ensure lopsided victories over the enemy in combat, Schadlow said. To achieve overmatch, US forces must be able to seize the initiative, maintain their freedom of action and find ways to limit the countrys adversaries to reactive measures.

This assertion of peace through strength comes with a price tag. She says it would require a build-up of US military force not seen since the last decade of the cold war. That necessitates prioritising, the key theme of the 2018 Trump national security strategy in which Elbridge Colby had a key role.

Colby insists Trump will not oppose alliances per se but view them as less values-driven and more a private business partnership, in which both sides aim to have their commercial self-interest satisfied. If those partnerships become inequitable, or the US feels it is being fleeced, then they can be broken.

* * *

Concessions to Putin and Netanyahu

The first test of this transactionalism will come with Ukraine. Vance has already set out one idea of what could happen. He said in September: Trump would sit down with Russians, Ukrainians and Europeans and say: You guys need to figure out what a peaceful settlement looks like.

But Vance said he already knew what this deal would entail, making the European presence at the negotiation table close to superfluous. The Russians would retain the land they have taken and a demilitarised zone would be established along the current battle lines, with the Ukrainian side heavily fortified to prevent another Russian invasion, he said.

While the remainder of Ukraine would stay an independent sovereign state, Vance said, Russia would get a guarantee of neutrality from Ukraine. It doesnt join Nato, it doesnt join some of these sort of allied institutions. I think thats ultimately what this looks like.

By contrast, a lead candidate to be Trumps national security adviser, Richard OBrien, writing in Foreign Affairs, said he supported Ukraine so long as Europe paid more, something it feels it is already doing.

He wrote: Trumps approach would be to continue to provide lethal aid to Ukraine, financed by European countries, while keeping the door open to diplomacy with Russia  and keeping Moscow off balance with a degree of unpredictability. He would also push Nato to rotate ground and air forces to Poland to augment its capabilities closer to Russias border and to make unmistakably clear that the alliance will defend all its territory from foreign aggression.

If Europe wants to show that it is serious about defending Ukraine, it should admit the country to the European Union immediately, waiving the usual bureaucratic accession protocol.

Conspicuously, in neither plan would there be any room for Ukraine to enter Nato, a red line for Putin.

Olaf Scholz, eager to shed the cost of Ukraine before next years federal election, may feel Europe has no choice but to urge Zelenskyy to accept, yet there is no guarantee Putin will negotiate. Sir Peter Westmacott, a former UK ambassador to the US, suggests that Trump, if he wants to be the negotiator in chief, should listen to David Cameron and buy Ukraine some time to get some better bargaining chips on the table.

Ukraines future will be part of a wider discussion, conducted in Europe and across the Atlantic, about the nature of the Russian threat and perennial subject of strengthening European security.

Europe, of course, already had four years to make itself more self-reliant before a possible second Trump term. There were phrases bandied about such as the era of geopolitical outsourcing is over. But Norbert Rottgen, the German CDU partys foreign policy expert, told a recent Chatham House event: We are not prepared and we are to blame for that. The European rhetoric never matched reality.

The coordination in defence spending advocated by the French for a decade had proved too daunting, expensive and at odds with the needs of national defence industries. A pan-European air defence shield, for example, would cost 500bn ($540bn; 416bn), the EUs incoming defence commissioner, Andrius Kubilius, said this week. Thats roughly 50% more than EU countries collectively spend on defence each year, he added.

Europe is already pointing out that, as of June, 23 of Natos 32 members had met its target of spending 2% of GDP on defence, twice as many as four years ago. But Colby, who believes the US should focus its energy on China, says that Europe, however indebted, will have to spend still more. In this narrow regard, he and Emmanuel Macron think alike.

Part of the problem is that the EU has demonstrated its unwillingness to conduct a common foreign policy, as evidenced by its year-long division over Palestine, divisions born of national histories.

Those divisions will allow Trump, in partnership with Benjamin Netanyahu, to ignore the resolutions of the UN, which both men hold in contempt. Netanyahu will have a freer hand to obliterate Hamas and form an Israeli-led administration in Gaza.

The sporadic US pressure on Israel to back a two-state solution, encouraged by Saudi Arabia, will dissipate. Trump told Time magazine: There was a time when I thought two states could work.

Instead, OBrien says, Iran and those who trade with Iran will once again feel the heat of maximum sanctions pressure, the policy devised by Stephen Mull, now appointed to be the head of Trump transition at the State Department. Iran in turn will debate in its more isolated circumstances whether the fatwa on possessing nuclear weapons should be lifted.

But there will be a tension. Some in the administration will back the Greater Israel project. Others will want Saudi to normalise relations with Israel in a further extension of the Abraham accords, Trumps signature first-term foreign policy achievement.

* * *

Focus on China

All of this is for a single purpose  to focus laser-like on the coming challenge of China, and what Colby has referenced as the cosmic role of the dice, the decision facing China on whether to invade Taiwan. The sense that China is the pre-eminent strategic threat shines through the thinking of the entire Trump policy circle, many of whom advocate the complete decoupling of the two economies.

Beijing may have drawn comfort from Trumps recent proclamation that Taiwan doesnt give us anything, even though the US, which he likened to the mafia, gave them protection. But Beijing knows that is not a green light.

OBrien writes: The Chinese Communist party seeks to expand its power and security by supplanting the United States as the global leader in technological development and innovation in critical areas such as electric vehicles, solar power, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing. To do so, Beijing relies on enormous subsidies, intellectual property theft and unfair trade practices.

Beijing knows what is coming: tariffs. Yet Trumps threat to impose 60% tariffs on Chinese exports (and up to 200% on electric vehicles) would, if implemented, destabilise international trade patterns and raise political tension with Europe. Brussels would either have to follow suit, or, worried about China retaliating, pursue a visibly different approach towards engagement with China, which may incur US penalties.

Those penalties could include efforts to destabilise the EU by offering tariff deals to populist rightwing governments. Dividing allies so as to rule them is far from beneath Trump, and it is far from beneath European states to push one another aside in the hope of winning Trumps favour.

Yet even here, Trump is contradictory. In his last presidency he offered to lift key export controls in return for the elusive trade deal with China that never materialised. Appearing on Joe Rogans podcast, he attacked the Chips and Science Act, designed to reduce US reliance on Asia for semiconductors and passed with overwhelming Republican support, complaining it had given government support to key American competitors.

It is going to take advisers of great patience and loyalty to work alongside what the political scientist Stephen Walt has warned will be an increasingly erratic and infirm president.

It is hard to underestimate how foreign policy will not be about his advisers but about Trump, and the efficacy of his protection-racket diplomacy. He told the Wall Street Journals editorial board in October that he would not have to threaten China with the use of US military force over Taiwan because Xi Jinping respects me and knows I am crazy.

Similarly, he claims he told the Russian leader: Vladimir, if you go after Ukraine, I am going to hit you so hard, youre not even going to believe it. Im going to hit you right in the middle of fricking Moscow.

Welcome to the new world order.
A migrant in a caravan holds his daughter in his arms as they rest before continuing their journey to the US border, in Escuintla, Mexico. Photograph: Daniel Becerril/Reuters

Officials at the Pentagon are having informal discussions about what to do if Donald Trump were to give an illegal order, such as deploying the military domestically, according to a report from CNN. They are also preparing for the possibility that he may change rules to be able to fire scores of career civil servants.

On the campaign trail, Trump has mulled sending the military after his political enemies, and also to turn back migrants at the southern border. US law generally prohibits active-duty troops from being deployed for law enforcement purposes. There are also fears he could gut the civil service in the Pentagon, and replace fired staff with employees selected for their loyalty to him.

Meanwhile two states  the swing states of Nevada and Arizona  have yet to be called for either Harris or Trump. Should the Republicans win the electoral college votes from both states, it would mean they had a clean sweep of all seven swing states in the election. Republicans have a majority in the Senate, are ahead in the popular vote, and are ahead, though have not yet achieved a majority, in Congress, where they are six seats shy of a majority that would offer Trump even more power to enact key policies.

Heres what else happened on Friday:
Prime Minister Keir Starmer

Britons! Know your place! If Donald Trump imposes tariffs on EU exports, you must suffer, too! We may not have shown you much love these past eight years, but we expect your loyalty!

That, more or less, is the message from Brussels. Its not phrased in those words, obviously. Instead, Eurocrats talk of solidarity and not playing one off against the other and common European interests. But its what they mean.

Trump has pledged to impose a 10 per cent tariff on all imports (except from China, where it will be 60 per cent) and he evidently means to go through with it. Promises made, promises kept, he declared as the results became clear. He reportedly wants the levies in place in his first 100 days.

Will they apply to the UK? Although Trump describes the EU as a foe on trade, he is touchingly sentimental about Britain. He calls himself half-Scottish, and likes to show guests pictures of himself with the Royal family. My Republican friends in Congress tell me that his instinct will be to exempt Britain.

But Trump is thin-skinned, and often lets his foreign policy be determined by whether other leaders suck up to him. Labour politicians, far from flattering the old egomaniac, have called him every name under the sun. Could they now do a volte-face (as we Old Brussels Hands call it)? Would they want to?

Ministers have so far said that their preferred outcome is for Trump to drop, or at least temper, the whole idea of tariffs. They are quite right.

American protectionism will hurt us even if we are exempted, not least because we are among the largest overseas investors there. But if Trump pushes ahead, will Labour alienate Brussels by seeking a separate deal?

Before answering that question, it is worth dwelling on just how terrible an idea tariffs are. In 1930, Congress passed the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, imposing duties on some 20,000 imported goods. President Hoover thought the proposal vicious, extortionate and obnoxious, but, under pressure from public opinion, felt he had to sign it into law.

As a result, US trade fell by two-thirds. Former allies, including Canada, retaliated with tariffs of their own. Prices surged, leaving Americans with less to spend and so causing their economy to cramp up. Tariffs helped turn the Wall Street Crash into the Great Depression.

Why would Americans risk all that again? Why, when protectionism is one of the few things that all economists agree is harmful, does the idea resurface in every generation?

Two reasons. First, tariffs are misunderstood as a tax on foreign companies rather than what they really are, namely a tax on consumers.

Second, most people think exports make a country wealthy. In fact, as Adam Smith demonstrated, exports are of no benefit except insofar as they pay for imports. It is imports that enrich a country because, as prices fall, people use their new-found spending power to call into existence whole new industries. One way to think of exports is as the stuff you dont need.

Trade liberalisation works in practice as well as in theory; but human beings reason backwards from their gut feelings, and protectionism accords with our hunter-gatherer intuitions.

Free trade, one of the greatest blessings which a government can confer on a people, is in almost every country unpopular, wrote the Whig historian Lord Macaulay in 1824. It was true then, and it has been true in every one of the succeeding 200 years  despite those years seeing a 3,000 per cent increase in human living standards driven by globalisation.

Trump, of course, cares nothing for the opinions of dead historians or living economists. He leads with his gut, and tariffs feel right to him. Never mind that the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) led to more and better-paid jobs in the United States. He saw only carnage. Never mind that his 2018 tariff war against China destroyed American manufacturing. It was popular. Never mind, come to that, that tariffs would whack up consumer prices  the very thing Trump was elected to reverse. He doesnt care, and neither will his voters.

Of course, not all his supporters are economic Neanderthals. Some savvy entrepreneurs voted for him, reasoning that his tax cuts and deregulation will more than cancel out the negative effects of his protectionism.

Earlier this week, Elon Musk gave a lengthy interview to the podcaster Joe Rogan, in which he reminded listeners of the basic case for free trade, namely that bigger markets make for richer people and that protectionism, far from helping its notional beneficiaries, makes them flabby, inefficient and addicted to state handouts (hence Ronald Reagans observation that protectionism should really be called destructionism).

Trumps more Reaganite backers often argue that the tariff policy is a negotiating tactic, that the threat alone will be enough to force foreigners to open their markets, that it will never need to come into effect. The trouble is that, as a negotiating tactic, it almost never works. Instead of dropping their trade barriers, other nations heap them higher.

Trumps decision to raise customs duties in his first term led to retaliatory tariffs from, among others, China, India, Turkey, Canada, Mexico and the EU, some of them still in place. These tariffs, too, mainly hurt the countries applying them, but thats human nature again. If one country is foolish enough to drop rocks into its harbours, others respond by dropping rocks into their own.

Even if the gamble worked, and no tariffs ended up being imposed, the uncertainty would still be damaging. As Scott Lincicome, a trade specialist at the Cato Institute, has shown, the arbitrary powers given to the president on trade matters (in the aftermath of the Smoot-Hawley debacle, ironically enough) make businesses nervous.

Investment will fall because of the mere presence in the White House of a man who says that tariff is the most beautiful word in the language (an odd choice: it derives from the French word for fixed prices).

Labour is right, in the first instance, to try to help the EU. We dont want poorer countries on our doorstep. As the philosopher David Hume put it, The increase in riches and commerce in any one nation, instead of hurting, commonly promotes the riches and commerce of all its neighbours.

But if they find Trump immovable, ministers should not jeopardise trade with what is still Britains single largest export market. Indeed, far from just seeking to exempt Britain from Trumps tariffs, they should pursue the deal that the president was offering until 2020, when Biden came in and cancelled all trade talks.

There are huge opportunities in a US-UK trade accord. My research body, the Institute for Free Trade, drafted a model FTA in 2018, in a major project that brought together 11 British and American think-tanks. We proposed, in granular detail, the mutual recognition of goods, services and professional qualifications, with a sectoral opt-out process. There are especially large gains to be made in services.

But this would mean diverging further from EU standards. Is that something Labour is prepared to do?

So far, it has shown some willingness to stand aside from more onerous Brussels rules. We have not, for example, followed Eurocrats in imposing tariffs on solar panels and electric vehicles. The new iPhones that went on sale here seven weeks ago contain the AI function that the EU has banned.

When I asked Lord Vallance, the former chief scientific adviser who now serves as Labours science minister, whether Britain had any plans to follow EU regulations, he cheerfully replied that, no, our model was closer to Americas.

Brexit opened the door to a more global approach. Might Labour be the party that strides through that door? Pulled through, of all people, by Trump? Stranger things have happened.
In her Budget, Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, confirmed plans to introduce a tax on fertiliser to meet net zero goals - Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing

Labour has been accused of dealing another Budget blow to farmers with its so-called fertiliser tax.

In the Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed plans to introduce a levy on key agricultural imports such as fertiliser in order to meet net zero goals.

The carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), due to begin in 2027, will tax carbon-emitting imports such as fertiliser, cement, aluminium and products from the hydrogen and steel industries.

It comes amid outrage over the Chancellors 1 million cap on agricultural property relief, nicknamed the family farm tax, also introduced in the Budget.

The carbon tax on fertiliser is expected to be set at around 50 to 75 per tonne.

The proposed fertiliser tax adds to outrage over the Chancellors family farm tax - Daniel Leal/AFP

Government sources said they expect the impact on farmers to be modest and for there to be no effect on food prices.

But farmers disagree, warning it could hurt business and feed through to supermarket shelves.

David Walston of Thriplow Farm, a 900-hectare family farm, told The Telegraphs Daily T podcast that the carbon tax on fertiliser had been introduced under the radar compared to the controversial changes to agricultural property relief.

They are going to be putting a tax on imported fertiliser because fertiliser is the biggest carbon dioxide source of food production, he said.

Obviously the philosophy is we want to reduce that, so lets tax the fertiliser. Well, you know, if you tax fertiliser, you make it more expensive. Were going to use less of it.

That means well produce less food. Were not going to eat less food in this country, so were just going to import it from a country that doesnt tax fertiliser.

Lord Fuller, chairman of the liquid fertiliser firm Brineflow, said: This is a 150 million raid on farmers who will find it very difficult to pass that cost on through increased grain sales as they are traded on global markets.

A UK CBAM was first proposed by the Conservative government in 2023 as part of its net zero drive for industrial decarbonisation and consultation began in March 2024. The Government in the Budget that it would press ahead with the measure.

Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrats environment spokesman, told The Telegraph: Farmers have been hammered for years by the Conservative Party through botched trade deals and huge cuts to farmers incomes.

What we saw at the Budget was, instead of supporting our farmers, the new Government dealt them more crushing blows.

The Chancellor urgently needs to rethink her policies towards farmers, give them the proper support they deserve and that must start by scrapping the disastrous family farm tax.

The Government was approached for comment.
Donald Trump

Credit: The Art of the Surge: The Donald Trump Comeback/X

Donald Trump has wished the King well and praised the fantastic Queen Elizabeth in new footage in which he discusses his relationship with the Royal family.

The US president-elect can be seen leafing through a glossy book of photographs while on a jet during the campaign.

Coming to a picture of him and his wife Melania standing alongside the late Queen, he says: This is with Queen Elizabeth, who was fantastic, by the way.

He goes on: These images  I mean, who has images like this? And these were relationships, too.

The footage has come to light as part of former Fox News host Tucker Carlsons docu-series Art of The Surge, which reveals some of the behind-the-scenes moments that led to Mr Trumps decisive victory this week.

He also points to a picture of him and his wife Melania alongside the then Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.

Look, hes now the King  heres Charles with the guard. Its a piece of history at the highest level. Look, its Charles, so beautiful.

He adds: Hopefully hes going to be well, because hes a really good person. Camilla is fantastic. You get to know them so well.

His comments came to light amid concerns about the ability of Sir Keir Starmers Government to forge a good relationship with the incoming US administration given the previous outspoken criticism of Mr Trump by several key ministers.

The King, who has known Mr Trump for many years, is likely to be asked to play a key role in strengthening ties between the two governments, observers have said.

Mr Trump has previously described the King as a really wonderful guy, despite their differences of opinion on climate change.

He visited the UK three times during his first term, which included an inspection of the guard at Windsor Castle with Queen Elizabeth in 2018 when he famously broke royal etiquette by walking in front of his host.

During a state visit in 2019, which coincided with the 75th anniversary of D-Day commemorations, Mr Trump held talks with the Prince of Wales about climate change, which he has previously labelled a hoax.

The third visit was in December that year for a Nato summit.

In the past, Mr Trump has criticised the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for how they left the UK, accusing them of treating the late Queen very disrespectfully.

He has also made suggestions that the Prince could have his immigration status to the US reviewed due to his revelations of drug-taking in his autobiography, Spare.

Mr Trumps son Eric previously said: I can tell you that our father and our entire family has tremendous respect for the monarchy.

He told the Daily Mail: Weve known the King forever. In fact, I was just digging through a photo album not too long ago and I came across a great picture of him literally with my father. Im probably six years old in the lobby of Mar-a-Lago, in the front entrance of Mar-a-Lago, and its special.
The Prince of Wales has revealed he had to shave his beard after he first grew it  as it left his daughter in floods of tears.

William managed to talk Princess Charlotte round to the idea of her father having facial hair and now it appears here to stay.

The heir to the throne debuted his new look in an online video with his wife, Kate, in August, when they praised the achievements of the nations athletes after the Paris Olympics.

Speaking at the end of a four-day visit to Cape Town, he said: Charlotte didnt like it the first time. I got floods of tears the first time I grew a beard, so I had to shave it off.

Princess Charlotte was not impressed with her fathers first beard (Mike Egerton/PA)

And then I grew it back. I thought, hang on a second and I convinced her it was going to be okay.

The beard of the future King, who turned 42 in June, has flecks of grey and appears neatly trimmed whenever William is seen in public.

The King grew a beard for a time when he served in the Royal Navy, which for more than a century has allowed its servicemen to have facial hair.

The Duke of Sussex claimed his brother was jealous of his beard and ordered him to shave it off before he married Meghan in 2018.

Harry wrote in his autobiography, Spare, how William became livid and raised his voice when the duke said he had already asked permission from their grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, to keep his beard for his wedding.

The duke said the argument went on for more than a week on the phone and in person, adding: He wouldnt let it go. At one point he actually ordered me, as the heir speaking to the spare, to shave.
Hackney council said: We do not expect anyone living in a Hackney council home to clean their own guttering and like the coroner we want to ensure an incident like this doesnt happen again. Photograph: Marc Zakian/Alamy

A woman who accidentally fell to her death from the sixth floor balcony of a Hackney council block was trying to fix a blocked drainpipe that had been repaired using heavy duty tape, a coroner has found.

Sarah McGreevy, 37, died on 16 June after climbing on to a wooden box on the balcony to manually unblock the pipe, a common practice among residents of the fifth and sixth floors of the building after heavy rainfall, according to the coroners report.

McGreevy, who was described as a treasured daughter and a loving sister by her family, was renting a flat in a building owned by the London borough of Hackney.

After her landlord, the leaseholder of the flat, told the coroner no repairs had been carried out on the buildings drainpipes or guttering since McGreevys death, the coroner, Sarah Bourke, warned Hackney council, the freeholder of the premises, that there was a risk of future deaths unless action was taken.

She told the east London borough to respond to the findings of her report by 1 January.

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you and your organisation have the power to take such action, the coroner wrote to the operations director of the Hackney councils tenancy and homeowner services.

Photographs taken of Ms McGreevys hands following her death show dirt around her fingernails consistent with undertaking a cleaning task. I found that it was more likely than not that Ms McGreevy had climbed on to the wooden box to clear the pipe and had accidentally fallen over the balcony, she wrote.

Police officers who attended the scene found the wooden box on the balcony and noted that McGreevys mobile phone was on a window ledge, close to a downwards drainpipe.

The pipe came from the floor of the balcony above her two-bed flat before diverting down the exterior wall, and had previously been repaired using heavy duty tape.

The inquest concluded that it was more likely than not that McGreevy had climbed on to the wooden box to clear the pipe and had accidentally fallen over the balcony, sustaining fatal injuries due to the height of her fall.

Police were told that other residents had been having problems with the guttering and drainpipes in the block and were unblocking the pipes themselves, a practice that the coroner said carried a clear risk of falling.

Yet months after McGreevys death, no work has been undertaken by the Labour-run council to unblock the guttering or the drainpipes, Bourkes report revealed.

In the absence of remedial works, the practice of residents unblocking pipes themselves is likely to continue, the coroner warned.

A spokesperson for the council said: This is a tragic case and our thoughts are with the friends and family of Sarah McGreevy.

The coroner has detailed a number of issues for us to consider in her Prevention of Future Deaths report.

We do not expect anyone living in a Hackney council home to clean their own guttering and like the coroner we want to ensure an incident like this doesnt happen again. We will be carefully going through her report and responding as quickly as possible.

A funeral notice described McGreevy as a treasured daughter, a loving sister and a dearest niece, cousin and friend who will be truly missed.

The notice requested that instead of flowers, donations be made to the Macari Centre, an organisation committed to helping end homelessness in Stoke-on-Trent.
Nicole Scherzinger appears to have apologised for engaging with content posted by Russell Brand referencing the US presidential election.

Following an online backlash, the American singer and actress, 46, issued an apology in which she explained she did not realise her comments would be interpreted in a political manner.

Her statement appears to refer to a comment she had made on an Instagram post that had been uploaded to Brands page on November 6 as Donald Trump closed in on election victory.

The post included a photo of comedian Brand holding a cap that looked similar to Mr Trumps Make America Great Again hats, instead embellished with the words Make Jesus First Again.

The comment from former Pussycat Dolls star Scherzinger has now been deleted but screenshots, widely circulated on social media, show the star commenting: Where do I get this hat!!!?

It comes as prosecutors consider whether to bring charges against actor and comedian Brand, 49, over allegations of historical sexual abuse.

In a post to her Instagram story, Scherzinger said: I deeply apologise for the hurt caused by my recent engagement with some social media posts.

When I commented on these posts, I made the mistake of not realising that they could be easily interpreted as being politically related and I apologise to anyone who understandably reached that conclusion.

Many presumptions are being drawn, which do not reflect who I am, what I stand for, or who I voted for.

Many of the marginalised communities feeling hurt and concerned by the results of the presidential election are people I care about most.

I stand with them, as I always have, throughout my life and career.

If you know me, you know that.

Four women have accused Russell Brand of sexual assaults between 2006 and 2013 (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Like so many others, in times of adversity and uncertainty, I turn to my faith.

I believed that the posts I engaged with were about encouraging people to choose love and faith  putting Jesus first.

For me Christ embodies peace, compassion, hope, and above all  unconditional love, especially for those who may feel it the least right now.

I come from a place of love and I will always support values that bring us closer together. Its so important we come together with compassion, and love one another more now than ever. Nicole.

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.

Brand has spoken about his thoughts on the US election online in a series of posts to his social media accounts.

President-elect Donald Trump will assume office on January 20.
A police marksman who shot a man wrongly suspected of being a terrorist after the 7/7 London bombings said he was certain we were going to die if he did not act.

Jean Charles de Menezes was killed a fortnight after suicide bombers exploded devices on three Tube lines and a London bus on July 7 2005, killing 52 people.

The firearms officer, who has remained anonymous for nearly 20 years, has spoken publicly about his actions for the first time as part of Channel 4s Shoot To Kill: Terror On The Tube documentary.

Jean Charles de Menezes, 27, was mistaken for a terrorist on his way to work (family handout/PA)

He said Mr de Menezes demeanour having been identified as a suspect led him to believe the Brazilian national was about to detonate a bomb.

Reliving it in this detail is painful, the officer said.

I want to make sure that people understand these decisions, although theyre taken quickly, theyre not taken lightly.

Because of his actions, what he did, the information we received, it left me with no other conclusion than I had to act or we were going to die.

Would-be suicide bombers targeted the transport network again on July 21, but their devices failed to explode.

The following day Mr de Menezes, a 27-year-old electrician, was mistaken for one of the suspects because they were linked to the same block of flats.

He was shot seven times by two marksmen at Stockwell Tube station, south London, after officers followed him onto the train carriage.

The firearms officer, known only as C12, said the way Mr De Menezes stood up had triggered something in his head.

He knew who we were. He still continued on his forward momentum as I had my weapon up, pointing at his head, he recalled.

I remember the surveillance officer then in full body contact with him, and apparently what he was trying to do was pin his hands so that he couldnt detonate.

Im expecting an explosion at any moment, hes gonna blow. Were gonna die. But thats the nub of it.

If I dont do something now, we are all going to die.

The Brazilian electrician was shot dead inside Stockwell Underground station (PA)

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.

Sir Tony Blair, who was prime minister at the time, recalled he was in a bilateral meeting with the Chinese president when he received news of the 7/7 bombings.

I got handed a piece of paper saying thered been a series of incidents on the London Underground, he said.

At that time I didnt have any more information about it. The moment you get passed a note like that, you expect the worst.

Shoot To Kill: Terror On The Tube will air on November 10 and 11 on Channel 4.
The Queen is to miss Remembrance events this weekend to ensure she makes full recovery from a chest infection and to protect others from any risk, Buckingham Palace has said.

A disappointed Camilla had hoped to join the royal family at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert on Hall on Saturday evening, and to honour of the war dead at the Remembrance Sunday ceremony on Whitehall.

The Princess of Wales, who is recovering from cancer, and the King, who is still having treatment for cancer, are attending both Remembrance events.

A Palace spokesperson said: Following doctors guidance to ensure a full recovery from a seasonal chest infection, and to protect others from any potential risk, Her Majesty will not attend this weekends Remembrance events.

While this is a source of great disappointment to the Queen, she will mark the occasion privately at home and hopes to return to public duties early next week.

It is understood there is no cause for alarm and no downturn in Camillas condition.

The King and Queen during a traditional ceremonial welcome in Samoa (Victoria Jones/PA)

Her doctors have erred on the side of caution in case a return to public duty this weekend  involving standing outside for a prolonged period in unpredictable weather  would set back a full recovery.

The Queen is also said to be mindful of minimising the risk of passing any lingering infection to others.

Camilla, 77, pulled out of an Olympic and Paralympic reception at the Palace and the opening of the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey earlier this week after developing the seasonal respiratory bug following her long-haul tour to Australia and Samoa and spa break in India.

She is said to have dearly wanted to pay tribute in person to the nations fallen servicemen and women this weekend.

The Queen is resting at her Wiltshire home Raymill (Alastair Grant/PA)

The service at the Cenotaph is an important fixture in the royal calendar and holds deep personal meaning for the Queen, through her official connections to the armed forces, and because of her late father Major Bruce Shands military service.

But royal doctors ordered her to have another few days rest to get back to full strength.

Kate is making two rare appearances at the Festival of Remembrance and the Cenotaph alongside Charles, the Prince of Wales and other royals, a month after her last official engagement.

It marks the next significant step in the princesss gradual return to public royal duties and comes after William spoke of how 2024 had been brutal and had probably been the hardest year in my life.

The Prince and Princess of Wales talking to emergency responders in Southport last month (Danny Lawson/PA)

The Queen, who is said to want the focus this weekend to be on the veterans and the commemorations, not her own health, is continuing to rest at her Wiltshire home Raymill.

She plans to return to London early next week if royal doctors give her the go-ahead.

She has a number of diaried engagements, including a Booker Prize event at Clarence House on Tuesday, a Palace reception celebrating the TV and film industry and a night out with the King at the star-studded global premiere of Gladiator II on Wednesday.

Thursday is also the Kings 76th birthday.

Charles and Camilla visiting the Sydney Opera House in October (Victoria Jones/PA)

Camilla was dubbed the monarchys saviour and praised for keeping the show on the road in Charless absence while he was away from public-facing duties until April this year.

She has been credited with buoying the monarch with her support.
China revises law to strengthen protection of cultural relics

Xinhua) 09:46, November 09, 2024

BEIJING, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday adopted a revised law to strengthen the protection of its abundant cultural relics.

Lawmakers voted to pass the updated Law on the Protection of Cultural Relics during a session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee. The revised law will take effect on March 1, 2025.

Governments at all levels are required to prioritize the protection of cultural relics and properly balance economic development, social progress, and relic preservation to ensure their safety, according to the law.

Infrastructure projects and tourism development must prioritize cultural relic protection, strictly implementing regulations on preservation and safety management to prevent destructive construction and excessive commercialization, it adds.

China has been placing increasing emphasis on the protection of its cultural relics. The country is currently conducting a national census of cultural relics, which is set to run through 2026.

China is home to over 760,000 immovable cultural relics, 108 million pieces or sets of state-owned movable cultural relics, 40 World Cultural Heritage sites, and four mixed cultural and natural heritage sites, the government revealed in September.

The law stipulates that governments at the county level and above should strengthen cultural relics surveys and special investigations to gain a comprehensive understanding of cultural relic resources and their protection status.

The law also toughens penalties for violators. Organizations that cause significant damage to cultural relics will face fines of up to 10 million yuan (about 1.39 million U.S. dollars).

It further authorizes cultural relics regulators to carry out supervision and inspection in accordance with the law and to take relevant administrative enforcement measures against illegal activities.

"BRINGING RELICS TO LIFE"

Highlighting the need to "bring cultural relics to life," the law stipulates that, while ensuring the safety of cultural relics, priority should be given to social benefits through the effective utilization of cultural relic resources.

The law also encourages the digitalization of cultural relics protection, including the digital collection, display, and utilization of cultural relic resources.

Such efforts have been common in Chinese museums. In the Xinjiang Museum in northwest China, over 20,000 cultural relics have been digitalized. The museum also displays relics via virtual reality and stage performances.

ENCOURAGING COOPERATION

In recent years, China has intensified efforts to recover cultural relics lost overseas, successfully bringing back over 2,100 pieces or sets of artifacts.

The revised law establishes a clear mechanism for the recovery and return of lost cultural relics, stipulating that the State Council's cultural relics regulator shall coordinate with relevant departments to carry out recovery efforts in accordance with the law.

"The state reserves the right to reclaim cultural relics lost overseas due to theft or illegal export, and this right is not subject to any time limitation," the law states.

For foreign cultural relics illegally brought into China, the law provides for return cooperation with relevant countries based on applicable agreements or the principle of reciprocity.

The law also prohibits transactions involving cultural relics reported or announced as lost by foreign governments or relevant international organizations under applicable international conventions.

"This not only reflects China's active fulfillment of its obligations under international treaties but also demonstrates the responsibility of a major country, fostering international exchange and cooperation in the field of cultural heritage," said Huo Zhengxin, a professor at the School of International Law at China University of Political Science and Law.

The law further supports international exchanges and cooperation in cultural relic protection, including archaeology, restoration, exhibitions, scientific research, and law enforcement, to foster mutual learning among human civilizations.

China has been an active participant in such efforts. In a notable case, Chinese experts contributed to the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, which is set to reopen next month.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Wu Chaolan)
Seven Scots including firefighters and police officers who died in the line of duty are to be among the first people to receive an Elizabeth Emblem.

The award recognises police officers, firefighters and other public servants who died while on duty.

The emblem is the civilian equivalent of the Elizabeth Cross which recognises members of the Armed Forces who died in action or as a result of a terrorist attack.

Seven of the 30 people whose families are being given the honour are in Scotland.

Those include Sally Taylor, the widow of Pc George Taylor, who was killed while on patrol on November 30, 1976.

He was attacked by two men dressed in prison uniform who had escaped from the State Hospital at Carstairs in Lanarkshire.

The award will also be given to Archibald MacLellan, son of Neil MacLellan, a nursing officer who was on duty at the State Hospital that night.

He was also killed, along with a patient, by the two men who escaped.

Firefighter William Crocket will be commemorated more than 60 years after he died in an explosion at the Cheapside Street Whisky Bond in Glasgow that claimed the lives of 19 people on March 28, 1960.

His son William Cruickshank will receive the Elizabeth Emblem on behalf of his late father, who died when he was just six.

Mr Cruickshank said it was an honour to receive the award.

The 71-year-old former bank manager, who now lives in the Cotswolds, told the PA news agency: It would have been nice if my mother could have received it, as shes no longer here, but its great they have introduced this now.

When I found out I was really honoured. Somebody told me the King may actually be giving me the medal and I thought bloody hell, thats blown me away.

The Elizabeth Emblem incorporates a rosemary wreath  a traditional symbol of remembrance (Cabinet Office/PA)

Things like this dont happen very often and I do feel very proud to be receiving it.

Elizabeth Emblems will also be given to the family of firefighter Dudley Grant, who died in 1965, police constable Edward Barnett, who died in 1970, detective sergeant William Hunt, who died in 1983, and police constable Lewis Fulton, who died in 1994.

The first batch of emblems will be awarded by the King later in the year.

The design includes a rosemary wreath, a traditional symbol of remembrance, which surrounds a Tudor Crown.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: We must never forget those who have given their lives to protect others in the line of duty.

While families will never be able to replace their loved ones, the Elizabeth Emblem pays tribute to the sacrifice they have made.

Scottish Secretary Ian Murray added: The Elizabeth Emblem is inscribed with the words For A Life Given In Service  and nothing could be more apt.

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the seven Scottish public servants who receive this new honour today.

I want to personally thank the families of the police officers, firefighters and NHS nurse who are recognised today for their bravery and service.

Your loved ones made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the wider community and for that we will be forever grateful.
Sione Tuipulotu has challenged Scotland to signal their intent to move to the next level with a landmark victory over world champions South Africa.

Gregor Townsends side have had some big wins over the likes of France, England, Wales and Australia in recent seasons, but have been unable to topple any of the worlds current top three nations  the Springboks, New Zealand and Ireland  under the current head coach.

Recently-appointed captain Tuipulotu senses an opportunity to change that as he prepares to lead out the Scots  ranked seventh in the world  against the formidable Boks on Sunday.

It only really clicked this morning when we were coming in on the bus that Im captaining a side thats playing against South Africa, said the 27-year-old at his captains run press conference on Saturday.

One of the great @MurrayfieldStad tries, finished off by Pete Horne #AsOne pic.twitter.com/u0sydKVNaL  Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) November 8, 2024

When I was growing up in Australia watching the Tri-Nations, which now is the Rugby Championship, and obviously the Springboks have such an aura around them, its kind of weird now that Im in a position where Im going to captain a side against them so its a massive opportunity for me.

This is a game that weve been searching for for a long time, not just South Africa but weve been searching for a big win here at Murrayfield for a long time, and tomorrow is an opportunity for that.

Weve been searching for a win against a top opponent like the All Blacks or the Springboks or Ireland or one of those top three teams for a long time now.

Getting that win I believe instils a little bit of belief in your team and it kick-starts the team that we want to be. We see tomorrow as an opportunity to really kick-start what we want this team to achieve.

We have a free swing at the world champions and the most important thing is that we hop off that bus tomorrow here to win.

Sione Tuipulotu during the team run at Murrayfield (Jane Barlow/PA)

Tuipulotu this week signed a new contract with Glasgow until 2028, just days after leaving the door open to the possibility that he might leave at the end of this season.

The burgeoning centre was linked with moves to France and England before pledging his future to Warriors.

Yeah, definitely, he said when asked if he held talks with any other clubs. I think every rugby player would and I was pretty clear with my manager (agent) and I was pretty open and honest with Glasgow that I would be exploring my opportunities elsewhere just because I think thats the right thing to do as a rugby player.

I had a few offers somewhere else but when it came down to it, the Glasgow one just made sense to me. When you do finally sign and secure your future, there might be a bit of regret after but I only have relief really that I didnt have to go somewhere else, maybe to chase money or play at a so-called high-profile club.

Im happy where I am at Glasgow, I have a pretty good shot of chasing silverware at Glasgow, so why move?
One of the 43 monkeys that escaped from a South Carolina research facility Wednesday night has been "successfully recovered unharmed," officials said Saturday.

The Yemassee Police Department said in a statement the primate was found around noon Saturday and that a "significant number" of those that remain on the loose have stayed near the Alpha Genesis facility, "jumping back and forth over the facility's fence."

As of Thursday night, the monkeys had been located in the wooded region surrounding the Alpha Genesis facility, in a rural area on the edge of Yamassee.

Staff at Alpha Genesis are staying on site through the weekend to feed and watch the animals, police said, noting that the monkeys are still interacting with their "companions inside the facility," which police called a "positive sign."

Yemassee police said earlier this week that the group of rhesus macaque primates  all young females who have never been used for testing  escaped from their home at Alpha Genesis, a business that provides "nonhuman primate products and bio-research services," according to its website.

A spokesperson for the research facility told police the animals "are too young to carry disease," according to a police statement. Police emphasized Saturday there is not a current threat to public health, citing the research facility.

Traps were set up in the area as police used thermal technology in an attempt to track and recapture the monkeys, police said earlier this week. Staff members at Alpha Genesis were working to entice them with food as well.

On Friday, Greg Westergaard, CEO of Alpha Genesis, told NBC News via email: "The incident yesterday involved a new enclosure, and occurred because the caretaker who was doing routine cleaning and feeding failed to secure two separate doors. It was purely human error."

Westergaard, in Saturday's police statement, said that efforts to recover the monkeys will continue through the weekend, "and for as long as it takes."

Police urged the public to stay away from the area surrounding Alpha Genesis as the monkeys can be easily startled. Officers also asked the public to refrain from using drones in the area because it "frightens the animals but also elevates their stress levels."

A drone flew over the area Friday, police said, which "caused a disturbance spooking the animals, further complicating efforts to facilitate their safe return."

Police also asked the public to call 911 if they spot any of the remaining primates.
NEW LONDON, Ohio (WJW)  Three people were shot, and one person is dead after a shooting at a New London senior living facility late Friday morning.

Canton man found guilty of murder in girlfriends death

According to the New London Police Department, the shooting took place at the Windy Acres senior living retirement facility just after 10:50 a.m.

When responding officers arrived, they found two injured victims locked in the main office, according to a press release from New London police posted on their Facebook page. The two victims, both employees of the facility, were able to exit through a window, police said, and were taken to area hospitals. Their injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

Both workers, a 52-year-old New London resident and a 56-year-old Lorain County resident, have since been released from the hospital and are resting at home, according to a Saturday update from police.

A deceased male was located in the lobby, police said. It was determined that he was a resident of the home and had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The two injured victims were employees.

Police on Saturday identified the gunman as 70-year-old Roger Murray, of New London. Investigators have determined a preliminary motive.

Murray, a resident of the complex, had filed multiple repair requests for his apartment and felt his requests were not being adequately met. He was further distraught over the matter due to a pending site inspection, reads the Saturday post.

Crews searched the rest of the building and found no additional victims or suspects, according to the release.

Teen allegedly pointed gun at police before being arrested at high school football game





3 shot, 1 dead at New London senior living facility: police

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations is helping process evidence.

The shooting is currently 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 Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Over the past three years, many space-focused start-ups went public by merging with special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs). Some of those stocks initially soared, but most of them fizzled out as rising interest rates highlighted their ugly losses and popped their bubbly valuations.

Many of those SPAC-backed space companies also set overly ambitious growth targets, missed them by a mile, and struggled with severe delays and management issues. However, a handful of resilient companies survived that industrywide wash-out.

Let's see why three of those survivors -- Rocket Lab USA (NASDAQ: RKLB), Intuitive Machines (NASDAQ: LUNR), and AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) -- are still worth buying right now.

A child stands in front of space-based illustrations on a glass screen weaing what looks like a space helmet.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Rocket Lab USA

Rocket Lab produces partly reusable rockets for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the U.S. Space Force, the Swedish National Space Agency, Capella Space, and other big customers. Its main product, the Electron orbital rocket, can carry payloads of about 300 kilograms (around 660 pounds).

The Electron has been successfully launched 53 times over the past seven years. Its next rocket, the Neutron, is scheduled for launch next year with a maximum capacity of 15 metric tons.

Rocket Lab competes against SpaceX and other start-ups in the niche market for reusable rockets, but there could be plenty of room for all of these companies to flourish in this nascent market without trampling one another. It launched six Electron rockets in 2021, nine rockets in 2022, and 10 rockets in 2023. It launched another five rockets in the first half of 2024 and signed 17 new launch contracts.

Over the past year, the company won new launch contracts from NASA, the Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity provider Kineis, and other space-focused customers. As it expands, analysts expect its revenue to achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 54%, going from $245 million in 2023 to $887 million in 2026.

They also expect its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) to turn positive by the final year. Rocket Lab's stock isn't a screaming bargain at 10 times next year's sales, but it could soar a lot higher over the next few years if it successfully scales up its business.

2. Intuitive Machines

Intuitive Machines develops lunar landing and exploration vehicles for NASA. It originally planned to launch its Nova-C lander in 2021, but that was repeatedly delayed. It also disappointed its investors by failing to win new stand-alone NASA contracts in 2022 and 2023.

But last February, NASA finally placed Intuitive Machines' first Nova-C lander on the moon, the first successful U.S. moon landing since 1972, and it encouraged NASA to award the company with two new contracts: a lunar terrain vehicle contract in April and an exclusive near-space network contract worth up to $4.8 billion in September. Intuitive also offered more "ride-sharing" services to deliver other payloads to the moon.

From 2023 to 2026, analysts expect it to increase revenue at a CAGR of 82%, from $80 million to $480 million. They also expect its adjusted EBITDA to turn positive in 2025 and jump more than ninefold to $42 million in 2026.

Based on those optimistic expectations, the stock looks dirt cheap at just slightly more than next year's sales. Intuitive Machines' long-term growth could be disrupted by delays and competition from other start-ups and aerospace companies, but it could still have plenty of upside potential as NASA ramps up its lunar exploration missions again.

3. AST SpaceMobile

AST SpaceMobile's low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites provide 2G, 4G, and 5G connectivity in areas that can't be reached by terrestrial tower networks. It signed space-based 5G contracts with AT&T and Verizon earlier this year, while its rival Starlink offers similar LEO services to T-Mobile.

The company launched its prototype BlueWalker 3 satellite in 2022, and five BlueBird Block 1 commercial satellites in September. In early 2025, it plans to launch its first four Block 2 satellites, which have approximately 10 times the data processing capacity of its Block 1 satellites.

It aims to eventually launch 17 Block 2 satellites as part of its long-term goal to build a massive constellation of 243 LEO satellites. However, that ambitious plan has only been partly approved by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission.

As AST scales up its business, analysts expect revenue to grow from $6 million in 2024 to $393 million in 2026 as it narrows its net losses. The stock isn't cheap at 12 times its projected sales for 2026, but it could have plenty of room to run as AT&T, Verizon, and other telecom companies scale up their LEO broadband networks to reach more customers.

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An Arizona election honcho overseeing voting in a populous county told a friend he wanted to run for Senate "to make life hell" for Republican candidate Kari Lake, explosive court documents show.

An outgoing Arizona election honcho overseeing voting in the states most populous county told a friend last year he wanted to run for Senate to make life hell for Republican candidate Kari Lake, explosive court documents show.

Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richers blistering remarks came from the transcript of a June 21 deposition in a defamation case he brought against the Donald Trump-backed Lake and were first reported by The Daily Mail.

Richer, wholl leave the office at year-end, is in charge of ballots that could decide whether the former TV anchor triumphs in her tight race against Democrat Ruben Gallego  raising questions about his ability to run a fair election.

Stephen Richers blistering remarks have raised questions about his ability to run a fair election. Getty Images

Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake is facing off against Democrat Ruben Gallego. AFP via Getty Images

During the deposition, Richer was asked by Lakes lawyer to review a communication between himself and a friend named Ben Blink.

Mr Blink says what options are intriguing you? says lawyer William Fischbach.

And your response if kind of a laundry list here of bullet points: Get out of politics permanently; get out of politics temporarily; run for re-election as a Republican; run for re-election as an independent; run for mayor if no Kate; and then finally run for U.S. Senate, just to fly the flag for real conservatism and make life hell for Kari.

Richer confirmed he made the remarks but said he never made a serious move to launch a Senate run.

Why would you want to make life hell for Kari Lake in March of 2023? asks Fischback.

I dont remember, Richer replies. I dont think shes a real conservative.

Lake alleges she lost the 2022 governors race to Democrat Katie Hobbs because of problems with ballot printers at some Maricopa County polling places. AFP via Getty Images

Kari Lake arrives to the Mesa Convention Center polling place on November 05, 2024 in Mesa, Arizona. Getty Images

Lake alleges she lost the 2022 governors race to Democrat Katie Hobbs because of problems with ballot printers at some Maricopa County polling places, which were the result of intentional misconduct, and that the county didnt verify signatures on mail ballots as required by law.

Her legal challenges to overturn the election result have failed.

Lake and Richer could not immediately be reached for comment.
The Fletcher family welcomes the newest member of their family, Dasty.

An army veteran and his furry companion, who he had left behind after retirement from service, had an emotional and heartwarming reunion last month in Wisconsin after adopting the dog.

Retired U.S. Army sergeant Michael Fletcher and Dasty, a Dutch Shepherd, were paired together while stationed at Fort Huachuca in Cochise County, Arizona in 2018, when Dasty was five years old, American Humane, a non-profit based in D.C. that helps K-9 veterans, told USA TODAY.

The two didn't immediately hit it off and it was almost three months before Dasty began to trust and listen to Michael. While the two initially worked at the base, supporting the local police department, they were later sent to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri to complete the Patrol Explosive Detection Dog - Enhanced Course, or PEDD-E," an extensive 60-day course for police patrol and explosive detection dogs that teaches them to work effectively off-leash.

After successfully completing the course, the two were sent to Logar Province in Afghanistan in 2019 at a pivotal moment in Fletcher's life. His wife Johanna was pregnant with their first child at the time.

Dasty gives Michael Fletcher a kiss.

Life in Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, Fletcher and Dasty were mostly at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Dahlke, a modest base where service members slept in tents without heat or air conditioning, going without running water for weeks at a time. Fletcher and Dasty shared a tent which had twin-sized mattresses for them both.

It was a challenging time for Michael to be in an isolated location away from his home and pregnant wife. During this, Dasty not only offered support to Fletcher but also to others at the base, boosting their morales and providing comfort. The other soldiers often came to hang out in their tent to spend time with Dasty.

During their time in Afghanistan, Fletcher also ensured his canine companion was comfortable by bringing him treats from the dining facility on special occasions and buying blankets from the local market to keep him warm when temperatures would drop below freezing in the mountains.

While deployed in Afghanistan, Dasty saved countless lives by locating multiple IEDs and performing well in combat by remaining steady and focused.

Dasty with his pals at the Forward Operating Base Dahlke in Afghanistan.

Back to America

When Dasty and Fletcher returned from Afghanistan, they were reassigned to Fort Myer (Joint Base Myer - Henderson Hall) in Northern Virginia, where the pair participated in multiple Secret Service missions for Presidents Trump and Biden and taught other K-9 teams the skills they learned at PEDD-E.

In 2022, Fletcher left the Army to pursue another career path and moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin with his family and had to bid goodbye to his companion, who remained at Fort Myer. Dasty, meanwhile, was paired with a new handler, who happened to be one of Michael's juniors and kept Fletcher posted on Dasty.

When Michael discovered that Dasty was being retired due to old age, he was thrilled and hoped to adopt Dasty. However, he was unable to get time off of work to travel to D.C. to pick him up. Around that time, his wife came across a video about American Humane on TikTok and encouraged him to reach out.

Michael Fletcher and Dasty.

American Humane stepped in to unite the two with a handler picking up Dasty from Fort Meyer in Arlington and flying him out to Green Bay. Dasty even had his own seat in the cabin during the American Airlines flight from Ronald Reagan National Airport to Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport on Oct. 10, 2024. Besides covering all transportation costs, American Humane will also provide free veterinary care for the rest of Dastys life.

Watch: Dasty reunites with Fletcher

The two had an emotional reunion on Oct. 11 in the presence of Fletcher's wife and their two children and the family is ecstatic to have adopted Dasty and "give him the comfortable, dignified retirement this 'canine veteran' deserves." Dasty already appeared to have found a new best friend in Fletcher's two-year-old son.

"It was kind of surreal," Fletcher told American Humane about the reunion. "After knowing everything we've been through and then seeing him again."

Fletcher said Dasty took a little bit to warm up to him and realize who he was but when he remembered "it was great." The military veteran added that he felt a lot of joy watching the dog play with his son.

"I hope Dasty will be around long enough that my son can remember him and also remember that that's the dog his dad deployed with, and that's the dog that kept him safe," Fletcher told American Humane.

Dasty reunites with Michael Fletcher after he is adopted by the Fletcher family.

Fletcher wants Dasty to 'just relax'

The retired military officer said after everything the two went together with in Afghanistan, Dasty became a part of him and its very rewarding for him to give Dasty the retirement he deserves.

"After Afghanistan and after my times with him They become part of you," Fletcher said. "They uplift your spirits when it's the worst possible times in your life. They uplift everybody's spirits around you. And just to give a military working dog a retirement that they rightfully deserve just as anybody else, is a rewarding thing."

Fletcher said he's looking forward to watching Dasty "sit on the couch and just relax."

"He's done enough," Fletcher said. "He has been to enough states, done enough missions. He's been in enough firefights. He's good to just relax and get fat."

Johanna, Fletcher's wife, often jokes the two returned from Afghanistan with their first gray hairs.

Michael Fletcher and Dasty.

Fletcher told American Humane, he believes that having Dasty back with him will help him with the ongoing transition to civilian life, especially the traumas the two experienced together in Afghanistan. A recent study from the University of Arizona in partnership with the National Institute of Health noted that service dogs have a big impact on the lives of veterans experiencing PTSD, such as lowering PTSD severity, anxiety and depression, and improving social and emotional wellbeing.

"If I didn't have Dasty in Afghanistan, there's no possible way to know what would happen," Fletcher said. "But what I do know is that I did take him, and I made it back home safe, and my family and I are very gracious to Dasty for that."

"He probably doesn't even know what he did," he added.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Watch army veteran reunite with his K9 companion from Afghanistan
Homelessness in New Hampshire is at a critical juncture.

As state officials, municipalities, and advocates struggle to find solutions to the problem, the impact of the crisis has become urgent  affecting families, businesses, and towns, community services and providers, and the mental and physical health of those experiencing homelessness themselves. While discussion about housing often gets stuck on the hurdles of the high cost of real estate, workforce v. affordable housing, local zoning and new building proposals, its clear that our state needs to take immediate action to find safe and lawful places for individuals and families to live now.

Maggie Pritchard

People living with a disability, including mental illness, substance use disorders, and physical and intellectual disabilities, are overrepresented in the homeless population, and those with a disability face additional barriers when trying to find housing or get out of homelessness. Discrimination, a lack of accessible facilities, limited transportation and necessary healthcare options, can all make it much more difficult for those individuals to find and keep housing. It is hard enough for anyone in our society to navigate housing, transportation, welfare, and social services systems: imagine how hard it is, and dehumanizing, for someone with a disability or a severe mental illness.

The New Hampshire Community Behavioral Health Association believes that whats needed is a proactive approach to addressing homelessness and finding appropriate and safe housing for those with disabilities. First, we need to determine what kinds of housing are needed most and what kinds of beds are available now. The 2023 New Hampshire Statewide Housing Needs Assessment found that the state needs 60,000 more housing units between 2020 and 2030, and nearly 90,000 units between 2020 and 2040. In 2022, American Rescue Plan Act funds under the SRRF (State Fiscal Recovery Fund) went to the regional planning commissions to break down the first 60,000 units needed by region. We need to break these numbers down even further, to reflect how many units are needed for those living with a disability or mental illness.

We also need to rethink the solutions available to us to address the housing shortage and homelessness crisis in the timeliest way. The types of housing most appropriate for people with a disability often vary. There is supported housing, transitional housing, congregate housing, emergency housing, family housing, multifamily housing, assisted housing, and more. However, advocates and decision makers often disagree on what the best options are, and where we should start. Further, some municipalities oppose expanding the size of accessory dwelling units to 1,000 square feet and two bedrooms, and other zoning solutions that may alleviate the crisis. We must take steps now to start implementing new and effective ideas, rather than getting mired in these tired debates.

New Hampshire needs a housing champion. A number of agencies, commissions, work groups and initiatives have formed around the issues of homelessness and encampments. These include the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority; the Coalition to End Homelessness; the Council on Housing Stability; the Statewide Continuum of Care for Housing; Waypoint; Families in Transition; Housing Action NH and others. There are also city and town welfare departments, homeless shelters, cold weather shelters, and emergency shelters. There are many, many individuals and agencies who are working diligently to solve this problem. Truly, all community members and all levels of government need to come together to work on this issue  but leadership needs to come from the top.

In 2023, eight of NHs 13 mayors wrote to the governor asking for help with homeless populations  specifically, federal funds to be allocated for more shelter beds and resources. As Strafford County Commissioner George Maglaras said at the time: "Right now the state says the responsibility lies with municipalities, but that is completely unreasonable. We need public and private partnerships to create systems that work. We need the state to be actively involved and I think they should take the leadership role on the need for more beds. To ask municipalities to take this on is insanity and not good public policy."

Our state is at a tipping point. We sincerely hope that our new governor-elect takes this to heart and puts the problem of homelessness, especially as it impacts those living with a disability, on her action list for Day One.

Maggie Pritchard is CEO of Lakes Region Mental Health Center in Laconia and president of the New Hampshire Community Behavioral Health Association.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Commentary: Homelessness and disabled community in NH. Action needed.
WASHINGTON  Duane Canther, a 66-year-old union member who builds parts for car companies in Michigan, voted for Republican President-elect Donald Trump, but he supported Joseph Solis-Mullen, the Libertarian candidate in Michigan's narrowly decided Senate race.

Votes like his are part of why Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin defeated former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers to fill an open seat left by the retirement of Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., by 0.4 percentage points, even though Trump won the state by 1.4 points.

I voted just to say I voted for somebody. They say if you dont vote you cant complain, Canther said about his Senate vote.

I felt both of them were flipping back and forth on certain things," he added, referring to the Democratic and Republican Senate nominees.

Neighboring Wisconsin took a similar path, re-electing Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin over Republican challenger Eric Hovde, even while giving its 10 Electoral College votes to Trump.

"Ticket-splitting" voters helped Trump carry Wisconsin, Michigan and North Carolina  where Trump prevailed while Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein won the governor's race. Trump also won Nevada, where Democratic incumbent Sen. Jacky Rosen beat her GOP opponent Sam Brown. And he is on track to win Arizona, which has not yet been called, where Democratic Rep. Reuben Gallego is leading Republican candidate Kari Lake.

There were important exceptions. Republicans beat incumbent Democratic Sens. Jon Tester in Montana, Sherrod Brown in Ohio, and Bob Casey in Pennsylvania, though all three performed better in their state than Vice President Kamala Harris did.

Ticket-splitting used to be common, and while it is becoming less so in an era of increased partisanship, the swing-state down-ballot results show split tickets still can determine the outcome of key races.

There are still differences between presidential and Senate races, Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabatos Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said. And those differences broke in Democrats favor across these states.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin speaks to a small crowd in the early hours of Wednesday, November 6, 2024, during the Michigan Democratic Party election night event at the Motor City Casino Sound Board Theater in Detroit.

Running away from Joe Biden

The Democrats that prevailed in the presidential swing states worked to distinguish themselves from President Joe Biden, whose favorability ratings have been underwater for years, and campaigned on an independent brand tailored to their states.

In Arizona, for example, Gallego did not shy away from challenges facing border communities and emphasized the need to secure the southern border, a top issue in the southwestern state. Rosen in Nevada touted her bipartisan work to improve the states infrastructure. Baldwin in Wisconsin emphasized her dedication to policies supporting farmers and rural residents, and Slotkin in Michigan noted her commitment to American manufacturing.

Experts disagree on how split ticket voters are distributing their choices. Some say most split-ticket voters that supported Trump are handing Democrats the downballot victory by only voting for president, or voting third party for lower office, like Borden and Canther. Others say downballot Democrats won Trump supporters vote by distinguishing themselves from the national Democratic Party.

The Senate candidates are often well known to voters because they run intense campaigns with a flood of advertisements, said Barry Burden, a professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Arizona Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) walks offstage with wife Sydney after speaking at an Arizona Democratic election night watch party on November 5, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona.

And because turnout was similar for the presidential and the Senate races in most states, he argued, it is likely that some people are still splitting their ticket between the two parties.

So voters in some places are making real distinctions to say this is not somebody who is aligned with Trump or represents him in the same way, or this is someone who has the states interest in mind in a way that other candidates dont, he said. And that really is a different story from one state to the next.

What do the election results mean for you? Sign up for USA TODAY's On Politics newsletter for breaking news and exclusive analysis.

Who are split ticket voters?

Split ticket voters were common in the 1970s and 1980s, when the two political parties were more ideologically diverse.

For example, while Republican President Ronald Reagan won a nationwide landslide in 1984, states he carried such as Iowa, Oklahoma and Tennessee still sent Democrats to the Senate. And while President Bill Clinton was comfortably re-elected in 1996, Republicans were still elected to the Senate in states Clinton won, like Arkansas, Oregon and Maine.

As the parties moved further apart, it became harder for voters to justify voting for candidates from both major parties on the same ballot. Today, Burden estimates around one in 10 voters are willing to split their ticket.

Tester, Brown and retiring West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin  who will be replaced by Republican Sen.-elect Jim Justice  were some of the last remaining Senate Democrats from red states.

Split-ticket voters are usually less engaged, know less about the candidates, dont have a strong party identification and decide who they plan to vote for at the last minute, according to political scientists.

Theyre much more responsive to who the individuals are and to their performance in office and much less susceptible to the Washington style of defining politics, Burden said.

Trump's victory was so widespread that these voters were not necessarily the difference-maker for him. If he had not won Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada or Arizona  all places where the Democratic Senate candidate won or is leading  he would still have the 270 electoral college votes needed to take the presidency. If he had also lost North Carolina, that would have made Harris the winner.

Ticket-splitting is more common in gubernatorial elections than congressional races. For example, former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, led the heavily Democratic state from 2015 to 2023 but lost his Senate race to Democrat Angela Alsobrooks on Tuesday. The state also voted for Harris for president.

The Democratic Senate candidates victories will be the difference between a small Republican majority in the upper chamber  it's projected to be 52 to 55 seats  and a roomy majority that would make it easier for them to overcome the 60-vote threshold needed to pass legislation over a filibuster.

Ticket splitters are more casual voters, Burden said, but they end up being the ones who make a big difference.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why did Republicans lose Senate races in so many states Trump won?
By Jonathan Landay

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - When he takes office in January, President-elect Donald Trump will inherit a raft of national security challenges, including major wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Less discussed are the growing nuclear threats facing the United States, including from Russia, China and Iran.

Here are the five most pressing nuclear arms challenges confronting Trump:

RUSSIA

Trump will have to manage the gravest tensions with Moscow in more than 60 years, in part fueled by Russian President Vladimir Putin's threats to use nuclear weapons in his war against Ukraine and his development of exotic new weapons systems.

Overseer of the worlds biggest nuclear arsenal, Putin has been modernizing his nuclear forces and has rejected talks with Washington on replacing New START, the last U.S.-Russia arms limitation pact, when it expires on Feb. 5 2026.

U.S. officials say Putin remains within the limits set by the treaty despite his 2023 "suspension" of the pact that holds Russia and the United States to deploying 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads on 700 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarines and bombers.

President Joe Biden and Putin agreed to an extension in 2021 but, as written, the pact can't be extended further. Trump opposed an extension in his first term, calling instead for a new treaty that included China, which spurned the proposal.

Putin cited Washington's support for Ukraine in rejecting Biden's invitations for unconditional talks on replacing New START. But both sides say they will adhere to the treatys limits as long as the other does.

CHINA

China - which long had a smaller nuclear arsenal - is building up its strategic nuclear forces.

The Pentagon in 2020 estimated that Beijings operational nuclear warhead stockpile numbered in the low 200s and was expected to double by 2030.

That estimate was revised two years later, with the Pentagon saying China likely would have 1,500 nuclear warheads by 2035 if the pace of its buildup continued.

Beijing and Washington held their first nuclear risk reduction talks in nearly five years in November 2023.

But China, which has a "no-first-use" doctrine, in July formally halted further bilateral arms control discussions in protest against U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan, the democratically ruled island claimed by Beijing.

UNITED STATES

Trump will have to craft a policy on deterring nuclear threats from Russia and China even as he confronts the expiration of New START.

The Biden administration says the United States might have to deploy more strategic nuclear weapons in the future and Trump could do just that. In his first term, Trump's nuclear weapons policy called for new capabilities, reversing decades of U.S. arms reduction efforts, and he opposed extending New START.

But he will confront the soaring costs of America's own modernization of each leg of the U.S. nuclear triad  ICBMs, bombers and submarines - major parts of which are behind schedule and far over budget.

The costs of the effort, which has grown to include new warhead designs, missiles, a bomber and a submarine, are projected by the Arms Control Association advocacy group to exceed $1.5 trillion over the next 30 years.

Experts say that amount is certain to rise, threatening to divert funds needed for conventional U.S. military forces or for non-defense programs.

At a certain point, we will hit a constrained budgetary environment, warned a congressional aide, speaking on condition of anonymity.

IRAN

Iran may decide to build nuclear weapons following tit-for-tat strikes with arch-foe Israel and Biden's failure to revive major power talks with Iran on restoring curbs on its nuclear program.

Washington and its European allies will lose leverage over Tehran when a U.N. Security Council resolution allowing a "snapback" of international sanctions on Iran expires next October.

The sanctions were lifted in return for Iran accepting strict limits on its program under a 2015 deal designed to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons.

Trump withdrew the United States from the pact in 2018, leading Iran to breach its limits. The time Iran would need to make enough highly enriched uranium for a warhead has now been cut from a year to just weeks or days, U.S. officials say, although Tehran would need some more time to build an actual bomb.

Iran denies U.S. and U.N. nuclear watchdog assessments that it shuttered an effort to build a nuclear warhead in 2003 and has offered to reopen nuclear talks.

But the Israeli strikes could prompt Tehran to resuscitate that effort. Following the strikes, a top Iranian official said Tehran possibly could review its self-imposed ban nuclear weapons development.

NORTH KOREA

Tensions with North Korea have grown over Pyongyangs cooperation in Moscows war against Ukraine and an Oct. 31 test of a new ICBM that underscored the countrys ability to hit most of the United States with nuclear weapons.

A recent U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency report said Pyongyang continues expanding stockpiles of materials for its nuclear weapons program.

It also noted that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un set out a defense plan in 2021 calling for producing tactical warheads, lighter nuclear weapons and ultra-large nuclear warheads.

The Federation of American Scientists estimates that North Korea, which has conducted six underground nuclear test blasts since 2006 and more than 100 missile launches since 2022, has enough fissile material for up to 90 warheads, but "potentially" has assembled just 50.

Biden's administration has been unsuccessful in persuading Kim to revive denuclearization talks that collapsed after Trump failed in 2019 in the last of three meetings to convince the North Korean leader to abandon his nuclear weapons.

(This story has been refiled to add the dropped word to in paragraph 23, and to clarify that Iran closed its nuclear program in 2003 in paragraph 24)

(Reporting by Jonathan Landay; Editing by Don Durfee and Peter Graff)
An employee with the Federal Emergency Management Agency instructed a disaster relief team to avoid houses displaying signs supporting President-elect Donald Trump's campaign, the agency's administrator said Saturday.

The employee, who was not named, was fired from her position, Administrator Deanne Criswell said in a post to social media on Saturday, calling it a violation of FEMA principles, which say workers should help people no matter their political affiliation.

"More than 22,000 FEMA employees every day adhere to FEMAs core values and are dedicated to helping people before, during and after disasters, often sacrificing time with their own families to help disaster survivors," Criswell said.

"This was reprehensible. I want to be clear to all of my employees and the American people, this type of behavior and action will not be tolerated at FEMA and we will hold people accountable if they violate these standards of conduct."

Criswell said the issue was reported to the Office of Special Counsel.

"I will continue to do everything I can to make sure this never happens again," Criswell said.

The employee's actions were first reported by the conservative news site Daily Wire. The Daily Wire reported that the employee gave the instruction to workers who were responding to Hurricane Milton in Lake Placid, Florida.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, responding to the news, said on social media that he has instructed the state's Division of Emergency Management to launch an investigation into "the federal governments targeted discrimination of Floridians who support Donald Trump."

Previously reported: Threats against FEMA workers hamper some hurricane aid; authorities arrest armed man

"New leadership is on the way in DC, and Im optimistic that these partisan bureaucrats will be fired," DeSantis said.

Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, said it was "contrary to the very purpose of disaster relief" and called for the Inspector General to investigate. Another Republican senator, Josh Hawley from Missouri, called the conduct "illegal" and said anyone involved should be "identified, fired - and if necessary, prosecuted."

USA TODAY has reached out to FEMA and Trump's campaign for comment.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: FEMA employee fired over directions to avoid homes with Trump signs
During the 2024 campaign, President-elect Donald Trump claimed without evidence that Democratic "cheating" and voter fraud were occurring. When he was declared the winner early Wednesday morning, those claims abruptly ended.

Tuesday afternoon, as votes were being cast, Trump claimed on social media there was "massive cheating" in Philadelphia.

"A lot of talk about massive CHEATING in Philadelphia. Law Enforcement coming!!!" he said on social media. In a separate post he said there was a similar law enforcement response in Detroit.

Law enforcement in both cities scrambled to reassure voters there was no evidence of cheating or fraud.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said Tuesday there was "no factual basis whatsoever" to Trump's claim.

Trump hasn't mentioned election fraud since the race was called.

The change in tone after Trump won should drive home that Trump's fraud claims were not real, said David Becker, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Election Innovation & Research, which works with Republican and Democratic election officials to strengthen confidence in elections.

"It was never about whether our system was actually secure. It was never about whether or not the election could be trusted or policies that could make an election more secure or not, it was just about the outcome," he said.

On Thursday, President Joe Biden echoed that sentiment when he said Americans should lay to rest questions about the integrity of elections after Trump decidedly won the 2024 race.

I hope we can lay to rest the question about the integrity of the American electorate system. It is honest, it is fair and it is transparent. And it can be trusted, win or lose, Biden said in remarks from the Rose Garden.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally at the Santander Arena on November 04, 2024 in Reading, Pennsylvania.

Claire Zunk, the RNC's Election Integrity Communications Director didn't answer questions about why Trump stopped talking about fraud and if he still believes it occurred, but instead provided a statement praising the RNC's work.

"President Trump brought attention to real issues in our election system on and before Election Day, and we are continuing to be vigilant and responsive on the ground," Zunk said in a statement. "That's exactly why the RNC and Trump Campaign built an unprecedented election integrity program - so we could fix the problems before the election, and be ready to act as votes were being cast and counted. We responded in real time, stopped threats to our election, and protected legal votes."

Aspersions on Pennsylvania and Michigan, until Trump won them

In a Pennsylvania rally the day before the election, Trump spent 20 minutes warning the crowd there would be fraud in the state.

They are fighting so hard to steal this damn thing," he said. "Look at whats going on in your state, every day theyre talking about extending hours; whoever heard of this stuff?

Trump's former attorney Rudy Giuliani told reporters on Election Day that "if there isn't fraud in Philadelphia and Detroit there is no election, they do it even when they don't have to to stay in practice."

The Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee have not challenged the results in Philadelphia, where Trump got 20% of the vote, or in Detroit, where he got about 8% of the vote. Results are not final until they are certified by the state.

USA TODAY

Trump's history of baseless fraud claims

This isn't the first time Trump has claimed . In the 2016 primaries, Trump accused his fellow Republican Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) of "fraud" when Cruz won the Iowa caucuses. In Colorado, he called the primary "rigged." In the general election, when he won the Electoral College but failed to win the popular vote, he began making claims of fraud more consistently, all while not providing evidence to back them up.

"I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally," he said on social media  without providing any proof.

Trump's repeatedly debunked claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him was a major part of his 2024 campaign, often featured in his rally speeches. This year, his campaign and the Republican National Committee filed a combined 175 lawsuits before the election over issues such as claiming noncitizens were on the voter rolls, in what many saw as an effort to lay the groundwork for challenging the election's results.

A hope that Trump's win calms his supporters

Polls showed that many Trump supporters were far more likely than supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris to believe the election would feature fraud.

Becker said he hopes Trump's win will begin "some restoration of sanity" around whether American elections are safe and secure.

"The idea that people could believe the lie, which is ludicrous on its face, that Joe Biden as a candidate somehow rigged an election when Trump was the President of the United States and controlled the executive branch, but that as President of the United States, he couldn't do it, that should reveal the truth about our election system," Becker said.

Nevertheless, some on the far-right are claiming that Trump's 2024 win proves that the 2020 election was stolen. They did this by comparing the 80 million votes Biden received in 2020 to the number of votes counted for Vice President Kamala Harris by Wednesday morning, which was closer to 60 million. They claim the 20 million vote discrepancy is proof Democrats cheated in 2020.

But, they are comparing final figures from the 2020 election to partial results from 2024.

Millions of votes cast by mail are still being counted. While the outstanding votes are not enough to change the election's outcome, the total number of votes Harris and Trump received is not yet official and is expected to increase by several million. For example, as of Friday morning Harris had received more than 69 million votes, compared to the 60 million she had Wednesday morning when the far-right accusations began. Some heavily Democratic states where mail voting is very common like California are still counting ballots.

Conservative media personality Benny Johnson, called the 2020 to 2024 Democratic vote count difference very sus, short for suspicious, and failed Ohio Republican congressional candidate J.R. Majewski said the results proved 2020 was stolen.

Kamala got 60 million votes in 2024, Dinesh DSouza wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday. Does anyone really believe Biden got 80 million in 2020? Where did those 20 million Democratic voters go? The truth is, they never existed."

Despite winning in 2016, Trump appointed a panel to investigate election fraud, but then disbanded it abruptly in 2018 after it found no substantive evidence that American elections are corrupt.

On Friday, Trump hinted he might not be done with the election fraud issue. In a Truth Social post attacking California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Trump said "as an AGENT for the United States of America on Voting & Elections, I will be DEMANDING THAT VOTER I.D., AND PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP, ARE A NECESSARY PART AND COMPONENT OF THE VOTING PROCESS!"

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump suddenly stopped alleging cheating as soon as he won
Sean "Diddy" Combs is seen at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala in New York City on May 1, 2017. - Lucas Jackson/Reuters/File

A federal judge rejected Sean Diddy Combs attempt to silence all potential witnesses in his criminal sex trafficking case on Friday, saying his concerns do not outweigh an alleged victims right to free speech.

Combs team moved for a gag order to stop potential witnesses and their attorneys from speaking publicly after more than a dozen civil lawsuits were filed alleging sexual assault and following media interviews one witness gave after he appeared before the grand jury.

Judge Arun Subramanian said he is balancing Combs right to a fair trial with the First Amendment rights of his alleged victims.

Not all alleged victims will be participants in this case, and a blanket restriction on their speech will silence individuals who may never have anything to do with the proceedings here. And in any event, less restrictive alternatives must be considered and rejected before imposing a restraint on speech, Judge Subramanian wrote in the order.

The order comes as Combs legal team filed a new request seeking release from jail based on new information, they argue, that undercuts the prosecutions allegations that Combs forced women and others to engage in drug-fueled, days-long sex acts.

Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges and has said the allegations in the civil lawsuits, including abuse of minors, are absolutely false.

Combs was twice denied bail, first by the magistrate judge who he appeared before, and again by the trial judge assigned the case. That judge recused himself and the case was transferred to Judge Subramanian.

Prosecutors have argued Combs poses a physical threat to witnesses and victims, and engaged in witness tampering by having contact with certain individuals connected to the case.

In a court filing with numerous redactions, Combs attorneys claim that information theyve obtained from prosecutors negates the governments claim that there is a second victim  in addition to Victim 1 as identified in the indictment  and weakens prosecutors allegation of witness tampering.

The new material demonstrates that the government previously misrepresented the weight of the evidence. And it undermines the governments claim that Mr. Combs presents a danger, Combs lawyers wrote to the judge.

Combs legal team said there is evidence that undermines the core allegation that he sex trafficked his former long-term girlfriend, identified as Victim 1 in the indictment.

The government recycled Victim 1s allegations, but the case requires her potential testimony, which will be refuted by years of written correspondence and other documentary evidence.

Combs lawyers also argued that the conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center, where he is housed, make it difficult to prepare for trial. During a recent government sweep of the federal jail, they said, guards confiscated Combs pens.

Officers ruffled through his personal notes and left them scattered, out of order and disorganized. These notes included his work product and notes reflecting communications with defense counsel. The officers also seized Mr. Combs pens, leaving him unable to take further notes while reviewing discovery or during counseled calls, they wrote.

Combs team proposed a bail package that is similar to packages previously rejected by the judges. In addition to the $50 million bond, co-signed by Combs, his mother, the adult sons and others, they propose home detention with GPS monitoring and 24/7 monitoring by private security.

Visitors would be limited to Combs lawyers and family members under the latest proposal. In his prior bail proposal, Combs did not seek to exclude employees, friends or others from visiting.

Combs lawyers compared his proposed package to a deal prosecutors with the Eastern District of New York agreed to in the sex trafficking case against the former chief executive of Abercrombie & Fitch, who was released on $10 million bond.

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David Lammy has promised to build respectful partnerships as he visits Africa for the first time as Foreign Secretary on Sunday.

Mr Lammy is set to sign a new strategic partnership with Nigeria before travelling to South Africa, pursuing what the Foreign Office described as a fresh approach that works productively from Morocco to Madagascar.

He said: Africa has huge growth potential, with the continent on track to make up 25% of the worlds population by 2050.

Our new approach will deliver respectful partnerships that listen rather than tell, deliver long-term growth rather than short-term solutions and build a freer, safer, more prosperous continent.

I want to hear what our African partners need and foster relationships so that the UK and our friends and partners in Africa can grow together.

The partnership with Nigeria will cover economic ties, national security and climate change, and Mr Lammy is expected to meet Nigerian president Bola Tinubu to discuss further trade and climate collaboration.

In South Africa, he is set to meet foreign minister Ronald Lamola and agree on the development of a new UK-South Africa Growth Plan.

Mr Lammy added: Growth is the core mission of this Government and will underpin our relationships in Nigeria, South Africa and beyond.

This will mean more jobs, more prosperity and more opportunities for Brits and Africans alike.

On the day he became Foreign Secretary, Mr Lammy listed resetting relations with the Global South, including African nations, as a key priority for the Government at a time when other countries, including Russia and China, are seeking to expand their engagement on the continent.
A suicide bombing at a train station in southwestern Pakistan on Saturday killed at least 25 people, as a separatist militant group in the region said it carried out the attack.

Another 53 people were injured in the attack in the city of Quetta, Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat said in a statement.

Explosion at the railway station was a suicide bombing, the statement said.

The blast happened on a platform at the citys main railway station at about 9 a.m., Senior Police Superintendent Muhammad Baloch said.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a militant group active in the region, has claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement seen by CNN.

The explosion happened when a large number of passengers were present on the platform, Baloch said.

Fareed, an eyewitness to the blast, told CNN: There was a lot of chaos. People were running back and forth, people were lying martyred, some without legs and arms and hands.

Passengers, railway employees and security personnel are among the dead, a senior local government official said.

Security forces have cordoned off the area, and investigations are underway. The provinces Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has ordered an inquiry into the incident.

At least 53 people were injured in the blast, some of whom were taken to hospital. - Mazhar Chandio/Anadolu/Getty Images

In a statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack.

An insurgency in Balochistan has been running for decades but has gained traction in recent years since the provinces deep-water Gwadar port was leased to China, the jewel in the crown of Beijings Belt and Road infrastructure push in Pakistan.

The BLA has been responsible for the deadliest attacks in Pakistan this year, most recently in October when it targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers and investors in the city of Karachi leaving two Chinese citizens dead.

Correction: This story has been updated to correct when the suicide bombing occurred.

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Liberal women are withholding sex from men and shaving their heads to protest President-elect Donald Trumps landslide victory over Kamala Harris.

The demonstration was inspired by South Koreas 4B movement against gender-based violence where some women in that country have vowed to follow the four nos  no sex, no dating or marriage and no having children with men.

The trend took off in the US on TikTok after Trumps win Tuesday, with many women posting about their refusal to engage with men romantically or sexually over the next four years, citing dwindling abortion access across the nation and an increase in young male Republican voters.

Liberal women are joining the movement inspired by the South Korean 4B feminist movement following Trumps presidential win. AP

The movement comes from men not respecting womens bodies. TikTok/purple_spxrrow

As a woman, my bodily autonomy matters, and this is my way to exercise sovereignty over that, said a TikTokker, who encouraged other women to delete their dating apps in solidarity.

If you need someone to cuddle or give you a kiss, I bet you one of your girlfriends would do it, and you dont even need to be gay. Its OK to have a lot of platonic love for the next four years, she said.

Other users have taken to the platform to encourage women to take it a step further and collectively get hysterectomies, while some said they are breaking up with their Republican boyfriends in the wake of the election.

Fk being skinny, fk being hot, fk being all the things that the patriarchy wants us to be, cause clearly they dont give a st about us, said one user who began haphazardly shaving her full head of hair on camera.

Stop dating men, stop having sex with men, stop talking to men, divorce your husbands, leave your fking boyfriends, leave them, she said.

Exit polls support the premise that young men have become overwhelmingly conservative in the past four years  while women ages 18 to 29 went overwhelmingly left, in part because of concerns over reproductive rights.

Some TikTok users are even encouraging women to collectively get hysterectomies to protest Donald Trumps presidential win. TikTok/mknotashley

In the US, only 25% of men between the ages of 18 and 29 identify as politically liberal. REUTERS

Young women supported Harris over Trump by 18 points, while young men backed the president-elect by 14 points, according to Tufts University Tisch College research.

In South Korea, the 4B movement  which stands for the four vows that begin with bi (no in English)  was an offshoot of national protests against the spycam epidemic, where women were often unknowingly filmed during sex or while in the bathroom without their consent.

South Korean leaders became worried over the 4B movement when it allegedly began having an effect on the countrys birth rates after launching in 2017 and picking up momentum in 2019.

In 2021, the countrys president, Yoon Suk-yeo, said feminist movements were blocking healthy relationships between men and women in the nation, Chosun reported.

In South Korea, the 4B movement was an offshoot of national protests over its spycam epidemic and patriarchal societal structures. Getty Images

For three years in a row, the country has recorded the lowest fertility rate in the world, with women of reproductive age having less than one child on average, according to the New York Times.

In the US, only 25% of men between the ages of 18 and 29 identify as politically liberal, while 40% of women in the same age group do, according to a recent Gallup poll.

Experts say the US political gender divide has led to Gen Z dating woes, as many young men embrace the ideologies of popular podcasters such as Joe Rogan, the Nelk Boys, and Adin Ross  all of whom were thanked for helping to get the president-elect to victory by UFC CEO Dana White during Trumps Wednesday victory speech at Mar-a-Lago.

Some people have opposed the movement, poking fun at those who have modified their appearances in solidarity and called for extreme measures of divorce.

 Join the Republican Party, keep your hair: Never thought Id have to say that, one user said in reaction to the movement.
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Plustek scanner

When I was a child, I remember being obsessed with my mother's photos. I'd spend hours flipping through ancient photo albums and staring at old pictures of me and my siblings or wedding photos from her first marriage. As my own daughter has started becoming more curious about the world, I've begun wondering how she'll be able to see old photos: every photo I have of her is digital, and every photo of me as a baby is in a dusty chest at my mom's house.

Last month, I collected all of my mother's old albums and hauled them over to my house, declaring that I would be digitizing all of them so they'd be safe forever. I researched the best photo digitizing services  ones that you could mail all your photos to and pay someone else to digitize  but they're expensive. Like, $1,000 expensive. I ended up downloading a free app called Google PhotoScan off of Wired's recommendation, and while it worked, it was painfully time-consuming. Not willing to dedicate thousands of dollars or hours to this project, I decided to pickup a photo scanner from Amazon in the hopes that it would be more effective.

And my goodness, I was right.

The Plustek Photo Scanner Z300 has been a Godsend for digitizing old photos. It's incredibly easy to setup and use, and it delivers high-quality photos that look near-identical to the original versions. If you've been looking for a way to preserve and share your old photos, here's why this photo scanner is a game-changer.

plustek Plustek Photo Scanner ePhoto Z300 For photo scanning, it doesn't get better than this $200 scanner from Amazon. You can scan stacks of photos at a time without having to manually open a scanner or align pictures perfectly. This scanner is cheaper than digitizing services and works with any computer. Pros Simple setup

Easy to use

High quality scans

Cheap

Scans all sizes Cons Time consuming

Can't scan too fast $200 at Amazon

 It's simple to setup

Installing a new piece of hardware  like a printer  is an all-day endeavor in itself. But I was pleasantly surprised with how easy it was to set up the Plustek. It came with a CD-ROM, but my computer doesn't have a CD drive (not many do nowadays). Instead, I followed the instructions in the book to download the software from the Plustek website. A few clicks later and my scanner was set up. I simply plugged it into my computer and started scanning.

The Plustek scanner can scan images within seconds. (AOL / Kate Tully Ellsworth)

 Scanning is ridiculously easy

The Plustek features a large silver bar that contains the scanner. You slide the photo through the bar and it's scanned. Each photo takes about three seconds to fully scan, then it appears on your computer screen. You'll have to name and store your photos on your own; it doesn't come with an easy way to group photos together or identify similar faces or places, but that's what a service like Google Photos or Mylio Photos is for.

Once you scan your images in, they appear on the computer screen for review. (AOL / Kate Tully Ellsworth)

 Photo quality is impeccable

I was extremely pleased with the quality of the photos I scanned in. Tiny photos, regular-sized photos, extra large photos  they all scanned in with ease and looked as crisp as the originals. I was worried some quality would be lost in the scanning process (especially for such an inexpensive machine), but it actually did a really great job.

The photo quality from the Plustek scanner is great. (AOL / Kate Tully Ellsworth)

 Scans all sizes of photos

Since I've been scanning photos from the '70s, '80s, and '90s, I've got all kinds of sizes, from standard 4 x 6 photos to wallet-sized school pictures and a few 8 x 10 glamour shots. The machine can take them all. So far, I've only encountered one photo it hasn't been able to scan and it was 13 by 10.

But I haven't just been scanning photos  my mother had a newspaper clipping of my sister's birth announcement I was able to scan in easily. She also had an autographed photo of George Jones I went ahead and scanned in, too.

 It's cheaper than digitizing services

If you don't want to go through the trouble of pulling all your photos out of albums, scanning them, then replacing them, you can always ship your photos off to a digitizing service. You'll still have to remove the photos from albums and eventually replace them, but you won't have to scan them. You will, however, pay for that service. Different brands  LegacyBox, Kodak, Panda Photos  will scan boxes of prints for just cents a piece, but those can quickly add up. Plus, you're taking a risk by shipping off your precious memories and trusting in the shipping process.

You've got to wait about three seconds between each photo. (AOL / Kate Tully Ellsworth)

 It's time consuming

To use the Plustek scanner, you enter one photo at a time and watch it scan. It takes about three seconds per photo, but that still adds up, especially when you consider that you've got to remove and replace them from individual albums. Scanning about 1,500 photos has taken me around four hours so far. I'm able to watch TV while I scan so I'm at least entertained, but scanning in all your photos with the Plustek is definitely a time commitment.

 Can't scan too fast

My biggest frustration with the Plustek is that you can't scan your photos quickly in succession. Each scan takes about three seconds, then you need to wait another three or so seconds to enter the next print. It sounds silly to complain about three seconds, but when you're scanning thousands of photos at once, it adds up quickly.

The software also only allows you to scan 60 photos a batch. Once you hit 61, it prompts you to save all your scans before you can proceed. It's a great way to make sure you're saving as you go, but it can add more time to the process if you're in the scanning groove.

The Plustek Scanner is definitely a good investment if you're looking for ways to digitize your photos. (AOL / Kate Tully Ellsworth)

Should you buy the Plustek Photo Scanner Z300?

Absolutely. The Plustek Photo Scanner Z300 is an excellent way to scan in all your old photos, especially if you've got time set aside to do so. It won't suddenly make the process of manually scanning all your photos seamless, but it's pretty darn close. It's the best solution I've found so far and it's been extremely fun reliving old memories, especially of my sister, who recently passed.

Overall, if you're facing a mounting collection of physical photos you want digitized forever, the Plustek Photo Scanner Z300 is an excellent, user-friendly buy.
The SpaceX crew of the Dragon spacecraft, from left, cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, pilot Michael Barratt, commander Matthew Dominick and mission specialist Jeanette Epps gather for a photo after arriving at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP)  Three NASA astronauts whose prolonged space station mission ended with a trip to the hospital last month declined to say Friday which one of them was sick.

Astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt and Jeanette Epps publicly discussed their spaceflight for the first time since returning from the International Space Station on Oct. 25. They spent nearly eight months in orbit, longer than expected because of all the trouble with Boeings Starliner crew capsule and rough weather, including Hurricane Milton.

Soon after their SpaceX capsule splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico off the Florida coast, the three were taken to a hospital in nearby Pensacola along with Russian cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, who launched with them back in March.

One of the Americans ended up spending the night there for an undisclosed medical issue. NASA declined to say who was hospitalized or why, citing medical privacy.

When asked at Fridays news conference which one had been sick, the astronauts refused to comment. Barratt, a doctor who specializes in space medicine, declined to even describe the symptoms that the unidentified astronaut had.

Spaceflight is still something we dont fully understand. Were finding things that we dont expect sometimes. This was one of those times and were still piecing things together on this," said Barratt, the only member of the crew who had flown in space before.

Epps said everyone is different in how they respond to space -- and gravity.

Thats the part that you cant predict," she said, adding, "Every day is better than the day before.

Dominick said little things like sitting comfortably in a hard chair took several days to get used to once he returned. He said he didnt use the treadmill at all during his time in space, as part of an experiment to see what equipment might be pared on a long trip to Mars. The first time he walked was when he got out of the capsule.

The two astronauts who served as test pilots for Boeing's Starliner  Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams  will remain at the space station until February, flying back with SpaceX. Starliner returned empty in September.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
A North Carolina State student has been arrested for a string of apparently random shootings at cars on multiple highways in Raleigh.

Since Monday, police have received 12 reports of shots being fired at vehicles and buildings in the vicinity of Interstates 40 and 440, according to Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson.

At this time, we do believe that the 12 incidents are related, Patterson said at a press briefing Thursday.

PHOTO: Police investigate a shooting spree near I-40 in Raleigh, North Carolina, Nov. 7, 2024. (WTVD)

Andrew Thomas Graney, 23, has been charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury and 11 counts of firing a weapon into an occupied vehicle or dwelling, police said. Graney is a senior at NC State, majoring in anthropology and has been enrolled since fall 2019, the school confirmed to Raleigh ABC station WTVD.

A second person was taken into custody alongside Graney at a residence in Raleigh on Thursday but has since been released without charges, police said.

A judge ordered Graney held without bond during his initial court appearance Friday afternoon.

"This is one of those cases that put fear in the heart of the entire community," Judge Debra Sasser said.

MORE: Woman killed after rock thrown through her car's windshield making it 3rd such incident in 3 days

Stacy Newton, an assistant district attorney with the Wake County District Attorney's Office, said during the hearing that the suspect fired into seven vehicles and three occupied residences.

Investigators had linked Graney to the shootings through his cellphone and vehicle, according to the prosecutor. His cellphone was in each of the locations over the four-day period, and his vehicle matched the description of one used in several of the incidents, she said.

Police recovered .45-caliber shell casings at many if not all of the shootings, and a .45-caliber firearm was recovered from inside the suspect's vehicle, she said.

A motive remains under investigation, Newton said.

"This was an absolutely senseless and random series of acts of violence that really put this community on edge," Newton said while requesting no bond in the case.

Graney appeared virtually during the hearing and asked to have a public defender appointed.

PHOTO: Andrew Thomas Graney, 23, was arrested for allegedly shooting at several cars on a highway in Raleigh, N.C., in early November, police said. (Raleigh Police Department)

Police had urged drivers in the Raleigh area to remain vigilant following reports of vehicles being fired into during the early morning hours on I-40.

In one incident, on Monday, a woman was shot in the leg while driving, suffering a non-life-threatening injury, police said.

MORE: Family of Los Angeles woman shot in vehicle calls for justice, alleging inaction by a deputy

Patterson said it is unclear at this time if shots were being fired from a vehicle or on foot.

Police previously said they believed a handgun was used in the shootings.

The shootings remain under investigation. Patterson urged anyone with surveillance or dashcam footage to come forward.

NC State student arrested for string of random highway shootings in Raleigh: Police originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Police investigate the scene Thursday where five people were found shot to death inside two homes in Duluth, Minn.

Five people, including two juveniles, were found dead in Minnesota, in what appears to be a quadruple murder-suicide spread across two homes.

Officers responded to a welfare check at a home on the 6000 block of Tacony Street in Duluth shortly after 2 p.m., the Duluth Police Department said in a release. An employee with the city of Superior was concerned that a coworker had not shown up for work, police said.

They found two people, 47-year-old Erin Abramson and her son, 15-year-old Jacob Nephew, dead from apparent gunshot wounds.

Police said they identified a suspect, 46-year-old Anthony Nephew, and set up surveillance at his residence, located about a mile northeast of the initial shooting scene.

Officers made entry with drones and found two more victims, 45-year-old Kathryn Nephew and her son, 7-year-old Oliver Nephew, also dead from apparent gunshot wounds.

Officers said they found the suspect there as well, deceased from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Anthony Nephew was married to Kathryn Nephew and was Oliver's father. He was previously in a relationship with Erin Abramson and Jacob Nephew was their son, Duluth Police Chief Mike Ceynowa said at a press conference on Friday.

Ceynowa added that officers have preliminarily seen a pattern of mental health issues with Anthony Nephewy during their investigation.

There is no ongoing threat to the Duluth community, police said.

"I want to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and victims who were involved in this tragedy yesterday," Chief Ceynowa said. "We also want to send our condolences to both the Duluth community and Superior community as this is a senseless and tragic event."
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, left, and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker are among the Democratic governors pledging to push back against future Trump administration policies.

A cadre of blue-state governors is already preparing a litany of political and legal moves to shield their states policies and residents from federal actions under Donald Trump's new administration.

The plans from Democratic governors across the country  including a handful of potential 2028 presidential contenders  offer both a repeat of how leaders of liberal states pushed back against Trump during his first term, as well as a snapshot of what the resistance to him from the left will look like this time around.

In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that he would convene a special session of the Legislature explicitly intended to safeguard California values and fundamental rights in the face of an incoming Trump administration.

In a news release, he said the session would focus on bolstering California legal resources to protect civil rights, reproductive freedom, climate action, and immigrant families.

Newsom outlined that the session, set to kick off Dec. 2, will take expedited action to best protect California and its values from attacks on LGBTQ rights and womens rights. He also said it would provide additional resources to the states Justice Department and other agencies to pursue robust affirmative litigation against future potential unlawful actions by the Trump administration, as well as to defend against any federal lawsuits from the administration that could be filed.

He added that the session would be the first of several actions by his administration and the Legislature to begin shoring up Californias defenses against an incoming federal administration that has threatened the state on multiple fronts.

The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack  and we wont sit idle. California has faced this challenge before, and we know how to respond, Newsom said in a statement. We are prepared, and we will do everything necessary to ensure Californians have the support and resources they need to thrive."

Newsoms office told The Associated Press that the governor was attempting to Trump-proof the states laws.

Trump hit back at Newsom in a lengthy post on Truth Social on Friday, referring to him as Governor Gavin Newscum and saying he was using the term 'Trump-Proof' as a way of stopping all of the GREAT things that can be done to Make California Great Again.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who like Newsom is considered to be among the Democrats in the 2028 mix, echoed many of the same themes during a press conference this week.

To anyone who intends to come, take away the freedom and opportunity and dignity of Illinoisans, I would remind you that a happy warrior is still a warrior, he said Thursday. You come for my people, you come through me.

Pritzker, whose Think Big America nonprofit group spent millions of dollars on abortion-rights ballot measures in four states this cycle, called Illinois a refuge for those whose rights are being denied elsewhere, including those seeking political asylum, reproductive health care or to avoid persecution because of their sexual orientation or gender.

He nodded to policies his administration has enacted, including codifying abortion rights and a law requiring gender-affirming care to be covered by health insurers in Illinois.

Efforts Trump-proof Illinois have been ongoing for months, if not longer, said Pritzker chief of staff Anne Caprara.

She said the state is looking into other legal protections for women who travel to the state to access reproductive care, including protecting transponder data and medical records from out-of-state attorneys general.

The state also has been working to codify environmental regulations in case a Trump administration tries to roll back clean air and water protections, as well as ensuring labor protections are maintained.

Were literally going through Project 2025 to understand every element of what they might touch. Some of this work has been done or in the process for a while, Caprara said.

She also said collaborative efforts involving other Midwestern states are in the works.

Midwest governors who governed through Covid with Trump at the helm  it got hairy then  weve been through this before and are determined this time to draw in those lessons and make sure that to the degree it makes sense we are collaborating on best practices and how to creatively deal with the more difficult pieces of this, Caprara sais. Those relationships the governors at large on the Democratic side of the aisle have been key all along in navigating those years of Trump.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also announced an effort this week  dubbed the Empire State Freedom Initiative  she said was designed to address policy and regulatory threats that could happen during Trumps administration.

The effort, being conducted together with the office of New Yorks Democratic Attorney General Letitia James, will address federal legal threats to reproductive freedom, immigration issues, civil rights, gun safety, climate change progress, environmental justice and other issues, they said in a joint announcement this week.

Im committed to working with anyone on policies that make our state stronger, safer and more livable  but my administration will also be prepared to protect New Yorkers fundamental freedoms from any potential threats, Hochul said in a statement Wednesday.

She said in the statement that officials leading the effort in the state had already developed an initial analysis of likely statutory, regulatory and fiscal "vulnerabilities" based on comments and policy proposals from Trump and his team, and had begun developing legislation, rules and appropriations that would serve to counter such federal actions.

In addition, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said on MSNBC on Wednesday that she would use every tool in the toolbox to protect our residents and to hold the line on democracy and the rule of law.

Healey, who as the states attorney general during Trumps first term challenged his administration several times on immigration policies, said shed exercise her executive and regulatory authority, and make use of legislation in the state to fight various Trump policies.

Specifically asked about Trumps plan to implement mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, Healey said she would absolutely not allow state police to assist in such an effort.

Asked about Democratic governors' response to Trump's return to the White House, Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement: The American people re-elected President Trump by a resounding margin giving him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail. He will deliver.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, another possible 2028 contender, referred to a statement he released Thursday in response to Trumps victory that focused heavily on unity when asked whether similar efforts were underway in the state.

Now that this election is over, it is time to govern  to work together, to compromise, and to get stuff done, Shapiro said in that statement. I believe theres more that unites us than divides us  and we must work together to continue to get stuff done for Pennsylvania.

Unlike in the deep-blue states of California, New York and Massachusetts, where Democrats enjoy a trifecta of power across state government, the Legislature in battleground Pennsylvania is split, which would make plans to counter Trump more difficult. Plus, Trump just carried the state at the presidential level.

Let me also make clear: I will never back down from standing up for the freedoms I was elected to protect. I will continue to defend our democracy, defend our fundamental rights, and ensure we continue the legacy of William Penn by building a Commonwealth that is warm and welcoming for all, Shapiro added.

In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy pledged to both push back against Trump when necessary, while also seeking out areas for compromise.

If its contrary to our values, we will fight to the death, Murphy said at a Wednesday press conference, mentioning issues such as immigration and reproductive rights.

If theres an opportunity for common ground, we will seize that as fast as anybody, he added.
Craig Ballentines detention came after he had complained online about his former employer, a Dubai-based dog salon - Detained in Dubai/SWNS

A Northern Irish man is facing up to two years in jail in Dubai over a negative online review he had posted of a dog-grooming service.

Craig Ballentine, 33, from Cookstown, County Tyrone, was arrested on slander charges three weeks ago after arriving in Abu Dhabi to visit friends.

Mr Ballentine, an autism support worker, was then transferred to Dubai under the United Arab Emirates severe cybercrime laws, which prohibit all kinds of online criticism.

His detention came months after he had complained online about his former employer, a Dubai-based dog salon, for causing him a legal nightmare, according to Detained in Dubai, a campaign group that helps foreigners in the Gulf state.

After a six-month stint at the company in 2023, Mr Ballentine said he would need time off due to sickness.

Mr Ballentine was detained after arriving in Abu Dhabi three weeks ago to visit friends - EXTREME-PHOTOGRAPHER/Getty

He was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a condition that causes widespread pain and extreme tiredness, and said he had informed his employer.

Despite providing a doctors certificate, the company registered him as absconded with authorities and caused him a legal nightmare, Detained in Dubai said in a statement on Friday.

Mr Ballentine was left unemployed and with a travel ban on his passport. It took him two months and thousands of pounds to return home finally.

Once back in Northern Ireland, he wrote a negative online review of the grooming centre and his former boss, listing all the problems she had caused him.

But when he returned to the UAE months later on holiday, he was arrested.

Outrageous charges

Radha Stirling, the chief executive of Detained in Dubai, described the charges as outrageous, saying that the post had not contained any abusive content.

When someone is offended, even if they are at fault, they can open a criminal prosecution out of spite. Craig deleted the post, apologised but still faces jail, she said.

Ms Stirling said that tourists had easily been finding themselves falling foul of the newly enacted laws. Weve seen people arrested for complaining to customer service or for leaving online reviews on hotels and rental car agencies.

Ms Stirling warned that Mr Ballentine has been advised by local lawyers there is almost zero chance of the case against him being dropped.

Mum thought I was dead

Mum was so upset and stressed, she thought I was dead, he told Ms Stirling in a phone call.

Michelle ONeill, the first minister, said she had been monitoring the situation closely on Friday.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: We are providing support to a British man in the UAE and have been in contact with the local authorities.

Last year, a woman in Dubai was found guilty of defamation for an Instagram post that damaged a hospitals reputation after she had criticised its service, calling it the worst.

Its atrocious that authorities are allowing such frivolous criminal reports to entangle visitors in the system There are no protections or safeguards and peoples lives are being ruined, Ms Stirling said.

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Rafael was moving west across the Gulf of Mexico on Friday morning as the first major hurricane in the Gulf in November for almost 40 years, bringing the threat of life-threatening conditions to the southern United States coastline.

Forecasters said the storm could cause dangerous surf and riptides across the whole Gulf region in the coming days, after causing havoc in Cuba where millions are still without power.

As of 4 a.m. ET, Rafael was 585 miles east of the mouth of the Rio Grande with sustained wind speeds of 120 mph, making it a Category 3 hurricane, moving west at a rate of 9 mph, the National Hurricane Center said.

Rafael is now tied with Hurricane Kate in 1985 as the strongest storms recorded in the Gulf.

The storm is expected to weaken throughout the weekend, but it could still produce tropical storm-force winds  which is between 39 and 73 mph  up to 115 miles from its center.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Thursday visited areas hit by the storm and spoke to a team working to fix six electricity towers that were knocked down by winds of 115 mph earlier this week.

A man carries a dog through flooded streets of Batabano, Cuba, after Rafael on Thursday.

The country's entire power network collapsed, the state-run operator UNE said, plunging the nation's 10 million people into darkness  the second full blackout on the island in the last month  with many areas still unconnected. More than 283,000 people were evacuated, 98,300 from the capital, authorities said.

The capital, Havana, with 2 million people living in densely packed and largely old buildings, is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters. Desperate locals made their way to hotels with their own generators in search of scarce power.

"It is the second time that we have to live through all that has happened: the weather and the problems with the energy grid of the country," local resident Mario de la Rosa Negrin told The Associated Press. "The hotel offered, in solidarity, the power from their power plants to the neighbors so that people could charge their mobile phones and their lamps."

Rafael is the 17th named storm of the hurricane season. It is only the sixth hurricane to be recorded in the Gulf of Mexico in November and the third to be rated Category 2 or higher. The others were Ida in 2009, a Category 2 storm, and Kate in 1985, which was Category 3.
Senate Dems are furiously debating whether to pressure US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a 70-year-old diabetic, into resigning so they can try to confirm another jurist before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, a new report says.

Members of the upper chambers Democratic caucus broached the sensitive topic after Trumps electoral landslide Tuesday, according to Politico.

But at least some of the senators are loath to publicly leak the notion or even privately urge Sotomayor, a solid liberal vote on the high court and its first Hispanic justice, to leave her post over potential health issues, the report said.

Senate Democrats are furiously debating whether to pressure US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a 70-year-old diabetic, into resigning so they can confirm another jurist before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, according to a new report. Getty Images

Sotomayor is a type 1 diabetic, and the average lifespan for women with the condition is 68 years, according to a 2015 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

What happens if she resigns and the nominee to replace her isnt confirmed and the next president fills the vacancy? a source said.

A former Senate Democratic aide told The Post its a fools errand to think Sotomayer would step aside and the Senate would be able to confirm a Democratic replacement in time.

Thats insane. Thats not going to happen, the source said. If Sotomayor were to resign, [Dem Senate Leader] Chuck Schumer couldnt get a confirmation done in time.

Those involved in the talks also have acknowledged that it would be difficult to pull off during President Bidens lame-duck session.

We would have to have assurances from any shaky senator that they would back a nominee in the lame-duck, a senior Democratic source told Politico.

Members of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumers Democratic caucus reportedly broached the sensitive topic after Trumps electoral landslide Tuesday. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

What do you do if she announces shes going to step down and then [Democrat-turned-independent West Virginia Sen. Joe] Manchin doesnt support her and then [Republican Sens.] Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski back off and say theyre not going to support a new nominee? the source asked. Do you just rescind [her] letter?

Congress is also running up against a hard fiscal deadline of Dec. 20 to fund the government, leaving little breathing room for the pols to get much else done.

Any new justice would have to be appointed, confirmed and seated before the 119th Congress is sworn in Jan. 3.

A worried Dem source noted, What do you do if [Sotomayor] announces shes going to step down and then [Democrat-turned-independent West Virginia Sen. Joe] Manchin doesnt support the move? Anadolu via Getty Images

Some of the senators in the Beltway speculative conversation would prefer to spend that short period of time confirming other lower-court judges to the federal bench, as Republicans have already telegraphed that their majority is ready to confirm a slate of new candidates to those positions, the report said.

If Sotomayor was to step down, the anonymous Democratic lawmakers were floating at least one moderate replacement for her: Washington, DC, Circuit Judge J. Michelle Childs, according to the outlet.

Childs has already won bipartisan support from Biden, who put her on his short list of potential jurists, and Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

GOP Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member Lindsey Graham has already backed a potential leading replacement candidate, DC Circuit Judge J. Michelle Childs. William B. Plowman/NBC via Getty Images

I cant think of a better person for President Biden to consider for the Supreme Court than Michelle Childs, Graham said of his fellow South Carolinian on CBS News Face the Nation in 2022.

She has wide support in our state, shes considered to be a fair-minded, highly gifted jurist. Shes one of the most decent people Ive ever met, he added.

Democrats started a whisper campaign last year to remove Sotomayor, which enraged some progressives who saw the effort as ableist.

Trump, 78, and a Senate Republican majority secured the US Supreme Courts conservative advantage in the final months of his first term by installing Justice Amy Coney Barrett to replace late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Bloomberg via Getty Images

Trump, 78, and a Senate Republican majority secured the Supreme Courts conservative advantage in the final months of his first term by installing Justice Amy Coney Barrett to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Ginsburg died Sept. 18, 2020, at the age of 87, three years before she had planned to retire.

Ginsburg died just before Trump left office after years of health complications. The Washington Post via Getty Images

She battled life-threatening complications in her final years  including colon and pancreatic cancer  and even broke her ribs from falls in 2012 and 2018.

Reps for Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) did not immediately respond to a Post request for comment Friday.
Colleen Jo Matarico, 43, was arrested on Thursday for child molestation.

A Los Angeles special education teacher is accused of having sex with a 13-year-old student in her car and providing minors with marijuana  and police believe there may be other victims.

Colleen Jo Matarico, 43, of Valley Village, was arrested on Thursday and charged with child molestation and furnishing marijuana to a minor, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The teacher groomed and sexually assaulted a 13-year-old victim in her classroom, and later convinced the victim to have sexual intercourse in her vehicle, police said in a statement.

Colleen Jo Matarico, 43, was arrested on Thursday for child molestation. LAPD

Detectives believe there are additional, unidentified victims of Matarico who have yet to come forward, the LAPD said in an appeal for additional victims of sexual assault.

The department only listed Matarico as a teacher, without saying where she taught. She is listed as a teacher at John Burroughs Middle School in the Hancock Park area of Los Angeles, according to the schools website.

She taught at John Burroughs Middle School, according to the schools website. John Burroughs Middle School

Her LinkedIn profile states she is a special education teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

The Post has reached out to school officials for comment.

Matarico is charged with five counts of lewd acts with a minor, two counts of lewd acts with a minor 14 or 15 years old and one count of furnishing marijuana to a minor.

She is being held on $1.3 million bail.
Relatives of Danylo Liashkevych aka "Berserk", Ukrainian serviceman of 3rd assault brigade, cry during the funeral ceremony at crematorium in Kyiv, Ukraine, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

A crowd of mourners lit torches and intoned a military chant to honor a Ukrainian medic and a soldier who fell in love on the frontline and died together in a Russian shell attack.

Valentyna Nahorna, whose call sign was Valkyrie, volunteered as a medic at the start of the war in Ukraine.

She and Daniil Liashkevych, known as Berserk, fell in love just a few months ago, their friends and comrades say, but it helped them endure the war. They both worked in the 3rd Assault Brigade, and were killed Nov. 4.

Their funerals were held on Friday at Kyiv s crematorium, a cavernous and grimly modern building often used for funerals of the war dead.

Those gathered gave the chant that Ukrainian soldiers learn by heart when they first start training: "Burn with fire, life-giving, the weakness in my heart. Let me know no fear, nor doubt.

Kostyl, who like many Ukrainian soldiers agreed to be identified only by his call sign, said meeting Valkyrie helped Berserk emerge from a dark time in his life.

He finally had a soulmate who also wanted to fight with him and be as close to the war as possible, But this was their last time together, and no one is safe from that, Kostyl said.

Dvyetshnik, a 3rd Brigade soldier who knew the medic better than her soldier companion, described her as fearless and willing to learn anything.

If Valkyrie was very sincere in her emotions and thus added a beautiful chaos, Berserk was a real warrior, he said. They were a perfect complement to each other.
Elephant

Credit: Urban et al-Current Biology

Elephants prank each other with harmless acts of sabotage, scientists have discovered, after two of the animals were caught playing with a water hose.

The mammals are well-known for their ability to use their dextrous trunk for a range of purposes, including washing themselves, moving trees and even stealing pieces of clothing.

But when one Asian elephant at Berlin Zoo called Mary was seen using her trunk to manipulate a hosepipe to wash herself, her mischievous friend Anchali, who she shares an enclosure with, was seen clamping down on the pipe with her trunk to stop the water flow.

The elephants are trained to not stand on the hose pipe with their feet because it interferes with the work of the keepers, so Anchali found innovative trunk-based methods to get around the rules.

Researchers at Humboldt University of Berlin have written a study on how Mary washes herself with a hose, including using it as a lasso in order to clean hard to reach places on her back.

The scientists say Mary may be adept at using the bendy hose pipe because it has similar long and floppy properties to her trunk. The authors also studied the unexpected bonus of Anchalis sabotage.

Both animals showed goal-directed behaviour using tools, the scientists say, a skill once thought to be unique to humans but which has recently been observed in other species such as chimps, crows and dolphins.

Mary (L) was washing herself with a hose pipe when her friend Anchali felt mischievous

Lena Kaufmann, of Humboldt University, who filmed Mary, said: Elephants spray themselves with water, mud or dust all the time, and its been shown before that over 80 per cent of observed tool-use behaviours in elephants are actually body care-related.

But she said Mary using a water hose is special because it is an exceptionally complex tool that has flexibility, can extend in length, and has water flowing through it.

Ms Kaufmann said: Marys very skilful behaviour with this water hose made us think that maybe elephants have a somewhat intuitive understanding of hoses, potentially due to the similarities with their own trunks.

The researchers said both elephants were interacting aggressively during showering time, with Anchali pulling the hose towards herself and twisting it.

Michael Brecht, a professor at Humboldt University, said: The surprise was certainly Anchalis kink-and-clamp behaviour. Nobody had thought that shed be smart enough to pull off such a trick.

Anchali was seen performing a trunkstand where she places her trunk on the hose and then lowers her massive body onto it to slow water flow.

Prof Brecht said: When Anchali came up with a second behaviour that disrupted water flow to Mary, I became pretty convinced that she was trying to sabotage Mary.

The researchers also found Mary was able to adapt her technique based on the type of hose.

Prof Brecht said: Elephants are amazing with hoses. As it is often the case with elephants, hose tool use behaviours come out very differently from animal to animal; elephant Mary is the queen of showering.

The researchers said their findings, published in the journal Current Biology, also raises questions about whether elephants behave similarly in the wild.

Prof Brecht said: Do elephants play tricks on each other in the wild? When I saw Anchalis kink and clamp for the first time, I broke out in laughter.

So I wonder, does Anchali also think this is funny, or is she just being mean?

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More and more companies are telling workers they have to return to the office, and that might mean trading in sweatpants and T-shirts for business attire and talking with co-workers in person  an activity that some remote workers may have all but left behind.

As these businesses make the transition to in-person work, they're starting to bring in etiquette professionals to help employees relearn how to act in the office. According to The Washington Post, the years spent apart from colleagues have rusted workers' social skills, and new ways of working have spawned a host of fresh etiquette issues.

"The problem is that even though the pandemic is behind us, there is still that shockwave, that ripple effect that carries on," Diane Gottsman, owner of The Protocol School of Texas, told Scripps News. "So I think that what happens is people are not familiar with what appropriate attire is or how to interact with peers or how you send an e-mail with a subject line and change that subject line per subject matter. So it's just tiny little details that add up to big dollars and cents issues."

RELATED STORY | Amazon's return-to-office mandate highlights festering tensions over remote work

Gottsman's Protocol School of Texas specializes in professional etiquette training. She told Scripps News that a lack of etiquette can be detrimental to a person's career  and that many don't understand its importance.

"These are not manners," she said. "These are professional development skills that empower the individual and allow them to be comfortable and interact with everyone around them in that work environment."

Gen Z is the most glaring group struggling with this in the transition back to the office, but it doesn't just stop there, according to Gottsman.

"Everyone can benefit from fine-tuning, so there are executives who have been in the workforce for several years and they've gotten lax," she told Scripps News. "Or perhaps they just never really learned the art of networking, and now they're in a different position and they are having to take on different responsibilities and don't quite know how to jump into this new environment."

To hear the biggest mistakes Gottsman shared and how to improve your etiquette, watch the full interview above.
We rely on our esophagus to swallow about 585 times a day. For many, heart burn, acid reflux or even chronic acid reflux called GERD can hamper and irritate the process.

For some, that chronic condition could also be symptom of esophageal cancer or gastrointestinal cancer  and screening for it remains challenging for doctors.

Scripps News' health correspondent Lindsey Theis spoke with one doctor and patient about the need for screenings as more adults are being diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancers at younger ages.

A new procedure could provide an easier, cheaper way to detect these cancers early.

RELATED STORY | Cancer mortality in the US is on the decline, annual report finds
Qatar has halted its mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas, citing a lack of willingness from both sides to engage constructively, according to a diplomatic source briefed on the matter.

Qatars participation hinged on both parties demonstrating real interest in resolving the conflict, according to the diplomat. Qatari officials, however, concluded that recent negotiation efforts have been more focused on optics than peace efforts.

The diplomat noted that Qatar may resume its role if both sides reach an impasse and show genuine intent to negotiate.

Under U.S. pressure, Qatari officials had warned Hamas political bureau earlier that it was no longer welcome in the country amid frustration over stalled hostage and cease-fire negotiations with Israel, according to a senior U.S. administration official and two diplomats briefed on the matter.

Hamas has been told that if this continues then Qatar cannot continue to host them, they said.

Qatar has become increasingly frustrated with a lack of progress toward a cease-fire by both Hamas and Israel, one of the diplomats told NBC News Saturday morning.

Later, a diplomat added that Qatar had informed the Israelis and Hamas that as long as there is a refusal to negotiate a deal in good faith, they cannot continue to mediate. As a consequence, the Hamas political office no longer serves its purpose.

The officials did not say whether Hamas had been given a deadline, how its diplomats had responded to the warning to leave, or where they would go.

The move is one of multiple indications that the Biden administration is intensifying efforts to achieve a Gaza cease-fire and hostage deal before leaving office.

The U.S. asked Qatar to kick out Hamas about two weeks ago when the group rejected another hostage proposal after Israel killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the senior U.S. administration official told NBC News late Friday.

Qatar agreed and told Hamas political leaders about the decision about 10 days ago, the U.S. official said.

Hamas is a terrorist group that has killed Americans and continues to hold American hostages, the official said. After rejecting repeated proposals to release hostages, its leaders should no longer be welcome in the capitals of any American partner.

According to one of the diplomats briefed on the matter, once the Qataris had made their decision, they notified Israel and Hamas as well as the U.S. administration.

All sides were given no advance warning and were informed after the decision was made, they said.

A Hamas official contacted for comment did not respond. Israeli officials were not immediately available for comment.

A spokesperson for Qatars Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari, said on X that reports about the Hamas office in Doha were "inaccurate," adding that the office's purpose is to be a "channel of communication between the concerned parties." He characterized Qatar's efforts to mediate between the parties as "currently stalled."

Since the start of the war in Gaza, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has played a key role in mediating talks between Hamas and Israel, alongside Egypt and the U.S.

Qatars Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

While housing Hamas representatives in Qatar has long been considered an advantage by negotiators, the country is under growing pressure from the U.S., with the outgoing Biden administration anxious to force Hamas and Israel into a deal before leaving office.

Meanwhile, Qatari leaders face the prospect of a hawkish Trump presidency and more powerful Republican lawmakers with little tolerance for rounds of unsuccessful talks or patience with the kingdoms role as a go-between for militants.

The U.S. request to oust Hamas came partly because of the death of American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin and it coincided with the unsealing of indictments for Hamas leaders, including Khaled Meshal, who is known to be living in Qatar, according to the U.S. official.

The official said the U.S. is still trying to secure the release of hostages  and that the administration believes that expelling Hamas from Doha will place more pressure on the organization.

Qatar has played an invaluable role in helping to mediate a hostage deal and was instrumental in securing the release of nearly 200 hostages last year, the senior U.S. official said. However, following Hamas repeated refusal to release even a small number of hostages, including most recently during meetings in Cairo, their continued presence in Doha is no longer viable or acceptable.

About 250 people were taken hostage during Hamas Oct. 7, 2023 terror attack, which killed around 1,200. Of those, about 100 remain in captivity, with a third believed to be dead. More than 43,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in the ensuing war, and Israeli forces have destroyed much of the blockaded enclave.

Palestinians mourn their relatives killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip at a hospital morgue in Deir al-Balah.

The two diplomats told NBC News that Hamas was also asked to leave Qatar and relocate to Turkey in April. But after officials there failed to compel Hamas to agree to a hostage deal, that decision was quickly reversed, they said.

The Biden Administration and the Israeli government asked Qatar to bring them back to Qatar because they needed to continue the talks and couldnt do it while in Turkey, one diplomat said.

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., who is running to be Senate leader, co-sponsored a bill this year calling on the U.S. to reconsider Qatars Major Non-NATO Ally Status.

Qatar has not been a good ally or partner to the United States for years, Scott said at the time. Its recent behavior dealing with Hamas is telling.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials have also criticized Qatar for not forcing Hamas into an agreement.

Earlier this year, Qatar defended its role in negotiations, with its embassy in Washington issuing a statement saying that Dohas capacity as mediator exists only because we were asked by the United States in 2012 to play this role.

Blaming and threatening the mediator is not constructive, especially when the target is a friend and a Major Non-NATO Ally that presently hosts 10,000 U.S. troops and Americas largest military presence in the Middle East, it added.

Qatar has housed Hamas political bureau for over 20 years, and before the war, provided the group with hundreds of millions of dollars in annual assistance, with the knowledge and cooperation of the Israeli government, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, a New York-based think tank.

Hamas leadership is divided between a military wing, based in Gaza, and the political bureau, whose top officials have been based in Qatar. That included Ismail Haniyeh, who led Hamas political bureau from 2017 to July 2024, when he was killed while on a diplomatic visit to Irans capital, Tehran, in an assassination believed to have been carried out by Israel.Where Hamas would relocate is not clear, but Iran might be one option.

Hamas met with Irans president in Doha last month. The Zionist entity today in Gaza and Lebanon pierce the heart of every human being, President Masoud Pezeshkian said at the time. This pain is even greater for those of us who consider the oppressed Palestinian people as our brothers in faith.
Earlier this week, Buckingham Palace announced that Queen Camilla was suffering from a chest infection. And today, they have said that she will not be attending the weekends Remembrance events with the rest of the royal family after doctors advised her to rest.

Following doctors guidance to ensure a full recovery from a seasonal chest infection, and to protect others from any potential risk, Her Majesty will not attend this weekends Remembrance events, the Palace said in a statement today. While this is a source of great disappointment to The Queen, she will mark the occasion privately at home and hopes to return to public duties early next week.

It is understood that there is no cause for alarm, but that it was thought that standing outside for a prolonged period could affect 77-year-old Camillas recovery and that she was mindful of not infecting others. She is currently at her private home in Wiltshire and is expected to return to London next week to continue with other engagements.

Meanwhile, the rest of the royal family, including Kate Middleton, will be at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall this evening and at the Cenotaph on Sunday for the Remembrance Sunday Parade and service. Kate will watch from a balcony while William will join other royals laying a wreath. King Charles will lay the nations wreath at the central London monument.

It is rare for members of the royal family to miss Remembrance events as they are a very symbolic moment in the familys calendar. When Kate announced in September that she had finished chemotherapy and would be returning to some royal duties, Remembrance was always something Kensington Palace made clear she hoped to attend. Queen Elizabeth very rarely missed Remembrance Sunday. However, at the end of her reign she was forced to pull out of appearing at the Cenotaph and then-Prince Charles stood in for her.

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Republican statewide judicial candidates appear at an event in July, 2024. @JGriffinNC | X

(The Center Square)  As President-elect Donald Trump received a record-number of voters in North Carolina, Republicans also got substantial judicial wins.

Winning three more seats on the states Court of Appeals, Republicans are now in 12 of the courts 15 seats.

Yet, while Republican Jefferson Griffin leads in the lone state Supreme Court race, it is likely headed to a recount. Incumbent Democrat Allison Riggs is within striking distance.

Riggs posted a statement on social media on Wednesday saying, My race is too close to call. Our team is closely monitoring the count of remaining absentee ballots and provisional ballots, and we will have a clearer idea of our next steps within the next 24-36 hours.

There has been no official update by either candidate since that post.

Riggs and Griffin are separated by less than 10,000 votes of each other. Griffin leads with 2,751, 358 votes, while Riggs has 2,743,223.

In North Carolina, recounts for statewide races are allowed if the difference between the candidates is either less than 10,000 votes or 0.5% of votes cast, whichever is less.

Even if a recount is officially declared, experts tell The Center Square that is likely to make little difference.

As far as a recount in the state Supreme Court race, we will probably do it, and it probably won't make a difference, said Dr. Andy Jackson, director at the Civitas Center for Public Integrity at the John Locke Foundation.

A report from FairVote, a nonpartisan voting advocacy group, concurs with Jacksons conclusion.

Margins must be exceptionally close for a change in outcome to be plausible  even closer than the margin of 0.17% currently separating Democratic Justice Allison Riggs and Republican Jefferson Griffin, said Yates Wilburn, FairVotes state communications associate. Recounts tend to lead to small vote gains for both sides, and typically widen the gap between the top two candidates instead of decreasing it.

Even with other votes trickling in, Jackson doesnt believe theyll make much of a difference, either in the Supreme Court race, or in any other races.

Weve got provisional ballots. Weve got ballots from some of the people in the western counties who were displaced by the hurricane," Jackson said. "And weve got some military and overseas ballots still coming in. That's not going to be a lot. They tend to evenly split, so I dont expect too many races, if any, to be changed by those ballots.

According to a report from the North Carolina State Board of Elections, 64,000 provisional ballots were cast across the state in early and Election Day voting. Nearly 5.7 million North Carolinians cast ballots in this election, which is a 73% turnout of the states 7.8 million registered voters.
The inside of the Washington State Capitol Building. Doctor Tinieblas | Unsplash

(The Center Square)  Three days after the election, several state legislative contests in Washington have yet to be called.

Democrats hoped to pick up a seat or two in the Yakima Valley thanks to recent redistricting, but as previously reported by The Center Square, it doesnt look like that will happen.

As Republicans saw it, redistricting was done in an effort to ensure Democrats in the 14th Legislative District secured a supermajority, but there were a dozen other districts impacted by the redraw as well.

As of Friday midday, the 14th Legislative District remains firmly in Republican control with Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, holding a lead of about 2,000 votes over Democratic challenger Maria Beltran. Republicans are firmly in the lead for the two House in the 14th positions up for grabs.

We cannot deny the impact of the horrible racist and sexist assaults on text messages that came in from the Washington state Republicans, said Democratic Party Chair Shasti Conrad in a Friday interview with The Center Square, in reference to the Yakima Valley races.

There were horrible mailers, but the text messages were full of lies saying that our candidates supported castration in schools and that we were against God and truth and it was just absolutely disgusting messages, said Conrad, who noted the party is filing a Public Disclosure Commission complaint contending the Washington State Republican Party did not have disclaimer language in their campaign messaging, as required by law.

We are pursuing all of our legal options to hold the Republican party accountable, said Conrad, suggesting the state GOP sent messaging to Latino voters that they didnt have time to respond to.

Republican State Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, told The Center Square in a Friday phone interview the text messages did not come from anyone in the Republican caucus, but rather party leaders.

It did use some language that I would not have used but no one in the Democratic Party has denied the accuracy, they just took issue with the tone of the message which I agreed with them on, Braun said. That was a single text which went to a very limited number of people.

Braun suggested focusing on the single text message deflects from the real reason voters did not support Democratic candidates in the Yakima Valley.

To claim that somehow one message that went out very late in the campaign swung the campaign is nonsense, he said. Were just going to keep working on the key things that make a difference to peoples lives in that region, and its public safety and affordability and education and a future for their children and it matters to people regardless of their race or gender and thats what were going to work on.

Washington State Republican Party Chair Jim Walsh told The Center Square via text message late Friday, "It's understandable that Conrad & Co. are upset and emotional about their losses in the 14th Legislative District. They were assured by their 'experts' that their gerrymandering scheme would work. Not being used to winning competitive races in blue-collar districts, they believed the false promises. Yakima isn't Seattle. Different values, different voters. WA Dems can talk all they want about 'legal options.' They're just being sore losers. If they want to win in Yakima, they need to get out of their echo chamber and understand Yakima."

Did national move toward Trump impact Latino voters in Washington?

We certainly are going to have to dig into the data and I still want to see where we actually end up landing on all this, but we do have to acknowledge that years ago there was talk of the browning of America and all these different rules for persons of color and assuming they would vote for Democrats and thats an incorrect analysis now, Conrad said.

Democrats tried to flip the Yakima and Sunnyside city councils last year, she said.

In my work out there what I learned is that while wed done a lot of work in registering voters there was a real lack of understanding of the civic engagement pieces of when to vote and how to vote and who to vote for, Conrad noted.

I do think some of it is long term cultural connections to whiteness being right and able to lead and a strong man argument and sort of thinking of Trump as a businessman and entrepreneur, she said. He tells you what you need to do and there is some sort of cultural connection to that seeming like what a leader should be like.

I think it's going to just take some time in building trust in that community and with constituents in that district because in many other places in Washington state we have years of data and we just didnt have that in the 14th, so its going to take another cycle or two before were going to get there, Conrad said.

Several other close legislative races are yet to be determined and it will likely be Monday or beyond at the earliest for any final result.

As of midday Friday, Legislative District 10, which includes Island County, Republican State Sen. Ron Muzzall was leading Democratic challenger Janet St. Clair by just 574 votes, with St. Clair getting far more support in Skagit County and Muzzall far ahead in Snohomish County.

In southwest Washingtons 17th Legislative District, incumbent Republican Sen. Paul Harris is leading Democratic contender Marla Keethler by 1,149 votes.

In the race for the Position 2 seat for state representative, Republican mayor of Washougal David Stuebel had a razor-thin lead of 147 votes over Democrat Terri Niles.

In the 18th Legislative District in Southwest Washington, where Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, has stepped down, Democrat Adrian Cortes is leading Republican Brad Benton by 354 votes, with ballots trending in his direction since election night.
Both are words for the bready side dish most notably served at Thanksgiving, but is there a distinction?

Though my Great Aunt Carol passed years ago, Thanksgiving still reminds me of her. Wed get up early on those chilly late-Autumn mornings to drive from Los Banos, California, to Turlock, where she always answered the door to her big house with a kitchen towel in her hands and an apron on. Our Thanksgivings were conventionally Italian American, with deep pans of rigatoni and focaccia alongside the turkey and cranberry sauce. You couldnt keep me away from those Italian American carbs on any of our family holidays, but at Thanksgiving I always saved room for the stuffing, too.

When I first moved to New Orleans after undergrad, I started hearing the word dressing being thrown around as the humidity finally died off, and I couldnt help but wonder whether these South Louisianans were drowning their birds in ranch or blue cheese.

Wrong as I (thankfully) often am, turns out we were discussingpretty much, sort of, mostly, kind ofthe same thing. But hold up: Whether were talking stuffing or dressing, where do these names come from? Whats the difference? And why dont we just call them the same damn thing? Lets talk turkey.

From England to the American South: How a Dish Took on Two Names

The practice of stuffing meats and poultry is as old as cooking itself, with records of ancient Roman and Middle Eastern civilizations filling birds with herbs, nuts and grains for added flavor and substance. The term "stuffing" was first used in English in 1538, but European cooks had been cramming meat and bread inside dead birds for decades. In England, cooks would prepare forcemeat, a mixture of meat, bread crumbs, herbs and spices, to stuff into poultry or game. These savory blends were intended to both flavor the meat and make use of available ingredients, particularly during the darkest and scarcest of days.

As English settlers arrived in America, they brought with them their fowl-filling traditions, which soon took on spin-offs of their own. The early American settlers used readily available ingredients such as maize, wild herbs and chestnuts to create their own versions of the dish. By the early 19th century, the term "dressing" appeared in Southern cookbooks and began to supplant "stuffing," particularly in the American South. The shift in terminology was part of a broader trend of Victorian-era social refinement, where certain words, like "stuffing," were deemed too rustic or crass for polite conversation. You knowthat old Southern Charm.

In the South, dressing became inseparable from holiday meals, where family recipes passed down through generations began to define the dish as more than a mere side. Dressing, as it was, became a symbol of heritage. Over time, regional adaptations of stuffing and dressing emerged, with different ingredients and methods reflecting the diverse landscapes and cultural roots across the United States. Today, this historical split continues to influence how Americans refer to and prepare what is more or less the same classic Thanksgiving dish, just with innumerable variants.

Related: Healthy Stuffing Recipes

North vs. South: Cornbread or White Bread Cubes? Apples or Andouille?

At their most basic levels, stuffing and dressing are savory bread puddings. They are both a mixture of bread and other adorning ingredients cooked with flavorful liquid, like stock, until absorption.

In the States, no two Thanksgiving tables are the same, and as such, no two families stuffings or dressings are the same. The differences are even more dramatic between both sides of the Mason-Dixon. In the North, stuffing often reflects the breadbasket of wheat and other grains, leading to recipes based on white or sourdough bread. These bread cubes, when combined with herbs like sage, rosemary and thyme, create a fragrant and savory stuffing. The addition of ingredients like apples, cranberries, chestnuts or mushrooms is common in Northern kitchens, where these elements bring a seasonal and earthy flavor to the dish.

In the South, where corn is king, cornbread dressing reigns supreme, though its not exclusive. Plenty of Southern dressings use French bread or whatever else. Southern dressing is often augmented with ingredients like sausage, pecans and other regional harvests. This might look like oysters in South Carolinas Lowcountry or andouille sausage in South Louisiana.

Despite their names, the regional differences between stuffing and dressing cant be pinned down on the technical level. There are Southerners who stuff their turkey with cornbread dressing, and there are Northerners who bake their sourdough stuffing in a separate casserole dish.

Inside or Out: The Method Technically Makes the Difference

Stuffing or dressing, in the traditional sense, is packed into the turkeys cavity, soaking up the birds juices as it roasts. Cooking stuffing this way, with special care to reach a safe internal temperature, can get you a moist, intensely flavored side dish. But because that dead center of the bird takes the longest to cook, you also risk drying out the quicker-cooking parts of your turkey, especially the breasts.

Nowadays, its increasingly more common for folks to bake their starchy side outside the bird, in a separate dish. Its, of course, a more food-safe practice than cooking inside the turkey, but it also lets you get those crispy corners and edges along the sides of the baking vessel.



Related: This Is the #1 Thanksgiving Side Dish, According to a New SurveyDo You Agree?

When to Serve Dressing vs. Stuffing for Your Holiday Table

So, which are you going to have? I guess that really depends on where youre from and what youre looking for exactly. If I have time to please everyone at Thanksgiving, I have to make an obligatory sourdough stuffing for my Yankee familywhich I also adore, dont get me wrongbut Ill double up and make a cornbread dressing, too, if I can.

I love the chewy, tart breadth of a sourdough stuffing cooked with cranberries or pomegranates and a deep, rich, thick turkey broth made from the wings and backbone after spatchcocking. You best believe I can also get down with a smoky, spicy, slightly sweet cornbread dressing with oysters and sausage. If you want to bring a nostalgia-laced tear to my Italian American eye, you can even load yours up with a bunch of fresh oregano and rosemary.

Whatever you decide to make, the first piece of advice I can give you is to make sure your bread is left out in the open air for several days to get stale. Thatll ensure that it absorbs all the moisture it needs to. But the best piece of advice I can give you is to do what my Aunt Carol did: Make your stuffing or dressing with love. You can take love, in this context, to mean with the best ingredients you can find. And no, that doesnt mean the most expensive ones. Sometimes, it just means a little extra effort. But its effort you can taste.

Related: 30 Thanksgiving Casseroles Just Like Grandma Used to Make

If you can bake the sourdough or cornbread, do that. If you can peel a fresh pomegranate and shuck a fresh oyster, why wouldnt you? If you can use the trim from your turkey to make a delicious stock, dont use store-bought, which can be saturated with sodium. The gestalt of a good savory bread pudding is the careful selection of each of its ingredients. Your tongue, your body, and your guests will all thank you.
Thousands of demonstrators gather in front of the city council for a protest organized by social and civic groups, denouncing the handling of recent flooding under the slogan "MazUn, Resign," aimed at the president of the regional government Carlos Mazon, in Valencia, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

VALENCIA, Spain (AP)  Tens of thousands of Spaniards marched in the eastern city of Valencia on Saturday to demand the resignation of the regional president in charge of the emergency response to last weeks catastrophic floods that left more than 200 dead and others missing.

A group of protestors clashed with riot police in front of Valencia's city hall, where the protestors started their march to the seat of the regional government. Police used batons to beat them back.

Regional leader Carlos Mazon is under immense pressure after his administration failed to issue flood alerts to citizens cellphones until hours after the flooding started on the night of Oct. 29.

Many marchers held up homemade signs or chanted Mazon Resign! Others carried signs with messages like You Killed Us! Upon arrival at the regional government seat, some protesters slung mud on the building and left handprints of the muck on its facade.

Earlier on Saturday, Mazon told regional broadcaster A Punt that there will be time to hold officials accountable, but that now is time to keep cleaning our streets, helping people and rebuilding.

He said that he respected the march.

Mazon, of the conservative Popular Party, is also being criticized for what people perceive as the slow and chaotic response to the natural disaster. Thousands of volunteers were the first boots on the ground in many of the hardest hit areas on Valencias southern outskirts. It took days for officials to mobilize the thousands of police reinforcements and soldiers that the regional government asked central authorities to send in.

In Spain, regional governments are charged with handling civil protection and can ask the national government in Madrid, led by the Socialists, for extra resources.

Mazon has defended his handling of the crisis saying that its magnitude was unforeseeable and that his administration didnt receive sufficient warnings from central authorities.

But Spains weather agency issued a red alert, the highest level of warning, for bad weather as early as 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning as the disaster loomed.

Some communities were flooded by 6 p.m. It took until after 8 p.m. for Mazons administration to send out alerts to peoples cellphones.

Mazon was with Spains royals and Socialist prime minister when they were pelted with mud by enraged residents during their first visit to a devastated area last weekend.

Sara Sanchez Gurillo attended the protest because she had lost her brother-in-law, 62-year-old Candido Molina Pulgarin. She said his body was found in a field of orange trees after he was trapped by the water in his home in the town of Cheste, west of Valencia.

She wanted Mazon to go, but also had harsh words for the country's leaders.

Its shameful what has happened, Sanchez said. They knew that the sky was going to fall and yet they didnt warn anyone. They didnt evacuate the people. We want them to resign!

The central government should have taken charge. They should have sent in the army earlier. The king should have made them send it in. Why do we want him as a symbolic figure? He is worthless. The people are alone. They have abandoned us.

The death toll stood at 220 victims on Saturday, with 212 coming in the eastern Valencia region, as the search for bodies goes on.

Thousands more lost their homes and streets are still covered in mud and debris 11 days since the arrival of a tsunami-like wave following a record deluge.

___ Joseph Wilson reported from Barcelona.
Photos of a person holding an American flag Donald Trump, and a US Passport

Democrats are finally doing something about migration.

Donald Trumps historic re-election to the White House led to a staggering number of Americans taking the lefts meltdown one step further by looking to relocate abroad this week.

Since the president-elects comeback victory became official on Wednesday, the number of related Google searches jumped 1,514% percent, according to VisaGuide.World.

Donald Trump won the presidential election this week. AP

Between Election Day on Tuesday and Wednesday, search traffic for immigration-related pages on the site grew by 338%  with would-be expats zeroing in on the easiest countries to relocate to, the site said.

Other pages that saw major traffic growth were more focused on specific locales  including a 375% interest jump for a guide on moving to the UK from the US and a 355% spike for a page about Ireland.

Scandinavia also appealed to distraught voters, with a Norway guide seeing 437% more attention.

Germany-Visa.org saw a 336% increase in traffic on immigration pages  including special interest in the Chancenkarte, or opportunity card, which allows anyone from a non-European Union country to live in Germany for up to one year to find work.

More Americans are supposedly looking to move abroad after Trumps victory. Gado via Getty Images

Many Americans were Googling English-speaking countries and the process of moving abroad. flowertiare  stock.adobe.com

Moving to Germany from the US was 42 times more searched this last week, according to VisaGuide.World.

Searches for How to move to Europe were up 1,566%, with inquires about English-speaking countries growing by 1,328%.

Based on search data, the most popular countries that Americans may consider moving to include Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Costa Rica and Mexico also ranked for those looking to flee the States.
Mark Paoletta in Washington, D.C., in 2022.

A firebrand legal adviser to the president-elect and a conservative lawyer under consideration for the post of attorney general appear to be setting the stage for investigations and prosecutions of Donald Trumps legal adversaries, including special counsel Jack Smith and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

The threats come as Trump campaign aides say that the president-elect considers his choice for attorney general to be his most important single appointment.

Over the last several days, Mike Davis, an outspoken conservative lawyer who is advising the Trump transition on Justice Department issues, has said in interviews that Smith belongs in prison and that James could be prosecuted.

I dare you to try to continue your lawfare against President Trump in his second term, Davis, a Republican lawyer who often uses provocative language, said during an appearance on the podcast of pro-Trump influencer Benny Johnson.

Listen here, sweetheart, Davis continued, addressing James. Were not messing around this time, and we will put your fat ass in prison for conspiracy against rights. I promise you that.

Davis spoke after James, who won a $355 million civil verdict against Trumps companies, held a news conference and said her office is prepared to fight back against policy and regulatory threats from the Trump administration.

Davis posted on X that Smith should lawyer up, and said in an appearance on Newsmax that Smith should go to prison for engaging in a criminal conspiracy against President Trump.

A spokesman for Smith declined to comment.

In an interview, Davis said he made the comments because I wanted to send a very powerful political message. The American people delivered their verdict on Tuesday and this lawfare must end.

Davis later posted that he does not speak for Trump and is not seeking a position in the new administration.

Mike Davis in Washington, D.C., in 2018.

Attorney general candidate

One of the people NBC News has learned Trump is considering for the job of attorney general  Mark Paoletta  reposted on X an article he wrote over the summer contending that Trump can and should tell the Justice Department whom to investigate.

Arguing against a 50-year-old post-Watergate norm that presidents should guide DOJ policy but play no role in individual criminal investigations, Paoletta said the president has the legal authority to order his attorney general to investigate specific individuals.

The Constitution vests our ELECTED President with ALL executive power, including DOJ, Paoletta wrote on X, with a link to an article he wrote on the subject in July. He has the duty to supervise DOJ, including, if necessary, on specific cases. Our system does not permit an unaccountable agency.

Paoletta did not respond to a request for comment.

Paoletta is among several people under consideration to run the Justice Department, people familiar with the matter tell NBC News. Others include Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt and Utah Sen. Mike Lee; John Ratcliffe, who was director of national intelligence in the first Trump term; and Matt Whitaker, who was acting attorney general under Trump.

All of those people have claimed  without citing any specific evidence  that the federal prosecutions of Trump by Smith were politically motivated.

On Friday, a judge granted Smiths request to cancel all scheduled hearings in the D.C. case against Trump. Earlier this week, DOJ officials said they have been evaluating how to wind down Smiths two federal criminal cases against Trump before he takes office to comply with long-standing department policy that a sitting president cant be prosecuted. On Friday, the judge granted Smiths request to pause all hearings in the case until Dec. 2.

A person familiar with the thinking on Smiths team  who spoke on condition of anonymity to recount sensitive conversations  said they are confident their work can withstand legal scrutiny but are anxious about the expense and stress that often comes with being the target of a federal investigation.

Davis also has a long history of making provocation statements designed to outrage liberals.

The Supreme Courts immunity ruling this spring made clear that orders given by the president to the Justice Department are immune from criminal scrutiny.

The Justice Department is not the last word in the criminal system. Even if federal prosecutors target an individual at Trumps request, a judge can dismiss the case, citing a lack of evidence. Juries could also decline to convict the defendant.

Career civil servants in the DOJ, who work for Republican and Democratic presidents and pledge to be nonpartisan, could also decline to prosecute a case, citing a lack of merit. Trump allies have argued that such prosecutors should be fired.

Career DOJ workers brace for second Trump term

Current and former Justice Department officials tell NBC News that many career public servants inside the DOJ, fearful about what they might be ordered to do by Trump or his appointees, are contemplating whether to leave.

I think there will be a flood to the exits, one former senior DOJ official said.

But two current DOJ officials said many department lawyers are determined to remain, plow ahead and do their work.

In Trumps first term, a special counsel appointed by Attorney General Bill Barr, John Durham, spent years scrutinizing the actions of the CIA and FBI in connection with Russias 2016 election interference efforts, only to net a single guilty plea from an FBI lawyer who lied on a document. Many of those interviewed had to spend thousands of dollars on legal fees.

The Trump Justice Department will have access to every text, email and memo written by everyone on the Smith team on government phones and computers during the investigation.

Jack Smith certainly should go to hell, Davis said on Newsmax.




Just days after Donald Trump's election win, the president-elect's proposed tariffs are shaping the strategy conversation at retailers across the fashion, beauty, and footwear industries.

Companies from athletic apparel maker Under Armour (UA, UAA) to Ralph Lauren (RL), Steve Madden (SHOO), and Kate Spade and Coach parent Tapestry (TPR) reported earnings this week. And each faced questions from Wall Street analysts about how Trump's proposals  which include 10%-20% tariffs across the board and a 60% tariff on goods from China  could pose a challenge in the months and years ahead.

"Just under half of our current business would be potentially subject to tariffs on Chinese imports," Steve Madden CEO Edward Rosenfeld said in a call with investors Thursday.

Christopher Hufnagel, CEO at Saucony and Chaco shoe-maker Wolverine Worldwide (WWW), said Thursday: "I think us, along with just about everyone, is sort of digesting the news and the new reality and to contemplate what's going to be on the horizon."

Meanwhile, makeup company e.l.f Beauty (ELF) said Wednesday evening that 80% of its products are imported from China. CEO Tarang Amin suggested impacts won't hit the company until 2026.

"Tariffs will have no impact in FY '25," Amin said. "It's when the new administration comes into power, we'll see what they enact, and given the length of our supply chain, this is something that would potentially hit us later in 2026."

Trump has promised to implement tariffs at levels unseen since the Great Depression.

And with more than one-third of US apparel imports coming from China alone, those promises on the campaign trail were already triggering market panic in the fashion industry this summer, Dr. Sheng Lu of the University of Delaware wrote in a July report from the US Fashion Industry Association.

Read more: How do tariffs work, and who really pays them?

As Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma noted, the retail sector at large began feeling the effects of a looming Trump presidency on Wednesday, when retailers' stocks, including Five Below (FIVE), Best Buy (BBY), and online furniture retailer Wayfair (W), all dropped. Wayfair stock was hit hardest, falling 12%.

Footwear firms also face an especially difficult road ahead. Brooks Running CEO Dan Sheridan told Yahoo Finance earlier this month Trump's tariffs would be a "huge headwind" for the entire industry.

While apparel companies' earnings largely outperformed Wall Streets expectations this week, questions about the potential for restrictive trade policies under the newly elected US president had executives on the defensive during calls with investors.

Steve Madden's Rosenfeld told investors Thursday that two-thirds of the shoe maker's business relies on US imports, with 70% of those imports coming from China. As a result, Rosenfeld said the footwear company plans to reduce sourcing from China by 40% to 45%  but even that reduction will leave more than a quarter of its business subject to tariffs on Chinese goods.

We have been planning for a potential scenario in which we would have to move goods out of China more quickly, he said. We've worked hard over a multiyear period to develop our factory base and our sourcing capability in alternative countries like Cambodia, Vietnam, Mexico, Brazil, et cetera.

Under Armour CFO David Bergman said the tariffs "could impact our cost of goods sold and gross margin, adding, We'll continue to manage it as best we can going forward.

The logo of the label Steve Madden at the fashion fair Premium. (Jens Kalaene/picture alliance via Getty Images) (picture alliance via Getty Images)

'More cognizant of that risk'

Executives this week also suggested they are prepared for a more restrictive trade environment under a second Trump administration, as the pandemic and Biden's trade policies have both stressed supply chains and elevated trade tensions in recent years.

"I would say that the industry now is much more cognizant of that risk than they were five years ago," Wayfair CEO Niraj Shah said in a call with investors on Nov. 1. Wayfair co-founder Steven Conine added, "We certainly have some practice now navigating tariffs."

Wolverine Worldwide's Hufnagel told investors that the companys earlier exposure to China is down dramatically from where we were just a couple of years ago but is still in the mid-teens range.

Tapestry, for its part, said less than 10% of its overall sourcing currently comes out of China, meaning the threat of 60% tariffs is not a big concern from our standpoint.

"We've had so many disruptions and challenges that have forced us to make adaptions based on port strikes and freight lanes, whatever it might be, tariff regimes changing over time," said CFO Scott Roe. "So we're pretty well versed in managing through this."

Tariffs on apparel imports from China in 2023 under the Biden administration cost companies and US consumers $1.3 billion. In 2024, a record 43% of US fashion companies surveyed by the US Fashion Industry Association sourced less than 10% of their apparel products from China, compared to only 18% in 2018.

As Ralph Lauren's CFO Justin Picicci told analysts this week, the brand has "significantly diversified that sourcing footprint over the past seven-plus years," adding that "China now represents about [a] high-single-digit percentage of our globally sourced units."

"We're going to remain agile and continue to proactively develop and scale new global supply chain opportunities to mitigate any potential risks and disruptions."

Laura Bratton is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on X @LauraBratton5.

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Steve Burns has taken his active listening to TikTok more than 20 years after his exit from Nickelodeon's 'Blue's Clues'

 Nickelodeon Network and Bryan Bedder/Getty (L): Steve Burns on an episode of 'Blue's Clues' in 1996 ; (R) Actor Steve Burns attends the "Blue's Big City Adventure" premiere event on Nov. 12, 2022, in New York City.

Steve Burns from Blue's Clues might not be a children's show host anymore, but he still wants you to tell him what's going on.

The former Blues Clues star got his start on Nickelodeon's 1996 hit show at 22 years old. The program gained immediate success and reached No. 1 shortly after airing, much to Steve's surprise.

"It always felt like a very small and personal experience to me," he told PEOPLE in December 2022. "It was me and a camera. And in my mind, it was me and a conversation with one other human being."

In 2000, he abruptly left the show when his character went to college and passed the role down to his younger brother, Joe, played by Donovan Patton.

Years later, Steve revealed the truth behind his departure, opening up about the internal struggles he was facing at the time: "It was my job that day to provide America's children with self-esteem, but I didn't always have my own approval," he told Today in April 2024.

He went on a years-long healing journey and found himself back on the path of listening to others  this time on TikTok.

So where is Steve from Blue's Clues today? Here's everything to know about the former television show host and how he's made a career of prioritizing mental health now.

Who is Steve from Blue's Clues?

 Nickelodeon Network Actor Steve Burns on a 1996 episode of 'Blue's Clues.'

Steve is the former host of Nickelodeon's1996 hit show Blue's Clues. He was born on Oct. 9, 1973, and grew up in Pennsylvania. When he was 22, Steve moved to New York to pursue an acting career, one that he thought would look much different than landing the leading role on a children's show alongside an animated blue dog.

"The persona was not what any 22-year-old dude would have wanted," he told Variety in November 2022. I moved to New York to be a much, quote-unquote, cooler thing  an Al Pacino-Dustin Hoffman hybrid, he said.

However, Steve liked the vision, and relished talking to the camera, what he described as "like a Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton thing."

But, that didn't mean he wasn't skeptical.

"I didn't think it would work at all," Steve told PEOPLE, adding that he "thought it was simply too strange and too breakthrough" to believe kids would talk back to the screen.

As it turns out, it wasn't  the show became a hit and ran for over six seasons.

Why did Steve leave Blues Clues?

 Nickelodeon Network 'Blue's Clues' host Steve Burns with Blue the Dog on a 1996 episode the Nickelodeon show.

In 2000, the actor left the show with little explanation when his character went to college. It wasn't until 2021 that he addressed his departure in a video posted to Nick Jr.'s X (formerly Twitter) account.

"You remember how when we were younger and we used to run around and hang out with Blue and find clues and talk to Mr. Salt and freak out about the mail and do all the fun stuff, and then one day I was like, 'Oh hey, guess what? Big news, I'm leaving!' " Steve said. "I realize that was kind of abrupt."

While his character had left to go to college, there were much more complicated feelings going on behind the scenes. He opened up to Variety years later about the severe depression he struggled with during and after his time on Blue's Clues.

I didnt know it yet, but I was the happiest depressed person in North America, he said. It was my job to be utterly and completely full of joy and wonder at all times, and that became impossible ... after years and years of going to the well without replenishing it, there was a cost.

The actor later explained to Today that he spent a long period of time healing, with help from one special person: his Blue's Clues character, whom he allowed to "become [his] greatest teacher."

"I simply did what Steve did every single day, which was stand there and look someone in the eye and ask, 'Will you help me?' " he continued. "That is the great lesson that Steve taught me: There is no shame in asking for help."

In September 2024, he told The New York Times that the exhaustion also caught up to him and prompted him to leave.

"I wish there was a sexier answer. You have to keep in mind that the show was all filmed on a green screen," he explained. "I was in every take of every shot, every day, with no other actors or props or anything, just sort of standing in a void for years and years."

His time away from the spotlight, though, prompted death rumors  which took an even bigger toll on his mental health. "When a zillion, trillion people all think youre dead for 15 years, it freaks you out," he told the outlet.



Has Steve reprised his Blue's Clues role?

Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock Former 'Blue's Clues' host Steve Burns with latter 'Blue's Clues' hosts, Josh Dela Cruz and Donovan Patton at the 95th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 25, 2021, in New York City.

Steve reunited with Blue and joined the new cast members while reprising his role in Blue's Big City Adventure, which was released on Paramount+ in November 2022.

Stepping back into the role 20 years later naturally meant that there would be some changes to his character, but Steve was a fan of how he grew up.

Ive never enjoyed being Steve more than I do now, he told Variety. I get to wear a trenchcoat. Its like Grover-meets-Columbo  a clown character. Thats really freeing somehow.

Filming the movie led Steve to form a friendship with Patton and Joshua Dela Cruz, who took over as stars of the show when he left.

"We really are friends. We actually do see each other socially. And we would be friends even if we weren't on the show, I think, if we met," he told PEOPLE in December 2022.

In May 2023, Steve reprised his role again in an episode titled The Case of the Missing Thinking Chair."

What has Steve said about his Blue's Clues legacy?

Chelsea Guglielmino/WireImage Former 'Blue's Clues' host Steve Burns speaks onstage at Los Angeles Comic Con on Dec. 03, 2022.

Although Steve is no longer hosting Blue's Clues, he has opened up about how he continues to carry the legacy through his work. In March 2024, he posted a now-viral TikTok video "checking in" on his followers, asking them to tell him what was going on.

He told Today that posting that clip was his way of carrying on the "philosophy" of Blue's Clues, which was always about respect, and always about communicating with the home viewer from a place of understanding and without condescension."

Back in the day, that meant talking about shapes and colors and graham crackers, but if you simply scale that up, now we're talking about the pandemic and student loans and adulting, he explained. We're talking about how difficult it is to move through this life as an adult person, but also how wonderful it is.



Where is Steve now?

Steve Burns/ Instagram Steve Burns takes a selfie showing a new Blue's Clues movie billboard in Times Square in NYC on Nov. 13, 2022.

After spending more than half his life in New York, Steve told The New York Times that he had relocated to an "off-grid" mountain in the Catskills.

"I harvest all of my own photons every day, so Im not connected to the electrical grid in any way," he explained before adding that there is, however, a supermarket nearby. "I actually wish that I was a little more remote than I am."

After years of battling depression and sifting through the death rumors and negativity online, he wondered if he could "use the internet backward." Rather than fueling the negativity, he chose to use social media in a positive way.

To that end, Steve first joined TikTok in 2021, asking his viewers for help.

"Hi out there! It's me, Steve," the actor said in his first video. "I don't know how to use TikTok at all. I kind of don't even know what it is. If you could tell me in the comments, thank you."

Eventually, he found his footing and has since built a platform of millions of followers. The former host often posts videos with few words and a lot of listening  telling his followers to "tell me everything"  much like his Blues Clues character would.

Sometimes, he doesn't say anything at all to the camera. Following the 2024 presidential election, a video of him simply breathing amassed over 6 million views.

But having a platform again has also made him worry about his role in his viewer's lives.

"I worry that these TikToks are making me seem like a therapist or someone who has some kind of greater understanding," he told Today. "My hope is that I just come off as a fellow passenger on the struggle bus, an ally."

In addition to his social media presence, he is a musician and even wrote and sang the theme song for Young Sheldon. He has also been speaking about mental health at universities and teased to The New York Times that he would be releasing a podcast.
In Rome, the pope and the catholicos of the Assyrian Church of the East hold an historic meeting, following in the footsteps of the Common Christological Declaration signed on 11 November 1994 by Saint John Paul II and Mar Dinkha IV. Isaac the Syrian, who stressed that holiness overcomes separations, is added to the Roman Martyrology. Speaking about Mideast Christians, the pontiff said: may the Christians of the Middle East always bear witness to the Risen Christ in those war-torn lands.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Qatar, Mosul (Iraq), and Iran are places where Christians have faced daily trials for years, including recurrent persecution, second-class status, intimidations, and flights. Yet it was here that Saint Isaac of Nineveh (also known as Isaac the Syrian) lived in the second half of the 7th century.

A monk and bishop, he followed the pre-Ephesian tradition, and is today "one of the most venerated Fathers of the Syro-Oriental tradition, said Pope Francis today when he met in the Vatican Mar Awa III, catholicos (patriarch) of the Assyrian Church of the East.

With his inclusion by the bishop of Rome in the Roman Martyrology, the book containing the saints of the liturgical calendars, the Eastern mystic today is a symbol of the unity between the Catholic and the Assyrian Churches.

Francis had announced the inclusion during the historic audience in the Vatican with Mar Awa III, catholicos since 8 September 2021, a meeting to mark two important anniversaries in the relations between the two Churches divided for 1,500 years over various Christological controversies dating back to the Council of Ephesus (431).

The first meeting took place 40 years ago, in 1984, when the late Assyrian Catholicos Mar Dinkha IV visited Rome. On that occasion, Saint John Paul II laid down the foundations of the dialogue that led 10 years later  30 years ago  to the Common Christological Declaration between the Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East.

The statement, born from the longing for unity, called for the establishment of a joint commission for theological dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East.

The commission, which Francis also received in audience, recently initiated a new phase of dialogue on the liturgy in the life of the Church, reads a press release by the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.

Born in present-day Qatar, where he had his first monastic experience, Saint Isaac was ordained bishop of Nineveh, a city near present-day Mosul (Iraq), by Catholicos Giwargis (George) I of Seleucia-Ctesiphon.

After a few months of episcopate, he asked to return to monastic life and retired to the monastery of Rabban Shabur in Beth Huzaye (Khuzestan, in present-day southwestern Iran), where he wrote numerous ascetic-spiritual texts that made him famous.

Although he belonged to a Church that was no longer in communion with any other, the writings of Isaac the Syrian, were translated into all the languages spoken by Christians.

The inclusion of Isaac the Syrian in the Roman Martyrology shows that holiness did not stop with separations and continues to exist beyond confessional boundaries. Hopefully, this will contribute to the rediscovery of his teachings and to the unity of all of Christ's disciples.

The final document of the Synod on Synodality that has just ended calls for the inclusion in the liturgical calendar of Saints and witnesses of the faith from other Churches (like Saint Isaac), a gift that we can accept.

Pope Francis spoke about the 1994 Declaration during the audience with Mar Awa III and the Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East.

That historic text recognized the legitimacy and accuracy of the varied expressions of our common Christological faith as formulated by the Fathers in the Nicene Creed. The Commission set up following the document has borne remarkable fruit, also at the pastoral level.

Francis mentioned the 2001 agreement on the Anaphora of the Apostles Addai and Mari, which gave our respective faithful a certain communicatio in sacris in particular circumstances, the 2017 Common Declaration on "sacramental life," as well as the more recent The Images of the Church in the Syriac and Latin Patristic Traditions, which laid the foundation for a common understanding of the Churchs constitution.

Theological dialogue is indispensable in our journey towards unity, since the unity we yearn for is unity in faith, while the dialogue of truth must never be separated from the dialogue of charity and the dialogue of life, the pontiff said, addressing the theologians members of the Commission. Thus, holy lives become the "best guides on the path to full communion".

Through the intercession of Saint Isaac of Nineveh, united to that of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ, our God and Saviour, may the Christians of the Middle East always bear witness to the Risen Christ in those war-torn lands, Francis added at the end of his speech.

[M]ay the friendship between our Churches continue to flourish, until the blessed day when we can celebrate together at the same altar and receive the communion of the same Body and Blood of the Saviour.

Francis went on to thank the Catholicos of the Assyrian Church of the East, and urged everyone to work and walk together on the "road to full unity".

At the end, all shared the recitation of the Lord's Prayer: Let each one pray it according to his or her own tradition and language, in a low voice.
Today's headlines: 540 civilians have been killed in 10 months by the military junta's air force in Myanmar. Taiwan offers rewards of thousands of dollars for reporting Chinese activities at sea. North Korea carried out GPS signal jamming attacks against South Korean civilian ships and aircraft. A 29-year-old spoke to Al Jazeera about his childhood in Gaza's Christian community, ravaged by a year of bombing.

PAKISTAN

At least 24 people were killed and 46 injured in a suicide attack at the Quetta train station. The incident comes a week after a bomb exploded near a girls' school and hospital in Balochistans Mastung district, which left eight people dead. The provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have seen a sharp increase in terrorism-related incidents over the past year. The Balochistan Liberation Army, a Balochi ethnic separatist group, claimed responsibility for the attack.

MYANMAR

At least 540 civilians were killed by junta airstrikes in Myanmar in the first 10 months of the year, with Rakhine State recording the highest number of deaths, this according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). This comes as a report by the United Nations Development Programme warns that Rakhine is facing an "imminent threat of acute famine" with more than two million people "at risk of starvation" due to the ongoing conflict and restrictions on goods entering the state.

TAIWAN  CHINA

Taiwan's coast guard said yesterday that it would offer rewards worth thousands of dollars for detecting Chinese activities at sea, including warships or submarines, saying it wanted to harness "people power". Over the past five years, Taiwan, which mainland China claims as its territory, has complained about the latters intensified military activities; for its part, the Taiwanese coast guard has been increasingly involved in patrolling maritime areas.

NORTH KOREA  SOUTH KOREA

North Korea jammed GPS signals yesterday and today, affecting several ships and dozens of civilian aircraft in South Korea, the countrys military reported. The accusations of disruptive action come about a week after the North tested what it said was its most advanced and powerful ICBM missile, its first such launch since it was accused of sending soldiers to help Russia fight Ukraine.

GAZA  ISRAEL

As Trump prepares to return to the helm of Israels most powerful ally, the United States, Palestinian Christians despair over the destruction of Gaza at the hands of Israel in more than a year after 7 October 2023. Khalil Sayeghm, a 29-year-old Christian, spoke to Al Jazeera about his childhood in Gaza's Christian community, ravaged by a year of Israeli bombing.

RUSSIA

A Moscow court has only now sentenced a 34-year-old bank employee, Aleksander Krajchik, to 13 years at a maximum security penal colony on charges of high treason, for transferring 50 euros to a German bank that backs the Ukrainian military, on 26 February 2022, two days after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, when aggravating circumstances did not yet apply.

GEORGIA

Georgia's security services summoned Georgy Rurua, the founder of Mtavari Arkhi, an opposition television channel, for questioning as a witness to a "terrorist plot". For many this is a sign of the start of persecution by the Georgian Dream regime, as it cracks down on criticism and accusations in order to control the country.
9 November 2024 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

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With Donald Trump's election victory, experts anticipate a potential turning point in the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Trump has pledged a swift resolution, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains unwavering in his stance. On the other hand, Trump emphasized that the conflict will be resolved quickly before the elections. However, during the European Political Summit in Budapest, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy poured cold water on a plan by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to strike a rapid peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow, arguing it would amount to a loss for Ukraine. This raises key questions: What would happen if the United States cuts its aid? Given Trump's protectionist behavior, what if he insists on a quick peace deal, putting Ukraine in a delicate position between sovereignty and survival? Azernews inquired into the matter referring to different experts' views:

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9 November 2024 10:49 (UTC+04:00)

On November 20, Baku will host a high-level ministerial round table on Sustainable, Digital Middle Corridor and Beyond as part of COP29, Azernews reports.

The round table is organized by Azerbaijans Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

According to the Ministry, the round table will serve as a platform for in-depth discussions on developing sustainable and reliable transport networks in the region, focusing on the Middle Corridor.

Currently, more than 80 percent of ground transportation from China to Europe is carried out through Kazakhstan. According to the information from the Kazakh side, during the 9 months of this year, the volume of transportation along the Middle Corridor exceeded the indicators of the entire last year by 23 percent and amounted to 3.4 million tons. It is planned to increase the volume of cargo transportation to 10 million tons per year by 2030.
9 November 2024 12:36 (UTC+04:00)

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The Supervisory Board of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) recently convened to discuss key operational and sustainability performance outcomes.

According to Azernews, the meeting, led by SOCAR Supervisory Board Chairman and Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov, focused on the companys audited performance for the first half of 2024, a review of the 2023 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and budget forecasts for 2024.

The board also discussed SOCARs Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals, reviewing the findings from a study on SOCARs ESG rating and other strategic issues.

These discussions underscore SOCARs commitment to enhancing transparency and sustainability within its operations.
9 November 2024 18:10 (UTC+04:00)

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Anar Guliyev, Chairman of the State Urban Planning and Architecture Committee of Azerbaijan, recently held a meeting with Anaklaudiya Rozbakh, the Executive Director of the UN Settlement Program (UN-Habitat).

According to Azernews, the discussions took place during the World Urban Development Forum (WUF12) held in Cairo.

During the meeting, Guliyev expressed his appreciation for the excellent organization of the Forum, highlighting it as a valuable opportunity for exchanging insights and best practices in sustainable urban development. He also expressed confidence in the success of the ongoing event for all participants and shared his anticipation for WUF13, which is scheduled to be hosted by Baku in 2026.
9 November 2024 16:16 (UTC+04:00)

The 9th International Theater Festival is currently underway in Chimkent, Kazakhstan, celebrating the rich cultural connections and cooperative ties in theater arts among Central Asian and Turkic-speaking nations.

According to Azernews, citing the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan, the festival also marks the 95th anniversary of the Chimkent City Academic Kazakh Drama Theater named after J. Shanin.

Featuring outstanding performances from theaters across Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Tatarstan, and Kazakhstan, the festival showcases the best of regional theater art. In addition to the performances, the program includes roundtable discussions, where leading theater experts will review and discuss the showcased works, along with specialized master classes for directors, actors, and theater managers led by renowned international instructors.

The festival will run until November 11, offering a platform for artistic exchange and enhancing collaboration in theater arts among participating nations.
9 November 2024 10:58 (UTC+04:00)

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The President of the Marshall Islands, Hilda Heine, and the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Feleti Teo, arrived in Azerbaijan on November 9 to attend the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29).

Azernews reports that Azerbaijans Minister of Youth and Sports, Farid Gayibov, along with other officials, welcomed the dignitaries at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport, where the national flags of both countries were displayed in honor of their arrival.

It should be noted that the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will be held in Azerbaijan in a few days. The decision to host the event in Azerbaijan was made during the COP28 plenary session held in Dubai on December 11 last year.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an agreement established in June 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, aiming to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. "COP" stands for the "Conference of the Parties," the highest legislative body overseeing the conventions implementation.

A total of 198 countries participate in the convention, which is generally held annually unless the parties decide otherwise. The first COP was held in Berlin in March 1995, and its secretariat is based in Bonn, Germany.
9 November 2024 12:10 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to the King of Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni on the occasion of the country's national holiday - Independence Day, Azernews reports.

The letter reads:

Your Majesty,

On behalf of myself and the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to you and through you, to your entire people on the occasion of the national holiday of the Kingdom of Cambodia - the Independence Day.

I believe that relations between Azerbaijan and Cambodia will continue to evolve in the spirit of friendship and cooperation both bilaterally and multilaterally, in line with the interests of our peoples.

On this festive day, I wish you the best of health, happiness, and success in your endeavors, and everlasting peace and prosperity to the friendly people of Cambodia.

Sincerely,

Ilham Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Baku, 6 November 2024
9 November 2024 13:13 (UTC+04:00)

The Azerbaijan Ground Transport Agency (AYNA) has announced that, from November 11 to November 22, 15 bus routes will be temporarily suspended in Baku due to traffic restrictions for the COP29 conference, Azernews reports.

The affected routes include: 1, 4, 7B, 24, 37, 54, 140E, 141E, 150, 162, 168, 169, 205, 216, and 120E. Passengers are encouraged to follow the revised traffic patterns and use available public transport services.

AYNA noted that the routes will be gradually restored as restrictions are lifted.
9 November 2024 14:03 (UTC+04:00)

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In Euronews' latest episode of Road to COP29, we take an exclusive look at Azerbaijans comprehensive preparations for hosting COP29, the United Nations Climate Summit, in its capital, Baku, Azernews reports.

As the city gears up for the event, we explore the logistical and infrastructural efforts that have gone into transforming Baku Olympic Stadium into a world-class venue. With over 40,000 delegates, including heads of state and ministers, expected to attend, Azerbaijan aims to set a new standard for climate action and global cooperation, while showcasing its rich cultural and tourism potential. From traffic management and emergency preparedness to sustainable infrastructure, Baku is ready to welcome the world!
9 November 2024 16:43 (UTC+04:00)

President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov will visit Azerbaijan from November 11 to 13 for a working trip to participate in the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), Azernews reports.

According to Muratbek Azymbakiev, Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the President's Administration, Zhaparov will attend the Climate Summit's opening ceremony on November 12 and deliver a speech at the plenary session.

On November 13, Zhaparov will also join the High-Level Dialogue: Promoting the Mountain Agenda and Updating the Issues of Mountains and Climate Change, organized by Kyrgyzstan alongside Azerbaijan and Mongolia. Other prominent speakers include Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, Nepali President Ram Chandra Paudel, and representatives of international organizations.

For the first time, Kyrgyzstan will host a national pavilion at COP29 themed Kyrgyzstan: Sustainable Mountain Development, showcasing the countrys climate-related initiatives. The pavilion will feature presentations by Kyrgyz ministries on climate, energy, trade, tourism, and investment. Exhibitions of mountain products, such as honey, dried fruits, and traditional beverages, will also be part of the pavilions cultural offerings.

COP29 will open in Azerbaijan on November 13, marking the 29th annual session of the conference. Established by the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, the UNFCCC aims to prevent harmful human impact on the climate system. The Conference of Parties (COP) is the UNFCCCs main decision-making body, involving 198 member countries. The first COP was held in Berlin in 1995, with its secretariat based in Bonn, Germany.
9 November 2024 20:06 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) has officially launched direct flights to Male, the capital of the Republic of Maldives. The inaugural flight touched down at Velana International Airport on November 9, marking a significant milestone in enhancing travel connections between Azerbaijan and the Maldives, Azernews reports.

The passengers and flight crew were greeted with traditional garlands, symbolizing the warm hospitality and friendly relations between the two nations. Jamil Manizadeh, the chief commercial administrator of AZAL, expressed excitement about the new route, stating, "We are happy to start direct regular flights from Baku to Male. These flights create new opportunities for travelers who wish for a paradise vacation. The Azerbaijani market has long needed more options for winter tourism, and the Maldives is one of the most popular destinations in the world this season."

Ibrahim Shiuri, executive director of the Marketing and Public Relations Corporation of the Republic of Maldives, welcomed AZALs new route, adding, "We are pleased to welcome Azerbaijan Airlines to the Maldives. New direct flights will give travelers from Azerbaijan the opportunity to discover the unparalleled beauty of our islands."

Mohammad Mihad, Chief Commercial Director of Maldives Airports Company Limited, noted, "AZAL's direct flights from Baku are an important milestone for Velana International Airport. This route creates an important connection between Central Asia and the Maldives and provides Azerbaijani tourists visiting our mysterious islands with unhindered connections and wide travel opportunities."

Starting from November 9, regular flights between Baku and Male will operate twice a week, on Mondays and Saturdays. Tickets for the flights are available for purchase through the official AZAL website, the airline's mobile app, AZAL ticket offices, and accredited agencies.
9 November 2024 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

Pakistan's most populated province of Punjab ordered public spaces closed in smog-hit main cities, authorities said on Friday, as the country battles record.

Azernews reports via Gulf Today that a day ago, Lahores air pollution reached unprecedented levels, ranking it as the worlds most polluted city for the past 48 hours, as dense smog blankets major districts of Punjab.

The citys Air Quality Index (AQI) soared to alarming heights, surpassing 1,000 in some areas, a level deemed hazardous for public health and safety. Fridays notification put a "complete ban on public entry in all parks (public & private), zoos, playgrounds, historical places, monuments, museums and joy/playlands from Nov 8 till Nov 17.

The ban encompasses districts of Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Chiniot, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Multan, Lodhran, Vehari and Khanewal.
9 November 2024 13:31 (UTC+04:00)

On November 9, a Mi-8 helicopter from Kazakhstan's Ministry of Defense made a hard landing near the village of Saryzhar in the Aktobe region during a training exercise, Azernews reports via the Kazakh media.

According to the Ministry of Defense, the helicopter, operated by the Military Institute of the Air Defense Forces, was carrying three crew members at the time of the incident. Two crew members sustained injuries and were promptly transported to the hospital for medical treatment. Unfortunately, one crew member lost their life.

Preliminary reports suggest a technical malfunction as the likely cause of the incident. An interdepartmental task force is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the event.
9 November 2024 19:35 (UTC+04:00)

At least 25 people were killed and 50 others injured in a terrorist attack at a railway station in Quetta, located in Pakistan's Baluchistan province. The explosion occurred on the platform around 9:00 am, as passengers were waiting for a train to Peshawar, Azernews reports.

According to police reports, the attack targeted a crowded area, causing panic among the waiting passengers. Law enforcement and rescue teams quickly arrived on the scene to assist the injured and investigate the cause of the blast.

The wounded were rushed to the Civil Hospital in Quetta, where emergency medical teams worked to treat the victims. Dr. Abdul Sattar, the Medical Superintendent of the Civil Hospital, confirmed that the injured included both men and women, with several in critical condition.

Authorities have not yet determined the exact motive behind the attack, but the region has been known for its history of violence related to separatist and militant groups. Emergency services remain on high alert as investigations into the bombing continue.
9 November 2024 22:40 (UTC+04:00)

The only candidate to assume the post of Russia's new ambassador to the United States is now pending an official commissions paperwork, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, Azernews reports via TASS.

She stated that that the issue "was not about the candidacies, but a single candidate."

"We have already launched the official processes, we have the candidate, and this person currently undergoes through all of the formal stages of [the required] registration," she added.

Previously, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed Anatoly Antonov from the office of Ambassador of Russia to the United States.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Amnesty International has denounced the Libyan government's announcement of measures against women and girls in the name of morality saying they would further entrench discrimination against them
FEMA whislteblowers have come forward with text messages from their superiors telling them NOT to provide assistance to homes that displayed support of President Trump. They provided the screenshots of the text messages to the Daily Wire. The workers were assisting in disaster relief after hurricaine Milton in Florida, but it raises the questions if this has gone on with other hurricaines this year. The text message said it was "best practice" to skip over houses advertising Trump.

It has already come out that FEMA is eaten up with the Marxist and racist cancer known as DEI, which needs to be competely eradicated. Now it is even worse, with outright political partisanship by the agency.

DEI and political partianship permeate way too much of federal government under the current regime, and it will be up to Trump to depoliticize government agencies.

https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs?topStoryPosition=1

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/house/3224829/scalise-promises-house-investigation-after-fema-official-blocked-aid-to-florida-trump-homes/

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2024/11/08/report-fema-official-instructed-hurricane-relief-workers-to-skip-trump-supporters-homes/
Eureka Springs (Ark.) Hospital CEO Angie Shaw was terminated following a unanimous vote by the hospital commission on Nov. 1, the Eureka Springs Times-Echo reported Nov. 7.

The commission also voted unanimously to terminate Director of Nursing Jessica Petrino at a Nov. 4 meeting.

Jodi Edmondson, the hospital's human resources director, was appointed acting CEO at the Nov. 4 meeting. The commission is searching for a permanent CEO, the Times-Echo reported.

At the same meeting, the commission placed Cynthia Asbury, the hospital's CFO, on a performance improvement plan.

Ms. Shaw had worked at the hospital for 17 years beginning as a certified nursing assistant and serving in various roles before being named CEO in 2021, according to the Times-Echo.

Eureka Springs Hospital was not immediately available for comment. This story will be updated if more information becomes available.
A New York City judge dismissed a lawsuit against the chair of One Brooklyn Health's board of trustees, originally filed in December.

Here are eight things to know.

1. Board member Maurice Reid and former state Assemblymember Annette Robinson filed the lawsuit against Alexander Rovt, PhD, over a September 2023 board vote to remove One Brooklyn Health CEO LaRay Brown.

2. The petition accused Dr. Rovt and board members of "collective malfeasance and negligence in the performance of their duties." It also raised concerns about conflicts of interest, seeking the court's intervention to dissolve the board or remove its members.

3. Petitioners alleged that Dr. Rovt breached his "duty of loyalty" owed to the system by making public statements about Ms. Brown's alleged mismanaging of system funds and overspending on wages.

4. Dr. Rovt and the board members filed a motion to dismiss the petition, which the judge granted Nov. 6, according to court documents. The respondents argued Dr. Rovt's duty of loyalty is owed to the corporation, not its CEO, and they denied any conflict of interest.

5. The court found that claims of breached fiduciary duties were not "adequately plead" and did not meet the legal standard for board removal. Additionally, the judge noted there was no evidence that Dr. Rovt's statements had caused harm to the organization.

6. The One Brooklyn Health board voted to remove Ms. Brown as CEO in September 2023, sparking protests from healthcare union members. Sandra Scott, MD, was named interim CEO in November 2023.

7. Formed in 2016, One Brooklyn Health includes Brookdale Hospital Medical Center, Interfaith Medical Center and Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center.

8. One Brooklyn Health was not immediately available for comment. This story will be updated if more information becomes available.
A third physician in Texas is facing legal action over a state law that restricts medical providers from providing gender transition-related care to minors.

Attorney General Ken Paxton's office on Nov. 8 announced a lawsuit against Brett Cooper, MD, claiming the physician illegally prescribed hormone therapy drugs to 15 minors most recently as Sept. 25. SB 14, the bill banning surgeries, puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors, went into effect in September 2023.

The complaint, filed Nov. 4 in the District Court of Collin County, also accuses Dr. Cooper of falsifying medical and billing records to conceal the prescriptions. The physician works at Dallas-based UT Southwestern Medical Center and has hospital privileges at Children's Medical Center Dallas. The hospitals did not immediately respond to The Dallas Morning News' request for comment on the matter Nov. 8.

Dr. Cooper has been an outspoken advocate against Texas' ban on gender-affirming healthcare. The attorney general's complaint references former posts Dr. Cooper shared on social media platform X in which he criticized the legislation.

This marks the third time Mr. Paxton's office has taken legal action against physicians regarding SB 14 violations since October. On Oct. 17, his office announced a similar lawsuit against May Chi Lau, a Dallas-based UT Southwestern Medical Center physician. Toward the end of the month, the attorney general also sued Hector Granados, MD, an El Paso-based physician, for prescribing puberty blockers and hormone therapy drugs to minors.

"Texas has prohibited doctors from prescribing these damaging and unfounded 'gender transition' drugs to children," Mr. Paxton said in a news release. "These medical professionals cannot willfully ignore the law and endanger the health of young people."

The American Medical Association and American Academy of Pediatrics refute claims that gender-affirming care is "experimental," and support related treatments for minors with gender dysphoria.






Gerard Carlin, Director of Networks and Innovation at SONI, on transforming NIs electricity grid to meet our future energy needs

Northern Irelands energy transition is well underway. Moving away from fossil fuels toward cleaner sources of energy is essential in combating climate change. Already, renewable generation makes up almost 50 per cent of electricity generation here in Northern Ireland. Significant upgrades to the electricity grid itself are critical to ensure we can deliver these cleaner energy sources to homes, farms and businesses throughout the region via a strengthened electricity system.

As Northern Irelands transmission system operator, SONI is responsible for managing electricity supply and demand in real-time. From our control centre in Belfast, our team of expert engineers balance the supply and demand for electricity every second of every day, ensuring that power flows safely, securely, and reliably throughout the region. A central objective in this delivery is ensuring everyone has the power they need when they need it, but crucially, at the most cost-effective price possible.

Northern Irelands ambitious Energy Strategy targets require 80 per cent of our electricity to be delivered by renewables by 2030. With less than six years to go, this task is hugely challenging in scale, pace and complexity. We are continuing to work closely with our partners in industry and government, as well as local communities and landowners to help deliver our energy transition.

Beyond managing the electricity grid in real time, we are responsible for planning ahead to ensure our energy infrastructure meets Northern Irelands future energy needs. With a growing population and expanding economy, demand is set to surge in the years ahead, we are planning for this through our pioneering Transmission Development Plan. This ambitious project represents 630 million in capital investment and outlines proposals to integrate renewable energy sources, and deliver a strong, resilient and a flexible grid thats built to last, supporting Northern Ireland to remain competitive so it thrives as we usher in our sustainable future.

Among our proposals are the modernisation of the grid in Greater Belfast, Co. Antrim, Mid Tyrone and the North-West with intended upgrades bringing an increase in the energy we can transport, and at the same time facilitate the decarbonisation of our supply. Furthermore, our aims to boost interconnection between Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland will enhance our provision even further.

This transition is about future generations, and we believe its achievable if industry, Government, communities and landowners work together to make it happen. We remain in close co-operation with the renewables industry, NIE Networks, the Utility Regulator, local councils and the relevant Departments, to support meaningful engagement amongst all stakeholders throughout this important journey.

As we transition, its important to remember that Northern Ireland is not unique in the challenges it faces. Across the world, electricity systems are changing to adapt to growing populations, to adopt better technologies, and to respond the needs and demands of businesses and consumers.

As we navigate these challenges in the coming years together, it is important we keep our eyes on the prize. Northern Irelands energy transition offers huge potential for economy, creating the investment and green jobs of the future, while also enabling a cleaner, more affordable and more secure energy future for everyone.

LQ BIDs RE[act] Festival will return for its second instalment from Tuesday 12 November to Thursday 14 November during the UNs COP29 Summit to integrate Northern Ireland into the global conversation on sustainability. The Festivals three-day programme follows the themes of Belfast City Councils Belfast 2024  People, Place, and Planet  and will bring together local and international experts across 36 events to help inspire change and define a sustainable path towards a better Belfast.

SONI will host Energising Belfast: Delivering a Cleaner and More Secure Energy Future will on November 14 at The Europa Hotel. To find out more and to book your ticket visit reactfestival.co.uk
Airport apologises for totally unacceptable delays on Saturday morning

Belfast International Airport has apologised for totally unacceptable delays which led to chaotic scenes for passengers on Saturday morning.

There were long queues of unhappy travellers trying to board flights with some of those affected saying as few as two of the eight security gates were open.

One branded the situation disgraceful and said some passengers missed their flights.

The airport apologised and blamed a significant staff shortage due to short-term illness which affected the security area.

It said the situation was returning to normal yesterday afternoon.

But Deirdre Shakespeare, who branded the situation chaotic, said: There was large overcrowding from the entrance to departures to check-in, and then right through to security.

They switched off the escalators at the entrance, meaning people were overcrowded on the stairs.

It was a chaotic scene. Tempers were fraying.

People using the lift arrived at the top meeting people off the stairs and then it became a free for all.

Ms Shakespeare said it was the most stressful airport experience.

She added: It was chaos, just a sea of people and nothing seemed to be moving.

Security was disastrous, we had to have our shoes checked and scanned back through the scanner, time was of the essence, our flight was due to leave and there was no sense of the urgency and panic passengers were feeling.

Photographs show the chaos, with a large queue snaking towards the security area.

Caroline Villar, who was also travelling through the airport, said: The management needs to be challenged on this disgraceful situation.

Another passenger said it was complete chaos.

There were no staff monitoring the queues so it turned into a pushing, shoving-type situation, she said.

A spokesperson for Belfast International Airport said: Our security facility suffered a significant staff shortage due to short term illness that resulted in delays for passengers that were totally unacceptable, and we apologise unreservedly for this.
Nearly 70% of the people who were killed in the war in Gaza are children and women, the United Nations Human Rights Office reported.

In a new analysis, the UN human rights office said that 8,119 people have been killed in the war in Gaza. Of those, 70% were of children and women. Specifically, 3,588 children and 2,036 women were killed.

Of those, the youngest victim was a one-day-old boy. The oldest was 97-years-old, the UN report noted.

How Did the UN Get the Figures?

The UN report examined fatalities that occurred between November 2023 and April 2024. The analysis only included fatalities confirmed by at least three independent sources. It is also a far cry from the 43,000 death toll provided by Palestinian health authorities.

That said, both reports noted that children and women represent a large proportion of those killed. In fact, the UN report noted that children aged 5 to 9 represented the single biggest age category of those killed.

Where Did the Fatalities Occur?

A large majority (80%) of the deaths happened in residential buildings. At least five or more people were also killed in the same attack in 88% of the cases, which points to the Israeli military's use of weapons that impact a wide area.

However, the UN noted that some of the fatalities may have been caused by errant projectiles launched by Palestinian armed groups, per its press release.

The war began in October 2023 after the Hamas and Islamic Jihad fired thousands of rockets from Gaza. In addition, armed militants broke down the barriers surrounding the entrance to Israel.

The militants infiltrated the Jewish communities near the Gaza border where they seized and killed civilians and soldiers. This pushed Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to declare war against Palestinians.

Following the declaration, Israel called up its army reservists and warned civilians in Gaza to "get out." He also vowed that they would reduce Hamas hideouts to "rubble."

On the first day of the war, it was believed that 700 Israelis were killed and 2,000 were injured, per The Guardian.
Labour has called for a return to civility and courtesy in Irish politics.

Party leader Ivana Bacik, who was canvassing with Dublin South West hopeful Ciaran Aherne in the Wainsfort area of Kimmage on Saturday, said the party was running 32 candidates across 31 constituencies.

We want to see an increase in support for Labour candidates and an increase in support for our Labour vision and our Labour values of equality, solidarity and fairness.

We want to make a difference and I have said that we are serious about looking to deliver change to build better together, to build an Ireland that works for all.

After the election, the first thing I will be doing is seeking to achieve a common platform across the left, the centre left and the green movement to ensure that our policies and our values will make a difference in the next government.

Expressing concern over the rise of the division, hatred and the far right in Europe, Ms Bacik said Labour would run a positive campaign.

Asked by reporters about the impact of Donald Trumps victory in the US presidential election on polling here, Ms Bacik first acknowledged that the Irish economy was vulnerable to potential decisions taken by the next administration in Washington.

She then expressed hope that it may spur a return to civility and kindness.

Ms Bacik added: I think the best-case scenario is that it will restore peoples belief in the need for decency in politics.

Trump and his campaign completely undermined the civility and kindness and courtesy that we should see in democratic politics.

It actually is integral to our democracy and I think I hope that Trumps win will restore peoples belief in the need for that civility and courtesy to re-enter Irish politics.

Ive been very vocal about the increasingly aggressive and shoutiness of political discourse, not just on the toxic spaces online, but actually in the Dail chamber where weve seen, unfortunately, some deputies shouting and heckling abuse.

She added: But unfortunately weve also seen it manifest in assaults on canvases, on candidates, and again thats deeply undermining of democracy.

So I hope the Trump win  if nothing else  will have that impact on the campaign here, that it will make people will be more courteous, more civil, more kind.
Simon Harris chose not to attend the annual Remembrance Sunday commemoration at Enniskillen on advice from his most senior officials.

Mr Harriss absence will represent a notable break with the tradition of the sitting Taoiseach attending the event.

The commemoration falls two days after he formally announced an election in Ireland.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, he explained that officials said the attendance of the Taoiseach was based on the presence of members of the Northern Ireland Executive.

Mr Harris said: This was on official advice from the most senior officials in my department because there isnt  I dont believe  a representative from the Northern Ireland Executive attending which is when the Taoiseach of the day  whoever he or she is  would usually attend too.

It is understood that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will be among attendees at the commemoration.

Mr Harris said the Dublin Government would be represented at senior level by his Fine Gael colleague and cabinet minister Heather Humphreys.

It represents a significant break in a tradition begun by Enda Kenny.

Mr Kenny became the first taoiseach to attend a Remembrance Day service in Northern Ireland when he took part in commemorations at Enniskillen in 2012, in a move seen as symbolic of greater recognition afforded in the Republic of Ireland to Irishmen who fought and died serving in the British Army in the First World War.

Enda Kenny lays a wreath at a Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in Enniskillen (Niall Carson/PA)

His attendance also marked the 25th anniversary of an IRA bombing at the memorial in 1987.

The tradition has been followed almost every year since Mr Kenny placed a laurel wreath at the base of the memorial.

Eleven people who had gathered to pay their respects to the war dead were killed and dozens injured in the no-warning blast on November 8 1987, minutes before the Remembrance Sunday ceremony was due to start.

A 12th victim of the Poppy Day bombing died 13 years later having never woken from a coma.

Mr Harriss decision to miss the event was criticised by the South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF), a victims group which works with many of the families affected by the bombing.

It called on him to engage with the bereaved families after the election.

Asked about the request, Mr Harris said: Certainly, I very much want to and am happy to engage with the families.

Mr Harriss predecessor Leo Varadkar missed the ceremony in 2018 as he was attending an Armistice Day centenary event in France. Ms Humphreys also attended the Enniskillen commemoration on that occasion.
Sir Ben Wallace has called for action to help Ukraine (PA)

Former defence secretary Sir Ben Wallace has claimed that momentum has dropped back on Ukraine.

Sir Ben told the BBC that the UKs leadership on Ukraine has started to drop back into the pack and said that in order to drive change while in government you have to really do it every single day.

The former army officer  who served in the Ministry of Defence under the last three Conservative prime ministers  said that Britains stance had brought lots of Europeans with us.

His comments come amid uncertainty over the future of US backing for Kyiv after Donald Trumps election victory this week

Sir Ben told Radio 4s Today programme: What has happened is the leadership that Britain showed right from the start has started to drop back into the sort of pack.

He claimed that officials during his time in government had been reluctant to get ahead but cross-party consensus in Parliament meant that the UK took a position to lead.

And the leadership did bring lots and lots of Europeans with us, he said.

He added: I definitely have a sense that that momentum has dropped back, and my experience of government is if you want to really drive things, you have to really do it every single day.

You cant just do a statement and then float around.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said that allies must step up support for Ukraine as he met President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to Sir Keir Starmer (Denes Erdos/AP)

He told Mr Zelensky the UK had an unwavering commitment to help the country defend itself against Russias invasion during bilateral talks at a European Political Community summit in Hungary.

Meeting Mr Zelensky one-to-one on the fringes of the event in Budapest, Sir Keir said: As you know, our support for Ukraine is unwavering.

And I strongly believe that not only should it be unwavering but we need to step up, and I was very pleased to be able to say that (today).

Its very important that we see this through. Its very important that we stand with you.

The Ukrainian leader replied: Were very thankful. Were very proud that we have such bilateral relations between our nations.
Nigel Farage has said he could be useful as an interlocutor between the Labour Government and Donald Trump.

The Reform UK leader said he has a great relationship with the US president-elect and knows people he believes will be in Mr Trumps administration for quite a long time.

Speaking to the PA news agency at a Reform event near Exeter, Mr Farage described Mr Trump as a pro-British American president who gives the UK potentially huge opportunities if we can overcome the difficulties that the whole of the Cabinet have been rude about him.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the Government will be keen to build bridges with Mr Trump before he returns to the White House after a row over Labour activists campaigning for Kamala Harris, and controversy over comments previously made by Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

Mr Farage told PA: Ive got a great relationship with Donald Trump but equally I know many of the other senior figures who will be in this administration and Ive known them for quite a long time.

It seems to me that with a Labour Party and a Republican Party who disagree on so many things  who are such fundamentally different people  that I might be useful as an interlocutor. Unofficially, behind the scenes, to try and help mend some of those fences.

If the Government choose to use me, I would do that not because I support the Labour Government but because I believe in something called the national interest.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy has been critical of Donald Trump in the past (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

On Friday, Mr Farage said the UK should roll out the red carpet for Mr Trump.

He said: Whether you like Trump or not, this is the important point that in terms of intelligence-sharing, in terms of defence, in terms of investment, in terms of trade, America is our most important relationship.

Mr Trumps election win spells uncertainty over the future of US backing for Ukraine.

Mr Farage said on Saturday that a peace negotiation is a very good idea.

Whether it succeeds or not, actually doing it is the right thing, he added, and later described the conflict with Russia as like the Battle of the Somme with drones.

Donald Trump (Alex Brandon/PA)

Mr Farage was speaking ahead of his keynote speech at the Reform event. It is the second regional conference he has attended in two days, after Fridays gathering of Welsh Reform backers.

Addressing supporters on Saturday afternoon, he said his party believes optimistically that we can win power.

He said: The time has come for a new political force in this country that stands up for its fishermen, that stands up for its farmers, that stands up for free speech, that stands up for controlling its borders, that stands up for decency, that stands up for who we are as a nation.

That stands up for all of our traditions, that believe in the British people, that believes in who we are.

We believe in those things, we also believe optimistically that we can win power and turn this all around.
Security officials examine the site of the explosion (Arshad Butt/AP)

The death toll from a bombing at a railway station in troubled south western Pakistan has risen to at least 26, officials said.

The attack on Saturday also left more than 60 others wounded, some critically. Police said about a dozen soldiers and six railway employees were among the dead.

The bomb exploded when nearly 100 passengers were waiting for a train to the garrison city of Rawalpindi from Quetta, the capital of the restive Balochistan province, said senior police officer Mohammad Baloch.

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group, said it was behind the attack in a statement, saying a suicide bomber targeted troops present at the railway station.

The site of a bomb explosion at a railway station in Quetta, south western Pakistan (Arshad Butt/AP)

Government spokesman Shahid Rind said the bombing seemed to have been a suicide attack, but an investigation was still ongoing to confirm the BLAs claim

TV footage showed the steel structure of the platforms roof blown apart and a tea stall destroyed as luggage littered the scene.

Quetta police official Ayesha Faiz said some of the critically wounded passengers died in hospital.

Denouncing the bombing in a statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said those who orchestrated the attack will pay a very heavy price for it.

He said security forces were determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism.

The oil and mineral-rich Balochistan is Pakistans largest, but also least populated province. It is also a hub for the countrys ethnic Baloch minority whose members say they face discrimination and exploitation by the central government.

Along with separatist groups, Islamic militants also operate in the province.

The outlawed BLA has long waged an insurgency seeking independence from Islamabad.

The group often targets security forces and foreigners, especially Chinese nationals who are in Pakistan as part of Beijings multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative, which is building major infrastructure projects.

Last month, BLA claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that targeted a convoy with Chinese nationals outside Karachi airport, killing two.

Since then, Beijing has asked Pakistan to ensure the safety of its citizens working on multiple projects in Balochistan and other parts of the country.
President-elect Donald Trump is reflected in the bullet proof glass as he finishes speaking at a campaign rally (AP)

Iran has rejected a report it was behind an alleged plot to assassinate Donald Trump after the US Justice Department charged a man in connection with the plan.

The man said he had been tasked by a government official before the presidential election with assassinating the Republican president-elect.

In Tehran, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei called it a plot by Israel-linked circles to make Iran-US relations more complicated, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Similar accusations in the past were rejected by Iran as their erroneousness was proved, he said.

Farhad Shakeri, an accused Iranian government asset, claimed that Iranian officials asked him to compose a plan to watch and kill Donald Trump (Evan Vucci/AP)

Repeat of the accusation in the current time span is a disgusting plot by the Zionist and anti-Iran circles that has aimed at making US-Iran problems more complicated, Mr Baghaei said.

The man said he had been tasked by a government official before the presidential election with assassinating the Republican president-elect.

Investigators learned of the plot to kill Mr Trump from Farhad Shakeri, an accused Iranian government asset who spent time in American prisons for robbery. Authorities say he maintains a web of criminal associates who participate in Tehrans assassination plots.

Shakeri told investigators that in September, a contact in Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard instructed him to put together a plan within seven days to watch and ultimately kill Mr Trump, according to a criminal complaint unsealed in federal court in Manhattan.

Shakeri claimed the Iranian official said that we have already spent a lot of money and that moneys not an issue.

He told investigators the official told him that if he could not put together a plan within the seven-day timeframe, then the plot would be paused until after the election because the official assumed that Mr Trump would lose and that it would be easier to kill him then, the complaint said.

Shakeri is at large and remains in Iran.

Two other men who were allegedly recruited to participate in other assassinations, including of a prominent Iranian American journalist, were arrested on Friday.

Donald Trump beat US vice president Kamala Harris in the US presidential election (Alex Brandon/AP)

Shakeri, an Afghan national who immigrated to the US as a child but was later deported after spending 14 years in prison for robbery, also told investigators that he was tasked by his Revolutionary Guard contact with plotting the killings of two Jewish-Americans living in New York and Israeli tourists in Sri Lanka.

The criminal complaint says Shakeri disclosed some of the details of the alleged plots in a series of recorded telephone interviews with FBI agents while in Iran.

The stated reason for his cooperation, he told investigators, was to try to get a reduced prison sentence for an associate behind bars in the US.
On-the-run operative for Tehran government hired two hitmen in September to kill the man who would go on to win presidency

A fugitive Iranian government operative is accused of hiring a pair of New Yorkers he met in prison to carry out an assassination plot against a critic of the regime, and allegedly admitted to FBI agents that hed also been tasked with finding a hit squad to kill President-elect Donald Trump.

Farhad Shakeri, 51, claimed he was asked in September by regime officials to put aside his other efforts... and focus on surveilling, and, ultimately, assassinating, former President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Friday in Manhattan federal court.

Shakeri countered that this would cost a huge amount of money, to which his regime contact replied, [W]e have already spent a lot of money .. . [s]o the moneys not an issue. Shakeri said he was given a deadline of mid-October.

The complaint also reveals that Shakeri was told by his Iranian government contacts to locate a hitman capable of surveilling, then murdering, an unnamed journalist in the U.S. It says Shakeri, an Afghani national and former New York resident, offered $100,000 to two men, Carlisle Pop Rivera, 49, and Jonathan Loadholt, 36, while serving a 14-year sentence for robbery.

Rivera and Loadholt were arrested Thursday in Brooklyn and Staten Island, and remain detained pending trial on charges of murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and money laundering conspiracy. Shakeri, who is believed to be in Iran and out of US law enforcements reach, faces the same charges as Rivera and Loadholt, plus conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, and conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and sanctions against the Government of Iran.

The Iranian government engages in these activities to silence dissidents, and, in the case of political enemies, to seek revenge and sow discord, the complaint states.

It also says the regime was out to avenge the death of Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike during the Trump administration.

According to the complaint, Shakeri  who spoke with the FBI five times by phone between September 30 and November 7  told federal agents he worked in the oil and gas business and had been recruited by a senior member of the the regimes feared Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). After learning that Shakeri had previously lived in New York City, the IRGC officer, who told Shakeri his name was Majid Soleimani, asked him about investigating a reporter in Brooklyn, identified in the complaint as Victim-1.

Shakeri told the FBI that he had met with Soleimani about a dozen times at restaurants around Tehran, and that Soleimani demanded he leave his phone outside when they got together, the complaint states. He said Soleimani set up the meetings through intermediaries, so there would be no record of any communication between them, according to the complaint.

Soleimani, who already seemed to have a plethora of information about Victim-1s whereabouts, told Shakeri hed pay $1.5 million to have her killed, nighttime, daytime, anywhere. In December 2023, Shakeri contacted Rivera and Loadholt, who overlapped with Shakeri behind bars while they served time for manslaughter and murder, about the job. They put the reporter under surveillance, but things broke down last August over Shakeris financial promises which had not yet materialized.

"Yo wtf, Loadholt wrote to Rivera after yet another payment didnt come through, according to the complaint. "... Im screaming my head off ryt now[.]

"Me too," Rivera replied.

Im so frustrated son Im like ready to jump out the window," Loadholt texted back.

In his talks with the FBI, Shakeri said Soleimani had also asked him to surveil two Jewish businesspeople in New York City, who are not identified in court records, and to engage a death squad to carry out a mass shooting of Israeli tourists in Sri Lanka. On October 7, the one-year anniversary of Hamas deadly cross-border attack on Israeli civilians, Shakeri was told to provide an operational plan to kill Donald Trump within seven days, the complaint states. If he couldnt do it within that timeframe, according to Shakeri, his IRGC handlers told him to wait until after the election. If Trump lost, as many expected, it would be easier to assassinate [him], Shakeri said, according to the complaint.

During the interview, Shakeri claimed he did not intend to propose a plan to kill Trump within the timeframe set by the IRGC, it says.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps  a designated foreign terrorist organization  has been conspiring with criminals and hitmen to target and gun down Americans on U.S. soil and that simply wont be tolerated. Thanks to the hard work of the FBI, their deadly schemes were disrupted, FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement. Were committed to using the full resources of the FBI to protect our citizens from Iran or any other adversary who targets Americans.

C UK Independent
Prostitution and modern slavery case: Pimp accused denied bail

Three men and a woman face charges over organised crime allegations including trafficking and money laundering

Ondina Cordovan is out on bail. One of her co-accused was denied bail this week

Paul Higgins Sat 9 Nov 2024 at 17:00







A Romanian man accused of being a pimp and member of an organised crime gang (OCG) involved in money laundering and controlling prostitution has been refused bail.
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NORTH BENNINGTON  The Village School in North Bennington honored area veterans from all wars Friday afternoon with an inspired program of patriotic songs, letters from the kids, poems, and gratitude for their service.

From kindergarten to sixth grade, students from the Village School marched into the gym and sat on the floor as they waited for their turn. Some younger students wore homemade paper hats, and others from higher grades carried hand-printed, colorful letters to the individual Veterans gathered on the sideline. All were there as a tiny representation of a small community, a proud state, and grateful nation for the sacrifices Veterans made for our country.

I am writing to you for Veterans Day to thank you for your service to our country, said fourth grader Johnny Harrington as he read from a letter to one of the veterans. When you were in the Navy, you helped soldiers who had been hurt. This must have been difficult. I am grateful to you for helping our country.

That was just one of the personal tributes the students presented. Other tributes included poems spoken aloud, several songs, presentations, and lots of applause.

We are all very proud to be veterans, said Bucky Broomhall, 94, a Veteran of Korea. We did what our nation asked us to do. All we ask in return is a thank you. Thats what these kids are here doing. I think its great.

Each grade made their way up to the front of the gymnasium to make their presentations to a dozen or so gathered Veterans, some from the Vermont Veterans Home like 100-year-old Wally Mattison, a World War II Veteran, who shook hands with many of the students after the ceremony.

I think this has been quite nice, Mattison said as he held a stack of drawings and letters from the kids. I sure appreciate it.

There were a lot of people lost in Vietnam, said Steven Dodge, a Navy Veteran who served in two tours in Vietnam. They deserve to be recognized for their service. Its great for these kids to learn what happened and the sacrifices so many made so we can be here today.

That sentiment was shared with all of the veterans who participated. Air Force Veteran Marie Ray, 89, told us she was grateful to all the kids who showed up to help them feel honored as both people and Veterans.

This is really nice to see the kids all so happy, Ray said. Ive never really done any of these Veterans Day things before. Im glad I did. I want to thank all of them for being here and looking up at us. Its important that they know what has gone on in the world before they got here. Its a whole different life than they know.

Monday, November 11th., is Veterans Day. The annual Bennington Veterans Day Parade kicks off at 11 AM in front of the old high school on Main Street and concludes at the Vermont Veterans Home War Monument. A program will then take place, including speeches, songs, and a 21-gun salute to honor Veterans of all wars.

I want these kids to know they are a part of us, said Thomas Kearns, 75, a Veteran of the Marines. I joined because I love to help other people. It feels good for these kids to help us, too.
Editor's Note This piece is adapted from a victory speech that 3rd Berkshire District Rep.-elect Leigh Davis has prepared for election night but was unable to give due to the late arrival of voting results. It has been lightly adapted and edited to fit this format.

Writing to you for the first time as your state representative-elect for the 3rd Berkshire District, I feel more deeply invested than ever in the future of this community we all cherish. In all the ways we may be connected  as neighbors, friends, parents, workers, volunteers and Americans  I am sincerely humbled by the opportunity we have to move forward together.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the political leaders who have supported us on this journey. Massachusetts is fortunate to have U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, whose example and guidance have been a force for our campaign. Their visits to Lee, Lenox and Great Barrington last month meant so much to me. I am also grateful to U.S. Rep. Richard Neal for his endorsement and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll for joining us in Dalton. Additionally, I thank Gov. Maura Healey, Attorney General Andrea Campbell and U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley for their invaluable endorsements and encouragement.

Governing is a team effort, and Berkshire County is fortunate to have a strong team in the state Legislature. Thank you to state Sen. Paul Mark, state Rep. Tricia Farley Bouvier and state Rep. John Barrett for your encouragement, guidance and friendship. I look forward to joining you as the new kid on the block.

To the Select Board members from Lee, Dalton and my colleagues in Great Barrington who endorsed me, thank you for your partnership in building support and getting out the vote from town to town.

And a special shout-out to Chris Hodgkins, who served the 4th Berkshire District with honor for 20 years. Chris, your support and mentorship mean so much, and Im proud to call you a friend now.

I am humbled by the extraordinary organizations that endorsed me because they represent values that matter deeply to me and our community.

Thank you to the Environmental League of Massachusetts, Clean Water Action, Sierra Club, 350 Mass Action, Planned Parenthood, Reproductive Equity Now, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, SEIU, the Massachusetts Nurses Association, the National Association of Social Workers, Berkshire Brigades, Progressive Mass, Massachusetts Voters for Animals, 1866 Action Fund, and the American Federation of Teachers for your trust and belief in me.

To Marybeth Mitts, congratulations on a well-run race. We share a commitment to addressing challenges like the housing crisis, and I trust you will continue to be a dedicated advocate.

When I launched my campaign on the steps of Great Barrington Town Hall on that cold February day, my goal was to share my vision of the future with all 18 communities of our district.

On election night, you have affirmed that vision.

I am incredibly proud of the coalition weve built across this district, from Richmond to Sheffield, Dalton to Becket and everywhere in between. Your voices, values and dreams make our district strong. You have shown were ready to move forward, and I am eager to represent our shared goals on Beacon Hill.

This victory is for hard-working residents in need of affordable housing and small businesses striving to stay afloat. Its about protecting our beautiful yet fragile environment by addressing the urgent need for sustainable solutions and maintaining our roads and bridges to keep them from falling into dangerous and costly disrepair.

Most importantly, its about ensuring that everyone  our essential workers, disabled neighbors, young families, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities, veterans, farmers, youth and seniors  feels heard, valued, and supported. Together, we will build a future that leaves no family, no community and no voice behind.

'I'm ready to work.' Leigh Davis wins the race for the 3rd Berkshire District Leigh Davis has won the race for 3rd Berkshire District in the state House of Representatives on Tuesday night, according to The Associated Press.

As a solo parent raising three children and working a full-time job throughout this campaign, I know what it means to work hard. I ran because I believed in what we could achieve together. Having won this race, I know what we can achieve together, and Ill be working for you every day to bring our shared vision for this district to life.

I was inspired by the example my parents set  my father, who worked alongside Coretta Scott King to create a federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr., and my mother, who worked with Sargent Shriver, founder of the Peace Corps.

To my magnificent children Sean, Sage and Kayleigh, who were all with me on election night, I am doing my best to set the same example for you.

I am motivated by what I experienced during this campaign  the countless meet and greets and deep conversations about what we can do to solve the housing crisis, protect the environment, and strengthen our schools and health care system.

I hope you are motivated, too, to ask the question: What can we do? Because only we, together, can accomplish the big things.

So what can we do?

We can commit to creating more affordable and workforce housing. The status quo is unacceptable.

We can work toward a health care system that better serves rural communities, with an overhauled EMS ready to respond to all.

We can build a public school system fit for the 21st century, facing the challenges of rising costs and a shrinking population.

We can ensure our district receives its fair share of state funds for public infrastructure  our roadways, buildings and broadband.

We can support our families, seniors and veterans by ensuring they receive the resources needed to build sustainable lives here.

We can champion natural climate solutions and sustainable agriculture while expanding green energy jobs that drive economic growth and innovation.

And, most importantly, we can dedicate ourselves to being a welcoming community, a community that understands the difference between inclusion and exclusion, between tolerance and intolerance.

We can listen respectfully to one another and strive to set an example for our children, for our commonwealth and, yes, for our country.

We must not lose sight of the importance of this moment  not just for our community, but for the United States. Across America, citizens cast their ballots in what many are calling one of the most consequential elections in our history. And history was made.

The next four years will affect us all, and our district deserves a seat at the table. We have shown we have earned that seat and are ready to face the future together.

Local elections matter. Right here is where each of us can have the greatest impact. Its here in our communities that the work happens  where we come together to build a stronger, more unified future for our district.

So lets go forward together, resilient, hopeful and connected. Thank you for your trust, your support, and for being part of this journey.

Election night we celebrated. Now we get to work.
Shannon O'Brien has appealed her firing as chairwoman of the Cannabis Control Commission to the Supreme Judicial Court, arguing that the facts of her situation "were not properly found, and even taking them as true, fail to rise to the heightened grounds for removal."

Treasurer Deborah Goldberg fired O'Brien, herself a former state treasurer and Democratic Party nominee for governor, in September and O'Brien vowed to appeal it to the high court. Goldberg said she decided to fire the CCC chair after carefully considering more than 20 hours of meetings held earlier this year as well as various documents, case law and policies. Goldberg said she fired O'Brien because she "committed gross misconduct and demonstrated she is unable to discharge the powers and duties of a CCC commissioner."

"This case presents important and undecided questions concerning the removal of a commissioner from an independent agency of the Commonwealth. It presents a number of issues of first impression, as the enabling statute of the Commission has never been construed by this Court," lawyers for O'Brien wrote in their new filing. "The case involves the failure to implement basic safeguards to prevent the abuse of political power to destroy the reputation and career of an honest public servant. More than that, however, it involves the welfare of an organization which is not yet fully developed but is responsible for regulating a major new industry in this state."

The O'Brien saga, which began in the summer of 2023 and kicked off a period of turmoil and scandal at the CCC, is one factor that has led state lawmakers to begin mulling possible reforms for the agency they created in 2017. People involved in the legal marijuana world have been frustrated with the slow pace of regulatory changes from the CCC and Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro pleaded with lawmakers in June to intervene by appointing a receiver to manage day-to-day CCC operations at the "rudderless agency."

O'Brien's Nov. 7 filing asks the SJC to vacate Goldberg's removal decision, and either agree to take the matter up as a full court or have a single justice consider it. Thereafter, O'Brien is seeking to be reinstated as chair of the CCC and be granted "such other and further relief as is just and equitable."
How medtech startups are transforming diabetes landscape in India

November 09, 2024 | Saturday | Features | By Avantika Sanjay

As diabetes treatment is becoming the need of the hour, a trend in rise of insulin devices is seen over the years

image credit- shutterstock

Nowadays, an insulin pen or daily injections are not the only options; devices like the insulin infusion pump are becoming a popular alternative for monitoring diabetes. Insulin is administered more accurately via insulin infusion pumps, which also lessen discomfort and stop large variations in blood glucose levels. Meal timings are not important while using these pumps.

As a result, patients find infusion pumps easier to use. Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII), another name for this insulin therapy, is a flexible and efficient method of delivering insulin. The insulin pump is currently more advanced and reliable than it was some years ago. Numerous technological advances have been made in CSII technology, one of which is the pump's incorporation of continuous glucose monitoring. Insulin pumps have the ability to control the algorithm that analyses blood glucose data and automatically distributes insulin.

As diabetes treatment is becoming the need of the hour, a trend in rise of insulin devices is seen over the years. InSul Insulin Pump by AgVa Healthcare, based in Delhi is being marketed as the most affordable, high-quality insulin pump that is presently offered in India, that can help manage diabetes more economically. The product is all set to launch after the CE certification is complete, by the end of 2024. It is currently available for pre-order and the pricing starts at Rs 24,499.

Open MedLabs, affiliated with Bengaluru-based Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is developing InsuFlo, an affordable insulin pump for type-1 diabetes, designed for vulnerable populations. The product aims to tackle the problem of making an affordable insulin pump that is accessible to patients at the base of the economic pyramid and is designed for such users as opposed to an imported device. Already two years in the making, InsuFlo is one of the national winners of ASME ISHOW India 2022, making patients anticipate its arrival.

Further, with the emergence of cutting-edge glucose monitoring devices like wearable sweat analysers, semi-invasive skin patches, and one-prick glucometers, diabetics may now check their blood sugar levels considerably easily. A Hyderabad-based startup, BlueSemi has designed Eyva, a completely non-invasive glucose monitor. Priced at Rs16,650, Eyva aims to allow monitoring of 6 key vitals including blood glucose levels by only placing thumbs on the gadget.

A similar product, Ezlyf by the startup VivaLyf Innovations, in Hyderabad, which also came in Shark Tank last year, is currently undergoing pre-clinical trials is expected to come to the market sometime in the future. The startup has also been endorsed by the Research and Innovation Circle Hyderabad (RICH) which is the Science and Technology cluster of the Telangana government.

Adding on, Ayati Devices is a medtech startup based in Bengaluru, which is set to commercialise scientific research into viable products with a major focus on diabetes & its complications. Their product VIBRASENSE Lite can monitor foot neuropathy which is a diabetic complication. Currently, it can be booked for a free demo session.

BeatO CURV, developed by Health Arx Technologies Private Limited, based in South Delhi, is India's first USB-connected smartphone glucometer. It uses plug-and-play concept, connects via USB to your smartphone, where users insert a strip into the glucometer for sugar readings displayed on the BeatO App and saved in the cloud. It is also the 2021 winner of the #StartUpIndia Initiative by the Govt of India. It is currently available in the market for a sale price of Rs 399.

As many innovations approach their market debut, it promises to bring new advancements to the field of diabetic medical devices, potentially offering enhanced features and benefits compared to currently available technologies.

Avantika Sanjay, Freelancer
Helene Fischer's new children's album contains the song "Aramsamsam", which has sparked discussions about cultural sensitivity. The debate sheds light on the origins and misunderstandings surrounding the song.

No time? blue News summarizes for you Helene Fischer's children's song "Aramsamsamsam" has sparked a debate about cultural sensitivity, particularly because of its possible depiction of Arab stereotypes.

Critics complain that the song could convey stereotypes about Arab culture through mispronunciation and gestures, but Fischer's version avoids overtly orientalist depictions.

The debate emphasizes the responsibility to interpret cultural songs sensitively and to question stereotypes in order to ensure respectful use in the children's song repertoire. Show more

Helene Fischer's new children's song album has sparked a debate about cultural sensitivity with the song "Aramsamsam".

The song, which originally comes from Morocco, has been criticized for allegedly ridiculing the Arabic language.

However, the discussion is more complex than it seems at first glance, reports "srf.ch". The topic was highlighted in a cultural current affairs program on SRF Radio on 7 November.

This is what "Aramsamsam" is about

During a trip to Morocco, a mother experienced how her daughter came into contact with other children by singing "Aramsamsam". This experience shows that the song can have a unifying power. Nevertheless, it is seen as problematic in the current debate as it could convey cliches about the Arab world.

Originally from Morocco, "Aramsamsam" has spread around the world and can be found in many children's song playlists. The Moroccan-Swiss musician Samir Essahbi remembers learning the song in Marrakech in the 1960s.

However, misunderstandings have crept in with the spread of the song. For example, the word "a rafiq" is often sung as "Arabi", accompanied by gestures reminiscent of Muslim prayer practices. These depictions can be perceived as simplistic and stereotyping.

Helene Fischer refrained from making references

The term Orientalism, coined by Edward Said, describes the Western view of the Arab world, which is often characterized by stereotypes. This perspective is also reflected in the choreography and imagery of some adaptations of "Aramsamsam", which feature flying carpets and snake charmers.

Helene Fischer's version of the song dispenses with such references. In a TikTok clip, she sings "Arabi", but dispenses with the prayer gesture and instead chooses a different hand gesture, which can also be found in many Arabic versions of the song.

@helenefischer Ich glaube die Choreo fur meine Show steht!  Wer von euch ist am 6. oder 7.12. in Dusseldorf bei den Aufzeichnungen der Show dabei?   Aramsamsam - Helene Fischer

"Aramsamsam" is not comparable to songs such as "Three Chinese with the double bass", which contain racist stereotypes. Rather, it is one of the few songs in the children's song repertoire that originates from the global South.

This article was created with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). All content created by AI is verified by the editorial team.

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Chinese scientists design membranes to recover oil, water for waste treatment

Xinhua) 09:54, November 09, 2024

HANGZHOU, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese scientific team has developed an innovative membrane system that can efficiently separate oil and water from complex fluids, a breakthrough with significant implications for environmental protection and resource recovery.

The new technology has the potential to effectively treat oily wastewater, which is a prevalent pollutant in both daily life and industry and poses serious threats to ecosystems and water sources.

Existing membrane technology struggles with the challenges of concurrently recovering oil and water from surfactant-stabilized mixtures where oil droplets are dispersed in water.

Now scientists from Zhejiang University have designed a novel membrane system called the Janus channel, which is named after the two-faced Roman god Janus, reflecting its dual-purpose design.

The study, published on Friday in the journal Science, describes the invention, which consists of a narrow, confined channel flanked by two contrasting membranes that are water-compatible and water-repellent, respectively.

As the emulsion flows through this channel, water molecules are passed through a water-compatible membrane under pressure, while oil droplets that collide into larger droplets can be captured and removed by the other membrane.

The system boasts remarkable separation efficiency, recovering around 97 percent of oil and roughly 75 percent of water with a purity above 99 percent, according to the study.

The membranes can be utilized for wastewater treatment in the petroleum and metallurgy sectors, as well as for separating emulsified products in the food and biomedical industries, Xu Zhikang, a corresponding author of the paper, told Xinhua.

The concept can also be extended to various challenging separation processes in major industries, including the "separation of water or glycerol from biofuels, valuable metals from mine tailings, and proteins and vitamins from dairy products," according to a Perspective article in the journal.

The research team has secured a patent for the technology and is now looking to launch a start-up or partner with companies to further advance its development.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Wu Chaolan)
Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday demanded a calm debate from Germany's squabbling factions on setting the date for a snap election to pull the country out of a political crisis.

Speaking to reporters in Budapest, Scholz called on parties to first agree on what legislation could be passed in what remained of the current parliament but denied trying to ram through his own policy agenda by delaying holding an election.

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Scholz has suggested holding a confidence vote in his government in January, paving the way for a snap election in March, but the conservative opposition led by Friedrich Merz wants an election in January.

What exactly happened?

Europe's largest economy was thrown into disarray this week with the collapse of Scholz's three-way coalition and disagreements over how much money the government should spend to spur growth and support Ukraine.

It collapsed on Wednesday as he announced the firing of his Finance Minister Christian Lindner from the Free Democrats (FDP) party, which together with the Greens and Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD) have been in power since 2021.

The collapse comes at a tough time for Germany as its economy faces a second year of contraction, its companies fear a loss of competitiveness, while foreign policy challenges mount, from the re-election of Donald Trump to a tariff war with China.

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"We should discuss the date as calmly as possible. It would be good if the democratic factions in the Bundestag could now reach an agreement on which laws can still be passed this year," Scholz said on the sidelines of an EU summit.

"This agreement could then also answer the question of when the right time is to hold the confidence vote in the Bundestag, also with regard to the possible date of new elections."

What will happen next?

A confidence vote is a necessary precursor to an election.

Scholz was meeting leaders in Budapest to discuss Europe's response to a raft of issues including Trump's return to power.

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Asked how his coalition's collapse was being viewed by other leaders, Scholz said they had shown solidarity, giving their own experiences of forming coalitions.

He also brushed aside a jibe by Trump ally and X owner Elon Musk, who had referred to him on the platform this week, in German, as a "fool" over the collapse of the coalition. Scholz said he had taken no notice because "the world we live in is not one where Internet companies are state organs".

According to one opinion poll, the ZDF Politbarometer, a majority of Germans want an election as soon as possible. Some 84 per cent think an earlier election is a good idea, while 13 per cent do not, it said on Friday.

Scholz himself could face calls to step aside as his party's candidate to remain as chancellor.

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Another voter poll by Forsa for RTL/ntv suggested that a majority of voters, 57 per cent, wanted Defence Minister Boris Pistorius to run instead, whereas only 13 per cent preferred Scholz. A majority of SPD voters also did not want him to run again.

Habeck, 55, has been a central figure in Germany's energy and climate policy as economy and climate protection minister, and been a vocal advocate for loosening Germany's purse strings to support industry.

Merz could face pressure if Scholz successfully paints him as blocking legislation in the run-up to the election.

How has the opposition reacted?

If CDU/CSU opposition votes down government legislation as the parliament winds up, it would demonstrate that Scholz has lost any prospect of a viable majority if he cannot get anything passed, a note by Teneo said.

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"This might enable Scholz to blame the CDU/CSU  together with the just-removed FDP  for their voting record on the specific policies, and for general irresponsibility in a moment of heightened domestic and global political stakes," it said.

Another casualty of the crisis was Michael Link, Germany's transatlantic coordinator, who had cultivated ties with Republicans and Democrats ahead of the election.

Link, from the FDP, confirmed his departure on Friday.

"In cooperation with the future Trump administration, we need a government that confidently represents German and European interests," Link told Reuters. "We as the FDP can no longer support Chancellor Scholz's unambitious programme."
Robert F Kennedy Jr looks set to play a prominent role in the health policy of US president-elect Donald Trump, with the vaccine sceptic's position considered a big risk by health officials.

Besides his famous name, who is RFK Jr?

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Who is RFK Jr?

A member of the Kennedy family, RFK Jr is the son of Robert F Kennedy and nephew of John F Kennedy.

His uncle, the former president, was assassinated in 1963 and his father was assassinated in 1968, while running for president.

Mr Kennedy has been married three times and has six children.

He suffers from spasmodic dysphonia, a condition marked by a spasm of the vocal muscles. It makes his voice sound raspy and sometimes trembling.

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Early career and drug problems

In 1982, Mr Kennedy started his career as an assistant district attorney for Manhattan. After failing the New York bar exam, he resigned the following year.

Mr Kennedy had a heroin problem, which he says started at the age of 15, and he was convicted for possession of the drug in 1983.

He was sentenced to two years of probation and community service, and said his drug use was over after entering a rehabilitation facility.

In 1984, Mr Kennedy began volunteering at The Hudson River Fisherman's Association, renamed Riverkeeper in 1986 after a patrol boat it had built with settlement money from legal victories preceding Mr Kennedy's arrival.

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He was admitted to the New York Bar in 1985, and Riverkeeper then hired him as a senior attorney. This started his long association with environmental causes.

Robert F Kennedy Jr could play a prominent role in health appointments made by the Trump administration. Photo: Rebecca Noble/Getty Images

Environmental work

In 1987, Mr Kennedy founded the Environmental Litigation Clinic at Pace University School of Law. He served as the organisation's supervising attorney and co-director and clinical professor of law for three decades.

In 1999, he was involved in the group that founded the Waterkeeper Alliance.

In 1991, Mr Kennedy represented environmentalists and New York City watershed consumers in lawsuits against the city and water polluters in upstate New York.

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He alleged the state of New York was failing in its responsibility to protect the water repository and supply. Five years after he started the cases, in 1996, he was central to the $1.2 billion New York City Watershed Agreement.

New York Magazine reported on the agreement in a cover story titled: 'The Kennedy Who Matters'.

Mr Kennedy worked on a number of prominent cases, including representing the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) against a proposal to build a garbage transfer station in a minority neighbourhood in Ossining, New York.

In 1987, he successfully sued Westchester County to reopen Croton Point Park, which was heavily used primarily by poor and minority communities from the Bronx.

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Along with environmental causes, his political stances included issues surrounding economic inequality, while he was critical of US military intervention in foreign countries.

Early political aspirations

Mr Kennedy considered running for the US Senate in New York in 2000, a seat formerly held by his father.

He ultimately decided against running again in 2005 and 2008.

Mr Kennedy was also considered for various roles in Democratic administrations.

Robert F Kennedy Jr with his wife, actress Cheryl Hines. Photo: Getty Images

Anti-vaccine activism and public health conspiracy theories

While Mr Kennedy was a respected environmental lawyer for years, he is now more well-known for anti-vaccine misinformation and conspiracy theories around public health.

Children's Health Defense, a non-profit organisation Mr Kennedy founded, spread Covid-19 vaccine misinformation, including that vaccinated children died at a faster rate.

Dozens of young children died of measles in American Samoa in 2019 after anti-vaccine activists, including Mr Kennedy, spread misinformation about the vaccines' safety in the island state, according to FactCheck.org and Dr Paul Offit, the director of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's vaccine education centre.

In testimony to the US Congress, Mr Kennedy said he has never been opposed to vaccines and never told the public to avoid them.

In July 2023, White House officials joined a chorus of Democrats and medical professionals who criticised Mr Kennedy for claiming in a video that Covid-19 was targeted to attack white and Black people and that Jewish and Chinese people are mostly immune.

Mr Kennedy has also suggested anti-depressants cause school shootings, Wi-Fi radiation causes cancer and that the 2004 election that re-elected George W Bush was stolen, according to FactCheck.org.

2024 presidential campaign

Mr Kennedy initially said he would challenge for the Democratic nomination.

However, he subsequently announced he would run an independent campaign for the presidency. This came after he expressed frustration at the lack of opportunities to challenge US president Joe Biden, as the Democratic Party backed the incumbent.

His campaign received a huge financial boost from a number of Republican-associated political action committees.

However, the Trump campaign soon became concerned he could take votes from them too, with many polls suggesting he could take a significant portion of votes with US voters weary at the prospect of a Trump v Biden rematch.

Members of the Kennedy family, including RFK Jr's siblings, issued a statement condemning his campaign and endorsing the then-Democratic candidate, Joe Biden.

Mr Kennedy's campaign faltered as he faced challenges in getting on the ballot in many states.

It was also marked by odd moments, such as revelations about a 'brain worm'. It emerged that Mr Kennedy had attributed "cognitive problems" he suffered to a parasite.

In a 2012 deposition during his divorce, he said the issues were "caused by a worm that got into my brain and ate a portion of it and then died.

In July 2024, an image emerged of Mr Kennedy holding what looked like a dog carcass. Mr Kennedy denied that he ate dog meat, and said the animal carcass in the picture was a goat.

To get ahead of a story that was due to be published in The New Yorker, Mr Kennedy released a video in August 2024 concerning a dead bear. He revealed that he had placed a dead six-month-old bear in Central Park after initially planning to skin it for meat.

Mr Kennedy claimed that the bear had been hit by a car in front of him and that he ultimately abandoned the carcass for fear that it would spoil before he could preserve it, deliberately positioning the body to give the impression that it had been struck by a cyclist in Central Park.

That was not the end of the animal-related controversies. In September 2024, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement announced that it was investigating an incident involving Mr Kennedy and a dead whale.

It came after an interview with Mr Kennedy's daughter Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy, from 2012, resurfaced. In it, Ms Kennedy recalled her father using a chainsaw to sever the head of a dead beached whale in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, then using bungee cords to strap the whale's head to the top of their minivan for a five-hour drive home.

She said: "Every time we accelerated on the highway, whale juice would pour into the windows of the car, and it was the rankest thing on the planet.

"We all had plastic bags over our heads with mouth holes cut out, and people on the highway were giving us the finger, but that was just normal day-to-day stuff for us.

By the time this story emerged, Mr Kennedy had already thrown his hat in with Mr Trump.

After previously describing Mr Trump as a "terrible human being" and a "discredit to democracy", Mr Kennedy did a U-turn and announced he would be dropping out to endorse Mr Trump.

A mobile billboard sponsored by MoveOn.org displaying Robert F Kennedy Jr and Donald Trump on August 23rd, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo: John Medina/Getty Images for MoveOn

This came following protracted talks between staff from the two campaigns, and Mr Kennedy had previously reached out to Kamala Harris' campaign with no response.

He appeared at a number of rallies for Mr Trump, and even posted a last-minute message telling voters not to vote for him in the states where he remained on the ticket, and instead give their vote to the Republican.

He pledged to 'Make America Healthy Again', a play on Mr Trump's 'Make America Great Again' catchphrase.

What role will Mr Kennedy play in the Trump administration?

Mr Trump recently said he would let former presidential candidate and anti-vaccine advocate Robert F Kennedy Jr "go wild" on vaccine and healthcare policy.

Mr Kennedy has said that Mr Trump promised him control over the FDA, CDC, HHS, and the USDA. Those jobs could potentially give him control over what vaccines are approved and whether Americans are recommended to receive them.

Donald Trump and Robert F Kennedy Jr at a rally in Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, August 23rd, 2024. Photo: Olivier Touron/AFP via Getty Images

Trump transition co-chair Howard Lutnick has said Mr Kennedy is not going to be put in charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, but suggested he could advise on vaccines.

Jeremy Levin, CEO of biotech company Ovid Therapeutics OVID.N and former chairman of biotech lobby group BIO, said he would be alarmed if Mr Kennedy was given oversight over vaccines, and that other executives had also expressed concern.

"Vaccine denialism, which is a central plank of RFK's, is perhaps as dangerous as anything you can imagine," he said, adding that president Trump's previous appointments for the Covid vaccine effort and the FDA suggest to him that more moderate positions will win out. Some executives were also concerned that Mr Kennedy's influence could harm the US' reputation and ability to review new drugs.

On Saturday, it emerged Mr Kennedy was involved in vetting resumes of potential US Department of Health appointments. - Additional reporting from Reuters
It is common sense to deport immigrants who commit serious crimes, the leader of Sinn Fein has said.

Mary Lou McDonalds comments come after it was reported that the partys integration spokesperson, Roscommon-Galway candidate Claire Kerrane, had deleted a social media post in which she called for deportation to be considered for any immigrant who commits a crime.

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Speaking on the campaign trail in Waterford on Saturday, Ms McDonald said: What Claire said is just a matter of plain common sense.

Ms McDonald said the comments are in line with Irish law, which permits the removal of an individual to their country of origin if they have committed a serious or violent crime.

If someone has been living in Ireland for more than 10 years or is a child, the order can only be made in the interests of public security.

The Sinn Fein leader said: Where somebody is convicted of a serious violent offence, there is the option to return that person to their home state, or to their country of origin. That, to me, just makes sense.

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This is about community safety. This is about where a crime is committed, that there is a sanction and a penalty for it, just as if an Irish person in Australia were to commit a serious offence, theyd be sent packing  and rightly so.

On Friday, The Journal reported that Ms Kerrane stood by the deleted post but was not trying to conflate immigration with crime.

She told the news website: My point is, if you come to Ireland and you commit a crime, then I think deportation should be on the table.

Asked if Ms Kerrane had been instructed to delete the post, Ms McDonald said: No, and to be honest I didnt even see the post.

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But thats our position on the substantive issue, and its not a new one for us. That just makes logical sense. If you commit a crime, youre punished for it, right? Irrespective of who you are.

Earlier this year, Ms McDonald announced that Sinn Fein had conducted an internal review after performing well below its own expectations in the local and European elections.

She revealed that senior figures in Sinn Fein were disappointed with her engagement with the partys base.

Ms McDonald was told that she needed to offer more clarity on its policies, including on immigration.

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People Before Profit representative Paul Murphy said it is not too late for Sinn Fein to rule out a coalition (Brian Lawless/PA)

Meanwhile, People Before Profit (PBP) said it is not too late for Sinn Fein to rule out a coalition with Fine Gael or Fianna Fail.

It comes after Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald refused to rule out such a partnership in the future.

Ms McDonald reiterated her preference for a new government without Fine Gael or Fianna Fail  but again stopped short of ruling out joining them in coalition.

She maintained that the partys proposition could not be clearer to the people.

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Ms McDonald added: After a century of government led by Fianna Fail or Fine Gael, we want a new government led by Sinn Fein without Fianna Fail or Fine Gael.

Thats our proposition. That is the basis upon which we are running a record number of candidates.

Ms McDonald previously said she would not insult voters by saying she would not engage with specific parties after the election.

However, PBP representative Paul Murphy reacted on Saturday by saying it would be a real insult to prop up Fine Gael or Fianna Fail.

Mr Murphy instead appealed to Sinn Fein, as well as the Social Democrats, to join PBP in guaranteeing no such future coalition.

The candidate for Dublin South West said: People Before Profit  Solidarity is not insulting voters by ruling out coalition with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.

We are giving people a commitment that votes for us will never be used to put Fianna Fail or Fine Gael back in power.

The real insult that has been delivered many times in the past by Labour, the Greens and various independents is to campaign on the promise of change, and then use those votes to put Fianna Fail or Fine Gael back in power.

It is not too late for Sinn Fein and the Social Democrats to join with People Before Profit in ruling out coalition with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, and committing to a left government.

That would inspire people to come out and vote to end 100 years of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael rule.
An Irishman has reportedly been arrested in relation to the murder of a 31-year-old American tourist in Budapest, Hungary.

Mackenzie "Kenzie" Michalski, a nurse practitioner from western New York, was last seen at a nightclub in the Hungarian capital on Tuesday.

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Police subsequently arrested a man who was seen with her at several nightclubs on the night of her disappearance.

According to US media reports, the suspect is a 37-year-old Irish citizen who has allegedly confessed to killing Ms Michalski. The reports claim he then showed police where he had hidden her body.

The US State Department said it is aware of reports that Hungarian police have arrested a suspect in relation to Ms Michalski's death, and that the US embassy is in contact with Hungarian police.

Michalski's family and friends released a statement on Friday that said they are "deeply saddened to confirm a report published by Hungarian police announcing the death of our beloved Kenzie".

"Kenzie will forever be remembered as a beautiful and compassionate young woman who dedicated herself to caring for others and making the world a better place," the statement said. "As a nurse practitioner, Kenzie used her humor, positivity, and limitless empathy to help heal her patients and encourage family and friends alike."
Former US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi said if president Joe Biden had ended his re-election bid sooner, the Democratic Party could have held a competitive nominating process to choose his replacement.

"Had the president gotten out sooner, there may have been other candidates in the race," Ms Pelosi said in an interview on Thursday published by The New York Times the next day. "The anticipation was that, if the president were to step aside, that there would be an open primary."

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Ms Pelosi said she thought the Democratic candidate, vice president Kamala Harris, "would have done well in that and been stronger going forward. But we dont know that. That didnt happen."

She said that since Mr Biden endorsed Ms Harris immediately, "that really made it almost impossible to have a primary at that time. If it had been much earlier, it would have been different".

Republican Donald Trump soundly defeated Ms Harris in Tuesday's election to recapture the White House.

Mr Biden, 81, ended his re-election bid in July and immediately endorsed Ms Harris after a poor debate performance against Mr Trump, 78, sparked concerns that he could not beat the former president nor complete a second four-year term.

Ms Pelosi reportedly led a behind-the-scenes effort to pressure Mr Biden to abandon his campaign.

Ms Pelosi left her leadership post in the House after Republicans won control of the chamber in the 2022 elections. She remained in the House, however, and was elected to a 20th term on Tuesday.
Iran has rejected a report it was behind an alleged plot to assassinate Donald Trump after the US Justice Department charged a man in connection with the plan.

The man said he had been tasked by a government official before the presidential election with assassinating the Republican president-elect.

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In Tehran, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei called it a plot by Israel-linked circles to make Iran-US relations more complicated, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Similar accusations in the past were rejected by Iran as their erroneousness was proved, he said.

Farhad Shakeri, an accused Iranian government asset, claimed that Iranian officials asked him to compose a plan to watch and kill Donald Trump (Evan Vucci/AP)

Repeat of the accusation in the current time span is a disgusting plot by the Zionist and anti-Iran circles that has aimed at making US-Iran problems more complicated, Mr Baghaei said.

The man said he had been tasked by a government official before the presidential election with assassinating the Republican president-elect.

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Investigators learned of the plot to kill Mr Trump from Farhad Shakeri, an accused Iranian government asset who spent time in American prisons for robbery. Authorities say he maintains a web of criminal associates who participate in Tehrans assassination plots.

Shakeri told investigators that in September, a contact in Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard instructed him to put together a plan within seven days to watch and ultimately kill Mr Trump, according to a criminal complaint unsealed in federal court in Manhattan.

Shakeri claimed the Iranian official said that we have already spent a lot of money and that moneys not an issue.

He told investigators the official told him that if he could not put together a plan within the seven-day timeframe, then the plot would be paused until after the election because the official assumed that Mr Trump would lose and that it would be easier to kill him then, the complaint said.

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Shakeri is at large and remains in Iran.

Two other men who were allegedly recruited to participate in other assassinations, including of a prominent Iranian American journalist, were arrested on Friday.

Donald Trump beat US vice president Kamala Harris in the US presidential election (Alex Brandon/AP)

Shakeri, an Afghan national who immigrated to the US as a child but was later deported after spending 14 years in prison for robbery, also told investigators that he was tasked by his Revolutionary Guard contact with plotting the killings of two Jewish-Americans living in New York and Israeli tourists in Sri Lanka.

The criminal complaint says Shakeri disclosed some of the details of the alleged plots in a series of recorded telephone interviews with FBI agents while in Iran.

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The stated reason for his cooperation, he told investigators, was to try to get a reduced prison sentence for an associate behind bars in the US.
A 37-year old Irish man has been arrested after the death of a 31-year-old American woman in Hungarys capital, police said.

Mackenzie Michalski from Portland, Oregon, was reported missing on November 5 after she was last seen at a nightclub in central Budapest.

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Police launched an investigation and reviewed security footage from local nightclubs where they observed holidaymaker Ms Michalski with a man later identified as the suspect on the night of her disappearance.

Police detained the man, an Irish citizen, on the evening of November 7.

Investigators said Ms Michalski and the suspect met at a nightclub and danced before leaving for the mans rented apartment.

The suspect, whom police identified by the initials LTM, allegedly confessed to the killing at the apartment, but said it had been an accident.

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Police said he attempted to cover up his crime by cleaning the apartment and concealing Ms Michalskis body before purchasing a suitcase and placing her body inside.

He then rented a car and drove to Lake Balaton, around 90 miles south-west of Budapest, where he is said to have disposed of the body in a wooded area outside the town of Szigliget.

Video released by police showed the suspect guiding authorities to the location where he had left the body.

Ms Michalskis parents are currently in Budapest, police added.

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According to a post on a Facebook group called Find Mackenzie Michalski, which was created on November 7, Ms Michalski, who was known as Kenzie, was a nurse practitioner who will forever be remembered as a beautiful and compassionate young woman.
Three separate Israeli strikes have killed at least 16 people including women and children in Gaza, Palestinian medical officials said.

There is no end in sight to Israels campaigns against Hamas militants in Gaza or Hezbollah in Lebanon, where Israels military said that it struck command centres and other militant infrastructure overnight in Beiruts southern suburbs.

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One of the strikes hit a school-turned-shelter in Gaza Citys eastern Tufah neighbourhood, killing at least six people, Gazas health ministry said.

Two local journalists, a pregnant woman and a child were among the dead.

The Israeli army said the strike targeted a militant belonging to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group, offering no evidence or further detail.



A woman sits on a bed in a room of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir al Balah (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Another seven people were killed when an Israeli strike hit a tent in the southern city of Khan Younis where displaced people were sheltering, according to a Nasser Hospital spokesperson.

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It said the dead included two women and a child. The Israeli army did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the blast.

Meanwhile, Palestinian medical officials said an Israeli strike hit tents in the courtyard of central Gazas main hospital, including one serving as a police point.

At least three people were killed and a local journalist was hurt, Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir al-Balah said. It was the eighth Israeli attack on the compound since March.

COGAT, the Israeli military body in charge of humanitarian aid to Gaza, said on Saturday that 11 aid trucks containing food, water and medical equipment had reached the far north of the enclave, including the urban refugee camp at Jabaliya.

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It is the first time any aid has reached the area since Israel began a fresh military campaign there last month.

But not all the aid reached the agreed drop-off points, according to a spokesperson for the UN World Food Programme, which was involved in the delivery process.

In Jabaliya, Israeli troops stopped one of the convoys bound for nearby Beit Lahiya and ordered the supplies to be offloaded, said Alia Zaki.

The announcement comes days a ahead of a US deadline demanding that Israel improve aid deliveries across Gaza. Experts have said there is a strong likelihood that famine is imminent in parts of northern Gaza.

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Palestinians receive aid distributed by UNRWA (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Israels new offensive has focusing on Jabaliya, a densely populated refugee camp where Israel says Hamas had regrouped. Other areas affected by the new campaign include Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun, situated just north of Gaza City.

The UN estimates that tens of thousands of people remain in the area. Earlier this week, the Gaza Health Ministry said there were no ambulances or emergency crews operating north of Gaza City.

Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, the Israeli army has struck several schools and tent camps, packed with tens of thousands of Palestinians driven from their homes by Israeli offensives and evacuation orders.

The conflict has left 90% of Palestinians in Gaza displaced, according to UN figures.

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The military has accused Hamas of operating from within civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including schools, UN facilities and hospitals.

In July, Israeli air strikes hit a girls school in Gazas central city of Deir al-Balah, killing at least 30 people sheltering inside. Israels military said it targeted a Hamas command centre used to direct attacks against its troops and store large quantities of weapons.

More than a year of Israels war against Hamas in Gaza has killed more than 43,000 people, Palestinian health officials say.

They do not distinguish between civilians and combatants but say more than half of those killed were women and children.

The war began after Palestinian militants stormed into Israel on October 7 2023, killing some 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and abducting 250 others.
A ruling that a man who claims the Manchester Arena attack was staged should pay 45,000 in damages to two harassed survivors sends out a message to conspiracy theorists, one of the injured has said.

Martin Hibbert and his daughter Eve sued former television producer Richard Hall for harassment over his claims in several videos and a book that the attack was a state-orchestrated hoax, with the pair involved as crisis actors.

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They both suffered life-changing injuries at the Ariana Grande concert in May 2017, with Mr Hibbert left with a spinal cord injury and Miss Hibbert facing severe brain damage.

Mr Hall claimed his actions  including filming Miss Hibbert outside her home  were in the public interest as a journalist, and told the High Court trial that millions of people have bought a lie about the attack.

Last month Mrs Justice Steyn ruled in favour of the Hibberts and described Mr Halls behaviour as a negligent, indeed reckless, abuse of media freedom.

At a hearing on Friday, the judge said Mr Hibbert and his daughter would each be awarded 22,500 in damages.

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She said: The claimants are both vulnerable The allegations are serious and distressing.

Jonathan Price, for the pair, said Mr Halls behaviour was towards the more oppressive end of the spectrum of harassing conduct.

Mr Price had told the court a total of 75,000 for the pair should be awarded, while Paul Oakley, for Mr Hall, argued that 7,500 each was appropriate.

Richard Hall (Yui Mok/PA)

Mrs Justice Steyn ruled that she would not award further damages after Mr Hall brought up some of his theories about the bombing during the trial.

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She said: I am not persuaded that the conduct of the litigation warrants an award of aggravated damages.

The defendants narrative is preposterous but I accept having heard his evidence he has convinced himself it is true.

An injunction preventing further harassment was made against Mr Hall, who was also told to pay 90% of the Hibberts legal costs.

The final figure may be determined by a specialist judge if an agreement is not reached, but the court heard the total is currently estimated at 260,000.

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In a statement outside the London court, Mr Hibbert said he was pleased with the ruling.

He continued: I want this case to open up the door for change, and for it to protect others from what we have been put through.

Martin Hibbert (centre) after a previous hearing in the case (James Manning/PA)

It proves and has highlighted that there is protection within the law, and it sends out a message to conspiracy theorists that you cannot ignore all acceptable evidence and harass innocent people.

Mr Hibbert later said there will be tears but that he was very proud and looking forward to hugging his daughter.

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He continued: People dont see that because you dont put that on social media, so to have to deal with that and just live a normal life is hard, but Im a Boltonian and the way Ive been brought up, you face a bully straight on and thats what Ive done today.

Asked later whether the size of the damages were important, Mr Hibbert said he did not expect to see any of the money.

He said: What this was about was bringing him down in public, in front of his own followers, thats what Ive done.

Mr Hall, speaking outside court, said the proceedings were not a fair trial and repeated his claim that no bomb exploded during the Manchester Arena attack.

He said: There arent many citizens, if any, who have researched and investigated the Manchester Arena incident more than I have.

In my years of investigation I did not find any evidence to show that a real bomb was used.
One person died and 13 were wounded by a Russian drone attack on the Ukrainian port city of Odesa overnight, as EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell arrived in Kyiv to discuss European support for Ukraine.

Odesa regional governor Oleh Kiper said high-rise residential buildings, private houses and warehouses were damaged by the fall of a drone. He did not specify whether the drone had been shot down by air defences.

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A further 32 Russian drones were shot down over 10 Ukrainian regions while 18 were lost, according to Ukraines Air Force, likely having been electronically jammed.





In Kyiv for my 5th visit since Russias full-scale invasion and last one as HRVP.



EU support to #Ukraine has been my personal priority during my mandate and will remain on top of the EUs agenda. pic.twitter.com/XO5LvWopZY  Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) November 9, 2024

A Russian aerial bomb struck a busy highway overnight in the north-eastern Kharkiv province, Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekohov said. No casualties were reported.

Russia is mounting an intensified aerial campaign that Ukrainian officials say they need more Western help to counter.

However, doubts are deepening over what Kyiv can expect from a new US administration. President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly taken issue with US aid to Ukraine, made vague vows to end the war and has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said Moscow and Washington were exchanging signals on Ukraine via closed channels.

He did not specify whether the communication was with the current administration or Mr Trump and members of his incoming administration.

Russia is ready to listen to Mr Trumps proposals on Ukraine provided these were ideas on how to move forward in the area of settlement, and not in the area of further pumping the Kyiv regime with all kinds of aid, Mr Ryabkov said in an interview with Russian state news agency Interfax.

Mr Borrell reassured Ukraine of European support as he arrived in Kyiv on Saturday.

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EU support to Ukraine has been my personal priority during my mandate and will remain on top of the EUs agenda, he wrote on X.

In Russia, the Defence Ministry said 50 Ukrainian drones were destroyed over seven Russian regions  more than half over the Bryansk region, bordering Ukraine.
Qatar has decided to suspend its key mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel, officials said.

It is not immediately clear whether the remaining Hamas leadership hosted by Qatar must leave, or where it would go. Hamas has good relations with Iran and Turkey, and some of its leaders are now in Lebanon.

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However, Qatar is highly likely to return to ceasefire efforts if both sides show serious political willingness to reach a deal on the war in Gaza, according to one spokesperson.

A diplomatic source said both Israel and Hamas, along with the United States, were informed after the decision was made.



Amother Israeli air strike has hit the Al-Aqsa Hospital (AP)

Qatar told Israel and Hamas it cannot continue to mediate as long as there is a refusal to negotiate a deal in good faith and as a consequence, the Hamas political office no longer serves its purpose in Qatar, a diplomatic source said.

Hamas was told by Qatar it will have to leave if it is not ready to engage in serious negotiations, the source added.

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In Washington, a US official said the Biden administration informed Qatar two weeks ago that the Hamas offices continued operation in Doha was no longer useful and the Hamas delegation should be expelled.



Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed (AP)

A senior US official said that after Hamas rejected the last proposal for a ceasefire, Qatar accepted the advice and informed the Hamas delegation of the decision 10 days ago.

A senior Hamas official said they were aware of Qatars decision to suspend mediation efforts, but no-one told us to leave.

Hamas has repeatedly called for an end to the war and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza as a condition for any ceasefire deal. Israel seeks the return of all hostages taken in Hamas October 7 2023 attack on Israel and insists on a presence in Gaza.

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The announcement comes after growing frustration with the lack of progress on a ceasefire deal.

Earlier, three separate Israeli strikes killed at least 16 people including women and children in Gaza, Palestinian medical officials said.

There is no end in sight to Israels campaigns against Hamas militants in Gaza or Hezbollah in Lebanon, where Israels military said that it struck command centres and other militant infrastructure overnight in Beiruts southern suburbs.

One of the strikes hit a school-turned-shelter in Gaza Citys eastern Tufah neighbourhood, killing at least six people, Gazas health ministry said.

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Two local journalists, a pregnant woman and a child were among the dead.

The Israeli army said the strike targeted a militant belonging to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group, offering no evidence or further detail.



A woman sits on a bed in a room of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir al Balah (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Another seven people were killed when an Israeli strike hit a tent in the southern city of Khan Younis where displaced people were sheltering, according to a Nasser Hospital spokesperson.

It said the dead included two women and a child. The Israeli army did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the blast.

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Meanwhile, Palestinian medical officials said an Israeli strike hit tents in the courtyard of central Gazas main hospital, including one serving as a police point.

At least three people were killed and a local journalist was hurt, Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir al-Balah said. It was the eighth Israeli attack on the compound since March.

COGAT, the Israeli military body in charge of humanitarian aid to Gaza, said on Saturday that 11 aid trucks containing food, water and medical equipment had reached the far north of the enclave, including the urban refugee camp at Jabaliya.

It is the first time any aid has reached the area since Israel began a fresh military campaign there last month.

But not all the aid reached the agreed drop-off points, according to a spokesperson for the UN World Food Programme, which was involved in the delivery process.

In Jabaliya, Israeli troops stopped one of the convoys bound for nearby Beit Lahiya and ordered the supplies to be offloaded, said Alia Zaki.

The announcement comes days a ahead of a US deadline demanding that Israel improve aid deliveries across Gaza. Experts have said there is a strong likelihood that famine is imminent in parts of northern Gaza.



Palestinians receive aid distributed by UNRWA (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Israels new offensive has focusing on Jabaliya, a densely populated refugee camp where Israel says Hamas had regrouped. Other areas affected by the new campaign include Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun, situated just north of Gaza City.

The UN estimates that tens of thousands of people remain in the area. Earlier this week, the Gaza Health Ministry said there were no ambulances or emergency crews operating north of Gaza City.

Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, the Israeli army has struck several schools and tent camps, packed with tens of thousands of Palestinians driven from their homes by Israeli offensives and evacuation orders.

The conflict has left 90% of Palestinians in Gaza displaced, according to UN figures.

The military has accused Hamas of operating from within civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including schools, UN facilities and hospitals.

In July, Israeli air strikes hit a girls school in Gazas central city of Deir al-Balah, killing at least 30 people sheltering inside. Israels military said it targeted a Hamas command centre used to direct attacks against its troops and store large quantities of weapons.

More than a year of Israels war against Hamas in Gaza has killed more than 43,000 people, Palestinian health officials say.

They do not distinguish between civilians and combatants but say more than half of those killed were women and children.

The war began after Palestinian militants stormed into Israel on October 7 2023, killing some 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and abducting 250 others.
Robert F Kennedy Jr, the former independent presidential candidate, is reviewing candidate resumes for the top jobs at the US government's health agencies in Donald Trump's new administration, a former Kennedy aide and a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday.

Mr Kennedy, of the famed political family, has been asked to recommend appointees for all regulatory health agencies, including the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration, said Del Bigtree, who was director of communications for Mr Kennedy's campaign and remains close to the former candidate.

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A source familiar with the matter, who declined to be identified, echoed that Mr Kennedy had taken on that role. Mr Trump's transition team did not respond to a request for comment.

Vaccine misinformation

In August, Mr Kennedy, an environmental lawyer who has spread misinformation about vaccines, ended his presidential campaign and endorsed Mr Trump in exchange for a role in Mr Trump's administration focused on public health. Mr Kennedy says he is not anti-vaccine but for more rigorous testing of vaccines.

While he is looking for individuals to fill administration jobs, Mr Kennedy could himself still take an official position in Mr Trump's administration or serve in an advisory capacity, according to Mr Bigtree.

Howard Lutnick, co-chair of Mr Trump's transition team, told CNN before Tuesday's presidential election, however, that Mr Kennedy was "not getting a job for HHS".

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Mr Bigtree said Mr Trump wanted to see Mr Kennedy's ideas for reducing chronic illness produce results within two years, especially in US children.

Mr Kennedy last week said he would recommend fluoride be removed from public water supplies, falsely claiming on X the chemical is associated with numerous health issues including bone fractures and cancer. The American Dental Association says the decades-old intervention reduces tooth decay by more than 25 per cent in adults and children.

President Trump is keenly interested in the selections that Bobby Kennedy thinks would get the job done.

World Who is Susie Wiles, the 'ice maiden' who will be T... Read More

"President Trump is giving him two years to show success," Mr Bigtree said. "President Trump is keenly interested in the selections that Bobby Kennedy thinks would get the job done."

Mr Kennedy will recommend scientists and doctors who "don't have any conflicts of interest with the pharmaceutical industry when it comes to the departments that are going to be dealing with drugs and vaccines," Mr Bigtree said.

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Mr Bigtree, an anti-vaccine activist, is chief executive of MAHA Action, a new organisation named after Mr Kennedy's Make America Healthy Again pledge that Mr Bigtree said would also propose appointees to Mr Kennedy.

Mr Kennedy is being assisted by daughter-in-law Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, his former campaign manager, and investor Omeed Malik, the source familiar with the matter said.


Extremists target ISKCON amid persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh Author and social activist Taslima Nasreen has expressed deep concern regarding the persecution of minorities in Bangladesh at the hands of Islamist extremists. Taking to X, she highlighted: The Chittagong-based group Hefazat-e-Islam has called for a ban on ISKCON. Today, their slogan was: Catch one ISKCON, then slaughter. Hefazat-e-Islam has called for terrorism. They want to kill ISKCON members.



Based on qawmi madrasas in Bangladesh, Hefazat-e-Islam is a far-right conservative Islamic advocacy group.



She went on to share her agony: Is ISKCON a terrorist organisation that it should be banned? Have ISKCON members ever killed anyone while loudly chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Rama? On the other hand, Islamic terrorists shout Allahu Akbar while killing people.



Drawing reference to the popularity and the global reach of the institution, Nasreen pointed out that ISKCON exists in many countries around the world, and nowhere does it face such issues, but it does in Bangladesh. Why is that? Because in this country, there is a large number of Islamists and jihadists who cannot tolerate people of other religions. They use all sorts of tricks and tactics to harm non-Muslims or drive them out of their land.



Hefazat-e-Islam is playing the role of the terrorists here, while ISKCON is the persecuted minority, she added.



International Society for Krishna Consciousness, popularly known as ISKCON, is a Gaudiya Vaishnava Hindu religious organisation which has followers across countries and cultures.



After Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas ouster, there was widespread fear within the Hindu minority community in the country. Violence against this community has increased since the landmark event in August this year, following a mass uprising that forced Bangladeshs longtime Prime Minister to step down and flee the country.




The UK needs to roll out the red carpet for Donald Trump following the US election, Nigel Farage has said.

The leader of Reform UK has said the British government needs to do everything it can to welcome Mr Trump and negotiate a trade deal, at the partys conference in Newport, Wales on Friday.

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Mr Farage was speaking after returning from a trip from the president-elects Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where he celebrated Mr Trumps election win.

Speaking to the PA news agency at the Reform UK Welsh conference on Friday, he said: Roll out the red carpet, thats what theyve got to do (to build bridges).

Im pleased to say that the speaker of the House of Commons has made a start by inviting Donald Trump to come and address both Houses of Parliament.

Its a big improvement on speaker Bercow before, who banned him from the premises.

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Whether you like Trump or not, this is the important point that in terms of intelligence sharing, in terms of defence, in terms of investment, in terms of trade, America is our most important relationship.

GB News has reported that Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the speaker of the House of Commons, will not be blocking a visit by Mr Trump, but it is not clear if he has offered Mr Trump a visit.

Mr Farage insisted the UK-US relationship was mendable.

(The) most important thing will be the tariff regime, he said.

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Hes talking about putting a 10% tariff on all goods that are being sent to America, and weve got to start negotiating fast to make sure were not part of that.

The US election was a key talking point during the conference, with people wearing Make America Great Again clothing, and many speakers raising it as an issue.

Matt Goodwin, a right-wing commentator and former university academic, told the conference the Reform movement represents the forgotten majority like Mr Trump does in America.

Mr Farage said he has offered to help Labour mend some fences between the UK Government and the president-elect.

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Reform Leader @Nigel_Farage says @Keir_Starmer must roll out the red carpet for the incoming US President. pic.twitter.com/DzQclEc7nn  Reform UK (@reformparty_uk) November 6, 2024

It follows David Lammy, the UK foreign secretary, receiving criticism for his previous comments branding Mr Trump a neo-nazi.

But Mr Farage said the president-elect is a far more forgiving figure than many people think, with Mr Trump having chosen JD Vance  who previously criticised him  as his pick for vice president.

He also defended his trip to America and his presence in his Clacton constituency, saying: Im moving there, what more do you want?

Mr Farage insisted he could not hold in-person surgeries in Clacton, calling it too risky.

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Leader of Reform UK Nigel Farage speaking at the Reform UK Welsh Conference at the Celtic Manor hotel in Newport. (Ben Birchall/PA)

Other MPs arent Nigel Farage, other MPs dont have constant death threats  its a different kettle of fish  and David Amess in Essex, just down the road, was murdered just a few short years ago, he said.

Addressing the conference, Mr Farage used his speech to claim his party now has 96,000 members, putting Reform less than 40,000 supporters behind the Conservatives.

He said: Isnt it incredible that weve got up now to 96,000 members of this party? And were growing every day. Were growing by hundreds every day.

Last week, the Tories revealed there were only 131,680 Tory members eligible to vote for their next leader, a drop from 172,000 in 2022 when Liz Truss defeated Rishi Sunak.

He also praised Mr Trumps stunning victory while criticising the UK Labour and Conservative parties.

Mr Farage said the Reform UK membership had increased to 96,000. (Ben Birchall/PA Wire)

He branded the UK governments policies recipes to make the country poorer with a budget that punishes anybody that does their own thing and said Kemi Badenoch has selected a shadow cabinet of non-entities.

His speech was met applause and cries of support from the crowd, with one shouting out traitors when he spoke about Labour staffers campaigning for Kamala Harris.

The conference follows a Survation poll, which suggests the party is polling ahead of the Conservatives in Wales and just behind Plaid Cymru.

The survey of 2,006 people showed 20 per cent would back the party at the next Senedd elections, with Labour on 30 per cent, Plaid on 21 per cent and the Tories on 17 per cent.

The Reform leader called on supporters to join his peoples army in Wales and help Reform UK organise and mobilise.

Winning elections is about having a party machine, he said, Winning elections is about a volunteer army. Winning elections is about the power of word of mouth, talking to people.

He added: Ive been asked before what my ambitions are. Well here in Wales the primary ambition is to be the main challenger to Labour.

But frankly my ambition, sky is the limit. Lets go for it. Lets try and win this.

Reform had tables set up outside the conference hall for members to sign up to work supporting the party in their communities.

Outside the conference venue a group of around 30 protesters gathered chanting stop the fascists and calling for Nigel Farage to go away.
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Eating outEating out From mates from interstate to lunch with mum: 10 not-too-spendy spots for every kind of catch-up When it comes to dining out, one size (or budget) definitely does not fit all. Here are 10 interesting options for lunch to suit almost every person in your life. Bianca Hrovat November 7, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

Where should I go for lunch when Im in Sydney? has to be one of the most frequently asked questions as a Good Food writer. Its a tricky one: Whats your budget? Who are you going with? Whats the vibe? Here, youll find 10 budget-conscious options in and around central Sydney, including a few new openings you might not have tried. Theres something for almost every person in your life, from your mum whos always wanted to try making cheese (Norcino) to your out-of-town bestie who insists on a killer view (Kiln). The dining space is simply but brightly furnished with red lanterns and tiles. Jessica Hromas Ama, Surry Hills Best for: Your budget-conscious colleague

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Low on price, big on flavour, Ama is the much-anticipated restaurant from the Ickle Coffee team. Owners (and sisters) Rowena and Kate Chansiri serve Thai-Chinese street food using family recipes in a small shopfront emulating the lantern-lit cosiness of their mothers childhood home. The beef noodle soup is a must-order (Damn good, according to Sydney Morning Herald chief critic Terry Durack), and theres Ickle Coffee for a midday pick-me-up (available as es yen, or Thai iced coffee, if you prefer). Open daily for lunch. 47 Cooper Street, Surry Hills, instagram.com/ama.surryhills Joji rooftop bar opens above the Cartier flagship store on George Street. Jana Langhorst Joji, CBD Best for: Your stylish, seen-it-all friend

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Joji is one of Sydneys most exciting new restaurants, with a rooftop terrace overlooking the city, warmly illuminated wabi-sabi interiors and food from Esca executive chef Paul Farag (Aalia, Nour). Small plates dominate the three-part menu, allowing diners to snack their way through a long lunch of quail and pork jowl tsukune (grilled meatball skewers, $18), salt and vinegar lotus chips ($10) and beef tartare (with potato hash and nashi pear, $12). Open for lunch Wednesday to Friday. Level 5, 388 George Street, Sydney, jojisydney.com Spaghetti carbonara with house-made guanciale at Salumeria Norcino. Jennifer Soo Norcino, Pyrmont Best for: Pleasing the foodie parents

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Its not every day you find a cafe that cures its own meats, fills its own sausages and stretches its own balls of creamy buffalo mozzarella. But many of the small goods are made from scratch at Norcino, and thats what makes this unassuming Roman eatery so special. Lunch is the best time to come, when you can enjoy the sunlit courtyard with a bowl of spaghetti amatriciana (using their signature product, the guanciale, or cured pork jowl) and a glass of Italian red. Open daily for lunch. 1 Saunders Street, Pyrmont, norcino.com.au Kiln restaurant is housed 18 stories above Ace Hotel Sydney. Pablo Veiga Kiln, Surry Hills Best for: Your cool interstate bestie

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Rooftop restaurant Kiln checks every box for the low-key tourist  the kind who wants lunch with a view without having to fight their way through harbourside crowds. There are 360-degree views of the city, that quintessentially cool Ace Hotel aesthetic and a lunchtime Feed Me set menu from $65 per person. Kick off with a light yuzushu spritz and the signature Jatz crackers decorated with smoked butter and anchovies. Open for lunch Thursday to Saturday. 53 Foy Lane, Sydney, kilnsydney.com Beef barbacoa taco. Rhett Wyman Tacos Tacos Tacos, Potts Point Best for: A quick bite with your busiest mate

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Tacos Tacos Tacos is a tiny, no-frills taqueria led by Guadalajara-born chef Joe Valero from the team behind neighbouring wine bar Caravin. This is fast, fun and delicious fare served in one of Potts Points busiest laneways. Choose from six corn tortilla tacos scrawled on the blackboard, each just $8, with fillings such as beef suadero with salsa morita or cactus and frijoles. Come early to score a table; seating is limited and walk-in only. Open Saturday for lunch. 46 Llankelly Place, Potts Point, instagram.com/tacostacostacospottspoint Bar by Saint Peter, Paddington Best for: A (comparatively) frugal outing for fine dining enthusiasts

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Chef Josh Nilands three-hatted fine-dining restaurant Saint Peter has an adjoining bar, where he applies his whole-fish philosophy to a decidedly more casual but no less delicious a la carte menu. Pair an oyster shell martini (made with long spine sea urchin and oyster shell acid) with a yellowfin tuna and swordfish belly bacon cheeseburger ($30) before heading out into the streets of Paddington for shopping. Open for lunch Thursday to Sunday. 161 Underwood Street, Paddington, saintpeter.com.au TheEca, Darlinghurst. Supplied TheEca, Darlinghurst Best for: Group hangs on the Instagram grid

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Score a table outdoors beneath the leafy plane trees for a brunchtime gathering with friends. The easy-to-love menu is made for sharing and theres a selection of coffee, matcha or light spritzy cocktails. Book the bottomless brunch on Sundays for an $80 per person feast of pistachio pesto pasta, roast chicken and natural wines, or inquire about their long table bookings with optional tablescaping (think colourful flowers and tapered candles) for events. Open daily for lunch. 1 Burton Street, Darlinghurst, theeca.com.au Haven, Darling Quarter Best for: Bagels and bubs

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Havens Rosebery outpost made it onto the Good Food Guides list of top cafes in Sydney, and while Darling Quarter might have a smaller menu, it does have one big advantage: an outdoor playground with giant slides and water features just around the corner. Order your avo and cucumber bagel and specialty coffee to go and enjoy a few hours in the sunshine with friends and family. Open for lunch Monday to Friday. 25 Harbour Street, Haymarket, havencoffee.com.au Tetas Deli, Potts Point Best for: That friend you can sit quietly with after a big night out

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Teta means grandmother in Arabic and, like a grandmother, theres something familiar and warm about this lo-fi Lebanese deli-cafe. The menu is handwritten on a roll of butcher paper, jars of house-made pickles stack the shelves and the food is simple but delicious. Order a toasted zaatar pliage on housemade dough with fresh labneh and enjoy it on a stool outside with a pot of coffee. Open for lunch Wednesday to Sunday. 4B Roslyn Street, Potts Point, instagram.com/tetas.kingscross Go-to dish: Fish fillet with Sichuan pepper in hot chilli oil. Jennifer Soo Spicy Joint, Haymarket Best for: Beers with a big group

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Israeli PM appoints new Ambassador to US Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to appoint Yechiel Leiter as Israel's Ambassador to the United States, according to a statement issued by Netanyahu's office. Leiter, 65, has served in senior public service positions in Israel, including the deputy director-general of the Education Ministry, chief-of-staff in the Finance Ministry, and acting chairman of the Israel Ports Company, Xinhua news agency reported.



"Leiter was born in the United States and is deeply familiar with the American administration and society," the statement said, calling him "a highly capable diplomat" and "an eloquent speaker" who "possesses a deep understanding of American culture and politics."



Leiter will take office in January 2025, replacing Michael Herzog, brother of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who has served as the Israeli Ambassador to America for three years.




Students from International Community Elementary and Think College Now Elementary play during recess in Oakland. Laure Andrillon for CalMatters

Oakland education officials will vote in December to merge 10 schools, the first step in reducing the number of campuses across the city and filling half-empty classrooms.

The 10 schools to be merged  which have a combined 3,300 students  already share campuses, a set-up that was created during a national trend to create smaller schools to offer students more support, but one that often failed to produce results despite the increased funding required to support it.

Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell is expected to introduce the plan at Wednesdays school board meeting, along with a proposal to overhaul how funding is allocated to all school sites. Doing nothing is not an option, the superintendent has said.

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The district has a $174 million two-year budget deficit fueled by overspending and years of declining enrollment and now faces the prospect of insolvency, though the school mergers will only save a few million dollars.

The plan, however, falls short of what Alameda County Office of Education fiscal advisers had hoped the district would do to address the districts spending problems.

ACOE Superintendent Alysse Castro scolded district officials for not pursuing a more aggressive redesign of the district, including greatly reducing the number of schools. Johnson-Trammell had planned to present a plan to the board this coming week with many more sites but it was clear the school board was split on the proposal, with not enough votes to push it through, according to sources close to the process.

We are once again in the familiar position where the District is deferring hard decisions that are already long overdue, Castro said. We believe this Board and this community are on a path to restructuring, but because redesign decisions have been deferred many times, the path is narrow, and stepping too far off of it is the equivalent of wandering off a fiscal cliff.

If the school district fails to address the budget problems, Castro could step in and assert greater control of its spending.

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Oakland isnt alone in its need to address a budget crisis and the loss of students amid declining birthrates and other factors. San Francisco attempted to close schools, but scrapped its plan after intense pushback. Other Bay Area districts are looking to right-size despite opposition from families as well as community and labor groups.

A previous push to close and merge 11 schools in Oakland in 2022 was intensely divisive with protests, an occupation of a school, vandalism, petitions and a hunger strike by two teachers. The school board ultimately rescinded all but two closures and one merger, leaving the district in its current state.

Currently, 34,000 students attend the districts 77 schools, twice the number of sites as in Fremont Unified, which has about the same enrollment. Oakland could lose another 6,000 to 7,000 students by 2032.

Those realities mean the district must make cuts, likely leading to layoffs next year, while also looking at how to reduce the footprint.

Its going to have to be a blend of both, Johnson-Trammell told the Chronicle on Friday. She said if the district fails to close or merge enough schools, it will need to find more of those savings through staff cuts and cuts to services at school sites. The proposed mergers include combining the following schools:

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Elementary school sites:

International Community School and Think College Now

Manzanita Community School and Manzanita SEED

Acorn Woodland and Encompass

Esperanza and Korematsu Discovery Academy

Middle school sites:

United for Success Academy and LIFE Academy

The goal, district officials said, is to be more efficient, reducing administrative and operational needs. The total annual savings is expected to be about $3 million if the 10 schools are merged into five.

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In addition, the superintendent plans to outline a new funding formula that would allocate money based on uniform staffing plans rather than giving schools the discretionary cash to decide which positions they want.

This would allow the district to cut costs while meeting minimum staffing requirements at each school while also putting the district closer to backfilling next years $95 million deficit.

After the debacle of trying to close schools in 2022, district officials are hoping to ease their way into the process this time. Theyre starting with mergers that dont require any students to transfer to another site, an easier sell to families.

In 2019, the district merged Elmhurst Community Prep and Alliance Academy, located on the same campus in East Oakland. The new school was renamed Elmhurst United Middle School.

The former principal of the merged school, Kilian Betlach, said that at the time he wouldnt have chosen to make one middle school out of the two, feeling each one was serving its students well.

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What I learned is that its really hard in the moment, and that absolutely no one likes change, he said. Its uncertainty  as human beings were all conditioned to prefer that which we know compared to that which we dont.

But then, Betlach said, he realized the merger brought economies of scale, allowing him to create more sections for English learners and special needs students, which meant providing instruction more specific to students needs.

And, with 700 students combined, he was able to increase the number of electives, offering art, music, computer science, Spanish and an insane number of academic electives, including many classes for students behind in literacy.

Finally, he was able to add more support staff, reducing the caseload for counselors.

You can just do more, he said of the larger school. Quality of instruction and quality of experience was better.

After the merger, there was less student turnover, Betlach said, which felt counterintuitive until families saw the impact of those economies of scale.

It really looked good on the other side of it, he said. It was the right thing to do.

The 10 mergers are likely just the start. Johnson-Trammell said she will go back to the board in early 2025 to get an idea of next steps to determine how  or if  to proceed with additional closures and mergers.

Its based on the direction we get from the board, she said.

Board member Mike Hutchinson is scheduling town hall meetings to get feedback on the best way to move forward.

We have this window to have these community conversations so we can have consensus, he said, adding he sees any reduction in the number of schools coming in phases.

He was a vocal opponent of closures the last time around and was instrumental in getting the board to reverse the decision to close or merge several sites in 2023. But he said now he believes the district needs to address the issue, working with families to fill up fewer schools.

In the meantime, Betlach could be on the other side of a merger, this time as a parent. His own kids attend one of the co-located schools on the list.

As a parent, I have a gut feeling Im going to navigate this with my children, he said.

We have a choice about how we talk about this with our children, he said. We can decide how our kids experience this.
The Idaho Wool Growers Association at its annual banquet Nov. 2 presented its Friend of the Industry award to Steve Stuebner, who writes and produces the state Rangeland Resource Commissions Life on the Range video series.

For the past 15 years, he has produced many stories and videos about the states sheep industry. These include long-form video documentaries featuring well-known ranchers such as the late Bud Purdy of the Picabo area, the late John Peavey of Carey and the late Phil Soulen of Weiser.

A video about Wilder rancher Frank Shirts, A Year in the Life of Raising Sheep in Idaho, is the single most popular video published so far in the series, with some 965,000 views, according to a news release from the association and the resources commission.

Shirts and his crew lead sheep across State Highway 55 north of Eagle each April. Hundreds of people, including many young families, line up along the highway to watch the sheep cross the highway on their way to high pasture. Stuebner works with Shirts, Eagle police and southwest Idaho news outlets to promote and help coordinate the crossing.

Stuebner has produced more than 100 educational videos for the series since he and Idaho Rangeland Resources Commission executive director Gretchen Hyde launched the series in 2010.

Steve has spent a large portion of his career promoting the sheep industry, and the individuals involved, for the accomplishments they have achieved, Castleford sheep and cattle rancher Mike Guerry, who serves on the Wool Growers Association board of trustees, said in the release.

It has been a great privilege to work with many of our Idaho range sheep producers over the years, Stuebner said. Its quite an education to realize all the work that goes into raising healthy bands of sheep that hike hundreds of miles through our deserts and mountains, following the green up to higher pastures.

Ultimately, its been a great pleasure to have made friendships with these ranchers over the years, knowing that I have earned their trust by telling their story in a way that rings absolutely true, he said. I have come to know that their land ethic and their love for the sheep goes right to their heart. Its part of their DNA.

Stuebner is well known in the state for his public relations and communications work for several natural resource organizations, and for writing books and articles about outdoor and environment topics.
Olivia Kelleher

The funeral details have been announced of broadcaster and author Kathleen Watkins who died on Thursday at the age of ninety.

Ms Watkins was the widow of the late broadcaster Gay Byrne who passed away five years ago this week.

The couple married on June 25th, 1964 in Saggart Parish Church. Over a thousand well-wishers crowded in to the village in south Dublin to catch a glimpse of the happy couple.

Ms Watkins, late of Sandymount and formerly of Howth and Saggart died in the wonderful care of the team at the Blackrock clinic.

She is survived by her daughters Crona and Suzy, grandchildren Cian, Sadhbh, Kate and Saoirse, her son-in-laws Philip and Ronan, her siblings Clare and Phil, extended family and friends. She was predeceased by her brother Jim.

Her funeral will depart from Howth at 11am on Tuesday for requiem mass at noon at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Donnybrook, Dublin, followed by a private burial.

In her last interview before her death in September of this year Ms Watkins told the Sunday Independent that she was touched by the fact that lots of people continue to visit her late husbands grave in Sutton.

She recalled her first date with Gay at the Safari Cafe at the top of Dawson Street in Dublin in 1958. She spoke of the crowds which gathered outside their wedding in Saggart sixty years ago last June.

Ms Watkins said that she never minded being married to someone who was public property.

Everywhere we went, people came up to Gay. When he was sick, people would say to me : Tell him, we love him.

When we were at functions, people would give us little bits of paper for Gay to say hello to someone on his show in the morning.

Movingly, Ms Watkins added that her memories are huge and her reminiscences are huge of her beloved late husband.
Sisters Kathleen Scott and Tonia Wall sift through ashes Friday after their home was destroyed by the Mountain Fire in Camarillo (Ventura County). Stephen Lam The Chronicle

The Mountain Fire in Ventura County was 21% contained and 3,500 homes were repopulated, but more than 2,000 firefighters continued to fight the blaze, fire officials said Saturday.

The fire had scorched 20,640 acres as of Saturday night, but firefighters had largely prevented further spread, officials said.

Firefighters had a very successful day Friday, assisted by the return of higher-humidity onshore winds, and stopped the fires growth in the Camarillo and Saticoy areas, Ventura County Fire Battalion Chief Nick Cleary said at a news conference.

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The calls for service from yesterday to today dropped significantly, so the crews are doing good work, Cleary said. We need to keep using these resources with this advantageous weather that were having to get in there, make sure were mopping everything up  so were not going to have any secondary starts.

Tonia Wall is overcome with emotions Friday as she recovers family memorabilia from the ashes of her home destroyed by the Mountain Fire in Camarillo (Ventura County). Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

About 2,000 homes had yet to be repopulated, but officials hoped those residents could return home Saturday or Sunday, Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff said. Highway 118 remained closed Friday evening but was slated to reopen Saturday, Fryhoff said.

The fire has destroyed at least 132 homes and damaged 88, fire officials said.

Weather conditions were on firefighters side Friday as fierce Santa Ana winds had eased and were replaced by onshore winds, which raised humidity levels. A red flag warning for the area expired Friday, and there were no concerns for additional red flag warnings going into the weekend, said National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Walbrun.

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Northeast winds could return early next week, but they were expected to be more seasonable than the recent Santa Ana event and will likely be combined with cooler temperatures, Walbrun said.

A page of a Spanish-English dictionary at sisters Kathleen Scott and Tonia Walls home in Camarillo (Ventura County). Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

Because of the changing winds, smoke was expected to shift to the east, Fire Chief Dustin Gardner said. Dont be alarmed, he said.

The fire sparked Wednesday around 8:55 a.m. northwest of Thousand Oaks and its cause remains under investigation, according to Cal Fire. The fast-moving fire prompted Southern California Edison to cut electricity to nearly 70,000 customers, nearly 24,000 of them in Ventura, as part of a public safety power shutoff to prevent its equipment from sparking blazes.

More than 10,000 people were evacuated due to the blaze, and areas around the fire remained under evacuation orders Friday. Five civilians and one firefighter were injured, but no deaths were reported as of Friday, according to Cal Fire.

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As extreme fire risk eased, residents of scorched areas sifted through the damage.

Ruben Rojo surveys the charred hillside beside his friends home Friday as recovery efforts from the Mountain Fire continue in Camarillo (Ventura County). Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

Charles ODell took only the essentials when he evacuated his Camarillo home Wednesday: his wife, daughter and three cats.

He returned Thursday to find his house burned to the ground  a complete loss, he said.

I dont think anyone can really understand what I saw unless you see it, ODell said. Its like a war zone.

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ODell said he and his wife are grieving the loss of 64 years of memories and pictures and stuff that means something to you but nobody else. Still, he plans to reconstruct once the blaze is extinguished: Its our dream house and Im rebuilding.

ODell said the blaze rattled a close-knit community. Youre driving up the street and you see Tims house on fire, and you see Danas house across the street  burning to the ground.

Dawn DaMart, center, and husband Stan Jensen sift through the ashes of their home Friday after it was destroyed by the Mountain Fire in Camarillo (Ventura County). Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

Dawn DaMart, 66, was on a trip to Minnesota when she heard a fire had broken out near her Camarillo house. She booked the first flight back, but her familys house had already burned. When we saw it, we just thought a bomb had exploded the whole house, thats what it looked like, she said.

DaMart had made the rare decision to take a taxi to the airport for her Minnesota trip  in hindsight, an unlucky indulgence, because her familys two cars burned completely.

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DaMart and her family spent all day Friday calling for her two missing cats, Jasper and Scout, and sifting through the ashes of their home for anything salvageable. She found her granddaughters pieces of pottery in perfect condition, and a few diamonds in her safe  though the gold they were encased in had melted off  but little else.
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Prices interim replacement will be selected from a growing pool of candidates. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

UPDATE: Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price concedes after historic recall

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Prices term will end early after voters ousted her in a historic recall that began with opposition to her progressive policies and was propelled by questionable moves and mistakes she made in office.

Returns released Friday afternoon by the county showed 65.2% of voters favored the recall, while 34.2% voted against it  too big a margin for Price to make up in votes left to be counted.

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The results mark the first time Alameda County voters have removed a district attorney from office and the second recall of a progressive top prosecutor in the Bay Area in a little more than two years, after San Francisco voters removed Chesa Boudin in 2022.

With progressive Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon beaten badly in his reelection bid, and voters overwhelmingly passing state Proposition 36, a measure to increase punishments for theft and drug crimes, this weeks results continue a tidal shift against a criminal justice reform movement that had sought to decrease incarceration.

Price, a former defense and civil rights attorney, was elected in 2022 with 53% of the vote after she promised to seek shorter sentences, promote rehabilitation and prosecute police misconduct. She became the countys first Black district attorney.

She faced pushback right away. County prosecutors, family members of homicide victims and other critics said her policies were too lenient and fueled crime. The recall effort started last year as most crimes were rising, particularly robberies, which spiked in Oakland.

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Price struggled to mount a defense  even though crime has fallen dramatically this year in Oakland  and secure high-profile endorsements against the recall. Her campaign raised $340,000, according to finance reports, while the group behind the recall rallied more than $3.7 million.

Price was criticized for hiring her boyfriend, and her office missed deadlines to file charges in more than 1,000 misdemeanor cases as well as charges against two Alameda officers she accused of manslaughter.

She will leave office once the election results are certified, no later than Dec. 5.

Chief Assistant District Attorney Royl Roberts is expected to take over until the county Board of Supervisors appoints a successor to fill the position.

Already, several potential candidates have said they would apply, including former county Deputy District Attorney Amilcar Butch Ford and County Counsel L.D. Louis. Defense attorney Darryl Stallworth, who served as an Alameda County prosecutor from 1992 to 2007, and Contra Costa County Assistant District Attorney Annie Esposito also said they were interested in the job.

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Ford, now a prosecutor in San Francisco, has established himself as one of Prices biggest critics. Price charged him with a misdemeanor in July 2023, alleging he shared confidential information with a defense attorney in a high-profile police shooting, but the case was dismissed in September owing in part to a lack of evidence.

There will be a host of issues to address, Ford told the Chronicle. There will not be a shortage, thats for sure.

Ford said he believes Prices successor must have a record of holding criminals accountable. It will be crucial for the office to rebuild relationships with police agencies, judges and victims of crime, he said.

Louis, who worked in the office from 2000 to 2022, said strong community ties and a balanced view of the criminal justice system are important for the role. The daughter of a former police officer, Louis touted a program she helped launch that diverts arrestees toward resources like mental health treatment and away from jail and the court system.

The supervisors pick will serve until 2026, when voters will elect a new district attorney to serve the rest of the term, which ends in 2028. Changes in state law made it an irregular six-year term.

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The Oakland police officers' union hailed the recall of Price  and of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao  as a victory for public safety.
Hamilton County Schools on Friday announced that Tyner Academy Principal Rashaad Williams will lead the combined Tyner Middle/High School when it fully opens in its new facility in the fall of 2025.

With a career in education that began at Tyner Academy in 2002, Mr. Williams returned to Tyner from Dalewood Middle in for the 2024-25 school year. His experience in Hamilton County Schools features a record of transformative leadership and a commitment to fostering an environment where every student succeeds, said officials.

Rashaad Williams is the ideal leader for the new Tyner Middle High School, said HCS Superintendent Dr. Justin Robertson. He has a proven record of fostering student well-being and achievement, developing staff, and building community partnerships throughout his time in Hamilton County Schools, and I look forward to working with him as he takes on this new expanded role at Tyner.

Mr. Williams holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Education from UTC and an Education Specialist degree from Tennessee Technological University. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Educational Leadership at Trevecca Nazarene University.

His journey through various educational roles, from English teacher to dean of Students at Tyner Academy and assistant principal at several schools within HCS, has equipped him with the insight, passion and leadership skills necessary to guide Tyner Academy into its next chapter, said officials.

As principal of Dalewood Middle School, Mr. Williams spearheaded a school turnaround characterized by increases in student achievement, enrollment and daily attendance and a decrease in suspensions, expulsions and absenteeism. His leadership has transformed Dalewood Middle School and strengthened community ties through increased partnerships.

With the opening of its new building, Tyner Middle/High will have an expanded number of seats available at both the middle and high school levels through this falls School Choice lottery. The School Choice Lottery for 2025-2026 will open Nov. 18 at 9 a.m. and be open through Jan. 31, 2025, at 4:30 p.m.

For the 2025-26 school year, Tyner Middle High will have 41 middle school seats and 37 high school seats available across various grades in the districts School Choice Lottery. Complete information on how to apply for School Choice Lottery seats at Tyner or any other school can be found on the HCS website, www.hcde.org, by clicking on the School Choice button.
3/15/2025

This past Thursday evening, Silverdale Baptist Academy held its first-ever ArtsFest, a showcase of the creativity and talent of its students. The event brought together families, friends and ... more
We set aside Veterans Day to honor the high price of sacrifice paid by generations of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen making up the ranks of more than 41 million Veterans who have served our nation since the American Revolution. They have valiantly carried forward the banner of Liberty since the first shots were fired at Lexington and Concord in April 1775.

But Veterans Day is distinguished from Memorial Day  the latter being set aside to honor uniformed American Patriots who have departed this life.

Veterans Day is primarily to honor and celebrate the millions of American Veterans in our midst  those we can thank in person for their service and sacrifice  and to thank the spouses and families who supported them through their service to our nation. Among them would be my own son, who completed his time as a Marine Infantry Officer and is now earning a graduate degree at the University of Virginia. I envy the fact that he and his family awaken every day in the cradle of American Liberty, surrounded by the historical legacy of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Washington.

However, for me, when contemplating the generations of Veterans who have honored their sacred oaths to support and defend the American Liberty endowed by [our] Creator  the unalienable rights of all people as affirmed in our Declaration of Independence and enshrined in our Republics Constitution  it is difficult to keep my gratitude in the present.

My life has been shaped by many distinguished Veterans, the most influential among them my father. Like him, many of them are no longer among us.

For context, General Douglas MacArthur offered this assessment of our Patriot Veterans in his notable May 1962 address to West Point cadets:

"The soldier, above all other men, is required to practice the greatest act of religious training  sacrifice. In battle and in the face of danger and death, he discloses those Divine attributes which his Maker gave when He created man in His own image.  No physical courage and no brute instinct can take the place of Divine help, which alone can sustain him. However horrible the incidents of war may be, the soldier who is called upon to offer and to give his life for his country is the noblest development of mankind.  My estimate of him was formed on the battlefields many, many years ago and has never changed. I regarded him then, as I regard him now, as one of the worlds noblest figures; not only as one of the finest military characters but also as one of the most stainless. His name and fame are the birthright of every American citizen. In his youth and strength, his love and loyalty, he gave all that mortality can give. He needs no eulogy from me or from any other man. He has written his own history and written it in red on his enemys breast. But when I think of his patience under adversity, of his courage under fire, and of his modesty in victory, I am filled with an emotion of admiration I cannot put into words. He belongs to history as furnishing one of the greatest examples of successful patriotism. He belongs to posterity as the instructor of future generations in the principles of liberty and freedom. He belongs to the present, to us, by his virtues and by his achievements.  Duty, honor, country: Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be. They are your rallying point to build courage when courage seems to fail, to regain faith when there seems to be little cause for faith, to create hope when hope becomes forlorn."

Of such noble sacrifice, 19th-century philosopher John Stuart Mill, in his essay The Contest In America, wrote:

War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things; the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing worth a war, is worse. A man who has nothing which he cares more about than he does about his personal safety is a miserable creature who has no chance at being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."

Today, too many Americans have no connection with or sense of our Veterans service and sacrifice and thus take for granted that their personal Freedom is made and kept by the exertions of better men and women than themselves.

When thanking the Veterans you know, embrace this observation from Army Veteran Charles Province:

"It is the Soldier, not the minister, who has given us freedom of religion. It is the Soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the Soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to protest. It is the Soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial. It is the Soldier, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote. It is the Soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag."

At one point in their lives, every Veteran wrote a blank check made payable to The People of the United States of America for an amount up to and including their life.

To genuinely demonstrate our gratitude to our Veterans, here is my suggestion: Strive to be, first and foremost, an American citizen worthy of their sacrifice.

On this Veterans Day, and every day of the year, may God bless our men and women in uniform, who have stood in harms way, and may God bless the spouses and families who have supported them. For their steadfast devotion to duty, honor, and country, we, the American people, offer them our humble gratitude and heartfelt thanks. And anytime we recognize the service and sacrifice of an active-duty military member or a Veteran, remember there is a mother who should be recognized, too. It is very difficult for a mom to send off a child she brought into the world to face those who want to take him or her out.

To all our Patriot Veterans: Your example of valor  humble American Patriots defending Liberty for all above and beyond the call of duty and in disregard for the peril to your own lives  is eternal.

"Greater love has no one than this, to lay down ones life for his friends." (John 15:13)

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)
Donald Trump is set to become the 47th president of the United States. Can this possibly benefit Sean 'Diddy' Combs? Here's what an expert explained.

Donald Trump will become the 47th president of the United States after the November 2024 election. Before Trump entered the political sphere, he had ties to the celebrity world. And he once attended Sean Diddy Combs parties. So, could Trumps upcoming presidency impact Combs time in prison following his September 2024 arrest? Heres what a prison consultant explained.

A prison consultant explained whether Donald Trumps upcoming presidency will impact Sean Diddy Combs

Federal agents arrested Sean Diddy Combs in September 2024. The hip-hop mogul pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He currently resides at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, while he awaits his trial in May 2025.

Donald Trump has a connection to Combs. Combs invited Trump to his parties in the late 90s. So, could Trumps next term as president impact Combs time behind bars?

According to Sam Mangel, a federal prison consultant, theres been a lot of discussion around how Trump might change the federal prison system.

A conversation I had yesterday with one of them leads me to believe that a lot of the resources will be devoted towards private prisons, Mangel told The Mirror US. So, you know, the discussion is that he will bring back some of the private prison systems to house inmates, especially with the immigration problems. So, companies like [The GEO Group] and CoreCivic, which run private institutions, might be brought back in.

Does this mean better prison conditions for Combs? Unfortunately for the media mogul, likely not. I dont think that Congress or taxpayers have that as a priority for them, Mangel admitted.

However, the consultant added that Trump passed the First Step Act in 2018, aiming to decrease prison populations and increase safety measures. I dont see anything any additional resources being devoted to that, Mangel noted.

Sean Diddy Combs and Donald Trump attend the 1998 Mercedes Benz Polo Challenge at the Bridgehampton Polo Club in Bridgehampton, New York on Aug. 16, 1998 | Sonia Moskowitz/Getty Images

The Metropolitan Detention Center is known for its poor living conditions

Donald Trump seemingly wont be able to help Sean Diddy Combs with the poor living conditions he deals with in the Metropolitan Detention Center.

Allegations of inadequate supervision, unbridled assaults, and lack of sufficient medical care are supported by an increasing body of evidence, with certain instances that are irrefutable, Judge Brown said during the August sentencing decision for Combs, according to the BBC. Chaos reigns, along with uncontrolled violence.

US Congressman Dan Goldman also noted that the prison had issues with chronic understaffing, perpetual solitary confinement, and widespread violence.

Ghislaine Maxwell infamously stayed in the same prison and complained of rotting food and fluorescent lights that kept her up all night. I dont even have shoes which fit properly, she said, according to the New York Post. They feed me rotten food. One apple had maggots in it.

Donald Trump was first linked to the media mogul in 1998

Donald Trump and Sean Diddy Combs have a history. Trump and Combs were first publicly linked in 1998 when the 47th president attended Combs 29th birthday party. Trump also had a feature in the video invitation to the bash. In the clip, Trump called Combs the legendary Puff Daddy.

In 2015, Combs called Trump his friend, according to Newsweek. Donald Trump is a friend of mine, and he works very hard, Combs told The Washington Post at the time.

However, Combs seemed to change his tune in 2020. He condemned Trump as a presidential candidate in 2020. White men like Trump need to be banished, Combs said in an interview with Charlamagne tha God. That way of thinking is real dangerous.  Say what you want about Biden; I cant say I love the pick either. But weve got to get him in office, and then weve got to hold him accountable.

How to get help: In the U.S., call the RAINN National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to connect with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.

For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, follow Showbiz Cheat Sheets Instagram.
Home News Melania Trump returns as first lady: 4 things to know about her life, marriage and more

As former President Donald Trump heads back to the White House to serve a second, non-consecutive term, his wife, former first lady Melania Trump, is returning to the national spotlight.

Melania appeared on stage with her husband as he delivered a speech in Palm Beach, Florida, on election night. Trump thanked his wife, embracing her during his speech before boasting that she has the number one bestselling book in the country.

"She's done a great job, works very hard to help people," he added.

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Here are four things to know about Melania Trumps background, political views and marriage.
Home News Boston Children's slashed doctors' time to assess kids before referring them for trans procedures

A former gender care specialist at Boston Childrens Hospital testified that her ex-employer slashed the time allotted for psychologists to assess minors exhibiting confusion about their sex before referring them for irreversible medicalized gender procedures.

Dr. Amy Tishelman, 68, a clinical and research psychologist, started working for Boston Childrens gender clinic in 2013 before her termination in 2021. Tishelman was also selected by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health as the international lead to develop the "Child" chapter for its Standards of Care version 8.

As The New York Sun reported last week, the hospital terminated Tishelman in 2021 because she allegedly violated a patient privacy law; however, she filed a lawsuit accusing her former employer of ageism, sexism and retaliation.

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Tishelman stated before the Suffolk County Superior Court in Boston last week that, at the beginning of her career working at the gender clinic, she initially had 20 hours or more to assess children who expressed feelings of disassociation from their actual sex. The time allotted also included the writing of a report on each child's assessment.

Over the years, however, the hospital reduced the consultation time, allowing Tishelman 10 hours to assess patients and write a report. Then, around six years ago, the hospital allotted only about two hours of assessment time and 30 minutes to write the report, according to the psychologist.

I didnt feel like that was doable at all, Tishelman said, denouncing the practice as reckless.

Tishelman stressed during her testimony that minors using drugs to alter their puberty is not something to take lightly, as there are "a lot of things to think about in the long- and short-run.

Its not like taking an aspirin. Its a big deal," Tishelman testified.

Boston Childrens Hospital did not respond to The Christian Posts request for comment.

The hospital, which is adjacent to Harvard Medical School, has boasted in the past about its Gender Multispecialty Service, stating on its website that it is proud to be home to the first pediatric and adolescent transgender health program in the United States.

The site states that GeMS has provided so-called gender-affirming care to more than 1,000 families.

Last year, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services of Massachusetts confirmed that the hospital received over $1.4 million in taxpayer money for "gender transition services" performed on minors at the Center for Gender Surgery.

Discussions about the potential harms of allowing gender-confused children to undergo life-altering procedures have received renewed attention following a report that a leading proponent of trans surgeries withheld the results of a taxpayer-funded study.

The study, which is part of a project that has received nearly $10 million in taxpayer funding from the National Institutes of Health, showed there were no positive mental health effects for gender dysphoric children who used puberty blockers.

Dr. Johanna Olson-Kennedy, the head of the largest gender clinic in the United States at the Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles, told The New York Times that she feared the studys results would be weaponized by opponents of these procedures. Olson-Kennedy also admitted that she thought the study could be used in court to argue that 'we shouldnt use blockers.

As the outlet reported, Tishelman criticized the withholding of the studys results, adding that its really important to get the science out there.

"No change isn't necessarily a negative finding  there could be a preventative aspect to it," she said. "We just dont know without more investigation."

The study began in 2015, and it followed 95 children with an average age of 11 who started taking puberty-blocking drugs. Olson-Kennedy asserted that the reason the study showed no improvement in childrens mental health after two years is because they were already "in really good shape."

The New York Times noted that about a fourth of the patients in the study "were depressed or suicidal" before their treatment.
Home News 'Disaster for our country': Evangelical Trump critics lament election outcome

One of the creators of a Christian nonprofit effort aimed at cultivating better Christian politics claims President-elect Donald Trumps victory in the 2024 election is a disaster for the United States.

Curtis Chang, co-founder of The After Party, expressed profound emotional distress over the outcome, which saw Trump elected to a second term following strong support from Evangelicals, particularly white Evangelical voters.

The After Party, which Chang created with New York Times columnist David French and Russell Moore, editor-in-chief at Christianity Today magazine and former president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, was purportedly formed to help Christians develop a healthy and biblically informed understanding of political involvement, without promoting partisan viewpoints.

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During a candid conversation on The Good Faith Podcast posted to YouTube on Thursday, Chang made a distinction between the podcasts contents and The After Party curriculum.

A lot of people associate us with The After Party curriculum that we've created, really, to help Christians think about the how of politics, said Chang. And because of that, the three of us in The After Party, in our roles as The After Party, were very intent to steer away from making any statement or encouragement on partisan leanings, on our own political viewpoints."

This is a Good Faith recording; this is not The After Party curriculum.

Chang and his colleagues then opened up about their personal feelings in response to the election results, with Chang saying that he was still sorting through the combination of anxiety, avoidance, anger, anguish, alienation."

I'm all over the map," he said. "I just felt like is this my country? Like, what does it mean?

Chang recalled how, in the immediate aftermath of Tuesdays election, he spent hours staying busy by digitizing photos and clearing out his garage in a phase he described as big avoidance mode.

I mean, this election, I think, was a disaster for our country, but it did wonders for my to-do list, he added.

French offered a more analytical perspective on some of the broader consequences of the election beyond his own circle.

As it became very clear that Trump is going to win, what really settled in my mind was this idea that despair is a luxury, he said. One of the feelings that I had was, many of us who have stable jobs, who have good families, who have good friends, we're going to be fine, but there's a lot of vulnerable people out there who are not going to be fine.

Moore, who was one of the more prominent anti-Trump voices in the SBC before he left the denomination in 2021, said whatever his thoughts on the outcome, it was reassuring that voters knew exactly for what  or rather whom  they cast their ballot.

One of the things that is reassuring to me about this election is I don't feel like anybody was hoodwinked, he said. I think that both candidates were very, very clearly who they are, what they're going to do and the American people made a choice, so that's reassuring to me."

I don't think that there's a sense in which, Well, the American people don't know the drama they're signing up for.'"

Chang, French, and Moore all emphasized the importance of maintaining moral courage, even in a political climate they all agree is increasingly divisive and often cruel. French suggested Evangelicals who didnt vote for Trump should prepare for a long slog of American regress.

We were never promised that we would live in times of American progress, he said. Generation after generation of Americans have lived in periods of regress and we have to settle in maybe for a kind of long slog."

It's already been long, for a longer slog, so take care of yourself.

French publicly expressed support for Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris in a New York Times column in August, in which he said he would vote for Harris in order to save conservatism from itself.
Home News Horrified: FEMA investigating order not to help Trump supporters with hurricane relief 'Yet another reason why the Biden-Harris administration is in its final days,' Ron DeSantis says

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is investigating allegations that workers were instructed to avoid homes displaying signs supporting Donald Trump during hurricane relief efforts in Florida. The guidance, reportedly issued by a FEMA supervisor, left Trump-supporting residents without aid, prompting criticism from Gov. Ron DeSantis.

An internal FEMA message instructed relief workers to avoid homes advertising Trump during surveys after Hurricane Milton in Highlands County, Florida, according to The Daily Wire. Highlands County, a conservative area, was severely impacted by the hurricane.

FEMA supervisor Marni Washington conveyed this instruction verbally and via a group chat, the Wire said, citing government employees. Washington led a Department of Homeland Security surge capacity force assisting FEMA.

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At least 20 homes displaying Trump signs were bypassed during relief assessments. Messages in the government system included notations like Trump sign no entry per leadership.

I volunteered to help disaster victims, not discriminate against them, an employee was quoted as saying. It didnt matter if people were black, white, Hispanic, for Trump, for Harris. Everyone deserves the same amount of help.

Washingtons guidance to bypass Trump-supporting households was first issued verbally on Oct. 22 and reiterated in a group chat on Oct. 27. By Oct. 30, Washington began walking back the instructions following a meeting with FEMA administrators.

Photos of the group chat showed that the guidance was deleted soon after, the Wire noted.

Chad Hershey, a FEMA supervisor, was quoted as saying, We are aware of it and we are taking proper action.

A FEMA spokesperson later described the agency as deeply disturbed and horrified by the incident, noting that Washington had no authority to issue such guidance.

Despite the reversal, some homes with Trump signs were still overlooked, leading to further concerns about FEMAs impartiality, according to the Wire.

FEMAs response also faced scrutiny after Hurricane Helene, with similar complaints of delayed response in Trump-supporting areas like Carter County, Tennessee.

FEMA stated that it is committed to providing equal support to all survivors.

To date, FEMA has provided assistance to over 365,000 households impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in Florida, disbursing more than $898 million in aid.

Washington, the supervisor, has since been moved to another county in Florida and is currently not active within the agency, pending an investigation.

DeSantis criticized the incident.

The blatant weaponization of government by partisan activists in the federal bureaucracy is yet another reason why the Biden-Harris administration is in its final days, DeSantis wrote on X. At my direction, the Division of Emergency Management is launching an investigation into the federal governments targeted discrimination of Floridians who support Donald Trump. New leadership is on the way in DC, and Im optimistic that these partisan bureaucrats will be fired.
Adalberto Aldo Toledo is a city hall reporter with The San Francisco Chronicle covering the mayor and Board of Supervisors. He is a Venezuelan American from a family of longtime journalists.

Before joining the Chronicle in 2023, he reported on Peninsula governments and breaking news for the San Jose Mercury News. He also has bylines in the Dallas Morning News, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Champaign, Illinois News-Gazette.

Raised in Texas, he studied journalism with a print news focus at the University of North Texas Mayborn School of Journalism, where he worked as News Editor for the North Texas Daily student newspaper.
Home News Documentarian behind Tucker Carlson 'demon' attack clip blasts 'uncharitable' skeptics

The documentarian who recently went viral after Tucker Carlson told him he was "physically mauled" by a demon pushed back against skeptics who dismissed the former Fox News host's claims about spiritual warfare.

John Heers, who founded the nonprofit First Things Foundation, told The Christian Post that people who deny the unseen realm are deceiving themselves.

"They do believe it, unless they literally don't think they've ever loved anyone or ever will," he said. "Those people are liars. They do believe in the spiritual. They believe in things unseen. There's never been a human who doesn't believe in things unseen. It's ridiculous."

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"You think pride is actually just a series of cellular activities in your brain? No one thinks that. They see pride, and they see love; they see hate. These things are real. So the fact that they don't believe in a demon just means that they've been taught how to think like the Enlightenment taught us," he added.

Carlson was met with ridicule from some critics after a clip posted on Heers' YouTube channel went viral on X last Thursday (also Halloween), which showed Carlson claiming he had "a direct experience" with supernatural evil in 2023.

.@TuckerCarlson: 'I Was Mauled By A Demon!'



Clip from my upcoming doc @ChristianitiesXpic.twitter.com/tyrK4sw3Hs  Scooter Downey ?? ???????? (@scooter_downey) October 31, 2024

Carlson told Heers that he woke up one night last year suffocating and bloodied with claw marks on his body in what he claimed was an encounter with a demonic entity.

Carlson said scars from the attack remain, and that it pressed him to read the Bible.

Carlson confirmed to The Christian Post last week that he believes the nighttime demonic attack happened, and pinpointed it to Feb. 20, 2023, which was two months and four days before Fox News fired him without explanation.

"Ephesians 6 is real," he told CP, referencing the chapter in the New Testament that teaches mankind is engaged in warfare "against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

The clip of Carlson's exchange with Heers will feature as part of Christianities?, a documentary Heers is working on with filmmaker Steven "Scooter" Downey, who also worked on the Tucker Carlson Originals documentaries on Fox Nation before Carlson was sacked.

Heers described the film, which is still in production, as "a massive canvas" that aims to document the various interpretations Christians around the globe have of their faith.

"The reality is, people don't know what Christianity is," Heers said. "Even Christians, they don't fully understand why there are so many [forms of it]. They don't fully understand the differences. They all think it's one big thing, and if you go across the world, it's not one big thing. It's very confusing who's with who and why."

Heers, whose nonprofit First Things Foundation he described as "an Orthodox Christian Peace Corps," said he was raised Episcopalian and wandered down the path of agnosticism before finding his way to the Orthodox Church.

He noted that his journeys have taken him to far-flung parts of the world such as Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Georgia, Mali, Haiti and elsewhere. He observed that most cultures are not as dismissive of the spiritual realm as the West, which he said has been overtaken by materialists who are "Puritans without God."

"They have the same Puritan problems," he said of the reigning materialists. "They come at people, put them in stocks. It's all the same exact thing. They just don't have a God to answer to."

"Any African, when you talk about spirits, nobody goes, 'You're an idiot!'" he said. "They go, 'Yeah, which ones?'"

"Overseas and all these different cultures, everybody knows spirits exist," he added.

Heers said his movie, which is slated for a tentative release next year, will feature reflections on Christianity from "famous and not so famous people," but said "a door opened" through Carlson's relationship with Downey, offering him the opportunity to travel to Carlson's home to seek his insight.

Carlson opened up about his supernatural experience after Heers probed whether the presence of evil is "kickstarting people to wonder about the good," which Heers said is a question he has been asking many people.

"The spiritual world and material world are connected, and Tucker's just trying to figure it out," he said. "And these people [questioning Carlson's story] are jerks, because they're not charitable people. They're uncharitable. It's possible that it happened."

Since the demonic attack in 2023 and his subsequent ouster from Fox News, Carlson has been increasingly outspoken about his belief that the world's political battles are fundamentally spiritual.

"Clarifying for sure," Carlson said of the attack to CP.
(Photo: Getty/iStock)

Fulani herdsmen killed six Christians on Friday and Saturday (Nov. 1-2) in Benue state, Nigeria after slaughtering 15 Christians in a nearby village two days prior, sources said.

In Ayilomo, a predominantly Christian village in Logo County, Fulani herdsmen attacked at about 6 p.m. on Friday (Nov. 1), said area resident Terwase Avande.

"Fulani herdsmen invaded the community and began shooting at Christian residents, killing six Christians," Avande said. "The members of the community are farmers. They had returned from their farms when the attackers invaded the community."

Paul Adetsav, a community leader in Ayilomo, said residents can no longer tend to their farms because of the attacks.

"The Fulani herdsmen keep attacking us almost on a daily basis, killing Christians at will and igniting fire on our houses and places of worship," Adetsav told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. "Crops we planted on our farms too have been destroyed by the armed herdsmen. Hunger has become an epidemic, killing us and our children since we have nothing to eat."

More than 400,000 members of the community have been displaced as a result of incessant attacks, Adetsav said.

On Oct. 30 in Anyiin village, also in Logo County, herdsmen killed 15 Christians, said area resident Joe Iormumbe. Johnson Kwar, another village resident, said the raid went from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Joseph Anawah, a community leader in the Ayiin area, identified some of the Christians killed as Orihundu Ati, Zaki Mbatern, Tordoo Suswam, Uyange Chembe and John Chembe.

Adegwa Uba, another resident of the area, pleaded for the Nigerian government to act urgently to save lives.

"We beg the world to hear our desperate cry  our communities in Gaambe-Tiev, Logo Local Government, are being systematically decimated by relentless Fulani militia attacks," Uba told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. "The bloodshed is relentless, with 21 innocent lives lost in Anyiin just last week. Our villages  Anyiin, Ayilamo, Uzer, Iorza, Mchia and Chembe have perpetual been brutally attacked by Fulani herdsmen, and children, women and elderly are slaughtered like animals."

Homes, livelihoods and entire communities are under threat, he said.

"Security forces collect bodies but fail to prevent attacks or bring perpetrators to justice," Uba said. "The government's inaction is appalling, its silence deafening. Our political leaders seem detached, leaving us to face this horror alone."

He called on the government to take immediate action to protect people, asked security forces to prioritize prevention and prosecution and appealed to the international community to intervene and lend support.

"We are dying, please hear our cry," Uba said.

Clement Ukav, chairman of the Logo Local Government Area Council, said the government was doing everything possible to stop the violence.

"We are sad that our people over the years have been attacked at various times by Fulani herdsmen, but I can assure that everything that is necessary to halt such attacks will be done by the government," Ukav said.

Police spokesperson Catherine Anene told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News that officers had received reports of attacks in the Logo area, and that security agents had been deployed to the area.

Nigeria remained the deadliest place in the world to follow Christ, with 4,118 people killed for their faith from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023, according to Open Doors' 2024 World Watch List (WWL) report. More kidnappings of Christians than in any other country also took place in Nigeria, with 3,300.

Nigeria was also the third highest country in number of attacks on churches and other Christian buildings such as hospitals, schools, and cemeteries, with 750, according to the report.

In the 2024 WWL of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria was ranked No. 6, as it was in the previous year.

Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani do adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdom's All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a 2020 report.

"They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity," the APPG report states.

Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria's Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians' lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds.

Catholic, Anglican priests kidnapped

In southern Nigeria, a Catholic priest was kidnapped in Imo state on Tuesday (Nov. 5). This followed the abduction of another Catholic priest in Edo state on Oct. 27  freed on Wednesday (Nov. 6)  and the kidnapping of an Anglican priest in Anambra state on Oct. 26.

The Rev. Emmanuel Azubuike, parish priest of St. Theresa's Catholic Parish in Obollo town, Isiala Mbano County in Imo state, southeast Nigeria, was kidnapped on Tuesday (Nov. 5) by armed gunmen at about 6 p.m. as he was returning from a pastoral visit to some villages.

Azubuike was ambushed and kidnapped along a highway, according to a statement by the Catholic Diocese of Okigwe.

"We solicit your fervent prayers that he may come to us safe and sound," the Rev. Princewill Iwuanyanwu, chancellor and secretary of the Catholic Diocese of Okigwe, said in the statement.

In Edo state, southwest Nigeria, Catholic priest Thomas Oyode was kidnapped by gunmen at about 7 p.m. on Oct. 27 from the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary, Ivhianokpodi-Agenebode, Etsako East County, where he was rector, according to a spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Auchi.

Oyode was released on Wednesday (Nov. 6) near Ajaokuta, Kogi state, according to the Rev. Peter Egielewa, spokesman for the Diocese of Auchi. The kidnappers had demanded 200 million naira ($119,673 USD) in ransom, but terms of his release were not disclosed.

In Anambra state, southeast Nigeria, Anglican priest Ven David Arinze Ajaefobi was kidnapped by gunmen on Oct. 26, sources said. Ajaefobi was kidnapped at the entrance of his St. James' Anglican Church, Awkuzu, Oyi County, at about 9 p.m., area resident Chukwudi Nwankwor said.

Tochukwu Ikenga, spokesman for Anambra State Police Command, said officers were investigating.

 Christian Daily International
The late John Smyth Channel 4 News

The Church of England has been strongly criticised over its handling of serious abuse allegations against the late John Smyth.

An independent review led by Keith Makin found that Smyth had perpetrated "prolific and abhorrent" abuse over decades and that the response of the Church of England "amounted to a cover-up".

Makin said that "words cannot adequately describe the horror of what transpired".

"Many of the victims who took the brave decision to speak to us about what they experienced have carried this abuse silently for more than 40 years," he said.

"Despite the efforts of some individuals to bring the abuse to the attention of authorities, the responses by the Church of England and others were wholly ineffective and amounted to a cover-up."

He said that lessons must be learned from the review and that the Church of England must "implement robust safeguarding procedures across their organisations that are governed independently".

"This has been a long process but a necessary one to uncover the extent of John Smyth's despicable behaviour and how the Church reacted to it," he continued.

"I would like to sincerely thank the victims for their courage, grace and dignity and I would like to remind everyone reporting on this review about their right to anonymity and privacy."

The Church of England's Lead Safeguarding Bishop, Joanne Grenfell, and National Director of Safeguarding, Alexander Kubeyinje, apologised for Smyth's abuse and the Church's handling of the allegations.

"We are deeply sorry for the horrific abuse inflicted by the late John Smyth and its lifelong effects, already spanning more than 40 years," they said.

"The review concludes that Smyth is arguably the most prolific serial abuser to be associated with the Church of England.

"We know that no words can undo the damage done to people's lives both by him and by the failure of individuals in the Church and other institutions to respond well.

"We are also aware that the time the review has taken, which the reviewer addresses, as well as the details now in the public domain have been retraumatising for survivors."

They said they were "appalled" by comments highlighted in the review that were made by late cleric, David Fletcher, who was aware of the abuse in the 1980s and was quoted as saying, "I thought it would do the work of God immense damage if this were public."

"We are appalled that any clergy person could believe that covering up abuse was justified in the name of the Gospel, which is about proclaiming Good News to the poor and healing the broken hearted," Grenfell and Kubeyinje stated.

"It was wrong for a seemingly privileged group from an elite background to decide that the needs of victims should be set aside, and that Smyth's abuse should not therefore be brought to light.

"Every member of the Church is responsible for a culture in which victims are heard, responded to well, and put first: there is never a place for covering up abuse."

They said they would "fully support" any international investigation into Smyth's abuse after the report criticised Church officers for doing nothing to prevent Smyth from moving to Zimbabwe where the abuse continued and a boy was found dead in a swimming pool of one of his camps.

"We apologise unreservedly that the needs of the victims were not at the forefront in terms of thinking and planning and the response was not trauma informed," said Grenfell and Kubeyinje.

"We will continue to learn lessons about responding well which is reflected in our revised guidance and survivor engagement framework.

"We welcome all the recommendations and will consider them now in detail, noting work already underway. We wholeheartedly endorse the reviewer's emphasis that safeguarding must be everyone's responsibility in the Church, working closely with safeguarding professionals."

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, apologised for failing to ensure the allegations against Smyth were properly investigated after becoming aware of them in 2013, and for delaying in meeting victims.

"I am deeply sorry that this abuse happened. I am so sorry that in places where these young men, and boys, should have felt safe and where they should have experienced God's love for them, they were subjected to physical, sexual, psychological and spiritual abuse," he said.

"I am sorry that concealment by many people who were fully aware of the abuse over many years meant that John Smyth was able to abuse overseas and died before he ever faced justice. The report rightly condemns that behaviour.

"I had no idea or suspicion of this abuse before 2013.

"Nevertheless the review is clear that I personally failed to ensure that after disclosure in 2013 the awful tragedy was energetically investigated. Since that time the way in which the Church of England engages with victims and survivors has changed beyond recognition. Checks and balances introduced seek to ensure that the same could not happen today.

"I repeat my apology contained in the review, that I did not meet quickly with victims after the full horror of the abuse was revealed by Channel 4 in 2017. As the report says, no Archbishop can meet with everyone but I promised to see them and failed until 2020. This was wrong."
John Heers, left, speaks to Tucker Carlson, right, about the role of evil in the world and what Carlson described as a demonic attack that left him bloodied shortly before he departed Fox News in 2023. (Photo: YouTube/The Orthodox Ethos)

(CP) The documentarian who recently went viral after Tucker Carlson told him he was "physically mauled" by a demon pushed back against sceptics who dismissed the former Fox News host's claims about spiritual warfare.

John Heers, who founded the nonprofit First Things Foundation, told The Christian Post that people who deny the unseen realm are deceiving themselves.

"They do believe it, unless they literally don't think they've ever loved anyone or ever will," he said. "Those people are liars. They do believe in the spiritual. They believe in things unseen. There's never been a human who doesn't believe in things unseen. It's ridiculous."

"You think pride is actually just a series of cellular activities in your brain? No one thinks that. They see pride, and they see love; they see hate. These things are real. So the fact that they don't believe in a demon just means that they've been taught how to think like the Enlightenment taught us," he added.

Carlson was met with ridicule from some critics after a clip posted on Heers' YouTube channel went viral on X last Thursday (also Halloween), which showed Carlson claiming he had "a direct experience" with supernatural evil in 2023.

Carlson told Heers that he woke up one night last year suffocating and bloodied with claw marks on his body in what he claimed was an encounter with a demonic entity.

Carlson said scars from the attack remain, and that it pressed him to read the Bible.

Carlson confirmed to The Christian Post last week that he believes the nighttime demonic attack happened, and pinpointed it to Feb. 20, 2023, which was two months and four days before Fox News fired him without explanation.

"Ephesians 6 is real," he told CP, referencing the chapter in the New Testament that teaches mankind is engaged in warfare "against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

The clip of Carlson's exchange with Heers will feature as part of Christianities?, a documentary Heers is working on with filmmaker Steven "Scooter" Downey, who also worked on the Tucker Carlson Originals documentaries on Fox Nation before Carlson was sacked.

Heers described the film, which is still in production, as "a massive canvas" that aims to document the various interpretations Christians around the globe have of their faith.

"The reality is, people don't know what Christianity is," Heers said. "Even Christians, they don't fully understand why there are so many [forms of it]. They don't fully understand the differences. They all think it's one big thing, and if you go across the world, it's not one big thing. It's very confusing who's with who and why."

Heers, whose nonprofit First Things Foundation he described as "an Orthodox Christian Peace Corps," said he was raised Episcopalian and wandered down the path of agnosticism before finding his way to the Orthodox Church.

He noted that his journeys have taken him to far-flung parts of the world such as Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Georgia, Mali, Haiti and elsewhere. He observed that most cultures are not as dismissive of the spiritual realm as the West, which he said has been overtaken by materialists who are "Puritans without God."

"They have the same Puritan problems," he said of the reigning materialists. "They come at people, put them in stocks. It's all the same exact thing. They just don't have a God to answer to."

"Any African, when you talk about spirits, nobody goes, 'You're an idiot!'" he said. "They go, 'Yeah, which ones?'"

"Overseas and all these different cultures, everybody knows spirits exist," he added.

Heers said his movie, which is slated for a tentative release next year, will feature reflections on Christianity from "famous and not so famous people," but said "a door opened" through Carlson's relationship with Downey, offering him the opportunity to travel to Carlson's home to seek his insight.

Carlson opened up about his supernatural experience after Heers probed whether the presence of evil is "kickstarting people to wonder about the good," which Heers said is a question he has been asking many people.

"The spiritual world and material world are connected, and Tucker's just trying to figure it out," he said. "And these people [questioning Carlson's story] are jerks, because they're not charitable people. They're uncharitable. It's possible that it happened."

Since the demonic attack in 2023 and his subsequent ouster from Fox News, Carlson has been increasingly outspoken about his belief that the world's political battles are fundamentally spiritual.

"Clarifying for sure," Carlson said of the attack to CP.

 The Christian Post
President-elect Donald Trump (Photo: YouTube/Lex Fridman)

Donald Trump has won the 2024 US election to be the next president of the United States of America. It is likely to be one of the most consequential moments in international politics for years to come.

His re-election will also stir up emotional responses all over the world, particularly amongst Christians. Christians have been some of his harshest critics and most vocal supporters. This is the case for both public figures and ordinary believers. My phone was buzzing the morning of the result with people expressing joy and despair.

The Washington Post has suggested that over 80% of white evangelical voters supported Trump in 2024, as well as a majority of Catholic voters. Yet groups like Evangelicals for Harris opposed Trump due to his response to the January 6 Capitol riots and concerns about his moral character.

Regardless of our political leanings I believe Christians should respond the same way to this election result.

1. Trust the Lord

Christ is still King. Jesus still reigns. Whether you think this result is the best thing for America and the world or a total disaster, God was on the throne before and He still rules. We can trust that his plan will still work out. If you think that Donald Trump is unfit for office and will make the world a worse place, take heart, Jesus has overcome the world. If you believe that Trump will improve people's lives and society, remember, Trump is not the Messiah, Christ is. Jesus will make everything new, not Donald Trump.

2. Pray for Trump

You want Donald Trump's second term to go well. You want him to be a successful president. You want American society to improve, the economy to grow and people's lives to get better. You want him to act wisely on the international stage. To want anything else would be foolish.

It doesn't matter if you think he will be a good president the second time around, our desire should be that he is; that America is a place where people live lives that benefit one another and glorify God. So, pray for Trump. Pray that God gives him wisdom, courage and discernment. Pray that he governs with mercy and justice and makes decisions that really help people.

Trump is a man in need of God like any other. Christ loves us to love all people, friend or enemy. So, pray for him. I was struck by Russell Moore's June article in Christianity Today where he called upon evangelicals to love Trump more. To really love him, which is not the same thing as supporting his policies. Moore is no supporter of Trump, but he recognises this key fact: God loves Donald Trump because he loves sinners in need of repentance. Do we?

3. Proclaim accountability

God created governments. But in a fallen world governments can become broken and can really hurt people. God gives rulers real authority. But they do not always live up to the authority which they have been given. We must not become so blind that we can never challenge our own political side when they fail to reflect an aspect of God's vision for human flourishing.

Trump has real authority. Christians have a real responsibility to hold him accountable to the God who has allowed him to have it. There are members of Trump's base who show him unquestioning loyalty. They need to be willing to challenge him when it is required. So, rejoice when good is done by the next president and object when he and his policies turn away from God's character. Present a Christian vision for society where we live closer to God's good design.

Alex Smith recently graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a first-class degree in ancient history. He is part of the team at Christiansinpolitics.org.uk and is interested in helping Christians think through political and cultural engagement well.
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Renowned winemaker Greg La Follette holds a bottle of his 2022 Marchelle Wines Old Vine Colombard, partially sourced from the Betty Ann Vineyard in Santa Rosa, where the vines were planted in 1902. Erik Castro/Special to The Chronicle

Greg La Follette, donning a headlamp over his thick, white hair and signature mechanic jumpsuit, is rummaging through what appears to be a large bush but is actually a 122-year-old grapevine.

Its dark, which makes locating the vines hidden, chartreuse-colored clusters an extra-challenging task. His bad back pinches, as the vines low stature requires him to work from his knees in a particularly uncomfortable position. At 67, most winemakers would have retired long ago from the physically grueling aspects of the job, but La Follette, arguably one of Californias most influential winemakers of the past three decades, cant imagine sitting to the side.

Ive always wanted to do my own cellar and vineyard work, he says.

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La Follette isnt a household name among wine enthusiasts, but hes revered within the industry. Hes made wine across the globe  often working multiple harvests in a year, totaling 69 in his career  and is frequently sought out for his expert ability to identify and solve problems in wines. La Follette is best known as the original winemaker for Sonoma Coast trailblazer Flowers Winery, but hes also worked for many other notable Sonoma County wineries, including La Crema and Hartford Court.

Bonny Lystra, who owns the historic Betty Ann Vineyard with her husband, Clark Lystra, searches for French Colombard clusters within the bush-like, 122-year-old vines. Erik Castro/Special to The Chronicle

A small crew of about 10 friends and family, not hired workers, has joined La Follette beneath a sliver of moon on this Monday night in October. Theyre gathered at the tiny Betty Ann Vineyard off a rural road in Santa Rosa, which La Follette believes is home to North America's oldest French Colombard vines. French Colombard, a white French variety with crisp acidity, was the most widely planted white grape in California until the 1990s, when Chardonnay overtook it. Theres still a lot of it in the ground; over 300,000 tons of California Colombard grapes were crushed in 2023, but now most are relegated to distillation or blended into cheap bulk wine.

A handful of trendy winemakers have attempted to bring the maligned grape back in fashion, though La Follette maintains he was there before the hipsters. For him, Colombard isnt a pet project. Its the foundation of his latest  and likely final  wine brand, Marchelle Wines.

La Follette knew he wanted to be a winemaker when he was 17. Born in Iceland, he lived in Germany and Oklahoma before landing in Southern California as an adolescent. He would ride his bike up from Los Angeles and meet his parents in Wine Country where hed spontaneously pop into wineries because back then no reservations were needed. (Neither was a form of identification.)

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They didn't really care if I was 17. Theyd see my bicycle with camping gear and theyd say, Weve got a spare bedroom, or If you need to take a shower, you can have a shower here, La Follette recalls. These people were so kind.

One encounter stuck with him. He was walking a vineyard with John Buehler, the founder of Napa Valleys Buehler Vineyards. La Follette recalls that Buehler was carrying a baby in his front pouch and simultaneously popping berries into his toddlers mouth.

Winemaker Greg La Follette holds a cluster of French Colombard grapes he picked at the historic Betty Ann Vineyard. He believes the 122-year-old vines are the oldest Colombard planting in North America. Erik Castro/Special to The Chronicle

It really struck me that wine growing grew good people, he says.

But back in Southern California, his winemaking dream didnt seem very realistic. La Follette chose an even more unconventional path: He became a professional bagpiper, playing on the Queen Mary  the historic liner-turned-hotel thats anchored in Long Beach  and getting invited to wild Hollywood parties. (He still plays the pipes each year at a local cemetery on Memorial Day and Veterans Day.) Later, he had a short stint in a seminary before earning degrees in plant biology and physical chemistry.

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He worked as an AIDS researcher at UCSF in the early 1980s, helping develop the first AZT drug approved to treat the disease  but the experience was traumatic. Everyone I worked on died, mostly young people, and I wasnt prepared for that, La Follette says. I got really burned out.

In 1984, La Folletes work finally brought him into wine when he was recruited as a guest scientist at Healdsburgs Simi Winery to work with Zelma Long, one of Californias earliest woman winemakers. He later got his masters degree in food science and technology at UC Davis, after which he landed one of the most coveted winemaking positions in Napa Valley under Andre Tchelistcheff, then Californias most famous winemaker, at Napa Valleys Beaulieu Vineyards.

Betty Ann Vineyard owner Bonny Lystra, left, hugs Marchelle Wines winemaker Evan Damiano before their French Colombard harvest. Erik Castro/Special to The Chronicle

Most notably, from 1996 to 2001, he helped catapult Flowers to wild acclaim and brought renown to the rugged Sonoma Coast wine region, now one of the most lauded Pinot Noir regions in the world. When he left Flowers, La Follette started his first wine brand, Tandem, which was renamed La Follette when he sold it years later. (The brand still exists, but La Follette is no longer involved.)

Hes a fascinating human being. You know those Dos Equis commercials with the most interesting man in the world? They have nothing on Greg, says Evan Damiano, who has trained under La Follettes unconventional, mad scientist-esque wine methodology for several years. Damiano, recently promoted to winemaker at Marchelle, is full of fun and unexpected La Follette facts, like how he once competed on Icelands national bike racing team.

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La Follette is undeniably quirky. When talking about why he hasnt made much money in his career, he says, I would roast squirrels under bridges for the privilege of making these wines. Mara La Follette, his wife of 23 years, describes him as sensitive. (The couple formed a real-life Brady Bunch family, each bringing three children into the marriage.) La Follette admits to crying in the vineyard in 2006 when early rains threatened his crop.

I was weeping because I was looking at these vines rotting away, he says. It was very personal. But we made some of the best wines that year.

Yet La Follette concedes with a twinge of sadness that the wine industry has changed since those early visits from Los Angeles. The industry is a lot more commoditized, he says.

Greg La Follettes final act is Marchelle Wines, which began with bottles of French Colombard he made for the three-Michelin-starred SingleThread. Erik Castro/Special to The Chronicle

Theres not nearly as much collaboration now as there used to be, not nearly as much kindness as there used to be, he says, and its a lot more about money now.

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Ten years ago, when Bonny and Clark Lystra bought the Betty Ann property, which they also live on, the vines were in bad shape. The previous owners just let them go to the birds. Nobody wanted them, says Bonny Lystra, who didnt know at the time what grape variety was planted.

Then we met Greg.

Leaning on his experience as a plant scientist, La Follette identified the vines as French Colombard and helped the Lystras resuscitate them. Still, many of the 61 surviving, head-trained vines look like theyre barely hanging on, and their yields are low, collectively producing no more than half a ton of fruit a year. La Follette lovingly refers to them as the Grand Dames.

In the winter when the leaves are off, they have this weird structure, Lystra says. They kind of look like retired arthritic ballerinas. They look like theyre dancing.

Bonny Lystra near a row of French Colombard vines planted in 1902 that line her backyard in Santa Rosa. Erik Castro/Special to The Chronicle

The Lystras give La Follette their Colombard grapes for free, accepting some of the resulting inventory as payment. In 2018, the three-Michelin-starred SingleThread asked him to make their house white. There were only two criteria: It had to be from Sonoma County, and it couldnt be Chardonnay. La Follette offered up the Colombard.

But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, SingleThread closed and couldnt sell the wine. So, La Follette bought back the bottles and used them to start Marchelle with his longtime friend Kevin Lee. For years, Lee would occasionally break from his Silicon Valley tech life to help La Follette in the winery on the weekends. Sometimes, his children would foot-stomp the grapes; his daughter designed the Marchelle wine label when she was 13. The pair named the brand Marchelle after their wives, Mara and Michelle. La Follette says he has higher ambitions for this brand than any other. Its not just about wine, its about our family, La Follette says, adding that its his fourth act and probably last act.

Im getting too old to start something else, he continues. Right now its all about legacy and mentoring. Its really important to me to pass along what Ive learned to the people around me.

Marchelle, which produces about 1,000 cases yearly, is focused on sourcing grapes from old vines and high-end Pinot Noir and Chardonnay sites, many of which are farmed by multigenerational families that La Follette has known for decades. He gets Cinsault ($54), an obscure red Rhone grape, from the Bechthold Vineyard in Lodi, which is believed to have the oldest Cinsault vines in the world, planted in 1886. His Zinfandel ($48) and Carignan ($48), also from Lodi, were planted over 120 years ago. That vineyard also contains a mix of other grapes that La Follette claims are almost extinct, like Black Prince, a red grape typically used in Peru for pisco distillation, and Monbadon, a low-acid white grape thats also known as Burger. La Follette recognized the Burger vines from his days at Beaulieu Vineyards and now blends a small amount of it into his Carignan.

Winemaker Greg La Follette, left, toasts with his harvest crew, which consisted of roughly 10 friends and family members. Erik Castro/Special to The Chronicle

Roughly an hour into the Colombard harvest, La Follette gives in to his back pain and rests, begrudgingly, while the crew finishes. He has another pick at 6 a.m. tomorrow, less than 12 hours away. Once all of the bins are loaded up into the truck, the group gathers for a toast with the 2021 French Colombard sparkling wine ($55), a blend of Colombard grapes from the Betty Ann Vineyard and another old-vine site. (Marchelle also produces a still version of the wine for $28.)

La Follette is visibly emotional. He says theres a lot to celebrate, but admits its also been one of his most difficult harvests to date  and not due to one of Mother Natures curveballs.

One day into the start of harvest, the Marchelle team suddenly lost a dear colleague and friend, Travis Proctor. Proctor helped La Follette start his first wine label, Tandem, over 20 years ago and helped him build his first production facility. Proctor had recently rejoined La Follette as his point person to build out a new winery for Marchelle and other brands. On the day of his death, La Follette was the one who found him.

He really believed in our dream and he sacrificed a lot for us, La Follette says. There was a moment where I wasnt sure how we were going to keep going. The grapes picked the night before will be used for a special bottling whose proceeds will be donated to Proctors family.

The night is capped with a buffet dinner prepared by the Lystras. Its a well-deserved break for Mara, who cooks hearty lunches, like lamb stew and pozole, for the winery crew each day. The Lystras have prepared tri-tip, Mexican corn salad and Clark Lystras spicy, Santa Maria-style famous beans. La Follette, still reflecting on the past few months and seemingly caught between grief and gratitude, is the last to fill his plate.
Business: Verona Pharma , a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on development and commercialization of therapies for the treatment of respiratory diseases with unmet medical needs. The company's product candidate is ensifentrine, an inhaled and dual inhibitor of the phosphodiesterase (PDE) 3 and PDE4 enzymes that acts as both a bronchodilator and an anti-inflammatory agent in a single compound. This medication is in Phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and cystic fibrosis. The company is developing ensifentrine in three formulations, including nebulizer, dry powder inhaler and pressurized metered-dose inhaler. Verona Pharma was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in London.

Activist Commentary: Caligan Partners was founded by former Carlyle Group managing director David Johnson, and it launched its main fund in 2022. It invests in a concentrated portfolio of small and midcap life sciences companies, using activism as a tool to unlock value. Caligan looks for companies with differentiated intellectual property and durable assets that have underperformed their peers. The firm will take board seats when it thinks it can add value. The way the firm thinks about biopharma investing is somewhat unique. It looks for companies that are first in class and best in class in their therapies; companies where it has some downside protection; companies with a good management team; and opportunities where the firm thinks it could add value. Caligan looks to work constructively with boards and management but will not shy away from a proxy fight, if necessary.

Verona Pharma is a clinical stage, pre-revenue, biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the development and commercialization of therapies for the treatment of respiratory diseases with unmet medical needs. The company's current product candidate and potential value creator is ensifentrine (commercially "Ohtuvayre"), an inhaled and dual inhibitor that acts as both a bronchodilator and an anti-inflammatory agent. Ohtuvayre was recently approved by the FDA for maintenance treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on June 26. Back in May 2022, prior to this approval and when Caligan began building their initial position, the stock was trading in the mid-single digits and at essentially cash value. With the commercial launch of Ohtuvayre, Verona's first-ever marketed product, scheduled for the third quarter of 2024, the stock has soared. Still, Caligan thinks there is a lot more value to be realized.

COPD, known as "smoker's lung," is the third leading cause of death worldwide that affects over 380 million patients globally. Not only is this a humanitarian crisis, but a challenge for our health-care systems. In just the U.S. alone, over $24 billion in health-care costs are associated with COPD management. A successful drug like Ohtuvayre would not just increase the life expectancies of patients with COPD, but it would lower costs for both health-care providers and COPD patients. Currently, there are over 8.6 million U.S. COPD patients with over 4 million remaining symptomatic despite treatment from the current commercial therapies.

There is still a huge gap in this market, and Verona is currently on the trajectory of filling it with strong Phase III data showing a significant increase in lung function and a reduction in exacerbations with minimal side effects. This supporting data and the number of unsuccessfully treated patients in the current market suggests that Verona could achieve a 20% patient share for Ohtuvayre. If Verona can get 10% patient share, this could translate into $4.5 billion of revenue for Ohtuvayre. But the story gets even more exciting with potential indication expansion for utilizing Ohtuvayre for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis ("NCFB"), a progressive inflammatory disease that causes permanent lung damage with no current approved therapies and whose symptoms mimic COPD. With a greater than 1 million patient population, this could be a huge avenue for expansion for Ohtuvayre if it were to get approved as an NCFB treatment. The only other potential player in the NCFB market is biopharma peer Insmed's drug brensocatib. The drug had mediocre success, showing a 21% rate of reduction in exacerbations in Phase III testing. Still, this was enough to skyrocket Insmed's valuation over $7 billion in one month. In early pooling analysis, Ohtuvayre showed a 41% reduction in exacerbations in COPD patients, almost double brensocatib.

When Caligan announced its Verona position last month, the stock was trading at $33.40 per share or a $2.5 billion enterprise value. If it can attain a 10% patient share for COPD and $4.5 billion of peak revenue, it is trading at one half of peak revenue. Mergers and acquisitions for similar companies are generally done at 3-times to 4-times peak revenue, which would give Verona a price of $115 per share. If Ohtuvayre continues to move through trials for NCFB and gets traction with patients, like Insmed, Caligan thinks that Verona Pharma could be worth 7-times its valuation, or $218 per share.

Caligan exclusively invests in the health-care sector and has seen a lot of success. In October 2023, Caligan announced an activist position in MorphoSys AG, a similarly modeled biopharma company with a Phase III drug, that was set to commercialize in Q4 of 2023. At the time, the stock was trading at 26.08 euros a share. After successfully commercializing its star drug pelabresib, MorphoSys was subsequently sold to Novartis in February 2024 for 2.7 billion euros or 68 euros per share. Caligan learned from that experience that if a drug can improve the standard of care for patients, it will be valuable. In an industry with $140 billion coming off patent relatively soon, larger pharma companies need to do acquisitions, and those deals are usually in the $1 billion to $10 billion range. Both of those points bode very well for Verona, Caligan's largest position in its portfolio.

Ken Squire is the founder and president of 13D Monitor, an institutional research service on shareholder activism, and the founder and portfolio manager of the 13D Activist Fund, a mutual fund that invests in a portfolio of activist 13D investments.
The lights of Frankfurt am Main's banking skyline glow in the last light of day. Boris Roessler | Picture Alliance | Getty Images

European banks face an even tougher task to close an earnings gap on U.S. rivals, as Wall Street awaits a new era of financial deregulation under a second Donald Trump presidency. Lenders in the euro zone and Britain have been hobbled by poor profitability and weak economies since the 2008-09 global financial crisis, while U.S. banks have soared in value and stolen market share, especially in investment banking as European rivals retreated. Some banks had begun to claw back lost ground this year. Until this week, European shares were outperforming U.S. peers and hopes had grown that the U.S. would adopt some elements of the Basel III regulations requiring American banks to hold more capital, helping level the playing field. Trump's presidential election win this week has turned the tables. JPMorgan , Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley shares all soared while the STOXX Europe 600 Banks index is down more than 1% for the week. "The expectation is simple: deregulation and tax cuts in the U.S. contrast with Europe's strict oversight and low-interest-rate grind," said David Materazzi, CEO of Italy-based automated trading platform Galileo FX.

"If U.S. banks get the expected policy support, they could ramp up loan volumes and optimize capital in ways that Europe's banks just can't match right now," Materazzi said. Since early 2010, European banking shares have fallen 10%, while U.S. lenders have more than tripled. The European Central Bank has estimated that euro zone banks' return on equity fluctuates around 5%, against 10% in the U.S., linking it to higher U.S. fee income and legacy non-performing loans with which European banks still grapple.

Leverage to lobby?

There are already signs European politicians are bracing for a new landscape under Trump. Swiss Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter said on Thursday she and her British counterpart Rachel Reeves had discussed the outlook for U.S. banking regulation. "It was said beforehand that a wave of deregulation was coming in the USA," she told Reuters, adding that both agreed it was important to strike a balance between competitiveness and stability. A wave of deregulation should give European banks some leverage to lobby for easing the rules in Europe, which are already more onerous, one banking executive told Reuters. The U.S. banking industry is expecting Trump to usher in Republican regulators who ease capital rules and merger approvals and further dilute the contentious Basel III endgame proposal aimed at requiring big lenders to hold more capital.

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